My laboratory and office are equipped with 12 PC computers. Eight of these computers are used exclusively for data acquisition and analysis (electrophysiological and imaging) and 4 are equipped with "Firewire" ports for kinematic motion analysis. All the machines have direct Internet connections and are also networked locally (Win98/2000/XP) for peer-to-peer data transfer. The Dell P4 workstation is equipped with a fully featured SoftImage XSI modeling and animation system and with MatLab. Total fixed hard disk storage is about 520 Gbytes with two additional removable-disk archiving systems (Iomega Jazz and Zip drives), five CD/RW drives and two DVD-RW drives. Data input devices include an Epsom flat bed scanner , an HP slide scanner, RC electronics Computerscope, Axolab and 5 Windaq DI-720 A/D converters. Printer output is via a Lexmark S1650, an HP 930C Inkjet and an NEC Superscript 450.

Fixed stage compound imaging and recording workstation #1. (Primarily for intracellular current clamp and optical recording).

Fixed stage epifluorescence microscope with x20, x40 and x63 water immersion lenses (Zeiss Axioskop FS) fitted with a Ratio Fluorescence Imaging System and a xenon light source (PTI), an intensified camera, microstepper filter changer, controller, frame grabber, and acquisition/analysis software (all from IonOptix Corporation). Gibraltar fixed microscope stage and two 3-axis piezo controlled manipulators (Burleigh Instruments). Vibration isolation table (Newport), Dagan 8800 switching single and dual electrode voltage clamp, dual beam storage oscilloscope (Tektronics 2225), 6 channel peristaltic pump (ISI), an ALA perfusion system (AM-4), 4- channel instrumentation amplifier (Brownlee 210), 4 channel extracellular amplifier (AM Systems model 1700), two-channel pressure microinjector (Picospritzer, General Valve Corp), dual beam digital oscilloscope (Hitachi 2013), audio amplifier (F. Hauer Inc), stimulator (Grass S44). Dell PIII/400 computer with WinDaq DI720 32 channel data acquisition and an 8 channel digital data recording system (PCM/VCR Vetter).

Electrophysiology workstation #2. (Primarily for intracellular and extracellular experiments and RNA injections).

Wild M3 stereomicroscope and fiber optic light supply. 2 x table mounted micromanipulators (Leitz). Vibration isolation table (Newport). Intracellular switching amplifier (Dagan 8100-1 switching clamp amplifier), intracellular bridge amplifier (WPI, M-707A), 4- channel instrumentation amplifier (Brownlee 210), 4 channel extracellular amplifier (AM Systems model 1700), 2 dual beam digital oscilloscopes (Hitachi 2013), audio amplifier (F. Hauer Inc), 6 channel peristaltic pump (ISI), two-channel pressure microinjector (Picospritzer, General Valve Corp), analog spike integrator (Mentor). An 8 channel digital data recording system (PCM/VCR Vetter) and a Dell PIII/400 computer with WinDaq DI720 32 channel data acquisition

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Electrophysiology workstation #3 (Primarily for patch clamp experiments and cultured neurons).

Zeiss Axiovert inverted compound microscope. Vibration isolation table (Newport). Huxley-style micropositioner (Newport MX300). Axopatch 1D patch-clamp amplifier with a Digidata 1200 data acquisition interface and Labview, Axoscope and pClamp software (Axon Instruments, Inc.). Vetter 6 channel PCM data recorder. A low light level black and white camera, digital (RGB) and analog monitors (Sony), video recorder (Sony SVO-1410) and black and white thermal printer (Sony), Dell PIII/500 computer. 6 channel peristaltic pump (ISI), audio amplifier (F. Hauer Inc), dual beam storage oscilloscope (Tektronix 5113), stimulator (Grass S48), two 4- channel instrumentation amplifiers (Brownlee 210), 4 channel extracellular amplifier (AM Systems model 1700), 8 pole Bessel Filter (Frequency Devices). two-channel pressure microinjector (Picospritzer, General Valve Corp). Warner SF-77B micro perfusion system.

Electrophysiology workstation #4 (Primarily for in situ intracellular, extracellular and muscle force recordings).

Wild M3 binocular microscope on a swing arm stand with fiber optic light supply. TMC vibration isolation table. Huxley-style micropositioner (Newport MX300). Intracellular bridge amplifier (WPI, M-707A), Aurora Scientific dual mode ergometer (300B), 2 Grass S9 stimulators, Grass S44 stumulator, Grass DC pre-amplifier (Model 7P1D), two Grass force transducers (FT10 and FT03), 6 isometric force transducers and 4 isotonic force transducers (Harvard Apparatus), 4-channel extracellular amplifier (AM Systems model 1700), 4- channel instrumentation amplifier (Brownlee 210), 2 x signal/waveform generators, dual beam digital oscilloscope (Hitachi 2013), chart recorder (Kipp-Zonen),  Gould TA240 thermal array chart recorder, 8 channel digital data recording system (PCM/VCR Vetter), 2 Narashige micropositioners

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Kinematic EMG and pressure workstation #5.

Millar solid state pressure transducer (SP671), 2 x Omega catheter pressure sensors, 3 x Canon ZR10 digital camcorders Canon s-VHS camcorder, Panasonic shuttle VCR, Black-out enclosure, 100W long wavelength UV spot lamp, 2 x 4-channel extracellular amplifiers (AM Systems model 1700), dual beam digital oscilloscope (Hitachi 2013), 2 x Dell computers with Firewire ports, flat panel displays and KVM multiport switch.

The larval Manduca colony is maintained in a walk-in light and temperature controlled room (7.5 x 6 ft). Adults are kept in a separate room (the "Moth Closet", 25 sq.ft.) used exclusively for these insects with a humidifier and air filter.

Other general equipment and resources in my laboratory. 

Laminar flow hood and tissue culture incubator, Fume hood, tool bench, micropipette puller (Sutter P-87), micropipette polisher, dissecting microscopes (Wild M3, Zeiss Stemi 1000), 98 channel cell harvester (Brandel), semi-dry blotting apparatus (Biorad), orbital and rocking shakers, electrophoresis equipment, Waters dual-pump HPLC, hybridization oven (Hybaid Micro 4), PRC Minicycler (MJ Research), dry block heat bath, two Sony SSC S20 color video cameras and a Sony analog monitor, pipette microforge and mini pipette puller. HP Slide Scanner.

Major Software. Matlab v 6.5 (With Digital Signal Processing Toolbox and Simulink), MathCad 8.0 Professional, Dataview (W. Heitler, Univ. St. Andrews), Ariel Performance Analysis System (APAS, a 3D motion analysis system from Ariel Dynamics Inc.). SigmaPlot 2000, Adobe Photoshop 5.0, Paintshop Pro 5.0, VideoWave VII, VideoPoint 1.5, KAVideo. Mini analysis program by Synaptosoft v 5.2.1, Strathclyde whole cell analysis program v 3.0.8., PClamp v7.0, SoftImage XSI Professional Animation software.

 The ABAQUS suite of finite element analysis programs are available in the Blake Computational Mechanics Studio (Department of Mechanical Engineering).

The Biology Department at Tufts University is well equipped for basic research with core equipment and general facilities shared between laboratories in addition to specialized items in the labs themselves. Core facilities include scintillation counters, HPLCs, preparative and ultra centrifuges, thermal cyclers, plate readers, spectrometers, low temperature freezers, darkrooms, a Polaroid HR6000 digital Palette slide maker, a Picopure water purification system, fume hoods, autoclave, laminar flow hoods and tissue culture incubators, cold rooms, and a central "hot lab" facility used for work with radioactive isotopes. All of these items are in the same building as the Trimmer laboratory. We also have access to equipment at the Sackler School of Biomedical Sciences should the need arise

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