X29, OPERATING AT HIGH SPEED

这个子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和调查员(PI)可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可能会出现在其他CRISE条目中。列出的机构是针对中心的，而不一定是针对调查员的机构。目标？x29旨在为蛋白质结构倡议专用应用程序(如其PRT合作伙伴NYSGXRC)以及更广泛的普通用户结晶学社区提供用于大分子结晶学的高速同步加速器接入。结果2005年，X29束流线的“高速”方面已渗透到我们的运营和开发计划中。我们系统地改进和优化了仪器、软件和用户操作的一般环境，以寻求从我们在x29的投资中获得高生产率。X29运营团队与PXRR、NSLS、用户社区和世界各地其他波束线路的运营商合作，共同指导这一改进。我们已经加入了国家补充计划，通过改进国家补充计划的S建议、分配、安全和调度系统来解决改善用户访问的问题。一项重要的进展是实施了“大分子包膜安全审批”。然而，我们自己的“快速访问”系统继续为大多数用户访问PXRR束线提供建议和调度场所，直到PASS正常工作。我们的计划继续推动NSLS内束流时间访问入口的统一。PXRR现在为NSLS弯曲磁铁束线的用户提供了一个简化的请求途径，让他们将要求苛刻的晶体带到PXRR插入设备束线(X29和更高版本的X25)，以获得两到四个小时的束流时隙。特别是，在我们以数据库为基础的快速访问程序中，现在有一个ID快速项目请求，可以在几分钟内提供响应。软件中对四条PXRR弯曲磁束线路的操作方法的相似性使用户能够在x29的情况下有效地利用这些短槽。X29内的自动系统管理光束线、X射线光学装置和波动器，使得用户不会负担超出波长选择的负担。迷你Kappa设计，与精密空气轴承欧米茄主轴相结合，既提供了简化的操作(从液氮加载晶体和调整晶轴方向)，又提供了通常在x29下使用的短曝光所需的精确运动(约一秒曝光和一度振荡)。这些部件的小规模结构允许这些机构充分运动，因此用户不需要担心设备碰撞。ADSC Q315探测器的大尺寸、读出速度、可靠性和信噪比在为用户提供快速、高质量的x29数据采集环境方面发挥了重要作用。虽然我们将X29的操作重点放在快速获取标准结晶学实验上，但我们发现拥有更多要求更高项目的用户也很满意。例如，拥有大晶胞晶体的x29用户热衷于他们只需调整光束的水平焦点，并用迷你kappa重新定位水晶轴的能力。拥有非常小晶体的用户可以享受简单的光圈调整。当然，高流量使所有用户受益，因为它极大地加快了他们的工作速度。最后，我们发现，用户对X29的调度模型的扩展做出了反应，他们可以更容易地满足他们的实验需求，将响应式和流态化的调度模式与这条高通量束流生产线的简化操作相结合。我们稳步增加了为x29束线提供的用户支持，因为在过去的一年中，束线上的实验者的吞吐量有所增加。PXRR目前提供四名PX操作员，两名日班和两名晚班。这些PX运营商是有疑问和问题的用户的第一联系人。PXOps可以立即解决大多数问题，而其他问题可能需要PX运营商向我们更广泛的支持环境寻求帮助。重点通常是通过无缝连接PX操作员的经验和专业知识来增加用户的波束时间的有效性。计划？我们知道单色仪的功能可以改进。特别是，我们知道，如果我们进行精确的手动调整，我们可以获得两倍的强度。然而，我们不知道如何自动做到这一点。我们将研究这个问题并找到解决方案。其次，我们知道我们可以改善信号与背景的情况，特别是对于长波长数据，并将研究这一点。一个明显的解决方案将是在准直器尖端和光束挡板周围引入一个充满氦气的腔室。最后，我们希望逐渐增加人手，以进一步润滑我们所有光束线之间的相互作用，产生一个光子海洋，让实验者可以在其中游泳。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Objectives ¿ X29 has been developed to provide high speed synchrotron access for macromolecular crystallography for both dedicated Protein-Structure Initiative applications, such as its PRT partner, NYSGXRC, and also for the broader General User crystallography community. Results ¿ The "High Speed" aspect of beam line X29 has permeated our operations and development program in 2005. We have systematically improved and optimized instrumentation, software, and the general environment for user operations in our quest for high productivity from our investments at X29. The X29 operations team has worked in conjunction with specialists within the PXRR, the NSLS, the user community and operators of other beam lines around the world to steer this refinement. We have joined the NSLS in addressing improved user access with improvements to the NSLS¿s Proposal, Allocation, Safety, and Scheduling system. An important advance has been implementation of the "Macromolecular Envelope Safety Approval." However, our own "Rapid Access" system continues to provide the proposal and scheduling venue for most user access to PXRR beam lines until PASS is working properly. Our program continues to drive the unification of beam time-access portals within the NSLS. The PXRR is now providing a streamlined request avenue for users of the NSLS bend magnet beam lines to bring their demanding crystals to the PXRR insertion device beam lines (X29 and later X25) for two-to-four-hour beam-time slots. In particular, there is now an ¿ID quick project¿ request within our data-base-grounded rapid-access procedure that can provide response within minutes. The similarity of approach within the software for operations of the four PXRR bend magnet beam lines allows the users to be able to make productive use of these short slots at X29. Automatic systems within X29 manage the beam line x-ray optics and undulator such that the user is not burdened beyond the selection of wavelength. The mini-Kappa design, combined with the precision air bearing omega spindle, provides both simplified operation (both for loading crystals from liquid nitrogen and also for adjustment of crystal axis orientation) and the precise motions needed for the short exposures commonly employed at X29 (about one second exposure with one degree oscillation). The small scale construction of these parts has allowed for full motion of these mechanisms so the user needs not be concerned about equipment bumping. The large size, readout speed, reliability, and signal-to-noise of the ADSC Q315 detector plays a significant role in providing the user with a fast and high quality data collection environment at X29. Although we have focused the operation of X29 on fast acquisition of standard crystallography experiments, we have found that users with more demanding projects are pleased too. For instance, X29 users with large unit cell crystals are enthusiastic about their ability simply to adjust the horizontal focus of the beam, and to re-position crystal axes with the mini-kappa. Users with very small crystals enjoy the simple adjustment of the aperture. And of course, the high flux benefits all of the users in that it greatly speeds their work. Finally, we have found that the users have responded to the expanding of scheduling models for X29, in that they can more easily fulfill their experimental needs with responsive and fluidized scheduling modes combined with simplified operations for this high flux beam line. We have steadily increased the user support we provide for beam line X29 as the throughput of experimenters at the beam line has increased over the past year. The PXRR currently provides four PX-operators, two on day shifts and two on evening. These PX-operators are the first contact person for users with questions and problems. The PXOps can resolve most problems immediately, while others may require that the PX-operator seek help from our broader support environment. The point generally is to increase the effectiveness of the user's beam time by seamlessly attaching the experience and expertise of the PX-operators. Plans ¿ We know that there are improvements that can be made in the functioning of the monochromator. In particular, we know that if we make precise manual adjustments we can gain twice the intensity. However we don¿t know how to do this automatically. We will study the problem and find a solution. Secondly, we know that we can improve the signal-to-background situation, especially for long-wavelength data, and will study this. An obvious solution will be to introduce a He-filled chamber surrounding the tip of the collimator and the beam stop. Finally, we expect gradually to increase the staffing to lubricate further the interaction among all of our beam lines, producing a ¿sea of photons¿ in which the experimenters can swim.