Friday, December 31, 2010

Bio-safety Cabinet-Level 1

Happy Birthday everyone~~in the last day of year 2010
i will be introducing a big and expansive cupboard not used for storing clothings

So would you believe me if i say it is usually not advisable to put anything inside?

ok~for the 1st time, is it true..


A biosafety cabinet (BSC)biological safety cabinet, or microbiological safety cabinet is an enclosed, ventilated workspace for safely working with materials contaminated with (or potentially contaminated with) pathogens in the laboratory. Several different types exist, differentiated by the specifics of construction.
the one we using here just a level one cabinet as we are not handling any pathogenic viruses

1stly, an rough overview of the cabinet~~~not much impressive..


 OK~now for the controls of a bio-safety cabinet~buttons for Ultraviolet light, normal lamp, and air flow control can all be found be here

 Some instruction can be found on the bottom right corner of the cabinet!~ 

 A UV proof glass that able to protect us from dangerous UV light during sterilization


 OK ~the basic of a bio-safety cabinet is to provide bacteria and virus free air flow to the environment,
the picture below shows the filter that helps to clean the air

 Another view of the cabinet from an eye of a kid

 A socket can also be found inside the cabinet to provide electricity to any equipment that have to be used inside the cabinet

an arm rest for those tiring arms during culturing

 Last but not least, a drain valve to remove any liquid that were dropped into the cabinet holes.



Happy new year everyone~~~beware of the ninja that wanders around the school of swinburne

is he a biotech??/
i have no idea











Saturday, December 25, 2010

spectrophotometer~~

In chemistryspectrophotometry is the quantitative measurement of the reflection or transmission properties of a material as a function of wavelength. Spectrophotometry involves the use of a spectrophotometer. A spectrophotometer is a photometer(a device for measuring light intensity) that can measure intensity as a function of the light source wavelength. (credits to wikipedia)

today, i am going tell you everything regarding this spectrophotometer, which can measure the absorbance and transmittance of light at around 300nm to 700nm. 
the one we using below is from thermo scientific, its a single beam spectrometer using the light path of 1centimeter. 
okok~~this is the front part of the spectrometer, with a bar code to prevent confusion as they all look the same and having the same name. 

this is what happen if you were taller than the table.

and this is what happen when you were taller than the table and you had open the cover.

As always, you will need to switch open the instrument. If your IQ is higher than 140, you will know what to do after looking at the photo below.  


A Fan is equipped on the back of this machine to prevent any overheating. This is specially important when a young female is using the instrument.

Usually, the machine is left on for about 15 minutes for calibration  and initiation.

Meanwhile, lets us move on to the sample preparation. 
A container named "cuvette" is used to load the sample before the analysis, It has a waistline of 1cm, this is especially convenient during beer's law calculation. 

A close up of our shy little cuvette~~dont breath to hard, you might blur her view.

Today i am measuring the concentration of protein in a solution, so i am using this "Biuret reagent"


Another close up of our shy little cuvette, now with the protein~~

Then, the cuvette was placed inside meter as she was too shy for me to take another photo.


A screen like this would usually appear when it was just turn on. Genesys mean how shy the cuvette was and soft Rev means how nice should you treat her.

OK~now for the reading~The absorbance of this machine is 0.085A at 546nm.

Lastly, wish everyone a wonderful Christmas
Even though my Christmas was quite boring(babysitting my niece at home), 
my birthday was wonderful thanks to my awesome friends over there~~


Merry Christmas everyone~~and 
good night

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Calibration of pH meter

Exam is officially over and we have been again throw into a hole of boringness

since had been helping for the whole day in school for the "Swinburne Sarawak Info day"
today's post gonna be short and acidic

Today's star gonna be our electronically pH meter~
 you can call him by his company, the  :“Mettler toledo~~~~”
Since it was too easy to be used ( put the probe into the solution), i will only be showing you about how to calibrate your pH meter, which is suppose to be done before you did your analysis.

a standard buffer is usually provided by the company~
it can come in a bottle form, or in packet form
so, in this case~we pour them into a universal bottle for easier calibration.
so, here's a pH 7 buffer~is a bit greenish in color. 

secondly is the his girlfriends, the acidic buffer~

 and the last will be the 3rd party, the basic buffer

so always, ladies 1st. The probe in placed into the buffer and the "cal" button is pressed~
The reading will jump for a few seconds before it is established


then, the probe is used to calibrate the instrument. The "cal" is pressed again, and the waiting was repeated.

Poof~!done, the pH meter is now ready to be used~~~!!!!!!!!
as easy as eating a piece of fried chicken~~

finally, a close view of the probe. We are always remind that the bulb on the edge is highly sensitive and fragile, therefore, be careful not to knock it on anything~!

that's all for today

good night and sleep tight~!





Friday, December 17, 2010

Happy Birthday to Me

Sorry for another boring post~~
as today is my one and only 20th years birthday
i think i might just record something here~~
Apologize for non-Chinese readers, but is my tradition to write this in Chinese ~
will provide a translation if i had time.

饿食
闹饥荒的热带沙漠领
累积着高耸的枯树林
我停靠在树干上歇息
地下的生命
是一览无遗在释稀
按奈不住饿饥
我长大了羽翼
滑翔于逐渐升起的热空气

烧焦的空气缠绕
污浊的气息困扰
我在高空下对事物寻找
打着哈欠的猎豹
在低处观察着山猫
伸着懒腰的狮子
在酷闷的午后里睡着

腐烂中自有它的香气
香味四溢的勾引着我的前进
虽然对你他是刺鼻的沼气
但是在我世界里
他比炊烟
更有魅力

这次是只被雌狮肆虐的尸体
蠕虫抽动在那黑紫色的腠理
我一面大口的啃着那血肉模糊的有机体
一面感谢上帝赏赐的食品

龟裂的大地
往日的池水泛滥成一幅抽象风景
依赖着酥脆的饼皮
扑灭我发炎的喉颈
也从不掉下泪滴
因为那是沙漠里珍贵的滋润品
也不发一声牢骚
因为牢骚照样会浪费力气

身为沙質荒漠的秃鹰
我饿食在这烈日高挂的残酷里
靠着一点渣滓充饥
凭着一丁点浊水
维持着
正在寻找目的
寻找意义的生命

---------------------------------------------------------
搞定,
楼上纯属为了交代我往年的惯例
其实《沙殇》早就概括了沙漠的荒野无际
《蜘蛛》也讲述了珍惜生命的意义
由于华文退步又上了一个等级
看来偶尔看看小说
还是无法回复我的语文能力

今日乃是我20的成名曲
但绝对不是我成长的过渡期
我对生命秉持一样的道理
善恶分明
正邪两立
对正而善是一种自然伦理
对邪而恶又何尝不是自然定律
有时为了取得正义
往往搞得比反面更来的恶心

讲完了道理~我可能在心智上又加了一份文凭
但是何苦浪费时间讲大道理
反正没有人听~
还是讲今天的行程感觉比较有吸引力。


清晨6点起,我被可乐熏陶得很清醒
闭目养生半个时辰,我起身准备上学去
old lobby是素盈和林吉蒂
不久加入的这是juliari

有些事情想写
但是为了2nd batch的physiology
我看还是暂时保密保密
我带着半罐可乐考试
不到3个小时就尿急
还第一次为了上厕所骂粗话骂很用力。。

我接了我的第一份礼品
一个水罐加一大堆的食品
蛋糕是草莓巧克力
午餐是KFC
我有的是讶异
有的是惊喜

接着一个严重够力超级无敌无可匹敌的meeting
就held在食堂的角落里
虽然两个人没有出息
但是讨论感觉
还是有成有品
不管
明日9点半
再来画一场春雨
对面素盈的饭是4块半,
后面tony喝了两杯咖啡
而我吃了一块鸡腿

接着就到办公室搅局
由于蛋糕会被地心破坏
鸡腿会被温度缩水
我利用他们搅局的时间
回家放我珍贵的收藏品

回去就发呆在7楼的风景
顺路学写着楼上看见的诗句
我靠着椅背,拖着下巴,凝视着眼睛
欣赏窗外动态的静物写生
思考我老一岁的人生

发呆了3个小时
结果了又一个珍贵的crystal
捧着大礼
再次我回归我空洞的房里
梳了洗
换了发型
我回到学校做slide去

当我肚子饿得像秃鹰
我才宁愿踏步往肯雅兰走去
路上凉风习习,
街道很繁忙
我的心
很幽静

再次点了炸香蕉一包
也一样不需要明讲
老板娘虽老
但是我1块钱的那包
总是有办法送到

老板娘一样有办法记得我的meepok放红大碗
在配上一杯teh o,
我看来这就是我的期待已久的晚餐了吧

平时为了省事省时
不是半吞半灌的吃掉了多少精华
细嚼慢咽着热茶
慢条斯理的搅动着面和汤
用筷子夹起了热腾腾的炸香蕉
咀嚼着香脆甜酸混合的精华
我为从小没有学音乐而遗憾
否则我应该更能够欣赏这曲狂想

回到我熟悉的open lab~又是slide在我眼前
做到9点
回家玩game

殊不知回了comment, 打了这篇
现在已经过了半夜12点

恭喜我
正式成为饿食分子了。。。。。

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Fume cupboard + analytical exam tips

Good morning everyone~!what a beautiful and lovely Wednesday we have here
just the sun outside is damn hot and the Internet here is damn slow....

So let us whats with our fume cupboard before the sun  melt me into liquid

a fume cupboard, or a fume hood fume hood or fume cupboard is a type of local[1] ventilation device that is designed to limit exposure to hazardous or noxious fumesvapors or dusts. A fume hood is typically a large piece of equipment enclosing five sides of a work area, the bottom of which is most commonly located at a standing work height.
(ok, i admit i copied from Wikipedia)

They actually appear in my previous blog for the introduction of chemistry and biochemistry lab, you should had realize if you observed carefully~~~
but if not, then is ok
i don't even realize myself.....~!

ok, two previous photo after a friendly reminder from my friend
the one in biochemistry lab

and these two are from chemistry lab

since a fume hood is always concerning dangerous materials, a few add-on is necessary for its function, they are shown as below

On the left side: A switch to open the light, a socket for any electronics device ( such as a pH meter)
and a knob for the nitrogen gas. 

on the right side: a I/O to switch on the blower( or then fan if you prefer). another socket to plug your fingers in, and another knob for the tap.(yes, for water)

a closer view of our nitrogen gas tap, not sure why its painted yellow

a
now, another tap for the water~the drainage system of a fume hood usually is usually separated from the normal drainage system to avoid any dangerous chemical from contaminating the environment.

Or you can used the screen as a mirror to check your own reflection.


Now, for the interesting part~!!TIPS for analytical chemistry test
(FYI:  just some guesses regarding whats gonna come out during the exam, doesn't mean they will be 100% included, so don't blame me if i am wrong~~wahaha, but you can always blame the one who set the questions)


1. Definition about the 1st chapters, something like what is standardization and whats the significant of single point, multiple point and standard addition method

2. whats the significant of separation, and when would which one be used?
e.g. What you need to used when you are separating two liquid with different boiling point.

3. The calculation of resolution is HPLC and how can it be archived?

4.what are the different in adsorption, partition and ion exchange  chromatography?

5. whats a detector in HPLC and some examples.

6.why are MS suitable as a detector in GC?

7. what the the disadvantages of SFC over HPLC and GC?

8.What are the evidences that were useful for an crime scene investigation

9.check out my previous post on the true and false ans~~

10, attempt all question in the exercise for documents and sports chemistry


ok~that's all i know about this exam

GOOD LUCK to you alllllllll

and have a happy holiday







Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Analytical True and false Answers

Good morning~~sorry for a boring post today
its the ans for our analytical practices question

the true and false is as below


1T
2F
3T
4F
5T
6F
7F
8T
9T
10F
11F
12F
13T
14T
15F
16F
17F
18T
19F
20T
21F
22T
23T
24F
25F
26F
27F
28T
29F
30F
31F
32T
33F
34T
35F
36T
37T
38T
39T
40F


F
enjoy~~

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Micro Centrifuge Machine~the small skull in the lab

Trouble? 


Hope you guys were not frustrated by the exam this morning~~~but whats over is over
lets move on with our cutest machine in the lab~!!!
the~~~~~~~~

MICRO-CENTRIFUGE MACHINE~!
or you can call him the small skull

centrifuge is a piece of equipment, generally driven by an electric motor (some older models were spun by hand), that puts an object in rotation around a fixed axis, applying a force perpendicular to the axis. This machine is capable of spinning to a speed of upto 13.4rpm~! considering the size of it, i would say it is quite a amazing machine.

 ok~now for the ever famous Minispin~tadaaa
The one we using here is made by eppendorf. If i am not wrong, this is made in Germany. and they specially ship 10 of them over to Malaysia for us~!wahahah
ok~it have basically 7 button on the front panel. They were used to control the speed, the time and some basic setting such as short spin, start and a open~

below is what happen after i press the open button. The top of the skull is pop open, revealing the brain inside~!
the metal cap he is wearing is used to cover the tube that were spining in high speed inside. despise the size of it, i would say the cap is heavier than a normal fully packed pencil case. I think it would help to increase the stability of the machine. Eventhough the machine can still be functional without using the cap,(my tubes were way to big that the caps doesnt fit) it was totally not recommended. the noise were much louder even for a 3000rpm spin.

this is what ahppen when you splice open the brain. 12 little pockets of holes can be seen. The brain is currently empty. Yes, empty, but please dont call the machine stupid, you might broke his heart.

wait..he dont have a heart~!wahahah
ok~you might break his head if you think he is stupid.

an overview of a EMPTY brain chamber of secrets. With a number ranging from 1 to 12, who knows, one of it might contains the sorceress's stone. 

ok~back to the topic, the holes here are used to place a tube named microcentrifuge tubes, they will be discuss as below. 

These tubes were design to hold a capacity of 1.5ml, and has a air tight cap to prevent leaking even at violent shaking. and immersion water bath.

another view of micro-centrifuge tube under moonlight~~

now to show you how do you use them together with the microcentifuge machine~~

ATTENTION ATTENTION ATTENTION
NEVER PUT YOU MICRO CENTRIFUGE AT THIS POSITION 
YOU MIGHT MAKE THE MACHINE EXPLODE AT HIGH VELOCITY
SPRAYING SCRAP METAL ALL OVER THE PLACE~!!!!

NOW~for the correct positioning of the micro centrifuge tubes~
since this machine is base on the principle of centripetal force, all weight must be balance in order for it to operate correctly~
thanks for your attention


now is the real thing in action~
the little skull is now spinning at 5000rpm, and it continue for 4 minutes before it was automatically shut down~

now for a another spin at 13000rpm, it might seems very scary to make it running at this velocity~
but it is totally conman in research when you need to isolate your DNA sample~

yaya..like those people in CSI



OK~thats for today~was having a big exam this early morning and am now really hoping for a nap~


good night everyone~spicy dreams

Sunday, December 5, 2010

MIcroscope Quick Guide~~~ Chemistry exam tips

 Heeeeelllloooooooo~~

first of all good luck for all the people having their final exam tomorrow~(including me), remember to bring your calculators and some batteries just in case they fail at the last minute. 

ok~today i am gonna show you something totally irrelevant with organic chemistry
just a simple instrument we had been using since primary school

but what would be the best way of using is the problem
only as a student myself
i just gonna show you how i can view my slides on 1000x in just 2 minutes (or less sometime)


ok~the always famous Microscope~~the one we were using here is a normal compound microscope that you would be able to find in any supermarket, big or small......hehe~~just kidding
It is equipped with 2 10x eye lens, and 4 object pieces, each with a magnification of 4x ,10x, 40, and a oil immersion 100x

Also, you no longer have ti turn your mirror up and down to find the light source (thats what we do 10 years ago), most of the modern microscope have their own lamp. However, the lamp are quite fragile and are not suitable for long time usage, so please turn them off right after you use it~~


 Now, this is the lamp i am talking about~

so now you have yo switch on your lamp, i dont think  i need to tell you how to do that....
ok~after the power source is on line~you should be able to find a switch which looks somehow similar to the one shown below

1st, turn the node so that it is pointing the minimum position, then switch the power to "I" position, then only you should start power up your light slowly~~like i said just now~
THE LAMP ARE EXTREMELY PRINCESS LIKE~handle with caution~
now you have officially ON the princess~~~



so, lets us take a slide for observation~i had skipped the part about fixing bacteria, and i had already told you how to make a gram stain~
Your slide should appear as something like this
Place them on the center of the microscope and make sure the light passes through the organism. 
start with the 4x magnification to locate the desire position.
 
Then turn the focus clockwise (the big one below) so that your slide is 1mm below the object piece.
Slowly and gently rotate the big knob counterclockwise until you have a flash of clear image, which indicate your focus point~

i know this is boring, but i still have to continue
slowly turn your small knob back until you can see a clear image ~!!!
BOOOM~~~you get your image ready to observe.


The you can start ti increase your magnification ~~~~


For some small organism such as bacteria, a 1000x magnification had to be used. In this case, turn the object piece on the the position shown below and drop one drop of immersion oil right on top of the slide. Just a small drop will do~~~


The turn you object piece "wheel", do not turn the lens themselves~!you might spoil the whole thing
and repeat the same procedure until you get something like the one shown below




OK~~now the important CHEMISTRY TIPS~!!!
hmmmm....according to my prediction, some question below should be very very important to know
1. Mechanism of aldol condensation 
2. compare the conditions for direct and conjugated addition
3.  Mannich and Wittig reaction
4.The continuation of Mannich, Micheal and Robbison reaction 
5.Hess law and born-Harber cycle.


finally, bring your brain into the exam hall..Dont let those zombie have a chance to eat them~!



bye bye~~good luck for your exam