Monthly archives: October, 2014

Rolling shutter vs. global shutter: why it matters

Digital cameras can have global shutters or rolling shutters (some cameras can operate in both modes). Global shutters are preferable for periodic applications, including intrinsic imaging, because rolling shutters can cause artifacts. This article does a nice job of explaining the artifacts that…



A Canadian open source two-photon microscope system

This open source two-photon microscope system is adaptable for both slice (with substage detection) and in vivo experiments, and is built with largely COTS parts. The paper is a very nice resource.

See also, …



Resonant scanning with ScanImage 5

ScanImage 5 supports resonant scanning with a wide range of hardware. So custom rigs can add resonant scanning pretty easily, while sticking with ScanImage for acquisition.

It takes about $10,000 worth of electronics from…



Lenses and lenses and lenses and lenses

Can anyone suggest a nice way to store lenses? Ideas about storage containers and cabinets, and ideas about overall organization are all welcome.



Notes from Austin Blanco

Our friend Christian Wilms tipped us to Austin Blanco’s blog, which has some posts you all might be interested in:

Characterizing unknown optical components
A few notes on Arduinos, their timers, and using them…



ImageSurfer 64-bit

UNC-Chapel Hill’s Computer Integrated Systems for Microscopy and Manipulation team released a new version of their popular ImageSurfer software. All 64-bit, with versions for Linux, OSX, and Windows.



More mini computers

Raspberry Pi is the most popular mini computer right now, but there are other options.

SolidRun sells two. The first is a sleek cube called the CuBox-i (pictured above). The second is a barebones board,…



A clock for the Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi is a handy tool, but it has some quirks. One quirk is that there is no internal clock with a battery backup (something most real PCs have). Instead, it syncs with online…



Multi-institute grant search

Federal RePORTER is a grant search engine that covers NIH, NSF, USDA, EPA, etc. The most recent year available is 2013, so you still have to go to the individual institutes’ sites. But handy nonetheless.



Neurolabware party at SfN in DC

You’re invited. Come and say “hi” to the Neurolabware cartel (Josh, Adrian, and Dario).



What’s your favorite LUT?

Parula is the new default colormap for MATLAB (namesake above, actual map below). It probably collapses to grey better than jet (which is good for colorblind readers).

You aficionados care dearly about …



PI Predictor

Link in full post…



SIMA – Image analysis from the Losonczy lab

(This post by the SIMA Team.)

The SIMA (Sequential IMage Analysis) package facilitates analysis of time-series imaging data arising from fluorescence microscopy. The functionality of this package includes:

– correction of motion artifacts
– segmentation of imaging fields…



Reminder: SfN Short Course

If you like Labrigger, you should register for this Short Course at the SfN meeting.
Short Course #1: Advances in Multineuronal Monitoring of Brain Activity

Spencer Smith will be talking about the work …



A higher-tech open syringe pump

Theo Walker has a very nice open syringe pump design that has some advantages over another open syringe pump project we’ve covered (though the latter is less expensive).