BL13 - XALOC

STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS

A complete list of the sample environment instrumentation and standards used.

CONTINUOUS ACCESS TO XALOC

Continuous Access is already implemented, please check the user call page

• A maximum of 6 shifts will be allocated per proposal
• (For Spanish Institutions only) Maximum 2 visiting users for 3 shifts or 1 visiting user for 1-2 shifts is funded.per visit 
• The dewar shipment is funded for groups within the EU

REMOTE ACCESS

This option allows users running the experiment remotely from their home institution via an NX session. The remote access can be fully remote avoiding the need to travel to ALBA, in this case the local contact will charge pucks into the CATS dewar during working hours. Floor coordinators will give support and exchange pucks during the night shift (phone number: ask LC). A phone number must be provided to the LC to keep in touch with the user during the experiment. In case you do not remember your login/password, the LC will provide it to allow connection to NX.

REQUIREMENTS AND CONNECTION PROCEDURE: Follow the remote access user guide

DATA DOWNLOAD: See the FTP instructions below

DEWAR TRANSPORT: Follow the DEWAR SHIPPING AND MANAGEMENT section, keeping in mind that it is necessary to arrange the return shipment of the dewar when arranging the inbound shipment. Please follow the following guidelines:

 -          Contact your LC indicating you wish to use the beamline remotely.

-          Ship your dewars in advance to arrive at least one working day before your experiment. If possible, send the tracking number of your courier company to the LC.

-          The main proposer has to inform the LC about the total number of dewars that will be shipped to ALBA by all the participants of the BAG.

-          Provide to the LC a list of the pucks sent and how they are allocated inside the dewar.

-          Fill in and print the Dewar Return Form and the Value and Content Declaration form. Also, the return form (aka delivery note / 'albarán') of your courier company must be sent. The LC will attach these forms onto your dewar case for the return trip.

 During 2020, ALBA will cover the dewar transport for proposals where the principal investigator comes from Spanish Home institutions with the limit of 150 € single transport per dewar (only for remote access experiments). For other countries, please contact the beamline responsible.

COFFEE MACHINE

A Nespresso coffee machine is now available for users at the beamline. Capsules are next to the coffee machine. Enjoy!

DEWAR SHIPPING AND MANAGEMENT

Opening Hours for Dewar Receipt

Dewars should be sent at least 3 days before starting your experiment. Be certain that the delivery takes place during week-days and between 07h-13h, and 14h-16h.

Deliveries cannot be made during the weekends and the days listed below, as they are Spanish or Catalan Bank Holidays, or planned shutdown periods:

ALBA takes care of the shipped Dewars only once they are inside its facilities. Research groups are responsible to arrange with its chosen courier for the round-trip shipping. Please also check the user office pages for additional information. 

Paperwork for Shipments within the European Union

For the outward trip your chosen courier company will prepare an International Airway Bill which will probably require the following information:

Note that FedEx does not ship inside Spain.

Paperwork for Shipments from outside the European Union

When shipping from outside of the EU, the courier company will still prepare an International Airway Bill, as referenced above, but will additionally require a Proforma Invoice (usually five copies) from your Institution for customs purposes, this is because the Dewar is being temporarily exported to Spain for the duration of the experiment. This Proforma Invoice will probably require the following information:

You must make it clear to the courier company that the goods/container are to be returned to your institution and should therefore be treated according to a temporary export procedure.

Dewar Return

1. After your experiment, remove all old labels from the transport box.
2. Download, fill in and print the Dewar Return Form and the Value and Content Declaration form.
3. Stick the Dewar Return Form onto your Dewar case and put the Dewar in the DEWAR OUT area, just outside of the Control Hutch.
4. Once back home, call your courier to pick up the Dewar from the ALBA address (see above).
5. The Dewar will be at the ALBA Reception and Delivery Area, available between 7-13h and 14-16h (Mon-Fri), to be picked up by your courier.

Not all couriers accept shipping within Spain (in particular FedEx is not accepting). Consult the prevailing conditions with your particular courier.

HOW TO RETRIEVE YOUR DATA

External Drive (preferred)

The preferred way to take the data away with you is by the use of an external drive (mounted on Linux or Windows) on site on either the USB2 or the USB3 port. You will find precise instructions on how to do this at the beamline. Supported formats FAT32 and NTFS.

SFTP server for remote data access

ALBA provides remote access to the experiment data using the SFTP protocol. All the information is available at the Remote access to experiment data using SFTP page.

Note that data storage is only guaranteed for 6 months after the date of your experiment, although the data is usually stored for some time longer.

Via a web browser (ISPYB)

The results obtained with the EDNA automated data processing pipeline can be downloaded at home through the ISPYB platform (https://ispyb.cells.es/) using your proposal number as login, e.g. u2018XXXXXX, and the password provided for your local contact.

REPORT PUBLICATIONS & EXPERIMENTAL REPORTS

Should you author or have a publication accepted which contains data, totally or partially, from experiments conducted at an ALBA facility, please report it to us using this form and send it to the ALBA User Office. email: (useroffice@cells.es). Note also that BAG allocation requires the submission of an experimental report, more information can be found here.

Authors should use the following text in the acknowledgement section: “These experiments were performed at […] beamline at ALBA Synchrotron Light Facility with the collaboration of ALBA staff.”

Your collaboration is vital to track the ALBA data production and enable us to be in a better position to serve your future experiments.