HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gilbertd@sunflower.bio.indiana.edu (Don Gilbert)
Subject: Re: How will we deal with high volume newsgroups - Part II.
Organization: Biology, Indiana University - Bloomington
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 17:51:36 GMT

An auto-search/reply to some news queries could be
done.  Whether it should be done is the question.

When we get everyone educated in the use of gopher
and wais software, this should become a non-issue.  
Both provide easy ways to search a news archives 
for any topic of interest.

It would be wiser to teach users of BioSci news that 
there are easy ways to search back issues of the news 
postings, rather than to restrict postings in some way.
This should be anyone's first step to answering
a question they think may have an easy answer or that
may have been asked before.

For example, there was just a question on bionet.software
about where to find PC molecular modelling software.  And there
were some answers to this in the previous month on this same
group.  Using gopher to IUBIo and it's link to the WAIS-indexed
bionet groups maintained by IG/Dave Kristofferson, I found
this list to answer the question:
   
    BioSci-Bionet News.src: molecular model pcmodel pcmodel

      12. gilbertd@s Re: Re:  Molecular Graphics on PCs.
      13. miski@KODA Re: Re: Molecular Graphics on PCs.
      15. CZJ@CU.NIH Re: Re:  Molecular Graphics on PCs.
      16. jdboer@SOL Re: Re: PCMODEL.
      17. CZJ@CU.NIH Re: Re:  PCMODEL.
      21. CZJ@CU.NIH Re: Re:  Molecular Graphics on PCs.

If someone with network programming experience felt that it 
would be easier for users if there were a "bionet.answers"
group for such, rather than rely on training people to use
gopher/wais, it would be possible to set up such a newsgroup
that would do nothing but take any question posted to it,
send that question to be searched automatically via wais,
and mail the responses back to the questioner. 

Personally I don't think this effort is worth the time.  Gopher
& Wais are easy enough to learn to use, and provide many benefits
besides searching bionet news archives.

-- Don
-- 
Don Gilbert                                     gilbert@bio.indiana.edu
biocomputing office, biology dept., indiana univ., bloomington, in 47405
From: steffen@mbcr.bcm.tmc.edu (David Steffen)
Newsgroups: bionet.general
Subject: How will we deal with high volume newsgroups - the final chapter
Date: 31 Jul 92 14:02:24 GMT
Organization: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tx


In the interests of reducing "wasted bandwidth" I am withdrawing my
suggestion that we think about long range methods for making bionet
more approachable for a larger number of biologists.  I am as
convinced as ever that I am correct, and I think by "leaving things
the way they are" we are limiting bionet to a niche medium.  However,
I know when I am outvoted.

-David "Ross Perot" Steffen-

-- 
David Steffen
Department of Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX 77030
Telephone = (713) 798-6655, FAX = (713) 790-0545
Internet = steffen@bcm.tmc.edu
From: emv@msen.com (Edward Vielmetti)
Newsgroups: bionet.general
Subject: Re: How will we deal with high volume newsgroups?
Date: 23 Jul 1992 16:00:24 -0400
Organization: Msen, Inc. -- Ann Arbor, Michigan
NNTP-Posting-Host: nigel.msen.com
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3

David Steffen proposes a scheme for high volume newsgroups that reduces
traffic by slowing the propogation of news according to geographical
locations.  Let me propose an alternative.

the "sun-managers" mailing list is extremely high volume - how many
sun owners are out there - yet still effective as a communications 
path.  the secret is that they have removed some of the usual chit-chat
that goes along the normal course of a list and added to the burden
of the person who posts a question.

the rules there (and in some other -managers groups) is that there is
no discussion allowed in the group.  Rather, the presenter of a question
is obligated to say
	Send me your answers, I will summarize for the group
and then to post an answer (with proper credits) with the word SUMMARY: as
the start of the subject line.  This lets the casual reader read just the
condensed summaries of problems, puts the burden on the questioner to act
also as editor, and increases the number of questions and answers that can
be sent through the list.

It's more work but you get better results.

  Edward Vielmetti, vice president for research, Msen Inc. emv@Msen.com
        Msen Inc., 628 Brooks, Ann Arbor MI  48103 +1 313 741 1120
"We believe in: rough concensus and working code."  Dave Clark on the IETF
From: ajt@uk.ac.sari.rri (Tony Travis)
Newsgroups: bionet.general
Subject: Re: How will we deal with high volume newsgroups - Part II.
Date: 30 Jul 92 16:36:23 GMT
Distribution: bionet
Organization: Rowett Research Institute
Original-To: bioforum@uk.ac.daresbury

In article <92630160038.MIN-LLMAa09905.bionet-news@uk.ac.daresbury> you write:
: 
: 	It just occurred to me that another (admittedly somewhat far-out)
: approach to the problem David S. has mentioned would be an auto-FAQ
: system.  A computer would serve as the "moderator" for the newsgroup.
: For each new article (as opposed to follow-ups), a similarity search 
: would be run between the posting and the FAQ list and the last n
: months of posting. If any hits occurred, the system would return
: the posting(s) or FAQ(s) to the sender instead of posting the article.
: Additionally, any posting receiving a large number of hits would 
: automatically be added to the FAQ (for later human editing, hopefully).
: 
: 
: 	Whadda ya think?  A good idea, or have I been looking at too
: much BLAST output for my own good?

I think it is a BAD idea to even think about such a proposal :-(

If you want moderated groups then you are free to make a proposal and
put it to a vote.  Then, the moderator of the group _could_ perhaps use
some program to scrutinise messages as you suggest, but I don't really
think it would be worth it.

The only GOOD solution to the high-volume 'problem' (I see it as
evidence that a group is relevant, active and interesting) is to
educate the readers.

If *you* or your site wish to reject articles on some deterministic
basis then that is up to you, but in my opinion it would be wrong to
restrict the distribution of articles in any way other than those
chosen by the author (in the Distribution: field of a news article).

The mechanism of customising distributions in news already exists, but
admittedly is widely ignored by sites.  However, *you* are free to
actively or passively reject what *you* want to.  I may actually want
to read what you are _not_ interested in - let me decide for myself.

	Tony

--
Dr. A.J.Travis,                       |  Tony Travis
Rowett Research Institute,            |  JANET: <ajt@uk.ac.sari.rri>
Greenburn Road, Bucksburn,            |  other: <ajt@rri.sari.ac.uk>
Aberdeen, AB2 9SB. UK.                |  phone: 0224-712751
From: CHERRY@FRODO.MGH.HARVARD.EDU (Mike Cherry 726-5955)
Newsgroups: bionet.general
Subject: AAtDB now available via WAIS
Date: 31 Jul 92 04:15:59 GMT
Distribution: bionet

A WAIS version of the AAtDB Arabidopsis thaliana database is now
available. 
  
WAIS has been discussed alot in a number of bionet groups in the past so
I'll keep this message short and not go into the details of WAIS. Send me
a message if you need more information. 

I just registered this WAIS server with think.com so it should be listed
on the directory-of-servers soon. 

The source information for the AAtDB WAIS server follows: 

(:source 
   :version		 3 
   :ip-name              "weeds.mgh.harvard.edu"
   :ip-address           "132.183.190.21"
   :tcp-port             210
   :database-name	 "AAtDB"
   :cost		 0.00 
   :cost-unit		 :free 
   :maintainer		 "curator@frodo.mgh.harvard.edu"
   :description
"WAIS version of the AAtDB database, An Arabidopsis thaliana Database:
	Arabidopsis Green Book by Meyerowitz and Pruitt
	ABRC Ohio State Strains and Clones
	Nottingham Seed Centre Strains
	Primary data for Goodman and Meyerowitz F2 RFLP markers
	Classical genetic marker data from M. Koornneef
	Arabidopsis Colleagues including telephone numbers, postal addresses
	 and email addresses
	Over 2600 bibliographic citations with abstracts, if available
	Genes, Alleles and RFLP loci of Arabidopsis
	REBASE Type II Restriction enzyme database by Richard Roberts
	All GenBank sequences for Arabidopsis, reference text only
	and more
"
)

Macintosh, Unix and NeXT WAIS clients are available via Anonymous FTP from
think.com. DOS, SunView and VMS clients are available from samba.oit.unc.edu.
A IBM RS6000 client are available from ans.net.

Mike Cherry
cherry@frodo.mgh.harvard.edu
From: macrides@wfeb2.bitnet
Newsgroups: bionet.general
Subject: Re: Political speech
Date: 21 Jul 92 21:32:33 GMT
Distribution: bionet
Organization: Worcester Fndn. for Exptl. Biol.

In article <9207211416.AA02420@genbank.bio.net>, T80SMS1@NIU.bitnet writes:
> macrides@WFEB2.BITNET writes:
> Subject: Re: The '92 Election...
> Date: 20 Jul 92 16:39:54 GMT
[...]
>   NOBODY is trying to stifle anyone's right to speak.  However,
> within the bounds of such a right is the notion of proper time
> and place.  All that Dave has said is that THIS forum (BIOSCI)
> is inappropriate for political speech.  Given that there are
> other places to express such opinions, all he is asking is that
> you use them to say WHATEVER you wish.  This is VERY different
> from Tricky Dick's squelshing of all contrary public opinion.
> 
> *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
> * Samuel M. Scheiner                 +  Being a scientist is like *
> * Department of Biological Sciences  +  beating one's head        *
> * Northern Illinois University       +  against a wall and then,  *
> * DeKalb, Illinois 60115             +  when the wall begins to   *
> * Phone:  (815) 753-7847             +  crumble, picking another  *
> * Fax:    (815) 753-0461             +  intact wall against which *
> * Bitnet: t80sms1@niu                +  to beat.   Steven Vogel   *
> *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

	Dave asked "Roy (and others)" to evaluate what we say within the
context of whether it might jeopardize his pending NSF grant to continue his
management (and Kenton's technical assistance) of the bionet/BIOSCI forums
after September.  The NCBI staff must be very careful what they say in public
forums (and commonly choose to say nothing) in effect because some
congressperson might read it with adverse consequences for NCBI's funding.
Worries about "funding strings" regularly cause knee-jerk reactions in these
forums that indeed "stifle" free expression on matters of importance to
biologists, and differ from "Tricky Dick's squelshing of all contrary public
opinion" only by degree (IMHO).

				Fote

=========================================================================
 Foteos Macrides           Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology
 MACRIDES@WFEB2.BITNET     222 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury, MA 01545
=========================================================================
From: kristoff@genbank.bio.net (David Kristofferson)
Newsgroups: bionet.general
Subject: Re: High volume newsgroups
Date: 27 Jul 92 18:35:35 GMT
Distribution: bionet
Organization: GenBank Online Service

> I do not believe the traffic on METHODS currently warrants such partitioning.

I tend to agree with Alan on this one.  We haven't had any rush to
unsubscribe from the METHODS e-mail list at GenBank.  This is usually
a reliable indicator of discontent with a group.

				Sincerely,

				Dave Kristofferson
				GenBank Manager

				kristoff@genbank.bio.net

Newsgroups: bionet.general
From: robert@arbo.microbiol.uwa.oz.au (Robert Coelen)
Subject: Re: How will we deal with high volume newsgroups?
Organization: University of Western Australia
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 03:20:30 GMT

The suggestions made by Dave make sense to me. It is up to the individual to
decide whether to broadcast a message in a limited distribution or not. And may
be we should think about a 'bionetiquette' in which we explain that basic
questions might be answered OK at a more local level (therefore limit the 
distribution of your question). Having said that, it is very encouraging for
the younger scientists to have there problems looked at on a global scale
(however basic these problems might be) and feel that they are working in 
a global community of bioscientists. Splitting the group into more or less
logical subdivisions seems to me a sensible way of reducing the volume of
traffic. It probably wouldn't harm to have PCR under methds&reagnts as a first
step towards reducing traffic. Cloning might be another useful subdivision.
There are of course cons to this approach: such as the need to cross-post when
an article deals with the 2 above mentioned subdivisions (--> increased 
sophistication of users required).
I think I've said my bit


Cheers

Robert Coelen
Microbiology
From: D.H.Thomas@massey.ac.nz (D.H. Thomas)
Subject: area detectors
Keywords: area detectors
Organization: Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
X-Reader: NETNEWS/PC Version 2c
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 92 05:38:05 GMT

Can anyone offer any advice on comparison of the FAST detector (and
Enraf-Nonius rotating anode) with the R-Axis image plate system (and
Rigaku rotating anode)? How do they compare with respect to:
   - sensitivity (eg for small crystals)
   - quality of data
   - versatility
   - reliability ( maintenance)
We are trying to decide which to get. Anyone tried both? (I know that
the FAST has recently been improved).
       Thanks
                Ted Baker
                T.Baker@massey.ac.nz
From: pathology@mscf.med.upenn.edu
Newsgroups: bionet.xtallography
Subject: Address for database vendor?
Date: 31 Jul 92 01:33:35 GMT
Organization: Univ of Penn - Med School Computer Facility

What is the address and telephone number for the Canada Institute for 
Scientific and Technical Information?  The July, 1992, issue of Physics Today 
(page 50) describes this institute as a "unified search service for all major 
crystallographic databases."  Does anyone have any comments about the 
usefulness of this database provider?  Thanks for the information.

Gregg Wells
Department of Pathology
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
USA
e-mail:  pathology@a1.mscf.upenn.edu
From: rlr@acsu.buffalo.edu (Raymond Roskwitalski)
Newsgroups: bionet.xtallography
Subject: Electrostatic potentials
Keywords: Peptides, Potentials
Date: 24 Jul 92 15:22:43 GMT
Organization: UB
Originator: rlr@bromine.chem.buffalo.edu


What is the latest research on the electrostaic properties of peptides?
Any references will be appreciated.

Raymond Roskwitalski, Jr.
rlr@hydrogen.chem.buffalo.edu
July 24, 1992
From: IHMY@CORNELLF.TC.CORNELL.EDU (simon levin)
Newsgroups: bionet.population-bio
Subject: job
Date: 23 Jul 92 19:56:48 GMT
Distribution: bionet



Terrestrial Biogeochemistry Modeling

The Research Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences seeks applications
from new Ph.D.'s as well as from established scientists to participate in a
special initiative on the development of a terrestrial ecosystem model and
its incorporation into a climate and biogeochemical cycling model.  The
project will be carried out jointly with members of the Program in
Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology, and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory/NOAA on the Princeton
University campus, as well as with outside collaborators.

Acceptance will be based on the applicant's past experience and
achievement, proposal for research, and three letters of recommendation
from professional colleagues.  Candidate must have a Ph.D. in a relevant
scientific discipline, or equivalent work experience, and must be willing
and able to take responsibility for scientific programming required as part
of the project.  Appointments will be made to the Visiting Research Staff.

For application forms, write to Chair, Scientist Selection Committee, attn.
Terrestrial Modeling Initiative, Research Program in Atmospheric and
Oceanic Sciences, Code 343/6067, Princeton University, P.O. Box 308,
Princeton, NJ 08542, or call (609) 452-6502.

Princeton University is and Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
M/F
From: cdds01@vaxa.strath.ac.uk
Newsgroups: bionet.immunology
Subject: Antisera to synthetic peptides
Date: 30 Jul 92 18:42:45 GMT
Organization: Strathclyde University VAX Cluster

I'm raising antibodies to synthetic peptides of vary sizes ( 6mer-
approx 29mers). I usually conjugate the peptide to
for exapmle, KLH, BSA or Ig. Has anyone any other suggestions, info
on raising antisera to peptides
e.g. immunisation without conjugating to a carrier, best carrier to
use (if there is a best) etc, etc.

Thanks in advance
Pete Crilly
Newsgroups: bionet.immunology
From: gd8f@kelvin.seas.Virginia.EDU (Gregory  Dandulakis)
Subject: Re: Hybridoma problems
Organization: University of Virginia
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 19:48:01 GMT

In article <1992Jul21.162530.298@bio.aau.dk> brian@bio.aau.dk writes:
>
>BUT!!! Then we passaged the hybridomas, and after this they are no longer
>able to proliferate.
>
>WHY?  has anyone expierence with the same thing, and especially can anyone
>give any suggestions, which might help us overcome this problem.


 There can be thousands of possible reasons. 

 The most common ones are:

                            1. Enough FBS?

                            2. Very low initial cell concentration?

 Give us some more feedback.


 Gregory Dandulakis
 Biochemical Engineering Lab
 U. of Virginia
From: mcginnis@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: bionet.immunology
Subject: Question about MHC
Date: 31 Jul 92 08:43:05 CDT
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

I am a non-biologist (but fairly well informed layman) and I would
like some information on a matter:

-MHC I & II molecules and what they're used for.  How the body uses
 them to learn self versus nonself for immunology.  How these determine
 our own unique scents (which animals with better olfactory systems
 can use for recognition).  I have read a few articles referring to
 these but I would like to know much more.

I prefer Email replys.  Any information is appreciated.  Referrals
to magazine articles would be great.

Thanks in advance.

Michael McGinnis                Internet: mcginnis@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Computer Center                   Bitnet: mcginnis@ukanvax
University of Kansas               Voice: (913)864-0413
Lawrence, KS  66045                  FAX: (913)864-0485

Rust never sleeps.
From: wetsel_r@wums.wustl.edu
Newsgroups: bionet.immunology
Subject: FCA or TiterMax??
Date: 22 JUL 92 12:45:22 GMT
Organization: MIT PLASMA FUSION CENTER
NNTP-Posting-Host: msnews.wustl.edu

Just out of curiosity... has anyone tried CytRx's TiterMax as an alternative to
Freund's Complete adjuvant?  In our lab, we have always had fairly good luck
with FCA but I was wondering if anyone has tried this new reagent.

David
(Yes, I know... this note is probably best suited to the methds-reagnts sub,
but I rather ask a "pure population" of immunologists!)
From: cdds01@vaxa.strath.ac.uk
Newsgroups: bionet.immunology
Subject: Re: Hybridoma problems.
Date: 22 Jul 92 14:32:23 GMT
Organization: Strathclyde University VAX Cluster

More info needed about your passaging.
When you passaged the cells did the 'new' media contain HAT or HT. If they went straight from HAT to normal media might upset them.

Pete Crilly
From: brian@bio.aau.dk
Newsgroups: bionet.immunology
Subject: Hybridoma problems
Date: 21 Jul 92 15:25:30 GMT
Reply-To: brian@bio.aau.dk
Organization: BIOBASE, Denmark

Hello out there!

I am working in a protein lab (an therefor I do not have much knowledge
about immunology). We have in collaboration with another group been 
succesful in producing some specific polyclonal antibodies. Therefore
we wanted to continue to make monoclonal antibodies.
Our fusion was ok, it was between the spleen cells and X63, the 
hybridomas were proliferation and a test showed that they were also
producing antibodies against our protein.

BUT!!! Then we passaged the hybridomas, and after this they are no longer
able to proliferate.

WHY?  has anyone expierence with the same thing, and especially can anyone
give any suggestions, which might help us overcome this problem.

Peter Kristensen
Aarhus University
Department of Chemistry
Division of Biostructural Chemistry
Denmark

E-mail : brian@bio.aau.dk
Newsgroups: bionet.immunology
From: miss059@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu (Pug)
Subject: Hypogammaglobulanemia (Common Variable Immune Deficeincy Syndrom)
Organization: Pug's Pub and Pleasure Palace
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 15:39:22 GMT


OK, so maybe I spelled things a little wrong. What I'm looking for is
more information on this disease. The doctors have been quite vague on a
lot of points. I was seeing a Dr. Huston at Baylor College of
Medicine/Methodist Hospital in Houston, TX for a while. All I've heard
is that I basically don't produce gammaglobulin. Any ideas out there why
this is the case? I'd also heard thee are 2 forms of the disease and
unfortunately I had neither or both of them. They couldn't tell through
the testing forms they had.

Thanks to anyone with information.

-- 
Richard Bainter          Mundanely     |       "Teachers are supposed to
Phelim Utred Gervas      Society       |        teach you *HOW* to learn 
Pug                      Generally     |        not *WHAT* to learn."   
  miss059@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu  |  pug@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu  |  pug@wixer.UUCP
From: pkemp@byron.u.washington.edu (Paul Kemp)
Newsgroups: bionet.immunology
Subject: Re: Self/Not-self Discrimination: the basics
Date: 24 Jul 92 01:07:02 GMT
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle

In article <92202.171601FORSDYKE@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> <FORSDYKE@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> writes:
>Question raised in my original posting:
>
>>>    (ii) List possible mechanisms of self discrimination WITHIN
>>>         organisms. (The latter may be subdivided into EXTRACELLULAR
>>>         self/not-self discrimination, which is what most immunologists
>>>         are familiar with, and INTRACELLULAR self/not-self discrimina-
>>>         tion, which is more controversial.)
>
>
>  Shiv Prasad responds to my request for a list of possible mechanisms of
>self/not-self discrimination with a list of systems and much head scratching.
>
>     (i) an experimental autoimmune system (uveoretinitis).
>    (ii) aggregation of red and green sponges, like with like.
>   (iii) bacterial restriction enzymes.
>    (iv) transgene expression in the pancreas.
>
>One approach is to extract from these (and other) systems, some common
>elements. A good starting point would be (iii) on the grounds of
>simplicity, ...then (ii). With the resulting answers, we might be in
>a better position to ponder (i) and devise experiments using techniques
>similar to those in (iv).
>
>    Anyone care to set the ball rolling?
>
Yes, go out and get the book _The Evolution of Individuality_ by Leo Buss.
It's a great book, and a must read for thinkers in  this field.

>    Sincerely,
>
>              Don Forsdyke. Discussion Leader