From:	SMTP%"geoff_howlett.biochem@muwaye.unimelb.EDU.AU" 22-SEP-1994 19:09:05.
65
Subj:	rasmb FAQ (update)

Revised FAQ for the RASMB network.  
 
Questions:

1. What is RASMB and what are its goals?
2  How can I subscribe/unsubscribe?
3  How does one deposit and retrieve stored information related to the 
network?  What software is available?
4.  How are messages sent to the network?
5.  Is there a gopher site for the network?
6.  Should I send this FAQ to anyone?

Answers:

1.  What is RASMB and what are its goals?

The abbreviation stands for Reversible Associations in Structural and 
Molecular Biology.  The original idea was to orient the network around those 
interested in the reversible interactions of macromolecules.  The initiative 
arose during discussions at the RASMB meeting in February 1994 at the 
University of Melbourne, Australia.  Since inception the network has provided 
a useful medium for the distribution of conference and position 
announcements.  The analytical ultracentrifuge is one of the most recent 
developments in the field.  Hardware and software information concerning the 
XL-A analytical ultracentrifuge has provided a valuable resource for workers 
in this area.  Contributions and subscribers in other areas related to 
reversible interactions are especially welcome.

2.  How can I subscribe/unsubscribe?

To subscribe or unsubscribe to the network send a message with the relevant 
request to 

rasmb-manager@bbri.org

3.  How does one deposit and retrieve stored information related to the 
network?  What software is available?

Information related to the network is stored on an anonymous FTP site 
(bbri.org) which is located at Harvard where it is under the 
supervision of Walter Stafford (Boston Biomedical Research Institute).  To 
deposit a file, please put it in the [.drop-off] directory.  The email 
address list for the RASMB email server can be found in the /rasmb directory.

A list of current information available on the FTP site is as follows:

Software for time derivative analysis of sedimentation velocity
data (g(s*) analysis) written by Walter Stafford can be found in the
/rasmb/spin/mac and /ms-dos directories. 

NONLIN.EXE (nonlinear fitting routine for anlysis of sedimentation
equilibriun data by Michael Johnson and David Yphantis) for the VAX under VMS 
can be found in
directory /rasmb/spin/dec directory. 

The following versions of the NONLIN curve fitting
program for analysis of equilibrium data have been deposited in the /MS_DOS
and /DEC directories. 

	NONLIN for the PC.
	NONLIN for the VAX Open VMS.
	NONLIN for the DecAlpha

Software for simulation and analysis of equilibrium sedimentation
of interacting systems by Allen Minton can be found in the
/rasmb/spin/ms_dos directory as a self extracting archive called SEDEQ.EXE.
Allen Minton has also contributed a program called TRACKER that will 
allow the real time display of sedimentation profiles during a velocity run 
on the XL-A. It can be found in /MS_DOS/TRACKER-MINTON

Several programs for the analysis of velocity data and equilibrium 
data have deposited by Les Holladay; they can be found along with 
appropriate readme and documentation files in /MS_DOS/SEDFIT-
HOLLADAY:

	SEDFIT.EXE
	EQFIT.EXE
	APEQFIT.EXE
	MWMZ.EXE
	AXIAL.EXE


John Philo of Amgen Corp. has deposited a package of programs for 
the analysis of sedimentation velocity data that can analyze mixtures by 
fitting a series sedimentation profiles to the Faxen equation. These programs 
run under windows. A self-extracting archive along with several text files 
can be found in /MS_DOS/SVEDBERG-PHILO 

	INSTALL.TXT
	README.TXT
	SVEDBERG.DOC
	SVEDBERG.WRI
	SVXL9406.EXE	
Also included is a utility program XLAGraph.  This utility can be used to 
display your velocity scans during a run (i.e.similar to tracker above), for 
data manipulations such as baseline subtraction and averaging scans and for 
publication-quality graphs with up to 9 data sets.

Borries Demeler (University of Texas) has provided a demonstation program 
called UltraScan.  This program allows a windows interface with the XLA data 
aquisition program, analysis of sedimentation velocity experiments and a 
number of utility programs.  The files have been deposited as:

readme.		- readme file
us_arc.exe  	- self-extracting binary archive for the UltraScan demo

Greg Ralston (University of Sydney) has deposited a set of programs for the 
analysis of sedimentation equilibrium data through the use of the Omega 
function.  These program are included in a self-extracting file called 
SEDPROG.EXE.  Comprehensive instructions are available in README.TXT and 
Manual.xxx files.  

4.  How are messages sent to the network?

If you would like to post a message to all participants send it to

RASMB@bbri.org
Replies to a message from the network only go to the sender of the message.

5.  Is there a gopher site for the network?

Yes.  Borries Demeler (University of Texas) has recently established a gopher 
server which mirrors the rasmb software archive and allows convenient 
browsing.  To access the server:
$>gopher bioc02.uthscsa.edu

(or $>gopher 129.111.1.229).  This site may ultimately allow WAIS searching 
of keywords in the rasmb archives.

6.  Should I send this FAQ to anyone?

Especially to those interested in the reversible associations of 
macromolecules.

All suggestions for revision of this FAQ are welcome.

Best to all

Geoff Howlett
[ANONYMOUS]