From: Borries Demeler <demeler@bioc02.uthscsa.edu>
  To  : rasmb@bbri.eri.harvard.edu
  Date: Sat, 13 May 1995 08:17:18 -0500 (CDT)

Re: sedimentation database

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 13 May 1995 16:27:08 +1000
From: Michael P.Jacobsen <jacobsen@biosci.uq.edu.au>
To: rasmb@bbri.eri.harvard.edu
Subject: sedimentation database

<stuff deleted>

I am aware that the RASMB server does have a directory for "dropping off" 
data but am not sure of the present limits nor envisaged usage of this 
facility. 

Perhaps a formal and dedicated database could be established for raw 
sedimentation data that eventuates in/originates from some analysed form 
that is/was suitable for publication(s).  The same database could also be of 
service to "screened" data from a less formal but dedicated database(s) 
(such as the RASMB "drop-off" directory) for which "good" data for one 
reason or other doesn't reach the pinnacle of publication but which could be 
of benefit to someone, somewhere, sometime.

etc...
-----end of original message---------

I think this is a good idea, and think it should be taken a step further.
The raw data could easily be archived under my gopher/mosaic/ftp server, but 
should include a few analysis graphs or other comments that would allow
people to get a better idea of the contents. I could imagine a van Holde-
Weischet plot of the data would give very good characterizations of the 
contents, for example. The image could be made visible under Mosaic and 
the data could be archived with standard compression routines.

I would like to offer my services for this idea, and will open up an
anonymous ftp depository for raw datafiles (if I don't hear any
objections). I suggest that the data should be tape archived with the
public domain UNIX GNU tar (PC and MAC versions available) and
subsequently compressed with UNIX GNU gzip (also available for MAC and
PC). This would provide the widest platform compatibility, and still allow
archiving for diskspace conservation. I will make these archive/
compression routines available on the ftp server. Once I have everything
set up, I will announce the locations of files and provide a sample ftp
session for those of you who are not too familiar with the ins and outs of
internet file transmission. 

The next step would be some software that allows the user to search the 
database, similar to a DNA database. Any ideas? The question in my mind 
is what would be searched for? One would have to distinguish between 
equilibrium, velocity, synthetic boundary, etc. experiments. For a start, 
I could set up a list of run descriptions that could be searched by WAIS 
(wide area information server - a database search method that works 
through the internet, and is incorporated in the gopher and mosaic/netscape 
(http) protocol. Any ideas on search criteria?

Well, I'll leave it there for now for discussion.

Regards, -Borries Demeler
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* Borries Demeler                                                             *
* The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio                *
* Dept. of Biochemistry                                                       *
* 7703 Floyd Curl Drive                                                       *
* San Antonio, Texas 78284-7760                                               *
*                                                                             *
* Voice: (210) 567-6592                                                       *
* Fax:   (210) 567-6595                                                       *
* E-mail: demeler@selway.umt.edu                                              *
*         demeler@bioc02.uthscsa.edu                                          *
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