From: Geoff_Howlett.BioChem@muwaye.unimelb.edu.au
  To  : rasmb@bbri.eri.harvard.edu
  Date: Fri, 09 Jun 1995 08:20:15 +1000

...no subject...

I write to summarise the responses from my query re. densities, 
viscosities and extinction coefficients and how to write vabr in microsoft 
word.

By far the greatest response was to the bracketed question concerning how 
to write vbar.  There were a number of solution for different versions of 
Microsoft word.  I tried them all but there was only one which worked for 
Microsoft Word 6.0a.  This was provided by Mike Jacobsen.  It works for 
all letters of the alphabet and give an option of either one or two 
overbars.  I believe Mike is happy to provide the files to those who are 
interested.  To solve this problem has inspired the following:

In Microsoft Word 6.0a
I can now write vbar and mbar, even double bars
Thanks Mike J for your new symbol bar
IAve installed it, its vunderbar.

With apologies to poets.  

On the other questions

Greg Ralston:  U-tube viscometers still the way to go for the low 
viscosities we encounter.  Pycnometers still used but require heaps of 
material.  Dry weight a good standard but who's got that much material?

John Philo:  Would like to know if there is anything more automated than a 
U-tube viscometer.  Is working on improved ways of calculating and 
measuring extinction coefficients (summer student)

Tom Laue:  Dry weight can really destroy one's self-confidence.  
Densities-  Anton-Paar density meter still state-of-the art.  Attempts to 
develop a tuning fork approach (inside out Anton-Paar) looked promising 
but...  D2O and H2O method ok in principle but precision a problem. 
Viscosities- We still have U-tubes (Ubelholdes?) but the spider webs 
probable need to be cleaned out (shame, shame).  Extinction 
coefficients-there is a method using GUHCl and proteolysis which looked 
promising.  An AppDat is being prepared for Beckman which describes the 
measurement of  extinction coefficients.

Thanks to all who responded.  Now for those cobwebs.

Best to all.
 
Geoff Howlett
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
University of Melbourne
Parkville 3052
Australia

FAX	61 3 9347 7730
PH	61 3 9344 7632

E-mail:	g.howlett@biochemistry.unimelb.edu.au