REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD)
unmoderated group sci.bio.immunocytochem
This is the 2nd Request For Discussion (RFD) for the creation of a
world-wide unmoderated Usenet newsgroup sci.bio.immunocytochem,
currently being discussed in news.groups
Suggestions for improvements to this proposal are welcome. Discussion
about it should take place in news.groups. A vote is expected to be
held in about three to four weeks.
This is not a Call for Votes (CFV); you cannot vote at this time.
Procedural details are below.
CHANGES from previous RFD:
2nd RFD posted because more than 60 days have elapsed since 1st RFD.
There are (minor changes in Distribution and Newsgroup line.
Newsgroup line:
sci.bio.immunocytochem Immuno-labelling of biological material.
RATIONALE: sci.bio.immunocytochem
Immunohistochemists and immunocytochemists already enjoy the benefits
of online communication, utilizing e-mail, accessing web sites, and
subscribing to specialised mailing lists. Usenet newsgroups are also
popular, but this is less obvious because articles with
immunocytochemical/immunohistochemical content get posted to many
different newsgroups. Most articles are posted to a favourite five or
six newsgroups including bionet.cellbiol, sci.med.immunology and
sci.techniques.microscopy, but often articles get posted to any one of
fourteen or fifteen newsgroups in the sci. and bionet. heirarchies.
Some of these are listed in the distribution list at the end of this
proposal.
In my view, no existing newsgroup fulfils the criteria necessary to
attract all the various immunocytochemistry postings. I do not wish
to draw users away from other newsgroups, only to encourage scientists
to share their knowledge and expertise on immunocytochemistry in the
most effective manner. In response to my proposal to create a
newsgroup dedicated to the discussion of immunocytochemistry and
immunohistochemistry, I have received e-mail and faxes from
researchers all over the world offering their support and
encouragment.
Immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry are not subdivisions of
immunology, molecular biology or chemistry. Microscopy, although
essential, is only a small part of the story. Immunocytochemistry and
immunohistochemistry are multi- disciplinary, therefore discussions
are destined to stay distributed amongst the different newsgroups
until they are all brought together under one umbrella. This would
then act as a focus point for all the immunocytochemists who are
already Internet users, and encourage new subscribers to Usenet.
CHARTER: sci.bio.immunocytochem
This is a newsgroup for the exchange of information relating to
immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry. This unique research
tool is used to locate and identify specific molecules in biological
material, at the microscopical level.
Articles posted to this group must be relevant to one or more aspects
of the above. The kind of subjects that may be discussed include
techniques, theory, presentation of results, requests for
collaboration, history, equipment, publication references, notice of
events, tips and trouble-shooting, jobs offered andwanted, jokes,
stories and new ideas, so long as the posting bears a direct relevance
to the central theme. There will be a list of Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) to help newcomers.
A relevant posting could just be a simple question or answer, for
example "Has anyone got any experience with this reagent ?"or "Which
course could I attend to learn more about immunogold labelling?".
There will be articles reminding people to read the list of FAQs prior
to posting their own article. Usenet readers may get involved in
complex discussions about, for example, multiple labelling, proper use
of control experiments, microwave antigen retrieval or quantitative
measurements. Remember that articles posted to a newsgroup are
intended for a wide readership, so if you have information which
concerns only one or two people then please don't use this newsgroup,
use e-mail.
Commercial advertisements for services, equipment or reagents violate
the charter unless one or more of the following apply: (a)The
advertisement is part of a comprehensive article designed specifically
to address issues raised in earlier articles posted to the group (b)A
general reference to the type of product does not suffice for
technical reasons and it is necessary to specify the exact commercial
product (c) The information is offered primarily for the benefit of
the readers (d)The advertisement is for second-hand equipment specific
to immunocytochemistry (e) Requests or offers for free products are
acceptable if they are not part of a sales promotion.
END CHARTER.
PROCEDURE:
This is a request for discussion, not a call for votes. In this phase
of the process, any potential problems with the proposed newsgroups
should be raised and resolved. The discussion period will continue
for a minimum of 21 days (starting from when the 2nd RFD for this
proposal is posted to news.announce.newgroups), after which a Call For
Votes (CFV) may be posted by a neutral vote taker if the discussion
warrants it. Please do not attempt to vote until this happens.
All discussion of this proposal should be posted to news.groups. This
RFD attempts to comply fully with the Usenet newsgroup creation
guidelines outlined in "How to Create a New Usenet Newsgroup" and "How
to Format and Submit a New Group Proposal". Please refer to these
documents (available in news.announce.newgroups) if you have any
questions about the process.
DISTRIBUTION:
This RFD has been posted to the following newsgroups:
news.announce.newgroups,news.groups,bionet.cellbiol,
bionet.diagnostics,bionet.immunology,bionet.microbiology,
bionet.molbio.methds-reagnts,sci.bio.misc,sci.med.immunology,
sci.techniques.microscopy
This RFD will be reposted to the following newsgroups after its
posting in news.announce.newgroups:
bionet.molbio.proteins,bionet.neuroscience,bionet.plants,
sci.bio.microbiology,sci.med,sci.med.laboratory,sci.misc,
sci.nanotech
This RFD will also be reposted to the following mailing lists after
its posting in news.announce.newgroups:
Histonet mailing list: <histonet at pathology.swmed.edu>
Information pertaining to the technical aspects of histology and
histopathology such as tissue fixatives and processing, routine
histology, special stains, immunohistochemistry, in-situ
hybridization etc. To subscribe type "subscribe digest" into the
subject box and leave the text box empty, or to subscribe to the full
service just type "subscribe". For more info access web site
http://www.mwrn.com/subject/histonet.htms
Microscopy Society of America listserver:
Questions/comments/answers in the various fields of Microscopy
Currently over 3000 subscribers. To subscribe send the message
"subscribe" to <Listserver at MSA.Microscopy.Com>
then send messages in plain text to
<Microscopy at MSA.Microscopy.Com>
For more info access web site http://www.amc.anl.gov/
Docs/anl/Nestor/Software/telecommList.html
Stanford University list server
To subscribe, send a message to
<majordomo at pathology.stanford.edu> with "subscribe ipox-l" in
the body of your message. This list helps pathologists and other
laboratory professionals to exchange information about
immunoperoxidase methods.
This RFD will also be reposted to the following web-sites after its
posting in news.announce.newgroups:
Royal Microscope Society
http://www.rms.org.uk
Web Master Dr R. A. D. Mackenzie
<r.a.mackenzie at open.ac.uk>
Center for Cell Imaging Department of Cell Biology
Yale University School of Medicine
Introduction to Immunocytochemistry
http://info.med.yale.edu/cellimg/CCIimmuno.html
Web Master Paul Webster
< paul_webster at yale.edu>
Proponent: Amanda Wilson <awilson at aw.u-net.com>
Proponent: Paul Monaghan < monaghan at icr.ac.uk>
Mentor: Jonathan Grobe <grobe at netins.net>
Amanda Wilson
Deputy Manager, E.M. Unit
St George's Hospital Medical School,
S.W.London, UK
Tel: 0181 725 5220 (work)
e-mail <awilson at aw.u-net.com>
