Daniel R Peterson
Histopathology Section Head
General Medical Laboratories
36 S. Brooks St.
Madison, WI 53715
1dpeterson@meriter.com
608(267-6557)

>>> HistoNet Server  08/24/01 07:18AM >>>
Your address has been added to the addresses that comprise this  Listserv
List.
Welcome to HISTONET. This is an electronic mailing list for the exchange of
information pertaining to histotechnology and related fields. 

PLEASE SAVE THIS MESSAGE. 	
It contains useful information about how to use the list and what to do if you
experience problems. It also includes some basic rules for email etiquette
(Netiquette) which will be helpful to those who are new to this form of
communication.

WHAT IS A LISTSERVER?
A list server is a computer that runs software which will receive incoming
electronic mail (email) messages and reroute them automatically to everyone on
the subscriber list. Email uses the vast expanse of the Internet to allow
almost instantaneous communication between networked computers around the
world. Our system uses the LISTSTAR software from Quarterdeck Corporation
(California) and can currently send about 30 messages a minute.  With the
present number of subscribers, we are processing about 10,000 outbound
messages a day.

WHO SHOULD SUBSCRIBE?
Anyone interested in research or clinical applications of histology,
immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridization pathology, and electron microscopy
may find Histonet informative and useful. Currently, there are more than 850
subscribers from all over the world. Subscribers include hospital employees
from major urban centers and obscure remote locales, university researchers,
botanists and the employees of commercial laboratories, government agencies,
veterinary facilities and a wide variety of commercial industrial ventures. 

WHO RUNS HISTONET?
The list is run by Linda R. Margraf, M.D. and Herb K. Hagler, Ph.D. using
hardware and software owned by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical
School, Department of Pathology in Dallas, Texas. If you have any questions or
problems with Histonet please contact Linda Margraf at
LMargraf@childmed.dallas.tx.us.

HOW DOES THE LIST WORK?
This server, unlike many systems, uses ONLY ONE ADDRESS to send commands to
the computer and to post messages. The server will recognize commands sent in
the SUBJECT line of the message and only when they are spelled exactly as
listed below. Anything not identified as a command will be circulated to
EVERYONE on the list.

The following is a list of commands the server recognizes:

subscribe
 Your address will be added to the list of subscribers. You will then be able
to send messages to this list that will be forwarded to all other list
subscribers. You will begin to receive all messages sent to the list by other
subscribers.

subscribe digest
 Your address will be added to the list of subscribers who receive a digest
instead of each forwarded message. A digest is a compilation of all the
messages received in a 24 hour period. It is sent to the digest subscribers
every night after midnight. Digest subscribers can post and respond to
messages the same as "real-time" subscribers.

digests
 A list of available digests will be returned to you. Histonet stores old
messages as daily digests for approximately three  months. To read previous
messages, copy the list of available  digests, mark the dates of interest and
return it to the server.

unsubscribe
 Your address will be removed from the list of subscribers.
 You will no longer be able to send messages to the members
 of the list.

help
 A list of the commands recognized by the server will be   returned to you.

WHAT ARE THE RULES?
You may post any questions you wish pertaining to histology, pathology,
in-situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry etc. Equipment and reagent
evaluations, laboratory management issues, government regulations, and job
opportunities are all appropriate topics. The University asks that we restrict
the use of its hardware and software to business purposes only (occasional
jokes do slip through but PLEASE use restraint). Vendors and those with
commercial interests in histology products are welcome contributors however,
we ask that blatant advertisements be avoided at all times. It is fine to
refer to product that your company produces if it is pertinent to a topic
being discussed on the list. Unsolicited advertisements are poorly tolerated
by the members and you will likely receive a number of negative comments if
you overstep the boundaries. Please contact Linda Margraf at
LMargraf@childmed.dallas.tx.us if you are not sure about the appropriateness
if a message you wish to post.


BASIC HISTONET "NETIQUETTE"
It is most helpful to the list members if you post your responses to queries
to everyone on the list and not just as a personal reply to the person asking
the question. That way duplicate messages are minimized and we all learn from
each other's comments.

Likewise, if you post a question and get a number of responses back directly
to you, it is helpful to everyone if you could send out a summary of the
replies you got to Histonet.

Please avoid abbreviations unless they are explained in your message. For
example: immunohistochemistry (IHC). This list circulates to a wide variety of
individuals and what seems obvious to you may have no meaning on the other
side of the world.

Please sign your letter and include your institution or affiliation and
location. Not all email systems have headers which identify the sender.

Do use the subject line to indicate the topic of your message. 

DON'T USE ONLY CAPITAL LETTERS -it is considered shouting. 

Please send questions and problems about the list directly to Linda Margraf at
LMargraf@childmed.dallas.tx.us and don't circulate them to the >850
subscribers on the list. Be careful when sending commands to the server to put
the command in the SUBJECT LINE and spell it correctly.

Please do not send images as attachments with your message. We can now post
images at our web site (http://pathcuri1.swmed.edu). To have an image posted
send it to Herb Hagler at herb.hagler@email.swmed.edu. 




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