Alan H. Fielding

Applications of fractal geometry to biology

The applications of concepts derived from fractal geometry to biological problems are described. Three major applications are identified: modelling of structures; investigation of theoretical problems; and the measurement of complexity. The review concentrates on methods and algorithms, including potential problems, which can be used with biological problems. These algorithms are drawn from a wide range of literature, including some non-biological sources.

A rapid computer technique for analysing molecular interactions

A rapid method for analysing enzyme-substrate interactions using a discriminant analysis program is described. This technique identifies the structural features of substrate molecules which are important in determining metabolic activity. Two model systems, nucleoside diphosphatase activity of Golgi membranes and the interaction of yeast hexokinase with a range of D-sugars, are used as illustrations of the technique. The conclusions from both models are consistent with those previously obtained from analytical techniques.

Expert systems: frames, rules or logic for species identification?

The role of expert systems in species identification, with particular reference to the problems posed by damaged specimens and inexperienced taxonomists, is discussed. Of the three main types of expert systems available, the frame-based system is shown to provide the most appropriate model for a taxonomic expert system rather than a logic- or rule-based system. The advantages of an expert system over other computer-aided methods of identification are considered. A rule-based system requires the original knowledge (species descriptions) to be structured into rules, whereas a frame-based system can store the generic and specific descriptions in a series of frames. The frames fall into a hierarchy which closely resembles the taxonomic hierarchy, and down which information can be inherited. Two aspects of frame-based systems considered are the use of probabilities in identification, and the optimum structure of the knowledge base. The conventional use of probabilities is to provide an indication of the correctness of the result. However, in some studies involving the identification of many specimens, the speed of identification may be increased (with a reduction in accuracy) if identifications are made to a predetermined probability level. Although frames allow accurate representation of the taxonomic hierarchy, a semantic net, incorporating structures of the organism and/or details of the habitat may result in a more efficient expert system.

Matrix algebra routines for the Acorn Archimedes microcomputer: example applications

A set of matrix algebra routines have been written, as BASICV procedures, for the Acorn Archimedes microcomputer. It is shown that these procedures are executed so quickly that programs, which require matrix algebra computations, can be written in interpreted BASIC. Two example applications, reciprocal averaging and principal components analysis, are demonstrated.