Computer Modeling: The Adjunct Micro Technique for Lipids

Chemistry by computer provides access to microsystem information not readily achieved by other means. Simple computational analysis of saturated triglyceride polymorphism by molecular mechanics within constraints provided by X-ray data show that polymethylene interactions determine hydrocarbon crystal properties when they account for more than 60 percent of the total molecular interaction energy. Modeling predicts multiple , nearly equivalent, a -form triglycerides and a -form character in liquid near-crystalline triglycerides. Symmetrical molecules pack better than asymmetric molecules in a-form configurations and transform readily to 13\u27forms if activated sufficiently to disrupt lateral chain interaction and allow dimensional displacements during transformation. The formation of P\u27-forms, thought important for quality in certain foods, may depend on controlling both the configuration of a-form precursors and the sequence of molecular events during the transformation

Taphonomic evidence for Late Pleistocene transitions in coral reef community composition, San Salvador, Bahamas

Over the past 20 years, the composi­ tion of Caribbean coral reef communities has changed drastically. The ecology of modern reefs, however, has only been studied since the late 1950\u27s. Thus, only a thirty year data set on changes in coral community composi­ tion exists with which to assess the current faunal transition. The need for longer term data has been recognized by marine ecologists as essential for determining whether the cur­ rent transition is part of a long tenn cycle or itself is an unprecedented phenomenon. On Telephone Pole Reef, San Salva­ dor, Bahamas, a transition from Acropora cer­ vicornis dominance to that of Porites porites has been observed in recent years. Dead A. cervicornisa specimens found at this locality display high levels of taphonomic alteration, which may serve as a marker for prior transi­ tions of this type in other reefs. It is not known, however, if a transition of this nature occurred in the past. The fossil record provides precisely the database required for answering this ques­ tion. A detailed examination of the fossil reef at Cockburn Town, San Salvador, Bahamas, has been performed in order to evaluate whether it preserves evidence of community transitions analogous to those occurring today. Specimens of fossil corals were collected from six stratigraphic horizons and a variety of ta-phonomic were obtained. Although different styles of preservation characterize specific ho­ rizons in the fossil reef, evidence does not ex­ ist for a Pleistocene precedent for the transi­ tion currently observed offshore

Geology of Rum Cay, Bahamas: A Field Trip Guide

See other Smith authored Field Trip Guides of Gerace Research Centre

Semantic-based Biomedical Image Indexing and Retrieval

This paper summarizes our work and our understanding on volumetric pathological neuroimage retrieval under the framework of classification-driven feature selection. The main effort concerns off-line image feature space reduction for improved image indexing feature discriminating power as well as reduced computational cost during on-line pathological neuroimage retrieval