README

                             Release notes for Spatial Point Patterns 2.2b  
                                                 July 1,   1995

	Spatial Point Patterns has been developed at the University of Salt Lake City (USA) and at the University of Alicante (Spain). It provides an immediate access to most of the mathematical, statistical and graphical techniques used in the study of spatial point patterns. The program allows collection and analysis of data points that can be introduced either with the aid of a digitizing tablet or directly imported as x,y coordinates from different sources (i.e. from word processors or image analysis software). Although the program includes its own graphics, it also has the option of exporting the data in ASCII format for using by any other graphical or statistical package. A detailed description of the program is presented in : A compiled BASIC program for analysis of spatial point patterns: application to retinal studies by E. Fernandez et al. (1993). Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 50 (1993) 1-15.


New Features of Spatial Point Patterns 2.2b

	-In version 1.0 all the statistical procedures were sequentially run after data input. This was sometimes useless, particularly if you only want to run a determined procedure (Quadrant count analysis, Nearest neighbour analysis, Density recovery analysis,...). The present version lets you choose from a list the analysis you want. 
For it an additional menu item has been added: the Analysis menu. Indeed version 2.2 fixes some bugs found in version 2.1 and improves some of the used routines.

   -The maximum number of points is now 5000. The option Change Default Points is
no longer available.

	- A new option have been added to the Analysis menu: the Neighborship Analysis.
This analysis performs the analysis described in Ahnelt et al. (1989).

The current distribution disk should contain the following files:

	¥ ReadMe: This text.

	¥ Spatial Point Patterns 2.2b: New version of the Spatial Point Patterns software
to use with PowerMacintosh and Macintoshes equipped with at least 128K ROM
and extended memory (Macintosh Plus, Macintosh SE, Performa,...).
	
	¥ Samples: Folder containing the following files:

	         ¥ Random pattern (in microns): Text file sample taken from
              Fernandez et al. (1993): A compiled BASIC program for analysis of
              spatial point patterns: application to retinal studies. J. Neurosci. 
              Meth. 50 (1993) 1-15. Figure 3.

         	¥ Regular pattern (in microns): Text file sample taken from WŠssle 
              and Riemann (1978): The mosaic of nerve cells in the mammalian
              retina. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B., 200: 441-461. Fig. 8 B.

	         ¥ Regular pattern (in millimetres): Text file sample of 42 cell 
              centres in a unit square. Taken from Ripley (1977): Modelling
              spatial patterns (with discussion).  Jl. R. Statist. Soc. B. 39: 
             172-212.
  
	         ¥ Clustered pattern (in pixels): Text file sample of a clustered 
              pattern.

           ¥ Hexagonal pattern (in microns): Text file sample of a hexagonal 
              array of points. 

	       All these files can be read by the program using the File Import option.


Advice on nearest neighbour analysis

	The present program performs an analysis of nearest neighbour distances based upon a histogram of nearest neighbour, and calculates the associate random and normal distribution. The program also makes a chi-square test of goodness of fit with each of the theoretical distribution and gives the statistical significance of the calculed chi values. However sometimes it seems that although our distribution agrees subjectively well with some of the theoretical distributions (random or normal) the result of the chi-square test shows that there is not significant agreement. Usually this is because for the chi-square test the total of observer frequencies (n) should be such that all expected frequencies exceed 5 (most statisticians would not object to same of the expected frequencies being below 5, providing that no more that one-fifth of the total number of expected frequencies is below 5, and none below 1). In this cases you can try to change the width of the interval or simply take the results of the Clark and Evans test with the Donelly correction for edge effects.

Problems?

-If a floppy does not work, it may have been damaged in transit. Return it 
to me for a replacement. 

-This program may conflict with use of the 32 bites addressing, so in same cases
it could be  recommendable to disable this option (and restart the computer) before using it.

-Sometimes the program may conflict with use of Ram Doubler, so if the program crashes
(Error type 1), it could be recommendable to diseable Ram Doubler.

-This software has been designed to run on any Apple Macintosh with at least 128 K ROM and extended memory (Macintosh Plus, Macintosh SE and Macintosh II). If the program does not run on your machine, your machine might not be compatible with the compiler used. However I'm waiting for a new version of the compiler, so I hope to be able to fix this problem soon.

-If you think you have found a bug in the programs, I want to hear from you.  Send me a description of the problem and I'll try to fix it. If I fix a problem for you, future users can avoid it completely. 

	And don't forget: I'd like to hear from you, especially if you have any suggestions for improvements or corrections

	Eduardo Fernandez
	Department of Histology and Institute of Neurosciences
	Faculty of Medicine
	Apdo. Correos 374 
  03080 Alicante (SPAIN)
	E-mail: E.Fernandez@UA.ES