<p>Rationally selected Comprehensive System (CS; Exner, 1991, 1993, 2003) Rorschach variables and suitability for psychodynamic psychotherapy were investigated in four studies with different designs. The participants comprised three clinical samples (n = 52, 25, and 69) of patients applying for and/or selected for dynamic psychotherapy. With few exceptions the CS variables were the same in the studies, and in all the studies the Rorschach was independent of clinical ratings/assessments and/or selection of patients for treatment. The first study dealt with the relation between 17 rationally selected CS variables and suitability for psychotherapy as represented by ratings of Dynamic Capacity and Ego Strength and by selection of therapy applicants for psychotherapy. The second and third studies concerned CS score differences between groups of patients differing in suitability for dynamic psychotherapy. In the second study, differences for CS variables were predicted for three groups of dynamic psychotherapy patients with mixed diagnoses. In the third study, CS score differences between two groups, differing in suitability but similar in comprising personality disordered patients, were predicted and tested. In the fourth study, correlations were predicted between 18 pre-therapy CS variables and patient post-therapy satisfaction with therapy and also with therapist post-therapy ratings of their patients’ suitability for dynamic therapy. </p><p>For the four studies taken together, positive results were obtained for EA, FC, the D Score, Blends, Zf, F%, MQo, and AG. The results for m, SumT, WSUM6, X-%, S, and FrrF were negative, whereas the results for YFY, FD, COP, and PER were too weak to permit interpretation. </p><p>The main limitation of the research in this thesis is the lack of psychometric data concerning the clinical ratings whereas the strength is the ecological validity. The results are positive for some of the CS variables selected, mainly concerning control and cognition but also touching upon emotional integration and interpersonal forcefulness. The usefulness of the CS in psychotherapy assessment may be enhanced if only those CS variables that are found valid for the purpose are used and general personality descriptions are avoided. </p>

Rio Grande wild turkey (RGWT) abundance in portions of the Edwards Plateau has declined steadily since the late 1970s as compared to other areas of the Edwards Plateau where populations have exhibited no trend. The reasons for this decline remain unclear. Possible factors include changes in habitat, and increased human population. The overall objective of this study was to identify landscape changes and habitat characteristics that affect RGWT populations using spatial analysis and modeling at multiple spatial scales. Specific objectives for this study included the quantification of flood-induced landscape changes between 1972 and 1995 along the Medina River bottomlands and their impact on RGWT habitat, the quantification of landscape characteristics of stable and declining study sites in the Edwards Plateau, and the development and evaluation of a GIS-based habitat-suitability model for female RGWTs during the breeding season that will allow the assessment of the spatial distribution of adequate habitat in the Edwards Plateau.The analysis of the landscape characteristics along the North Prong Medina River due to flooding in 1978 had a negative impact on RGWT habitat. Changes in the spatial distribution of woody cover in the bottomlands and the removal of woody cover along riparian zones most likely limited habitat use and dispersal of RGWT along the North Prong Medina River. The analysis of landscape characteristics in sites with stable and declining of RGWTs populations showed that disturbance and a high proportion of woody cover were important factors influencing RGWT populations in areas where turkey numbers had declined. Landscape attributes were used as habitat variables to develop a habitat-suitability model for female RGWTs during the breeding season. The model performed well in characterizing high-suitability habitat for adult female RGWT during the breeding season in the study areas. The use of two scales relevant to RGWT provided important information about the high-suitability areas for female RGWT in stable and declining sites in the Edwards Plateau.

Rationally selected Comprehensive System (CS; Exner, 1991, 1993, 2003) Rorschach variables and suitability for psychodynamic psychotherapy were investigated in four studies with different designs. The participants comprised three clinical samples (n = 52, 25, and 69) of patients applying for and/or selected for dynamic psychotherapy. With few exceptions the CS variables were the same in the studies, and in all the studies the Rorschach was independent of clinical ratings/assessments and/or selection of patients for treatment. The first study dealt with the relation between 17 rationally selected CS variables and suitability for psychotherapy as represented by ratings of Dynamic Capacity and Ego Strength and by selection of therapy applicants for psychotherapy. The second and third studies concerned CS score differences between groups of patients differing in suitability for dynamic psychotherapy. In the second study, differences for CS variables were predicted for three groups of dynamic psychotherapy patients with mixed diagnoses. In the third study, CS score differences between two groups, differing in suitability but similar in comprising personality disordered patients, were predicted and tested. In the fourth study, correlations were predicted between 18 pre-therapy CS variables and patient post-therapy satisfaction with therapy and also with therapist post-therapy ratings of their patients’ suitability for dynamic therapy. For the four studies taken together, positive results were obtained for EA, FC, the D Score, Blends, Zf, F%, MQo, and AG. The results for m, SumT, WSUM6, X-%, S, and FrrF were negative, whereas the results for YFY, FD, COP, and PER were too weak to permit interpretation. The main limitation of the research in this thesis is the lack of psychometric data concerning the clinical ratings whereas the strength is the ecological validity. The results are positive for some of the CS variables selected, mainly concerning control and cognition but also touching upon emotional integration and interpersonal forcefulness. The usefulness of the CS in psychotherapy assessment may be enhanced if only those CS variables that are found valid for the purpose are used and general personality descriptions are avoided.

The conflict between residential land and agriculture land in China is increasingly sharpened, especially when some urban development began to sprawl to the suburban and rural areas. In order to plan land resources properly, land suitability assessment is often conducted to determine which type of land use is most appropriate for a particular location. <br /><br /> The main objective of this study is to examine how land suitability assessment methods could be used in land planning processes in the Dianchi Drainage Area (DDA) in Southwest China to identify where future residential development should be located. The 1991 Toronto Waterfront Plan and the more recent 2005 Ontario Greenbelt Plan are examined and used to develop a framework which describes the potential for land suitability assessment in the DDA. Data limitations did not permit a suitability analysis to be completed for the DDA, however a description of methodologies for conducting residential land suitability analysis and required data are presented based on a review of relevant literature. The paper concludes with a discussion of the feasibility of land suitability in the DDA and other areas in China and also suggests opportunities for future research.

The conflict between residential land and agriculture land in China is increasingly sharpened, especially when some urban development began to sprawl to the suburban and rural areas. In order to plan land resources properly, land suitability assessment is often conducted to determine which type of land use is most appropriate for a particular location. <br /><br /> The main objective of this study is to examine how land suitability assessment methods could be used in land planning processes in the Dianchi Drainage Area (DDA) in Southwest China to identify where future residential development should be located. The 1991 Toronto Waterfront Plan and the more recent 2005 Ontario Greenbelt Plan are examined and used to develop a framework which describes the potential for land suitability assessment in the DDA. Data limitations did not permit a suitability analysis to be completed for the DDA, however a description of methodologies for conducting residential land suitability analysis and required data are presented based on a review of relevant literature. The paper concludes with a discussion of the feasibility of land suitability in the DDA and other areas in China and also suggests opportunities for future research.

A phenomenon of large, upland breeding colonies of cattle egrets in residential areas of Central Texas has been observed since the early 1960s. These large concentrations of breeding birds can be a nuisance to nearby residents and their management has been difficult. To help understand why cattle egrets choose upland, residential breeding sites, and predict where these might occur, the geographic extent of the phenomenon was bounded within Texas, a habitat suitability model constructed, and reproductive success compared by breeding habitat type to evaluate if residential nesting confers an adaptive advantage.. Records of upland cattle egret colonies were found only in Central Texas, not other parts of the state. The habitat suitability model was constructed using total edge of three land use classes: water, forest, and developed classes. The model classified 78.6 % of upland colonies in very high or high suitability classes and 7.1% of colonies in low or very low suitability classes. This distribution was significantly different than expected considering the overall ratio of suitability scores in the entire raster model (p = 0.036). Nineteen active colonies were found in or bordering the Post Oak Savannah and Blackland Prairie ecoregions. Colonies were in residential, urban, island, and flooded tree and shrub habitat. Nests were found in 12 different tree and shrub species. Residential colonies had more breeding pairs, greater nest survival, and were less productive than non-residential colonies on average, but these differences were not statistically significant. Colonies where nest substrate was removed were not reused and no breeding was initiated nearby the next year. Propane cannons discouraged reuse of colony after prolonged application. Herons and egrets likely use residential sites when wetland habitats are limited. Their overall breeding distribution reflects state wide rainfall and wetland availability patterns with upland nesting in Central Texas, wetland nesting in eastern and coastal regions, and little large scale nesting in western Texas. Egrets and herons may use edges of development as breeding sites to limit predation by ground predators when flooded tree and shrub or island habitats are absent, but this hypothesis needs more testing.

Rio Grande wild turkey (RGWT) abundance in portions of the Edwards Plateau has declined steadily since the late 1970s as compared to other areas of the Edwards Plateau where populations have exhibited no trend. The reasons for this decline remain unclear. Possible factors include changes in habitat, and increased human population. The overall objective of this study was to identify landscape changes and habitat characteristics that affect RGWT populations using spatial analysis and modeling at multiple spatial scales. Specific objectives for this study included the quantification of flood-induced landscape changes between 1972 and 1995 along the Medina River bottomlands and their impact on RGWT habitat, the quantification of landscape characteristics of stable and declining study sites in the Edwards Plateau, and the development and evaluation of a GIS-based habitat-suitability model for female RGWTs during the breeding season that will allow the assessment of the spatial distribution of adequate habitat in the Edwards Plateau.The analysis of the landscape characteristics along the North Prong Medina River due to flooding in 1978 had a negative impact on RGWT habitat. Changes in the spatial distribution of woody cover in the bottomlands and the removal of woody cover along riparian zones most likely limited habitat use and dispersal of RGWT along the North Prong Medina River. The analysis of landscape characteristics in sites with stable and declining of RGWTs populations showed that disturbance and a high proportion of woody cover were important factors influencing RGWT populations in areas where turkey numbers had declined. Landscape attributes were used as habitat variables to develop a habitat-suitability model for female RGWTs during the breeding season. The model performed well in characterizing high-suitability habitat for adult female RGWT during the breeding season in the study areas. The use of two scales relevant to RGWT provided important information about the high-suitability areas for female RGWT in stable and declining sites in the Edwards Plateau.

Large carnivores in the United States are making a comeback following decades of systematic eradication. Black bears (Ursus americanus), cougars (Puma concolor), and gray wolves (Canis lupus) may recolonize the midwestern United States provided there is substantial suitable habitat. However, viability of large carnivore populations is as dependent on social acceptance as on biological factors. I developed individual and combined models of suitable habitat for black bears, cougars, and wolves in 18 midwestern states using geospatial data, expert-opinion surveys, and multi-criteria evaluation. I also assessed attitudes and perceptions of Illinois citizens about large carnivores via a mail-in survey. Experts indicated land cover was the most important variable for predicting potential habitat for black bears and cougars; human density was the most influential variable for wolves. Large, contiguous areas of suitable habitat comprised 35%, 21%, and 13% of the study region for wolves, bears, and cougars, respectively. About 12% of the region was considered suitable for all 3 species. Arkansas, Minnesota, Texas, and Wisconsin had the highest proportions (>40%) of suitable habitat for black bears; Arkansas, Michigan, Missouri, Texas, and Wisconsin had the most (≥20%) suitable cougar habitat; and only 4 states in the study region contained <29% suitable wolf habitat. Models were validated by comparing suitability values of independent sets of known carnivore locations to those of random locations, and models appeared accurate. More than 70% of survey respondents (n = 791) were male and their average age was 60; 55% were hunters. Approximately 40% were unsure about the population status of large carnivores in Illinois; of the remaining respondents, most (ranging from 20% for black bears to 41% for cougars) believed the presence of all 3 species had increased over the past decade. More residents supported protection (43%) and increasing numbers of large carnivores (39%) than opposed them (26%), although support for black bears was slightly higher than for cougars and wolves. Rural residents and livestock owners were the most likely to want carnivore numbers to decrease and least likely to support their protection; higher levels of education corresponded to positive attitudes toward large carnivores. My research provides the foundation for well-informed management plans, policy decisions, and educational initiatives for large carnivores in midwestern states where large carnivore populations have been absent for decades.

During last decade UML have to face different tricky challenges. For instance as a single unified, general purpose modeling language it should offer simple and explicit semantic which can be applicable to wide range of domains. Due to significant shift of focus from software to system “software-centric” attitude of UML has been exposed. So need of certain domain specific language is always there which can address problems of system rather then software only i.e. motivation for SysML. In this thesis SysML is evaluated to analyze its suitability for system engineering applications. A evaluation criteria is established, through which appropriateness of SysML is observed over system development life cycle. The study is conducted by taking case example of real life i.e. automobile product. Results of research not only provide an opportunity to get inside into SysML architecture but also offer an idea of SysML appropriateness for multidisciplinary product development

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture, Regional and Community Planning / Stephanie A. Rolley / This paper presents a model which identifies areas in state parks most susceptible to recreation related degradation. Factors of soil capability class rankings, slope, native vegetation presence, rangeland productivity, visitation, and revenue are overlaid in a weighted raster model to extract those land parcels within Glen Elder State Park, Kansas, which have the highest susceptibility to environmental degradation and greatest potential to generate high revenue. Park user characteristics stored in an attribute table are related to vulnerable parcels so park managers can develop management or mitigation strategies reflecting the strength of environmental, social, or economic interactions in an area.