Asian elephants utilize two chemical signals that have been described to function in reproduction: (1) (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate (Z7-12:Ac) is released by females near ovulation, and (2) frontalin is released by males around the time of musth. Signaling theory posits that the concentration at which either compound is emitted should have implications for the response of the receiver, varying with factors such as sex and reproductive experience. Here, the objectives were to: (1) investigate the effect of concentration on receiver chemosensory behavior in an effort to identify detection thresholds and concentrations of maximum response for reproductively experienced or inexperienced male and female Asian elephants, and (2) characterize the broader behavioral impacts of each of these compounds in an effort for application as environmental enrichment in captive settings. Concentrations from 0.0 mM to 2.0 mM of both frontalin and Z7-12:Ac were bioassayed simultaneously with captive elephants housed at facilities across North America in two experiments: one that tested mid-range concentrations and a second that tested low and high concentrations. There was a general increase in chemosensory response with increasing concentration of both compounds regardless of sex or reproductive experience. Females exhibited a lower detection threshold for frontalin, and the opposite was true for males with Z7-12:Ac. Reproductive experience also influenced thresholds: inexperienced males had a higher threshold than experienced males for frontalin (the same was true for females), and experienced males were able to detect Z7-12:Ac samples as low as 10–7 mM. Aside from inexperienced males, all elephants responded maximally to the 1.0 mM samples of both compounds. Elephants exposed to mid-range concentrations of either compound showed no notable changes in behavior after application of the signals, although inexperienced males spent less time inactive and more time walking after frontalin bioassays, and inexperienced females foraged more after exposure to Z7-12:Ac. Interpreted together, this suggests that the concentration at which either compound is emitted has strong implications for chemosensory response based on the identity of the receiver in Asian elephants, although it is unclear whether these compounds have other behavioral effects that can be targeted for a goal-oriented olfactory enrichment program.

This thesis presents a comparative analysis of various low-frequency sonar signature representations and their ability to discriminate between proud targets of varying physical parameters. The signature representations used include: synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) beamformed images, acoustic color plot images, and bispectral images. A relative Mean-Square Error (rMSE) performance metric and an effective Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNReff) performance metric have been developed and implemented to quantify the target differentiation. The analysis is performed on a subset of the synthetic sonar stave data provided by the Naval Surface Warfare Center - Panama City Division (NSWC-PCD). The subset is limited to aluminum and stainless steel, thin-shell, spherical targets in contact with the seafloor (proud). It is determined that the SAS signature representation provides the best, least ambiguous, target differentiation with a minimum mismatch difference of 14.5802 dB. The acoustic color plot and bispectrum representations resulted in a minimum difference of 9.1139 dB and 1.8829 dB, respectively / by Brenton Mallen. / Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2012. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Abstract not available

Naveed Akhtar Malik. / Originally published as thesis (Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Sc.D., 1981). / Bibliography: p. 115-117.

Based on a Ph.D. thesis in the Dept. of Electrical Engineering, 1970. / Bibliography: p. 122-123.

Also issued as a Ph.D. thesis in the Dept. of Electrical Engineering, 1969. / Bibliography: p.113-117.

Issued also as a Sc.D. thesis in the Dept. of Electrical Engineering, 1968. / Bibliography: p.103-104.

Based on a Ph.D. thesis in the Dept. of Electrical Engineering, 1968. / Bibliography: p.125-126.

Simulation and experiments quantify the effect of moving a horizontal dipole antenna close to a metal ground plane. Solutions to the radiation problems are offered.

¡§Introductory Price¡¨ is a quality signal used in the service introductory period, implying consumers that introductory price brought the loss to service providers. Consumers will guess service providers wish them repurchase the service to recover their loss, so the service should be higher quality and higher value. Past researchers¡¦ empirical studies about signal theory mostly focused on products. Therefore, the objective of this study is to verify whether ¡§Introductory Price¡¨ is an effective quality signal in service industry, and find out other potential variables which have moderate effect with ¡§Introductory Price¡¨. This study use experimental design to examine consumers¡¦ perceived quality, perceived sacrifice, perceived value, and purchase intention when they hear about the introductory price information of new service. Besides, this study use ¡§Price estimate¡¨ to develop a new concept ¡§Relative Introductory Price¡¨. ¡§Introductory Price¡¨, ¡§Competitor¡¦s Price Information¡¨, and ¡§Cost Information¡¨ will influence ¡§Relative Introductory Price¡¨, which will influence the consumers¡¦ perceived quality. The result shows that even though consumers can¡¦t differentiate the introductory price and long-term price, and still think ¡§low price means low quality¡¨, but other price information still has the moderate effect with ¡§Introductory Price¡¨ to influence the ¡§Relative Introductory Price¡¨. Besides, the service providers in Taiwan used to make a high origin price. This kind of pricing style makes existence of other price information become more important.