The USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection, is responsible for maintaining an ORACLE database named the Southern Pine Beetle Information System (SPBIS). SPBIS was designed to store survey data for Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) infestations on federal land across the southern United States. The main purpose of this project is to improve the SPBIS database to aid in management of SPB infestations to reduce losses, to harvest compromised timber while it still has value, and to assist resource managers in preventing further infestations from becoming established. The SPBIS mobile mapping system addresses current problems with the database and offers viable solutions to each. Mobile mapping technology is a versatile tool, which is used to collect field data, with unique geospatial time tags and attributes, for integrating into or updating a GIS (Rasher 2001). The ability to efficiently collect data is essential to developing a useable database. The time required to manually enter data into the database is substantial. Ranger district personnel often do not have the time or the desire to enter data. Currently, the database is lacking years of survey and infestation data due to these negligent data entry practices, limiting the usefulness database. Currently, SPBIS data is recorded on a paper survey form. This system introduces a digital version of this form. A time study conducted to define the efficiency of each survey showed that the digital form to be more efficient with a Mann-Whitney p- value of 0.004. A comparative study was conducted to define the difference between currently estimated SPB infestation acreage and those measured using GPS. A Mann-Whitney pvalue of 0.000 shows the significant difference between the two acreage values. GPS measured acreage proved to be more accurate thus promoting the use of GPS for measuring acreage. Navigation us ing GPS coordinates was successful and will greatly decrease the time required to locate a SPB infestation on the ground. This thesis describes a mobile mapping system designed specifically to remedy the problems associated with SPBIS. This system eliminates the need for manual entry of field-collected data, while improving field data collection in terms of efficiency and accuracy.

This artist??s area of research is the appropriate use of matte paintings within the context of completely computer generated films. The emphasis of research is the adaptation of analog techniques and paradigms into a digital production workspace. The purpose of this artist??s research is the development of an original method of parenting perspective projections to three-dimensional (3D) cameras, specifically tailored to result in 3D matte paintings. Research includes the demonstration of techniques combining two-dimensional (2D) paintings, 3D props and sets, as well as camera projections onto primitive geometry to achieve a convincing final composite.

The chromosomal location of endocrine genes was established, and relationships between expression of specific endocrine genes and measures of testis function in normal and poor semen quality stallions was assessed. Consensus primer sequences for glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) were used to screen the CHORI-241 equine bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library. The identity of PCR-positive BAC clones was confirmed by sequencing. Verified BACs were mapped to horse metaphase chromosome spreads by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The BACs containing the GR and LHR were localized by FISH to ECA 14q16-q21 and ECA15q22-q23, respectively. In addition to FISH mapping, the 5000rad horse x hamster radiation hybrid (RH) panel was screened in duplicate. Two-point linkage analysis placed GR 0 cR from LEX047, while LHR was 36.67 cR from TKY011 on ECA14 and ECA15, respectively. Total testicular parenchymal weight, mean daily sperm production (DSP) per gram parenchyma and mean apoptotic rate (406.05 ± 24.33g vs. 180.01 ± 34.41g, 15.29 ± 0.87 vs. 10.24 ± 1.10, 6.70 ± 0.88 vs. 14.25 ± 1.11, respectively) differed (P<0.05) between normal (n=8) and poor semen quality (n=5) stallions. Also, plasma estradiol and inhibin concentrations were higher (P<0.05) in normal stallions than in poor semen quality stallions. Testicular expression of estrogen receptor beta (ER beta), &#946;B inhibin, prolactin receptor (PRLR), growth hormone receptor (GHR) and insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) mRNAs were all lower (P<0.05) in poor semen quality stallions than in normal stallions. The BACs and primers developed in this study will facilitate future investigations of GR and LHR gene structure in the horse as well as providing a resource for physiological investigation of these two genes that are primary regulators of stress responsiveness and fertility. These data add important endocrine genes to the horse cytogenetic map. Also, important hormonal and gene expression changes have been identified in poor semen quality stallions for further investigation.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Department of Statistics, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-68).

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Jena, 1915. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-131). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 173-200). Also available in print.

Thesis--M. Phil., University of Hong Kong, 1986.