Shooting ranges concentrate significant quantities of heavy metals, especially lead as spent shot and bullets, on very small parcels of land. Samples taken from a shooting range near Blacksburg, VA, USA provide information about the reservoirs and pathways of lead at shooting ranges in an upland setting and humid environment. Metallic lead corrodes rapidly and develops a coating of corrosion products. The type and amount of corrosion products found on lead shot and bullets are best understood through examination of Eh-pH relationships. X-ray diffraction analysis identified hydrocerussite (Pb₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂) as the corrosion phase present on lead shot recovered from the range. Hydrocerussite dissolution can produce soluble lead concentrations ranging from 2 ppb to 2 ppm for the soil pH values at this site. This soluble lead is captured by the soil. Sequential chemical extractions revealed that vertical lead migration beyond the A-horizon was minimal. The bound-to-Fe & Mn oxides and bound-to-carbonates soil fractions were identified as significant reservoirs for sequestration of lead in the soil. The highest concentration of extractable lead contained in the soil was directly correlated with the highest concentration of lead shot and bullets measured on the shotgun range surface. The geochemical framework for understanding the corrosion process, identifying the corrosion product(s) that control lead solubility, and identifying the geochemical barriers to lead migration that were employed at the Blacksburg, VA shotgun range, provides a basis for selecting best management practices for this and other shooting ranges. / Master of Science

A new flying wing design has been developed at the Unmanned Systems Lab (USL) at Virginia Tech to serve delivery and remote sensing applications in the developing world. The fully autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), named EcoSoar, was designed with the goal of creating a business opportunity for local entrepreneurs in low-resource communities. The system was developed in such a way that local fabrication, operation, and maintenance of the aircraft are all possible. In order to present a competitive financial model for sustained drone services, EcoSoar is made with reliable low-cost materials and electronics. This paper lays out the rapid prototyping and flight experiment efforts that went into polishing the design, test results from an EcoSoar centered drone workshop in Kasungu, Malawi, and finally a range optimization study with flight test validation. / Master of Science

Given 2D images, it still remains a big challenge in the field of computer vision to group the image points into logical objects (segmentation) and to determine the locations in the scene (range estimation). Despite the decades of research, a single solution is yet to be found. Through our research we have demonstrated that a possible solution is to use moving aperture lens. This lens has the effect of introducing small, repeating movements of the camera center so that objects appear to translate in the image, by an amount that depends on distance from the plane of focus. Our novel method employs optical flow techniques to an image sequence, captured using a video camera with a moving aperture lens. For a stationary scene, optical flow magnitudes and direction are directly related to the three-dimensional object distance and location from the observer. Exploiting this information, we have successfully extracted objects at different depths and estimated the locations of objects in the scene, with respect to the plane of focus. Our work therefore demonstrates an ability for passive range estimation, without emitting any energy in an environment. Other potential applications include video compression, 3D video broadcast, teleconferencing and autonomous vehicle navigation. / Master of Science

<p>This file contains all U-Pb zircon geochronology results collected at the University of Arizona -  Laserchron Center and Washington State University</p> <p><br></p> <p>Detailed datasets include laser settings and counts per second for each analysis</p> <p><br></p> <p>See summary for all U-Pb detrital zircon analyses for GPS, geographic location, and sample name. This data table can be used for guidance to each raw dataset. Additionally, summary datatable files are grouped into Western, Central, and Eastern Stratigraphic packages. Information sheets provide additional information for U-Pb methods.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Samples: FTUPbICP-1248-1, FTUPbICP-1248-2, FTUPbICP-1248-3  are samples analyzed at Washington State University for Jeffrey Benowitz</p> <p><br></p> <p>All other samples were analyzed at the University of Arizona Laserchron Center <em><strong>( NSF-EAR 1649254</strong></em><strong>  </strong>)</p>

<p>U-Pb zircon results are presented with a U-Pb zircon Datatables for Bedrock Samples excel data sheet that have information for location (GPS and Geographic) and sample information. In addition, raw data formats of each individual sample is included that have additional information about laser settings per analysis.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Note the raw dataset for sample 062618WA-01 is included with two other analyses that are NOT bedrock samples. Use caution.</p> <p><br></p> <p>All analyses were conduction at the University of Arizona LaserChron Center ( <strong>NSF-EAR 1649254 </strong> )</p>

<p>U-Pb zircon datasets for Plutonic Clasts collected from conglomerate are presented first as a summary that includes sample name, GPS location, and datatables for each sample.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Additionally, raw datasets for each sample are included that includes detailed information on laser settings for each analyses</p> <p><br></p> <p>Note: Sample 062618WA-01 is included in one raw dataset as three igneous samples were analyzed on the same sample mount. This particular sample is a bedrock sample. Use caution</p> <p><br></p> <p>All analyses were completed at the University of Arizona Laserchron Center (NSF-EAR 1649254)</p>

<p>This dataset contains results of a palynological study completed by Dr. Robert L. Raven from the IRF Group Inc in December 29, 2018</p> <p><br></p> <p>Palynological analysis was performed on siltstone samples that were collected from 4 outcrops of cenozoic strata from the study area of Chapter 3 in the eastern Alaska Range. This file includes the results of that study and detail about he present pollen assemblages as well as images</p> <p><br></p> <p>Jeffrey Benowitz contracted this work</p>

No / In recent years inverse tone mapping techniques have been proposed for enhancing low-dynamic range (LDR) content for a high-dynamic range (HDR) experience on HDR displays, and for image based lighting. In this paper, we present a psychophysical study to evaluate the performance of inverse (reverse) tone mapping algorithms. Some of these techniques are computationally expensive because they need to resolve quantization problems that can occur when expanding an LDR image. Even if they can be implemented efficiently on hardware, the computational cost can still be high. An alternative is to utilize less complex operators; although these may suffer in terms of accuracy. Our study investigates, firstly, if a high level of complexity is needed for inverse tone mapping and, secondly, if a correlation exists between image content and quality. Two main applications have been considered: visualization on an HDR monitor and image-based lighting.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / K C Olson / The objective of this series of studies was to examine select factors that affect behavior of beef cattle grazing native-tallgrass rangelands. Mineral supplements with divergent palatability characteristics were delivered to beef cows grazing native tallgrass range during various seasons of the year in order to measure mineral intake, frequency of supplement use, and duration of supplement use. We concluded that molasses-based mineral supplements influenced the activities of grazing cows more strongly than salt-based mineral supplements. These influences extended to the amount of supplement consumed as well as to the frequency, duration, and timing of use. Diet selection preferences of experienced, multiparous beef cows and naïve, primiparous beef cows grazing dormant, native tallgrass pastures were examined also during a short-term winter grazing bout. Naïve, primiparous cows selected more forbs and fewer grasses than experienced, multiparous cows. Previous research indicated that preference for broadleaf plants generally increased with grazing experience; however, these conclusions were based on research with greater-quality forages than those evaluated in our study. The differences in diet selection patterns between experienced, multiparous cows and naïve, primiparous cows during a short-term winter grazing period could be indicative of differences in long-term foraging strategies. In addition, the botanical composition of diets grazed by lactating beef cows with suckling calves and non-pregnant, non-lactating beef cows grazing either burned or unburned native tallgrass prairie during summer were evaluated. There were no differences in botanical diet composition between lactating cows suckling calves and non-lactating cows. In contrast, total graminoid selection was greater on burned (74.2%) than unburned pastures (71.8%) and total forb selection was greater on unburned (28.2%) than burned pastures (25.8%). We interpreted these data to suggest that forage selection preferences of beef cows can be altered with spring burning of native tallgrass pastures. Effects of large, round hay bale feeding method on intake of smooth bromegrass hay and eating behavior by beef cows were examined on dormant tallgrass prairie pastures during winter. Three large, round hay bale-feeding systems were evaluated: bales fed in a ring feeder, bales unrolled on the ground, and bales chopped with a flail-type hay processor (20-cm particle length) and deposited on the ground. Hay intake, hay refusal, frequency of use, and duration of use were not influenced by hay-feeding method. Foraging behaviors of beef cows in our studies were influenced by supplement type, cow age, and prescribed burning of rangeland. Conversely, foraging behaviors of beef cows were not influenced by lactation or by hay-feeding method.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Walter H. Fick / Rough-leaved dogwood (Cornus Drummondii Meyer) is one of the most invasive woody plants in rangeland of Kansas. Reduced prescribed burning due to drought and urban encroachment probably has contributed to its spread. Herbicides are commonly recommended for control of rough-leaved dogwood, but minimal data exists for recommendation development. Ten herbicide treatments were applied in June during late flowering at two locations in northeast Kansas in 2005 and 2006. Each treatment was replicated three times in a randomized complete block design with individual plot sizes of 3 x 3 m. Herbicides were applied with hand sprayers in 1017 L/ha solution. Visual evaluations of defoliation were made about 1 and 12 months after treatment (MAT) and mortality was estimated about 1 year after treatment (YAT). Defoliation 1 MAT varied among herbicides with significant location by year and herbicide by year interactions. Treatments providing greater than 70% defoliation 12 MAT both years were triclopyr + 2,4-D (1.12 + 1.06 kg ae/ha), triclopyr + fluroxypyr (1.83 + 0.61 kg ae/ha), picloram + fluroxypyr (0.41 + 0.41 and 0.82 + 0.82 kg ae/ha), and picloram + 2,4-D + triclopyr (0.66 + 2.44 + 2.44 kg ae/ha). Rough-leaved dogwood is difficult to control with a single herbicide application, but treatments exist that will substantially reduce stands. Tebuthiuron pellets (Spike 20P) are another control measure recommended for rough-leaved dogwood. Treatments of 4.4 kg ai/ha (3/4 oz per 100 square feet) tebuthiuron pellets were applied in December 2004. A visual estimate of control indicated tebuthiuron reduced dogwood cover by 65% compared to a 3% decrease on untreated plots. Dogwood density was reduced by 2.2 stems/m2 (P<0.08). Total woody plant cover increased on untreated plots by 6.2 percentage units, but was decreased by 20.9 percentage units on tebuthiuron treated plots. Other woody plants decreased in both treated and untreated plots. Shading by a large elm tree likely caused variation between replications including increases in cover and density of rough-leaved dogwood on treated plots. Tebuthiuron is a photosynthetic inhibitor that often is not effective on shaded plants. Tebuthiuron pellets applied at 4.4 kg ai/ha was an effective control option for unshaded rough-leaved dogwood.