This study was directed to improve our understanding of the ecology of Swiss needle cast (SNC) of Douglas-fir, a disease that produces extensive damage to forests and plantation in the coastal region of Oregon and Washington. A disease prediction model for the coastal area of Oregon was built by establishing the relationship between the distribution of disease severity and the environment. Currently available methods of determining the distribution of SNC were analyzed, and the possibility of mapping the disease using Landsat TM satellite images was explored. Two types of regression approaches were used to study the relationship between disease severity and climate, topography, soil and forest stand characteristics. Although both types provided useful information and insight, the multiple regression approach was chosen over the regression tree analysis to build the model, due to its capacity to produce a continuous prediction response. Fog occurrence, precipitation, temperature, elevation and slope aspect, were the variables that contributed to explain most of the disease severity variability. Findings agree with and formalize our previous understanding of the ecology of SNC: cool and wet conditions in summer appear to increase disease severity. When the model was applied to past climate conditions, retrospective predictions suggest that changes in climate in the last two decades could help to explain the observed recent regional increase in SNC disease severity. The resulting model was used to construct a disease prediction map. This map showed an accuracy equivalent to the currently available SNC aerial survey. The prediction model, however, is able to produce a continuous prediction surface, more suitable for testing and appropriate for assisting in disease management and research. A strong relationship between mature stand canopy defoliation and the Landsat TM indices greenness and brightness, indicates that it is possible to use satellite imagery to map SNC. In contrast, young stands showed high variability, most likely due to the relatively high proportion of exposed understory vegetation. The possibility of mapping stand defoliation is of great importance because this symptom can be directly linked to tree growth and forest productivity. Satellite imagery can be used in future and in retrospective disease mapping. / Graduation date: 2002

In 1996, Beach et al. first proposed the idea of mounting an echo-sounder on a Waverunner to measure nearshore beach profiles. This thesis discusses the Coastal Profiling System, an extension of the original work, which has been utilized to measure nearshore bathymetry at selected sites along the coasts of North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington. Position of the Coastal Profiling System is accurately measured five times per second using a differential global positioning system (DGPS), while depth below the hull is measured by an acoustic echo-sounder. Surveys can be conducted in waves up to 3 m and in depths of 1-15 m. The effects of waves, tides, and set-up are eliminated by the co-collection of position and depth data. In October 1997, extensive testing of the system took place at the SandyDuck '97 field experiment in Duck, NC. Nearshore bathymetric surveys were taken simultaneously by the Coastal Research Amphibious Buggy (CRAB) and the Coastal Profiling System (CPS). Comparison of the CPS with CRAB measurements interpolated to the same locations showed a mean bias of 4.6 cm too shallow in the vertical and standard deviations about the bias of 5.5 cm. The largest differences occur over the steeply sloping flanks of sand bars. The bias statistic, of central interest to these tests, is confused by the potential of boat tilt and by possible errors in the CRAB data itself. In July & August 1998, the system was tested as a tool for long-term coastal monitoring by the Southwest Washington Coastal Erosion Study in a regional morphology monitoring program (Ruggiero et al., 1997). A 2-3 km section in approximately the center of each of the four sub-cells of the Columbia River littoral cell, and an anomalous fifth site, was surveyed to map the morphology of each region. Alongshore-averaged profiles were decomposed into underlying AX[superscript m] profiles and deviations from this equilibrium profile. The mean of the exponents was close to 2/3 with m=0.70, but ranged between sites from 0.56 to 0.79. Shape parameters between 0.027 and 0.038 were estimated. Nearshore slopes (0-1 km cross-shore) were calculated from the exponential profile in the dissipative range with a minimum of 0.0067 and a maximum of 0.0089. However, no correlation was seen between the shape parameters and the 1 km nearshore slopes. An analysis of the deviations of the alongshore-averaged profiles from the equilibrium profile provided an objective method to determine sand bar positions from zero-down-crossings. Each site was characterized by a minimum of two sand bars in 2-6.5 m (NAVD 88) depths with heights of 0.2-2 m, lengths of 164-949 m and volumes of 48-534 m��/m. An additional bar in the swash zone between the +1 m elevation and 1 m depth contour was resolved in some cross-shore profiles. The crest of the bar largest in height was located at 3-4.5 NAVD 88 m at four of the five sites suggesting the profiles vary on similar cross-shore length scales amongst the sub-cells. A series of surveys in April, June, and October 1998 at the northern most site in Ocean City, WA demonstrated onshore bar migration and seaward accretion of the foreshore. This seasonal response was further quantified between August and October at Fort Canby. Three nearshore profiles surveyed by Willard Bascom et al. (1954) in the 1940s were reoccupied to compare the shape of the morphology 50 years ago to present. These profiles demonstrate accretion of approximately 2 m elevation gains in the nearshore and 26-165 m of shoreline change. Although the Coastal Profiling System is a highly accurate, mobile and efficient method to obtain nearshore profiles, several improvements have been suggested. Future modifications to the system should include an increase in the precision of the echo-sounder measurements, higher sampling rates, and improvement of the user interface. Additional components may include an onboard navigation system, a thermister to measure temperature and salinity, and a motion sensor to measure roll and pitch of the vehicle. / Graduation date: 1999

The phylogenetic diversity of two continental shelf picoplankton communities was examined by analyzing SSU (16S) ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes amplified from environmental DNA with bacterial-specific primers and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Picoplankton populations collected from the pycnocline (10 m) over the eastern continental shelf of the United States near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and surface seawater (10 m) from the western continental shelf of the United States 8 km west of Yaquina Head, Oregon, served as sources of bulk nucleic acids used in this study. A total of 285 SSU rRNA gene clones were analyzed in the two libraries, more than doubling the number previously available from seawater samples. In contrast to previous studies of bacterioplankton diversity from the open-ocean, a large proportion of the rDNA clones recovered in this study (38%) were related to plastid SSU rRNA genes, including plastids from bacillariophyte, prymnesiophyte, cryptophyte, chrysophyte, and prasinophyte algae, as well as a number of unique plastid rRNA gene clones for which no close phylogenetic relatives were discovered. A majority of the bacterial gene clones recovered (72% of bacterial clones) were closely related to rRNA gene lineages discovered previously in clone libraries from open-ocean marine habitats, including the SAR86 cluster (�� Proteobacteria), SAR83, SAR11, and SAR116 clusters (all �� Proteobacteria), the marine Gram-positive cluster (Actinomycetes), the marine group A/SAR406 cluster, and a cluster of environmental clones within the flexibacter-cytophaga-bacteroides phylum. A majority of the remaining bacterial clones were phylogenetically related to the �� and �� subclasses of the Proteobacteria, including an rDNA lineage within the Type I methylotroph Glade of the �� subclass. The abundance of plastid rDNAs and the lack of cyanobacterial-related clones, as well as the presence of �� Proteobacteria, are features of these coastal picoplankton gene clone libraries which distinguish them from similar studies of oligotrophic open-ocean sites. Overall, however, these data indicate that a limited number of as yet uncultured bacterioplankton lineages, related to those previously observed in the open-ocean, can account for the majority of cells in these coastal marine bacterioplankton assemblages. / Graduation date: 1998

Graduation date: 1966

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) along the Florida coast have been reported for many decades. Karenia brevis is a red tide species on the West Florida Shelf, producing a suite of toxins called brevetoxins that adversely affect marine organisms and humans. Dinoflagellate cysts have been studied as a tool for red tide studies since the location where cysts accumulate in the sediments and the size of the seed beds can be important for potential blooms. However, little attention has been paid on the dinoflagellate cysts on the West Florida Coast. This study describes the distribution of dinoflagellate cysts along the West Florida Coast and proposes the possibility of Karenia brevis cysts. Samples were collected with a box corer July 17-29 and October 5-17, 2009. Overall cyst concentrations are low. The sediments along the West Florida Coast compose of coarse-sized grains that generate large-sized pores. Thus, cysts in the coarse-grained sediments might easily move along with turbulence or water movements flowing above the sediments. Cyst concentrations gradually increased shoreward. The hydrographic features along the West Florida Coast are influenced by the coastal current. Southward coastal current flowed during two cruises might drive a subsequent offshore Ekman transport which might lead to a coastal upwelling, thereby transporting bottom sediments closer to the coast. Thus, cyst concentration was higher inshore compared to that offshore. The average concentration of heterotrophic dinoflagellate cysts was higher in July than that in October, whereas autotrophic dinoflagellate cysts did not have a noticeable difference between July and October. The heterotrophic group is dominated by a protoperidinioid group that mainly feeds on diatoms. The abundance of protoperidinioid was higher in July than in October and other groups have similar abundance between two periods. The highest abundance of diatoms is in June, July and August, whereas the lowest was in October, November and May. Therefore, the decrease in the abundance of protoperidinioid cysts correlates with the lower food supply for their motile cells. Based on a morphological similarity to a Karenia brevis cyst detected in culture by Walker (1982) and a morphological difference from other species belonging to the same genus, cysts that are probably Karenia brevis have been identified.

Discusses the contributions made by the atlas to our understanding and appreciation of Coast Salish history and culture and its intertwined relationship with newcomer history beginning in the late 18th Century. / The complete published book with images is available from ebrary to those who have access. Smith's chapter appears on pages 241-268. http://site.ebrary.com/lib/usask/docDetail.action?docID=10512806

Este trabajo presenta un marco metodológico para la estimación de la vulnerabilidad costera al impacto de tormentas a dos escalas, regional y local. Se hace una evaluación de la vulnerabilidad costera física mediante la cuantificación de dos componentes: erosión e inundación. Posteriormente, ambos elementos son integrados en un Índice de Vulnerabilidad Costera. La metodología desarrollada cubre los siguientes pasos: (i) clasificación de tormentas, (ii) evaluación de la respuesta inducida en la playa -inundación y erosión- (iii) caracterización de las playas en la zona de estudio (iv) definición del índice de vulnerabilidad costera y (v) evaluación de la vulnerabilidad costera. Estos pasos han sido derivados y aplicados a la costa catalana (Mediterráneo Noroccidental español) y pueden ser adaptados a otras costas. Los resultados obtenidos pueden ser fácilmente utilizados por los gestores costeros para identificar zonas costeras sensibles a una clase de tormenta dada y sus procesos inducidos (inundación, erosión o la combinación de ambos) para decidir donde tomar acciones para mitigar estos impactos. / This work presents a methodological framework for the estimation of coastal vulnerability to storm impacts at two scales, regional and local. It estimates the physical coastal vulnerability through the quantification of two components: erosion and flooding. Afterwards the two elements are integrated into the so called Coastal Vulnerability Index. The methodological process covers the following steps: (i) storm classification, (ii) evaluation of the induced beach response -flood and erosion-, (iii) coastal zone characterization, (iv) definition of a coastal vulnerability index to storms and (v) assessment of the coastal vulnerability. These steps have been derived and applied to the Catalan coast (NW Spanish Mediterranean) and can be adapted to other coasts. The obtained results can be used by coastal managers in an easy manner to identify sensitive coastal stretches for a given storm class and the induced processes (flooding, erosion or combination of both) with the purpose to take actions and mitigate these impacts.

ABSTRACT Over the past 40 years, the economic development has enabled our country to shift from an agriculture-based society to an industry & commerce-based one. In recent years, we have even been ranked one of leading countries involved in external trade. Of the island-type economy, our country highly relies on import to provide the goods which we fail to produce or afford. To ensure our security, maintain the economic order and public interest, and be in line with international trade norms, the government often formulates a variety of measures to control the people¡¦s economic activities. As the enforcement of control strategy narrows the imported goods, the smuggling becomes an access to seeking the substantial profit. That gives rise to more and more rampant smuggling in our country. In response to the economic development, social pattern, market needs and entry into WTO, we have sharply changed both customs policy and tariff rate structure. Moreover, large quantities of articles smuggled are transformed from the past foods, Chinese herbal medicines, textiles and cosmetics to nowaday wine & tobaccos, agricultural products, high-tech products, poisons and weapons, and the way of smuggling, from crew member to container and fishing boat. The act of smuggling constitutes economic crime, which is the part of underground economic activities. The activity of smuggling disrupts the domestic order of economy, destroys the governmental policy of control and influences the income of tariff. The smuggling of poisons and weapons even endangers the people¡¦s health, social safety and national security. The damage resulting from smuggling crime is far more serious than other criminality. Thus, it is the most urgent to analyze the factors contributing to smuggling and further put forth the management strategy for the government¡¦s reference. In this study, I first gather the major cases of smugglers arrested over the past years, then make use of the approaches such as documentary analysis, deep interview and empirical analysis to analyze the factors contributing to smuggling and next focus upon the factors to explore the management strategy of smuggling and submit the proposal. The results of research reveals that the primary factors contributing to smuggling are inclusive of high tax rate structure, the governmental enforcement of control and the existence of underground economic market. In addition, the governmental poor execution and lack of anti-smuggling manpower and equipment enable the smuggling activities to increase. According to the empirical analysis, if the coefficient for the impact of smuggling act happening during the preceding first and second terms on current smuggling act indicates positive, the learning effect of smuggling act occurring during the preceding first and second terms exists but is not so conspicuous. The coefficient of criminal case uncovering rate is negative, meaning if the uncovering rate is high, the smuggling act will reduce but the degree of influence is unconspicuous. Furthermore, the coefficient for the impact of police administration expenses incurred during the preceding first, second and fourth terms on the current expense is positive, signifying the learning effect of police administration expense exists but is conspicuous for the preceding first term with the coefficient of over 5%. The coefficient of average real income per capita is positive but unconspicuous. That signifies police administration expense is affected by income as well but the degree of influence is unconspicuous. Research comes to the conclusion that the government should measure the domestic productivity and market needs to moderately lift the ban on more smuggled goods or lower tax rate and work out rent seeking problem arising from control or high tax rate through the economic means. Besides, the government should list the budget for arresting smugglers to strengthen educational training for anti-smuggling personnel, improve anti-smuggling equipment, properly amend the statutes to heighten the penalty of smuggling crime, map out the measures for arresting smugglers, apply the strategic management model to strategic planning, strategic implementation, strategic assessment, strategic review and amendment in order to exert the anti-smuggling effect to a great extent and restrain the act of smuggling.

Remains of a mammoth, other Pleistocene fauna, and a wooden bowl were recovered from the Vernor site located in Clute, Brazoria County on the Texas Gulf Coast. Stratigraphy, sedimentology, and geochronology were used to establish the depositional history of the site. The geologic evidence suggests that these sediments were deposited during a period of fluvial activity by an ancient meander belt of the Brazos River, known today as Oyster Creek, which characterized this region during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene. Organics associated with the wooden bowl were radiocarbon dated to 4205 + 30 yr B.P. (UCIAMS-12039), while sand grains associated with the remains of the mammoth were dated using the luminescence technique to 66,000 + 7000 yr B.P. (UIC1383). According to these dates and their positions in the stratigraphic record, it was established that the mammoth and other Pleistocene age fauna preceded human occupation, and are not contemporaneous with the wooden bowl.

Analysis of Regional Economic Cooperation Strategies between Penghu and Mainland Special Economic Zones on the West Coast of Taiwan Straits Abstract After the establishment of air and sea transportation links between Taiwan and China, Penghu, which is geographically situated in the center of the cross-strait links shall make good use of its transfer function, by taking advantage of its tax incentives (duty-free) stipulated in "Offshore Island Development Act" and "Cross-strait Mini Three Link Policy" to develop new industries that can satisfy the requirements of "import consumption" and "export promotion." Penghu may foster closer economic and trade ties between Taiwan and Fujian Province, promote cross-strait tourism, expand cultural exchange, and develop sustainable industries that are necessary for continuing the economic prosperity. This study was conducted by a team of three students using the interactive management approach to tackle the main theme of regional cooperative strategies between Penghu and the Mainland special economic zones on the west coast of Taiwan Straits. The researchers looked into the sub-title issues from the economical, social, and governmental aspects respectively. The theoretical framework of this study was based on the public affairs management and research method -- Interactive Management (IM). To make the research results more comprehensive, the interactive management approach was combined with two methods often used in framework analysis: nominal group technology (NGT) and interpretative structure model (ISM). Together with literature review, expert interviews and data collection methods, the researchers gathered all relevant information about Penghu so as to provide a more objective basis for exploring the strategic economic cooperation between Penghu and the Mainland special economic zone on the west coast of Taiwan Straits. To ensure good progress in the panel discussion and anticipate fruitful results from discussions of various sub-titles to turn into specific strategies, the interactive discussion seminar invited local representatives in order to incorporate the views of the people in Penghu. This information can provide reliable reference for the central government planning units in their policy formulation process. Using this approach can solve the problem of suspending issues whenever the interactive management (IM) is used. The seminar was joined by 27 representatives from all walks of life. The NGT process started from exposing the issues, clarifying the issues, voting for the issues, to making paired comparisons, supplemented by ISM software, and finally resulted in enhanced structural clearness and visually understandable connectivity. After panel discussions over the structural charts, appropriate revisions, and confirmation of a final version, 12 economic strategies were produced from discussions of regional cooperation between Penghu and the Mainland special economic zone on the west coast of the Taiwan Straits.These recommendations are given below: (1) requesting the Ministry of Communications to instruct the maritime and aviation companies to open scheduled transport lines within the shortest time for Makung-Kinmen, Penghu-Xiamen, and Penghu¡VShantou lines, and to extend the links gradually to other cities on the west coast of the straits; (2) directing Penghu to work with officials of mainland special economic zones on the west coast of the Straits for development of free trade zones ; it should be consulted through the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) to establish a fair and transparent cooperative mechanism in order to protect the legitimate rights and interests of people on both VI sides of the Straits; (3) transforming Penghu into an international duty free zone; (4) requesting Penghu County Government units or related non-governmental organizations to communicate with relevant parties on the other side of the Straits to open forums for discussion of co-operative strategies between Penghu and mainland special economic zones on the west coast of the straits; (5) suggesting the Penghu County Government to ask for more funding for establishing marine life and culture zones, in order to promote green tourism and economic development; (6) requesting Penghu County Government to promote tourism and gaming industries, and also to give more thinking on other possibilities (for example ocean biotech industry); (7) requesting the central government to release the remote island transportation lines to outside operators using market competition to reduce the cost of air fares and enhance tourism competitiveness; (8) suggesting Penghu to proactively develop indoor and outdoor theme parks, on land and at sea, as well as opening of other shopping malls; (9) requesting the central government to lift the bans on the islands development so as to allow foreign and mainland investments to participate in Penghu's preferential land and housing projects, in turn to boost the prosperity of the Penghu area; (10) recommending the Penghu County Government to ask the Taiwan Power Company to strengthen the capacity of wind power, and asking the Taiwan water company to enhance the production of desalination water; (11) suggesting the government agencies to map out the development plans for Penghu and to find suitable areas that can draw the interests of outside contractors in order to strengthen the development and enhancement of their own standards, and to attract more mainland tourists to the island; and (12) suggesting the two sides of the Straits to sign reciprocal tax agreements to reduce the time and labor costs so as to enhance the marketing and promotion of special products with Penghu characteristics. The relationship between individual strategies needs to be further clarified for strengthening and production of enhanced structural connections, in order to determine the priority of strategies and their objective goals. The participants also felt that the most urgent task is to integrate the communication platform between the central and local government units in order to establish effective communication that will help the planning and implementation of cross-strait policies, and in turn conducive to smooth working with other strategies. More public forums shall be set up for open dialogue with various government units. This issue is to be delayed no further, and all strategies shall be given the best implementation, and shall ask local people to take part in public discussions that can facilitate the building of a citizen society. Keywords: Penghu County, Economic Zone on the West Coast of Taiwan Straits,Public Affairs Management¡]PAM¡^, interactive management, regional cooperation