Digital Commons Network^™

The Evolutionary Relationships Of The Skunks To Each Other And The Rest Of The Weasels; With A Note On Behavioral Idiosyncrasies, Jerry W. Dragoo

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

I will discuss four aspects of my current research with respect to skunks. The first concerns the recognition and conservation of potentially endangered populations of hog-nosed skunks. The second pertains to the evolutionary relationships among the three genera of skunks, based on genetic data. The third aspect also is based on molecular data, and is a study of the relationship of the skunks to the rest of the Mustelidae (weasels). Finally, I will discuss some of the behavioral idiosyncrasies I have observed in my endeavors to obtain skunk specimens.

Developing Risk Communication Skills: More Than Damage Management, Deanne Wright

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Risk communication provides a methodology that enables an organization to respond effectively to issues or situations of a controversial nature. It is one important aspect of risk management.

A Prototype Architecture For An Automated Scenario Generation System For Combat Simulations, Mark W. Pfefferman

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort examines the problem of automating the scenario generation process and presents a prototype architecture for an automated scenario generation system. This architecture is designed using an object- oriented approach which leads to a modular and modifiable design. The architecture provides a mechanism for automatically generating scenario files from a textual US Army operation order. This translation process occurs in two phases. First, the text operation order is translated into an intermediate format called the mission file. In the second phase, the system reads the mission file, instantiates intelligent entities, and assigns missions to those entities. The intelligent …

Using Discovery-Based Learning To Prove The Behavior Of An Autonomous Agent, David N. Mezera

Theses and Dissertations

Computer-generated autonomous agents in simulation often behave predictably and unrealistically. These characteristics make them easy to spot and exploit by human participants in the simulation, when we would prefer the behavior of the agent to be indistinguishable from human behavior. An improvement in behavior might be possible by enlarging the library of responses, giving the agent a richer assortment of tactics to employ during a combat scenario. Machine learning offers an exciting alternative to constructing additional responses by hand by instead allowing the system to improve its own performance with experience. This thesis presents NOSTRUM, a discovery-based learning DBL system …

Developing A Sophisticated User Interface To Support Domain-Oriented Application Composition And Generation Systems, Jay A. Cossentine

Theses and Dissertations

This research refined the visual presentation and usability of a previously developed visual interface for a domain-oriented application composition and generation system. The refined visual interface incorporated domain-specific bit-mapped graphics and sophisticated user interface design concepts to reduce user workload. User workload was reduced through object layout, window design, and color utilization techniques; by combining repetitive procedures into single commands; and reusing, rather than recreating, composition information throughout the application composition process. The Software Refinery environment, including its graphical interface tool INTERVISTA, was used to develop techniques for visualizing and manipulating objects contained in a formal object base. INTERVISTA was …

Predicting Nonlinear Time Series, James C. Gainey Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Predicting future values of a time series has many practical uses in real-time signal processing and understanding. This thesis implements an Adaptive Time Delay Neural Network ATNN capable of user-defined degeneration to the more common Time Delay Neural Network TDNN. Time delays along axons or at the synapses, which vary in biological systems, motivate this research. The ATNNTDNN test results and time series prediction capabilities are compared to those of the Real-Time Recurrent Learning RTRL algorithm. To show the advantages and disadvantages of using TDNN and ATNN for prediction versus the RTRL, the networks were applied to two problems incommensurate …

Color Image Segmentation, Kimberley A. Mccrae

Theses and Dissertations

The most difficult stage of automated target recognition ATR is segmentation. Current AFIT segmentation problems include faces and tactical targets previous efforts to segment these objects have used intensity and motion cues. This thesis develops a color preprocessing scheme to be used with the other segmentation techniques. A neural network is trained to identify the color of a desired object, eliminating all but that color from the scene. Gabor correlations and 2D wavelet transformations will be performed on stationary images and 3D wavelet transforms on multispectral data will incorporate color and motion detection into the machine visual system. The thesis …

Handwritten Word Recognition Based On Fourier Coefficients, Gary F. Shartle

Theses and Dissertations

A machine which can read unconstrained words remains an unsolved problem. For example, automatic entry o handwritten documents into a computer is yet to be accomplished. Most systems attempt to segment letters o a word and read words one character at a time. Segmenting a handwritten word is very difficult and often, the confidence of the results is low. Another method which avoids segmentation altogether is to treat each word as a whole. This research investigates the use of Fourier Transform coefficients, computed from the whole word, for the recognition of handwritten words. To test this concept, the particular pattern …

A Comprehensive Part Model And Graphical Schema Representation For Object-Oriented Databases, Michael H. Halper

Dissertations

Part-whole modeling plays an important role in the development of database schemata in data-intensive application domains such as manufacturing, design, computer graphics. text document processing, and so on. Object-oriented databases (OODBs) have been targeted for use in such areas. Thus, it is essential that OODBs incorporate a part relationship as one of their modeling primitives. In this dissertation, we present a comprehensive OODB part model which expands the boundaries of OODB part-whole modeling along three fronts. First, it identifies and codifies new semantics for the OODB part relationship. Second, it provides two novel realizations for part relationships and their associated …

Authors' Affiliations

Contraception in Wildlife Management

Authors' Affiliations

Suburban Deer Management: A Matter Of Perspective, Paul D. Curtis, Daniel J. Decker, Rebecca J. Stout, Milo E. Richmond

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Many metropolitan areas in the eastern United States are experiencing management conflicts associated with overabundant deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations. Sometimes these deer populations exceed the biological carrying capacity of available habitat and wildlife acceptance capacity (Decker and Purdy 1988) of local residents. For nearly 2 decades, a deer management controversy has been developing in Durand Eastman Park and the Town of Irondequoit, located in the greater Rochester metropolitan area, Monroe County, New York. Three local citizen organizations concerned about deer are described, and each has promoted various nonhunting alternatives to reduce human-deer problems. For 15 years, the New …

Similarities Between Big Game Repellent And Predator Urine Repellency To White-Tailed Deer: The Importance Of Sulfur And Fatty Acids, Rebecca Lewison, N. Jay Bean, Evgeny V. Aronov, John E. Mcconnell Jr., J. Russell Mason

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In the present experiment, we evaluated the repellency of Big Game Repellent^® (BGR), whole coyote urine, coyote urine with sulfur compounds removed, and water. Each stimulus was applied to an ornamental plant (hostas, Alba marginata) at 5 sites in the vicinity of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. At weekly intervals for 5 weeks, damage was recorded, treatments were reapplied, and plants were replaced when necessary. There was no damage to plants treated with either BGR or whole coyote urine. This was not true for plants sprayed with sulfur-free urine or water. We conclude that the repellency of coyote urine is largely …

Similarities Between Big Game Repellent And Predator Urine Repellency To White-Tailed Deer: The Importance Of Sulfur And Fatty Acids, Rebecca Lewison, N. Jay Bean, Evgeny V. Aronov, John E. Mcconnell Jr., J. Russell Mason

Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference: 6th (1993)

In the present experiment, we evaluated the repellency of Big Game Repellent® (BGR), whole coyote urine, coyote urine with sulfur compounds removed, and water. Each stimulus was applied to an ornamental plant (hostas, Alba marginata) at 5 sites in the vicinity of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. At weekly intervals for 5 weeks, damage was recorded, treatments were reapplied, and plants were replaced when necessary. There was no damage to plants treated with either BGR or whole coyote urine. This was not true for plants sprayed with sulfur-free urine or water. We conclude that the repellency of coyote urine is largely a consequence …

Student Fact Book, Fall 1993, Wright State University, Office Of Student Information Systems, Wright State University

Wright State University Student Fact Books

The student fact book has general demographic information on all students enrolled at Wright State University for Fall Quarter, 1993.

Wright State University College Of Engineering And Computer Science Bits And Pcs Newsletter, Volume 9, Number 8, October 1993, College Of Engineering And Computer Science, Wright State University

BITs and PCs Newsletter

A ten page newsletter created by the Wright State University College of Engineering and Computer Science that addresses the current affairs of the college.

Semantics-Based Information Brokering: A Step Towards Realizing The Infocosm, Vipul Kashyap, Amit P. Sheth

Kno.e.sis Publications

The rapid advances in computer and communication technologies, and their merger, is leading to a global information market place. It will consist of federations of very large number of information systems that will cooperate to varying extents to support the users' information needs. We propose an architecture which may facilitate meeting these needs. It consists of three main components: information providers, information brokers and information consumers. We also propose an approach to information brokering. We discuss two of it's tasks: information resource discovery, which identities relevant information sources for a given query, and query processing, which involves the generation of …

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 36 Number 1, Fall 1993, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

10 - DISCONNECTED A loss of continuity and connectedness could be the price we pay for this era of decentralized, customized technology. By Timothy J. Lukes

14 - STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT Private colleges scramble to control financial aid costs, and families struggle with too few aid dollars to go around. Here are the stories of four families who have worked in partnership with the University to make it through. By Elizabeth Fernandez '79, Overview by Elise Banducci '87

23 - THE MORAL LIFE In his recent encyclical, the pope speaks out on human nature, Christian boundaries, and universal truths. …

Earth News, Fall 1993, Department Of Earth Science, University Of Northern Iowa.

Earth News

Inside this issue:

--- Year in Review
--- Staff News
--- Earth Science Seminar Series, Spring Semester, 1993
--- Graduates - 1993
--- Earth Science Fall 1993 Seminar Schedule
--- Sigma Gamma Epsilon
--- News from Alumni
--- Seasons Greetings from the Department of Earth Science

Visualizing Object Oriented Software In Three Dimensions, Colin Ware, David Hui, Glenn Franck

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping

There is increasing evidence that it is possible to perceive and understand increasingly comple x information systems if they are displayed a s graphical objects in a three dimensional space . Object-oriented software provides an interestin g test case - there is a natural mapping fro m software objects to visual objects . In this paper we explore two areas. 1) Information perception : we are running controlled experiments to determine empirically if our initial premise is valid; how much more (or less) can be understoo d in 3D than in 2D? 2) Layout: our strategy is to combine partially …

John Muir Newsletter, Fall 1993, John Muir Center For Regional Studies

Muir Center Newsletters (1981-2015)

John Muir Newsletter fall 1993 university of the pacific volume 3, number 4 JOHN MUIR IN RUSSIA PART ONE by William H. Brennan (Editor's note: Bill Brennan, a Russian and Soviet specialist, recently completed a study of Lenin that is scheduled for future publication. He has taught history at the University of the Pacific since 1976. This is the first of a two-part series, prepared especially for this publication.) Old Russia was still very much alive eleven years before the outbreak of World War One and considered itself to be a great power with a destiny to protect and preserve …

On Attracting Mathematics Majors, Kazem Mahdavi

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.

The Basis For The Success Of The Potsdam Program, Rick Luttmann

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Poems, Lee Goldstein

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.

On Learning In The Mathematical Sciences: Statistics 200 As A Paradigm Of Everything Wrong In Mathematical Education, James M. Cargal

Humanistic Mathematics Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 35 Number 3, Summer 1993, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

9 - MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS When people come together to make a family, the result is a holy union of imperfection. By Mitch Finley '73

12 - THE CLEANUP ARMY A $l34 billion industry thrives on cleaning up what's hazardous to your health. Plus, is the environmental movement racist? By Susan Frey

20 - UP CLOSE: GERALD UELMEN SCU's law dean takes nothing more seriously than his field and his goals for the School of Law, yet he manages to find humor at almost every tum. By Sabrina Brown

24 - BEYOND 'THE SPHERE FOR WHICH …

Ccis Networking - July 1993, Nova University

CCIS Networking / SCIS Networking magazines

No abstract provided.

Academic Programs In Computational Science And Engineering, John R. Rice

Department of Computer Science Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Paper Abstracts, Association Of Christians In The Mathematical Sciences

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1993

Paradigm Shifts in the Mathematical Sciences

Georg Cantor And The Battle For Transfinite Set Theory, Joseph Dauben

ACMS Conference Proceedings 1993

Georg Cantor is well known as the founder of transfinite set theory. Equally celebrated, however, are the obstacles he faced in trying to win acceptance for his seemingly unorthodox views, his acrimonious differences with Leopold Kronecker and his unfortunate but progressively debilitating nervous breakdowns that some authors have linked directly to his many problems with set theory. Above all, Cantor's justification of set theory was all the more urgent because of Kronecker's critical denunciation of Cantor's mathematics. In tracing the evolution of Cantorian set theory, it is necessary to examine the opposition it met, and evaluate the technical, philosophical, psychological, …

Advancing Understanding Of Knowledge's Role In Lay Risk Perception, Branden B. Johnson

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Emphasizing how knowledge affects lay Risk perception, summarizing studies and suggesting further research, the author differentiates between knowledge production, knowledge dissemination and information processing as affected by, e.g., heuristics and Risk aversion. He also suggests that better understanding of lay knowledge can also illuminate experts' hazard knowledge.