ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



I wish to express sincere appreciation and gratitude to my graduate research 

 supervisor, Dr. Richard A. Yost, for his guidance, patience, and insightful discussions 

 throughout the course of my graduate studies. I would like to also thank the 

 members of my committee. Dr. James D. Winefordner, Dr. David H. Powell, Dr. J. 

 Eric Enholm, and Dr. Daniel L. Kline, for their assistance during the course of these 

 studies. 



I am indebted to Dr. Jodie V. Johnson and Dr. Anthony P. Annacchino, Jr. 

 for their instructions and guidance in the operation of the TSQ70 triple quadrupole 

 mass spectrometer. I wish to thank Mr. Carl E. Schreck, Dr. Daniel L. Kline, and 

 Dr. Donald R. Barnard for their assistance and open communication, over the last 

 three years, with respect to the entomological aspects of this research. I also wish 

 to thank soon-to-be Dr. Matthew Booth for spending many hours analyzing samples 

 for me (above and beyond the call of duty) on a purge and trap GC/MS. Dr. Brad 

 Coopersmith deserves thanks for assistance with reaction mechanisms during the 

 course of this work. One final thanks with respect to colleagues goes out to all 

 former and present group members for their friendship and assistance throughout 

 the time I spent at the University of Florida. 



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