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% Optimal Foraging Theory Revisited: Acknowledgments
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% (c) Copyright 2007 by Theodore P. Pavlic
%

\begin{acknowledgements}

First, I give thanks to my parents, \aimention{Paul V.  Pavlic}Paul and
\aimention{Eileen M. Pavlic}Eileen, who have always been supportive and
understanding, even when research has reduced the frequency of contact
with them. Any success that I have today could not have been possible
without them.

I am also thankful for my girlfriend \aimention{Jessica D. Ebie}Jessie,
who not only has tolerated long work nights but has also managed to
prevent me from starvation. I value her support and encouragement. My
hope to maximize the time I spend with her has been a strong impetus to
proceed quickly in my research.

My adviser, Professor \aimention{Kevin M. Passino}Kevin M.~Passino,
deserves thanks not only for his wisdom and guidance but also for his
unending patience with me. Through him, I have not only learned
engineering, but I have become a better writer and overall thinker. He
has strengthened my understanding of how to research effectively and
continues to serve as an important role-model for me. 

Any accurate understanding that I have of behavioral ecology is entirely
due to Professor \aimention{Thomas A. Waite}Thomas A.~Waite. The
tangible and intangible benefits of collaboration with him are too
numerous to list. I am an interloper in his field, and he has not only
tolerated my intrusion but has welcomed me and provided me with
instructions on how I might proceed deeper into new spaces. Exposure to
him and his colleagues has left me in awe of the ecological adventures
that are common in his field. 

I also owe thanks to Professor \aimention{Jerry F. Downhower}Jerry
F.~Downhower for teaching me about natural selection. His teachings have
attenuated my ignorance and improved my ability to understand not only
the language of biology but also the world around me. I am sure that all
of his students must feel the same way. 

Real analysis and the study of stochastic processes have been the two
most useful tools that I use regularly my graduate work. The
sophistication I have gained in the former is entirely due to Professor
\aimention{Neil Falkner}Neil Falkner, whose attention to detail is
admirable. My understanding of the latter comes from Professor
\aimention{Randolph L. Moses}Randolph L.~Moses, who is one of the best
teachers that I know. I am grateful for the time that both have
volunteered to answering questions of mine. The expertise of Professor
\aimention{Jose B. {Cruz Jr.}}Jose B.~Cruz Jr. has also been invaluable
to me. His teachings about optimization have influenced much of the
content of this thesis.

I must thank Professor \aimention{James N. {Bodurtha Jr.}}James
N.~Bodurtha Jr.~for introducing me to the field of finance and being
patient with my elementary questions. I wish I could have spent more
time investigating the fascinating problems and results studied in this
area. The little that I have found with his guidance has been extremely
useful and suggests to me many future research directions. 

While I have never met \aimention{Matt Ridley}Matt Ridley, long ago his
popularizations of human behavior and genetics are what encouraged me to
learn about biology. Therefore, I owe him thanks. Without his
fascinating works, this thesis would most likely be far more
conventional.

Finally, I thank Professor \aimention{Yuan F. Zheng}Yuan F.~Zheng for
agreeing to take the time to be a member of my thesis committee. As he
is an expert in biological applications of robotics, I am eager to hear
his responses to my work.

\end{acknowledgements}