A Study of Constant Absolute Vorticity Trajectories on Isentropic Surfaces

The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469It is shown that constant absolute vorticity (CAV) trajectories are more useful on isentropic surfaces than on constant pressure surfaces. A form of the vorticity equation is derived by use of Lagrangian methods. This form is similar to the Rossby form, and ordinary methods of computing CAV trajectories can be used with isentropic charts. A series of isentropic streamline charts were prepared and CAV trajectories were constructed at certain points on these charts. CAV trajectories were also constructed on 500-mb charts for the same time. 24- and 48-hr forecasts of wind direction and speed were made from CAV trajectories on both sets of charts, and verified. The results of these forecasts are treated statistically, and forecasts from CAV trajectories on isentropic charts are shown to be significantly better than similar forecasts from 500-mb charts. The effects of the divergence term of the vorticity equation are discussed qualitatively

What Effect Does the Hampton Inn 100% Unconditional Satisfaction Guarantee have on Customer Loyalty?

Trust has been identified as a key factor in sustaining customer loyalty in service sector industries. The Hampton Inn hotel chain attempts to promote trust and loyalty among its customers by offering a 100% unconditional satisfaction guarantee. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which a specific value-enhancing feature—the 100% unconditional guarantee—is likely to influence customer loyalty. In this study, loyalty was defined in two ways: (a) the likelihood of returning to another Hampton Inn property and (b) the likelihood of returning to the particular Hampton Inn at which this study was conducted. In the study, data were gathered by means of a researcher-developed survey instrument and multiple regression models were used to analyze the data. Regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between the likelihood of returning to another Hampton Inn and the importance of the guarantee for both returnees and those who were staying at the particular Hampton Inn in the study for the first time. Some of the other demographic and hotel-related independent variables that were used to construct the regression model also were significant. A significant relationship between the guarantee and customer loyalty was also found for first timers when the measure of the second indicator of loyalty (the likelihood of returning to the particular Hampton Inn at which the study was conducted) functioned as the dependent variable. No significant relationship was found for returnees, however, when this second dependent variable was used. Most demographic and hotel-related independent variables also were not significant for either the returnee or the first time group, but one independent variable—perception of the quality of the stay—was significant for returnees and first timers

Ramanujan-Like Congreuences of the Distinct Partition Function

In his work with the partition function, Ramanujan observed several congruences of the form p(An + B) = 0 (mod m). We adapt this form to several congruences of the distinct partition function, p2(n). We show that one can determine all ordered pairs of integers (A;B) for which p2(An + B)=0 (mod 2) and show families of congruences modulo 4. Finally, we offer a proof of a congruence modulo 5 satisfied by the distinct partition function

Keeper-animal interactions: differences between the behaviour of zoo animals affect stockmanship

Stockmanship is a term used to describe the management of animals with a good stockperson someone who does this in a in a safe, effective, and low-stress manner for both the stock-keeper and animals involved. Although impacts of unfamiliar zoo visitors on animal behaviour have been extensively studied, the impact of stockmanship i.e familiar zoo keepers is a new area of research; which could reveal significant ramifications for zoo animal behaviour and welfare. It is likely that different relationships are formed dependant on the unique keeper-animal dyad (human-animal interaction, HAI). The aims of this study were to (1) investigate if unique keeper-animal dyads were formed in zoos, (2) determine whether keepers differed in their interactions towards animals regarding their attitude, animal knowl- edge and experience and (3) explore what factors affect keeper-animal dyads and ultimately influence animal behaviour and welfare. Eight black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), eleven Chapman’s zebra (Equus burchellii), and twelve Sulawesi crested black macaques (Macaca nigra) were studied in 6 zoos across the UK and USA. Subtle cues and commands directed by keepers towards animals were identified. The animals latency to respond and the respective behavioural response (cue-response) was recorded per keeper-animal dyad (n=93). A questionnaire was constructed following a five-point Likert Scale design to record keeper demographic information and assess the job satisfaction of keepers, their attitude towards the animals and their perceived relationship with them. There was a significant difference in the animals’ latency to appropriately respond after cues and commands from different keepers, indicating unique keeper-animal dyads were formed. Stockmanship style was also different between keepers; two main components contributed equally towards this: “attitude towards the animals” and “knowledge and experience of the animals”. In this novel study, data demonstrated unique dyads were formed between keepers and zoo animals, which influenced animal behaviour

Case study: Treatment of oral and locomotory stereotypic behaviors in a mature sow

A 32-month-old female 225-kg nonpregnant cross-bred Newsham sow presented a 6-week history of stereotypic behaviors when housed in a laboratory research facility. A behavioral examination over 12 daylight hours revealed 3 main stereotypic motor patterns, namely (1) oral-nasal gate manipulation defined as placement of the snout between the bars of the pen gate with repetitive, forceful up and down movement; (2) head weaving defined as repetitive lateral head and snout movement toward the pen gates while rocking back and forth on her forequarters with hooves remaining on ground at all times; and (3) body weaving defined as repetitive shifting of body weight from one side to the other with front hooves lifting alternately off the ground. The sow performed the oral-nasal gate manipulation and head and body weaving 4.0%, 12.4%, and 6.8% of her total baseline time budget, respectively. The presumptive diagnosis was oral-nasal and locomotory stereotypies. Three treatments were used to mitigate the duration and frequency of these stereotypic behaviors. Treatment 1—Social treatment (change social stimuli by providing visual and nose-to-nose contact with different neighboring sows); Treatment 2—Forage treatment (change foraging substrates by providing peat moss as a rooting substrate); and Treatment 3—Space treatment (change pen configuration by increasing space). The sow performed the oral-nasal gate manipulation and head and body weaving 0%, 0.4%, and 0.1% of her total time budget, respectively; social treatment: the sow performed the oral-nasal gate manipulation and head and body weaving 0.9%, 15.3%, and 11.3% of her total time budget, respectively; and forage treatment: the sow performed the oral-nasal gate manipulation and head and body weaving 0.5%, 28.0%, and 15.5% of her total time budget, respectively. This study is one of the first reports to evaluate the treatment of established stereotypies in a mature sow. Results suggest the promise of environmental enrichment as an effective treatment strategy. Further research is needed to evaluate the persistence of these behavioral changes and relative importance of different environmental manipulations provided

Intact carcasses as enrichment for large felids: Effects on on- and off-exhibit behaviors

Reducing stereotypic behaviors in captive animals is a goal for zoological institutions worldwide, and environmental enrichment is one tool commonly used to meet that end. Behavioral needs associated with feeding, however, are often neglected in large carnivores. To address these needs, I tested the effects of calf carcasses as enrichment for large felids. Over 14 weeks, I provided nine animals with up to seven intact carcasses. The cats were housed at Toledo Zoo, Potawatomi Zoo, and Binder Park Zoo. Animals were observed off and on exhibit for changes in feeding, natural, stereotypic, active, and inactive behaviors. I compared treatment behaviors with behaviors observed during a baseline period in which the animals were fed traditional processed diets. For these nine cats, carcass provision decreased off-exhibit stereotypic behaviors but had little impact on on-exhibit behaviors. Zoo Biol 21:37–47, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/34915/1/10033_ftp.pd

Reliably signalling a startling husbandry event improves welfare of zoo-housed capuchins (Sapajus apella)

Animals kept in captivity are reliant on humans for their care and welfare. Enclosure design, and choice of group mates as well as routine husbandry events such as feeding, cleaning, and health care are in the hands of human keepers. It is therefore important to understand how external human-related husbandry events affect daily behaviour routines for animals, to help promote good welfare. Predictability (or lack thereof) of these routines can have profound effects on behaviours of captive animals. This study investigates whether providing a reliable predictable signal indicating entry into indoor brown capuchin (Sapajus apella) enclosures can increase welfare. All day focal follows of 12 zoo-housed capuchins were performed, recording behaviour in relation to husbandry events. The Baseline data show that unreliable sounds of door openings and closings outside the enclosure increase anxiety-related behaviours such as self-scratching, vigilance and jerky motions, and that the capuchins were startled by keepers entering the enclosure. A reliable signal (knocking) was subsequently introduced before enclosure entry and the monkeys given two weeks to associate the signal prior to Treatment condition data collection. The results indicate that the anxiety-related behaviours were reduced in the Treatment condition compared to Baseline frequencies. We conclude that making certain husbandry events reliable and predictable through the introduction of a unique signal can have a significant positive impact on the welfare of animals. Such an approach is not time consuming and costs nothing to implement, yet can result in significant advancements in animal welfare that can be implemented in a wide range of captive settings