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

Energy efficient engine preliminary design and integration studies

The characteristics and systems benefits of an energy efficient engine (E3) suitable for use on advanced subsonic transport aircraft were determined. Relative to a current CF6-50C engine, the following benefits were estimated: 14.4% reduction in installed cruise specific fuel consumption, and a reduction in direct operating cost of more than 5%. The advanced technology E3 system would also permit: compliance with FAR 36 (1977) noise limits, and compliance with 1981 EPA emission standards

An Empirical Assessment Of The EFQM Excellence Model In Purchasing

This study focuses on the important concepts of quality management, internal customer satisfaction, and business performance within the neglected purchasing unit of manufacturing firms on the basis of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model, thus, filling a void in the existing literature. In doing so, this study tests the viability of the EFQM model in a single functional unit. Three hypothesis were generated based on the EFQM model to identify the specific relationships between purchasing’s quality management practices (EFQM enabler), internal customer satisfaction, and business performance (EFQM results). The hypotheses were tested through structural equation modeling based on a sample of 306 purchasing agents within manufacturing. The results indicated that the EFQM seem to be a viable model that represents what impacts implementing QMP enablers will have on the resultants, ICS and OP. Additionally, the results identified that the extent of adoption of quality management purchasing has a direct positive impact on improving internal customer satisfaction and an indirect positive impact on business performance mediated by internal customer satisfaction, as predicted by the EFQM model. This study highlights the positive impact of adoption of EFQM in the purchasing area, thus, lends support to purchasing departments trying to justify the implementation of quality management practices to their administrations. Additionally, it gives upper management, looking for ways to improve the company’s bottom line, the specifics to do this through the implementation of quality management practices in purchasing. Management and purchasing departments are given a blueprint for improving their performance

The Advancement of Surrealism: Navigating the Logical Implications of Surrealism in Poetry Through Time

Surrealism is a complex medium of artistic expression that has persisted through the modern and postmodern time periods and into the contemporary. This project attempts to shine light on the importance of Surrealism by researching the rational implications of its irrational nature. I approached this question in two separate manners: One in a research perspective and one in a creative perspective. This project includes my research on the advancement of Surrealism and 15 poems that I have composed in reflection of Surrealism, Modernism, Postmodernism, the contemporary, and Anti-Realism. The conclusions of this project have important implications that have a common interest rooted within the disciplines of creative writing, philosophy, and history

A multi-participative competency model for the hotel management industry stakeholders

The Hotel Management positions in Portugal are mainly occupied by hotel management graduates from Turismo de Portugal Schools and High Education Institutions, these last ones more directed to preparing newly graduates towards management positions. To provide a higher consistency in the hotel industry from school to business and producing better prepared newly graduates for the market, course curricula were assessed and compared with the results of a survey that asked the Hotel General Managers, High Education Institutions Course Directors / Coordinators and Last Year Students their opinion of Curricular Units that should be taught, Learning Outcomes that should be expected and Internship components. The encountered gaps led to the suggestion of the components of an efficient Course Curricula and to a multi-participative Competency Model for the Hotel Management Industry. The study further refers important guidelines towards contributing positively to a clearer definition of the “ingredients” of a dynamic benchmarking system that could facilitate integration of newly-graduates as well as promoting students’ personal and professional growth. Also, it contributes to Higher Education Institution’s ranking of best employable students, and could reduce post-integrations costs that hotels may have by providing additional training to the newly graduates. The research gathers information by Literature review, online documentation analysis and a questionnaire applied for data collection on a convenient sample among three different publics and specifically targeted for each one of the publics.Os cargos de Gestão Hoteleira em Portugal são ocupados maioritariamente por formados em Gestão Hoteleira das Escolas do Turismo de Portugal e das Instituições de Ensino Superior, estes últimos mais vocacionados para a preparação de recém-licenciados para cargos de gestão. Para fornecer uma maior consistência na indústria hoteleira, da escola à empresa, e produzir recém-formados mais bem preparados para o mercado, os currículos dos cursos foram avaliados e comparados com os resultados de uma pesquisa que perguntou aos Diretores Gerais de Hotéis, Diretores / Coordenadores de Cursos de Instituições de Ensino Superior e os Alunos do Último Ano a sua opinião sobre as Unidades Curriculares que devem ser ministradas, Resultados de Aprendizagem que devem ser esperados e Componentes do Estágio. As lacunas encontradas levaram à sugestão dos componentes de um Currículo de Curso eficiente e de um Modelo de Competências multi-participativo para a Indústria Hoteleira. O estudo ainda se refere a diretrizes importantes para contribuir positivamente para uma definição mais clara dos "ingredientes" de um sistema de benchmarking dinâmico que poderia facilitar a integração de recém-formados, bem como promover o crescimento pessoal e profissional dos alunos. Além disso, contribui para o ranking dos melhores alunos empregáveis das Instituições de Ensino Superior e pode reduzir os custos pós-integração que os hotéis possam ter, fornecendo formação adicional para os recém-formados. A pesquisa reúne informações através da revisão de literatura, análise de documentação online e aplicação de questionário para recolha de dados em amostra de conveniência dentre três públicos diferentes e direcionada especificamente para cada um dos públicos

The Nexus Requirement and the Fatal Injury: Does an Offer to Sell an Infringing Product Give Rise to a Duty to Defend Under a CGL?, 1 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 344 (2002)

Case law in the area of patent infringement has held that patent infringement cannot occur in the course of an insured\u27s advertising activities as a matter of law. In 1996, the United States added “offer to sell” as one of the enumerated offenses of direct patent infringement to 35 U.S.C. §271(a). Since that time, there has been little deviation or fluctuation from the above mentioned principle, especially in litigation where a patentee’s search for insurance coverage from their CGL policies “Adverting Injury” provision. This Comment discusses the necessity of the court system to reexamine the modification to 35 U.S.C. §271(a), specifically, the impact of the addition of “offer to sell” as an enumerated offense of patent infringement. Additionally, this Comment proposes that courts should acknowledge that when offering for sale a potentially infringing device is the act of patent infringement, alleged infringers should be entitled to secure financial assistance from their CGL policy issuers for the costs associated with the duty to defend their infringement claims

Learning Reverse Engineering and Simulation with Design Visualization

The Design Visualization (DV) group supports work at the Kennedy Space Center by utilizing metrology data with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) models and simulations to provide accurate visual representations that aid in decision-making. The capability to measure and simulate objects in real time helps to predict and avoid potential problems before they become expensive in addition to facilitating the planning of operations. I had the opportunity to work on existing and new models and simulations in support of DV and NASAs Exploration Ground Systems (EGS)

Research, Design, and Development Needed to Realise a Neutral Beam Injection System for a Fusion Reactor

The ion temperature in the plasma in a fusion reactor must be sufficiently high that the fusion reaction (probably between D+ and T+) will need to be high to ensure that the reaction rate is as high as is required. The plasma will be heated by the energetic alpha particle created in the fusion reaction, but it is widely accepted that additional (externally supplied) heating will also be required to ensure a sustained “burn” and, perhaps, to control the reaction rate. A reactor based on the tokamak confinement system requires a toroidal current to flow in the plasma. Most of that current will be created by the “bootstrap” effect, but an external method of driving current in the poloidal centre of the plasma is needed as the bootstrap current will be low, or zero in that region. Neutral beam injection is an efficient heating mechanism and it has the current drive efficiency required in a reactor. In this chapter the R&D required for an NBI system for a reactor, is considered against the background of the ITER NBI system design as the ITER beam energy and operating environment are reactor relevant. In addition the elements requiring most development are identified