HOW VISITORS’ PERCEIVED DESTINATION ETHICS IMPACTS THEIR BEHAVIOURAL INTENTIONS

Purpose – The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between destination loyalty and its determining factors. A central role was attributed to the perception of the destination ethics. Design – Three dimensions of the perceived destination ethics were identified with the potential to influence tourists’ loyalty: the wellbeing of local people, subjective wellbeing and active participation and equality. Methodology – The study is based on a questionnaire targeting international visitors to the city of Quito (Ecuador). A total of 419 returned questionnaires were analysed using the principal component factor analysis to identify the underlying dimensions of the perceived destination ethics and structural equational modelling to measure and test the research hypotheses. Approach – The structural relationship analysis indicates that perceived destination ethics appear to be the principal influence on loyalty, namely the intention to revisit and willingness to recommend. Originality –A pioneering aspect of the research is that it includes the perceived destination ethics as a loyalty predictor, as well as considering the relationship between predictors. The study proves that the perceived destination ethics contributes to tourist loyalty. In the light of the results managerial implications are discussed

Final outcome of raptors admitted to the Tafira Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Gran Canaria Island, Spain (2003–2013)

Disposición final de las rapaces admitidas en el Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre de Tafira, Gran Canaria, España (2003–2013) En este estudio se analizan los resultados de la rehabilitación de aves rapaces silvestres admitidas en el Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre de Tafira en la isla de Gran Canaria, España, desde 2003 hasta 2013, mediante un sistema de auditoría de la calidad basado en los índices generales y clasificados (por causa de admisión) de las cuatro categorías de disposición final, el tiempo hasta la muerte y el tiempo de permanencia como indicadores de calidad. Las categorías de disposición final fueron: eutanasia (Er) = 19,78%, mortalidad no asistida durante la hospitalización (Mr) = 22,20%, liberación (Rr) = 57,57% y cautividad permanente (Cr) = 0,46%. Teniendo en cuenta la especial vulnerabilidad de las especies de rapaces insulares y el alto índice de Rr conseguido, los resultados de este estudio ponen de relieve la importancia de los centros de rehabilitación de fauna silvestre en el tratamiento médico de las aves heridas y la consiguiente liberación de las aves rehabilitadas.Disposición final de las rapaces admitidas en el Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre de Tafira, Gran Canaria, España (2003–2013) En este estudio se analizan los resultados de la rehabilitación de aves rapaces silvestres admitidas en el Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre de Tafira en la isla de Gran Canaria, España, desde 2003 hasta 2013, mediante un sistema de auditoría de la calidad basado en los índices generales y clasificados (por causa de admisión) de las cuatro categorías de disposición final, el tiempo hasta la muerte y el tiempo de permanencia como indicadores de calidad. Las categorías de disposición final fueron: eutanasia (Er) = 19,78%, mortalidad no asistida durante la hospitalización (Mr) = 22,20%, liberación (Rr) = 57,57% y cautividad permanente (Cr) = 0,46%. Teniendo en cuenta la especial vulnerabilidad de las especies de rapaces insulares y el alto índice de Rr conseguido, los resultados de este estudio ponen de relieve la importancia de los centros de rehabilitación de fauna silvestre en el tratamiento médico de las aves heridas y la consiguiente liberación de las aves rehabilitadas.The outcomes of wild raptors admitted to the Tafira Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Gran Canaria Island, Spain, from 2003 to 2013 were analyzed using a quality auditing system based on the crude and stratified (by causes of admission) rates of four final outcome categories, time until death and length of stay as quality indicators. The outcome categories were: euthanasia (Er = 19.78%); unassisted mortality during hospitalization (Mr = 22.20%); release (Rr = 57.57%); and permanent captivity (Cr = 0.46%). Taking into account the particular vulnerability of insular raptor species and the high Rr achieved, findings from this study emphasize the importance of wildlife rehabilitation centers for the medical management of injured raptors and the subsequent release of rehabilitated individuals into the wild

Aerodynamic design and analysis of a highly loaded turbine exhaust

The aerodynamic design and analysis of a turbine exhaust volute manifold is described. This turbine exhaust system will be used with an advanced gas generator oxidizer turbine designed for very high specific work. The elevated turbine stage loading results in increased discharge Mach number and swirl velocity which, along with the need for minimal circumferential variation of fluid properties at the turbine exit, represent challenging volute design requirements. The design approach, candidate geometries analyzed, and steady state/unsteady CFD analysis results are presented

Soil Mercury and its Response to atmospheric Mercury Deposition across the Northeastern United States

Terrestrial soil is a large reservoir of atmospherically deposited mercury (Hg). However, few studies have evaluated the accumulation of Hg in terrestrial ecosystems in the northeastern United States, a region which is sensitive to atmospheric Hg deposition. We characterized Hg and organic matter in soil profiles from 139 sampling sites for five subregions across the northeastern United States and estimated atmospheric Hg deposition to these sites by combining numerical modeling with experimental data from the literature. We did not observe any significant relationships between current net atmospheric Hg deposition and soil Hg concentrations or pools, even though soils are a net sink for Hg inputs. Soil Hg appears to be preserved relative to organic carbon (OC) and/or nitrogen (N) in the soil matrix, as a significant negative relationship was observed between the ratios of Hg/OC and OC/N (r = 0.54, P \u3c 0.0001) that shapes the horizonal distribution patterns. We estimated that atmospheric Hg deposition since 1850 (3.97 mg/m2) accounts for 102% of the Hg pool in the organic horizons (3.88 mg/m2) and 19% of the total soil Hg pool (21.32 mg/m2), except for the southern New England (SNE) subregion. The mean residence time for soil Hg was estimated to be 1800 years, except SNE which was 800 years. These patterns suggest that in addition to atmospheric deposition, the accumulation of soil Hg is linked to the mineral diagenetic and soil development processes in the region