An Overview and Comparison of Aviation and Space Insurance

Commercial aviation and commercial space operations entail significant risk. The very nature of these operations means a mishap can result in significant financial losses. Insurance enables operators to reduce the magnitude of their exposure in a predictable and reliable way; and likely increases the willingness of businesses to participate in these industries. Insurance coverage also provides assurances that financial resources exist to cover any third-party liability claims resulting from accidents. For these reasons, the acquisition of insurance by industry participants can be desirable as a matter of public policy. This paper examines the availability of insurance coverage for commercial aviation and commercial space operations, including a comparison of the types of risks covered and typical policy terms. The paper additionally surveys what, if any, national laws mandate that operators acquire coverage. Research reveals that aviation insurance products remain readily available and much price competition exists. The low cost and availability of aviation insurance means air carriers are likely to obtain insurance coverage independent of explicit legislative mandates to do so. Space insurance costs, however, comprise the third largest space program cost, representing 10% of the overall cost. Spacecraft operators demonstrate a willingness to forgo insurance as a risk reduction strategy. National laws requiring insurance in the space industry are few and are primarily focused on indemnification of the state’s liabilities under international treaties

El futur de l'educació (Reflexions d'un polonès)

L'auteur expose en dix points une série de réflexions d'ordre général et prospectif sur I'éducation. Il part de quelques considérations sur le développement de la science et la technologie en tant que facteur qui a conditionné la structure du systeme d'enseignement a ses différents niveaux. Il plaide pour une éducation conyue comme une valeur, non seulement instrumentale et opérationelle, mais aussi existentielle et autonome. Il introduit le concept de ncité éducativen sur lequel il réfléchit d'une fayon critique et, partant de l'énoncé bien connu napprendre a etren comme objectif éducatif, il propose celui dmetre pour apprendreno Finalement, il pose une série de questions sur les limites de l'action éducative pour contribuer a créer une conception de la vie telle qu'elle est exposée dans l'article.In ten points the author puts forward a number of reflections of a general and prospective nature about education. He starts with a few considerations on the development of science and technology as conditioning factors for the structure of the educational system at its different levels. He advocates a system conceived as a value, not so much instrumental and operational as existential and autonomus. He introduces and reflects critically on the concept of the "educational city" and, on the basis of the well-known phrase "learning to be" as an educational goal, he proposes "being to learn". Finally, he introduces a number of questions on the limits of educational activity to contríbute to generating a concepcion of life like the one put forward in the article.En diez puntos el autor expone una serie de reflexiones de carácter general y prospectivo sobre la educación. Parte de unas consideraciones sobre el desarrollo de la ciencia y de la tecnología como condicionantes de la estructura del sistema de enseñanza en sus diferentes niveles. Aboga por una educación concebida como un valor no tanto instrumental u operacional cuanto existencial y autónomo. Introduce y reflexiona críticamente sobre el concepto de "ciudad educativa" y, partiendo del conocido enunciado "aprender a ser", como objetivo educativo, propone el de "ser para aprender". Finalmente introduce una serie de interrogantes sobre los límites de la acción educativa para contribuir a generar una concepción de la vida como la que se expone en el artículo

Closer or Further? Comparison of Employee Development Trends in Polish and International Companies Operating in Poland

Knowledge, skills and talents of employees constitute a significant source of competi‑ tive advantage. The consequence of this paradigm is the conclusion that organizations attempting to increase the efficiency must take steps to improve employees’ qualifica‑ tions. Caring for the employee development, the enterprises aspire to creation of the best practices in this area. Over time, best practices are converging in all the companies performing in various cultures and countries. However, the dissimilarity of Polish condi‑ tions, instead of convergence, may cause divergence or cross‑vergence in the employee development. In the article, there were juxtaposed and compared the practices of the employees development in Polish and international companies operating in Poland. The aim of the comparison is to indicate the similarities, differences and trends in changes in employee development.Knowledge, skills and talents of employees constitute a significant source of competi‑ tive advantage. The consequence of this paradigm is the conclusion that organizations attempting to increase the efficiency must take steps to improve employees’ qualifica‑ tions. Caring for the employee development, the enterprises aspire to creation of the best practices in this area. Over time, best practices are converging in all the companies performing in various cultures and countries. However, the dissimilarity of Polish condi‑ tions, instead of convergence, may cause divergence or cross‑vergence in the employee development. In the article, there were juxtaposed and compared the practices of the employees development in Polish and international companies operating in Poland. The aim of the comparison is to indicate the similarities, differences and trends in changes in employee development

Cybersecurity of Autonomous Systems in the Transportation Sector: An Examination of Regulatory and Private Law Approaches with Recommendations for Needed Reforms

The past twenty-five years gave rise to increasing levels of automation within the transportation sector. From initial subsystems, like vessel satellite tracking and automobile chassis control, automation continues apace. The future promises fully autonomous devices such as unmanned aerial systems (“UAS”) and self-driving cars (“UAV”). These autonomous and automatic systems and devices (“AASD”) provide safety, efficiency, and productivity benefits. Yet AASD operate under continual threat of cyber-attack. ¶ Compromised AASD can produce dire consequences in the transportation sector. The possible consequences extend far beyond financial harms to severe bodily injury or even death. Given both the prevalence of cyber threats and their potentially deadly consequences, the public holds a legitimate interest in ensuring that incentives exist to address the cybersecurity of such systems. ¶ This paper examines both the private and public law mechanisms for influencing AASD cybersecurity behaviors in the transportation sector; and undertakes the first comprehensive comparison of existing agency regulatory schemes. The findings presented herein propose: (1) additional legislation to promote sharing of cyber event data; and (2) transportation sector regulatory best practices that require mandatory submission and review of cybersecurity plans by OEMs and service providers when compromise of their products or services threatens safety of life or critical infrastructure. None of the recommendations advanced herein require regulators to direct the adoption of any specific technical solution or specific cybersecurity standard. Thus, industry participants can remain nimble in the face of evolving cyber threats, while ensuring public safety through what proves to be needed regulatory oversight

Effect of diet type on serum and faecal concentration of S100/calgranulins in the captive cheetah

Gastrointestinal disease is omnipresent in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), in contrast to its freeranging populations. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of diet type (meat-only whole prey) on gastrointestinal health in captive cheetahs by measuring faecal and serum concentrations of S100/calgranulins. This paper reports faecal S100A12 and calprotectin concentrations in 12 captive cheetahs fed supplemented beef versus whole rabbit for one month in a cross-over design. Also, serum S100A12 and calprotectin concentrations were determined in four cheetahs fed whole rabbit and six cheetahs fed supplemented beef, and these were compared to the faecal concentrations of the respective marker proteins. Both the immunoassay for canine calprotectin and canine S100A12 were precise and reproducible for use with serum samples and faecal extracts. Whereas the assay for S100A12 was linear and accurate, an inconsistent linearity of the canine calprotectin assay was observed and could be indicative of an insufficient cross-reactivity of the specific antibody used for this assay. Serum concentrations of S100A12 and calprotectin were not altered by diet type, and were not correlated with the respective concentrations in faeces. Numerically (P=0.241) greater calprotectin concentrations and greater (P=0.041) faecal S100A12 concentrations were detected in cheetahs fed supplemented beef compared with whole rabbit. These findings demonstrate that whole prey feeding may decrease intestinal inflammation in the captive cheetah. Consequently, the relation between diet type and intestinal inflammatory conditions in the captive cheetah warrants further investigation

Whole carcass diets: a role for fibre in gastrointestinal health of cheetahs?

This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that altered podocyte slit protein nephrin distribution is associated with disturbed polarity protein expressions in podocytes from preeclampsia (PE). We examined expressions and distributions of nephrin, podoplanin, polarity protein partitioning defective-3 (PARD-3), and PARD-6 in podocytes from PE. Podocyte cell line (AB 8/13 cells) was used as control. Podocytes were found in all severe PE cases. In contrast, no podocyte was found in the samples from normal pregnancies and mild PE. Compared to control cells, nephrin, PARD-3 and PARD-6 expressions were reduced or lost in podocytes from severe PE. Podoplanin was expressed in podocyte surface membrane on control cells but reduced in podocytes from PE. These findings indicate that loss of slit protein nephrin and polarity protein PARD-3 and PARD-6 on foot processes could explain for podocyte detachment from glomerular basement membrane and lead to podocyte shedding in PE. © The Author(s) 2011.link_to_subscribed_fulltex