The purpose of this study was to describe intake procedures in Colorado animal shelters, compare infectious disease screening protocols in shelters taking in animals from out-of-state to shelters only accepting animals from Colorado, and analyze perceived risk of diseases in Colorado by responding shelter personnel. A questionnaire was designed and administered to shelter personnel across the s...

The diel partitioning of juvenile brown trout Salmo trutta foraging behaviour is controlled by a number of factors including predation risk, competition, temperature and food availability. The present study uses PIT-tagging and visual observation to asses the use of shelter and foraging behaviour of Danish wild juvenile brown trout (13.5–15.6 cm). The experiment was conducted in a fluvarium and...

The arrival of new devices and techniques has brought tracking out of the investigational stage and into the wider world. Using Wi-Fi signals is an attractive and reasonably affordable option to deal with the currently unsolved problem of widespread tracking in an indoor environment. Here we present a system which aims at overcoming weaknesses in existing Real Time Location Systems (RTLS) by us...

The number of disasters, both natural as well as man-made, has been increasing in frequency in the recent years. This leads to short as well as long-term effects on food security and shelter, requiring humanitarian assistance. This article aims to identify the principles and standards that are applicable to food and shelter related aid that needs to be provided by the co-operation of the local ...

To evaluate the processes and outcomes of a short-term shelter, both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered via participant observation, focus group interviews with shelter staff and residents, and individual interviews with a sample of 40 young women who had been homeless prior to using the shelter. The process evaluation showed that the shelter staff strived to utilize an empowerment...

This paper describes a working method of assessing the shelter quality of a wind-break, hedge or shelterbelt by a single field measurement, using portable equipment, deployed by an operative with minimal training on any day when the wind is suitable. The automated measurement yields a single characterisation parameter used to access an “expert system” database of information quantifying the ben...

This paper presents an intelligent multi-agent system aimed at improving healthcare and assistance to elderly and dependent people in geriatric residences and their homes. The system is based on the PANGEA and HERA platforms and integrates a set of autonomous reactive and deliberative agents designed to support the carers’ activities and to guarantee that the patients are given the right care. ...

The past inflexibility of international banks in granting concessions (like elimination of surcharges, partial debt cancellations, lower interest rates, etc.) is linked by Ortiz to case-by-case strategy adopted in debt renegotiations. Within this context, the fear of setting precedents is seen as a major explanation in the banks' negotiating stance. To renew political commitment to the improvem...

Secondary analysis of pre-existing data from two Colorado animal shelters was conducted to assess the impact of shelter cats’ coat color on time required for adoption. One shelter included adult cats and kittens, the second shelter included kittens only. Results indicated that black cats, regardless of age or sex, require the longest time to adopt. They are followed by primarily black cats with...