The retriever breeds have the same origin and have long been used as a gundog for hunting of game, mostly birds. However, recently the retriever breeds have become a popular pet and show dog. This have affected the breeding of the dogs as the same traits are not bred for a gundog and a pet or show dog. Breeds as the Labrador retriever consists of a field- and common-type. The aim of this study is to investigate any differences between and within five of the retriever breeds in behaviours as retrieving, search and game reaction. 64 dogs undergoing the field trial Description of Function- Retriever was video recorded and scores from 430 dogs that have undergone field trials was obtained. Both differences between and within breeds were found when analysing both the videos and scores. In the video analysis, the Flatcoated retriever showed the most retrieving behaviours and was the most passive. The Nova scotia duck tolling retriever was in both the video and score analyses the most active breed. The Labrador retriever scored high in game reaction. The field- and mixed-types had almost always higher scores in behaviours linked to hunting, compared to the common-type. This supports findings that recent selection in breeding have a larger effect on behaviour than the origin uses of the dogs.

A confiabilidade do produto é um dos principais atributos da sua qualidade, porém a melhoria contínua desta confiabilidade é um objetivo inalcançável para as empresas, principalmente após o processo de globalização, no qual as empresas locais não têm como competidores apenas as empresas regionais ou nacionais, mas também as outras empresas mundiais. Outro fator importante, para o estabelecimento da confiabilidade, é o cliente que têm aumentado as suas exigências num processo contínuo, em que os aspectos de conformidade às especificações do projeto estão se tornando critério de compra. Este trabalho, através de um estudo de caso, apresenta a análise de um processo de atendimento a itens não conformes e propõe melhorias neste processo, visando agilizar a solução de problemas de campo. Para isso será avaliada a confiabilidade da empresa, desde a comunicação do cliente, passando pelo revendedor e da própria empresa, até a metodologia utilizada para a análise das falhas de campo dos produtos existentes. Os registros e informações da área de suporte e serviços, serão fundamentais para a introdução de melhorias para o procedimento atualmente em uso pela empresa. / The reliability of a product is one of the main attributes of its quality, however continuous improvement of its reliability is a never-ending journey for companies, especially those with global processes, as they must complete with other regional, national and global companies. Another important factor in determining the reliability of a product is the understanding of the critical customer requirements. Due to market globalization, consumers now have access to a greater variety of products and are better able to make comparisons between similar items. This ability drives consumers to constantly change or refine their critical requirements that ultimately influence their purchasing decisions. This case study presents an analysis of a process for monitoring product non-conformances and proposes process improvements aimed at speeding up the solution to field problems. To do this, company reliability will be analyzed in terms of the path of communication of product problems from the customer to the dealer, the dealer to the factory and from the factory to the methodology used to analyze field failures. Information from the product support and services area will be fundamental to the introduction of improvements to the current field failure processes.

A confiabilidade do produto é um dos principais atributos da sua qualidade, porém a melhoria contínua desta confiabilidade é um objetivo inalcançável para as empresas, principalmente após o processo de globalização, no qual as empresas locais não têm como competidores apenas as empresas regionais ou nacionais, mas também as outras empresas mundiais. Outro fator importante, para o estabelecimento da confiabilidade, é o cliente que têm aumentado as suas exigências num processo contínuo, em que os aspectos de conformidade às especificações do projeto estão se tornando critério de compra. Este trabalho, através de um estudo de caso, apresenta a análise de um processo de atendimento a itens não conformes e propõe melhorias neste processo, visando agilizar a solução de problemas de campo. Para isso será avaliada a confiabilidade da empresa, desde a comunicação do cliente, passando pelo revendedor e da própria empresa, até a metodologia utilizada para a análise das falhas de campo dos produtos existentes. Os registros e informações da área de suporte e serviços, serão fundamentais para a introdução de melhorias para o procedimento atualmente em uso pela empresa. / The reliability of a product is one of the main attributes of its quality, however continuous improvement of its reliability is a never-ending journey for companies, especially those with global processes, as they must complete with other regional, national and global companies. Another important factor in determining the reliability of a product is the understanding of the critical customer requirements. Due to market globalization, consumers now have access to a greater variety of products and are better able to make comparisons between similar items. This ability drives consumers to constantly change or refine their critical requirements that ultimately influence their purchasing decisions. This case study presents an analysis of a process for monitoring product non-conformances and proposes process improvements aimed at speeding up the solution to field problems. To do this, company reliability will be analyzed in terms of the path of communication of product problems from the customer to the dealer, the dealer to the factory and from the factory to the methodology used to analyze field failures. Information from the product support and services area will be fundamental to the introduction of improvements to the current field failure processes.

Hand held device users encounter various forms of distraction in their daily lives. Distractions may prevent them from correctly using the hand held device. Usability evaluations are meant to identify issues prior to end-users experiencing them. However the laboratory environment, which usability evaluations are conducted, may not reflect the real-world conditions that devices are used. The experiment involved each participant performing tasks in both a quiet and a noisy environment. The noisy environment emulated part of a real-world experience by adding social noise in the background during the participant's tasks. The goal was to compare how much insight each participant was able to achieve from the data in each of the environments. It was found that task performance accuracy was higher in a quiet environment as opposed to the noisy environment. The mental demands and frustration of participants were found to be higher during the noisy environment evaluation.

This thesis focuses on individually specific differences in behavioural strategies, personalities, with two microtine rodents (Microtus arvalis and M. oeconomus) as study species. The work evaluates methodology necessary to reveal and measure consistent individual differences in behaviour, identifies possible proximate and ultimate mechanisms behind the existence of individual behavioural variability, and describes some ecological, evolutionary and behavioural consequences of personalities.

Different field tests are currently used in a wide extent in different levels of soccer teams. To be able to assess the players’ physiological status the tests must have high validity, reliability and external validity. Many different tests have been developt, but currently only five of these tests are most commonly used: Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (YIRT), Yo-Yo intermittent endurance test (YIET), Multi-sprint-test, Beep-test and Cooper-test. Presently there is no definitive conclusion regarding which of these tests is most suitable for soccer players. Therefore the present study aimed to, on the basis of previous studies evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the five most commonly used field test; to analyze the physiological requirements on soccer players with respect to their aerobic and anaerobic capacity; and last to compare among the five field tests and evaluate the validity of the field tests through comparison of field tests results with results from laboratory and soccer matches. During soccer match about 75-96 % of the energy is provided by the aerobic systems, while the rest, 4-25 %, is provided by the anaerobic systems. This fits approximately most of the results from both field tests and laboratory tests through measurement of either pulse, running distance, VO2max or lactate. Among the five tests, Yo-Yo tests (YIRT and YIET) has the best correlation to soccer match with respect to physiological demands on both aerobic and anaerobic capacities. Among the different Yo-Yo tests YIRT2 seems to be the best compared to YIET1, YIET2 and YIRT1.

Highways and roadways are the major source of stormwater runoff due to their prevalence and large non-permeable surface area. Best Management Practices (BMPs) such as bioswale provide effective on-site management and control of stormwater runoff from linear infrastructure such as highways. Many factors affect the performance of bioswales for stormwater volume reduction. The ratio of the installed BMP area to its service drainage area, characteristics of precipitation and the amount of sediment build-up over the surface of the BMP area are among the most important factors. Earlier studies have indicated that volume reductions in stormwater runoff from bioswale application range from 50% to 94%. However, the reported research lacks adequate information for a full understanding of how bioswales perform under various conditions. Consequently, additional systematic and in-depth research to better understand and the potential of bioswales as a method of controlling stormwater runoff is indicated. This research examined the effect of the following factors on bioswale performance: the ratio of the BMP area to the service drainage area, precipitation amounts and intensity, and sediment build-up. Hydraulic and hydrological processes were developed and analyzed through conceptual and physical models using appropriate governing equations including the Green-Ampt method. Field study of discrete rainfall events was conducted to collect information to calibrate and validate the numerical models. The field study tested various bioswale conditions with different levels of sediment accumulation. It also considered expected soil loss in the study area using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) method. In addition to field study, extensive simulations were conducted considering various contributing areas, rainfall depth and intensity, and sediment accumulation. These variables were manipulated to evaluate their effect on runoff volume reduction. Findings indicate that, for a given rainfall depth and duration, increasing the ratio of the BMP area to the service drainage area from 4% to16% results in increased bioswale efficiency ranging from 84% to 99%. The results revealed that input flowrate to the bioswale ranged from 0.04 to 4.7 in./min. depending on the rainfall intensity and soil type in the area. The runoff reduction performance of a newly constructed bioswale ranged from 44% for the highest input flowrate to 99% for the lowest input flowrate rainfall events. On the low end of rainfall volume/intensity, a 4% increase in the BMP area ratio results in a 34% improvement in efficiency (50% to 84%). On the high end of rainfall volume/intensity, a 16% increase in the area ratio results in only a 5% increase in efficiency (94% to 99%). Results also show that sediment accumulation has a substantial negative effect on infiltration rate. The observed efficiency of a bioswale in runoff reduction ranged from 13% to 100%. According to the USLE, the expected amount of soil loss occurring in the right-of-way area of a highway is approximately 1 ton/acre annually. The research revealed that for a given rainfall depth, duration, and area ratio; increasing the amount of sediment accumulation from 0 lbs./sq. ft. (equivalent to a newly constructed bioswale) to 2.7 lbs./sq. ft. (equivalent to a 10-year old bioswale) results in a 52% reduction in the runoff effectiveness of the bioswale sub-catchment from 98% to 46%. Finally, the physical model and associated governing equations were analyzed to describe the process of each studied factor. These results can be used for further study where the sediment accumulation rates differ from those modeled in this research.

Athletes in sports such as the gymnastics who perform the still rings cross position are disadvantaged due to a lack of objective and convenient measurement methods. The gymnastics "cross" is a held isometric strength position considered fundamental to all still rings athletes. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if two small force platforms (FPs) placed on supports to simulate a cross position could demonstrate the fidelity necessary to differentiate between athletes who could perform a cross from those who could not. Ten gymnasts (5 USA Gymnastics, Senior National Team, and 5 Age Group Level Gymnasts) agreed to participate. The five Senior National Team athletes were grouped as cross Performers; the Age Group Gymnasts could not successfully perform the cross position and were grouped as cross Non-Performers. The two small FPs were first tested for reliability and validity and were then used to obtain a force-time record of a simulated cross position. The simulated cross test consisted of standing between two small force platforms placed on top of large solid gymnastics spotting blocks. The gymnasts attempted to perform a cross position by placing their hands at the center of the FPs and pressing downward with sufficient force that they could remove the support of their feet from the floor. Force-time curves (100 Hz) were obtained and analyzed for the sum of peak and mean arm ground reaction forces. The summed arm forces, mean and peak, were compared to body weight to determine how close the gymnasts came to achieving forces equal to body weight and thus the ability to perform the cross. The mean and peak summed arm forces were able to statistically differentiate between athletes who could perform the cross from those who could not (p < 0.05). The force-time curves and small FPs showed sufficient fidelity to differentiate between Performer and Non-Performer groups. This experiment showed that small and inexpensive force platforms may serve as useful adjuncts to athlete performance measurement such as the gymnastics still rings cross.

The thesis deals with assortative behaviour of Poecilia wingei. The aims of the thesis are to describe character traits of fish and their heritability, then set breeding pairs of Endler's Livebearer (Poecilia wingei) and to determine their traits (shy or bold). After that, the offspring generation of such pairs was bred and their personal traits were determined too. Finally a comparison of the parents and the offspring generation was carried out and the heritability was analyzed. The traits were analyzed using the Open Field test. Fifty pairs of the parent generation were measured, coupled into pairs according to their traits. After that the offspring generation was measured too. The intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated, determining the share of the total phenotypic variance that is conditioned by the variability of genetic information in the population. The results were analysed using Statistica 12. The comparisons of the results revealed the heritability of the traits.

Nowadays the needs to fulfill severe emission standards and to reduce the mobile machine operative costs have driven the off-highway industrial research towards new solutions able to increase the overall vehicle efficiency. Within this scenario, smart power split transmissions demonstrated to be a very attractive technology able to achieve the fuel consumption reduction targets, increasing the machine working cycle productivity. Compared to the standard technologies (such as Torque Converters - TC), the power split hydromechanical varible transmissin (HVT), designed and developed by Dana Rexroth Transmission Systems S.r.l. (DRTS), is able to fully decouple the engine to wheel behavior during the machine working cycle, with an higher efficiency than a pure hydrostatic transmission. Due to this fundamental characteristic, the HVT allows the engine to work next to the maximum efficiency point, consequently it is possible to downsize the engine to further increase the fuel saving. The analysis of the field test performed by an off-highway vehicle (Kalmar Cargotec DRG Gloria 450 reachstacker) equipped with a DRTS HVT has been shown along this paper; particular attention has been given to the cycle load spectra, the fuel consumption and the working cycle productivity through a comparison with standard TC technologies.