Master of Science / Department of Hospitality Management and Dietetics / Carol W. Shanklin / Abstract Aging has become a focal point for several segments of the foodservice industry with the forecasted trends. Due to the link between quality of life and satisfaction with food in this population, many Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) and retirement communities are employing individuals who have experience in the hotel/restaurant industry. The purpose of the study was to assess residents’ overall satisfaction with quality of food and quality of service in Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) and retirement communities when the facility employs a foodservice director or chef with culinary training or expertise. The research compared satisfaction based on types of foodservices provided (restaurants and café/bistros); resident characteristics such as gender and length of time residing at a facility; frequency of interaction with the chef or foodservice director; and meal plan requirement. The study was conducted in the Midwest region and included a convenience sample of Retirement Communities and CCRCs in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. The variables analyzed were quality of food, quality of service, atmosphere, dining venues, meal plans, and frequency of dining with overall satisfaction. Atmosphere, food quality, dining venues, and meal plans significantly influenced overall satisfaction. Residents in facilities that provided more than one dining option had a slightly lower satisfaction ratings compared to the group who had one dining option. Overall satisfaction ratings for meal plan indicated that the respondents were neutral relative to the affect of meal plan and their overall satisfaction. The frequency of dining in one of the venues was positively influenced by meal plan requirements in the facilities. Residents who had lived in the facilities less than two years rated satisfaction higher. The more frequent the chef and foodservice manager interacted with the residents the higher the rate of overall satisfaction. Foodservice directors and administrators in these facilities can use the results to understand what the customers are looking for and how to improve overall services for their residents.

Background: During live concerts attendees are exposed to excessive high intensity sounds for durations considered dangerous to the auditory system. Thus, regular live music concert attendees are at risk for developing Music Induced Hearing Loss (MIHL) due to their recreational habits. Although MIHL is preventable, current hearing conservation is limited at live music venues. As personal hearing protection is poor within this community, a need for alternative hearing conservation strategies is evident. Method: The objectives of this multi-method quantitative research study was to determine whether venue-based hearing conservation strategies in live music venues are a plausible means of reducing the risk of music induced hearing loss. Four live rock and heavy metal music venues in Johannesburg (South Africa) were included in the study. The current venuebased hearing conservation strategies as well as the acoustic and structural characteristics of these venues are described. In addition, the Sound Pressure Levels (SPLs) were measured throughout the venues. The variance of the mean SPLs between different areas within these venues were then calculated and effects of the structural characteristics on the variance of the sound levels within the venues were determined. Results: The results indicated that hearing conservation including awareness programs and availability of Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs) are not currently occurring in the music venues. Music venues further do not comply with the OHSA (2003) regulations nor are they compliant in terms of the acoustic and structural recommendations for reducing the intensity levels in music venues. Statistical analysis indicated at least one pair of significant differences in the mean SPLs recorded in the different areas in each venue. Results further indicated trends in the variance of intensity levels between different areas confirming a positive relationship between each of these five trends and the variance of sound levels. Thus, this study indicates that venue-based hearing conservation strategies may be a plausible means for reducing the risk for MIHL in attendees at live music venues. Implications: Implications of this study are discussed in relation to clinical and practice guidelines for both audiologists, and occupational health personnel, whilst the need for changes in legislation are highlighted.

In the first part of the thesis, the present state of the Prague theatre network is introduced and the preconditions and possibilities of its further development are discussed. The introduction is followed by the analysis of the funding of the Prague theatres and cultural policy focusing on the system of subsidies and grants, transformation of the theatre network and other means of support. In the second part of the thesis, a thorough analysis of the six theatre venues that have emerged in the last six years, namely Studio Hrdinů, Company.cz in Divadlo Komedie, Venuše ve Švehlovce, Vila Štvanice, Jatka 78 and Panoptikon Barikáda, is provided. The analysis focuses on various factors influencing the venues: their location, relationship with the lawful owner of the property, legal form, their relationship with the audience, and last but not least the way they are funded. In the conclusion, the comparison of the situation of the six venues is provided.

Från många håll inom idrottsrörelsen hörs röster om att det råder en brist på idrottsytor i Sverige, allra främst i Stockholm. Denna studie har fokuserat på varför behovet av nya idrottsytor är så stort i Stockholm och vilka de största utmaningarna är för att planera för dessa. Både idrottsrörelsen och Stockholms stad är relativt eniga om att behovet är stort, framförallt i jämförelse med städer som Göteborg och Malmö. Tidigare forskning och litteratur har utgjort en grund för förståelsen av hur situationen utvecklats och ser ut idag. För studien har Stockholms stad och idrottsrörelsen givit sina perspektiv på vilka utmaningar som finns och hur de bör hanteras. Utifrån intervjuer har sex stycken huvudsakliga utmaningar kunnat identifieras, bestående av ekonomiska hinder, markbrist, otillräcklig samverkan, ej tillämplig lagstiftning, synen på idrott som olägenhet och ojämlika villkor. Med hjälp av ekonomiska teorier och teorier om maktutövning har utmaningarna analyserats och diskuterats med ambitionen att hitta lösningar. Detta har utmynnat i slutsatser om att det måste till nya modeller för finansiering, innovativa lösningar och effektivisering av idrottsytor, en utvecklad samverkan, en större förståelse för idrottens nyttovärde och möjligen ny lagstiftning. / Within the swedish society of sports, voices are being raised that there is a general lack of sports facilities in Sweden, especially in the city of Stockholm. This report focuses on why there is such a need for sports facilities in Stockholm and what the actual challenges consist of in terms of municipal planning. A comparison of cities in Sweden tells that Stockholm is far behind Gothenburg and Malmö when it comes to the offering of sports facilities. Previous research and literature have formed the basis for understanding how the situation has developed and how it appears today. Interviews have been conducted with planners from the municipality of Stockholm and as well as certain sport federations in order to get their perspectives on the challenges that exist and how they should be taken care of. Based on these interviews, six main challenges have been identified, consisting of financial obstacles, lack of land, insufficient collaboration, legal barriers, unequal conditions and the view of sport as disturbing. By using theories of economy and power, the identified challenges have been analyzed and discussed with the ambition to present various solutions. This has resulted in conclusions that include new models for financing, innovative solutions and efficient use of sports facilities, a developed collaboration, a greater understanding of the value of physical activity and possibly new legislation.

No description available.

This master's thesis deals with the development of EU's music policy and investigates one of its projects, the Liveurope platform. Liveurope is an initiative supporting music venues across Europe in their effort to promote emerging, up-and-coming European artists and thus significantly contributes to the development of European diversity in the area of live music. Since its establishment in 2014, the platform has undergone significant development, but as a result of the Coronavirus crisis, which has led to closure of venues and restrictions of cross- border free movement, it has been subjected to an unprecedented test of viability. It is within this context that the case is being investigated, during the time period of March 2020 to May 2021, in order to answer the research question: "Was the transnational Liveurope project, supported by the EU music policy, able to react to the Coronavirus crisis and keep on fulfilling its objectives in the unprecedented context of this crisis? The theoretical part of the thesis analyzes the academic debate on cultural policy, the role of music within the social sciences and music policy. As the EU music policy is an under-researched field, the thesis analyzes its historical development and current state for the contextualization of the case study of Liveurope...

This dissertation investigates the value of deep reinforcement learning (DRL) within an agent-based model (ABM) of a large open-air venue. The intent is to reduce civilian casualties in an active shooting incident (ASI). There has been a steady increase of ASIs in the United States of America for over 20 years, and some of the most casualty-producing events have been in open spaces and open-air venues. More research should be conducted within the field to help discover policies that can mitigate the threat of a shooter in extremis. This study uses the concept of dynamic signage, controlled by a DRL policy, to guide civilians away from the threat and toward a safe exit in the modeled environment. It was found that a well-trained DRL policy can significantly reduce civilian casualties as compared to baseline scenarios. Further, the DRL policy can assist decision makers in determining how many signs to use in an environment and where to place them. Finally, research using DRL in the ASI space can yield systems and policies that will help reduce the impact of active shooters during an incident.

Title: Business plan of the use potential of the sports venues for the Psychiatric Institution of Bohnice. Objective: The thesis presents a business plan concerning a commercial use of the sport venue in the Psychiatric Institution of Bohnice. The objective is to provide information needed to the institute management for managerial decision as to the commercial use of sports venues in order to increase the income from additional activities. The issue for the institution management remains whether or not this business plan is to be put in place within the framework of additional activities by Governmental non-for-profit organisation or a civic association, of which the Psychiatric Institution of Bohnice is the founder. Methods: The methods applied in the diploma thesis are as follows: descriptive, comparative, financial and the SWOT analysis, and interview and a survey. The descriptive analysis focuses on the description of the sports venues' current condition, the comparative analysis deals with their competitiveness, the financial analysis covers varied financial flows of the project, the SWOT analysis determines the topical strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the business plan. The use of an interview then fine-tunes the business plan as such. The survey is conducted to carry out...

Tesis por compendio / [ES] La presente tesis, que se presenta por compendio de artículos, muestra el ciclo de problemas por los que pasa el músico independiente, que realiza sus performances en pequeños aforos y en entornos formales e informales. La investigación encontró que hay un orden especifico en los problemas estudiados: se pudo evidenciar que -tras la implementación de algunas normativas, propias de las industrias creativas- estos problemas tienden a seguir una secuencia, comparable a un "efecto dominó". Por consiguiente, los retos a los que se enfrenta la música en vivo de pequeño aforo pueden ser comprendidos como fases de un ciclo. Cabe resaltar que, aunque las variables de los países o las causas de los problemas sean diferentes, se pudo evidenciar que el proceso cíclico es similar en diferentes lugares del mundo. las fases son las siguientes: 1. Florecimiento: en ausencia de regulación, el mercado de la música en vivo crece, generando prosperidad para músicos y emprendedores. 2. Eventual Regulación de la música en vivo, dadas algunas controversias de convivencia vecinal y la necesidad de prevenir riesgos y desastres -incendios, desplome de estructuras, etc.-; esto lleva a que se eleven los gastos para realizar las manifestaciones artísticas en pequeños locales. 3. División entre las economías formal e informal, dependiendo de si se trabaja acatándose leyes y normativas (o si se consiguen los debidos permisos); esto puede generar una persecución al sector informal, justificada en la prevención de la competencia desleal. 4. Reducción de oportunidades laborales, para empresarios y profesionales de la música, e intensificación de la competencia: como criterios para poder acceder a las pocas plazas de trabajo disponibles, se considera: la popularidad de los músicos en redes sociales, la impecabilidad de sus interpretaciones y el manejo de redes de contactos, organizadas como si fueran una "mafia" 5. Vulnerabilidad física y mental de los músicos, al padecer ellos estrés y ansiedad en un ambiente marcado por la competencia y la precarización laboral. 6. Ejercicio de la multiactividad: los músicos tienen dos o más trabajos precarizados, migran de oficio o de país, en buscando mejores condiciones para la subsistencia. 7. Disminución de la circulación de las músicas autóctonas de cada país; lo cual impacta en la apreciación y en la divulgación de las diversas experiencias musicales, de carácter nacional y popular. 8. Como causa externa se suma el incremento de coste de vida, el cual reduce la circulación del público, hasta obligar a la economía formal a diversificarse, con tal de ser sostenible, y reemplazar la música en vivo por otras actividades como los juegos de azar. 9. Escalamiento de la violencia, como producto de la precarización de la economía, el incremento del costo de vida y la ausencia de una oferta cultural de acceso abierto (ausencia que es aprovechada por el tráfico de estupefacientes y la delincuencia organizada). 10. Intervención gubernamental: la administración persigue actividades relacionadas con dicha delincuencia organizada y pretende evitar su resurgimiento, por medio de programas culturales con enfoque preventivo. Tales programas pueden fomentar un nuevo florecimiento de la música en calles en locales comerciales y espacios públicos. Este florecimiento cierra, por lo tanto, el ciclo de retos a enfrentar por los músicos independientes. Además, para poder entender los artículos como elementos de un mismo conjunto, es necesario visualizar su contenido por medio de una estructura semejante al de un árbol. De esta manera, la investigación expone las raíces de los diversos problemas mencionados en los artículos, profundizando en la comprensión de las crisis a resolver; posteriormente, se identifica la evidencia de los problemas con las ramas y, finalmente, los aportes de la tesis serían los frutos, los cuáles pueden contribuir al entendimiento y a la evaluación de los diversos procesos reseñados en los artículos. / [CAT] La present tesis, que es presenta per compendi d'artículs, mostra el cicle de problemes pels que passa el músic independent, que realisa els seus concerts en menuts locals i en entorns formals i informals. L'investigació va trobar que hi ha un orde especifique en els problemes estudiats: es va poder evidenciar que -despuix de l'implementació d'algunes normatives, pròpies de les indústries creatives- estos problemes tendixen a seguir una seqüència, comparable a un "efecte joc domine". Per tant, els reptes als que s'enfronta la música en viu de menut aforament poden ser compresos com a fases d'un cicle. cal resaltar que, encara que les variables dels països o les causes dels problemes seguixen diferents, es va poder evidenciar que el procés ciclic és similar en diferents llocs del món. les fases són les següents: 1. Floriment : en absència de regulació, el mercat de la música en viu creix, generant prosperitat per a músics i mamprenedors. 2. Eventual Regulació de la música en viu, donades algunes controvèrsia de convivència veïnal i la necessitat de previndre riscs i desastres -incendis, desplome d'estructures, etc.-; açò du a que s'eleven les despeses per a realisar les manifestacions artístiques en menuts locals. 3. Divisió entre les economies formal i informal, depenent de si es treballa acatant-se lleis i normatives (o si es conseguixen els deguts permissos); açò pot generar una persecució al sector informal, justificada en la prevenció de la competència deslleal. 4. Reducció d'oportunitats laborals, per a empresaris i professionals de la música, i intensificació de la competència: com a criteris per a poder accedir a les poques places de treball disponibles, es considera: la popularitat dels músics en rets socials, la perfecció en l'interpretació i el maneig de rets de contactes, organisades com si anaren una "màfia" 5. Vulnerabilitat física i mental dels músics, en patir ells estrés i ansietat en un ambient marcat per la competència i la precarierat laboral. 6. Els músics tenen dos o més treballs precaritzat, canvien d'ofici o de país, en buscant millors condicions per a la subsistència. 7. Disminució de la circulació de les músiques autòctones de cada país; la qual cosa impacta en l'apreciació i en la divulgació de les diverses experiències musicals, de caràcter nacional i popular. 8. Com a causa externa se suma l'increment de cost de vida, el qual reduïx la circulació del públic, fins a obligar a l'economia formal a diversificarse, per ser sostenible, i reemplaçar la música en viu per atres activitats com els jocs d'encert. 9. Augment de la violència, com a producte de la precarització de l'economia, l'increment del cost de vida i l'absència d'una oferta cultural d'accés obert (absència que és aprofitada pel tràfic d'estupefaents i la delinqüència organisada). 10. Intervenció governamental: l'administració perseguix activitats relacionades en dita delinqüència organisada i pretén evitar el seu resorgiment, per mig de programes culturals en enfocament preventiu. Tals programes poden fomentar un nou floriment de la música en carrers en locals comercials i espais públics. Este floriment tanca, per lo tant, el cicle de reptes a enfrontar pels músics independents. Ademés, per a poder entendre els artículs com a elements d'un mateix conjunt, és necessari visualisar el seu contingut per mig d'una estructura semblant al d'un arbre. D'esta manera, l'investigació expon les raïls dels diversos problemes mencionats en els artículs, profundisant en la comprensió de les crisis a resoldre; posteriorment, s'identifica l'evidència dels problemes en les branques i, finalment, els aportes de la tesis serien els fruts, els quins poden contribuir a l'enteniment i a l'evaluació dels diversos processos resenyats en els artículs. / [EN] This thesis, which is presented as a compendium of articles, shows the cycle of problems faced by the independent musician, performing in small venues and in formal and informal settings. The research found that there is a specific order to the problems studied: it became clear that - following the implementation of some regulations, typical of creative industries - these problems tend to follow a sequence, to be compared to a "domino effect". Therefore, the challenges faced by small live music can be understood as phases of a cycle. It should be noted that although the variables of the countries or the causes of the problems are different, the cyclical process has been found to be similar in different parts of the world: 1. flourishing: in the absence of regulation, the live music market grows, generating prosperity for musicians and entrepreneurs. 2. Eventual regulation of live music, given some controversies of neighbourhood coexistence and the need to prevent risks and catastrophes - fires, collapsing structures, etc. -; which entails higher costs for performing arts events in small venues. 3. Division between the formal and informal economy, depending on whether they work in compliance with laws and regulations (or obtain the appropriate permits); this can lead to the persecution of the informal sector, justified in the prevention of unfair competition. 4. Reduction of employment opportunities for entrepreneurs and music professionals and intensification of competition: The criteria for access to the few jobs available are: the popularity of musicians on social networks, the impeccability of their performances and the management of networks of contacts, organized almost "corruptly" . 5. Physical and mental vulnerability of musicians, who suffer from stress and anxiety in an environment marked by competition and job insecurity. 6. Multi-activity: musicians have two or more precarious jobs, migrate from one profession or from one country to another, in search of better living conditions. 7. Decrease in the circulation of each country's indigenous music, which has repercussions on the appreciation and dissemination of diverse musical experiences of a national and popular nature. 8. As an external cause, in addition to the rise in the cost of living, which reduces the circulation of the public, to the point of forcing the formal economy to diversify in order to be sustainable, and to substitute live music for other activities such as gambling. 9. Escalation of violence, as a product of the precariousness of the economy, the rise in the cost of living and the absence of a freely accessible cultural offer (an absence that is exploited by drug traffickers and organized crime). 10. Government intervention: the administration pursues activities related to organized crime and aims to prevent its resurgence through preventive cultural programmes. These programmes can encourage a new flowering of street music in commercial venues and public spaces. This flourishing thus closes the cycle of challenges faced by independent musicians. Furthermore, in order to understand the articles as elements of a whole, it is necessary to visualize their content through a tree structure. In this way, the research exposes the roots of the various problems mentioned in the articles, deepening the understanding of the crises to be solved; subsequently, the evidences of the problems are identified with the branches and, finally, the contributions of the thesis would be the fruits, which can contribute to the understanding and evaluation of the various processes reviewed in the articles. / Ospina Gallego, C. (2023). Emprendimientos de la música en vivo en pequeños aforos: problemas que afronta el músico y posibles soluciones [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/195954 / Compendio

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic shook the global economy to its core, enforcing wide-ranging working from home (WFH) movements in addition to traditional working from office (WFO) structures. As the debates continue over how to permanently embed WFH into the work reality, to do so successfully, the components of changing work venues must be evaluated. Hence, there is a growing urgency to adapt to the new ways of working through focused organizational and managerial intervention. Utilizing the grounded theory, the analysis of qualitative interview data from Germany and Sweden formed the foundation of the paper’s research on changing work venues concerning individual and organizational resilience. Here, young professionals shared experiences of WFH during the pandemic in conjunction with their time WFO before and after COVID-19 restrictions. Through the theoretical framework of resilience as practice, this paper establishes three processes that have a major impact on the quality of home office in relation to resilience: (1) adapting to WFH, (2) acknowledging the advantages and disadvantages of WFO and WFH, and (3) emphasizing individual preferences and differences. The study suggests that the more structured and faster the company adapted to WFH during the transitional period, the less pronounced the employee’s possible negative experiences were. Concerning the benefits of different work venues and individual preferences, this paper concludes that WFH is a substantial supplement to traditional work on-site with the potential to increase individual and organizational resilience.