Perissodactyla Odd-Toed Hoofed Mammals

Odd-toed hoofed mammals (Perissodactyla) are a group of mammals that are largely defined by their feet. Members of this group—horses, rhinoceroses, and tapirs—bear the bulk of their weight on their middle (third) toe. This distinguishes them from the even-toed hoofed mammals, whose weight is carried by their third and fourth toes together. There are about 19 species of odd-toed hoofed mammals alive today. Foot Anatomy The details of foot anatomy vary between the three groups of odd-toed hoofed mammals. Horses have lost all but a single toe, the bones of which have adapted to form a sturdy base on which to stand. Tapirs have four toes on their front feet and only three toes on their hind feet. Rhinoceroses have three hoofed toes on both their front and back feet. Body Structure The three groups of living odd-toed hoofed mammals are varied in their body structure. Horses are long-legged, graceful animals, tapirs are smaller and rather pig-like in body structure and rhinoceroses are very large and bulky in build. Diet Like the even-toed hoofed mammals, odd-toed hoofed mammals are herbivores but the two groups differ significantly with respect to stomach structure. Whereas most even-toed hoofed mammals (with the exception of pigs and peccaries) have a multi-chambered stomach, odd-toed hoofed mammals have a pouch that extends from the large intestine (called the caecum) where their food is broken down by bacteria. Many even-toed hoofed mammals regurgitate their food and re-chew it to aid in digestion. But odd-toed hoofed mammals do not regurgitate their food, it instead is broken down slowly in their digestive tract. Habitat Odd-toed hoofed mammals inhabit Africa, Asia, North America and South America. Rhinoceroses are native to Africa and southern Asia. Tapirs live in the forests of South America, Central America, and Southeast Asia. Horses are native to North America, Europe, Africa and Asia and are now essentially worldwide in their distribution, due to domestication. Some odd-toed hoofed mammals, such as rhinoceroses, have horns. Their horns form from an outgrowth of skin and consist of compressed keratin, a fibrous protein that is also found in hair, nails, and feathers. Classification Odd-toed hoofed mammals are classified within the following taxonomic hierarchy: Animals Chordates Vertebrates Tetrapods Amniotes Mammals Odd-Toed Hoofed Mammals Odd-toed hoofed mammals are divided into the following taxonomic groups: Horses and relatives (Equidae) - There are 10 species of horses alive today.Rhinoceroses (Rhinocerotidae) - There are 5 species of rhinoceroses alive today.Tapirs  (Tapiridae) - There are 4 species of tapirs alive today. Evolution It was previously thought that odd-toed hoofed mammals were closely related to even-toed hoofed mammals. But recent genetic studies have revealed that the odd-toed hoofed mammals may, in fact, be more closely related to carnivores, pangolins, and bats than to the even-toed hoofed mammals. Odd-toed hoofed mammals were far more diverse in the past than they are today. During the Eocene the were they dominant land herbivores, vastly outnumbering the even-toed hoofed mammals. But ever since the Oligocene, odd-toed hoofed mammals have been in decline. Today, all odd-toed hoofed mammals except domestic horses and donkeys are sparse in number. Many species are endangered and at risk of extinction. Odd-toed hoofed mammals of the past included some of the largest land mammals ever to have walked the Earth. Indricotherium, an herbivore that inhabited the forests of central Asia between 34 and 23 million years ago, was three or four times the weight of modern-day African savannah elephants. The most primitive of the odd-toed hoofed mammals are believed to be the brontotheres. Early brontotheres were about the size of modern-day tapirs, but the group later produced species that resembled rhinos.

School Based Management of Gingoog City Comprehensive...

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Region X Division of Gingoog City GINGOOG CITY COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL Gingoog City A Narrative Report on the Best Practices of School Based Management From 2007-2010 at Gingoog City Comprehensive National High School, Gingoog City I- Introduction In the recent years, there has been a growing international trend toward decentralization, devolution , and greater autonomy for schools in the public education system, with the goal of improving the quality education ( Beare and Boyd 1993; Moon 1996). Current arguments regarding changes in school governance and management aim in this direction although they travel under a variety of names. Such policy reformation is known as†¦show more content†¦II- Profile of the Respondents Based on the research, the researcher’s respondents in GCCNHS were shown on the table below. These respondents answered the researcher-made questionnaires as a main tool of gathering the data. There were 5 sets of questionnaires answered by the respondents below. The first part was the profile of the respondents. The second part was the assessment of School –Based Management Practices in terms of School Leadership, Internal Stakeholders Participation, External Stakeholder Participation, School Improvement Process, School Based Resources and School Performance Accountability. The third part was the level of School Improvement with the following indicators: School Achievement, Faculty Development , Physical Development and Fiscal Management. Table 1- Respondents Respondents | No. of Respondents | School Administrator | 1 | Department Heads | 8 | Teachers | 55 | Students | 246 fourth year students who enrolled from First Year to fourth year. | Parents | 250- parents of the 4th year students | External Stakeholders | 12- Barangay officials | Total | 572 | II- Results of the Research Table 2: Level of Assessment of SBM Practices in 2007-2010 at GCCNHS School BasedManagement Practices | 2007 | 2010 | | MEAN | Descriptive Equivalent | MEAN | DescriptiveEquivalent | Leadership | 4.05 | Well Implemented | 4.36 | Very Well

Li Fung Case Study Free Essays

Li Fung is an export trading company from Southern China that was founded back in 1906 by Fung Pak-Liu and his partner Li To-Ming. Li Fung grew from a traditional export trading company to global supply chain management company it is today. After the passing of Liu, To-Ming decided to sell his shares. We will write a custom essay sample on Li Fung Case Study or any similar topic only for you Order Now After both graduating from Harvard, Fung’s sons, Victor and William took over the company in 1974 and moved it to Hong Kong. The Fung brothers were both highly intelligent individuals. They used new ideas and innovation to turn the company into a more professionally managed firm that went public in 1992 (MacFarlan, 2005). Li Fung manages the global supply chain for high volume and time sensitive consumer goods for large companies such as Bed, Bath Beyond, Avon, The Limited and Warner Brothers (MacFarlan, 2005). The company operates in 40 economies and employs over 20,000 people worldwide (MacFarlan, 2005). I think part of the success of the company was that the brothers worked so well together. They each had their own strengths. While Victor was more of the strategic thinker and thought long-term, William focused on the operations and making money. As the CEO of the Group’s e-commerce stated a combination of both thought leadership and execution, with the unique relationship between Victor and William cementing the entire organization Although the company was spread out with different offices around the world they provided a centralized IT, financial and administrative support out of their Hong Kong office. However they had a decentralized corporate structure so that they were easily able to keep up with the up and coming fashions because as we know the styles are constantly changing. Li Fung also had a very competitive compensation package and had bonuses that were based on profits which was different than other companies that had more restrictions. Along with the internet revolution, Victor and William were fast to understand and adapt to the changes brought on by new technology. By 2000 the company wanted to extend its supply chain via the Internet. Prior to this the only thing that was done was through an internal Intranet. This did expedite the orders but only with the manufacturing plants since they were able to track their orders. It also helped increase the speed of the orders because they did not need to send someone a sample to inspect via regular mail. They were now able to view the item online and approve it. Two years later they launched extranet sites so they were linked to their key customers and were personalized to meet the customer’s needs. This helped streamline all communications since their customers were able to track the progress of their orders. The only issue was all of the software development was outsourced and was not handled by Li Fung’s employees. Management was aware of the success the extranets were having and finally started to consider looking at their online options. When looking at their options they wanted to make sure that they were doing it from within the company and not outsourcing. Michael Hsieh, president of LF International Inc. had met with John Suh, CEO of Castling Group which was an Internet start-up company. Suh was someone that Li Fung needed in order to successfully start up their online side of the business. The confusing part with this is it was going against what Li Fung had said about not outsourcing and keeping it within the company. They wound up working with the Castling Group and bringing them on board as part of their management team. John Suh stepped down as CEO of Castling and became CEO of lifung. com (MacFarlan, 2005). All in all they hired about 20% of Castling Group employees so it was not as bad as it first seemed. The good thing with hiring this outside company is the experience that they bring to the table. Since it was a new team they focused on team building to build the trust within the team especially with how fast they needed this project to move. This helped the employees work well together to get this project done. I feel that what helped them move along was the trust they had with the companies they were already dealing with because they had proved to them that they were more than capable and also focused on value and loyalty. The company put their customers first. They still believed in the old-economy know how. Another thing that made them stand above some of the others is when Li Fung started to focus on the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This was decided after they did some market research. These smaller companies want the same options as the larger companies when ordering their products. Lifung. com allowed the smaller companies to at least get some options for customization unlike other online companies. Usually the smaller companies are not able to compete because they do not have the options to customize their product as much. By lifung. com being flexible and innovative it allowed them to reach even more businesses. In addition to focusing on SMEs, Li Fung should focus on acquiring or merging with competing firms. The company should try to get into markets in developing countries such as India. It would also be beneficial for the company to try to break through into new products that are complementary to clothing such as footwear. Overall, the company been successful with its online company. They made the customization options easy for the customers. The customers were able to complete their orders twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. We all know how important it is for customers to have the flexibility and easy access to the internet as well as the ability to have access to orders at their convenience. Throughout its growth, the company stayed focused on the understanding of information systems and technology which enabled them to stay ahead of their competition. How to cite Li Fung Case Study, Free Case study samples

Shutter Island Film Review free essay sample

Martin Scorsese knows something about surprise endings which twist meisters like M. Night Shyamalan seem to have forgotten. The twist doesn’t matter if you haven’t already told a good story. By the time Shutter Island gets to its twist, it has already told such a tale. You’re invested in these characters and no matter how it turns out you’re going to walk away happy. The twist, when it happens, only serves to make a deeper connection. It makes sense of the madness, brings order to the chaos, and then rips your heart out right through your chest. The movie exists not in service of the twist, rather the twist exists in service of the movie. For now I can only tell you about the story I thought I was watching and let you discover that other story for yourself in theaters. Leonardo DiCaprio plays US Marshal Teddy Daniels, sent to investigate an escape at a remote island mental facility. We will write a custom essay sample on Shutter Island Film Review or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Ashecliffe is a maximum security insane asylum where the nation’s most violent, dangerous, and often hopeless cases are sent. He arrives on the ferry with his new partner Chuck (Mark Ruffalo) and, though still suffering the ill-effects of seasickness, immediately gets to work looking for the lost prisoner. Daniels may, however, be interested in more than just a lost prisoner and haunted by the memories of a past tragedy he stalks Ashecliffe’s grounds, fighting his way through an uncooperative staff, looking for answers. But is the staff really uncooperative? Ben Kingsley is sympathetic and kind as Ashecliffe’s head Dr. Cawley. He smiles and comforts even as Teddy’s investigation starts to point to something darker and more mysterious. Kingsley is just one of Shutter Island’s captivating contradictions in a world where everything seems lost in shades of foggy gray. Maybe it’s not a man who’s the real danger. At times it seems as though nature itself is against Teddy. The island is almost permanently shrouded in an ominous, concealing mist. The hospital itself is a contradiction: at times dark and creepy place full of leaks and the screams of the damned, at others a clean, professional facility full of people who want to help. Scorsese uses his mastery of visual style to full effect, playing with even the most mundane trappings of a scene in creating an atmosphere that hints at something else beneath the surface. Cigarette smoke wafts through the air, obscuring a face and then clearing away as the individual reveals something important. Rain pounds against the windows while lightning flashes electrify a room as if Teddy is being fried from the inside out. Shutter Island is full of masterful, subtle touches which all point to something else, but which you’ll easily dismiss until later when it all makes sense. Those easy to miss subtleties linger in your subconscious and hang around until you need them. Eventually it all fits together into one, unexpected, whole. DiCaprio’s performance is a critical part of that whole and like so much in the movie, it doesn’t all pay off until the credits roll and Scorsese closes the book on his story. In doing so he leaves us with all the answers we need, but without answering all of our questions. You’ll know what those questions are, they aren’t the ones you expect, but you’ll be asking them long after you’ve walked out of the theater. Shutter Island is a fiercely twisted, complex film built on a foundation of character-driven emotion. For me it’s my favorite Scorsese, the Scorsese of Bringing out the Dead, returned from a long hiatus. Shutter Island puts all of the director’s considerable talents to use in one film, harkening back to old school suspense thrillers like the work of Hitchcock while incorporating the new ideas of modern movie magic. Thought-provoking and surprising at every turn, Shutter Island isn’t to be missed.