Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Replacement source'

Newborn Holstein (n = 48) and Jersey (n = 30) calves were studied to compare the absorption of immunoglobulin G (IgG) from maternal colostrum (n = 39) or a colostrum replacement product derived from bovine serum (n = 39). Calves were also fed milk replacer with (n = 38) or without (n = 40) animal plasma to 29 d of age to determine the effect of plasma protein on IgG status, health, and growth. Colostrum or colostrum replacement was fed at 1.05 and 13.5 h of age and provided a total of 250, 180, 249, or 186 g IgG for Holsteins and Jerseys fed replacement or colostrum, respectively. Milk replacer (12.5% DM) was fed at 31% of metabolic birth weight (2 feedings/d). Jugular blood was sampled at 0 h, 24 h, and weekly to determine plasma IgG. At blood collection calves were weighed and measured to determine growth. Health scores, fecal scores, and grain intake were measured daily. Mean plasma IgG at 24 h did not differ between calves fed colostrum (13.78 ± 0.39 g/L) and replacement (13.96 ± 0.38 g/L). Average daily gain, wither height, hip height, body length, heart girth, health, and incidence of diarrhea were not different between treatment groups. Plasma IgG and performance were not affected by addition of animal plasma to milk replacer. The colostrum substitute successfully replaced colostrum as the source of IgG for newborn calves. Animal plasma was an acceptable source of protein, but did not enhance growth or immunity.
Master of Science

"Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Administration from the Naval Postgraduate School, June 2008."
Advisor(s): Heath, Susan K. ; Petross, Diana F. "June 2008." "MBA professional report"--Cover. Description based on title screen as viewed on August 8, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 149-152). Also available in print.

MBA Professional Report
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
The source selection phase in government acquisitions is so complicated in nature because it involves multicriteria decision making that is supposed to respond to various requirements and subjectivity is usually inevitable in this kind of a decision making process. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate how the USAF's current source selection method (color rating method) is incompetent in showing small differences between proposed products, how this inadequacy leads to subjective decisions, and that the use of information technology tools can augment objectivity in this process. In this study, USAF's KC-X Tanker Replacement Program has been selected as the program to be used to frame the research questions. Two models with two versions built on Microsoft Excel spreadsheets using publicly available KC-X program data are used to compare the USAF's color rating method and weighted sum method, which is a multi-criteria decision making tool. It is presented that if the USAF had used the weighted sum method as its evaluation method, the winner of the KC-X program could have been different. The findings prove that the color rating method is not capable of reflecting small differences and information technology tools can help decision makers choose the best value offeror with less subjectivity.

This investigation was conducted in the rural community of Cuambo, located in the northeast of Imbabura province, in the Mira river basin of Salina parish, at 1530 meters above sea level and with an average temperature of 19 C. The principal objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of four levels of substitution of fish meal for earthworm meal in broiler chicken diets. The fieldwork occurred in two stages over the course of 20 months: A. Creation of the feed: This step lasted from the installation of an earthworm culturing area through the cultivation, harvest, and drying of the worms until obtaining the flour and then the feed with the respective formulas and acquisition of primary materials. B. Cultivation of broiler chickens: This was carried out in a community member's house adapted to function like a chicken coop that had been previously prepared to receive the chicks. The study lasted 7 weeks. A completely random design (CRD) was used with five treatments and five repetitions per treatment, with five chickens per experimental unit. ANOVA, Tukey analysis at 5%, and orthogonal polynomial analysis were used to evaluate the data. The factor under study was the percentage of earthworm flour in a basic diet. The treatments were as follows: T0: Control (Pronaca commercial feed) T1: 100% earthworm meal T2: 75% earthworm meal T3: 50% earthworm meal T4: 25% earthworm meal Analyzed variables: Weekly weight gain, Weekly food conversion, Accumulated food conversion, Total food consumption, Efficiency index, Yield, Organoleptic analysis, Economic analysis. From the results obtained, we conclude that treatment 0 (T0) is the best because it gave the best results in weight gain, food conversion, efficiency index, yield, and cost of production. In the organoleptic analysis T4 received the most points for appearance and flavor; T3 received the most for color, smell, and texture. The treatment with greatest acceptability was T4, with the most points. In production costs, the least expensive was T1, but it is not recommended for use because the chickens had poor results in the studied variables.

This thesis describes the reconstruction network 10 kV HV networks in a teaching hospital in the transition to a new 22 kV voltage level according to valid regulations. The paper describes the current state of technological equipment and its gradual replacement with new technology at 22 kV voltage level in each power units so as not to limit the operation of the hospital. For this purpose, the new backup system for rotating spare resources. The thesis deals with new input distribution, which will serve as a transfer point between the customer and distributor of electricity as well as advance the existing technological equipment.

Uvod Napredak hirurških i anestezioloških tehnika učinio je hiruršku intervenciju ugradnje totalne proteze kolena uspešnom i bezbednom. Međutim, pošto spada u opsežne ortopedske intervencije, praćena je značajnim gubicima krvnog volumena, kao i značajnom potrošnjom krvi i krvnih derivata. Trendovi u savremenoj medicini idu u pravcu restrikcije upotrebe krvi i krvnih derivata i čine se veliki napori u istraživanju i razvijanju metoda i tehnika koje mogu biti alternative alogenoj transfuziji krvi. Traneksamična kiselina koja ima antifibrinolitičko dejstvo, može dovesti do značajnog smanjenja perioperativnog krvarenja. Ciljevi istraživanja su bili utvrđivanje uticaja traneksamične kiseline na perioperativno krvarenje kod operacija ugradnje totalne proteze kolena, kao i utvrđivanje postojanja uticaja traneksamične kiseline na perioperativnu upotrebu alogene krvi kod operaacija ugradnje totalne proteze kolena. Matrijal i metode u studiju je bilo uključeno 96 bolesnika oba pola, starijih od 18 godina, kojima je bila ugrađivana primarna elektivna totalna proteza kolena. Oni su bili podeljeni u dve grupe, 48 u ispitivanoj grupi kod kojih je primenjivana traneksamična kiselina i 48 bolesnika koji su bili kontrolna grupa. Svi bolesnici su bili u spinalnoj anesteziji i primenjivana je pneumatska poveska na ekstremitetu koji se operisao. Ispitivana grupa je dobijala traneksamičnu kiselinu u dva navrata u dozi od 15 mg /kg i 10 mg/kg u vidu kontinuirane i.v. infuzije u trajanju od 15 minuta. Prvo davanje leka je bilo neposredno nakon uvoda u anesteziju. Drugo davanje leka je bilo 15 minuta pre otpuštanja pneumatske poveske. Kontrolna grupa je dobijala istu količinu 0.9% fiziološkog rastvora koji je primenjivan na isti način. Intraoperativni gubitak krvi je beležen i meren kao gubitak u aspiratoru i gubitak na gazama. Postoperativn gubitak krvi se merio nakon 6, 12 sati i nakon 24 sata, kao gubitak na drenove Beležio se i broj primenjenih jedinica krvi i broj ukupno dobijenih mililitara krvi i ostalih krvnih produkata, kao i vreme njihove primene. Rezultati Postoji statistički značajna razlika u prosečnom intraoperativnom krvarenju između grupa (Z = -7,281; p = 000). Prosečno intraoperativno krvarenje u ispitivanoj grupi je bilo 100 ± 92,690 ml, a u kontrolnoj 447 ± 299,282 ml. U kontrolnoj grupi bolesnici imaju statistički značajno veće ukupno postoperativno krvarenje od bolesnika iz ispitivane grupe (T test, t=4,024, p<0,01) ( ispitivana grupa 309,78± 143,612 ml, kontrolna grupa 455,42 ± 201,177 ml). Razlika je bila statistički značajna nakon 6 sati (p < 001) i nakon 12 sati u korist ispitivane grupe (p<0,05). Postji statistički značajna razlika u ukupnom perioperativnom krvarenju među grupama i traneksamična kiselina je statistički značajno (p<0,000) smanjila ukupno krvarenje од 919,36 ml (95%IP 822,083-1016,640) na 405, 32 ml (95% IP 353, 407-457, 231). Ukupno perioperativno krvarenje je u proseku iznosilo 662, 34 ml i kretalo se u intervalu od 100 do 1700 ml. U ispitivanoj grupi je samo 5 (10,4%) ispitanika primilo transfuziju, dok je u kontrolnoj grupi 39 (81,3%), što je statistički značajna razlika (2=45,692; p=0,000). Prosečna količina date alogene krvi u ispitivanoj grupi je 33,33 ± 99,2 ml, dok je prosečna količina date alogene krvi u kontrolnoj grupi bila skoro deset puta veća i iznosila je 319,2 ± 230 ml, što je statistički značajno veće (Z = -6,625; p = 000). Postoperativne vrednosti hemoglobina, hematokrita i trombocita bile su statistički značajno veće u isptivanoj grupi. Bolesnici iz ispitivane grupe su statistički značajno ranije postoperativno uzimali prvi obrok, sedeli i ustajali od bolesnika u kontrolnoj grupi. Zaključci Iz dobijenih rezultata o intraoperativnom, postoperativnom i ukupnom perioperativnom krvarenju može se zaključiti da je traneksamična kiselina veoma efikasan lek i da statistički značajno smanjuje krvarenje vezano za ugradnju totalne proteze kolena i da smanjuje upotrebu transfuzije alogene krvi za 66,7%. Traneksamična kiselina je uticajem na smanjenje perioperativnog krvarenja dovela do očuvanja vrednosti hemoglobina, hematokrita i trombocita. Bolesnici koji su dobijali traneksamičnu kiselinu su takođe imali brži i kvalitetniji neposredni postoperativni oporavak.
Uvod Napredak hirurških i anestezioloških tehnika učinio je hiruršku intervenciju ugradnje totalne proteze kolena uspešnom i bezbednom. Međutim, pošto spada u opsežne ortopedske intervencije, praćena je značajnim gubicima krvnog volumena, kao i značajnom potrošnjom krvi i krvnih derivata. Trendovi u savremenoj medicini idu u pravcu restrikcije upotrebe krvi i krvnih derivata i čine se veliki napori u istraživanju i razvijanju metoda i tehnika koje mogu biti alternative alogenoj transfuziji krvi. Traneksamična kiselina koja ima antifibrinolitičko dejstvo, može dovesti do značajnog smanjenja perioperativnog krvarenja. Ciljevi istraživanja su bili utvrđivanje uticaja traneksamične kiseline na perioperativno krvarenje kod operacija ugradnje totalne proteze kolena, kao i utvrđivanje postojanja uticaja traneksamične kiseline na perioperativnu upotrebu alogene krvi kod operaacija ugradnje totalne proteze kolena. Matrijal i metode u studiju je bilo uključeno 96 bolesnika oba pola, starijih od 18 godina, kojima je bila ugrađivana primarna elektivna totalna proteza kolena. Oni su bili podeljeni u dve grupe, 48 u ispitivanoj grupi kod kojih je primenjivana traneksamična kiselina i 48 bolesnika koji su bili kontrolna grupa. Svi bolesnici su bili u spinalnoj anesteziji i primenjivana je pneumatska poveska na ekstremitetu koji se operisao. Ispitivana grupa je dobijala traneksamičnu kiselinu u dva navrata u dozi od 15 mg /kg i 10 mg/kg u vidu kontinuirane i.v. infuzije u trajanju od 15 minuta. Prvo davanje leka je bilo neposredno nakon uvoda u anesteziju. Drugo davanje leka je bilo 15 minuta pre otpuštanja pneumatske poveske. Kontrolna grupa je dobijala istu količinu 0.9% fiziološkog rastvora koji je primenjivan na isti način. Intraoperativni gubitak krvi je beležen i meren kao gubitak u aspiratoru i gubitak na gazama. Postoperativn gubitak krvi se merio nakon 6, 12 sati i nakon 24 sata, kao gubitak na drenove Beležio se i broj primenjenih jedinica krvi i broj ukupno dobijenih mililitara krvi i ostalih krvnih produkata, kao i vreme njihove primene. Rezultati Postoji statistički značajna razlika u prosečnom intraoperativnom krvarenju između grupa (Z = -7,281; p = 000). Prosečno intraoperativno krvarenje u ispitivanoj grupi je bilo 100 ± 92,690 ml, a u kontrolnoj 447 ± 299,282 ml. U kontrolnoj grupi bolesnici imaju statistički značajno veće ukupno postoperativno krvarenje od bolesnika iz ispitivane grupe (T test, t=4,024, p<0,01) ( ispitivana grupa 309,78± 143,612 ml, kontrolna grupa 455,42 ± 201,177 ml). Razlika je bila statistički značajna nakon 6 sati (p < 001) i nakon 12 sati u korist ispitivane grupe (p<0,05). Postji statistički značajna razlika u ukupnom perioperativnom krvarenju među grupama i traneksamična kiselina je statistički značajno (p<0,000) smanjila ukupno krvarenje od 919,36 ml (95%IP 822,083-1016,640) na 405, 32 ml (95% IP 353, 407-457, 231). Ukupno perioperativno krvarenje je u proseku iznosilo 662, 34 ml i kretalo se u intervalu od 100 do 1700 ml. U ispitivanoj grupi je samo 5 (10,4%) ispitanika primilo transfuziju, dok je u kontrolnoj grupi 39 (81,3%), što je statistički značajna razlika (2=45,692; p=0,000). Prosečna količina date alogene krvi u ispitivanoj grupi je 33,33 ± 99,2 ml, dok je prosečna količina date alogene krvi u kontrolnoj grupi bila skoro deset puta veća i iznosila je 319,2 ± 230 ml, što je statistički značajno veće (Z = -6,625; p = 000). Postoperativne vrednosti hemoglobina, hematokrita i trombocita bile su statistički značajno veće u isptivanoj grupi. Bolesnici iz ispitivane grupe su statistički značajno ranije postoperativno uzimali prvi obrok, sedeli i ustajali od bolesnika u kontrolnoj grupi. Zaključci Iz dobijenih rezultata o intraoperativnom, postoperativnom i ukupnom perioperativnom krvarenju može se zaključiti da je traneksamična kiselina veoma efikasan lek i da statistički značajno smanjuje krvarenje vezano za ugradnju totalne proteze kolena i da smanjuje upotrebu transfuzije alogene krvi za 66,7%. Traneksamična kiselina je uticajem na smanjenje perioperativnog krvarenja dovela do očuvanja vrednosti hemoglobina, hematokrita i trombocita. Bolesnici koji su dobijali traneksamičnu kiselinu su takođe imali brži i kvalitetniji neposredni postoperativni oporavak.
Introduction: Total knee arthroplasty today is efficient and safe surgical procedure. Being extensive orthopaedic surgical procedure poses a risk from substantial perioperative bleeding and consecutive usage of blood products.  Trends in modern medicine and surgery are in favor of restrictive usage of blood products and there are paramount efforts in researching and developing new techniques and methods of allogenic blood transfusion alternatives. Tranexamic acid as fibrinolytic agent is good example of substance that can be used to reduce preoperative bleeding in orthopaedic surgery. Aims of the study: We wanted to explore effects of tranexamic acid on perioperative bleeding reduction in total knee arthroplasty, and it’s effect on reduction of blood product usage in this surgical population. Маterial and methods: We conducted double blind, randomized controlled trial with 96 adult patient (older than 18 years) in the study, 48 in two groups. All patients had elective, unilateral total knee arthroplasty. First group got tranexamic acid(TA), and second (control) group got normal saline. Surgery was performed in spinal anaesthesia with usage of pneumatic tourniquet in all patients. First group got tranexamic acid 15mg /kg/ bw и 10 mg/kg/bw as continuous intravenous infusion in duration of 15 min. Control group got same amount of normal saline. First dose of TA was given at the beginning of the operation and second dose 15 min before release of the tourniquet. Control group got normal saline at the same way. Intraoperative blood loss was measured as blood loss in suction bottle and blood loss on the surgical sponges. Postoperative blood loss was measured as blood loss in surgical wound drains after 6, 12, and 24 hours. Number of blood units and total amount of blood and blood products in milliliters were also recorded. Results There are statistically significant difference in average intraoperative bleeding between groups in favor tranexamic acid group (Z = -7,281; p = 000).Average intraoperative bleeding in TA group is 100 ± 92,690 mil, vs 447 ± 299,282 mil in control group. Patient in TA group has statistically significant less total postoperative bleeding (T test, t=4,024, p<0,01)( TA group 309,78± 143,612 mil vs,420 ± 201,177 mil). Blood loss was statistically significant less after 6 (p < 001) and 12 hrs (p <0,05). in TA group. Total perioperative bleeding was statistically significant less (p< 0,000) in TA group and TA decreased total blood loss from 919,36 ml (95%IP 822,083-1016,640) to 405,32 ml (95%IP 353,407-457,231).Average total blood loss was 662,34 ml with interval from 100 to 1700 ml. In TA group only 5 (10,4%) patients received vs control group where 39 (81,3%) patients received allogenic blood transfusion and that is statistically significant (2=45,692; p=0,000).Average blood usage in TA group was 33,33 ± 99,2 ml vs 319,2 ± 230 ml in the control group (Z = -6,625; p = 000). Postoperative hemoglobin, haematocrit and platelets count values were statistically significant less in control group. Patient in TA group had earlier first postoperative meal, sitting and standing earlier than patient in the control group. Concliusions Data from this study clearly shows that intraoperative, postoperative and total perioperative blood loss in total knee arthroplasty are reduced with usage of tranexamic acid. Tranexamic acid is effective in reducing perioperative blood loss and usage of allogenic blood transfusion, which dropped for 66,7%.This reduced blood loss led to higher postoperative hemoglobin levels. Patients from TA group showed faster postoperative functional recover.

Studija se sastojala od dva dela – eksperimentalnog i kliničkog. Eksperimentalni deo je sproveden na Fakultetu tehničkih nauka u Novom Sadu na Departmanu za mehanizaciju i konstrukciono mašinstvo. Trideset dve zglobne površine gornjeg okrajka golenjače sa pripojem prednje ukrštene veze je uzeto tokom totalne aloartroplastike kolena kod trideset dva pacijenta kod kojih je preoperativno načinjena AP i profilna radiografija sa standardnim uvećanjem u cilju merenja veličine kolena a uz prethodno potpisanu saglasnost pacijenata. Zatim je načinjeno trodimenzionalno skeniranje prostorne površine pripoja prednje ukrštene veze na golenjači u odnosu na ravan zglobne površine golenjače heptičkim uređajem „Phantom Omni®“ radi utvrđivanja korelacije između površine pripoja prednje ukrštene veze na golenjači i veličine platoa golenjače. U eksperimentalni deo su bili uključeni pacijenti oba pola metodom slučajnog izbora kod kojih je ugrađivana totalna proteza kolena a koji su prethodno potpisali informisani pristanak pacijenta na operativni zahvat na Klinici za ortopedsku hirurgiju i traumatologiju Kliničkog centra Vojvodine. Klinički deo studije je bio retrospektivno-prospektivnog karaktera i obuhvatio je ukupno 60 pacijenata izabranih metodom slučajnog izbora od kojih je ispitivanu grupu činilo 30 pacijenata u kojih je došlo do ponovne rupture prednje ukrštene veze levog ili desnog kolena nakon urađene primarne rekonstrukcije te je načinjena ponovna rekonstrukcija veze, i kontrolnu grupu koju je činilo 30 pacijenata u kojih je zbog rupture prednje ukrštene veze načinjena primarna rekonstrukcija nakon koje nije došlo do ponovne rupture. Kod svih pacijenata je rekonstrukcija prednje ukrštene veze kolena rađena kalemom kost-tetiva-kost. Ishod rekonstrukcije je procenjivan na osnovu Tegner bodovne skale, Lysholm i IKDC bodovne skale za koleno, artrometrijskog merenja Lachman testa, Pivot shift testa, poloţaja kalema i urađeno je poređenje dobijenih rezultata u ispitivanoj (revizionoj) i kontrolnoj grupi. U klinički deo istraţivanja su bili uključeni pacijenti oba pola, ţivotne dobi od 18 do 40 godina koji su operisani na Klinici za ortopedsku hirurgiju i traumatologiju Kliničkog centra Vojvodine u Novom Sadu a koji su dali informisani pristanak za uključivanje. Kriterijumi za isključivanje pacijenata iz kliničkog dela istraživanja su bili životna dob manja od 18 i veća od 40 godina, pojava težih opšte-hirurških komplikacija i prestanak želje pacijenta da dalje učestvuje u ovom istraživanju. Nakon sveobuhvatne analize dobijenih rezultata istraţivanja, zaključeno je da postoji korelacija između površine pripoja prednje ukrštene veze na golenjači i veličine platoa golenjače. Formula, načinjena matematičko-statističkim metodama za ovo istraživanje, adekvatna je i praktično primenljiva za predikciju površine pripoja prednje ukrštene veze na golenjači u velikom procentu slučajeva a na osnovu samo dva radiografska parametra izmerenih preoperativno – prednje-zadnjeg i unutrašnje-spoljašnjeg dijametra platoa golenjače. Korišćenje ove formule može da doprinese poboljšanju rezultata hirurškog lečenja pacijenata sa pokidanom prednjom ukrštenom vezom kolena. Takođe, zaključeno je da je uzrok neuspeha primarne rekonstrukcije multifaktorijalan kao i da nema statistički značajne razlike u ishodu između ispitanika sa dobrom i ispitanika sa lošom pozicijom kalema. Potvrđena je pretpostavka da je ishod ponovne rekonstrukcije prednje ukrštene veze kolena slabiji u odnosu na ishod primarne.
This study consisted of two parts – experimental and clinical. Experimental part was conducted at the Department of Mechanization and Design Engineering of The Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad. Thirty two proximal tibial articular surfaces together with the anterior cruciate ligament insertion of thirty two patients were harvested during total knee arthroplasty. All patients had standard preoperative AP and profile radiographs with standard magnification in order to acquire the knee measurements. All patients previously signed the informed consent. The harvested proximal tibial articular surfaces were 3D scanned by a haptic device called „Phantom Omni®“ in order to determine the correlation between the size of the anterior cruciate ligament insertion site and the size of the tibial plateau. Thirty two randomly chosen patients of both sexes which had a knee arthroplasty were included in the experimental part of this study. All of the patients signed the informed consent at The Clinic for Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology of The Clinical Centre of Vojvodina. The clinical part was a retrospective-prospective study. This part included 60 randomly chosen patients divided into two groups. The test group consisted of 30 patients who had undergone a revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The control group consisted of 30 patients who had undergone only primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. A bone-tendon-bone graft was used for the reconstruction in all cases. The outcome was assessed by using Tegner activity scale, Lysholm knee scoring scale, IKDC score, arthrometric evaluation, Pivot shift test and the position of the graft. The results were compared between the test group and the control group. The clinical part of the study included 60 patients of both sexes, age 18-40 which were operated at The Clinic for Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology of The Clinical Centre of Vojvodina. All of the patients signed the informed consent for participation in this study. The exclusion criteria were age under 18 and above 40, occurrence of severe general surgical complications and a patient wish to be excluded from further investigation. After a thorough analysis of the results, we concluded that the correlation between the size of the anterior cruciate ligament tibial insertion site and the size of the tibial plateau exists. Formula which was created for this study by using mathematical and statistical methods, is adequate and practically applicable for the prediction of size of the anterior cruciate ligament tibial insertion site in the majority of cases based on just two preoperative radiographic parameters – AP and profile diameter of the tibial plateau. The use of this formula may improve the outcome of the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. We also concluded that the cause of the primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction failure is multifactorial as well as that there is no statistically significant difference between the patients with good and the patients with poor graft position. We confirmed the assumption that the outcome of the revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is poorer than the outcome of the primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

With the increase of world population and industrial growth of developing countries, demand for energy, in particular electric power, has gone up at an unprecedented rate over the last decades. To meet the demand, electric power generation by use of fossil fuel has increased enormously thereby producing increased quantity of greenhouse gases. This contributes more and more to atmospheric pollution, which climate scientists believe can adversly affect the global climate, as well as health and the welfare of the world population. In view of these issues, there is global awareness to look for alternate sources of energy such as natural gas, hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal and biomass. It is recognized that this requires replacement of existing infrastructure with new systems, which cannot be achieved overnight. Optimal control theory has been widely used in diverse areas of physical sciences, medicine, engineering and economics. The main motivation of this thesis is to use this theory to find the optimum strategy for integration of all currently available renewable energy sources with the existing electric power generating systems. The ultimate goal is to eliminate fossil fuels. Eight main energy sources namely, Coal, Petroleum, Natural Gas, Conventional Hydro, Wind, Solar, Geothermal and Biomass are considered in a dynamic model. The state of the dynamic model represents the level of energy generation from each of the sources. Different objective functions are proposed in this thesis. These range from meeting the desired target level of power generation from each of the available sources at the end of a given plan period, to reducing the implementation and investment costs; from minimizing the production from polluted energy sources to meeting the electricity demand during a whole plan period. Official released data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration have been used as a case study. Based on real life data and the mathematics of optimal control theory, we present an optimal policy for integration of renewable energy sources to the national power grid.

In England, local health service planning should be informed by health equity audit, to ensure services are distributed fairly in relation to the health needs of different demographic groups and geographical areas. Local planners therefore require small area estimates on both health needs, and service use, in order to provide services equitably. Joint replacement of the hip (THR) and knee (TKR) are common elective procedures making a substantial contribution to public health; hence are important equity indicators. The aim of this thesis is to develop a methodology whereby routine data sources can be used to provide local health planners with small area estimates of need and provision for THR and TKR. These estimates are then combined together in a single statistical model to explore equity in access to care.

碩士
國立臺灣海洋大學
水產養殖學系
97
Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of the replacement of the fish meal with（1）poultry meal,（2）meat and bone meal on the growth of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei, and（3）meat and bone meal on the grown of adult Litopenaeus vannamei. Juvenile white shrimps were fed with isonitrogenous（35%）and isocaloric（310.8 kcal/kg）diets. The replacements of fish meal with poultry meal, and meat and bone meal, were in 20、40、60、80 and 100%（A、B、C、D、E and F）respectively. The experiment duration for both experiments were 6 weeks. White shrimps with 0.028g initial body weight fed diets containing 0 and 20 % poultry meal had significant higher weight gain（2139、1846 %） than those fed other treatments. There were no significant differences in the survival （90%） of white shrimps fed treatment diets. White shrimps with 0.028g initial body weight fed diets containing 0-60 % meat and bone meal had significantly higher weight gain（2954-3112 %） than those fed diets containing 80-100 % meat and bone meal（2499-2545 %）. 7g white shrimp（initial body weight）fed diets containing 0-40 % meat and bone meal（38.8-46.3 %）had significantly higher weight gain than those fed diets containing 60-100 % meat and bone meal（25.4-35.7 %）.

碩士
國立臺灣海洋大學
水產養殖學系
95
Abstract Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of the replacement of fish meal with (1) de-hulled soybean meal, (2) soybean meal or (3) isolated soy protein on the growth of Litopenaeus vannamei. Juvenile white shrimps were fed with both isonitrogenous (34% crude protein) and isocaloric (2710 kcal/kg) diets. The replacement of fish meal with de-hulled soybean meal, soybean meal and isolated soy protein, was in 20、40、60 and 80%, respectively.The experiment duration was 6 weeks. White shrimps fed diets containing 80% fish meal replaced by de-hulled soybean meal had the worst feed conversion ratio (1.436) and survival ratio (88%).There were no significant differences in the weight gain of white shrimps fed with other replacement levels of de-hulled soybean meal. White shrimps fed diet containing 40% fish meal as protein source replaced by soybean meal had the higher significant weight comparing to those fed with other soybean meal replacement levels. In addition, there were no significant differences (P < 0.001) in the weight gain of shrimp fed with diets containing different replacement levels of isolated soy protein. The weight gain of white shrimps fed with diets containing isolated soybean protein ranged from 2827 to 3265%.

碩士
國立臺灣海洋大學
水產養殖學系
102
Three feeding trials were conducted to examine the growth performance and body composition of fish as the effect of fish meal protein replacement by alternative protein sources. All experimental diets were formulated to content isonitrogenous (45%) and isolipidic (12%). 　　The first experiment was to evaluate the effects of fish meal protein replacement by soybean meal (SBM) protein in the diets on growth performance of hybrid red snapper Lutjanus argentimaculatus #westeur024# L. sebae. Six experimental diets were formulated using soybean meal to replace fish meal at 0, 8.5, 17, 25.5, 34 and 42.5% dietary protein. 1.83 g juvenile hybrid red snapper were fed for four weeks feeding trial, and three times a day until satiation. The results showed that growth performance decreased with increasing level of soybean meal in the diets. Specific growth rate was not significantly different among fish fed control 0, 8.5, 17 and 25.5% soybean meal protein diets. The fish fed diets included 34 and 42.5% soybean meal protein showed significantly lower weight gain than those fed other treatments. Compared to control diet, fish fed soybean meal diets group had lower muscle lipid content, and higher muscle protein and moisture contents. The first experiment indicated that up to 25.5% of fish meal protein could be replaced by soybean meal protein in the diets for hybrid red snapper without adverse effects on growth performance. 　　The second experiment was conducted to examine the growth performance of orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides as the effect of partial replacement of fish meal by poultry by-product meal (PBM) in the diets. Six experimental diets containing 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75% of protein from poultry by-product meal were formulated to replace protein from fish meal. The diets were fed to 4.54 g juvenile orange-spotted grouper three times a day until satiation for five weeks feeding trial. The results showed that growth performance were affected by inclusion poultry by-product meal in the diets. Weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) of grouper fed diets with 15, 30, 45 and 60% fish meal protein replacement by poultry by-product meal were not significantly different from those of fish fed the control diet. However, the growth performance of grouper fed diet containing 60% fish meal protein replaced by poultry by-product meal protein was significantly higher than that of grouper fed diet with 75% fish meal protein replacement by poultry by-product meal protein. Muscle proximate of grouper fed poultry by-product meal diets group had higher ash, and lower crude protein and crude lipid contents than those of grouper fed the control diet. In conclusion, poultry by-product meal could replace up to 60% of fish meal protein in the diet for orange-spotted grouper E. coioides. 　　The third experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth performance and body composition of orange-spotted grouper as the effect of 50% fish meal protein replaced by 10 and 20% dietary fish silage (17.5 and 35% fish silage protein) combined with poultry by-product meal (PBM) or full-fat soybean meal (SBM) protein. Triplicate groups of 14.35 g fish were fed each of five experiment diets three times a day until satiation. After six weeks feeding trial, the fish fed diets containing 10 and 20% fish silage combined with PBM or 20% fish silage combined with full-fat SBM protein shown not significantly different in growth performance from fish fed the control diet. However, the highest growth performance was observed for the fish fed diet containing 10% fish silage combined with PBM in the present study, and it indicated that fish silage combined with poultry by-product meal was better than combined with full-fat soybean meal in the diet. Compared to orange-spotted grouper fed the control diet, muscle proximate composition of fish fed diets containing fish silage had lower moisture, ash and crude lipid contents, and higher in crude protein content. In conclusion, the results suggest that inclusion 10% fish silage combined with poultry by-product meal could replace 50% fish meal protein in the diet without negative effect on growth performance of E. coioides.