Nitrogen (N) and energy budgets for free-roaming ewes were quantified on mountain summer range in southwestern Utah in 1986 and 1987. Diet quality (%N), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), and energy were estimated with the use of five esophageally fistulated ewes. Excretion rates of N and energy to feces and urine were measured by total collection from five nonfistualted ewes. Total intake N(gN/(MBW*d-1) tracked intraseasonal changes of dietary N percent but was apparently buffered by fluctuations in dry matter intake. In each year, total urine N was closely related to dietary N concentration, r2=0.97 (1986) and r2=0.89 (1987). Total N excreted via feces varied as a function of dry matter output rather than fecal N concentration. Consumption of gross energy (GE) paralleled dry matter intake in both years of the study, r2=.99. Fecal energy excretion (kcal/(MBW*d-1) was associated with dry matter output while urine energy varied with little amplitude across both grazing seasons. In both years, absolute values for metabolizable energy (ME) and nitrogen balance indicated that the sheep were in a positive nutritional state throughout the grazing season. ME levels calculated by difference were consistently higher than when determined by DE X 0.82, since the gaseous products of fermentation were not accounted for in difference determinations. Ratios of estimated intake versus maintenance levels of nitrogen and energy were calculated for each grazing season under study. The data suggest that in 1986, N was relatively more limiting in early summer, while energy was relatively more limiting at the end of the season. Digestible organic matter intake appeared to be below maintenance requirements in September, 1986. In 1987, relative amounts of both nutrients paralleled each other throughout the grazing season and were above maintenance, with the exception of the September trial when both nitrogen and energy were below calculated maintenance levels.

The impact of population ageing on the social budgets of the future is a phenomenon confronting many of the world's wealthiest and most advanced nations. The impending retirement of the 'baby boomers' has raised concerns about the inadequacy of budgetary frameworks (both conceptual and real) to fulfil the financial commitments of demographically sensitive programs, namely old age pensions. Pension schemes represent, by far, the largest social welfare commitment of first world nations. Old age pensions are also demographically sensitive. Furthermore, pension systems play a crucial role in alleviating poverty, in recognising the previous contribution of an individual and in maintaining of the social and economic wellbeing of democratic polities. The financial stability of pension schemes and the ability of governments to meet future commitments will become significant issues of public policy as the pressures from population ageing intensify. Yet, committing resources, or budgeting, for longer-term pressures is an inherently problematic exercise both from an intellectual and a practical perspective. For long-term resourcing to be successful it requires perfect foresight and a level of political commitment that typically eludes most politicians and governments. Longer or medium-term budgetary pressures are often ignored or avoided until they impact on the immediate chances of either fiscal or electoral success. As such, societies face the prospect of looming financial burdens, but only have a box of short-term tools at their disposal and a limited body of scholarship to guide them through this ticking political 'time bomb'. This research tackles a significant omission in the existing literature on budgeting, public policy and social welfare, by proposing a conceptual framework for the anticipation, conceptualisation and analysis of future budget pressures. In doing so, it brings together analytical frameworks of government budgeting and social policy from a number of disciplinary areas and weaves them into a conceptual framework that allows for diagnostic and prescriptive analysis of budgetary pressures within a particular policy/spending area. The framework is also compatible with existing budgetary frameworks and decision-making processes. Through the analysis of the old age pension systems in Australia, Canada and Sweden this thesis makes an important contribution to the understanding of how demographic transition will impact on the future stability of pension schemes. The thesis contends that ageing populations will place significant pressure on each pillar of the pension system to meet its future financial commitments. This pressure will, in turn, have important implications for national budgetary processes and old age pension policy over the coming decades. In particular, governments will be required to implement a range of techniques that sit both within and beyond the traditional bounds of most budget processes. It will be imperative for researchers to explore the complexities and political possibilities of budget reform and to search for ways in which the longer-term needs of society can be adequately satisfied through the budget process.

Les budgets-temps de transport sont réputés stables depuis plusieurs décennies. Etablie sur les travaux fondateurs de Zahavi, cette conjecture suppose que la moyenne par agglomération des temps quotidiens de transport est d'une durée invariable d'une heure. Cette stabilité suggère une gestion paradoxale des gains de temps à deux niveaux. Tout d'abord, au niveau urbain, les gains de vitesse n'ont pas été utilisés pour passer moins de temps dans les transports, mais pour aller plus loin. Ensuite, rapportées au comportement individuel d'allocation des temps, les gains de temps n'ont pas été consacrés à d'autres activités. La mise en cause progressive de cette conjecture nous conduit à une démarche en trois temps. Tout d'abord, la première partie redéfinit le sens de la proposition de Zahavi et précise la portée novatrice de sa vision des comportements de mobilité. Dans un second temps, notre comparaison internationale des budgets-temps de transport met l'accent sur l'articulation des espaces-temps offerts par la ville. Elle semble indiquer un réinvestissement et un probable surinvestissement des gains de temps en transport supplémentaire. Tous deux attirent l'attention sur les limites des politiques urbaines et des transports en matière de régulation des mobilités et du développement urbain. Le troisième temps traite de la substitution attendue entre les temps de transport et d'activités, qui soulève la question des relations entre les durées d'activités et celle de la représentation de la demande dérivée de transport. Notre analyse de la dimension temporelle de la mobilité individuelle soumet l'idée selon laquelle le choix du temps de transport relève à la fois du coût d'accès aux opportunités et de l'activité en soi. Un modèle microéconomique de l'allocation des temps aux activités est proposé afin d'intégrer le double rôle du temps de transport. Puis, un modèle de durées est appliqué aux budgets-temps de transport de Lyon. Il révèle l'influence d'attributs individuels, les relations avec les budgets-temps des autres activités et il caractérise la dynamique temporelle du processus de mobilité.

Fluvial sediment transport is a process that has long been important in managing water resources. While we intuitively recognize that increased flow amounts to increased sediment discharge, there is still significant uncertainty in the details. Because sediment transport---and in the context of this dissertation, bed load transport---is a strongly nonlinear process that is usually modeled using empirical or semi-empirical equations, there exists a large amount of uncertainty around model parameters, predictions, and model suitability. The focus of this dissertation is to develop and demonstrate a series of physically- and statistically-based sediment transport models that build on the scientific knowledge of the physics of sediment transport while evaluating the phenomenon in an environment that leads us to robust estimates of parametric, predictive, and model selection uncertainty. The success of these models permits us to put theoretically and procedurally sound uncertainty estimates to a process that is widely acknowledged to be variable and uncertain but has, to date, not developed robust statistical tools to quantify this uncertainty. This dissertation comprises four individual papers that methodically develop and prove the concept of Bayesian statistical sediment transport models. A simple pedagogical model is developed using synthetic and laboratory flume data---this model is then compared to traditional statistical approaches that are more familiar to the discipline. A single-fraction sediment transport model is developed on the Snake River to develop a probabilistic sediment budget whose results are compared to a sediment budget developed through an ad hoc uncertainty analysis. Lastly, a multi-fraction sediment transport model is developed in which multiple fractions of laboratory flume experiments are modeled and the results are compared to the standard theory that has been already published. The results of these models demonstrate that a Bayesian approach to sediment transport has much to offer the discipline as it is able to 1) accurately provide estimates of model parameters, 2) quantify parametric uncertainty of the models, 3) provide a means to evaluate relative model fit between different deterministic equations, 4) provide predictive uncertainty of sediment transport, 5) propagate uncertainty from the root causes into secondary and tertiary dependent functions, and 6) provide a means by which testing of established theory can be performed.

Our country since has implemented National Health Insurance, provided the best medical service to be easy to obtain, highly went see a doctor the option, as well as high quality medical service. But also therefore creates the health insurance wealth storehouse the loss, for this, the government implements global budget, can control the medical expense by the time. Simultaneously impels the newly hospital Evaluation, thus unceasingly increases the hospital the cost of operation. Therefore under, hurriedly changes in the external management environment, at present superintendents of the many medical establishments for ask the management achievements, positively inducts Balanced Scorecard to do for manages the tool. However Balanced Scorecard has not certainly considered between the realistic environment complex system Tightly Couple and the causes and effects back coupling relations, and has not been able to solve the influence which Time Delay creates. This research main goal for hope affiliation Systems Thinking, discusses the hospital if utilizes Balanced Scorecard, Strategy Map, comes policy of in accordance to the total amount payment system to case influence the hospital long-term transport business, then establishes System e Dynamics pattern, Simulates case hospital to implement Balanced Scorecard on four constructions surface index of correlation, and carries on the test and the confirmation to the pattern. Finally acts according to case hospital global the budget policy, designs Situation analysis and Policy simulation,as to proposes this research conclusion and the suggestion. The research method mainly is uses System Dynamics method. conclusion ¡G(1). Using simulation test of System Dynamics Model, may discover in the system Leading target, Leading target is a key point which the case hospital must pay attention.(2). By System Dynamics model, may inspect between the element and the element is linked together the causes and effects back coupling relations in the system, and case hospital originally strategy design again by Systems Thinking.(3). Using the System Dynamics , may inspect question of the case hospital concurrently digs up Counterintuitive the phenomenon,as case reference hospital strategy adjustment and policy plan. (4). Balanced Scorecard emphasis may penetrate the KPI value the weightto detect the key weight target the question,But in reality,Each key weight target change possibly comes under own and other external factors influences .Finally proposed this studies the suggestion, the research limit and the following research suggestion.

Reproduction de : Thèse de doctorat : Droit public.Finances publiques et fiscalité : Lyon 3 : 2007. Reproduction de : Thèse de doctorat : Administration : Université de Sherbrooke : 2007. / Publié en co-tutelle. Titre provenant de l'écran-titre. Bibliogr.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Political Science and Public Administration. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Background: The recent political agenda for health and social care requires more client-centred, personalised services. Self-Directed Support, encompassing Direct Payments and Personal Budgets, is designed to provide people with more choice and control over how their needs and outcomes are met. Personal budgets are available for eligible people however take-up is low in mental health services. Research Aims: The study was set in an NHS Health and Social care Trust covering a large predominantly rural area.The aims of this study were: (1) to develop Self-Directed Support within one mental health Trust and; (2) understand more fully service user and carer involvement in the process. Methods: This study used action research incorporating: a spiral methodological framework; a project steering group; and service user and carer co-researchers. Data collection took place between 2007 and 2011, and the project ran in three sequential spirals using qualitative methods to triangulate the findings and identify any divergence in data. Findings: Findings showed that organisational language, structures and power relations provide barriers to effective involvement of service users and carers. Action research is very relevant for researching projects involving transformational change in health and social care, and including service user and carer co-researchers adds rich and authentic data. Findings concerning Self-Directed Support concluded that it afforded people more choice, flexibility and control than previous policy, and an improved quality of life. Concerns about bureaucratic processes, lack of information and knowledge of Self-Directed Supportwere found. Workforce concerns about safety of service users under Self-Directed Support and cultural shifts to more democratic methods of working were reported. Conclusions: This study's results correspond closely with national studies: staff attitudes and culture need changing to empower people to take up Self-directed Support. Concerns about quality assurance and safety are prevalent. Mental health services pose additional obstacles in their structures and reliance on the medical model. Social care knowledge cannot be assumed for all mental health Trust practitioners.

No description available.

Ο κύριος σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας είναι να παρουσιάσει τη μέθοδο του benchmarking και τα περιθώρια εφαρμογής της στον οικονομικό προγραμματισμό πιστωτικών ιδρυμάτων. Η τεχνική που χρησιμοποιούμε για την εφαρμογή της μεθόδου του benchmarking είναι η ανάλυση αριθμοδεικτών. Στην αρχή πραγματοποιούμε μια σύγκριση ανάμεσα στις τιμές συγκεκριμένων αριθμοδεικτών της Εθνικής Τράπεζας της Ελλάδος με τη μέση τιμή των δεικτών αυτών στον τραπεζικό κλάδο. Έπειτα, πραγματοποιούμε μια εφαρμογή του benchmarking ανάμεσα σε υποκαταστήματα της Εθνικής Τράπεζας. Τα αποτελέσματα αυτών των συγκρίσεων μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν στη σύνταξη των προϋπολογισμών επόμενων περιόδων. / The major aim of this study is to present benchmarking, as it is used during the process of financial planning of banking institutions. The technique, which we use to apply the method of benchmarking, is accounting ratio analysis. At first we make a comparison between the price of certain ratios of National Bank of Greece and the average price for the whole banking sector in Greece. Then we present benchmarking between bank branches of the same bank. The output of these comparisons can be used in the financial planning and the budgets of forthcoming periods.