Appropriate utilization of the operating room (ORs) requires a balance of many conflicting resources. This cannot be done without an understanding of the role of the OR in the finances of the institution, the missions of the institution, the actual data concerning utilization and costs. Economics of the OR environment have changed dramatically in the past 10 years. For example, technological advances have led to the introduction and advancement of minimally invasive surgical procedures, which are purported to decrease morbidity, reduce hospital length of stay, and improve outcome. However, many of these procedures actually increase OR cost, time and supplies. The increased costs of minimally invasive surgery would not have been a problem in the past, due to the additional costs would have been easily adsorbed because of the large profit margin associated with surgical procedure. Under the implementation of the NHI, the DRG, capitated payment, and global budget, it is not surprising that this area is earmarked by many hospitals as a place to reduce expenses. Therefore, all of us working in the OR must be cost efficient and maximize productivity for long-term success. Accurate estimation of operating times is a prerequisite for the efficient scheduling of the operating suite. In this study, authors sought to compare surgeons¡¦ time estimates for elective cases and to ascertain whether improvements could be made by statistical modeling. The study was conducted in the GYN department at the VGHKS from 2000, Jan. to 2003, June. Author calculates operation time distribution (lognormal) and variance, and operation time finishing probability, costs, and comparing operating time difference between surgeons.

Because of changing customer requirements and increasing introduction of new products, the retailer¡¦s inventory has to be reduced. In addition, the supplier is facing the problem of more frequent delivery in small batch. All these give rise to the demand for Distribution center¡]DC¡^. In addition to the study of logistics facilities, logistics information system¡]LIS¡^ plays an important role to improve the efficiency of physical distribution. Various market environments require different kinds of DC. The services and operational processes provide in each DC will depend on the orientation of the DC. The differences are to be reflected in the LIS requirements. The findings of this research indicated that both scale and organizational form have contributed to the variation in LIS. The DC that is large in size is often the logistics department of a big company; furthermore, the DC that is small in size is often a third party logistics company. Hence small DCs, while concentrating on the logistics function, do no need the function of purchasing. Large DCs have better performance record in using database, electronic bulletin board system, telephone conference, and video conference. By comparison, small DCs have better use of common distribution network and common information system. In general, problematic internal and external integration, and lack of flexibility are prevalent phenomena in the implementation of LIS. Suggestions could be made that integration with other type of information system is to be emphasized for large DCs. Small DCs, while falling short of resources, will need to form alliance with their partners, which can provide better information resources for daily operations. The user interface of LIS had a significant impact on user satisfaction, and user satisfaction in turn affected the competitive advantage of DC. This indicated that both user interface and user satisfaction should be highlighted in designing LIS. A LIS should be directed to meet user friendly purpose and strategic position in the market, which will exert the system function fully and achieve competitive advantage for the company.

Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate the probability of Eimeria tenella as a carrier for the transmission of chicken infectious anemia virus¡]CIAV¡^. One-day-old specific pathogen free¡]SPF¡^chickens were inoculated with CIAV, and then infected 20 days later with E. tenella. CIAV proteins were detected by immunofluorescent test in schizont, gametocytes and zygotes of E. tenella. Oocysts were purified from infected chicken by NaNO3 gradient centrifugation. Oocyst DNA was extracted by the treatments of SDS, proteinase K, DNase and chloroform. PCR template preparated from oocyst was used for amplification of CIAV DNA which is a 420 bp DNA fragment. The sequence of the PCR product from oocyst is similar to that of CIAV DNA from blood of infected chicken. The oocysts of E. tenella containing CIAV could also be suggested by inducing cytopathic effect after inoculated into cultured MSB1 cells. Our results indicated aprobability that E. tenella oocysts contain CIAV proteins and nucleic acids and thus E. tenella might paly an important role in the epizootiology.

This research investigates e-Business strategy for logistics service providers in Taiwan. In order to realize the IT using conditions of the domestic logistics providers, the research use case study research method. After cases analyzing, this research gives some suggestions on e-Business strategy for domestic logistics providers. Focusing on four cases, this research studies on the processes of domestic logistics providers IT implementation and the IT using conditions. And we probe into the four cases on their IT implementation, such as how to plan and how to construct, and therefore, we can realize how the distribution centers use IT to improve its own core competence (integration and agility). From the viewpoint of logistics core competence, the research studies on e-Business strategy. The findings of this study indicated that distribution centers should implement IT with a step-by-step method and accept aids from the government and the academic circles. As for the direction of e-business plan, domestic logistics providers should focus on how to improve the core competence (integration and agility) whit IT. And thus, in order to increase integration, the connection of internal or between companies should be the distribution centers planning key point. As to strengthen the ability, providing real-time business information and modulizing the logistics business activities would be main targets of the e-Logistics. And besides, improving business process is one of the methods to improving core competence. This research suggests that in order to achieve the final goal of improving business process, the distribution centers should be the supply chain middleware and provide one-stop services.

As VLSI technology moves into the Ultra-Deep Sub-Micron (UDSM) era, manufacturing variations, power supply noise and temperature variations greatly affect the performance and yield of VLSI circuits. Clock Distribution Network (CDN), which is one of the biggest and most important nets in any synchronous VLSI chip, is especially sensitive to these variations. To address this problem variability-aware analysis and optimization techniques for VLSI circuits are needed. In the first part of this thesis an analytical bound for the unwanted skew due to interconnect variation is established. Experimental results show that this bound is safer, tighter and computationally faster than existing approaches. This bound could be used in variation-aware clock tree synthesis.The second part of the thesis deals with optimizing a given clock tree to minimize the unwanted skew variations. Non-tree CDNs have been recognized as a promising approach to overcome the variation problem. We propose a novel non-tree CDN obtained by adding cross links in an existing clock tree. We analyze the effect of the link insertion on clock skew variability and propose link insertion schemes. The non-tree CDNs so obtained are shown to be highly tolerant to skew variability with very little increase in total wire-length. This can be used in applications such as ASIC design where a significant increase in the total wire-length is unacceptable.

Mixture models are useful in describing a wide variety of random phenomena because of their flexibility in modeling. They have continued to receive increasing attention over the years from both a practical and theoretical point of view. In their applications, estimating the number of mixture components is often the main research objective or the first step toward it. Estimation of the number of mixture components heavily depends on the underlying distribution. As an extension of normal mixture models, we introduce a skew-normal mixture model and adapt the reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm to estimate the number of components with some applications to biological data. The reversible jump algorithm is also applied to the Cox proportional hazard model with frailty. We consider a regression model for the variance components in the proportional hazards frailty model. We propose a Bayesian model averaging procedure with a reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo step which selects the model automatically. The resulting regression coefficient estimates ignore the model uncertainty from the frailty distribution. Finally, the proposed model and the estimation procedure are illustrated with simulated example and real data.

The effects of high levels of radiation are frequently studied, but the effects of very lowdose irradiation are still unknown even in today?s technology-driven world. A study recently carried out at Texas A

Gonads are distinct organs in organisms with complicated reproductive systems, and they have specific locations in the body. The gonads of crinoids, however, are scattered in numerous genital pinnules of their arms. We studied seven species of feather stars, Comatella maculata (Carpenter, 1888), Comatella nigra (Carpenter, 1888), Comaster multifidus (M􀎏ller, 1841), Comaster distinctus (Carpenter, 1881), Comanthus parvicirrus (M􀎏ller, 1841), Colobometra perspinosa (Carpenter,1881) and Himerometra magnipinna Clark, 1908 collected at Kenting, southern Taiwan in 2007. The purpose is to explore if the distribution patterns of gonads are adaptative. With bimonthly samplings in a year, it is discovered that the spawning seasons of the species are not synchronized in a particular season. Three models of relationships between maximum arm lengths and numbers of arms exist in the seven species, i.e., constant arm numbers, linear, and quadratic with an asymptote of arm numbers. Therefore, the maximum arm length is more appropriate than arm number as a size index of feather stars. Evidence of bigger mature than immature individuals is found in Comatella maculata, Comaster distinctus and Comaster multifidus, and there is no size difference between males and females. The gonads of feather stars are distributed in the proximal end of arms. The proportion of arms represented by genital pinnules within individuals were constant except in Comanthus parvicirrus where a negative correlation was found. Except the 2 cave-dwelling species, Comatella maculata and Comanthus parvicirrus, most regenerating arms of 5 other species had breakage points occurred near the proximal ends of the arms. Distal breakage may regenerate too fast to recognize. The arms obviously do not grow so fast as to limit gonad development to the proximal ends of arms. Habitat difference may cause variation in genital pinnule widths, but not in the number of genital pinnules as suggested by comparsions of specimens between 2 sites. The cave-dwelling Comanthus parvicirrus has special congregated long arms, which are extended outside. Moreover, these arms have higher probability of breakage, and smaller ranges of genital pinnules than short arms. This phenomenon supports that the limited gonad distribution is adaptive for reducing loss upon arm breakage.

The goal of the present research is to collect basic data for a study on the species composition and spatiotemporal distribution of pycnogonida (sea spider) in the Port of Kaohsiung. We used collecting net to collect samples from 8 stations within the Port of Kaohsiung during a 15-month period from March 2007 to May 2008. all pycnogonids collected were identified, if possible to species level, counted, and measured. There were eight taxa of pycnogonids in our collection belonging to four family and seven genera, including: Achelia japonica with rounded trunk and pyramid proboscis, Ammothella sp. with palp and degrade chelifore, Tanystylum duospinum with rounded trunk which bears color stripes in live specimens, Callipallene amaxana with large and functional chelifore, Pigrogromitus timsanus with robust and short walking lags, Anoplodactylus spp.1and 2 without auxiliary claws, and Endeis sp. with elongate trunk and without cephalic appendages. The average monthly catch of pycnogonid specimens from the Port of Kaoshiung in our collection was 111.4. Ammothella sp. was the most dominant taxon, contributing to 37.8% of the total collection while Anoplodactylus sp.2 was the laest abundant taxon, amounting to only 0.2¢H of the total number. Monthly catch of pycnogonids was not significantly different between months but significantly different between stations. Significant length difference between sex was noted in Ammothella sp.¡BC. amaxana¡BAnoplodactylus sp.1 and Endeis sp(P<0.05) and significant difference in monthly body length was found in T.duospinum and A. japonica (P<0.05).

This thesis investigates the variation of the chlorophyll-a concentration near Dongsha Atoll derived from MODIS Aqua and Terra satellite images, and their relationship to physical environments including sea surface temperature, CTD water qualities, tides, currents and surface winds for the period 2005 to 2008. The results revealed that the seasonal variation of chlorophyll-a concentration was higher in the winter than in the summer, and had inverse relationship with sea surface temperature. The increased chlorophyll-a concentration was due to entrainment of lower layer cold water with high nutrient. The upwelling water was induced by mixing of surface wind and internal wave shoaling. When the internal waves propagated westward to the Dongsha Atoll, the bottom topography and coastline oriented the cold deep water surged up slope to the northeastern corner of the Atoll, which produced high chlorophyll-a concentration a few days after. The comparison of MODIS images and CTD data revealed that the chlorophyll-a concentration didn¡¦t increase immediately after the passage of internal waves.