The thesis is focused on the energy demands of storage objects with low controlled indoor operating temperature maintained at a constant value with year-round operation. Heat processes in freezer and refrigerator buildings are performed irregularly, heat losses by heat dissipation through the surrounding envelope, air exchange, lighting, service personnel, transportation technology, latent heat from the air, The simulation program SIM_Stabil is used for modeling of non-stationary heat flows and it can be used for evaluation of the building object in the annual energy consumption parameter needed to ensure the internal low controlled temperature, covering heat losses through all envelope structures in sunlight, lighting, handling, ventilation, etc. It serves as a benchmark for comparison with real energy consumption in an object.

Renewable energy sources are currently at their maximum capacity, but this does not mean that they are slowing down in growing. The first part of the thesis is focused on the issue of renewable resources in the countryside at a general level. The second part is focused specially on the territory of Jablunkov and the possibility of using individual sources of renewable energy in this area. Three of the most suitable sources have been chosen for practical realization options, including economic calculations, these include both fixed costs and operational costs. Calculations were made using the so-called „Kotlíková kalkulačka“, the Photovoltaic Geographical Information System and Microsoft Office. Part of the thesis is also an assessment of the ecological and social aspects of renewable resources, including their impact on the use of the territory itself and the impact on the landscape. The results clearly show up the benefits of new technologies in both economic and environmental terms, and provide space for further use of renewable energy sources, whether in rural areas or in cities. Economically, the purchase of a heat pump is the best choice, the possibility of building new jobs is mainly provided by using of biomass. The thesis should serve as support for an even greater use of renewable energy, or in the decision making progress in choosing the most suitable alternative of renewable energy source for a family house.

For a long period of time the need for power in Germany has mainly been and is still covered by coal as a very important resource. To extract the coal, some big holes in the surface were dug. After ending of the coal mining, they were filled with water in order to use them effectively, so anthropogenic lakes will be created. By 2050 the water surface area in the south of Leipzig will be enlarged to 6000 ha as a consequence of human intervention (Berkner, 2003). Due to the changed soil surface, there will be generate a change in the interaction between the atmosphere and the earth. In this article an approach is demonstrated to classify the effects of anthropogenic lakes with help of a mesoscale model.

La forte proportion des sources d'énergie intermittentes présente de nouveaux défis pour la stabilité et la fiabilité des réseaux électriques. Dans ce travail nous considérons la connexion de ces sources avec et un système de stockage hybride via un MicroGrid à courant continu (DC) afin de satisfaire les contraintes de connexion au réseau (les Grid-Codes). L'objectif principal ici est de concevoir un système pouvant répondre à ces exigences et nous permettant d'obtenir un comportement Plug and Play; cette approche est basée sur la "philosophie System of Systems ". utilisant des méthodologies de contrôle distribué.Cette thèse constitue une contribution au contrôle DC MicroGrid et introduit une analyse rigoureuse de la dynamique du system. La stabilisation du système repose sur des dispositifs de stockage: les batteries pour l'équilibre énergétique et la réponse à long terme des variations des flux d'énergie tandis que les supercondensateurs traitent l'équilibre des puissances et des variations rapide du system.Nous présenterons d’abord l’analyse du MicroGrid DC dont le contrôle est conçu à partir des modèles détaillés des sources d’énergie et des systèmes de stockage. Ce réseau peut présenter un comportement instable créé par intermittence de la source, les commutation des convertisseurs et leurs électroniques puissance et les courants oscillatoires produits par certains types de charges. Par conséquent, le système est sujet à des variations rapides et lentes. . La stabilisation de tels systèmes reposera sur le fonctionnement de différentes technologies de stockage, telles que la batterie et les supercondensateurs, qui opèrent dans différentes échelles de temps.Nous proposons un schéma de contrôle hiérarchique, basé sur la théorie du contrôle non linéaire, en particulier de Lyapunov, le backstraping et d’entrée / sortie de feedback linéarisation. Le DC MicroGrid proposé et son contrôle sont vérifiés à la fois par simulations et par expérimentation Les résultats montrent la bonne performance du système sous des variations de production et de consommation. / The large penetration intermittent energy sources, presents a new challenges to power systems' stability and reliability; we consider in this work their connection through a Direct Current (DC) MicroGrid and a hybrid storage system, in order to satisfy constraints of connection to the network (the so-called Grid-Codes). The main objective here is to design a system that can fulfil these requirements and allow us to attain a Plug and Play behaviour; this approach is based on the “System of Systems philosophy'' using distributed control methodologies.This thesis constitutes a contribution for DC MicroGrid control and introduces a rigorous dynamics' analysis.. The stabilization of the system is based on storage devices: batteries for energy balance and long term response of power flow, while supercapacitors deal with power balance and fast response.First it will be presented the analysis of the DC MicroGrid which control is designed based on detailed models of energy sources and storage systems. This grid may present an unstable behaviour created by the source’s intermittent output power, switching ripples from the power converters and their power electronic and oscillatory currents produced by some types of loads. Therefore the system is subject to both fast and slow variations. The stabilization of such systems will be based on the operation of different technologies of storage, such as battery and supercapacitor, in different time scales.We propose a hierarchical control scheme, based on nonlinear control theory, in particular Lyapunov, backstepping and input/output feedback linearization. The proposed DC MicroGrid and its control are then verified both by computer simulations and by experiments. The results show the good performance of the system under variations on production and on consumption

Dans une première partie, les travaux de thèse se sont focalisés sur la conception et l'optimisation de composants à superjonction et à tranchées profondes dans les gammes de 600V et 1200V. L'objectif est d'obtenir le meilleur compromis tenue en tension/ résistance à l'état passant pour ces gammes de tension. L'étude théorique a permis de comprendre le comportement de la tenue en tension de différents paramètres technologiques et géométriques. La tenue en tension est très sensible à l'équilibre des charges et à la verticalité des tranchées. La résistance passante, elle, est sensible à la profondeur de diffusion autour des tranchées et, plus généralement, au ratio de conduction entre la surface de la zone N et la surface totale. La structure a donc été optimisée afin de garantir le meilleur ratio " tenue en tension/résistance à l'état passant " en vue d'une réalisation technologique. De plus, les composants à Supe! rjonction nécessitent une protection en périphérie adaptée. En effet, les terminaisons surfaciques telles que les anneaux de garde ne permettent pas d'étaler la zone de charge d'espace à des profondeurs suffisantes. La terminaison qui est la plus adaptée à cette technologie est la Deep Trench Termination car elle permet de conserver l'équilibre des charges en périphérie et ne rajoute pas d'étapes technologiques supplémentaires. Cette terminaison a donc fait l'objet d'une optimisation aux cours de ces travaux de thèse. La seconde partie de mes travaux concerne la réalisation de la structure optimisée précédemment. L'optimisation de la diode à Superjonction est liée à certains paramètres technologiques pouvant s'avérer critiques pour obtenir les performances électriques désirées: la verticalité des tranchées, l'implantation des zones de type P sur les flancs des tranchées et la maîtrise de leur remplissage par un diélectrique. Afin d'assurer un parfait équilibre des charges entre les régions N et P, la fabrication des tranchées profondes a été optimisée afin d'obtenir des flancs de gravure les plus verticaux possible avec une rugosité de surface la plus faible possible. De plus, un procédé visant à obtenir une même profondeur de gravure quelle que soit l'ouverture a été mis en place afin de permettre un remplissage total des tranchées profondes avec du BenzoCycloButene (BCB). L'étude du remplissage des tranchées a permis de mettre au point un procédé permettant le remplissage des tranchées en un seul dépôt. / New technological ways allowing the realization of deep trench Superjunction devices (diodes or MOS transistors) with a deep trench termination are investigated. The aim of this work is to propose an alternative to conventional MOSFETs in high voltage range (600 V and above): the major challenge is to find the best trade-off between the two main parameters characteristics of these structures: specific on-resistance / breakdown voltage. We developed a technology based on a single N- epitaxial layer (thus reducing the realization cost) and the use of BCB filled, wide and deep trenches associated to boron doping on the trenches sidewalls. Previous works have demonstrated the feasibility of such junction termination and have led to the fabrication of a 1200 V Deep Trench Termination Diode (DT2-Diode). We chose to validate our termination technology by fabricating a Deep trench Superjunction Diode (DT-SJDiode) for 600 V applications. By means of Sentaurus TCAD 2D-simulations, we have first determined the optimal physical and geometrical parameters leading to a best "Breakdown voltage/on-resistance" trade-off. We presented technological results focusing on the more critical points: the control of deep trenches verticality by Deep Reactive Ion Etching technique, according to the Bosch process, and the trench filling with dielectric. We have studied the influence of SF6 etch and C4F8 passivation times on resulting trench verticality: the best anisotropy for 6 µm wide central trenches and 40 µm wide termination trenches is obtained for the couple SF6 (2 s)/ C4F8 (3.5 s). A thermal oxidation after the etch step allows to reduce the size of the scallops that appear on the trenches sidewalls and characteristics of the Bosch process (alternation of etch and passivation steps): the related peak-to-valley distance is lowered from 100 nm to 50 nm. Finally we have successfully filled deep and wide trenches by optimising the BCB spin-coating parameters, the high viscosity of this material rending difficult its spreading all over the wafer. We found that a dispensing rotation speed down to 100 rpm, an implementation of two 10 min rest steps improve BCB spreading and its flowing along the trenches. The BCB excess removing by reactive ion etching is under study: first encouraging results give an etch rate of 0.75 µm.min-1 with a SF6/02 gas mixture.

Frizzled (FZD) are highly conserved receptors that belong to class F of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. They are involved in a great variety of processes during embryonic development, organogenesis, and adult tissue homeostasis. In particular, FZD5 is an important therapeutic target due to its involvement in several pathologies, such as tumorigenesis. Nevertheless, little is known regarding the activation of FZD receptors and the signal initiation, and their GPCR nature has been debated. In order to investigate the activation mechanism of these receptors, FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer)-based biosensors for FZD5 have been developed and characterized. A cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) was fused to the C-terminus of the receptor and the specific FlAsH-binding sequence (CCPGCC) was inserted within the 2nd or the 3rd intracellular loop. Single-cell FRET experiments performed using one of these sensors, V5-mFZD5-FlAsH436-CFP, reported structural rearrangements in FZD5 upon stimulation with the endogenous ligand WNT-5A. These movements are similar to those observed in other GPCRs using the same technique, which suggests an activation mechanism for FZD reminiscent of GPCRs. Furthermore, stimulation of the FZD5 FRET-based sensor with various recombinant WNT proteins in a microplate FRET reader allowed to obtain concentration-response curves for several ligands, being possible to distinguish between full and partial agonists. This technology allowed to address the selectivity between WNTs and FZD5 using a full-length receptor in living cells. In addition, G protein FRET-based sensors revealed that WNT-5A specifically induced Gαq activation mediated by FZD5, but not Gαi activation. Other WNT proteins were also able to induce Gαq activation, but with lower efficacy than WNT-5A. In addition, a dual DAG/calcium sensor further showed that WNT-5A stimulation led to the activation of the Gαq-dependent signaling pathway mediated by FZD5, which outcome was the activation of Protein Kinase C (PKC) and the release of intracellular calcium. Altogether, these data provide evidence that the activation process of FZD5 resembles the general characteristics of class A and B GPCR activation, and this receptor also mediates the activation of the heterotrimeric Gαq protein and its downstream signaling pathway. In addition, the FZD5 receptor FRET-based sensor provides a valuable tool to characterize the pharmacological properties of WNTs and other potential ligands for this receptor. / Frizzled (FZD) sind hochkonservierte Rezeptoren welche zur Klasse F der G- Protein-gekoppelte Rezeptor Superfamilie gehören. Diese haben wichtige Funktionen in verschiedenen physiologischen Prozessen wie zum Beispiel Embryonalentwicklung, Organogenese und adulte Gewebe-homöostase. FZD5 ist aufgrund seiner Beteiligung an verschiedenen pathologischen Prozessen wie der Tumorgenese ein wichtiges therapeutisches Ziel. Jedoch ist über die Aktivierung und Signalauslösung der FZD Rezeptoren sehr wenig bekannt und deren GPCR Eigenschaften sind umstritten. Um den Aktivierungsmechanismus dieser Rezeptoren zu untersuchen, wurden FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer)-basierte FZD5 Biosensoren entwickelt und charakterisiert. Ein cyan fluoreszierendes Protein (CFP) wurde an den C-Terminus des Rezeptors fusioniert und die FlAsH-bindende Sequenz (CCPGCC) wurde im 2. oder 3. intrazellulären Loop eingefügt. Einzel-zell FRET Versuche mit dem Sensor V5-mFZD5-FlAsH436-CFP haben gezeigt, dass Stimulation mit dem endogenen Ligand WNT-5A zur FZD5 Konformationsänderungen führt. Diese Konformationsänderungen sind ähnlich wie bei anderen GPCRs, was darauf hinweist, dass der FZD Aktivierungsmechanismus vergleichbar mit dem von GPCRs ist. Außerdem wurde der FZD5 FRET-basierter Sensor mit verschiedenen rekombinierten WNT Proteinen stimuliert und mit einem FRET-Platten Reader gemessen, was die Erstellung von Konzentrations - Wirkungskurven und die Unterscheidung zwischen Voll- und Partialagonisten ermöglichte. Diese Methode erlaubte es, die Selektivität zwischen WNTs und FZD5 mittels des Volllängenrezeptors in lebenden Zellen zu untersuchen. Zudem haben G-Protein FRET-basierte Sensoren gezeigt, dass WNT-5A die FZD5 vermittelte Gαq Aktivierung jedoch nicht die Gαi Aktivierung spezifisch induziert. Andere WNT Proteine können auch die Gαq Aktivierung induzieren aber mit geringerer Effizienz als WNT-5A. Ein doppelter DAG/Calcium Sensor hat zudem gezeigt, dass WNT-5A Stimulation zu einer durch FZD5 vermittelten Aktivierung der Gαq-abhängigen Signaltransduktionkaskade führt, was zur Aktivierung der Protein Kinase C (PKC) und zur Freisetzung intrazellulären Calciums führt. Zusammenfassend wurde in der vorliegenden Arbeit die Ähnlichkeit des FZD5 Rezeptors zur Klasse A und B der GPCRs bezüglich allgemeinen Eigenschaften und Aktivierung verdeutlicht. Zudem vermittelt dieser Rezeptor die Aktivierung der Gαq-abhängigen Signaltransduktionkaskade. Ein FZD5 Rezeptor FRET-basierter Sensor stellt ein wertvolles Werkzeug zur pharmakologischen Charakterisierung der WNTs und anderer potentiellen FZD5 Liganden dar.

The receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs) are ubiquitously expressed membrane proteins that interact with several G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest and pharmacologically most important family of cell surface receptors. RAMPs can regulate GPCR function in terms of ligand-binding, G-protein coupling, downstream signaling, trafficking, and recycling. The integrity of their interactions translates to many physiological functions or pathological conditions. Regardless of numerous reports on its essential importance for cell biology and pivotal role in (patho-)physiology, the molecular mechanism of how RAMPs modulate GPCR activation remained largely elusive. This work presents new insights that add to the common understanding of the allosteric regulation of receptor activation and will help interpret how accessory proteins - RAMPs - modulate activation dynamics and how this affects the fundamental aspects of cellular signaling. Using a prototypical class B GPCR, the parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH1R) in the form of advanced genetically encoded optical biosensors, I examined RAMP's impact on the PTH1R activation and signaling in intact cells. A panel of single-cell FRET and confocal microscopy experiments as well canonical and non-canonical functional assays were performed to get a holistic picture of the signaling initiation and transduction of that clinically and therapeutically relevant GPCR. Finally, structural modeling was performed to add molecular mechanistic details to that novel art of modulation. I describe here that RAMP2 acts as a specific allosteric modulator of PTH1R, shifting PTH1R to a unique pre-activated state that permits faster activation in a ligand-specific manner. Moreover, RAMP2 modulates PTH1R downstream signaling in an agonist-dependent manner, most notably increasing the PTH-mediated Gi3 signaling sensitivity and kinetics of cAMP accumulation. Additionally, RAMP2 increases PTH- and PTHrP-triggered β-arrestin2 recruitment to PTH1R and modulates cytosolic ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Structural homology modeling shows that structural motifs governing GPCR-RAMP interaction originate in allosteric hotspots and rationalize functional modulation. Moreover, to interpret the broader role of RAMP's modulation in GPCRs pharmacology, different fluorescent tools to investigate RAMP's spatial organization were developed, and novel conformational biosensors for class B GPCRs were engineered. Lastly, a high throughput assay is proposed and prototyped to expand the repertoire of RAMPs or other membrane protein interactors. These data uncover the critical role of RAMPs in GPCR activation and signaling and set up a novel platform for studying GPCR modulation. Furthermore, these insights may provide a new venue for precise modulation of GPCR function and advanced drug design. / G Protein-gekoppelte Rezeptoren (GPCRs) bilden die größte und pharmakologisch wichtigste Familie von Zelloberflächenrezeptoren, die zahlreiche (patho-)physiologische Prozesse im menschlichen Körper steuern. GPCRs übertragen während des Rezeptoraktivierungsprozesses extrazelluläre Signale in das Zellinnere, wo durch die extrazelluläre Stimulation Konformationsänderungen des Rezeptorkerns auslöst und die Bindung intrazellulärer Bindungspartner – G Proteine, G Protein-gekoppelte Rezeptorkinase und Arrestine - ermöglicht. Es handelt sich also um einen kritischen Prozess in der Signaltransduktion, der durch einige endogene Moleküle wie Ionen, Lipide oder andere Proteine moduliert werden kann und Auswirkungen auf nachgeschaltete Signalkaskaden hat. GPCRs bilden gewebeabhängige Oligomere mit ihren interagierenden Partnern, Rezeptor-Aktivitäts-modifizierende Proteinen (RAMPs), ubiquitär exprimierten Membranproteinen. Bekannt ist, dass sie die Ligandenbindung, die G- Protein-Kopplung, die nachgeschaltete Signalisierung, das Trafficking und das Recycling einiger GPCRs modulieren. Ihre Rolle im kritischsten Prozess der Signaltransduktion - der Rezeptoraktivierung - wurde jedoch nur begrenzt erforscht. Anhand des physiologisch und therapeutisch wichtigen Parathormon-Rezeptors (PTH1R), einem GPCR der Klasse B, wurden die Modulationseffekte von RAMPs auf den Prozess der Rezeptoraktivierung und ihre Folgen für die nachgeschaltete Signalübertragung analysiert. Hierzu wurden verschiedene optische Biosensoren zur Messung der Aktivierung des PTH1R und seiner Signalkaskade entwickelt und in verschiedenen Versuchsanordnungen eingesetzt, mit dem Ziel einen holistischen Blick auf die Interaktion zwischen PTH1R und RAMPs und ihre funktionellen Auswirkungen zu erhalten. Die Interaktion zwischen PTH1R und RAMPs erwies sich als besonders ausgeprägt für RAMP2, und RAMP2 zeigte eine spezifische allosterische Modulation der PTH1R-Konformation, sowohl im basalen als auch im Liganden- aktivierten Zustand. Ein einzigartiger voraktivierter oder (meta-stabiler) Zustand ermöglichte eine schnellere Rezeptoraktivierung auf Liganden-spezifische Weise. Außerdem beeinflusste RAMP2 die G Protein- und Nicht-G Protein-vermittelte Signalübertragung indem es die PTH-vermittelte Gi3-Signalempfindlichkeit und die Kinetik der cAMP-Akkumulation modulierte. Weiterhin erhöhte RAMP2 die Menge der β-Arrestin2-Rekrutierung an PTH1R auf Liganden-spezifische Weise. Dies könnte mit einer erhöhten zytosolischen ERK-Menge zusammenhängen, die hat sich von der nukleären ERK-Phosphorylierung unterscheidet. Um einen molekularen Mechanismus für die vorgestellten Ergebnisse vorzuschlagen, wurden mehrere strukturelle Modelle entwickelt und analysiert. Diese Arbeit liefert den Beweis, dass RAMP die GPCR-Aktivierung mit funktionellen Auswirkungen auf die zelluläre Signalübertragung reguliert. Die Ergebnisse sollten im Zusammenhang mit zellspezifischen Koexpressionsmustern interpretiert werden und können zur Entwicklung von fortschrittlichen Therapeutika positiv beitragen. Da GPCRs praktisch alle Zellfunktionen koordinieren und seit jeher wichtigen Angriffspunkten für Medikamente sind, tragen die vorgestellten Erkenntnisse zum universellen Verständnis der molekularen Mechanismen bei, die den menschlichen Körper orchestrieren.

The female athlete triad (FAT or the TRIAD) is a complex syndrome arising from associations among the trio of energy availability (EA), menstrual function (MF) and bone mineral density (BMD) along their respective continuums from health to disease state. It has been recognized that women whose energy intake (EI) does not meet the energy requirements for physiological functions subsequent to participation in exercise and physical activity could have low EA. In the TRIAD, low EA, an initiator in menstrual dysfunction (MD) and concomitant hypoestrogenism, indirectly results in low BMD. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to: (i) establish the status of EA, MF and BMD among elite Kenyan female athletes and non-athletes, (ii) explore associations between EA and MF in elite Kenyan female athletes and non-athletes, (iii) determine the relationships of EA and MF to BMD in elite Kenyan female athletes and non-athletes, and (iv) to determine the profile of the female athlete triad in elite Kenyan distance athletes and in non-athletes. Measurements of EA, MF and BMD were undertaken in 39 female participants (Middle distance athletes =12, Long distance athletes=13, Non-athletes=14). Energy intake minus exercise energy expenditure (EEE) and the remnant normalized to fat free mass (FFM) determined EA. Energy availability was determined through weight of all food and liquid consumed over three consecutive days. Exercise energy expenditure was determined after isolating and deducting energy expended in exercise or physical activity above lifestyle level from the total energy expenditure output as measured by Actigraph GT3X+. Fat free mass and BMD were assessed using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A nine-month daily temperature-menstrual diary was used to evaluate menstrual status. In addition, since psychological eating behaviour practice (EBP) contributes to low EA, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) was used to determine presence of such practice among the participants and their relationship to EA. Overall, EA below 45 kcal.kgFFM-1.d-1 was found in 61.53% of the participants (athletes=28.07±11.45kcal.kgFFM-1.d-1, non-athletes=56.97±21.38kcal.kgFMM-1.d-1). The ANOVA showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.001) in EA among the long and middle distance runners and non-athletes; and the Tukey‘s HSD revealed that the source of the difference were the non-athletes. Results of the EDE-Q showed almost negligible presence of psychopathological eating behaviour practice among the Kenyan participants. None of the TRIAD components showed significant relationship with EBP. Results of MF showed that whereas none of the athletes presented with amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea was present among 40% athletes and 14.3% non-athletes, and amenorrhea among 14.3% non-athletes. However, there was no significant difference between athletes and non-athletes in MF. Low BMD was seen in 76% of the athletes and among 86% of the non-athletes. The analysis did not show significant difference in BMD Z-scores between athletes and non-athletes. The analysis did not show any significant association between EA and MF among the participants. The only significant relation of EA to any BMD dimension measured was between EA and total BMD in the long distance runners (r=0.560; p=.046). Significant relationship (rho=0.497; p=.001) was found between MF and BMD Z-scores among the athletes with middle distance highlighting the relationship further (rho=0.632; p=.027). Overall, the binary logistic regression revealed that MF did not predict BMD (OR=4.07, 95% CI, 0.8-20.7, p=.091). Overall, 10% of the participants (athletes=4, long distance athletes =3, middle distance athletes=1, non-athletes=0) showed simultaneous presence of all three components of the TRIAD. The independent sample t-test showed a significant difference (t=5.860; p=<.001) in the prevalence of the TRIAD between athletes and non-athletes. / PhD (Human Movement Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The female athlete triad (FAT or the TRIAD) is a complex syndrome arising from associations among the trio of energy availability (EA), menstrual function (MF) and bone mineral density (BMD) along their respective continuums from health to disease state. It has been recognized that women whose energy intake (EI) does not meet the energy requirements for physiological functions subsequent to participation in exercise and physical activity could have low EA. In the TRIAD, low EA, an initiator in menstrual dysfunction (MD) and concomitant hypoestrogenism, indirectly results in low BMD. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to: (i) establish the status of EA, MF and BMD among elite Kenyan female athletes and non-athletes, (ii) explore associations between EA and MF in elite Kenyan female athletes and non-athletes, (iii) determine the relationships of EA and MF to BMD in elite Kenyan female athletes and non-athletes, and (iv) to determine the profile of the female athlete triad in elite Kenyan distance athletes and in non-athletes. Measurements of EA, MF and BMD were undertaken in 39 female participants (Middle distance athletes =12, Long distance athletes=13, Non-athletes=14). Energy intake minus exercise energy expenditure (EEE) and the remnant normalized to fat free mass (FFM) determined EA. Energy availability was determined through weight of all food and liquid consumed over three consecutive days. Exercise energy expenditure was determined after isolating and deducting energy expended in exercise or physical activity above lifestyle level from the total energy expenditure output as measured by Actigraph GT3X+. Fat free mass and BMD were assessed using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A nine-month daily temperature-menstrual diary was used to evaluate menstrual status. In addition, since psychological eating behaviour practice (EBP) contributes to low EA, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) was used to determine presence of such practice among the participants and their relationship to EA. Overall, EA below 45 kcal.kgFFM-1.d-1 was found in 61.53% of the participants (athletes=28.07±11.45kcal.kgFFM-1.d-1, non-athletes=56.97±21.38kcal.kgFMM-1.d-1). The ANOVA showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.001) in EA among the long and middle distance runners and non-athletes; and the Tukey‘s HSD revealed that the source of the difference were the non-athletes. Results of the EDE-Q showed almost negligible presence of psychopathological eating behaviour practice among the Kenyan participants. None of the TRIAD components showed significant relationship with EBP. Results of MF showed that whereas none of the athletes presented with amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea was present among 40% athletes and 14.3% non-athletes, and amenorrhea among 14.3% non-athletes. However, there was no significant difference between athletes and non-athletes in MF. Low BMD was seen in 76% of the athletes and among 86% of the non-athletes. The analysis did not show significant difference in BMD Z-scores between athletes and non-athletes. The analysis did not show any significant association between EA and MF among the participants. The only significant relation of EA to any BMD dimension measured was between EA and total BMD in the long distance runners (r=0.560; p=.046). Significant relationship (rho=0.497; p=.001) was found between MF and BMD Z-scores among the athletes with middle distance highlighting the relationship further (rho=0.632; p=.027). Overall, the binary logistic regression revealed that MF did not predict BMD (OR=4.07, 95% CI, 0.8-20.7, p=.091). Overall, 10% of the participants (athletes=4, long distance athletes =3, middle distance athletes=1, non-athletes=0) showed simultaneous presence of all three components of the TRIAD. The independent sample t-test showed a significant difference (t=5.860; p=<.001) in the prevalence of the TRIAD between athletes and non-athletes. / PhD (Human Movement Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This Master's degree thesis deals with the renewable energy sources regulation in the Czech Republic. It also mentions the European Union legislation on the topic and its development and focuses on the most important Directives and their goals as well as Member States' obligations. It presents Czech regulation in force and the conceptual documents in greater detail. It also points out the system of support available for the promotion in using the renewable sources of energy. Finally it examines the renewable energy sources of the small extent and the decentralized power generation as well.