Surrogate fuels are mixtures of pure hydrocarbons that mimic specific properties of a real fuel. The use of a small number of pure compounds in their formulation ensures that chemical composition is well controlled, helping increase reproducibility of experiments and reduce the computational cost associated with numerical modeling. In this work, surrogate mixtures were developed for Jet A fuel based on correlations between fuel properties (cetane number, smoke point, threshold sooting index (TSI), density, viscosity, boiling point and freezing point) and the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the fuel as a measure of the fuel's chemical composition. Comparison of the chemical composition and target fuel properties of the surrogate fuels developed in this work to a Jet A fuel sample and other surrogate fuels proposed in the literature revealed the superiority of these surrogate fuels in mimicking the fuel properties of interest.

Surrogate fuels are mixtures of pure hydrocarbons that mimic specific properties of a real fuel. The use of a small number of pure compounds in their formulation ensures that chemical composition is well controlled, helping increase reproducibility of experiments and reduce the computational cost associated with numerical modeling. In this work, surrogate mixtures were developed for Jet A fuel based on correlations between fuel properties (cetane number, smoke point, threshold sooting index (TSI), density, viscosity, boiling point and freezing point) and the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the fuel as a measure of the fuel's chemical composition. Comparison of the chemical composition and target fuel properties of the surrogate fuels developed in this work to a Jet A fuel sample and other surrogate fuels proposed in the literature revealed the superiority of these surrogate fuels in mimicking the fuel properties of interest.

The objective of this study is to develop an accurate surrogate modeling method for construction of the surrogate model to represent the performance measures of the compute-intensive simulation model in reliability-based design optimization (RBDO). In addition, an assessment method for the confidence level of the surrogate model and a conservative surrogate model to account the uncertainty of the prediction on the untested design domain when the number of samples are limited, are developed and integrated into the RBDO process to ensure the confidence of satisfying the probabilistic constraints at the optimal design. The effort involves: (1) developing a new surrogate modeling method that can outperform the existing surrogate modeling methods in terms of accuracy for reliability analysis in RBDO; (2) developing a sampling method that efficiently and effectively inserts samples into the design domain for accurate surrogate modeling; (3) generating a surrogate model to approximate the probabilistic constraint and the sensitivity of the probabilistic constraint with respect to the design variables in most-probable-point-based RBDO; (4) using the sampling method with the surrogate model to approximate the performance function in sampling-based RBDO; (5) generating a conservative surrogate model to conservatively approximate the performance function in sampling-based RBDO and assure the obtained optimum satisfy the probabilistic constraints. In applying RBDO to a large-scale complex engineering application, the surrogate model is commonly used to represent the compute-intensive simulation model of the performance function. However, the accuracy of the surrogate model is still challenging for highly nonlinear and large dimension applications. In this work, a new method, the Dynamic Kriging (DKG) method is proposed to construct the surrogate model accurately. In this DKG method, a generalized pattern search algorithm is used to find the accurate optimum for the correlation parameter, and the optimal mean structure is set using the basis functions that are selected by a genetic algorithm from the candidate basis functions based on a new accuracy criterion. Plus, a sequential sampling strategy based on the confidence interval of the surrogate model from the DKG method, is proposed. By combining the sampling method with the DKG method, the efficiency and accuracy can be rapidly achieved. Using the accurate surrogate model, the most-probable-point (MPP)-based RBDO and the sampling-based RBDO can be carried out. In applying the surrogate models to MPP-based RBDO and sampling-based RBDO, several efficiency strategies, which include: (1) using local window for surrogate modeling; (2) adaptive window size for different design candidates; (3) reusing samples in the local window; (4) using violated constraints for surrogate model accuracy check; (3) adaptive initial point for correlation parameter estimation, are proposed. To assure the accuracy of the surrogate model when the number of samples is limited, and to assure the obtained optimum design can satisfy the probabilistic constraints, a conservative surrogate model, using the weighted Kriging variance, is developed, and implemented for sampling-based RBDO.

Name of the thesis Surrogate motherhood de lege ferenda Abstract The thesis deals with the issues surrounding surrogate motherhood. With the first chapter outlining the terms connected with the topic and describing the possible ways parents can find a surrogate mother. The second chapter explores the methods of artificial insemination. The third chapter analyses current legal regulation of surrogate motherhood in the Czech Republic. Including the evaluation of mater sempter certa est principle and section § 804 of Civil Code, the only section, which explicitly mentions surrogate motherhood. The chapter further explores surrogacy contracts and the decision number I. US 3226/16 of the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic, with an analysis of supporting and opposing arguments with regards to the decision. Chapter four looks into the foreign laws surrounding surrogacy. It reviews not only the variety of state regulation, where surrogacy is legal and accepted, such that of the United States, Ukraine and India, but also regulation that prohibits surrogacy, such as Germany. The topic of surrogacy tourism and the legal uncertainty which this causes is also examined. For instance, the citizenship issues that may arise for a newborn child. Chapter five recounts the opinion of the European Court of Human Rights...

Magister Legum - LLM / Surrogacy on many occasions is referred to a million-dollar industry. Just like many countries, South Africa has prohibited commercial surrogacy, thus South Africa only permits altruistic surrogacy. The prohibition has consequences for third parties such as surrogacy agencies and surrogacy facilitators, as their right to occupation freedom which is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, is limited. No right is absolute, any right can be limited if it can be proved that it is in the best interest of the public. The prohibition on commercial surrogacy is argued to be in the best interest of the public as it can lead to the exploitation of women and the commodification of children.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-02-02Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:34:52Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 kitamura_bla_me_sjrp.pdf: 1729439 bytes, checksum: 6d17806c8b0fa8114efec74fe7820cab (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O objetivo deste trabalho é estudar um caso particular dos problemas de corte e empacotamento, denominado Problema de Carregamento de Paletes do Produtor. Inicialmente, uma formulação proposta na literatura é avaliada com um pacote computacional. Posteriormente, as heurísticas lagrangiana e surrogate são estudadas e um método de atualização dos multiplicadores surrogate é adaptado para este problema. A importância em se estudar o Problema de Carregamento de Paletes do Produtor é que, devido à escala e extensão de certos sistemas logísticos, um pequeno aumento do número de produtos a serem carregados sobre cada palete pode resultar em economias substanciais. A motivação em se estudar o método de atualização surrogate proposto é que, além da adaptação do presente trabalho não ter sido realizada na literatura, uma posterior aplicação desta heurística em conjunto com um procedimento branch and bound poderá render melhores resultados que outras heurísticas. / The aim of this work is studying a particular case of cutting and packing problem, so-called the Manufacturer’s Pallet Loading Problem. Initially, a formulation proposed in the literature is evaluated with a computer package. Subsequently, the lagrangian and surrogate heuristics are studied and a method to update the surrogate multiplier is adapted for this problem. The importance of studying the manufacturer’s pallet loading problem is that, due to the scale and scope of some logistics systems, a small increase in the number of products to be loaded on each pallet can result in substantial savings. The motivation of studying the proposed method of updating the surrogate multipliers is that, besides the adaptation of this work has not been carried out in the literature, further application of heuristics within a procedure branch and bound can yield better results than other heuristics.

Magister Legum - LLM / In this research, I sought to investigate the extent to which South Africa recognises international surrogacy agreements. I examined Chapter 19 of the Children's Act as the first legislation to afford surrogate motherhood agreements legal recognition in South Africa. Section 292(1)(b)-(e) of the Children's Act sets out the requirements for the validity of a surrogate agreement. The validity of the agreement is governed by South African law if it was concluded in South Africa, and at least one of the commissioning parents and the surrogate mother and her husband or partner must be domiciled in South Africa at the time of entering into the agreement. I explored South African legislation that may be applicable to the children born of commissioning parents (whether the commissioning parents are South Africans or foreign nationals) who entered into international surrogacy agreements. I concluded that the main issue that relates to international surrogacy are the implications that rise from registering a surrogate born child’s birth in South Africa and in other countries. I further concluded that the current position of South African law will result in a surrogate born child being left stateless and parentless. I considered the criminal aspect of international surrogacy agreements as a consequence of a null and void international surrogacy agreement. Furthermore, I referred to the legal difficulties of international surrogacy and potential rights infringed on or denied to the child born of an international surrogacy by examining international case law. I concluded that South African courts do not have precedents, guidelines or legislation governing international surrogacy agreements and thus it is important to examine international case law. I further concluded that, it is important for South African authorities and courts to consider the possibility of international surrogacy occurring in South Africa. I hope that the South African courts take a child-centered approach, building on the views established in the international case law, and that courts do not adopt a strict interpretation of our current laws. Lastly, I suggested recommendations for the appropriate manner in which to legislate international surrogacy agreements in South Africa. I submitted that judicial and administrative authorities could inspect the international surrogacy agreement and ensure that the terms do not harm the child and that the child is recognised as the legal child of the commissioning parents. The courts should first look at the suitability of the commissioning parents and finally consider the best interest of the child as being of paramount importance, before ordering the international surrogacy agreement null and void. I further suggested that a statutory regulation that contemplates international surrogacy should be formulated, as a source of reference, which will assist a court when faced with determining the issue of the parentage of a surrogate born child, and consequently, his or her nationality. I concluded that the South African Parliament should either re-draft or provide clearer guidelines regarding surrogacy and the possibility of international surrogacy agreements.

The optimization of complex structures is extremely time consuming. To obtain their optimization results, researchers often wait for several hours and even days. Then, if they have to make a slight change in their input parameters, they must run their optimization problem again. This iterative process of defining a problem and finding a set of optimized solutions may take several days and sometimes several weeks. Therefore, to reduce optimization time, researchers have developed various approximation-based models that predict the results of time-consuming analysis. These simple analytical models, known as “meta- or surrogate models,” are based on data available from limited analysis runs. These “models of the model” seek to approximate computation-intensive functions within a considerably shorter time than expensive simulation codes that require significant computing power. One of the limitations of metamodels (or interchangeably surrogate models) developed for the structural approximation of trusses and space frames is lack of generalizability. Since such metamodels are exclusively designed for a specific structure, they can predict the performance of only the structures for which they are designed. For instance, if a metamodel is designed for a ten-bar truss, it cannot predict the analysis results of another ten-bar truss with different boundary conditions. In addition, they cannot be re-used if the topology of a structure changes (e.g., from a ten-bar truss to a 12-bar truss). If designers change the topology, they must generate new sample data and re-train their model. Therefore, the predictability of these exclusive models is limited. From a combination of the analysis of data from structures with various geometries, the objective of this study is to create, test, and validate generalizable metamodels that predict the results of finite element analysis. Developing these models requires two main steps: feature generation and model creation. In the first step, involving the use of 11 features for nodes and three for members, the physical representation of four types of domes, slabs, and walls were transformed into numerical values. Then, by randomly varying the cross-sectional area, the stress value of each member was recorded. In the second step, these feature vectors were used to create, test, and verify various metamodels in an examination of four hypotheses. The results of the hypotheses show that with generalizable metamodels, the analysis of data from various structures can be combined and used for predicting the performance of the members of structures or new structures within the same class of geometry. For instance, given the same radius for all domes, a metamodel generated from the analysis of data from a 700-, 980-, and 1,525-member dome can predict the structural performance of the members of these domes or a new dome with 250 members. In addition, the results show that generalizable metamodels are able to more closely predict the results of a finite element analysis than metamodels exclusively created for a specific structure. A case study was selected to examine the application of generalizable metamodels for the early-stage exploration of structural design alternatives in a construction project. The results illustrates that the optimization with generalizable metamodels reduces the time and cost of the project, fostering more efficient planning and more rapid decision-making by architects, contractors, and engineers at the early stage of construction projects.

My aim with this research has been to see how surrogate mothers' situation in Georgia looks like, and how different aspects affect the understanding of the process itself and create different prerequisites for surrogate mothers. I interviewed staffs who meet surrogate mothers in their work. I conducted five interviews. The theories I have chosen to use in the study is Maslow's hierarchy of needs and Goffman's labeling theory. I concluded that surrogacy is a controversial subject that is interesting to analyze, based on these theories. After I had interviewed people, it turned out that there are some hierarchical differences between surrogate mothers and biological mothers. The study shows those surrogate mothers' motives and perception is different in society, leading to stigma and categorized ring of the phenomenon. In the future it will be interesting to formulate, visualize, debate and discuss how surrogacy affects society and the professionals' assessments of the phenomenon. I hope that the study raises future interest in others and brings new perspectives which professionals can benefit from. / Mitt mål med denna uppsats har varit att se hur surrogatmödrars situation i Georgien ser ut, och hur olika aspekter påverkar förståelsen för själva processen och skapar olika förutsättningar för surrogatamödrar.  Jag gjorde detta genom att intervjua personal som träffar surrogatamödrar i sin verksamhet. Jag genomförde fem intervjuer. De teorier jag valt att använda i studien är Maslows behovstrappa och Goffmans stämplingsteori. Jag kom fram till att surrogatmödraskap är ett omdiskuterat ämne som är intressant att analysera utifrån dessa teorier. Efter att jag intervjuat personerna visade det sig att det förekommer en del hierarkiska skillnader mellan surrogatmödrar och biologiska mammor. Studien visar att surrogatmödrarnas motiv och uppfattning ser olika ut i samhället, vilket leder till stigmatisering och kategorisering av själva fenomenet. I framtiden kommer det bli intressant att formulera, synliggöra, problematisera och diskutera hur surrogatmödraskap påverkar samhället och professionellas bedömningar på fenomenet. Jag hoppas att studien väcker framtida intresse för andra och bidrar med nya perspektiv som professionella kan ha nytta av.

In recent years, adaptive designs in clinical trials have been attractive due to their efficiency and flexibility. Response adaptive randomization procedures in phase II or III clinical trials are proposed to appeal ethical concerns by skewing the probability of patient assignments based on the responses obtained thus far, so that more patients will be assigned to a superior treatment group. General response-adaptive randomizations usually assume that the primary endpoint can be obtained quickly after the treatment. However, in real clinical trials, the primary outcome is delayed, making it unusable for adaptation. Therefore, we utilize surrogate and primary endpoints simultaneously to adaptively assign subjects between treatment groups for clinical trials with continuous responses. We explore two types of primary endpoints commonly used in clinical tirials: normally distributed outcome and time-to-event outcome. We establish a connection between the surrogate and primary endpoints through a Bayesian model, and then update the allocation ratio based on the accumulated data. Through simulation studies, we find that our proposed response adaptive randomization is more effective in assigning patients to better treatments as compared with equal allocation randomization and standard response adaptive randomization which is solely based on the primary endpoint.