Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Ted C. Schroeder / Annual vaccination of the beef cow herd is a common management tool for most beef herd operations. However, no studies have established the minimal vaccination frequency needed to attain an acceptable herd production output with minimal financial inputs. The hypothesis of this study stated that the production output and profitability of the cow herd would not be decreased by vaccinating the cow herd at intervals of greater than one year. An animal's immune response to a vaccine or a direct challenge by a pathogen requires it to partition nutritional resources from other functioning biological systems within the body such as reproduction and lactation. According to the concept of diminishing returns, there is a point at which the cost of inputs (labor costs, vaccine costs and frequency of vaccination) does not result in corresponding levels of production output (measured by calf weaning weight, cow pregnancy rate and calf survivability). Thus, the objective of this thesis was to evaluate the effect of varying the interval of vaccination on cow reproductive productivity, calf productivity at weaning and herd profitability. It is important to note that this research study does not question the premises of vaccinating a cow herd or the effectiveness of the vaccines, but only investigates the time interval between vaccinations. This study consisted of approximately 1000 head of beef cattle divided between two ranch locations in south central South Dakota. Permanent and yearly production records were collected for each individual cow and calf for three production years 1998, 1999 and 2000. At each location cows were randomly assigned into four treatment groups:1) Group V0 – control or non-vaccinated, 2) Group V1 – vaccinated in 2000, 3) Group V2 – vaccinated in 1999 and 2000 and 4) Group V3 – vaccinated in 1998, 1999 and 2000. At the conclusion of this four year study, varying the interval of vaccinations did not decrease the production and the profitability of the treatment groups compared to the control group in the weaning weight and calf mortality models. However, in the pregnancy model conception rates were significantly reduced in 2 of the 3 treatment groups.

This thesis deals with ranked advanced voting systems. The aim is to determine the overall winner and the ranking of candidates based on voters' preferences. The thesis utilises basic voting systems - plurality rules, lexicographical and Borda's method - as well as advanced voting systems with the application of DEA models, specifically DEA/AR model, DEA/AR exclusion model (including variations with penalties), and Llamazares-Peňa model. Compromise programming is used to obtain common vector of weights. The models and their use are demonstrated on Formula One Grand Prix results from season 2016. Formula One World Drivers' Championship and Formula One World Constructors' Championship are being investigated.

This thesis is concerned with textile production in Middle and Late Bronze Age on the Greek continent and western Anatolia. First part explains the description of methodology of approach to textile manifacture in the studied area, followed by description and properties of threads used to weave the cloths, as well as technologies used in their making. Terms related to textile are mentioned on clay tablets with linear writing B, hence the thesis engages in their interpretation and comparison between particular centres. Second part analyses tools used in textile manifacture, namely whorls and loom weights based on their shape. Then follows topographic overview of the most prominent localities of textile manifacture in which textile-making tools were found. Localities not included in the overview are mentioned in the table. The overview describes locality, number and types of whorls and loom weights and what materials are they made of. Whenever possible, the most important specification is mentioned - the weight - based on which the type of weaved textile is described. The aim of the thesis is to create overview of localities with tools used in textile making as well as their analysis and comparison. Collected data are converted into tables, graphs and maps. In the last part called discussion,...

This thesis describes the issue of selecting of the company's clients Fragile media s. r. o. The company looks at the financial benefits and time. The target of this thesis is to determine what kind of clients brings to Fragile media s. r. o. the greatest benefit. This issue I will discuss in the practical part of this thesis by using multi-criteria decision making. In next step I will deal with what effect will have other methods of estimating weights of the criteria for the results.

Dissertation thesis focuses on principles of multi-criteria decision-making in public contracts. The theoretical section of the thesis introduces principles and methods of multi-criteria decision-making including the determination of their suitability for public contracts. It also cover characteristics and specifics of purchasing via public contracts and findings of previous research conducted in the Czech Republic and foreign countries. Own empirical research comprises two parts. The first part of research is based on data about public contracts from the Czech Republic between 2011 and 2013 announced via the Information System on Public Contracts. The data allow investigating criteria and their weights used by contracting entities in relationship to characteristics of the public contracts; especially the subject-matter and the value of the contract. The second part of the research is based on sample data file of contract announcements for contracts evaluated according to the economic advantageousness of the tender. The data allow investigating methods of multi-criteria decision making and approaches to qualitative criteria. Findings from the theory and the conducted research were source for a normative model for selection of criteria and methods of multi-criteria decision-making. The goal of the model is to enhance the quality of decision-making in the field of public contracts. The most important contribution of the model is the connection of the three key parts of multi-criteria decision-making; criteria, its weights and methods of multi-criteria decision-making.

Le bruit neutronique désigne les fluctuations de la population neutronique induites par des changements déterministes ou stochastiques des sections efficaces macroscopiques lors du fonctionnement à puissance nominale d’un réacteur nucléaire. Ces perturbations peuvent avoir des origines diverses comme une variation de densité du caloporteur ou une vibration d’un élément mécanique (barres de contrôle, assemblages ou crayons combustibles…). Dans les réacteurs de puissance, ces bruits neutroniques sont observables par les détecteurs de neutrons placés à l’intérieur et à l’extérieur du cœur. Lorsque ces bruits sont jugés anormaux, tout l’enjeu est de savoir identifier et localiser leurs sources afin de pouvoir mettre en place les mesures de sûreté éventuellement nécessaires au bon fonctionnement de l’installation. Ces bruits peuvent aussi être exploités pour déterminer certaines propriétés du caloporteur comme sa vitesse ou son titre vapeur, ou encore d’autres propriétés dynamiques globales comme le coefficient de température d’un réacteur à eau pressurisée.Les équations générales du bruit neutronique sont issues de la linéarisation et de la transformée de Fourier de l’équation de Boltzmann cinétique perturbée autour de l’état d’équilibre du cœur en suivant l’hypothèse de petites perturbations et en prenant en compte le couplage avec les équations des précurseurs. Ceci a pour résultat une équation à source dans le domaine fréquentiel. Résoudre cette équation complexe permet de prédire le bruit pour différents emplacements de détecteurs.Cette thèse a pour principal objectif de mettre en place des outils de calculs neutroniques en implémentant notamment un solveur de bruit neutronique dans le code de transport déterministe multi-filière APOLLO3® développé au CEA.Au cours de nos travaux, nous avons tout d’abord étudié et analysé la théorie classique du bruit neutronique. Il nous est apparu qu’il était plus judicieux de définir comme opérateur d’équilibre la moyenne temporelle de l’opérateur cinétique perturbé plutôt que l’opérateur de Boltzmann stationnaire. Ce nouvel opérateur d’équilibre, qui a été développé pour la théorie linéaire et non linéaire, permet en effet de prendre en compte le système de régulation de la puissance présent dans les cœurs de réacteurs qui contrebalance automatiquement tout surplus de réactivité introduit par des perturbations.Nous avons implémenté par la suite la résolution numérique des équations du bruit en théorie de la diffusion et du transport dans une maquette dite « fil » pour des géométries à une dimension en multigroupe. La résolution des équations non linéarisées du bruit en théorie de la diffusion a aussi été implémentée afin d’étudier les limites de la théorie linéaire. Deux méthodes Monte Carlo ont été implémentées dans cette maquette : une méthode proposée très récemment dans la littérature et une nouvelle méthode que nous avons mise en place afin d’améliorer cette dernière. Cette nouvelle méthode a vocation à être implémentée dans le code Monte Carlo de référence TRIPOLI-4® développé au CEA. À l’aide de cette maquette, nous avons de plus proposé une nouvelle façon de modéliser plus exactement une vibration mécanique, modélisation que nous avons comparée avec les diverses modélisations analytiques existantes.Enfin, nous avons implémenté la résolution des équations linéaires du bruit en théorie de la diffusion et du transport dans le code déterministe APOLLO3® (solveur réseau IDT). Afin de tester ce nouveau solveur, nous avons mené à bien des calculs de bruit sur un cœur complet de réacteur à eau légère et à baffle lourd à deux et trois dimensions. Ces simulations nous ont permis de conclure nos travaux en étudiant l’impact de certaines sources de bruit, une oscillation ou une vibration d’un assemblage par exemple, sur un système aussi réaliste que ceux étudiés en calculs stationnaires et ce en théorie de la diffusion et du transport à deux groupes d’énergie. / Neutron noise analysis addresses the description of small time-dependent flux fluctuations induced by small global or local perturbations of the macroscopic cross-sections. These fluctuations may occur in nuclear reactors due to density fluctuations of the coolant, to vibrations of fuel elements, control rods, or any other structures in the core. In power reactors, ex-core and in-core detectors can be used to monitor neutron noise with the aim of detecting possible anomalies and taking the necessary measures for continuous safe power production. Thus, neutron noise techniques are more and more used by the nuclear industry for non-invasive monitoring, control and detection of anomalies in nuclear power plants. They are also applied to the measurement of the properties of the coolant, such as speed and void fraction, or of global dynamic properties such as the moderator temperature coefficient of a pressurized water reactor.The general noise equations are obtained by assuming small perturbations around a steady state in the neutron field and by subsequently taking the Fourier transform in the frequency domain. The analysis is performed based on the neutron kinetic equations including the coupling with neutron precursors. For each frequency, the outcome of the Fourier transform analysis is a fixed-source equation for the perturbed neutron field, which can then be solved so as to predict noise measurements at detector locations.The objective of this thesis is to develop techniques for neutron noise analysis and especially to implement a neutron noise solver in the deterministic transport code APOLLO3® developed at CEA.First, we studied and analyzed the traditional neutron noise theory. In order to take into account the action of the regulating system which cancel the time-averaged reactivity added by a perturbation in a core, we found that it is preferable to choose as steady-state operator the time-averaged of the kinetic operator rather than the stationary Boltzmann operator. This new steady-state operator has been developed for the linear and the non-linear full theory.Then, we have implemented a neutron noise solver in diffusion and transport theory for a simple “rod” geometry in multigroup. A non-linear neutron noise solver has been also implemented in diffusion theory for this rod geometry in order to analyze the limits of the linear theory. Moreover, two Monte Carlo methods that solve the transport equations for the neutron noise in the frequency domain have been implemented for this rod geometry: one recently developed in the literature and a new Monte Carlo algorithm that we have developed so as to improve the latter. This new algorithm is supposed to be implemented in the reference Monte Carlo code TRIPOLI-4® developed at CEA. In addition, a new one-dimension vibration model has been developed and tested for the rod geometry in order to simulate a periodic vibration of a mechanical element and to determine the neutron noise generated by this perturbation.Lastly, a neutron noise solver has been implemented in diffusion and transport theory in the deterministic transport code APOLLO3® (IDT lattice solver). In order to test this new solver, we have performed neutron noise simulations in a large pressurized water reactor with heavy baffle in two and three dimensions. Thus, we have concluded our work by analyzing the neutron noise induced by different noise sources, an oscillation or a vibration of one assembly for example, in a case as realistic as ones used in stationary calculations. These simulations have been performed in diffusion and transport theory with two energy groups.

In the introductory chapter of this work is caught organizational structure of the national metrology system in the Czech Republic and its links to international organizations. There is indicated the basic terminology of metrology, particularly in the area of classification instruments. The following sections approaching the issue of measurement uncertainties, their classification, sources of uncertainty determined by the type A and B, their specifics and calculation. The above linked area already dealing with themselves calibrations, first of all calibration weights, classification of weights according accuracy classes, established procedures, and finally determining uncertainty in calibration weights. Then, immediately followed by a chapter dealing with calibration balances, performed tests and measurement uncertainties. The main part is of course directed towards the application of acquired knowledge to practical examples, thus performing the calibration weight class F2 using a high-precision weights, both in the premises of the Technical University in Brno, both in the laboratory weighing the Czech Metrological Institute. Further calibration was performed school balances Ohaus Explorer EX224.

This work assesses the evolution of textile production in the Czech lands during the Eneolithic, a period that is the earliest source of broader archaeological information for the study of textile manufacturing. The basis for the study is provided above all by archaeological finds of textile tools (spindle whorls, weights, spools and awls) that are evaluated within individual archaeological cultures in terms of quantity, shape, size and function, archaeological context and chronological development. This is supplemented by a survey of fragmentary textiles and their imprints dating from the Stone Age in the Czech Republic. Another important source of information is provided by findings from research into Eneolithic pile-dwelling settlements around Alpine lakes that have provided numerous finds of archaeological textiles as well as textile-making tools and tool fragments that have not been found in the Czech lands. An interesting comparative set of artefacts is provided by the objects found in the possession of the mummy of Ötzi dating from the Middle Eneolithic Period. The second part of the work focuses on the experimental testing of several hypotheses formulated on the basis of the study of archaeological materials. The experiments focused on the potential of working bast fibre from trees as an...

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Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs) have gained popularity due to their abilities to generate an absolute return strategy. Little is known about how CTAs work and what variables are important to tune in order to create a profitable strategy. Some investors use CTA-like strategies to leverage their portfolio and create positive returns in times when the spot market is falling. The report is written for Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken and aims to give the bank and readers an understanding on how changes of parameters in a CTA strategy change the outcome of it with focus on three main measurements: Sharpe ratio, drawdown and total return.  The foundation of CTAs is that they rely on signals from some given sets of assets and make investments decisions solely based on them. CTAs can be rule-based with a binomial signal, or they can use a continual signal, like in the report. The thesis aims to recreate a CTA using a continuous momentum signal and with the signal, invest accordingly. Some different variables were tested, most importantly the report focuses on the weights of the assets and investigates if the momentum signal is good as it is or if a risk parity weighting is needed on top of the signal in order to generate a return that matches the expectations of a low drawdown and a high Sharpe ratio.  Beyond the weight allocation, different lookback periods of both the signal and weight were tested. A shorter lookback generated a quicker return that was more sensible to short trends on the market. Which in some cases was profitable but it also lost more of it accumulated return when the trend was "false". The equally weighted signal that only takes the trend into account when allocating the weights of the assets was more volatile it its returns and benefited from a long signal. The CTA results presented can only be seen as an index since it is rebalanced every rebalancing point, the frequency of those points was examined and the strategy was performing well if rebalanced once a week or once a month, every day and once a year did not yield a better result.  As expected, the CTA benefits from trend on the market, no matter the direction of it. The best periods for the CTA were when the market was very volatile, mainly 2008 and 2022. When there is no clear trend, the CTA reacts too slowly and often loses money. One important conclusion is that the CTA never should be used as an investment strategy on its own, rather as a hedging strategy that allocates a fraction of a total long-only portfolio.