The fact that military logistics should be studied more is mentioned by many, but the problem still seems to persist year after year. To be able to study war from a logistical perspective, theories and theoretical frameworks need to be developed. The systems and terms for operational logistics are not as clear as the terms used for the strategic and tactical level. Moshe Kress has developed properties to explain the operational logistics. This thesis examines if the properties can explain the operational logistics, through a theory-testing comparative case study of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The results shows that Kress's properties can explain the operational logistics during the operations. The analysis of Operation Enduring Freedom shows that all four properties was fulfilled. Operation Iraqi Freedom, which had clear logistical shortcomings during the operation, however, only shows fulfillment of one property, partial fulfillment of two properties and that one property was not fulfilled at all.

As an important sector of the global economy, underground mining serves as the foundation for the economies of many nations. It involves the extraction of precious minerals, ores, and other geological elements. Mining requires the use of specialised machinery and equipment, such as the Load-Haul-Dump (LHD) machines, which carries out the loading, hauling and dumping of the fragmented ores. Despite the widespread use of LHDs, there still exists a knowledge gap regarding research that considers the effects of several operational, technical, and environmental factors of the LHD general performance. This master thesis focuses on analysing the Load-Haul-Dump (LHD) machine operations and it aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the different components of an ideal LHD operation: machine performance, machine and bucket design, bucket filling and loading operation, condition of the material to be loaded, machine care, and other mining related issues, and their connections via a throughout literature review. A traditional literature review served as the foundation for the development of this thesis. This kind of review is based on recent and current investigations accesible. In order to describe the main factors affecting an LHD operation, the literature research approach included reading, assessing, and categorising the literature regarding each individual factor. The findings of this research were compiled in the form of key findings presented on a bullet point list format. The findings serve as recommendations on how the different factors analysed help with either the improvement of the LHD operation or may negatively affect the performance of said LHDs.

Special operations are those operations that conventional units are not considered capable of preforming. Although the importance of special operations has increased, there are limited theories about these operations. Furthermore, the theories that do exist are considered too low empirically tested. In addition, there is a debate about whether more theories about special operations should be developed or whether there are enough theories for research of special operations. The purpose of this study is to contribute to this debate. To do this, Leong Kok Wey's theory is tested against two cases.  Wey uses 2,000-year-old principles to explain how a special operation should be successful. The method used is a theory-testing two-case study where the cases are examined based on qualitative text analysis. The two selected cases are Operation Deadstick, the British airborne assault during D-Day, and Operation Prelim, the British SAS sabotage of eleven aircraft during the Falklands War. Both cases are considered successful special operations. The results show that most of the principles can be identified in both cases and therefor strengthens Wey’s theory. However, one of the principles cannot be identified at all in any of the cases.

The thesis analyses the systems, dynamics and conditions of international cooperation/non-cooperation in the international community that is embodied through international/regional institutions and organisations. As Robert Cooper describes, the international community consists of the three worlds in which the differences between them may be confrontational in international cooperation. While the post-modern civilisation and values are introduced into the institutions and organisations for international peace and security, the state actors from the pre-modern and modern civilisations and values are vigorously defending the traditional version of state sovereignty. Then, all these are equally the member of the international community and, as Robert Axelrod¿s Prisoner Dilemma game sets, neither state actors nor structural actors of international relations can escape from it. Therefore, it is hoped that, as Axelrod¿s theory suggests, the closed community, in the end, produces cooperation and a positive peace for a better future for all. In the case studies, the OSCE faces a number of non-cooperative state actors, like Russia. An anti-OSCE civilisation exists and is resisting the organisational values, while it is staying in the framework. Thus, the organisation is suffering from defectors and free-riders. Knowing the limitation of the organisation, it still has a space for improvement and a useful function which is to provide a long term process to make a non-cooperate actor cooperative.

Över 160 000 människor i Sverige väntade på en operation 2021. 40 % av dessa har väntat längre än vårdgarantins 90 dagar. Patienter väntar dagligen på operationer, både på vårdavdelningar och i hemmet. Operationer som kan bidra till ökad hälsa och lindrat lidande. Utan kunskap och förståelse för patienter i den preoperativa väntan riskerar patienten ett ökat lidande och ohälsa. Sjuksköterskans kännedom om patienternas upplevelser i väntan på en operation behöver synliggöras för att öka möjligheten till en individanpassad och säkrare vård.  Syftet med examensarbetet var att belysa patienters upplevelser av att vänta på en operation. Metoden som användes var en litteraturöversikt över kvalitativ forskning då författarna ville belysa upplevelser kring ämnet. Nio vårdvetenskapliga artiklar söktes fram, granskades och sammanställdes. Resultatet presenteras i tre huvudteman: Upplevelse av ohälsa, En känsla av hopp och Kontakten med vården med fem tillhörande subteman som svarade på examensarbetets syfte. Resultatet påvisar patienters känsla av oro, ångest och rädsla inför operation och hur väntan kan öka de negativa upplevelserna. Men det framkommer även att med individanpassad information och en god kontakt med vården kan tillit och hopp bidra till en positivare upplevelse för patienten. Diskussionen stärker resultatet med tidigare forskning som visar att goda vårdrelationer och ett tydligt patientperspektiv kan förebygga oro och skapa bättre förutsättningar för patienten i väntan på en operation. Slutsatsen är att med ett vårdvetenskapligt förhållningssätt kan sjuksköterskan synliggöra patientperspektivet och skapa en individanpassad vård som kan vara ett stöd för patienten i den påfrestande tid som väntan inför en operation kan innebära. / Over 160,000 people in Sweden were waiting for an operation in 2021. 40% of these have waited longer than the care guarantee's 90 days. Patients wait daily for operations that can contribute to increased health, alleviate suffering or be crucial to survival. Without knowledge and understanding of patients in the preoperative waiting period, the patient risks increased suffering and ill health. The nurse's knowledge of the experiences while waiting for an operation needs to be made visible in order to increase the possibility of better and safer care. The aim of the study was to shed light on patients' experiences of waiting for an operation. The method used was a literature review of qualitative research as the authors wanted to highlight experiences around the subject. Nine health science articles were searched for, reviewed and compiled. The results are presented in three main themes: Experience of ill-health, A feeling of hope and Contact with care with 6 associated sub-themes that responded to the purpose of the study. The results demonstrate patients' feelings of worry, anxiety and fear before surgery and how waiting can increase these negative experiences. But it also appears that with individually tailored information and a good contact with care, trust and hope can contribute to a more positive experience for the patient. The discussion strengthens the results with previous research that shows that good care relationships and a clear patient perspective can prevent anxiety and create better conditions for the patient while waiting for an operation. The conclusion is that with a nursing scientific approach, the nurse can make the patient's perspective visible and create an individually tailored care that can be a support for the patient in the stressful time that waiting before an operation can entail.

Bakgrund: Operationssjukvården utvecklas ständigt med nya medicintekniska produkter. Operationssjuksköterskan ansvarar för att ta fram rätt medicintekniska produkter till operationen och för att de medicintekniska produkterna ska fungera. Fungerar inte medicintekniska produkter under operationen hotar det patientsäkerheten. Syfte: Att undersöka hur operationssjuksköterskan arbetar med medicintekniska produkter på operationssalen. Metod: En strukturerad, icke-deltagande observationsstudie med kvantitativ ansats har genomförts på två olika sjukhus i västra Sverige. Totalt genomfördes 21 observationer som analyserades med beskrivande statistik. Resultat: Medelvärdet på antal medicintekniska produkter i operationssalen var nio. Operationssjuksköterskan utförde funktionstest av medicintekniska produkter innan operationens start i 76 % av observationerna. Problem med medicintekniska produkter uppstod i 71 % av observationerna, vilket ledde till att vid en tredjedel av observationerna fick någon i operationsteamet gå ut från operationssalen för att hämta nya medicintekniska produkter. Medelvärdet för tiden att hämta ny medicintekniska produkter var två minuter och 29 sekunder. Konklusion: Studien har bidragit med en överblick över hur operationssjuksköterskans arbetar med medicintekniska produkter på operationssalen, både hur operationssjuksköterskan förbereder medicintekniska produkter innan operationens start och hur många problem som uppstår med medicintekniska produkter under operationen som operationsteamet måste lösa. Att förebygga problem med medicintekniska produkter är viktigt för patientsäkerheten, operationspersonalens arbetsmiljö och produktiviteten för operationsenheten. / Background: Surgical care is constantly evolving with new medical devices. The operating room nurse is responsible for providing correct medical devices and making sure the medical devices function correctly. If the medical devices are not functioning correctly the patient safety is endangered. Aim: Examine how the operating room nurse works with medical devices in the operating room. Method: A structured, non-participating observation study with a quantitative design was conducted at two hospitals in western Sweden. A total of 21 observations were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Result: The mean number of medical devices in the operation room was nine. The operating room nurse performed function tests of the medical devices prior to operation in 76 % of observations. Problems with medical devices occurred in 71 % of observations, resulting in someone from the operating team having to leave the operating room and fetch new medical devices in one third of observations. The mean time required for fetching new medical devices was two minutes and 29 seconds. Conclusion: The study offers an overview of how the operating room nurse utilizes medical devices in the operating room, both how the operating room nurse prepare the medical devices before the start of the operation and how many problems occur with the medical devices during the operation which the operating team must resolve. Preventing problems with medical devices are important due to patient safety, work environment and productivity in the operating ward.

The electric power grid is evolving in terms of generation, transmission and distribution network architecture. On the generation side, distributed energy resources (DER) are participating at a much larger scale. Transmission and distribution networks are transforming to a decentralized architecture from a centralized one. Residential and commercial buildings are now considered as active elements of the electric grid which can participate in grid operation through applications such as the Demand Response (DR). DR is an application through which electric power consumption during the peak demand periods can be curtailed. DR applications ensure an economic and stable operation of the electric grid by eliminating grid stress conditions. In addition to that, DR can be utilized as a mechanism to increase the participation of green electricity in an electric grid. The DR applications, in general, are passive in nature. During the peak demand periods, common practice is to shut down the operation of pre-selected electrical equipment i.e., heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and lights to reduce power consumption. This approach, however, is not optimal and does not take into consideration any user preference. Furthermore, this does not provide any information related to demand flexibility beforehand. Under the broad concept of grid modernization, the focus is now on the applications of data analytics in grid operation to ensure an economic, stable and resilient operation of the electric grid. The work presented here utilizes data analytics in DR application that will transform the DR application from a static, look-up-based reactive function to a dynamic, context-aware proactive solution. The dynamic demand response framework presented in this dissertation performs three major functionalities: electrical load forecast, electrical load disaggregation and peak load reduction during DR periods. The building-level electrical load forecasting quantifies required peak load reduction during DR periods. The electrical load disaggregation provides equipment-level power consumption. This will quantify the available building-level demand flexibility. The peak load reduction methodology provides optimal HVAC setpoint and brightness during DR periods to reduce the peak demand of a building. The control scheme takes user preference and context into consideration. A detailed methodology with relevant case studies regarding the design process of the network architecture of a deep learning algorithm for electrical load forecasting and load disaggregation is presented. A case study regarding peak load reduction through HVAC setpoint and brightness adjustment is also presented. To ensure the scalability and interoperability of the proposed framework, a layer-based software architecture to replicate the framework within a cloud environment is demonstrated. / Doctor of Philosophy / The modern power grid, known as the smart grid, is transforming how electricity is generated, transmitted and distributed across the US. In a legacy power grid, the utilities are the suppliers and the residential or commercial buildings are the consumers of electricity. However, the smart grid considers these buildings as active grid elements which can contribute to the economic, stable and resilient operation of an electric grid. Demand Response (DR) is a grid application that reduces electrical power consumption during peak demand periods. The objective of DR application is to reduce stress conditions of the electric grid. The current DR practice is to shut down pre-selected electrical equipment i.e., HVAC, lights during peak demand periods. However, this approach is static, pre-fixed and does not consider any consumer preference. The proposed framework in this dissertation transforms the DR application from a look-up-based function to a dynamic context-aware solution. The proposed dynamic demand response framework performs three major functionalities: electrical load forecasting, electrical load disaggregation and peak load reduction. The electrical load forecasting quantifies building-level power consumption that needs to be curtailed during the DR periods. The electrical load disaggregation quantifies demand flexibility through equipment-level power consumption disaggregation. The peak load reduction methodology provides actionable intelligence that can be utilized to reduce the peak demand during DR periods. The work leverages functionalities of a deep learning algorithm to increase forecasting accuracy. An interoperable and scalable software implementation is presented to allow integration of the framework with existing energy management systems.

The issue of the vertical /or horizontal operation of the Bill of Rights (chapter 3) is a controversial one. The interim constitution deals with this controversy in a subtle way by avoiding direct horizontal operation of Chapter 3. Instead, it provides for the so-called 'seepage to horizontal relationships' in terms of section35{3). This apparently was a political compromise between the pro-vertical only and the pro-horizontal groups. The human rights history of this country justifies a Bill of Rights that would have both vertical and horizontal operation. However, in section 35 (3) there is potential for the values enshrined in the constitution and Chapter 3, and the spirit hereof, to permeate and filter through the entire legal system in all it's applications. It would seem, however, as demonstrated by the decision in De Klerk v Du Plessis, that the extent to which this filtering process will benefit individuals in their private relations, will depend on the interpretation given to section 35 (3) by the courts. If courts, as it happend in De Klerk's case fail to realise the full import of section 35 ( 3) aspects of the existing law which are unjust could remain and the process of creating a just, open and democratic society will be hampered. / Constitutional, International & Indigenous Law / LL.M.

Les travaux présentés dans ce manuscrit portent sur la conduite de systèmes complexes critiques. Ils s'inscrivent dans le cadre du projet CONNEXION (Investissements d'Avenir, BGLE2) qui réunit les principaux acteurs de la filière nucléaire française autour de la conception des systèmes de contrôle-commande des centrales et de leur exploitation. Dans le domaine de la conduite, les actions développées par le projet concernent la phase d'ingénierie avec pour objectif d'intégrer le point de vue de l'exploitant au plus tôt dans la validation des architectures de contrôle de commande, et la phase d'exploitation avec pour objectif de fournir une aide à la préparation et à l'exécution des procédures de conduite. Dans ce contexte, la contribution présentée dans ce mémoire porte sur la génération et la vérification de séquences d'actions de conduite répondant à un objectif donné et pouvant être opérées en toute sécurité sur le procédé. L'approche proposée repose la vérification d'une propriété d'atteignabilité sur un réseau d'automates temporisés modélisant le comportement des architectures. L'originalité réside dans la définition d’un cadre formel de modélisation sous la forme de patrons favorisant la réutilisabilité des modèles ainsi que dans la proposition d'algorithmes d'abstraction et de recherche d'atteignabilité itératifs exploitant la hiérarchisation intrinsèque des architectures afin de permettre le passage à l'échelle de l'approche proposée. La contribution a été éprouvée sur la plate-forme d'expérimentation CISPI du CRAN puis sur un cas d'étude à échelle industrielle proposé dans le cadre du projet CONNEXION / The works presented in this manuscript deals with critical complex systems operation. They are part of the CONNEXION project (Investissements d'Avenir, BGLE2), which involves the main actors in the French nuclear industry around the design of control systems for power plants and their operation. In the operation field, the actions developed by the project concern the engineering phase with the aim of integrating the operator's point of view as soon as possible in the validation of control architectures, and the operation phase with the aim of providing assistance in the preparation and execution of operation procedures. In this context, the contribution presented in this manuscript deals with the generation and verification of action sequences that meet a given objective and that can be safely operated on the process. The proposed approach relies on verifying a reachability property on a network of timed automata modelling the behavior of architectures. The originality is in the definition of a formal modelling framework using patterns promoting the reusability of models, as well as in the proposition of abstraction and reachability iterative analysis algorithms exploiting the intrinsic hierarchization of architectures in order to scale-up of the proposed approach. The contribution was evaluated on the CISPI experimental platform of the CRAN, and on an industrial scale case study proposed within the framework of the CONNEXION project

Världen globaliseras och urbaniseras i en allt högre takt vilket innebär utmaningar för framtida försvarsmakter. Försvarsmakterna kommer mer frekvent att få lösa militära operationer genom strid i bebyggelse (SIB). Denna undersöknings ansats är att pröva Alice Hills teori om framgångsfaktorer som analyserats fram ur krigshistoriens militära operationer i kontexten SIB. Hills argumenterar för en mängd framgångsfaktorer. Denna undersökning prövar faktorerna utbildningsståndpunkt/stridserfarenhet, tillgång till infanteriförband, nyttjande av indirekt bekämpning och tredje parts inverkan på operationer. Dessa faktorer prövas i en jämförande fallstudie av operationerna i Fallujah 2004 Operation Vigilant Resolve (misslyckad operation) och Operation Phantom Fury (framgångsrik operation) vilka båda ingick i Operation Iraqi Freedom. De källor som har nyttjats för att genomföra teoriprövningen är Vincent L. Foulks, ”The Battle for Fallujah: Occupation, Resistance and Stalemate in the War in Iraq” och Bing Wests ”No True Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah”. Resultatet av undersökningen stärker Hills teori om de fyra prövade framgångsfaktorerna. Fallstudien påvisar att ingående förband i Operation Vigilant Resolve (misslyckad operation) endast hade en grundlagd utbildningsståndpunkt i SIB samt att stora delar av förbanden saknade stridserfarenhet. Vidare påvisar undersökningen att det var låg numerär av infanteriförband och att mixen mellan infanteri och pansarförband medförde att infanteriförbanden inte kunde lösa uppgiften att skydda pansarförbanden i tillräcklig omfattning. I denna operation finns inget som bevisar att någon form att markgrupperad, indirekt bekämpning nyttjats. Tredje parts påverkan var stor givet förutsättningen att endast en mindre del av befolkning flytt staden Fallujah. Operation Phantom Fury påvisar det motsatta gentemot Operation Vigilant Resolve. Förbanden var bättre utbildade genom att de fått dra lärdom under genomförande under Operation Vigilant Resolve samt att de fått stridserfarenhet genom samma operation. Stor numerär av infanteri och en bättre mix av infanteri och pansarförband där infanteriet understöddes av pansarförbanden istället för tvärtom som var fallet vid Operation Vigilant Resolve. Operation nyttjade indirekt bekämpning i form av granatkastare och artilleri i stor omfattning. Den fjärde och sist prövande framgångsfaktorn, tredje parts inverkan på operationen påvisar att stora delar av staden Fallujah var utrymd vilket indirekt påverkar framförallt faktorn nyttjande av indirekt bekämpning. Sammanfattningsvis stärker denna teoriprövande fallstudie Hills förklaringskraft avseende de fyra utvalda framgångsfaktorerna. Detta ger en vetenskaplig grund att bygga framtidens förband kring där SIB kommer vara frekvent återkommande.