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This study explores the effectiveness of the Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad (MERS) in support of Distributed Operations in urban terrain. The Marine Corps is evaluating the Distributed Operations concept as a solution to new threats posed in current operations. In order to employ distributed tactics, a more effective and capable Marine Rifle Squad is needed. The MERS concept seeks to increase the effectiveness of the current rifle squad, enabling smaller, more lethal, and more survivable units. Those issues are explored using agent-based modeling and data analysis. The most significant finding is that the MERS must be evaluated as a system; factors cannot be analyzed in isolation. The two factors that most affect the effectiveness are survivability and lethality. Maximizing these two factors leads to the lowest friendly casualties, highest enemy casualties, and highest probability of mission success. Agent-based modeling provides the maximum flexibility and responsiveness required for timely insights into small unit combat.

Chen, Liang. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-218). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

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<p>This case study investigates change processes in the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) over a 10-year period. It aims to increase the understanding of the dynamics of change processes in organizations which operate at the science-policy interface at the international level. ICES plays a key role in supplying policymakers and marine management agencies with scientific advice. The challenges facing governance of oceans and coastal areas have led these actors to embrace an ecosystem-based approach. This study takes a qualitative, transdisciplinary approach to investigate if and how ICES has responded to this shift towards a more holistic management paradigm. Resilience theory, combined with organizational change theory, is used to analyze several change processes identified. The ICES advisory program and the ICES science program have both undergone major reforms during the last 10 years. The ICES Secretariat has been reorganized, and strategic planning has given ICES new guiding documents. While the ecosystem-based approach was important as a backdrop for the reforms, it was not manifested as a dominating driver behind the changes. The major drivers were the need to improve efficiency and a striving for better integration between different components within the organization. The findings show that the international network structure of ICES gives a different dynamics of change compared to similar processes in traditional hierarchical government organizations. Implementation of change requires time to allow for broad consultations, which are important to ensure support and a sense of ownership within the ICES community. Changes are implemented incrementally to align with opportunities and constrains embedded in the complex institutional landscape within which ICES resides. These insights can contribute to the development of strategies aiming to enhance the capacity to govern marine ecosystems and build resilience of social-ecological systems.</p>

<p>This study contributes to the Common Pool Resources debate by describing and analysinginstitutions that currently structure governance of community-based forest management inSanta Mónica and Palestina, within the Monte Verde region, Bolivia. It explores theinterplay between innovative communal and central-authority institutional features, theway they work and how they enable forest conservation. The method is narratology andanalysis of institutions and documents produced by this governance system through thelens of Elinor Ostrom’s institutional framework for the ‘alternative solution’ to thecommons problem. The results reveal that local communal rules and central-authorityrules are complementary rather than competitive. The local communities and the centralauthorityshare power to devise and enforce institutions for communal forestmanagement, which enable the local communities to exclude external actors, known as‘timber pirates’, who illegally harvest timber in this region. The central-authorityestablishes guidelines that are sensitive to local cultural contexts. Local governancedevelops rules conforming to these guidelines. The main reasons behind successful forestconservation in Monte Verde lie on the fact that a healthy forest is in the interest of localcommunities due to its contribution to economic development. Ecosystem services suchas traditional forest produce, profits from timber sales and related employment are vitalcontributors to the local economy. Governmental institutions and internationalconservation principles support this local interest and, therefore, this collaborative relationis successful. This case study also explores an innovative approach for dealing with theproblem of free-riding. Collective appropriation of timber products by local communitiesprevents internal individual appropriation race and enables them to make a more effectivemonitoring over unauthorised forest users.</p>

<p>Phnom Penh’s sanitation system is a combination of the drainage system and sewage system.Storm water, household wastewater, and industrial wastewater all flow together out of the city tothe detriment of the natural environment and the humans that depend on it. This continuedpersistence of an inefficient and harmful system is explored using path dependency theory. Pathdependency constrains the system to linear development and reflects the historical context inwhich decisions were made. Phnom Penh’s sanitation system is used to exemplify components ofpath dependence and their effect on implementing change.To incorporate room for change into Phnom Penh’s sanitation system, the inherent longevity inbuilt infrastructure must be overcome. Building infrastructure is expensive and the learning andcoordination that is associated with it is not easily replaced. The social context is ultimatelyresponsible for the investments made and the type of system expressed. Phnom Penh’s sanitationsystem reflects a historical legacy of colonial rule, decades of war, political chaos, and an influxof international aid contributing to an inefficient system being developed. The presence ofunpredictability and inflexibility in the system can result in an inefficient system being sustained.</p>

<p>Important throughout the 20th century, trade unions are an influential social actor that can affect and influence various policies, public opinion, and working standards through collective agreements, social activism, and political partnerships. Both within and extending beyond the workplace, unions have at times played a role in determining solutions to environmental issues, from health and safety standards all the way to national and international policy and solidarity activity, though this subject is rarely studied or analyzed. In particular, trade union stances and action on climate and energy issues represents an under-researched, yet important topic of analysis. Using the United States and Sweden as case studies, with analysis of two blue-collar unions in each, the research analyzes the important factors affecting choices and action regarding climate and energy matters. Within the case study approach, using a neo-institutional theoretical approach, I employed qualitative methods including semi-structured interviews, complemented with primary source documentary analysis. The analysis demonstrates that two unions (one in each country) can be described as active and two as defensive on environmental issues, respectively. The United Steelworkers in the United States and Kommunal in Sweden, both affected and acting within a particular structure, have been active at combating and seeking solutions to climate change, while linking work and environmental issues at multiple levels. Key factors such as working within a social unionism paradigm; instrumental leadership combined with multilevel work; and important mergers converge to influence and define behaviour. The United Autoworkers (U.S.) and IF Metall (Sweden), both defensive, though in their own ways, are influenced by factors including historical institutional power; regional concentration of employment; and the types of employment they represent.</p>

<p>The geographic distribution of dengue fever has increased worldwide in recent years and is at present the most widespread vector borne viral disease in the world (Halstead 2002). Because of its rapid spread and increasing seriousness of its complications it is considered to be the most troubling vector borne disease (Wilcox and Colwell 2005, Phillips 2008). Dengue fever is the one vector borne disease that poses the greatest threat to New Zealand. Imported cases are being reported in ever increasing numbers and all the components for a mosquito borne disease cycle is already present (Ministry of Health 1997). Furthermore, New Zealand’s geographic isolation makes it a unique location for studying the emergence of vector borne diseases, such as dengue. The objective of this thesis was - by using case studies on dengue fever on a global scale and the potential emergence of the disease in isolated New Zealand as examples – to explore the interlinkages between global changes (climate change and rapid urbanisation), globalisation (rapid travel and trade), and their local impacts on vulnerability and health (i.e. changes in local climate, travel and trade patterns and demographic changes that affect emergence and transmission of disease). This was done by 1) reviewing the ecological and environmental conditions necessary for dengue transmission; 2) examining key social and environmental factors contributing to the recent global increase in dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and 3) drawing projections to 2070 in order to build future scenarios for epidemic dengue risks in New Zealand. Regression analysis were used to analyse 16 years of area specific dengue rates from 232 geographical areas in relation to key social and environmental factors proposed to contribute to dengue emergence. The results were tested on the mainland of New Zealand in order to build future scenarios for epidemic dengue risks in New Zealand for 2070. The outcome from the regression analysis proved to have a good ability to predict dengue rates based on national characteristics and it predicted a nearly fourfold increase in risk of epidemic for New Zealand’s North Island based on climate projections for 2070. The projected increase in population density however, had much less of an effect on the perceived risk than the projected climate change despite an estimated increase of 33% in population density. This is the first study that makes an attempt to measure the relative importance of different social and environmental variables proposed to contribute in the recent global increase in dengue.</p>