Democracy is always included in the discourse ?ver the theme of freedom and it is almost always considered an integral part of social order. In this context, it is a balance between freedom and power. Such discourses, however, view democracy as a political ideal and the real applications often run into democratic influences and social barriers of degenerative nature. These barriers leave nothing but the torso under the formal guise of democratic principles. This thesis unravels the influences and barriers that interfere with the application of the ideal of democracy. In this context, the technological development with which the dynamics of both social and political order changes, cannot be ignored. Based on the pieces of information about what kind of threat the degenerative effects of democracy represent, the thesis searches for such attributes, on the basis of which it is possible to construct a model of the entropic degeneration of democracy.

No / A vehicle that deviates laterally from its intended path of travel when the brakes are applied is considered to demonstrate ‘instability’ in the form of an unexpected and undesirable response to the driver input. Even where the magnitude of lateral displacement of the vehicle is small (i.e. ‘drift’ rather than ‘pull’) such a condition would be considered unacceptable by manufacturers and customers. Steering ‘drift’ during braking can be caused by several factors, some of which relate to vehicle design and others to external influences such as road conditions. The study presented here examines the causes and effects of steering drift during straight-line braking. A comparative analysis is made between two types of vehicle model: one built with rigid suspension components and the other with flexible components. In both the cases, the vehicle behaviour is simulated during braking in a straight line, and responses including lateral acceleration, yaw rate, and lateral displacement of the vehicle are predicted and analysed under fixed steering control. Suspension/steering geometry characteristics, namely toe steer and caster angle, have been studied to understand how the effect of variations in these parameters differs in models with rigid or flexible components drift during straight-line braking. Results from both vehicle models show that differences between rigid and flexible components can affect the predicted steering drift propensity. The differences between the two models have emphasized the importance of using flexible (compliant) components in vehicle handling simulations to achieve better correlation between prediction and experiment.

Micro-cogeneration is one of the technologies promoted as a response to the global call for the reduction of carbon emissions. Due to its recent application in the residential sector, the implications of its usage have not yet been fully explored, while at the same time, the available simulation tools are not designed for conducting research that focuses on the study of this technology. This thesis develops a virtual prototyping environment, using a dynamic multi-physics simulation tool. The model based procedure in its current form focuses on ICE based micro-CHP systems. In the process of developing the models, new approaches on general system, engine, heat exchanger, and dwelling thermal modelling are being introduced to cater for the special nature of the subject. The developed software is a unique modular simulation tool platform linking a number of independent energy generation systems, and presents a new approach in the study and design of the multi node distributed energy system (DES) with the option of further development into a real-time residential energy management system capable of reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in the domestic sector. In the final chapters, the developed software is used to simulate various internal combustion engine based micro-CHP configurations in order to conclude on the system design characteristics, as well as the conditions, necessary to achieve a high technical, economic and environmental performance in the UK residential sector with the purpose of making micro- CHP a viable alternative to the conventional means of heat & power supply.

This thesis details a process for the development of reliable metrics that could be used to assess the quality of combustion pressure measurement data - important data used in the development of internal combustion engines. The approach that was employed in this study was a model based technique, in conjunction with a simulation environment - producing data based models from a number of strategically defined measurement points. A simulation environment was used to generate error data sets, from which models of calculated result responses were built. This data was then analysed to determine the results with the best response to error stimulation. The methodology developed allows a rapid prototyping phase where newly developed result calculations may be simulated, tested and evaluated quickly and efficiently. Adopting these newly developed processes and procedures, allowed an effective evaluation of several groups of result classifications, with respect to the major sources of error encountered in typical combustion measurement procedures. In summary, the output gained from this work was that certain result groups could be stated as having an unreliable response to error simulation and could therefore be discounted quickly. These results were clearly identifiable from the data and hence, for the given errors, alternative methods to identify the error sources are proposed within this thesis. However, other results had a predictable response to certain error stimuli, hence; it was feasible to state the possibility of using these results in data quality assessment, or at least establishing any boundaries surrounding their application for this usage. Interactions in responses were also clearly visible using the model based sensitivity analysis as proposed. The output of this work provides a solid foundation of information from which further work and investigation would be feasible, in order to achieve an ultimate goal of a full set of metrics from which combustion data quality could be accurately and objectively assessed.

This research investigates and develops a new approach to the management of service quality with the emphasis on patient and staff satisfaction in the healthcare sector. The challenge of measuring the quality of service in healthcare requires us to view the problem from multiple perspectives. At the philosophical level, the true nature of quality is still debated; at the psychological level, an accurate conceptual representation is problematic; whilst at the physical level, an accurate measurement of the concept still remains elusive to practitioners and academics. This research focuses on the problem of quality measurement in the healthcare sector. The contributions of this research are fourfold: Firstly, it argues that from the technological point of view the research to date into quality of service in healthcare has not considered methods of real-time measurement and monitoring. This research identifies the key elements that are necessary for developing a real-time quality monitoring system for the healthcare environment.Secondly, a unique index is proposed for the monitoring and improvement of healthcare performance using information-theoretic entropy formalism. The index is formulated based on five key performance indicators and was tested as a Healthcare Quality Index (HQI) based on three key quality indicators of dignity, confidence and communication in an Accident and Emergency department. Thirdly, using an M/G/1 queuing model and its underlying Little’s Law, the concept of Effective Satisfaction in healthcare has been proposed. The concept is based on a Staff-Patient Satisfaction Relation Model (S-PSRM) developed using a patient satisfaction model and an empirically tested model developed for measuring staff satisfaction with workload (service time). The argument is presented that a synergy between patient satisfaction and staff satisfaction is the key to sustainable improvement in healthcare quality. The final contribution is the proposal of a Discrete Event Simulation (DES) modelling platform as a descriptive model that captures the random and stochastic nature of healthcare service provision process to prove the applicability of the proposed quality measurement models.

Process improvement is one of the challenging tasks within manufacturing companies. This study has been focused on analysing a packaging station by using a discrete event simulation tool. Packaging is an important part of the production and logistics process, but it is seldom considered when analysing non-value added activities. Discrete event simulation has been used in the analysis of non-value added activities in production systems, but noted by the low number of articles related to the usage of discrete event simulation within packaging, there exists a limited understanding of discrete event simulation use in this area. The authors divided the scope of the research into the following research questions, which are presented below: RQ1: How can discrete event simulation be used as a tool to identify time wastes and create efficiency in a packaging station? RQ2: What method is suitable when creating a simulation project? These questions were to be answered by performing a literature review and a case study in ABB AB Control Products Vasteras, mentioned as ABB in later in the thesis, where the packaging station were in need of improvements. The results from theoretical and empirical finding were analysed, they highlight the importance of packaging and its impact on logistics and supply chain management performance. By creating discrete event simulation models for both current and future stage, the authors were able to provide analysed improvements of the packaging station. The result of the models illustrated by implementing the improvements it could generate in less pressure on the operators as well as an approximated improvement of 125% more packed product. The improvements of the model involve a better material handling and a more optimized packaging station in order to create a more efficient workstation. The conclusion of the study is that the company should develop the product simultaneously as the production, were every activity and process should be included. They should also consider what impacts the development has on the entire supply chain.  This could be a way to eliminate non-value activities from the start.  Discrete event simulation is a tool that could be of help when visualizing the process and it allows the developers to see the impact of a change or improvement on the other processes.

One of the major goals of this thesis is to investigate the extent to which correspondence noise, (i.e., the false pairing of dots in adjacent frames) limits motion detection performance in random dot kinematograms (RDKs). The performance measures of interest are Dmax and Dmin i.e., the largest and smallest inter-frame dot displacement, respectively, for which motion can be reliably detected. Dmax and threshold coherence (i.e., the smallest proportion of dots that must be moved between frames for motion to be reliably detected) in RDKs are known to be affected by false pairing or correspondence noise. Here the roles of correspondence noise and receptive field geometry in limiting performance are investigated. The range of Dmax observed in the literature is consistent with the current information-limit based interpretation. Dmin is interpreted in the light of correspondence noise and under-sampling. Based on the psychophysical experiments performed in the early parts of the dissertation, a model for correspondence noise based on the principle of receptive field scaling is developed for Dmax. Model simulations provide a good account of psychophysically estimated Dmax over a range of stimulus parameters, showing that correspondence noise and receptive field geometry have a major influence on displacement thresholds.

Bringing together field-based empirical studies, a simulation modelling experiment, and a critical analysis of the natural disturbance emulation paradigm, this thesis evaluates partial harvesting in the black spruce boreal forest. Forest management in Ontario is required to emulate natural disturbances, but in regions of the boreal forest where fire cycles are long, regulated even-aged management by clearcutting has truncated forest age-class distributions. Partial harvesting has been proposed as a means to maintain the structural complexity and biodiversity associated with old forests while allowing continued timber production. Despite the potentially important role of partial harvesting in a strategy for sustainable boreal forest management, little research has examined post-harvest stand development, a critical determinant both of habitat and timber supplies.I used a chronosequence approach in combination with dendroecological techniques, a neighbourhood modelling framework, and maximum likelihood statistical methods to quantify stand dynamics over the first decade after partial harvest in the black spruce (Picea mariana) boreal forest of northeastern Ontario, Canada. Residual trees displayed large but time-lagged growth responses to partial harvest. The largest responses were found in young trees, while old trees were largely unable to react to improved post-harvest resource availability. Growth responses were offset by elevated rates of residual-tree mortality, which peaked in the first year after harvest at nearly 13 times the pre-harvest level. Proximity to harvest machinery trails severely escalated the risk of mortality for residual trees. Considering growth and mortality responses together in a forest simulator model, I found that stand development proceeded most rapidly where skidding intensity was reduced and retention areas were aggregated. Given appropriate prescriptions, my results indicate that partial harvesting can be a viable silvicultural option for black spruce boreal forests. However, the ability of partially harvested stands to emulate natural disturbance is questionable, particularly given the strong influence of harvest machinery impacts on post-harvest stand development. I argue that the natural disturbance emulation framework has important flaws and falls short of a justifiable approach for forest management in Ontario.

Bringing together field-based empirical studies, a simulation modelling experiment, and a critical analysis of the natural disturbance emulation paradigm, this thesis evaluates partial harvesting in the black spruce boreal forest. Forest management in Ontario is required to emulate natural disturbances, but in regions of the boreal forest where fire cycles are long, regulated even-aged management by clearcutting has truncated forest age-class distributions. Partial harvesting has been proposed as a means to maintain the structural complexity and biodiversity associated with old forests while allowing continued timber production. Despite the potentially important role of partial harvesting in a strategy for sustainable boreal forest management, little research has examined post-harvest stand development, a critical determinant both of habitat and timber supplies.I used a chronosequence approach in combination with dendroecological techniques, a neighbourhood modelling framework, and maximum likelihood statistical methods to quantify stand dynamics over the first decade after partial harvest in the black spruce (Picea mariana) boreal forest of northeastern Ontario, Canada. Residual trees displayed large but time-lagged growth responses to partial harvest. The largest responses were found in young trees, while old trees were largely unable to react to improved post-harvest resource availability. Growth responses were offset by elevated rates of residual-tree mortality, which peaked in the first year after harvest at nearly 13 times the pre-harvest level. Proximity to harvest machinery trails severely escalated the risk of mortality for residual trees. Considering growth and mortality responses together in a forest simulator model, I found that stand development proceeded most rapidly where skidding intensity was reduced and retention areas were aggregated. Given appropriate prescriptions, my results indicate that partial harvesting can be a viable silvicultural option for black spruce boreal forests. However, the ability of partially harvested stands to emulate natural disturbance is questionable, particularly given the strong influence of harvest machinery impacts on post-harvest stand development. I argue that the natural disturbance emulation framework has important flaws and falls short of a justifiable approach for forest management in Ontario.

In this research we present one of the first actual applications of Multi Agent-Based Simulation (MABS) to the field of software process simulation modelling (SPSM). Although a few previous applications were attempted, we explain in our literature review how these failed to take full advantage of the agency paradigm. Our research resulted in a model of the software development process that integrates performance, cognition and artefact quality, for which we built a common simulation framework to implement and run MABS and System Dynamics (SD) simulators upon the same integrated models. Although it is not possible to fully verify and validate implementations and models like ours, we used a number of verification and validation techniques to increase our confidence in these. Our work is also quite unique in that it compares MABS to SD in the context of SPSM. Here, we uncovered quite interesting properties of each simulation approach and how MABS, for example, is "risk averse" when compared to SD. In our discussion section we also present a number of lessons learned regarding the two simulation paradigms as well as various shortcomings in the models we adopted and our own.