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The current Space Traffic Management (STM) community was not prepared for the exponential increase in the resident space object (RSO) population that has taken place over the last several years. The combination of poor communication infrastructure and long scheduling lead times of the Space Surveillance Network (SSN) prevent any type of reactive sensor tasking, which is required in event of anomaly detection. This dissertation was designed to survey extensions to the classical notions of covariance based sensor tasking strategies and develop a methodology for evaluating these techniques. A suboptimal partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) was used as the simulation framework to test various reward functions and decision algorithms while enabling autonomous, reactive sensor tasking. The goal of this work was used the developed evaluation methodology to perform statistical analyses to determine which metrics were most reliable and efficient for Space Traffic Management (STM) of the geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) resident space object (RSO) catalog. Hypotheses were tested against simulations of 873 resident space object (RSO) in geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) being tracked by 18 heterogeneous, geographically disperse ground-based electro-optical (EO) sensors. This dissertation evaluates the ability of various sensor tasking metrics to produce rewards that maximize geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) catalog coverage capability of a sensor network under realistic communication restrictions. / Doctor of Philosophy / Space is getting crowded at an increasing rate. Communication issues and rigid scheduling of the Space Surveillance Network (SSN) prevent reactive sensor tasking, which is needed to alleviate this issue. This dissertation was designed to survey different sensor tasking strategies and develop a methodology for evaluating these techniques. A discrete time estimator called a suboptimal partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) was used as the simulation framework to test various reward functions and decision algorithms while enabling autonomous, reactive sensor tasking. The goal of this work was used the developed evaluation methodology to perform statistical analyses to determine which metrics were most reliable and efficient for Space Traffic Management (STM) of the geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) resident space object (RSO) catalog. Multiple simulation scenarios were evaluated, with the first focused on determining the proper metrics in the ideal sensor network distribution case. From there, hypotheses were tested against simulations of a geographically disperse network of ground-based electro-optical (EO) sensors. This dissertation evaluates the ability of various sensor tasking metrics to produce rewards that maximize geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) catalog coverage capability of a sensor network under realistic communication restrictions

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the feasibility of using a microturbine to power an off-road Series Hybrid Autonomous Vehicle (SHEV), and evaluate the benefits and drawbacks inherent in using a microturbine rather than an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). The specific power plant requirements for a low speed hybrid vehicle that must operate extensively as an Electric Vehicle (EV) and run on JP-8 (a diesel equivalent) are unusual; few options can adequately address all of these needs. Most development of Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) has focused on gasoline ICE power plants, but Diesel ICEs are heavier, which has an adverse effect on EV range. While mechanically-linked turbine vehicles failed to have the same performance abilities of their ICE counterparts, a microturbine generator-powered SHEV can take advantage of its battery pack to avoid the issues inherent in its mechanical predecessors. A microturbine generator is mechanically decoupled from the powertrain, allowing for an incredibly power dense power plant that lightens the weight of the vehicle. This weight reduction directly correlates to an increased EV operational range, enhancing mobility, stealth, and the tactical effectiveness of the squad that the vehicle is intended to support. To determine the full impact that a microturbine might have on this specific SHEV, modeling of the vehicle was conducted to directly compare a microturbine and an ICE power plant using two drive cycles that were designed to simulate the typical operation specific to the vehicle. Drive cycle analysis revealed that the improved EV performance and design flexibility offered by the microturbine's weight justifies the selection of a microturbine over an ICE for this specific case. This decision is dependent upon several factors: a microturbine with fuel efficiency comparable to an ICE, the selection of a large battery pack, and an emphasis on EV operations. / Master of Science

Yes / This paper investigates the development of domestic sourcing by foreign-owned subsidiaries (FOS) in the UK. The regional development and international-business literatures are used to develop a conceptual framework on the links between autonomy, the use of networks, and domestic sourcing. Data from a survey of German, French, and US FOS in the UK is used to test the model. The results indicate that increased use of networks and increased operational decision-making autonomy are associated with increased domestic sourcing, but that only a minority of FOS are increasing their use of domestic sourcing. The growing importance of global sourcing is considered as a possible explanation for the low proportion of FOS that are increasing their use of domestic sourcing. The implications for regional-development policy of the findings are also assessed.

Yes / The authors use international business strategy and regional development literature to inform a set of propositions about the links between direct employment by foreign-owned subsidiaries in the manufacturing sector and the development of embeddedness and autonomy in these subsidiaries. A large-scale survey of French, German, and US manufacturing subsidiaries in the United Kingdom is used to test the importance of embeddedness (host-country sourcing and use of networks) and autonomy (decisionmaking and operational autonomy) for the growth of employment by foreign-owned subsidiaries and the growth of skilled jobs in such subsidiaries. The results indicate that growth of embeddedness and autonomy factors are important, especially for the growth of skilled jobs, but those subsidiaries that have this attribute are a minority of foreign-owned subsidiaries. In the light of these results, the authors argue that policies need to be geared towards developing embeddedness and encouraging the growth of autonomy in subsidiaries that are likely to be regarded as central to the overall objectives of multinational corporations (MNCs). This requires policymakers to be aware of the internationalisation strategies used by MNCs, particularly in the light of the emergence of new, low-cost, countries which can easily provide high-quality but low-cost manufacturing operations. An important conclusion is that simple promotion of networking among firms and supporting agencies, and attempts to improve the local asset pool are unlikely to be effective in most cases.

Yes / The paper develops a conceptual model on relationship between the strategic development of subsidiaries, in developed economies, and the development of higher valued operations that leads to increased employment of skilled labour. A concept of effective autonomy is developed in the paper. Effective autonomy is conceived as the ability of the subsidiary to implement and finance its desired increase in skilled labour. The interrelated effects between effective autonomy and intra and inter organisational relationships and employment of skilled labour are found to be uncertain because effective autonomy can be supportive of the development of intra and inter organisational relationships that requires a higher proportion of skilled labour, but effective autonomy can lead to deterioration in intra-organisational relationships thereby leading to a more peripheral role played by the subsidiary thus lowering the need for skilled employment. The conceptual model is based on changes in effective autonomy and intra and inter organisational relationships and is therefore set in the context of the evolution of the development of subsidiaries.

Den här studien ämnar undersöka hur lärare uppfattar sin autonomi inom olika områden av deras yrke och fungerar som en förstudie till ett forskningsprojekt. Begreppet autonomi är mångfacetterat, men kontroll över yrket och inflytande över beslutsprocesser utgör en stor del av det. Uppsatsen fokuserar på lärare i grundskolan och gymnasiet. Tre forskningsfrågor formulerades för att fånga in begreppet autonomi. Dessa är: Hur uppfattar lärare sin professionella autonomi?, Hur skiljer sig lärares uppfattningar angående olika dimensioner av autonomi (olika nivåer och olika områden i yrkeslivet)? samt Hur väl korrelerar olika delar av lärares uppfattade autonomi med varandra?. Studiens empiri samlades in genom kvantitativ metod i form av en webbenkät vilken 93 personer svarade på. Merparten av lärarna svarade på enkäten via facebookgrupper även om flera olika kanaler användes för att nå ut till möjliga respondenter. Det teoretiska ramverket består i Frostensons tre nivåer av autonomi, LaCoes sex komponenter gällande lärares yrkesautonomi och Ballous individuella autonomi vilka tillsammans skapar en multidimensionell konstruktion. Tidigare forskning behandlar hur de senaste decenniernas skolreformer i Sverige omformat lärarprofessionen men består också i utländsk forskning gällande lärare och deras autonomi.                       Uppsatsens resultat visar att lärare uppfattar sin autonomi som både stor och liten beroende på vilket område av autonomi som åsyftas. Respondenterna anser sig ha litet inflytande gällande ekonomiska beslut vilka även visar sig vara de beslut de uppfattar är viktigast i skolans verksamhet. Vidare uppfattar lärarna som svarade på enkäten sin autonomi som hög vad gäller sådant som rör deras klassrumsmiljö och undervisning. / This study serves as a pilot study for a research project and aims to investigate how teachers perceive their autonomy in different domains of their profession. Autonomy as a concept is multifaceted but control over the profession and influence in decision-making processes constitute a great part of it. The study focuses on primary, secondary and high school teachers. Three research questions were formed to capture the term autonomy. These are: How do teachers perceive their professional autonomy?, How do teachers perceptions differ in the various dimensions of autonomy (different levels and domains of the worklife)? and How well do various domains of teachers perceived autonomy correlate?. The data of the study was collected by quantitative method via a web-based questionnaire which was answered by 93 persons. The main part of the teachers answered the questionnaire through facebook groups despite having used several other different channels to reach out to possible respondents. The theoretical framework consists of Frostenson’s three different levels of autonomy, LaCoe’s six components of teacher autonomy and Ballou’s themes within individual autonomy which together create a multidimensional construction. Previous research discusses how school reforms of the recent decades in Sweden have reshaped the teaching profession but it also consists of foreign research of teachers and their autonomy.                       The results of the study indicates that teachers perceive their degree of autonomy as both high and low depending on what domain referred to. The respondents consider themselves having a small influence regarding economical decisions which also is considered the most important decisions in school’s activities. Furthermore the teachers who responded perceive their degree of autonomy as high regarding the classroom environment and teaching.

The purpose of the dissertation was to explore how students’ perceptions of different types of autonomy support can be associated with the motivational construct of student interest, differentiated into situational and individual interest, mediated by different levels of cognitive processing such as surface processing and deep processing, using SEM (structural equation modeling). It was hypothesized that 1) PCAS (perceived cognitive autonomy support) would influence students’ individual interest, the later phase of interest development, and also that 2) the relationship between these would be mediated by deep level of cognitive processing, referred to as deep processing in the study, highlighting the impact of PCAS on both cognitive processing and motivation. To this end, there were three phases to the current study: (a) a first qualitative phase using open-ended questions and a focus group interview about whether and how students perceive and experience different types of autonomy support they encounter from their instructors (Study1A); (b) a second scale development phase to develop and finalize the PCAS-K (perceived cognitive autonomy support, Korean version) and PC-K (perceived choice, Korean version) in the Korean educational context (Study1B); and (c) a third phase to investigate the relationships among students’ perceptions of various types of autonomy support, different levels of cognitive processing, and student interest (Study2, main study). The results suggested that perceived cognitive autonomy support was positively related to situational interest directly and also indirectly to both situational and individual interest, whereas perceived choice was associated with neither interest constructs. In addition, perceived cognitive autonomy support was highly correlated with other constructs such as surface processing and deep processing, whereas perceived choice was not related to any other latent variables in the study. In contrast to my expectations, perceived cognitive autonomy support was not positively related to individual interest by mediation of deep processing. Instead, perceived cognitive autonomy support was positively associated with situational interest, mediated by deep processing. In light of the findings, the study spotlights cognitive autonomy support as a significant predictor of cognitive processing and student motivation. Further research is needed with different individuals in various contexts in order to elucidate further the relationships among these variables. / text

Summary THE PECULIARITIES OF THE PUPILS’ (VI-VIII FORMS) AUTONOMY IN A BASIC SCHOOL Janeta Vidraitė School’s community makes an important stream in the making community. All its members’ activity, self-expression freedom, communication and collaboration, unconditional respect of the living rules of the community. So, there is a very important role falls on the pupils autonomy at schools, where has been laying the bases of an active citizen, culture and other. Pupils’ autonomy work can be the first aid organizing educating and training procedures. The point of this work is not only the procedure reaching results in one of another ground but also doing the functions of the organizers pupils gain social proceeding skills, try practically difficult social matters managing workmanship. There could be predicated that the developing of the pupils’ autonomy is a necessary condition, which enable to reach democratic school, active, creative and pushing generation’s training aims. I raised a problematic question if there is run successfully pupils’ autonomy in schools in the Republic of Lithuania, what the main functions and influence it makes to pupils’ life and work variety. The exploring subject – the peculiarities of pupils’ autonomy. The tasks of the research: to explore pedagogical, psychological, methodical literature about pupils’ autonomy; to set what pupils’ institutions and run in the school and what kind of autonomy work the pupils are involved; to discuss pupils... [to full text]

Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW) / Substance abuse has become a major concern in the Western Cape Province of South Africa as it devastates many lives and negatively influences families and communities. When there is a substance-abusing sibling in the family, the wellbeing of other family members and non-substance abusing siblings tends to be neglected. This may mean that families could grapple with parental autonomy support to meet the psychological needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness of the non-substance abusing siblings within the family. However, prior to this study, there was scant insight into the perceptions and experiences of adolescents living with a substance-using sibling regarding parental autonomy support.