No description available.

<p>Activity planning for space mission operations has traditionally been a human-in-the-loop effort, conducted by ground operators. Over the past two decades, advances have been made toward automating the mission planning process, in an effort to improve the efficiency of the mission operations system, while increasing the mission return. In keeping with NASA’s goals, some aspects of onboard mission planning are increasingly used for complex missions, particularly for planetary surface missions that are subject to long communication delays.</p> <p>This dissertation research develops an automated mission planning framework and applies it to two spacecraft scenario case studies: a science orbiter and a science rover mission. Mission plans are optimized on the basis of science return, accommodating spacecraft movement</p> <p>to sites of scientific interest according to ground-team preferences, while staying within rover engineering and traverse-related constraints. Automated mission planners offer the capability to schedule engineering and science activities onboard, without ground-in-the-loop interaction. Resource modeling and path planning can be done onboard, reducing the need for modeling and verification by ground operators. Further, automated mission planners</p> <p>may incorporate an optimization executive that maximizes the mission return within the available resource constraints. The proposed planners may be utilized onboard autonomous spacecraft and rovers with limited human support. Also, they may be run on the ground by</p> <p>mission planning teams to provide additional insight during the planning process. Utilizing a variety of optimization approaches, the developed automated mission planners establish the planned sequence of activities, including and engineering activities, while adhering to constraints imposed by orbital geometry or planetary pathing requirements and resource availability. The focus of the work is on remote, robotic missions in which human-in-the loop decision input is delayed or at times unavailable. Two major classes of robotic missions are examined: Orbital science missions in which primary science activities are performed periodically at a specified rate, and a planetary rover mission in which a larger variety of science activities are interspersed with unique terrain navigation activities. The automated mission planning framework is designed to be adapted based upon the application. Optimization methods suitable for different mission planning problems are presented, comparing methods on the basis of computation speed, resources required and solution value.</p> <p>The Aerospace Systems Engineering definitions for “robustness” and “flexibility” are given quantifiable, mathematical definitions and are incorporated into the framework as quality metrics to provide criteria with which to evaluate and compare the produced activity plans.</p> <p>The metrics “reliability” and “latent performance index” provide additional criteria for plan evaluation. A variety of automated mission planning algorithmic approaches are developed and described functionally and mathematically. Planning tools capable of plan verification, Monte Carlo simulation-based verification and plan variation analysis are developed and described in detail. Two detailed, step by step case studies are developed, applying and</p> <p>running all the mission planning and analysis tools to provide planning solutions and analysis of generated plans for the science orbiter and science rover scenarios. The application of the developed planning solutions to the presented missions, including the determination</p> <p>of the quality metrics, are seen as the primary contributions to the advancement of the</p> <p>state of the art in automated mission planning. The Automated Mission Planning and plan analysis techniques and practices are summarized into a User’s Guide to Automated Mission Planning. The guide aids the user in developing their own automated mission planning framework and applying it to their unique mission planning problems. Numerous avenues for future work are proposed to extend this research into other, useful areas. Two areas of road mapping—tasks that must be done to enable a future vision for improved automated planning—are discussed.</p>

Organisational culture is a complex phenomenon that has received a lot of attention in research. Nevertheless, most of the studies on organisational culture concern the traditional organisation and there is a lack of research on how organisational culture is perceived in a start-up. Therefore, this study aims at examining the stories of organisational members working in a start-up operating seasonally. The study reveals that flexibility is perceived as a main principle of the organisation, and dives deeper into what flexibility represents for this type of the business. The flexibility is two-fold and is perceived as favourable but the organisational members also acknowledge disadvantages of flexible working and identify chaos and stress as the main disadvantage. This qualitative immersive study explains why flexibility as the principle of the business might sabotage the growth of the organisation. The study contributes to deeper understanding of organisational culture and its influence on effectiveness, understanding of what it means to be a start-up, and provides insights on challenges that start-ups operating seasonally need to deal with.

During the term of 2010 we received a Minor Field Study scholarship from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), which allowed us to do a two-month study in Tirana, Albania. The study examined one of Europe’s most common tools when it comes to assisting candidate countries, potential candidate countries, and neighbouring countries of the European Union: Twinning. The idea of Twinning is that the beneficiary country gets assistance from EU member state institutions in order to develop its own institutions, in terms of standards of quality and safety. We have observed a Twinning project structured in the form of a consortium between the Swedish Tax Agency and the French Tax Agency assisting the Albanian General Tax Directorate (GTD) in Tirana. The study highlights the relationship between the four different actors involved in the ongoing project (EU, Sweden, France and Albania) and Twinning as a working method. More specifically we investigated (A) the transition from an old to a new system and if any difficulties emerged in the process, (B) what necessary factors are needed for a successful Twinning project, and (C) how the actors’ different backgrounds affect the project. The result we gained from the field study shows that the transition towards a new system progresses well as long as the project follows the main principles of Twinning: partnership and cooperation. These two principles allow the Albanian GTD to direct the project and decide the direction of their Europeanization process. Twinning generates many positive aspects e.g. institutional understanding and friendship, and it brings the cooperating nations closer to each other. The difficulties that have emerged have been technical or when one of the actors has not followed the structure of the project. These difficulties are natural in the beginning of any project since structures and relations take time to establish. Three main qualities affect the outcome of this Twinning project: experience, flexibility and communication. Actors involved in the project have to be experienced, in form of personal as well as institutional experience. Besides, they have to be flexible since the project follows the development of society where unpredicted needs can emerge. Most importantly, communication has to be free from friction between the actors in order to maintain the partnership principle of Twinning. Our analysis shows that the outcomes of this Twinning project are mutually shaped between the actors involved. Therefore, the emphasis should be on personal abilities to mutually create a working structure that follows the principles of Twinning.

The state of our society is frequently changing. Due to various factors, the pressure of creating a changeable city is high and necessary to adequately supply the needs for its inhabitants. But making these changes and adapt to the fast shifting state of the city is not always physical possible. Young adults and students is a group that often seeks to move to intensely growing city regions. The reason for this is a more promising job market and more attractive educations, but coincidentally the shortage of housing is extremely high in these areas. Thus the market for simple and cheap housing already exists, so the question is how to provide a quick solution for this problem and fill the need? It´s our opinion that a sustainable city must have a stabile action program when these kind of problem, for instants when shortage of housing, occurs.The aim of this study is to create a multifunctional basis structure for a versatility module (V-module), try it virtually and hypothetical in an existing city environment, and investigate how several units together with its surroundings can form a vibrant living situation. Furthermore, the intention is to evaluate the module housing concept as a part of a sustainable city development, and how it could become a part of the city of Malmo’s durability strategy.

The aim of this study is to investigate if the concept of digital matchmaking between tenants on the office market enables flexibility in the real estate industry, if the concept generates environmental and financial gain, lower vacancy rate and how real estate owners approach the concept of this innovation and flexible contracts based on the current situation on the commercial real estate market.  The method of the study consists of two parts where the first part includes a survey and the second part a semi-structured interview. Through the semi-structured interviews and a survey the study answers how tenants' needs have changed, how property owners and tenants view flexible contracts and whether it can generate a financial and environmental gain, and how a digital matching service could potentially affect their business model. The result of the study shows that the tenants' needs have changed significantly in recent years, mainly due to the pandemic, and that tenants are currently searching for more flexible contracts. The study also implies that digital services are becoming more needed in order to support tenants in the process of changing premises or use of space as they lack knowledge regarding rental agreements. This has led to many companies being stuck in long lease contracts that causes financial struggles. From the property owners' perspective there is also a positive outlook on a digital matching service to enable an environmental and financial gain, but there are some uncertainties regarding if it is profitable or not as the concept is new and there are few example cases. Furthermore, it is clear that a digital matching service could be a great help mainly in larger cities and not only in the CBD but also in nearby cities / Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka om konceptet av en digital matchmaking tjänst mellan hyresgäster på kontorsmarknaden möjliggör flexibilitet i fastighetsbranschen, om det genererar miljömässiga och ekonomiska vinster, lägre vakansgrad och hur fastighetsägare ställer sig till innovationen och flexibla kontrakt baserat på den rådande situationen på den kommersiella fastighetsmarknaden. Studiens metod består av två delar där den första delen omfattar en enkät och den andra delen av studien består av semistrukturerade intervjuer. Genom de semistrukturerade intervjuerna och enkätundersökningen svarar studien på hur hyresgästernas behov har förändrats, hur fastighetsägare och hyresgäster ser på flexibla avtal och huruvida det kan generera en ekonomisk och miljömässig vinst samt hur en digital matchningstjänst potentiellt kan påverka deras affärsmodell. Resultatet av studien visar att hyresgästernas behov har förändrats markant de senaste åren, och att hyresgästerna söker efter mer flexibla kontrakt. Det visar även indikationer på att digitala tjänster på kontorshyresmarknaden blir alltmer nödvändiga för att stödja hyresgäster i processen att byta lokal eller ändra lokalanvändningen då det i många fall råder bristande kunskap vad gäller tecknande av hyresavtal. Ur fastighetsägarnas perspektiv finns en positiv syn på en digital matchningstjänst för att möjliggöra en miljömässig och ekonomisk vinst, men det finns en del osäkerheter kring om det är lönsamt eller inte då konceptet är nytt och det finns få exempelfall. Slutligen visar resultatet av studien att en digital matchningstjänst kan vara till stor hjälp främst i större städer och inte bara i CBD utan även i kranskommunet.

I denna rapport undersöks om det föreligger ett behov av anpassningar inom energisystemet för att möjliggöra utvecklingen av eldrivna lastbilar i Sverige och mer specifikt Stockholm. En ansats till att projektera utvecklingen av eldrivna lastbilar görs och genom en kvalitativ litteraturstudie samt intervjuer med aktörer som representerar Scania, Volvo, Ellevio, EoN, Powercircle, Forum för smarta elnät, KTH, Energimarknadsinspektionen och BIL Sweden, och anpassningar som skulle kunna utgöra lösningar till dessa identifieras inom kategorierna: ‘’ökad tillgänglig kapacitet’’, ‘’förbättrad planering’’, ‘’d irekt reglerande åtgärder samt ekonomiska incitament’’ och ‘’p olitiska beslut på kommun- samt regional nivå med syfte att öka elektrifieringen av lastbilar ’’. Slutligen görs en jämförelse av anpassningarna med avseende på tillgänglighet och implementeringstid, lagliga hinder, kostnadseffektivitet, miljöpåverkan, replikerbarhet samt intressekonflikter. Utifrån resultatet dras slutsatserna att elektrifieringen kommer möjliggöras av flera lösningar i varierande grad men att anpassningar som inbegriper ökad flexibilitet inom elsystemet, för motverkandet av kapacitetsbrist inom elnätet, sannolikt kommer ingå. Vidare konkluderas att flera av de identifierade anpassningarna begränsas av legislativa- och politiska beslut och förändringar som gör dess bidragande till elektrifieringen av lastbilar svårkvantifierad. Resultaten bör därför betraktas som indikativa. / This study investigates the need for adaptations within the energy system of Stockholm, Sweden in order to improve the prerequisites for the development of electrical trucks. An attempt to project the development of electrical trucks is executed and by the use of a qualitative literature study as well as interviews with representatives for Scania, Volvo, Ellevio, EoN, Powercircle, Swedish Smartgrid, KTH, the Swedish Energy Markets Inspectorate and BIL Sweden, possible adaptations are identified within the categories: ‘’increased available capacity’’, ‘’improved planning’’, ‘’direct regulations and financial incentives’’ aswell ‘’political decisions on municipal and regional level with the aim to increase the electrification of trucks’’. Finally a comparison with respect to availability and implementation, legislation, cost, environmental impact, replicability and conflicts of interest is made between the identified adaptations. Based on the investigation it is concluded that several adaptations, to varying degrees, will play a part in enabling the electrification. It is furthermore concluded that adaptations that involve increasing the flexibility within the electricity system will play a prominent role as solutions. Several of the adaptations are limited in their implementation as they are dependent on the conceiving of legislative and political decisions. This provides uncertainty in terms of projecting their contribution to the electrification of trucks and the results are to be taken as indicative rather than absolute.

The ability to recall a spatial layout from multiple orientations – spatial flexibility – is a challenging cognitive process, especially when the global configuration cannot be viewed from a single vantage point, as spatial information must first be integrated before it can be flexibly recalled. The current study examined if experiencing the transition between multiple viewpoints enhances spatial flexibility for both non-integrated (Exp. 1) and integrated environments (Exp. 2), if the type of transition matters, and if action provides an additional advantage over passive visual flow. In Experiment 1, participants viewed an array of dollhouse furniture from four viewpoints that presented the global configuration from multiple orientations. In Experiment 2, the array was viewed piecemeal, from four viewpoints that presented the global configuration in partial chunks. The control condition presented the dollhouse as a series of static views, whereas in the remaining conditions, visual flow was continuous. Participants viewed the natural transition between viewpoints, and either passively experienced the transitions (i.e., by watching the dollhouse rotate or being rolled around it), or actively generated them (i.e., by rotating the dollhouse or walking around it). Across both experiments, continuous visual flow significantly enhanced spatial flexibility when paired with observer movement around the dollhouse, either active or passive. Furthermore, when participants had to integrate spatial information across discrete learning experiences (Exp. 2), active movement provided a significant advantage above passive experience. These findings suggest that array stability is key to flexible spatial memory, with action providing an additional boost to spatial integration. / Psychology

The academic intensity of one's high school experience is most important to success in college. Tracking causes in-school segregation that most often results in low levels of participation by students of color and low socioeconomic status (SES) in upper level classes, including Advanced Placement (AP). Using a practitioner's vantage point, this dissertation is a mixed-method case study of AP course-taking at one inner-ring suburban high school that eliminated its lowest track prior to the first year of data analysis and allowed open enrollment to AP courses prior to the third. To track the impact of these changes, five years of AP course-taking data were analyzed for participation by students of color and those of low SES. The data revealed an increase in AP course enrollment by students of color from 12% to 22%, and by students of low SES from 2% to 8%. Interviews with 19 influential educators followed the quantitative analysis. In five years, this diverse Pennsylvania public high school moved from a system characterized by a number of barriers preventing low-income and minority students from taking higher level courses to an institution that has provided a rich choice of AP course offerings, established a Black Scholars program to encourage the academic success of students of color, and created open enrollment to its AP courses. While all teachers had some struggles adjusting to teaching AP courses in open enrollment era, teachers assumed either a resistant stance and intimidating approach to non-traditional AP students or a progressive stance, inviting and supporting non-traditional students in their course. Those teachers who created an emotionally and academically safe environment, expressed caring for their students, and employed flexible approaches to instruction and assessment attracted the most diverse set of students to their AP courses. Lincoln is not necessarily a model school as more work is needed to continue to create rigorous, inclusive learning environments in all classes, yet this study indicates that if students have the opportunity to take on challenging coursework like AP and work to master the course with the support of excellent teachers, long-term reward is sure to follow. / Educational Leadership

Although existing research has evaluated various cognitive, behavioral, physiological, and environmental risk factors for depression (Johnson, Cuellar, & Miller, 2009), previous studies have typically focused on the content of cognitive styles and coping styles when evaluating vulnerability to depression (e.g., Alloy et al., 2006; Compas et al., 2009). However, recent research has suggested that the ability to flexibly engage in different thoughts, strategies, and behaviors that fit situational demands may be most indicative of psychological health (Bonanno & Burton, 2013; Fresco, Williams, & Nugent, 2006a; Kashdan & Rottenberg, 2010). Existing studies have typically evaluated inflexibilities in isolation without examining commonalities among these factors, and few studies have evaluated inflexibilities as prospective predictors of depression within a vulnerability-stress framework. Thus, the present study was designed to examine (1) which forms of cognitive, behavioral, and psychophysiological inflexibility confer vulnerability to depressive symptoms, particularly when individuals are confronted with life stressors, (2) whether elevations in depressive symptoms prospectively predict decreases in coping flexibility and explanatory flexibility and increases in rumination, and (3) the extent to which explanatory and coping flexibilities are associated with other cognitive, behavioral, and physiological indices of flexibility. A sample of 187 university students completed a multi-wave study, which included a baseline assessment of components of cognitive, behavioral, and autonomic flexibility and symptoms of depression, and four follow-up waves (once every three weeks) assessing the occurrence of negative life events, event-specific explanatory and coping flexibilities, and symptoms of depression. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to test the hypotheses that baseline inflexibilities would predict prospective symptoms of depression, particularly when individuals encountered high levels of negative life events relative to their own mean level of events. Partial support for these hypotheses was found. Deficits in set-shifting predicted greater prospective symptoms of depression. Extreme attributions, brooding, and deficits in cognitive inhibition, autonomic reactivity and recovery interacted with negative life events to predict prospective symptoms of depression. Additionally, elevations in depressive symptoms predicted prospective increases in the use of rumination, but did not predict reductions in explanatory or coping flexibilities. Extreme pessimistic attributions were associated with set-shifting deficits and lack of autonomic flexibility, whereas coping flexibility was associated with greater autonomic flexibility. Overall, the results suggest that assessing components of inflexibility may help to identify individuals who are vulnerable to experiencing depression. They also suggest that enhancing flexibility is a possible mechanism by which interventions (e.g., mindfulness training) may reduce vulnerability to depression. / Psychology