Thesis (Ph. D.)--Duke University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University (Division of Information & Communication Sciences, Dept. of Mathematics), 2007. / Thesis by publication. Bibliography: p. 119-123.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [61]-62).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Statistics, August 2000. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of Mathematical Sciences, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 101-104 ).

Thesis--Darmstadt. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 109-112).

A fully extended framed topological field theory with target in a symmetric monoidal n-catgeory C is a symmetric monoidal functor Z from Bord(n) to C, where Bord(n) is the symmetric monoidal n-category of n-framed bordisms. The cobordism hypothesis says that such field theories are classified by fully dualizable objects in C. Given a fully dualizable object X in C, we are interested in computing the values of the corresponding field theory on specific framed bordisms. This leads to the question of finding a presentation for Bord(n). In view of the cobordism hypothesis, this can be rephrased in terms of finding coherence data for fully dualizable objects in a symmetric monoidal n-category. We prove a characterization of full dualizability of an object X in terms of existence of a dual of X and existence of adjoints for a finite number of higher morphisms. This reduces the problem of finding coherence data for fully dualizable objects to that of finding coherence data for duals and adjoints. For n=3, and in the setting of strict symmetric monoidal 3-categories, we find this coherence data, and we prove the corresponding coherence theorems. The proofs rely on extensive use of a graphical calculus for strict monoidal 3-categories.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University. / The problem of this dissertation is to determine how Aristotle, Kant, and Bowne defined a category. This question is one which has neither been answered previously nor approached through an exhaustive analysis of relevant texts. The dissertation examines first Aristotle's Categories. This early document suggests that simple verbal expressions signifying substance, quantity, quality, relation, place, time, position, state, action, and affection are the categories. The doctrine implied may mean a classification of namable entities. It is argued, however, that at this stage "category" for Aristotle meant the ultimate type of predicate which is predicable of namable entities.[TRUNCATED]

Nas ultimas décadas, houve um aumento na diversidade do perfil dos moradores bem como nos seus requisito específicos em decorrência de mudanças no estilo de vida contemporâneo. Tais mudanças vem tornando a provisão tradicional de habitações padronizadas inadequadas e demandam o desenvolvimento de estratégias de customização capazes de responder aos requisitos específicos dos moradores. Neste contexto, a abordagem da customização em massa (CM) e conceitos relacionados pode potencialmente aumento o valor do produto habitacional através do atendimento dos requisitos específicos do moradores. Apesar disto, a literatura é ainda limitada em termos de estudos que auxiliem organizações a desenvolver estratégias de customização, especialmente no setor habitacional. Visando responder este problema de pesquisa, esta investigação adota a abordagem da design science. Esta abordagem tem por objetivo desenvolver soluções (artefatos, modelos, software, entre outros) que resolvam problemas práticos e ao mesmo tempo tenham potencial para uma contribuição teórica. A solução desenvolvida nesta pesquisa é um modelo conceitual com categorias de decisão para definição de estratégias de customização no contexto habitacional. O modelo contém dez categorias de decisão, que definem o escopo de uma estratégia de customização e abordam aspectos relacionados a interface com o cliente, design do produto, e operações. Outros resultados da pesquisa, além deste modelo, incluem implementações (operacionalizações que demonstram que a solução funciona), avaliação da utilidade da solução, e avaliação da contribuição teórica da solução. O processo de pesquisa envolveu etapas chave da design science: encontrar um problema prático e com potencial para contribuição teórica, obter um entendimento deste problema, desenvolver uma solução, testar a solução, avaliando sua utilidade, e avaliar a contribuição teórica desta solução. Quatro estudos de caso com organizações envolvidas no setor da construção habitacional (no Brasil e no Reino Unido) também foram desenvolvidos. Em termos da contribuição teórica do modelo, algumas categorias (classes de itens, combinações de módulos, unidades de customização, e sequências de configuração) foram desenvolvidas com base em dados empíricos e constituem nova conceitualizações relacionadas a abordagem da CM que podem ser usadas no desenvolvimento de estratégias de customização. Outras categorias (espaço de solução, interface entre módulos, ponto de entrada do pedido, tipos de customização, e abordagens de visualização) baseiam-se em conceitos já disponíveis na literatura. A contribuição destas categorias é adaptar tais conceitos, através da proposição de constructos, visando facilitar a aplicação dos mesmos na definição de estratégias de customização. / There has been an increasing diversity on dwellers profiles and on their requirements in the last few decades, due to major changes in contemporary lifestyles. Such changes are making the traditional provision of standardised houses inadequate, requiring the development of new strategies able to provide customised dwellings. In this context, the application of the mass customisation (MC) approach and related concepts can potentially increase the value of housing through the fulfilling of the specific requirements of dwellers. In spite of that, the literature on the MC approach is limited in providing guidance to organisations in developing customisation strategies, particularly in the house-building sector. In order to address such a problem, a design science approach is adopted in this investigation. Such an approach deals with the construction of solutions (artefact, models, software, among other) for problems with practical relevance and potential for theoretical contribution. The solution devised in this investigation is a conceptual framework to be used by organisations of the house-building sector in defining customisation strategies. The framework entails ten decision categories that define the scope of a customisation strategy and also address some aspects of the clients’ interfaces, product design, and operations areas. Other outputs of this research include (i) instantiations (implementations that demonstrate that the solution works), (ii) evaluation of the solution utility, and (iii) evaluation of the theoretical contribution of the solution. The research process undertaken involved keys steps of the design science approach: find a practical problem with potential for a theoretical contribution, obtain an understanding of such a problem, develop a solution, test the solution and evaluate its utility, and assess the theoretical contribution of the solution. Four case studies with organisations (in Brazil and in the U.K.) of the house-building sector were also carried out and were particularly important in the solution devising and solution testing steps. In terms of theoretical contribution of the solution, some of the categories developed (classes of items, module combinations, customisation units, and configuration sequence) are grounded on empirical data and provide new conceptualisations related to the MC approach and which can be used in defining customisation strategies. Other categories (solution space, modules, module interfaces, order penetration point, types of customisation, and visualisation approaches) rely on existing concepts and underpinnings available on the literature on the MC approach. The main contribution of those categories is to adapt such concepts by proposing operational constructs, enabling such knowledge to be more applicable in devising customisation strategies.