Organizations are under constant threat from global competition, socioeconomic factors, and political forces that are often unforeseen and dynamic. Consequently, decision makers adopt strategies, some including the principles of modularity, as a countermeasure. The problem addressed in this study was the lack of knowledge about the significance of modularizing contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs). The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to assess the significance of modularizing CMOs by statistically analyzing capacity utilization, efficiency, and profit margin between modular and nonmodular departments in a focal CMO. This study was grounded in the theory of modularity and the research question addressed what might be the significant value of implementing organizational modularity. The hypotheses posited that a significant difference exists in these metrics between the modular and nonmodular departments of the focal company. ANCOVA was applied to the hypotheses using secondary data of complete job orders undertaken at a company from 2008 to 2013. The results indicated significant differences in capacity utilization, efficiency, and profit margin between modular and nonmodular departments after controlling for differences based on overhead cost or lead-time. Decision makers in manufacturing companies, particularly those in CMOs, may benefit from these findings because they provide answers to questions on the value of modularizing CMOs. The social change implications of this study are based on companies gaining knowledge to improve productivity, manufacture more affordable goods, and provide more skilled employment opportunities. As a result, more people leave poverty and experience an improved quality of life.

Organizations are under constant threat from global competition, socioeconomic factors, and political forces that are often unforeseen and dynamic. Consequently, decision makers adopt strategies, some including the principles of modularity, as a countermeasure. The problem addressed in this study was the lack of knowledge about the significance of modularizing contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs). The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to assess the significance of modularizing CMOs by statistically analyzing capacity utilization, efficiency, and profit margin between modular and nonmodular departments in a focal CMO. This study was grounded in the theory of modularity and the research question addressed what might be the significant value of implementing organizational modularity. The hypotheses posited that a significant difference exists in these metrics between the modular and nonmodular departments of the focal company. ANCOVA was applied to the hypotheses using secondary data of complete job orders undertaken at a company from 2008 to 2013. The results indicated significant differences in capacity utilization, efficiency, and profit margin between modular and nonmodular departments after controlling for differences based on overhead cost or lead-time. Decision makers in manufacturing companies, particularly those in CMOs, may benefit from these findings because they provide answers to questions on the value of modularizing CMOs. The social change implications of this study are based on companies gaining knowledge to improve productivity, manufacture more affordable goods, and provide more skilled employment opportunities. As a result, more people leave poverty and experience an improved quality of life.

Agglomerative Clustering techniques work by recursively merging graph vertices into communities, to maximize a clustering quality metric. The metric of Modularity coined by Newman and Girvan, measures the cluster quality based on the premise that, a cluster has collections of vertices more strongly connected internally than would occur from random chance. Various fast and efficient algorithms for community detection based on modularity maximization have been developed for static graphs. However, since many (contemporary) networks are not static but rather evolve over time, the static approaches are rendered inappropriate for clustering of dynamic graphs. Modularity optimization in changing graphs is a relatively new field that entails the need to develop efficient algorithms for detection and maintenance of a community structure while minimizing the “Size of change” and computational effort. The objective of this work was to develop an efficient dynamic agglomerative clustering algorithm that attempts to maximize modularity while minimizing the “size of change” in the transitioning community structure. First we briefly discuss the previous memoryless dynamic reagglomeration approach with localized vertex freeing and illustrate its performance and limitations. Then we describe the new backtracking algorithm followed by its performance results and observations. In experimental analysis of both typical and pathological cases, we evaluate and justify various backtracking and agglomeration strategies in context of the graph structure and incoming stream topologies. Evaluation of the algorithm on social network datasets, including Facebook (SNAP) and PGP Giant Component networks shows significantly improved performance over its conventional static counterpart in terms of execution time, Modularity and Size of Change.

This dissertation is about the design of a modular language for describing actions. The modular action description language, MAD, is based on the action language C+. In this new language, the possibility of "importing" a module allows us to describe actions by referring to descriptions of related actions introduced earlier, rather than by listing all effects and preconditions of every action explicitly. The use of modular action descriptions eliminates the need to reinvent theories of similar domains over and over again. Another advantage of this representation style is that it is similar to the way humans describe actions in terms of other actions. We first define the syntax of a fragment of MAD, called mini-MAD, and then extend it to the full version of MAD. The semantics of mini-MAD is defined by grounding action descriptions and translating them into C+. However, for the full version of MAD, it would be difficult to define grounding. Instead, we use a new approach to the semantics of variables in action descriptions, which is based on more complex logical machinery---first-order causal logic. Grounding is important as an implementation method, but we argue that it should be best avoided in the definition of the semantics of expressive action languages. We show that, in application to mini-MAD, the two semantics are equivalent. Furthermore, we prove that MAD action descriptions have some desirable, intuitively expected mathematical properties. We hope that MAD will make it possible to create a useful general-purpose library of standard action descriptions and will contribute in this way to solving the problem of generality in Artificial Intelligence. / text

We are sometimes led to a different picture of things when something unexpected occurs which needs explaining. The aim of this thesis is to examine a series of related issues in the philosophy of mind in the light of the unusual condition known to psychologists as ‘synaesthesia’. Although the emphasis will be on the philosophical issues a view of synaesthesia itself will also emerge. Synaesthesia is a distinct type of cross-modal association: stimulation of one sensory modality automatically triggers an additional phenomenal character of experience associated with a second sensory modality in the absence of any direct stimulation of the second modality. Chapter 1 introduces synaesthesia to a philosophical audience by outlining the early history of synaesthesia studies, by summarising contemporary research and by indicating areas of philosophical interest to be considered in the rest of the thesis. Chapter 2 uses synaesthesia to examine one important philosophical model of the mind, Fodor’s modularity hypothesis, and, in turn, investigates the nature of synaesthesia in the light of that model. Fodor claims that cognitive modules can be thought of as belonging to a psychological natural kind in virtue of their possession of most or all of nine specified properties. The most common form of synaesthesia possesses Fodor’s nine specified properties of modularity, and hence it should be understood in terms of an extra cognitive module, and thus as belonging to the abovementioned psychological natural kind. Many psychologists believe that synaesthesia involves a breakdown in modularity. A breakdown in modularity would also explain the apparent presence of the nine specified properties in synaesthesia. I discuss the two concepts of function which underlie the respective theories, defending the breakdown thesis, arguing, in any case, that properties deriving from evolutionary history should also be used to decide between the two theses and thus ultimately membership of a psychological natural kind such as Fodor suggests. The argument is then used to respond to two challenges to the notion of a psychological natural kind. Chapter 3 focuses on the phenomenal character of synaesthetic experience. Externalists about the phenomenal character of experience tend to argue that the character of perceptual experience is to be explained either by the properties objects present to percipients, or by the properties objects are represented by percipients as having. Some internalists argue that there is a need to postulate hrther properties of the individual - in other words, qualia - to account for the individuation of the character of perceptual experience. The existence of additional phenomenal characters of experience in synaesthesia, which cannot directly be explained by reference to features of objects, suggests the existence of extra qualia and thus the presence of qualia in normal perception. The aim of this chapter is to meet the challenge presented by synaesthesia and the extra quaZia argument, and contrariwise, use synaesthesia as a way of fbrther clarifjmg the merits of the respective externalist positions. In the previous chapters the locution of ‘coloured hearing’ will have been adopted. Occasionally the process underlying synaesthesia is described as one of ‘hearing colours’. Chapter 4 rejects the latter usage. In so doing it focuses on the place of synaesthesia vis-a-vis normal perceptual processes. Considerations from previous chapters are further developed in order to shed light both on the metaphysical individuation of perceptual modalities and on how we know the distinctive perceptual modalities. Given the actual content of our concepts of perceptual modalities, it is argued that the actual world is one in which even synaesthetes are unable to hear colours. Consideration is given as to whether there is a possible world in which people could hear colours. The justification of the usage of ‘coloured-hearing’ then leads to a discussion of the relative importance of the individuating conditions of modes of perception. The thesis focuses largely on coloured hearing. What merits the preceding considerations have might be supported if they can be generalised. Chapter 5 goes a small way in that direction.

Conservatism reflects a general attitude structure characterized by a preference for traditional social practices and an aversion to uncertainty and threat. Though the social environment undoubtedly plays a role in shaping conservative attitudes, recent studies suggest that trait-level characteristics may contribute to their development as well. The present research investigated trait-level cognitive threat detection ability as a factor which may influence the development and maintenance of conservative social attitudes. A computer simulation indicated that socially conservative attitudes may function as a strategy for increasing the survival rate of an individual with poor threat detection ability living in a relatively dangerous environment. Three studies were conducted to further investigate the hypothesis that individuals who are less accurate in detecting threats would report more conservative social attitudes, particularly when the surrounding environment is perceived to be highly dangerous. In Study 1, participants who were less able to distinguish between images of safe and dangerous stimuli presented outside of conscious awareness tended to endorse higher levels of social dominance orientation, and participants who reported higher belief that the world is dangerous tended to endorse higher levels of social dominance orientation and right-wing authoritarianism, as well as a more conservative political ideology. In Study 2, less accurate detection of threats was associated with a more conservative political ideology. In Studies 2 and 3, experimental manipulations of participants’ dangerous world beliefs failed to produce differences in the endorsement of socially conservative attitudes. An additional experimental manipulation of participants’ perceptions of their own ability to detect threats in Study 3 did not affect the endorsement of socially conservative attitudes either. Across the three studies, the results suggest that individual differences in cognitive mechanisms associated with the ability to differentiate between safe and dangerous stimuli presented outside of conscious awareness may hold a weak but significant relation to socially conservative attitudes. Additionally, the results indicate that individuals who hold a stronger belief that the world is a dangerous place tend to endorse more conservative social attitudes; however, these views appear to be pervasive and persist in the face of short term fluctuations in perceptions of danger.

Introducing concepts of Craftsman kit construction to the interior, as well as modern technology to lessen the cost of handcrafted details, opens the possibility to new methods of modular design in which interior units are configured around structural skeletons and central base points that provide supply lines to residential units. One example is Dutch design firm Minale-Maeda’s Keystones, a 3D printed connector that holds together any necessary components, like furniture. These keystones can be printed at home and save time and the need to obtain anything but essential components (website). The design firm works to create an “ongoing awareness of the possibilities of both mass-production and skilled craftsmanship” (L’arco Baleno, 2014). Another interesting example is Dutch design brand Fraaiheid’s Minimal Waste Table, which is created from one piece of laminated plywood with a CNC milling machine which makes for extremely minimal waste (Williamson, 2013). These examples of automation require a craftsman’s hand and mind to create the concept but introduce a modern approach to reducing waste, time and cost.

Le phénomène de délocalisation des services est de plus en plus prégnant avec le développement des technologies d'information et de communication. Mais aussi avec l'avènement de la modularisation au sein du processus de production. Ce phénomène consiste à transférer la réalisation d'un ou de plusieurs modules d'une activité de service du pays d'origine vers un autre pays hôte. Le choix de délocaliser vers un pays d'accueil signifie que ce dernier présente de meilleurs caractéristiques pays pour le service à produire. En outre, les destinations retenues dépendent du type de service à délocaliser. Deux aspects à savoir l'intensité en connaissance et le degré de désintégration définissent le type de service. Les pays en voie de développement renforcent les caractéristiques pays afin d'améliorer leur capacité d'accueil. Ce sont les caractéristiques pays essentiels à l'accueil de services et les caractéristiques pays indispensables pour certains types de service. Les caractéristiques pays essentiels à l'accueil de services sont ceux que les pays en voie de développement doivent présenter pour être plus avantageuses que les pays de départ. Quant aux caractéristiques pays indispensables pour certains types de service, il s'agit des caractéristiques pays qui assurent la primauté sur certains services selon leurs spécificités. D'où notre interrogation sur le potentiel de délocalisation de chaque activité de service en fonction des spécificités. Nous essayons également de déterminer la destination appropriée pour chaque type de service tout en se concentrant sur la concordance entre ces spécificités de services et les caractéristiques des pays d'accueil. / The service offshoring phenomenon is significant, supported by the development of information and communication technologies. But also with the advent of modularization in the production process. This phenomenon consists in the transfer of the realization of one or more modules of a service activity from the country of origin to the host country. Choosing a host country means that this country shows the best country characteristics for the production of the service. Two aspects which are the knowledge intensity and the disintegration degree define the service type. So, the destinations retained depend on the type of the service to offshore. The developing countries strengthen their country characteristics in order to improve their host capacity. These are the crucial country characteristics to receive services and the essential country characteristics for certain type of services. The crucial country characteristics are those that the developing countries should have to be more profitable than the countries of origin. Concerning the essential country characteristics for different type of services, it suggests that some country characteristics advantage certain services depending on their features. That is why our argument is on the offshoring potential of each service activity based on their features. We also try to determine the suited destination for each service type by taking into account the link between the service features and the host country characteristics.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / The attack of choice for a professional attacker is system subversion: the insertion of a trap door that allows the attacker to bypass an operating system's protection controls. This attack provides significant capabilities and a low risk of detection. One potential design is a trap door that itself accepts new programming instructions. This allows an attacker to decide the capabilities of the artifice at the time of attack rather than prior to its insertion. Early tiger teams recognized the possibility of this design and compared it to the two-card bootstrap loader used in mainframes, since both exhibit the characteristics of compactness and adaptability. This thesis demonstrates that it is relatively easy to create a bootstrapped trap door. The demonstrated artifice consists of 6 lines of C code that, when inserted into the Windows XP operating system, accept additional arbitrary code from the attacker, allowing subversion in any manner the attacker chooses. The threat from subversion is both extremely potent and eminently feasible. Popular risk mitigation strategies that rely on defense-in-depth are ineffective against subversion. This thesis focuses on how the use of the principles of layering, modularity, and information hiding can contribute to high-assurance development methodologies by increasing system comprehensibility. / Civilian, Naval Postgraduate School

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