Calculating a Value for Dominant Battlespace Awareness

In times of ever-tightening military budgets, methodologies are required that can compare the contributions of various systems involved in the warfighting process. While many tools are in use that directly measure the effects of greater numbers of enhanced hardware, and even improved processes, no validated methodology exists to measure elements that contribute to Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4); Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR); or to analytically compare these elements with more traditional hardware. This thesis develops a methodology for mathematically quantifying awareness in a military command and control (C2) environment. This methodology begins with the Observe-Orient-Decide-Act Loop to show the connections between levels of command and control, and to show influences. Entropy, in an information theory context, is modified to reflect not only how much is known at any level, but to show how well that information is known, producing a mathematically quantified measure of awareness. The awareness capability for various systems is calculated, and the rate of awareness loss is shown over time. Finally, an awareness curve is developed that shows the awareness of the C2 system throughout the process of attacking a ground target from the air

The ISCIP Analyst, Volume X, Issue 1

This repository item contains a single issue of The ISCIP Analyst, an analytical review journal published from 1996 to 2010 by the Boston University Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology, and Policy

The ISCIP Analyst, Volume X, Issue 5

This repository item contains a single issue of The ISCIP Analyst, an analytical review journal published from 1996 to 2010 by the Boston University Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology, and Policy

The ISCIP Analyst, Volume X, Issue 2

This repository item contains a single issue of The ISCIP Analyst, an analytical review journal published from 1996 to 2010 by the Boston University Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology, and Policy

Presenting Structural Equation Model for Measuring Organizational Learning Capability

AbstractFrom a strategic viewpoint, the measurement scale identifies the elements that form learning capability, highlighting its complex and multidimensional nature. The evidence that the results provide regarding the scale's validity suggests that we may use this tool in future research work requiring a measurement of learning capability. Likewise, the scale provides information that could be of use to those managers wishing to improve learning capability in their firms. It is presented a structural equation model for measuring organizational learning capability and we can classify them into 5 dimensions: Managerial commitment and empowerment, experimentation, Risk taking, Openness and interaction with external environment, Integration and knowledge transfer

Early Fibrillin-1 Assembly Monitored through a Modifiable Recombinant Cell Approach

Fibrillin proteins constitute the backbone of extracellular macromolecular microfibrils. Mutations in fibrillins cause heritable connective tissue disorders, including Marfan syndrome, dominant Weill-Marchesani syndrome, and stiff skin syndrome. Fibronectin provides a critical scaffold for microfibril assembly in cell culture models. Full length recombinant fibrillin-1 was expressed by HEK 293 cells, which deposited the secreted protein in a punctate pattern on the cell surface. Co-cultured fibroblasts consistently triggered assembly of recombinant fibrillin-1, which was dependent on a fibronectin network formed by the fibroblasts. Deposition of recombinant fibrillin-1 on fibronectin fibers occurred first in discrete packages that subsequently extended along fibronectin fibers. Mutant fibrillin-1 harboring either a cysteine 204 to serine mutation or a RGD to RGA mutation which prevents integrin binding, did not affect fibrillin-1 assembly. In conclusion, we developed a modifiable recombinant full-length fibrillin-1 assembly system that allows for rapid analysis of critical roles in fibrillin assembly and functionality. This system can be used to study the contributions of specific residues, domains or regions of fibrillin-1 to the biogenesis and functionality of microfibrils. It provides also a method to evaluate disease-causing mutations, and to produce microfibril-containing matrices for tissue engineering applications for example in designing novel vascular grafts or stents