New Light on the Swordmakers,Goldsmiths and Jewellers,John Ray and James Montague,Active in Partnership in London 1800–1821, With a New and Extended List of Their Known Work

Abstract

Some new information is presented on the prominent London goldsmiths and jewellers, John Ray and James Montague, of 22 Denmark Street, Soho, active in partnership from 1800 to 1821. A revised and extended list has been compiled of recorded works, including presentation swords, freedom boxes, ‘Toys’, tokens and other items, made by this highly reputable Soho workshop, during a decisive period of British history.     

Country Survey XIII: Japan's security posture and defense industry prospects

Defense budgets in Japan have been complicated compromises from numerous inputs ‐ including threat perceptions, domestic industrial/technological base development, support for the bilateral security treaty with the United States and internal bureaucratic politics ‐ but with the fall of the former Soviet Union, the clearest justification for higher spending disappeared. Double‐digit defense spending increases that were common in the 1980s have been replaced by annual increases lower than present inflation rates, resulting in negative real growth in the country's defense budget. Domestic economic problems and consistent government pressures for smaller budgets have further slowed annual growth in total spending and have contributed to lower procurement budgets. As a result, the domestic Japanese defense industry is facing far more constrained conditions from the growth years of a decade before.

Government policymakers are examining Japan's regional security environment as well as its alliance with the United States to determine the appropriate course for the country to take in the coming years. The formal security treaty with the United States is likely to remain a major element of government positions, but other aspects of the country's overall security posture are open to debate. Perceptions of a reduced threat environment are fueling additional pressures for defense budget cuts.

The domestic defense industry seeks means to assure its survival in domestic defense markets in this constrained environment. Expansion into overseas markets to offset declining domestic markets is an option that currently is constrained by policy restrictions on arms exports. Industry is advocating re‐examination of those policies and unlike earlier years, government appears willing to respond positively but cautiously to this lobbying.     

THE GEOGRAPHY OF NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION NETWORKS

This article uses a geographic approach to examine one aspect of the nuclear black market: the coordinators who bring buyers and sellers together, and transport goods between them. The most important factor in determining the geographical structure of a proliferation network is the network coordinator's access (or lack thereof) to unique state resources. Coordinators with access to state resources and prerogatives can avoid embedding themselves in hostile countries or relying on commercial infrastructure, often leading to territorially diffuse logistical networks. Coordinators without such access are forced to rely on commercial infrastructure and favorable local political, economic, and social conditions, often resulting in territorially centralized logistical networks. This is illustrated through case studies of Abdul Qadeer Khan's supply networks to Pakistan, Libya, and Iran. The article concludes with some observations about the implications of a geographical approach for understanding nuclear proliferation networks.     

The Dilemmas of US Maritime Supremacy in the Early Cold War

After World War II, the US Navy confronted the challenge of adapting to dramatically altered geopolitical circumstances. Moscow did not have an ocean-going fleet, and early Cold War strategy was dominated by the salient position of nuclear strategic bombing – a mission thought to be outside the purview of the navy. Traditional roles, such as protecting sea lines of communication and supporting ground forces ashore, quickly proved indispensable. However, the navy eventually also succeeded in fielding dramatic technological and institutional innovations, for example, the strategic missile submarine, which enabled the US to successfully leverage maritime power against the continental power of the USSR.     

一元二次四元数单边多项式的求根公式

随着四元数代数广泛应用于量子力学、惯性导航及控制论等学科,四元数多项式的求根问题被许多学者关注。最近Janovska和Opfer从理论上给出了一种n次四元数单边多项式零点的求解方法,Feng和Zhao进一步给出了一般n次四元数单边多项式的零点显性表达式。 本文根据Feng和Zhao的结果对一元二次四元数单边方程的根进行了讨论,并利用复数域上四次多项式的Ferrari求根公式建立了一元二次四元数单边方程的求解公式。与文献中现有的结果相比,本文建立的求根公式在许多方面展现了优越性。     

海上机动目标打击效果评估决策支持系统设计

针对海上机动目标打击效果评估的特点,运用遥感技术、人工智能技术和模糊评判的方法探索打击效果评估问题。提出一种基于高分辨率遥感图像的打击效果评估决策支持系统,融合人定性分析和机器定量分析的优点,核心是问题处理系统综合运用处理后的遥感信息和支持系统的模型、知识以及数据来评估打击效果,评估模型为二级综合评判模型。对尚处于理论研究阶段的海上机动目标打击效果评估问题有积极的参考意义。     

信息化炮兵信息对抗能力综合评估方法

信息化战争使炮兵信息对抗对整个炮兵作战能力的发挥影响甚大。为科学评估炮兵信息对抗能力,对其信息对抗能力体系进行全面的分析,建立了评估指标体系;并利用模糊评定和层次分析相结合的方法,建立了炮兵信息对抗能力综合评估模型,从而为综合评估炮兵信息对抗能力提供了一种有效方法。     

线性调频脉冲压缩雷达的匹配干扰研究

由于脉冲压缩雷达对目标回波具有很高的压缩比(增益),而对不匹配的干扰信号则压缩比很小.为了提高干扰的有效功率,提出一种与脉压雷达目标信号相仿的线性调频信号作为干扰信号(即匹配干扰),经过理论分析得到了匹配干扰信号在不同的对准频偏情况下,进入雷达的有效干扰功率.通过仿真,结果证实这种匹配干扰可很大程度地提高进入雷达的有效干扰功率,但有效干扰功率会随对准频偏的加大而减小.     

资本主义之源:奢侈抑或禁欲——桑巴特与韦伯

桑巴特的资本主义起源假说在其《奢侈与资本主义》中得到充分展开。桑巴特认为,正是欧洲的奢侈之风生发出现代资本主义,而奢风蔓延又得益于非法爱情的盛行。相反,韦伯则认为现代资本主义源生于新教伦理中的禁欲主义。看似截然二分的两道命题,实则遵循同一思想路径。源自欧洲局部经验的理论抽象,虽不能释疑世界它处为何没有生发出资本主义的世纪性难题,但是对发展之道却不无借鉴意义。     

美国2014年《四年防务评估报告》特点

2014年3月4日,美国国防部向国会提交了2014年版《四年防务评估报告》和《2015财年国防预算报告》。《四年防务评估报告》更新了再平衡战略,为美军建设提出了优先发展方向,要求美军联合部队向“更小型化”转型,以满足未来军事行动需求。