Models of scientific and technological review for the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention

ABSTRACT

Science and technology (S&T) review is key to anticipating developments in the life sciences that may benefit or run contrary to the aims of the 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. It serves as a mechanism for both preparing against novel biological threats and identifying the best opportunities for developing and sharing the life sciences to the fullest extent. In the age of rapidly advancing biotechnology, S&T review needs to be wide ranging, involve a diverse set of inputs, and be transparent about its methods and data. This viewpoint considers four models of S&T review and their capacity to respond to the challenge of the life sciences: standing advisory boards; ad hoc working groups; peer review; and wikis. It then identifies a hybrid model that is suitably broad, diverse, and transparent.     

Deterrence in the Gulf War

A recently published collection of captured Iraqi records offers an opportunity to better understand Saddam Hussein's perception of US and Israeli deterrence signals, affording innovative insights into the reasons behind Iraq's restraint from using weapons of mass destruction against Israeli targets during the 1991 Gulf War. This article tests a wide range of suggested hypotheses, and suggests that US and Israeli deterrence played only a minimal role in dissuading Iraqi use of WMD. The article concludes with some thoughts on the practical implications, particularly on the effectiveness of a “no-first-use” nuclear policy.     

THE G8 GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP

ABSTRACT

Since the 1990s, the group of stakeholders working to combat biological weapons (BW) proliferation has broadened to include new actors who have not traditionally focused on security issues, including organizations from the public health sector, researchers in the life sciences, and the biosafety community. This has had significant benefits for the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) and the arms control establishment more broadly. However, the BWC's agenda has become increasingly dominated by issues of international health and global health security. By focusing solely on response strategies, the United States and other interested parties risk losing sight of other important elements of a counter-BW strategy, including deterrence and prevention. Focusing on public health-related issues to the exclusion of more traditional security matters puts the nonproliferation regime at risk, because it limits the amount of time that stakeholders have available to grapple with the critical questions facing the BWC and the biological weapons nonproliferation establishment—questions that must be answered if the regime is to survive.     

自由曲面的立体视觉测量与加工一体化研究

对自由曲面的立体现觉测量与加工一体化技术中的图像匹配、曲面造型以及接口设计等问题进行了分析与讨论,并提出了切实可行的解决办法。     

一种从二维照片反求三维CAD模型的稳健方法

研究了从物体二维照片重构其三维CAD模型的算法。通过物体在不同方位的一组照片 ,选取一定数量的配准点 ,该算法能够计算出照相机的运动参数 ,进而得到物体表面的 3D几何信息及CAD模型。算法充分考虑到了CAD建模的可制造性约束 ,具有精确、稳健的特点 ,在逆向工程建模、计算机视觉、机器人领域有应用前景。     

基于计算机视觉的目标方位测量方法

以显著性标志物中的关键点为目标,探讨了一种基于计算机视觉的目标方位测量方法。在光学成像原理基础上,推算出目标二维成像点坐标与其空间三维坐标之间的映射关系,基于计算机视觉理论建立了测量目标方位的数学模型。考虑透镜畸变,基于Zhang平面标定法完成对摄像机参数的标定。对目标二维图像采用Harris算法进行特征角点检测,并通过亚像素技术对检测的目标特征点进行定位。实验结果表明,该方法能够有效提取被测目标特征角点并获取其像素坐标,用于测量目标相对视觉传感器的方位信息可达到较高精度,具备良好的实用价值。     

运用跑道平面结构化线特征的固定翼无人机视觉导航算法

针对固定翼无人机在着陆阶段的位姿估计的问题,提出运用跑道平面结构化线特征的无人机视觉导航算法。利用单台固连在无人机上的前视相机对跑道区域进行成像,自动提取结构化线特征。在无人机降落前期利用完整的结构化线特征配置解算出无人机的六自由度位姿参数(偏航角、俯仰角、滚转角、纵向位置、横向位置、高度),并在无人机降落到较低高度时,利用退化的结构化线特征(跑道边缘)解算出无人机的关键位姿参数(偏航角、俯仰角、横向位置、高度)。三维实景仿真实验证明,在距离机场200 m处,无人机的距离参数精度小于0.5 m,角度参数精度小于0.1°。     

一种基于双目视觉原理的飞机尾旋运动姿态测量方法

针对飞机尾旋运动研究中的姿态测量问题,提出一种基于双目立体视差原理的测量方法.通过两部相机拍摄图像的视差,恢复模型表面特征空间三维信息,由表面特征计算模型运动姿态.设计了一组有特定形状和严格尺寸的人工特征,具有识别正确率高、定位精确等特点.提供人工特征的设计方法.最后,分别给出旋转天平实验和风洞实验的实测数据,实测结果表明该方法测量准确,鲁棒性好,在立式风洞飞机模型尾旋运动测量的应用中十分有效.     

浅议生物进化中的熵变

从人们对熵的认识过程出发，对熵的概念和其原理做了简要的总结，提出了辩证的讨论生物进化中熵变的观点，首次提出生物进化中的熵变是一个辩证的动态的过程。     

卫星位置视觉测量

目前卫星轨道参数的测量主要依靠地面测控站的无线电测量,使得测量受限于测控站的观测弧段;另一方面随着深空探测的不断深入,也对现有测控方法提出了新的挑战。利用卫星上已有的相机通过景象匹配对卫星自身位置进行精确测量,可以有效摆脱地面测量观测弧段和测量距离的约束。本文提出了一种基于星载实时图与基准图匹配的视觉测轨方法:通过景象匹配建立实时图中特征点与基准图的对应关系,再根据成像关系解算卫星的三维位置。利用卫星获取的立体图像和轨道测量数据进行了验证实验,证明了本文提出的方法具有较高的精度,实现了地基无线电测轨和视觉测轨的相互验证。本文提出的视觉测轨方法可以弥补现有测轨方式的不足,减轻地面测控系统负担,在深空探测等领域具有良好的应用前景。