Private security contractors and international humanitarian law—a skirmish for recognition in international armed conflicts

In recent international armed conflicts private security contractors (PSCs) have played an ever increasing role and military advisors and tribunals are facing the dilemma of assessing the primary and secondary status of PSCs under international humanitarian law. In this article the misconception that PSCs are necessarily mercenaries will be dispelled. The possibility that PSCs might be categorised as combatants or civilians will then be explored. The conclusion is that where they are incorporated into the armed forces of a state, PSCs might attain combatant status. However, given that states are reluctant to formally incorporate PSCs into their armed forces, they will most likely remain essentially civilian. Their degree of participation in hostilities will determine whether they retain their immunity under international humanitarian law from attack and prosecution (as civilians) or whether they are rendered unlawful belligerents.     

Do migrant remittances react to bouts of terrorism?

This paper examines the short-run behaviour of migrant remittances in the face of terrorism. Using monthly data for post 9/11 terrorist attacks in Pakistan, the study finds evidence of increase in the volume of remittances sent from abroad. This increase is evident in the aggregate, as well as for the three main source regions of North America, the Persian Gulf and Europe. The positive association holds for all the top five migrant-hosting countries of Pakistan. The findings point in favour of an altruistic behaviour of migrant remittances at the macroeconomic level.     

Inside the Iraqi State Records: Saddam Hussein, ‘Irangate’, and the United States

This article uses captured Iraqi state records to examine Saddam Hussein's reaction to US arms to sales to Iran during the Iran–Iraq War (the Iran/Contra scandal). These records show that ‘Irangate’ marked a decisive departure in Saddam's relations with the United States. Irangate reinforced Saddam's preexisting suspicions of US policy, convincing him that Washington was a strategic enemy that could not be trusted. Saddam concealed his anger to preserve a working relationship with the Reagan administration, but this episode nevertheless cemented his negative views of the United States and forged a legacy of hostility and mistrust that would inform his strategic calculus for years to come.     

基于模糊模型的发动机部件级故障隔离方法研究

发动机故障诊断与故障隔离是发动机健康监控领域的一大难题,但对发动机故障定位、预防灾难性事故发生及发动机维修意义重大。为了准确地确定故障发生的部位,本文针对某型液体火箭发动机,提出一种基于模糊模型的部件级故障隔离方法。首先对发动机系统进行部件的划分,然后建立各个部件的模糊模型并进行训练,最后按照设定的故障检测与隔离策略对故障进行诊断。利用两组发动机故障仿真数据对基于模糊模型部件级故障隔离方法进行验证,结果表明:本方法可以实现单一或多个部件故障隔离。     

某型发电机可靠性试验系统研究

为了对某型发电机进行可靠性试验,根据试验需求,设计了带能量反馈的试验系统。该系统与发电机输出带纯电阻性负载方案相比,大大节约了试验的耗电量,并利用仿真软件PSCAD/EMTDC建立了试验系统的仿真模型,对系统在不同扰动下的动态特性进行了仿真研究。仿真结果与试验结果相吻合,说明所建试验系统模型的正确性,也得出了该试验系统具有良好的运行稳定性的结论。     

基于ON／OFF模型的网络流量生成

分析了网络流量的特性,依据网络流量的自相似性,阐述了自相似网络流量生成的方法。以ON/OFF模型为理论依据,设计了生成自相似网络流量的算法,实现了在局域网环境中在线生成满足用户配置要求的网络流量,并对其关键部分代理端的流量生成模块进行了介绍。     

一种通用网络通信系统的设计与实现

在TCP/IP协议的基础上,采用合理的软件结构、算法以及对同一主机的多网卡支持,设计了一种可应用于大型分布式处理(如分布式仿真)的多机通信系统,目标是屏蔽诸如IP地址、端口号、套接字等网络通信概念,实现一种通用的进行网络通信实时可靠传输的机制,避免类似程序的重复开发,使网络通信的实现更加容易。应用结果表明,系统使用容易、通用性强,实现了对通信服务的实时传输和可靠传输的支持。     

基于虚拟仪器的综合传动装置故障诊断系统设计

基于虚拟仪器技术设计开发了一套适用于某型装甲车辆综合传动装置振动信号分析与故障诊断的应用软件.该系统采用模块化软件的设计思想进行软件架构,并实现了各个模块的功能.最后在实车上进行了振动测试实验,并将该软件应用于振动数据的分析处理.     

Joint pricing,assortment, and inventory decisions for a retailer's product line

Consider a set of product variants that are differentiated by some secondary attributes such as flavor, color, or size. The retailer's problem is to jointly determine the set of variants to include in her product line (“assortment”), together with their prices and inventory levels, so as to maximize her expected profit. We model the consumer choice process using a multinomial logit choice model and consider a newsvendor type inventory setting. We derive the structure of the optimal assortment for some important special cases, including the case of horizontally differentiated items, and propose a dominance relationship for the general case that simplifies the search for an optimal assortment. We also discuss structural properties of the optimal prices. Finally, motivated by our analytical results, we propose a heuristic solution procedure, which is shown to be quite effective through a numerical study. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2007     

一种反压自适应恒流喷嘴工作原理及实验研究

应水反应金属燃料发动机启动过程对水流量的苛刻要求,提出一种新型反压自适应恒流喷嘴。理论分析此喷嘴的流量自适应保持原理,通过流量特性实验验证此喷嘴能够自动调节流阻,实现流量恒定。