CORRUPTION,PERCEPTION AND FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

Bribery undermines human development and a transition to stable democratic rule. It props up illegitimate regimes as corporations bid for contracts by bribing, in a seeming race to the bottom. The world's wealthy are slowly waking up to this and criminalising this scandalous practice of bribing foreign public officials. However, such measures, if enforced, need to be combined with domestic anti-corruption strategies in the South. If this opportunity is missed, the risk of investing private capital in marginalised economies perceived to be highly corrupt is further upped, making investment-driven economic growth possibly even less unattainable.     

THE AU MISSION IN BURUNDI

Abstract

Even though the Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola, MPLA) managed to take firm control of the state as the war ended in 2002, this article contends that its hegemony is not absolute. At the fringes of the state administration, emerging regional elites have established associations that seek to provide a remedy against the centralised system, which essentially deprives regions of political influence and sufficient economic resources. As in many other countries on the African continent, political identities that were legally enforced and institutionally reproduced in colonial times have hardly been transcended in the post-colonial period. Even if the associations' influence today does not yet reach further than bringing some insecurity to an otherwise secure polity dominated by the MPLA, the associations could play a role in reinforcing strong regional solidarity and give political expression to feelings of exclusion. Such sentiments could in turn lead to an increase of exclusivity ideas about citizenship, or even xenophobic violence. Much will depend on the strategies of the MPLA, and to what extent it will accommodate these emergent forces in the post-war era, not the least through the current sub-national state reforms.     

POLITICAL SURVIVAL AND NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION

Nuclear Logics: Contrasting Paths in East Asia and the Middle East, by Etel Solingen. Princeton University Press, 2007. 404 pages, $26.95.     

基于不同叶片数目比的烟气涡轮多叶片通道数值模拟

基于定常假设,利用混合平面模型传递级间参数,运用Fluent软件对不同静动叶片数目比下的烟气涡轮多叶片通道流场进行了数值计算,得到了温度、压力、出口速度和马赫数等参数的变化规律,绘制了不同静动叶片数目比下各种参数的体积加权平均XY图,并通过数值分析确定了静动叶片最佳数目比为50∶74,最佳静叶安装角为35°。结果表明:叶片数目增减和静叶安装角的变化对烟气涡轮整体性能的影响须考虑多种因素,并不能以单一参数的变化来决定最佳叶片数目和静叶安装角。该结论可为烟气涡轮现有装备的科学管理和技术改进提供理论依据。     

比例最小偏度单形UKF的RBF神经网络算法

为提高RBF神经网络的建模性能,提出一种基于改进无迹Kalman滤波(UKF)的RBF神经网络训练算法。在该算法中,首先将比例最小偏度单形Sigma点采样策略引入UT,以有效改进UKF,提升其计算效率,然后利用改进的UKF优化估计RBF神经网络的最优参数。仿真结果表明,改进的UKF比EKF具有更高的RBF神经网络模型训练精度,与传统UKF的模型精度大体相当,但速度更快,计算效率更高。     

Development programs for one‐shot systems using multiple‐state design reliability models

Design reliability at the beginning of a product development program is typically low, and development costs can account for a large proportion of total product cost. We consider how to conduct development programs (series of tests and redesigns) for one‐shot systems (which are destroyed at first use or during testing). In rough terms, our aim is to both achieve high final design reliability and spend as little of a fixed budget as possible on development. We employ multiple‐state reliability models. Dynamic programming is used to identify a best test‐and‐redesign strategy and is shown to be presently computationally feasible for at least 5‐state models. Our analysis is flexible enough to allow for the accelerated stress testing needed in the case of ultra‐high reliability requirements, where testing otherwise provides little information on design reliability change. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004     

基于GO法的多阶段共因失效任务系统可靠性评估

为了解决部件阶段依赖性与共因失效给系统可靠性分析带来的复杂性,针对多阶段共因失效任务系统,结合GO法易于处理有时序、含共因失效系统可靠性分析的特点,首先,将前一阶段的输出信号作为后一阶段的输入信号,建模时首尾连接各阶段模型,建立整个任务系统的隐性GO模型;其次,在进行各信号流状态组合运算时,融入阶段代数处理部件的阶段依赖性;再次,用隐性共因失效分析,将共因失效对系统的影响在状态组合的定量分析中表达出来,得到所需系统可靠性指标;最后,与基于二元决策图的算法进行对比验证。结果表明:GO法可以简捷、准确地处理多阶段共因失效任务系统可靠性评估问题。     

基于矩阵变换的坦克驾驶训练数字化记录与评判系统研究

为了解决坦克驾驶训练中因操作状态难以保留、操作细节难以再现而无法实现对训练成果深入分析与客观评价的不足,以坦克驾驶训练数字化记录与评判系统总体设计为切入点,基于基础驾驶动作的分解与组合以及车辆状态信息获取设计了驾驶动作记录仪,实现了坦克驾驶训练过程中动作状态信息的采集与数字化存储,并应用矩阵变换理论,提出了一种基于关键性动作参数查找与判断的方法,对基础驾驶动作进行了过程识别与效果评判。分析表明:该系统的技术能对坦克驾驶动作状态进行数字化记录,而基于状态矩阵变换的方法能实现基本驾驶过程的识别与评判。     

状态数计算的卫星控制系统健康状态评估

健康评估是卫星在轨安全健康工作的关键技术之一.针对卫星控制系统的健康状态评估问题,首先分析了卫星控制系统的内部结构特征,将控制系统按其结构分层并提出了基于层次推理地健康状态评估方法,然后通过分析系统特有的工作关系确定了各级系统状态数的计算方法,最后以某型气象卫星的一种控制模式为例计算了从部件到整系统的各级别状态数.计算以及仿真的结果显示该方法能够利用状态数合理地表示控制系统的健康状态.     

基于灰色理论的电子系统状态预测方法

电子系统的状态预测是利用其历史信息来实现系统未来状态和趋势的估计,以防止灾难性故障的发生,对于推动视情维修具有重要意义。针对典型模拟滤波电路,通过分析其关键测试信号的特点,研究了基于灰色理论的状态预测方法,并针对该预测模型的不足,设计粒子群算法选择最佳预测维数,设计新陈代谢法使该模型参数在线改变,从而建立符合电子系统信号特点的灰色预测模型。将该模型与ARAM模型比较,实验结果验证了该模型具有较好的状态预测精度和预测性能。