Understanding China’s goals and strategy in the South China Sea: bringing context to a revisionist systemic challenge – intentions and impact

ABSTRACT

The slow moving conflict in the South China Sea has been characterized by some as “not worth the candle.” China claims the entirety of the South China Sea pursuant to a nine-dash line, the legal impact of which has been limited by international courts. At the same time, China has changed the reality of control over the South China Sea by building a number of fortified islands in the Spratly Islands and elsewhere. The US has either refused to stand up to China's behavior (Obama) or responded unevenly (Trump). This paper examines the impact of China's behaviour on local parties, US interests, and the liberal international system.     

Recognizing Fragmented Authority: Towards a post-Westphalian Security Order in Iraq

Abstract

The rollback of Daesh’s territorial control during 2017 has (re-)established an area of limited statehood in large parts of Iraq that may endure for many years. The government of Iraq projects its authority into a large geographical and political space that it shares with a multitude of other state, non-state and hybrid actors, competing and collaborating to achieve advantageous security and political outcomes. This paper examines the heterarchy of actors in post-Daesh Iraq to develop a typology and start a critical discussion about post-Westphalian alternatives for security governance in Iraq during the coming period of reconstruction and reconciliation.     

融合初值校准与二阶逼近的单星测频定位算法

为减小单星测频定位的误差,提出一种融合初值校准与二阶逼近的单星测频定位算法。该算法在卫星接收信号多普勒频移为零的时间点,通过测距获得卫星到定位目标的距离信息,利用距离信息修正轨道平面与定位目标的几何关系,为初值的选取提供校准手段;将校准的初值代入含二阶级数的定位方程泰勒展开式,通过较少次数的迭代得到定位目标的真实位置,从而降低定位的算法复杂度,提高定位精度。仿真结果表明,所提出的算法与多普勒单星定位算法相比,迭代次数和定位误差大幅度减小,其实现简单、计算量少、误差小,在单星定位研究领域具有较高的理论价值和实用价值。     

Analysis and optimal design of discrete order picking technologies along a line

Order picking accounts for most of the operating expense of a typical distribution center, and thus is often considered the most critical function of a supply chain. In discrete order picking a single worker walks to pick all the items necessary to fulfill a single customer order. Discrete order picking is common not only because of its simplicity and reliability, but also because of its ability to pick orders quickly upon receipt, and thus is commonly used by e‐commerce operations. There are two primary ways to reduce the cost (walking distance required) of the order picking system. First is through the use of technology—conveyor systems and/or the ability to transmit order information to pickers via mobile units. Second is through the design—where best to locate depots (where workers receive pick lists and deposit completed orders) and how best to lay out the product. We build a stochastic model to compare three configurations of different technology requirements: single‐depot, dual‐depot, and no‐depot. For each configuration we explore the optimal design. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2008     

数字化部队指挥网络系统效能评价模型

以结构熵理论为基础,分析数字化部队作战指挥信息网络系统组织结构对系统内信息流的影响,从信息的角度对系统组织结构的有序度进行评价,引入信息流的时效和质量的概念,建立定量评价系统结构有序度计算的时效质量模型,结合系统数据传输业务效能的评价方法,形成作战指挥信息网络系统整体综合效能的评价模型。最后辅以实例。     

基于高阶累积量与神经网络的干扰识别算法

研究了一种基于高阶累积量和神经网络的干扰识别算法。该方法把卫星通信中常见的各种干扰信号的归一化高阶累积量作为分类特征参数,应用神经网络对特征参数进行分类训练,将接收干扰信号的归一化高阶累积量输入已训练的神经网络进行干扰类型的识别。试验结果表明:该算法在低干信比的情况下具有较高的识别准确率。     

Systems composed of two types of nonidentical and dependent components

A coherent system of order n that consists two different types of dependent components is considered. The lifetimes of the components in each group are assumed to follow an exchangeable joint distribution, and the two random vectors, which represent the lifetimes of the components in each group are also assumed to be dependent. Under this particular form of dependence, all components are assumed to be dependent but they are categorized with respect to their reliability functions. Mixture representation is obtained for the survival function of the system's lifetime. Mixture representations are also obtained for the series and parallel systems consisting of disjoint modules such that all components of Type I are involved in one module (subsystem) and all components of Type II are placed in the other module. The theoretical results are illustrated with examples. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 62: 388–394, 2015     

Sharp bounds for the reliability of systems and mixtures with ordered components

In this article, we study how to derive bounds for the reliability and the expected lifetime of a coherent system with heterogeneous ordered components. These bounds can be used to compare the performance of the systems obtained by permuting the components at a given system structure, that is, to study where we should place the different components at a system structure to get the most reliable system. Moreover, a similar procedure is applied to get bounds for mixtures and for the generalized proportional hazard rate model when the baseline populations are ordered. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 64: 108–116, 2017     

On matched active redundancy allocation for coherent systems with statistically dependent component lifetimes

This study addresses the allocation of matched active redundancy components to coherent systems with base components having statistically dependent lifetimes. We consider base component lifetimes and redundancy component lifetimes which are both stochastic arrangement monotone with respect to a pair of components given the lifetimes of the other components. In this context, allocating a more reliable redundancy component to the weaker base component is shown to incur a stochastically larger system lifetime. Numerical examples are presented as an illustration of the theoretical results.     

Civilian Cooperation and Non-Cooperation with Non-State Armed Groups: The Centrality of Obedience and Resistance

Abstract

Terms like ‘support’ and ‘collaboration’ are often used interchangeably to denote a loose set of acts or attitudes that benefit non-state armed groups (NSAGs). However, these terms are seldom defined, and the alternatives available to civilians are rarely identified. Moreover, existing approaches overlook that the interaction between civilians and NSAGs is often one between ruler and ruled, which makes obedience and resistance central. This paper proposes to conceptualize the choices available to civilians as forms of cooperation and non-cooperation, offers a typology, and discusses the implications for theory building on civilian and NSAG behavior, and on the functioning of armed social orders.