Japan’s Quasi-Alliance Strategy:Motivations,Practices and Constraints

The quasi-alliance strategy is part of the national security strategy and lies in the grey area between alliance and neutrality.1 In recent years,major countries,including Japan,have positioned quasi-alliance as a feasible unwritten option in their respective national security strategies.2 Japan’s quasialliance strategy was already in its infancy when former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe first came to power in September 2006 but was put on hold after his resignation in September 2007.

An Energy Trading Method Based on Alliance Blockchain and Multi-Signature

Blockchain,known for its secure encrypted ledger,has garnered attention in financial and data transfer realms,including the field of energy trading.However,the decentralized nature and identity anonymity of user nodes raise uncertainties in energy transactions.The broadcast consensus authentication slows transaction speeds,and frequent single-point transactions in multi-node settings pose key exposure risks without protective measures during user signing.To address these,an alliance blockchain scheme is proposed,reducing the resource-intensive identity verification among nodes.It integrates multi-signature functionality to fortify user resources and transac-tion security.A novel multi-signature process within this framework involves neutral nodes established through central nodes.These neutral nodes participate in multi-signature’s signing and verification,ensuring user identity and transaction content privacy.Reducing interactions among user nodes enhances transaction efficiency by minimizing communication overhead during verification and consensus stages.Rigorous assessments on reliability and operational speed highlight superior security performance,resilient against conventional attack vectors.Simulation shows that compared to traditional solutions,this scheme has advantages in terms of running speed.In conclusion,the alliance blockchain framework introduces a novel approach to tackle blockchain’s limitations in energy transactions.The integrated multi-signature process,involving neutral nodes,significantly enhances security and privacy.The scheme’s efficiency,validated through analytical assessments and simulations,indicates robustness against security threats and improved transactional speeds.This research underscores the potential for improved security and efficiency in blockchain-enabled energy trading systems.

Research on Alliance Decision of Dual-Channel Remanufacturing Supply Chain Considering Bidirectional Free-Riding and Cost-Sharing

This study delves into the formation dynamics of alliances within a closed-loop supply chain(CLSC)that encom-passes a manufacturer,a retailer,and an e-commerce platform.It leverages Stackelberg game for this exploration,contrasting the equilibrium outcomes of a non-alliance model with those of three differentiated alliance models.The non-alliance model acts as a crucial benchmark,enabling the evaluation of the motivations for various supply chain entities to engage in alliance formations.Our analysis is centered on identifying the most effective alliance strategies and establishing a coordination within these partnerships.We thoroughly investigate the consequences of diverse alliance behaviors,bidirectional free-riding and cost-sharing,and the resultant effects on the optimal decision-making among supply chain actors.The findings underscore several pivotal insights:(1)The behavior of alliances within the supply chain exerts variable impacts on the optimal pricing and demand of its members.In comparison to the non-alliance(D)model,the manufacturer-retailer(MR)and manufacturer-e-commerce platform(ME)alliances significantly lower both offline and online resale prices for new and remanufactured goods.This adjustment leads to an enhanced demand for products via the MR alliance’s offline outlets and the ME alliance’s online platforms,thereby augmenting the profits for those within the alliance.Conversely,retailer-e-commerce platform(ER)alliance tends to increase the optimal retail price and demand across both online and offline channels.Under specific conditions,alliance behavior can also increase the profits of non-alliance members,and the profits derived through alliance channels also exceed those from non-alliance channels.(2)The prevalence of bidirectional free-riding behavior largely remains constant across different alliance configurations.Across these models,bidirectional free-riding typically elevates the equilibrium prices in offline channel while negatively affecting the equilibrium prices in other channel.(3)The effect of cost-sharing shows relative uniformity across the various alliance models.Across all configurations,cost-sharing tends to reduce the manufacturer’s profits.Nonetheless,alliances initiated by the manufacturer can counteract these negative impacts,providing a strategic pathway to bolster CLSC profitability.

Evolution of United States Technology Alliance Strategy and Reshaping of International Strategic Landscape

Building a technology alliance is the main strategy for the United States to maintain its scientific and technological hegemony under its technopolitical strategic framework.After Joe Biden took office,the United States implemented“small yard with high fences”strategy for scientific and technological competition,as the first step toward building a technology alliance.The main goal is to restrict the flow of strategic emerging technologies and factors of innovation to rival countries.

The World Digital Education Alliance Officially Founded

Themed"Digital Education:Application,Sharing,and Innovation",the 2024 World Digital Education Conference opened in Shanghai on January 3Oth.Secretary of CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee Chen Jining,Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Cai Dafeng,and President of the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference Simona-Mirela Miculescu attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.

Research on Operation Optimization of Energy Storage Power Station and Integrated Energy Microgrid Alliance Based on Stackelberg Game

With the development of renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaics and wind power,it has become a research hotspot to improve the consumption rate of new energy and reduce energy costs through the deployment of energy storage.To solve the problem of the interests of different subjects in the operation of the energy storage power stations(ESS)and the integrated energy multi-microgrid alliance(IEMA),this paper proposes the optimization operation method of the energy storage power station and the IEMA based on the Stackelberg game.In the upper layer,ESS optimizes charging and discharging decisions through a dynamic pricing mechanism.In the lower layer,IEMA optimizes the output of various energy conversion coupled devices within the IEMA,as well as energy interaction and demand response(DR),based on the energy interaction prices provided by ESS.The results demonstrate that the optimization strategy proposed in this paper not only effectively balances the benefits of the IEMA and ESS but also enhances energy consumption rates and reduces IEMA energy costs.

Hubei Association Standardization Development Alliance set up

To implement the National Standardization Development Outline and Hubei’s relevant supporting policies,the launching ceremony of Hubei Association Standardization Development Alliance was held in Wuhan,Hubei province on June 28,which was hosted by Hubei Institute of Standardization and Quality,and jointly held by Optics Valley of China and Hubei Optics Valley Standard Innovate Technology Co.,Ltd.The alliance was initiated by 94 units in Hubei,including research institutions,enterprises,industrial associations,and universities.The ceremony was attended by Yu Xinli,President of China Association for Standardization,Pan Niansong,Director-General of Hubei Medical Products Administration,Xu Qinxiang,Head of Standardization Division of Hubei Administration for Market Regulation,and representatives from members of the alliance.

A Study on the Structural Contradictions in the US-Turkey Alliance Relations

After the Cold War and especially since the Justice and Development Party administration led by Erdogan,the US-Turkey alliance relations have declined.The two countries have sharp structural contradictions on a series of issues.Due to the profound geopolitical landscape changes,the interdependence on security and defense between the United States and Turkey has been severely weakened,leading to significant divergence in threat definition and pursuit of interests.Turkey has continuously enhanced its diplomatic autonomy,seeking to change its weak position in the original alliance relations,and striving to become a regional leader.These structural contradictions inevitably trigger the hedging of policies and interests between the United States and Turkey.

Remarks By Miguel Angel Moratinos,Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations&High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations of the United Nations

I am very pleased and privileged to be addressing the thematic segment of the Third Belt and Road Forum for the second time.I am also delighted to be back to Beijing in less than 3 months.My latest visit was in last July at the invitation of the Chinese Association for International Understanding.

Lights,Camera,Action:The Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance

BASED on the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI)proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013,the Belt and Road Film Festival Alliance and the Belt and Road Film Week were founded at the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival(SIFF)in June 2018.In the past five years membership of the alliance has grown from 31 film institutions in 29 countries to 55 institutions in 48 countries.

Buildinga New Vision for Cooperation and Development of International Tourism Cities The International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities Founded

On September 1,2023,a launch ceremony for the International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities was held in Jingdezhen,Jiangxi Province,along with a series of other activities,including the“International Forum on Culture and Tourism Development of Silk Road Cities”2023,and the“Charming Silk Road,Connecting the World-Silk Road Tourism Cities Joint Promotion Exhibition”.

2023 World Tourism Alliance·Xianghu Dialogue Opens in Hangzhou

2023 World Tourism Alliance(WTA)·Xianghu Dialogue,focusing on cooperation,transformation,co-creation,sharing,empowerment,and gathering momentum,aims to explore the potential of tourism in connecting the world,boosting economies,fostering innovation,promoting industry integration,and accelerating sustainable high-quality development.

Maskless fabrication of quasi-omnidirectional V-groove solar cells using an alkaline solution-based method

Silicon passivated emitter and rear contact(PERC) solar cells with V-groove texture were fabricated using maskless alkaline solution etching with in-house developed additive. Compared with the traditional pyramid texture, the V-groove texture possesses superior effective minority carrier lifetime, enhanced p–n junction quality and better applied filling factor(FF). In addition, a V-groove texture can greatly reduce the shading area and edge damage of front Ag electrodes when the V-groove direction is parallel to the gridline electrodes. Due to these factors, the V-groove solar cells have a higher efficiency(21.78%) than pyramid solar cells(21.62%). Interestingly, external quantum efficiency(EQE) and reflectance of the V-groove solar cells exhibit a slight decrease when the incident light angle(θ) is increased from 0° to 75°, which confirms the excellent quasi omnidirectionality of the V-groove solar cells. The proposed V-groove solar cell design shows a 2.84% relative enhancement of energy output over traditional pyramid solar cells.

Static-to-kinematic modeling and experimental validation of tendon-driven quasi continuum manipulators with nonconstant subsegment stiffness

Continuum robots with high flexibility and compliance have the capability to operate in confined and cluttered environments. To enhance the load capacity while maintaining robot dexterity, we propose a novel non-constant subsegment stiffness structure for tendon-driven quasi continuum robots(TDQCRs) comprising rigid-flexible coupling subsegments.Aiming at real-time control applications, we present a novel static-to-kinematic modeling approach to gain a comprehensive understanding of the TDQCR model. The analytical subsegment-based kinematics for the multisection manipulator is derived based on screw theory and product of exponentials formula, and the static model considering gravity loading,actuation loading, and robot constitutive laws is established. Additionally, the effect of tension attenuation caused by routing channel friction is considered in the robot statics, resulting in improved model accuracy. The root-mean-square error between the outputs of the static model and the experimental system is less than 1.63% of the arm length(0.5 m). By employing the proposed static model, a mapping of bending angles between the configuration space and the subsegment space is established. Furthermore, motion control experiments are conducted on our TDQCR system, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the static-to-kinematic model.

Quasi-Hermite插值在一重积分Wiener空间的平均误差

在一重积分Wiener空间下确定了一种Quasi-Hermite插值多项式算子列在加权L_(p)-范数逼近意义下的L_(p)-平均误差的弱渐近阶。结果显示从信息基复杂性的角度来看,如果选取Hermite数据作为可允许的信息泛函,那么这种多项式插值算子列的p-平均误差弱等价于相应的最小非自适应信息p-平均半径。

Globalization Under the Spells of Breakdowns in Supply Chains, Regime Change, Regime Formation, and Alliance Restructuring: How Much Is Left for Public Goods?

In a paper conceived about five years ago(“Globalization and Public Goods:Too Big to Tackle?”)roughly a dozen factors were linked to explain important causal paths from globalization to the potential output of public goods.The Russian invasion of Ukraine,the corona epidemic,and the increased hegemonic rivalry between China and the U.S.interrupted or even destroyed many of the linkages between globalization and potential public good production.About five important detrimental paths involved in the meantime.In the present article we aim at linking what is left from the previous level of globalization or emerging to form a new and simplified causal model for likely linkages between truncated or(re-)emerging globalization,and the deadly needed output of public goods.These linkages refer to rules of climate control,go to trade linkages and arbitrary tariffs and trade interventions.Regime change,regime formation,and alliance restructuring address aspects of domestic rule and international stability.Selectorate theory,regime type,and exit options for political elites provide key explanatory factors in explaining globalization and public goods productions,or their decay.Where possible we use some data and transformation experiences corroborating our arguments.In other instances need for further empirical macro research will become clear.

Study of damage behavior and repair effectiveness of patch repaired carbon fiber laminate under quasi-static indentation loading

Damage caused due to low-velocity impacts in composites leads to substantial deterioration in their residual strength and eventually provokes structural failure.This work presents an experimental investigation on the effects of different patch and parent laminate stacking sequences on the enhancement of impact strength of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers(CFRP)composites by utilising the adhesively bonded external patch repair technique.Damage evolution study is also performed with the aid of Acoustic Emission(AE).Two different quasi-isotropic configurations were selected for the parent laminate,viz.,[45°/45°/0°/0°]s and[45°/0°/45°/0°]s.Quasi Static Indentation(QSI)test was performed on both the pristine laminates,and damage areas were detected by using the C-scan inspection technique.Damaged laminates were repaired by using a single-sided patch of two different configurations,viz.,[45°/45°/45°/45°]and[45°/0°/0°/45°],and employing a circular plug to fill the damaged hole.Four different combinations of repaired laminates with two configurations of each parent and patch laminate were produced,which were further subjected to the QSI test.The results reveal the effectiveness of the repair method,as all the repaired laminates show higher impact resistance compared to the respective pristine laminates.Patches of[45°/0°/0°/45°]configuration when repaired by taking[45°/45°/0°/0°]s and[45°/0°/45°/0°]s as parents exhibited 68%and 73%higher peak loads,respectively,than the respective pristine laminates.Furthermore,parent and patch of configuration[45°/0°/45°/0°]s and[45°/0°/0°/45°],respectively,attain the highest peak load,whereas[45°/45°/0°/0°]s and[45°/45°/45°/45°]combinations possess the most gradual decrease in the load.

Marriage Without Certificate： On Syria-Iran Quasi-alliance From the Iranian Revolution to the Arab Revolution

Syria and Iran have formed a special relation in the past four decades. While researchers of international relations have probed deeply into alliance theory in the past half century, current literature in this field can hardly explain the informal mechanism for Syria-Iran security cooperation. To unravel the puzzle, this paper attempts to put forward a new hypothesis： quasi-alliance. Based on an empirical study of Syria-Iran special relations in the past four decades, it reveals that quasi-alliance is a unique model for security cooperation in international arena paralleling with formal alliance, and its security arrangement has an unique logic, dynamics, mode of management and attributes. In the new framework of analysis, this paper touches down upon the origins, channels, features and tests of Syria-Iran quasi-alliance by focusing on the diplomatic history of their bilateral relations from 1979 to 2017. The bilateral quasi-alliance practice has undergone three stages of combating Iraqi aggression in 1980s, curbing Israel-Turkey axis in 1990s and balancing U.S.-Israel-Saudi-Turkey coalition in the 21st century, particularly since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.

一种单相Quasi-Z源逆变器二次谐波电流抑制策略

为抑制单相qZSI直流侧二次谐波电流,提出一种基于虚拟阻抗的二次谐波电流抑制策略。该控制策略通过引入串联虚拟阻抗附加控制以提高单相qZSI在2f_(0)处的闭环输出阻抗,用以有效抑制直流侧的二次谐波电流。同时,综合考虑二次谐波电流抑制要求以及保证系统稳定裕度等约束条件,提出该控制策略的闭环参数设计方法。最后通过数字仿真和基于RT-LAB的硬件在环仿真验证了所提二次谐波电流抑制策略以及其闭环参数设计方法的正确性。

Quasi-MIL-125(Ti)催化剂的制备及光催化性能研究

利用有机配体部分热解构建Quasi-MOFs是提升MOFs光催化性能的有效途径之一。本论文将MIL-125(Ti)在340℃的空气氛围下焙烧制备Quasi-MIL-125(Ti),利用XRD、SEM、TEM、EIS等研究了催化剂的晶相结构、形貌以及其光生载流子的分离效率并考察了可见光光催化降解四环素和罗丹明B的性能。结果表明,Quasi-MIL-125(Ti)在光照60 min后对四环素和罗丹明B的去除率均可达100%。光电流和电阻抗表征揭示了优良光催化性能得益于光生电子-空穴对的高效分离和迁移。可为污水中其他抗生素和染料的去除提供参考,具有重要的研究意义。