Some Observations on The U.S.Greater Central Asia Security Strategy Planning

The United States is shaping a Central Asian Security Strategy Planning with priority on economics and trade. In area of economics and trade, it pushes on the U.S.-Central Asian trade and investment framework agreement, focusing on developing trade in greater Central Asian region so as to encourage the regional countries to lower trade barriers and to advance reconfiguration of the regional countries and Afghanistan neighboring areas. In area of energy, it builds a greater Central Asian transportation network composed of highway, railway, natural gas-pipeline and electricity grid line to boom the regional trade and economy. In area of anti-terrorism, it strengthens security cooperation with the Central Asian countries. Meanwhile, it also pushes forward a multi-lateral security mechanism, increases economic aid, and promotes regional cooperation so as to achieve the regional lasting peace.

COLLABORATIVE DESIGN OF RFID SYSTEMS FOR MULTI-PURPOSE SUPPLY CHAIN APPLICATIONS

One of the key challenges for implementing RFID systems in supply chain management is the difficulty in economic justification. Such difficulty is further amplified by its public participation nature as multiple self-interest beneficiaries may receive diverse paybacks, and their incentives to join the system are difficult to align. This paper aims to address these problems by a collaborative design from two aspects. First, we propose to introduce a centralized planning mechanism in the chain to facilitate the participation, so that the cost of the overall system can be minimized. Second, we propose to analyze the multi-facet economic return from multi-purpose applications to achieve the full potential of RFID systems. To illustrate our approach, its application for inventory inaccuracy and product recall in RFID system is presented.

An integrated assessment method of urban drainage system:A case study in Shenzhen City,China

In recent years,the urban drainage system in China is facing the dual pressure of renovation and construction.This requires that the integrated assessment for the planning and operation of the urban drainage system is obligatory.To evaluate the urban drainage system,an integrated assessment methodology based on the analytic hierarchy process(AHP),integrated simulation,and fuzzy assessment is established.This method is a multi-criteria decision adding app roach to the assessment of the urban drainage system comprehensively.Through the integration of the Storm Water Management Model(SWMM),a simple wastewater treatment plant model,and a surface water quality model,an integrated modelling system for the urban drainage system is developed and applied as a key tool for assessment.Using the established method,a case study in Shenzhen City has been implemented to evaluate and compare two urban drainage system reno vation plans,the distributed plan and the centralized plan.Because of the particularity of this case study,the established method is not applied entirely.Considering the water environ mental impact,ecological impact,technological feasibility,and economic cost,the integrated performance of the distri buted plan is better.As shown in this case study,the proposed method is found to be both effective and practical.

Western Imperialism and Military Reform in Japan and China

This paper compares the initial efforts at military reform in China and Japan in the late nineteenth century. Changes in military organization and training are situated within a global process of military transformation represented by changes in the structure of the Prussian army. The Prussian staff system and planning program were imported into both Japan and China, but with quite different results. The paper contrasts centralization and standardization as typified by the new Japanese army with the decentered approaches in China. The paper argues that although there was substantive change in China, the Qing state was unable to impose a uniform plan for military Westernization. As a result, the new armies were never integrated into a common organization capable of defending the state from external aggression.