ABSTRACT This cost benefit analysis and research are about the joint of military recruitments and conscription concept. The feasibility evaluation has put in consideration of compatriots¡¦ view points and the relative cost benefit of this operation. The analysis and research outcome are relevant to the authorities for decision making. In order to increase the anticipation of society, the plan is put forth on how to encourage the public to adequately express their view points and expectations. Also arrange the interview in depth with public specialists to recognize the diversity of different culture on policy of military construction for the National Defense. The research is based on two phases. (Phase I: To interview with specialists. Phase II: Telephone research of general public). The conclusions are based on the interview with public specialists, telephone research and card vote. 1.When total enrollment reaches to 275 thousand people and the final budget accounting set by law legislature in 2003. The human resource maintenance cost must drop below 45% of national defense budget. The ratio norm of conscription and recruitment is 60% : 40%. Therefore, National defense budge may increase up to 336 billion and human resource maintenance cost may increase up to 151.2 billion. 2.National defense budget should establish the fix percentage above the total government budget GDP ratio by 3% to meet the ratio norm of conscription and recruitment at 60% : 40%. And it only uses annual budget by not spending the special allowance.

Smoothing and noise reduction of images is often an important first step in image processing applications. Simple image smoothing algorithms like the Gaussian filter have the unfortunate side effect of blurring the image which could obfuscate important information and have a negative impact on the following applications. The bilateral filter is a well-used non-linear smoothing algorithm that seeks to preserve edges and contours while removing noise. The bilateral filter comes at a heavy cost in computational speed, especially when used on larger images, since the algorithm does a greater amount of work for each pixel in the image than some simpler smoothing algorithms. In applications where timing is important, this may be enough to encourage certain developers to choose a simpler filter, at the cost of quality. However, the time cost of the bilateral filter can be greatly reduced through parallelization, as the work for each pixel can theoretically be done simultaneously. This work uses Nvidia’s Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) to implement and evaluate some of the most common and effective methods for parallelizing the bilateral filter on a Graphics processing unit (GPU). This includes use of the constant and shared memories, and a technique called 1 x N tiling. These techniques are evaluated on newer hardware and the results are compared to a sequential version, and a naive parallel version not using advanced techniques. This report also intends to give a detailed and comprehensible explanation to these techniques in the hopes that the reader may be able to use the information put forth to implement them on their own. The greatest speedup is achieved in the initial parallelizing step, where the algorithm is simply converted to run in parallel on a GPU. Storing some data in the constant memory provides a slight but reliable speedup for a small amount of work. Additional time can be gained by using shared memory. However, memory transactions did not account for as much of the execution time as was expected, and therefore the memory optimizations only yielded small improvements. Test results showed 1 x N tiling to be mostly non-beneficial for the hardware that was used in this work, but there might have been problems with the implementation.

El tema de investigación abarca el comercio bilateral de bienes, realizado entre República Argentina y la Federación Rusa y el comercio exterior de bienes de ambos países durante la década de los noventa. Los límites temporales de la investigación se explican por la disolución de la Unión Soviética y aparición en la escena internacional de la Federación Rusa como su principal sucesor. En la década de los noventa ambos países sufrieron profundos cambios económicos que tuvieron su reflejo en las relaciones económicas exteriores. Esto permite delimitar el alcance temporal de la investigación. El cambio más profundo fue experimentado quizás por la economía rusa que a principios de los años 90 empezó el proceso de la liberalización de su economía y entre otros su sector externo.Este proceso ha cambiado el método de realización del comercio exterior ruso, y en particular del comercio bilateral entre Argentina y Rusia, pasando de la celebración de los acuerdos intergubernamentales,donde se determinaban los artículos a comercializar y todas las condiciones del comercio, hacia la iniciativa privada por parte de los comerciantes.

With the advancement of communication technology, more and more control processes happen in networked environment. This makes it possible for us to deploy multiple systems in a spatially distributed way such that they could finish certain tasks collaboratively. While it brings about numerous advantages over conventional control, challenges arise in the mean time due to the imperfection of communication. This thesis is aimed to solve some problems in cooperative control involving multiple agents in the presence of communication constraints. Overall, it is comprised of two main parts: Distributed consensus in multi-agent systems and bilateral teleoperation. Chapter 2 to Chapter 4 deal with the consensus problem in multi-agent systems. Our goal is to design appropriate control protocols such that the states of a group of agents will converge to a common value eventually. The robustness of multi-agent systems against various adverse factors in communication is our central concern. Chapter 5 copes with bilateral teleoperation with time delays. The task is to design control laws such that synchronization is reached between the master plant and slave plant. Meanwhile, transparency should be maintained within an acceptable level. Chapter 2 investigates the consensus problem in a multi-agent system with directed communication topology. The time delays are modeled as a Markov chain, thus more characteristics of delays are taken into account. A delay-dependent approach has been proposed to design the Laplacian matrix such that the system is robust against stochastic delays. The consensus problem is converted into stabilization of its equivalent error dynamics, and the mean square stability is employed to characterize its convergence property. One feature of Chapter 2 is redesign of the adjacency matrix, which makes it possible to adjust communication weights dynamically. In Chapter 3, average consensus in single-integrator agents with time-varying delays and random data losses is studied. The interaction topology is assumed to be undirected. The communication constraints lie in two aspects: 1) time-varying delays that are non-uniform and bounded; 2) data losses governed by Bernoulli processes with non-uniform probabilities. By considering the upper bounds of delays and probabilities of packet dropouts, sufficient conditions are developed to guarantee that the multi-agent system will achieve consensus. Chapter 4 is concerned with the consensus problem with double-integrator dynamics and non-uniform sampling. The communication topology is assumed to be fixed and directed. With the adoption of time-varying control gains and the theory on stochastic matrices, we prove that when the graph has a directed spanning tree and the control gains are properly selected, consensus will be reached. Chapter 5 deals with bilateral teleoperation with probabilistic time delays. The delays are from a finite set and each element in the set has a probability of occurrence. After defining the tracking error between the master and slave, the input-to-state stability is used to characterize the system performance. By taking into account the probabilistic information in time delays and using the pole placement technique, the teleoperation system has achieved better position tracking and enhanced transparency. / Graduate

Spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is commonly considered a powerful sensor to detect sea ice. Unfortunately, the sea-ice types in SAR images are difficult to be interpreted due to speckle noise. SAR image denoising therefore becomes a critical step of SAR sea-ice image processing and analysis. In this study, a two-phase approach is designed and implemented for SAR sea-ice image segmentation. In the first phase, a Gamma-based bilateral filter is introduced and applied for SAR image denoising in the local domain. It not only perfectly inherits the conventional bilateral filter with the capacity of smoothing SAR sea-ice imagery while preserving edges, but also enhances it based on the homogeneity in local areas and Gamma distribution of speckle noise. The Gamma-based bilateral filter outperforms other widely used filters, such as Frost filter and the conventional bilateral filter. In the second phase, the K-means clustering algorithm, whose initial centroids are optimized, is adopted in order to obtain better segmentation results. The proposed approach is tested using both simulated and real SAR images, compared with several existing algorithms including K-means, K-means based on the Frost filtered images, and K-means based on the conventional bilateral filtered images. The F1 scores of the simulated results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed approach whose overall accuracies maintain higher than 90% as variances of noise range from 0.1 to 0.5. For the real SAR images, the proposed approach outperforms others with average overall accuracy of 95%.

Doctor Legum - LLD / Currently most international investment disputes are settled through arbitration. The origin of this dispute settlement system can be associated with the recent proliferation of over 3000 Bilateral Investment Treaties. Through this system disputes are settled by autonomous and differently constituted tribunals which have powers to render final and binding awards. The dissatisfied party has very limited opportunity to challenge the rendered award as there are no higher bodies in the hierarchy where a dissatisfied party can lodge an appeal, save for limited procedural challenges which are allowed under the system. These differently constituted tribunals at times reach diametrically opposed decisions on similar facts and those decisions stand side by side and all are considered valid. These inconsistent decisions are leading to lack of consistency and uniformity which in turn affects the legitimacy of the system as a whole. The rules of these institutions do not allow the proceedings to be held in public despite the fact that at times these tribunals question the regulatory powers of the state and state measures on service provision to its citizens. Another issue under the current system is that due to lack of coordination, arbitrators play dual roles: as counsels and arbitrators. This practice compromises the cherished principle of the rule of law. In the effort to address these concerns, stakeholders have suggested a number of possible solutions. The suggested solutions include: invoking res judicata and lis pendens principles; adopting the doctrine of precedent; applying the ‘fork in the road’ principle; adopting the margin of appreciation standard in interpretation of BITs; creating an appellate structure at ICSID and creating a treaty to treaty appellate body. This research submits that, the suggested solutions singularly and cumulatively don not address the legitimacy issues adequately. The research therefore calls for the establishment of a Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) in order to address the legitimacy issues cumulatively. It is submitted that establishing a Multilateral Investment Agreement (MAI) which provides for creating a standing international investment court with an appellate court is the only solution which addresses all the issues haunting the international investment dispute settlement system. In addition, the research suggests interim solutions which will help to increase the legitimacy of the current system pending the establishment of the MAI and the courts. The interim solutions include: establishment of the investor – state dispute adjudication Centre; effective utilisation of host state courts; mandatory publication of all awards; enhancing the effective use of member states interpretative statement; and forming a working commission to provide basic interpretation and the scope of the basic international investment law principles. These measures are only meant to improve the current system pending the establishment of the MAI and the courts. The research concludes that for the betterment of international investment law, the reform is inevitable and that the benefits would outweigh any demerits.

O objetivo proposto por este estudo é investigar a contribuição da Operação Pan-Americana (OPA), lançada pelo Brasil, em 1958, durante o Governo JK, para o estreitamento das relações entre o Brasil e a Argentina, cujo ápice foram os “Acordos de Uruguaiana”, firmados em 1961. A crescente parceria estendeu-se até a desestabilização provocada pelo golpe militar, que destituiu o Presidente argentino Arturo Frondizi, em 1962. Este trabalho procura demonstrar que, durante o período de 1958 a 1962, atingiu-se um alto nível de cooperação bilateral, como resultado de uma ampla mobilização por parte tanto do corpo diplomático, quanto das assessorias diretamente ligadas ao Poder Executivo dos governos desses dois países.As razões que motivaram uma convergência nas ações dos governos do Brasil e da Argentina foram: no aspecto econômico, a necessidade de ampliação do mercado regional, visando a uma maior inserção internacional dessas economias; no aspecto político, o esforço para a manutenção da autonomia frente aos Estados Unidos, potência mundial com hegemonia na região. Tal posicionamento foi influenciado, principalmente, pela tentativa de ingerência norte-americana em determinados países, como foi o caso da Guatemala, em 1954. Portanto, a cooperação internacional dos países latino-americanos (a partir do lançamento da OPA), ampliou o enfoque, que antes era exclusivamente bilateral (com os Estados Unidos), para o âmbito regional, por meio da qual se buscou fortalecer as economias da região. A iniciativa brasileira, de caráter hemisférico, caracterizada pela OPA, acabou contribuindo para que houvesse uma aproximação entre os dois países. Nesses termos, os entendimentos de Uruguaiana, são, aqui, analisados como o resultado de um aprofundamento do projeto de JK; isso porque, apesar de ter havido o fortalecimento dos laços, especialmente, dos dois maiores países do Sul do Continente, mediante os Acordos de Uruguaiana, a OPA abriu também uma nova perspectiva para os demaispaíses da região, que resultou na criação da Associação Latino-Americana de Livre Comércio (ALALC).

This dissertation is compiled of three chapters in determining the effect of bilateral foreign assistance on the economy of Pakistan. The effect of foreign assistance will be measured in terms of public expenditure and revenue. The factors associated in the provision of aid commitments and disbursements, and the effect of bilateral assistance on the production efficiency of Pakistan. Chapter 1 uses an aid disaggregation approach to examine the impact of different types of bilateral donors on the fiscal sector of Pakistan, an important aid recipient in recent years. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of bilateral aid on the economy of Pakistan, from the four largest donors, which include the USA, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Time series data for the period 1972-2010 were analyzed along with an estimation of a fiscal response model following Mavrotas (2005) that combines both aid disaggregation in terms of types of aid and the treatment of endogeneity. The empirical estimation of the structural equations and reduced form equations, using nonlinear three stage least squares estimation clearly suggests the importance of the above approach for delving deeper into aid effectiveness issues. Since different bilateral donors have different effects on key fiscal variables, an impact could not be revealed if a single figure for aid were employed. While aid from Japan increases public investment, aid from the USA, the UK, and Germany appears to cause a reduction in public investment. Similarly, aid from Japan reduces public consumption, but the aid from other donors causes an increase in public consumption. In regards to tax revenue, the aid flows from the USA, the UK and Germany leads to a reduction in tax revenue, but aid flow from Japan increases tax revenue. Chapter 2 investigates the relation between aid disbursements and aid commitments from the fourteen largest donors to Pakistan, and determine the factor that effects commitments and the disbursements. The time series data was employed for the period 1972-2010. The estimation of the model through fixed effect approach and two stage least squares approach showed that aid disbursements, aid commitment from donors to African countries, and Pakistan's membership at the United Nations Security Council effects aid commitments positively and significantly. But, the inverse relation existed between GDP per capita of Pakistan and aid commitments. Similarly, aid commitments relation with the aid disbursements was positive and significant. The war in Afghanistan during any time between1972-2010 increases the aid disbursement to Pakistan. It was also determined that if the level of primary education increases, the aid disbursement to Pakistan decreases. The results also showed that when Pakistan is ruled by the military government the aid disbursements to Pakistan reduces. Chapter 3 focus is to see the impact of different bilateral donors on the production inefficiency of the Pakistan. To empirically estimate the effect of bilateral aid heterogeneity on production inefficiency, we use the time series data for Pakistan for the period 1972-2010. The stochastic frontier analysis was conducted using maximum likelihood estimation. The results determined that the aid from the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany tends to increase production efficiency of Pakistan. However on the contrary aid from Japan tends to decrease production efficiency. It was also concluded from the results that foreign direct investment and public investment also increases production efficiency. But, the relation between human capital and production efficiency was negative. Also, the results indicated that when Pakistan is ruled by the military government the aid flows from the USA and UK reduces production efficiency.

The discourse regarding US/Russia relations focuses intensely on the competitive nature between these two powers. Policy makers echo strategies of the past by making recommendations which embrace competitiveness and mutual mistrust as unavoidable characteristics for future relations. Although these perspectives are not entirely misled, they fall short of illustrating the finer nuances of relations. This paper offers an extensive analysis of three instances of cooperation between the US and Russia in Syria between 2011 and 2017 in order to offer concrete observations about how these antagonistic powers work together. The analysis shows that although the US and Russia are competitive and often have opposing agendas, this does not necessarily prevent them from cooperative engagement that produces substantive results. Their polarity can even contribute to more effective cooperation. This paper also draws conclusions about what circumstances improve the effectiveness of US/Russia cooperation and makes recommendations for future mutual efforts in Syria.

O objetivo proposto por este estudo é investigar a contribuição da Operação Pan-Americana (OPA), lançada pelo Brasil, em 1958, durante o Governo JK, para o estreitamento das relações entre o Brasil e a Argentina, cujo ápice foram os “Acordos de Uruguaiana”, firmados em 1961. A crescente parceria estendeu-se até a desestabilização provocada pelo golpe militar, que destituiu o Presidente argentino Arturo Frondizi, em 1962. Este trabalho procura demonstrar que, durante o período de 1958 a 1962, atingiu-se um alto nível de cooperação bilateral, como resultado de uma ampla mobilização por parte tanto do corpo diplomático, quanto das assessorias diretamente ligadas ao Poder Executivo dos governos desses dois países.As razões que motivaram uma convergência nas ações dos governos do Brasil e da Argentina foram: no aspecto econômico, a necessidade de ampliação do mercado regional, visando a uma maior inserção internacional dessas economias; no aspecto político, o esforço para a manutenção da autonomia frente aos Estados Unidos, potência mundial com hegemonia na região. Tal posicionamento foi influenciado, principalmente, pela tentativa de ingerência norte-americana em determinados países, como foi o caso da Guatemala, em 1954. Portanto, a cooperação internacional dos países latino-americanos (a partir do lançamento da OPA), ampliou o enfoque, que antes era exclusivamente bilateral (com os Estados Unidos), para o âmbito regional, por meio da qual se buscou fortalecer as economias da região. A iniciativa brasileira, de caráter hemisférico, caracterizada pela OPA, acabou contribuindo para que houvesse uma aproximação entre os dois países. Nesses termos, os entendimentos de Uruguaiana, são, aqui, analisados como o resultado de um aprofundamento do projeto de JK; isso porque, apesar de ter havido o fortalecimento dos laços, especialmente, dos dois maiores países do Sul do Continente, mediante os Acordos de Uruguaiana, a OPA abriu também uma nova perspectiva para os demaispaíses da região, que resultou na criação da Associação Latino-Americana de Livre Comércio (ALALC).