Proportional-integral-plus (PIP) control of time delay systems

The paper shows that the digital proportional-integral-plus (PIP) controller formulated within the context of non-minimum state space (NMSS) control system design methodology is directly equivalent, under certain non-restrictive pole assignment conditions, to the equivalent digital Smith predictor (SP) control system for time delay systems. This allows SP controllers to be considered within the context of NMSS state variable feedback control, so that optimal design methods can be exploited to enhance the performance of the SP controller. Alternatively, since the PIP design strategy provides a more flexible approach, which subsumes the SP controller as one option, it provides a superior basis for general control system design. The paper also discusses the robustness and disturbance response characteristics of the two PIP control structures that emerge from the analysis and demonstrates the efficacy of the design methods through simulation examples and the design of a climate control system for a large horticultural glasshouse system

Using Meta Analysis for Benefits Transfer: Theory and Practice

Meta-analysis, or the "study of studies", attempts to statistically measure systematic relationships between reported valuation estimates for an environmental good or service and attributes of the study that generated the estimates including valuation methods, human population and sample characteristics, and characteristics of the good or service itself. In this paper, we discuss the general theory behind and practice of the emerging use of meta-analysis for benefits transfer. If carefully conducted following systematic protocols for model development, data collection, and data analysis and interpretation, we believe that meta-analysis may prove to be a useful tool for benefits transfer in particular applications. However, before widespread application of this method, more convergent validity tests are needed. One of the greatest strengths of using meta-analysis for benefits transfer is the ability to combine and summarize large amounts of information from previous studies. This strength can also lead to one of the greatest weaknesses of this method which is the loss of important valuation details across time and space in the aggregation process. Thus, application of this method to policy questions and issues should always proceed with caution.

Cosmic Ray Physics with ACORDE at LHC

The use of large underground high-energy physics experiments, for comic ray studies, have been used, in the past, at CERN, in order to measure, precisely, the inclusive cosmic ray flux in the energy range from 2x10^10 - 2x10^12 eV. ACORDE, ALICE Cosmic Rays DEtector, will act as Level 0 cosmic ray trigger and, together with other ALICE apparatus, will provide precise information on cosmic rays with primary energies around 10^15 - 10^17 eV. This paper reviews the main detector features, the present status, commissioning and integration with other apparatus. Finally, we discuss the ACORDE-ALICE cosmic ray physics program.Comment: Contribution to the 2007 Europhysics Conference on High Energy Physics - Manchester, England 19-25 July 2007; 3 pages, 3 figure

International Economic Conflict and Resolution

Conflict and their resolutions contribute to the development of the law. Organizations and systems are structured or restructured and policies are formulated in response to them. In the case of international economic law, conflict comes in a variety of forms and is resolved in a number of ways and in different forums.\u27 The 2001 Conference of the International Economic Law Group focused on the issue of conflict resolution.2 The two plenary sessions of the conference were held at the Warwick Hotel in Houston. This symposium issue of the Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business contains three of the articles presented during those sessions of the conference. Other scholars who presented papers at the conference were Jeffery Atik, David Gantz, Helen Hartnell, John McGinnis, Mark Movsesian, Matthew Schaefer, Gregory Shaffer, M. Sornarajah, Spencer Weber Waller and Anthony Winer. Featured speakers were Robert Hudec, Paul Stephan and Joel Trachtman. The International Economic Law Group (IELG) of the American Society of International Law (ASIL) was designed to offer scholars a chance to closely examine and study international economic law.3 This IELG conference aimed at studying how and why conflicts arise in international economic law as well as offering analyses and prescriptions of how they are and should be resolved

The U.S. Approach To Regionalism: Recent Past And Future

The new regionalism \u27 of the last decade shows a turn away from regional groupings (such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), 2 the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) 3 and Free Trade of the Americas (FTAA) 4 ) towards the negotiation and implementation of more bilateral arrangements

International Economic Conflict and Resolution

Conflict and their resolutions contribute to the development of the law. Organizations and systems are structured or restructured and policies are formulated in response to them. In the case of international economic law, conflict comes in a variety of forms and is resolved in a number of ways and in different forums.\u27 The 2001 Conference of the International Economic Law Group focused on the issue of conflict resolution.2 The two plenary sessions of the conference were held at the Warwick Hotel in Houston. This symposium issue of the Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business contains three of the articles presented during those sessions of the conference. Other scholars who presented papers at the conference were Jeffery Atik, David Gantz, Helen Hartnell, John McGinnis, Mark Movsesian, Matthew Schaefer, Gregory Shaffer, M. Sornarajah, Spencer Weber Waller and Anthony Winer. Featured speakers were Robert Hudec, Paul Stephan and Joel Trachtman. The International Economic Law Group (IELG) of the American Society of International Law (ASIL) was designed to offer scholars a chance to closely examine and study international economic law.3 This IELG conference aimed at studying how and why conflicts arise in international economic law as well as offering analyses and prescriptions of how they are and should be resolved