OCReP: An Optimally Conditioned Regularization for Pseudoinversion Based Neural Training

In this paper we consider the training of single hidden layer neural networks by pseudoinversion, which, in spite of its popularity, is sometimes affected by numerical instability issues. Regularization is known to be effective in such cases, so that we introduce, in the framework of Tikhonov regularization, a matricial reformulation of the problem which allows us to use the condition number as a diagnostic tool for identification of instability. By imposing well-conditioning requirements on the relevant matrices, our theoretical analysis allows the identification of an optimal value for the regularization parameter from the standpoint of stability. We compare with the value derived by cross-validation for overfitting control and optimisation of the generalization performance. We test our method for both regression and classification tasks. The proposed method is quite effective in terms of predictivity, often with some improvement on performance with respect to the reference cases considered. This approach, due to analytical determination of the regularization parameter, dramatically reduces the computational load required by many other techniques.Comment: Published on Neural Network

Who'll Stop the Rain? Allocating Emissions Allowances for Free: Environmental Policy, Economics, and WTO Subsidy Law

This article investigates the environmental and economic impact of the free allocation of emissions allowances in Emissions Trading Schemes (ETSs) as well as its compatibility with trade law. Free allocation can facilitate the industry's gradual adjustment to an ETS and hence boost its acceptability. At the same time, however, the article shows that the economic and environmental benefits of free allocation are debatable. Moreover, the practice of free allocation possibly contravenes WTO law. The conclusion that free allowances may constitute an objectionable subsidy under WTO subsidy disciplines raises questions of law reform. Should the ETS be reformed to fit conventional trade imperatives, or should trade law be rethought so as to be responsive to contemporary environmental protection strategies? The article argues that, considering the questionable benefits of free allocation, any adjustment to trade law should be narrow and temporar

New configurations of housing facilities developed in height. Pico hydraulics, consumption become energy

The continuous growth of the population and the increasing demand of urbanization expansion towards the development of high-rise buildings. To meet their energy demand, the European Community is trying to address the designers to nearly zero-energy buildings. It is reasonably simple to produce a small residence totally energy efficient however it will be a real challenge to do the same for high-rise residential buildings. In the general research of the “P\u3e 20” a building of more than 20 floors, equipped with renewable energy systems and with low impact technologies, with complete energy efficiency is studied energy self-sufficient. The first technology introduced in this paper will be the Pico Hydraulics system, a technology for the exploitation of hydro electric potential of grey water to produce electricity. Finally, the economic, environmental and social advantages of P\u3e 20 is to be illustrated, for Albanian and European cities

“Flying high in a plane” Appellate Body Report, European Communities and certain member states – measures affecting trade in large civil aircraft

This article reviews the Appellate Body decision in the implementation phase of the EC – Aircraft dispute. Focusing on some of the key findings, we assess whether they are legally and economically correct. We conclude that a) though still unclear, the test for establishing de facto contingency on import substitution subsidies is probably too demanding; that b) though legitimate, the interpretation of the remedy of removal of the adverse effects for actionable subsidies is the weakest and most deferential possible; that c) the hesitation in confirming that quantitative methods are the key tool to define the relevant market is unwelcome; and that d) the Appellate Body correctly recognise the importance for Panels to consider, in the context of the serious prejudice analysis, whether the like product of the complainant has been subsidised. Most importantly, the analysis of this case, set within the broader jurisprudence and practice, has led us to conclude that WTO subsidy disciplines are not particularly strong. The review of the main economic theories justifying subsidy control (strategic trade policy, terms of trade, private information, commitment theory) has shown that no single theory is able to fully account for subsidies and the need to control them. The key question is the definition of what we want to achieve by controlling subsidies, which is the main message sent to the policy-makers and negotiators that are currently considering law reform

New configurations of housing facilities developed in height. Pico hydraulics, consumption become energy

The continuous growth of the population and the increasing demand of urbanization expansion towards the development of high-rise buildings. To meet their energy demand, the European Community is trying to address the designers to nearly zero-energy buildings. It is reasonably simple to produce a small residence totally energy efficient however it will be a real challenge to do the same for high-rise residential buildings. In the general research of the “P\u3e 20” a building of more than 20 floors, equipped with renewable energy systems and with low impact technologies, with complete energy efficiency is studied energy self-sufficient. The first technology introduced in this paper will be the Pico Hydraulics system, a technology for the exploitation of hydro electric potential of grey water to produce electricity. Finally, the economic, environmental and social advantages of P\u3e 20 is to be illustrated, for Albanian and European cities

New configurations of housing facilities developed in height. Pico hydraulics, consumption become energy

The continuous growth of the population and the increasing demand of urbanization expansion towards the development of high-rise buildings. To meet their energy demand, the European Community is trying to address the designers to nearly zero-energy buildings. It is reasonably simple to produce a small residence totally energy efficient however it will be a real challenge to do the same for high-rise residential buildings. In the general research of the “P\u3e 20” a building of more than 20 floors, equipped with renewable energy systems and with low impact technologies, with complete energy efficiency is studied energy self-sufficient. The first technology introduced in this paper will be the Pico Hydraulics system, a technology for the exploitation of hydroelectric potential of grey water to produce electricity. Finally, the economic, environmental and social advantages of P\u3e 20 is to be illustrated, for Albanian and European cities

A food chain ecoepidemic model: infection at the bottom trophic level

In this paper we consider a three level food web subject to a disease affecting the bottom prey. The resulting dynamics is much richer with respect to the purely demographic model, in that it contains more transcritical bifurcations, gluing together the various equilibria, as well as persistent limit cycles, which are shown to be absent in the classical case. Finally, bistability is discovered among some equilibria, leading to situations in which the computation of their basins of attraction is relevant for the system outcome in terms of its biological implications

Numerical simulations of stellar jets and comparison between synthetic and observed maps: clues to the launch mechanism

High angular resolution spectra obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (HST/STIS) provide rich morphological and kinematical information about the stellar jet phenomenon, which allows us to test theoretical models efficiently. In this work, numerical simulations of stellar jets in the propagation region are executed with the PLUTO code, by adopting inflow conditions that arise from former numerical simulations of magnetized outflows, accelerated by the disk-wind mechanism in the launching region. By matching the two regions, information about the magneto-centrifugal accelerating mechanism underlying a given astrophysical object can be extrapolated by comparing synthetic and observed position-velocity diagrams (PVDs). We show that quite different jets, like those from the young T Tauri stars DG-Tau and RW-Aur, may originate from the same disk-wind model for different configurations of the magnetic field at the disk surface. This result supports the idea that all the observed jets may be generated by the same mechanism.Comment: 15 pages, 18 figures, accepted for publication by A&

governance and the stakeholders engagement in city logistics the sulpiter methodology and the bologna application

Abstract Many actors are involved in the urban freight delivery system. They hold different visions, perceptions, goals. However, city logistics affects a well-defined set of subjects: their acceptance of (and even positive contribution to) policy can be enhanced by continuing consultation. This evidence stresses the need for the stakeholders' engagement as a strategic factor of any decision-making process. The paper presents the guidelines of the EU-funded project SULPiTER (Interreg Central Europe Programme) for the stakeholders' involvement (both public and private) in the definition of city logistics policies. In particular, the FQP (Freight Quality Partnership) tool is analyzed and discussed. After an overview of the institutional references and the implemented experiences, a methodological approach is presented, describing the steps for an effective FQP implementation. The case of the Metropolitan city of Bologna is presented as the local application of the SULPiTER methodology, considering two aspects: the way of defining the governance for combining horizontally different public authorities, and the tool for e ngaging the private stakeholders in the definition of Sustainable Urban Logistics Plans (SULPs)