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Feedback is used to decrease the sensitivity of a system to plant uncertainty or to disturbances. This thesis is focused on the reduction of sensitivity to additive disturbances applied at the output. Systems are represented by linear multivariable frequency responses whose inputs and outputs belong to / (DIAGRAM, TABLE OR GRAPHIC OMITTED...PLEASE SEE DAI) / Rigorous conditions under which feedback can reduce sensitivity are derived. / It is shown that given a minimum phase single input-single output plant, there exists a feedback compensator which reduces sensitivity below any arbitrarily positive value on any finite frequency interval while not exceeding a specified upper bound in the right half complex plane. / It is also shown that given a multivariable invertible plant which approaches diagonal dominance at high frequencies, it is possible to build a diagonal feedback compensator to reduce the sensitivity below any arbitrarily value on any finite frequency interval while not exceeding a specified upper bound in the right half complex plane. / A relationship between sensitivity reduction and decentralized control is established. It is shown that reducing sensitivity to additive disturbances at the outputs is in essence the same as achieving local control of a multivariable system.

Early visual processing is subject to binocular interactions because cells in striate cortex show binocular responses and ocular dominance (Hubel & Weisel, 1968). The work presented in this thesis suggests that these physiological interactions can be revealed in psychophysical experiments using normal human observers. In the region corresponding to the blind spot, where binocular interactions differ from areas of the visual field which are represented by two eyes, monocular contrast sensitivity is increased. This finding can be partially explained by an absence of normal binocular interactions in this location (Chapter 2). A hemianopic patient was studied in an attempt to discover whether the effect in normal observers was mediated by either a mechanism in striate cortex or via a subcortical pathway. However, the results were unable to distinguish between these two explanations (Chapter 3).In a visual search task, no difference in reaction time was observed for targets presented to the region corresponding to the blind spot compared with targets presented to adjacent binocularly represented areas of the visual field. Since performance was unaffected by the monocularity of the region corresponding to the blind, pop-out for orientation may be mediated beyond striate cortex where cells are binocularly balanced (Chapter 5). Further support for this contention was provided by studies of orientation pop-out in central vision which found that dichoptic presentation of stimuli did not affect the degree of pop-out obtained and that in general, visual search for a target based solely on eye of origin is impossible (Chapter 6). However, a task that measured orientation difference sensitivity more directly than the search experiments, found that thresholds were higher for dichoptically presented stimuli. This suggests the involvement of neurons that receive a weighted input from each eye. A model of orientation difference coding can account for the results by assuming that the range of inhibition across which orientation differences are coded is narrower for dichoptic stimuli leading to a greater resolvable orientation difference (Chapter 7).

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-51). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (doctoral)--Munich, 1935. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 16).

Thesis (doctoral)--Munich, 1935. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 16).

Thesis--Wisconsin. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-135).

Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (May 20, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

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The Latino population is not accessing community mediation centers throughout Oregon. Mediation provides a safe space to resolve conflicts outside of the adjudicative processes and at a lower cost. Through interviews with program coordinators/directors of community mediation centers around Oregon, mediators with experience in bilingual mediation and Latino stakeholders, I explore the barriers that exist and methods to increase the participation of the Latino population in community mediation centers. The research asserts that mediation program practitioners have a desire to reach out to the Latino population but face enormous difficulty due to a lack of trust and, frequently, a lack of resources. The findings illustrate that energy and time focused on outreach and community building with the Latino population is necessary to increase trust, knowledge and willingness to participate in mediation. There is a need to train new mediators and to design programs to bring conflict resolution into diverse communities.