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Foreword -- Preface -- Contents -- About the Contributors -- Abbreviations -- Acronyms -- Part I: International Economic Law and Other Concerns -- The First Twenty Cases Under GATT Article XX: Tuna or Shrimp Dear? -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Introducing the General Exceptions -- 3 The Objective of a Measure and the Two-Tier Test -- 4 Why Measures Have Failed Article XX -- 5 Has the Right Balance Been Struck? -- 6 Conclusions -- Appendix 1 -- Appendix 2 -- Falling Foul of Article XX -- Article XX(a) -- US - Gambling (2005) -- China - Audiovisual Services (2009) -- EC - Seals (2014) -- Article XX(b) and (g) -- US - Gasoline (1996) -- EC - Tariff Preferences (2004) -- Brazil - Retreaded Tyres (2007) -- China - Raw Materials (2011) -- China - Rare Earths (2014) -- The (Only) Two Successful Claims Under Article XX -- US - Shrimp II (2001) -- EC - Asbestos (2001) -- References -- Remarks on the Practice of Regional Development Banks´ (RDBs) Accountability Mechanisms and the Safeguard of Human Rights -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Human Rights and Lending Activities: The Experience of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development -- 3 RDBs Accountability Mechanisms: An Overview -- 3.1 Eligibility -- 3.2 Functions -- 3.3 The Social Dimension of RDBs and Accountability Mechanisms´ Practice -- 4 Remarks on theWeaknesses of RDBs Accountability Mechanisms -- 5 Conclusions -- References -- A Waiver for Europe? CETA´s Trade in Services, and Investment Protection Provisions and Their Legal-Political Implications on ... -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Cross-Border Trade in Services Under CETA -- 2.1 Services -- Modalities -- 2.2 Market Access, National Treatment, and MFN -- 2.3 Clarifications -- 2.4 Scheduling Approach and Reservations -- 2.5 Regulatory Competencies -- 3 CETA´s FET and Expropriation Provisions -- 3.1 FET -- 3.2 (Indirect) Expropriation -- 4 Conclusions

The photovoltaic generation distribution supports new energetic scenario development (Net Zero Energy Cluster and DC microgrids). In this context, smart maximum power point (SMPPT) converter represents innovative systems that are able to monitor operating conditions, communicate energetic production data and signal a fault condition. The Smart Maximum Power Point role becomes crucial, and critical aspects such as efficiency and reliability have to be taken into account from the beginning of the design. In this chapter, the idea is to review different reliability prediction models for electronic components focusing on the military ones with the analysis of a case study related to a Smart Maximum Power Point converter in photovoltaic applications.

Abstract Photovoltaic (PV) power optimizers are introduced in PV systems to improve their energetic productivity in presence of mismatching phenomena and not uniform operating conditions. Commercially available converters are characterized by different DC-DC topologies. A promising one is the boost topology with its different versions. It is characterized by its circuital simplicity, few devices and high efficiency values - necessary features for a Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking (DMPPT) converter. PV power optimizer designs represent a challenging task since they operate in continuously changing operating conditions which strongly influence electronic component properties and thus the performance of complete converters. An aspect to carefully analyze in such applications is the thermal factor. In this paper, a necessity to have a suitable temperature monitoring system to avoid dangerous conditions is underlined In addition, another important requirement for a PV power optimizer is its reliability, since it can suggest a useful information on its diagnostic aspects, maintenance and investments. In fact, a reliable device requires less maintenance services, also improving the economic aspect. The evaluation of the electronic system reliability can be carried out using different reliability prediction models. In this paper, reliability indices, such as the Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) or the Failure Rate of a Diode Rectification (DR) boost, are calculated using the evaluation of the Military Handbook 217F and Siemens SN29500 prediction models. With the reliability prediction results it has been possible to identify the most critical components of a DMPPT converter and a measurement setup has been developed in order to monitor the component stress level on the temperature, power, voltage, current, and energy in the DMPPT design phase avoiding the occurrence of a failure that might decrease the service life of the equipment.