Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fast statistical analysis of rare circuit failure events via scaled-sigma sampling for high-dimensional variation space

Accurately estimating the rare failure rates for nanoscale circuit blocks (e.g., SRAM, DFF, etc.) is a challenging task, especially when the variation space is high-dimensional. In this paper, we propose a novel scaled-sigma sampling (SSS) method to address this technical challenge. The key idea of SSS is to generate random samples from a distorted distribution for which the standard deviation (i.e., sigma) is scaled up. Next, the failure rate is accurately estimated from these scaled random samples by using an analytical model derived from the theorem of “soft maximum”. Several circuit examples designed in nanoscale technologies demonstrate that the proposed SSS method achieves superior accuracy over the traditional importance sampling technique when the dimensionality of the variation space is more than a few hundred.
Controller synthesis for positive systems under l1-induced performance

In this paper, we investigate the problem of controller design for positive systems with the use of linear Lyapunov function. We first present an analytical method to compute the exact value of the l1-induced norm. Then, we propose a novel characterization under which discrete positive system is asymptotically stable with a prescribed l1-induced performance. Based on the characterization, a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of desired controllers is presented, and an iterative linear matrix inequality approach is developed to solve the design condition. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed theoretical results.
Validation of ozone measurements from the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE)

This paper presents extensive {bias determination} analyses of ozone observations from the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) satellite instruments: the ACE Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) and the Measurement of Aerosol Extinction in the Stratosphere and Troposphere Retrieved by Occultation (ACE-MAESTRO) instrument. Here we compare the latest ozone data products from ACE-FTS and ACE-MAESTRO with coincident observations from nearly 20 satellite-borne, airborne, balloon-borne and ground-based instruments, by analysing volume mixing ratio profiles and partial column densities. The ACE-FTS version 2.2 Ozone Update product reports more ozone than most correlative measurements from the upper troposphere to the lower mesosphere. At altitude levels from 16 to 44 km, the average values of the mean relative differences are nearly all within +1 to +8%. At higher altitudes (45–60 km), the ACE-FTS ozone amounts are significantly larger than those of the comparison instruments, with mean relative differences of up to +40% (about +20% on average). For the ACE-MAESTRO version 1.2 ozone data product, mean relative differences are within ±10% (average values within ±6%) between 18 and 40 km for both the sunrise and sunset measurements. At higher altitudes (~35–55 km), systematic biases of opposite sign are found between the ACE-MAESTRO sunrise and sunset observations. While ozone amounts derived from the ACE-MAESTRO sunrise occultation data are often smaller than the coincident observations (with mean relative differences down to −10%), the sunset occultation profiles for ACE-MAESTRO show results that are qualitatively similar to ACE-FTS, indicating a large positive bias (mean relative differences within +10 to +30%) in the 45–55 km altitude range. In contrast, there is no significant systematic difference in bias found for the ACE-FTS sunrise and sunset measurements.
The Financial Situation and Financing of Nonfinancial Corporations in the Ten New EU Member States – A First Empirical Orientation

This paper provides a first stocktaking of the available data on the financial situation and the financing of nonfinancial corporations (NFCs) in the ten new EU Member States (NMS-10). It focuses on comparing the situation in the NMS-10 with the status quo in the euro area. For most indicators of financial results and of the structure of liabilities and financial assets, the range between the minimum and the maximum within the euro area was sufficiently wide to embrace the corresponding NMS-10 values. Thus, the two groups are not very different from each other in this respect. Still, there are some differences between them that tend to be typical and are primarily attributable to the ongoing catching-up process of the NMS-10 economies and the more prominent role of inward FDI as well as the still minor role of outward FDI in their economic structure.
Quantifying interpersonal influence in face-to-face conversations based on visual attention patterns

A novel measure for automatically quantifying the amount of interpersonal influence present in face-to-face conversations is proposed based on the visual-attention patterns of the participants as inferred from video sequences. First, we focus on the gaze of the participants as an indicator of addressing / listening behavior and build a probabilistic conversation model for inferring the gaze directions and conversation structures like monologue and dialogue, from observed utterances and head directions measured with image-based head trackers. Next, based on the estimates, the amount of influence is defined based on the amount of attention paid to speakers in monologues and to persons with whom the participants interact with during the dialogues. Experiments confirm that the proposed measures reveal some aspects of interpersonal influence in conversations.
Probing the Multiphase Interstellar Medium of the Dwarf Starburst Galaxy NGC 625 with Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer Spectroscopy

We present new Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) spectroscopy of the dwarf starburst galaxy NGC 625. These observations probe multiple phases of the interstellar medium (ISM), including the coronal, ionized, neutral, and molecular gas. This nearby (D = 3.9 ± 0.2 Mpc) system shows a clear detection of outflowing coronal gas as traced by O VI λ1032 absorption. The centroid of the O VI profile is blueshifted with respect to the galaxy systemic velocity by ~30 km s-1, suggesting a low-velocity outflow. The implied O VI velocity extent is found to be 100 ± 20 km s-1, which is fully consistent with the detected H I outflow velocity found in radio synthesis observations. We detect multiple lines of diffuse H2 absorption from the ISM of NGC 625; this is one of only a few extragalactic systems with FUSE detections of H2 lines in the Lyman and Werner bands. We find a potential abundance offset between the neutral and nebular gas that exceeds the errors on the derived column densities. Since such an offset has been found in multiple dwarf galaxies, we discuss the implications of a lower-metallicity halo surrounding the central star-forming regions of dwarf galaxies. The apparent offset may be due to saturation of the observed O I line, and higher signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) observations are required to resolve this issue.
Teenage Sex and Pregnancy

This detailed, exhaustively documented account shows how and why just about everyone in today’s teen pregnancy debate is wrong—often disastrously so. Teenage Sex and Pregnancy: Modern Myths, Unsexy Realities presents a unique view of its subject by analyzing the extensive myths and fears that surround discussion of teenage sex and pregnancy, including their relationship to popular culture, poverty, adult sexual behaviors, and anxieties toward the increasingly public roles of young women. Award-winning author Mike Males argues that today’s discussions rely largely on falsehoods and the suppression of crucial realities. His work details a new view of popular culture as a largely beneficial feature of teens’ lives and presents a carefully documented analysis demolishing destructive myths about the “new girl. ” Debunking popular arguments, he shows that the “teen sex” debate is mired in interest-group talking points that ignore difficult realities to advance politically attuned agendas. It’s time, he writes, to modernize the discussion, recognizing that teens act in ways consistent with their interests, with the sexual behaviors of adults, and with the school and job opportunities afforded them.
Counter terrorism: risk perception and communication in naturalistic environments

Motivation - This research examines risk perception and the process of interactive counter terror communication in order to reduce the fear associated with security technologies in public spaces. Research approach - Using focus groups, data collection will adopt a two-stage design assessing (i) public perceptions of current counter terror communications and (ii) the effectiveness of interactive counter terror communication tools. Research limitations / Implications - Despite limitations associated with the generalisability of findings to other UK cities and countries, it is hoped that this research will produce evidence-based advice on how best to communicate with the UK public. Originality / Value - This research demonstrates the utility of researchers engaging in risk research collaborating with communication designers to develop state-of-the art communication tools. Take away message - When situated in a naturalistic environment, interactive communication tools can be used as an interface to manage the public's risk perceptions in relation to counter terror technologies.
How Binary Interactions Affect Spectral Stellar Population Synthesis

Single-star stellar population (ssSSP) models are usually used for spectral stellar population studies. However, more than 50% of stars are in binaries and evolve differently from single stars. This suggests that the effects of binary interactions should be considered when modeling the stellar populations of galaxies and star clusters. Via a rapid spectral stellar population synthesis model, we give detailed studies of the effects of binary interactions on the Lick indices and colors of stellar populations and on the determination of the stellar ages and metallicities of populations. Our results show that binary interactions make stellar populations less luminous and bluer, with larger age-sensitive Lick indices (Hβ) and smaller metallicity-sensitive indices (e.g., Mg b, Fe5270, and Fe5335) compared to ssSSPs. It also shows that when ssSSP models are used to determine the ages and metallicities of stellar populations, smaller ages or metallicities are obtained when using two line indices (Hβ and [MgFe]) or two colors (e.g., u − R and R − K), respectively. Some relations for linking the stellar population parameters obtained by ssSSPs to those obtained by binary-star stellar populations (bsSSPs) are presented in this work. This can help us get some absolute values for stellar population parameters and is useful for absolute studies. However, it is found that the relative luminosity-weighted stellar ages and metallicities obtained via ssSSPs and bsSSPs are similar. This suggests that ssSSPs can be used for most spectral stellar population studies, except in some special cases.
Investigating Hybrid Models of Speech Perception

The ability to perceive sounds as words involves a transformation from detailed speech signals to invariant meanings, which are separate from information about the speaker of a particular word. The nature of this transformation is a central issue in the field of speech perception. A particular focus of ongoing debate concerns talker-specific details: are they causally relevant to lexical perception, or are they useful only for tasks like speaker recognition? One common way to investigate the impact of voice information is to examine the time-course of its effects on future perceptual events. Early research reported no consistent long-lasting effects, implying that speech representations do not contain talker-specific detail ( Jackson & Morton, 1984). However, subsequent work reported long-lasting effects, leading to a focus on modelling speech representations as abstractions over detail-rich episodic memories (Goldinger, 1996). Current hybrid models (Church & Schacter, 1994; McLennan & Luce, 2005; Goldinger, 2007) incorporate abstract and detail-rich speech representations but differ in the relative importance assigned each. Two types of hybrid models are differentiated: a) models with combined representations, where abstraction occurs over detailed memories of speech episodes; versus b) models with separate representations, where different processing paths exist from the speech signal to word and speaker recognition. To investigate these models, this thesis reports multiple experiments investigating the time-course of the decay patterns of voice effects in repetition priming. Results from auditory lexical decision indicate that voice information only affects the speed of future perceptual processes within a short time window: until around three items intervene between prime and target. This finding clarifies previous results, which found no long-lasting effects, by providing an exact time-course of voice information’s impact. Nevertheless, the results reported here differ from the predictions of studies investigating recognition accuracy, where long-lasting effects are commonly found. To address these differences, additional experiments using continuous and blocked word recognition paradigms were conducted. Again, talker-specific effects only persist within the same short time window, while abstract repetition priming effects persist much longer. By de-emphasizing the contribution of voice information, these findings assert the importance of abstract linguistic representations in hybrid models with separate representations. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Linguistics First Advisor David Embick This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn. edu/edissertations/3202
Molecular line intensities as measures of cloud masses – II. Conversion factors for specific galaxy types

We present theoretically established values of the CO-to-H_2 and C-to-H_2 conversion factors that may be used to estimate the gas masses of external galaxies. We consider four distinct galaxy types, represented by M51, NGC 6946, M82 and SMC N27. The physical parameters that best represent the conditions within the molecular clouds in each of the galaxy types are estimated using a χ^2 analysis of several observed atomic fine structure and CO rotational lines. This analysis is explored over a wide range of density, radiation field, extinction and other relevant parameters. Using these estimated physical conditions in methods that we have previously established, CO-to-H_2 conversion factors are then computed for CO transitions up to J = 9 → 8. For the conventional CO(1–0) transition, the computed conversion factor varies significantly below and above the canonical value for the Milky Way in the four galaxy types considered. Since atomic carbon emission is now frequently used as a probe of external galaxies, we also present, for the first time, the C-to-H_2 conversion factor for this emission in the four galaxy types considered.
Ultra-Wideband Bandpass Filter Using Multilayer Liquid-Crystal-Polymer Technology

Novel ultra-wideband (UWB) bandpass filters are proposed based on quasi-lumped-element prototypes and implemented with multilayer liquid-crystal-polymer (LCP) technology. In this study, the broadside-coupled microstrip radial stubs and high-impedance microstrip lines are adopted as quasi-lumped elements for realizing compact UWB bandpass filters. By introducing a short-circuited high-impedance microstrip line as a shunt inductor and suitably designing quasi-lumped-element capacitors, a compact six-pole bandpass filter is implemented with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defined UWB specifications. To further improve the selectivity and wideband performance, an eight-pole filter of this type is developed by adding two shunt short-circuited microstrip stubs, which introduce a transmission zero at the upper passband edge. The proposed filters are fabricated using multilayer LCP technology. Good agreement between simulated and measured results of these filters are observed. The measured results show that the fabricated six-pole filter has good specifications for the FCC-defined UWB system. The fabricated eight-pole filter has an ultra-wide fractional bandwidth (139%) and a good stopband rejection level, which is higher than 38.1 dB from 10.57 to 18.0 GHz. The proposed filters are attractive for UWB communications and radar systems.
Leaving the empirical (battle)ground: output and welfare effects of fiscal consolidation in general equilibrium

We study the effects of fiscal consolidation within a dynamic general equilibrium model with overlapping generations. Our contribution to the theoretical consolidation literature is threefold. (i) Individual decisions of time allocation between work, leisure and education are fully endogenous in our model. (ii) We pay particular attention to also modeling public employment and production. We distinguish public employees in the construction of infrastructure, in education, and in the production of useful public consumption goods. (iii) We go beyond the analysis of the usual economic aggregates (such as GDP) and also look at the welfare impact of different fiscal consolidation strategies on current and future generations of both high and low-ability individuals. Our main findings are as follows. As to output effects, we confirm that expenditure based consolidation is better than labor or capital tax based consolidation. Truly expansionary output effects after spending cuts, however, can only be observed for private output. We do generally not observe them when we consider GDP and include the value added produced by public employees. Our results for welfare bring even more nuance on the possibility of expansionary fiscal consolidation. When aggregated over all generations that are alive at the time consolidation is started, almost all consolidation strategies bring about net negative welfare effects. Only the youngest and future generations experience positive welfare effects. Interestingly, the positive effects for these generations are smaller under spending based adjustments in the area of education, investment, and overall public employment, than under tax based adjustments. Robustness tests by changing key assumptions of our model never imply changes of these conclusions, quite on the contrary.
Association study of Wnt signaling pathway genes in bipolar disorder.

CONTEXT The Wnt signaling pathways promote cell growth and are best known for their role in embryogenesis and cancer. Several lines of evidence suggest that these pathways might also be involved in bipolar disorder. OBJECTIVE To test for an association between candidate genes in the Wnt signaling pathways and disease susceptibility in a family-based bipolar disorder study. DESIGN Two hundred twenty-seven tagging single- nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 34 genes were successfully genotyped. Initial results led us to focus on the gene PPARD, in which we genotyped an additional 13 SNPs for follow-up. SETTING Nine academic medical centers in the United States. PARTICIPANTS Five hundred fifty-four offspring with bipolar disorder and their parents from 317 families. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Family-based association using FBAT and HBAT (http://www.biostat.harvard.edu/~fbat/default.html; Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts). Exploratory analyses testing for interactions of PPARD SNPs with clinical covariates and with other Wnt genes were conducted with GENASSOC (Stata Corp, College Station, Texas). RESULTS In the initial analysis, the most significantly associated SNP was rs2267665 in PPARD (nominal P < .001). This remained significant at P = . 05 by permutation after accounting for all SNPs tested. Additional genotyping in PPARD yielded 4 SNPs in 1 haplotype block that were significantly associated with bipolar disorder (P < .01), the most significant being rs9462082 (P < .001). Exploratory analyses revealed significant evidence (P < .01) for interactions of rs9462082 with poor functioning on the Global Assessment Scale (odds ratio [OR], 3.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.85-6.08) and with SNPs in WNT2B (rs3790606: OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.67-4.00) and WNT7A (rs4685048: OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.23-2.63). CONCLUSIONS We found evidence for association of bipolar disorder with PPARD, a gene in the Wnt signaling pathway. The consistency of this result with one from the Wellcome Trust Case-Control Consortium encourages further study. If the finding can be confirmed in additional samples, it may illuminate a new avenue for understanding the pathogenesis of severe bipolar disorder and developing more effective treatments.
Financial analyst coverage, method of payment and wealth effects in M&As

This study investigates the impact of the combining companies’ financial analyst coverage in mergers and acquisitions (M&As). By analysing both the M&A payment consideration as well as the wealth effects, we unravel the apparent contradiction between the early theoretical models describing the risk-reducing benefits of stock swaps and conflicting recent empirical findings. Our empirical results for a sample of 1762 M&A announcements during 1994-2011 show that low target analyst coverage incites more cash offers and leads to significantly higher abnormal acquirer returns. Furthermore, acquirer shareholders gain a significantly larger fraction of the total M&A gains if the target company is covered by a relatively low number of analysts. These results hold in subsamples of all-cash or all-stock offers. Finally, we demonstrate that acquirer analyst coverage mitigates market-timing behaviour in M&As. A high number of analysts following the acquirer limits the use of stock payments and reduces the negative impact of stock swaps on bidder announcement returns.
A five-site model for liquid water and the reproduction of the density anomaly by rigid, nonpolarizable potential functions

The ability of simple potential functions to reproduce accurately the density of liquid water from −37 to 100 °C at 1 to 10 000 atm has been further explored. The result is the five-site TIP5P model, which yields significantly improved results; the average error in the density over the 100° temperature range from −37.5 to 62.5 °C at 1 atm is only 0.006 g cm−3. Classical Monte Carlo statistical mechanics calculations have been performed to optimize the parameters, especially the position of the negative charges along the lone-pair directions. Initial calculations with 216 molecules in the NPT ensemble at 1 atm focused on finding a model that reproduced the shape of the liquid density curve as a function of temperature. Calculations performed for 512 molecules with the final TIP5P model demonstrate that the density maximum near 4 °C at 1 atm is reproduced, while high-quality structural and thermodynamic results are maintained. Attainment of high precision for the low-temperature runs required sampling for more than 1 billion Monte Carlo configurations. In addition, the dielectric constant was computed from the response to an applied electric field; the result is 81.5±1.5 at 25 °C and the experimental curve is mirrored from 0–100 °C at 1 atm. The TIP5P model is also found to perform well as a function of pressure; the density of liquid water at 25 °C is reproduced with an average error of ∼2% over the range from 1 to 10 000 atm, and the shift of the temperature of maximum density to lower temperature with increasing pressure is also obtained.