Efficient digital-to-analog encoding

An important issue in analog circuit design is the problem of digital-to-analog conversion, i.e., the encoding of Boolean variables into a single analog value which contains enough information to reconstruct the values of the Boolean variables. A natural question is: what is the complexity of implementing the digital-to-analog encoding function? That question was answered by Wegener (see Inform. Processing Lett., vol.60, no.1, p.49-52, 1995), who proved matching lower and upper bounds on the size of the circuit for the encoding function. In particular, it was proven that [(3n-1)/2] 2-input arithmetic gates are necessary and sufficient for implementing the encoding function of n Boolean variables. However, the proof of the upper bound is not constructive. In this paper, we present an explicit construction of a digital-to-analog encoder that is optimal in the number of 2-input arithmetic gates. In addition, we present an efficient analog-to-digital decoding algorithm. Namely, given the encoded analog value, our decoding algorithm reconstructs the original Boolean values. Our construction is suboptimal in that it uses constants of maximum size n log n bits; the nonconstructive proof uses constants of maximum size 2n+[log n] bits

Effects of Knowledge Base Quality on Peer-to-peer Information Propagation

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Empowerment and local level conflict mediation in Indonesia : a comparative analysis of concepts, measures, and project efficacy

The notion of empowerment has been more often deductively claimed than carefully defined or inductively assessed by development scholars and practitioners alike. The authors define and assess empowerment through an in-depth examination of the extent to which a large community development project in rural Indonesia empowers participants (especially members of marginalized groups) through building their capacity to manage local conflict. Although the project induces conflict through its deployment of a competitive bidding process, the authors argue that, when well implemented, it can also enable otherwise unequal groups to more peacefully, equitably, and effectively engage one another. Using a mixed methods approach, they compare cases from otherwise similar treatment and control villages to shed light on the chief components of villagers'capacity to manage local conflict. They discuss the interdependencies of two major analytical realms-routines of inter-group collaboration, and sources of countervailing power-and their relation to local conflict processes and outcomes.ICT Policy and Strategies,Education and Society,Educational Sciences,Post Conflict Reconstruction,TF054599-PHRD-KYRGYZ REPUBLIC: WATER MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Determining the change in welfare estimates from introducing measurement error in non-linear choice models

Observed and unobserved characteristics of an individual are often used by researchers to explain choices over the provision of environmental goods. One means for identifying what is typically an unobserved characteristic, such as an attitude, is through some data reduction technique, such as factor analysis. However, the resultant variable represents the true attitude with measurement error, and hence, when included into a non-linear choice model, introduces bias in the model. There are well established methods to overcome this issue, which are seldom implemented. In an application to preferences over two water source alternatives for Perth in Western Australia, we use structural equation modeling within a discrete choice model to determine whether welfare measures are significantly impacted by ignoring measurement error in latent attitudes, and the advantage to policy makers from understanding what drives certain attitudes.contingent valuation, attitudes, structural equation modeling, recycled water, Environmental Economics and Policy, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, Q51, Q53, C13,

Martin Scorsese’s Divine Comedy: Movies and Religion

This is a book review of Catherine O\u27Brien, Martin Scorsese’s Divine Comedy: Movies and Religion, London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2018

Stanley Kubrick, Jewish Filmmaker: A Review Essay

This is a review of two books: Nathan Abrams, Stanley Kubrick: New York Jewish Intellectual (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2018), and David Mikics, Stanley Kubrick: American Filmmaker (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2020)

Transcendental Style in Film: Ozu, Bresson, Dreyer (2nd edition)

This is a book review of Paul Schrader\u27s Transcendental Style in Film: Ozu, Bresson, Dreyer, 2nd edition (Oakland, CA: University of California Press, 2018)