Symbolic analysis tools-the state of the art

This paper reviews the main last generation symbolic analyzers, comparing them in terms of functionality, pointing out also their shortcomings. The state of the art in this field is also studied, pointing out directions for future research

An exploration of student mentoring to motivate and to enhance interactive learning in undergraduate engineering courses

Algunos de los objetivos establecidos por las directrices de la Universidad son la promoción de la tutoría entre pares, desarrollada principalmente entre estudiantes de cursos avanzados y estudiantes de primer año. Si bien es cierto que este tipo de experiencia se difunde ampliamente en las Facultades de Pedagogía y Psicología, su implementación limitada en las Escuelas de Ingeniería no es menos cierta. Esta comunicación describe la experiencia de tutoría que se ha llevado a cabo entre los estudiantes de pregrado de tercer y segundo año para mejorar los resultados académicos de los de segundo año en la asignatura de "Automatización", incluida en el programa del segundo curso de El Grado en Tecnología de Ingeniería Industrial, todo ello basado en la experiencia adquirida por los alumnos de tercer año. Para lograr este objetivo, los mentores de los estudiantes han utilizado herramientas en línea que ya podían manejar con habilidad, como MATLAB y SIMULINK, para el aprendizaje de conceptos fundamentales de la asignatura "Automatización". Para este propósito, han propuesto tareas de aprendizaje explicativas basadas en problemas sobre ejercicios tratados en clase, asesorando a sus compañeros supervisados ​​en la mejora de su propio aprendizaje y maximizando su potencial, para así obtener las competencias necesarias antes de la evaluación general. Los datos de una encuesta de estudiantes indican la opinión positiva de los estudiantes de pregrado sobre el proceso de tutoría. De hecho, la experiencia de la mentoría realizada ha llevado a una mejor adaptación del estudiante a la materia y le ha permitido al profesor conocer las dificultades en el manejo por parte de los estudiantes de las herramientas de aprendizaje en línea. También ha demostrado una mejora en las relaciones y la comunicación entre estudiantes y profesores gracias a la función de intermediación de los estudiantes mentores.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

The determinants of bank margins revisited: A note on the effects of diversification

Most of the theoretical and empirical literature on bank margins has dealt solely with interest margins. Applying the seminal Ho-Saunders model (JFQA, 1981) to a multi-output framework, we show that the relationship between bank margins and market power (controlling for risk) varies significantly across bank specializations. Using a set of both accounting margins and New Empirical Industrial Organization (NEIO) margins, we find that market power rises significantly with output diversification towards non-traditional activities. These results contribute to explain the paradoxical coexistence of decreasing interest margins and higher market power found in previous studies.bank margins, specialization, market structure.

Comparison of matroid intersection algorithms for large circuit analysis

This paper presents two approaches to symbolic analysis of large analog integrated circuits via simplification during the generation of the symbolic expressions. Both techniques are examined from the point of view of matroid theory. Finally, a new approach which combines the positive features of both approaches is introduced

New evidence of scope economies among lending,deposit-taking, loan commitments and mutual fund activities.

Financial innovation and technology affect bank cost, revenue and profits. Most of the previous empirical studies have not found significant cost, profit or revenue scope economies or output pair complementarities either between traditional and non-traditional banking products or between traditional activities themselves. We study scope economies and output pair complementarities in a ‘broad banking’ environment: the Spanish banking sector. The results indicate that after including off-balance sheet business in the output mix, cost and profit scope economies rise and are statistically significant. Besides, consumer valuation of financial services is only detected when the off-balance sheet business is added to the output definition.banking, scope economies, off-balance sheet.

The finance-growth nexus: a regional perspective

Recent cross-country studies suggest that finance and economic growth are significantly related. The characteristics and geographical scope of this relationship has become central to explain differences in economic development. Two concepts are highly relevant in this context. Firstly, financial deepening, that involves the development of traditional and non-traditional financial services in these territories. Secondly, bank dependence, which makes households and firms rely heavily on banks. Employing dynamic causality and panel data techniques on a sample of Spanish banks during 1993-1999 we find that -at a regional level- economic growth predicted financial deepening in this period which suggests that banks locate and distribute new financial products mostly in well developed territories. Regarding bank dependence, bank lending specialization appears to be a key issue in financing firms and households compared to other bank specializations. According to previous studies, lending dependence confer banks a special role in promoting regional economic growth in bank-based financial systems.Banks, financial deepening, bank dependence, regional growth.

Scope Economies and Competition Beyond the Balance Sheet: a ‘broad banking’ Experience

There is a recent trend in banking research aiming to assess how financial innovation and technology are affecting bank cost, revenue and profits. Most of the studies have not found significant cost, profit or revenue complementarities either between traditional and non-traditional banking products or between traditional activities themselves. We study complementarities in a ‘broad banking’ environment: the Spanish banking sector. The results indicate that after including off-balance sheet business in the output mix, cost and profit scope economies increase significantly. Besides, consumer valuation of financial services is only detected when the off-balance sheet business is added to the output definition.banking, cost, profit, scope economies, off-balance sheet.

A Reuse-based framework for the design of analog and mixed-signal ICs

Despite the spectacular breakthroughs of the semiconductor industry, the ability to design integrated circuits (ICs) under stringent time-to-market (TTM) requirements is lagging behind integration capacity, so far keeping pace with still valid Moore's Law. The resulting gap is threatening with slowing down such a phenomenal growth. The design community believes that it is only by means of powerful CAD tools and design methodologies -and, possibly, a design paradigm shift-that this design gap can be bridged. In this sense, reuse-based design is seen as a promising solution, and concepts such as IP Block, Virtual Component, and Design Reuse have become commonplace thanks to the significant advances in the digital arena. Unfortunately, the very nature of analog and mixed-signal (AMS) design has hindered a similar level of consensus and development. This paper presents a framework for the reuse-based design of AMS circuits. The framework is founded on three key elements: (1) a CAD-supported hierarchical design flow that facilitates the incorporation of AMS reusable blocks, reduces the overall design time, and expedites the management of increasing AMS design complexity; (2) a complete, clear definition of the AMS reusable block, structured into three separate facets or views: the behavioral, structural, and layout facets, the two first for top-down electrical synthesis and bottom-up verification, the latter used during bottom-up physical synthesis; (3) the design for reusability set of tools, methods, and guidelines that, relying on intensive parameterization as well as on design knowledge capture and encapsulation, allows to produce fully reusable AMS blocks. A case study and a functional silicon prototype demonstrate the validity of the paper's proposals.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia TEC2004-0175

Behavioral modeling of PWL analog circuits using symbolic analysis

Behavioral models are used both for top-down design and for bottom-up verification. During top-down design, models are created that reflect the nominal behavior of the different analog functions, as well as the constraints imposed by the parasitics. In this scenario, the availability of symbolic modeling expressions enable designers to get insight on the circuits, and reduces the computational cost of design space exploration. During bottom-up verification, models are created that capture the topological and constitutive equations of the underlying devices into behavioral descriptions. In this scenario symbolic analysis is useful because it enables to automatically obtain these descriptions in the form of equations. This paper includes an example to illustrate the use of symbolic analysis for top-down design.Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología TIC97-058

Tool for fast mismatch analysis of analog circuits

A tool is presented that evaluates statistical deviations in performance characteristics of analog circuits, starting from statistical deviations in the technological parameters of MOS transistors. Performance is demonstrated via the analysis of a Miller OTA in two different configurations and a linearized CMOS transconductor. The CPU time is reduced by a factor of 25 to 90 with respect to conventional Monte Carlo simulation, while maintaining similar accuracy in the computations