Abstract
This paper addresses a modeling and simulation methodology for analog circuit design with amorphous-GIZO thin-film transistors (TFTs). To reach an effective circuit design flow, with commercially available tools, a TFT model has been first developed with an artificial neural network (ANN). Multilayer perceptron with backpropagation algorithm has been adopted to model the static behavior of the TFT devices, for different aspect ratios. The model was then implemented in Verilog-A, to allow a quick instantiation in circuit. Simulations using Cadence Spectre are performed to validate the model. On a second phase, simulation results of basic analog circuits, with this ANN model, are verified against the actual functional results, namely an adder, subtractor, and current mirror circuit. Results demonstrate not only the ANN model accuracy and compatibility with dc and transient analysis, but also show the a-GIZO TFT capability to perform analog operations. © 2012 IEEE.

Abstract
We introduce the notion of golden tilings, and we prove a one-to-one correspondence between (i) smooth conjugacy classes of Anosov diffeomorphisms, with an invariant measure absolutely continuous with respect to the Lebesgue measure, (ii) affine classes of golden tilings and (iii) solenoid functions. The solenoid functions give a parametrization of the infinite dimensional space consisting of the mathematical objects described in the above equivalences.

Abstract
Spreadsheets are considered to be the most widely used programming language in the world, and reports have shown that 90% of real-world spreadsheets contain errors. In this work, we try to identify spreadsheet smells, a concept adapted from software, which consists of a surface indication that usually corresponds to a deeper problem. Our smells have been integrated in a tool, and were computed for a large spreadsheet repository. Finally, the analysis of the results we obtained led to the refinement of our initial catalog.

Abstract
Despite the important existing contributions on public and political entrepreneurship, research on these topics is still scarce, particularly at the empirical level. Studies on political entrepreneurship have usually focused on the biography of entrepreneurial leaders and the analysis of case studies. Thus, a parameterisation of the variables and relationships that permit quantitative empirical research is in demand. The present study adds to the empirical literature on public and political entrepreneurship by proposing to examine and intersect several dimensions of political entrepreneurship at the local level: funds, activities, infrastructure, and global. Based on responses gathered from 108 Portuguese municipalities, we found that both individual - gender, previous occupational status, age, and managerial competencies of the mayor - and contextual conditions - accessibilities, educational endowments, and business structure of the municipalities, namely the share of medium and large firms - are key determinants of local political entrepreneurship. © The Author(s) 2012.

Abstract
Spreadsheets play an important role in software organizations. Indeed, in large software organizations, spreadsheets are not only used to define sheets containing data and formulas, but also to collect information from different systems, to adapt data coming from one system to the format required by another, to perform operations to enrich or simplify data, etc. In fact, over time many spreadsheets turn out to be used for storing and processing increasing amounts of data and supporting increasing numbers of users. Unfortunately, spreadsheet systems provide poor support for modularity, abstraction, and transformation, thus, making the maintenance, update and evolution of spreadsheets a very complex and error-prone task. We present techniques for model-driven spreadsheet engineering where we employ bidirectional transformations to maintain spreadsheet models and instances synchronized. In our setting, the business logic of spreadsheets is defined by ClassSheet models to which the spreadsheet data conforms, and spreadsheet users may evolve both the model and the data instances. Our techniques are implemented as part of the MDSheet framework: an extension for a traditional spreadsheet system. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.

Abstract
The performance of several commercial and experimental software packages (Gotas, StainMaster, ImageTool, StainAnalysis, AgroScan, DropletScan and Spray_imageI and II) that produce indicators of crop spraying quality based on the image processing of water-sensitive papers used as artificial targets were compared against known coverage, droplet size spectra and class size distribution verified through manual counting. A number of artificial targets used to test the software were obtained by controlled spray applications and given droplet density between 14 and 108 drops cm(-2) and a wide range of droplet size spectra. The results showed that artificial targets coupled with an appropriate image system can be an accurate technique to compute spray parameters. The between-methods differences were 6.7% for droplet density, 11.5% for volume median diameter, <3% for coverage (%) and <3% coverage density. For the 16 droplet class size distribution tested the between-methods differences were all <15%. However, most of the image analysis systems were not effective in accurately measuring coverage density when coverage rate is greater than about 17%. The Spray_imageII software estimated the coverage density with a mean absolute error of 2% and the absolute error is below 10%, even with about 43% of coverage rate. This software, when compared to the other programmes tested, provided the best accuracy for coverage and droplet size spectrum as well as for droplet class size distribution.