An integer-valued data envelopment analysis model with bounded outputs

Integer-valued data envelopment analysis (DEA) with alternative returns to scale technology has been introduced and developed recently by Kuosmanen and Kazemi Matin. The proportionality assumption of their introduced "natural augmentability" axiom in constant and nondecreasing returns to scale technologies makes it possible to achieve feasible decision-making units (DMUs) of arbitrary large size. In many real world applications it is not possible to achieve such production plans since some of the input and output variables are bounded above. In this paper, we extend the axiomatic foundation of integer-valuedDEAmodels for including bounded output variables. Some model variants are achieved by introducing a new axiom of "boundedness" over the selected output variables. A mixed integer linear programming (MILP) formulation is also introduced for computing efficiency scores in the associated production set. © 2011 The Authors. International Transactions in Operational Research © 2011 International Federation of Operational Research Societies.

Determinants and effects of electoral party coalitions: The case of Brazil

Since the 1985 return to democracy, Brazilian politicians have resorted to vote-pooling arrangements to elect representatives. A puzzle thus presents itself: What drives parties to join these electoral cartels? The dissertation unraveled the incentives party elites have to participate in coalitions under a presidencialist system of government. I also investigated the effect of electoral coalitions on congressional representation. I applied a model of binary outcomes and relied on standard deviations to assess the ideological homogeneity/heterogeneity of electoral coalitions. I also calculated the Index of Disproportionality to measure the gaps between the proportion of votes and seats received by all parties in Brazil with and without electoral coalitions. Finally, I assessed the effects of the electoral formula on proportionality. An unexpected exogenous factor resulted crucial in explaining proportional electoral coalition building: The district's majoritarian election for governor. In each district, political actors often synchronize coalition partners to maximize winning results while minimizing electoral efforts.

Optimizing storage and memory systems for energy and performance

Electrical energy is an essential resource for the modern world. Unfortunately, its price has almost doubled in the last decade. Furthermore, energy production is also currently one of the primary sources of pollution. These concerns are becoming more important in data-centers. As more computational power is required to serve hundreds of millions of users, bigger data-centers are becoming necessary. This results in higher electrical energy consumption. Of all the energy used in data-centers, including power distribution units, lights, and cooling, computer hardware consumes as much as 80%. Consequently, there is opportunity to make data-centers more energy efficient by designing systems with lower energy footprint. Consuming less energy is critical not only in data-centers. It is also important in mobile devices where battery-based energy is a scarce resource. Reducing the energy consumption of these devices will allow them to last longer and re-charge less frequently. Saving energy in computer systems is a challenging problem. Improving a system's energy efficiency usually comes at the cost of compromises in other areas such as performance or reliability. In the case of secondary storage, for example, spinning-down the disks to save energy can incur high latencies if they are accessed while in this state. The challenge is to be able to increase the energy efficiency while keeping the system as reliable and responsive as before. This thesis tackles the problem of improving energy efficiency in existing systems while reducing the impact on performance. First, we propose a new technique to achieve fine grained energy proportionality in multi-disk systems; Second, we design and implement an energy-efficient cache system using flash memory that increases disk idleness to save energy; Finally, we identify and explore solutions for the page fetch-before-update problem in caching systems that can: (a) control better I/O traffic to secondary storage and (b) provide critical performance improvement for energy efficient systems.

Criminalização do porte de drogas para consumo pessoal: uma perspectiva jurídico-constitucional

This dissertation has the main objective to assess the legal and constitutional legitimacy of the legislative state act that criminalizes the conduct of carrying drugs for own consumption - in the case of Brazil, art. 28 of the Federal Law n.º 11.343 of August 23rd, 2006. Therefore, it is done, initially, a contextualization, pointing the main regulatory frameworks, internal and external, of what is conventionally called prohibition in the matter of drugs, as well as the different species of liberalizing initiatives today on an upward trend in the international scenario. Then analyzes the state intervention in question in the light of references of human dignity, freedom and privacy, emphasizing, in the point, among other contributions, the various precedents of foreign constitutional jurisdiction over the theme. Immediately thereafter, confronts the policy in screen with what is perhaps, these days, the main control mechanism of the restrictive measures of fundamental rights, namely the proportionality test, here represented by classical elements of appropriateness, necessity and proportionality in the strict sense. After that, it examines the criminalization on the agenda before the parameter of equality and the general interests of health and public safety. Based on theory and empirical enrolled in the development, it is concluded, finally, the unconstitutionality of the option of the ordinary legislature to impose criminal penalties on users - problematic or not - of substances or products capable of causing physical or psychological dependence.

Aplicação do exame da proporcionalidade diante da implantação de empreendimentos eólicos em áreas de preservação permanente

The setting up of wind power enterprises at Permanent Preservation Areas reflects the obvious conflict and necessary convergence between free market and energy security on the one hand, and the promotion of environmental quality on the other. From the perspective of energy sustainability, and in order to achieve development (in its complex meaning, which converges economic, social, environmental and cultural aspects), the harmonization between free market and an ecologically sustainable environment is required. This work aims to identify the link between the protection system of the Permanent Preservation Areas and the current constitutional order, by analyzing the implementation of wind power enterprises in these protected zones focusing on the proportionality aspects. A legal and purposeful research was developed, from a theoretical method, followed by collecting and analyzing both primary and secondary data. From these data, the law, the legal literature and judicial decisions were cross-examined, under the light of the Constitution and guided by the theory of proportionality and related development imperatives. In this context, the present study identified the link between the principles of the economic order, environment and energy law, finding their basis under the Federal Constitution and development. By reproducing this interrelationship and by means of post-crisis institutional reforms, the guiding objectives of the Brazilian electric sector began to corroborate the precepts of development, although issues regarding its sustainability still persist. The appraisal of proportionality indicates that the Permanent Preservation Areas protection system is insufficient to materialize the right to a healthy quality of life upon the implementation of wind projects at Permanent Preservation Areas, albeit seeking the harmonization between free market and environmental protection.

Aplicação do exame da proporcionalidade diante da implantação de empreendimentos eólicos em áreas de preservação permanente

The setting up of wind power enterprises at Permanent Preservation Areas reflects the obvious conflict and necessary convergence between free market and energy security on the one hand, and the promotion of environmental quality on the other. From the perspective of energy sustainability, and in order to achieve development (in its complex meaning, which converges economic, social, environmental and cultural aspects), the harmonization between free market and an ecologically sustainable environment is required. This work aims to identify the link between the protection system of the Permanent Preservation Areas and the current constitutional order, by analyzing the implementation of wind power enterprises in these protected zones focusing on the proportionality aspects. A legal and purposeful research was developed, from a theoretical method, followed by collecting and analyzing both primary and secondary data. From these data, the law, the legal literature and judicial decisions were cross-examined, under the light of the Constitution and guided by the theory of proportionality and related development imperatives. In this context, the present study identified the link between the principles of the economic order, environment and energy law, finding their basis under the Federal Constitution and development. By reproducing this interrelationship and by means of post-crisis institutional reforms, the guiding objectives of the Brazilian electric sector began to corroborate the precepts of development, although issues regarding its sustainability still persist. The appraisal of proportionality indicates that the Permanent Preservation Areas protection system is insufficient to materialize the right to a healthy quality of life upon the implementation of wind projects at Permanent Preservation Areas, albeit seeking the harmonization between free market and environmental protection.

Behavior of Granular Materials Under Triaxial Compression with Pulsating Deviator Stress, HR-131, Special Report

Behavior of granular material subjected to repeated load triaxial compression tests is characterized by a model based on rate process theory. Starting with the Arrhenius equation from chemical kinetics, the relationship of temperature, shear stress, normal stress and volume change to deformation rate is developed. The proposed model equation includes these factors as a product of exponential terms. An empirical relationship between deformation and the cube root of the number of stress applications at constant temperature and normal stress is combined with the rate equation to yield an integrated relationship of temperature, deviator stress, confining pressure and number of deviator stress applications to axial strain. The experimental program consists of 64 repeated load triaxial compression tests, 52 on untreated crushed stone and 12 on the same crushed stone material treated with 4% asphalt cement. Results were analyzed with multiple linear regression techniques and show substantial agreement with the model equations. Experimental results fit the rate equation somewhat better than the integrated equation when all variable quantities are considered. The coefficient of shear temperature gives the activation enthalpy, which is about 4.7 kilocalories/mole for untreated material and 39.4 kilocalories/mole for asphalt-treated material. This indicates the activation enthalpy is about that of the pore fluid. The proportionality coefficient of deviator stress may be used to measure flow unit volume. The volumes thus determined for untreated and asphalt-treated material are not substantially different. This may be coincidental since comparison with flow unit volumes reported by others indicates flow unit volume is related to gradation of untreated material. The flow unit volume of asphalt-treated material may relate to asphalt cement content. The proposed model equations provide a more rational basis for further studies of factors affecting deformation of granular materials under stress similar to that in pavement subjected to transient traffic loads.

Los estados de excepción en Colombia y aplicación del principio de proporcionalidad: un análisis de seis casos representativos

El artículo que se presenta a continuación da cuenta de cómo ha funcionado el principio de proporcionalidad en Colombia en el control de constitucionalidad de las declaratorias de los estados de excepción, a través de la evaluación de seis (6) casos de excepcionalidad a partir de 1991, cuatro (4) de ellos referidosa estados de conmoción interior, y dos (2) referidos a emergencias sociales. Se utilizó una metodología cualitativa que permitió describir la forma como la Corte Constitucional aplicaba o no el principio de proporcionalidad para hacer el examen de dichas excepcionalidades, dando cuenta de una matriz de análisis que describe los puntos clave de dicho principio, a saber: a) laexistencia de una crisis coyuntural y no de un daño estructural en cualquiera de los estados de excepción declarados; b) la no suspensión de los derechos humanos ni de las libertades fundamentales de las personas a quienes van dirigidas las medidas incluidas en este; c) la no interrupción del normal funcionamiento de las ramas del poder público; d) el ejercicio de las facultades solo para enfrentar eficazmente la anormalidad; la relación estricta entrecausa y anormalidad, y, en este sentido, la dirección de los decretos única y exclusivamente a conjurar las causas que dan origen a la excepcionalidad; e) la duración definida de los estados de excepción (Cifuentes, 2002), para concluir que la Corte Constitucional, en su aplicación del principio de proporcionalidad, no ha realizado un juicio exhaustivo de los requisitos que este incorpora, de tal forma que ha permitido una perpetuación del poder presidencial y un gobierno con poca separación de poderes.

Kwestia niekonstytucyjności roszczenia informacyjnego z art. 2861 p.w.p. – wybrane zagadnienia

Roszczenie informacyjne jest instrumentem prawnym, przy pomocy którego uprawniony z tytuł prawa do patentu, prawa ochronnego na wzór użytkowy, prawa z rejestracji wzoru przemysłowego czy też prawa ochronnego na znak towarowy może domagać się, aby sąd zobowiązał określony podmiot do ujawnienia informacji, które są niezbędne dla skutecznego dochodzenia roszczeń przed sądem. Niejednokrotnie bowiem ze względu na niematerialny charakter praw własności przemysłowej ustalenie naruszyciela tych praw oraz skali samego naruszenia jest znacznie utrudnione. Wokół tytułowego roszczenia informacyjnego na gruncie ustawy Prawo własności przemysłowej powstało szereg kontrowersji, którego zwieńczeniem było wniesienie skargi konstytucyjnej w 2015 roku, oczekującej obecnie na rozstrzygnięcie przez Trybunał Konstytucyjny. Realizacja roszczenia tego rodzaju powoduje bowiem, że ochrona praw podmiotu uprawnionego prowadzi nieuchronnie do ograniczenia praw innego podmiotu – zobowiązanego do udzielenia informacji. Wobec tego szczególnie istotne jest respektowanie zasady proporcjonalności przy ustanawianiu ograniczeń praw i wolności obywatelskich. W niniejszym opracowaniu została rozważona zasadność zarzutów niekonstytucyjności omawianej instytucji prawnej i jej zgodności m.in. z prawem do sądu oraz wolnością działalności gospodarczej w zestawieniu z zasadą proporcjonalności ograniczenia praw konstytucyjnych. Na tle wątpliwości co do zgodności z Konstytucją roszczenia informacyjnego przedstawione zostały także kwestie dotyczące wadliwości implementacji dyrektywy unijnej w zakresie roszczenia o udzielenie informacji. Wszystkie zagadnienia zostały omówione na tle stosunków gospodarczych, w jakich uczestniczą podmioty uprawnione do żądania udzielenia informacji, a także zobowiązane do ich udzielenia.

Estudo da viabilidade técnica para obtenção de superfície duplex em aço inoxidável martensítico AISI 410 através do processo de deposição a plasma por gaiola catódica

The technique of plasma nitriding by the cathode cage mainly stands out for its ability to produce uniform layers, even on parts with complex geometries. In this study, it was investigated the efficiency of this technique for obtaining duplex surface, when used, simultaneously, to nitriding treatment and thin film deposition at temperatures below 500°C. For this, were used samples of AISI 41 0 Martensitic Stainless Steel and performed plasma treatment, combining nitriding and deposition of thin films of Ti and/or TiN in a plasma atmosphere containing N2-H2. It was used a cathodic cage of titanium pure grade II, cylindrical with 70 mm diameter and 34 mm height. Samples were treated at temperature 420ºC for 2 and 12 hours in different working pressures. Optical Microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with micro-analysis by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and analysis of Vickers Microhardness were used to investigate coating properties such as homogeneity and surface topography, chemical composition, layer thickness, crystalline phase, roughness and surface microhardness. The results showed there is a direct proportionality between the presence of H2 in plasma atmosphere and the quantity of titanium in surface chemical composition. It was also observed that the plasma treatment at lowpressure is more effective in formation of TiN thin film

Diagnóstico das espécies ativas do plasma usado em tratamentos termoquímicos do titânio

Plasma diagnostics by Optical Emission Spectroscopy were performed for electrical discharge in three gas mixture respecting the combinations z N2 y Ar x H2, z N2 y Ar x O2 e z N2 y Ar x CH4, in which the indexes z and y systematically vary from 1 to 4 and x varies from 0 to 4, every one has dimension SCCM, resulting in 80 combinations. From the all obtained spectrums, the species CH (387,1 nm), N2+ (391,4 nm), Hβ (486,1 nm), Hα (656,3 nm), Ar (750,4 nm), O (777,4 nm) e O (842,6 nm) were analyzed because of their abundance and importance on the kinetic of reaction from the plasma to surface, besides their high dependences on the gases flows. Particularly interesting z, y and x combinations were chosen in order to study the influence of active species on the surface modification during the thermochemical treatment. From the mixtures N2 Ar O2 e N2 Ar CH4 were chosen three peculiar proportions which presented luminous intensity profile with unexpected maximum or minimum values, denominated as plasma anomaly. Those plasma concentrations were utilized as atmosphere of titanium treatment maintaining constant the control parameters pressure and temperature. It has been verified a relation among luminous intensity associated to N2+ and roughness, nanohardness and O atoms diffusion into the crystalline lattice of treated titanium and it has been seen which those properties becomes more intense precisely in the higher points found in the optical profile associated to the N2+ specie. Those parameters were verified for the mixture which involved O2 gas. For the mixture which involves CH4 gas, the relation was determinate by roughness, number of nitrogen and carbon atoms diffused into the titanium structure which presented direct proportionality with the luminous intensity referent to the N2+ and CH. It has been yet studied the formation of TiCN phases on the surface which presented to be essentially directly proportional to the increasing of the CH specie and inversely proportional to the increasing of the specie N2+

Igual consideração e respeito, independência ética e liberdade de expressão em Dworkin : uma reconciliação entre igualdade e liberdade e a possibilidade do discurso do ódio em um ordenamento coerente de princípios

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Direito, Pós-Graduação Stricto Sensu em Direito, 2016.

As ROE na condução das Operações de Estabilização (não Artigo 5º - NA5CRO)

O presente Trabalho de Investigação Aplicada tem como tema “As ROE na condução das Operações de Estabilização (não Artigo 5º - NA5CRO)”. Atendendo à variedade de modalidades de intervenção, as forças multinacionais regem-se por Regras de Empenhamento. As Regras de Empenhamento implicam treino, em função da especificidade da Operação de Estabilização, enquadradas na gestão de crises. A investigação tem por objetivo saber qual o papel das Regras de Empenhamento nas Operações de Estabilização e a forma como estas são interpretadas e aplicadas pelas chefias militares em situações de intervenção em crises, com a presença de forças multinacionais, nomeadamente da ONU, NATO e UE. A metodologia adotada visa responder à pergunta central e, após a formulação desta, foram formuladas questões derivadas para encontrar possíveis respostas. O trabalho realizado fundamenta-se no levantamento bibliográfico, análise de documentos e realização de entrevistas. Através de uma amostra, realizaram-se entrevistas a chefias militares Portuguesas do Exército e da Marinha, que já se debruçaram sobre a problemática das Regras de Empenhamento, em termos teóricos e práticos, nomeadamente acerca do papel que lhes atribuem e a sua importância na concretização de um ambiente seguro e estável para as populações. A análise de conteúdo das entrevistas permitiu constatar que as chefias militares entrevistadas consideram relevante a existência e concomitante aplicação das Regras de Empenhamento. A investigação confirmou a importância das Regras de Empenhamento, como uma orientação para a ação e, sobretudo, como devem ser consideradas imprescindíveis para demarcar a limitação do uso da força, em questões de proporcionalidade e demais princípios que regem a aplicação de forças no âmbito do Direito Internacional Humanitário e dos Conflitos Armados (DIHCA). Verificou-se que a metodologia doutrinalmente aplicada nas Regras de Empenhamento, lhes confere suficientemente flexibilidade, não carecendo de atualização permanente, sendo utilizadas de acordo com tipologias específicas. Por último, releva-se a importância do treino militar, para que se conheçam os objetivos específicos das Operações de Estabilização em função da sua tipologia e a correspondente aplicabilidade das ROE.

El Impuesto al Valor Agregado a la luz de los Principios Constitucionales de Progresividad y Proporcionalidad

El derecho tributario se encuentra regido por principios propios de esta materia, parte de aquellos son los principios de Progresividad y Proporcionalidad, sin embargo, dentro de los sistemas tributarios, particularmente el ecuatoriano, coexisten diferentes tipos de tributos, algunos de ellos, por sus peculiares características, son incluso antagónicos a los mentados principios. Me refiero, especialmente, al Impuesto al Valor Agregado, gravamen de tipo indirecto y regresivo, vigente en nuestra legislación, y que merece un exhaustivo análisis con la finalidad de determinar en qué medida es compatible con la progresividad y la proporcionalidad constitucional.Para lograr el objetivo planteado, es menester hacer un repaso de la totalidad de principios aplicables a los tributos, estos son: generalidad, eficiencia, simplicidad administrativa, suficiencia recaudatoria, irretroactividad, igualdad, equidad, transparencia, legalidad, proporcionalidad y progresividad. Así mismo, es necesario un análisis doctrinario del Impuesto al Valor Agregado, a la par de la legislación vigente sobre este gravamen, y concluir con el análisis de la relación del IVA con dos de los principios constitucionales, los de proporcionalidad y progresividad.

Towards near-threshold server processors

The popularity of cloud computing has led to a dramatic increase in the number of data centers in the world. The ever-increasing computational demands along with the slowdown in technology scaling has ushered an era of power-limited servers. Techniques such as near-threshold computing (NTC) can be used to improve energy efficiency in the post-Dennard scaling era. This paper describes an architecture based on the FD-SOI process technology for near-threshold operation in servers. Our work explores the trade-offs in energy and performance when running a wide range of applications found in private and public clouds, ranging from traditional scale-out applications, such as web search or media streaming, to virtualized banking applications. Our study demonstrates the benefits of near-threshold operation and proposes several directions to synergistically increase the energy proportionality of a near-threshold server.