Interval data without sign restrictions in DEA

Conventional DEA models assume deterministic, precise and non-negative data for input and output observations. However, real applications may be characterized by observations that are given in form of intervals and include negative numbers. For instance, the consumption of electricity in decentralized energy resources may be either negative or positive, depending on the heat consumption. Likewise, the heat losses in distribution networks may be within a certain range, depending on e.g. external temperature and real-time outtake. Complementing earlier work separately addressing the two problems; interval data and negative data; we propose a comprehensive evaluation process for measuring the relative efficiencies of a set of DMUs in DEA. In our general formulation, the intervals may contain upper or lower bounds with different signs. The proposed method determines upper and lower bounds for the technical efficiency through the limits of the intervals after decomposition. Based on the interval scores, DMUs are then classified into three classes, namely, the strictly efficient, weakly efficient and inefficient. An intuitive ranking approach is presented for the respective classes. The approach is demonstrated through an application to the evaluation of bank branches. © 2013.

Building bank brands:how leadership behavior influences employee commitment

Front line employees are critical to service brand success, as their performance brings brand promises to life. Banking employees, like others, must remain committed to their employers, to live the brand, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty and customer frustration. Employees' commitment influences their brand adoption and brand-supporting behavior during service encounters. Effective leadership fosters employee commitment and brand supporting behaviors. This study examines the nature of employee commitment in banking, distinguishing between affective, continuance and normative commitment. The study explores bank leaders, examining whether initiating structure leader behavior or considerate leader behavior is most effective in encouraging employee commitment. Data from a sample of 438 employees in a leading Irish bank reveals the optimal leadership style for employee commitment. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.

A modified semi-oriented radial measure for target setting with negative data

Over the last few years Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) has been gaining increasing popularity as a tool for measuring efficiency and productivity of Decision Making Units (DMUs). Conventional DEA models assume non-negative inputs and outputs. However, in many real applications, some inputs and/or outputs can take negative values. Recently, Emrouznejad et al. [6] introduced a Semi-Oriented Radial Measure (SORM) for modelling DEA with negative data. This paper points out some issues in target setting with SORM models and introduces a modified SORM approach. An empirical study in bank sector demonstrates the applicability of the proposed model. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An Idea of a Computer Knowledge Bank on Medical Diagnostics

The paper is a description of information and software content of a computer knowledge bank on medical diagnostics. The classes of its users and the tasks which they can solve are described. The information content of the bank contains three ontologies: an ontology of observations in the field of medical diagnostics, an ontology of knowledge base (diseases) in medical diagnostics and an ontology of case records, and also it contains three classes of information resources for every division of medicine – observation bases, knowledge bases, and data bases (with data about patients), that correspond to these ontologies. Software content consists of editors for information of different kinds (ontologies, bases of observations, knowledge and data), and also of a program which performs medical diagnostics.

How leadership and commitment influence bank employees' adoption of their bank's values

Retail banking is facing many challenges, not least the loss of its customers' trust and loyalty. The economic crisis is forcing banks to examine their relationships with stakeholders and to offer greater reassurance that their brand promises will be delivered. More than ever, banks need to stand for something positive and valued by stakeholders. One way to achieve this is through paying more attention to brand values. Our article explores how values are adopted by employees within a bank. When employees 'live' their brand's values, their behaviour during customer interactions reflects this, encouraging the strengthening of customer relationships. Specifically, we test the relationship between leadership style, employee commitment, and the adoption of values. Data was collected from a survey of 438 branch employees in a leading Irish retail bank. The study found that a structured and directive leadership style was effective at encouraging the adoption of the bank's values. Moreover, when employees are committed to the organisation, this has a significant impact on their adoption of values. Thus, this study supports the literature which suggests that leadership and commitment are prerequisites for values adoption. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

All-analogue real-time broadband filter bank multicarrier optical communications system

This paper studies the key aspects of an optical link which transmits a broadband microwave filter bank multicarrier (FBMC) signal. The study is presented in the context of creating an all-analogue real-time multigigabit orthogonal frequency division multiplexing electro-optical transceiver for short range and high-capacity data center networks. Passive microwave filters are used to perform the pulse shaping of the bit streams, allowing an orthogonal transmission without the necessity of digital signal processing (DSP). Accordingly, a cyclic prefix that would cause a reduction in the net data rate is not required. An experiment consisting of three orthogonally spaced 2.7 Gbaud quadrature phase shift keyed subchannels demonstrates that the spectral efficiency of traditional DSP-less subcarrier multiplexed links can be potentially doubled. A sensitivity of -29.5 dBm is achieved in a 1-km link.

Hydrography, current and microstructure measurements from R/V Håkon Mosby cruise HM2012610 to the Faroe Bank Channel overflow region

This data set includes the profiling measurements collected from ship during the cruise HM 2012610 onboard the Research Vessel Håkon Mosby. The cruise was conducted under the project entitled "Faroe Bank Channel Overflow: Dynamics and Mixing Research", with an objective to investigate the mixing and entrainment of the dense oceanic overflow from the Faroe Bank Channel. The profiling measurements delivered with this data set include conventional conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) measurements, current profile measurements using a lowered acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (LADCP) system and ocean microstructure measurements using a vertical microstructure profiler (VMP2000). The observational programme was designed to measure turbulence and mixing in the overflow plume which, in addition to the shear-induced mixing at the plume-ambient interface, is hypothesized to be influenced by several processes including mesoscale eddies, secondary circulation and internal waves.

Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn micronodules from stations over George Bank, Atlantic Ocean

Ferromanganese micronodules have been found on Georges Bank, off the U.S. northeast coast, distributed throughout the surficial sediments within an area about 125 km long and at least 12 km wide. These coarse, sand-sized concretions have precipitated from metal-rich interstitial waters and contain many of the textural and structural features common to other neritic nodules. Most of the nodules have accreted around detrital grains, and X-ray powder diffraction analyses indicate the presence of geothite and vernadite ( delta -MnO sub(2)) in the ferromanganese layers. Chemical analyses of the micronodules, when compared with similar data on deep-sea manganese nodules, reveal lower Mn/Fe ratios, significantly higher concentrations of V and As, comparable values of Mo, and an order of magnitude less of Co, Ni, Ce and most other, metals.