A fuzzy expected value approach under generalized data envelopment analysis

Fuzzy data envelopment analysis (DEA) models emerge as another class of DEA models to account for imprecise inputs and outputs for decision making units (DMUs). Although several approaches for solving fuzzy DEA models have been developed, there are some drawbacks, ranging from the inability to provide satisfactory discrimination power to simplistic numerical examples that handles only triangular fuzzy numbers or symmetrical fuzzy numbers. To address these drawbacks, this paper proposes using the concept of expected value in generalized DEA (GDEA) model. This allows the unification of three models - fuzzy expected CCR, fuzzy expected BCC, and fuzzy expected FDH models - and the ability of these models to handle both symmetrical and asymmetrical fuzzy numbers. We also explored the role of fuzzy GDEA model as a ranking method and compared it to existing super-efficiency evaluation models. Our proposed model is always feasible, while infeasibility problems remain in certain cases under existing super-efficiency models. In order to illustrate the performance of the proposed method, it is first tested using two established numerical examples and compared with the results obtained from alternative methods. A third example on energy dependency among 23 European Union (EU) member countries is further used to validate and describe the efficacy of our approach under asymmetric fuzzy numbers.

International trade law, plain packaging and tobacco industry political activity:the Trans-Pacific Partnership

Tobacco companies are increasingly turning to trade and investment agreements to challenge measures aimed at reducing tobacco use. This study examines their efforts to influence the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a major trade and investment agreement which may eventually cover 40% of the world's population; focusing on how these efforts might enhance the industry's power to challenge the introduction of plain packaging. Specifically, the paper discusses the implications for public health regulation of Philip Morris International's interest in using the TPP to: shape the bureaucratic structures and decision-making processes of business regulation at the national level; introduce a higher standard of protection for trademarks than is currently provided under the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights; and expand the coverage of Investor-State Dispute Settlement which empowers corporations to litigate directly against governments where they are deemed to be in breach of investment agreements. The large number of countries involved in the TPP underlines its risk to the development of tobacco regulation globally.

In situ diagnostics and prognostics of solder fatigue in IGBT modules for electric vehicle drives

This paper proposes an in situ diagnostic and prognostic (D&P) technology to monitor the health condition of insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) used in EVs with a focus on the IGBTs' solder layer fatigue. IGBTs' thermal impedance and the junction temperature can be used as health indicators for through-life condition monitoring (CM) where the terminal characteristics are measured and the devices' internal temperature-sensitive parameters are employed as temperature sensors to estimate the junction temperature. An auxiliary power supply unit, which can be converted from the battery's 12-V dc supply, provides power to the in situ test circuits and CM data can be stored in the on-board data-logger for further offline analysis. The proposed method is experimentally validated on the developed test circuitry and also compared with finite-element thermoelectrical simulation. The test results from thermal cycling are also compared with acoustic microscope and thermal images. The developed circuitry is proved to be effective to detect solder fatigue while each IGBT in the converter can be examined sequentially during red-light stopping or services. The D&P circuitry can utilize existing on-board hardware and be embedded in the IGBT's gate drive unit.

A kínai reformfolyamat politikai gazdaságtani logikája (The politico-economic logic of the Chinese reform process)

Kína az elmúlt több mint három évtizedben szegény, elmaradott országból a világgazdaság egyik legfontosabb szereplője lett. Szocialista rendszerét egy sajátos kapitalista rendszer váltotta fel, miközben politikai struktúrája lényegében változatlan maradt. A folyamatok során a vezetés mindvégig ügyelt arra, hogy a kommunista párt egyeduralmát semmi se veszélyeztethesse, ugyanakkor megfelelő források álljanak rendelkezésre hatalma megtartásához. A tanulmány a kínai reformfolyamatot politikai gazdaságtani szempontból vizsgálja, különös figyelmet szentelve az intézményi változásoknak. Bemutatja, milyen okok és tényezők álltak a reformok elindításának hátterében, milyen változások következtek be a szereplők érdekviszonyaiban a reformok előrehaladtával, és mire lehet számítani a reformok jövőjét illetően. Úgy tűnik, hogy a jelenlegi rendszer érdekviszonyai a reformok folytatása ellen hatnak, ellehetetlenítve a piacgazdaság intézményrendszerének további kiépítését. A járadékok és privilégiumok az elitet abban sem teszik érdekeltté, hogy komolyabb politikai reformokat hajtson végre, így a kialakuló csapdahelyzet megakadályozza az átmenet kiteljesedését. ____ In the last three decades China has risen from being a poor and underdeveloped country to being one of the most important players in the world economy. Its planned economy has been replaced by a capitalist system, but its political structure has remained essentially unchanged. The leaders during the reform process have sought constantly to avert dangers to the rule of the Communist Party and gain access to valuable resources that allow power to be retained. The study approaches the Chinese reform process from a politico-economic point of view, focusing primarily on institutional changes. It reveals the main factors behind the various phases of reform, the constantly changing interests of the players, and the possible future of the process. It seems that under the current authoritarian regime, there are vested interests working against a continuation of the reforms and precluding full establishment of the institutional framework of a market economy. The elite is also deterred from implementing serious political reforms by the current rents and privileges. This leads to a trap that prevents completion of the transition process.

Improved sampling and detection of ignitable liquid residues and explosives by mass spectrometry and ion mobility spectrometry

Fire debris evidence is submitted to crime laboratories to determine if an ignitable liquid (IL) accelerant was used to commit arson. An ignitable liquid residue (ILR) may be difficult to analyze due to interferences, complex matrices, degradation, and low concentrations of analytes. Debris from an explosion and pre-detonated explosive compounds are not trivial to detect and identify due to sampling difficulties, complex matrices, and extremely low amounts (nanogram) of material present. The focus of this research is improving the sampling and detection of ILR and explosives through enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and field portable instrumentation. Solid Phase MicroExtraction (SPME) enhanced the extraction of ILR by two orders of magnitude over conventional activated charcoal strip (ACS) extraction. Gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) improved sensitivity of ILR by one order of magnitude and explosives by two orders of magnitude compared to gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Improvements in sensitivity were attributed to enhanced selectivity. An interface joining SPME to ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) has been constructed and evaluated to improve field detection of hidden explosives. The SPME-IMS interface improved the detection of volatile and semi-volatile explosive compounds and successfully adapted the IMS from a particle sampler into a vapor sampler. ^

Seizure detection in subdural recordings using nonlinear decision functions

This dissertation proposed a new approach to seizure detection in intracranial EEG recordings using nonlinear decision functions. It implemented well-established features that were designed to deal with complex signals such as brain recordings, and proposed a 2-D domain of analysis. Since the features considered assume both the time and frequency domains, the analysis was carried out both temporally and as a function of different frequency ranges in order to ascertain those measures that were most suitable for seizure detection. In retrospect, this study established a generalized approach to seizure detection that works across several features and across patients. ^ Clinical experiments involved 8 patients with intractable seizures that were evaluated for potential surgical interventions. A total of 35 iEEG data files collected were used in a training phase to ascertain the reliability of the formulated features. The remaining 69 iEEG data files were then used in the testing phase. ^ The testing phase revealed that the correlation sum is the feature that performed best across all patients with a sensitivity of 92% and an accuracy of 99%. The second best feature was the gamma power with a sensitivity of 92% and an accuracy of 96%. In the frequency domain, all of the 5 other spectral bands considered, revealed mixed results in terms of low sensitivity in some frequency bands and low accuracy in other frequency bands, which is expected given that the dominant frequencies in iEEG are those of the gamma band. In the time domain, other features which included mobility, complexity, and activity, all performed very well with an average a sensitivity of 80.3% and an accuracy of 95%. ^ The computational requirement needed for these nonlinear decision functions to be generated in the training phase was extremely long. It was determined that when the duration dimension was rescaled, the results improved and the convergence rates of the nonlinear decision functions were reduced dramatically by more than a 100 fold. Through this rescaling, the sensitivity of the correlation sum improved to 100% and the sensitivity of the gamma power to 97%, which meant that there were even less false negatives and false positives detected. ^

Disparities in Teacher Certification

The United States Constitution did not give the federal government the power to regulate education. Consequently there is a lack of cohesion and standardization within the United States in teacher certification. The differences and quantity of teacher training and certification leads to inconsistency in teacher certification.

ALBA: A Political Tool for Venezuela’s Foreign Policy

Despite its founding by Hugo Chávez on the heels of the failed Free Trade Area for the Americas (FTAA) negotiations which took place November 2003, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA, as it is known for its Spanish acronym) has evolved into a political tool that uses “social power” to facilitate Venezuela‟s positioning as the leader of the anti-U.S. agenda in the region. Fostering political favors and goodwill through the financing of social development projects, ALBA has created a political environment whereby countries on the take and their respective leaders seem deterred from taking public opposing viewpoints to Chávez. To that end, it has provided billions in economic aid to several nations in Latin American and the Caribbean, winning their favor and support for its policies. To date, ALBA counts on eight member nations. Besides Venezuela, it includes Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It also has several observer nations, among them, Grenada, Haiti, Paraguay, Uruguay, and a non-Latin American country, Syria. Throughout its recent history Venezuela has used its oil wealth to pursue political capital. Under the Chávez government it is doing so as part of a strategic effort countering the U.S. Following Cuba‟s demise in the region as the anti-American socialist camp leader, Chávez is attempting to step into Cuba‟s shoes, picking up where Cuba left off over a decade ago and has used the ALBA as a mechanism to help promote his foreign policy. Relying on its own resources, not those of the Soviet Union as Cuba once did, Venezuela has already shown its influence in the international arena, challenging U.S. positions at the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations, and even in matters having little if nothing to do with the region, such as Iran‟s nuclear proliferation. Taking advantage of Venezuela‟s oil prices bonanza, Chávez has been spreading economic aid throughout the region, funding several development projects. From stepping in to buy Bolivia‟s soy beans when the U.S. ceased doing so, to helping finance and construct an airport in Dominica, Venezuela‟s ALBA has provided assistance to many states in the region. As in the past, Venezuela has invested significantly both in time and money in the Caribbean, providing development assistance and oil at a discount to Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis, and the Dominican Republic, although the latter two are neither member nor observer states of ALBA. The aid Chávez has been spreading around may be coming at a cost. It seems it has begun to cause cracks within the CARICOM community, where ALBA already counts on six of its 15 members, leading experts and leaders in the region to question traditional alliances to each other and the U.S. Yet, ALBA‟s ability to influence through aid is dependent on the Venezuelan economy. Its success hinges on continued Venezuelan oil sales at stable prices and the ability of Chávez to remain in power.

Emergence and Fate of Siloxanes in Waste Streams: Release Mechanisms, Partitioning and Persistence in Three Environmental Compartments

Siloxanes are widely used in personal care and industrial products due to their low surface tension, thermal stability, antimicrobial and hydrophobic properties, among other characteristics. Volatile methyl siloxanes (VMS) have been detected both in landfill gas and biogas from anaerobic digesters at wastewater treatment plants. As a result, they are released to gas phase during waste decomposition and wastewater treatment. During transformation processes of digester or landfill gas to energy, siloxanes are converted to silicon oxides, leaving abrasive deposits on engine components. These deposits cause increased maintenance costs and in some cases complete engine overhauls become necessary. The objectives of this study were to compare the VMS types and levels present in biogas generated in the anaerobic digesters and landfills and evaluate the energetics of siloxane transformations under anaerobic conditions. Siloxane emissions, resulting from disposal of silicone-based materials, are expected to increase by 29% within the next 10 years. Estimated concentrations and the risk factors of exposure to siloxanes were evaluated based on the initial concentrations, partitioning characteristics and persistence. It was determined that D4 has the highest risk factor associated to bioaccumulation in liquid and solid phase, whereas D5 was highest in gas phase. Additionally, as siloxanes are combusted, the particle size range causes them to be potentially hazardous to human health. When inhaled, they may affix onto the alveoli of the lungs and may lead to development of silicosis. Siloxane-based COD-loading was evaluated and determined to be an insignificant factor concerning COD limits in wastewater. Removal of siloxane compounds is recommended prior to land application of biosolids or combustion of biogas. A comparison of estimated costs was made between maintenance practices for removal of siloxane deposits and installation/operation of fixed-bed carbon absorption systems. In the majority of cases, the installation of fixed-bed adsorption systems would not be a feasible option for the sole purpose of siloxane removal. However they may be utilized to remove additional compounds simultaneously.

Docking and simulation study of the enantiospecificity of chiral epoxidation reactions catalyzed by chloroperoxidase

Chloroperoxidase (CPO), a 298-residue glycosylated protein from the fungus Caldariomyces fumago, is probably the most versatile heme enzyme yet discovered. Interest in CPO as a catalyst is based on its power to produce enantiomerically enriched products. Recent research has focused its attention on the ability of CPO to epoxidize alkenes in high regioselectivity and enantioselectivity as an efficient and environmentally benign alternative to traditional synthetic routes. There has been little work on the nature of ligand binding, which probably controls the regio- and enantiospecifity of CPO. Consequently it is here that we focus our work. We report docking calculations and computer simulations aimed at predicting the enantiospecificity of CPO-catalyzed epoxidation of three model substrates. On the basis of this work candidate mutations to improve the efficiency of CPO are predicted. In order to accomplish these aims, a simulated annealing and molecular dynamics protocol is developed to sample potentially reactive substrate/CPO complexes.

Estudo da capacidade de remoção de óleo solúvel, em águas produzidas, por bentonitas hidrofobizadas

In this study we evaluated the capacity removal of PAHs in an oily solution between the bentonite hydrofobized with linseed oil and paraffin with natural bentonite. Analyses of natural bentonite and hydrofobized were made by the characterization techniques: (1) Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), which aimed to evaluate the thermal events due to mass loss, both associated with the exit of moisture and decomposition of clay as due to hidrofobizante loss agent. (2) Analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD) in order to determine the mineralogical phases that make up the structure of clay and (3) Spectrophotometry in the infrared region used to characterize the functional groups of both the matrix mineral (bentonite) and the hidrofobizantes agents (linseed oil and paraffin). We used a factorial design 24 with the following factors; hidrofobizante, percent hidrofobizante, adsorption time and volume of the oily solution. Analyzing the factorial design 24 was seen that none of the factors apparently was more important than the others and, as all responses showed significant values in relation to the ability of oil removal was not possible to evaluate a difference in the degree of efficiency the two hidrofobizantes. For the new study compared the efficiency of the modified clay, with each hidrofobizante separately in relation to their natural form. As such, there are four new factorial designs 23 using natural bentonite as a differentiating factor. The factors used were bentonite (with and without hydrophobization), exposure time of the adsorbent material to the oily solution and volume of an oily solution, trying to interpret how these factors could influence the process of purifying water contaminated with PAHs. Was employed as a technique for obtaining responses to fluorescence spectroscopy, as already known from literature that PAHs, for presenting combined chains due to condensation of the aromatic rings fluoresce quite similar when excited in the ultraviolet region and as an auxiliary technique to gas chromatography / mass spectrometry (GC-MS) used for the analysis of PAHs in order to complement the study of fluorescence spectroscopy, since the spectroscopic method only allows you an idea of total number of fluorescent species contained in the oil soluble. The result shows an excellent adsorption of PAHs and other fluorescent species assigned to the main effect of the first factor, hydrophobization for the first planning 23 BNTL 5%, for 93% the sixth stop in the second test (+-+),factorial design 23 BNTL 10%, the fourth test (++-) with 94.5% the third factorial design 23 BNTP 5%, the second test (+--) with 91% and the fourth and final planning 23 BNTP 10%, the last test ( + + +) with 88%. Compared with adsorption of bentonite in its natural form. This work also shows the maximum adsorption of each hidrofobizante

Regime jurídico dos incentivos fiscais: uma análise à luz da ordem econômica

This scientific investigation begins with the recognition of the authorization granted by the Constitutional Legislator to the State for, relativizing its neutrality towards the private sector, intervene in the behavior of economic agents, through different means, including fiscal incentives and tax increases in order to achieve the objectives and directives of the Federal Constitution, as well as achieve the rights and guarantees also described in the Federal Constitution. Demonstrates, however, that this intervention in the private sector has the power to generate both salutary reflections as perverse and divorced goals from what was established by the Federal Constitution and Multilateral Agreements and this is the basis that justifies the relevance of the study: because of the urgency to provide a thorough analysis of the phenomenon of state intervention in the Economic Order, given the importance of its impacts, both for citizens' lives, as well as for the maintenance of the State established as it is nowadays. From this premise, this research examines the issue of tax policies adopted in the country, focusing on tax incentives, comparing its use with the principles of the Economic Order and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade - GATT analyzing whether these have been respected or if Brazil adopted unjustified protectionist measures. From this context, this research approximated different branches of the law, developed through literature review in areas such as constitutional law, economic law, tax law, financial law and law and economics. This study verifies the motivations and objectives that underlie the adopted justifications for the use of tax incentives, as well as its results, seeking to empirically answer if its use is reasonable and consistent with the terms enshrined in the Federal Constitution of 1988 and GATT. The answer to this research question will be sought through doctrinal analysis, jurisprudence and hard cases. Thus, the study begins with the historical evolution of extrafiscality, analyzes the principles that should guide the behavior of economic agents. Subsequently analyzes the legal regime of tax incentives and the results achieved by hard cases in which the tax policies with extrafiscal nature were adopted in order to demonstrate the positive and negative consequences arising from the adoption of this type of benefit

No fio da meada: um estudo acerca da precarização do trabalho na indústria têxtil

In line with the process of financialization and globalization of capital, which has intensified in all latitudes of the globe, the world of work is permeated by his determinations arising and also has been (re) setting from numerous changes expressed by example, in the unbridled expansion of temporary forms of work activities, and flexible outsourced by the growth of informality, forming a new morphology of work. However, regardless of how these forms are expressed in concrete materiality, there is something that unifies: all of them are marked by exponentiation of insecurity and hence the numerous negative effects on the lives of individuals who need to sell their labor power to survive. Given this premise, the present work is devoted to study, within the framework of the Brazilian particularities of transition between Fordism and Toyotism, what we call composite settings of the conditions and labor relations processed within the North river- textile industry Grande. To this end, guided by historical and dialectical materialism, we made use of social research in its qualitative aspect, using semi-structured interviews, in addition to literature review, information retrieval and use of field notes. From our raids, we note that between the time span stretching from the 1990s to the current year, the Natal textile industry has been undergoing a process of successive and intense changes in their modus operandi, geared specifically to the organization and labor management causing, concomitantly, several repercussions for the entire working class.

No fio da meada: um estudo acerca da precarização do trabalho na indústria têxtil

In line with the process of financialization and globalization of capital, which has intensified in all latitudes of the globe, the world of work is permeated by his determinations arising and also has been (re) setting from numerous changes expressed by example, in the unbridled expansion of temporary forms of work activities, and flexible outsourced by the growth of informality, forming a new morphology of work. However, regardless of how these forms are expressed in concrete materiality, there is something that unifies: all of them are marked by exponentiation of insecurity and hence the numerous negative effects on the lives of individuals who need to sell their labor power to survive. Given this premise, the present work is devoted to study, within the framework of the Brazilian particularities of transition between Fordism and Toyotism, what we call composite settings of the conditions and labor relations processed within the North river- textile industry Grande. To this end, guided by historical and dialectical materialism, we made use of social research in its qualitative aspect, using semi-structured interviews, in addition to literature review, information retrieval and use of field notes. From our raids, we note that between the time span stretching from the 1990s to the current year, the Natal textile industry has been undergoing a process of successive and intense changes in their modus operandi, geared specifically to the organization and labor management causing, concomitantly, several repercussions for the entire working class.

Os youtubers e a representação do certo, errado, adequado e inadequado no trabalho com a variação linguística em sala de aula

Some of the current discussions in the teaching of Portuguese Language (LP) pertain to how the school should deal with the phenomenon of language variation in the classroom. In 2010, for example, an explosion of talk took over the academic corridors: a book, entitled "Por uma vida melhor", the collection "Viver, Aprender", published by the MEC (Ministry of Education and Culture) to students EJA (Youth and Adults) brought notions regarding linguistic variation, even in their first chapter. In it is clear the notion that it is possible to make use of structures as "pretty boy", instead of "pretty boys", depending on the context in which such use is insert. Therefore, the discussions focused around the notions of variety cultivated, standard and popular measuring them to the possibilities of linguistic appropriateness. The community was surprised by the defense of the "power" to use, since it would be the school space to teach a standard "default", and not the possibility of legitimate use of grammatical patterns that clashed with those recommended in traditional grammars. The television media has been responsible for a major blaze that MEC had endorsed the use in schools of a book that legitimized such linguistic patterns. The quarrel was released on Youtube and in that space, netizens expressed themselves for or against the proposal of LD often directing the discussion to questions of a purely political. We observed that, on one side, loomed arguments related to Sociolinguistics (BAGNO , 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009; BAGNO, M.; STUBBS, M., Gagne, G., 2006; Bortoni - RICARDO, S.M., 2008; Tarallo, F., 1982; U. Weinreich, MARVIN I. HERZOG, Labov, W., 1968, Labov 1972, etc.); another, arguments concentrated on defending the school is the area of language teaching standard, and not fit to bring certain discussions within an LD. It was from these words, that this research was born. Interested in the particular way that the community media, which seemed to have no training in linguistics, understand the concepts of right, wrong, appropriate and inappropriate, so intimate in academic circles. Our thoughts take as reference the theoretical studies on the question of sociolinguistic variation and education, official documents that guide the "work" with the Portuguese language in the classroom, like the NCP (National Curriculum) and Curriculum Proposal for Education Youth and Adult (PCEJA). In our analysis, we found that LD" For a better life "makes no apology for teaching the "error", but it raises discussions about the possibility of "change", linked to factors and different order. We realize how significant it is to observe how speakers of a language are positioned in relation to language teaching which they are not speakers and scholars. Our study showed that certain issues regarding the teaching of the Portuguese language, as is the case of linguistic variation, points are far from being resolved, either for linguists and/or grammarians, whether for language speakers.