Factors affecting the technical efficiency of production of the Brazilian banking system : a comparison of four statistical models in the context of data envelopment analysis

This paper uses an output oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) measure of technical efficiency to assess the technical efficiencies of the Brazilian banking system. Four approaches to estimation are compared in order to assess the significance of factors affecting inefficiency. These are nonparametric Analysis of Covariance, maximum likelihood using a family of exponential distributions, maximum likelihood using a family of truncated normal distributions, and the normal Tobit model. The sole focus of the paper is on a combined measure of output and the data analyzed refers to the year 2001. The factors of interest in the analysis and likely to affect efficiency are bank nature (multiple and commercial), bank type (credit, business, bursary and retail), bank size (large, medium, small and micro), bank control (private and public), bank origin (domestic and foreign), and non-performing loans. The latter is a measure of bank risk. All quantitative variables, including non-performing loans, are measured on a per employee basis. The best fits to the data are provided by the exponential family and the nonparametric Analysis of Covariance. The significance of a factor however varies according to the model fit although it can be said that there is some agreements between the best models. A highly significant association in all models fitted is observed only for nonperforming loans. The nonparametric Analysis of Covariance is more consistent with the inefficiency median responses observed for the qualitative factors. The findings of the analysis reinforce the significant association of the level of bank inefficiency, measured by DEA residuals, with the risk of bank failure.

Population diversity studies of pharaoh cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis) in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman

The pharaoh Cuttlefish (Sepia Pharaonis) is the most abundant species in the persian gulf and oman sea. The stock patterns of this species was studied conserning biological, morphological and electrophoretical aspects. In addition to measuring the biological patterns; 21 quantitative and qualitative factors were measured or counted. There tissues namely muscle, eye and liver were also used for further polyacrylamide electrophoresis analysis (SDS-Page method). The densitograms of protein bands of each tissue were prepared by Gel-Scanner and also the amount of bands' areas were estimated. The results of LSD test showed that tentacle length (TL), Tentacle club length (TCL) and TCL were indicative factors which they showed significant difference between male TL and female specimen of Bushehr and Balouchestan regions. Regarding to length and weight frequencies data the results indicated that males are always bigger than females and also, the cuttlefishes of the gulf of oman are bigger than persian gulf's samples. There were found a significant sample correlation (95%) between different quantitative parameters and the most correlation (0.963) was found to be between TL and TCL; whereas the less correlation (0.384) was observed between GL and LA3. However the gill length factor illustrated the less correlation with the other factors. The results of Cluster analysis for both sexes showed that the cuttlefishes of both studied regions belongs to seperate stocks. The electrophoretic experiments of proteins showed that the protein bands of the sample tissue of muscle and eye from both sampling areas revealed significant differences; whereas the tissue of liver wasn't recognized as an indicative tissue for population studies. Taking into consideration the findings of the present study including: (1) difference in spawning season, (2) results of dendrograms, (3) observed Significant differences in one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for morphometric measurements, (4) differences in body length and weight, (5) ecological variations of the persian gulf and oman sea, (6) as well as the results of electrophoresis of proteins have indicatend that: "The Pharaoh cuttlefishes of Bushehr and Balouchestan waters belong to two seperate stocks. Also, it is believed that each region has propably two different populations and more studies are needed to approve this result.

Vida y muerte empresarial / epidemiologia empresarial

Dentro del estudio se busca identificar las cuales que llevaron a la empresa familiar Hernando Trujillo a la quiebra, de ser parte de una de las empresas más importantes y reconocidas en Colombia. Se pretende identificar los factores tanto internos como externos que afectaron la empresa hasta la fecha de cierre. La metodología que se desarrollara para la realización del proyecto de investigación se llevara a cabo por medio del análisis de los factores cualitativos para indagar las razones de la mortalidad empresarial y las cuantitativas para la indagar las situación financiera y económica en la empresa y el desarrollo que esta tuvo en el transcurso de los años hasta el cierre.

Noves tècniques de gestió per a l'empresa promotora constructora

En el sector de la promoció construcció, i en especial, en el subsector de la promoció construcció d'habitatges, l'empresari ha de tenir un bon coneixement de les variables d'entorn ja que la consideració de les mateixes seran fonamentals a l'hora de prendre decisions sobre planificació estratègica. En l'actualitat vivim una fase de canvis socioeconòmics que dificulten la previsió del comportament futur de les variables d'entorn. Per tant, el subjecte decisor es troba en un ambient d'incertesa que s'aguditza per la majoritària presència de factors qualitatius difícils de quantificar. Llavors, l'empresari promotor constructor haurà de recórrer a tècniques operatives de gestió que tinguin present aquesta situació i això serà possible a partir de les eines que ens ofereix la lògica borrosa. Aquesta tesi s'ha estructurat en tres parts: En la primera part, exposem les característiques específiques i l'evolució del sector. En la segona part, expliquem la metodologia i, en la tercera part, exposem diverses aplicacions de la metodologia borrosa per l'establiment de noves estratègies de gestió aplicades al sector objecte d'estudi.

Selection of funding schemes by a borrowing decision model: a Hong Kong case study

In financial decision-making, a number of mathematical models have been developed for financial management in construction. However, optimizing both qualitative and quantitative factors and the semi-structured nature of construction finance optimization problems are key challenges in solving construction finance decisions. The selection of funding schemes by a modified construction loan acquisition model is solved by an adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA) approach. The basic objectives of the model are to optimize the loan and to minimize the interest payments for all projects. Multiple projects being undertaken by a medium-size construction firm in Hong Kong were used as a real case study to demonstrate the application of the model to the borrowing decision problems. A compromise monthly borrowing schedule was finally achieved. The results indicate that Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Loan Guarantee Scheme (SGS) was first identified as the source of external financing. Selection of sources of funding can then be made to avoid the possibility of financial problems in the firm by classifying qualitative factors into external, interactive and internal types and taking additional qualitative factors including sovereignty, credit ability and networking into consideration. Thus a more accurate, objective and reliable borrowing decision can be provided for the decision-maker to analyse the financial options.

Managers' views on ABC in an insurance company: A grounded theory case study

This is an in-depth case study using a grounded theory approach to explore managers’ views of ABC as part of the control system in an insurance company. Relevant issues are allowed to emerge from the data rather than imposing a theoretical framework upon them. Hypotheses are derived rather than confirmed. Issues emerging from this case study include: the relevance of ABC to managers, increased cost awareness coupled with the problem of taking qualitative factors into account, and the existence of different perceptions of managers within the same department. One hypothesis is how an understanding of ABC can affect job satisfaction by influencing the impact of ABC on managers’ actions. In this case study process and non-process managers had different levels of understanding and use of ABC information. A second hypothesis is that how managers view ABC information depends on whether they adopt a personal or an organisational perspective.

A study of materiality auditing: case study from Libya

The results demonstrate strong agreement between Libyan auditors about the materiality concept. In terms of the international auditing standards, not all Libyan auditors follow these standards. The percentage of the item being audited is the most important quantitative form, followed by the item’s position in the financial statements and the absolute value. The results also identified 16 qualitative factors for materiality auditing decisions.

O diferencial entre as curvas de juros doméstica e externa em reais é uma evidência para o argumento de "incerteza jurisdicional"?

O trabalho faz uma análise sobre as taxas de juros brasileiras, além das principais características da curva soberana de juros nominais, dando ênfase aos títulos pré-fixados emitidos pelo governo em moeda local, no mercado doméstico e externo, onde notamos a ocorrência de um fenômeno bastante peculiar, que é o diferencial de rendimento e de maturidade existentes entre os dois mercados. Arida, Bacha e Lara-Resende (2004) conjecturam sobre a existência de um risco inerente ao país, chamado por eles de “incerteza jurisdicional”, relacionado às instituições brasileiras, e que estaria por trás das altas taxas de juros e da inexistência de um mercado de crédito doméstico de longo prazo. É feito um diagnóstico mais detalhado sobre as possíveis causas do fenômeno de maior maturidade e menor rendimento dos títulos emitidos no mercado externo em relação aos títulos do mercado interno, notando-se que ambos os fenômenos – dos altos juros brasileiros e da inexistência de um mercado juros de longo prazo – estão diretamente relacionados. As conclusões sobre as possíveis causas para o diferencial de rendimento entre os títulos locais e externos emitidos em Reais dizem respeito tanto aos fatores quantitativos, relacionados aos custos de investimento no Brasil e ao risco de conversibilidade, que contribuem em parte para aumentar as taxas exigidas para os títulos locais, bem como aos fatores qualitativos, como piores instituições no Brasil em relação às instituições externas. A diferença de maturidade entre os títulos também advém de questões institucionais, o que reafirma de certo modo a teoria de “incerteza jurisdicional” para explicar este fenômeno.

A saúde psíquica de quem faz saúde: uma análise crítica sobre a humanização direcionada ao profissional de saúde

It is noticeable that pressure, tension and overwork are frequent in health professionals routine. The work related to the ward area demands deep attention and surveillance. Because of that, it is essential to have a specific look at the humanization directed at health professionals, considering that taking care of other human beings is the essence of their job. This study has analyzed the psychic health levels, as well as the stress health professionals are submitted to, providing a debate about the humanization in 06 public hospitals (03 of them awarded by actions of humanization, and 03 not awarded) in Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. A study with 126 active health professionals (doctors, nurses, psychologists, nutritionists and social workers) in ward areas in their respective institutions was carried out. The thesis presented, with multi-disciplinary characteristic, counted on the support of statisticians (to calculate samples and data analysis), psychologists, social workers and administrators (linked to the human resources sector in each hospital). A cross-sectional study was performed, taking into consideration both quantitative and qualitative factors. The tools used for that were a semistructured questionnaire with socio-demographic characteristics, work and humanization; Lipp's Stress Symptoms Inventory for Adults (ISSL), and the Goldberg s General Health Questionnaire (QSG). The workers are predominantly women (84,9%), married (54,8%), between 46 and 55 years old (40,5%), working in the same institution for more than 20 years (22,2%), and between 16 and 20 years (20,6%), respectively. They work 40 hours a week (71,4%) and have multiple jobs (61,9%). Although most of these individuals global psychic health is in a good level, there are a significant number of people that is gradually getting worse concerning psychic stress (F1) showed by QSG (54,7%), and stress showed by ISSL(42,1%). Observing the categories, nurses (41,5%). Nutritionists (20,8%), doctors and social workers (18,9%), were among the most affected. About general health (F6), 63% of the awarded hospitals and 70% of the not awarded ones, presented good health levels (ranging from 5 to 50%). It was also noticed that, in the groups mentioned above, 25 and 20% respectively, were inserted in scores between 55 to 90%, what means that they are in worsening phase. The fact that the hospital is awarded or well recognized doesn t interfere in health professionals stress level and in their psychic health. Through what was heard from these individuals, it was possible to verify that they know little about humanization, once few of them identify or know that the service they offer is in an adoption process by Ministerial Policies. It was also detected the necessity of developing actions aimed at worker s health. Such results showed the importance of have more investments in programs that are directed to workers well-being, because they deal with other people s health and it is known that it is difficult for them to offer high-quality assistance if there are not suitable physical, psychological and material conditions to help them develop their jobs. As a warning, it is fair to say that investments in actions that provide humanized care to health professionals, mainly concerning preventive care for their health and life quality in their work

Fatores de risco na gagueira desenvolvimental familial e isolada

OBJETIVO: investigar e comparar os achados dos fatores de risco para a cronicidade da gagueira em crianças com gagueira desenvolvimental familial e isolada. MÉTODOS: participaram 60 crianças de ambos os gêneros, divididas em dois grupos: GI - 30 crianças com gagueira desenvolvimental familial; GII - 30 crianças com gagueira desenvolvimental isolada. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio do Protocolo de Risco para a Gagueira do Desenvolvimento - PRGD (Andrade, 2006), que considera os seguintes fatores de risco: idade, gênero, tipo de surgimento e tempo de duração das disfluências, tipologia das disfluências, fatores comunicativos e qualitativos associados, histórico mórbido pré, peri e pós natal, fatores estressantes que ocorreram próximo ao surgimento do distúrbio, histórico familial, reação pessoal, familiar e social e atitudes familiares. RESULTADOS: quando o grupo I (GI) foi comparado com o grupo II (GII), a única diferença estatisticamente significante foi com relação aos fatores estressantes que ocorreram próximo ao surgimento do distúrbio. CONCLUSÃO: os resultados confirmam a natureza complexa da gagueira, bem como a necessidade de se investigar os vários fatores considerados como de risco para o distúrbio, com intuito de melhorar a compreensão de suas possíveis etiologias.

Análise dos fatores de risco para gagueira em crianças disfluentes sem recorrência familial

OBJETIVO: analisar os fatores gênero, idade, tipo de surgimento da gagueira, tempo de duração e tipologia das disfluências, fatores estressantes físicos e emocionais, e fatores comunicativos e qualitativos associados em crianças disfluentes sem recorrência familial do distúrbio. MÉTODO: participaram 43 crianças com alto risco para a gagueira de ambos os gêneros. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio do Protocolo de Risco para a Gagueira do Desenvolvimento - PRGD. RESULTADOS: a razão masculino/feminino foi de 3,3:1. A única diferença estatisticamente significante dos fatores de risco analisados nos gêneros masculino e feminino foi a maior ocorrência de fatores comunicativos associados no gênero masculino (p=0,003). Houve uma semelhança dos achados entre os meninos e as meninas: quanto ao tempo de duração das disfluências a maioria apresentou mais de 12 meses de duração, a tipologia gaga foi a mais freqüente, a presença de fatores estressantes emocionais ocorreu na maior parte das crianças, e finalmente os fatores qualitativos associados, como taxa de elocução aumentada, tensão visível e incoordenação pneumo-fono-articulatória estiveram presentes em grande parte da amostra. CONCLUSÃO: os resultados desta investigação permitiram concluir que nos casos de crianças com alto risco para a gagueira isolada ocorreu a interação de inúmeros fatores, sugerindo que o distúrbio é multifatorial. Também foi possível concluir que a interação de alguns fatores como gênero masculino, tipologia gaga manifestada por mais de 12 meses, com início persistente, na presença de fatores qualitativos e comunicativos associados pode representar risco maior para o desenvolvimento da gagueira persistente.

Effect of different pulse treatments on vase life of inflorescences of oncidium varicosum 'Samurai'

Oncidium varicosum is a species of orchid that is prevalent in South America. This species produces yellow flowers, which are commonly named golden shower, ballet dancer and Anita's flower. The study of the post-harvest physiology of flowers involves examination of factors related to quality loss of cut flowers, which is related not only to several physiological processes but also to interactions between the floral components and qualitative factors. In this context, our research involved the study of physiological aspects of the post-harvest physiology of cut inflorescences of Oncidium varicosum ('Samurai') after treatment with pulsing solutions containing silver salts, 8-HQC and sucrose. A reduction of relative water content of Oncidium flowers treated with pulsing STS (2 mM) was observed. The soluble carbohydrates and reducing sugars content decreased, and higher contents were measured in flowers treated with STS (2 mM). All parameters related to flower coloration were reduced in all treatments. Similar results were obtained for carotenoid content, except for the STS treatment (2 mM), which differed significantly from the other treatments on the 8th and 12th days of vase life. The inflorescences' longevity varied from 12 days (distilled water) to 15 days (STS 2 mM).

Regiões de procedência de abacaxi para a Ceagesp de São Paulo e análises qualitativa, comparativa e das causas da valoração dos frutos

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Horticultura) - FCA

Combining analytic hierarchy process and goal programming for logistics distribution network design

Logistics distribution network design is one of the major decision problems arising in contemporary supply chain management. The decision involves many quantitative and qualitative factors that may be conflicting in nature. This paper applies an integrated multiple criteria decision making approach to design an optimal distribution network. In the approach, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used first to determine the relative importance weightings or priorities of alternative warehouses with respect to both deliverer oriented and customer oriented criteria. Then, the goal programming (GP) model incorporating the constraints of system, resource, and AHP priority is formulated to select the best set of warehouses without exceeding the limited available resources. In this paper, two commercial packages are used: Expert Choice for determining the AHP priorities of the warehouses, and LINDO for solving the GP model. © 2007 IEEE.

Optimization of facility location-allocation problem in customer-driven supply chain

This paper develops and applies an integrated multiple criteria decision making approach to optimize the facility location-allocation problem in the contemporary customer-driven supply chain. Unlike the traditional optimization techniques, the proposed approach, combining the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the goal programming (GP) model, considers both quantitative and qualitative factors, and also aims at maximizing the benefits of deliverer and customers. In the integrated approach, the AHP is used first to determine the relative importance weightings or priorities of alternative locations with respect to both deliverer oriented and customer oriented criteria. Then, the GP model, incorporating the constraints of system, resource, and AHP priority is formulated to select the best locations for setting up the warehouses without exceeding the limited available resources. In this paper, a real case study is used to demonstrate how the integrated approach can be applied to deal with the facility location-allocation problem, and it is proved that the integrated approach outperforms the traditional costbased approach.