Generalized Super Efficiency Model for Ranking Efficient Decision Making Units in Data Envelopment Analysis

Abstract: In evaluating decision making units (DMU's) by using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) technique, we encounter the situation in which more than one unit takes efficiency score of one. In such a case, some criteria should be considered to rank the DMU's. Some efficient techniques such as AP, MAJ,etc may be used in this way. For some sets of data, with special structure in models that above mentioned, may be infeasible and unstable. In this paper, a new model is developed that all the existing drawbacks of previously applied models remove. Some numerical examples are put forward

A comparative analytical assay of gene regulatory networks inferred using microarray and RNA-seq datasets

A Gene Regulatory Network (GRN) is a collection of interactions between molecular regulators and their targets in cells governing gene expression level. Omics data explosion generated from high-throughput genomic assays such as microarray and RNA-Seq technologies and the emergence of a number of pre-processing methods demands suitable guidelines to determine the impact of transcript data platforms and normalization procedures on describing associations in GRNs. In this study exploiting publically available microarray and RNA-Seq datasets and a gold standard of transcriptional interactions in Arabidopsis, we performed a comparison between six GRNs derived by RNA-Seq and microarray data and different normalization procedures. As a result we observed that compared algorithms were highly data-specific and Networks reconstructed by RNA-Seq data revealed a considerable accuracy against corresponding networks captured by microarrays. Topological analysis showed that GRNs inferred from two platforms were similar in several of topological features although we observed more connectivity in RNA-Seq derived genes network. Taken together transcriptional regulatory networks obtained by Robust Multiarray Averaging (RMA) and Variance-Stabilizing Transformed (VST) normalized data demonstrated predicting higher rate of true edges over the rest of methods used in this comparison

Trace metal distribution in the bed, bank and suspended sediment of the Ravensbourne River and its implication for sediment monitoring in an urban river

Purpose This study aims to identify a suitable sediment compartment for sediment quality monitoring by: (a) studying the concentration of trace metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the bed, bank and suspended sediment compartments of the Ravensbourne River to establish any differences in trace metal concentrations with compartment; (b) determining the influence of sediment particle size fractions ( 0.05) in the concentrations of metals between the suspended sediment and the < 63 μm bed sediment fraction, but there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the suspended sediment and the < 63 μm bank sediment fraction. There were also significant differences between the concentrations of metals in the < 63 μm and the 63 μm–2 mm fractions. Generally, the Ravensbourne River did not comply with the draft UK sediment quality guidelines for the metals analysed. Conclusions This study shows the importance of identifying a suitable sediment compartment to sample for compliance with sediment quality standards. The bed and suspended sediments are the most widely used sediment compartments for sediment monitoring, but collecting sufficient mass of the < 63 μm sediment fraction for monitoring presents a challenge for urban gravel bed rivers like the Ravensbourne River. It seems appropriate to establish individual monitoring regimes for different rivers

Incidence and predictive factors of perioperative cardiac events in patients undergoing noncardiac major vascular surgery in imam reza university hospital from december 2010 to December 2013

Background: Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality represent a special concern in a patient with known or unknown cardiovascular disease undergoing high-risk noncardiac surgeries such as major vascular surgery. Methods: Over a period of 36 months, from 2010 to 2013, we enrolled 65 patients in the Vascular Surgery Department of Imam Reza University Hospital. To assess the patients before major vascular surgery, we performed electrocardiography and echocardiography; and depending on these modality findings, some of the patients were candidated for the exercise test, thallium scan, and coronary angiography. During surgery, the patients had cardiac monitoring; and after surgery, they underwent cardiac monitoring, echocardiography, and cardiac troponin tests. Results: In the entire study population, the prevalence rate of perioperative ischemia was 18.5, myocardial infarctions 4.6, and arrhythmias 6.4 and hypotension 9.2 in the operating room. The prevalence of death owing to cardiac events during surgery was 4.6 in the whole study population. Additionally, 27.7 of the patients had no perioperative cardiac events. In the comparison of the risk factors, hypertension (72.2 vs 57.4; P = 0.021), diabetes (50 vs 19.1; P = 0.017), smoking (62 vs 40; P = 0.05), and previous ischemic heart diseases (58.5 vs 31.5; P = 0.042) were more common in the patients with cardiac events. Conclusions: Perioperative cardiac assessments and cardiac risk factor modifications may be considered in major vascular surgery. Close cardiac monitoring during and after surgery plays a significant role in decreasing cardiac events. © 2020, Iranian Heart Association. All rights reserved

Effect of GnRH on guinea pig endometrium at preimplantation stage

242-246Endometrium of GnRH treated group resembled with pregnant group and endometrial thickness in these groups significantly increased in comparison with non-pregnant group. In GnRH treated animals, most of histomorphological changes in epithelial cells, glands and stroma of uterus was similar to pregnant group. The results revealed that mammalian form of GnRH exerted endometrial change in guinea pig almost similar to those occur in normal pregnant animals and its administration prior to implantation may improve pregnancy rate following embryo transfer

Late Holocene relative sea-level fluctuations and crustal mobility at Bataneh (Najirum) archaeological site, Persian Gulf, Iran

The impacts of relative sea-level (RSL) variations and crust mobility on the development of ancient harbours in the northern Persian Gulf are poorly understood. Many unanswered questions remain with regard to the main reasons for a shift in the location of the most important ancient harbours in the northern part of the Persian Gulf coastal since 50 BC. Furthermore, some important early Islamic harbours, such as Siraf, have ancient city quarters that are today below the present sea level. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between halokinesis and RSL changes using geophysical models and multidisciplinary geoarchaeological methods at the ancient Sassanid–Islamic site of Bataneh (presently known as Najirum) located at the foothill of an active Darang salt diapir. The results reveal that&nbsp;after the mid-Holocene highstand, RSL regression was not continuous. The studied facies have recorded three RSL oscillations. The oscillations are correlated with the eustatic sea-level position. During the first lowstand, important Sassanid harbours shifted from Rishar to Apologus. The second lowstand is consistent with the transition of maritime trade from Apologus to Siraf, during the Abbasid dynasty. Uplift of the Bataneh coastal zone exposed the city to risks from flooding and fluvial debris flows. With a modification of the local watershed, runoff water originating from the salt anticlinal was controlled and used for the extraction of gypsum in evaporation ponds. The economic expansion of Siraf led to Bataneh being abandoned with a shift in trade to Kish Island

Intergeneric somatic hybrids of rice [Oryza sativa L.(+) Porteresia coarctata (Roxb.) Tateoka]

Somatic hybrid plants were obtained following the electrofusion of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv 'Taipei 309', 2n = 2x = 24) cell suspension-derived protoplasts with non-dividing leaf protoplasts of Porteresia coarctata (2n = 4x = 48), a saline-tolerant wild species. Fusion-treated protoplasts were plated on the surface of cellulose nitrate filter membranes, overlaying Lolium multiflorum nurse cells. The nurse cells were embedded in KPR medium containing 0.5 mg l<SUP>-1</SUP> 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and semi-solidified with SeaPlaque agarose. Putative somatic hybrid cell colonies were selected on the basis of their growth, whereby faster growing colonies were transferred preferentially to MS-based medium with 2.0 mg l<SUP>-1</SUP> kinetin, 0.5 mg l<SUP>-1</SUP> α-naphthaleneacetic acid, 30 g l<SUP>-1</SUP> sucrose and 4.0 g l<SUP>-1</SUP> SeaKem agarose to induce shoot regeneration. One hundred and nineteen regenerated plants were micropropagated clonally on MS-based medium containing 2.0 mg l<SUP>-1</SUP> 6-benzylaminopurine, 50 g l<SUP>-1</SUP> sucrose and 4.0 g l<SUP>-1</SUP> SeaKem agarose, prior to DNA extraction of plant samples. Putative somatic hybrids were initially identified by RAPD analysis, and 8 plant lines were selected for further investigation by flow cytometric ploidy determination and cytology. Plants of one line had an allohexaploid chromosome complement (2n = 6x = 72) and, following examination of its vegetative clones by GISH, were confirmed as somatic hybrids containing full chromosome complements of both O. sativa and P. coarctata