An evaluation of cross-efficiency methods: With an application to warehouse performance

Cross-efficiency measurement is an extension of Data Envelopment Analysis that allows for tie-breaking ranking of the Decision Making Units (DMUs) using all the peer evaluations. In this article we examine the theory of cross-efficiency measurement by comparing a selection of methods popular in the literature. These methods are applied to performance measurement of European warehouses. We develop a cross-efficiency method based on a rank-order DEA model to accommodate the ordinal nature of some key variables characterizing warehouse performance. This is one of the first comparisons of methods on a real-life dataset and the first time that a model allowing for qualitative variables is included in such a comparison. Our results show that the choice of model matters, as one obtains statistically different rankings from each one of them. This holds in particular for the multiplicative and game-theoretic methods whose results diverge from the classic method. From a managerial perspective, focused on the applicability of the methods, we evaluate them through a multidimensional metric which considers their capability to rank DMUs, their ease of implementation, and their robustness to sensitivity analyses. We conclude that standard weight-restriction methods, as initiated by Sexton et al. [48], perform as well as recently introduced, more sophisticated alternativesSpanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación), the State Research Agency (Agencia Estatal de Investigación) and the European Regional Development Fund (Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional) under grants EIN2020-11226

Fruit crops, 1986: a summary of research

Influence of treatments at planting on trellised apple tree performance / David C. Ferree -- Influence of growth regulators on branching of young apple trees / David C. Ferree and John C. Schmid -- Influence of growth regulators on scarf skin of Rome Beauty apples / David C. Ferree and John C. Schmid -- Influence of fungicides on scarf skin on Gallia Beauty / David C. Ferree and Michael A. Ellis -- Little relationship between root pruning and winter injury / James R. Schupp and David C. Ferree -- Performance of two apple cultivars on MS and M9 interstems on Antonovka / D. C. Ferree, R. M. McConnell, and J. C. Schmid -- Air sprayer jet deflection by travel or wind: as predicted by computer / R. D. Fox, R. D. Brazee, and D. L. Reichard -- Measuring atmospheric water vapor / R. D. Brazee and R. D. Fox -- A prototypic pollination unit made from expanded polystyrene / James E. Tew and Dewey M. Caron -- Effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) and daminozide (Alar) on growth and fruiting of Himrod grapes / G. A. Cahoon, M. L. Kaps, and S. P. Pathak -- Development of an action threshold for meadow spittlebug on strawberries / Mark A. Zajac and Franklin R. Hall -- Long-term yield of selected blackberry cultivars and selections in southern Ohio / Craig K. Chandler, Donald A. Chandler, and Greg L. Brenneman -- Electronic information transfer / R. C. Funt. -- A summary of research on synthetic pyrethroids and mites in the apple orchard ecosystem / Franklin R. Hall -- Controlling apple collar rot: effects of fungicides, soil amendments, and depth of planting / M. A. Ellis, D. C. Ferree, and L. V. Madden -- Validation of an electronic unit for predicting apple scab infection periods / M. A. Ellis, L. V. Madden, and L. L. Wilson -- Epidemiology and control of strawberry leather rot / G. G. Grove, M. A. Ellis, and L. V. Madden -- Research on cane diseases of thornless blackberry in Ohio / M. A. Ellis, G. A. Kuter, and L. L. Wilso

Metal-insulator transition in the two-orbital Hubbard model at fractional band fillings: Self-energy functional approach

We investigate the infinite-dimensional two-orbital Hubbard model at arbitrary band fillings. By means of the self-energy functional approach, we discuss the stability of the metallic state in the systems with same and different bandwidths. It is found that the Mott insulating phases are realized at commensurate band fillings. Furthermore, it is clarified that the orbital selective Mott phase with one orbital localized and the other itinerant is stabilized even at fractional band fillings in the system with different bandwidths.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figure

Intensidades da poda seca e do desbaste de cacho na composição da uva Cabernet Sauvignon.

A pesquisa foi realizada durante quatro anos, num vinhedo de Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis vinifera L.), em Bento Gonçalves-RS. O objetivo foi determinar o efeito das intensidades da poda seca e do desbaste de cacho em variáveis relacionadas aos componentes de produção da videira e à composição do mosto de uva. Os tratamentos consistiram em dois níveis de poda seca - curta e longa - e quatro de desbaste de cacho (%) - 0; 25; 50 e 75 -; com cinco repetições. O delineamento experimental foi o em blocos casualizados, com os tratamentos em parcelas subdivididas. Os resultados mostram que a poda seca e o desbaste de cacho tiveram efeito altamente significativo na produtividade do vinhedo que, na média dos quatro anos, variou de 10.971 kg/ha ? poda curta, 75% de desbaste ? a 32.819 kg/ha ? poda longa, 0% de desbaste. Houve, também, efeito significativo na produtividade por gema, peso de ramos podados por gema e por hectare, área foliar/peso fresco do fruto e produtividade/peso de ramos podados. Entretanto, o efeito nas variáveis relacionadas a açúcar e acidez do mosto da uva foi pouco expressivo. O componente 1 da análise de componentes principais discriminou o tratamento poda curta a 75% de desbaste de cacho dos tratamentos poda longa-0% de desbaste e poda longa-25% de desbaste

CYGD: the Comprehensive Yeast Genome Database

The Comprehensive Yeast Genome Database (CYGD) compiles a comprehensive data resource for information on the cellular functions of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and related species, chosen as the best understood model organism for eukaryotes. The database serves as a common resource generated by a European consortium, going beyond the provision of sequence information and functional annotations on individual genes and proteins. In addition, it provides information on the physical and functional interactions among proteins as well as other genetic elements. These cellular networks include metabolic and regulatory pathways, signal transduction and transport processes as well as co-regulated gene clusters. As more yeast genomes are published, their annotation becomes greatly facilitated using S.cerevisiae as a reference. CYGD provides a way of exploring related genomes with the aid of the S.cerevisiae genome as a backbone and SIMAP, the Similarity Matrix of Proteins. The comprehensive resource is available under http://mips.gsf.de/genre/proj/yeast/

Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP)-7 expression is decreased in human hypertensive nephrosclerosis

Background: Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP)-7 is protective in different animal models of acute and chronic kidney disease. Its role in human kidneys, and in particular hypertensive nephrosclerosis, has thus far not been described. Methods: BMP-7 mRNA was quantified using real-time PCR and localised by immunostaining in tissue samples from normal and nephrosclerotic human kidneys. The impact of angiotensin (AT)-II and the AT-II receptor antagonist telmisartan on BMP-7 mRNA levels and phosphorylated Smad 1/5/8 (pSmad 1/5/8) expression was quantified in proximal tubular cells (HK-2). Functional characteristics of BMP-7 were evaluated by testing its influence on TGF-b induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), expression of TGF-b receptor type I (TGF-bRI) and phosphorylated Smad 2 (pSmad 2) as well as on TNF-a induced apoptosis of proximal tubular cells. Results: BMP-7 was predominantly found in the epithelia of the distal tubule and the collecting duct and was less abundant in proximal tubular cells. In sclerotic kidneys, BMP-7 was significantly decreased as demonstrated by real-time PCR and immunostaining. AT-II stimulation in HK-2 cells led to a significant decrease of BMP-7 and pSmad 1/5/8, which was partially ameliorated upon co-incubation with telmisartan. Only high concentrations of BMP-7 (100 ng/ml) were able to reverse TNF-a-induced apoptosis and TGF-b-induced EMT in human proximal tubule cells possibly due to a decreased expression of TGF-bRI. In addition, BMP-7 was able to reverse TGF-b-induced phosphorylation of Smad 2. Conclusions: The findings suggest a protective role for BMP-7 by counteracting the TGF-b and TNF-a-induced negative effects. The reduced expression of BMP-7 in patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis may imply loss of protection and regenerative potential necessary to counter the disease

Membrane-Bound TNF Induces Protective Immune Responses to M. bovis BCG Infection: Regulation of memTNF and TNF Receptors Comparing Two memTNF Molecules

Several activities of the transmembrane form of TNF (memTNF) in immune responses to intracellular bacterial infection have been shown to be different from those exerted by soluble TNF. Evidence is based largely on studies in transgenic mice expressing memTNF, but precise cellular mechanisms are not well defined and the importance of TNF receptor regulation is unknown. In addition, memTNF activities are defined for a particular modification of the extracellular domain of TNF but a direct comparison of different mutant memTNF molecules has not been done in vivo

A cartilage tissue engineering approach combining starch-polycaprolactone fibre mesh scaffolds with bovine articular chondrocytes

In the present work we originally tested the suitability of corn starch-polycaprolactone (SPCL) scaffolds for pursuing a cartilage tissue engineering approach. Bovine articular chondrocytes were seeded on SPCL scaffolds under dynamic conditions using spinner flasks (total of 4 scaffolds per spinner flask using cell suspensions of 0.5×106 cells/ml) and cultured under orbital agitation for a total of 6 weeks. Poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) non-woven scaffolds and bovine native articular cartilage were used as standard controls for the conducted experiments. PGA is a kind of standard in tissue engineering approaches and it was used as a control in that sense. The tissue engineered constructs were characterized at different time periods by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and toluidine blue stainings, immunolocalisation of collagen types I and II, and dimethylmethylene blue (DMB) assay for glycosaminoglycans (GAG) quantification assay. SEM results for SPCL constructs showed that the chondrocytes presented normal morphological features, with extensive cells presence at the surface of the support structures, and penetrating the scaffolds pores. These observations were further corroborated by H&E staining. Toluidine blue and immunohistochemistry exhibited extracellular matrix deposition throughout the 3D structure. Glycosaminoglycans, and collagen types I and II were detected. However, stronger staining for collagen type II was observed when compared to collagen type I. The PGA constructs presented similar features toSPCLat the end of the 6 weeks. PGA constructs exhibited higher amounts of matrix glycosaminoglycans when compared to the SPCL scaffolds. However, we also observed a lack of tissue in the central area of the PGA scaffolds. Reasons for these occurrences may include inefficient cells penetration, necrosis due to high cell densities, or necrosis related with acidic by-products degradation. Such situation was not detected in the SPCL scaffolds, indicating the much better biocompatibility of the starch based scaffolds