Data envelopment analysis efficiency of public services: bootstrap simultaneous confidence region

Public services, such as higher education, medical services, libraries or public administration offices, provide services to their customers. To obtain opinion-satisfaction indices of customers, it would be necessary to survey all the customers of the service (census), which is impossible. What is possible is to estimate the indices by surveying a random customer sample. The efficiency obtained with the classic data envelopment analysis models, considering the opinion indices of the customers of the public service as output data estimated with a user sample, will be an estimation of the obtained efficiency if the census is available. This paper proposes a bootstrap methodology to build a confidence region to simultaneously estimate the population data envelopment analysis efficiency score vector of a set of public service-producing units, with a fixed confidence level and using deterministic input data and estimated customer opinion indices as output data. The usefulness of the result is illustrated by describing a case study comparing the efficiency of libraries.Peer Reviewe

Materias primas para la fabricación de clinker de cemento portland en el área de Madrid.

En Madrid y su area de influencia se ha incrementado la demanda de materiales de construcción, como consecuencia del espectacular desarrollo de las obras de infraestructura y de la edificación. Los problemas derivados del impacto ambiental y la futura expansión y/o renovación de las plantas de fabricación de cemento portland, aconsejan una investigación en el area, de las materias primas para la fabricación de clinker. Los materiales aflorantes en la cuenca Terciaria sobre la que se asienta Madrid, han sido divididos en tres unidades estratigráficas, con importantes diferencias litológicas. La Unidad Superior, presenta un volumen de mas de 1500 Mt de calizas de buena calidad para ser usadas como componente principal . La Unidad Inferior o Salina, esta formada localmente por sedimentos lutítico-arcillosos, que pueden ser usados en función de su naturaleza mineralógica y química, como un buen componente secundario. Estos materiales constituyen la materia prima para la fabricación de cerámica basta, por lo que en algunas zonas ambos tipos de uso deben de coexistir. Los yesos detríticos y primarios de la Unidad Intermedia, pueden ser usados como componente regulador de fraguado. Los modelos de dosificación elaborados muestran que no es necesaria la adición de un tercer componente al crudo del portland, para obtener una composición química adecuada

On the relation between the external structure and the internal characteristics in the near-nozzle field of diesel sprays

[EN] In this paper, a high-resolution visualization technique has been used in combination with an extensively validated 0D model in order to relate the external structure of a diesel spray to the internal properties in the vicinity of the nozzle. For this purpose, three single-hole convergent nozzles with different diameters have been tested for several pressure conditions. The analysis of the obtained images shows that the spray width significantly changes along the very first millimeters of the spray. From the high resolution images captured, two parameters have been evaluated. The first one is the external non-perturbed length, where droplet detachment has not been observed. The second one is a transitional length, defined as the axial position where the spray width increases linearly after a transient behavior, making it possible to establish a spray cone angle definition. Furthermore, the internal liquid core length has been estimated for these nozzles using an extensively validated zero-dimensional model. The intact liquid core length has proved to be correlated with both the transitional length and the non-perturbed length with a very high degree of reliability. In the case of the transitional length, a quadratic correlation has been observed, whereas a linear relationship has been confirmed between the intact core length and the non-perturbed length. The results presented here may help to shed light on better understanding of such a complex process as atomization.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Spanish Government, under the project 'Comprension de la influencia de combustibles no convencionales en el proceso de injeccion y combustion tipo diesel' (project number TRA2012-36932) The PhD studies of D. Jaramillo have been funded by "Conselleria d'Educacio'Cultura i Esports'' of "Generalitat Valenciana'', Spain, by means of ''Programa Vali+ d per a personal investigador en formacio''. Reference ACIF/2015/040.Benajes, J.; Salvador, FJ.; Carreres, M.; Jaramillo-Císcar, D. (2017). On the relation between the external structure and the internal characteristics in the near-nozzle field of diesel sprays. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part D Journal of Automobile Engineering. 231(3):360-371. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954407016639464S3603712313Desantes, J. M., Payri, R., Salvador, F. J., & Gil, A. (2006). Development and validation of a theoretical model for diesel spray penetration. Fuel, 85(7-8), 910-917. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2005.10.023Kim, H. J., Park, S. H., & Lee, C. S. (2010). A study on the macroscopic spray behavior and atomization characteristics of biodiesel and dimethyl ether sprays under increased ambient pressure. Fuel Processing Technology, 91(3), 354-363. doi:10.1016/j.fuproc.2009.11.007Klein-Douwel, R. J. H., Frijters, P. J. M., Seykens, X. L. J., Somers, L. M. T., & Baert, R. S. G. (2009). Gas Density and Rail Pressure Effects on Diesel Spray Growth from a Heavy-Duty Common Rail Injector†. Energy & Fuels, 23(4), 1832-1842. doi:10.1021/ef8003569Lee, C. S., Lee, K. H., Reitz, R. D., & Park, S. W. (2006). EFFECT OF SPLIT INJECTION ON THE MACROSCOPIC DEVELOPMENT AND ATOMIZATION CHARACTERISTICS OF A DIESEL SPRAY INJECTED THROUGH A COMMON-RAIL SYSTEM. Atomization and Sprays, 16(5), 543-562. doi:10.1615/atomizspr.v16.i5.50Desantes, J. M., Payri, R., Salvador, F. J., & De la Morena, J. (2010). Influence of cavitation phenomenon on primary break-up and spray behavior at stationary conditions. Fuel, 89(10), 3033-3041. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2010.06.004Payri, R., Salvador, F. J., Gimeno, J., & Soare, V. (2005). Determination of diesel sprays characteristics in real engine in-cylinder air density and pressure conditions. Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 19(11), 2040-2052. doi:10.1007/bf02916497Desantes, J. M., Salvador, F. J., López, J. J., & De la Morena, J. (2010). Study of mass and momentum transfer in diesel sprays based on X-ray mass distribution measurements and on a theoretical derivation. Experiments in Fluids, 50(2), 233-246. doi:10.1007/s00348-010-0919-8Salvador, F. J., Ruiz, S., Gimeno, J., & De la Morena, J. (2011). Estimation of a suitable Schmidt number range in diesel sprays at high injection pressure. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 50(9), 1790-1798. doi:10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2011.03.030Linne, M. A., Paciaroni, M., Berrocal, E., & Sedarsky, D. (2009). Ballistic imaging of liquid breakup processes in dense sprays. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 32(2), 2147-2161. doi:10.1016/j.proci.2008.07.040Kastengren, A. L., Tilocco, F. Z., Duke, D. J., Powell, C. F., Zhang, X., & Moon, S. (2014). TIME-RESOLVED X-RAY RADIOGRAPHY OF SPRAYS FROM ENGINE COMBUSTION NETWORK SPRAY A DIESEL INJECTORS. Atomization and Sprays, 24(3), 251-272. doi:10.1615/atomizspr.2013008642Kastengren, A., & Powell, C. F. (2014). Synchrotron X-ray techniques for fluid dynamics. Experiments in Fluids, 55(3). doi:10.1007/s00348-014-1686-8Som, S., & Aggarwal, S. K. (2010). Effects of primary breakup modeling on spray and combustion characteristics of compression ignition engines. Combustion and Flame, 157(6), 1179-1193. doi:10.1016/j.combustflame.2010.02.018Lebas, R., Menard, T., Beau, P. A., Berlemont, A., & Demoulin, F. X. (2009). Numerical simulation of primary break-up and atomization: DNS and modelling study. International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 35(3), 247-260. doi:10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2008.11.005Shinjo, J., & Umemura, A. (2010). Simulation of liquid jet primary breakup: Dynamics of ligament and droplet formation. International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 36(7), 513-532. doi:10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2010.03.008Shinjo, J., & Umemura, A. (2011). Detailed simulation of primary atomization mechanisms in Diesel jet sprays (isolated identification of liquid jet tip effects). Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 33(2), 2089-2097. doi:10.1016/j.proci.2010.07.006Ménard, T., Tanguy, S., & Berlemont, A. (2007). Coupling level set/VOF/ghost fluid methods: Validation and application to 3D simulation of the primary break-up of a liquid jet. International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 33(5), 510-524. doi:10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2006.11.001Bermúdez, V., Payri, R., Salvador, F. J., & Plazas, A. H. (2005). Study of the influence of nozzle seat type on injection rate and spray behaviour. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 219(5), 677-689. doi:10.1243/095440705x28303Payri, F., Bermúdez, V., Payri, R., & Salvador, F. J. (2004). The influence of cavitation on the internal flow and the spray characteristics in diesel injection nozzles. Fuel, 83(4-5), 419-431. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2003.09.010Payri, R., Molina, S., Salvador, F. J., & Gimeno, J. (2004). A study of the relation between nozzle geometry, internal flow and sprays characteristics in diesel fuel injection systems. KSME International Journal, 18(7), 1222-1235. doi:10.1007/bf02983297Salvador, F. J., Ruiz, S., Salavert, J., & De la Morena, J. (2012). Consequences of using biodiesel on the injection and air–fuel mixing processes in diesel engines. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 227(8), 1130-1141. doi:10.1177/0954407012463667Basak, N., & Das, D. (2009). Photofermentative hydrogen production using purple non-sulfur bacteria Rhodobacter sphaeroides O.U.001 in an annular photobioreactor: A case study. Biomass and Bioenergy, 33(6-7), 911-919. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2009.02.007Salvador, F. J., Romero, J.-V., Roselló, M.-D., & Martínez-López, J. (2010). Validation of a code for modeling cavitation phenomena in Diesel injector nozzles. Mathematical and Computer Modelling, 52(7-8), 1123-1132. doi:10.1016/j.mcm.2010.02.027Andriotis, A., & Gavaises, M. (2009). INFLUENCE OF VORTEX FLOW AND CAVITATION ON NEAR-NOZZLE DIESEL SPRAY DISPERSION ANGLE. Atomization and Sprays, 19(3), 247-261. doi:10.1615/atomizspr.v19.i3.30Salvador, F. J., Hoyas, S., Novella, R., & Martínez-López, J. (2011). Numerical simulation and extended validation of two-phase compressible flow in diesel injector nozzles. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 225(4), 545-563. doi:10.1177/09544070jauto1569Salvador, F. J., Martínez-López, J., Caballer, M., & De Alfonso, C. (2013). Study of the influence of the needle lift on the internal flow and cavitation phenomenon in diesel injector nozzles by CFD using RANS methods. Energy Conversion and Management, 66, 246-256. doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2012.10.011Hiroyasu, H. (2000). SPRAY BREAKUP MECHANISM FROM THE HOLE-TYPE NOZZLE AND ITS APPLICATIONS. Atomization and Sprays, 10(3-5), 511-527. doi:10.1615/atomizspr.v10.i3-5.130Sou, A., Hosokawa, S., & Tomiyama, A. (2007). Effects of cavitation in a nozzle on liquid jet atomization. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 50(17-18), 3575-3582. doi:10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2006.12.033Macian, V., Bermudez, V., Payri, R., & Gimeno, J. (2003). NEW TECHNIQUE FOR DETERMINATION OF INTERNAL GEOMETRY OF A DIESEL NOZZLE WITH THE USE OF SILICONE METHODOLOGY. Experimental Techniques, 27(2), 39-43. doi:10.1111/j.1747-1567.2003.tb00107.xOtsu, N. (1979). A Threshold Selection Method from Gray-Level Histograms. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, 9(1), 62-66. doi:10.1109/tsmc.1979.4310076Payri, R., Tormos, B., Salvador, F. J., & Araneo, L. (2008). Spray droplet velocity characterization for convergent nozzles with three different diameters. Fuel, 87(15-16), 3176-3182. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2008.05.028DELACOURT, E., DESMET, B., & BESSON, B. (2005). Characterisation of very high pressure diesel sprays using digital imaging techniques. Fuel, 84(7-8), 859-867. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2004.12.003Yue, Y., Powell, C. F., Poola, R., Wang, J., & Schaller, J. K. (2001). QUANTITATIVE MEASUREMENTS OF DIESEL FUEL SPRAY CHARACTERISTICS IN THE NEAR-NOZZLE REGION USING X-RAY ABSORPTION. Atomization and Sprays, 11(4), 471-490. doi:10.1615/atomizspr.v11.i4.100Desantes, J. M., Payri, R., Garcia, J. M., & Salvador, F. J. (2007). A contribution to the understanding of isothermal diesel spray dynamics. Fuel, 86(7-8), 1093-1101. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2006.10.011Desantes, J. M., Arregle, J., Lopez, J. J., & Cronhjort, A. (2006). SCALING LAWS FOR FREE TURBULENT GAS JETS AND DIESEL-LIKE SPRAYS. Atomization and Sprays, 16(4), 443-474. doi:10.1615/atomizspr.v16.i4.6

The Wijsman topology of a fuzzy metric space

[EN] We introduce and study the notions of lower Wijsman topology, upper Wijsman topology and Wijsman topology of a fuzzy metric space in the sense of Kramosil and Michalek. In particular, quasi-uniformizability, uniformizability, quasi-metrizability and metrizability of these topologies are discussed. Their relations with other hypertopologies are also analyzed. Corresponding results to the Wijsman topology of a metric space are deduced from our approach with the help of the standard fuzzy metric.J. Gutierrez Garcia acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain, Grant MTM2012-37894-C02-02. J. Rodriguez-Lopez, S. Romaguera and M. Sanchis also acknowledge the support of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain, Grant MTM2012-37894-C02-01.Gutierrez Garcia, J.; Rodríguez López, J.; Romaguera Bonilla, S.; Sanchis, M. (2016). The Wijsman topology of a fuzzy metric space. Fuzzy Sets and Systems. 300:57-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fss.2015.08.005S577130

Root growth dynamics of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) seedlings in relation to shoot elongation, plant size and tissue nitrogen concentration

Large and high nitrogen (N) concentration seedlings frequently have higher survival and growth in Mediterranean forest plantations than seedlings with the opposite traits, which has been linked to the production of deeper and larger root systems in the former type of seedlings. This study assessed the influence of seedling size and N concentration on root growth dynamics and its relation to shoot elongation in Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) seedlings. We cultivated seedlings that differed in size and tissue N concentration that were subsequently transplanted into transparent methacrylate tubes in the field. The number of roots, root depth, and the root and shoot elongation rate (length increase per unit time) were periodically measured for 10 weeks. At the end of the study, we also measured the twig water potential (psi) and the mass of plant organs. New root mass at the end of the study increased with seedling size, which was linked to the production of a greater number of new roots of lower specific length rather than to higher elongation rate of individual roots. Neither plant size nor N concentration affected root depth. New root mass per leaf mass unit, shoot elongation rate, and pre-dawn psi were reduced with reduction in seedling size, while mid-day psi and the root relative growth rate were not affected by seedling size. N concentration had an additive effect on plant size on root growth but its overall effect was less important than seedling size. Shoot and roots had an antagonistic elongation pattern through time in small seedlings, indicating that the growth of both organs depressed each other and that they competed for the same resources. Antagonism between shoot and root elongation decreased with plant size, disappearing in large and medium seedlings, and it was independent of seedling N concentration. We conclude that root and shoot growth but not rooting depth increased with plant size and tissue N concentration in Aleppo pine seedlings. Since production of new roots is critical for the establishment of planted seedlings, higher absolute root growth in large seedlings may increase their transplanting performance relative to small seedlings. The lack of antagonism between root and shoot growth in large seedlings suggests that these plants can provide resources to sustain simultaneous growth of both organs.Ministerio de Economía y CompetitividadMinisterio de Ciencia y EducaciónComunidad de Madri

Regresión tumoral espontánea. A propósito de dos casos

Two cases of spontaneous tumor regression (STR) occurring in a patient with non Hodgkin lymphoma and in another patient with squamous carcinoma of the lung are presented. Both cases fulfill the criteria of STR defined by Everson and Cole. Recent results obtained in basic and clinical studies have indicated that immunological mechanisms could play an important role in STR. The mediator effects more frequently referred are: 1) generation of antineoplastic cytotoxic cells; 2) production of immunoregulatory cytokines by lymphocytes and monocytes, and 3) possible cross reaction between tumor and bacterial antigens. These mechanisms of action are discussed in relation to the presented case

Red nucleus and rubrospinal tract disorganization in the absence of Pou4f1

The red nucleus (RN) is a neuronal population that plays an important role in forelimb motor control and locomotion. Histologically it is subdivided into two subpopulations, the parvocellular RN (pRN) located in the diencephalon and the magnocellular RN (mRN) in the mesencephalon. The RN integrates signals from motor cortex and cerebellum and projects to spinal cord interneurons and motor neurons through the rubrospinal tract (RST). Pou4f1 is a transcription factor highly expressed in this nucleus that has been related to its specification. Here we profoundly analyzed consequences of Pou4f1 loss-of-function in development, maturation and axonal projection of the RN. Surprisingly, RN neurons are specified and maintained in the mutant, no cell death was detected. Nevertheless, the nucleus appeared disorganized with a strong delay in radial migration and with a wider neuronal distribution; the neurons did not form a compacted population as they do in controls, Robo1 and Slit2 were miss-expressed. Cplx1 and Npas1, expressed in the RN, are transcription factors involved in neurotransmitter release, neuronal maturation and motor function processes among others. In our mutant mice, both transcription factors are lost, suggesting an abnormal maturation of the RN. The resulting altered nucleus occupied a wider territory. Finally, we examined RST development and found that the RN neurons were able to project to the spinal cord but their axons appeared defasciculated. These data suggest that Pou4f1 is necessary for the maturation of RN neurons but not for their specification and maintenance.Peer reviewedPeer Reviewe

XQuery Optimization Based on Program Slicing *

ABSTRACT XQuery has become the standard query language for XML. The efforts put on this language have produced mature and efficient implementations of XQuery processors. However, in practice the efficiency of XQuery programs is strongly dependent on the ability of the programmer to combine different queries which often affect several XML sources that in turn can be distributed in different branches of the organization. Therefore, techniques to reduce the amount of data loaded and also to reduce the intermediate structures computed by queries is a necessity. In this work we propose a novel technique that allows the programmer to automatically optimize a query in such a way that unnecessary intermediate computations are avoided, and, in addition, it identifies the paths in the source XML documents that are really required to resolve the query

An analysis of the similarities in the ATR-FTIR spectra from Argania spinosa, Rosa rubiginosa and Elaeis guineensis oils

The attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) spectra of the essential oil from Rosa rubiginosa L. seeds and the vegetable oils from Argania spinosa L. kernel and Elaeis guineensis Jacq. pulp show important similitudes that hamper their identification by vibrational spectroscopy techniques if they are not complemented with well-established methods such as gas chromatography. Nevertheless, the observed similarities in structure-composition-traditional uses between Argania spinosa and Rosa rubiginosa oils suggest that they could be interchangeable when skin physicians, dermatologic-surgeons or cosmetologists perceive in their practice that one of the oils produces an allergic reaction or other side effects, although further activity studies are needed

KEEL 3.0: an open source software for multi-stage analysis in data mining

This paper introduces the 3rd major release of the KEEL Software. KEEL is an open source Java framework (GPLv3 license) that provides a number of modules to perform a wide variety of data mining tasks. It includes tools to performdata management, design of multiple kind of experiments, statistical analyses, etc. This framework also contains KEEL-dataset, a data repository for multiple learning tasks featuring data partitions and algorithms’ results over these problems. In this work, we describe the most recent components added to KEEL 3.0, including new modules for semi-supervised learning, multi-instance learning, imbalanced classification and subgroup discovery. In addition, a new interface in R has been incorporated to execute algorithms included in KEEL. These new features greatly improve the versatility of KEEL to deal with more modern data mining problems