the malmquist productivity index evaluates the productivity change of a decision making unit (dmu) between two time periods. in this current study, a method is proposed to compute the malmquist productivity index in several time periods (from the first to the last periods) in data envelopment analysis (dea) and then, the obtained malmquist productivity index is compared with malmquist productiv...

In models of data envelopment analysis (DEA), an optimal set of weights is generally assumed to represent the assessed decision making unit (DMU) in the best light in comparison to all the other DMUs, and so there is an optimal set of weights corresponding to each DMU. The present paper, proposes a three stage method to determine one common set of weights for decision making units. Then, we use...

Data envelopment analysis is a method for evaluating the relative efficiency of a collection of decision making units. The DEA classic models calculate each unit’s efficiency in the best condition, meaning that finds a weight that the DMU is at its maximum efficiency. In this paper, utilizing the directional distance function model in the presence of undesirable outputs, the efficiency of each ...

Evaluating the efficiency of decision making units has been frequently elaborated on in numerous publications. In this paper, the theoretical framework for a novel method of Distance Based Analysis (DBA) is presented. In addition, the method is performed on a sample of the ARWU’s top 54 Universities of the United States; the findings of which clearly demonstrate that the best ranked Universitie...

We suggest the main principals and functional units of the parallel chemical computer, namely, (i) a generator (which is a network of coupled oscillators) of oscillatory dynamic modes, (ii) a unit which is able to recognize these modes (a 'reader') and (iii) a decision-making unit, which analyses the current mode, compares it with the external signal and sends a command to the mode generator to...

One of the most striking patterns in biology is the formation of animal aggregations. Classically, aggregation has been viewed as an evolutionarily advantageous state, in which members derive the benefits of protection, mate choice, and centralized information, balanced by the costs of limiting resources. Consisting of individual members, aggregations nevertheless function as an integrated whol...

A: A key part of VISION 2020 is devolving decision making and planning to district level — the idea of planning services for units of one million people. Generally, when we have tried to plan for larger populations, we have not been successful. This has led some people to question whether national prevention of blindness programmes have any role in VISION 2020. Well managed national programmes ...

The solution of single-objective unit commitment problems for generation companies participating in deregulated markets may not directly be implementable mainly because of neglecting some conflicting secondary objectives arising from policy-making at internal/external environment. Benefiting an efficient multi-objective approach to improve the applicability of price-based unit commitment soluti...

There are a number of methods for ranking decision making units (DMUs), among which calculating super efficiency and then ranking the units based on the obtained amount of super efficiency are both valid and efficient. Since most of the proposed models do not provide the projection of Pareto efficiency, a model is developed and presented through this paper based on which in the projection of Pa...