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The main goal of this paper is to present a new approach for measuring the performance of n-stage series systems in the presence of uncertain data, which are two challenging issues in evaluating the efficiency of Decision-Making Units (DMUs) using traditional Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models. By using a Network DEA model and its dual, as well as using Bertsimas et al.'s robustness technique, two Robust Network DEA have been presented. These models can display a range of DMUs performance with appropriate accuracy. Proposed models were used to determine the efficiency range of Iranian dairy companies' supply chain with three stages. The results show that the proposed models are applicable and effective. Total efficiency bounds are obtained with percentage deviations of 20%, 10% and 5%. The lower bounds have relative errors of 0.39, 0.23 and 0.12 and a correlation coefficient of more than 97%, and the upper bounds have relative error of 1.1, 0.84 and 0.62 and a correlation coefficient of about 90%. Therefore, the proposed model for calculating the lower bound is more accurate. The calculation of the efficiency bounds of the sub-stages also confirms this issue. Finally, the obtained results have been compared with the values obtained through a fuzzy three-stage DEA model, our results have a higher correlation coefficient and more accurate upper bounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With economic and social development, the demand for railway transport is increasing, and improving its efficiency is essential for sustainable growth of the sector worldwide. This study investigated railway transport in 16 countries from 2010 to 2018 via a three-stage data envelopment analysis modelling approach to empirically evaluate the corresponding efficiencies while eliminating the influence of the external environment and statistical noise. The results show that Switzerland (0.993), the UK (0.966), and the USA (0.966) top the first-stage efficiency (named comprehensive efficiency) calculation, and the comprehensive efficiency of railway transport has continuously increased over the past years for most countries. The external environment affects the efficiency of railway transport; however, the strength and direction of its impact vary. Railway density improves efficiency, while road density has the opposite effect. In the third stage, China (0.973), the USA (0.969), and the UK (0.906) presented the highest efficiency (real efficiency) estimation, which was further decomposed into pure and scale efficiency. The 16 countries considered present similar pure efficiencies, but significantly different scale efficiencies, implying a relatively low potential for efficiency enhancement via technological improvement. Policy opportunities to promote the railway sector's efficiency lie in implementing real efficiency-oriented governance strategies, piloting resource inputs by differentiating the influence of the external environment, and strengthening the competitiveness of railway transport to achieve economies of scale. • Railway transport efficiency is affected by external environment and internal factors. • We measure the efficiency of railway transport in 16 countries from 2010 to 2018. • Three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) modeling approach is employed. • The 16 countries present similar pure efficiency, but different scale efficiency. • Scale efficiency promotion should be prioritized to improve global railway efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses the problem of efficiency measurement in the performing arts by investigating the highly heterogeneous Russian theater market. We adopt data envelopment analysis and explore efficiency drivers, focusing on two groups of public theaters, classical academic and leading regional theaters. The scope of programming, observed through touring and new productions, is shown to have a negative impact on efficiency. The implications highlight the importance of accounting for the sector's heterogeneity for more accurate and meaningful measurements of efficiency. The results can inform decisions on programming and resource allocation to optimize both artistic and financial goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread outbreak of a new Coronavirus (COVID-19) strain has reminded the world of the destructive effects of pandemic and epidemic diseases. Pandemic outbreaks such as COVID-19 are considered a type of risk to supply chains (SCs) affecting SC performance. Healthcare SC performance can be assessed using advanced Management Science (MS) and Operations Research (OR) approaches to improve the efficiency of existing healthcare systems when confronted by pandemic outbreaks such as COVID-19 and Influenza. This paper intends to develop a novel network range directional measure (RDM) approach for evaluating the sustainability and resilience of healthcare SCs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. First, we propose a non-radial network RDM method in the presence of negative data. Then, the model is extended to deal with the different types of data such as ratio, integer, undesirable, and zero in efficiency measurement of sustainable and resilient healthcare SCs. To mitigate conditions of uncertainty in performance evaluation results, we use chance-constrained programming (CCP) for the developed model. The proposed approach suggests how to improve the efficiency of healthcare SCs. We present a case study, along with managerial implications, demonstrating the applicability and usefulness of the proposed model. The results show how well our proposed model can assess the sustainability and resilience of healthcare supply chains in the presence of dissimilar types of data and how, under different conditions, the efficiency of decision-making units (DMUs) changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to compare the efficiencies of 36 OECD countries in the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic. A three-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is proposed. While the first stage analyzes the pre-covid situation, the contagion control and medical treatment stages evaluate the current COVID status of the countries. In the three-stage model, 8 input, 3 intermediate and 3 output variables are used. Efficiency analysis was carried out using output-oriented and constant return to scale CCR model and variable return to scale BCC models. First of all, efficiency analysis was performed for all countries at each stage. Target values have been calculated for countries that are not on the efficient frontier. Considering the target values and percentage changes, suggestions were made for countries to reach the efficient frontier. It has been observed that Turkey is efficient in the pre-Covid and medical treatment stages, but inefficient in the contagion control. Suggestions have been made by comparing the countries that are in the reference position for Turkey in the contagion control stage. Afterwards, with a study that can be described as a sensitivity analysis, overall efficiency scores were calculated for each country by giving different weights to the stages. No multi-stage DEA study has been found that calculates overall efficiency scores and deals with the pre-Covid and Covid pandemic period together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reverberation chambers (RCs) are now a reliable alternative to anechoic chambers (ACs) to perform antenna radiation efficiency measurements. Most methods, including the two-antenna one used in this article, are based on the evaluation of the stirred components of the scattering parameters. They are obtained by subtracting the average scattering parameters from the measured ones. This averaging is performed because of mechanical stirring, that is, sometimes supplemented by additional stirring such as antenna stirring (which includes platform stirring and source stirring). In this article, we present an extensive study on the role of antenna stirring in the retrieved radiation efficiency. Four measurement campaigns were successively performed: without antenna stirring, with platform stirring only, with source stirring only, and with a combined stirring of both antennas. Performing only source stirring or platform stirring leads to a biased estimation of the radiation efficiency. Therefore, we showed that the stirring of both antennas is mandatory to obtain an unbiased estimation of the radiation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Purpose/Significance] This paper aimed at evaluating information exchange efficiency of fire-fighting microblogs, in order to guiding information exchange and promoting the information exchange efficiency in emergency management. There are two primary innovations in this paper. First, compared with the existing research on emergency management and DEA methods, the existing research on the application of government microblogs in emergency management mainly focused on qualitative research. The research on DEA method focused on the performance evaluation of enterprises and banks. This paper used the DEA method to quantitatively analyze the efficiency of information exchange in emergency management. Second, this paper used the DEA method to divide the efficiency of fire-fighting microblogs into two parts: DEA effective and non-DEA effective, and comprehensively explored measures to improve efficiency from these two parts. [Method/Process] This paper took the highest level of fire-fighting microblogs officially certified by the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities as the research resources. In order to do this research, an indicator system based on current influence of government microblog and the efficiency of communication was constructed; DEA-BBC model was used to measure the efficiency of fire-fighting microblog information exchange; the micro and macro influencing factors of fire-fighting microblog information exchange efficiency were identified; finally some measures were put forward to improve the efficiency of information exchange on fire-fighting microblogging. DEA is a non-parametric test method commonly used for enterprise performance and efficiency evaluation in management science. It can be used to evaluate decision-making units of multiple input indicators and multiple output indicators. Beyond that, the decision-making results of the method are not affected by the dimensions of input indicators and output indicators. This method also does not need to make weight assumptions, so it can provide more objective analysis results to make contribution to refining more effective improvement measures. [Results/Conclusions] The information exchange efficiency of the fire-fighting microblogs was generally rated as the medium level. It is better for us to arrange various inputs of the microblog account reasonably, and make full use of resources, which could improve the efficiency of information exchange. In addition, the operation of fire-fighting microblogs in different regions should be based on regional characteristics and period characteristics; local governments ought to strengthen network infrastructure construction and resource investment to eliminate the "digital divide"; government agencies should improve management systems, standardize the words and deeds of netizens and the daily work of relevant personnel. Microblog plays an important role in emergency management, which is also a necessary condition for the vigorous development of China's Internet governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Persistent and transient efficiency of water companies was estimated. • Chilean water companies present high transient efficiency. • Private water companies are more efficient than public ones. The measurement of efficiency of water utilities is a valuable tool for water regulators and managers to provide services in a sustainable way. Understanding the sources of inefficiency could support business decision making process. In this study we employ the most recent advanced panel data stochastic frontier models to estimate the level of overall technical efficiency of water services in Chile. These econometric models allow incorporating heterogeneity across water utilities and different sources of inefficiency, persistent and transient. The results showed that technical efficiency scores were sensitive to model specification. When efficiency is distinguished between persistent and transient efficiency, it is found that industry performed well in its daily operations, i.e., high transient efficiency. However, mean persistent efficiency was low indicating that industry needed structural transformations to improve performance. Thus, inefficiency in the Chilean water industry is a long run issue. Private water utilities appeared to be more efficient than public water utilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) evaluates a large number of input and output variables using mathematical programming techniques and analyzes the effectiveness of similar decision making units (DMU). Unlike traditional methods, the most important advantage of DEA is that the weights of input and output variables can be defined by the analyzer. In this study, the limitations of the DEA weights were determined using the AHP, which considers expert opinion. In addition, an alternative judgment scale was used for the Saaty judgment scale, which is used as a standard in the AHP method, and thus a more sensitive analysis was performed. There have been studies dealing with the comparison of judgment scales, but few studies on consistency sensitivity are needed. This point has also been addressed in this study. Subsequently, the financial efficiency of 27 companies operating in the food sector in Kosovo was evaluated with the weightrestricted DEA model, first created using the unweighted DEA model and then the AHP model, and the two models were compared. This paper is the first one of its kind since there are no previous studies regarding the examination of the financial efficiency of companies operating in the Kosovo food sector based on the DEAHP method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of efficiency of water utilities has been traditionally carried out using econometric methods or linear programming techniques. Alternatively, in this study a data mining non-parametric method is used, such as an artificial neural network (ANN) approach, to predict the efficiency of several water companies in England and Wales. The further use of a regression tree model allowed us to visualize and quantify the impact of operating characteristics on efficiency. The average efficiency score for the water industry was 0.411. Average scores for water only companies and waterand sewerage companies were 0.210 and 0.626, respectively. Only one water company was identified as being fully efficient. This indicates that most of the English and Welsh water companies need to make substantial improvements in their managerial practices to catch-up with the most efficient ones in the industry. Several operating characteristics such as water leakage, water taken from different sources and population density were found to influence efficiency. The percentage of water leakage was identified as the most relevant operational variable influencing the efficiency of water companies. The findings of our study aim to support benchmarking analysis in regulated industries and to get a better insight on what drives efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, health systems comprise a series of resources structured to provide healthcare services to meet our health needs. However, premature deaths still occur. To quantify and understand personal healthcare conditions affecting such amenable mortality, the Healthcare Access and Quality Index (HAQI) was put forward, evaluating 195 countries and territories since 1990. Nevertheless, the literature acknowledges a series of limitations of this framework, such as the drawbacks of using principal component analysis to aggregate individual indicators, the absence of control for financing and environmental conditions, and the presence of a substantial degree of data uncertainty. Accordingly, we propose a methodological alternative to the computation of the HAQI using a novel fuzzy Data Envelopment Analysis model to handle the aforementioned shortcomings. We also propose its extension towards the quantification of efficiency (E-HAQI) – in the sense of value for money – by incorporating financial aspects as modelling inputs. This way, we contribute with innovative modelling approaches that can also deal with the high degree of data uncertainty. Furthermore, in a second-stage analysis, the impact of key exogenous factors on healthcare access and quality is assessed via non-parametric hypothesis testing. Our results show positive and significant correlations of both the revisited HAQI and E-HAQI with the original HAQI 2016 dataset. They also reveal a better use of resources by European and Oceanian countries and territories than by Sub-Saharan African ones. Concerning contextual determinants, socio-demographic development, human development, and the type of health system were found to be statistically significant drivers of healthcare access and quality efficiency. • Revisitation of the 2016 'Healthcare Access and Quality Index'. • Novel fuzzy Data Envelopment Analysis approach for performance assessment. • Modelling of uncertainty and undesirable factors. • Incorporation of financial aspects for efficiency measurement. • Non-communicable diseases show the greatest potential for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an analysis of the water-energy-food nexus (WEFN) system, focusing on its interlinked structure and dynamic characteristics. This paper proposes a dynamic series-loop data envelopment analysis (DEA) model with a directional distance function for measuring WEFN efficiency in China. A spatial Durbin model is constructed to investigate the impact of extreme temperatures on WEFN efficiency. The results are as follows. (1) Compared with the black-box DEA model and series network DEA model, a series-loop network DEA model can reflect the "networking effect" and "looping effect" in the WEFN system. (2) The WEFN system performs well with an average series-loop efficiency of 0.875, but the efficiency of the water subsystem scores low and needs improvement. (3) At the national level, extremely high and low temperatures have no significant effect on the WEFN efficiency in local or adjacent provinces, whereas average temperature promotes the WEFN efficiency in local provinces but hinders it in neighboring provinces. In the regions with a low temperature difference, average temperature has no impact on the WEFN efficiency of both the province itself and its neighboring provinces. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the complex interlinkages within the WEFN system and highlights the importance of considering these relationships when improving the system efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Window Data Envelopment Analysis (WDEA) is a popular, effective, and applicable methods for dynamic performance assessment of peer decision making units (DMUs). WDEA is a non‐parametric panel method that operates based on the principle of moving averages and establishes efficiency measures by treating each DMU in different periods as a separate DMU. By applying the WDEA approach, a decision‐maker (DM) can measure the efficiency of different DMUs in different periods through a sequence of overlapping windows. Also, WDEA can increase the discrimination power by increasing the number of DMUs when a limited number of DMUs is available. Given the advantages of the WDEA approach and its applications in real‐world problems, this paper surveys and analyses 387 WDEA papers published from 1985 to 2020. The paper also recommends some suggestions, guidelines, and opportunities for future research. Notably, the findings show the applicability and efficacy of WDEA in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banks use different analysis methods to measure their relative efficiency in the market they are in, under intense competitive conditions. When the literature is examined, it is seen that two approaches used by banks in efficiency measurement stand out. The first is the mediation approach that evaluates the bank’s liabilities as inputs and assets as outputs. The second is the production-oriented approach. In this approach, the efficiency of branches is measured. Capital and labor considered as input, number of deposits and credit accounts are considered as output. In this study, Data Envelopment Analysis, which is one of the methods used in measuring the effectiveness of decision units with multiple input and multiple output variables, have been examined. Using this method, efficiency of the banks assuming an active role in the card payment system in Turkey measured considering data from 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In the energy transition from fossil to clean fuels, hydrogen plays a key role. Proton‐exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) represent the most promising hydrogen application, but they require a pure hydrogen stream (CO < 10 ppm). The steam iron process represents a technology for the production of pure H2, exploiting iron redox cycles. If renewable reducing agents are used, the process can be considered completely green. In this context, bio‐ethanol can be an interesting solution that is still not thoroughly explored. In this work, the use of ethanol as a reducing agent in the steam iron process will be investigated. Ethanol, at high temperature, decomposes mainly in syngas but can also form coke, which can compromise the process effectiveness, reacting with water and producing CO together with H2. In this work, the deposition of coke is avoided by controlling the duration of the reduction step; in fact, the data demonstrated that coke deposition is significantly dependent on reduction time. Tests were carried out in a fixed bed reactor using hematite (Fe2O3) as raw iron oxide adopting several reduction times (7 minutes‐25 minutes), which correspond to different amount of ethanol fed (5 mmolC2H5OH/gFe2O3‐17,95 mmolC2H5OH/gFe2O3). The effect of the addition of MnO2 to increase the reduction degree of iron oxides was explored using different amount of MnO2 (10 wt% and 40 wt% with respect to Fe2O3). The tests were performed at fixed temperatures of 675°C and atmospheric pressure. The optimization of the reduction time, in the chosen operating condition, performed only with Fe2O3, shows that, feeding an amount of 5 mmolC2H5OH/gFe2O3, coke deposition is avoided and, therefore, a pure H2 stream in oxidation is obtained. The addition of MnO2 leads to increased H2 yield and process efficiency, confirming its positive effect on the reduction degree of the solid bed. A reaction pathway to demonstrate the synergic effect of Fe2O3 and MnO2 in the reduction step was proposed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian judicial system is extensive and plagued by several issues, especially high pendency levels across all levels. The present work has two goals. Firstly, it aims to measure the efficiency of Indian high courts using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Secondly, it studies the impact of including pending cases on judicial efficiency. The first DEA model takes only judicial resources, namely, number of judges and staff members as inputs, and two outputs, viz., number of civil and criminal cases disposed. Since further data analysis reveals a role for using caseload as an input, two more DEA models are developed to incorporate these factors. The first includes the number of civil and criminal cases instituted during the year as inputs, and the second incorporates the effect of both incoming and pending cases. Models 2 and 3 help to distinguish between the courts that are efficient with respect to incoming cases, and those that are able to efficiently manage their total workload. Results identify the specific courts that are efficient in disposing cases, including the effect of their high volume. They point to policy imperatives and overall peer learning, as well as for specific aspects such as dealing with high pendency or fresh institution of cases. Finally, a comparison between these models can help the judicial officials of inefficient courts develop reforms with specific aims such as reducing backlog of cases, matching outflow and inflow of cases, or in some cases, both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision makers have to analyze both social and economic situation of the cities because of the budget constraint of the governments while considering investment to the cities. In this respect, data envelopment analysis (DEA) has been widely used to determine the efficiency of the cities and to make clear the needs of the cities calling decision making units. In this study, socio-economic ranking of the cities of Turkey is presented by using DEA and linear discriminant analysis and the cities are compared to each other according to the socio-economic development efficiency scores. Then, the highlighted inferences about the cities are presented according to the NUTs-1 classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model is proposed to measure the efficiency of facilities providing oral and dental health services. For this purpose, a Weight Restricted DEA Model (WR-DEA) is constructed in which decision makers' preferences can be reflected in the model. The Basic DEA Model (B-DEA), based on the assumption that all outputs are of equal importance, is used for comparison purposes. Analysis results of the facilities connected to the Ministry of Health in Istanbul, Turkey reveal that WR-DEA provides more realistic and selective results than B-DEA. In addition, when the efficiency performance of the facilities is examined, it is seen that the performance of the large-scale facilities such as Oral and Dental Health Centers (ODHC) and Oral and Dental Health Hospitals (ODHH) is much higher than the facilities providing small-scale facilities such as Training and Research Hospitals (TRH) and State Hospitals (SH). These results indicate that facility size is an important factor for the efficiency performance for oral and dental health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, which emerged in Wuhan Province in China in December 2019 and turned into a pandemic by affecting the whole world, the new coronavirus disease called Covidien-19 in combating the epidemic, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey aimed to investigate the activity level. "Data Envelopment Analysis Method" was used to measure the efficiency level. For the purpose of the study, the data were collected from It has been obtained from the official website of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health, the Covid-19 information page. The measurement of the efficiency level was applied through two analyzes. In the first analysis, two inputs (number of patients, number of tests) and one output (number of deaths) were used. In the second analysis, two inputs (number of patients, number of tests) and one output (number of recovered) were used. The results were evaluated by dissolving the data in LINDO package program. As a result of the study, the relative efficiency analyzes of April, May, June, July, August, September and October were performed, and as a result of the application of input-oriented DEA models, the effective and ineffective months were determined and evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The way to survive and compete in the intense competition environment in the world textile sector is to use production factors rationally and efficiently. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is one of the most widely used methods in the literature to measure the efficiency performance of enterprises. Classical DEA models evaluate the efficiency of organizations only from an optimistic point of view. In this study, the efficiency of 12 textile firms listed among ISO500 firms announced by Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) was measured by using DEA with double frontiers, which calculates two efficiency scores as optimistic and pessimistic for each decision unit. Besides, an overall performance metric which calculates an integrated efficiency score for decision units via combining mentioned two types of efficiency scores. It is hoped that this study will contribute to the literature as there are few applications with this DEA model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well-known that health-care systems all over the world try to improve efficiency and effectiveness due to high pressure to pursue rational performance. Many of the health-care reforms in different countries are conducted with the objectives to rationalise costs, to make health services more available, and to increase, or at least not to reduce, the quality of health services. Adequate efficient metrics used in assessing health-care services are critical for the quality of decision-making. The subject of this research is efficiency measurement in the institutes of public health in Croatia oriented to preventive activities, i.e. monitoring, analysis, and evaluation of the health of the population. Diversity of the programmes and temporal variability are the characteristics of public health services, and it is therefore harder to measure the effects in the long run. This research aims to analyse and propose a new approach to the measurement system using two methods: the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the Balanced Score Card (BSC), combined into the DEABSC integrative model, which can be an efficient method for the decision-making process. The starting point of this research is the analysis of the measurement system in public-health services in Croatia. The results confirm a weak and inadequate efficiency measurement system and very low effectiveness measurement. To enhance the efficiency measurement, we have developed the conceptual integrative DEABSC model which has been tested at the Teaching Institute of Public Health – the Department of Health Ecology. Using DEA for 2017, we have identified relatively efficient units that helped establish future goals set in the BSC strategic map. The combination of DEA and BSC allows identifying options for improving the effectiveness of public-health service programmes. The study confirms that it is possible to determine the relative efficiency of different DMUs within the Department of Health Ecology and use best practice for each perspective in the BSC Cause & Effect conceptual model. This paper also provides recommendations for an easier establishment of performance measurement in order to achieve the mission of public health institutions, but also indicates some limitations in the application of the methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study measures efficiency of collective floodplain aquaculture enterprises (FPAs) practiced in floodplains composed of private lands in Bangladesh using data envelopment analysis (DEA). We concentrate on a management system that was initially developed by landowners in the Daudkandi sub-district in 1984. With gradual spread of this management system two important internal variations have emerged in terms of (1) organizational composition that resulted from the investment-based participation of an NGO, and (2) mode of managing aquaculture operation that resulted from leasing out the aquaculture operation instead managing it by themselves in some FPAs. Taking consideration of these two variations, and using four inputs and one output, we measure the technical, scale, mix and overall efficiency of 15 FPAs selected from five districts. While 11 FPAs are technically efficient, only six are overall efficient. On average, NGO-collaborated FPAs (NFPAs) are more efficient (78.27%) than landowners-managed independent FPAs (IFPAs) (75.96%). However, IFPAs are only found in the Daudkandi region, where there are more efficient IFPAs than NFPAs. On the other hand, while lease-based operations show better average efficiency (79.56%), self-managed operations have more efficient units. We also find that the intensive use of inputs in most older FPAs does not make them more efficient, despite their higher fish yield, than relatively newer FPAs. Given the poverty, food security and nutrition linkage of floodplain aquaculture and continuous attempts to increase fish yield, the FPAs along with development partners and government agencies, should take account of efficiency-related aspects in policies and practice. Highlights • Introduces the Data envelopment analysis (DEA) in efficiency measurement of floodplain aquaculture enterprises (FPAs). • FPAs are found to be less efficient in scale and mix performances than pure technical performance. • Although the feeds are the largest employed input in monetary terms, the largest slacks are found in land use. • Recently formed FPAs are more efficient than older FPAs in terms of input use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the impact of environmental regulation on industrial efficiency has been widely investigated in various industries, it remains largely unknown in the construction industry. Using 2011–2015 panel data of 30 provinces and cities in China, this paper aims to reveal whether environmental regulation has an impact on regional construction efficiency. A 3-Stage DEA Model is used to measure the technical efficiency of regional construction industries influenced by environmental regulations. Then Hansen's (Hansen, 1999) threshold regression model is used to analyse the threshold effect of environment regulation on the efficiency of regional construction industry. A single threshold value of 0.014 is identified to be used to group China's 30 provinces into high-regulation and low-regulation regions. The results show that environmental regulation has a significant impact on the efficiency of China's construction industry. Scale efficiency is the most affected. The technical efficiency of highly regulated provinces is less affected by environmental regulations. The findings provide a reference frame and analytical method for the analysis of construction efficiency of other developing countries, and provide practical implications for the implementation of environmental regulation policies and future policy formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Productivity and effectiveness studies are increasing day by day in the world. Turkey has also been a significant increase in the number of working together with the understanding of the importance of working efficiency. Efficiency analysis works in the public domain has been started in Turkey in the 2000's. The main purpose of the research is to find out how efficiently public resources are used in line with the principles of transparency and accountability brought about by the Public Financial Management and Control Law No. 5018, which was enacted in 2006, and to investigate whether public resources can be used more effectively and efficiently. In 2017, the state has spent 677.722.000.000 ₺. According to the information obtained from the activity reports, water institutions that make public expenditures of ₺ 17,424,797,833 in the same year make up 2.57% of total public expenditures. This study aimed to use public resources more effectively and efficiently. It will emphasize the importance of researching institutions to improve their financial situation by comparing them with other institutions and looking at their current situation. This study covers the water and wastewater management of 2017-2011 metropolitan municipalities. Financial efficiencies of these institutions were analyzed using the data envelopment analysis program and the financial data available in the activity reports. According to the results of the research, Istanbul (ISKI), Gaziantep (GASKI), Kocaeli (ISU), Ankara (ASKI) and Diyarbakır (DİSKİ) which institutions are efficient compared to previous years. The year 2015, there is a relationship between the area and the productivity of the organizations. The number of subscribers with technical activity in 2014 and 2015 and the total factor productivity and subscribers in 2012 were also found to be correlated. In addition, the years of establishment, in experience and productivity between the years of 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric motors and the drive systems approximately consume half of the global electricity consumption. In the European Union (EU), electric motors and the drive systems are estimated to account for about 70% of all industrial electricity consumption. Therefore, mandatory applications accrue from the legislation of governments or unions like the EU for customs and market surveillance or eco-design requirements. The mandatory applications and the global market size find out the necessity of efficiency measurement. There are several compliance and precompliance efficiency test methods in the literature. The compliance tests should execute reliable, accurate, and reproducible results. The purpose of this paper is to define a simple field method that will be used for measuring and determining in-service efficiency at industrial conditions. The proposed method in this paper is an inexpensive and easy method that would help to energy managers and engineers to make correct decision in replacing inefficient motors with efficient and new ones. In this paper, a novel induction motor-efficiency model function has been proposed based on the International Electrotechnical Commission 60034-2-1 standard equations, and a new field test procedure has been used in efficiency estimation. The new efficiency model function variables and constants are determined from the regression analysis, which depends on 86 tests of 437 different load points’ efficiency data. Furthermore, the proposed field test procedure, equations, and compliance test methods are tested on a sample motor in laboratory, and the results are compared to each other. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper we propose robust efficiency scores for the scenario in which the specification of the inputs/outputs to be included in the DEA model is modelled with a probability distribution. This probabilistic approach allows us to obtain three different robust efficiency scores: the Conditional Expected Score, the Unconditional Expected Score and the Expected score under the assumption of Maximum Entropy principle. The calculation of the three efficiency scores involves the resolution of an exponential number of linear problems. The algorithm presented in this paper allows to solve over 200 millions of linear problems in an affordable time when considering up 20 inputs/outputs and 200 DMUs. The approach proposed is illustrated with an application to the assessment of professional tennis players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the region-specific efficiency of the water, energy, and food (WEF) nexus is critical for the effective design of governance strategies. To exclude the heterogeneous influence of the external environment and unveil the real efficiency of the WEF nexus in 30 provinces in China, a three-stage data envelopment analysis was used for efficiency measurement from 2005 to 2016. The results showed that after eliminating external environmental factors and statistical noise, the number of frontier-efficiency provinces decreases, and most provinces experience rank change, except for Tianjin. The average value of the WEF real efficiency in China rose from 0.202 in 2005 to 0.599 in 2016. The provinces were then categorized into four groups based on water and energy endowment for efficiency comparison. Between 2005 and 2016, the efficiency of each group increased, with that of the "water scarcity-energy importing" group being the highest. Furthermore, external environmental factors impede the enhancement of provincial WEF nexus efficiency, mainly because the extensive growth of external environmental factors focuses on scale expansion, rather than on quality improvement, leading to a large-scale slack in WEF inputs. The results of this study provide implications for governance strategies designed from external environmental factors and WEF resource endowment aspects. • Efficiency of WEF nexus is critical for the effective design of governance strategies. • A 3-stage DEA method was used to calculate China's real efficiency of the WEF nexus. • 30 provinces are categorized into four groups by WEF resources endowment. • External environmental factors underestimate China's WEF nexus efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Line-doubled Fresnel zone plates provide nanoscale, high aspect ratio structures required for efficient high resolution imaging in the multi-keV x-ray range. For the fabrication of such optics a high aspect ratio HSQ resist template is produced by electron-beam lithography and then covered with Ir by atomic layer deposition (ALD). The diffraction efficiency of a line-doubled zone plate depends on the width of the HSQ resist structures as well as on the thickness of the deposited Ir layer. It is very difficult to measure these dimensions by inspection in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) without performing laborious and destructive cross-sections by focus ion beams (FIB). On the other hand, a systematic measurement of the diffraction efficiencies using synchrotron radiation in order to optimize the fabrication parameters is not realistic, as access to synchrotron radiation is sparse. We present a fast and reliable method to study the diffraction efficiency using filtered radiation from an x-ray tube with a copper anode, providing an effective spectrum centered around 8 keV. A large number of Fresnel zone plates with varying dimensions of the resist structures and the ALD coating were measured in an iterative manner. Our results show an excellent match with model calculations. Moreover, this systematic study enables us to identify the optimum fabrication parameters, resulting in a significant increase in diffraction efficiency compared to Fresnel zone plates fabricated earlier without having feedback from a systematic efficiency measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops an independent efficiency measurement model framework of bus routes, so as to treat preferably the heterogeneous outputs in a data envelopment analysis (DEA)-based efficiency measurement. It then introduces four new exogenous operating environment factors at the microscopic level of bus routes, and applies the three-stage DEA approach to incorporate operating environment effects and statistical noise into the efficiency measurement framework. The main purpose is to measure impartially the managerial efficiency of bus routes, purged of operating environment effects and statistical noise, and additionally to investigate the operating environment effects on efficiency. An empirical analysis, based on 39 routes operated in Jiangyin City, China, is presented. The principal finding is that the adoption of the independent efficiency measurement model framework is reasonable and has many virtues. Moreover, the proposed approach could substantially provide decision support both for regulators and for producers of bus services. In addition, the operating environment does indeed significantly affect operating efficiency and quality efficiency, especially the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has been deeply impacting health systems worldwide. In this context, it is pivotal to measure the efficiency of different nations' response to the pandemic, whose insights can be used by governments and health authorities worldwide to improve their national COVID-19 strategies. Hence, we propose a network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to estimate the efficiencies of fifty-five countries in the current crisis, including the thirty-seven Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries, six OECD prospective members, four OECD key partners, and eight other countries. The network DEA model is designed as a general series structure with five single-division stages – population, contagion, triage, hospitalisation, and intensive care unit admission –, and considers an output maximisation orientation, denoting a social perspective, and an input minimisation orientation, denoting a financial perspective. It includes inputs related to health costs, desirable and undesirable intermediate products related to the use of personal protective equipment and infected population, respectively, and desirable and undesirable outputs regarding COVID-19 recoveries and deaths, respectively. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study proposing a cross-country efficiency measurement using a network DEA within the context of the COVID-19 crisis. The study concludes that Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and New Zealand are the countries exhibiting higher mean system efficiencies. Their national COVID-19 strategies should be studied, adapted, and used by countries exhibiting worse performances. In addition, the observation of countries with large populations presenting worse mean efficiency scores is statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Modified energy planning model to meet multi-objective requirements is proposed. • The lexicographical and weighted-sum methods are applied in the proposed model. • DEA is applied to measure the energy efficiency of each optimal energy policy. • Impact of carbon tax rates on efficiency scores of energy mixes is assessed. • Increasing the carbon tax rate increases the relative policy efficiency scores. This study proposes a modified energy planning model that considers a broad range of future uncertainties. Modifications to hybrid stochastic robust optimization and robust optimization methodology allow for the introduction of multi-objective functions that reflect the various dimensions of energy planning including cost, emission, and social impact. A lexicographical and weighted-sum type multi-objective function are used in formulating the proposed optimization model. Changing the priorities of the objective functions generates different energy policies, which are then compared. Data envelopment analysis is applied to measure the energy efficiency of each optimal energy policy produced by the energy planning model. Energy efficiency is defined as the ability to satisfactorily address five main aspects—cost, emissions, social impact, employment, and security. An updated power development plan for Thailand is used as an illustrative case study. The empirical analysis indicates that a policy prioritizing the environment first, followed by social impact and cost, is the most efficient policy among the five alternatives considered, with an average efficiency score of 0.9988. Sensitivity analysis involving various carbon tax scenarios is used to establish the importance of weight selection in the weighted-sum method. Specifically, the empirical case study reveals that when the weighted-sum method is used, increasing the carbon tax increases the relative policy efficiency score. Results from the case study offer quantitative support for policy makers seeking to devise an efficient energy policy that meets extensive requirements while still dealing with the bounds of uncertain future projections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Multi-aspect efficiency measurement of multi-objective energy planning model is proposed. • Aspects include energy needs, cost, environmental, security, social impact, and social benefit. • Two-stage SBM is implemented in empirical study measuring the energy mixes. • An efficient energy policy that maximizes the satisfaction of multiple requirements is determined. • The proposed method was considerably better at meeting the requirements with moderate tradeoffs. In this study on energy planning, a combination of multi-objective optimization and efficiency measurement is proposed as a means for determining an efficient energy mix that considers the multi-dimensional nature of energy planning and its associated uncertainties. Various multi-objective functions are appended to the proposed optimization model to meet requirements related to energy need, cost, environmental impact, security, social impact, and social benefit. A slacks-based measure methodology is applied to determine the best energy mix from the alternatives produced by the appended model. The energy efficiency of each energy mix is measured from the linear combination of its defined inputs and outputs. The outputs to be maximized include total generated electricity, direct employment, and percentage of generated electricity from renewable energy, while the inputs to be minimized consist of total economic cost, carbon dioxide emission, total social cost, and power-plant-type dependence score. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model, a case study of Thailand's power development plan is featured. Various types of power plants, both fossil fuel-fired and renewable energy-driven are considered in the empirical analysis. The results show that the proposed method can contribute significant improvements, including a reduction in total emissions and in the power-plant-type dependence score (by 31.41% and 25.59%, respectively). It also increases total employment and the proportion of generated electricity from renewable energy plants (by 25.73% and 47.39%, respectively), with marginal tradeoffs of total costs and total social costs (which increase by 8.94% and 13.89%, respectively). Quantitative results from the model could help policy makers efficiently determine an appropriate energy policy—one that optimizes all the various aspects, under a given set of constraints and scenarios of uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the concept of efficiency and the challenges of universities. It introduces a distinction between efficiency and effectiveness, and examines ways of measuring. It concludes that there are challenges ahead of standardization and measurement, and research agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We develop a modified SORM model in dealing with negative data. [•] The modified SORM model can deal with input/output variables with both positive and negative values. [•] The modified SORM model is always feasible and bounded. [•] The modified SORM overcomes issues of target settings in the SORM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new soft-switching pulsewidth modulated (PWM) full-bridge converter is proposed in this paper. The outstanding feature of the new converter is that it allows its main power switches to operate with zero current switching (ZCS) and with fewer conduction losses than conventional full-bridge converters. This is achieved by using two very simple active auxiliary circuits—one active, the other passive. The paper presents the new converter and then discusses its operation, steady-state characteristics, and design. Experimental results obtained from a 3 kW converter prototype are presented to validate the converter's performance and the concepts presented in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The need for efficient use of healthcare resources intensifies in times of economic recession and budgetary constraints. AIM: The scope of this study is to measure the efficiency among secondary and university pulmonary clinics operating in two public hospitals located in different geographical regions in Greece. MATERIAL & METHODS: The method of analysis used is the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Efficiency models were developed using as inputs the medical and nursing staff and the number of beds in use, and as outputs the number of visits to outpatient clinics, the number of patients and the hospitalisation days, in 2012. RESULTS: The comparative analysis of the university clinics in the two hospitals indicated that both are operating fully efficiently. Out of the 11 secondary clinics, nine (9) showed a positive efficiency, out of which seven (7) were fully efficient achieving the maximum score. Regarding the comparison of all pulmonary secondary and university clinics, positive results were observed, with seven (7) out of the thirteen (13) clinics achieving efficient scores. Out of these, four (4) clinics, three in the secondary hospital of the 1st region and one in the university hospital of the 2nd region were fully efficient, scoring is 1.00. CONCLUSIONS: Ensuring efficiency gains with evidence-based studies from the hospitals' or/and clinics' perspective, using technical performance measurement tools such as DEA, is contributing to a better assessment of health systems performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Currently there is a dual system of oral healthcare delivery in Cyprus: the public dental system (PDS) run by the Government and the private system provided by private dental practitioners. Although 83% of the population is entitled to free treatment by the PDS only 10% of the population make use of them. As Cyprus faces now the challenges of the introduction of a new health care system and rising healthcare costs in general, surveys that examine, among other things, the efficiency of the PDS become very important as tools to make important cost savings. The aims of this study are to assess trends regarding the number of visits and the age distribution of patients using PDS from 2004 to 2007, to measure the technical efficiency of the PDS and to investigate various factors that may affect it. Methods Non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was employed to assess technical efficiency. Two separate cases were examined. Efficiency was calculated, firstly using as inputs the wages and the working hours of the personnel, and secondly the working hours of the personnel and the cost of the materials. As outputs, in both cases, the treatment offered (divided into primary, secondary and tertiary care) and the numbers of visits were used. In the second stage Tobit analysis was used to explore various predictors of efficiency (time per patient, location, age of dentists, age of patients and age of assistants). Results The study showed that whilst there was an increase in the number of patients using the PDS from 2004 to 2007, only a small proportion of the population (10%) make use of them. Women, middle and older aged patients, make more use of the PDS. Regarding efficiency, there were large differences between the units. The average Technical Efficiency score was 68% in the first model and 81% in the second. Urban areas and low time per patient are predictors of increased efficiency. Conclusion The results suggest that many of the rural PDS are underperforming. Given that the option of shutting them down is undesirable, measures should be taken to reduce inputs (e.g. by reducing the personnel's working hours) and to increase outputs (remove barriers, make PDS more accessible and increase the number of patients). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to conventional data envelopment analysis (DEA), where a system is considered as a "black-box", network DEA acknowledges its internal structure to generate more enlightening results. It goes without saying that putting network DEA in practice is natural- and progressively rarer as the complexity of a system's structure increases. In particular, its employment in healthcare is no exception. Thus, we designed a slacks-based model to measure the efficiency of the Portuguese secondary healthcare providers bearing in mind their internal services. However, the absence of data regarding the connections between those services called for the additional use of a simulation method – the well-known Monte Carlo method –, modelled with the judgements of a decision-maker. This unprecedented application of static systems with a matrix-type structure found that two-thirds of those providers were inefficient and allowed the identification of target areas for future policy reforms in the Portuguese National Health Service. • Unprecedented matrix-type structure network data envelopment analysis application. • Efficiency measurement of the Portuguese public secondary healthcare providers. • Value modelling within a Monte Carlo simulation. • 2 in 3 Portuguese public hospitals are inefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The recent years have witnessed the increase in the importance of service quality in the performance measurement of the regulated utilities. In this study, to incorporate quality of service in performance measurement, we propose a combined methodology of FAHP/TOPSIS/DEA methods, and apply it to the Turkish electricity distribution market. With FAHP method, the relative importance levels of different quality indicators are determined. Then TOPSIS method is used to generate quality of service variable. And finally this variable is used as an output in the DEA stage, and efficiency performances of the electricity distribution utilities are determined. The most important advantage of the combined methodology is that it allows taking into account several quality measures simultaneously instead of relying on only one dimension of the quality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to show the usage of DEA in efficiency measurement. Design/methodology/approach: The efficiencies of textile and apparel companies were analyzed by input-oriented DEA model under variable return to scale assumption. The textile and apparel companies quoted in Istanbul Stock Exchange for the period 2003 and 2008 were evaluated in terms of efficiency level providing a framework for the calculation of input excesses and output shortages. Findings: The analysis revealed that the average efficiency scores of the apparel industry was higher than the textile industry and two industries together. The companies in the apparel industry should overcome the lack of insufficient level of exports whereas the textile industry needs to increase gross value added in order to be more efficient. Research limitations/implications: Because of missing data, four companies from textile industry and one company from apparel industry were ignored although they took place in the records of Istanbul Stock Exchange. Practical implications: This study provided a framework for DEA application in determination and comparison of efficiency performance in an industry level. Originality/value: Selecting the groups compared as textile industry, apparel industry and the two industries in general allowed discussing the comparative efficiencies of two industries eliminating the industry specific pitfalls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, relative efficiency measurement is done for 25 sugar refineries that are owned by Turkish Sugar Refineries Corporation by using Data Envelopment Analysis. Furthermore, in order to see the changes in produvtivity of the refineries within time for the period of 2002-2009, changes in total factor productivity of refineries are examined by using Malmquist Total Factor Productivity Index. According to the results of input-orientated Data Envelopment Analysis models, 12 refineries are efficient under the assumption of constant returns to scale while 16 of them are efficient under assumption of variable returns to scale. As the results of Malmquist Total Factor Productivity Index application, 0.6% growth in total factor productivity is observed and found that this rise is sourced from technological progress and efficiency inrease (respectively by 0.5% and 0.1%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional efficiency studies using data envelopment analysis (DEA) models considered all resource inputs as homogeneous, which appears to be unwarranted. In this article, we propose an output-oriented, multidivision DEA model considering the heterogeneity of different operating departments in a hotel when measuring its efficiency. Using the data of 21 international tourist hotels (ITHs) in Taipei during 2005–2007, we first measured each hotel's systematic efficiency by maximizing the performance of two different departments (i.e., rooms along with food and beverage) and then we decomposed the systematic efficiency by separately measuring the subsystematic efficiency of each department. Managers of the underperforming ITHs would find the model application and results of this study beneficial in helping them identify the operating department(s) that was causing the inefficiency for the hotel during 2005–2007. As a result, strategies and efforts for tackling the inefficiency could then be proposed by the managers in a more desirable direction. Implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distillation is the most important thermal separation process, with separation efficiency as one of the fundamental parameters to influence economy and energy consumption. The precise knowledge of separation efficiency and the ability to compare different types of column internals is vital information for the chemical industry. Still, total reflux distillation experiments are the only significant source of such data. The authors have taken the effort to work out in elaborate manner different factors influencing both measurement and interpretation of structured packing separation efficiency data, to provide basis for establishing an open standard in this respect. In addition, an improved set of thermophysical correlations for the test system chlorobenzene/ethylbenzene (CB/EB) is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A strong and stable economy is only possible through a well structured national currency and a sound financial sector under security. The banking sector is the key sector in realizing such an organization. Financial crisis have an important role in global economies. Global crises carry significant outcomes for national economies. Further, due to globalization, international financial markets become integrated, thus enabling the crises to spread to other countries more easily. The aim of this research is to display the reflections of Turkish banking sector's policies and efficiency in a financial crisis. From this point of view, we evaluate the technical efficiency of individual Turkish banks using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). To investigate the determinants of efficiency, we use the Tobit model. This analysis aims to explain the variation in calculated efficiencies to a set of explanatory variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper an input distance function approach is used to evaluate efficiency and technological characteristics of Italian airport companies for the period 2000–2005. This approach is robust to deviations from neoclassical paradigm in terms of cost-minimizing behavior. Duality relationship between the input distance function and the shadow cost function is exploited to derive cost complementarities among outputs. Empirical findings are used to discuss the economic implications connected to changes in airport organization, involving in particular outsourcing of handling operations and development of commercial activities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Linear oscillation motor (LOM) is the key assembly for a linear compressor, and its efficiency has great impact on the integral compressor performance. This paper presents a novel gas load method to measure the efficiency of LOM, analyses the effects of some main factors on the LOM efficiency in theory, and shows the efficiency test results. Different load conditions can be simulated by adjusting the discharge pressure of the gas and the load force presents nonlinear periodical curve. In the experiment, we changed the syntonic springs of the tested LOM to measure the LOM efficiency on different work conditions. The results of both theoretical analysis and experiment show that the LOM efficiency is the highest when the phase angle between current and displacement is 90°. While the springs stiffness coefficient is 54.44N/mm, the highest efficiency of the tested LOM is 85.97% on the condition that the discharge pressure is 0.25MPa. While the springs stiffness coefficient is 44.64N/mm the highest efficiency of the tested LOM is 84.67% on the condition that the discharge pressure is 0.4MPa. While the springs stiffness coefficient is 38.4N/mm the highest efficiency of the tested LOM is 78.35% on the condition that the discharge pressure is 0.5MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper extends data envelopment analysis (DEA) with preference structure by fully considering the substitution effects among different inputs or outputs. When the unit cost and price information on inputs and outputs are available, the generalized weighted CCR (GWCCR) models proposed in this paper can provide some scalar values for measuring the overall inefficiency. It is found that the GWCCR models focus on the relative aspects of overall inefficiency instead of the absolute aspects focused on by the weighted additive DEA model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]