Validation and generalization of DEA and its uses

Summary Rapidly expanding uses of DEA have been accompanied by developments which have enhanced its power and enlarged its utility for additional applications. Developments covered in the present paper include simulation studies comparing DEA with competing forms of statistical regressions. Other studies covered show how these two approaches can be combined in complementary fashion. Another part of this paper deals with Chance Constrained Programming formulations which incorporate probabilistic elements into DEA. Included also are discussions of statistical characterizations with accompanying tests of statistical significance for DEA efficiency evaluations. This paper concludes with uses of DEA in “discovery processes”-processes that need strengthening (and encouragemnt) in contemporary social science and management science research. Suggestions are made for additional research on further developments which extend to uses of DEA to provide new approaches in economics (including econometrics), management and psychology and an Appendix introduces new or recently developed efficiency measures for use in DEA. Invited by J. T. Pastor     

Comparison of fuel cell performance of selected fluoropolymer and hydrocarbon based grafted copolymers incorporating acrylic acid and styrene sulfonic acid

Fuel cell tests have been carried out on ion exchange membranes produced by the radiation grafting of either acrylic acid or styrene monomers (followed by a sulphonation reaction) onto selected hydrocarbon and fluoropolymer films. Relationships between the membranes' intrinsic properties, composition, ion exchange capacity and equilibrium water content and their respective fuel cell performance have been established. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Avoiding infeasibility in DEA models with weight restrictions

The flexibility of weights assigned to inputs and outputs is a key aspect of DEA modeling. However, excessive weight variability and implausible weight values have led to the development of DEA models that incorporate weight restrictions, reflecting expert judgment. This in turn has created problems of infeasibility of the corresponding linear programs. We provide an existence theorem that establishes feasibility conditions for DEA multiplier programs with weight restrictions. We then propose a linear model that tests for feasibility and a nonlinear model that provides minimally acceptable adjustments to the original restrictions that render the program feasible. The analysis can be applied to restrictions on weight ratios, or to restrictions on virtual inputs or outputs.     

Comparison of laser microprobe mass spectrometry (LMMS) and micro particle induced X-ray emission (micro-PIXE) for the analysis of senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease: A preliminary study

Results of micro-PIXE analysis of senile plaques (SP) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain have been utilized to independently confirm levels of iron (Fe) as measured by LMMS in adjacent brain sections. LMMS concentrations were calculated based on the preparation and analysis of an iron calibration curve prepared in our laboratory. The LMMS standards consist of ironcis-dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 ether coordination complexes dissolved in Spurr's low viscosity embedding medium. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of micro-PIXE, with its spatial resolution and detection limits comparable to that of LMMS, in the validation of LMMS results. The agreement observed between results obtained for Fe by micro-PIXE and LMMS indicates that the use of our LMMS standards, at least in the case of Fe, yields accurate results.     

Intercomparisons and development of reference materials for short-term mutagenicity testing

Summary Every new product to be put on the market must be checked by a range of testing procedures so as to assess its toxicity (directive 67/548/EEC). Results from the prescribed reverse mutation assay (Ames test) are part of the consideration of whether the introduction of the product into trade is allowed. Using the above test, European testing laboratories achieved different results for the same substances, false negative and false positive results being obtained. The Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) was requested to undertake a project on short-term mutagenicity testing in order to harmonize results at the European level. The results obtained by a first intercomparison using four direct mutagens showed that further work in this field is necessary. Before starting a second intercomparison using two indirect mutagens, a preliminary study was initiated in order to examine the influence of several important parameters. The aim of this project is to certify highly purified 2-aminoanthracene and benzo(a)pyrene for their mutagenic activity.     

A Case Study on the Development of the Home Defence Training Game HOT SEAT

Home defence is concerned with enhancing the prospects for survival and recovery of this country in the eventuality of nuclear war. Contingency plans exist for the creation of a system of wartime regional government which includes elements from peacetime local and central governments. Senior officers in local government with designated wartime roles receive training at the Home Defence College. The Home Office decided that a crisis management game should form part of their overall programme of indoctrination. The resulting game, which is known as HOT SEAT, has been successfully implemented and is now in regular use at the College. This paper describes how the need for the game arose, the structure of the resulting game, the problems that arose during its development, and should be of interest to those concerned with the development of management and crisis games.     

A novel conversion of chromone-3-carboxaldehyde to 5-nitro-2,3-benzofurandione-(Z)-2-oxime

The conversion of chromone-3-carboxaldehyde to 5-nitro-2,3-benzofurandione-($\text{Z}$)-2-oxime under nitrating conditions is reported.     

Chemophototherapeutic Ablation of Doxorubicin-Resistant Human Ovarian Tumor Cells†

Porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP) liposomes loaded with Doxorubicin (Dox) have been demonstrated to be an efficient vehicle for chemophototherapy (CPT). Multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells is a problematic phenomenon in which tumor cells develop resistance to chemotherapy. Herein, we report that Dox-resistant tumor cells can be ablated using our previously described formulation termed long-circulating Dox loaded in PoP liposomes (LC-Dox-PoP), which is a PEGylated formulation containing 2 mol. % of the PoP photosensitizer. In vitro studies using free Dox and LC-Dox-PoP showed that human ovarian carcinoma A2780 cells were more susceptible to Dox compared to the corresponding Dox-resistant A2780-R cells. When CPT was applied with LC-Dox-PoP liposomes, effective killing of both nonresistant and resistant A2780 cell lines was observed. An in vivo study to assess the efficiency of LC-Dox-PoP showed effective tumor shrinkage and prolonged survival of athymic nude mice bearing subcutaneous Dox-resistant A2780-R tumor xenografts when they were irradiated with a red laser. Biodistribution analysis demonstrated enhanced tumoral drug uptake in Dox-resistant tumors with CPT, suggesting that increased drug delivery was sufficient to induce ablation of resistant tumor cells.     

The synthesis of azadirachtin: a potent insect antifeedant

We describe in full the first synthesis of the potent insect antifeedant azadirachtin through a highly convergent approach. An O-alkylation reaction is used to unite decalin ketone and propargylic mesylate fragments, after which a Claisen rearrangement constructs the central C8-C14 bond in a stereoselective fashion. The allene which results from this sequence then enables a second critical carbon-carbon bond forming event whereby the [3.2.1] bicyclic system, present in the natural product, is generated via a 5-exo-radical cyclisation process. Finally, using knowledge gained through our early studies into the reactivity of the natural product, a series of carefully designed steps completes the synthesis of this challenging molecule.