Computing DEA/AR efficiency and profit ratio measures with an illustrative bank application

This paper describes how the recent, published DEA/AR theory, in conjunction with software, provides measures of radial efficiency and profit ratios, This new DEA theory does not require use of the non-Archimedean principle, i.e., positive infinitesimals, and it allows for analysis of zero data entries. Further, this theory provides a comprehensive classification of the measures for both the efficient and inefficient decision-making units (DMUs). As programmed in the software, the efficiency principles are relative to the Charnes-Cooper-Rhodes ratio model and the Banker-Charnes-Cooper convex model, and the profitability principles are relative to the Thompson-Thrall profit ratio model. An illustrative application to 48 large U.S. banks illustrates some of the most fundamental computations, which are developed for a base option. Additional options may be exercised by the user to more fully utilize the theory. Additions to the software are being made to computer analytic centers and to make multiplier sensitivity analyses. Software utility updates and new DEA theory contributions continue to complement this computational capability.DEA is an advanced operations research method called Data Envelopment Analysis, and AR is an assurance region method used to bound the multipliers in the DEA model. Underlying data have been deposited with the editors.     

Convergence test for inversion of frequency-resolved optical gating spectrograms

We describe a new and simple method to aid in the analysis of retrieved pulses from inverted frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) traces. The analysis can separate noise from distortion and shows that distortion is more deleterious to the retrieved pulse than is pure noise. The analysis relies on the fact that FROG traces can be constructed from a single outer product of two vectors, whereas distortion and noise require the sum of a series of outer products.     

Spasmodic dysphonia and vocal fold paralysis:Outcomes of voice problems on work-related functioning

Patients at a university voice disorder clinic diagnosed with spasmodicdysphonia (SD, n = 68) or vocal fold paralysis (VFP, n = 57) reported vocal symptoms and adverse work outcomes in contrast to a nondisordered group (ND, n = 68). Patients with SD most frequently cited symptoms of effortfulness (57%) and weakness (54%), VFP cited hoarseness (70%) and weakness (60%), while the nondisordered reported hoarseness (28%). SD and VFP produced greater (p<.05) adverse work outcomes than the nondisordered in the past (SD: 65%, VFP: 41%, ND: 3%), potential future (SD: 78%, VFP: 65%, ND: 19%), and current job performance (SD: 64%, VFP: 46%, ND: 2%). These disorders significantly disrupt socioeconomic outcomes and research is needed to improve functional ability and quality of life.     

Femtosecond dynamics of secondary radiation formation from quantum well excitons

The time-resolved secondary emission of resonantly created excitons in GaAs quantum wells is studied using femtosecond up-conversion spectroscopy. The behaviour of the rise and decay of the secondary emission and reflectivity in quantum wells is strongly dependent upon the disorder at the interfaces, the exciton density and the temperature. In the case of low densities and temperatures the emission is independent of the exciton density and rises quadratically in time, in excellent agreement with recent theory for Rayleigh scattering from two-dimensional excitons subjected to disorder. These rise times are compared directly with times measured by time-integrated four-wave mixing (FWM). The comparison of the dynamics displayed in time-resolved secondary radiation and time-integrated FWM provide a clear understanding of the coherence properties of QW excitons in the first few picoseconds after excitation. High-contrast oscillations that are due to quantum beats between the heavy- and light-hole 1s-states are seen. The visibility decay at very low densities is long ps and is related to the action of potential fluctuations on the scattering of heavy-hole and light-hole excitons.     

High precision delta(17)O isotope measurements of oxygen from silicates and other oxides: method and applications

The use of infrared laser-assisted fluorination to release oxygen from milligram quantities of silicates or other oxide mineral grains is a well-established technique. However, relatively few studies have reported the optimisation of this procedure for oxygen-17 isotope measurements. We describe here details of an analytical system using infrared (10 μm) laser-assisted fluorination, in conjunction with a dual inlet mass spectrometer of high resolving power ( approximately 250) to provide (17)O and (18)O oxygen isotope measurements from 0.5-2 mg of silicates or other oxide mineral grains. Respective precisions (1) of typically 0.08 and 0.04 per thousand are obtained for the complete analytical procedure. Departures from the mass-dependent oxygen isotope fractionation line are quantified by Delta(17)O; our precision (1) of such measurements on individual samples is shown to be +/-0.024 per thousand. In turn, this permits the offset between parallel, mass-dependent fractionation lines to be characterised to substantially greater precision than has been possible hitherto. Application of this system to investigate the (17)O versus (18)O relationship for numerous terrestrial whole-rock and mineral samples, of diverse geological origins and age, indicates that the complete data set may be described by a single, mass-dependent fractionation line of slope 0.5244+/- 0.00038 (standard error). Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Full-field characterization of femtosecond pulses by spectrum and cross-correlation measurements

We present a practical and accurate technique for retrieving the amplitude and the phase of ultrashort pulses from a nonlinear (second-order) intensity cross correlation and the spectrum that overcomes shortcomings of previous attempts. We apply the algorithm to theoretical and experimental data and compare it with frequency-resolved optical gating.