Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a method for measuring the efficiency of peer decision making units (DMUs) which uses a set of inputs to produce a set of outputs. In some cases, DMUs have a two-stage structure, in which the first stage utilizes inputs to produce outputs used as the inputs of the second stage to produce final outputs. One important issue in two-stage DEA is the sensitivity of...

IIntroduction: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) modulates the excitability of cortical neural networks. The effect of rTMS on excitability of cortical networks depends on its frequency. According to the previous reports, a distinction is made between low (<1Hz) and high frequencies of rTMS. Low frequencies of rTMS inhibit seizure but high frequencies increase it. In the curre...

A more poetic description of the process might be the current title. As the proverb says it is wisdom that we want and much of what we do is aimed at acquiring it. On reflection, the acquisition of wisdom is a two stage process. In the first stage ideas are accumulated and explored; in the second those ideas that have withstood the “experience test” are retained and recounted to others as insig...

We present the design and test of a portable multichannel neural data acquisition system. Each analog channel features a low noise (10nV/√Hz), high CMRR (83.4dB) input stage, a 4 order bandpass filter and a selectable gain (60.8dB – 100.8dB). An automatic DC restoration circuit in the input stage rejects the electrodes DC voltage mismatch. The multichannel analog signals are sampled, digitized ...

It is well known that certain cognitive abilities decline with age. The ability to form certain new declarative memories, particularly memories for facts and events, has been widely shown to decline with advancing age. In contrast, the effects of aging on the ability to form new procedural memories such as skills are less well known, though it appears that older adults are able to acquire some ...

Article history: Received 29 January 2013 Received in revised form 5 November 2013 Accepted 3 January 2014 Available online 15 January 2014 A two-stage stock-financed merger occurs when an acquiring firm first issues shares, and then engages in a cash acquisition shortly afterward. Such deals allow us to test two important hypotheses derived from decoupling: by clienteles via segmentation and b...

background : labor pain relief has been considered since many years ago. heat as a non pharmacological method of pain relief helps reducing the pain intensity and increases the pain consistency. the aim of the study was to determine the effect of the heat therapy on the labor pain in primigravida women. methods : in this clinical trial study, 64 low risk nulliparous women were randomly divided ...