In this paper, we focus on the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)-based model structures have been used in assessing bank branch efficiency. Probing the methodologies of 75 published studies at the branch level since 1985 to early 2015, we found that these models can be divided into four categories: standard basic DEA models, single level and multi-level models, enriched (hybrid) models and specia...

drought is random and nonlinear phenomenon and using linear stochastic models, nonlinear artificial neural network and hybrid models is advantaged for drought forecasting. this paper presents the performances of autoregressive integrated moving average (arima), direct multi-step neural network (dmsnn), recursive multi-step neural network (rmsnn), hybrid stochastic neural network of directive ap...

Head motion-related sensory signals are transformed by second-order vestibular neurons (2°VNs) into appropriate commands for retinal image stabilization during body motion. In frogs, these 2°VNs form two distinct subpopulations that have either tonic or highly phasic intrinsic properties, essentially compatible with low-pass and bandpass filter characteristics, respectively. In the present stud...

Head motion-related sensory signals are transformed by second-order vestibular neurons (2°VN) into appropriate extraocular motor commands for retinal image stabilization during body motion. In frog, these 2°VN form two distinct subpopulations that have either linear (tonic 2°VN) or highly non-linear intrinsic properties (phasic 2°VN), compatible with lowpass and band-pass filter characteristics...

A significant challenge to orthopaedic soft tissue repair is the biological fixation of autologous or allogeneic grafts with bone, whereby the lack of functional integration between such grafts and host bone has limited the clinical success of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and other common soft tissue-based reconstructive grafts. The inability of current surgical reconstruction to restore th...

b a c k g r o u n d & aim: multi-state models can help better understand the process of chronic diseases such as cancers.  these models  are influenced  by assumptions  like individual  homogeneity.  this study aimed to investigate the effect of lack of individual homogeneity  assumption  in multi-state models. methods & materials: to investigate the effect of lack of individual homogeneity ass...

Both the linear (at low doses)-no-threshold (LNT) and the threshold models (S-shapes) dose-response lead to no benefit from low exposure. We propose three new models that allow and include, but do not require - unlike LNT and S-shaped models - this strong assumption. We also provide the means to calculate benefits associated with bi-phasic biological behaviors, when they occur and propose:THREE...

estimation of parameters of a hydrologic model is undertaken using a procedure called “calibration” in order to obtain predictions as close as possible to observed values. this study aimed to use the particle swarm optimization (pso) algorithm for automatic calibration of the hec-hms hydrologic model, which includes a library of different event-based models for simulating the rainfall-runoff pr...

Auditory roughness arises when rapid beats can be perceived. It is considered to be linked to the amount of amplitude fluctuation within a given auditory filter, around a “roughest” modulation frequency of 70 Hz. The way roughness builds up if sounds have energy spread over a large frequency region is unclear. When two sinusoidally amplitude-modulated (SAM) tones with different carrier frequenc...