In this paper, we evaluate the aggregation of Farrell's efficiency indices. Due to this fact that the industry minimum cost is equal to the sum of minimum unit costs, we find conditions on this aggregation. Some conditions are introduced under which the industry efficiency can be obtained from the efficiency of individual firms.

Background and Objectives: The interleaved approach has a long history of use in power electronics, particularly for high-power systems. The voltage and current stress in these applications exceed the tolerance limit of a power element. The present paper introduces an improved version of an interleaved boost converter, which uses voltage mode control. The objectives of this research are improvement in the interleaved boost converter’s performance in terms of the temporal parameters associated with settling duration, rising time, and overshoot.Methods: An improved PI controller (proportional integral controller) is used for adjusting the proposed converter’s output voltage. In the present work, the Grey Wolf Optimization algorithm with aggregation function definition (GWO_AF) is utilized to adjust the free coefficients of the PI controller. In reality, the closed-loop dynamic performance and stability can be improved by designing and implementing an optimized PI controller.Results: The improvement of the freedom degree in the interleaved boost converter resulted from the existence of a few power switches in a parallel channel in the proposed circuit. An additional advantage of the interleaved boost converter, compared to the conventional one, is that it produces a lower output voltage ripple. Conclusion: The usage of multi-objective optimization algorithms in designing a PI controller can significantly improve the performance parameters of an interleaved boost converter. Also, our findings indicated the excellent stability of the proposed converter when connected to the network.

Positive homogeneity is represented as a constraint 0-homogeneity and generalized into z-homogeneity, called also z-end point linearity. Several special z-homogeneous aggregation functions are studied, in particular semicopulas, quasi-copulas, copulas, overlap functions, etc.

A characteristic of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is to allow individual decision making units (DMUs) to select the factor weights which are the most advantageous for them in calculating their efficiency scores. This flexibility in selecting the weights, on the other hand, deters the comparison among DMUs on a common base. For dealing with this difficulty and assessing all the DMUs on the same scale, this paper proposes using a multiple objective linear programming (MOLP) approach based on scalarizing function for generating common set of weights under the DEA framework. This is an advantageous of the proposed approach against general approaches in the literature which are based on multiple objective nonlinear programming.

Background: Based on the studies which have been done till now, resynchronization of ventricular contraction results in clinical improvement in patients who suffer from moderate to severe heart failure with intraventricular conduction disturbance. and using this method is increasing in our country. Study in this filed seems to be necessary.Material and methods: Sixty-five consecutive patients with advanced heart failure, NYHA Class III and IV, LV ejection fraction (EF)£35%, QRS³120 were studied before and 3 months after CRT. Mean age was 60, 57 and 8 patients with NYHA class III and IV respectively. All patients received furosemide, spironolactone, carvedilol, ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II –receptors blockers at the optimal tolerated dosage. Mean LVEF was 20.83%. Echocardiographic (Tissue Doppler Imaging), ECG and Function class (NYHA) were assessed at baseline before implantation and 3 months after.Result: LV ejection fraction increased +6.8% (21.10±7 vs. 27.93±8.4%, P<0.001). Mitral valve regurgitation severity reduced (P<0.013). Interventricular mechanical delay reduced (53.83ms±18.45 vs. 26.53ms±13.90 P=0.000) and also Intra ventricular mechanical delay reduced (62.53ms±25.08 vs. 45.55ms±13.47, P=0.000). Dilated cardiomyopathic group has more mean changes in LVEF than Ischemic group (+9.06%±7.3 vs. +4.08%±6.5, P=0.01).Conclusion: Biventricular pacing results in significant clinical improvement in patients who have moderate to severe heart failure.

Objective(s): To validate Persian version of the FSFI and to determine its diagnostic cut off score. Methods: This was a descriptive analytic study. To fill in the Persian version of the FSFI. In addition clinical interviews were carried out by a psychiatrist on DSM-4 criteria. Women divided in two age and educational matched groups: the control group (n=28) who have not sexual dysfunction and the case group (n=53) who have sexual dysfunction. Data were analyzed by Cronbach’s alpha and validity was assessed by comparing mean scores of two groups. Optimal cut off score determined by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: The findings showed satisfactory results for full scale and each subscale with Cronbach’s alpha ranging from 0.66 or above for sexually dysfunctional sample and 0.70 or above for sexually active sample. Discriminant validity confirmed the ability of both total and domain scores to differentiate between active and inactive women. On the basis of sensitivity and specificity analyses we found that the optimal cut off score was found to be 28 for differentiating women with and without sexual dysfunction. Conclusion: The findings showed that the Iranian version of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring sexual function in women.

Background: Antithrombotic therapy, such as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and clopidogrel, may interfere with platelet aggregation in thrombotic strokes. Therefore, a platelet aggregation test is essential for monitoring therapy. A previous study observed a decrease in platelet aggregation using antithrombotics with a manual LTA analyzer. Further research is required to compare this with an automatic tool to determine whether both instruments have similar detection capabilities.Methods: PPP and PRP samples were collected from 30 thrombotic stroke outpatients and 30 healthy controls. Platelet aggregation tests were performed using ADP 5µM and Collagen 2µg/mL on both instruments, Chronolog® Model 490, and Sysmex® CS-2500. The tests were then analyzed using the Wilcoxon test for differences, the Spearman test for correlation, and the Bland-Altman analysis for agreement.Results: No differences were observed in MA values and numerical alignment between the two instruments for ADP and Collagen. If the MA result for the platelet aggregation test on Chrono-log® Model 490 was high, it was likewise high on Sysmex CS-2500 and vice versa. Although the values of LP and Vel differed, the numbers for ADP and Collagen in both instruments were consistent.Conclusion: The comparison between both instruments indicates good agreement. Automated LTA demonstrates the same suitability as manual LTA and can be applied in clinical routines to assess platelet aggregation function. Due to many variations in the pre-analytics stage that might affect the results, it is vital to standardize both the pre-analytics, analytics, and post-analytics stages to compare platelet aggregation tests on the two instruments.