Future Performance Improvements Research Articles

Prevalence and Determinants of Prehospital Impression of Stroke in Ischemic Stroke Patients.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) clinicians are front-line in evaluating patients with stroke in the community. Their ability to correctly identify stroke influences downstream management decisions. We sought to use a large national database of prehospital clinical data to determine risk factors associated with missed EMS stroke identification. Retrospective study examining EMS evaluation of adults with Emergency Department (ED) stroke diagnosis. We leveraged the ESO Data Collaborative research dataset containing EHR data from 2019-2022 that has a subset of encounters with linked hospital diagnostic codes. Our primary outcome was the presence of an EMS diagnosis of stroke. We evaluated the association between demographic and clinical variables with EMS stroke identification using Pearson χ2 test for demographic variables and multivariable GLM for clinical variables with adjustment for demographic variables. We identified 34,504 EMS encounters for patients with ED stroke diagnosis. Of these, 11,077 (32.1%) strokes had missed EMS stroke identification and instead had an EMS impression of "Generalized Weakness" (25.9%), "Altered Level of Consciousness" (24.9%), and "Dizziness" (7.2%). Patients more likely to have missed prehospital stroke identification were of Black race (p=0.0001) and Hispanic ethnicity (p=0.0001). Clinical variables associated with higher risk of missed EMS stroke identification were suspected alcohol or drug use (RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.37-1.59), low GCS (RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.10-1.24), tachycardia (RR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.09), and hypotension (RR 1.47, 95% CI 1.34-1.61). Approximately 1-in-3 patients transported by EMS did not have their stroke identified in the prehospital setting. Factors associated with lower odds of missed EMS stroke identification provide a starting point for future performance improvement initiatives.

Integrating discrete event simulation and data envelopment analysis for system performance and efficiency evaluation

ABSTRACT Healthcare facilities, particularly outpatient clinics, are crucial for local communities’ medical needs. To enhance their performance, these facilities need to optimize their operations. Key system performance metrics, such as patient throughput, waiting times and cycle times, can quantitatively be measured using discrete event simulation (DES). DES replicates facility structures and behaviours, offering a valuable platform for assessing the configuration effects of resources on system performance. However, current DES tools cannot identify the best resource configurations for future performance improvement. To address this issue, this paper develops a DES model for an outpatient clinic and improves its performance through data envelopment analysis (DEA). The case study involves a clinic in Northern Malaysia, where relevant data were observed and collected. The analysed data were then input into the DES model. The model measured the clinic’s current performance and assessed the impact of its resource configurations. 37 different resource configurations were tested, and their relative efficiencies were evaluated using DEA. The analysis revealed room for improvement in resource allocation.

Research on the Impact of Digital Transformation on the Performance of Manufacturing Enterprises

To address the challenges faced by manufacturing enterprises in digital transformation, this paper analyzes the relationship between digital transformation and enterprise performance. Using panel data from domestic A-share-listed manufacturing enterprises from 2012 to 2022, two hypotheses were proposed. The analysis and verification revealed that digital transformation in manufacturing enterprises can enhance performance and reduce costs. Based on the impact of digital transformation on manufacturing enterprise performance, optimization suggestions are proposed to guide future digital transformation and performance improvement efforts in these enterprises.

Recent progress in covalent organic frameworks for flexible electronic devices

AbstractCovalent organic frameworks (COFs) are porous materials with good crystallinity, highly ordered stacking, tunable channels, and diverse functional groups that have been demonstrated to show great potential applications in flexible electronic devices, including flexible energy storage devices (batteries and supercapacitors), memristors and sensors. Although great research progress on the usage of COFs as active elements in flexible electronics has been witnessed, the summary in this direction is rare. Thus, it is the right time to write a review on COFs‐based flexible electronics. In this review, we will first discuss the different synthesis strategies to prepare COF materials. Then, the applications of COFs in flexible electronic devices are summarized. Finally, the future performance improvement and development directions of COFs in the field of flexible electronic devices are briefly outlined. This review could provide basic concepts and some guidelines to stimulate novel applications of COFs in diverse flexible electronic devices.

Iron dopant in zinc oxide nanorods-based photoanode using chemical bath deposition method for photoelectrochemical water-splitting

Utilization of zinc oxide as a photoanode in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is cost-effective and environmentally friendly choices compared to noble metals, although some enhancements are required to address the limited light absorption and significant charge recombination. Iron as metal doping and nanorod structure, on the other hand, offers solutions to overcome these limitations. An in-depth study employing iron-doped zinc oxide nanorods using various concentrations of iron fabricated through a chemical bath deposition (CBD) method due to its high-quality results and scale-up feasibility, shows enhanced structures, electrical characteristics, optical properties, charge transfer speed, and overall effectiveness in converting solar energy to hydrogen. This dopant was effectively integrated into the photoanode, resulting in a reduction of the bandgap to 3.19 eV and the creation of nanorods that are both thinner and longer. The photocurrent density for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is 6 mA/cm2, and for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), it is 1.3 mA/cm2. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy shows lower resistance and an improved diffusion coefficient, resulting in reduced energy requirements for hydrogen production. The solar-to-hydrogen efficiency is also reported at 4.7%. This method shows potential for future progress and possible performance improvements.

NC-SIMC: Neuro-Controller Simple Internal Model Control

This study introduces a novel Neuro-Controller Simple Internal Model Control (NC-SIMC) paradigm. Our primary goal is to develop a neural network architecture that integrates the logical principles of Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller design, as outlined by the SIMC rules, into a model capable of generating control actions without the necessity for training with closed-loop data. This is achieved by employing the Simple Internal Model Control framework to effectively train the adapted neural network structure. We present a machine-learning approach that combines a specialized inductive bias node by using a custom new layer inside the neutral net structure to address this goal. Hence, it bridges traditional control theory and machine learning. A key innovation of our NC-SIMC approach is its ability to learn and internally formulate a control structure and parameters. This enables it to establish suitable control actions based on the system’s state, setpoint, and feedback without relying on a fixed control structure. Our paper demonstrates the efficacy of NC-SIMC in stabilizing control actions and its adaptability across various operating conditions without requiring retuning. This performance is shown to be favorably comparable to traditional SIMC rules. We conclude by discussing the potential for future improvements in dynamic performance and the integration of constraints directly into the inductive bias layer, opening new avenues for advanced control system design. The main advantage of our strategy is that no closed-loop data is needed to identify the NC-SIMC PID controller. Instead, the model learns from the SIMC rules.

Impact of vehicle fire exposure on polymer concrete overlays

This study investigates the performance of polymer concrete (PC) overlays after short-duration vehicle fire exposure. A vehicle fire test was conducted on a reinforced concrete slab with polyester PC overlay. Test results show a notable decline in overlay performance after the fire. In high-exposure areas, average reductions ranged from 13.3% to 23.1% in skid resistance, abrasion resistance, chloride penetration resistance, and surface hardness. Heat exposure heightens the bond failure risk and causes overlay delamination. Water penetration tests, done separately, show extended fire worsens PC overlay damage. These findings guide future performance improvements of PC.

Analysis of the Financial Performance of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in the Mining Sector Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2018-2022

This study aims to analyze the financial performance of mining companies owned by the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The objects taken in this study are mining companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2018-2022, with company codes PTBA, ANTM, and TINS. Analysis of corporate financial performance based on liquidity, activity, solvency ratio, profitability ratio, and DuPont analysis shows increases and decreases in value, but none are consistent. The results of the performance analysis of the three companies are expected to provide an overview to the management of the company concerned to develop future performance improvement strategies, as well as to investors as a basis for comparison, projections, and decision-making in investing in companies in the mining sector, especially mining companies owned by SOEs

Gait Parameters of Elite Kickboxing Athletes

Background: Correct movement techniques are crucial for enhancing athletic performance and minimizing the risk of injury. This is particularly true for kickboxing, in which a variety of forms of locomotion are employed. Despite its importance, gait and movement analysis in this sport is under-researched. The primary objective of this study is to understand gait patterns and limb symmetry between the dominant and non-dominant legs among professional kickboxers and to explore their correlation with the level of technical and tactical preparation. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted involving 20 elite kickboxers. Data collection employed the 3D Force Treadmill for gait parameters, as well as simulated sparring sessions to evaluate technical–tactical indices. Various gait parameters were analyzed, including the center of pressure (COP), gait phase, spatial and time parameters, as well as reaction force. Results: No significant bilateral differences were found in the majority of gait variables. Exceptions were in the medio-lateral component of the COP and force, where more deviation was observed in the non-dominant foot. The only noted significant correlation was between lateral symmetry and attack activity. Conclusions: This study allows us to indicate that kickboxers’ training promotes symmetrical gait patterns. Targeted training interventions could further optimize these patterns. The significant relationship between lateral symmetry and attack activity suggests areas for future research and potential performance improvement. The results of this study contribute to athletes’ self-monitoring and coaching strategies.

월드컵과 스포츠과학: 경기력 향상의 새로운 물결

This paper aims to discuss the agenda required by sports stakeholders in the future. The main purpose of this paper is to discuss the concept and scope of rapidly changing performance improvement along with the development of science and technology. To achieve the research goal, various cases in which science and technology affect performance improvement were reviewed, and the change in perspective of performance improvement was considered. The main contents are examples of “The history of FIFA World Cup”, “FIFA World Cup and Sports Science”, “Convergence of Sports and Science/Technology”, and “Change of Perspectives on Performance Improvement.” Based on the case reviews, the issues that need to be considered in each stakeholder's decision-making, such as athletes and instructors, governments and companies, for future performance improvement were presented.

Corporate social responsibility misconduct and formation of board interlocks

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) misconduct often negatively impacts firms and damages their reputation. Using data on U.S. listed firms from 2002 to 2018, we demonstrate that firms are more likely to establish board interlocks with firms that have better CSR performance after a CSR-related violation than with other firms. Furthermore, this relationship is more pronounced in violating firms that have a greater incentive to maintain their reputation than in other firms. We also find that the capital market and the media react positively to board interlock announcements by violating firms. However, we find no improvement in future CSR performance or a reduced likelihood of future CSR misconduct after the formation of such board interlocks. Altogether, our findings suggest that establishing board interlocks with firms that have better CSR performance is an effective signaling strategy for reputation management for firms engaging in CSR misconduct.

Carbon media legitimacy in UK companies: actions or words?

PurposeThis study investigates whether carbon media legitimacy is influenced by carbon performance and/or carbon disclosure using a direct measure of carbon media legitimacy in UK context.Design/methodology/approachTo test this study's hypotheses, the authors employ Tobit regression analysis of 95 UK companies listed in FTSE350. The authors use balanced panel data (475 observations in total) to reduces the noise introduced by unit heterogeneity.FindingsThe authors find that while corporate carbon performance is not reflected in carbon media legitimacy, carbon media legitimacy is positively and significantly affected by voluntary carbon disclosure (irrespective of its quality). Thus, voluntary carbon disclosure is shown to be an effective tool in legitimising corporate activities.Research limitations/implicationsThe results show a certain degree of naivety on the part of the media in assessing corporate carbon behaviour, since it values carbon disclosure (irrespective of its quality) more than carbon performance. Such media behaviour may hinder future improvement in carbon performance of firms.Practical implicationsThis study's results indicate that the existing UK carbon disclosure policy does not address the heart of climate change and global warming. Thus, tougher regulations should be considered by policy-makers in relation to voluntary carbon disclosure in the UK.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to examine whether carbon media legitimacy is associated with both carbon performance and carbon disclosure using a direct measure of carbon media legitimacy, and to use the UK context when addressing this association. It also examines the effectiveness of quality of carbon disclosure as legitimation tool.

An integrated approach of discrete event simulation and a non-radial super efficiency data envelopment analysis for performance evaluation of an emergency department

An emergency department (ED) has been considered as one of the most congested department in a hospital. The congestion is typically contributed by long waiting time to get medical service, primarily caused by insufficient resource allocation or improper resource configurations. However, how various resource allocation configurations affect ED performance and how their efficiency can correctly be evaluated, using an integrated approach is rarely discussed. This paper thus integrates discrete event simulation (DES) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) to measure ED performance and evaluate the efficiency of potential resource allocation configurations for future performance improvement. For this, a DES model for an ED is first designed and developed. Its performance improvement is then tested using 35 potential resource allocation configurations, and their impacts on the performance are measured. To evaluate their efficiency and identify the optimal configuration, a mixed integer super efficiency of slacks-based measure data envelopment analysis (SE-SBM-DEA) approach dealing with undesirable outputs is proposed. The model utilizes resource allocation as inputs and simulation performance measures as outputs. All inputs were considered as integer, while the outputs were classified into desirable and undesirable in mixed integer-valued data. The desirable real outputs are the utilization of receptionists, nurses and doctors. The undesirable real outputs are the average of patient cycle time and time spent in queues, while the undesirable integer output is average number of patients in queues. The desirable integer output is average number of patients received treatment. The results obtained from the DEA approach show that 21 efficient resource configurations have the capability to increase their inputs, undesirable outputs and/or decrease desirable outputs simultaneously without affecting their efficiency status. The integrated approach helps decision makers manage their healthcare facilities by identifying the sources of inefficiency and (the maximum levels of inputs-undesirable outputs and minimum levels of desirable outputs) to improve and (retain) efficiency.

Improving the Effectiveness of Employee Performance Management Process: A Managerial Values Approach

This study proposes a managerial values approach to improve the effectiveness of employee performance management processes. It suggests that traditional performance management practices have limitations, as they focus only on evaluating past performance rather than facilitating future performance improvements. Drawing on the literature and expert opinions, the study identifies three main key managerial elements: goal setting, performance review and performance improvement plans. These values can guide the design and implementation of employee performance management systems that foster employee engagement, motivation, and development. The study concludes that the adoption of a managerial values approach can lead to a more effective performance management process that aligns with organizational goals and enhances employee and organizational performance.

A Performance Quality Index to Assess Professional Conduct of Contractors at Sustainable Construction Projects in Saudi Arabia

The quality performance of contractors in sustainable construction projects is a major concern for the industry. Over the past decade, studies on measurements, factors, and indicators for assessment of the professional conduct of construction companies are to be found in the sustainable construction management literature. There is adequate evidence over the last decade that an increasing number of construction professionals have adopted the measurement of the professional conduct of contractors as a tool to support their future decisions. The method of the Analytical Hierarchy (AHP) process has been deployed to identify the major factors and sub-factors involved in sustainable construction in Saudi Arabia. Using several governing factors, including quality of document submittals (QDS), quality system implementation (QSI), and quality of construction works (QCW), a working framework was developed by using the pair-wise comparison method. The results show that proper accountability and keen consideration of factors that could hinder sustainable construction by contractors contribute to the development of a better perspective on quality issues. After a critical analysis, a Performance Quality Index was developed, and a benchmark value was obtained. The benchmark value of PQI will assist project managers and owners in the sustainable construction sector as a reference for future improvement in the quality performance of contractors.

Technology roadmap for hydrogen-fuelled transportation in the UK

Transportation is the sector responsible for the largest greenhouse gas emission in the UK. To mitigate its impact on the environment and move towards net-zero emissions by 2050, hydrogen-fuelled transportation has been explored through research and development as well as trials. This article presents an overview of relevant technologies and issues that challenge the supply, use and marketability of hydrogen for transportation application in the UK, covering on-road, aviation, maritime and rail transportation modes. The current development statutes of the different transportation modes were reviewed and compared, highlighting similarities and differences in fuel cells, internal combustion engines, storage technologies, supply chains and refuelling characteristics. In addition, common and specific future research needs in the short to long term for the different transportation modes were suggested. The findings showed the potential of using hydrogen in all transportation modes, although each sector faces different challenges and requires future improvements in performance and cost, development of innovative designs, refuelling stations, standards and codes, regulations and policies to support the advancement of the use of hydrogen.

Bismuth Vanadate Decked Polyaniline Polymeric Nanocomposites: The Robust Photocatalytic Destruction of Microbial and Chemical Toxicants.

Functional materials have long been studied for a variety of environmental applications, resource rescue, and many other conceivable applications. The present study reports on the synthesis of bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) integrated polyaniline (PANI) using the hydrothermal method. The topology of BiVO4 decked PANI catalysts was investigated by SEM and TEM. XRD, EDX, FT-IR, and antibacterial testing were used to examine the physicochemical and antibacterial properties of the samples, respectively. Microscopic images revealed that BiVO4@PANI are comprised of BiVO4 hollow cages made up of nanobeads that are uniformly dispersed across PANI tubes. The PL results confirm that the composite has the lowest electron-hole recombination compared to others samples. BiVO4@PANI composite photocatalysts demonstrated the maximum degradation efficiency compared to pure BiVO4 and PANI for rhodamine B dye. The probable antimicrobial and photocatalytic mechanisms of the BiVO4@PANI photocatalyst were proposed. The enhanced antibacterial and photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the high surface area and combined impact of PANI and BiVO4, which promoted the migration efficiency of photo-generated electron holes. These findings open up ways for the potential use of BiVO4@PANI in industries, environmental remediation, pharmaceutical and medical sectors. Nevertheless, biocompatibility for human tissues should be thoroughly examined to lead to future improvements in photocatalytic performance and increase antibacterial efficacy.

High‐Resolution Lithography for High‐Frequency Organic Thin‐Film Transistors

AbstractOrganic thin‐film transistors are field‐effect transistors comprising a semiconductor in the form of a thin, typically polycrystalline layer of conjugated organic molecules. Since organic transistors can often be fabricated at temperatures no higher than about 100 °C, they are potentially useful for flexible, large‐area electronics applications. An important performance parameter of organic transistors is the transit frequency, which is the highest frequency at which the transistors can be operated. The transit frequency of organic transistors is determined in large part by the channel length and the parasitic gate‐to‐source and gate‐to‐drain overlap lengths. How small these dimensions can be made depends (at least in the case of transistors fabricated in the lateral device architecture) greatly on the resolution of the lithography method that is utilized for the patterning of the gate electrodes and the source and drain contacts. Patterning methods that have yielded organic transistors with lateral dimensions sufficiently small to provide transit frequencies above 10 MHz include photolithography, laser lithography, stencil lithography, and electron‐beam lithography. In this review, these four lithography methods and their roles in the fabrication of high‐frequency organic transistors, as well as their prospects for future improvements in the dynamic performance of organic transistors, will be illuminated.

Approximate High-Performance Computing: A Fast and Energy-Efficient Computing Paradigm in the Post-Moore Era

As we reach the limits of Moore’s law and the end of Dennard scaling, increased emphasis is being given to alternative system architectures and computing paradigms to achieve future performance improvements. Approximate computing, where accuracy is traded for performance, is a promising approach in the post-Moore era. However, for approximate computing to gain widespread acceptance in high-performance computing (HPC), three main considerations must be taken into account: accuracy, efficiency, and ease of use. This article discusses some of our recent work to address to tackle these issues and facilitate the adoption of approximate computing in HPC.

Automatic Classification for Unlabeled Email Messages into Folders

Imagine returning from an excused absence because of Covid-19 or any force majeure alike, and having to immediately face 300+ unread emails; getting overwhelmed by emails has become part of office workers’ daily routine. Numerous pieces of research have shown effective methods to categorize email messages, detect potential harassment, and even automatically send a reply. But still, email is an interesting type of text to analyze and gives rise to many challenges. First discussing the challenge in the problem, this paper aims to research, study, and propose a method that can deal with a specific challenge: making folders out of income email messages and then classifying emails automatically. By cooperating basic methods, techniques, and algorithms, an intuitive program is developed that can perform the task with the given public email dataset. The method is then expected to raise prospects for future investigations and improvements in performance and robustness.