High-performance Environment Research Articles

Comprehensive tuning guide: IBM MDM, PME algorithm, services, and configurations

The research paper provides comprehensive guidance on tuning specifics to maximize the efficiency of IBM MDM, particularly in high-performance environments. It addresses several advanced topics and tuning guidelines, focusing on the architectural framework and the details required for sustained performance. Including the recommendations to Handle Long-Chained Duplicates in Suspect Duplicate Processing (SDP), Minimize Deadlocks During Duplicate Processing, and Advanced Database Configurations for High-Performance WebSphere Application Server (WAS) Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and Cache Optimization, and Thread and session management, upgrading the Java version to hava8, Garbage Collection (GC) and Heap Memory Settings, servlet caching, and reduced application logging, MDM Workbench recommendations, Services tuning, and Batch processor tuning. IBM Messaging Queue’s Max server connections and Queue Connection Factory Settings.

A Prospective Cohort Study on the Effects of Repeated Acute Stress on Cortisol Awakening Response and Immune Function in Military Medical Students.

Background: The cortisol awakening response (CAR) is a pivotal component of the body's stress response, yet its dynamics under repeated acute stress and its interplay with immune biomarkers remain inadequately understood. Methods: This study examined 80 second-year military medical students undergoing a 5-day intensive surgical simulation designed to elicit stress responses. Salivary samples were collected daily upon waking and 30 min thereafter to measure cortisol and a panel of cytokines using bead-based multiplex ELISA. Results: Analysis revealed a significant blunting of the CAR on the third day of training (p = 0.00006), followed by a recovery on the fourth day (p = 0.0005). Concurrently, specific cytokines such as CXCL1 (r = 0.2, p = 0.0005), IL-6 (r = 0.13, p = 0.02), IL-10 (r = 0.14, p = 0.02), and VEGF-A (r = 0.17, p = 0.003) displayed patterns correlating with the CAR, with increased strength of associations observed when assessing cytokine levels against the CAR of the preceding day (CXCL1 r = 0.41, p = 0.0002. IL-6 r = 0.38, p = 0.0006. IL-10 r = 0.3, p = 0.008. VEGF-A r = 0.41, p = 0.0002). Conclusions: These results suggest a temporal relationship between stress-induced cortisol dynamics and immune regulation. The CAR pattern demonstrated in this study may represent induction of and recovery from psychological burnout. Moreover, the observed cytokine associations provide insight into the mechanisms by which stress can influence immune function. The results may have broader implications for managing stress in high-performance environments, such as military and medical professions, and for identifying individuals at risk of stress-related immune suppression.

Iron deficiency in the Australian high-performance environment: How improved access to iron infusions is enhancing our management.

Iron deficiency in the Australian high-performance environment: How improved access to iron infusions is enhancing our management.

Tackle Your Feelings: Experience of Help-Seeking for Mental Well-Being Concerns in Professional Rugby Union Players

Limited research into professional rugby union players’ experiences of seeking formal support for their mental health exists, despite comparable rates of mental health issues among elite rugby players with the general population. This qualitative study explored professional players’ actual experiences of accessing Rugby Players Ireland’s mental well-being service, via separate focus group discussions with professional players (n = 5) and player development managers (n = 4) who refer players into the service. An inductive reflexive thematic analysis identified three themes detailing players’ (a) journey to disclosure of their mental health difficulties, (b) their expectations and engagement with the well-being service, and (c) participants’ reflections on mental health experiences in a high-performance environment. Embedding mental health as a key component of player development in high-performance environments, improving mental health literacy, normalizing mental health experiences, and encouraging help-seeking would help promote player well-being and support holistic development alongside sporting performance.

“There's only room for one of us in this relationship”: Examining the role of the dark triad in high-performance dyads

The Dark Triad is highly relevant in high-performance environments as it offers explanation for feelings of superiority, opportunities to be ruthless in the pursuit of victory, and a heightened belief of influence over others for individual success. High-performance dyads focus on achieving a collective goal to achieve additional individual glory. The aim of this study was to investigate how levels of these traits and (dis)similarity in them was associated with relationship quality of 316 high-performance dyads. Greater dissimilarity in narcissism resulted in higher relationship quality for both dyadic members. Actor effects indicated that higher levels of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism were related to a reduction in coaches' own perceptions of relationship quality, whilst only higher levels of Machiavellianism were associated with a reduction in athletes' own perceived levels of relationship quality. Partner effects showed higher levels of athlete Machiavellianism reduced the relationship quality of coaches.

Taking action for Athlete wellbeing: strengthening psychosocial support through interactive group work

ABSTRACT This article provides an exploration into the social context of elite sport and details how a participatory action research methodology was used to develop, deliver, and evaluate two interactive group work interventions, “connection workshops” and “mental health literacy training.” Located within a professional Australian National Rugby League (NRL) and designed to strengthen the psychosocial support available to athletes within the high-performance environment, four connection workshops and three mental health literacy training sessions were facilitated within “The Club.” Qualitatively evaluated through seventeen one-on-one semi-structured interviews with athletes, coaches, and support staff, results indicated that these programs had strengthened the presence of psychosocial protective resources within the high-performance environment, with an increase in athletes’ help-seeking behavior resulting from improved accessibility and quality of interpersonal supports.

Securing industry 5.0 using 6σ CYBERNETIC framework

The data-driven digital economy highly relies on immersive and emerging technologies, mass customisation, autonomous systems, and seamless connectivity. Enabling such an Industrial IoT/Industry 5.0 environment requires streamlined and end-to-end transparent methods for insights, visibility, and control. However, it is important to note that its success depends on data security metrics. The recent cyber-attacks in healthcare and industrial infrastructures have led service providers to high-risk scenarios. From supply chain to service delivery, remote functionality variables, enabling a fully connected factory is a major cybersecurity concern as emerging technologies employ different security requirements. To mitigate these risks, strategic, operational, technical, and cybersecurity alignment is a must, where the gaps between the production and process environments must be bridged to achieve the prime goal of a sustainable, secure, and technologically innovative factory. This research provides a systematic approach to bridging Industry 5.0’s QoS metrics and security gaps by implementing a Six Sigma (6σ) approach in a manufacturing environment. The approach further maps IT/OT, cloud, and cybersecurity standards, thereby enabling insights, visibility, and control. A healthcare 5.0 use-case is demonstrated to show how a 6σ implementation can improve the QoS metrics, unifying standards to achieve a secure, sustainable, resilient, and high-performance environment.

The 'take-5 theatre brief': Group mindfulness practice for operating theatre teams.

A surgical team works in a high-performance environment and is exposed to stress. Mindfulness practice is evidenced to reduce symptoms of stress, as well as burnout, which is high amongst health workers. The operating theatre is unique, with many job-roles, needs and time-critical tasks. It is plausible that group mindfulness may benefit the surgical team. This evaluates the take-5 theatre brief, consisting of a 'check-in' and short breathwork, when used by two surgical teams as part of the regular theatre team brief. The take-5 theatre brief was evaluated using domains of acceptability and implementation. Data were collected at two district general hospitals in the United Kingdom using5-point Likert scales hosted on electronic surveys Thematic analysis was performed of participant voice notes, strategic meeting notes and transcripts of interviews between key informants. There were 17 participants. Ten were from site A (59%), with the remainder being from site B (41%) and covered a range of roles within the theatre team. Participants found the take-5 theatre brief helpful (median Likert 5) and felt that it would benefit themselves (median Likert 5) as well as the team (median Likert 5) and that it fitted into the day easily (median Likert 4). There was a high demand, no financial investment was required and overall it was easy to implement; however, it became challenged in theatre lists that were late to start. The take-5 theatre brief is an acceptable initiative for these two operating theatre teams.

Block size estimation for data partitioning in HPC applications using machine learning techniques

The extensive use of HPC infrastructures and frameworks for running data-intensive applications has led to a growing interest in data partitioning techniques and strategies. In fact, application performance can be heavily affected by how data are partitioned, which in turn depends on the selected size for data blocks, i.e. the block size. Therefore, finding an effective partitioning, i.e. a suitable block size, is a key strategy to speed-up parallel data-intensive applications and increase scalability. This paper describes a methodology, namely BLEST-ML (BLock size ESTimation through Machine Learning), for block size estimation that relies on supervised machine learning techniques. The proposed methodology was evaluated by designing an implementation tailored to dislib, a distributed computing library highly focused on machine learning algorithms built on top of the PyCOMPSs framework. We assessed the effectiveness of the provided implementation through an extensive experimental evaluation considering different algorithms from dislib, datasets, and infrastructures, including the MareNostrum 4 supercomputer. The results we obtained show the ability of BLEST-ML to efficiently determine a suitable way to split a given dataset, thus providing a proof of its applicability to enable the efficient execution of data-parallel applications in high performance environments.

Toward a Comprehensive Professional Philosophy in Performance and Well-Being Psychology: Integrating Functional Contextualism and Relational Frame Theory for Esports and Other High-Performance Environments

Performance psychology practitioners use a wide range of theories and interventions to improve performance and well-being. Often, however, practitioners do not integrate these theories into a model of practice underpinned by a theory of behavior. Without this foundation, performance programs become patchwork approaches where it is often unclear whether different interventions within a performance program work together or contradict each other. To address this issue, we present a model of behavior based on functional contextualism and relational frame theory. We then use this model as a framework to integrate mainstream performance psychology and psychophysiology theory in line with acceptance-based third-wave cognitive behavioral approaches to improve performance alongside well-being, not at the expense of well-being. Specifically, this includes interventions which promote experiential acceptance, and excludes interventions which promote experiential avoidance. With this framework, we hope to support practitioners, students, and educators by illustrating how different theories can and cannot be integrated in their own practice. Examples are predominantly taken from esports literature. However, the model and philosophy presented is applicable to all high-performance domains. We end this article by proposing questions to develop performance psychology philosophy inside and outside of esports.

Development and Evaluation of Intelligent Medical Decision Support Systems

This paper investigates the development and evaluation of intelligent medical decision support systems. Firstly, the current status of such systems is introduced, including technological advancements, clinical applications, and challenges faced. Subsequently, the overall framework design, key module design and implementation, system integration, and debugging are elaborated in detail. Finally, using the publicly available MIMIC medical dataset, a comprehensive evaluation and analysis of the system are conducted in a high-performance environment. The results indicate that the optimized system can achieve high accuracy and AUC. However, there is a slight decrease in effectiveness when dealing with rare diseases, and occasional false positives in certain high-risk situations. Overall, the research confirms the promising application prospects of such systems and provides a framework and path for future development.

Specification and Description Language Models Automatic Execution in a High-Performance Environment

Specification and Description Language (SDL) is a language that can represent the behavior and structure of a model completely and unambiguously. It allows the creation of frameworks that can run a model without the need to code it in a specific programming language. This automatic process simplifies the key phases of model building: validation and verification. SDLPS is a simulator that enables the definition and execution of models using SDL. In this paper, we present a new library that enables the execution of SDL models defined on SDLPS infrastructure on a HPC platform, such as a supercomputer, thus significantly speeding up simulation runtime. Moreover, we apply the SDL language to a social science use case, thus opening a new avenue for facilitating the use of HPC power to new groups of users. The tools presented here have the potential to increase the robustness of modeling software by improving the documentation, verification, and validation of the models.

On the relevance of the problem of synthesis of new materials in the conditions of innovative industrial development

The article discusses current problems of the synthesis of new materials in modern conditions. It is noted that today this is the most important strategic task of innovative development of Russian industry. The factors determining the relevance of this task are formulated. A brief analysis of the state of Russian microelectronics is given. The importance of mathematical modeling methods and the need to develop innovative approaches in the field of synthesis of new materials are shown. The main directions of scientific research related to the development of new model concepts, methods and algorithms used in the field of mathematical modeling of the structures and properties of nanomaterials, as well as systems based on them, discussed at the IV International Conference “Mathematical Modeling in Materials Science of Electronic Components” (ICM3SEC-2022). The paper shows that for the further development of methods and means of mathematical modeling, a domestic high-performance environment for scientific research is required, with a comfortable user interface, flexibility in setting up resources, high performance and reliability.

Yield Stability Analysis of Late Set Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan L.) Genotypes

Pigeon pea breeding program in Ethiopia has been started recently and is actively involved in improving the genetic yield potential to meet the needs of farmers in different parts of the country through genotype introduction. Since performance of the genotypes depends on the genetic potential of the crop and the environment in which the crop is grown, this study aimed at the evaluation of yield performance and stability of six late set pigeon pea genotypes including the standard check. Yield performances were evaluated at five locations namely Bako, Billo, Gute, Uke and Chewaka in parts of western Oromia during 2021 main growing seasons. The experiment in each location was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The results showed that the yield performances of late set pigeon pea genotypes were highly influenced by genotype-environment interaction (GEI). The yield components were significantly affected by GEI. The partitioning of the G + GE sum of squares showed that IPCA1 and IPCA2 were significant components which accounted for 29.72 % and 34.86 % of G + GE sum of squares, respectively. Highly significant mean square was observed for genotypes, genotypes by Environment interaction and environment indicating adaptation for high performance environments showing these genotypes were sensitive to environments and gave maximum yield when inputs are not limited. Genotypes ICEAP 01499 and ICEAP 01489 were stable and had relatively high yield performances across test environments. Hence, these two genotypes were identified as candidate genotypes to be verified for possible release in the subsequent season for Western Oromia and areas with similar agro-ecologies.

When theory meets reality- a mismatch in communication: a qualitative study of clinical transition from communication skills training to the surgical ward

BackgroundCommunication skills training in patient centered communication is an integral part of the medical undergraduate education and has been shown to improve various components of communication. While the effects of different educational interventions have been investigated, little is known about the transfer from theoretical settings to clinical practice in the context of communication skills courses not integrated in the clinical curriculum. Most studies focus on single factors affecting transfer without considering the comprehensive perspective of the students themselves. The aim of this study is to explore how the students experience the transition to clinical practice and what they perceive as challenges in using patient centered communication.MethodsFifteen 4th year medical students were interviewed 3 weeks after the transition from an advanced communication skills course to surgical internship using semi-structured interviews. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the interviews.ResultsThe analysis resulted in a theme ‘When theory meets reality- a mismatch in communication’. It was comprised of four categories that encompassed the transfer process, from theoretical education, practical communication training and surgical internship to students’ wishes and perceived needs.ConclusionsWe concluded that preparing the students through theoretical and practical training should reflect the reality they will face when entering clinical practice. When educating medical students as a group, their proclivity for perfectionism, high performance environment and achievement-related stress should be taken into consideration. The role of tutors being role models, offering guidance, giving feedback and providing support plays a major part in facilitating transfer of communication skills. To enable transfer to a larger extent, the environment needs to promote patient centeredness and students need more opportunities to practice communication with their patients.

Why did it make sense at the time? Applying an ecological dynamics perspective to analyse local rationality

Increasingly, a compassionate and curious approach to patient safety recognises the importance of recognising local rationality, asking why decisions made sense at the time they were made. This approach enables increased learning and removes the potential judgement resultant from hindsight bias. The guidance from safety science literature as to how to most effectively learn from this perspective, however, is lacking. Ecological dynamics is a methodology utilised in high-performance environments, where they seek to understand decision making in dynamic, complex environments. This paper explores how ecological dynamics can provide a method to enable organisations to learn more effectively from patient safety events when understanding local rationality. A framework is provided to enable organisations to shift from a response that invokes blame to one that generates rich learning and improvement opportunities, which could be used alongside or incorporated within other systemic methodologies currently used such as SIEPS 2.0.

An Exploratory Study on Management Competence for Better Work Practices of The Traditional Metal Fabrication Industry in Kumasi, Ghana

One of the identifiable resources that an industry can utilize as a driver for survival is managerial competence. Although literature is replete with evidence on this subject matter, no research work has been conducted on the relationship between managerial competence and performance of the traditional metal fabrication industries in Ghana. To address this information gap, this study explored the work place practices of three traditional metal craft industries in Kumasi, Ghana with managerial competence as a moderating factor. An inductive research approach based on qualitative research methodology was adopted. The target population was 300 people of which a sample size of 171 respondents was selected. Data were collected through the use of questionnaire designed with open and close-ended responses as well as personal observations conducted using a well-designed observation guide with clear attributes and angles of observation. The results showed that all the study participants interviewed exhibited various levels of operational competence of knowledge, technical skills, experience and character attitude needed to enhance the performance and day-to-day administration of their work. They also had good conflict resolution abilities and good decision-making skills, as well as an excellent apprenticeship system embodied in a succession plan. On the other hand, the study identified several factors that impacted negatively on the operations of their work including the inability to create a conducive work environment for high performance, poor equipment and tool maintenance culture, lack of proper PPEs, poor record keeping, poor innovation and creativity skills, and nonexistence of a system for the acquisition and utilization of modern equipment and technology. These limitations suggest lack of management competence. The study considers this as quite worrisome and recommends for the needed support from both governmental and NGOs, to safeguard the survival of the metal craft industry in Ghana.

Supporting The Mental Health Of Elite-Level Coaches Through Early Intervention

Current evidence indicates that elite-level coaches encounter a range of performance, organizational, and personal stressors that may influence or compromise mental health. With exposure to these stressors, supports need to be established to protect and preserve the mental health of elite-level coaches. Given the paucity of evidence available, this article proposes a number of considerations that should be taken into account when developing a mental health and rehabilitation framework for high-performance coaches. We argue that early intervention should be positioned at the core of this framework, to address the onset of symptoms prior to the emergence of a mental disorder or mental health crisis. Mental health screening and monitoring of coaches, the psychological safety of high-performance environments, the mental health literacy of coaches, and the tailored pathways to support are discussed. Beyond these strategies, it is proposed that rehabilitation and reintegration should be addressed to assist coaches who are currently experiencing mental ill health or have left their role due to mental health reasons. Although further research is needed to implement evidence-based strategies, it is recommended that a future mental health framework should incorporate the perspectives of coaches to ensure it is consistent with their needs and experiences.

Dynamical biomarkers in teams and other multiagent systems.

Effective team behavior in high-performance environments such as in sport and the military requires individual team members to efficiently perceive the unfolding task events, predict the actions and action intents of the other team members, and plan and execute their own actions to simultaneously accomplish individual and collective goals. To enhance team performance through effective cooperation, it is crucial to measure the situation awareness and dynamics of each team member and how they collectively impact the team's functioning. Further, to be practically useful for real-life settings, such measures must be easily obtainable from existing sensors. This paper presents several methodologies that can be used on positional and movement acceleration data of team members to quantify and/or predict team performance, assess situation awareness, and to help identify task-relevant information to support individual decision-making. Given the limited reporting of these methods within military cohorts, these methodologies are described using examples from team sports and teams training in virtual environments, with discussion as to how they can be applied to real-world military teams.

Exploring rugby coaches perception and implementation of performance analytics.

Professional coaches commonly rely on performance analysis and metrics to help make decisions regarding their practices, selection and tactics. However, few studies to date have explored coaches' perspectives of performance analysts successful integration into the high-performance environment. The aim of this study was to investigate coaches' philosophies surrounding performance analysis and how they perceived analysts could support and implement these approaches into coaching practices and match preparation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five professional elite level Rugby Union coaches to investigate their perceptions of performance analysis, and the contribution of performance analysts to the high-performance environment. Results revealed three main dimensions, including the role, purpose, and desired attributes of a performance analyst. Firstly, the role of the analyst was described in terms of being an information specialist, who collects, filters, and delivers information to stakeholders, and a generalist, who helps coaches utilise technology. Secondly, the purpose of the analyst was described in terms of providing both accountability and support for coaches and players. Finally, the attributes needed of an analyst included the ability to form a close relationship with coaches, communicate complex information in meaningful ways, and who was proactive, innovative, and creative when tasked with delivering information. The findings highlighted the crucial roles, purposes, and attributes of a performance analyst within high-performance Rugby Union identified by coaches and the importance of the coach-analyst relationship to support these dimensions.