Performance Analysis Research Articles

Low-latency hierarchical routing of reconfigurable neuromorphic systems

A reconfigurable hardware accelerator implementation for spiking neural network (SNN) simulation using field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) is promising and attractive research because massive parallelism results in better execution speed. For large-scale SNN simulations, a large number of FPGAs are needed. However, inter-FPGA communication bottlenecks cause congestion, data losses, and latency inefficiencies. In this work, we employed a hierarchical tree-based interconnection architecture for multi-FPGAs. This architecture is scalable as new branches can be added to a tree, maintaining a constant local bandwidth. The tree-based approach contrasts with linear Network on Chip (NoC), where congestion can arise from numerous connections. We propose a routing architecture that introduces an arbiter mechanism by employing stochastic arbitration considering data level queues of First In, First Out (FIFO) buffers. This mechanism effectively reduces the bottleneck caused by FIFO congestion, resulting in improved overall latency. Results present measurement data collected for performance analysis of latency. We compared the performance of the design using our proposed stochastic routing scheme to a traditional round-robin architecture. The results demonstrate that the stochastic arbiters achieve lower worst-case latency and improved overall performance compared to the round-robin arbiters.

Tribological Evaluation of Coatings in Fuel Environments

Abstract To enhance the durability and reliability of high-pressure fuel system components operating with low-viscosity fuels, an analysis of the tribological performance of potential coating material candidates was conducted. This study focuses on evaluating the friction and wear characteristics of various coatings widely used by industry for surface protection, including carbides, nitrides, diamond-like carbon (DLC), and solid lubricants, under accelerated reciprocating ball on flat conditions intended to provide information on longer term operation in fuel pumps. The tribological performance of these coatings in fuels of varying chemistry and viscosity, including ethanol, decane, dodecane, and aviation fuel (F-24), was compared to the mechanical properties of materials, such as hardness and elastic modulus. Results indicate that carbides show the lowest friction and wear values across different fuel environments. CrN-based coatings demonstrate a decrease in friction and wear in comparison to other nitrides. This comprehensive investigation lays the groundwork for informed design decisions in developing high-performance coatings tailored to withstand the challenges of low-viscosity fuel environments.

Effect of Q angle on some performance parameters in adolescent female football players

QA (Q angle) is the line between the combined traction of the quadriceps and the patellar tendon and is associated with the biomechanical function of the lower extremity. The reason we're focusing on the Q angle in women in particular is that we think that in studies women show a higher average QA than men and can give a lot of ideas as a simple precursor parameter. This study aimed to study the effect of the Q angle in Adolescent Women's Footballers on lower extremity vertical jumping performance and the excentric power of the hamstring. Method: A digital manual goniometer was used to measure the QA of individuals, and hamstring eccentric muscle strength NORDBORD device was used for measuring vertical jumping strength with a SmartSpeed Contact Mat half-squat vertical jump test (VJ TEST) The resulting data was normally distributed, and a Pearson correlation test and simple regression tests were applied to the analysis. Results: When the results of simple linear regression analysis of Vertical Jump Performance according to the prediction of the Left Q angle variable were examined, it was seen that the Left Q angle was a significant predictor of the athlete's Vertical Jump performance. In addition, it is seen that there is a moderate positive relationship between Vertical Jump and Asymmetry. Discussions: Football is a competitive game with different dynamics (sprint, change of direction, jumping, collision) and has a higher risk of disability than other sports.

2024 Anal Cancer Screening Guidelines: Analysis of Clinical Performance and HRA Utilization in a large Cohort of Persons with HIV.

Recently published anal cancer screening guidelines recommend five strategies for high-risk populations using combinations of cytology and high-risk HPV testing. Based on data from 1,223 persons with HIV, all triage and co-testing strategies outperformed cytology alone. High-risk HPV testing improved specificity and reduced high-resolution anoscopy referrals, essential for guideline implementation.

Safer Floors in Public Service Buildings Based on Machine Learning

Abstract This study investigates the effects of different floor surfaces on slip safety in public service buildings (PSBs) with heavy pedestrian traffic. The K-means clustering method is used to classify various floor types and slip safety risks. The dynamic friction coefficient (DCOF) for floor coverings, such as natural stone, ceramic, laminate, and PVC, were measured in both dry and wet conditions across thirty public institutions. These measurements were obtained using the GMG 200 and Wessex S885 pendulum testers, providing a comprehensive assessment of the slip resistance of these surfaces. The machine learning models employed in the study were XGBoost, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and SVC. The models were evaluated using 5-fold cross-validation. The analysis revealed that the most significant parameter in DCOF predictions for the XGBoost model was environmental conditions (EC). Performance analysis showed that the SVC model achieved the highest F1 score (0.75 ± 0.01) and AUC value (0.83), outperforming the other models. Additionally, DCOF values from slip tests were grouped into five clusters using the K-means method, and a slip safety risk scale was developed. Statistically significant differences were observed in DCOF values based on usage areas, environmental conditions, test methods, and surface materials. For instance, hospital floors were found to be generally safe in dry conditions but posed a risk in wet conditions. Based on these findings, actionable safety measures were suggested, such as applying anti-slip coatings in high-risk areas, selecting flooring materials with higher DCOF values for moisture-prone environments, and implementing regular slip resistance testing to maintain safety standards. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that machine learning models can effectively assess the slip resistance of floor surfaces. The findings offer valuable guidance for construction industry professionals and researchers in improving safety measures and minimizing slip risks. Future research with larger datasets and diverse conditions could enhance the understanding of this issue and further improve model performance.

Analysis of Road Network Performance in Pontianak at Jalan Sepakat 2 Reformasi, Padat Karya Using PTV VISUM

Jalan Sepakat 2, Reformasi, and Padat Karya are routes connecting strategic locations and educational institutions in Pontianak. As the population and economic activities grow, traffic volume increases, so a road performance analysis is needed to ensure the infrastructure can accommodate transportation needs and reduce potential congestion. This research uses primary data, such as road geometric data, traffic volume, and vehicle speed. Secondary data included location maps, population, motor vehicle numbers, trip generation, and attraction data. The analysis was based on the Indonesian Road Capacity Guidelines (PKJI) 2023 and PTV VISUM software. The analysis results 2024 showed a V/C Ratio of 0.59 with a service level of C and a speed of 31.18 km/hour. The 2029 projection shows a decline in performance with a V/C Ratio of 0.74, a service level of E, and a speed of 27.54 km/h. Jalan Reformasi was widened from 7.85 meters to 11 meters to improve performance, and Jalan Padat Karya from 6.25 meters to 8 meters. After the capacity increase, the 2029 projection shows improved performance, with the V/C Ratio decreasing to 0.63, the service level increasing to C, and the speed increasing to 31.27 km/h.

Financial Performance Analysis of PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk Before and During Pandemic COVID-19

The primary objective of this study is to analyze how the pandemic has affected key financial indicators, including liquidity, solvency, profitability, and activity ratios of PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk. The research utilizes quantitative methods, employing ratio analysis, vertical analysis, and horizontal analysis as comprehensive assessment tools. Furthermore, a comparative analysis with PT Mega Perintis Tbk is conducted to measure the extent of pandemic effects on similar businesses in the retail sector. The findings of the study reveal a dynamic financial journey characterized by growth, challenges, and recovery. Prior to the pandemic, PT Mitra Adiperkasa experienced positive growth in sales revenue and total assets, but faced difficulties in key financial metrics. The pandemic resulted in a decline in sales revenue, total equity, and net income, presenting significant profitability challenges. However, the company demonstrated resilience and adaptability, bouncing back with increased sales revenue, total assets, and net income in the post-pandemic period. The findings have practical implications for companies seeking strategies to enhance financial stability and operational efficiency amidst ongoing challenges.

The effects of citral on the intestinal health and growth performance of American bullfrogs (Aquarana catesbeiana)

Bullfrogs (Aquarana catesbeiana) are increasingly cultivated for their high nutritional value and adaptability to intensive aquaculture systems. However, ensuring optimal intestinal health and growth performance remains a challenge due to poor water quality and high stocking densities. This study evaluated the effects of varying dietary concentrations of citral, a natural compound from lemongrass essential oil, on the intestinal health, microbiota, antioxidant capacity, and growth performance of juvenile bullfrogs. A total of 200 juvenile bullfrogs (initial weight 6.85 ± 0.71 g) were randomly assigned into six groups, each receiving diets supplemented with citral at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 mL/kg feed for 8 weeks. Citral supplementation significantly improved intestinal morphology, with goblet cell numbers, mucosal thickness, and villus-to-crypt ratios peaking at 2–4 mL/kg (P < 0.05). Optimal doses of 2–4 mL/kg also enhanced digestive enzyme activities, with α-amylase, lipase, and pepsin activities showing significant increases compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Antioxidant markers, including total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and glutathione (GSH), were highest at 2 mL/kg, while higher citral concentrations reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, indicating potential oxidative stress at 8–16 mL/kg (P < 0.05). Citral also modulated the intestinal microbiota, increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Cetobacterium at 1–2 mL/kg (P < 0.05). However, microbial diversity decreased significantly at concentrations above 4 mL/kg. Growth performance analysis revealed that 4 mL/kg citral supplementation significantly improved weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), carcass weight (CW), and feed efficiency (FE), while survival rates declined at 16 mL/kg (P < 0.05). A linear regression model determined the optimal dietary citral concentration to be 3.216–3.942 mL/kg. This study concludes that dietary citral at 2–4 mL/kg optimally enhances growth performance, intestinal health, and antioxidant capacity in juvenile bullfrogs, while higher concentrations may disrupt gut health and oxidative balance. These findings provide valuable insights into the use of natural compounds like citral for sustainable aquaculture practices.

Performance Analysis of Ronier Fibers (Borassus Aethiopum) with Silica Fume on the Mechanical Properties of Concrete

This research examines how Silica Fume (SF) and Ronier Fibers (RF) (Borassus aethiopum) affect concrete's mechanical and durability properties. Natural fibers are sustainable and have the potential to improve concrete performance. Thus, their inclusion into concrete has attracted considerable research. This study used SF as an additional cementitious material at a replacement rate of 10%. RF were utilized at 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% by weight of cement, including Untreated (UN) and Treated (TRT) forms. An alkali treatment was utilized to increase the adherence of TRT fibers to the cement matrix. In addition to the durability traits, like Water Absorption (WA) and resistance to chemical attack, the mechanical qualities, including compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength, were measured. The findings showed that while SF increased the composite's strength and durability, the addition of RF, especially in the TRT form, significantly increased the concrete's tensile and flexural strengths. The ideal mechanical strength-to-durability ratio was found to be 1% TRT fiber and 10% SF content. Moreover, fiber treatment strengthened the fiber-matrix bond by decreasing the WA and enhancing the resilience to harsh environmental factors. This study’s results revealed that using SF along with RF offers a viable homogenous and compact concrete matrix, making it appropriate for use in environmentally friendly construction projects.

Performance Analysis of a Swastika shaped MIMO Antenna for Wireless Communication Applications

A novel wideband 4-port Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) circular patch antenna is presented for operation in a resonant frequency band from 1.76 to 9.06 GHz used for PCs, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) and satellite applications. The structure of the design consists of microstrip fed slot antenna considered on the four corners of the FR-4 substrate. To reduce mutual coupling and enhance the parameters of the MIMO antenna, a swastika-shaped ground is embedded. The simulated and experimental results show that the design achieves good performance, isolation &gt;15 dB and radiation efficiency greater than 85%. The radiation patterns, surface currents, gain and channel capacity are also investigated. This circular shaped patch antenna is applicable to WLAN and satellite communication applications. Each circular patch on the four corners is connected to a 50 Ω microstrip feedline. A ring slot is etched on the circular patch and a small rectangular slot is embedded to the etched circular patch. The design provides good radiation patterns and the operating bands are obtained at 1.76 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 9.06 GHz attaining reflection loss of -16 dB, -22 dB, -24 dB, -15 dB. The structure of the proposed design is simulated and evaluated in High-Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) software. The MIMO structure is fabricated on the FR-4 substrate. The minimum proximity between simulated and measured results is observed.

Enhancing Long-Term Viability of Energy Pile with Heat Sink Systems in Tropical Monsoon Climates: Implementation Strategies and Performance Analysis

Energy piles, a form of ground-source heat pump system integrated into building foundations, show great potential for reducing building energy consumption associated with fossil fuels. While it excels in climates where cooling demand matches heating, its effectiveness faces challenges in tropical monsoon regions characterized by hot summers and cool winters. In such climates, cooling demand dominates, leading to significant thermal accumulation over time, which diminishes the long-term viability of energy pile systems. This study focuses on the long-term thermal behavior analysis of an energy pile system installed in a representative office building. Our approach begins with an examination of short-term behavior, followed by the creation of a simplified model. Using this model, we analyze the long-term behavior of different systems, including the standard energy pile and combinations with various solutions: natural groundwater flow and synthetic heat sink systems. Key outcomes are evaluated based on entering water temperature (EWT), soil temperature, and energy efficiency ratio (EER), while also comparing energy savings with conventional air conditioning systems. Major findings include: (1) Standard energy pile systems without any mitigation measures achieve only a 15.3% energy savings initially and may cease functioning after approximately 10 years, (2) Energy pile systems using specific solutions can achieve a maximum saving ratio of 50%, typically ranging from 30% to 45%, while maintaining stability over the designated lifespan, (3) Higher EER and saving ratios correlate with increased groundwater flow and larger heat sink systems, however, the relationship is nonlinear, emphasizing the need for tailored design under varying geology and climate conditions. This study provides essential insights into energy pile systems design and practical guidance, along with expected energy savings in tropical monsoon climates for future application.

Performance analysis and prediction of load bearing capacity of nuclear containment under overpressure and multi-hazard scenario

Performance analysis and prediction of load bearing capacity of nuclear containment under overpressure and multi-hazard scenario

Performance analysis and optimization of a hybrid mechanical and free cooling system with cold water storage for a data center

Performance analysis and optimization of a hybrid mechanical and free cooling system with cold water storage for a data center

SMKA: Secure multi-key aggregation with verifiable search for IoMT

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) aggregates numerous smart medical devices and fully employs the collected health data to enhance patients’ experiences. In IoMT, patients generate various encryption keys and receive keyword information sent by data requesters to securely share selected health data, which increases the potential risk of key leakage. Besides, the cloud server may tamper with search results. The existing schemes did not consider that patients may inadvertently disclose the keyword information of data requesters. Additionally, these schemes entail a significant cost for verifying the search results. To deal with these challenges, we innovatively propose a secure multi-key aggregation (SMKA) scheme with verifiable search for IoMT. Firstly, the SMKA scheme is built upon key-aggregate searchable encryption, utilizing an oblivious search request and blockchain technology to achieve secure key aggregation. Secondly, a dual verifiable algorithm is integrated into the scheme to provide lightweight verification for the search results. The proposed scheme can achieve access control, requester privacy, accountability, and dual verification while ensuring secure search. Furthermore, the security analysis and proof have shown the effectiveness of the proposed protocol in achieving the intended security goals. Finally, the performance analysis indicates the significant feasibility and scalability of the proposed scheme.

Multithreaded and GPU-Based Implementations of a Modified Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm with Application to Solving Large-Scale Systems of Nonlinear Equations

This paper presents a novel Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) accelerated implementation of a modified Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm specifically designed to solve large-scale Systems of Nonlinear Equations (SNEs). The proposed GPU-based parallel version of the PSO algorithm uses the inherent parallelism of modern hardware architectures. Its performance is compared against both sequential and multithreaded Central Processing Unit (CPU) implementations. The primary objective is to evaluate the efficiency and scalability of PSO across different hardware platforms with a focus on solving large-scale SNEs involving thousands of equations and variables. The GPU-parallelized and multithreaded versions of the algorithm were implemented in the Julia programming language. Performance analyses were conducted on an NVIDIA A100 GPU and an AMD EPYC 7643 CPU. The tests utilized a set of challenging, scalable SNEs with dimensions ranging from 1000 to 5000. Results demonstrate that the GPU accelerated modified PSO substantially outperforms its CPU counterparts, achieving substantial speedups and consistently surpassing the highly optimized multithreaded CPU implementation in terms of computation time and scalability as the problem size increases. Therefore, this work evaluates the trade-offs between different hardware platforms and underscores the potential of GPU-based parallelism for accelerating SNE solvers.

Enhanced Efficiency of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) with Polyaniline-Decorated FeCo2O4 Counter Electrodes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Performance Analysis

Enhanced Efficiency of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) with Polyaniline-Decorated FeCo2O4 Counter Electrodes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Performance Analysis

Performance Analysis and Mechanistic Insights of Penetrating Crystalline Self-Healing Cement (PCSHC) in Dynamically Sealing Borehole Cracks

Performance Analysis and Mechanistic Insights of Penetrating Crystalline Self-Healing Cement (PCSHC) in Dynamically Sealing Borehole Cracks

Design and analyses of an AB5 - metal hydride based canister for hydrogen compressor application

The reversible hydrogen storage nature of metal hydride (MH) is widely accepted for the development of MH based energy devices like energy storage, hydrogen compressors, etc. For efficient working of such devices, the appropriate thermal management of canister is very important i.e. extraction and supply of heat during hydrogenation and dehydrogenation, respectively. The accumulation of heat reduces the hydrogen storage capacity as well as detoriarates the reaction rates because of increase in MH temperature. Therefore, to optimise the MH heat transfer, in the present work, a helical coil is introduced within the MH Canister (MHC) to circulate the heat transfer fluid in addition to an external cooling jacket. The purpose of using helical coil is to get more surface contact with MH because of the poor thermal conductivity of MH. The performance analyses have been carried out through a 3-D Finite Volume Approach employed with La0.9Ce0.1Ni5. The analyses include the influence of coefficient of heat transfer, pressure, and temperature on the designed canister as well as the compressor performance. Initially, the numerical model is validated with experimental results available in the literature and observed in good match. Later, the performance of MHC is predicted for different operating conditions which results in the estimated storage capacity of hydrogen is about 1.48wt% at 25bar and 298K. In addition, it is observed that at an elevated supply pressure, the reaction rates increased as well as the rise in MHC temperature increased due to exothermic heat. Later, the MHC is tested for the application as hydrogen compressor which results in the compression ratio of 10.8 with a discharge pressure of 270bar at 140°C providing ~20% efficiency.

Characterization of accumulated unknown and soil dust on the PV system: An experimental study on the impact and performance analysis

Characterization of accumulated unknown and soil dust on the PV system: An experimental study on the impact and performance analysis

Development and validation of an AI-driven tool to evaluate chewing function: a proof of concept.

Masticatory function is an important determinant of oral health and a contributing factor in the maintenance of general health. Currently, objective assessment of chewing function is a clinical challenge. Previously, several methods have been developed and proposed, but implementing these methods in clinics may not be feasible. Therefore, more efforts are needed for accurate assessment of chewing function and clinical use. The study aimed to establish a proof of concept for development and validation of an automated tool for evaluating masticatory function. YOLOv8, a deep neural network, was fine-tuned and trained to detect and segment food fragments. The model's performance was assessed using bounding box recall metrics, segmentation metrics, confusion matrix, and sensitivity values. Additionally, a separate conversion test set evaluated the model's segmentation performance using physical units, demonstrated with Bland-Altman diagrams. The YOLOv8-model achieved recall and sensitivity rates exceeding 90 %, effectively detecting and classifying food fragments. Out of 316 ground truth fragments, 301 were correctly classified, with 15 missed and 5 false positives. The Bland-Altman diagram indicated general agreement but suggested a systematic overestimation in measuring the size of post-masticated food fragments. Artificial intelligence presents a reliable approach for automated analysis of masticatory performance. The developed application proves to be a valuable tool for future clinical assessment of masticatory function. The current study provides a proof of concept for development of an automated tool for clinical assessment of masticatory function.