Performance Index Research Articles

Effect of fermented grain cereal milling by-product on the enhancement of physiological and reproductive parameters of goldfish (Carassius auratus) broodstock

The aim of this work was to assess the effect of feeding goldfish (Carassius auratus) broodstock with diets containing dietary fermented grain cereal milling by-product with Saccharomyces cerevisiae 5, 10, 20 g/Kg diet (FY) (a carbohydrate source) on fish growth, health, maturity, and reproductive performance. The broodstock were divided into four groups: FY0, FY5, FY10, and FY20 diet, and control (FY0) fed a basal diet for 68 days. Growth-related parameters, biochemical composition, and blood biochemical parameters were measured. For maturity progress ovarian histology, gonadotropins and sex steroid hormones (T and E2) were noticed, and to evaluate reproductive performance, fecundity and gonadosomatic index (GSI%) were evaluated. Adding FY to the experimental diets improved broodstock growth and hematological markers. Additionally, it enhanced the ovarian growth (GSI% and fecundity), which augmented significantly (p ≤ 0.05) in FY10 and. FY20 treated sets. Dietary FY significantly increased serum levels of globulin, albumin, total protein, and glucose compared with the control. In addition, gonadotropins and sex hormones were significantly elevated in a dose-dependent mode with increasing FY levels. This study demonstrated positive physiological effects with improving reproductive parameter response after FY dietary addition. The group fed FY20 exhibited the better growth performance than the other treatments. Therefore, nutritional FY management could be employed as a tactical approach to improve reproductive ability and maintain goldfish production.

Does Shariah Supervisory Board Moderate the Effect of Islamicity Performance Index and Intellectual Capital on Financial Performance?

Does Shariah Supervisory Board Moderate the Effect of Islamicity Performance Index and Intellectual Capital on Financial Performance?

ANALYSIS OF COST AND TIME PERFORMANCE ON THE EAST SURABAYA HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT USING THE EARNED VALUE METHOD

The construction of the East Surabaya Hospital is a multiyear project, starting from 2023 to 2024. The project has a contract value of Rp. This 494,603,098,000 is funded by the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD) of the Surabaya City Government. This research aims to analyze the cost and time performance of the project. The method used is the earned value method. The results of the cost and time performance analysis using the Earning Value method show that the cost performance and time performance of the East Surabaya Hospital Construction in the 22nd (twenty-second) week is considered not good. This result is shown by the Cost Variance value of Rp. - 608,118,565 and Schedule Variance value Rp. - 44,410,784,255. The Cost Performance Index value of 0.996 and the Schedule Performance Index value of 0.76 also shows that the cost and time performance of this project in the 22nd (twenty-second) week is not in good condition.

Projection-Pursuit Regression-Based Optimization of Frost Resistance and Mechanical Performance in Alkali-Activated Slag Cement Pavements

In recent years, applying slag micro-powder as a substitute for cement in preparing alkali-activated slag cement stabilized sand (AASCSS) mixtures has become increasingly widespread. In the severe cold regions of Xinjiang, multi-objective optimization of the mechanical and frost resistance properties of AASCSS is particularly crucial. This paper adopts slag micro-powder to replace Portland cement, together with lime and desulfurization gypsum as activators, to explore the effects of activator type and dosage on the mechanical and frost-resistance properties of AASCSS. A prediction model for the mechanical and frost-resistance properties of AASCSS based on projection-pursuit regression (PPR) was proposed and established. Using the developed PPR model, contour plots of the comprehensive performance were calculated, simplifying the multi-objective problem into two single-objective problems focusing on mechanical and frost resistance properties for analysis. This method avoids subjective weighting and hypothesis-based modeling. By analyzing the contour plots of comprehensive performance, the optimal performance indices for mechanical and frost–thaw properties and the corresponding types and dosages of activators can be directly determined. When the required 7-day unconfined compressive strength in road engineering is 5.6 MPa, the optimal value of the freeze–thaw performance index (BDR) is 94.08%. At this point, the corresponding lime content is 2.1%, and the desulfurization gypsum content is 3.3%. The research results provide a reference for applying slag to road-based materials.

Minimum four-year clinical outcomes after on-table reconstruction technique for Dubberley type III in coronal shear fractures of the capitellum and trochlea: a report of 10 patients

PurposeComminuted coronal shear fractures of the distal humerus represent rare injuries and are difficult to treat, especially comminuted capitellum and trochlear fractures (Dubberley Type III). The on-table reconstruction technique of comminuted articular fractures may be an option, although it has not been reported in the coronal shear fracture of the distal humerus. The aim of the present case series is to determine the functional and radiological outcomes of on-table reconstructed Dubberley III fractures.MethodsA retrospective review was conducted of 10 patients with Dubberley type III fractures in coronal shear fractures of the capitellum and trochlea who underwent an ‘on-table’ reconstruction technique between January 2009 and October 2019. All patients were evaluated using the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons(ASES) score, Mayo Elbow Score Performance Index (MEPI) score and at least 4 years later.ResultsAll cases achieved union. At the final follow-up, the mean range of elbow motion was 11.5°of flexion contracture and 131.9° of further flexion. The mean DASH score was 21.2 (5.7) points (range 13.3–32.5). The mean ASES score was 88.6 ± 7.4 (range, 77 to 100). The mean MEPI score was 87 (10) points (range 70–100). In complication, partial osteonecrosis of capitellum is developed in one patient. One patient had heterotopic ossification without functional impairment.ConclusionThe on-table reconstruction technique can be a reliable option in the surgical treatment of complex distal humerus fractures. This technique allows anatomical reduction of comminuted capitellum and trochlea, with a low risk of avascular necrosis over 4 years of follow-up.Level of evidenceLevel IV, retrospective case series.

The effect of the level of Islamicity performance index on the financial performance of Islamic banks

The effect of the level of Islamicity performance index on the financial performance of Islamic banks

Air pollution mitigation and suspended particulate matter retention potential of selected plant species across seasonal variation in the urban area.

Air pollution is a pressing environmental concern in urban areas, especially in densely populated cities like Delhi, India. However, plant species can effectively capture airborne suspended pollutants. Given this, the present study aimed to investigate the seasonal variations (pre- and post-monsoon) in the pollution-mitigating potential, biochemical characteristics, and suspended particulate matter (SPM) capturing capacities of select plant species in Delhi. Also, using biochemical parameters, plant morphology, and socioeconomic factors, the study computed tolerance indices such as the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) and Anticipated Performance Index (API). Ficus religiosa L. exhibited the highest APTI value of 11.94, while Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thwaites displayed the lowest 7.99 APTI value during the pre-monsoon. Ficus benghalensis L. showed the maximum SPM adhesion on the leaves, with a deposition of 1305.46µg/cm2, whereas F. religiosa exhibited the lowest SPM deposition of 56.62µg/cm2. Moreover, the statistical analysis indicated a positive correlation between ascorbic acid and chlorophyll content (R2 > 0.6) with APTI. Also, F. religiosa demonstrated a significant Pearson's correlation (P < 0.05) between chlorophyll content and SPM deposition during the pre-monsoon. The study highlighted the dynamic nature of plant-based air pollution mitigation. It offered valuable insights into the potential of green infrastructure as a sustainable solution for addressing air quality concerns in urban environments. The results emphasized the significance of selecting adequate plant species and considering seasonal variations in developing urban greening strategies to combat air pollution.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown on the Outcome of Glioblastoma.

Rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in 2020 led to an indirect effect on non-COVID patients. Since neuro-oncology cases are unique and brain tumors need a specific therapeutic protocol at proper doses and at the right times, the effects of the pandemic on health care services for patients with glioblastomas (GBs) and their impact on overall survival (OS) and quality of life are not yet known. We conducted a retrospective study of 142 GB patients who underwent surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy before and after the lockdown period, aiming to determine the differences in access to care, treatment modality, and adjuvant therapies, and how the lockdown changed the prognosis. The number of procedures performed for GB during the pandemic was comparable to that of the prepandemic period, and patients received standard care. There was a significant difference in the volume of lesions measured at diagnosis with a decreased number of "accidental" diagnoses and expression of a reduced use by the patient for a checkup or follow-up examinations. Patients expressed a significantly lower performance index in the lockdown period with longer progression-free survival (PFS) in the face of a comparable mean time to OS. Patients treated surgically for GB during the pandemic period had a more pronounced and earlier reduction in performance status than patients treated during the same period the year before. This appears to be primarily due to lower levels of care in the rehabilitation centers and more frequent discontinuation of adjuvant care.

Study of Right Ventricular Function in Post COVID Syndrome in Recovered Mild Severity COVID-19 Patients Using Conventional and Speckle Tracking Echocardiography

Abstract Background Many patients seek medical help for COVID-19’s longer term physical and mental effects. The term post COVID syndrome is used by the World Health Organization (WHO) to identify individuals with a history of probable or confirmed COVID-19 infection, usually 3 months from the onset of infection with symptoms that last for at least 2 months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis. Symptoms may be due to persistent chronic inflammation, sequelae of organ damage, and hospitalization and social isolation. These symptoms may persist from the initial infection, or appear after a period of recovery. RV dimensions (RVD) and RV function (RVF) are closely correlated to symptom occurrence and to exercise capacity in many clinical conditions. Consequently, a comprehensive and accurate evaluation of the RV is essential. Echocardiography is the modality of choice for the assessment of RVD and RVF in clinical practice owing to its numerous advantages. It is widely available, relatively cheaper than other modalities, non-invasive, and doesn’t require radiation or contrast injection. Nevertheless, the RV special anatomy, its retrosternal position and its complex architecture pose a challenge to conventional echocardiographic imaging. Novel modalities of echocardiography, such as myocardial deformation imaging by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), provide the solution to overcome most of these challenges owing to the fact that it is independent of cardiac translation, angle-independent and load-independent. Aim and Objectives The aim was to study RV function in post COVID syndrome in recovered mild severity COVID-19 patients using 2D RV STE and correlate these findings with the patients’ symptomatology. Patients and Methods This study included 96 subjects divided into 3 age and gender matched groups; the first group consisted of 32 mild severity COVID-19 patients 3-6 months after recovery and not complaining of post COVID-19 syndrome, the second group consisted of 32 mild severity COVID-19 patients 3-6 months after recovery and complaining of post COVID-19 syndrome and the third group consisted of 32 healthy controls who didn’t get COVID-19. This study was conducted at Ain Shams University Hospitals. The patients were recruited from the outpatient ECHO clinic in the cardiology department during the period from March 2022 to August 2022. The entire study population was evaluated via 2D conventional echocardiography and STE imaging. Results Our study assessed RV functions at 3-6 months after recovery from mild severity COVID-19 disease. At the follow-up, TAPSE, RV-FAC, RV S’, RV-GLS and RV-FWLS parameters were significantly lower in patients with mild severity COVID-19 disease than healthy controls. They also showed lower values in patients with post COVID syndrome than those without post COVID syndrome with P-value = 0.032, 0.034, 0.003, 0.010 and 0.029 respectively. In addition, RV diameters (longitudinal, mid and basal RVEDD), RV MPI and sPAP values were significantly higher in patients with mild severity COVID-19 disease than healthy controls. They also showed higher values in patients with post COVID syndrome than those without post COVID syndrome with P-value = 0.043, 0.026, 0.014, 0.000 and 0.025 respectively. LV-GLS showed lower value in patients with post COVID syndrome than control group with P-value = 0.002. It also showed lower value in patients with post COVID syndrome than those without post COVID syndrome with P-value = 0.018. We also found that the most common symptom in post COVID syndrome was fatigue, with a percentage of 65.6%, followed by palpitations (40.6%) and chest pain (31%). These three symptoms showed a significant negative relation with RV 2D STE parameters. Additionally, a negative correlation between inflammatory markers including CRP, TLC, PLT, ferritin and D-dimer levels during active infection and long term echocardiographic parameters such as RV-GLS, RV-FWLS and LV-GLS was detected in our study. Conclusion We concluded that RV-GLS and RV-FWLS decreased at 3-6 month follow-up of patients with history of mild severity COVID-19 disease especially those complaining of post COVID syndrome. Additionally, it is demonstrated that increased CRP, TLC, PLT, ferritin and D-dimer levels during acute infection is related to RV-GLS, RV-FWLS and LV-GLS values. 2D STE may be used for both detection and follow-up for possible long term right ventricular dysfunction after mild severity COVID-19 disease. Key words: Post-COVID Syndrome, Speckle Tracking Echocardiography, RV-GLS, RV-FWLS, LV-GLS Abbreviations. Abbreviations: RV Right Ventricle STE Speckle Tracking Echocardiography 2D 2-Dimensional TAPSE Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion RV-FAC Right Ventricular Fractional Area Change RV-GLS Right Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain RV-FWLS Right Ventricular Free Wall Longitudinal Strain LV-GLS Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain RVEDD Right Ventricular End Diastolic Dimension RV MPI Right Ventricular Myocardial Performance Index sPAP Systolic Pulmonary Artery Pressure CRP C – Reactive Protein TLC Total Leucocytic Count PLT Platelets WHO World Health Organization LVEDD Left Ventricular End Diastolic Dimension LVESD Left Ventricular End Systolic Dimension FS Fractional Shortening EF Ejection Fraction

Thermal and Hydrodynamic Measurements of a Novel Chaotic Micromixer to Enhance Mixing Performance

In this study, three-dimensional simulations were conducted on a new passive micromixer to assess the thermal and hydrodynamic behaviors of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids subjected to low generalized Reynolds numbers (0.1 to 50) and shear-thinning properties. To acquire a more profound comprehension of the qualitative and quantitative fluctuations in fluid fraction using the CFD Fluent Code, the mass mixing index, rheological behavior, performance index, mixing energy cost, mass fraction distributions, temperature contours, and pressure drop were compared to illustrate the importance of the mixer geometry in the context of two miscible fluids with varying inlet temperatures. The selected geometry is characterized by a robust chaotic flow that substantially enhances thermal and hydrodynamic performance across all Reynolds numbers. A mass mixing exceeding 72.5% is obtained when Re = 5, reaching 93.5% when Re = 50. Furthermore, the evolution of thermal mixing for all behavior indexes reaches a step of 98% with minimal pressure losses. This work enabled the demonstration of a chaotic geometry in a highly efficient mixing system, leading to enhanced thermal performance for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. The results of the hydrodynamic and thermal characterization of the mixing of shear-thinning fluids within the micromixers under investigation are conclusive.

Simulation Analysis and Key Performance Index for Experimental Verification of a New Type of Press Transmission Mechanism

In this paper, the characteristics of special stamping process requirements and the shortcomings of existing application technology are studied. Through repeated motion simulation analysis and size optimization calculation, a kind of inertia-controlled molding press is proposed to make up for this technical vacancy. This paper first describes the working principle and structure scheme of the main transmission mechanism of the inertia-controlled molding press. With the help of Adams-View x64 2013, the main transmission mechanism is simulated and analyzed from the aspects of kinematics and dynamics, and a physical prototype is made to test the key reliability indexes of the main transmission mechanism. According to the test data, the static strength, stiffness, vibration characteristics, and dynamic characteristics of the 200 t inertia-controlled molding press are evaluated, which provides a reference for the design of this kind of machine tool.

Eco-friendly mix design of slag-ash-based geopolymer concrete using explainable deep learning

Geopolymer concrete is a sustainable and eco-friendly substitute for traditional OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement) based concrete, as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions. With various supplementary cementitious materials, the compressive strength of geopolymer concrete should be accurately predicted. Recent studies have applied deep learning techniques to predict the compressive strength of geopolymer concrete yet its hidden decision-making criteria diminish the end-users’ trust in predictions. To bridge this gap, the authors first developed three deep learning models: an artificial neural network (ANN), a deep neural network (DNN), and a 1D convolution neural network (CNN) to predict the compressive strength of slag ash-based geopolymer concrete. The performance indices for accuracy revealed that the DNN model outperforms the other two models. Subsequently, Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) were used to explain the best-performed deep learning model, DNN, and its compressive strength predictions. SHAP exhibited how the importance of each feature and its relationship contributes to the compressive strength prediction of the DNN model. Finally, the authors developed a novel DNN-based open-source software interface to predict the mix design proportions for a given target compressive strength (using inverse modeling technique) for slag ash-based geopolymer concrete. Additionally, the software calculates the Global Warming Potential (kg CO2 equivalent) for each mix design to select the mix designs with low greenhouse emissions.

Evaluation of Productivity and Financial Feasibility of Broiler Chicken Farming Business Models: Cage and Postal Systems

The growth of the human population and increased purchasing power drive greater demand for broiler meat, posing challenges for farmers to enhance their productivity and business efficiency. The development of closed-house cages offers a solution to improve production efficiency. This study compares the productivity and financial analysis between the cage and postal models. Utilizing a quantitative descriptive method, the research was conducted over a single rearing period in cages and postal setups at PT Dinamika Megatama Citra (DMC) without any specific treatment. Research parameters encompassed body weight gain, mortality, FCR, harvest weight, and Performance Index. Financial analysis was conducted using indicators such as the R/C ratio, B/C ratio, Break-Even Point (BEP), and Return on Investment (ROI). Results indicate that in cage conditions, mortality stood at 4.07%, FCR at 1.718, average weight at 2.2 kg, and Performance Index at 287.5. Meanwhile, postal cages exhibited higher mortality at 8.79%, FCR at 1.732, average weight at 2.3 kg, and Performance Index at 285.6. In financial analysis, cage systems had a BEP price of Rp 19,726/kg with a unit BEP of 40,616 kg, an R/C ratio of 1.039, a B/C ratio of 0.039, and an ROI of 3.92%. Conversely, postal cages had a BEP price of Rp 19,507/kg with a unit BEP of 39,924 kg, an R/C ratio of 1.05, a B/C ratio of 0.05, and an ROI of 5.09%.

DS based 2-DOF PID controller for various integrating processes with time delay

This study proposes a direct synthesis-based two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) controller for various types of integrating processes with time delays. This 2-DOF controller includes a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller to enhance load disturbance rejection performance and a set-point filter to improve servo response performance. The main PID controller parameters are expressed as process model parameters and a single adjustment variable, while the set-point filter is composed of PID controller parameters with weighted factors. The adjustment variable is tuned to achieve an optimal balance between response performance and robustness, based on the maximum magnitude of the sensitivity function (Ms). Controller parameters for various Ms values and guidelines for setting these parameters are provided in a consistent formulaic form using a curve-fitting method. These parameter-setting formulas facilitate the accurate implementation of PID controllers with specified Ms values and allow the controller design to be extended to processes with larger dimensionless time delays for a given Ms value. Although a 2-DOF controller was proposed, the adjustment variable for setting the parameters of the main PID controller and the set-point filter was solely the desired time constant. The proposed method was applied to various integrating processes with time delays, and its performance was compared with existing methods reported in the literature, based on performance indices such as settling time, overshoot, integral of absolute error, total variation in input usage, and global performance index. Simulations were conducted using six examples of various integrating processes with time delays to verify the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed controller.

A strategic approach to sustainable wastewater management and reuse in Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) faces challenges in protecting its limited natural water resources. The centralized sewage treatment plants (STPs) contribute to conserving natural water resources in various regions of KSA. For sustainable wastewater management strategies in arid environments, the performance of STPs needs to be assessed for various beneficial uses in addition to the existing regulations. The present study used extensive effluent quality data of four STPs to develop a performance assessment approach using multi-criteria and principal component analyses. The performance levels were derived from the compliance rate of effluent standards with different reuses and the efficacy of biosolids management. The proposed approach evaluated the STPs based on the planned applications of treated effluents, considering the land use characteristics of each plant’s disposal point. The factors loadings obtained for the STPs, encompassing total suspended and dissolved solids, and total dissolved solids, oxidizing demanding pollutants (BOD and COD), and nutrients (NO3 and PO4), with 3 to 4 principal components demonstrating above 60% of the effluent monitoring data, established the importance of the effluent quality parameters. The effluent quality index (EQI) was developed for existing and potential reuses, e.g., irrigation, landscaping, fishery, and recreation, during dry (summer) and wet (winter) periods. All STPs showed high EQI for both periods for the present reuse standards of unrestricted irrigation and landscaping. The overall performance index, aggregating EQI and the efficacy of sludge management practices, illustrated declining performance, suggesting staged improvements (tertiary-level treatment, air floatation, sludge digestion, and waste-to-energy) through a periodic assessment process. STPs must enhance their sludge management efficacy to produce Class-A biosolids and waste-to-energy. The proposed approach will help make strategic decisions regarding improvements for STPs and the allocation of financial resources to protect natural resources in various regions across KSA.

Fractional-Order Robust Control Design under parametric uncertain approach

This paper presents a novel methodology that combines fractional-order control theory with robust control under a parametric uncertainty approach to enhance the performance of linear time-invariant uncertain systems with integer or fractional order, referred to as Fractional-Order Robust Control (FORC). In contrast to traditional approaches, the proposed methodology introduces a novel formulation of inequalities-based design, thus expanding the potential for discovering improved solutions through linear programming optimization. As a result, fractional order controllers are designed to guarantee desired transient and steady-state performance in a closed-loop system. To enable the digital implementation of the designed controller, an impulse response invariant discretization of fractional-order differentiators (IRID-FOD) is employed to approximate the fractional-order controllers to an integer-order transfer function. Additionally, Hankel’s reduction order method is applied, thus making it suitable for hardware deployment. Experimental tests carried out in a thermal system and the assessment results, based on time-domain responses and robustness analysis supported by performance indices and set value analysis in a thermal system test-bed, demonstrate the improved and robust performance of the proposed FORC methodology compared to classical robust control under parametric uncertainty.

Standardized ileal amino acid digestibility and performance indices in pullets and laying hens fed expeller-pressed Canadian prairie soybean meal

Soybean meals (SBM) from different locations differ in their protein content, subsequently influencing their amino acid (AA) profile. In this study, standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA and growth or production performance were evaluated in pullets and hens fed SBM derived from soybean grown in Western Canada, primarily Manitoba (MB) labelled as A-, B- and C-SBM compared with that from Eastern Canada (Ontario, ON-SBM) and contained 38.3 ± 0.44, 38.6 ± 0.61, 39.4 ± 0.49, or 44.0 ± 0.87% CP, respectively. A N-free diet was used to determine basal ileal endogenous losses of AA. The study included the grower, developer, and layer phases (9-12, 13-16, and 44/59-64-wk old birds, respectively). Although a lower (P = 0.029) SID for cysteine was noted in the grower phase for the C-SBM compared with other SBM, the developer phase had higher (P < 0.05) SID for methionine, phenylalanine, cysteine (more by 4.4, 2.4 and 7.2% units, respectively) on average for SBM samples from MB compared with the ON-SBM. Regardless the source of the SBM, no difference in SID of AA was noted in the layer phase. Overall, in all phases the SID values of most AA in the SBM from MB were comparable with the ON-SBM, which may be linked to higher values of these AA per unit of protein content in the former source. In addition, the growth performance including feed intake, BW gain and feed conversion ratio in pullets, and egg production/quality in layers were similar between treatments. These findings show that the MB-SBM have a comparable feeding value with the ON-SBM, hence represent a suitable alternative protein source for poultry.

Control of ecological networks: Abundance control or ecological regulation?

Complex ecosystems often exhibit a tipping point around which a small perturbation can lead to the loss of the basic functionality of ecosystems. It is challenging to develop a control strategy to bring ecosystems to the desired stable states. Typically, two methods are employed to restore the functionality of ecosystems: abundance control and ecological regulation. Abundance control involves directly managing species abundance through methods such as trapping, shooting, or poisoning. On the other hand, ecological regulation is a strategy for ecosystems to self-regulate through environment improvement. To enhance the effectiveness of ecosystem recovery, we propose adaptive regulation by combining the two control strategies from mathematical and network science perspectives. Criteria for controlling ecosystems to reach equilibrium with or without noise perturbation are established. The time and energy costs of restoring an ecosystem to equilibrium often determine the choice of control strategy, thus, we estimate the control costs. Furthermore, we observe that the regulation parameter in adaptive regulation affects both time and energy costs, with a trade-off existing between them. By optimizing the regulation parameter based on a performance index with fixed weights for time and energy costs, we can minimize the total cost. Moreover, we discuss the impact of the complexity of ecological networks on control costs, where the more complex the networks, the higher the costs. We provide corresponding theoretical analyses for random networks, predator-prey networks, and mixture networks.

Soft x-ray high diffraction efficiency and spectral flux laminar-type W/B4C multilayer diffraction grating for 300-1000 eV.

Multilayer diffraction gratings are designed to improve the detection limit and sensitivity of soft x-ray flat-field spectrographs in the region of 300-1000eV, placing emphasis on Fe-L (705eV), Cu-L (930eV), and Zn-L (1012eV) emissions. For this purpose, spectral flux was used as the performance index, which is proportional to the amount of optical flux incident into a detector and correlated with detection sensitivity. A super-mirror-type W/B4C multilayer coating [Koike et al., Rev.Sci. Instrum. 94, 045109 (2023)] was employed to improve diffraction efficiency in a wide energy region. The unique feature of the multilayer structure is that the average refractive index and the period length of W/B4C layer pairs are increased from the bottom to top layers. In addition, the incidence angle was reduced to 86.03° from 88.65° and the nominal groove density was increased to 3200 lines/mm from 2400 lines/mm of our previous design, to improve spectral flux while maintaining dispersion and spectral resolution. A holographic varied-line-spacing spherical grating and a soft x-ray flat-field spectrograph were designed, using the aspherical-wavefront-recording method, assuming the nominal grating constant and incident angle described above. The numerical simulation results showed that the spectrograph employing the newly designed grating with the W/B4C multilayer indicated 3.2-8.2 times higher spectral flux compared with those using the previously designed grating while keeping the same spectral resolution.

Optimizing a dew point evaporative cooler in data center applications

Abstract The escalating energy consumption of data centers has led to a pressing need for energy-efficient cooling solutions. This paper presents a countercurrent dew point evaporative cooler (DPEC) for data center refrigeration. We developed and experimentally validated a numerical model for DPEC, then formulated regression models using the response surface method. These models link eight key design factors, including geometrical and operational factors, to three performance indices: cooling capacity per unit volume, coefficient of performance, and outlet primary air temperature. We assessed the extent of factor influence on these indices. By using these regression models as objective functions, we used the genetic algorithm for design optimization under two climatic conditions, resulting in various optimal parameter combinations. Our findings highlight the strong predictive accuracy of these models. In comparison to the original design, the optimal design achieved an improvement of 104.8%, an increase of 23.9%, and a reduction of 13.8% in the three indices.