How Software Refactoring Impacts Execution Time

Refactoring aims at improving the maintainability of source code without modifying its external behavior. Previous works proposed approaches to recommend refactoring solutions to software developers. The generation of the recommended solutions is guided by metrics acting as proxy for maintainability (e.g., number of code smells removed by the recommended solution). These approaches ignore the impact of the recommended refactorings on other non-functional requirements, such as performance, energy consumption, and so forth. Little is known about the impact of refactoring operations on non-functional requirements other than maintainability. We aim to fill this gap by presenting the largest study to date to investigate the impact of refactoring on software performance, in terms of execution time. We mined the change history of 20 systems that defined performance benchmarks in their repositories, with the goal of identifying commits in which developers implemented refactoring operations impacting code components that are exercised by the performance benchmarks. Through a quantitative and qualitative analysis, we show that refactoring operations can significantly impact the execution time. Indeed, none of the investigated refactoring types can be considered “safe” in ensuring no performance regression. Refactoring types aimed at decomposing complex code entities (e.g., Extract Class/Interface, Extract Method) have higher chances of triggering performance degradation, suggesting their careful consideration when refactoring performance-critical code.

Voice adaptation by color-encoded frame matching as a multi-objective optimization problem for future games

Voice adaptation is an interactive speech processing technique that allows the speaker to transmit with a chosen target voice. We propose a novel method that is intended for dynamic scenarios, such as online video games, where the source speaker’s and target speaker’s data are nonaligned. This would yield massive improvements to immersion and experience by fully becoming a character, and address privacy concerns to protect against harassment by disguising the voice. With unaligned data, traditional methods, e.g., probabilistic models become inaccurate, while recent methods such as deep neural networks (DNN) require too substantial preparation work. Common methods require multiple subjects to be trained in parallel, which constraints practicality in productive environments. Our proposal trains a subject nonparallel into a voice profile used against any unknown source speaker. Prosodic data such as pitch, power and temporal structure are encoded into RGBA-colored frames used in a multi-objective optimization problem to adjust interrelated features based on color likeness. Finally, frames are smoothed and adjusted before output. The method was evaluated using Mean Opinion Score, ABX, MUSHRA, Single Ease Questions and performance benchmarks using two voice profiles of varying sizes and lastly discussion regarding game implementation. Results show improved adaptation quality, especially in a larger voice profile, and audience is positive about using such technology in future games.

Songbird subthalamic neurons project to dopaminergic midbrain and exhibit singing-related activity

Skill learning requires motor output to be evaluated against internal performance benchmarks. In songbirds, ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons (DA) signal performance errors important for learning, but it remains unclear which brain regions project to VTA and how these inputs may contribute to DA error signaling. Here we find that the songbird subthalamic nucleus (STN) projects to VTA and that STN micro-stimulation can excite VTA neurons. We also discover that STN receives inputs from motor cortical, auditory cortical and ventral pallidal brain regions previously implicated in song evaluation. In the first neural recordings from songbird STN, we discover that the activity of most STN neurons is associated with body movements and not singing, but a small fraction of neurons exhibits precise song timing and performance error signals. Our results place the STN in a pathway important for song learning, but not song production, and expand the territories of songbird brain potentially associated with song learning.

BALANCE SCORECARD ANALYSIS AS A COMPANY PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT TOOL

The research was conducted with the aim of knowing the performance of banking companies using the Balanced Scorecard method. This study aims to obtain an overview of performance benchmarks with the Balanced Scorecard approach using four perspectives: finance, customers, internal business, growth and learning in one of the Perumda Rural Banks in West Java from 2017 to 2020. This type of research is a case study that is explained one by one using four perspectives. The type of data used is qualitative data with data sources derived from primary data and secondary data. The data analysis technique uses a descriptive method with accounting approach where data is used in the form of numbers and then interpreted and described, so as to obtain research results based on the calculation of the Balanced Scorecard. The result of this research shows that Perumda Rural Banks studied are still categorized as poor with the BBB category, the performance still needs to be improved so that the company can achieve excellent performance or healthy. In addition to this, it is recommended for companies to apply the Balanced Scorecard to be able to assist companies in measuring performance not only from the financial aspect but also considering the performance from non-financial aspects.

Water Performance Benchmarks for New Zealand: Understanding Water Consumption in Commercial Office Buildings

<p>There is an increasing amount of literature outlining the issues underlying water shortages and restrictions to come in most regions of New Zealand. The problem is not helped by rising demands and climatic changes, as well as both a lack of measured data, and a lack of any demand-side incentives. No attempt has been made to assess how the users of commercial buildings are consuming potable water. There are no benchmarks for water performance in buildings, hindering attempts to improve water efficiency. This study investigated the water use in 93 Auckland and Wellington commercial office buildings. The data collected from both survey level water audits (on-site investigations, historic billing analysis) and full water audits (water monitoring), were used to develop market-based water performance benchmarks, and a Water Efficiency Rating Tool (WERT). This was done to understand water consumption in these buildings, and to determine the feasibility of using performance based data for the development of a water benchmarking system. The principal results were in the form of both a benchmarking index system, and the WERT. The benchmarking study found that Net Lettable Area (NLA) was the most statistically and pragmatically appropriate driver for water use. lt also found that, due to the distinct difference in tariff structures and incentives between Auckland and Wellington, different benchmarks for the two regions (Auckland 'Typical' use 0.76m³ / m² / year, and Wellington 'Typical' use 1.03m³ / m² / year) were required. The WERT calculates a building Water Use Index (WUI- m³ / m² / year) , estimates its end-use disaggregation, and provides recommendations through outlining the financial viability of implementing specific water efficiency measures. This tool utilised six design criteria to ensure target market usability: accuracy (demonstrated at ±8. 5%) ; relevance and realism; practicality; promotion of understanding and action; objectivity; and effective communication. Further recommendations included satisfying some of the many knowledge gaps present in the New Zealand water industry concerning office building water use. These included: introducing a national legislative or standard document providing guidelines on demand-side management of water; investigation into changing tariff structures to include a volumetric charge for all building types to increase individual awareness and education of water use; research into the durability of water meters; and expanding the research to include other New Zealand regions.</p>

Water Performance Benchmarks for New Zealand: Understanding Water Consumption in Commercial Office Buildings

<p>There is an increasing amount of literature outlining the issues underlying water shortages and restrictions to come in most regions of New Zealand. The problem is not helped by rising demands and climatic changes, as well as both a lack of measured data, and a lack of any demand-side incentives. No attempt has been made to assess how the users of commercial buildings are consuming potable water. There are no benchmarks for water performance in buildings, hindering attempts to improve water efficiency. This study investigated the water use in 93 Auckland and Wellington commercial office buildings. The data collected from both survey level water audits (on-site investigations, historic billing analysis) and full water audits (water monitoring), were used to develop market-based water performance benchmarks, and a Water Efficiency Rating Tool (WERT). This was done to understand water consumption in these buildings, and to determine the feasibility of using performance based data for the development of a water benchmarking system. The principal results were in the form of both a benchmarking index system, and the WERT. The benchmarking study found that Net Lettable Area (NLA) was the most statistically and pragmatically appropriate driver for water use. lt also found that, due to the distinct difference in tariff structures and incentives between Auckland and Wellington, different benchmarks for the two regions (Auckland 'Typical' use 0.76m³ / m² / year, and Wellington 'Typical' use 1.03m³ / m² / year) were required. The WERT calculates a building Water Use Index (WUI- m³ / m² / year) , estimates its end-use disaggregation, and provides recommendations through outlining the financial viability of implementing specific water efficiency measures. This tool utilised six design criteria to ensure target market usability: accuracy (demonstrated at ±8. 5%) ; relevance and realism; practicality; promotion of understanding and action; objectivity; and effective communication. Further recommendations included satisfying some of the many knowledge gaps present in the New Zealand water industry concerning office building water use. These included: introducing a national legislative or standard document providing guidelines on demand-side management of water; investigation into changing tariff structures to include a volumetric charge for all building types to increase individual awareness and education of water use; research into the durability of water meters; and expanding the research to include other New Zealand regions.</p>

User Perception Benchmarks for Commercial and Institutional Buildings in New Zealand.

<p>Buildings are ultimately built for people to use, so it is important that they are designed to suit the occupants’ needs. The indoor environment can affect the comfort, health, and productivity of occupants. Yet very little is known about how the building users perceive these matters and there is very little information on what would constitute norms or benchmarks for their perceptions. If we wish to improve users’ perceptions then it is essential to have a reliable standardised set of benchmarks. However, at present there is no statistically unbiased, country-based benchmark for the perceptions of the occupants of the building environments that is representative of the existing building stock. Predominantly, current building performance indicators have the main focus on technical aspects of the building such as energy consumption and materials recycling; very little attention is paid to how the occupants themselves rate the building. User perception benchmarks will allow building owners/users to see how New Zealand buildings are rated by the occupants themselves. Although subjective, it will allow the space to be rated by those who it is designed for, the occupants. This in turn will allow for possible improvements in the construction of comfortable, healthy, and productive work environments. The overall aim of this study is to contribute to the improvement of the performance of commercial and institutional buildings for their occupants through the exploration of user performance benchmarks. The objectives are to provide a general overview of existing studies which have investigated user perceptions, to explore the nature and characteristics of benchmarks, to create a pilot database of results for user surveys of NZ buildings, and finally to use the data collected to explore methods for determining benchmarks for NZ buildings in terms of user perception. Using questionnaires as a tool for assessing the performance of a building is an effective way of determining how the building is affecting the occupants, and is cheaper and less time consuming than the technical measures that would be needed to reach the same level of detail. The pilot database allowed flexibility in the statistical analysis and exploration of how possible benchmarks could be constructed. Patterns and influencing factors were investigated in these results. The results from the occupant questionnaire data from this database followed consistent patterns to those of other established methods, with the Storage, Health and Air variables consistently scoring low. The highest scoring variables are for Furniture, Image, and Lighting Overall. Image is the variable with the largest variability, reflecting its subjective nature. Correlations were carried out on the summary variables, with particular focus on Health, Overall Comfort, and Perceived Productivity. These were highly correlated with each other and many of the other variables. In terms of the indoor environment variables, Air Overall in Summer, Air Overall in Winter, Temperature Overall in Summer and Temperature Overall in Winter were consistently the highest correlation between Health, Overall Comfort and Perceived Productivity. Lighting Overall had the weakest correlation for all three variables. It was deemed that it was entirely appropriate and feasible to establish benchmarks from the questionnaire data received, and through preliminary exploration incorporate them into building rating tools. There are a variety of forms these benchmarks can take, with positives and negatives for each.</p>

User Perception Benchmarks for Commercial and Institutional Buildings in New Zealand.

<p>Buildings are ultimately built for people to use, so it is important that they are designed to suit the occupants’ needs. The indoor environment can affect the comfort, health, and productivity of occupants. Yet very little is known about how the building users perceive these matters and there is very little information on what would constitute norms or benchmarks for their perceptions. If we wish to improve users’ perceptions then it is essential to have a reliable standardised set of benchmarks. However, at present there is no statistically unbiased, country-based benchmark for the perceptions of the occupants of the building environments that is representative of the existing building stock. Predominantly, current building performance indicators have the main focus on technical aspects of the building such as energy consumption and materials recycling; very little attention is paid to how the occupants themselves rate the building. User perception benchmarks will allow building owners/users to see how New Zealand buildings are rated by the occupants themselves. Although subjective, it will allow the space to be rated by those who it is designed for, the occupants. This in turn will allow for possible improvements in the construction of comfortable, healthy, and productive work environments. The overall aim of this study is to contribute to the improvement of the performance of commercial and institutional buildings for their occupants through the exploration of user performance benchmarks. The objectives are to provide a general overview of existing studies which have investigated user perceptions, to explore the nature and characteristics of benchmarks, to create a pilot database of results for user surveys of NZ buildings, and finally to use the data collected to explore methods for determining benchmarks for NZ buildings in terms of user perception. Using questionnaires as a tool for assessing the performance of a building is an effective way of determining how the building is affecting the occupants, and is cheaper and less time consuming than the technical measures that would be needed to reach the same level of detail. The pilot database allowed flexibility in the statistical analysis and exploration of how possible benchmarks could be constructed. Patterns and influencing factors were investigated in these results. The results from the occupant questionnaire data from this database followed consistent patterns to those of other established methods, with the Storage, Health and Air variables consistently scoring low. The highest scoring variables are for Furniture, Image, and Lighting Overall. Image is the variable with the largest variability, reflecting its subjective nature. Correlations were carried out on the summary variables, with particular focus on Health, Overall Comfort, and Perceived Productivity. These were highly correlated with each other and many of the other variables. In terms of the indoor environment variables, Air Overall in Summer, Air Overall in Winter, Temperature Overall in Summer and Temperature Overall in Winter were consistently the highest correlation between Health, Overall Comfort and Perceived Productivity. Lighting Overall had the weakest correlation for all three variables. It was deemed that it was entirely appropriate and feasible to establish benchmarks from the questionnaire data received, and through preliminary exploration incorporate them into building rating tools. There are a variety of forms these benchmarks can take, with positives and negatives for each.</p>

blocks_3d: software for general 3d conformal blocks

We introduce the software blocks_3d for computing four-point conformal blocks of operators with arbitrary Lorentz representations in 3d CFTs. It uses Zamolodchikov-like recursion relations to numerically compute derivatives of blocks around a crossing-symmetric configuration. It is implemented as a heavily optimized, multi-threaded, C++ application. We give performance benchmarks for correlators containing scalars, fermions, and stress tensors. As an example application, we recompute bootstrap bounds on four-point functions of fermions and study whether a previously observed sharp jump can be explained using the “fake primary” effect. We conclude that the fake primary effect cannot fully explain the jump and the possible existence of a “dead-end” CFT near the jump merits further study.

Adaptive Control for Multi-Shaft with Web Materials Linkage Systems

In this paper, a fuzzy disturbance observer and a high-gain disturbance observer based on a variable structure controller are applied to deal with imprecise multi-shaft with web materials linkage systems taking into account the variation of the moment of inertia. Specifically, a high-gain disturbance observer and an adaptive fuzzy algorithm are separately applied to estimate system uncertainties and external disturbances. The high-gain disturbance observer is designed with auxiliary variables to avoid the amplification of the measurement disturbance, and the fuzzy disturbance observer has the advantage that it does not depend on model information. The convergence properties of the tracking error are analytically proven using Lyapunov’s theory. The obtained numerical results demonstrate the validity and the adaptive performance of the proposed control law in case the system is exposed to uncertainties and disturbances. Important remarks on the design process and performance benchmarks of the two observers are also demonstrated.