Optimize wildcard pattern matching in initCounters()

[mpfo0106]

Summary:

This PR refactors the initCounters() method in PatternInfo to enhance code readability, improve performance, and increase accuracy in wildcard counting. The primary focus of this change is to optimize the handling of single and double wildcard patterns.

Changes:

• Optimized .* pattern detection: Improved the accuracy of single wildcard counting by refining the logic that detects .* patterns.
• Replaced substring() with charAt(): Direct character comparisons are now used instead of substring() to reduce unnecessary object creation and improve performance.
• Improved edge case handling: Enhanced handling of patterns that end with a single asterisk (*), improving overall reliability.
• Maintained structure: The overall method structure was preserved while introducing targeted optimizations to ensure familiarity for developers maintaining the code.

Impact:

• Performance: The removal of substring() calls and unnecessary object creation leads to a more efficient method, especially for longer patterns or frequent invocations.
• Accuracy: The updated logic improves the precision of counting single wildcards, reducing the chance of miscounts in complex patterns.
• Readability: While the condition for detecting single wildcards is more explicit, it better represents the intended pattern matching logic, making it clearer for future maintainers.
• Maintainability: By avoiding substring(), the potential for memory-related issues is reduced, particularly when dealing with large string patterns.

The changes maintain backwards compatibility with the existing behavior, and no functionality has been altered.

Please review the changes and provide feedback!

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