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Faced with the urgent need to develop environmentally friendly alternatives to cementitious materials, geopolymers, made from combinations of various by-products, offer a promising solution. In recent years, statistical optimization methods have begun to be applied in the field of engineering. This study focuses on sustainable geopolymer mortars by incorporating industrial by-product powders, specifically blast furnace slag (SP), waste glass powder (GP), and ceramic powder (CP) as partial replacements. Compressive strength, flexural strength, workability, and density were evaluated for various ternary compositions using a Mix Design Model (MDM) approach. The main results revealed a synergistic interaction between SP and CP, with a 20% replacement of CP leading to a 16% increase in compressive strength, indicating optimal performance. Microstructural analysis using SEM, TGA, and FTIR highlighted a dense, crack-free matrix with extensive calcium aluminosilicate gel phases, particularly in the SP–CP mixture. Optimization through desirability profiling identified a 30% CP replacement as ideal for maximizing strength and workability. Controlled optimization of multi-component geopolymer synthesis using by-products streams proves to be a promising method for developing next-generation sustainable construction materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the recycling of end‐of‐life computer plastics, focusing on polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) copolymer, which constitute a significant portion of collected computers. Through differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy analyses, the properties of raw PC, ABS and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were evaluated. Various blends of PC and ABS were prepared, incorporating different percentages of recycled PMMA as a cost‐effective coupling agent. These blends were processed through melt compounding using a contra‐rotating twin‐screw extruder and subsequently shaped by injection molding. An experimental mixture design was applied to evaluate the mechanical and physical properties of the composite materials, including melt flow index, hardness, flexural strain at break and Charpy impact strength. The results of the desirability analysis indicated that the optimal blend for achieving a balance between mechanical and physical properties consists of a high PC content (approximately 80% or more), a low ABS content (less than 20%) and less than 5% recycled PMMA. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution contributes to global warming and climate change, leading to extreme weather events and rising sea levels. Promoting sustainable practices has become the focus of policy programs and awareness campaigns. In this study, we propose an effective and powerful way to promote eco-driving behaviors by drawing on data storytelling. Our study shows that animated narrative and narrative sequence can trigger varying emphases on the feasibility and desirability of eco-driving practices, affecting actual driving behaviors and attitudes toward efficient driving. Specifically, in two experiments, we find that a chronological narrative sequence with animation improves subsequent driving efficiency and efficient driving attitudes. Visualization designers may consider employing narrative sequence and animation to facilitate individuals' information comprehension and behavioral changes. Policymakers can also encourage ecological practices through effective designs of data storytelling. Visualized narratives have been broadly employed to help individuals understand complex environmental issues, increase green awareness, and encourage sustainable behaviors. However, sustainability awareness only sometimes translates to actual green practices. In this study, we develop and test a model that explains how eco-driving behaviors and attitudes toward efficient driving can be promoted with post-trip visualized narratives. Drawing on human-computer interaction research, we integrate the mental construal literature to reveal feasibility and desirability perceptions as underlying mechanisms. We test our hypotheses in two experiments involving eye-tracking and driving simulation. Results show that pairwise animated illustration and prospective narratives elevated eco-driving behaviors and attitudes toward efficient driving. In the meantime, static illustration and retrospective narratives influenced attitudes toward efficient driving. In addition, feasibility and desirability perceptions were significant mediators. Overall, this study contributes to information systems literature, human-computer interaction literature, and the construal level theory by unraveling the effects of post-trip visualized narratives on promoting ecological practices and attitudes. History: Yulin Fang, Senior Editor; Heshan Sun, Associate Editor. Funding: This work was supported by the Start-up Grant for New Faculty, City University of Hong Kong [Grant 7200773] and Social Science & Humanities Research (SSHR) 2025 Seed Grant, Nanyang Technological University [Grant 022536-00001]. Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2022.0332. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rise of digital health platforms, consumers increasingly rely on online reviews when choosing healthcare services. Understanding how these reviews shape consumer decisions is crucial for both platforms and healthcare providers. To explore this, we analyzed a comprehensive data set from a leading online cosmetic surgery platform to understand how process-oriented (focusing on the recovery experience) and outcome-oriented (focusing on the end results) reviews influence the demand for healthcare services. Our findings reveal a striking disparity in the effectiveness of these two types of reviews. Generally, outcome-oriented reviews exhibit greater efficacy in boosting sales. However, the influence of each review type varies with the complexity and popularity of the services. Process-oriented reviews are more compelling for complex healthcare services, while outcome-oriented reviews prove more impactful for simpler, popular services. These insights underscore the need for tailored strategies in incentivizing and managing consumer reviews, vital for healthcare providers and digital health platforms. Furthermore, for policy makers, the study highlights the importance of regulating and guiding online review designs to ensure they accurately reflect the service process and outcome, aiding consumers in making informed decisions. The consumption of services inherently requires a process to achieve the desired outcome. For nonexperiential services (e.g., healthcare and education) primarily valued for their end outcomes, their consumption typically involves lengthy processes that are not designed for enjoyment (e.g., wound care and lecture attendance). Consequently, there exists a prominent tension between the processes (means) and outcomes (ends) of these services, which is largely ignored in the prior literature on user-generated content (UGC) that predominantly focuses on products (e.g., books and electronics) or experiential services (e.g., dining and lodging). To bridge this gap, we investigate the distinct roles of process- and outcome-oriented reviews in influencing consumers' decisions to pursue healthcare services, leveraging a comprehensive data set collected from an online platform for cosmetic procedures. By separating process- and outcome-oriented reviews through visual content analysis, we show that the effect of outcome-oriented reviews in boosting the sales of healthcare services is almost twice stronger than that of process-oriented reviews on average. However, the relative effectiveness of these two types of reviews varies substantially across different types of healthcare services. Specifically, we find that process-oriented reviews are more influential in affecting consumers' purchases of services with higher complexity, in contrast to outcome-oriented reviews that are more impactful for services with lower complexity. Moreover, the impact of process-oriented reviews is stronger for less popular services, whereas the impact of outcome-oriented reviews is stronger for more popular services. These nuanced findings show that consumers resort to different types of UGC while considering different types of healthcare services. Our work has important implications both theoretically and practically. History: Xiaoquan (Michael) Zhang, Senior Editor; Khim Yong Goh, Associate Editor. Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2019.0168. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leveraging data-driven methods such as Response Surface Methodology (RSM) has considerable potential for sustainable building cooling via mitigating energy consumption and environmental impacts. This research focuses on using the RSM to improve liquid desiccant dehumidification for sustainable building cooling performance using a D-optimal design. Specifically, the research intends to investigate the actual influence of the inlet air conditions and desiccant concentration on the performance of liquid desiccant dehumidification systems, i.e., the moisture removal rates and dehumidifier efficiency. To systematically conduct this research, a set of experimental data gathered from the open literature is utilised. This includes a specific set of inlet parameters of air temperature (27–34.5 °C), ratio of air humidity (20.5–25 g/kg), and solution temperature (27.5–38.5 °C) as the independent variables. Also, the feedback variables include the moisture removal rates (MRR) and efficacy (ϵ). The associated results of the analysis of variation indicate that the ratio of air humidity has the greatest influence on the moisture removal rate. However, the solution temperature and the ratio of air humidity have the most influence on efficacy. In the event of response optimisation, the result at MRR and (ϵ) are 0.54 g/s and 0.50, respectively, with a minimum desirability of 0.992 and 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purchase decisions typically involve tradeoffs between attributes associated with desirability (e.g. quality) and feasibility (e.g. price). In this article, we examine how the decision context impacts consumers' preference between a high-desirability (HD) option and a high-feasibility (HF) alternative. Nineteen studies demonstrate a novel context effect, the "upscaling effect," whereby introducing a symmetrically dominated decoy option to a set (i.e. an option that is inferior compared to all alternatives in the set) leads to an increase in the choice share of the HD option. To account for the upscaling effect, we advance a two-stage model of consumer decision-making for decisions that involve tradeoffs between desirability and feasibility. According to our model, when the decision context provides a reason for choosing either option, such as when a decoy option is added to the set, consumers prioritize reasons that support choice of HD options over HF alternatives. Our model can explain the upscaling effect, as well as other findings reported in the literature, such as asymmetric attraction effects (Heath and Chatterjee 1995) and asymmetric sales promotion effects (Blattberg and Wisniewski 1989). Furthermore, the upscaling effect holds important managerial implications because it provides an effective way to increase sales of high-end products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the machinability of hybrid fiber metal laminates (HFML), which are made by nickel–chromium alloy (IN-625) metal-cored carbon (Ca)/aramid (Ar) fiber laminate using ultrasonic vibration-coupled microwire electrical discharge machining (UV- μ WEDM). Since UV- μ WEDM parameters significantly impact the erosion rate ( E R ) and surface undulation ( S U ), the main objective was to identify the optimal machining parameters. The input variables include the pulse on ( P on ), pulse off ( P off ), current ( I C ), cutting inclination ( C I ), and servo voltage ( S V ) coupled with ultrasonic vibration (UV). The empirical findings show that the servo voltage ( S V ) significantly impacts E R (73.93%) and S U (70.02%). The performance categorization order of significant influencing variable is S V > P off > C I > P on > I C . The desirability interpretation generated the optimum setting for minimizing S U and maximizing E R is P on = 8 μ s, P off = 1 4 μ s, S V = 5 0 V, I C = 3 A, and C I = 3 0 ∘ . Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images were used to perform the micro-interlayer analysis on the machined surface. Moreover, creating an appropriate HFML is necessary to cut various shapes and sizes to satisfy the demands of diverse applications. 60% of components in the aerospace sector are reportedly rejected in real time due to dimension departure, poor surface finish, and damage found in the final assembly. Investigating the viability of cutting-edge machining techniques like UV- μ WEDM is crucial to minimize damage and improve the quality of HFMLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The primary goal was to enhance the stability and bioavailability of chloramphenicol for ophthalmic use without compromising patient comfort, such as causing blurry vision. This study employed a 2-level full factorial design to optimize the formulation, exploring different concentrations of poloxamer 407 and HPMC to achieve this objective.

The primary goal was to enhance the stability and bioavailability of chloramphenicol for ophthalmic use without compromising patient comfort, such as causing blurry vision. This study employed a 2-level full factorial design to optimize the formulation, exploring different concentrations of poloxamer 407 and HPMC to achieve this objective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do participants navigate the sexual politics of multiracial dating and how does this relate to belonging? The results of this study illustrate that the 21 participants interviewed faced internal and external struggles and triumphs due to their mixed-race identity. For participants, trying to situate themselves into just one racial identity when they straddled both became a point of contention with romantic partners and themselves. Moreover, participants struggled with feeling like they were "enough" and if they belonged. Furthermore, mixed-race women and non-binary people were forced to navigate the racial expectations of others as well as the fetishization of their mixed-race identity. In turn, this impacted confidence levels, self-esteem, and sense of belonging and authenticity. The findings contribute to research on desirability and critical mixed-race studies by examining how mixed-race women and non-binary people perceive their own desirability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This chapter advances understandings of emotion work by examining how "doing gender" and "doing health" are implicated in the pursuit of emotional tranquility. The study examines the role of hair loss in women's illness narratives of cancer using in-depth interviews with 16 white women in the US Northwest who vary in age, marital status, diagnoses, and treatments. The absence of women's hair presents an appearance of illness that prevents them from doing femininity, which calls into question their health status because of Western beauty standards. To overcome this barrier, the women use emotion work to manage the effects of their appearance through necessarily co-occurring bodily, cognitive, and expressive strategies (Hochschild, 1979). The required emotion work during women's hair loss makes explicit the symbolic linking of the healthy body with the feminine body through women's head hair. Pursuing treatment for cancer is often seen as a "fight" or a "battle" against the disease and the bodily assaults of such treatments, including unwanted visible bodily changes. A substantial body of empirical work has established the complex web of social psychological problems associated with breasts and breast cancer, but less attention has been given to the side effect of hair loss that is common across cancer types and treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erosion stands as a formidable challenge within the industry, posing significant threats to pipeline integrity. This wear phenomenon occurs when minute solid particles collide with pipeline surfaces at specific angles and velocities. Given the pivotal role pipelines play in sectors like oil and industrial, their vulnerability to erosion wear presents a pressing concern. Solid particles inevitably accompany the fluids coursing through these conduits, subjecting them to erosion under harsh operational conditions. The repercussions extend beyond industrial realms, affecting both natural environments and societal well-being. Detecting and addressing erosion-induced damage promptly remains a daunting task, with potential leaks draining resources and disrupting operations. Unforeseen shutdowns further escalate operational costs and hinder productivity. Clearly, mitigating erosion wear is imperative for ensuring clean, safe, and efficient production processes. Consequently, industrial endeavors prioritize strategies to counteract erosion's deleterious effects. Technological advancements offer promising avenues for tackling this challenge. This investigation aims to devise effective solutions, focusing on the efficacy of a nickel–chromium erosion-resistant coating applied via atmospheric plasma spraying. A comprehensive analysis of erosion mechanisms and influencing parameters guides this endeavor. Through desirability analysis and Taguchi design of experiments, optimal parameters—flow velocity of 150 m/s, impact angle of 90°, discharge rate of 5 g/min, and 10 min duration—are identified. Notably, experimental results closely align with predictions, demonstrating a mere 3.03% variance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the performance of ABS P400 parts under compressive loading. These ABS P400 parts are fabricated by fused deposition modeling (FDM) process using omnidirectional printing. The effects of three critical parameters, raster angle (A), air gap (B), and raster width (C), each at three different levels, were analyzed on three different performance measures, i.e. total deformation up to failure (TD) measured in %, maximum energy (ME) in MJ/m3 and break energy (BE) in MJ/m3. Results of experimentations were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), perturbation curve and 3D surface plots. The research established the anisotropic nature, durability and less brittleness of the FDM fabricated ABSP400 part, which leads to lower strength and also influence the energy absorbing behavior while deformation under compression. Complex relationships were exhibited between the chosen parameters and studied measures. It was also observed that TD is noticeable due to less brittleness of ABS P400 however, TD and BE vary in a contradictory fashion with changes in process parameters. The models were validated using normality plots. Multi-objective optimization was done using the desirability approach to determine the optimal combination of FDM process parameters for optimum responses. The desirability result showed that the optimized input parameter is A=60∘,B=0.002mm, and C=0.477mm which yield maximized optimum responses as TD=47.94%, ME=1.6×106MJ/m3, and BE=2.13×107MJ/m3. The work not only reflects the effect of three FDM parameters on the total deformation up to failure (TD in %) but, in addition, energy absorption behavior of FDM parts under compression is also investigated. The study on the behavior of energy at ultimate stress or ultimate load and breaking stress or breaking load were rarely investigated in earlier research which reflects the novelty of our research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generating a set of optimal solutions is a recommended practice when solving a multiresponse problem. However, it is known that some optimal solutions may yield unexpected outcomes when implemented in practice. Thus, to avoid wasting resources and time in implementing a theoretical optimal solution that does not produce the expected outcomes, a new approach to select a solution from the Pareto front is proposed. This approach employs a desirability-based function to aggregate all the desired response characteristics, namely the responses' Bias, Resilience, Quality of Predictions, and Robustness. Two case studies illustrate the usefulness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to high strength, biocompatibility and higher corrosion resistance, stainless steels are widely used in aerospace, medical, chemical, and automotive sectors. However, conventional machining of these materials does not produce higher accuracy because of their characteristics, which lead to the tendency of build-up edge formation, high tool wear and poor surface quality. Among numerous non-conventional machining techniques, electrical discharge machining is considered one of the highly efficient and economically viable methods for machining stainless steel. In the present study, microelectric discharge drilling is conducted on an AISI 304 stainless steel sheet using a 496 µm diameter WC tool electrode. The parametric impact of feed rate, voltage, and capacitance on performance characteristics like material removal rate, overcut, circularity error, and taper angle was studied after conducting a full factorial of 48 experiments. Capacitance has been found the most essential process parameter for influencing all machining outcomes considered in this investigation. Furthermore, a desirability function integrated with fuzzy logic is used to optimize all performance measures simultaneously. The optimal setting proposed by this approach is at voltage = 100 V, capacitance = 100 pF and feed rate = 20 µm/s. The field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) micrographs illustrate that lower discharge energy settings result in better geometrical accuracy and surface integrity. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) analysis revealed the migration of elements from the tool material and dielectric medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many critics of morality seem nonetheless committed to a normative stance of some kind. This paper uses the context of Nietzsche studies as a laboratory to experiment with a solution to this problem. I argue that Nietzsche's critique of normativity and his promulgation of normative judgments can be made consistent if we understand Nietzsche as pursuing the criterion of the size of future history. First (§1) I present the problem of normativity as it appears in Nietzsche's work and the literature. Then (§2), I introduce the criterion of the size of future history and show that it addresses the requirements established in §1. I then address some objections to this criterion (§3). Finally, I suggest some applications of this criterion to specific areas of Nietzsche's discourse and to some of our broader normative intuitions (§4). I conclude that the criterion of the size of future history, if well understood, can provide a solution to the problem of normative inescapability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurship may be the only viable solution for finding employment in rural areas because of their limited labor markets. However, how curricular and extracurricular entrepreneurial activities can support the entrepreneurial potential of rural youth remains a question. Using a mixed-methods approach, we investigate the impact of curricular and extracurricular entrepreneurial activities on rural adolescents' entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and desirability. Our findings show that extracurricular entrepreneurial activities, especially inventive and commercial ones, enhance both ESE and entrepreneurial desirability, but formal curricular entrepreneurial activities do not. Our study highlights how extracurricular entrepreneurial activities can support young people's perceptions of their entrepreneurial potential while allowing them to explore and exploit local entrepreneurial opportunities. These activities are vital for rural areas to enable rural youth to see opportunities in their local surroundings and consider entrepreneurship as a career option early in life. The implications suggest that rural entrepreneurship education could leverage naturally occurring opportunities for leisure-time entrepreneurial activities in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel methodology has been established which allows to recycle steel slag as a suitable flux for submerged arc welding. The flux produced using waste slag as a raw material has been applied to deposit beads on plates. The bead geometry is dependent on welding parameters; hence optimization of parameters is essential. In this cut throat competition, researchers are striving to minimize the cost of experimentation using various experimental and optimization techniques to reduce number of experiments for save time, money, and resources. In this article various techniques have been explored for better optimized results. The welding parameters have been optimized to obtain desired bead geometry using various optimization techniques such as genetic and teaching–learning-based optimization algorithm, and desirability. It was observed that the genetic algorithm technique provides better results having a minimum error of penetration, bead width, and reinforcement (i.e. 1.12%, 1.83%, and 2.46%, respectively), as compared with other techniques applied. It is further observed that flux manufactured from waste slag is capable to produce desired bead profile which is similar with that of the fresh flux. Recycled slag is capable to produce optimum bead geometry having maximum penetration of 11.52 mm, bead width 20.73 mm, and reinforcement 3.24 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Austempered ductile iron (ADI) is a hard-to-cut material used for a variety of purposes, including flanges in power plants, oil fields and railway sectors. This article aims to establish a correlation between the surface quality (Ra), the kerf angle (KTa), and the erosion rate and four critical process variables such as traverse speed (NS), abrasive flow rate (AFR), water jet pressure (WJP), and standoff distance (SoD). All of the inferences from the experiments were made using the RSM-CCD response surface methodology and the central composite design. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to identify which WJP factors had the greatest impact. WJP was shown to be the most influential parameter in the outcomes. The Ra and KTa both fell by 56.7 and 33% when the WJP reached a value of 360 MPa, whereas the MRR increased by 35.46 %. In order to fine-tune the abrasive water jet machining settings of the ADI sample, the desirable analysis is taken to optimize the parameter. Surface morphology and erosion processes of AWJM are studied using a scanning electron microscope and 3D surface roughness analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Change has always been the basic principle of human life. The heart of modern society is change and communication. The development process has facilitated the change in origins and destinations. Migration is one of the main consequences of this situation. In the meantime, in recent years, women have increasingly entered the migration cycle, and migrations have taken a female direction. Classical theories drew a linear relationship from repulsion to attraction, but it seems that the evaluation of the destination and life from the perspective of an immigrant woman has its own complexities. In fact, the aim of the current research was to investigate this process.Methods: Using the method of systematic grounded theory, 21 women who immigrated to Yazd city from different provinces of the country were selected purposefully and theoretically. The data collection tool was semi-structured interview and data analysis was done using open, central and selective coding method.Results: Based on research findings; 384 concepts, 77 sub-categories, 14 main categories and finally the central category of attractiveness of the destination were extracted.Conclusion: In general, the results showed that living in small and developing cities is more favorable for immigrant women. They find more favorability in these cities in terms of jobs, maintaining security, etc. A process that fades to a great extent in big cities and loses its usefulness. But this assessment is never permanent and the immigrant woman constantly rethinks about the realities of her life.

Aims The concept of the right to the city necessitates that the denizens of every urban center regard the city as their own and actively engage in its affairs. By considering the indices related to the right to the city and examining the indices pertaining to the desirability of urban spaces, this study seeks to investigate the influence of the urban space desirability indices on the realization of the right to the city. Methodology The research methodology employed in this study is both applied and descriptiveanalytical, with a survey-based nature. The statistical population consisted of individuals over the age of 15 residing in Ahvaz city, with a sample size of 375 people determined using Cochran’s formula. To analyze the impact of urban space desirability on the realization of the right to the city, Smart PLS software was utilized. Findings The results of the structural equations model reveal the importance of the impact of the variables on one another. The t values derived from the research components exhibit a significantly large value exceeding 1.96, which signifies significance at the 0.01 level. The path coefficients of the components surpass 70%, indicating a strong correlation between the components. Conclusion There is a positive and significant relationship between the urban space desirability indices and the degree of realization of the right to the city in Ahvaz city. Among the urban space desirability indices, the index of comfort and tranquility has the highest coefficient of influence among other indicators and among the indices of the right to the city, the index of physical share and the index of control and ownership had the highest coefficients of influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article extends the remit of Saussurean semiotics from design criticism to design theory. It does this by invoking concepts from the work of psychoanalytic theorist Jacques Lacan. It begins by exploring the role of the signifier in Lacan's theory of language and connects it to concepts of subjectivity, desire, and surplus-enjoyment. This leads to the hypothesis that the essence of design is the production of surplus-enjoyment—a hypothesis at odds with the notion that design exists to meet human needs. The article concludes by showing how semiotic theory by way of Lacan can be used to explore the cultural, subjective, and social dimensions of the design artifact in new and productive ways. The work is intended to be accessible even to readers who are unfamiliar with Lacan's work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the rising demand for rare earth elements (REEs), researchers are looking for new sources for their extraction, thereby fostering economic and environmentally justified processing solutions. Among potential industrial sources, coal fly ash emerges as one of the most promising. The recovery of REEs from coal fly and bottom ashes derived from different thermal power plants was the main focus of this study. A dual-step methodology was conducted on ash samples, which involved an ultrasonic roasting process to disintegrate the silica matrix, followed by a microwave-assisted acid leaching step to extract REEs. The roasting procedure was studied using the Plackett–Burman design, and the Box–Behnken design was subsequently implemented to optimize the leaching procedure. The optimized ultrasonic roasting procedure was set up at 95 °C for 10 min with an ash-to-roasting agent (3M NaOH) ratio of 0.5:1 (m/V). For acid leaching, the optimal conditions were obtained at 174 °C for 30 min with an HCl ÷ HNO3 mixture (1:1 V/V). The standard reference material (NIST 1633c) was used in the conclusive experiments to estimate the average recovery (80%) of REEs. The green aspects of this methodology were evaluated using several metrics (atom economy, E-factor, and energy consumption). The proposed process outperforms high-temperature roasting procedures in terms of greenness; however, the REE recovery rate is lower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until early 2006, in Brazil, the focus used to be on oil and gas exploration/exploitation of post-salt carbonates. This changed when the industry announced the existence of large fields in pre-salt layers across the South Atlantic Ocean from nearshore zones up to almost 350 [km] from the shore. With the discovery of pre-salt hydrocarbons reservoirs, new challenges appeared. One of the main challenges is the necessity to optimize the drilling processes due to their high operational costs. Drilling costs are considerably high, which leads the oil and gas industry to search for innovative and entrepreneurial methods. The coupling of the mechanical specific energy (MSE) and the rate of penetration (ROP) is a method that allows for the identification of ideal conditions to efficiently enhance the drilling process. In addition, the performance of the drilling process can be estimated through pre-operational tests, which consist in continuously testing the applied drilling mechanic parameters, such as the weight-on-bit (WOB) and drill string rotary speed (RPM), looking for optimum sets that would ultimately provide the most desirable ROP. Thus, the goal of this research was to analyze field data from pre-salt layer operations, using a multi-objective optimization based on the play-back methodology for pre-operational drilling tests, through the ideal combination of the highest ROP and the lowest MSE. The results showed that the new concept of pre-operational tests based on the MSE proved to be effective in the drilling process optimization. The combination of the highest ROP and the lowest MSE allows for a high-performance drilling process. For WOB intervals of 5 and 7 [klb], a good fit of the parameters was obtained. Through the parameters obtained from pre-operational tests, the eventual cost-saving and time-saving values could be estimated, respectively, ranging from USD 1,056,180 to 1,151,898 and 19.50 to 21.27 [h], respectively. In addition, the results of this research can be applied to the exploration of other natural resources, such as natural hydrogen and geothermal sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian American women's racialized dating choices have drawn widespread attention both in academic and public spheres. However, little empirical research has examined racially relevant sociocultural factors that may affect this population's dating and physical attraction preferences. To further understand racialized desire among this underrepresented population, the present study examined the extent to which three sociocultural factors (i.e., internalized racism, resistance and empowerment against racism, and desire for status) were associated with two attraction outcome variables (i.e., dating preferences, physical attraction) across four racial categories of men: Asian men, Black men, Latino men, and White men. Cross-sectional data were collected from a sample of 207 Asian American women who completed an online survey. Path analyses showed that internalized racism was associated with stronger dating preference toward White men and weaker dating preference and physical attraction to Asian men. Resistance and empowerment were associated with stronger dating preference for Black and Latino men as well as stronger physical attraction toward Asian, Black, and Latino men. Desire for status was negatively associated with a preference for dating Black men. The results of our study emphasize the importance of considering racially relevant factors that may be associated with Asian American women's racialized dating and physical attraction preferences. Implications related to addressing internalized racism and emphasizing the strengths of Asian American women are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work deals with the multi-objective optimization of raw silk qualities using the desirability function approach. Raw silk qualities are primarily governed by silk cocoon characteristics. In this paper, the complexity of simultaneous optimization of conflicting raw silk properties are resolved using a hybrid multi-objective optimization model where predictive power of support vector regression and optimization capability of genetic algorithm are employed with desirability function. The individual desirability of raw silk qualities is assessed from the four silk cocoon properties such as defective cocoon percentage, shell ratio, cocoon weight and cocoon volume. Raw silk parameters such as filament length, tenacity, renditta and reelability are combined together to express overall desirability. The proposed multi-objective optimization model can determine the optimum cocoon parameters essential to produce good-quality raw silk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the branches of jurisprudence of enjoining good and forbidding evil is the obligatory ruling of enjoining what is desirable and forbidding what is abominable. This research is based on descriptive-analytical method and with the help of isnadi (chain of transmitters) sources, in the pursuit of reappraising the narrative and rational evidences of commanding what is desirable and forbidding what is abominable. In order to achieve this purpose, after presenting the terminological definitions of the popular and negative concepts, the reasons of the believers in istisḥāb (desirability) have been explained, examined and criticized in the following five categories: consensus, narrations, the principle of compliance to the principle and the monopoly of the meaning known as obligations in the last step, the reasons that can be cited for the ruling on the obligation of this duty are explained as follows: the generalities and applications of the guidance on the ruling of the good, the ruling of reason on the necessity of fulfilling the command of the master, attention to the wisdom of the good and the realization of temporary titles. In case of believing in the desirability of commanding delegates, Things such as taking precedence over other obligations and the dependence of the protection of the Islamic system on doing what is recommended, can be considered obligatory. In this process, special attention has been paid to the opinions of Ayatollah Sheikh Mohammad Yaqoubi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the wake of drawbacks of existing processes, electro chemical discharge machining (ECDM) is an evolutionary method for the micromachining of glass. However, poor flushing coupled with insufficient electrolyte replenishment and unstable temperature deteriorates the ECDM performance. Therefore, the present study is an attempt to enhance the performance by controlling the temperature and stirring rate of the electrolyte in ECDM using a magnetic stirrer that is an innovative approach, termed as S-ECDM. The voltage, electrolyte temperature, pulse-on time and electrolyte stirring rate have been considered as the process parameters. The aspect ratio (AR) and heat-affected zone (HAZ) of micro-hole have been considered as the response characteristics. The interaction of electrolyte stirring with other process parameters synergizes the energy generation and channelization behavior at optimal conditions. At optimal conditions, the AR and HAZ were found to be 0.692 and 0.404 mm2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to investigate the effect and optimization of turning parameters such as spindle speed, feed rate, and depth of cut as well as wood sawdust content on the roughness quality of wood-plastic composites (WPCs). The Box–Behnken design and response surface methodology were used in experiments. Three roughness parameters, namely average roughness (Ra), root mean square average of roughness (Rq), and average maximum height (Rz) were employed to evaluate the surface quality of WPC samples. Based on the findings of the experiments, the Ra, Rq, and Rz values reduced with increasing spindle speed in a range of 430 to 1030 rpm, whereas the values increased when increasing the feed rate in a range of 0.05 to 0.15 mm/min. Also, an increase in depth of cut ranging from 1 to 3 mm and WPCs with a higher amount of wood sawdust in a range of 30 to 50 wt% raised their surface roughness. Finally, optimal conditions for the turning of the WPCs were determined to comprise a spindle speed of 781 rpm, a feed rate of 0.05 mm/min, a depth of cut of 2.8 mm, and wood sawdust content of 30 wt% with the highest desirability score of 1.000. Under such conditions, the sample had Ra, Rq, and Rz values of 1.8, 2.2, and 11.3 µm, respectively. The optimal conditions for turning can be used to effectively process different WPC products into various shapes.

The objective of this research was to employ a low-cost device to produce biohydrogen with several potential applications for clean energy. A multi-input and single-output (MISO) framework was formed during the production process containing three control factors namely time duration, sulfur content, and biomass concentration. The biohydrogen yield during the process was considered the response variable. Furthermore, the response surface approach was used to optimize factors impacting hydrogen generation (RSM). The MISO problem thus was solved using a Taguchi L9 approach to design the experiments with minimum numbers of experimental runs. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to study the association among data groups. The desirability approach was employed to optimize the operating parameters for the maximum possible yield. Signal to noise ratio curve, ANOVA, and perturbation curve revealed the biomass content as the most important contributor to biohydrogen synthesis. The ideal conditions obtained with the desirability technique were 100 g/L biomass concentration, 95.28 h, and 0.9% sulfur content. The biohydrogen output was anticipated to be 77.84 mL/g VS (Volatile solids). A validation testing shows that the biohydrogen production was 74.32 mL/g VS, with a 4.52% error, which is fairly reasonable. • Biohydrogen produced using Chlorella sp. micro algae in a photobioreactor. • Taguchi L9 was used for design of experiment. • ANOVA revealed biomass concentration was most influential factor on biohydrogen yield. • Desirability approach used for optimization revealed best biohydrogen yield of 77.84 mL/g.VS. • Validation test revealed the biohydrogen yield as 74.32 mL/g.VS denoting an error of 4.52%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a necessary means of encouraging individuals to adopt healthy behaviors, improving the persuasiveness of ads related to health has been a major topic of common concern in both academic and practical circles. However, scant attention has been given to how consumers' fresh start mindset (FSM) may influence the effect of ad types on health persuasion. Based on the construal level theory (CLT), the current research investigates the interplay of ad type (progression ad vs. before/after ad) and FSM (weak vs. strong) on the persuasiveness of health ads and the mechanisms underlying it. Across three studies, we demonstrated that progression ads are more effective when consumers have a weak FSM, whereas a before/after ad will be more persuasive when consumers hold a strong FSM. More importantly, consumers' perceived feasibility and desirability drive the interactive effect of ad type and FSM, such that perceived feasibility mediates the positive effect of progression ads on persuasion among consumers with a weaker FSM, while perceived desirability mediates the positive effect of before/after ads on persuasion among consumers with a stronger FSM. Our findings extend the existing literature streams on the fresh start effect, message persuasion, and construal level theory and provide practical insights for health product manufacturers and policymakers concerned about public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the pulsed Nd:YAG laser machining characteristics on 6351 aluminum reinforced with silicon carbide (SiC) and boron carbide (B4C) particles. The composites are prepared using stir casting route by varying the weight percentage of B4C (0, 5, and 10 wt.%). During experimentation, the traverse speed (5, 15, and 30 mm/s) and the laser pulse frequency (5, 9, and 15 kHz) are considered to evaluate the groove width. The results reveal that the lower pulse frequency produced poor groove surface quality. Higher thermal energy dissipation at lower traverse speed may also result in the formation of recast layer and heat-affected zone. This is evident from the microscopic image and the EDS analysis. Thus, the optimum condition (composite with 10 wt.% B4C machined at 30 mm/s and 15 kHz) to achieve minimum grove width with improved surface morphology is identified by desirability analysis. Additionally, the regression model is developed to predict future values (R 2 at 91.86% and R 2 (adj) at 87.55%). Finally, the probability plot confirms the effectiveness of the proposed model at 95% confidence level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Block cryoconcentration is a technique that can be applied to obtain fruit juice concentrates while preserving their nutritional, bioactive and organoleptic properties. Until now, the investigations present both the centrifugation and vacuum cryoconcentration method independently for different matrices, but with different purposes such as observing the effect of the initial freezing temperature, the freezing direction, whether radial or unidirectional, the effect of several cycles of cryoconcentration, comparing cryoconcentration with other concentration methods, etc. However, there is no study that compares both methods in the same matrix considering some common parameters such as cryoconcentration time. The objective of this research work was to compare two block centrifugation methods, centrifugation‐assisted (CABC) and vacuum‐assisted (VABC). A factorial experimental design was used. The operation conditions evaluated were 110 RCF and 2360 RCF, and 10 and 70 kPa at the same time conditions (4 and 12 min). Pomegranate juice was frozen at −20°C unidirectionally for 48 h before treatments. For the response studied—concentration index (CI), solute yield (SY, %) and efficiency (Eff, %)—CABC at 110 RCF for 12 min showed the best overall results (SY = 59.2% and Eff = 84.3%) and the desirability was.91. For VABC at 10 kPa for 12 min, the desirability was.98 but SY was lower. In both methods, the CI in one cycle was up to 3.0. The advantage of both systems is that in one cycle the CI, SY and Eff were higher than those obtained by other investigations on pomegranate juice. Practical applications: Cryoconcentration is an emerging technology for concentrating a food solute in a solution based on the separation of ice crystals from a freeze‐concentrated solution. The nutritional and sensory quality of cryoconcentrated fruit juices is higher than those concentrated conventionally by means of evaporation due to the low processing temperatures. Consumer demand for food rich in bioactive components for a healthy lifestyle is growing. With the use of the block freeze concentration technique, it is possible to produce a pomegranate juice concentrate with excellent nutritional properties. Two techniques for assisted block cryoconcentration of pomegranate juice—vacuum and centrifugal—were compared in a single cycle. Both methods showed better performance in once cycle than other cryoconcentration methods at lab scale. The generated knowledge in this study can be easily adapted for the juice industry in order to improve the process parameters of block freeze concentration in the elaboration of concentrated pomegranate juice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desirability–doability framework (2 × D) is a novel framework for the collaborative evaluation of public policies. Fundamental objectives and performance indicators are agreed upon in workshops, policies are characterised, and barriers to implementation identified. MACBETH interactive protocols are then applied in decision conferences to elicit qualitative judgments about the desirability of policies, within and across objectives; and about their doability under the expected graveness of barriers on contrasting scenarios. Elicited judgments allow, respectively, to construct a shared multicriteria model measuring the overall desirability of policies; and, to measure their doability. Desirability–doability graphs enable visual interactive classification of policies, with sensitivity/robustness analyses of uncertainties. 2 × D was successfully tested in a real‐world urban‐health policymaking case to evaluate spatial policies. The main novelty of 2 × D is that it bridges the socio‐technical gap, present in OR, between the support required by a complex social decision‐making process, and that usually offered by analytic techniques – while keeping modeling theoretically sound and simple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hike in fuel prices and rapid depletion of fuel reserves have compelled scientists to focus on energy conservation, environmental protection, engine performance improvement, and cost saving. The prime objective of the study is to compare the empirical results with response surface methodology (RSM) optimized results in order to check the accuracy of model designed by RSM. Therefore, the current study examines the effect of fuel injection parameters (nozzle opening pressure and protrusion) on diesel engine performance and exhaust emissions. RSM technique was applied to predict engine performance and exhaust emission parameters along with their optimization. The brake thermal efficiency (BTE) was incremented by 1.23 % for protrusion from 1.5 to 2.5 mm under 240 bar nozzle opening pressure (NOP). BTE was increased by 0.94 and 4.51 % for 1.5 and 2.5 mm protrusion respectively. CO emission was decremented by 4.47 and 11.31 % for 1.5 and 2.5 mm protrusion respectively when the NOP changed from 230 to 240 bar. RSM model optimized input conditions 240 bar pressure, 2.5 mm protrusion, and 1935.67 engine rpm. The engine was again tested on RSM-optimized conditions and the highest absolute percentage error (APE) of 4.42 % was obtained for NOx emission, while the lowest APE of 2.89 % was obtained for BSFC.

Consumers and meat processors are receptive to blended/hybrid meat products, defined as products with partial meat replacement by plant-based ingredients. Blended meat products are a novel way to reduce meat consumption, however, a novel product's market success is determined by consumer expectations and acceptance. Therefore, this qualitative study investigated consumer expectations and opinions of blended meat products in different formats (beef burger, BB and chicken nugget, CN), with a range of blended ingredients, and nutrition claims. Twenty eight meat-eating consumers from Asian (N = 16) and non-Asian (N = 12) countries participated in the product mapping sessions. Both Asian and non-Asian consumers were willing to consume blended meat products for their health and environmental sustainability benefits, but commented that acceptable taste was required. Taste was the most important attribute driving Asian consumers’ acceptance of new food products; it was less important for non-Asian consumers. Both groups liked the concept of blended BBs with added vegetables. Non-Asians favored blended with legumes and questioned the sustainability and high degree of processing associated with plant protein alternatives. The high nutritional value and health benefits of micro-algae was accepted by Asians and non-Asians, but it was not considered a desirable ingredient due to concerns about its expected undesirable taste. Most of the nutrition claims related to high protein and low fat in blended BBs were considered healthy and desirable for both groups. Blended BBs with “No GMO” and “No MSG” were classified as healthy and desirable by Asian groups while for non-Asians they were considered undesirable and not healthy. Labeling with “High in dietary fiber” led to consumers expecting an undesirable product texture in both groups. Blended CNs were especially undesirable for the non-Asians, as they were generally regarded as not healthy and undesirable as a snack. For Asian consumers, blended CNs had better healthiness than conventional CN, but were less desirable. Blended CN with “High in dietary fiber” claim was most liked followed by blended CN with “No trans-fat”. Therefore, blended BBs show great opportunities for further product development for both non-Asian and Asian consumers. Findings from this preliminary study provide meat manufacturers and product developers with insight into how consumers from different cultures perceive BBs and CNs.

Aim: Changes during the COVID-19 pandemic might create pressure on different people, thus this study aimed to measure respondents' psychological distress during the early phase of the Omicron wave in Java Island. Methods: A web-based survey on societal influence and COVID-19-related psychological distress was distributed through social media in November–December 2021, and received 396 responses. Results: This study showed that almost 50% of respondents faced psychological distress during the early phase of the Omicron variant, especially concerning hypervigilance and avoidance. Several sociodemographic factors might contribute to the incidence of psychological distress including comorbidity, age and education. Conclusion: Taken together, the incidence of COVID-19-related psychological distress was still found in the early phase of the Omicron variant, especially among young adults.

The growing trend of urban population beyond its capacity has caused widespread problems in various social, economic, cultural, and environmental dimensions. In this regard, one of the most important strategies is to identify local citizenship and, consequently, the city's status with the aim of prosperity, equality of social justice, etc., with a right-based approach to the city. The present study investigates the role of urban space in realizing the right to the city in Urmia. In this context, the present study has tried to investigate the desirability of urban space in realizing the right to a city in Urmia. For this purpose, library and field methods have been used to collect information. We used Smart PLS software to analyze the significance of the relationship between desirability and the right to the city. Additionally, we employed the IPA model to elucidate the variance in importance and performance of desirability indicators concerning the realization of the right to the city. It should be noted that since the present study's sample was based on experts, the sample size was selected by a purposeful method (snowball) of 20 people. The results show that desirability is effective in realizing the right to a city in the city of Urmia and has been confirmed in three fits of variance sharing validity (R2), predictive power (Q2), and structural model strength (GOF). Therefore, the priority of the indicators of desirability to realize the right to the city includes responding to the needs of citizens, the possibility of the presence of society in the city (especially disabled people), responsibility, belonging, adaptation, and legalization of citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasonic frequency vibration coupled micro-wire electrical discharge machining (UFV- μ WEDM) has received enormous consideration due to its zero-tolerance machining. Nickel chromium (Ni–Cr) space alloys are a natural choice within the aerospace industry, which are exposed to high temperatures and high pressure, such as turbine seals and exhaust liners. This study reveals the impact of the UFV- μ WEDM influencing machining parameters like ultrasonic frequency vibration (UFV), servo voltage ( V S ), time on ( T on ), cutting angle ( A C ), time off ( T off ), and current (I) on the Ni–Cr space alloy in terms of minimum surface undulation (Ra) with maximum material removal rate ( M RR ). The cutting trials are carried out by central composite design (CCD). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is used to find out the proportionate contribution of several factors, and it discloses that V S was the significant parameter impacting Ra (64.57%) and M RR (61.86%). The performance sequence of significant influencing parameters is V S > T off > A C > T on > I. According to desirability analysis (DA), optimum parameters for numerous solutions are T on = 8 μ s, V S = 5 0 V, T off = 1 4 μ s, I = 3 A, and A C = 3 0 ∘ . The optimum conditions lead to the highest M RR (5.72 mm3/min) and the lowest Ra (3.42 μ m). Scanning electron, 3D topography, and atomic force microscope images are used to analyze the machined surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose and test a process where potential entrepreneurs (PEs) prioritize a venture idea consideration set using preference-based decision-specific heuristics to assess idea feasibility and desirability. We test our hypotheses through two studies with PEs. The first experiment shows that prioritization occurs, with 113 of 122 PEs voluntarily changing a randomized list of their ideated ventures into a rank-ordered priority list of potential opportunities. Second, we employ a novel "equivocal forced-choice" conjoint design with 250 PEs. We find empirical support that PEs prioritize via relative preferences for experience-based knowledge, strong social ties, and low risk/low reward venture ideas. We contribute to the entrepreneurship literature by theorizing and providing evidence of a prioritization stage for multiple idea sets before evaluation. Further, we demonstrate the influence of individual and social network factors on prioritization and expand our understanding of how PEs conceptualize risk in venturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]