bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Freshwater and minerals recovery from synthetic produced water by membrane distillation/membrane crystallization processes
Authors: Alessandro Francesca , Macedonio Francesca , Frappa Mirko , Drioli Enrico 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe purpose of this work is to study the influence of oil and surfactant present in produced water on the membrane distillation and membrane crystallization performance. The latter is evaluated in terms of permeate flux, quality of permeate and sodium chloride crystallization kinetics. Polypropylene and Hyflon AD40H/PVDF composite membranes with 0.2 $$\mathrm{\mu m}$$

μ
m

pore size were used in the investigation. The tests were carried out in direct contact configuration using two synthetic feed solutions: the first one without oil and surfactant, and the second one with oil and surfactant. The achieved results showed a permeate flux reduction of 20 and 40% for PP and AD40H, respectively, in membrane distillation and of 35% in membrane crystallization. These results may be attributed to the interaction between the salts and surfactant, which led to the deterioration of the membrane performance. Despite this, high salt rejection factors greater than 99.9% and total carbon rejections ranging between 80 and 90% indicated the good potential of membrane distillation technology for the treatment of produced water. Moreover, good quality crystals and high total water recovery factor (97%) were achieved using the membrane crystallization process. Nevertheless, the presence of oil and surfactant in the feed caused an increase in the induction time compared to the system without oil and surfactant. In addition, in the performed experiments, simple physical cleaning with distillate water was sufficient to recover the initial trans-membrane flux of the membranes.
Using data mining to discover new patterns of social media and smartphone use and emotional states
Authors: Al-Saggaf Yeslam , Rahman Md Anisur , Wiil Uffe Kock 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Social media and smartphone use are strongly linked to users' emotional states. While numerous studies have established that fear of missing out (FOMO), boredom, and loneliness predict social media and smartphone use, numerous other studies have concluded that social media and smartphone use negatively impact these emotional states (i.e., FOMO, boredom, and loneliness). Phubbing (phone snubbing), which is the act of ignoring a physically present person in favour of a smartphone, is associated with both social media and smartphone use and users’ emotional states. Much of the above research, however, has adopted the traditional hypothesis testing method. So far, limited work has been done using data-driven approaches. This paper uses data mining techniques to uncover previously unknown patterns about social media and smartphone use, phubbing, and users' emotional states based on two existing datasets originating from online questionnaires facilitated through social media. Novel patterns related to FOMO, loneliness, boredom, and phubbing are discovered and explored in detail. The study also demonstrates the usefulness of the data-driven approach and establishes it as a valid alternative to the hypothesis-driven approach to investigating social media and smartphone use, phubbing, and users' emotional states.
Geochemical and Isotopic Characteristics of the Emir Geothermal Waters in Kula Area, Western Anatolia
Authors: Gökgöz Ali , Mutlu Halim , Demirel Özgün 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn this study, we investigate chemical and isotopic characteristics of thermal waters of the Emir geothermal field in the Kula region, which hosts the youngest volcanism in Turkey. Studied thermal waters with temperature and electrical conductivity values of 21–63 °C and 3840 to 5210 μS/cm are of Na–HCO3 type and have neutral character. δ18O and δD of thermal waters are − 9.40 to − 8.41‰ and − 64.16 to − 56.38‰ (VSMOW) and indicate a meteoric source with local recharge. Tritium values of thermal waters in the Emir geothermal field are mostly < 1 TU signifying a deep circulation. Positive δ13C values (1.32–4.46‰ VPDB) imply that carbon is derived dominantly from marine limestone and dominantly from endogenic CO2. δ18O and δ34S of dissolved sulfate yield that marine limestone is the source of sulfur in thermal waters, which are partly affected by sulfide oxidation and bacterial reduction processes. At discharge temperatures, Emir thermal waters are oversaturated with respect to albite, aragonite, calcite, α-cristobalite, dolomite, gibbsite, illite, K-feldspar, kaolinite, muscovite and quartz but undersaturated for anhydrite and wairakite. The activity diagrams suggest that high Na+ and K+ concentrations in waters are attributed to dissolution of muscovite, K-feldspar and albite. Chemical and isotopic compositions of the Emir thermal waters are controlled by a combination of processes including water–rock interaction, dissolution/precipitation and ion exchange. Various chemical and isotopic geothermometers applied to the thermal waters yielded reservoir temperatures in the range of 80–125 °C. Paleo-temperatures estimated from δ18O values of travertines and thermal waters (isotope fractionation) are consistent with modern discharge temperatures.
Fatigue life evaluation of welded joints under multiaxial loading for different stress concepts using an extended Gough-Pollard criterion
Authors: Bauer N. M. , Baumgartner J. , Fass M. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractFatigue life evaluation of welded joints under multiaxial loading usually refers to stresses normal to the weld and shear stresses. Stresses parallel to the weld are not considered in most experiments or the well-known Gough-Pollard criterion. Hence, the Gough-Pollard criterion has recently been extended to include all stress components at the weld surface. In this paper, both the original and, for the first time, the extended Gough-Pollard criterion are applied to different welded specimens under multiaxial loading that includes stresses parallel to the weld. As shown, the original criterion is insufficient to evaluate such stress states. This is because the calculated fatigue life becomes less conservative as the stresses parallel to the weld become more significant. The extended criterion, on the other hand, shows greatly improved accuracy while significantly reducing the likelihood of non-conservative results. In conclusion, the extended Gough-Pollard criterion can describe fatigue life under multiaxial loading better than the original version and provides reliable and conservative results for welded joints. The main findings are valid for the nominal, the hot spot, and the notch stress concept.
Association of serum uric acid with functional disability in older subjects: a population-based study
Authors: Laudisio Alice , Dorizzi Agnese , Villeggia Fabio , Latino Francesca , Filippucci Daniele , Zuccalà Giuseppe 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Background
The role of serum uric acid (SUA) in the development of adverse health outcomes in advanced age is still uncertain.

Aims
The aim of the study was to assess the association of disability with SUA levels in older community-dwelling subjects.

Methods
We assessed the association of disability with SUA in all 351 inhabitants of Tuscania (Italy) aged 75+. Functional ability was estimated using the instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).

Results
In logistic regression, increasing SUA levels were associated with disability (OR = 1.22; 95%CI = 1.01–1.48; P = .036), after adjusting. The association was independent of both gender and age (P for interaction > 0.050). SUA levels above 5.5 mg/dL best predicted disability.

Conclusions
In older subjects, SUA levels are associated with disability; the cut off level above 5.5 mg/dL might be adopted in pharmacological trials aiming at reducing the incidence and progression of disability by reducing SUA, and for identifying subjects at increased risk of disability.
Saddle point braids of braided fibrations and pseudo-fibrations
Authors: Bode Benjamin , Hirasawa Mikami 
Published: April 2024

AbstractLet$$g_t$$gtbe a loop in the space of monic complex polynomials in one variable of fixed degreen. If the roots of$$g_t$$gtare distinct for allt, they form a braid$$B_1$$B1onnstrands. Likewise, if the critical points of$$g_t$$gtare distinct for allt, they form a braid$$B_2$$B2on$$n-1$$n-1strands. In this paper we study the relationship between$$B_1$$B1and$$B_2$$B2. Composing the polynomials$$g_t$$gtwith the argument map defines a pseudo-fibration map on the complement of the closure of$$B_1$$B1in$${\mathbb {C}}\times S^1$$C×S1, whose critical points lie on$$B_2$$B2. We prove that for$$B_1$$B1a T-homogeneous braid and$$B_2$$B2the trivial braid this map can be taken to be a fibration map. In the case of homogeneous braids we present a visualization of this fact. Our work implies that for every pair of links$$L_1$$L1and$$L_2$$L2there is a mixed polynomial$$f:{\mathbb {C}}^2\rightarrow {\mathbb {C}}$$f:C2→Cin complex variablesu,vand the complex conjugate$$\overline{v}$$v¯such that bothfand the derivative$$f_u$$fuhave a weakly isolated singularity at the origin with$$L_1$$L1as the link of the singularity offand$$L_2$$L2as a sublink of the link of the singularity of$$f_u$$fu.
Sparse semi-supervised multi-label feature selection based on latent representation
Authors: Zhao Xue , Li Qiaoyan , Xing Zhiwei , Yang Xiaofei , Dai Xuezhen 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWith the rapid development of the Internet, there are a large number of high-dimensional multi-label data to be processed in real life. To save resources and time, semi-supervised multi-label feature selection, as a dimension reduction method, has been widely used in many machine learning and data mining. In this paper, we design a new semi-supervised multi-label feature selection algorithm. First, we construct an initial similarity matrix with supervised information by considering the similarity between labels, so as to learn a more ideal similarity matrix, which can better guide feature selection. By combining latent representation with semi-supervised information, a more ideal pseudo-label matrix is learned. Second, the local manifold structure of the original data space is preserved by the manifold regularization term based on the graph. Finally, an effective alternating iterative updating algorithm is applied to optimize the proposed model, and the experimental results on several datasets prove the effectiveness of the approach.
Nonnationals’ Fertility and the Great Recession in Italy: A Panel Analysis of Quantum and Tempo Responses
Authors: García-Pereiro Thaís , Paterno Ana 
Published: April 2024

AbstractFertility responses to economic downturns differ among subpopulations. Whether the relationship between employment and fertility varies according to ethnic origin, and if so, how, are issues that have yet to be sufficiently acknowledged in empirical studies. It is well known that economic conditions affect childbearing, but little is known about how macro-level nonnationals’ fertility was affected by the economic crisis. This study accounts for the effects by comparing the fertility responses of nonnationals with nationals (in terms of ‘quantum’ and ‘tempo’), while assessing the role of compositional changes on the decline of nonnationals’ fertility before, during and after the recession in Italy. It also determines whether and how responses to economic conditions differentially affected the fertility of nonnationals and nationals based on the stage of the recession. We built a regional-level panel dataset for the period 2006–2018 and estimated several ordinary least squares regression models with regional and calendar year fixed effects to control for unobserved regional and period characteristics. Results show that nonnationals’ fertility responses were procyclical and more responsive to male than female unemployment. Fertility behaviours also responded to compositional effects, such as the increase in the stock of nonnational women coming from Eastern Europe and mixed marriages. The procyclical effect was stronger after 2009, primarily for nonnationals. Another important finding is that the greatest reduction in fertility was linked to age-specific unemployment among nonnational women aged 20–24 and 25–29. Finally, fertility responses of nationals were weaker independently of the observed unemployment measures.
High-performance thermoplastics obtained by fused filament fabrication: effects of harsh environmental conditions of power transformers
Authors: Costa Catarina , Lopes Pedro , Castro João , Matos João R. , Lopes Helena , Gouveia Joana R. , Pinto Sara M. , Ribeiro Inês , Oliveira Luís , Dutra Thiago Assis 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn the evolving landscape of power transformers, the integration of advanced technologies, such as high-performance polymers obtained by Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), is crucial. This study investigates the compatibility and performance of various 3D-printed polymer materials—Biofila, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyphenylene Sulfone (PPSU), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherimide (ULTEM 1010), and polyetheretherketone reinforced with 20% glass fiber (PEEK-GF20) for use in power transformer components. Through oil compatibility, dielectric strength, and kerosene compatibility evaluations, the study gauges their suitability for this application. The results reveal that PPSU, PEEK, and ULTEM 1010 exhibit promising characteristics, specifically in regard to dielectric breakdown voltage and kerosene and insulating oil compatibility. In contrast, Biofila presented severe cracking when exposed to the mineral oil and PVDF and PEEK-GF20 fall short in terms of dielectric strength, rendering them unsuitable. Kerosene compatibility assessments show minimal material changes, confirming that all studied materials have good resistance to this drying agent, commonly used on power transformers. This research aims to provides essential insights into material selection for a new generation of power transformer parts.
A review on simulation based multi-objective optimization of space layout design parameters on building energy performance
Authors: Harshalatha  , Patil Shantharam , Kini Pradeep G. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractImproving the energy performance of buildings is crucial for environmental protection, energy savings, and a better living environment. The growing emphasis on sustainable building practices has led to an increased focus on optimizing space layout design parameters to enhance building energy performance. This review explores the application of simulation-based multi-objective optimization techniques in the context of studying the impact of space layout design on building energy efficiency. The integration of advanced simulation tools with optimization algorithms allows for a comprehensive analysis of multiple conflicting objectives like energy performance, user comfort as well as cost factor. The review begins by outlining the key parameters influencing building energy performance, including spatial configurations, orientation, and space perimeter variables. Subsequently, it delves into the various simulation tools employed to model the complex interactions between these parameters and their effects on energy performance. The integration of energy simulation software is highlighted as a crucial step towards achieving accurate and realistic assessments. In summary, this review delivers a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art methods in simulation-based multi-objective optimization for studying space layout design parameters and their impact on building energy performance, offering insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the field of sustainable architecture. There is a requirement for a comprehensive multi-objective framework for complex structures in the investigation of building energy performance giving more focus on reducing the cooling load and optimization of space layout along with envelope parameters.
Communicating Europe: a computational analysis of the evolution of the European Commission’s communication on Twitter
Authors: Rocca Roberta , Lawall Katharina , Tsakiris Manos , Cram Laura 
Published: April 2024

AbstractSocial media is an important means of communication for political agencies, which makes it possible to engage with large sectors of the public. For institutions which are not directly elected by voters, such as the European Commission (EC), social media can be a strategic tool for increasing perceived legitimacy and citizen engagement, especially in contexts of high politicization. In this paper, we use natural language processing techniques to provide a comprehensive overview of how EC communication on Twitter has evolved between 2010 and 2022, with respect to both its topics and its style. Our analyses show that, over time, the focus of EC communication has shifted substantially from economy-, finance- and governance-related topics, towards social policy, digital and environmental policy, and identity. These changes have progressively differentiated the EC’s profile from that of other institutions (especially more technocratic ones) and contributed to better alignment with engagement patterns of its social media audience. In addition, EC communication has become less neutral (in favor of more positive sentiment), simpler, and more readable, all features which are associated with more accessible and engaging messaging. Yet, while the EC currently scores better than most other reference agencies on several descriptors of accessibility, its style is still lexically more complex, less concrete and less action-oriented than that of other institutions. Alongside providing novel insights on how the EC’s online communication and projected political identity have changed over time, this study lays the foundations for future experimental and hypothesis-driven work combining social media data with external data sources.
Assessment of reproduction of brown bears in Sweden using stained placental scars
Authors: Schöll Eva M. , Klestil Lisa A. , Zedrosser Andreas , Swenson Jon E. , Hackländer Klaus 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe Swedish brown bear Ursus arctos population is protected, but managed with legally defined hunting seasons. Management decisions (e.g., hunting quotas) are frequently changed and should be based on knowledge about demographic parameters, but collecting sufficient data in the field is time consuming and expensive. An efficient method to collect data on reproductive output could be counting placental scars in the uteri of female brown bears, because hunters in Sweden are required to collect samples (including reproductive organs) of harvested bears and submit them to the authorities. We assessed the reliability of placental scar counts to determine reproductive performance by counting the number of young with female radio-collared brown bears and comparing that with placental scar counts after those females had been harvested. We found that staining uteri improved the detection of placental scars. The differences between number of scars detected before and after staining the uteri, increased significantly with female age. The number of placental scars and number of observed cubs-of-the-year accompanying females corresponded well 2 and 3 years after birth; relatively small deviations between them might have occurred because of early cub mortality prior to the observations after leaving the den. Placental scar counts can provide accurate information on age of primiparity, evidence for reproductive aging (senescence), and reproductive productivity, and therefore inform decisions regarding adaptive management, sustainable hunting, and conservation.
Artificial intelligence of things for smart cities: advanced solutions for enhancing transportation safety
Authors: Jagatheesaperumal Senthil Kumar , Bibri Simon Elias , Huang Jeffrey , Rajapandian Jeyaranjani , Parthiban Bhavadharani 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn the context of smart cities, ensuring road safety is crucial due to increasing urbanization and the interconnected nature of contemporary urban environments. Leveraging innovative technologies is essential to mitigate risks and create safer communities. Thus, there is a compelling imperative to develop advanced solutions to enhance road safety within smart city frameworks. In this article, we introduce a comprehensive vehicle safety framework tailored specifically for smart cities in the realm of Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT). This framework seamlessly integrates a variety of sensors, including eye blink, ultrasonic, and alcohol sensors, to bolster road safety. The utilization of eye blink sensor serves to promptly detect potential hazards, alerting drivers through audible cues and thereby enhancing safety on smart city roads. Moreover, ultrasonic sensors provide real time information about surrounding vehicle speeds, thereby facilitating smoother traffic flow. To address concerns related to alcohol consumption and its potential impact on road safety, our framework incorporates a specialized sensor that effectively monitors the driver’s alcohol levels. In instances of high alcohol content, the system utilizes GPS and GSM technology to automatically adjust the vehicle’s speed while simultaneously notifying pertinent authorities for prompt intervention. Additionally, our proposed system optimizes inter-vehicle communication in smart cities by leveraging Li-Fi technology, enabling faster and more efficient data transmission via visible light communication (VLC). The integration of Li-Fi enhances connectivity among connected vehicles, contributing to a more cohesive and intelligent urban transportation network. Through the structured integration of AIoT technologies, our framework lays a robust foundation for a safer, smarter, and more sustainable future in smart city transportation. It offers significant advancements in road safety and establishes the groundwork for further enhancement in intelligent urban transportation networks.
Adolescent engagement in a stepped care, transdiagnostic mental health intervention delivered in Indian schools
Authors: Gellatly Resham , Boustani Maya , Nair Pooja , Mahajan Rujuta , Jambhale Abhijeet , Sahu Rooplata , Chodankar Bindiya , Krishna Madhuri , Malik Kanika , Mathur Sonal , Becker Kimberly , Michelson Daniel , Patel Vikram , Chorpita Bruce 
Published: April 2024

AbstractGiven the relationship between poor engagement and worse treatment outcomes, improving engagement has been the focus of attention in recent years. Engagement is a particular challenge among minoritized and otherwise challenged youth, such as those from socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, including youth in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where they face lower levels of access to resources, including mental health treatment. The present study describes engagement challenges that arose in an uncontrolled pre-post evaluation of a school-based, modular, multi-problem, stepped-care intervention delivered in urban Indian communities. Specifically, the study aimed to (1) characterize barriers and facilitators of youth treatment engagement; and (2) evaluate treatment acceptability and fit of treatment from the youth perspective. Youth participants completed semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed and coded using thematic analysis. Participants described numerous facilitators to engagement (e.g., positive therapeutic relationship) and reported high overall satisfaction with the intervention, while also identifying barriers to engagement (e.g., concerns about confidentiality) and offering suggestions to increase fit and acceptability (e.g., more visually appealing treatment materials). Findings highlight ways in which engagement can be enhanced and implementation supports improved to maximize treatment effectiveness among minoritized and disadvantaged youth in LMICs.