Spatial And Temporal Analysis Of Real Fluid Thermodynamics Nonlinearities On Turbulent Mixing In Supercritical Fluids

The impact of thermodynamic nonlinearities on flow properties and turbulence was the focus of this study, which investigated the spatial and temporal dynamics of supercritical CO₂ turbulent mixing layers. Beyond their critical point, where parameters such as density, pressure, temperature, isothermal compressibility, and thermal expansion show significant gradients and fluctuations, supercritical fluids deviate sharply from ideal gas behavior. These nonlinearities have a major effect on turbulence and cause complex mixing behavior that has important ramifications for the machines that operate in supercritical environments. The study explored the effects of local variations of important thermodynamic variables on the fluid dynamics in a spatially evolving mixing layer axially along the X axis, and transversely across the mixing layer along the Y axis, using LES. Five locations downstream of a finite splitter plate are the subject of the analysis. This study also analyzed the change of parameters at the intersecting points of vertical stations and centerline with respect to time. Maxwell\u27s relations and the Jacobian inversion method were used to quantify the effects of factors such as isothermal compressibility and the thermal expansion coefficient on observables such as temperature and pressure. The major findings include sudden inflections in the partial derivative of density with respect to pressure, which signify regions of a marked difference in isothermal compressibility. These changes are more pronounced downstream, highlighting the coupling of thermodynamic properties and turbulence. In temperature profiles, it is evident that the rise of fluctuations and sharp gradients enhances the formation of turbulent structures. This highlights the heat expansion effect on the mixing. Also, there are large pressure and enthalpy fluctuations in regions with significant thermodynamic gradients. Pressure fluctuations driven by these nonlinear property increased in amplitude downstream, potentially leading to instabilities in confined environments. In a qualitative sense the study shows that thermodynamic nonlinearities lead to active flow regimes, where turbulence is enhanced. Quantitatively, the outcomes indicate that near the critical point slight perturbations often produce dramatic property changes necessitating advanced modeling methods. These results highlight how thermodynamic nonlinearities are significant to supercritical CO₂ mixing-layer evolution. Index Terms: Bulk thermal expansion coefficient, isothermal compressibility, Large Eddy Simulation, supercritical condition, thermodynamic nonlinearities, and turbulent flow

Evaluation Of A Nurse Practitioner-Led Preoptimization Care Management Program’s Impact On Patient Satisfaction For Total Hip And Knee Arthroplasty

This evaluation project aimed to assess whether the nurse practitioner-led preoptimization care management program can increase patient satisfaction by improving the quality metrics, such as same-day ambulation post-surgery, discharge to home, and compliance in preoperative education. The evaluation retroactively reviewed 46 charts of primary total knee and hip arthroplasty patients, male (38%) and female (62%), aged 43 to 84. Using Fisher’s exact test to examine the Net Promoter Scores (NPS) for six months of the PCM program, there was no significant increase in patient satisfaction scores, despite PCM patients averaging 89% compared to non-PCM patients at 83%, based on an alpha value of .05, OR = 1.86, p = .532. The results suggested that the PCM program positively affected the patients enrolled, although it was not statistically significant. The results of the Chi-square test for same-day ambulation and discharge home indicated there was a statistically significant increase based on an alpha value of .05, χ2(1) = 6.03, p = .014, and an alpha value of .05, p = .025, respectively, suggesting that the implementation of the PCM program did significantly increase same-day ambulation and discharge home compliance rates. However, the Chi-square test results for preoperative education compliance were insignificant based on an alpha value of .05, χ2(1) = 0.35, p = .555. These findings indicated that a quality-focused approach improved patient satisfaction. In addition, there was a statistically significant increase in patients meeting quality metrics measured by the facility for PCM patients versus non-PCM patients. The findings indicated that quality measures may not correlate with improving patient satisfaction, but healthcare providers should focus on individualized education and health assessment. Hospital administrators should consider re-evaluating quality measures and looking for metrics directly affecting patient satisfaction. Keywords: total joint arthroplasty, NPS, net provider score, total hip arthroplasty satisfaction, patient satisfaction post joint replacement, joint replacement education, arthroplasty, preoperative education for joint replacement, preoptimization, joint replacement, nurse navigator, patient care management, joint replacement, same-day ambulatio

Enhancing Postpartum Depression Screening Rates: An Educational Intervention For Primary Care Pediatric Providers: A Quality Improvement Project

This quality improvement (QI) project sought to increase postpartum depression (PPD) screening rates at a single pediatric primary care practice setting by implementing an educational intervention for pediatric providers. Postpartum depression is a common and debilitating mental health condition affecting many mothers worldwide. Postpartum depression impacts many women in the United States and affects all ethnicities, although rates may vary based on demographic and socioeconomic factors. Despite the American Academy of Pediatrics\u27 recommendations for maternal PPD screening at one, two, four, and six months, well-child visits, national screening rates remain low, with a large number of cases undiagnosed. The current literature revealed significant gaps in the knowledge and confidence of primary care pediatric providers regarding PPD screening protocols, which result in missed opportunities for early maternal mental health intervention during routine infant care visits. The PICOT question guiding this investigation was: Among primary pediatric providers in a single pediatric setting (P), did providing an educational session on postpartum depression screening guidelines (I) increase postpartum depression screening rates (O) compared to no specific education (C) within 30 days (T)? This QI project employed a pre-post intervention design with primary care providers in a pediatric setting, including nurse practitioners, who constituted the population of interest. The intervention consisted of a single educational session on PPD screening, along with an evidence-based assessment tool, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. A retrospective and prospective chart audit was conducted comparing PPD screening rates before and after the educational intervention. Data collection occurred 30 days post-implementation, and PPD screening rates increased from .08% pre-intervention to 95% post-intervention, representing a statistically significant improvement in provider adherence to screening protocols. Educational interventions targeting pediatric providers may effectively improve PPD screening compliance in primary care settings. Implementation of structured educational programming, combined with standardized screening protocols and systematic monitoring, demonstrated potential for addressing current gaps in PPD identification during routine pediatric visits. Future research should focus on the longitudinal sustainability of these improvements and potential impacts on maternal treatment, engagement, and outcomes. Keywords: postpartum depression, PPD screening, American Academy of Pediatrics, AAP, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, maternal mental health, well child visits, pediatric primary care providers, PPD educational sessio

Supercritical Water Oxidation And A Preliminary Concept For Lunar Application

As the reach of space exploration extends further from Earth, the cost, time, and energy requirements necessary for life support of crewed expeditions exponentially increases. This makes the reclamation of resources paramount to the viability of such missions and will eventually become a major constraint for future destinations due to the expensive delivery of materials. Thusly, Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO) has been proposed to meet the requirements for the recovery of potable water needed for the drinking, hygiene, laundry, and irrigation performed by astronauts. This technique utilizes supercritical water’s properties above 374°C and 22.1 MPa alongside oxidants to convert organic hydrocarbons into products of pure water and carbon dioxide: generating higher yields of recovery without the waste by-products present within alternative waste treatment methods. The purpose of this research was to validate the effectiveness of SCWO for continuous operation, improve upon previous reactor designs with the addition of a mixing nozzle, perform a preliminary single-species analysis of waste constituents, and to develop a conceptual SCWO reactor for an early lunar base. For this work, a tubular reactor designed at NASA Glenn Research Center was used to perform SCWO methodologies on waste streams that include ersatz wastewater (EWW)—a simulant representative of waste found on the International Space Station, urea, acetic acid, and ethanol diluted with deionized water to varying concentrations. Peak reaction temperatures ranged between 588˚C to 690˚C with operation pressures ranging from 26 MPa to 28 MPa. Samples from each experiment were analyzed through measurements of Total Organic Carbon (TOC), pH, turbidity, conductivity, and Raman spectroscopy. On average, the ersatz-based solutions displayed a \u3e99% reduction in TOC. For the results of the urea-based solutions, the Raman characterizations showed greater development of intermittent species at lower throughputs suggesting an inverse trend with residence time and intermittent species generation. The opposite trend is present within the acetic acid Raman spectra that portray evidence of lesser intermittent species development at lower throughputs, or higher residence times. Finally, a lunar SCWO model was generated to perform a preliminary cost analysis for comparison with other water reclamation technologies proposed for ASA Artemis. Index Terms: Raman spectroscopy, supercritical water, supercritical water oxidation (SCWO), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), water reclamation

(SI14-03) Time Proportional Non-Instantaneous Deterioration Decisions for Vendor Managed Inventory System

This article formulates a model for optimizing inventory replenishment decisions for the products that experience non-instantaneous deterioration by allowing partial backlogging. Two-level supply chain (SC) is considered in vendor-managed inventory (VMI) model which contains ‘single-retailer and single-supplier’ for studying the performance. The model considers two constant demand rates which differ from others when deterioration in the product commences. In addition, the general function of time is considered for deterioration rate. Theoretical results are derived to compute the replenishment cycle length. Lastly, the benefit of VMI policy is illustrated through numerical examples. Further, explanation of some features of the VMI model is made using sensitivity analysis for presenting the liability of this model in the form of managerial results

Detection And Mitigation Of Distributed Denial Of Service (Ddos) Attack: Application To Smart Grid Communication Networks

The Smart Grid is an improvement on the conventional grid that uses advanced communication methods and new technology for the production, transmission, and distribution of electrical power. The modern Smart Grid \u27s ability to function successfully depends heavily on its communication infrastructure. Today, the usage of communication technology promotes energy efficiency, coordination amongst all Smart Grid components, from generation to end users, and optimal Smart Grid functioning. The communication network of the Smart Grid exchanges data regarding the condition of its numerous integrated IEDs (intelligent electronic devices); however, there are always chances for attackers to interrupt utility resources, interfere with communication networks, or steal customers\u27 intellectual property and private information due to the different amounts of IEDs connected across Smart Grid Communication Networks. Additionally, as Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and dynamic loads become more prevalent, phase angle values that are crucial for Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) change, and real-time control has emerged as a key tool for tracking power system performance in today\u27s Smart Grid technology. Because of their link to the Smart Grid \u27s communication network, Phasor Measurement Units devices are now susceptible to cyberattacks. Because of the recent global security incidents and new cyberthreats, this development has created new cyber-security issues for the Smart Grid and is a very worrying issue. The effects of Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) assaults on PMU data transfers over Smart Grid communication networks in the form of NetFlows were carefully examined in this study. For the first time in the literature, a combination of the Secure Network Analytics (SNA) tool, Intrusion Detection System, and firewall were used to model the DDOS attack in the Smart Grid \u27s communication network. Additionally, risk reduction and good security hygiene are enhanced by employing the Secure Network Analytics (SNA) tool to establish a security baseline for the Smart Grid system. The research findings are in contrast with those found in previous studies. Our findings demonstrated that this research strategy outperformed previous approaches in the literature in terms of mitigating and detecting DDOS attacks. Index Terms: Detection and mitigation, distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack, distributed energy resources, firewall, intrusion detection and prevention systems, phase measurement units, Smart Grid system

(R2137) Smarandache Curved Ruled Surfaces and Their Characterizations According to Modified Orthogonal Frame in E^3

In this study, the ruled surfaces generated by Smarandache curves are expressed according to the modified orthogonal frame defined according to both curvature and torsion of the given unit speed curve in 3-dimensional Euclidean space; some special characterizations of these surfaces such as developability, striction curves, distribution parameters are given. In addition, some examples of these surfaces are given in graphical form. We use Maple to draw the graphs of the examples

Improving Hiv Pep Patient Follow-Up Appointment And Laboratory Testing In A Telehealth Setting: A Quality Improvement Project

The ongoing HIV epidemic in the United States highlights the need for innovative prevention strategies, including non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP). This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project evaluated a telehealth-based intervention aimed at increasing HIV PEP follow-up appointments and laboratory completion rates, while also enhancing provider knowledge. Dual interventions included a patient reminder system and provider education. While provider knowledge significantly improved post-intervention, based on Cohen’s d effect size of 0.62, clinical significance was demonstrated by follow-up appointment rates declining from 44% pre-intervention to 41% post-intervention. Laboratory completion rates also decreased, with 53% of patients completing labs pre-intervention compared to 38% post-intervention (χ² = 5.54, p = .019). These findings suggest that provider education was effective, with the reminder systems improving follow-up and laboratory adherence in a telehealth setting. Keywords: HIV PEP (non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis), laboratory completion, KAP (knowledge, attitude, and practice, patient-reminder system

College Leaders’ Perspectives Of Diversity At A Community College System In Texas: A Phenomenological Study Of Validation

The United States has undergone dramatic changes in student demographics over the last 40 years. Nowhere is this reflected more than in the field of education (Center for Public Education, 2012; Fabina et al., 2023). Disaggregation of student demographics is a useful and common method for measuring student outcomes, and in the United States, non-majority students consistently have lower student outcomes (Gay, 2013; Howard, 2010; Ocay et al., 2023). Ma and Baum (2016) and McNair et al. (2015) stated that the role of community colleges is pivotal in postsecondary education. As such, college leaders and administrators have focused attention on ensuring the campus climate is conducive to meeting the needs of their diverse student population in order to improve completion rates. What has received less attention in recent years is an exploration of the policies and practices of community college administrators designed to create educational environments that promote success in tangible ways that affirm and support all students’ persistence and completion. Therefore, this qualitative phenomenological study, using Rendon’s (1994) Validation Theory, sought to illuminate, from a leadership perspective, the creation and institutionalization of a community college campus climate in Texas that fostered success for the range of diverse students they enroll. The research questions were: (1) What specific policies and practices do community college administrators consider integral to creating a validating campus climate? and (2) What specific policies and practices have community college administrators developed to promote interaction among diverse groups on campus? Two themes emerged from the data: Current Climate Mask Efforts and Personal, Not Institutional. Given the present realities of the current political and social discourse concerning diversity, the net effect of the two themes may represent the quandary some community college leaders, indeed, all college leaders, face. Although data is not always destiny, data is instructive. The United States is more diverse today than it has ever been in its history. Relatedly, diversity encompasses more than race/ethnicity. As such, all American institutions are microcosms of society. The findings are instructive for postsecondary educational leaders navigating real and imagined minefields. Keywords: community college and campus environment, non-majority student populations, Validation Theor

The Dilemma Of The Black Airbnb Host: To “Whitewash” Or Not?

This research investigated the effectiveness of Black Airbnb operators who whitewash their Airbnb listings for the purpose of building trust and ultimately increasing booking intention. In the housing industry, whitewashing is a practice of non-White homeowners removing their images from their homes to increase valuation. Prior studies on whitewashing focused on various subjects of the homeowners, including education and corporate professionalism. Since the introduction of the Airbnb digital platform in 2007, over 4 million Airbnb hosts have opened their doors to over 1 billion guests worldwide among which a growing number of hosts are Black. This study used perceived congruence as a framework to explore the impact on building trust and increasing booking intention on the Airbnb platform. The research relied upon quantitative inquiry methods to determine the drivers that influenced establishing trust and booking intention on the digital peer-to-peer platform, Airbnb. A survey instrument was developed and administered on the crowdsourcing platform Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). This survey instrument included replica Airbnb listings developed with the intention to indicate the race of the host based on visual illustrations, artwork, and name of host. This research revealed that race does matter when it comes to trust and booking intention. Both White and Black Airbnb guests were significantly influenced by images that provided cues to the race of the host. The goal of this research was to fill a gap in existing the existing literature dedicated to whitewashing, aid in the effort to better understand the mechanisms of consumer behavior on the Airbnb platform and examine the long-term ramifications of barriers that limit access for Black participants to the platform economy. Keywords: Airbnb, shared economy, congruence, trust, purchasing intentio