Film cooling is one of the cooling systems investigated for the application to gas turbine blades. Gas turbines use film cooling in addition to turbulated internal cooling to protect the blades outer surface from hot gases. The present study concentrates on the experimental and numerical investigation of film cooling performance for a row of cylindrical holes in a modern turbine blade. The adiabatic film effectiveness and the heat transfer coefficient are determined experimentally on a flat plate downstream of a row of inclined different geometries hole exit by using a single test transient IR thermography technique. The focus of this investigation is to investigate advanced cooling hole geometries on film cooling heat transfer and cooling effectiveness over flat and turbine airfoil surfaces. Four test designs, crescent and converging slot, trench and cratered hole exits, are tested. Variations of these configurations are tested under two different test rigs. Results show that both the crescent and slot exits reduce the jet momentum at exit and also provide significantly higher film effectiveness with some increases in heat transfer coefficients. The trench where in the jets come in and spread evenly into a slot before exiting. An optimum trench depth exists at 0.75D as shallower and deeper trenches show worse performance. The cratered holes increase film effectiveness over the baseline case by about 50%. However, they do not provide significant lateral spreading as seen for trenched holes. Meanwhile, film cooling predictions are used to understand the mechanisms of the jets that exit these trenched holes and crater holes. The present work employs RSM (Reynolds stress transport model) for simulation of turbulent flows in film cooling and the simulation was run using FLUENT computer code. Comparisons are made with experimental data for the film effectiveness distributions. Results show that the film cooling jet exiting the trenched hole is more two-dimensional than the typical cylindrical holes and crater holes. Detailed flow structure visualization shows that the trench design counteracts the detrimental vorticity of the round hole flow, allowing it to remain attached to the surface.

Estimation of seasonal demand prior to an active demand season is essential in supply chain management. The business cycle of the seasonal demand is divided into two stages: stage-1, the slow-demand period, and stage-2, the peak-demand period. The focus here is to determine an appropriate demand forecast for the peak-demand period. In the first set of forecasting model, a standard gamma and an inverse gamma prior distribution are used to forecast demand. The parameters of the prior model are estimated and updated based on current observation using Bayesian technique. The forecasts are derived for both complete and incomplete datasets. The second set of forecast is derived by ARIMA method using Box-Jenkins approaches. A Bayesian ARIMA is proposed to forecast demand from incomplete dataset. A partial dataset of a seasonal product, collected from the US census bureau, is used in the models. Missing values in the dataset often arise in various situations. The models are extended to forecast demand from an incomplete dataset by the assumption that the original dataset contains missing values. The forecast by a multiplicative exponential smoothing model is used to compare all the forecast. The performances are tested by several error measures such as relative errors, mean absolute deviation, and tracking signals. A newsvendor inventory model with emergency procurement options and a periodic review model are studied to determine the procurement quantity and inventory costs. The inventory cost of each demand forecast relative to the cost of actual demand is used as the basis to choose an appropriate forecast for the dataset. This study improves the quality of demand forecasts and determines the best forecast. The result reveals that forecasting models using Bayesian ARIMA model and Bayesian probability models perform better. The flexibility in the Bayesian approaches allows wider variability in the model parameters helps to improve demand forecasts. These models are particularly useful when past demand information is incomplete or limited to few periods. Furthermore, it was found that improvements in demand forecasting can provide better cost reductions than relying on inventory models.

There's no doubt that the emergence of public report cards and governmental requirements for transparency in healthcare are forcing healthcare providers to work vigorously to improve quality and decrease costs. The results of these report cards and rankings are of interest to consumers - who wouldn't want to know whether or not the healthcare provider you're intrusting your life to is the best. The lengths to which consumers will go to proactively seek this information is another topic within itself; however, if the information is handed to them through strategic marketing and advertising efforts, could the marketing of quality rating information by individual providers be powerful enough to achieve the ultimate marketing objective: positively shift market share? A convenience study uses consumer research conducted by individual healthcare organizations across the U.S. to determine if the use of ratings or awards in marketing messages influences consumers' perceptions or preferences of the provider. The findings of this study indicate that advertising ratings or awards can positively impact both benchmarks, but more so perception than preference in terms of the organization overall. However, when considering specific service lines, data indicates marketing of ratings can have a more significant impact on both perception and preference equally. This study revealed the lack of measurement and dedication to ROI by the majority of healthcare marketers.

Recent hurricane events in coastal Louisiana have emphasized the severe vulnerability of medical special needs (MSN) patients during flood disasters. MSN populations may be comprised of hospital, nursing home or hospice patients; the physically or mentally disabled; medically-dependent individuals requiring life-sustaining equipment or medicines; and frail elderly. Over 150 hospital and nursing home fatalities resulted from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. More than four hundred elderly over the age of seventy perished. Chronic diseases and mental health illness were among the top conditions reported in field hospitals, emergency rooms and shelters immediately following the storm. Louisiana MSN facilities and residences in the southern-most parishes continue to face daunting risks from even minor storms. Principal risks include storm surge and high winds made worse by coastal land loss. Few structures have been designed to withstand hurricane forces and many depend on coastal hurricane protection systems. Many are located in close proximity to industrial facilities or hazardous material sites. Meanwhile, MSN patients and decision-makers lack access to the latest hurricane science. This prevents them from conceptualizing their true hurricane vulnerability. Indications were that high numbers of MSN patients remained in the risk area even while Category 5 Hurricane Katrina loomed towards Louisiana. Many still plan to shelter in place for hurricanes. This manuscript reviews the health and hurricane risks of MSN patients in evacuation vs. sheltering in place in coastal Louisiana. The latest hurricane models are incorporated with critical MSN location data in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to determine threshold events. Solutions are explored to communicate risk, visualize data, and share hurricane research and GIS tools with MSN decision-makers at the local level. Based on scientifically accredited modeling and associated research, this study has determined the threshold storm event for coastal Louisiana MSN patient evacuation to be a tropical storm. Particularly, rapid hurricane intensification has historically supported that even lower order storms may intensify enough within 48 hours of landfall to create unsafe flood and wind levels. Thus, full MSN patient evacuation south of the Louisiana interstates is recommended upon a tropical storm entering the Gulf of Mexico.

Trans aconitic acid (TAA) is the predominant organic acid in cane leaf matter (CLM) juice. Its concentration is three to six times higher than the level found in sugarcane stalks. The variation of composition in terms of total fermentable sugars (TFS), anions, and cations of the LCP85-384 sugarcane variety during 2003-2006 seasons, as well as the ripener (Polado-L®) effect were analyzed. TAA content ranged between 2.1-3.1 kg / t CLM. The TFS in CLM juice yielded a fermentation efficiency of 92%, four points lower than with sugar molasses. Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), solid-liquid extraction and ion exchange were evaluated for the recovery of TAA from CLM stillage. Tributyl phosphate -dodecane, ethyl acetate and butanol were evaluated for LLE. Maximum TAA extraction yield (92 g/100 g) was observed on acidification of CLM stillage to pH 2.0 with 50 % (v/v) sulfuric acid at an organic/aqueous phase ratio (OA) of 3.5 with butanol as extractant. Tributyl phosphate-dodecane had a similar extraction yield as butanol; however, in this mixed solvent formation of third phase was observed. Ethyl acetate had the lowest extraction yield. The purity of TAA extract in butanol was 32 g/100 g DS. Butanol extract was esterified with either sulfuric acid or a cation exchange resin as catalyst to yield tributyl aconitate (TBA). Resin efficiency was affected by the impurities. The overall yield using sulfuric acid was 84 %. TBA was decolorized with powder activated carbon. The attempts to esterify TAA from spray dried CLM stillage were unsuccessful. The highest conversion yield was only 2.5 %. Dowex Optipore SD-2, a non-ionic adsorbent, showed the best results among the resins and adsorbents evaluated. TBA and two citrate esters were compared to di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) as plasticizers of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Thermal and mechanical properties were similar to those observed with DINP. CLM and leaves together represent up to 50% of the total fiber of cane. An economic model estimated that processing whole sugarcane can be a profitable business if it is transported at distance of no more than 20 miles from the field to the mill.

Electrodeposited Au/CoAu multilayered nanowires are materials with alternating layers of Au and CoAu in a wire where the layer thickness and wire diameter are nanometer size. They can be used for different applications. For example, the wires may exhibit giant magnetoresistance (GMR), a change in the materials resistance with a magnetic field, having applications as a sensor material for microdevices. If Co is etched from CoAu nanowires, rough, porous gold nanostructures will be left behind, which could be used as novel catalysts. In this study, the electrodeposition of Au/CoAu multilayered nanowires and nanotubes in nanoporous templates was explored from a non-cyanide electrolyte. The multilayers were deposited with a pulse current control and the template pore size played an important role in determining whether nanowires or nanotubes were formed. The magnetic and magnetoresistive properties of Au/CoAu multilayered nanostructures were examined. Au/CoAu multilayered thin films exhibited both normal and inverse CIP GMR. After electrodeposition, the solid nanowires were released from the template and one component was electrochemically etched from the nanowires. The electrochemical etching conditions were predetermined by the investigation of electrochemical etching behavior of CoAu alloy and pure Co thin films. By precisely controlling the electrochemical etching potential and time, the surface area of the nanowires was enhanced. Nano-bamboo structures were created after partial etching and Au nanodisk structures were created after complete etching. Compared to conventional chemical etching, the anodization etching process presented here can be controlled to produce partially etched structures. The anodization process was monitored by two techniques. The current was recorded during etching and the total charge was proportional to the layer size. In addition, cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used as a way to observe the partial etching of the nanowires. In addition, the annealing post-treatment was tested to enhance the magnetoresistive properties of Au/CoAu multilayered nanostructures and to improve the quality of the multilayer interface by promoting phase segregation. Furthermore, hollow nano-bamboo structure and ordered nanorings with various aspect ratios were developed through the electrochemical etching of Au/CoAu nanotubes in a similar way. To the best of the authors knowledge, this has not been done before.

The subject of this thesis revolves around the Western view of nature and its social origins. The author advances the subject through a comparison of two ancient texts: Hesiods Works and Days and the Old Testament book of Proverbs. He concludes that the Western view of nature gestated in agricultural societies of small-farmers who saw themselves as being both part of and separate from the natural world. Their ability to control nature being limited, they saw civilization as fulfilling a limited agricultural role in the cosmos, as being different but part of and not controlling the whole. In the last chapter, the author moves to discussing the forces at play within the Western view of nature that have resulted in the environmental situation of the twenty-first century. The author advances that a view of the physical realm as secondary, or degraded vis-à-vis the realm of the intellect entered Christianity through Platonic philosophy, and therefore is not original to the Western view of nature. Furthermore, he contends that the original interaction of Western man with nature was through physical work, and that both Platonic philosophy and modern science have influenced this original relationship.

PURPOSE: This research was conducted to assess methods to manage the residue blanket to avoid open field burning in sugarcane. Experiments were conducted in the state of Louisiana to evaluate methods to asses and potentially reduce water quality issues. METHODS: Concentrations and frequencies of biological compost tea were sprayed on sugarcane combine-harvester residue blanket to increase degradation rate and reduce potential for runoff water to transport nutrients and sediments that may impair water bodies, while sustaining suitable sugarcane yield. Carbon dioxide evolution rate (mg CO2-C) and CO2 fluxes were measured in laboratory and in open field conditions; as an index to measure organic matter degradation. A runoff water novel collector was proposed to collect runoff water samples from sugarcane fields. RESULTS: Results demonstrate that carbon dioxide evolution rates (mg CO2-C gr-1DW h-1) were increased when applying compost tea to a shredded and non-shredded material under laboratory conditions. However, no significant differences were found among treatments. The highest degradation rate was found when applying compost tea to a dosage of 5.6 m 3 hectare-1 for a non-shredded material and 2.8 m 3 hectare-1 for shredded material. Open field evaluations demonstrated that soil carbon dioxide fluxes (µmol m2 s-1) as an indication of organic matter degradation; were significantly increased when applying compost tea to sugarcane residue left in field. The most practical degradation rate may be achieved when applying a dosage of 2.8 m 3 hectare-1 two times during the spring-time. The findings indicate that applications of biological compost tea and slow release nitrogen fertilizer could enhance nitrogen transport to water bodies. It may also indicate the opportunity to reduce supplemental inorganic nitrogen to sugarcane fields. CONCLUSION: Results partially support previous research indicating that combine-harvester leaves a residue blanket on soil, which may reduce sugar yields in subsequent crops; since sugarcane residue management treatments were not significantly different (alpha = 0.05) with respect to yield during 2006 and 2007 harvest periods. Burning the residue also led to higher runoff water (175.2 m3 ha-1), high concentrations of suspended solids (93.4 mg L -1) and up to 6.93 mg L -1 of PO4 in runoff water.

A highly sensitive miniaturized biomass transducer is necessary for continuous and reliable monitoring of the microalgal biomass in a computer controlled, automated microalgal bioreactor. Previous known methods to determine microalgal biomass applicable in these bioreactors are based on single wavelength turbidimetric or fluorescence. The objectives of this research were to (1) determine the light absorption characteristics of some commercially applicable microalgae in the electromagnetic wavelength range of 200-800 nm (2) design and construct a new miniaturized biomass transducer (3) process the transducer output to correlate with the biomass. Wavelength sensitivity analysis was conducted on the commercially important microalgal species - Nannochloropsis oculata, Isochrysis galbana and Thalassiosira weissflogii, for a growth range of 0-500 mg dry wt L-1. Maximum absorptions were found at UVC, followed by blue and red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. A new biomass transducer based on UVC measurement was designed and constructed. The measurements were processed for signal conditioning and higher sensitivity. It was followed by further processing in a central control computer to filter the noise present in UVC measurement. A statistical relationship was developed for signal processing between the individual variables and a new model for the calibration curve was proposed. The new biomass transducer was tested using the developed signal processing algorithm and the calibration with individual microalgal samples as well as the mixed samples independent of calibration curve. The tested results gave an average error < 10% relative to the mean of actual readings.

A moderately-rapid assessment tool was developed to analyze the waterless desiccation compost toilet investigated in a rural Mexican setting. Over 100 social factors were identified along with the applicable technical factors that influenced the low acceptability of the toilets. A 4-point rating scale was developed to increase the ability and speed of analyzing both the social and technical data. The treatment process was an alkaline-desiccation process with mean pH values of 8.2 ± sd 1.1 and water content of 18.3% ± sd 9.9, which resulted in mean fecal coliform values of 15.0 MPN/g ± sd 31.8, drastically lower than the 1000 MPN/g United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) limit. Alkalinity, not pH, was determined to be the limiting factor in some waste samples, resulting in the need to dilute the waste with local soils. Designs were developed to reduce the unnecessarily long detention times between 0.75 to 4.4 years and improve other features, especially additive use and waste handling. Solvita® test kits were used to assess compost characteristics. Modifications, made to kit procedures to enable their use, included adjusting pH values and extending the pre-test acclimation period. With low macro-nutrient concentrations, a mean carbon/nitrogen ratio of 14.0 ± sd 6.1, and a mean volatile solids value of 15.9 ± sd 6.9 indicative of low organic matter, the finished waste had limited agricultural value, however, the treatment process did efficiently remove nitrogen in many samples and eliminate the pathogens in all of them. Mean Specific Oxygen Uptake Rate (SOUR) values of 1.4 ± sd 1.1 mg O2 / gram total solids were substantially close with the USEPA standard of 1.5. The SOUR on a volatile solids basis was not applicable. A socially and technically useful ASH/VS (inorganic/organic solids) ratio was discovered with mean concentration values of 6.8 ± sd 4.2 with most values falling within an easily explainable socially-valuable ten-point scale. The introduction of two other dry batch composting toilets created a competitive situation in the community where comparative analysis was being performed with the preferred pour-flush water toilet. If water shortages continue, the desiccation toilets acceptability may increase again.