Babcock & Wilcox (United States)

Purpose: To examine the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and business intelligence (BI) in driving inclusive growth, institutional reform, and digital transformation across SAARC nations. Research Methodology: A qualitative, comparative case study approach analysing recent AI and BI initiatives, policies, and sectoral applications in all eight SAARC countries. Findings and Results: The region exhibits uneven progress – India leads in AI innovation, while others show emerging or pilot-level adoption. Key barriers include infrastructural deficits, regulatory gaps, limited human capital, and financial constraints. Strategic opportunities lie in AI-first policies, BI democratisation, and regional innovation hubs. Originality/Value: Offers a rare, region-wide analysis aligning AI and BI strategies with sustainable development goals (SDGs), advocating ethical governance and regional cooperation. Conclusion: AI and BI, if equitably and strategically implemented, can become pivotal drivers of sustainable, resilient, and integrated development across South Asia.

Abstract Purpose This study explores the strategic convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blue Ocean Strategy (BOS) as transformative catalysts for sustainable industrial growth in BRICS countries, contextualised within the framework of Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG 9): Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Design/Methodology/Approach A qualitative-analytical methodology is employed, integrating systems thinking and comparative geopolitical analysis. The study uses secondary data to construct multi-metric tabulations, interpret policy architectures and evaluate AI-driven strategic trajectories across BRICS nations. Findings The research reveals asymmetrical, yet converging, trajectories in BRICS industrial ecosystems, with China and India emerging as frontrunners in AI adoption and strategic innovation, while Brazil, Russia and South Africa face structural constraints. The Blue Ocean paradigm facilitates non-linear market expansion, value creation without competition and inclusive growth. Research Limitations/Implications The study is conceptual and limited by the availability of real-time longitudinal data on AI deployment and Blue Ocean adoption in public-sector industries. Practical Implications Policymakers and corporate strategists can leverage AI-Blue Ocean synergies to design anticipatory infrastructure, decentralised innovation models and inclusive industrial ecosystems. Originality/Value This is one of the few studies to examine the triangulation of AI, BOS and SDG 9 within BRICS economies, offering a novel strategic blueprint for inclusive and sustainable industrial transformation.

There is a popular trend for genetic test companies to market genetic screenings to identify detrimental mutations directly to consumers. As a result, there has been an increase in the number of patients wanting to discuss the results of their personal genetic tests with their physician. In turn, the medical education community has recognized a need to provide medical staff and patients with resources to interpret and act on personal genetic data. Most medical students and residents lack the requisite knowledge to interpret and manage patient-provided individualized genetic testing. This has prompted a growing interest among medical students in learning more about genetic testing and how to counsel their patients on this information. Consequently, early educational exposure to clinical genetic testing and counseling would benefit medical education training programs. In this study, we examine the perceptions of medical students in West Texas with regard to clinical genetic testing.

Community-scale microgrids play an essential role in serving critical loads during emergency conditions, involving the operation of breakers, tie-switches, distributed energy resources (DERs), and loads. Electric loads are primarily considered as lumped loads without many granular levels of controls. Flexible buildings offer the central microgrid management system an opportunity to shed multiple noncritical loads at granular levels by adopting Internet-of- Things (IoT) based controls. This work presents a novel bi-level optimal sequence of operations for managing the controllable devices in microgrids to serve loads, based on a priority scheme in community scale-scale microgrids. The proposed methodology is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model and adapts to various operating conditions. The proposed method is validated through case studies that are performed on the Banshee microgrid benchmark model.

Introduction of Synchronized phasor measurement unit (PMU) in power system is a solution for monitoring system wide disturbances. PMUs provide precise information about a system’s phasors such as magnitude and phase angle of sine waves of the system. PMU data is a valuable source when determining the post-mortem of a fault, or a system disturbance. It can be unveiled what time the system began to falter and exactly what instabilities the system experienced. Knowing the cause of such instabilities will allow enhancement of the current system protection system. This will help in minimizing risk, disruptions or total system collapse. PMUs are synchronized via global positioning system (GPS). For wide area monitoring (WAM), synchronization of the PMUs allows for interconnected systems to be monitored simultaneously, giving real time records. This paper explores the impact of PMU in modern power system, deployment strategies of PMU network around Texas Tech University, importance of PMU data collected from the network, correlation of events by data analysis and focus on how the time stamped information is valuable for grid stability. The ongoing smart architecture of grid will increase dependency and importance on PMU based network in future.

Core Ideas Water retention products increased turfgrass quality and cover under drought conditions. High rainfall after application was essential to activate water retention products. Water retention products did not increase soil volumetric water content. Core aerification with a spoon aerifier did not improve efficacy of water retention products. Turfgrass is often overwatered to maintain green color. Surfactants and hydrophilic sands are marketed to homeowners to reduce irrigation requirements during drought. This research aimed to determine the effects of core aerification and water retention products on well-established ‘Tifsport’ hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. × C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davey] under infrequent irrigation. A randomized complete block design study was established with four water retention products and an untreated control applied to aerified or nonaerified plots. The water retention products were Aquasmart Pro and MaXand hydrophilic sands (mixed with topdressing sand), Revive Liquid, and Revive Granular surfactants. A spoon aerifier was used to establish aerification treatments before product application. Plots were evaluated for visual turfgrass quality, percentage of green cover, soil volumetric water content (VWC), and canopy temperature. Aerification showed no main or interactive effects, except on canopy temperature with Revive Granular. Aquasmart Pro, MaXand, and Revive Granular improved turfgrass quality and green cover compared with the untreated control for 4 weeks in 2015 with negligible rainfall and irrigation. Extension of green coverage and improved turfgrass quality were not observed in 2016 when an extended period of drought followed initial product application. Although no treatment effects in VWC were identified for either year, Revive Granular had a lower canopy temperature than Revive Liquid or the untreated control. Higher moisture content from rainfall resulted in maximum benefit from the water retention products. This suggests higher irrigation may be necessary after application if rainfall is insufficient to stimulate the activity of the products.

Background: Post stroke care is complex for patients and families. A stroke nurse navigator is able to improve continuity through the transition from inpatient to outpatient realms promoting follow up, compliance, and improved patient satisfaction. Objective: To highlight the need and efficacy of a stroke nurse navigator program for certified stroke centers. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patient encounters from March 2017-July 2017 performed by our navigator. Approximately 1000 stroke patients are seen annually at our institution. The navigator meets with the patients and families within 24 to 48 hours prior to discharge and establishes contact. A series of calls are made to patients including one at 7-14 days, 30 days, 90 days (MRS) and one year post discharge. Referrals, patient acuity levels based on needs (low, medium, high), urgent needs, and medical inquiries are tracked after each of these calls. All calls and referrals were analyzed. Results: During the four month data collection period, 202 stroke patients were called and approximately 83% were evaluated in-house prior to discharge. A total of 286 calls were completed as follows: 67% within 7-14 days, 17% within 20-45 and 16% within 90 days. Of the 202 patients called, 78% were designated as low, 19% as medium, and 3% as high complexity after the initial call. A total of 46 referrals were made including 6 for medical evaluation in the clinic, 4 to social work; 4 to local support groups; 1 each to our community liaison, marketing group and behavioral health; and 23 patients were identified as candidates for an active stroke research study. Assistance with FMLA forms and disability claims was provided to 6 patients. Conclusion: Despite over two-thirds of patients being designated as low complexity, 1 in 5 patients required further assistance or a referral after discharge. The stroke nurse navigator role provides a much needed link between the inpatient and outpatient setting and is an integral part of the stroke program.