Corner Region Research Articles

Compressible high-pressure lubrication flows in thrust bearings

We present a detailed derivation of the Reynolds equation and its corresponding energy equation for three-dimensional, steady, laminar, compressible flows of single-phase Navier–Stokes fluids in thrust bearings. These equations are shown to be valid over most of the dense and supercritical gas regime except for the vicinity of the thermodynamic critical point. It is shown that the primary thermodynamic function governing the lubrication flow of high-pressure gases is the effective bulk modulus defined as the ratio of the bulk modulus to the shear viscosity. Numerical solutions to our Reynolds equation are obtained using a finite difference scheme for both moderate and high-speed flows. Approximate solutions to our Reynolds equation for high-speed flows are also derived through a perturbation analysis. It is found that boundary layers form on three out of four edges of the thrust pad. At the inner and outer radii of the pad, the flow is governed by a nonlinear heat equation. As the main flow leaves the pad, the flow is governed by a nonlinear relaxation equation. These three boundary layer solutions are rendered consistent by the construction of boundary layer solutions in the corner regions. A composite solution is developed which provides a single approximation and has the same accuracy as the individual approximations in their respective regions of validity.

Numerical investigation and dimensionless erosion laws of solid particle erosion in plugged tees

In the process of oil and gas production, particle erosion is an important cause of pipe fitting failure. It is generally believed that the plugged tees have the potential to mitigate erosion. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based erosion prediction numerical model is employed to investigate the gas-solid flow and erosion behavior in the plugged tees. The trajectories of particles released from different positions on the inlet cross-section are tracked. The phenomenon of particle recirculation is found in the plugged pipe through particle trajectory analysis. Combined with particle impact characteristics, the erosion morphology at the end region is analyzed. Erosion mitigation performance of the plugged tees is evaluated by comparison with elbows. Additionally, four important dimensionless groups are derived through dimensional analysis. Self-similarity behavior between these groups is extracted to establish two new dimensionless numbers that are suitable for the erosion prediction of the end region and the corner region, respectively.

Efficient Optimization Design of Vortex Generators in a Highly Loaded Compressor Stator

Abstract Secondary flow transfers the boundary layer from the endwall to suction side corner region, which deteriorates the performance of compressors. Vortex generators (VGs) can attenuate the secondary flow when implemented at the endwall of the blade passage. In order to make an efficient optimization design of the VGs layout, mathematical models are introduced to replace the actual VGs. However, the model is only effective at the small incidence. In this paper, first, a mathematical model is presented to replace the actual VGs facing a lager incidence, and validated by computational fluid dynamics results with actual VGs. Second, an efficient design method for optimizing VGs layout is presented based on VG model and genetic algorithm (GA)-support vector machine (SVM) method. The method is illustrated in a highly loaded compressor stator, and the VGs layout is optimized and applied in the blade passage. The results show that the VGs can prevent the secondary flow from the suction corner, and reduce the total pressure loss coefficient at the trailing edge of the stator by 15%. Finally, the flow mechanism of the VGs is investigated using numerical method. The results show that the VGs can induce a primary vortex at the tip and prevent the circumferential migration of boundary layers. Moreover, the secondary flow can produce a large incidence at the hub of the VGs, thus increasing the aerodynamic losses of the VGs secondary vortex.

A new variant of liquid composite molding process based on multi-drop resin filling

We proposed a new liquid composite molding process called multi-drop filling (MDF) which includes an automatic resin dropping system for dosing an accurate amount of resin onto the pre-designated positions and a pressing system for impregnating the resin into the fabric. Carbon fiber composites with a complex geometry as well as a plate shape were fabricated using the proposed process to prove its improvements in impregnability and filling time, which were compared with those fabricated using a conventional VARTM process. While tensile, compressive, flexural, and short-beam strengths, as well as void content of the specimens from the proposed process showed similar levels as the VARTM process, the void content at corner regions was remarkably improved and cycle time was also decreased. It proved the ability of the new MDF process to mass-produce the customized composite parts with complex shapes by overcoming the limitations of conventional liquid composite molding.

Experimental investigation on material properties and residual stresses in cold-formed high strength steel irregular octagonal hollow sections

A systematic investigation into the variation of the material properties and residual stress distribution across cold-formed high strength steel (HSS) irregular octagonal hollow sections (IOctHS) is presented in this paper. The specimens were fabricated through welding the two cold-formed half-sections by gas metal arc welding (GMAW). Non-destructive inspection was executed to detect any cracks in the welding internally and externally. Tensile tests on coupon specimens taken from the critical locations within the cross sections were carried out to measure the material properties variation within the HSS IOctHS. The material strength variations within different cross sections exhibit an anticipated similar pattern that strength enhancement at corner regions was more obvious than flat coupons counterpart. The largest strength enhancement is 8.4% at corner region compared with the average yield strength of parent plates, whereas the yield strength and ultimate strength of flat coupon specimens generally fluctuate at a certain level. Based on the obtained material properties, the existing material models for predicting the stress-strain curves were assessed and new material models are proposed to generate the stress-strain relationship for materials within the HSS IOctHS. Moreover, the residual stress measurement for cold-formed HSS IOctHS was performed using the sectioning method. A total of 55 strip specimens were extracted from the cross sections of HSS IOctHS with more than 660 strain readings. Based on the residual stress measurement results, the magnitude and distribution pattern of the residual stresses are presented and discussed. A predictive model for residual stress distribution of the cold-formed HSS IOctHS was developed.

Climate and epiphytic macrolichen communities in the Four Corners region of the U.S.A.

We used data on epiphytic lichen communities in 1215, 0.4-ha plots in the Southwest U.S.A. collected by the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program to analyze relationships with climate. We sought the climate variables most strongly associated with differences in epiphytic macrolichen communities and described the nature of those relationships, including diversity, community composition, and patterns in individual species. Five lichen community groups were strongly related to temperature and elevation gradients, overall moisture, and summer rain. Lichen abundance was highest in the wettest groups and lowest in the hottest and driest groups. Warm summer monsoonal climates supported the greatest number of species across all plots and within plots. The monsoonal pattern did not occupy a discrete geographic area, but instead formed a gradient, strongest in the southern part of our study area, diminishing to the north and west. In contrast, hot summer monsoonal climates had much lower within-plot richness. Hot, dry climates had the most variation in species composition among plots, but the fewest species within each plot and across all plots. Lichen community gradients had nonlinear relationships with combinations of climate variables rather than strong linear relationships with any single variable, including those derivative climate variables meant to have direct biological relevance. Relationships between air quality and community gradients were weak, potentially overwhelmed by regional climatic variation and complex topographic gradients. Richness of particular functional groups was more strongly related to climate than was overall species richness; functional groups have their own climatic tolerances, owing to the physiological consequences of growth form and photobiont. Presumably species in different functional groups have experienced their own evolutionary tradeoffs, developing peak performance in different climates. On the other hand, overall richness was driven by an even more complex combination of performances relative to climate and was in some functional groups more strongly related to geographic coordinates than to climate variables. Because climatic variables are themselves geographically structured, stronger model fit for geographic coordinates than for climate implies some influence of large-scale historical factors (i.e., factors not clearly expressed in modern climates, such as past climates, vegetation structure, or disturbance regimes).

Safety of Air Medical Transport of Patients With COVID-19 by Personnel Utilizing Routine Personal Protective Equipment

BackgroundAir medical transport of patients with known or suspected COVID-19 likely represents a high-risk exposure to crewmembers as aircraft cabins are quite small resulting in very close personal contact. The actual risk to medical crewmembers is not known.MethodsWe conducted an IRB-exempt, retrospective study of air medical transport of patients with known or suspected COVID-19 by eight programs in the Four Corners Region to determine the number of symptomatic COVID-19 among air medical crew members compared to total exposure time. All programs utilized similar routine PPE including N-95 masks and eye protection. Total exposure time was considered from time of first patient contact until hand-off at a receiving hospital.ResultsThere were 616 air transports: 62% by fixed-wing and 38% by rotor-wing aircraft between March 15th and September 6th 2020. 407 patients (66%) were confirmed COVID+ and 209 (34%) were under investigation. Patient contact time ranged from 38 to 432 minutes with an average of 140 minutes. The total exposure time for medical crew was 2,924 hours; exposure time to confirmed COVID+ patients was 2008 hours. Only 30% of patients were intubated, the remainder had no oxygen (8%), low flow nasal cannula (42%), mask (11%), high-flow nasal cannula (4.5%) and CPAP or BPAP (3.5%). Two flight crew out of 108 developed COVID that was presumed related to work.ConclusionsAir Medical Transport of patients with known or suspected COVID-19 utilizing routine PPE is remarkably safe for medical crew members, even when patients are not intubated. This has implications for healthcare personnel in any setting that involves care of patients with COVID-19 in similarly confined spaces.

Turbulence model assessment and heat transfer phenomena inside a rectangular channel under forced and mixed convection

A very high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (VHTR) is an attractive option for hydrogen production due to its high operating temperature. The reactor cavity cooling system (RCCS), a passive safety system of the VHTR, surrounds the reactor vessel with rectangular riser channels and removes decay heat from it. Under emergency operation conditions such as a decrease in the flow rate of the RCCS, the flow condition inside the RCCS riser can become a mixed convection condition accompanying heat transfer deterioration. To design and operate the VHTR with reliable safety, accurate predictions for various convective heat transfer conditions in RCCS riser channels are required. In this study, by comparing the results of an air flow visualization experiment, the predictability of the turbulence models was assessed for the convective heat transfer and complex flow characteristics near the corner region of the rectangular duct confirmed from the experimental study. In this paper, the heat removal rate through the test section of the visualization experiment was quantified under various convective heat transfer conditions, and local temperature measurement data from the experiment were presented to describe the heat transfer deterioration phenomena inside a rectangular riser in turbulent mixed convection. Linear and nonlinear eddy viscosity models were evaluated by comparing the heat transfer coefficient, local temperature, local flow structure including secondary flow, and turbulence quantities obtained from the experiment. Furthermore, improvements to turbulence models for enhancing the prediction of mixed convection heat transfer in rectangular riser ducts were proposed.

Computational modelling of nephron progenitor cell movement and aggregation during kidney organogenesis

During early kidney organogenesis, nephron progenitor (NP) cells move from the tip to the corner region of the ureteric bud (UB) branches in order to form the pretubular aggregate, the early structure giving rise to nephron formation. NP cells derive from metanephric mesenchymal cells and physically interact with them during the movement. Chemotaxis and cell–cell adhesion differences are believed to drive the cell patterning during this critical period of organogenesis. However, the effect of these forces to the cell patterns and their respective movements are known in limited details. We applied a Cellular Potts Model to explore how these forces and organizations contribute to directed cell movement and aggregation. Model parameters were estimated based on fitting to experimental data obtained in ex vivo kidney explant and dissociation–reaggregation organoid culture studies. Our simulations indicated that optimal enrichment and aggregation of NP cells in the UB corner niche requires chemoattractant secretion from both the UB epithelial cells and the NP cells themselves, as well as differences in cell–cell adhesion energies. Furthermore, NP cells were observed, both experimentally and by modelling, to move at higher speed in the UB corner as compared to the tip region where they originated. The existence of different cell speed domains along the UB was confirmed using self-organizing map analysis. In summary, we saw faster NP cell movements near aggregation. The applicability of Cellular Potts Model approach to simulate cell movement and patterning was found to be good during for this early nephrogenesis process. Further refinement of the model should allow us to recapitulate the effects of developmental changes of cell phenotypes and molecular crosstalk during further organ development.

Stable Isotopes in Precipitation and Meteoric Water: Sourcing and Tracing the North American Monsoon in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah

AbstractThe North American Monsoon (NAM) is an important source of precipitation across the southwestern United States. The approximate northern boundary of this feature crosses the Navajo Nation (NN), in the Four Corners region, where NAM rains have long been important to the livelihoods of Native Americans. Relatively little is known about the characteristics and hydrological significance of the NAM in this region. Here, we report a new 4 yr record of stable H and O isotope ratios in monsoon‐season rainfall and water resources across the NN. Monthly precipitation samples collected at 39 sites document a characteristic pattern of 2H‐ and 18O‐enrichment associated with monsoonal precipitation. These changes are weakly correlated with local precipitation amount, however, and the correlation that does exist is dominated by sub‐cloud evaporation effects. In contrast to precipitation amount, monsoon‐season isotopic values exhibited little spatial variability across the region, and after correction for sub‐cloud evaporation NN values were similar to those from a site in southern Arizona. Airmass back trajectory analysis suggests that the uniformly high NAM precipitation water isotope ratios across the region may reflect (a) a region‐wide shift from mid‐latitude to low‐latitude moisture sources at the onset of the peak monsoon, and (b) substantial land‐surface recycling of NAM moisture in upwind regions. Comparison of precipitation water isotope data with surface and groundwater values implies that, despite its hydroclimatic significance, monsoon rainfall contributes little to subsurface water resources. This highlights the monsoon's importance for warm‐season land‐surface ecology and hydrology critical to residents in the Four Corners region.

The effect of Reynolds number on near-wall reverse flow in a turbulent duct flow

The influence of the Reynolds number on the statistics of a near-wall reverse flow phenomenon, taking place in a turbulent duct flow, is studied. An increase in the NWRF probability is found in both the core and corner regions of the duct walls for higher Reynolds number. The mechanism of the NWRF formation, described recently by Zaripov et al. [1, 2], is validated for higher Reynolds number flows.

In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy Investigation of Melting/Evaporation Kinetics in Anisotropic Gold Nanoparticles.

We report on thermal stability and phase transition behaviors of triangular Au nanoprisms through in situ heating transmission electron microscopy. With rising temperature, Au nanoprisms exhibit fluctuating surface reconstructions at the corner regions. When a quasi-melting state is reached at the temperature below bulk melting points, the evaporation is initiated commonly at a corner with low curvature and containing sharp intersection points. The subsequent annealing process leads to the gradual evaporation, which, in the absence of thick carbon coverages, is accompanied by marked shape reconstructions. The thermal stability and evaporation behaviors are not evidently regulated by nanoprism aggregations.

Optimization of Sweep and Blade Lean for Diffuser to Suppress Hub Corner Vortex in Multistage Pump

The bowl diffuser is the main flow component in multistage submersible pumps; however, secondary flow fields can easily induce a separation vortex in the hub corner region of the bowl diffuser during normal operation. To explore the flow mechanism of the hub corner separation vortex and develop a method for suppressing hub corner separation vortices, the lean and sweep of the diffuser blade were optimized using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and central composite design. Diffuser efficiency, static pressure recovery coefficient, and non-uniformity were selected as the optimization objectives. Details of the internal flow were revealed and the collaborative response relationships between blade lean/sweep parameter equations and optimization objectives were established. The optimization results show that a greater pressure difference between the pressure surface and suction surface (PS–SS) at the inlet can offset transverse secondary flow, whereas a lower PS–SS pressure difference will cause a drop in low-energy fluid in the diffuser mid-section. The blade’s lean scheme suppresses the hub corner separation vortex, leading to an increase in pressure recovery and diffuser efficiency. Moreover, optimizing the sweep scheme can reduce the shroud–hub pressure difference at the inlet to offset spanwise secondary flow and enhance the hub–shroud pressure difference at the outlet, thus driving low-energy fluid further downstream. The sweep scheme suppresses the hub corner vortex, with a resulting drop in non-uniformity of 13.1%. Therefore, optimization of the diffuser blade’s lean and sweep can result in less low-energy fluid or drive it further away from hub, thereby suppressing the hub corner vortex and improving hydraulic performance. The outcomes of this work are relevant to the advanced design of bowl diffusers for multistage submersible pumps.

Circumferential incoherent distribution of film thickness for multi-dimensional two-phase annular flow

Annular flow in rod bundle geometry is characterized by multi-dimensional properties in terms of two distinct length scales, rendering no consensus yet on an available model for predicting the circumferential incoherent distribution of film thickness. Current paper presents a semi-empirical but original correlation based on pertinent underlying physics. Gas phase Reynolds number is used to illustrate the gas–liquid interfacial shear-off mechanism. Liquid source term is scaled by the combination of void fraction and liquid volumetric flux. Circumferential shear stress produced by secondary flow is employed to denote mass transport in subchannel. Four available datasets including 189 data points are collected to develop and validate the proposed correlation from both cross-sectional and subchannel local regions perspectives. The majority of data can be correlated with the maximum relative error of ± 20.0%. Based upon the heuristic correlation, the circumferential incoherent distribution of film thickness is analyzed. The average film thickness on center rod increases slightly as the liquid velocity increased, since most of liquid phase migrates to corner region leading to a dramatically increase in film thickness on rod nearby duct wall. Two dependent factors are mainly responsible for the rod peripheral distribution of liquid thickness, in which the hydrodynamic effect dominates over the secondary flow factor, but the secondary flow makes the peripheral distribution of film thickness more uniform. Among the hydrodynamic parameters, both void fraction and gas velocity contribute to the thinning of the liquid film, but the increasing of liquid thickness along with rod periphery is attributed to the variation of subchannel characteristic length.

Ethanol and Water Adsorption in Conventional and Hierarchical All-Silica MFI Zeolites.

Hierarchical zeolites containing both micro- (<2 nm) and mesopores (2-50 nm) have gained increasing attention in recent years because they combine the intrinsic properties of conventional zeolites with enhanced mass transport rates due to the presence of mesopores. The structure of the hierarchical self-pillared pentasil (SPP) zeolite is of interest because all-silica SPP consists of orthogonally intergrown single-unit-cell MFI nanosheets and contains hydrophilic surface silanol groups on the mesopore surface while its micropores are nominally hydrophobic. Therefore, the distribution of adsorbed polar molecules, like water and ethanol, in the meso- and micropores is of fundamental interest. Here, molecular simulation and experiment are used to investigate the adsorption of water and ethanol on SPP. Vapor-phase single-component adsorption shows that water occupies preferentially the mesopore corner and surface regions of the SPP material at lower pressures (P/P 0 < 0.5) while loading in the mesopore interior dominates adsorption at higher pressures. In contrast, ethanol does not exhibit a marked preference for micro- or mesopores at low pressures. Liquid-phase adsorption from binary water-ethanol mixtures demonstrates a 2 orders of magnitude lower ethanol/water selectivity for the SPP material compared to bulk MFI. For very dilute aqueous solutions of ethanol, the ethanol molecules are mostly adsorbed inside the SPP micropore region due to stronger dispersion interactions and the competition from water for the surface silanols. At high ethanol concentrations (C EtOH > 700 g L-1), the SPP material becomes selective for water over ethanol.

Experimental investigation of flow boiling performance in sinusoidal wavy microchannels with secondary channels

Sinusoidal wavy microchannels with secondary channels (SWSC) are developed to integrate advantages of the sinusoidal corrugated structure and the introduction of secondary channels in flow boiling enhancement. Flow boiling investigations of acetone are made with variation in the heat flux and mass flux range of 251–512 kg/(m2·s). The boiling curves, heat transfer coefficients, pressure drops and flow boiling instabilities are systematically investigated. The experimental results show that the SWSC microchannels can achieve better heat removal performance than the conventional rectangular microchannels (R). Besides, the premature ONB and delayed CHF can also be obtained. The increased density of bubble nucleation induced by the enlarged surface area and the liquid stored in the corner regions in the nucleate boiling dominated regime, as well as the continuously developing thin liquid film created by the introduction of secondary channels in the stable liquid film evaporation dominated regime are considered to be the main reasons for the notable enhancement in heat transfer. However, the SWSC microchannels suffer a higher pressure drop penalty. The pressure fluctuations and temperature fluctuations of the SWSC microchannels are also illustrated.

Corner stall control in linear compressor cascade by blended blade and endwall technique based on large eddy simulation

Under the influence of a strong adverse pressure gradient, secondary flow, and other factors, compressor cascades are prone to corner separation and even to corner stall, which seriously affects aerodynamic performance. In this paper, large eddy simulation is used to investigate the effects and mechanisms of corner stall controlled by the blended blade and end wall (BBEW) technique. Based on this technique, three BBEW control schemes with different chord-direction positions of the maximum BBEW width are designed for the suction side root of a modified NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) 65 blade. The influence of the chord-direction position of the maximum BBEW width on control corner stall and the differences of physical mechanisms are deeply explored. The numerical results show that the BBEW technique can improve the flow field structure and aerodynamic performance of a compressor cascade under corner stall conditions to a certain extent. When the maximum BBEW width is located near the leading edge, it provides the most significant reduction in the spanwise height of corner separation and effectively weakens the intersection of boundary layers, so that the boundary layer losses are reduced by 6.27%, and the overall performance is improved. These effects can be attributed to the axial and spanwise forces generated near the maximum BBEW width, with the former increasing the kinetic energy of the surrounding fluid, while the latter transports low-energy fluid upward to reduce accumulation on the end wall. In addition, the increased dihedral angle weakens the intersection of boundary layers and restrains the development of the corner vortex, which is also one of the underlying physical mechanisms. When the maximum BBEW width is located in the middle of the chord, it most effectively delays the corner stall. When it is located near the trailing edge, it is most effective at controlling the development of corner separation, reducing the accumulation of low-energy fluid in the three-dimensional corner region, and reducing corner separation losses by 4.73%. The effect of the increased dihedral angle in weakening the intersection of boundary layers and the corner vortex is the main reason why these two design schemes can improve the aerodynamic performance of the compressor cascade.

Optimization study on the influence of little blades’ spatial position on a compressor cascade performance

To reveal the importance of little blades’ spatial position to improve the cascade performance at different condition, the pitchwise and axial direction of the little blades on the end-wall are adopted as the optimization variables to complete a double-objective optimization. Meanwhile, the three-dimensional flow field characteristics of the cascade with and without little blades are analyzed comparatively. The study found that as the optimal solutions are obtained at the three bigger incidences (3°, 5°, and 7°), the optimal position is always close to the leading edge of blade and far away from the blade suction surface, and the more intuitive design suggestions are given in this article. Moreover, at the near design conditions (−1°, 0°, and 1°), little blades increase the total pressure loss and reduce the static pressure, which are considered unsuitable for improving the cascade performance. If the stable operation range are the main performance indicators, the optimization of the little blades’ spatial position should be completed at the near stall condition (7° incidence). If the conditions with mid-range incidences (2°&lt; i &lt;5°) are the main performance index, the parameter optimization of little blades should be achieved at 5°. Based on the further flow field analysis of the optimization results obtained at 3°, 5°, and 7° incidences (named Opt_Act3, Opt_Act5, and Opt_Act7), the induced vortices resist the effect of axial reverse pressure gradient and pass through the blade passage, which is the main reason for the total pressure loss reduction. Appropriate spatial position of little blades not only strengthens the capability to prevent the low-energy fluids accumulating in the corner region near the end-wall, but exhibits sufficient advantage to weaken the boundary layer.

Experimental study and numerical simulation analysis of distortional buckling capacity of stainless steel lipped C-section beams

For S30408 austenitic stainless steel, a mechanical property test of 2.5 mm and 3.0 mm plate and corner regions was carried out, and the mechanical properties and stress–strain curves were determined. On this basis, the distortional buckling capacity tests of 8 stainless steel lipped C-section beams were carried out, and the mechanical performance and failure modes of each specimen were revealed. The load-mid-span vertical displacement curve, load-loading point vertical displacement curve, load-mid-span lateral displacement curve, load-support rotation curve, load-transverse strain curve, distortional buckling load and ultimate bearing capacity of each specimen were determined. A refined finite element model of each specimen was established using the ABAQUS software, and a numerical simulation analysis was carried out. By comparing the finite element results with the experimental results, the accuracy of the finite element model was verified. A parametric analysis was conducted using the validated finite element model. The results showed that the nominal yield strength of the corner region was about 40% ∼ 60% higher than that of the plate region, and the elongation was obviously lower than that in the plate region. In the bearing capacity test, the experimental phenomena of each specimen were illustrated, and the development of distortional buckling wave of the compressed flange was revealed. After distortional buckling, each specimen still had a post-buckling strength. The test results and simulation data were compared with the current standards, which showed that the current standards underestimated the distortional buckling capacity of stainless steel lipped C-section beams.

Successful Implementation of a Rapid Screening Tool for Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome: 5 Years of Experience From a Community Hospital in an Endemic Region.

Hantavirus is endemic in the Four Corners region of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) disproportionately affects the Navajo Nation. We describe the application of a rapid screening tool for identification of HCPS. A rapid screening tool for HCPS was implemented at Tséhootsooí Medical Center (TMC) in collaboration with academic partners. Since its implementation in 2016, 20 TMC staff members have been trained to perform this test, and 189 screens for HCPS have been reported. Although hantavirus infection is rare even in high-risk areas, use of this tool resulted in the identification of 4 acute cases of hantavirus infection. The results demonstrate the successful implementation of a 5-point screening tool for hantavirus infection in an endemic setting by a laboratory in a small community hospital.