bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comparison with computer and instructional technology education program competencies
Authors: Gorur Durmus Ziya , Babadogan Mustafa Cem
Published: November 2018

The countries involved in the Bologna Process constitute the National Qualifications Framework for higher education in their own countries. National Qualifications Framework is a system in which the nationally and internationally recognised and associated competencies are structured in a specific order. In Turkey, â€˜National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education in Turkeyâ€™ is constituted for increased transparency, recognition and mobility in higher education. The aim of this study is to research, regulate and improve the computer and instruction technologies education program competencies constituted within the National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education in Turkey in seven universities. The seven universities selected for the purpose of this study are selected to represent each region of Turkey. Regarding the competencies of the selected universities, it is seen that there is a general confusion about the writing of competencies and the writing of goals. Another mistake regarding the competencies is the false classification of competencies. In addition, there is no common attitude related to the writing of competencies. Therefore, in this study, a draft backbone regarding the writing of competencies in computer and instruction technologies education is tried to be created.Keywords: Bologna Process, Bologna information system, Turkish higher education competencies framework, computer and instruction technologies program competencies.
The efficiency in training and knowledge development to students by integrating the information and communication technologies in the lesson of â€˜Around the worldâ€™
Authors: Ivanova Ekaterina , Doncheva Julia
Published: November 2018

The publication analyzes the peculiar and dynamic educational work on the discipline â€˜Around the worldâ€™, studied in the first and second grades of the initial educational degree in the Republic of Bulgaria. It is a continuation of the educational field â€˜Around the worldâ€™ in the kindergarten. It takes into consideration the unique conditions in the personal development of the students with their specific experience and the degree of perception and understanding of the information about the objective reality, and their orientation in natural and social phenomena. Through its pedagogical impact on the subject, the teacher takes the life experiences of the children from his state of preschool and pre-theoretical fragmentation and unsystematisation to cognitive and intellectual readiness to master the social sciences at the middle course. The teacher motivates his activity to implement IT not only for teaching, but also for consolidation as well as for reverse connection-test.Keywords: Around the world, teacher, competencies, high technologies, trained.
A comparative analysis of the lifestyles of male and female gymgoers
Authors: Atamturk Hakan , Ece Ozlem
Published: November 2018

Unhealthy nutrition habits as well as sedentary and stressful lifestyles increase psychosocial pressures on individuals in the modern world. When such habits and lifestyles come together, the sensitivity of the organism increases and the physical and spiritual endurance of individuals decrease. Gyms have become a part of many peoplesâ€™ lives nowadaysThis study was conducted in 28 gyms in Kyrenia, Nicosia and Famagusta. Participants were 211 males and 240 females. A 30-item questionnaire was administered to the participants and the data were analysed quantitatively. T-test results revealed that male gymgoers smoked more than their female counterparts and that females followed health and wellness Social Media accounts more. Male participants shared their personal problems with close friends more, males were more capable of coping with stress, males experienced anxiety concerning their jobs less and males paid more attention to using wearable fitness devices. This study poses a number of implications for physical education teachers.Keywords: Health and wellness Social Media accounts; Nutrition; Wearable fitness devices; Physical fitness, Physical education.
Affective Forecasting Bias: Liability or Protective Factor?
Authors: Wenze Susan J. , Gunthert Kathleen C.
Published: November 2018

We examined whether affective forecasting biases prospectively predict depression and anxiety symptoms in the context of life stress. Participants (n = 72) completed– baseline measures of depression, anxiety, and mood predictions, followed by one week of ecological momentary assessments of mood. Three months later, they completed measures of depression, anxiety, and life stress. Neither positive nor negative mood prediction biases at baseline were associated with follow-up anxiety scores. Positive mood prediction biases were not associated with follow-up depression scores. However, the interaction between negative mood prediction bias and life stress predicted follow-up depression scores. Under conditions of greater life stress, stronger negative mood prediction biases predicted lower follow-up depression scores. Under conditions of positive life change, stronger negative mood prediction biases predicted higher follow-up depression scores. Negative mood prediction bias might serve as a protective or liability factor, depending on levels of stress. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.
Making Sense of Learning Analytics Dashboards: A Technology Acceptance Perspective of 95 Teachers
Authors: Rienties Bart , Herodotou Christothea , Olney Tom , Schencks Mat , Boroowa Avi
Published: November 2018

The importance of teachers in online learning is widely acknowledged to effectively support and stimulate learners. With the increasing availability of learning analytics data, online teachers might be able to use learning analytics dashboards to facilitate learners with different learning needs. However, deployment of learning analytics visualisations by teachers also requires buy-in from teachers. Using the principles of technology acceptance model, in this embedded case-study, we explored teachers’ readiness for learning analytics visualisations amongst 95 experienced teaching staff at one of the largest distance learning universities by using an innovative training method called Analytics4Action Workshop. The findings indicated that participants appreciated the interactive and hands-on approach, but at the same time were skeptical about the perceived ease of use of learning analytics tools they were offered. Most teachers indicated a need for additional training and follow-up support for working with learning analytics tools. Our results highlight a need for institutions to provide effective professional development opportunities for learning analytics.
Interaction of Proctoring and Student Major on Online Test Performance
Authors: Alessio Helaine M , Malay Nancy , Maurer Karsten , Bailer A. John , Rubin Beth
Published: November 2018

Traditional and online university courses share expectations for quality content and rigor. Student and faculty concerns about compromised academic integrity and actual instances of academic dishonesty in assessments, especially with online testing, are increasingly troublesome. Recent research suggests that in the absence of proctoring, the time taken to complete an exam increases significantly and online test results are inflated. This study uses a randomized design in seven sections of an online course to examine test scores from 97 students and time taken to complete online tests with and without proctoring software, controlling for exam difficulty, course design, instructor effects, and student majors. Results from fixed effects estimated from a fitted statistical model showed a significant advantage in quiz performance (7-9 points on a 100 point quiz) when students were not proctored, with all other variables statistically accounted for. Larger grade disparities and longer testing times were observed on the most difficult quizzes, and with factors that reflected the perception of high stakes of the quiz grades. Overall, use of proctoring software resulted in lower quiz scores, shorter quiz taking times, and less variation in quiz performance across exams, implying greater compliance with academic integrity compared with when quizzes were taken without proctoring software.
An e-Learning Model for Teaching Mathematics on an Open Source Learning Platform
Authors: Ahn Jeong Yong , Edwin Akugizibwe
Published: November 2018

Throughout the world, mathematics plays a vital role for the educational and developmental aspirations of any country. The quest to teach mathematical knowledge in a viable and effective way so as to induce creativity and applicability among learners is an ongoing challenge, especially for developing countries. A better understanding of how students learn mathematics coupled with effective application of mathematical e-learning can enhance meaningful learning of mathematics and make the subject more exciting. In this note, we introduce a mathematical e-learning model suitable for the modern digital era based on the learning theories of social constructivism, social realism, and connectivity. We then discuss the feasibility of implementing the model on an open source e-learning platform. Our findings reveal that the platform offers a developer’s tool for coding and customizing templates to attain higher levels of usage and interactivity in which learners can create and control learning objects while they observe the results.
How MOOC-Takers Estimate Learning Success: Retrospective Reflection of Perceived Benefits
Authors: Sablina Svetlana , Kapliy Natalia , Trusevich Alexandr , Kostikova Sofia
Published: November 2018

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have attracted a great deal of interest in recent years as a new learning technology. Since MOOCs inception, only limited research has been carried out to address how learners perceive success in MOOCs after course completion.  The aim of this study was to investigate the perceived benefits as the measurement of learning success.  Narrative interviews were conducted with 30 Russian-speaking learners who completed at least one MOOC in full.  By employing text analysis of interview transcripts, we revealed the authentic voices of participants and gained deeper understanding of learners' perceived benefits based on retrospective reflection. The findings of the study indicate that after finishing MOOCs, learners have received tangible and intangible benefits that in general justified their expectations.  University-affiliated students, as well as working professionals, recognized the complementarity of MOOCs, but their assessments were limited to educational tracks. We discovered that taking MOOCs often coincided with the time when an individual was planning to change career, education, or life tracks.  The results of the study and their implications are further discussed, together with practical suggestions for MOOC providers.
BASIC APPROACHES OF DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN SCIENTISTS TO THE DEFINITION OF “COMMUNICATIVE CULTURE” NOTION
Authors: MELEZHIK Olga Vladimirovna
Published: November 2018

We present an analysis of the main approaches to the definition of the concept of “communicative culture” within the framework of the theory of pedagogy, psychology, philosophy, linguistics. On the basis of the analysis of theoretical sources on the given problems, we present the approaches of scientists from different spheres to the definition of the basic concepts: culture, communication, personal culture, culture of thinking, culture of feelings (emotional culture) and culture of speech, their structural components are revealed. We consider the problem of increasing the level of a person’s communicative culture on the basis of the development of a culture of thinking, a culture of feelings and a culture of speech. Assimilation and application of human, humanistic, ethical values and their realization in communication contribute to the personal and spiritual development of a person, the disclosure of his social and professional potential. The formation of a person’s communicative culture is based on enriching her with cultural and spiritual values, developing communicative knowledge and skills. We note the influence of education on the achievement of the goal. Modernization of the education system is aimed at the formation of a humanistic personality, which will be able to successfully carry out professional activities in modern conditions. A qualified specialist in any field should have a high level of communicative culture, which is the basis of the general culture of the individual. In pedagogical science, communicative culture serves as a guarantee of constructive pedagogical communication, high professional skills and competence.
SOVIET-AFGHANIAN NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT THE PASTURE CONVENTION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE “GREAT GAME” IN CENTRAL ASIA ON THE EVE OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR (1935–1939)
Authors: TIKHONOV Yuriy Nikolayevich
Published: November 2018

The results of the study of the new declassified documents of Russian archives lead to the conclusion that under the influence of “world politics” there were all directions of Afghanistan’s foreign policy. The history of Soviet-Afghan relations on the eve of the Second World War convincingly proves the fact that in the relations of Afghanistan with the Great Powers of that time there were no spheres of cooperation that would not be used by foreign states in the struggle for the “Afghan bridgehead”. A striking proof of this is the attempt of the Soviet government in the 1930s to coordinate the issue of grazing of Afghan herds on Turkmen pastures with a whole range of measures aimed at strengthening the positions of Germany and Japan in Afghanistan. Soviet diplomacy repeatedly asked Kabul about the pastoral convention to speed up the signing of the necessary Soviet treaties with Afghanistan. In 1936 the question of concluding a grazing convention was repeatedly raised during the negotiations on the extension of the Kabul Pact of 1931 (the Neutrality and Mutual Non-Aggression Treaty of 1931) and the conclusion of a general trade agreement with Afghanistan, through which the USSR sought to economically supplant German and Japanese goods from the market of Northern Afghanistan.
THE ESSENCE OF SYSTEMIC AND LOGICAL THINKING IN THE CONDITIONS OF SUBJECT ORIENTED TEACHING
Authors: SHARSHOV Igor Alekseyevich , KUZYAKINA Aleksandra Sergeevna
Published: November 2018

We analyze in details pedagogical meanings of terms “thinking”, “system”, “sys-temic thinking”, “logic”, “logical thinking” as constituent parts of integrative notion “systemic and logical thinking”. We suggest tentative definition of the term “systemic and logical thinking” as the type of thinking, essence of which lies in operating with notions, judgements and conclusions with the use of principle of systemic world cognition and logical laws. This type of thinking includes number of skills as well: orientate to essential characteristics of objects and events, follow logical laws, make one’s decisions according to them, produce logical operations with conscious arguing of them, define interrelation of supersystem, system and its subsystems, observe their change through time, for hypotheses. We reveal specific features of subject oriented teaching of senior pupils and its role in the development of systemic and logical thinking among pupils.
DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENT MENTORING IN THE RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL SPHERE IN A CLASSICAL UNIVERSITY
Authors: STROMOV Vladimir Yurevich , SYSOYEV Pavel Viktorovich , ZAVYALOV Vladimir Vladimirovich
Published: November 2018

The development of an institution of student mentoring can be one of the tasks of developing student self-governance in a university. We provide grounds for the development of student mentoring in the research and educational sphere in a classical university. Based on an analysis of the literature, we propose the following working definitions of the terms “mentoring” and “student-mentor”. Mentoring is a special individual or group form of work by a more experienced and professionally developed specialist with the younger generation to transfer additional knowledge, practical experience, a work ethic and a culture of interaction in a team with the aim of improving the qualitative and quantitative results of their professional activities. The student-mentor is a senior student (3rd or 4th year undergraduate or graduate), attaining “good” and “excellent” grades, engaged in research work in one of the academic associations of the university under the guidance of a professor or associate professor, taking an active part in the university's public life, who knows and has experienced many difficulties in educational and social-educational work and research activity, and is able to share his/her experience with less competent, junior students. As an example of the implementation of the mentoring institute in the academic research field at Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin, two research and educational projects are described: “The Decade of Professional Literacy” and “The School of Competences”. Each of them was fully developed and implemented by students of the University and was aimed at popularizing academic research among students of secondary general schools in the region and university students, and also at the formation of a number of additional professional and general cultural competencies of students.
On Sets ${\mathcal X} \subseteq$ $\mathbb N$ for Which We Know an Algorithm That Computes a Threshold Number $t({\mathcal X}) \in$ $\mathbb N$ Such That ${\mathcal X}$ Is Infinite If and Only If ${\mathcal X}$ Contains an eLement Greater Than $t({\mathcal X})$
Authors: Tyszka Apoloniusz
Published: November 2018

We define computable functions $g,h:$ $\mathbb N$ $\setminus \{0\} \to$ $\mathbb N$ $\setminus \{0\}$. For an integer $n \geqslant 3$, let $\Psi_n$ denote the following statement: if a system ${\mathcal S} \subseteq \Bigl\{x_i!=x_k: (i,k \in \{1,\ldots,n\}) \wedge (i \neq k)\Bigr\} \cup \Bigl\{x_i \cdot x_j=x_k: i,j,k \in \{1,\ldots,n\}\Bigr\}$ has only finitely many solutions in positive integers $x_1,\ldots,x_n$, then each such solution $(x_1,\ldots,x_n)$ satisfies $x_1,\ldots,x_n \leqslant g(n)$. For a positive integer $n$, let $\Gamma_n$ denote the following statement: if a system $S \subseteq \Bigl\{x_i \cdot x_j=x_k:~i,j,k \in \{1,\ldots,n\}\Bigr\} \cup \Bigl\{2^{\textstyle 2^{\textstyle x_i}}=x_k:~i,k \in \{1,\ldots,n\}\Bigr\}$ has only finitely many solutions in positive integers $x_1,\ldots,x_n$, then each such solution $(x_1,\ldots,x_n)$ satisfies $x_1,\ldots,x_n \leqslant h(n)$. We prove: (1) if the equation $x!+1=y^2$ has only finitely many solutions in positive integers, then the statement $\Psi_6$ guarantees that each such solution $(x,y)$ belongs to the set $\{(4,5),(5,11),(7,71)\}$, (2) the statement $\Psi_9$ proves the following implication: if there exists a positive integer $x$ such that $x^2+1$ is prime and $x^2+1>g(7)$, then there are infinitely many primes of the form $n^2+1$,  (3) the statement $\Psi_9$ proves the following implication: if there exists an integer $x \geqslant g(6)$ such that $x!+1$ is prime, then there are infinitely many primes of the form $n!+1$, (4) the statement $\Psi_{16}$ proves the following implication: if there exists a twin prime greater than $g(14)$, then there are infinitely many twin primes, {\bf (5)}~the statement $\Gamma_{13}$ proves the following implication: if $n \in$ $\mathbb N$ $\setminus \{0\}$ and $2^{\textstyle 2^{\textstyle n}}+1$ is composite and greater than $h(12)$, then $2^{\textstyle 2^{\textstyle n}}+1$ is composite for infinitely many positive integers $n$.
Community Knowledge about Tuberculosis and Perception about Tuberculosis Associated Stigma in Pakistan
Authors: Ali Syed Mustafa , Anjum Naveed , Ishaq Muhammad , Naureen Farah , Noor Arif , Rashid Aamna , Abbas Syed Muslim , Viney Kerri
Published: November 2018

Tuberculosis (TB) associated stigma is well-documented phenomenon that may contribute to sub-optimal TB care in Pakistan. The objective of study was to assess TB related knowledge and perceived stigma among community members. This was cross-sectional survey using convenience sample of 183 individuals recruited between October and December 2017. A validated stigma measurement tool developed by Van Rie et al. was adapted. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. 183 individuals (73% males; n = 134) participated in survey.  Eighty-seven percent were aware that TB is curable disease (n = 159) and 91% thought that it could be transmitted by coughing (n = 167). However, respondents also thought that TB was spread through contaminated food (73%; n = 134), sharing meals (55%; n = 100), sharing utensils (53%; n = 96) and by having sexual intercourse with a TB patient (51%; n = 93). Fifty-seven percent (n = 104) associated TB with high levels of stigma. Persons who had less than six years of education (crude OR  =  1.2; 95% CI: 0.89, 1.72) and lacked knowledge that TB is curable (crude OR  =  3.42; 95% CI: 1.20, 9.70) were more likely to associate TB with stigma.  In addition, females (crude OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 0.87, 2.04) and those who were unemployed (crude OR = 1.06; 95% CI: 0.65, 1.74) were also more likely to associate TB with stigma. We found an association between lack of knowledge about TB and perceived stigma. This highlights need for improved education and awareness about TB.
A Novel Rare Missense Variation of the NOD2 Gene: Evidences of Implication in Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Frade-Proud’hon-Clerc Sara , Smol Thomas , Frenois Frederic , Sand Olivier , Vaillant Emmanuel , Dhennin Véronique , Bonnefond Amélie , Frouguel Philippe , Fumery Mathurin , Guillon-Dellac Nathalie , Gower-Rousseau Corinne , Vasseur Francis
Published: November 2018

The NOD2 gene, involved in innate immune responses to bacterial peptidoglycan, has been found to be strongly associated with Crohn’s Disease, with an Odd Ratio ranging from 3 to 36. Families with 3 or more CD affected patients were related to high frequency of NOD2 gene variations as R702W, G908R, 1007fs and were reported in EPIMAD Registry. However, some rare CD multiplex families were described without identification of common NOD2 linked-to-disease variations. In order to identify new genetic variation(s) with a major effect on Crohn’s disease (CD), whole exome sequencing was performed in available subjects comprising 4 patients on 2 generations affected with Crohn’s disease without R702W and G908R variation, and 3 unaffected related subjects. A new rare and not yet reported missense variation of the NOD2 gene, the N1010K, was detected and co-segregated across affected patients. In silico evaluation and modeling highlighted evidences for a deleterious effect of the N1010K variation regarding CD. Moreover cumulative characterization of N1010K and 1007fs as compound heterozygous state in two more severely CD family members strongly suggesting that the N1010K should be a new risk factor involved in Crohn’s disease genetic susceptibility.
Nanoparticles and Single Atoms in Commercial Carbon-Supported Platinum-Group Metal Catalysts
Authors: Petek Urša , Ruiz-Zepeda Francisco , Bele Marjan , Gaberšček Miran
Published: November 2018

Nanoparticles of platinum-group metals (PGM) on carbon supports are widely used as catalysts for a number of chemical and electrochemical conversions on laboratory and industrial scale. The newly emerging field of single atom catalysis focuses on the ultimate level of metal dispersion, i.e. atomically dispersed metal species anchored on the substrate surface. However, the presence of single atoms in traditional nanoparticle-based catalysts remains largely overlooked. In this work we use aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope to investigate four commercially available nanoparticle-based PGM/C catalysts (PGM = Ru, Rh, Pd, Pt). We show that in addition to nanoparticles, single atoms are also present on the surface of carbon substrates. These observations raise questions about the role that single atoms play in conventional nanoparticle PGM/C catalysts. We critically discuss the observations with regard to the quickly developing field of single atom catalysis.
Optimal Design of Closed-loop Fusion for Sensor Signal Expansion
Authors: Mao Yao , Ren Wei , Luo Yong , Li ZhiJun
Published: November 2018

Sensor fusion technology is one of extensive used methods in the field of robot, aerospace and target tracking control. In this paper, the generalized sensor fusion framework, named the closed-loop fusion (CLF) is analyzed and the optimal design principle of filter is proposed in detail. Fusion error optimization problem, which is the core issue of fusion design, is also solved better through the feedback compensation law of CLF framework. Differently from conventional methods, the fusion filter of CLF can be optimally designed and the determination of superposition of fusion information is avoided. To show the validity, simulation and experimental results are to be submitted.
Music Melodic Pattern Detection with Pitch Estimation Algorithms
Authors: Velankar Makarand , Deshpande Amod , Kulkarni Parag
Published: November 2018

Music acoustics is an interdisciplinary field and mathematics is the basis in the music art form. Music and mathematics correlation exist since the inception of music. Various philosophers, scientists, mathematicians and musicians have expressed their views about this relationship. This paper attempts to explore this association with focus on melodic pattern identification. Mathematics in Indian Classical music with raga as the basis and just intonation tuning system is discussed. Indian vocal music clips are used for different pitch estimation algorithms in the experimentation. Harmonic product spectrum and auto-correlation algorithms are tested for accurate pitch estimation. Enhanced auto-correlation function using audio segmentation is compared with other approaches for effective pitch extraction. Results indicate pitch extraction with enhanced auto-correlation function provides accurate results as compared with other approaches tested.
Income Diversification and Bank Stability: Evidence from India
Authors: Kaur Navneet , Srivatsav Santosh , Jadiyappa Nemiraja , Kaur Parneet
Published: November 2018

Modern portfolio theory claims that diversification into non-correlated or negatively correlated activities reduces the overall risk of a portfolio. Considering the total income of a bank as a portfolio of interest income and non-interest income, this paper investigates how the variability of interest income and non- interest income, and covariance between interest income and non-interest income influence the various risk factors of banks. We set out a study in the Indian context. We have extracted data for the period 2005-2017 and employed an extended version of Ridge, Lasso and Elastics Net regression to take care of multi-collinearly in our data. We have considered 10-fold cross-validation techniques to get optimal values of tuning parameters for Ridge, Lasso, and Elastics Net regression (which is a convex combination of ridge and the LASSO). We have compared different regression techniques by comparing RMSE and R2. We observe that non-interest income is positively correlated with interest income in the Indian context, but it does stabilize variance, idiosyncratic risk & market risk (Beta) of Indian Banks.
Using Landsat 8 Images Along with Google Earth Engine for Investigation the Location of the Crashed Aircrafts
Authors: Rasul Azad
Published: November 2018

Remote sensing data and techniques utilized for various purposes including natural disasters such as earthquake as well as flood. The research aims to consume liberates Landsat 8 images for investigating crashed airplanes such as MH370. Overall approximately 300 Landsat images with less than 10% clouds utilized in addition processed through Google Engine Platform. Due to the materials as well as the color of airplane body different from the area which is a plane crashed there, moreover, it should be the characteristics of the plane shapefile different in terms of albedo, temperature as well as vegetation index value. The research observed Landsat 8 data as well as methods utilized in this research, especially, NDVI, albedo in addition to band 4, capable to distinguish between the plane and its surrounding green area. Therefore, our result confirms during the research period, there was no plane on the location as well as MH370 not crashed in this site.
Violência urbana e política pública de prevenção: avaliação do Programa Fica Vivo! no estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil
Authors: Silva Bráulio Figueiredo Alves , Queiroz Bernardo Lanza , Marinho Frederico Couto , Pereira Fabiano Neves Alves , Cisalpino Pedro
Published: November 2018

A violência urbana no Brasil tem assumido proporções elevadas nos últimos anos. Somente em 2014, quase 60 mil pessoas foram vítimas de homicídios no Brasil, posicionando o país entre os mais violentos do mundo. O objetivo deste texto é apresentar os resultados da avaliação da implementação do Programa Fica Vivo! na cidade de Belo Horizonte, ao longo de 15 anos de execução. De maneira geral, pode-se dizer que o programa cumpriu sua finalidade e logrou êxito em reverter a tendência de crescimento das taxas de homicídio. A metodologia adotada para avaliar os impactos do Programa Fica Vivo! permitiu aferir os efeitos das políticas de prevenção e controle dos homicídios.
HAS FINTECH INFLUENCED INDONESIA’S EXCHANGE RATE AND INFLATION?
Authors: Narayan Seema Wati , Sahminan Sahminan
Published: November 2018

The digital financial services industry or financial technology (FinTech) has emerged in Indonesia in recent years. The FinTech industry, although disruptive, promises among other things to reduce costs of, and improve access to, financial services. This paper investigates the macroeconomic implications of FinTech companies in Indonesia over the period 1998-2017. In particular, we investigate the impact of FinTech on the Indonesian exchange rate (Rupiah vis-a-vis the US dollar) and the inflation rate. Our results suggest that FinTech is able to reduce inflation and lead to a real appreciation of the Rupiah against the US dollar, although its effect on the exchange rate is delayed. We explain our results and discuss future research directions in the paper.
The State Duty to Protect against Human Rights Violations through Transnational Business Activities
Authors: Krajewski Markus
Published: November 2018

Transnational corporations are currently not formally bound by international human rights obligations. Instead, states have a duty to protect individuals against human rights abuses by third parties, including corporations. While it is undisputed that this obligation extends to all individuals living on the territory of the respective state, the extraterritorial scope of the duty to protect remains contested. This is especially the case for human rights violations through transnational business activities. The state on whose territory the violation occurs has a duty to protect human rights by adopting and implementing labour and environmental laws applicable in that state. However, it is less clear if and to what extent the state of the main seat of the mother company or the global ordering company — the ‘home state’ — also has a human rights duty to regulate transnational business activity. This article argues that such a duty can be based on existing human rights doctrine and standards of general international law such as the ‘no harm’ rule and the due diligence principle. It argues that states have a duty to regulate transnational business activities of corporations over which they exercise jurisdiction if human rights violations caused by such activities are predictable and preventable. In its final part, the article assesses various approaches in state practice which could be seen as instruments in the fulfilment of the duty to regulate transnational business activities.
Collective Responsibility and the Limits of Disclosure in Regulating Global Supply Chains
Authors: Villiers Charlotte
Published: November 2018

Global supply chains present major challenges for company law and corporate governance, nationally and internationally. Their increasing relevance in international business has led to a serious regulatory gap, especially in light of corporate involvement in human rights abuses, labour exploitation and environmental degradation. Alongside a number of international norms such as those expressed in the UN’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, there has been a proliferation in domestic and international law of disclosure provisions, mandating greater transparency by companies in response to the problems caused by global supply chains. In this paper, however, it is argued that disclosure is not a sufficient answer to such problems. It is suggested that we should approach the problems with a different conceptualisation of supply chain structures. If we regard them as ‘global poverty chains’, such a perspective brings about a moral response — a recognition that we have a collective responsibility to eradicate the poverty and suffering caused by the chains. This response necessitates that transparency requirements be altered and accompanied by a regulatory framework that empowers victims of poverty to be able to escape it.
Improving Electric Submersible Pump ESP Bearing System Reliability in Unconventional Applications
Authors: Nowitzki Wesley , Webster Josh , Beck David
Published: November 2018

Some conditions present in unconventional wells, such as high abrasives content, high gas-liquid ratios, and high temperatures, are detrimental to the bearing systems of an electric submersible pump (ESP) because they decrease system run-life. A testing regimen was conducted using a slurry loop (a specially designed flow loop capable of handling fluid with high sand content) to examine the effects of fluid with high abrasives content on pump wear and using an industrial oven to examine temperature effects on bearings and bearing materials. Controlled variables during testing included bearing material, assembly methods, component features, build configurations, flow rate, and thrust loads. Testing produced statistics on the properties of industry-standard bearing materials and data on the performance of bearings and bushing retention in high abrasive and high temperature environments, resulting in the development of a model of bushing retention. Testing of modifications to the bearing systems resulted in a change in bearing materials and a patented (Nowitzki and Roberts 2016)high thermal expansion material (HTEM) bushing retention system that, respectively, increased bearing abrasive resistance sixfold and reduced the occurrence of bushing migration in high temperature environments from 90.3 to 10% of the population.
Permanent Caprock Abandonment P&A Assessment Incorporating Rock Mechanics Analysis: Petrophysics Perspective
Authors: M Shah Jamari , Sutiyono Sigit , M Dahlan Nur Athirah , Ramly Noor Faezah
Published: November 2018

Well abandonment has been associated and considered since in the Field Development Plan stage. Worldwide, government and legislative authorities are having specific requirement and regulation in ensuring the oil and gas industry to seal and permanently take offline unproductive wells to prevent them from impacting the environment and safety. When all feasible opportunity is exhausted and no remaining economic potential is proven in a well or field, it will proceed to abandonment, saving money spent on well liability cost. In effort to reduce the P&A cost which has no financial return, operators and regulators strive to improve P&A method to increase efficiency without compromising safety.

The production of oil and gas, whether or not enhanced by the injection of water or gas, will cause a change of pressure, stress and temperature in the reservoir and its surrounding formations. Additionally, chemical characteristics of the injectant, may reactive gases for storage or production enhancement, may lead to changes in petrophysical, geomechanical and chemical properties of subsurface formations, faults and wells equipment. These changes may or may not have a detrimental effect on the containment of toxic or otherwise harmful fluids and gasses in the subsurface. The comprehensive P&A analysis and program is vital to ensure the security of well containment. Loss of containment may lead to potential loss of life, assets, environment and reputation.

This paper will discuss the analysis done by Petrophysicist in supporting the decision and design of well P&A design, either isolation at reservoir level or caprock level. After no remaining potential and shallow hydrocarbon is verified, the well will be conditioned for pressure analysis and caprock assessment, by formulating well dynamic strength parameters, namely Young modulus and UCS and establishing pressure column. The competent caprock at the proposed barrier depth will be assessed, benchmarked and inventoried for regional caprock understanding, taking account input from multidiscipline.

In addition to additional assessment on rock strength in well P&A design, this paper also recommend the multidiscipline future collaboration assessment technique for better regional caprock understanding. When possible, this method is able to provide feasible P&A design with some confidence level at the competency of the withholding caprock.
Planning & Execution of FIELD 1 Subsea Facilities Decommissioning
Authors: Yap Tai Liong,
Published: November 2018

The scope of the subsea field abandonment comprises plugging & abandonment (P&A) of subsea well, topside preparation, pipeline flushing and removal of subsea equipments like the wellhead christmas tree, sections of pipeline (expansion spool) and sections of umbilical control line. The remaining pipeline on seabed toward host platform will be left in-situ. These are the scope of the concept selected in DOA, which were further matured in Abandonment Plan.

Objectives of the project are: Improve safety and eliminate integrity riskEliminate OPEX for Well that has demonstrated no further potential for economical productionFulfil PSC Abandonment Obligation Plan

The execution of the subsea field abandonment harnessed resources from various specialties ranging from CAT3 to Wells, CAT1 and Subsea, coherently progressing as a single team. A good deal of attention was paid to the technical integrity and long term plan of existing asset, which also played a major role setting the magnitude of work.

Lacking in experience in abandonment, we leveraged on the existing industrial resources and expertise where required, in order to realise a cost-effective execution. The activities were planned in accordance with applicable Production Sharing Contract, PETRONAS Procedures and Guidelines for Upstream Activities (PPGUA) 3.0, Shell Internal Guidelines, and the applicable local and international regulations.

Overall execution strategy and schedule was considerably influenced by pipeline flushing method and schedule of existing resources, which could be fairly aggressive, in contrary to popular belief that abandonment projects are not schedule driven.

Bundling of activities is the key to cost-effective execution, though the challenge escalates as we move from bundling of activities, to bundling of campaigns.
Malaysia's First Subsea Development Well Plug and Abandonment
Authors: Othman Fuad , Teo Choon Hoong , Bakri Faiz
Published: November 2018

A semi-submersible drilling rig chosen to perform the subsea well abandonment. The campaign consisted of abandoning four development wells which were completed with Horizontal Xmas Tree and having sustained casing pressure. In this paper, the methodology for performing the plug and abandonment of each well was divided into four main phases. Secure wellCut and retrieve TubingReservoir plugRemediation of sustained casing pressure

The cleanliness of the Chirstmas Tree VX sealing profile is crucial before the deployment of the subsea Blowout Preventer (BOP). A modified wellhead cleaner was created for the efficient cleaning of the VX profile. Caprock restoration was implemented for the effective isolation of the zones with flow potential. Conventional section milling to remediate the sustained casing pressure was eliminated by using Perforate Wash and Cement (PWC). This technology has been widely used by Shell North Sea, where the best practices have been incorporated in the operation.

This paper discusses the "first in the world" application of Dual Casing Cup Type PWC to cement across two annuli. The utilisation of the Tubing Hanger Emergency Retrieval Tool (THERT) to retrieve the Internal Tree Cap (ITC) was deemed more cost-effective as compared to the use of Subsea Test Tree (SSTT).

The design of the Lower Crown Plug (LCP) that was installed in the tubing hanger incorporates an erosion plate known as flow target that was screwed onto the plug by four threads. The flow target from the first well was dislodged and is tightly wedged above the TR-SCSSSV and milling may be required to gain access below the TR-SCSSSV.
NEBA Application for Offshore Subsea Pipeline Decommissioning
Authors: Kankamnerd Jariya , Chonchirdsin Surasak , Chanvanichskul Chatawut , Phanichtriphop Pheerasak
Published: November 2018

There is a demonstrated need for both technical and non-technical factors of the decommissioning industry which are the criteria of decision making in decommissioning project development. In Gulf of Thailand, there are huge numbers and volumes of offshore subsea pipelines expected to be decommissioned when the concession is end. The evaluation of pipeline decommissioning technique to determine the optimum final project configuration to reflect the long-term environmental impact or benefit of various decommissioning techniques is required. Therefore, the innovative model "Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA)" was applied to determine the environmentally project alternative. NEBA model provides a relative ranking on the expected environmental values of project alternatives which based on outcomes of a consensus workshop among stakeholders and regulators which was arranged to obtain final agreement on environmental values identification, weighting and scoring of project.

The semi-quantitative NEBA model used here is structured around the determination of the functional elements of the NEBA: the service impact level, recovery period, post recovery services value, and post-recovery period. This study focus of NEBA is to determine the net benfit for seven different decommissioning techniques for offshore subsea pipelines based on a specific ecological services of the project producing an impact. For the purpose of this study, ten ecological services were evaluated for each decommssioning technique (i.e habitat value, production value and behavioral responses). The mathematics in this model is developed around the service metric gains and losses and considered to be semi-quantitative since the criterion rankings and relatively with respect to baseline are based on the agreement of the workshop.

Finally, the quantitative NEBA score in the context of the clear environmental benefit and impact in each technique was provided to a decommssioning project development decision maker to make defensible decisions to choose the most appropriate cost effective decommssioning technique to company.
The Optimization for Cost-Effective Well Plug and Abandonment Techniques
Authors: Prasetya Afriandi Eka , Herputra Shanni Ardhana
Published: November 2018

Well abandonment is an obligatory work in the Production Sharing Contract. In the midst of low oil prices, this work cannot be postponed to do, especially for wells that have potential hazards. The longer it postponed, the greater risk will be face. It needs to be done with the most efficient way.

Well abandonment of onshore-well in "R" Block of Central Sumatra Basin began in 2015. Reason for abandonment is varied from no more reservoir potential, mechanical problem, bad well integrity, missing part of wellhead, and vandalism. Since the initial start of the well abandonment work, the gold-plated effect appeared. The well abandoned in a very safe method, but not worth the risk.

Discuss the procedures of selecting the well under potential circumstances to be plugged. An adjustment made by optimize it to fit-to-purpose abandonment according to Indonesia national standard while complying with the feasibility and safety operation.

As a result, there is a decrease in average AFE cost during 2015 to 2017 by 29% which equal to US$8.5 million and still has decrease potential until the very fit-to-purpose method obtained. The average realization of AFE cost decrease from 48% to 34%.

This paper shows that there is always a chance for optimization even though abandonment work does not have any gain of production and ignoring it also poses safety and cost risks. To date, this optimization has saved US$2 million.
Dual Annuli Closed System Perforate, Wash and Cement
Authors: Teo Choon Hoong , Stokkeland Thore Andre , Matthews Parker , Helleren Arild , Sainuddin Abdul Karim
Published: November 2018

Objectives/Scope

The Perforate, Wash and Cement technique has been widely implemented in the remediation of annular cement in recent years, with the application gaining increasing confidence within the Well Integrity, Plugging and Abandonment sectors.

With the increase in confidence in the technique to successfully remediate annulus cement comes the evolution of the process; pushing of limitations to meet new and previously challenging plugging and abandonment projects with confidence.

The first attempted and successful ‘Closed System’ type Perforate, Wash and Cement of Dual Annuli is discussed and evaluated in this paper as an effective mean for environmental plugging and abandonment.

Methods, Procedures, Process

For the dual annuli application to be successful, the perforation of 10-3/4" and 13-3/8" casings must be effective without damaging the 18-5/8" casing to ensure efficient hydraulic communication that allows for washing out of annular debris and placement of cement across both annuli and this was verified by a full system test of the charge.

Utilizing a ‘closed system’ (cup tool) perforate, wash and cement method enables constant communication between the isolated swab cups and the annulus behind the perforated casing during the process of washing. As a result of this specific methodology, the amount of annular obstruction is visibly confirmed from surface using standpipe pressure variations long before any debris is seen at surface. The reduction in standpipe pressure over subsequent washing pass is evidence that annular debris has been removed and this is visually confirmed by debris at surface.

Dual annuli washing introduces additional uncertainty regarding effectiveness of washing within the second annulus and the effectiveness of this has been verified by both Computational fluid dynamics analyses (CFD), and full scaled yard test.

Results, Observations, Conclusions

Large volumes of debris consisting of approximately 30% formation cuttings / metal and 70% cement were observed at surface throughout the washing sequence.

Cement was efficiently placed using the ‘Pump and Pull’ method. Utilizing the ‘closed system’ benefit of the cup tool, fresh cement was placed across the entire perforated interval ensuring the highest chance of a successful cement bond.

Post-execution verification was performed on the cement plug and validation of successful placement of the plug was confirmed. Volumetric analysis verified the effective placement of cement into the 10-3/4", 13-3/8" and 18-5/8" annuli.