bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Petrophysical Quantification of Multiple Porosities in Shale Petroleum Reservoirs
Authors: Lopez Bruno , Aguilera Roberto
Published: September 2014

Previous petrographic work has shown that shale petroleum reservoirs at discovery are characterized by multiple porosities. In addition there is a porosity that is generated during hydraulic fracturing jobs. Thus a quintuple porosity system might be at work when shale wells go on production.

In this work a petrophysical model is built that allows quantification of storage capabilities in shales through determination of adsorbed porosity (φads_c), organic porosity (φorg), inorganic porosity (φm), fracture porosity (φ2) and hydraulic fracture porosity (φhf). These data are important as they provide reasonable input to physics-based numerical simulators for shale petroleum reservoirs and thus more realistic projections of reservoir performance and recoveries.

Pattern recognition is used in a modified Pickett plot for distinguishing key shale components such as total organic carbon (TOC), level of organic metamorphism (LOM) and to distinguish between viscous and diffusion-like flow. Results from the model compare well against laboratory data.

The petrophysical model is robust as it can handle at the same time the 5 porosities mentioned above, but it can also handle simultaneously 4, 3, 2 or only 1 of those porosities depending on the characteristics of the reservoir at a given depth.

It is concluded that the petrophysical model presented in this paper constitutes a valuable tool for physics-based characterization of shale petroleum reservoirs. The model is developed in such a way that it can still be used even in those cases where laboratory data are not available and well log suites are not complete.
Analysis of Microbes in Hydraulic Fracturing of Montney Tight Gas Formations in Western Canada
Authors: Elliott Alexander S. , Suri Navreet K. , An Dongshan , Voordouw Gerrit , Kaert Krista , Langille David L.
Published: September 2014

Microbes in unconventional gas operations can conceivably contribute to (i) degradation of polymers in hydraulic fracturing fluid, (ii) well plugging, limiting gas flow and (iii) souring and corrosion due to activity of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). Flowback waters from a tight gas field in Northern British Columbia were distinct from the fresh water, used for making hydraulic fracturing fluid, by their high salinity, low pH and high ammonium concentrations. Microbial counts of SRB and of acid-producing bacteria (APB) for these flowback waters were significantly lower than for the fresh water used to make the hydraulic fracturing fluid. Determining microbial community compositions by sequencing the 16S rRNA genes in the samples did not indicate the presence of microbes preferring high salt or high temperature conditions in samples of flowback water. These data indicate that these tight gas formations are sterile and that the microbes that are being introduced with the hydraulic fracturing fluid do not thrive downhole. Hence, microbes downhole are unlikely to contribute to well plugging, limiting gas flow. Microbes at or near the surface may cause polymer degradation in hydraulic fracturing fluid, especially when guar gum is used in gel-based fracturing treatments, and may cause souring in the fresh water, used for making hydraulic fracturing fluid, if this contains a significant concentration of sulfate.
Horizontal Wells in Western Canada - a Status Update
Authors: Dixon R. K. , Flint D.
Published: September 2014

Horizontal drilling has become the most common drilling style in western Canada since its introduction over 25 years ago. Initially, target plays were conventional reservoirs where horizontal length improved the recovery that was limited in vertical wells by reservoir heterogeneity and/or unconventional hydrocarbon quality. More recently, horizontal drilling has also targeted unconventional plays characterized by low reservoir quality where completions are critical. Operators have embraced the horizontal well technology advances, especially when combined with the revolution in multi stage frac'ing.

Through 2012 and 2013, more than 4100 horizontal oil wells and more than 900 horizontal gas wells were drilled and brought onstream, annually. Production rates from these wells have topped 1 million boe per day.

This paper provides an overview of the most active plays in the WCSB, from a horizontal well perspective. The paper also includes discussions of trends in horizontal well drilling activity, technology and productivity by: –play (location, formation, commodity, new target vs. redevelopment of established pools)–technology (treated horizontal well lengths, frac metrics)–productivity metrics–operator comparisons

Further, selected plays are examined in more detail, to get to the heart of this horizontal well technology roll-out.
Understanding Water Flood Response in Tight Oil Formations: A Case Study of the Lower Shaunavon
Authors: Thomas Adrian , Kumar Anjani , Rodrigues Kenny , Sinclair Ryan , Lackie Colin , Galipeault Angela , Blair Mike
Published: September 2014

The evolution of producing resource plays in Saskatchewan Canada has gained momentum in the last 10 years. Many new tight formations in Western Canada have been discovered or are now economic to bring on production due to the emergence of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies. One play gaining momentum over the last few years has been the Lower Shaunavon located in the south west quadrant of Saskatchewan. Through learning's from tight oil plays, such as the Bakken, Crescent Point has been able to apply some of the development strategies to the Lower Shaunavon; however, there is still a large factor of uncertainty and risk involved in these tight formation plays. Reservoir modelling can be used as a tool to reliably forecast well performance and reduce future risk and uncertainty.

An eighteen well numerical simulation model was built to represent Crescent Point Energy's Lower Shaunavon waterflood pilot area. Numerical simulation was used as a tool to obtain a better understanding of the reservoir and hydraulic fracture parameters in the area along with waterflood response in the tight oil play. A history match on the pilot area was performed. Using parameters obtained from the history match, a representative model was built and a sensitivity study was performed on hydraulic fracture spacing and well spacing in both primary depletion and waterflood scenarios. This paper will discuss the workflow, challenges, and general findings related to waterflood performance on Lower Shaunavon.

While industry continues to study and optimize hydraulic fracturing decisions, the combination of these decisions with IOR potential, namely waterflooding tight oil plays, needs to be understood. Developing a workflow that enables optimization of both fracture completions (spacing, half lengths, etc.) and water injection schemes may lead to a more complete approach to maximizing asset value.
Sulfur Speciation in an Arable Soil as Affected by Sample Pretreatments and Sewage Sludge Application
Authors: Luo Lei , Xu Chuang , Ma Yibing , Zheng Lei , Liu Lijuan , Lv Jitao , Zhang Shuzhen
Published: September 2014

Sulfur speciation under the influence of sample pretreatment and sewage sludge (SS) application in a continuously SS‐amended soil was assessed by wet‐chemical fractionation and S K‐edge XANES spectroscopy. Distinct differences in S speciation among the following pretreatments including fresh, air‐drying, anoxic freeze‐drying, oven‐drying, and conditioning (incubation at room temperature and 75% of water holding capacity for 2 wk) were detected in both topsoils and subsoils. Air‐drying significantly increased available S content but decreased C‐bonded S content in the soils compared with anoxic freeze‐drying. Oven‐drying and conditioning pretreatments showed a similar effect on S fractions to air‐drying in the soils but to a lesser extent. X‐ray adsorption near‐edge structure analysis showed that both reduced and intermediate organic S tended to decrease while oxidized S obviously increased in the air‐dried samples. In contrast, the conditioning pretreatment facilitated the transformation of intermediate S into reduced organic S. Continuous application of SS significantly increased total soil S, C‐bonded S, and residual S contents but decreased available S content in the topsoil. Meanwhile, XANES analysis indicated that reduced organic S was markedly increased (over 50% of total S) in the SS‐amended topsoil. No obvious effect of the application of SS on S speciation in the subsoil was observed except for the facilitated transportation of S into lower depth. Overall, our results suggest that anoxic atmospheres during the entire pretreatment process from sampling to drying, grinding, and analysis is crucial for the accurate speciation analysis of S in soils, and the anoxic freeze‐drying is, therefore, highly recommended.
Best Management Practices for Summer Fallow in the World's Driest Rainfed Wheat Region
Authors: Schillinger William F. , Young Douglas L.
Published: September 2014

The Horse Heaven Hills (HHH) located in south‐central Washington contains the world's driest rainfed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production region, where farms receive as little as 150 mm average annual precipitation. Late summer establishment of winter wheat into carryover seed‐zone water after a year of fallow is essential to achieve the highest grain yield potential. Tillage of fallow land during the spring is considered necessary to retain adequate seed‐zone water during the dry summer months, but blowing dust from excessively tilled fallow is a major safety, environmental, and soil‐quality concern. We compared three fallow management systems for soil water dynamics, wheat stand establishment, grain yield, and economic returns on two farms over 5 yr in western and eastern portions of the HHH where long‐term annual precipitation averages 153 and 211 mm, respectively. Treatments were: (i) traditional tillage (TTF), undercutter conservation tillage (UTF), and no‐till (NTF). Late‐summer planting of winter wheat in TTF and UTF was possible in only 1 of 5 yr at the western site due to lack of adequate seed‐zone water, whereas late‐summer planting was possible every year at the eastern site. There were no significant differences in net economic returns among fallow management treatments at the western site; however, net returns per hectare averaged a positive US$101 for TTF and UFT vs. a negative US$92 for NTF at the eastern site. Although seed‐zone water in late summer was consistently lowest with NTF at both sites, we recommend NTF in the western HHH because achieving adequate seed‐zone water for early wheat establishment is generally not possible with any fallow management practice and NTF is economically viable and excellent for wind erosion control. On the other hand, in the eastern HHH, where adequate seed‐zone water for early planting can be achieved with tillage most years, farmers should practice UTF. This study documented that NTF in the western HHH and UTF in the eastern HHH are best management practices for farmers and the environment in a region where wind erosion from excessively tilled soils is a severe problem.
Biochar and Manure Effects on Net Nitrogen Mineralization and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Calcareous Soil under Corn
Authors: Lentz Rodrick D. , Ippolito James A. , Spokas Kurt A.
Published: September 2014

Few multiyear field studies have examined the impacts of a one‐time biochar application on net N mineralization and greenhouse gas emissions in an irrigated, calcareous soil; yet this use of biochar is hypothesized as a means of sequestering atmospheric CO2 and improving soil quality. We fall‐applied four treatments: stockpiled dairy manure (42 Mg ha−1 dry wt.), hardwood‐derived biochar (22.4 Mg ha−1), combined biochar and manure, and no amendments (control). Nitrogen fertilizer was applied in all plots and years based on treatment's preseason soil test N and crop requirements and accounting for estimated N mineralized from added manure. From 2009 to 2011, we measured greenhouse gas fluxes using vented chambers, net N mineralization using buried bags, corn (Zea mays L.) yield, and N uptake, and in a succeeding year, root and shoot biomass and biomass C and N concentrations. Both amendments produced persistent soil effects. Manure increased seasonal and 3‐yr cumulative net N mineralization, root biomass, and root/shoot ratio 1.6‐fold, CO2–C gas flux 1.2‐fold, and reduced the soil NH4/NO3 ratio 58% relative to no‐manure treatments. When compared with a class comprising all other treatments, biochar‐only produced 33% less cumulative net N mineralization, 20% less CO2–C, and 50% less N2O‐N gas emissions, and increased the soil NH4/NO3 ratio 1.8‐fold, indicating that biochar impaired nitrification and N immobilization processes. The multi‐year nature of biochar's influence implies that a long‐term driver is involved, possibly related to biochar's enduring porosity and surface chemistry characteristics. While the biochar‐only treatment demonstrated a potential to increase corn yields and minimize CO2–C and N2O‐N gas emissions in these calcareous soils, biochar also caused decreased corn yields under conditions in which NH4–N dominated the soil inorganic N pool. Combining biochar with manure more effectively utilized the two soil amendments, as it eliminated potential yield reductions caused by biochar and maximized manure net N mineralization potential.
Non-negative depth reconstruction for a two-dimensional partial inertial inundation model
Authors: Zhang Hongbin , Wang Yueling , Liang Qiuhua , Smith Luke S. , Kilsby Chris G.
Published: September 2014

This paper proposes a non-negative depth reconstruction method for improving the numerical performance of a partial inertial model (PIM) for applications involving steep-slope and low-friction conditions. The PIM solves the continuity equation of two-dimensional (2D) shallow water equations (SWEs) with the interface fluxes evaluated by a simplified momentum equation that partially restores the inertial terms. In applying the PIM to flood simulations, a practical challenge is to represent complex topography and to track the moving wet–dry interface without resulting in negative water depths. Another challenge is to avoid the numerical issue caused by the lack of physical diffusive terms when it is applied to low-friction cases. To cope with these difficulties, the PIM is improved by introducing a non-negative depth reconstruction method, featuring two different ways for calculating the interface fluxes. The performance of the improved PIMs is investigated through applications to several theoretical and practical benchmark test cases. The comparison of the numerical results against analytical solutions or predictions from the original PIM and a full 2D finite-volume hydrodynamic model shows that the proposed reconstruction method can avoid non-negative water depth predictions, and improve the numerical performance of the original PIM when applied to steep-slope and low-friction conditions.
Simulation of free surface flows using volume of fluid method and genetic algorithm
Authors: Soleiman Beygi N. , Hakimzadeh H. , Chenaglou M. R.
Published: September 2014

In this paper, details of a numerical model development for simulation of fluid flows with moving free surface are presented. The unsteady incompressible Navier–Stokes equations on a fixed grid system are used to obtain velocity and pressure values in the computational domain and volume of fluid (VOF) method is used to determine free surface location. In order to reduce numerical smearing and increase accuracy of numerical modeling of fluid flow with moving free surface, a new free surface-tracking method is proposed. The proposed method is a combination of genetic algorithm and free surface tracking method based on donor and acceptor scheme. The specification of the new combinational method can be summarized in determining orientation vector and plane constant to represent the free surface orientation in each cell. The proposed algorithm can be easily used in any unstructured grids. In this method, the fluid flow equations are explicitly discretized with the finite volume method and the projection method is used to determine the velocity and pressure magnitude in computational domain. Validity of the new solution algorithm is demonstrated through its application to the dam break and the bore motion examples.
High frequency of Helicobacter pylori DNA in drinking water in Kermanshah, Iran, during June–November 2012
Authors: Amirhooshang Alvandi , Ramin Abiri , Ehsan Aryan , Mansour Rezaei , Shahram Bagherabadi
Published: September 2014

To gain a better understanding of transmission and selecting appropriate measures for preventing the spread of Helicobacter pylori, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori in drinking water samples in Kermanshah, Iran. Drinking water samples were collected from around Kermanshah and filtered through 0.45 μm nitrocellulose filters. The bacterial sediment was subjected to DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for H. pylori detection using newly designed primers targeted at the conserved region of the ureC gene. The overall detection rates for H. pylori DNA in the water samples were 56% (66/118) with a frequency of 36% (25/70) in tap water samples and 85% (41/48) in wells. The detection limit was 50 bacteria per liter of filtered water and a pure H. pylori DNA copy number of 6 per reaction. Based on the evidence we may suggest that recontamination occurred and H. pylori entered into the water piping system through cracked or broken pipes or was released from established H. pylori biofilms on pipes. In conclusion, a high prevalence of H. pylori was detected in drinking water samples that strengthens the evidence of H. pylori transmission through drinking water.
Influence of wastewater disinfection on densities of culturable fecal indicator bacteria and genetic markers
Authors: Chern Eunice C. , Brenner Kristen , Wymer Larry , Haugland Richard A.
Published: September 2014

The US Environmental Protection Agency has proposed the use of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) as a rapid alternative analytical method for monitoring recreational water quality at beaches. For qPCR to be considered for other Clean Water Act purposes, such as inclusion in discharge permits and use in Total Maximum Daily Load calculations, it is necessary to understand how qPCR detectable genetic markers are influenced by wastewater disinfection. This study investigated genetic markers for Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, Clostridium spp., Bacteroides, total Bacteroidales, as well as the human-associated Bacteroides markers, HF183 and HumM2, to determine which, if any, were influenced by disinfection (chlorination or ultraviolet light) of effluents from secondary wastewater treatment in different seasons. The effects of disinfection on culturable enterococci, E. coli, Bacteroides, and C. perfringens were also compared to their associated genetic markers. Disinfection of secondary treatment effluents significantly reduced culturable fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) but not genetic marker densities. No significant differences were observed in the responses of FIB culture and genetic marker densities to type of disinfection (chlorination vs UV) or season. Results of this study provide evidence that qPCR may not be suitable for monitoring efficacy of wastewater disinfection on the inactivation of bacterial pathogens.
Arsenic in private drinking water wells: an assessment of jurisdictional regulations and guidelines for risk remediation in North America
Authors: Chappells Heather , Parker Louise , Fernandez Conrad V. , Conrad Cathy , Drage John , O'Toole Gary , Campbell Norma , Dummer Trevor J. B.
Published: September 2014

Arsenic is a known carcinogen found globally in groundwater supplies due to natural geological occurrence. Levels exceeding the internationally recognized safe drinking water standard of 10 μg/L have been found in private drinking water supplies in many parts of Canada and the United States. Emerging epidemiological evidence confirms groundwater arsenic to be a significant health concern, even at the low to moderate levels typically found in this region. These findings, coupled with survey data reporting limited public adherence to testing and treatment guidelines, have prompted calls for improved protective measures for private well users. The purpose of this review is to assess current jurisdictional provisions for private well water protection in areas where arsenic is known to naturally occur in groundwater at elevated levels. Significant limitations in risk management approaches are identified, including inconsistent and uncoordinated risk communication approaches, lack of support mechanisms for routine water testing and limited government resources to check that testing and treatment guidelines are followed. Key action areas are discussed that can help to build regulatory, community and individual capacity for improved protection of private well water supplies and enhancement of public health.
An overview of pool and spa regulations in Mediterranean countries with a focus on the tourist industry
Authors: Mavridou Athena , Pappa Olga , Papatzitze Olga , Blougoura Athena , Drossos Panagiotis
Published: September 2014

The Mediterranean area is densely populated and a very popular tourist destination. This study aimed at gathering up-to-date information on current national pool and spa regulations. We formulated and duly distributed to 20 Mediterranean countries a questionnaire divided into two sections: for pool and spa facilities, respectively. The questionnaire was formulated in such a way that a positive answer would imply that the specific topic was addressed effectively. While all 20 countries responded to the swimming-pool-related questionnaire, only 11 of these countries reported the existence of spa-related regulations. When combining the response overall of all countries for pool and spa facilities together, of a grand total of 606 answers, 183 (30.2%) were positive. The positive answers in the pool section of the questionnaire were 29% of the total of 420 answers while positive answers in the spa section of the questionnaire were fewer (27.8% of the total of 176 answers). The countries were grouped by geographical area of the Mediterranean basin where they are situated. Also, the questions were grouped into broad thematic categories. The paper presents conclusions drawn on the basis of the data received according to these geographical and thematic groupings.
Effect of influent temperature on determination of airflow at doyang sewage treatment plant
Authors: Cha Woonou , Chun Wan Myung , Kim Byoung Soo , Choi Miyoung , Kim Jinman
Published: September 2014

To construct an energy saving airflow-controlling system for Doyang sewage treatment plant, the factors affecting airflow of the influent was analyzed in this study. This research analyzed the operation data of Doyang sewage treatment plant for 912 days.

As a result, the key factors deciding the optimum airflow were found to be temperature, F/M ratio, the loading rate of BOD5 and T-N of the influent. Among the factors, the temperature of the influent had the most decisive effect on the aeration volume. The result showed that an increase of 1 °C of the influent requires 45.3 m3/h airflow. Since the factors affected by seasons like flow rate, F/M ratio and MLSS affect airflow required of blowers, and the change of temperature is considered to intensify the change of airflow even more. Therefore, it is preferable to consider flow rate, F/M ratio, MLSS and water temperature altogether than considering only one factor when deciding airflow of blowers.

The results of this research can be utilized as indicators when designing energy saving system for sewage treatment plants.
Busyness, Expertise, and Financial Reporting Quality of Audit Committee Chairs and Financial Experts
Authors: Tanyi Paul N. , Smith David B.
Published: September 2014

We investigate how the number of audit committee chair positions and other audit committee financial expertise positions held by the audit committee chairman and the audit committee financial experts affects their ability to oversee a company's financial reporting process. We argue that these two audit committee roles are vital to the functioning of the audit committee and that their over commitment affects audit committee oversight and the firm's financial reporting quality. We observe a significant negative association between financial reporting quality and the number of audit committee chair positions and other audit committee financial expertise positions held by the audit committee chairman. We also find a significant negative association between financial reporting quality and the number of audit committee chair positions and other audit committee financial expertise positions held by audit committee financial experts. Firms with busy audit committee chairs or busy financial experts have significantly higher levels of abnormal accruals, and are more likely to meet or beat earnings benchmarks, which is consistent with the busyness hypothesis. This adverse effect, nonetheless, does not extend to nonaudit committee chairs and nonaudit committee financial experts. We interpret these results to indicate that the busyness of the audit committee chair and financial expert weakens the monitoring and oversight role that audit committees play in the financial reporting process.
Privacy Auditing Standards
Authors: Toy Alan , Hay David C.
Published: September 2014

Privacy audits are an area of auditing practice that are becoming increasingly relevant to audit firms as well as to regulators such as privacy commissioners. Privacy audit reports can be a resource for consumers and groups representing them. However, there is limited consistency between the standards applied in privacy audits when compared across different auditors and across different jurisdictions. Inconsistency of standards reduces international comparability of privacy audits, thereby lowering their potential value to the entities subject to audit, and to users of the reports. We suggest a set of fundamental principles for privacy audits drawn from recent proposals for legislative and/or policy reform by leading official bodies in the U.S. and the European Union. We apply this framework to 30 privacy audit reports issued in five countries. The results show that few conform to the proposed fundamental principles. This inconsistency limits their value and effectiveness.
Determinants and Consequences of Transfer Pricing Autonomy: An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Chen Clara Xiaoling , Chen Shimin , Pan Fei , Wang Yue
Published: September 2014

Top management of a multidivisional firm needs to strike a balance between providing transfer pricing autonomy to divisional managers and retaining some level of control to prevent dysfunctional behavior. Little empirical evidence exists on how top management makes this trade-off. Drawing on agency theory, we predict that transfer pricing autonomy is influenced by intermediate product standardization, foreign investment, tax rate difference, and the weight on firm-level performance measures in the divisional manager's performance evaluation. We also predict that the extent of mismatch between transfer pricing autonomy and organizational characteristics leads to lower perceived fairness and perceived transfer pricing effectiveness by divisional managers. Using data collected from a cross-sectional survey of 210 divisional managers, we find results consistent with our predictions.
Protective immunity of a modified-live cyprinid herpesvirus 3 vaccine in koi (Cyprinus carpio koi) 13 months after vaccination
Authors: O'Connor Matthew R. , Farver Thomas B. , Malm Kirsten V. , Yun Susan C. , Marty Gary D. , Salonius Kira , Dishon Arnon , Weber E. P. Scott
Published: September 2014

Objective—To evaluate the long-term protective immunity of a cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV3) vaccine in naïve koi (Cyprinus carpio koi).

Animals—72 koi.

Procedures—Vaccinated koi (n = 36) and unvaccinated control koi (36) were challenge exposed to a wild-type CyHV3 strain (KHVp8 F98-50) 13 months after vaccination.

Results—The CyHV3 vaccine provided substantial protective immunity against challenge exposure. The proportional mortality rate was less in vaccinated koi (13/36 [36%]) than in unvaccinated koi (36/36 [100%]). For koi that died during the experiment, mean survival time was significantly greater in vaccinated than in unvaccinated fish (17 vs 10 days).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The CyHV3 vaccine provided substantial protective immunity against challenge exposure with CyHV3 13 months after vaccination. This provided evidence that koi can be vaccinated annually with the CyHV3 vaccine to significantly reduce mortality and morbidity rates associated with CyHV3 infection.
Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 in periocular squamous cell carcinomas of horses
Authors: Hendrix Diane V. H. , Newkirk Kim M.
Published: September 2014

Objective—To determine whether epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) are expressed in periocular squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of horses.

Sample—Biopsy specimens of SCCs from 46 horses.

Procedures—Pathology records were searched retrospectively for biopsy specimens of periocular SCCs obtained from horses. Slides of the specimens were reviewed histologically to confirm the SCC diagnosis and stained for EGFR and HER2 by immunohistochemical methods. For both EGFR and HER2, the immunohistochemical staining intensity and percentage of stain-positive cells on the slides were determined.

Results—43 of 46 (93%) SCCs were immunoreactive for EGFR. The median score for EGFR staining intensity was 4 (range, 2 to 12), and the median number of mitotic figures was 8 mitotic figures/10 hpfs (range, 0 to 34 mitotic figures/10 hpfs). Mitotic index was not correlated with the percentage of EGFR stain–positive cells or staining intensity. Of the 43 EGFR-immunoreactive SCCs, 38 had stain present primarily in the cytoplasm and 5 had stain equally distributed between the cytoplasm and cell membranes. Thirty-five of 46 (76%) SCCs were immunoreactive for HER2. Mitotic index was not correlated with the percentage of HER2 stain–positive cells or staining intensity. Of the 35 HER2-immunoreactive SCCs, the stain was present primarily in the cytoplasm and 7 had stain equally distributed between the cytoplasm and cell membranes.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that most periocular SCCs of horses expressed EGFR and HER2, which suggested that equine periocular SCCs might respond to treatment with EGFR inhibitors.
In vitro effect of multiple hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilizations on the rate of closure of ameroid constrictors
Authors: Thompson Elizabeth M. , Towle Millard Heather A. , Moore George E. , Guptill Lynn
Published: September 2014

Objective—To evaluate the effect of multiple hydrogen peroxide gas plasma (HPGP) sterilizations on the rate of closure of ameroid constrictors.

Sample—Thirty-six 5.0-mm ameroid constrictors.

Procedures—Ameroid constrictors were randomly allocated to 6 groups. Each group underwent 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 HPGP sterilizations. Ameroid constrictors were then incubated for 35 days in canine plasma and digitally imaged at predetermined times during incubation. One individual, who was unaware of the group to which each ameroid constrictor was assigned, measured the lumen area of the constrictor on each digital image. Mean lumen area was compared among groups.

Results—No ameroid constrictors were completely closed after 35 days of incubation in canine plasma. Mean lumen area after incubation did not differ among constrictors that underwent 1, 2, and 3 sterilizations. Constrictors that underwent 4 sterilizations were closed significantly more than were those that underwent 1, 2, or 3 sterilizations. Mean lumen area after incubation did not differ significantly between constrictors that underwent 5 and 6 sterilizations, although the final lumen areas for those constrictors were significantly smaller than those for constrictors that underwent 1, 2, 3, and 4 sterilizations.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Ameroid constrictors that underwent 5 and 6 HPGP sterilizations had a 9% to 12% decrease in lumen area, compared with that of constrictors that underwent ≤ 4 plasma sterilizations, and the use of such constrictors could increase the risk of portal hypertension and secondary acquired shunting or decrease the risk of persistent shunting.
Harmony of Senses – 3D Documentaries of Herzog and Wenders
Authors: Turnacker Katalin
Published: September 2014

The two still active great artists of the new German cinema, Werner Herzog and Wim Wenders, presented their 3D documentaries on the 2011 Berlinale. This coincidence, not to be neglected in itself, is more than a mere experimentation with the new technology. Indeed, it much rather reveals the complexity of perceptions coming into action during the film experience and their relationship with the onlooker. It highlights the process in which the viewer involuntarily, thoughtlessly relates to their own sensory experience. Following their feature films grounded on the visuality of the cinema experience indicative of the German New Wave, the two directors now created a documentary which draws on the synthesis of various senses and a viewer’s position focusing on perception and interpretation. This paper proposes to analyze how the harmony of senses happens on various levels, from the application of visible, audible, tangible subject motifs and modes of expression asking for various forms of perception, and all the way to the directorial perspective focusing on the viewer’s engagement.
Local Sensorium, Local Cinema: György Pálfi’s Sensuous Body Politics
Authors: Kalmár György
Published: September 2014

György Pálfi’s Hukkle (2002) and Taxidermia (2006) establish markedly unique cinematic styles and richly sensorial life-worlds, which function in both films as counter-discourses opposing official history, hegemonic ideologies, and conventional patterns of (cinematic) understanding. In the present study I analyse the ways Pálfi’s films communicate through non-symbolic meaning, bodily discourses, and a heavy reliance on the multisensory evocation of the local sensorium (Marks) and the local habitus (Bourdieu) so as to create significance on the margins of established, hegemonic systems of meaning, cinema, ideology and identity.
Puistu esimese rinde võrastiku alguse kõrguse hindamine lennukilidari mõõdistusandmete järgi / A simple model to estimate forest canopy base height from airborne lidar data
Authors: Arumäe Tauri , Lang Mait
Published: September 2014

Airborne laser scanner (ALS) measurements from two test sites in Estonia were used to estimate forest canopy-base height (HVL). The ALS data was collected by Estonian Land Board using Leica ALS50-II scanner. The HVL was estimated by using mode value and standard deviation of the ALS pulse reflection position height distribution. The pulse reflections which had height less than 0.5 m over the estimated digital terrain model were excluded from the analysis. In situ measurements of canopy base height (HVA) were carried out in 20 mesotrophic Norway spruce and silver birch forest stands in Järvselja and in 45, mostly Scots pine dominant, mesotrophic forest stands in Aegviidu. Determination coefficients of linear regression between HVL and HVA for both test sites were over 0.8 and the residual standard errors of the models were less than two meters. The influence of forest understory vegetation to the estimation of HVL was tested by excluding the near-to-ground vegetation reflections which had height less than 1.5 m. The test results revealed no significant impact of forest understory to the HVL models. The cross validation showed that the HVL models were independent of test sites and tree species composition. The Järvselja data based HVL model had 1.3 m negative bias if applied to Aegviidu forests and the Aegviidu data based HVL model had 1.4 m positive bias if applied to Järvselja forests. In the Aegviidu test site, difference of HVL models of coniferous and deciduous stands was tested and the difference was found not to be significant
Long Term Trend Analysis in the Capital Market – The Case of Serbia
Authors: Radukić Snežana , Radović Milica
Published: September 2014

The paper explores the possibility of making investment decisions in emerging markets by using the trend analysis method on a particular example of the capital market in Serbia. The authors, starting from the common features of technical analysis, have analysed the common share index value in the capital market in Serbia, in the Belgrade Stock Exchange - Belexline from 1 March 2006 to 31 March 2009, by the usage of two moving averages method - Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD): an intermediate term of 50 days and a long-term one of 100 days. The above mentioned moving averages identify the establishment of a trend, the cessation of the existing one, a change and an establishment of the new one.

The capital market in Serbia had two distinctive long-term trends within the above mentioned observed period of time. The method of two moving averages in combination with the MACD indicator analysis gave quite reliable signals of weakening and change of the long-term trend direction. Analysis of the long-term trend has not been considered for the period from 2009 to date because the market during this period was illiquid with little trading volume, while some stocks that are entered in the Belexline are not more subject of trade.
Challenges to the Implementation of a New Framework for Safeguarding Financial Stability
Authors: Vlahović Ana
Published: September 2014

There is probably no single economic concept that has attracted more attention and intrigued scientific and professional circles than financial stability. For over a decade now that have been efforts to establish the starting point in explaining this condition or characteristic of the financial system since some find that the key to defining financial stability lies in stability and others argue in favour of the opposite, instability. Unfortunately, no agreement has been reached on a universal definition that would be widely accepted at the international level. Consequently, this gave rise to open discussions on systemic risk, creating a framework for preserving financial stability, and the role of central banks in this process. This article analyses the results achieved in the development of a theoretical concept of financial stability and its practical implementation. A consensus has been reached on the necessity of removing rigid barriers between macro and prudential policies and on the necessity of their coordinated actions. The primary objectives of monetary and fiscal stability have been shifted towards preserving financial stability. The isolated macroprudential principle rightfully got the epithet of an archaic approach. Coordinated micro and macroprudential policies have definitely prevailed and become reality in many countries, including Montenegro. Created institutional frameworks for safeguarding financial stability at all levels - national, Pan-European and global - represent a challenge for further comparative studies.
A Fast and Simple Online Synchronous Context Free Grammar Extractor
Authors: Paul Baltescu , Phil Blunsom
Published: September 2014

Hierarchical phrase-based machine translation systems rely on the synchronous context free grammar formalism to learn and use translation rules containing gaps. The grammars learned by such systems become unmanageably large even for medium sized parallel corpora. The traditional approach of preprocessing the training data and loading all possible translation rules into memory does not scale well for hierarchical phrase-based systems. Online grammar extractors address this problem by constructing memory efficient data structures on top of the source sideof the parallel data (often based on suffix arrays), which are usedto efficiently match phrases in the corpus and to extract translation rules on the fly during decoding. This paper describes an open source implementation of an online synchronous context free grammar extractor. Our approach builds on the work of Lopez (2008a) and introduces a new technique for extending the lists of phrase matches for phrases containing gaps that reduces the extraction time by a factor of 4. Our extractor is available as part of the cdec toolkit1 (Dyer et al., 2010).
A method for generating large datasets of organ geometries for radiotherapy treatment planning studies
Authors: Hu Nan , Cerviño Laura , Segars Paul , Lewis John , Shan Jinlu , Jiang Steve , Zheng Xiaolin , Wang Ge
Published: September 2014

Background. With the rapidly increasing application of adaptive radiotherapy, large datasets of organ geometries based on the patient’s anatomy are desired to support clinical application or research work, such as image segmentation, re-planning, and organ deformation analysis. Sometimes only limited datasets are available in clinical practice. In this study, we propose a new method to generate large datasets of organ geometries to be utilized in adaptive radiotherapy.

Methods. Given a training dataset of organ shapes derived from daily cone-beam CT, we align them into a common coordinate frame and select one of the training surfaces as reference surface. A statistical shape model of organs was constructed, based on the establishment of point correspondence between surfaces and non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) representation. A principal component analysis is performed on the sampled surface points to capture the major variation modes of each organ.

Results. A set of principal components and their respective coefficients, which represent organ surface deformation, were obtained, and a statistical analysis of the coefficients was performed. New sets of statistically equivalent coefficients can be constructed and assigned to the principal components, resulting in a larger geometry dataset for the patient’s organs.

Conclusions. These generated organ geometries are realistic and statistically representative
Mullahingamise sesoonne dünaamika kuusikute aegreas / Seasonal dynamics of soil respiration in a chronosequence of the Norway spruce stands
Authors: Kukumägi Mai , Uri Veiko , Kull Olevi
Published: September 2014

Soil respiration resulting from microbial and root respiration is a major component of the forest carbon cycle. The response of soil respiration to varying environmental factors (soil temperature and soil moisture) was studied in a Norway spruce chronosequence composed of four age classes (4, 27, 36, and 84 year old) on Gleyic Podzol. Soil respiration was measured monthly with closed dynamic chamber system, soil temperature and soil moisture were measured simultaneously. Mean soil respiration rate averaged over three years was 3.3 μmol CO2 m-2s-1, ranging from 0.6 to 5.4 μmol CO2 m-2s-1, with the maximum occurring in August and the minimum in December. Stand age had a significant effect on soil respiration: the highest respiration rate was found in 27-year-old stand. Over three years an exponential relationship between soil respiration and soil temperature accounted for 68-81% of the seasonal variation, Q10 (the factor by which the respiration rate differs for a temperature interval of 10 °C) for the individual stands ranged between 4.4 and 5.4. The influence of soil moisture content on soil respiration was weak and revealed in dry conditions only. The results of this study can be used to help understand and predict the effect of harvest on soil respiration and how the respiration might respond to changing climate conditions.
Feasibility study of quality plantation pulpwood breeding on fibre length, vessel element length and their ratio sought by within-tree variations in Eucalyptus trees
Authors: Ohshima Jyunichi , Yokota Shinso , Yoshizawa Nobuo , Ona Toshihiro
Published: September 2014

The relationship between fibre length and vessel element length was examined by their within-tree variations for breeding quality plantation pulpwood from the view points of pulp properties, that is, shorter vessel element and longer fibre are preferable. Because the genetic difference between trees may express the different ratio of fibre length to vessel element length. Within-tree variations in the trunk of fibre length and vessel element length were studied in Eucalyptus camaldulensis and E. globulus trees grown at the same site. Within-tree variations of both cell length properties in both species were generally high in the upper and outer parts of the trunk in both fibre and vessel. No large difference of tendency was observed between individuals and between species except in the axial variation between individuals of E. globulus for vessel element length by statistical analysis. The relationships between fibre length and vessel element length were significant in all trees although the rate of fibre length to vessel element length was significantly different both between individuals in each species and between species. From these, the breeding program is expected to select a tree possessing genetically longer fibre length (more elongation of cambial initial) indicating higher breaking length with shorter vessel element length (shorter cambial initial) indicating higher printability, regardless the difference in the within-tree variations
Spatial distribution of regeneration patches in old growth oriental beech forests in northern Iran
Authors: Karami Arash , Sefidi Kiomars , Feghhi Jahangir , Mohadjer Mohammad R. Marvie
Published: September 2014

Regeneration patches have key role in forest stand dynamic, new findings about the structural properties of patches can be useful in forest ecosystem management. We quantified the spatial and structural pattern of regeneration patches in old growth beech stands in a Gorazbon forest in the northern Iran. 461 patches were measured that covered 8.3% of total forest area. Patch size varied from 55 m2 to 2987 m2. The majority of the patches were small; 71.6% were less than the mean patch area of 1330 m2 and were belonged to sapling patches (N = 295), also 166 seedling patches were recorded. The results showed that the major distribution pattern of patches in different compartments was random and patchy. These results confirm this fact that human activity and natural disturbances should be providing a homogenous spatial distribution pattern of patches in the high spatial scale. However among different forest stand and compartments spatial pattern of patches change randomly, that can create the natural situation and near to nature structure in beech stands