bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Public Understanding and Attitudes towards Meat Chicken Production and Relations to Consumption
Authors: Erian Ihab , Phillips Clive J. C.
Published: March 2017

Little is known about public knowledge of meat chicken production and how it influences attitudes to birds’ welfare and consumer behaviour. We interviewed 506 members of the public in SE Queensland, Australia, to investigate this. Knowledge was assessed from 15 questions, and low scores were supported by respondents’ self-assessed report of low knowledge levels and agreement that their knowledge was insufficient to form an opinion about which chicken products to purchase. Older respondents and single people without children were most knowledgeable. There was uncertainty about whether chicken welfare was adequate, particularly in those with little knowledge. There was also evidence that lack of empathy towards chickens related to lack of knowledge, since those that thought it very acceptable that some birds are inadequately stunned at slaughter had low knowledge scores. More knowledgeable respondents ate chicken more frequently and were less likely to buy products with accredited labelling. Approximately half of the respondents thought the welfare of the chicken to be more important than the cost. It is concluded that the public’s knowledge has an important connection to their attitudes and consumption of meat chickens. Respondents with little knowledge demonstrated that they had both lack of empathy and intolerance to religious slaughter practices.
The Particle as a Statistical Ensemble of Events in Stueckelberg-Horwitz-Piron Electrodynamics †
Authors: Land Martin
Published: March 2017

Stueckelberg-Horwitz-Piron (SHP) electrodynamics formalizes the distinction between coordinate time (measured by laboratory clocks) and chronology (temporal ordering) by defining 4D spacetime events xμ as functions of an external evolution parameter τ. Classical spacetime events xμ (τ) evolve as τ grows monotonically, tracing out particle worldlines dynamically and inducing the five U(1) gauge potentials through which events interact. Since Lorentz invariance imposes time reversal symmetry on x0 but not τ, the formalism resolves grandfather paradoxes and related problems of irreversibility. The action involves standard first order field derivatives but includes a higher order τ derivative that while preserving gauge and Lorentz invariance removes certain singularities and makes the related QFT super-renormalizable. The resulting field equations are Maxwell-like but τ-dependent and sourced by a current that represents a statistical ensemble of instantaneous events distributed along the worldline. The width λ of this distribution defines a correlation time for the interactions and a mass spectrum for the photons that carry the interaction. As λ becomes very large, the photon mass goes to zero and the field equations become τ-independent Maxwell’s equations. Maxwell theory thus emerges as an equilibrium limit of SHP, in which λ is larger than any other relevant time scale. Particles and fields are not constrained to mass shells in SHP theory, and by exchanging mass may produce pair creation/annihilation processes at the classical level. On-shell evolution with fixed particle masses is restored through a self-interaction associated with the 5D wave equation.
An Alternative Method to Niskin Sampling for More Accurate Metatranscriptomic Analysis of the Marine Environment
Authors: Teague Jonathan , Scott Thomas B. , Sharma Sanjay , Graham George , Allen Michael J.
Published: March 2017

The development of low-cost, open-source Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) systems has provided almost unrestricted access for researchers looking to monitor the marine environment in ever greater resolution. Sampling microbial communities from the marine environment, however, still usually relies on Niskin-bottle sampling (ROV or CTD based), a method which introduces an inaccuracy and variability that is incompatible with metatranscriptomic analysis. Here, we describe a versatile, easily-replicated platform which achieves in situ mRNA preservation, via the addition of RNAlater to filtered microbial cells, to enhance ROV or CTD functionality.
H-Rec2: A Novel Mobile-Social System for Automatic Health Recognition and Recommendation
Authors: Li Huan , Lu Kejie , Zhang Qi
Published: March 2017

Over the past decades, overweight and obesity has become a global epidemic and the leading threat for death. To prevent the serious risk, an overweight or obese individual must apply a long-term weight-management strategy to control food intake and physical activities, which is however, not easy. Recently, with the advances of information technology, more and more people can use wearable devices and smartphones to obtain physical activity information, while they can also access various health-related information from Internet online social networks (OSNs). Nevertheless, there is a lack of an integrated approach that can combine these two methods in an efficient way. In this paper, we address this issue and propose a novel mobile-social framework for health recognition and recommendation, namely, H-Rec2. The main ideas of H-Rec2 include (1) to recognize the individual's health status using smartphone as a general platform, and (2) to recommend physical activity and food intake based on personal health information, life science principles, and health-related information obtained from OSNs. To demonstrate the potentials of the H-Rec2 framework, we develop a prototype that consists of four important components: (1) an activity recognition module that senses physical activity using accelerometer, (2) a health status modeling module that applies a novel algorithm to generate personalized health status index, (3) a restaurant information collection module that collects relevant information from OSN, and (4) a restaurant recommendation module that provides personalized and context-aware recommendation. To evaluate the prototype, we conduct both objective and subjective experiments, which confirm the performance and effectiveness of the proposed system.
Application of problem based learning model to learning outcomes of student in light matter in the class VIII SMP Negeri 1 Ledo kabupaten Bengkayang
Authors: Sari Ira Nofita , Wahyudi Wahyudi , Hendrias Hendrias
Published: March 2017

This study aims to determine: (1) student learning outcomes after application of the model Problem Based Learning on the material light in class VIII SMP Negeri 1 Ledo Bengkayang, (2) student learning outcomes after application of conventional learning models on the material light in class VIII SMP Negeri 1 Ledo Bengkayang, and (3) a comparison between student learning outcomes after application of Problem Based learning and conventional learning models in light of the material in class VIII SMP Negeri 1 Ledo Bengkayang. This study design is Nonequivalent Groups Post-Test Only Design. The study population was all students of class VIII SMP Negeri 1 Ledo consisting of four classes, namely class VIII A, VIII B, C VIII and VIII D. The research sample was determined by random cluster sampling technique and obtained a class VIII A as the experimental class and class VIII C as the control class. The data collection technique used is the technique of measurement, with the data collection tool is test description. The hypothesis was tested using the t test of the parties. Based on the analysis concluded that: (1) the average student learning outcomes after application of the model Problem Based Learning on light material in class VIII SMP Negeri 1 Ledo Bengkayang is 73.24, (2) student learning outcomes after application of conventional learning model in the light of the material in class VIII SMP Negeri 1 Ledo Bengkayang is 69.82, and (3) student learning outcomes after application of the model Problem Based learning is better than the student learning outcomes after application of conventional learning models in light of the material in class VIII SMP Negeri 1 Ledo Bengkayang

 
Sociology and the Crisis of Social Transformation in India in the Aspect of Information Technology
Authors: Srivastava Preeti
Published: March 2017

Sociology is a social science that studies society and the individual in perspective of society. Sociology emerged as a separate discipline in the mid-1800s in Western Europe during the onset of the Industrial Revolution. Industrialization brought Social Changes so sweeping they affected all aspects of human existence-where people lived, the nature of their work and interpersonal relationships. Social change, a shift in the characteristics of culture and society is such a vital part of Social life. Social Transformation is the process by which an individual alters the socially ascribed social status of their parents into a socially achieved status for themselves. However another definition refers to large scale Social Change as in Cultural Reforms or Transformation.

The main objectives of this research paper are- 1) To assess that Technology especially information technology plays a vital role in social transformation.  2) To identify that they are positively related to each other.  3) to evaluate the seriousness of cyber threats.

Indian country is proposed as an area of survey for conducting the study of above-mentioned objectives. Percentile, growth rate and charge are used to justify it.

Most popular information technology skills at the moment are internet (Computer networking). According to a release dated September 19, 2006, the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IMRB International, Internet users in India have reached 37 million in the month of September 2006, up from 33 million in March 2006. During the same period the number of “Active Users” has risen from 21.1 Million in March 2006 to 25 Million in September 2006. “Active User’ is an internationally accepted and widely used category to define users who have used the internet at least one in the last 30 days.

India has been facing serious cyber threats these days. These include threats from cyber espionage, cyber terrorism, cyber warfare, etc. Governments can facilitate these processes by taking legislative measures that ensure human rights are protected online just as they are physical spaces.
Dream Guys of Demographic Dividend and Their Economic Preferences
Authors: Manshani Mamta , Chopra P.K.
Published: March 2017

India is the nation of Young people with lots of dream and aspirations. If they have the skills, right education, health and real choices in life than they are the one who drives the nation towards prosperity. The economic and social progress of the country mainly depends on its young people.

By 2020, India is set to become the world’s youngest country with 64 per cent of its population in the working age group. With the West, Japan and even China aging, this demographic potential offers India and its growing economy an unprecedented edge that economists believe could add a significant 2 per cent to the GDP growth rate. Demographic dividend occurs when the proportion of independent people in the total population is larger than dependent people because this indicates that more people have the potential to be productive and contribute to growth of the economy.

This paper aims to find out and study personality and economic preferences of youth of India which is likely to benefit from demographic dividend.
Financial Inclusion through Islamic Banking
Authors: Nazar Mumna
Published: March 2017

Financial inclusion is a buzz word today. It plays an important role in driving away the poverty from the country. Financial inclusion is the process of ensuring financial services to the weaker sections of the society at an affordable cost. As per the Sachar Committee Report, Muslims in India are financially excluded. Even though they have an account, the extent of usage is very low due to the religious reasons.  The Non-Muslims also do not actively engage in the formal financial system due to the interest involvement. Islamic Bank can serve as a remedy for the financial exclusion of the Muslims as well as Non-Muslims community. The objective of this paper is to understand the extent of financial inclusion among the people in Kerala and their awareness and preference towards Islamic banking. Both primary and secondary data are collected for the study. Secondary data are collected from various secondary sources like published articles, journals, reports, books and websites. Primary data are collected with the help of questionnaire among people in Kerala. The study revealed that most of the respondents have accessed bank accounts but the extent of usage is only for namesake. Moreover the awareness and preference towards Islamic Banking is very high among the Muslims as well as Non-Muslims and suggested that proper care must be taken for introducing Islamic banking system in India. It will ultimately leads to the inclusive growth of our country.
Computing topological indices of the line graphs of Banana tree graph and Firecracker graph
Authors: Sardar Muhammad Shoaib , Zafar Sohail , Zahid Zohaib
Published: March 2017

In this paper, we compute first Zagreb index (coindex), second Zagreb index (coindex), third Zagreb index, first hyper-Zagreb index, atom-bond connectivity index, fourth atom-bond connectivity index, sum connectivity index, Randić connectivity index, augmented Zagreb index, Sanskruti index, geometric-arithmetic connectivity index and fifth geometric-arithmetic connectivity index of the line graphs of Banana tree graph and Firecracker graph.
Perubahan Paradigma Beragama (Analisis Perubahan Pemikiran Keagamaan Masyarakat Desa Jepang Mejobo Kudus)
Authors: Masudi Masudi
Published: March 2017

Membincang tentang fenomena keberagamaan masyarakat, situasi yang berjalan di tengah-tengah mereka akan senantiasa menjadi titik sorot untuk menjelaskan ihwal kehadiran, dimulai dari tradsi, kebudayaan, etnik, agama, dan realitas kehidupan sosial yang berjalan. Fenomena beragama yang ada di tengah-tengah kehidupan masyarakat akan menjadi bagian penyimpulan yang bisa dikaji, bagaimanakah kondisi nyata keberagamaan masyarakat yang berjalan. Kenyataan keberagamaan yang ada di masyarakat inilah nantinya akan mengisi ruang-ruang persepsi masyarakat akan bukti hakiki makna agama dalam kehidupan mereka.

Mengamati dinamika keberagamaan yang berjalan di tengah-tengah kehidupan masyarakat Desa Jepang Mejobo Kudus, penelitian ini terfokus untuk mengkaji fenomena perubahan paradigma masyarakat tentang agama. Berpijak kepada dinamika kehidupan masyarakat yang tergolong abangan, terdapat hal unik yang bisa dieksplorasi mengenai keberagamaan masyarakat Desa Jepang Mejobo Kudus. Beragama di antara mereka masih tampak mengadaptasi dengan kegiatan kebudayaan yang cenderung ambigu dalam hukum agama. Dalam hal ini bisa dijelaskan seperti menyabung ayam, meminum-minuman keras, dan berjudi. Namun, di antara aktivitas ambigu dalam kaca pandang agama tersebut, masyarakat juga aktif untuk melaksanakan kirim doa kepada para leluhur yang sudah meninggal (hajatan) atau juga membaca silsilah Syaikh Abdul Qodir al-Jailani manaqiban.
Kehidupan beragama masyarakat Desa Jepang Mejobo Kudus menampakkan adanya perubahan pola keberagamaan. Dimulai dari masifnya kondisi masyarakat yang tergolong abangan, mereka mulai beralih untuk aktif mengisi waktu-waktu luang mereka guna beribadah menjalankan perintah-perintah agama. Aktivitas kebudayaan yang masih banyak dijumpai, seperti menyabung ayam, meminum-minuman keras, dan berjudi, hal tersebut mulai terkikis dengan kegiatan mereka untuk memenuhi tuntutan agama.
Isolation Cellulolytic Fungi from Plants and Animals Wastesin Iraq
Authors: Kubba Ayad Jaber , AL-Saadi Adel saadi salman
Published: March 2017

134 samples of plants and animals wastes were taken from three different regions outside Baghdad and three different regions in Baghdad. 24 cellulolytic isolates fungi AO, C1, TH1, AN1, R1, TV, PG, AF, B1, L1, AP, TH, AP1, AN3, AO2, A, A1, C, F, AO1, C2, F1, CL and AP2 independent were chosen out of 48 selected fungi. The best optimal conditions for growth were 30ºC and pH 7. The isolates were identified and screened according to the colony diameter, biomass and density of spores in addition of capability to produce the hydrolytic enzymes for cellulose.
The Effect of Organic Matter Application on Phosphorus Status in the Calcareous Soil
Authors: Rasheed Ayad Ghazi , Razaq Ibrahim Bakri A. , Al-Kaysi Shafiek C. S.
Published: March 2017

A field experiment is conducted to study the effect of different levels of peat (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 Mg ha-1 to uncropped and cropped soil to wheat. Soil samples are taken in different period of time (0, 3, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 days after cultivation to determine (NaHCO3-Exteractable P at 3 different depths (0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm). Field Experiment is conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates. Wheat, Al-Rasheed variety, is cultivated as a testing crop. The entire field is equally dived in two divisions. One of the two divisions is cultivated to wheat and the second is left uncropped. The effect of five levels of peat namely 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 Mg ha-1 is investigated. Soils are fully analyzed to determine its physical and chemical characteristics. The soil samples are collected after 3, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 days for determining essential parameters and indicators that reflect the effect of the level of peat applications. Sodium bicarbonate - extractable P in uncropped and cropped soils at all depths, markedly decreases with time after peat application which has been attributed to plant uptake and rapid reaction of P with soil constituents. Sodium bicarbonate - extractable P with time in soil receiving 50 Mg ha-1 in both uncropped and cropped soil linearly decreases with the time of cultivation
Developing Regulations Concerning Dispersant Use - A Recommended Good Practice Approach
Authors: Coolbaugh T. S. , Varghese G. , Taylor P. M. , Cox R. T. , Lewis A.
Published: March 2017

Dispersant use can be a critical component of an effective response to larger offshore oil spills. In particular, it is recognized that, when used appropriately, dispersants can greatly mitigate the potential for long term environmental impact by preventing floating oil slicks from remaining on the sea surface and stranding on sensitive shorelines. These benefits have been realized following large incidents such as the Sea Empress spill (UK, 1996) and well blowouts in Australia (Montara, 2009) and in the Gulf of Mexico Macondo 2010). In recent years, the decision to use dispersants in response to an oil spill incident often draws much public and media scrutiny. The possible spread of misinformation, combined with unrealistic expectations about the effectiveness other oil spill response options such as mechanical recovery and a lack of understanding regarding the potential for overall mitigation of a spill's impact through dispersant application, can establish major obstacles for its use.

In the event of an oil spill incident, regulators need to ensure that all available spill response tools are considered when developing and implementing the response strategy that will be the most effective for dealing with the incident. They also need to have appropriate information to be able to justify their decisions to a wide range of stakeholder communities. Successful use of dispersants during an incident is often time dependent and therefore pre-established and well understood regulations concerning dispersant approval and use are critical to enable a timely decision-making process. The IPIECA (the global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues) and IOGP (International Association of Oil and Gas Producers) guidance document on Regulatory Approval of Dispersant Products and Authorization for their Use aims to provide the background and relevant information for use by regulators to ensure that a fit-for-purpose dispersant policy is established as a part of the national oil spill contingency planning framework. The main purpose of the document is to establish a common understanding of what is important for an effective regulatory approval process for dispersants and their use.

Industry's recommended approach for developing regulations for dispersant approval and use are discussed, based on the IPIECA-IOGP guidance document. The primary concerns of the oil spill stakeholder community about their use are addressed. Current industry good practice is detailed and a recommended path forward to address relevant issues is offerred, e.g., from dispersant effectiveness and toxicity testing to recommendations on authorization for use and operational monitoring.
Strategies for Enhancing Bioremediation for Hydrocarbon-Impacted Soils
Authors: Effendi Agus Jatnika , Kamath Roopa , McMillen Sara , Sihota Natasha , Zuo Eve , Sra Kammy , Kong Deyuan , Wisono Tri , Syakir Jamal
Published: March 2017

Bioremediation has been successfully used to treat crude-oil impacted soils within a reasonable timeframe at petroleum sites in Indonesia (typically 2-6 months). In a collaborative effort between PT. Chevron Pacific Indonesia, Chevron Environmental Technology Company, and Institute of Technology, Bandung (ITB) in Indonesia, laboratory studies were conducted to test the impact of adding amendments such as chemical oxidants and surfactants to enhance the rate of bioremediation of crude-oil impacted soils.

Partial chemical oxidation of hydrocarbons may result in by-products that are more susceptible to biodegradation. Consequently, it was hypothesized that addition of low levels of oxidants could potentially enhance the rate of subsequent biodegradation of hydrocarbons in crude-oil impacted soils. Chemical oxidants tested in studies in ITB and in Chevron laboratories included hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate, calcium peroxide, carbamide peroxide and ammonium persulfate. In contrast to chemical oxidants, addition of surfactants could potentially enhance the bioavailability of hydrocarbons or alter soil characteristics (e.g., hydrophobicity), thereby enhancing the rate of bioremediation in crude oil impacted soils. Surfactants that were tested included Tergitol NP-10 and Tween-80.

In general, the addition of oxidants (solid or liquid) and/or surfactants tested in these studies did not impact the extent of TPH biodegradation over the long-term compared to biostimulation controls (nutrients + tilling). However, addition of small amounts of surfactants can help reduce the lag time before TPH biodegradation commences, and thereby achieve remedial goals (of 1% TPH) within a shorter timeframe. This could significantly increase throughput at a bioremediation facility for a small incremental cost.
Lessons Learnt And Emerging Good Practices in Grievance Management
Authors: Yi Heng Jing , Peterson Cynthia Ann
Published: March 2017

This paper will discuss on the lessons learnt from the implementation of grievance management undertaken by PETRONAS and practical examples in grievance management and remediation. This paper will provide an overview of grievance management in projects, the challenges faced by project teams in dealing with community grievances and the efforts undertaken by the projects to enhance its grievance management to be more efficient and effective. The paper also aims to showcase applicable good practices demonstrated in projects across PETRONAS. The absence of a standard method in collecting data and lack of dedicated Social Performance personnel are identified as initial challenges in developing and implementing Grievance Mechanism in projects. In addition, external factors such as complying to host authority requirements and having a minimal role as joint venture partner have added more challenges for project teams to develop an effective grievance management plan. The implementation of Grievance Mechanism (GM) in projects is strengthened with the establishment of a GM Technical Guideline, inclusion of GM in HSE Mandatory Control Framework, and the introduction of a Human Rights Commitment.
Single Color Coding Standard Across Same Geographic Location for Lifting and Hoisting Equipment and Gears
Authors: Ahmed Md Mostak
Published: March 2017

Consideration of how a single color coding standard for all lifting, hoisting and rigging equipment adopted by clients and service providers could reduce logistics related incidents by 10% and save approximately 6% −50% in material costs.
Integrated Approach in Fatigue Management
Authors: Jemoin M Nizam , Abdullah Ahmad Khairi
Published: March 2017

There have been numerous guidelines and protocols on Fatigue Management at the workplace but little is mentioned on feasible and practical solutions to manage the risks. To establish an effective fatigue management programme at the workplace, an integrated approach that leverages on IT solution is essential. As part of an effort to establish guidelines to practical solutions to fatigue related risk, a task force comprising of Specialists (Occupational Health, HSE, Turn-Around Management, Communication & Stakeholder Management), Plant Operation focal persons, Shift supervisors and IT Project team was formed (when). Additionally, a situational analysis was conducted via survey. Survey feedback included information on availability of site procedure to manage fatigue at work, communication/training tool(s), compliance to hours of service limits, and monitoring and tracking of performance indicator(s). There were also a focused group discussion with various stakeholders which included a detailed review of the shift manning procedure and work process evaluation to address fatigue risks among shift workers during normal plant operation and turn around. Detailed analysis was performed to determine common issues that require further mitigation efforts. Key deliverables were identified, which included the development of standardised work process in managing shift work as well as fatigue and development of communication materials with clear messages to reinforce the understanding and actions in fatigue management for employees and supervisors. It also promoted the use of IT Tool i.e eManning® and Gate Access system, in monitoring & tracking compliance to hours of service limits. Approvals and endorsements were obtained from leadership team to roll out the programme. This paper illustrates the integrated approach taken by the organisation to reinforce effective management of fatigue at the workplace.
Management at Corporate Level of Noise Exposure Assessment and Control for Petrobras Refining
Authors: Cormier Kevin , Mohamed Irfan
Published: March 2017

This article presents the work carried out as part of a project aiming to regulate the noise exposure of workers of PETROBRAS refining units. This is a corporate project carried out over a three years’ period (2012 to 2015) by the Supply business unit of the Brazilian company. The uniqueness of this project is due to its scale. Indeed, this encompassed twelve refineries located throughout Brazil. The corporate approach to deal with noise exposure risk leads to an overall data consolidation allowed by a standardized methodology.

The methodology used is split into four phases. First, a long but necessary planning stage, then an exhaustive assessment of the current noise situation of production areas was carried out during the first twelve months of the project. This stage allowed the involvement of several important tools used to identify and rank noise exposure issues. This lead to noise maps of every industrial area and an acoustic database of equipment exceeding regulatory limits (sound power level and directivity). Third, every industrial area was modelled into noise prediction software compliant with ISO 9613-2 standard. Finally, acoustic damping solutions were designed and proportioned by size of equipment.

This mixed approach of measurement and numerical simulation mobilized a dedicated ACOEM project team comprising of eight acoustic experts. Principal achievement of this project, concluded in 2015, is a clear vision of the noise control priorities allowed by standardized methodology on all refineries in a short time. This achievement leads to a coherent set of controls for the future investments to be done to mitigate noise exposure risks.

In addition to highlighting the benefits of integrated Health Safety and Environment (HSE) management, this work provides an understanding on the use of virtual computing doses from propagating acoustic model.
A Novel Infrared Device for the Rapid Analysis of Crude Oil Contamination in Tropical Soils
Authors: Stewart R. , Toop A. , Webster G. , Chin T. T. , Paulus G.
Published: March 2017

Objectives/Scope

The oil and gas industry spends significant time and money assessing crude oil impacts in soil. Current industry practice involves sending soil samples to an off-site laboratory for the analysis of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) with standard turnaround times of >5 days.

A novel handheld infrared device (RemScan™) can be used to measure crude oil contamination in soil in 20 seconds. This disruptive technology is being used to accelerate site closure, cut laboratory analysis costs, and to collect more data points for increased confidence. This paper presents results from an independent validation trial of the infrared device.

Methods, Procedures, Process

A number of crude oil contaminated soils were collected from several different tropical sites in South-East Asia. Samples were scanned using the infrared device and then sent to an accredited laboratory for analysis of TPH (C10-C36). Site-specific calibration models were loaded into the infrared device which was then used to predict the TPH concentrations of blind validation samples and the results were compared to the laboratory assay data.

Results, Observations, Conclusions

The results of the study show an excellent correlation between the infrared device and laboratory assay values in terms of both accuracy and repeatability. The occurrence of false positives and negatives is very low using a common remediation criterion.

The outcomes of this study show that the handheld infrared device can be confidently used as an infield screening tool for assessing oil contamination in tropical soils. This paves the way for significant time and cost savings for companies that are assessing and remediating crude oil contaminated soils in tropical regions.

Novel/Additive Information

The concept of taking the "lab to the field" for measuring crude oil contamination in soil, without compromising data quality, is now a possibility using the new handheld infrared device.
How to Lose Social License to Operate: A Case Study of the NSW Coal Seam Gas Industry. What Happened and What can be Learned
Authors: Snashall David , Genter Sabrina
Published: March 2017

The coal seam gas (CSG) industry in NSW is now largely defunct due to the loss of social licence to operate. Six years of community outrage and Government indecision resulted in increased regulation and eventually withdrawals by the major operators. The demise of this industry occurred despite a gas shortage in the State, existing operational CSG fields with a good track record, initial government support, a neighbouring state, Queensland, with over 3,500 production wells, and a detailed investigation by the Government's Chief Scientist supporting the industry. Despite this, a groundswell of community opposition brought pressure to bear on the governments, operators and banks to force the effective closure of this potential industry.

This paper analyses the history of this battle to identify lessons for the industry and operators in order that they are able to make earlier and better decisions should similar circumstances arise in future.

It identifies the key milestones in this debate, including; Formation and consolidation of major community opposition groupsEnquiries set up be the GovernmentIndecisive politics and ineffective regulationThe Metgasco saga of community blockades and eventual Government buy back of the licenceWithdrawal of major operators

The paper draws conclusions and provides recommendations on how the industry as a whole, and individual operators, could have identified and responded to these issues in a more productive manner. The recommendation provide guidance on how the industry could have : Recognised the groundswell of opposition much earlierUnderstood the complexities of the alliance that formed against the industryEngaged with the opponents to determine whether there was a way forwardMade better investment decisions, based on a detailed understanding of the scale of community concerns.
Challenges and Improvement of Instrumented Protective Function IPF Maintenance
Authors: Lim Jit Sen , Mahmood M Rashdan , Sidek M Saleh , Hashim Abdul Fattah
Published: March 2017

Instrumented protective function (IPF) is a safety function designed to achieve a safe state for a specific hazardous event. An IPF loop is made up of initiators, logic solvers and final elements. IPF is classified with a specific safety integrity level (SIL), which must be met throughout its life-cycle. IPF failures can cause severe consequences on people, environment, asset and reputation, if there is no alternative independent layer of protection. 35% of control system failures are estimated to occur in the operation and maintenance phase, in spite of the assumed compliance with the target integrity requirements. This paper deliberates the issues of functional proof testing, data collection, IPF study review, as well as awareness and competency of manpower, with the objective of improving functional safety management in the operation and maintenance phase.
A ESSÊNCIA DO POSITIVISMO JURÍDICO
Authors: Staack André Luiz
Published: March 2017

Este artigo objetivou identificar e analisar as características essenciais do Positivismo Jurídico. O estudo teve como objetivo geral identificar, por meio de uma detida pesquisa bibliográfica, as Características Centrais da concepção positivista do Direito, a fim de definir àquelas que retratam, efusivamente, essa maneira de se conceituar o pensamento jurídico. Para o alcance do objetivo proposto, o método de abordagem foi o indutivo, sendo o levantamento de dados realizado através da técnica da pesquisa bibliográfica de fonte secundária. Nas considerações finais, concluiu-se que o Positivismo Jurídico possui 5 (cinco) Características Centrais, as quais, de forma detalhada e com certa profundidade, serão consignadas ao longo do texto.
A PROTEÇÃO DAS GERAÇÕES FUTURAS EM FACE DOS DESASTRES NATURAIS NAS CONSTITUIÇÕES CONTEMPORÂNEAS
Authors: ALVES HENRIQUE ROSMANINHO
Published: March 2017

Os desastres naturais constituem um problema ambiental contemporâneo que afeta diretamente a vida da população e a possibilidade de existência de futuras gerações. São fenômenos que relacionam-se intimamente com o meio ambiente, em seus aspectos naturais, visto que emanam deles, mas também artificiais, ao passo que os fatores de vulnerabilização da sociedade aos impactos provenientes dos eventos adversos naturais geralmente decorrem da interferência antrópica. Buscou-se, ante a influência dos desastres naturais na sociedade contemporânea, identificar suas características e sua evolução material, social e jurídica. Neste ponto encontra-se o objetivo principal da pesquisa, qual seja, a investigação da regulamentação jurídica desse tipo de evento, adentrando nos seus aspectos constitucionais. Utilizou-se de uma pesquisa predominantemente jurídico-dogmática, na qual o marco teórico foram os textos de diferentes constituições, principalmente o da Constituição da República de 1988. Conclui-se ao final pela existência de múltiplas espécies de abordagens constitucionais de proteção das gerações futuras em face dos desastres naturais, destacando-se a abordagem pátria, para a qual oferta-se maior atenção.
A Comparative Study on the Academic Performance of Students in Bachelor’s Degree of Information Technology Having Arts and Science Background in Uganda
Authors: Haolader Faruque A. , Hakim Walusimbi , Kassim Kalinaki , Mubarak Hamisi Ramadhan
Published: March 2017

Variations in the academic performance among students at all levels of education are one issue for years now that has attracted the attention of many researchers across the globe. This has prompted researchers and educationists to find out what factors or reasons can be attributed to these variations. Numerous studies have been conducted to determine the various reasons to explain this cause. The purpose of this study therefore, was to compare the academic performance of students in the Bachelor’s degree of Information Technology (BIT) having Arts and Science backgrounds in universities of Uganda. In order to achieve the objective of this study, a sample of 202 final year BIT students were purposively  selected from two universities in Uganda. These students were categorized on the basis of their A’ level backgrounds (130 Arts and 72 Sciences). A descriptive approach employing the Welch’s t-test was used to determine the difference between the performance of the two groups and a simple linear regression analysis was used to examine the correlation among students’ performance between semesters. The results indicated that there’s a significant difference in the academic performance of the two groups, with the science group outperforming arts. However, it was found that there is a more linear increase in the performance of Arts students from semester one through semester five. Furthermore, Arts students performed slightly better than Science counterparts in some course units. Thus the study concludes that Science students perform better than Arts students in the overall semester final examination with Arts students having room for improvement in their performance.
E-publishing in Developing Economies
Authors: Smart Pippa , Pearce Carole , Tonukari Nyerhovwo J.
Published: March 2017

Electronic publishing has been heralded as a worldwide solution to information dissemination. This article considers the current problems experienced by traditional journals published in the developing world, with particular reference to publishing in sub-Saharan Africa. The opportunities offered by electronic online publishing are discussed to determine how they can resolve the current problems in dissemination and improve quality. Two case studies of different initiatives are presented: an online-only journal, the African Journal of Biotechnology (AJB), and an online journal abstracting service, African Journals OnLine (AJOL). The article concludes that although online publishing is not a solution for all the problems experienced by journals in developing countries, it offers great potential for increasing the visibility and quality of indigenous knowledge within the global research community.
Supporting and Enhancing Scholarship in the Digital Age: The Role of Open-Access Institutional Repositories
Authors: Chan Leslie
Published: March 2017

Scholarly communication and publishing are increasingly taking place in the electronic environment. With a growing proportion of the scholarly record now existing only in digital format, serious and pressing issues regarding access and preservation are being raised that are central to future scholarship. At the same time, the desire of scholars to maximize readership of their research and to take control of the scholarly communication process back from the restrictive domain of commercial publishing has prompted the proliferation of access options and experimental models of publishing. This paper examines the emerging trend of university-based institutional repositories (IRs) designed to capture the scholarly output of an institution and to maximize the research impact of this output. The relationship of this trend to the open access movement is discussed and challenges and opportunities for using IRs to promote new modes of scholarship are provided.
When Head Office Was Upstairs: How Corporate Concentration Changed a Television Newsroom
Authors: McLean James S.
Published: March 2017

This paper undertakes a case study into the impact of corporate concentration on the newsroom at CKCK (CTV) Television in Regina, Saskatchewan. By comparing the newsgathering operation from the late 1980s with the one in operation today, changes to the organizational and technological structure of CKCK Television are pinpointed with respect to the effects on the work lives of journalists. This is accomplished through interviews with past and present employees and by observing the newsroom environment as it exists today. Through an assessment of daily work structures and the controls that are institutionally imposed, the manner in which journalists serve the public good is considered and questioned.
“You can see anything on the Internet, you can do anything on the Internet!”: Young Canadians Talk about the Internet
Authors: Shade Leslie Regan
Published: March 2017

This paper presents emerging findings based on 35 semi-structured interviews conducted with children and youth from the research project Children, Young People, and New Media in the Home. The objective of this research is to examine young people’s use of the Internet by focusing on the overall media environment at home. Our study indicates that while children and young people are active and intrepid Internet surfers, they use the Internet to extend their local and school-based social ties, and that they have very little concern for offensive or illegal content issues. We argue that these experiences of children and young people need to be considered an intrinsic facet of Canadian Internet policy development treating children and young people as valid and active citizens.
Networks and Layers: Technocultural Encodings of the World Wide Web
Authors: Langlois Ganaele
Published: March 2017

This paper calls for a cultural analysis of the World Wide Web through a focus on the technical layers that shape the Web as a medium. Web technologies need to be acknowledged as not only shaped by social processes, but also deployed, through standardization and automation, as agents that render representation possible by following specific technocultural logics. Thus, the focus is on the relationship between hardware, software, and culture through an analysis of the layers of encoding that translate data into discourse, and vice versa.
Negotiating Electronic Surveillance in the Workplace: A Study of Collective Agreements in Canada
Authors: Kiss Simon , Mosco Vincent
Published: March 2017

Innovations in information and communication technology have deepened the problem of workplace surveillance by expanding the capacity to measure and monitor worker activity. This article assesses the extent to which trade unions in Canada have made privacy a sufficiently serious concern to see that privacy protections are incorporated into collective agreements. It assesses the progress made since Bryant’s 1995 study, published in this Journal, which found practically no reference to electronic privacy protection in Canadian agreements. Specifically, the article reports on a content analysis of existing Canadian collective agreements to determine the extent to which privacy has been recognized by trade unions; to examine which sectors, industries, or individual unions have incorporated surveillance protection into their collective agreements; and to identify specific models of surveillance protection clauses in collective agreements.
We Are Still the Aniishnaabe Nation: Embracing Culture and Identity in Batchewana First Nation
Authors: Broad Gayle , Boyer Stephanie , Chataway Cynthia
Published: March 2017

This case study was conducted by researchers engaged in “Understanding the Strengths of Indigenous Communities,” a research project involving five participating First Nations (see http://www.usic.ca ). This particular study describes the centrality of cultural activities and beliefs in strengthening the community of the Batchewana First Nation. Deploying an innovative form of methodology, which stresses community participation in the development of the research process for the purposes of decolonization, the article explores how this community approaches culture from a holistic worldview. The findings suggest that cultural renewal is self-reinforcing and cumulative, and plays a key role in overcoming collective trauma, but that these benefits can be jeopardized through a lack of resources.
International Cultural Relations as a Factor in Postwar Canadian Cultural Policy: The Relevance of UNESCO for the Massey Commission
Authors: Druick Zoë
Published: March 2017

The Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences (The Massey Commission, 1949-1951) is widely seen to be Canada’s most important position paper on national cultural policy. This article explores the relation of this significant document to UNESCO and its characteristic discourse of “cultural relations.” Not only did UNESCO appear in the terms of reference for the Massey Commission Report, but it also was a repeated touchstone for submissions to the Commission. This overlooked international aspect of the Massey Commission underscores the connection between politics and culture in Cold War Canada providing a clear case of how international political language becomes entangled with—and helps to legitimize—artistic and cultural endeavours. The combination of the discussion of education and culture with that of development and trade allowed Canada to reconsider its position on public funding for the arts.
Transformational Encounters: Reflections on Cultural Participation and Ecomuseology
Authors: Worts Douglas
Published: March 2017

This paper explores the relationship between cultural participation, community wellbeing and global sustainability. By reframing notions of cultural participation within a perspective that stresses interconnection and deep reflection as key to wellbeing, the author questions the core values that guide, govern and fund cultural organizations, policies and practices. The paper presents ten quasi-fictive scenarios that explore the dynamics of meaningful participation. They creatively illustrate the importance of an ecomuseological perspective in which culture is understood as the foundation for increased human consciousness and responsible action to share limited planetary resources.
From Native Pines to Diasporic Geese: Placing Culture, Setting Our Sites, Locating Identity in a Transnational Canada
Authors: Osborne Brian S.
Published: March 2017

In Canada, as elsewhere, introspective and nostalgic views of community and nation-state are being challenged by the impacts of globalism and cosmopolitanism. The impact of these transformations is acute in the context of Canada, where a liberal multiculturalism is transmuting into a hybrid pluralism. Current strategies of identity formation have to accommodate a hybridity that is being fostered by an ever-increasing diasporic population for whom “lived-in places” exhibit transnationalist connections. Too often, established mnemonic tropes relate to past iconic values and norms of the nation-state, even though they are no longer connected with emerging new values that search for new modes of expression. This paper discusses the crucial role of the arts and heritage in this local anchoring of the transnational polity, arguing that symbolic landscapes become sites where new values are contested and traditional iconic values are challenged.