bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drosophila Protamine-Like Mst35Ba and Mst35Bb Are Required for Proper Sperm Nuclear Morphology but Are Dispensable for Male Fertility
Authors: Tirmarche Samantha , Kimura Shuhei , Sapey-Triomphe Laure , Sullivan William , Landmann Frédéric , Loppin Benjamin
Published: September 2014

During spermiogenesis, histones are massively replaced with protamines. A previous report showed that Drosophila males homozygous for a genomic deletion covering several genes including the protamine-like genes Mst35Ba/b are surprisingly fertile. Here, we have precisely deleted the Mst35B locus by homologous recombination, and we confirm the dispensability of Mst35Ba/b for fertility.
Structures of Naturally Evolved CUP1 Tandem Arrays in Yeast Indicate That These Arrays Are Generated by Unequal Nonhomologous Recombination
Authors: Zhao Ying , Strope Pooja K , Kozmin Stanislav G , McCusker John H , Dietrich Fred S , Kokoska Robert J , Petes Thomas D
Published: September 2014

An important issue in genome evolution is the mechanism by which tandem duplications are generated from single-copy genes. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, most strains contain tandemly duplicated copies of CUP1, a gene that encodes a copper-binding metallothionein. By screening 101 natural isolates of S. cerevisiae, we identified five different types of CUP1-containing repeats, as well as strains that only had one copy of CUP1. A comparison of the DNA sequences of these strains indicates that the CUP1 tandem arrays were generated by unequal nonhomologous recombination events from strains that had one CUP1 gene.
EXOPOLYSACCHARIDE PRODUCTION BY DROUGHT TOLERANT BACILLUS SPP. AND EFFECT ON SOIL AGGREGATION UNDER DROUGHT STRESS
Authors: Vardharajula Sandhya , Sk Z Ali
Published: September 2014

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) of microbial origin with novel functionality, reproducible physico-chemical properties, are important class of polymeric materials. EPS are believed to protect bacterial cells from dessication, produce biofilms, thus enhancing the cells chances of bacterial colonizing special ecological niches. In rhizosphere, EPS are known to be useful to improve the moisture-holding capacity. Three Bacillus spp. strains identified by 16s rDNA sequence analysis as B. amyloliquefaciens strain HYD-B17; B. licheniformis strain HYTAPB18; B. subtilis strain RMPB44 were studied for the ability to tolerate matric stress and produce EPS under different water potentials. EPS production in all the three Bacillus spp strains increased with increasing water stress indicating correlation between drought stress tolerance and EPS production. Among the isolates, strain HYD-17 showed highest production of EPS. The exopolysaccharide composition of the three strains was further analyzed by HPLC. Drought stress influenced the ratio of sugars in EPS and glucose was found as major sugar in strains HYTAPB18 and RMPB44 whereas raffinose was major sugar found in strain HYD-B17. Inoculation of EPS producing Bacillus spp. strains in soil resulted in good soil aggregation under drought stress conditions at different incubation periods. This study shows that exposure to water stress conditions affects the composition and ratios of sugars in EPS produced by Bacillus spp. strains HYD-B17, HYTAPB18 and RMPB44 influencing abiotic stress tolerance of the microorganisms.
METAL TOLERANCE ANALYSIS OF MICROFUNGI ISOLATED FROM METAL CONTAMINATED SOIL AND WASTE WATER
Authors: Jayaraman Mathan , Arumugam Rajendran
Published: September 2014

The influence of Cr6+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+ on the development of 24 fungi was investigated for Metal Tolerance Index (MTI) at 1mg ml-1 Cr6+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+ concentrations and also for Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). The MIC ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 mg ml-1 depending on the isolate Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium sp. were tested for their metal tolerance index. Out of these Aspergillus flavus (ED4) shows a better tolerance index of 0.80 Cr6+, 0.72 for Pb2+ , 0.63 for Cu2+, 0.58 for Ni2+, 0.46 for Zn2+ and 0.60 Cd2+ for MIC value for the removal of heavy metals from contaminated soil and wastewaters.
QUALITY AND MICRIOBIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF AFRICAN YAM BEAN YOGHURT SUPPLEMENTED WITH COW MILK
Authors: A. Aderinola Taiwo , Y. Olanrewaju Zulfah
Published: September 2014

The utilization of African yam bean for the production of yoghurt substituted with cow milk was studied. African yam bean milk was extracted from dehulled seed, pasteurized and fermented with Yoghurmet® in ratios with reconstituted cow milk powder in the ratios 50:50, 70:30, 90:10, 100:0 and 0:100 (African yam bean milk:Cow milk). Sample 0:100 which was 100% cow milk yoghurt served as the control. The samples were stored for 14 days at 4oC and 3 days at room temperature. The results of the proximate composition of the fresh samples in percentages are; Moisture: 82.76, 81.62, 83.62, 86.53 and 85.42. Total solids: 17.25, 18.47, 16.35, 13.47and14.57. Protein: 5.93, 4.27, 5.87, 5.57 and 5.14. Ash: 0.94, 0.83, 0.91, 0.90 and 0.87. Fat: 1.07, 2.53, 1.18, 1.45 and 1.75. Carbohydrate: 9.09, 10.73, 8.33, 5.53 and 6.78 for the samples 100:0, 0:100, 90:10, 70:30 and 50:50 respectively. The moisture, total solids, fat and carbohydrate contents differed significantly (p≤0.05) in all the samples. The protein content of 100:0 and 90:0 did not differ significantly but differs in other samples. 0:100 differ significantly from other samples in ash content. There was no fiber in the samples. The total viable microbial count was highest in 70:30 (1×107cfu/ml) for refrigerated storage samples while 50:50 (9.5×106cfu/ml) had the highest count in room temperature storage samples. There were no yeasts/moulds enumerated in the refrigerated storage samples while yeast/moulds appeared in 100:0 (3×106cfu/ml) and 70:30 (1×106cfu/ml) on the 3rd day of room temperature storage. The titratable acidity of all the samples increased gradually throughout the storage period while their pH decreased. The specific gravity of the samples also decreased gradually throughout the storage period. The anti-nutritional composition of the samples containing African yam bean was also determined. The sensory properties showed that samples stored at refrigeration temperature maintained good quality up to 14 days of storage and that sample 50:50 was most preferred.
ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF NONTRADITIONAL PLANT POLLEN AGAINST DIFFERENT SPECIES OF MICROORGANISMS
Authors: Kačániová Miroslava , Terentjeva Margarita , Petrová Jana , Hleba LukÃ¡Å¡ , Shevtsova Tetiana , Kluz Maciej , Rožek Przemyslaw , Vukovič Nenad
Published: September 2014

The aim of this study was to detect the antimicrobial activity of four plant pollen samples to pathogenic bacteria, microscopic fungi and yeasts. Pollens of dogwood common (Cornus mas), ray mountain (Secale strictum spp. strictum), pumpkin rape (Cucurbita pepo var. styriaca) and grape vine (Vitis vinifera) were collected in 2010 in Slovakia. The antimicrobial effects of the four nontraditional plant pollens were tested using the agar well diffusion method. For extraction, 70% ethanol (aqueous, v/v) was applied. Antimicrobial susceptibility of five different strains of bacteria - three gram positive (Listeria monocytogenes CCM 4699, Pseudomonas aeruginosa CCM 1960, Staphylococcus aureus CCM 3953) and gram negative (Salmonella enterica CCM 4420, Escherichia coli CCM 3988), as well as three different strains of microscopic fungi, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and three different strains of yeasts Candida albicans, Geotrichum candidum and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, were examinated. L. monocytogenes was the most sensitive among bacteria to the three ethanol extracts of plant pollen after 24 hours of inoculation, A. flavus and C. albicans were the most sensitive microscopic fungi and yeast species, respectively.
IDENTIFICATION AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF POTENTIAL PROBIOTIC BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM POECILIA RETICULATA (GUPPY)
Authors: Balakrishna Aparna
Published: September 2014

Antagonistic activities against candidate indicator strains, adhesion to mucus and biofilm formation of potential probiotic strains isolated from Poecilia reticulata were evaluated. Four isolated strains (MBTU_PB1, MBTU_PB2, MBTU_PB3 and MBTU_PB4) showed moderate to strong antagonistic activities against the tested five indicator strains (Aeromonas hydrophila1739, Vibrio cholera 3906, Flavobacterium 2495, Acinetobacter 1271 and Alcaligenes 1424) and these isolates were further identified using biochemical tests and 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. Except the whole cell product, the other three cellular components, namely, heat-killed whole cell product, intracellular product and extracellular product of all the four selected isolates were equally effective, as revealed by the zone of inhibitions to the tested indicator strains. The in vitro adhesion property or the ability of colonization is often considered as a selection criteria for probiotics. All the selected four strains had higher adhesion abilities than the indicator strains. Further, these four strains had the ability to form biofilms on polystyrene surfaces. The in vitro characterization of these four strains suggests possibility of using the isolates, as individual strain or in combination, for probiotic therapy in aquaculture.
Transradial access for renal artery intervention
Authors: Ruzsa Zoltán , Tóth Károly , Jambrik Zoltán , Kovács Nándor , Nardai Sándor , Nemes Balázs , Hüttl Kálmán , Merkely Béla
Published: September 2014

Introduction

Percutaneous interventional procedures in the renal arteries are usually performed using a femoral or brachial vascular access. The transradial approach is becoming more popular for peripheral interventions, but limited data exists for renal artery angioplasty and stenting.

Methods

We have analyzed the clinical, angiographic and technical results of renal artery stenting performed from radial artery access between 2012 and 2013. The radial artery anatomy was identified with aortography using 100 cm pig tail catheter. After engagement of the renal artery ostium with a 6F Multipurpose or 6F JR5 guiding catheter, the stenosis was passed with a 0.014″ guidewire followed by angioplasty and stent implantation.

Results

In 27 patients (mean age: 65.4 ± 9.17) with hemodynamically relevant renal artery stenosis (mean diameter stenosis: 77.7 ± 10.6%; right,n= 7; left,n= 20), interventional treatment with angioplasty and stenting was performed using a left (n= 3) or right (n= 24) radial artery access. Direct stenting was successfully performed in 13 (48%) cases, and predilatations were required in ten cases 10 (37%). Primary technical success (residual stenosis <30%) could be achieved in all cases. The mean contrast consumption was 119 ± 65 ml and the mean procedure time was 30 ± 8.2 min. There were no major periprocedural vascular complications and in one patient transient creatinine level elevation was observed (3.7%). In one patient asymptomatic radial artery occlusion was detected (3.7%).

Conclusion

Transradial renal artery angioplasty and stenting is technically feasible and safe procedure.
Surgical treatment of inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms: Outcome and predictors analysis
Authors: Nuellari Edmond , Prifti Edvin , Esposito Giampiero , Kuci Saimir , Kapedani Edmond
Published: September 2014

Objectives

The aim of this study is to report our experience on the postoperative outcome of surgical treatment of inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (IAAA).

Materials and Methods

Between 1997–2014, 35 patients with IAAA underwent surgery. The mean age was 63 ± 18 years. Chronic renal failure was identified in 11 (31.4%) patients and confirmed ischemic heart disease in 15 (43%) patients. The mean aortic aneurysm diameter was 68 ± 25 mm. The abdominal aorta was clamped above the renal arteries in 6 (17%) patients.

Results

The hospital mortality was 5.7% (2 patients). Three patients developed an aortic pseudoaneurysm and underwent a redo operation. Another patient developed a femoral anastomotic pseudoaneurysm 7 years after operation and he was treated surgically. The actuarial free-reoperation actuarial survival at 1, 5 and 7 years was 94%, 62% and 50%, respectively. The Cox model revealed the delta erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p = 0.002), ischemic heart disease (p = 0.006) and renal failure (p = 0.036) as strong predictors for poor overall outcome.

Conclusion

Early postoperative outcome in terms of mortality and morbidity seems acceptable, however, patients with IAAA have an increased risk for reoperation due to pseudonaneurysm formation. Strong predictors for poor overall outcome seem to be the elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ischemic heart disease and chronic renal failure.
Endovascular treatment of chronic mesenteric ischemia
Authors: Sundermeyer Andreas , Zapenko Alexander , Moysidis Theodoros , Luther Bernd , Kröger Knut
Published: September 2014

Purpose

Data regarding endovascular treatment of chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) are sparse. Angioplasty is often accompanied by early restenosis and the need of further interventions. Thus we present our own patients' data and review the recent literature.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all endovascular CMI treatments performed from 2008 to 2012 (27 patients, 14 females, mean age 70 ± 9 years). Patients' data were retrieved from electronic health records. Patients' follow-up included routinely performed color-coded ultrasonography, and, if performed for other clinical reasons, computed tomography or angiography. In addition, data extracted from 11 studies focusing on endovascular CMI treatment were analyzed.

Results

Procedures were performed without clinical complications in all patients. Seven patients received pure angioplasty and 20 patients stent-assisted angioplasties using bare metal stents, respectively. Three patients died 3, 5 and 32 months after the intervention. Five patients underwent re-intervention (one early restenosis at day 4 after pure angioplasty with stent placement and four because of in-stent restenosis, 5 to 23 months after placement). Another patient was treated surgically because of stent occlusion and reoccurring abdominal angina 15 months after the intervention. The 11 studies found in the literature included 429 cases with 196 treatments of the coeliac trunk (truncus coeliacus = TC), 319 of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and 42 of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). Patency rates in the more recent studies were high with up to 80% within 1 year. Data of earlier studies report longer follow-up periods and indicate low patency rates after three years. Our 2-year patency rate of 50% is within the range of reported patency data.

Conclusions

The presented data show that endovascular SMA treatment is a suitable and safe procedure in patients suffering from CMI, but long-term results are limited.
Muscular adaptations to depth jump plyometric training: Comparison of sand vs. land surface
Authors: Arazi Hamid , Mohammadi Mahdi , Asadi Abbas
Published: September 2014

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of plyometric training on sand vs. land surface on muscular performance adaptations in men. Fourteen healthy men were randomly assigned to two training groups: a) Sand Depth Jump (SDJ; N = 7) and b) Land Depth Jump (LDJ; N = 7). Training was performed for 6 weeks and consisted of 5 × 20 repetitions of DJ training on 20-cm dry sand or 3-cm hard court surface twice weekly. Vertical Jump Test (VJT), Standing Long Jump Test (SLJT), 20-m and 40-m sprint, T-test (TT) and one repetition maximum leg press (1RMLP) were performed before and after training. Significant improvements in VJT [4 (ES = 0.63) vs. 5.4 (ES = 0.85) cm], SLJT [8.3 (ES = 0.3) vs. 12.7 (ES = 0.57) cm], and 1RMLP [23.5 (ES = 0.56) vs. 15.3 (ES = 0.49) kg] were seen for both the groups. Likewise, significant decreases were observed for both SDJ and LDJ groups in 20-m [0.3 (ES = 0.72) vs. 0.4 (ES = 1.98) s] and 40-m sprint times [0.2 (ES = 0.4) vs. 0.5 (ES = 0.71) s], and TT [0.5 (ES = 0.62) vs. 0.9 (ES = 0.57) s]. With regard to ES, it can be recommended that athletes used LDJ training for enhancing sprint and jump and SDJ training for improving agility and strength.
Colonic perforation as a late complication of self-expanding stent
Authors: Gokul Krishnan , Squire Elizabeth , Artioukh Dmitri
Published: September 2014

Self-expanding metal stents are used to relieve left-sided colonic obstruction either as a palliative measure or as a bridge to surgery. While there are definite advantages, the procedure does have significant complications, perforation of bowel being the most common with significant morbidity and mortality. A case of late perforation due to colonic stent erosion is presented.
Effect of axial stiffness on soil nail forces
Authors: Chmoulian Alexander Yuri
Published: September 2014

Currently used soil nail design methods normally ignore axial stiffness of soil nails and assume that nail–soil adhesion fully develops during construction of the soil nail wall, which would allow the use of conventional stability analysis with peak soil parameters for the newly excavated slopes. Although not fully consistent with the monitoring results for soil nails in working conditions, the resulting structures are proven by the accumulated practical experience for conventional geometry and conventional materials used in soil nail construction. This paper considers the effect of axial stiffness on the forces developing in soil nails, which affects the design of soil nails of lower stiffness, for example soil nails reinforced with fibre-reinforced polymer tendons, or nails of greater lengths. The use of fibre-reinforced polymers has considerable advantages in construction due to their light weight, ease of site preparation and high durability. However, their use is often deterred by their relatively low stiffness and lack of ductility. The paper discusses the methods by which negative effect of the use of soil nails of lower axial stiffness and ductility can be overcome in design.
Reducing Hydraulic Fracturing HSE Footprint through the Application of a Non-Radioactive Method for Proppant Placement and Propped Fracture Height Assessment
Authors: Saldungaray Pedro , Duenckel Robert , Palisch Terry
Published: September 2014

The identification of intervals receiving proppant and accurate assessment of near wellbore fracture height are valuable in evaluating and optimizing stimulation strategies. Propped frac height evaluation in hydraulic fractures has typically involved the detection of radioactive tracers added to the proppant during treatments. However, as environmental regulations regarding this technique have tightened, and with increased scrutiny by the public and regulatory bodies of the oil and gas industry in general and hydraulic fracturing in particular, the need for an alternative to radioactive tracers has become critical.

A novel technology for identifying intervals receiving proppant and determining fracture height utilizing a non-radioactive detectable proppant has been recently introduced. The technology has found global acceptance and has proven to be a robust and accurate method of locating proppant in the near wellbore region with standard logging techniques. In addition to eliminating the health, safety and environmental concerns with radioactive tracers, this new method also provides a permanent indication of the proppant location near the wellbore. Unlike traditional radioactive tracers which must be logged before the radioisotopes completely decay, this new method allows investigation of the proppant pack many months or years in the future, which would provide critical information during remedial or redevelopment work that would not be possible with conventional approaches.

A review of the current state of regulatory impediments to the use of radioactive tracers in key producing regions around the world is discussed highlighting the need for an alternative diagnostic technology. The technology utilized in the application of the non-radioactive detectable proppant is described and comparisons to other fracture diagnostic technologies are presented. Several case histories are shown which illustrate various applications of the technology in regions around the globe. These case histories include applications performed in the Middle East and North America.

In addition to identifying proppant location and fracture height, this technology can be used in other applications such as the evaluation of gravel pack quality.

If the current trends in regulatory actions related to hydraulic fracturing continue, it is anticipated that the use of radioactive tracers will be restricted to fewer and fewer locales. At the same time the importance of reliable fracture diagnostics for optimization of hydraulic fracturing both from a well performance and cost control standpoint remains extremely important.
Impact of Emergency Shutdown Devices on Relief System Sizing and Design
Authors: Goyal Ram K
Published: September 2014

A relief system designer is primarily guided by the expected “relief load.” That is, the maximum flow rate expected through the relief system under credible failure scenarios. An overestimate of the relief load will lead to oversized equipment (wasted capital and higher operating costs) and an underestimate will result in an ineffective and unsafe system.

In the aftermath of the March 2005 major incident at the BP Texas City refinery, on-plot relieving of hydrocarbons to atmosphere has come under intense criticism, and rightly so. It can be stipulated that the remedial measures being considered include routing of any existing on-plot atmospheric relieving devises to closed relief systems. This change, if brought about without due care, can lead to compromising the design capacity of the relief system, and to potential disaster.

In the sizing of individual relief valves protecting equipment or process or system, it is a common practice not to take cognizance of any immediate operator action or the action of any mitigating devices. However, an increasing number of consultants and practitioners are recommending not to apply the same philosophy when it comes to designing an overall refinery flare system to cope with common mode failures (e.g., loss of power, cooling water supply failure, etc.).

They propose taking credit for the action of devices such as unit emergency shutdown (ESD) systems, trips (for example, fired heater fuel supply cut-offs), or auto-starts of pumps whose actions reduce the potential load on the overall refinery flare system. Savings can thus be realized in the sizing of flare headers and other ancillary equipment.

While there is no objection, in principle, to taking credit for ESDs in the design of relief systems, its application in practice deserves careful scrutiny. There are still many related issues that have not been adequately addressed by the proponents of the credit-taking approach. This paper highlights these concerns and offers practical advice to those facing relief system design decisions.
An On-Boarding Process for Operator Personnel, Rig Crews and Service Company Personnel and their Management: Achieving “Sustainable Incident- Free” when starting up new Rig Operations
Authors: Flikkema Johan , Gudmann Steen , Hellbrandt Per
Published: September 2014

Working with new drill crews and drilling rigs brings many challenges for operators, particularly related to safety. Realising this, Maersk Oil took the decision to incorporate a new behavioural safety programme, Incident-free (IF), within its on-boarding process for rigs. The mobilisation of a work over rig in 2012 provided the opportunity to test its applicability pro actively before the rig stared to operate.

Incident-free is not considered an HSE process, but a basic value requiring a change of mindset. This meant that for IF to be embedded into the organisation, buy-in was needed from top management to junior crew, Operator and Contractors.

Workshops were held with both operator and contractor management, to align the two and to build a strong leadership. Leaders then demonstrated their own IF commitment by running 1-Day Commitment Workshops wit all supervisors and crews, to teach the values of IF – namely ‘taking personal responsibility for their own safety and that of others’.

Results show that IF has had a positive impact safety behaviour, with greater participation in safety observations and interventions from both contractor and service company staff and with more ownership of resolving safety issues. IF has been instrumental in increasing the usage and value of the STOP card system on-board, helping to reduce the number of Near Misses and High Potential (HiPo) incidents. As IF empowers people, it has also brought about extra dialogue and thus new ideas which also have resulted in cost saving and/or greater efficiency in the way work is done.

The pre mobilisation Incident-Free program has successfully been applied to 5 rig start ups since 2012 and is now being implemented as early as the rig selection process for new rigs and it forms a key role in the safe mobilisation of rigs for Maersk Oil Qatar.
Development of a Middle East Centric Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy
Authors: Robinson Donald R.
Published: September 2014

The Doha Climate Change Conference marked the transition from an old climate change regime that focused on reducing GHG emissions from developed countries to a new climate regime that will focus on reducing GHG emissions from all countries. The new climate change discussion that is centered on the so called Durban Platform has brought into focus the importance of reducing GHG emissions in a cost-effective manner for all countries.

Methane's unique role as a greenhouse gas and as the primary component of natural gas means that reducing methane emissions can yield significant economic, environmental and operational benefits. Working under the Global Methane Initiative (GMI) and with the support of the newly launched Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), the Natural Gas STAR International Program is a voluntary partnership between the oil and natural gas industry and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) that promotes use of cost-effective technologies and practices to reduce methane emissions.

This paper will highlight the unique opportunities available to Middle Eastern countries and more specifically members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to reduce their methane emissions and develop Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) plans. This paper will summarize a number of established methods to identify, measure, and reduce methane emissions from a variety of equipment and processes in oil and gas production and natural gas processing and transmission facilities. Furthermore; given that some of the top natural gas flaring countries are countries that belong to the GCC, special attention will be given to flaring reduction technologies and policies. Moreover; given that Qatar is currently the largest producer of LNG in the world, a case study discussing methane emissions from LNG facilities and potential emission reduction technologies will be presented.
Start-Up Verification Certificate (SUVC) Process: The Cornerstone Of The Readiness Assurance For A Safe Handover And Start-up
Authors: Cortina Michele , Decarli Luca
Published: September 2014

The purpose of this paper is to describe the experience of Eni E&P in its subsidiary Agip KCO with the “Framework for a Smooth Handover”. This procedure sits at Tier 1 of the handover framework and is an integral element to sanction hydrocarbon introduction in a facility/or part facility utilizing the Start Up Verification Certificate (SUVC), supporting the requirements for safely managing the Kashagan EP production system start-up.

The SUVC is the cornerstone of the handover process and provides the readiness assurance of achieving a particular Start-Up Milestone within a phased Start-Up Programme. The sign off of this certificate by duly authorized personnel verifies the readiness of facilities and responsible organizations for the introduction of hydrocarbons and enables the sign off of the Start Up Certificate for Introduction of Hydrocarbons by the Top Management Representatives of Project and Operations.

The SUVCs have been defined based on the integrated initial start up logic, a high level outline, which is detailed in the Integrated Initial Start Up Strategy. The experience of Eni E&P with the SUVC process demonstrates that a smart application of the SUVC, together with the Pre Start-up Safety Checklist (PSSC), can be used with success for safely managing the sanction of the introduction of hydrocarbons and the production system start-up.

The SUVC process can be successfully applied to any oil & gas projects and the related handover and start-up framework to reach a Safe and Smooth Start-Up, with the requirements properly adjusted and tuned according to the project dimension and targets.
Reviewing the Quality of the Environmental Impact Assessment (RQEIA)
Authors: Almebayedh Hamad A.
Published: September 2014

Organizations involved in construction and development projects have to use Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures. The overall success of the EIA process depends on the quality of the EIA document.

This paper addresses the main consolidation areas concerning improving and reviewing the quality control within the EIA process, and provides guideline for reviewing the quality of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) document. The objectives of this Guideline are; ensuring existence of key requirements in the EIA document, to determine the important issues and alternatives that should be examined in EIA report, Identify the nature and severity of the significant environmental impacts associated with the project, to serve as a detailed terms of reference (TOR) for EIA studies in projects, and to determine whether the information provided is adequate for decision making.

The Purpose of this research paper is to assist in the review of EIA reports and ensure a high level of quality is achieved, to enhance the quality of the EIA reports in order to achieve the desired success of HSE measures in the projects, and to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, specifically EPA, Ministry of Oil regulations, and HSEMS procedures.
Management Systems Approach to Managing Human Rights Issues
Authors: Fokkema Bert , Vallat Julie , Cleland Roper
Published: September 2014

Recently there has been a proliferation of external guidance and guidelines for managing human rights issues. While these are useful tools to inform the management of potential risk, at best they may offer abstract concepts or normative aspirations of performance. As expressed by Professor Ruggie, "We're glad that you respect human rights and that you say so. But how do you know? How do you know that you respect human rights? So what we are doing is we've suggested what you need to have is an adequate and appropriate due diligence system."1

The expectations for companies are described below: Should respect human rights in projects or operations.Should seek to prevent or mitigate potential human rights issues that may be directly caused by the company's projects or operations, or seek to and influence partners and suppliers.Should have in place policies and processes to manage potential human rights issues.Commitment [to respect human rights] endorsed by senior leadership.Conduct assessments to identify potential human rights issues in projects or operations; have processes to manage the issues; and have a means to track the response.Communicate with stakeholders how issues are being addressed.Grievance mechanism to address issues raised by the community.

In many respects, existing management systems have the components to address potential human rights issues, and due diligence is a long-standing practice among IPIECA members. Moreover, there has been a healthy exchange between IPIECA members and external experts to improve these processes.

The purpose of the paper is to describe how IPIECA, the global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues, has responded to the emergence of external guidelines in connection to implementing the due diligence process consistent with the United Nations Guiding Principles.
Ex-Situ Bioremediation of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soil - An Example from Oman
Authors: Alexandersen Dennis Kronborg , Headley Tom , Prigent Stephane , Mahmutoglu Ismail
Published: September 2014

A few years ago, an oil company in Oman initiated an approach to deal with hydrocarbon-contaminated soils that created environmental problems. These soils where collected in their oilfields and transported to their hazardous waste yards in the country's interior areas. The client entrusted several service providers to carry out de-contamination processes and landfill activities unfortunately with limited success.

One of the Waste Yards has stock piled large quantities of hydrocarbon contaminated soil, with contamination concentrations ranging from 15,000 mg/kg total Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) soil up to 40,000 mg/kg TPH. The hydrocarbon molecule chains are from various types – starting with short chains i.e. C5 up to long chains C35.

In 2012, the client decided to implement a new remediation approach by deploying eco-friendly technologies to properly manage degradation and remediation of the contaminated soil by using modern bio-remediation technology developed and applied by a renowned German remediation company. The technology brings degradation results of reducing hydrocarbon contamination to less than 50%, lower than the international treatment standards and this within the first few weeks of treatment.

This paper will provide an overview of the bio-remediation approach used to treat stockpiled TPH contaminated soil. It will present remediation results from the field, but more over it will look into the opportunities and barriers for reusing the treated soil in civil projects without harming the environment and nature. In this specific case, the treated soil was used in one of the world's largest constructed wetlands, which handles 95,000 m3/day produced water. In April/May 2013, new soil tests will be taken to assess the quality of the soil material and subsequent hydrocarbon degradation after being in the wetland for one year.
Global Compliance and Sustainability Reporting Demands Place Growing Burden on Asset-Intensive Industries
Authors: Ladner Jeff , Cain David
Published: September 2014

Overview and Background

Sustainability has become an operational, fiscal, and strategic imperative for business, resulting in greater senior executive visibility and focus. For many companies, sustainability is more than an environmental concern. Mature sustainability programs can support bottom-line growth by identifying opportunities to reduce operational costs, increase efficiency and reduce risks.

As environmental reporting protocols become more complex and require more robust information, the ability to track and manage emissions is essential. Broad-based environmental tracking requires complete and accurate data to advance effective business decisions. Today's HSE reporting requirements also highlight the need for enterprise-level information management that can streamline data management and drive best practices.

Top corporate sustainability drivers revolve around cost reduction, managing compliance risk, securing revenues, and meeting stakeholder expectations. Potentially, the most impactful initiatives are aligned with heavy industrial production processes. In addition, emerging unconventional E&P processes require the ability to track and benchmark environmental effects to maintain a license to operate. Increasing scrutiny by governments, stakeholders and the public means higher risks related to accurate and timely disclosure.

Generating meaningful outcomes from a sustainability strategy is dependent on the ability to efficiently track and aggregate environmental data from numerous sources across operations and deliver up-to-the minute information to advance proactive decisions. Effective collection and calculation of environmental information is the first step toward development of a formal strategy for HSE management, with an eye toward establishing a path to sustainability.

This paper presents a new approach to compliance and sustainability reporting that progressively includes other stakeholders as it bridges the gap between operations and enterprise reporting needs.1
Environmental Scrutiny: Tracking up to the grain of sand!
Authors: DUGUAY Alexandra , MICHEL Cedric , SOULE Gilles , SAABRI Hassan AL
Published: September 2014

TOTAL ABK is a responsible operator that strives to minimize its environmental impacts in all phases of its operations. As such, regular assessments are undertaken to monitor these impacts and considerable efforts are deployed to their minimization. Committed to continuous improvement in environmental protection, we present a status report of various marine ecological impacts associated with our drilling activities.

Using latest and innovative technology, a full evaluation was done using a tailor made software for modeling drilling discharges. Two parts are critical to this environmental assessment: the impact of liquid releases associated with key mud chemicals and the impact of drill cuttings discharge on the seabed.

Current thinking usually considers drill cuttings discharge to have a limited and local impact, but this work demonstrates otherwise. Indeed, results of the liquid discharge indicate that the vertical and horizontal dispersion of chemicals can be quite extensive and not only within the vicinity of the discharge point. This is also verified with the outcome of the drilling discharge. Several scenarios were done including some with period up to 10 years in order to clarify the remediation time of the sediment and the potential impact on the local macro fauna decolonization.

By developing news tools able to monitor its environmental impacts, TOTAL ABK significantly contributes to widening scientific knowledge and demonstrates deep commitment towards UAE marine environmental protection.
Achieving leading edge contractor management. Strategies for success
Authors: Yemenu Dag , Bibby David
Published: September 2014

With an ever-growing global trend of outsourcing non-core business activities to third-party contractors across all industries, the challenge and opportunity lies in establishing a robust contractor management process.

Drawing from experience from over 370 Hiring Clients and 55,000+ contractor companies, mostly from the oil and gas industry, several key elements have been identified that are strategic attributes of leading edge contractor management practices. These are communication, consequences, guidelines, integration, and technology.

This paper demonstrates how these elements can foster an improved culture of prevention in the ever-growing sector of outsourced operations. These findings highlight the importance of consistent expectations and requirements tailored to local operating conditions in order to drive safety performance. Through use of a system for managing and evaluating contractor safety data, client companies have seen significant improvement in their contractors' performance. For companies that hire contractors, the elements discussed will assist by providing ideas for benchmarking and give useful and actionable takeaways for enhancing contractor management processes.
A Theoretical Framework for Modeling the Chemomechanical Behavior of Unsaturated Soils
Authors: Wei Changfu
Published: September 2014

A theoretical framework is presented for modeling the chemomechanical behavior of multiphase porous media, in general, and unsaturated soils, in particular, which can address skeletal deformation, fluid flow, heat conduction, solute diffusion, chemical reaction, and phase transition in a consistent and systematic way. A general expression is derived for the electrochemical potential of a fluid species with explicitly accounting for the effects of osmosis, capillarity, and adsorption. The equilibrium behavior of porous media is investigated, and the composition of pore water pressure is identified. Explicit formulations are developed for the effective stress and intergranular stress, with consideration of physicochemical effects. It is shown that the negative water pressure measured by a conventional transducer can be significantly different than the true pore water pressure. It is also theoretically revealed that, other than the soil water characteristic function, a new pressure (or potential) function accounting for the physicochemical effects is generally required in analyzing the coupled chemomechanical processes in unsaturated soils. The new theory is capable of effectively explaining many salient phenomena occurring in water‐saturated porous media with a degree of saturation varying from an extremely low value to 100%, including Donnan osmosis, capillary fringe, air entry value, initial hydraulic head during seepage, and pressure solution. The new theory can be used to analyze the multiple coupled physical and chemical processes in the vadose zone.
Response of Three Soil Water Sensors to Variable Solution Electrical Conductivity in Different Soils
Authors: Kargas G. , Kerkides P. , Seyfried M.S.
Published: September 2014

Commercial dielectric soil water sensors may improve irrigation management by providing continuous field soil water information. The accuracy of these sensors may be compromised, however, when low quality, high electrical conductivity irrigation water is used. The magnitude of this effect is expected to vary among sensors depending on the sensor measurement frequency (f), decreasing with increasing f, thus providing a potential criterion for sensor selection. We examined the effect of varying solution electrical conductivity (σw) on the sensor‐measured dielectric permittivity (εs) of the following three soil water sensors: the WET (f = 20 MHz), 5TE (f = 70 MHz), and ML2 (f = 100 MHz). We also evaluated the efficacy of using a simple, cost effective, two‐point calibration technique (CAL) to adjust for differences among soils. We found that εs varied dramatically, in some cases more than 15 dielectric units, among sensors in different soils under uniform soil water and σw conditions. The relative εs response of the WET and ML2 sensors was consistent with their respective f, and the 5TE response was not. Thus, the WET εs was almost always greater than the ML2, while the 5TE was generally less than the ML2. In all cases, the ML2 εs could be described with a single, commonly used calibration equation. We also found that varying σw from 1.2 to 6 dS m−1 had little effect on εs, indicating that a single calibration may work for that range of irrigation water quality. Finally, we found that the CAL procedure, as evaluated with the RMSE, was effective for all soils and sensors.
Advantages and challenges of tablet PC’s usage
Authors: Cicevic Svetlana , Mitrovic Slobodan , Nesic Milkica
Published: September 2014

In this study we were interested in evaluating tablet PC device performances, as well as how the respondents perceived its usability. Usability of this kind of device is furthermore investigated in comparison to the other similar mobile devices. The Technique for Order Preferences by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is specifically implemented and its outcomes are compared with the calculated System Usability Scale (SUS) scores. One of the TOPSIS method advantages is its ability to identify the best alternative quickly and precisely, which is also one of the most important features of SUS scale.
On the transverse Scalar Curvature of a Compact Sasaki Manifold
Authors: He Weiyong
Published: September 2014

We show that the standard picture regarding the notion of stability of constant scalar curvature metrics in Kähler geometry described by S.K. Donaldson [10, 11], which involves the geometry of infinitedimensional groups and spaces, can be applied to the constant scalar curvature metrics in Sasaki geometry with only few modification. We prove that the space of Sasaki metrics is an infinite dimensional symmetric space and that the transverse scalar curvature of a Sasaki metric is a moment map of the strict contactomophism group
1,3-Dialkylimidazolium Dimethyl Phosphates – Effective Solvents and Catalysts for Condensation Reactions
Authors: Anteina L. , Gaidule A. , Zicmanis A.
Published: September 2014

We report the preparation, characterization and exploitation of 1,3-dialkylimidazolium dimethyl phosphates. Condensation reactions of benzaldehyde with ethyl cyanoacetate and with malonic acid were performed in these ionic liquids either in absence or in presence of other catalysts. The effect of ionic liquid structure on the condensation reaction rates and yields was discussed
Prediction of Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography Retention Parameters for Phenylisothiocyanate Derivatives of Amino Acids
Authors: Vorslova S. , Golushko J. , Galushko S. , Viksna A.
Published: September 2014

We report our experience with highly polar and charged analyte retention parameter prediction for a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method. The solvatic retention model has been used to predict retention of phenylisothiocyanate derivatives of 25 natural amino acids under gradient elution conditions. Retention factors have been calculated from molecular parameters of analyte structures and from the column and eluent characteristics. A step-by-step method which includes the first guess prediction of initial conditions from structural formula and fine tuning of the retention model parameters using data from successive runs can substantially save method development time
Modeling repulsive forces on fibres via knot energies
Authors: Blatt Simon , Reiter Philipp
Published: September 2014

Modeling of repulsive forces is essential to the understanding of certain bio-physical processes, especially for the motion of DNA molecules. These kinds of phenomena seem to be driven by some sort of “energy” which especially prevents the molecules from strongly bending and forming self-intersections. Inspired by a physical toy model, numerous functionals have been defined during the past twenty-five years that aim at modeling self-avoidance. The general idea is to produce “detangled” curves having particularly large distances between distant strands. In this survey we present several families of these so-called knot energies. It turns out that they are quite similar from an analytical viewpoint. We focus on proving self-avoidance and existence of minimizers in every knot class. For a suitable subfamily of these energies we show how to prove that these minimizers are even infinitely differentiable.
The comparison of FLOTAC, FECPAK and McMaster techniques for nematode egg counts in cattle
Authors: Bosco Antonio , Rinaldi Laura , Maurelli Maria , Musella Vincenzo , Coles Gerald , Cringoli Giuseppe
Published: September 2014

Three methods, FLOTAC, FECPAK and McMaster were compared for accuracy and sensitivity for counting numbers of nematode eggs in faeces of naturally infected cattle with high or low nematode egg counts. Only FLOTAC gave positive results for 12 replicates from pooled samples with low egg counts making it more sensitive than FECPAK (67%) and McMaster (41.7%). FLOTAC resulted in generally higher egg counts and lower coefficients of variation than the other two methods used. The reliability of FECPAK and McMaster is depended on the area under the slide counted. All three methods can be used for making decisions whether to treat but FLOTAC or Mini-FLOTAC should be used for faecal egg count reduction tests when lower egg counts are present.