bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strong Reporting Culture as Stepping Stone to Continuously Drive Safety Performance Improvement
Authors: Stough Joe
Published: April 2012

This paper will review the leading indicator research findings drawn from analyzing a large Energy industry data set. The source of research includes data sets and Safety business practices spanning operating sites in over 100 countries involving some global industry leading companies such as ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Shell, Total, OMV, and multiple others.

From the analytical research and careful review with industry Safety executives and Subject Matter Experts, it was clear that attaining a strong Reporting Culture is a critical milestone necessary to begin the process of proactively driving Safety performance. The factors that best predicted the Safety outcome performance of an organization included measurements of (a) proactive event reporting (Reporting Culture), (b) the discipline and consistency in execution of HSE processes, (c) the timeliness in closure of important corrective / preventive actions, and finally (d) the responsiveness and accountability of supervisors and line managers.

In each of these key areas, solid performance can be attributed to the tone set by leadership and the influential day-to-day behavior of field supervision and line management. So, we will explore how these leaders can be engaged to improve the above factors.

This paper will also review the measurable leading factors that have been found to be uniquely strong in organizations that have sustained top-level Safety lagging performance. We will review some examples of creative technology solutions to reach out to front-line workers and leaders to engage them directly in the reporting process.

Lastly we will discuss the affects of risk-aware, accountable leadership in each of the key leading areas. And finally, we will demonstrate a process for implementing practical, "actionable" leading metrics in each key area to drive line manager / leadership behavior and ultimately improve HSE performance outcomes.
Energy Reduction and Adding to the Triple Bottom Line
Authors: Brooke-Lander M. C. , Kuykendall D.. , Rowbottom R..
Published: April 2012

The release of greenhouse gases from the generation and use of energy has been implicated in causing the negative effects of climate change on the planet. As a large, global corporation that uses substantial energy for its operations in the form of electricity, natural gas, propane, off-road diesel and fuel for transportation, Baker Hughes has committed to reduce our energy usage.

This paper details the efforts made by the enterprise to reduce the use of these resources, and to measure the success of our initiatives using a globally-accessible database called "GreenLink". Energy reduction initiatives include the enterprise-wide communication of our reduction goal, the use of energy audits to identify reduction opportunities, and the development and implementation of green building standards applied to new and existing facilities. Our Information Technology (IT) group has also made significant reductions in energy use throughout our facilities and in our data centers by the introduction of energy efficient equipment and energy-saving management practices.

In addition to the environmental benefits, energy conservation has an economic benefit, contributing to a healthy bottom line by reducing operating costs. In 2010, the overall energy cost savings for Baker Hughes, when normalized to revenue, was about $3 million for the facilities reporting in GreenLink. In addition to this cost saving, Baker Hughes has achieved a number of accolades for our energy reduction programs. In 2010, Baker Hughes led in the Energy sector of the Maplecroft Climate Innovation Index investor rankings. Also, in 2011, Baker Hughes was the highest-ranked oilfield service company in the Energy sector of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) which evaluates U.S. companies listed on the S&P 500 on their actions taken to reduce global emissions.
Keeping The Oil In The Pipeline
Authors: Hashi Ahmed , Al Shehhi Saif
Published: April 2012

ADMA-OPCO has over 1600Km of Subsea pipelines (Transmission & flow lines) and these lines are exposed to corrosion in subsea environment whereas some of these are aging assets (+35yrs).

In the event of subsea pipeline oil leak due to corrosion drive defects or damages, the old method of pipeline repair was Hyperbaric welding, which took a minimum of 2~3 months mobilization to site to repair the damage.

Integrity Division/Subsea Team has deployed innovative and effective new Subsea repair techniques that rapidly respond to subsea oil leaks and reduce the exposure of the pipeline leaking and ensure quick return of pipeline back to service within days.

The new repair techniques have been discovered to have significant HSE (environmental protection) benefits and cost advantages.
Lessons Learned from Real World Application of the Bow-tie Method
Authors: Book Gareth
Published: April 2012

The benefits of using bow-tie diagrams for risk management have been realized by organizations world-wide across a variety of business sectors. Also known as barrier diagrams, they provide a readily understandable visualization of the relationships between the causes of business upsets, the escalation of such events to a range of possible outcomes, the controls preventing the event from occurring and the preparedness measures in place to limit the consequences.

More importantly, the preventive and mitigating measures are linked to tasks, procedures, responsible individuals and competencies. This demonstrates the crucial connection between risk controls (whether hardware or human intervention) and the management system for assuring their ongoing effectiveness.

This paper draws on Risktec's unparalleled experience in applying the bow-tie methodology and is intended to be of interest to those who are new to the technique and experienced users alike. It summarizes the history of the bow-tie method, gives an overview of how to apply it and describes in detail its practical uses and benefits as well as potential pitfalls and guidelines for success.
Definition of realistic disturbances as a crucial step during the assessment of resilience of natural wastewater treatment systems
Authors: Cuppens A. , Smets I. , Wyseure G.
Published: April 2012

Natural wastewater treatment systems (WWTSs) for urban areas in developing countries are subjected to large fluctuations in their inflow. This situation can result in a decreased treatment performance. The main aims of this paper are to introduce resilience as a performance indicator for natural WWTSs and to propose a methodology for the identification and generation of realistic disturbances of WWTSs. Firstly, a definition of resilience is formulated for natural WWTSs together with a short discussion of its most relevant properties. An important aspect during the evaluation process of resilience is the selection of appropriate disturbances. Disturbances of the WWTS are caused by fluctuations in water quantity and quality characteristics of the inflow. An approach to defining appropriate disturbances is presented by means of water quantity and quality data collected for the urban wastewater system of Coronel Oviedo (Paraguay). The main problem under consideration is the potential negative impact of stormwater inflow and infiltration in the sanitary sewer system on the treatment performance of anaerobic waste stabilisation ponds.
Numerical study of turbulent normal diffusion flame CH4-air stabilized by coaxial burner
Authors: Riahi Zouhair , Mergheni Ali , Sautet Jean-Charles , Nasrallah Ben
Published: April 2012

The practical combustion systems such as combustion furnaces, gas turbine,
engines, etc. employ non-premixed combustion due to its better flame
stability, safety, and wide operating range as compared to premixed
combustion. The present numerical study characterizes the turbulent flame of
methane-air in a coaxial burner in order to determine the effect of airflow
on the distribution of temperature, on gas consumption and on the emission of
NOx. The results in this study are obtained by simulation on FLUENT code. The
results demonstrate the influence of different parameters on the flame
structure, temperature distribution and gas emissions, such as turbulence,
fuel jet velocity, air jet velocity, equivalence ratio and mixture fraction.
The lift-off height for a fixed fuel jet velocity is observed to increase
monotonically with air jet velocity. Temperature and NOx emission decrease of
important values with the equivalence ratio, it is maximum about the unity.
A mathematical model on MHD slip flow and heat transfer over a nonlinear stretching sheet
Authors: Das Kalidas
Published: April 2012

Some analyses have been carried out to study the influence of
suction/blowing, thermal radiation and temperature dependent fluid properties
on the hydro-magnetic incompressible electrically conducting fluid flow and
heat transfer over a permeable stretching surface with partial slip boundary
conditions. It is assumed that the fluid viscosity and the thermal
conductivity vary as an inverse function and linear function of temperature
respectively. Using the similarity transformation, the governing system of
non-linear partial differential equations are transformed into non-linear
ordinary differential equations and are solved numerically using symbolic
software MATHEMATICA 7.0. The effects of various physical parameters on the
flow and heat transfer characteristics as well as the skin friction
coefficient and Nusselt number are illustrated graphically. The physical
aspects of the problem are highlighted and discussed.
Evaluation Methods for the Assessment of Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Inserted Central Lines: Evidence-Based Strategies for Practice
Authors: Wilbeck Jennifer , Murphy Marguerite , Heath Janie , Thomson-Smith Clare
Published: April 2012

Background: Assessing acute care nurse practitioners' (ACNPs) procedural competence for central line insertions encourages best patient outcomes and meets requirements of national credentialing bodies. Implementation of processes to effectively evaluate procedural competence is complicated by the lack of validated, evidenced-based metrics to evaluate ACNP practices.

Purpose: This article identifies validated, evidenced-based metrics to effectively evaluate ACNP procedural competencies.

Methodology: A two-part literature review was performed to 1) determine competency evaluation methods for ACNP skills and to 2) evaluate the use of templates/checklists as a means to encourage compliance with national, evidence-based guidelines. Due to the lack of literature on the use of evaluation tools to assess ACNP procedural competency, literature related to medical training programs and practices was reviewed.

Review of Literature: Fifteen articles were identified that met review criteria related to procedural competency evaluation. Eleven methods for competency evaluation were commonly identified in the literature; however, conclusive evidence indentifying the most effective means of procedural competency evaluation was not found. Seven studies and one expert consensus were identified related to use of standardized forms and templates/checklists to improve national guideline compliance. All studies indicated the use of standardized documentation significantly increased compliance with national guidelines.
Delayed fluorescence imaging of photosynthesis inhibitor and heavy metal induced stress in potato
Authors: Razinger Jaka , Drinovec Luka , Berden-Zrimec Maja
Published: April 2012

Early chemical-induced stress in Solanum tuberosum leaves was visualized using delayed fluorescence (DF) imaging. The ability to detect spatially heterogeneous responses of plant leaves exposed to several toxicants using delayed fluorescence was compared to prompt fluorescence (PF) imaging and the standard maximum fluorescence yield of PSII measurements (Fv/Fm). The toxicants used in the study were two photosynthesis inhibitors (herbicides), 100 µM methyl viologen (MV) and 140 µM diuron (DCMU), and two heavy metals, 100 µM cadmium and 100 µM copper. The exposure times were 5 and 72 h. Significant photosynthesis-inhibitor effects were already visualized after 5 h. In addition, a significant reduction in the DF/PF index was measured in DCMU- and MV-treated leaves after 5 h. In contrast, only DCMU-treated leaves exhibited a significant decrease in Fv/Fm after 5 h. All treatments resulted in a significant decrease in the DF/PF parameter after 72 h of exposure, when only MV and Cd treatment resulted in visible symptoms. Our study highlights the power of delayed fluorescence imaging. Abundant quantifiable spatial information was obtained with the instrumental setup. Delayed fluorescence imaging has been confirmed as a very responsive and useful technique for detecting stress induced by photosynthesis inhibitors or heavy metals.
Comparison of Orally Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Allergic versus Nonallergic Rhinitis
Authors: Kalpakliogluz A. Fusun , Kalkan Ilkay K.
Published: April 2012

Background

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), a well-known marker of airway inflammation, is rarely evaluated in rhinitis of different etiology. We aimed to compare the eNO levels in allergic rhinitis (AR) and nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) with/without asthma, as well as the contributing factors that interfere with elevated FeNO.

Methods

Patients were enrolled based on chronic nasal symptoms. Orally exhaled NO was measured with the single exhalation method at 50 mL/s. All subjects underwent a panel of tests: skin-prick tests, asthma control test, blood sampling, spirometry, and health-related quality-of-life questionnaires.

Results

The study group consisted of mainly women (130 women/41 men), with a mean age of 32.6 ± 13.2 years. AR was diagnosed in 122 (78.2%), NAR in 34 (21.8%), and 15 subjects were healthy controls. FeNO was insignificantly higher in patients with AR compared with patients with NAR and controls (32.2 parts per billion [ppb] versus 27 and 19.4 ppb), with no difference between genders. NAR + asthma had higher FeNO than those without asthma (40.5 ppb versus 14.9 ppb; p < 0.03), whereas accompanying asthma did not affect FeNO levels in the AR group. AR ± asthma had significantly higher FeNO levels than the NAR-only group (p < 0.01). Among AR + asthma, perennial sensitization caused higher FeNO levels than did seasonal allergens (48.5 ± 33.9 and 19.5 ± 13.6′ p = 0.003), whereas FeNO was significantly higher during the allergen season. Nasally inhaled corticosteroids insignificantly reduced FeNO levels in all groups. Severity and seasonality of rhinitis, asthma, and ocular symptoms, but not gender, age, body mass index, Total IgE, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and smoking, were associated with FeNO.

Conclusion

Rhinitis and comorbid asthma are responsible for increased FeNO, irrespective of atopy. However, NAR without asthma may not be considered as a strong risk factor for airway inflammation.
Inflammatory Cell Patterns in the Nasal Mucosa of Patients with Idiopathic Rhinitis
Authors: Çomoğlu Şenol , Keles Nesil , Değer Kemal
Published: April 2012

Background

Nonallergic rhinitis comprises many subgroups of rhinitis (vasomotor rhinitis, nonallergic rhinitis with eosinophilia syndrome, occupational rhinitis, idiopathic rhinitis, etc. in which its main feature is known to be free of allergy. We evaluate the cellular infiltrate of subjects with idiopathic rhinitis and compare them with allergic and control counterparts for detecting underlying pathophysiology.

Methods

Subjects selected from patients admitted to Istanbul University Medical Faculty between 2006 and 2009 were classified into idiopathic rhinitis (n = 16; mean age, 26.5 years), allergic rhinitis (n = 17; mean age, 31.1 years), and the control (n = 25, mean age, 28.8 years) groups. Inferior turbinate specimens were collected using Gerritsma forceps. Skin-prick testing was performed. Immunohistochemical detection was performed using B7 (chymase, clone CC1) and G3 (tryptase, clone AA1) primary antibodies for mast cells, human eosinophil major basic protein (clone BMK-13) for eosinophils, and immunoglobulin E (IgE) Ab-1 for mast and plasma cells in epithelium, superficial, and deep submucosa.

Results

We found significantly higher levels of mast cells within the different sites of nasal mucosa of allergic and idiopathic subjects compared with normal mucosa (p < 0.05). Additionally, a significant increase was observed in IgE+ cells of the patients with allergic and idiopathic rhinitis compared with the controls (p < 0.05 for each) Eosinophils were significantly increased within the epithelium of allergic patients’ mucosa.

Conclusion

We seem to have supportive data about possible mechanisms of “idiopathic rhinitis” that suggests local allergic inflammation. The study results provided important information for further provocation and immunohistochemical studies analyzing the shared mechanism of allergic and idiopathic rhinitis.
Chronic Rhinosinusitis, Race, and Ethnicity
Authors: Soler Zachary M. , Mace Jess C. , Litvack Jamie R. , Smith Timothy L.
Published: April 2012

Background

Little is known regarding the epidemiology of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. This study was designed to comprehensively evaluate the current prevalence of CRS across various treatment settings to identify possible disparities in health care access and use between racial and ethnic populations.

Methods

The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) database registries were extracted to identify the national prevalence of CRS in race/ethnic populations and resource use in ambulatory care settings. Systematic literature review identified studies reporting treatment outcomes in minority patients electing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Data were supplemented using a multi-institutional cohort of patients undergoing surgical treatment.

Results

National survey data suggest CRS is a significant health condition for all major race/ethnic groups in the United States, accounting for a sizable portion of office, emergency, and outpatient visits. Differences in insurance status, work absenteeism, and resource use were found between race/ethnic groups. Despite its prevalence, few published studies include information regarding minority patients with CRS. Most (90%) cohort studies did not provide details of race/ethnicity for ESS outcomes. Prospective cohort analysis indicated that minority surgical patients accounted for only 18%, when compared with national census estimates (35%).

Conclusion

CRS is an important health condition for all major race/ethnic groups in the United States. Significant differences may exist across racial and ethnic categories with regard to CRS health status and health care use. Given current demographic shifts in the United States, specific attention should be given to understanding CRS within the context of racial and ethnic populations. Public clinical trial registration ( www.clinicaltrials.gov ) I.D. No. NCT00799097.
A Comparison of the Psychometric Properties of the Mini–Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Rhinitis Control Assessment Test
Authors: Schatz Michael , Zeiger Robert S. , Chen Wansu , Yang Su-Jau , Stanford Richard H. , Garris Cindy P.
Published: April 2012

Background

The relationships between validated quality of life tools and control tools have not been explored for rhinitis. This study was designed to determine relationships of the Mini–Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniRQLQ) and the Rhinitis Control Assessment Test (RCAT) to each other regarding content and predictive abilities.

Methods

Participants were adult members of a large integrated care organization with an encounter diagnosis of rhinitis in the prior 2 years. Patients completed mailed questionnaires at baseline that contained the MiniRQLQ and the RCAT and three follow-up questionnaires that contained those tools as well as questions regarding missed work or school because of rhinitis and frequency and effectiveness of medications used for rhinitis. Medications dispensed during the follow-up year were obtained from computerized pharmacy records. Results of allergy tests were retrieved for patients seen in the Allergy Department.

Results

The final cohort included 1051 patients. Baseline RCAT scores were strongly correlated with baseline MiniRQLQ scores in both allergic (r = -0.80) and nonallergic (r = -0.84) patients. Baseline MiniRQLQ and RCAT scores we significantly related to patient reports of missed school/work, medication use, and effectiveness over the next 3 months and to dispensing during the following year of total and some individual rhinitis medications. Test–retest reliability, responsiveness, and a preliminary minimal important difference (>2.5) were shown for the RCAT, using the MiniRQLQ as an anchor.

Conclusion

The MiniRQLQ and RCAT are strongly related to each other and both predict subsequent rhinitis outcomes. Determining the comparative usefulness of these tools will require further study.
Pilot Evaluation of the Nasal Nitric Oxide Response to Humming as an Index of Osteomeatal Patency
Authors: Shusterman Dennis J. , Weaver Edward M. , Goldberg Andrew N. , Schick Suzaynn F. , Wong Hofer H. , Balmes John R.
Published: April 2012

Background

Paranasal sinuses are reservoirs for nitric oxide (NO), and humming facilitates nasal diffusion of NO. The nasal NO response to humming has previously been shown to be blunted with chronic sinusitis and nasal polyposis. We hypothesized that the nasal NO response to humming will be proportional to radiographic osteomeatal patency when comparing allergic rhinitis (AR) patients (without chronic sinusitis) with normal controls.

Methods

Nonsmoking subjects completed questionnaires and skin-prick testing. Subjects underwent sinus CT scanning, followed by exhaled (oral) and nasal NO sampling (with and without humming). Humming-to-quiet (H/Q) nasal NO ratios were calculated. Three-dimensional reconstructions were used to trace the osteomeatal complex (OMC) and measure minimum cross-sectional area. Lund-Mackay scores were also documented.

Results

A total of 33 subjects (22 women; mean age, 35.5 years) completed the study. Seventeen AR patients (5 IAR and 12 PAR) participated, as did 16 nonallergic controls. Among controls, quiet nasal NO levels—corrected for fractional exhaled NO—rose significantly with OMC area and fell significantly with Lund-Mackay scores (p < 0.05). However, we observed no proportionality between H/Q ratio and radiographic OMC patency.

Conclusion

Analysis of nasal NO samples taken under quiet conditions from normal controls was consistent with the paranasal sinuses acting as a reservoir of nasal NO and with OMC patency acting as a significant factor in NO diffusion. However, our results did not support a relationship between the nasal NO response to humming and radiographic OMC patency in a sample excluding subjects with severe rhinosinusitis.
Orbital Involvement in Pott's Puffy Tumor: A Systematic Review of Published Cases
Authors: Nisa Lluís , Landis Basile Nicolas , Giger Roland
Published: April 2012

Background

Pott's puffy tumor (PPT) is a frontal subperiosteal abscess associated with underlying frontal bone osteomyelitis. It represents a well-known source of sinogenic intracranial infection, but the orbital complications related to this entity are rarely reported. The goal of this study was to characterize the orbital involvement in PPT.

Methods

We performed a systematic review through a Medline search (1950–2010). The authors reviewed all cases of PPT, selecting those explicitly describing orbital complications associated with PPT.

Results

We screened 139 articles, of which 93 reported cases of PPT. Of these, 35 articles described a total of 42 cases presenting simultaneous orbital complications. Eyelid and/or periorbital edema was the most common finding in patients with orbital involvement, and preseptal cellulitis is by far the most prevalent orbital complication in PPT. Postseptal involvement (orbital cellulitis, subperiosteal abscess of the orbit, and orbital abscess) is much rarer. Although treatment of the classic PPT is surgical, only a minority of patients with orbital infection required orbital drainage. Most reported patients made a full recovery, without permanent sequelae.

Conclusion

Orbital infections are possible in patients with PPT. In contrast to surgical treatment of the frontal subperiosteal abscess, the orbital complications can be treated conservatively most of the time. Early diagnosis and aggressive therapy of the underling PPT are essential to avoid severe local or systemic complications.
Developing New Methods for the Mono-end Functionalization of Living Ring Opening Metathesis Polymers
Authors: Kilbinger Andreas F. M.
Published: April 2012

In this article we present a review of our recent results in one area of research we are involved in. All research efforts in our group focus on functional polymers and new ways of gaining higher levels of control with regard to the placement of functional groups within these polymers.
Here, the living ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) will be reviewed for which end-functionalization methods had been rare until very recently. Polymers carrying particular functional groups only at the chain-ends are, however, very interesting for a variety of industrial and academic
applications. Polymeric surfactants and polymer–protein conjugates are two examples for the former and polymer-?-sheet-peptide conjugates one example for the latter. The functionalization of macroscopic or nanoscopic surfaces often relies on mono-end functional polymers. Complex
macromolecular architectures are often constructed from macromolecules carrying exactly one functional group at their chain- end. The ring opening metathesis polymerization is particularly interesting in this context as it is one of the most functional group tolerant polymerization methods
known. Additionally, high molecular weight polymers are readily accessible with this technique, a feature that living radical polymerizations often struggle to achieve. Finding new ways of functionalizing the polymer chain-end of ROMP polymers has therefore been a task long overdue. Here,
we present our contribution to this area of research.
Synthesis and Herbicidal Activity Evaluation of Novel β-Carboline Derivatives
Authors: Weng Qunfang , Huang Jingfei , Zeng Yong , Deng Yueye , Hu Meiying
Published: April 2012

Based on the original structure of harmine, several novel 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline, β-carboline and 1-substituted-β-carboline derivatives bearing a substituted carbohydrazide group at C-3 were designed and synthesized to investigate the structure-activity relationship of their analogues. All of the compounds were characterized by infrared (IR), proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR), and mass spectroscopy (MS). The bioassay tests showed that N'-benzylidene-1-phenyl-β-carboline-3-carbohydrazide (C25H18N4O, m.w. 390.4) (c2) and N'-(4-trifluoromethyl-benzylidene)-1-phenyl-β-carboline-3-carbohydrazide (C26H17N4OF3, m.w. 458) (d2) exhibited good inhibitory activity against dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous weeds, with EC50 values of 4.83 µM and 14.25 µM, respectively.
IDENTIFICATION OF SELECTION CRITERIA FOR OPERATIONAL VARIATIONS OF THE DESIGN-BUILD SYSTEM: A DELPHI STUDY IN CHINA / ATRANKOS KRITERIJŲ PROJEKTAVIMO IR STATYBOS SISTEMOS DARBINIAMS VARIANTAMS NUSTATYMAS: DELPHI TYRIMAS KINIJOJE
Authors: Xia Bo , Chan Albert P. C.
Published: April 2012

The design-build (DB) system has been demonstrated as an effective delivery method and has gained popularity worldwide. However it is observed that a number of operational variations of DB system have emerged since the last decade to cater for different client's requirements. After the client decides to procure his project through the DB system, he still has to choose an appropriate configuration to deliver their projects optimally. However, there is little research on the selection of DB operational variations. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of evaluation criteria for determining the appropriateness of each operational variation. To obtain such criteria, a three-round Delphi survey has been conducted with 20 construction experts in the People's Republic of China (PRC). Seven top selection criteria were identified. These are: (1) availability of competent design-builders; (2) client's capabilities; (3) project complexity; (4) client's control of project; (5) early commencement & short duration; (6) reduced responsibility or involvement; and (7) clearly defined end user's requirements. These selection criteria were found to have a statistically significant agreement. These findings may furnish various stakeholders, DB clients in particular, with better insight to understand and compare the different operational variations of the DB system. Santrauka Įrodyta, kad projektavimo ir statybos (P ir S) sistema – veiksmingas vykdymo metodas, tad ji išpopuliarėjo visame pasaulyje. Tačiau pastebėta, kad per pastarąjį dešimtmetį atsirado ne vienas darbinis P ir S sistemos variantas, tenkinantis skirtingus kliento poreikius. Klientui nutarus projekto paslaugas pirkti naudojant P ir S sistemą, jam vis tiek tenka pačiam pasirinkti tinkamą derinį, idant projektas vyktų optimaliai. Tačiau darbinių P ir S variantų pasirinkimas beveik nebuvo tyrinėtas. Viena pagrindinių priežasčių – trūksta vertinimo kriterijų, kurie leistų nustatyti kiekvieno darbinio varianto tinkamumą. Siekiant nustatyti tokius kriterijus, atliekant Delphi apklausą trimis etapais buvo apklausta 20 statybos ekspertų iš Kinijos Liaudies Respublikos (KLR). Nustatyti septyni svarbiausi atrankos kriterijai: 1) kompetentingų projektuotojų statytojų pasiūla; 2) kliento pajėgumai; 3) projekto sudėtingumas; 4) kiek klientas kontroliuoja projektą; 5) ankstyva pradžia ir nedidelė trukmė; 6) mažesnė atsakomybė arba dalyvavimas; 7) aiškiai nusakyti galutinio kliento reikalavimai. Nustatyta, kad susitarimas dėl šių atrankos kriterijų yra statistiškai reikšmingas. Įvairioms suinteresuotosioms grupėms, o ypač P ir S klientams, šios išvados gali padėti geriau suprasti įvairius darbinius P ir S sistemos variantus ir juos palyginti.
A DECISION-MAKING MODEL FOR ADOPTION OF ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING TOOLS BY SMALL-TO-MEDIUM SIZE CONSTRUCTION ORGANIZATIONS / SPRENDIMŲ PRIĖMIMO MODELIS, TAIKOMAS ĮMONĖS IŠTEKLIŲ PLANAVIMO PRIEMONĖMS PARINKTI MAŽOSE IR VIDUTINĖSE STATYBOS ORGANIZACIJOSE
Authors: Negahban Sam S. , Baecher Gregory B. , Skibniewski Miroslaw J.
Published: April 2012

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) utilization in the construction industry has been limited to large organizations. Significant numbers of construction organizations that have either failed in their efforts to adopt this technology or are not familiar with it are the Small-to Mid-Size Construction Organizations (SMSCOs). Failure in or refusal to adopt ERP by this group, despite all its potential benefits, was the problem addressed in this research. We propose a decision-making model which organizations could utilize to adopt Enterprise Resource Planning Systems. After a careful review of existing technology models, a new ERP Adoption Model (EAM) has been formulated and projected. This model has incorporated new elements that have been set as its new decision-making core. Furthermore, weidentified and ranked the prohibitive criteria that were at play and prevented SMSCO members from successfully adopting and implementing ERP systems in order to increase the understanding of their impact on EAM's processes. Finally, weconducted a case study to analyze the decision-making process of EAM implementation by SMSCOs. ERP AdoptionModel (EAM) provides a decision-making tool that construction organizations can use as a road map. Santrauka Įmonės ištekliai buvo planuojami tik didelėse statybos organizacijose. Daugelis statybos organizacijų, kurios arba nesugebėjo pritaikyti šios technologijos, arba nėra susipažinusios su ja, yra mažos ir vidutinio dydžio statybos organizacijos. Ne-sugebėjimas pritaikyti arba atsisakymas naudoti įmonės išteklių planavimą nepaisant visų jo pranašumų – problema, kuri ir sprendžiama šiame tyrime. Siūlomas sprendimų priėmimo modelis, kurį organizacijos galėtų taikyti įmonės išteklių planavimo sistemoms pasirinkti. Naujas įmonės išteklių planavimo pasirinkimo modelis buvo suformuluotas ir parengtas, prieš tai nuodugniai išanalizavus esamus modelius. Į šį modelį buvo įtraukta naujų elementų, kurie ir sudarė naujo sprendimų priėmimo modelio esmę. Be to, identifikuoti ir nustatyti prioritetai tų kriterijų, kurie trukdė mažoms ir vidutinio dydžio statybos organizacijoms sėkmingai taikyti ir įgyvendinti įmonės išteklių planavimo sistemas, siekdami pagerinti šių kriterijų poveikio įmonės išteklių planavimo procesams supratimą. Galiausiai atliktas tyrimas, kurio tikslas – išanalizuoti įmonės išteklių planavimo sprendimų priėmimo procesą mažose ir vidutinio dydžio statybos organizacijose. Įmonės išteklių planavimo pasirinkimo modelis yra sprendimų priėmimo priemonė, kurią statybos organizacijos gali naudoti tarsi kelių žemėlapį.
COMPARING THE PLANNING AND PERFORMANCE OF DIRECT LABOUR AND DESIGN-BID-BUILD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN NIGERIA / PLANAVIMO IR VEIKLOS EFEKTYVUMO PALYGINIMAS, NIGERIJOS STATYBŲ PROJEKTUOSE NAUDOJANT TIESIOGINĮ DARBĄ IR TAIKANT TRADICINĮ PIRKIMŲ METODĄ
Authors: Idoro Godwin Iroroakpo
Published: April 2012

This study compares the levels of planning and the outcome of projects procured by direct labour and traditional contract procurement options. For this comparison, a survey of 130 projects was carried out. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed using percentage, mean and t-test. The study discovers that whereas the levels of conception and overall planning done in projects procured by the two options are the same, the levels of design and construction planning done in DBB and DL projects differ. The study also discovers that the time-overruns of projects procured by the two methods differ but their cost-overruns are the same. The study concludes that projects procured by DBB and DL options differ in planning and time-overrun and suggests improved planning at the design stage when DL option is adopted and improved planning at the construction stage when DBB option is adopted. Santrauka Šiame darbe lyginami planavimo lygiai ir projektų rezultatai, kai naudojamas tiesioginis darbas ir taikomas tradicinis pirkimų metodas (projektavimas–konkursas–statyba; angl. Design-Bid-Build, D-B-B). Palyginimui atlikta 130 projektų apklausa. Duomenys surinkti naudojant tam tikros struktūros anketas ir išanalizuoti pagal procentus, vidurkius ir t testą. Atliekant tyrimą nustatyta, kad abiem paslaugų pirkimo atvejais projektų sumanymo etapas ir bendras planavimas yra vienodo lygio, tačiau tradicinį pirkimų metodą pasirinkusiuose projektuose projektavimo ir statybų planavimo etapų lygis skiriasi nuo tiesioginį darbą pasirinkusių projektų etapų lygio. Atliekant tyrimą paaiškėjo, kad abiem atvejais laikas viršijimas skirtingai, tačiau sąnaudos viršijamos vienodai. Daroma išvada, kad projektams taikant skirtingus pirkimo būdus (tradicinį metodą arba tiesioginio darbo variantą) skiriasi planavimas ir vėlavimas; taip pat siūloma, kaip pagerinti projektavimo etapo planavimą, kai naudojamas tiesioginio darbo variantas, ir kaip pagerinti statybų etapo planavimą, kai taikomas tradicinis metodas.
«Prosuming» across Cultures: Youth Creating and Discussing Digital Media across Borders
Authors: Dezuanni Michael , Monroy-Hernandez Andres
Published: April 2012

The Scratch Online Community enables young people to share their creative digital projects internationally with a level of ease that was impossible only a few years ago. Like all creative communities, Scratch is not just a space for sharing products, work, techniques and tips and tricks, but also a space for social interaction. Media literacy educators have unprecedented challenges and opportunities in digital environments like Scratch to harness the vast amount of knowledge in the community to enhance students’ learning. They also have challenges and opportunities to implement a form of digital media literacy education that is responsive to social and cultural representation. One role of digital media literacy is to help young people to challenge unfair and derogatory portrayals of people and to break down processes of social and cultural «othering» so that all community members feel included and safe to express themselves. This article considers how online community spaces like Scratch might draw on social interaction to enhance intercultural understandings and learning through dialogue and creative practice. The article uses statistics to indicate the amount of international interaction in the Scratch community. It then uses qualitative analysis of forum discussions to analyse the types of intercultural interaction that occurs.

La «Scratch Online Community» permite a los jóvenes compartir sus proyectos digitales internacionalmente con una facilidad impensable años atrás. Como todas las comunidades creativas de este tipo, no es solo un espacio para compartir productos, trabajos, técnicas o consejos, sino también un espacio para la interacción social. Los educadores del ámbito de la alfabetización en los medios encuentran en estas iniciativas retos y oportunidades sin precedentes para aprovechar el volumen de conocimiento de la comunidad y promover el aprendizaje. Ofrece también oportunidades para implementar una forma de alfabetización digital sensible a la representación social y cultural. Una de las funciones de la alfabetización digital es ayudar a los jóvenes a cuestionar representaciones y a romper con procesos de otredad para que los miembros de la comunidad puedan expresarse e integrarse en esos contextos. Este artículo analiza cómo estas comunidades, a través de la interacción social, pueden impulsar el entendimiento intercultural y el aprendizaje a través del diálogo y la práctica creativa. El artículo incluye estadísticas para indicar la cantidad de interacción internacional en la comunidad que se analiza (Scratch). Asimismo, también incluye análisis cualitativos a partir de discusiones en el foro, con el fin de analizar los tipos de interacción intercultural que se llevan a cabo.
The Digital Afterlife of Youth-Made Media: Implications for Media Literacy Education
Authors: Soep Elisabeth
Published: April 2012

The digital age has fundamentally re-configured the relationship between makers and users. Every networked action by a user has the potential to be reinterpreted by other users. The original intentions of media makers emerge from this process in recontextualized form that I call the «digital afterlife». The phenomenon of digital afterlife has striking implications for youth-made media, which I explore in this article through an ethnographic analysis of behind-the-scenes activities among a group of young people working with Youth Radio, a California youth organization, where they create high-impact media. The case study examined here centers on a major investigative reporting initiative within Youth Radio – a transmedia series on child sex trafficking produced by a 21-year-old reporter in collaboration with veteran editors. The analysis reveals the ways in which youth media ceases to be «youth media», once it moves into its digital afterlife, given the extent to which the content gets re-produced, again and again, by adult institutions with their own histories, agendas, and political economies. The article concludes by identifying key dimensions of literacy that young people invent and deploy through their experiments with social and mobile media, including: discovery, analytics, network mobilization, and platform programming.

La era digital ha reconfigurado las relaciones entre productores y usuarios. Las acciones en red son potencialmente reinterpretadas por otros usuarios. La intención de los productores mediáticos adquiere su sentido en este contexto que denominamos «el más allá digital». En este artículo analizamos cómo ha influido este fenómeno en las implicaciones de los medios y los jóvenes. El estudio se lleva a cabo a través del análisis etnográfico de las actividades llevadas a cabo por un grupo de jóvenes que trabajan creando productos mediáticos de gran impacto en una radio en California (Youth Radio). El estudio de caso que se incluye en este artículo se centra en una iniciativa de periodismo de investigación dentro de Youth Radio: una serie transmediática sobre el tráfico sexual infantil producida por un joven de 21 años con la ayuda de editores más veteranos. El análisis desvela la forma en que los medios «juveniles» dejan de serlo una vez que se convierten en un producto digital en sí, cuyo contenido se reproduce una y otra vez en manos de adultos e instituciones con su propia historia, organización y economía política. El artículo concluye identificando dimensiones clave de alfabetización que los jóvenes crean y emplean a través de su experimentación con los medios móviles y sociales, entre otros: el descubrimiento, el análisis, la movilización en red y la programación de plataformas.
Les jeux d'argent et de hasard et le droit de l'union Européenne
Authors: Donnat Francis
Published: April 2012

Résumé Faute de droit dérivé spécifiquement applicable aux jeux d’argent et de hasard, c’est la jurisprudence de la Cour de justice de l’Union européenne qui a progressivement forgé les règles que les États membres doivent appliquer. Consciente de ce qu’il s’agit d’une activité économique pas tout à fait comme les autres, dans un domaine où les spécificités nationales sont très marquées, elle leur a reconnu une réelle marge de manœuvre, laquelle ne justifie toutefois pas l’adoption de législations incohérentes ou de mesures disproportionnées.
La typologie de la profession d'avocat : l'exemple des avocats d'affaires
Authors: Barszcz Caura
Published: April 2012

Résumé La profession d’avocat est diverse. Sous un même vocable se trouvent des réalités professionnelles et culturelles différentes. Le groupe des avocats d’affaires représente 20 % de la profession, mais 80 % de son chiffre d’affaires. Sa typologie et ses défis en font un sujet d’étude à part entière.
Les ténors
Authors: Sur Pierre-Olivier
Published: April 2012

Résumé « Ténors ». En musique. En politique. Au barreau. Pour les avocats, pourquoi ne pas prendre d’abord le terme à la lettre, c’est-à-dire par la tessiture des voix ? Et les présenter dans une galerie de portraits, ou de curiosités. Cependant, il n’y a pas que la plaidoirie avec le principe de l’oralité à l’audience qui distingue les meilleurs avocats. Il y a aussi les activités dites de conseil, qui constituent les deux tiers du volume de travail de la profession d’avocat. Ainsi y a-t-il les « ténors » du fiscal, de la fusion-acquisition, de la restructuration de dettes, etc. Les domaines d’activité sont fort variés. Devra-t-on un jour établir une présentation qui, comme pour les restaurants et les hôtels, serait un guide Michelin des avocats et de leurs cabinets aux fins de faciliter l’accès au droit dans tous les domaines ? Laissera-t-on s’installer des agences de notation privées ? Faudrait-il en confier la mission aux ordres ? Hier les avocats « ténors », demain les avocats « triple A ».
Comparative assessment of ecotoxicity of urban aerosol
Authors: Turóczi B. , Hoffer A. , Tóth Á. , Kováts N. , Ács A. , Ferincz Á. , Kovács A. , Gelencsér A.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. In addition to its mass concentration, the health effects of urban particulate matter may depend on its particle size distribution and chemical composition. Yet air pollution regulations rely on exclusively bulk PM10 concentration measurements, without regard to their potentially different health effects under different conditions. Aerosols from various sources are well known to contain a plethora of toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic or teratogenic constituents such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In spite of the fact that tremendous efforts have been put to establish links between aerosol pollution and human health or mortality, the potential acute effects of PM2.5/PM10 have never been assessed for lack of adequate methodology. Here we present the application of a simple and sensitive method for the direct assessment of the overall ecotoxicity of various PM2.5/PM10 samples collected on filters. The method is based on the Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition bioassay that has been standardized for solid samples, representing a relevant biological exposure route. Direct emission samples proved to be significantly more ecotoxic than photochemically processed aerosol, thus marked differences were observed between the ecotoxicities of urban PM10 in summer and winter. The previously overlooked acute effects of urban PM10 may add to the established effects of gaseous primary pollutants aggravating health problems during severe air pollution episodes.
Can we predict the duration of an interglacial?
Authors: Tzedakis P. C. , Wolff E. W. , Skinner L. C. , Brovkin V. , Hodell D. A. , McManus J. F. , Raynaud D.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. Differences in the duration of interglacials have long been apparent in palaeoclimate records of the Late and Middle Pleistocene. However, a systematic evaluation of such differences has been hampered by the lack of a metric that can be applied consistently through time and by difficulties in separating the local from the global component in various proxies. This, in turn, means that a theoretical framework with predictive power for interglacial duration has remained elusive. Here we propose that the interval between the terminal oscillation of the bipolar-seesaw and three thousand years (kyr) before its first major reactivation provides an estimate that approximates the length of the sea-level highstand, a measure of interglacial duration. We apply this concept to interglacials of the last 800 kyr by using a recently-constructed record of interhemispheric variability. The onset of interglacials occurs within 2 kyr of the peak in boreal summer insolation and is consistent with the canonical view of Milankovitch forcing dictating the broad timing of interglacials. Glacial inception always takes place when obliquity is decreasing and never after the obliquity minimum. The phasing of precession and obliquity appears to influence the persistence of interglacial conditions over one or two insolation peaks, leading to shorter (~13 kyr) and longer (~28 kyr) interglacials. Glacial inception occurs approximately 10 kyr after peak interglacial conditions in temperature and CO2, representing an interglacial "relaxation" time over which gradual cooling takes place. Second-order differences in duration may be a function of stochasticity in the climate system, or small variations in background climate state and the magnitude of feedbacks and mechanisms contributing to glacial iinception, and as such, difficult to predict. On the other hand, the broad duration of an interglacial may be determined by the phasing of astronomical parameters and the history of insolation, rather than the instantaneous forcing strength at inception.