bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance Study of Harmony Search Algorithm for Multilevel Thresholding
Authors: Ouadfel Salima , Taleb-Ahmed Abdelmalik
Published: August 2015

Thresholding is the easiest method for image segmentation. Bi-level thresholding is used to create binary images, while multilevel thresholding determines multiple thresholds, which divide the pixels into multiple regions. Most of the bi-level thresholding methods are easily extendable to multilevel thresholding. However, the computational time will increase with the increase in the number of thresholds. To solve this problem, many researchers have used different bio-inspired metaheuristics to handle the multilevel thresholding problem. In this paper, optimal thresholds for multilevel thresholding in an image are selected by maximizing three criteria: Between-class variance, Kapur and Tsallis entropy using harmony search (HS) algorithm. The HS algorithm is an evolutionary algorithm inspired from the individual improvisation process of the musicians in order to get a better harmony in jazz music. The proposed algorithm has been tested on a standard set of images from the Berkeley Segmentation Dataset. The results are then compared with that of genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), bacterial foraging optimization (BFO), and artificial bee colony algorithm (ABC). Results have been analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively using the fitness value and the two popular performance measures: SSIM and FSIM indices. Experimental results have validated the efficiency of the HS algorithm and its robustness against GA, PSO, and BFO algorithms. Comparison with the well-known metaheuristic ABC algorithm indicates the equal performance for all images when the number of thresholds M is equal to two, three, four, and five. Furthermore, ABC has shown to be the most stable when the dimension of the problem is too high.
New Paths for Third-Sector Institutions in a Welfare State in Crisis: The Case of Portugal
Authors: Ferreira Sílvia
Published: August 2015

This article describes the recent changes in the political, cultural and socioeconomic environment of the third sector (TS) in Portugal in the context of crisis and structural adjustment. Belatedly, when compared to many other countries, an overall sector is being structured in Portugal, overcoming the traditional neglect of the political system and the divisions inside the field. The historical institutional approach is here used to make sense of the current changes and debates and the different policy coalitions in place are identified through present and past policy analysis and content analysis of policy debates. This provides a broad background for exploring the hypothesis that the Portuguese TS may be arriving at a critical juncture that will set a new path under the development of a new and broader identity as “social economy.” This paper identifies path-breaking trends, as well as continuities. It argues that the structuring axis TS/welfare state, which has been the driving force of the TS in Portugal, is shifting to the axis TS/economy as a result of changes in both the TS and its political coalitions’ strategies and in the broader context and institutional framework of the welfare state.
The Multiple Exp-Function Method and the Linear Superposition Principle for Solving the (2+1)-Dimensional Calogero–Bogoyavlenskii–Schiff Equation
Authors: Zayed Elsayed M.E. , Al-Nowehy Abdul-Ghani
Published: August 2015

In this article, the multiple exp-function method and the linear superposition principle are employed for constructing the exact solutions and the solitary wave solutions for the (2+1)-dimensional Calogero–Bogoyavlenskii–Schiff (CBS) equation. With help of Maple and by using the multiple exp-method, we can get exact explicit one-wave, two-wave, and three-wave solutions, which include one-soliton-, two-soliton-, and three-soliton-type solutions. Furthermore, we apply the linear superposition principle to find n-wave solutions of the CBS equation. Two cases with specific values of the involved parameters are plotted for each two-wave and three-wave solutions.
Commercial Collaboration and Critical Engagement in Food Research
Authors: Jackson Peter
Published: August 2015

This series of essays addresses some of the challenges that arise when academics engage in research and other forms of collaboration with food businesses. Assessing what is at stake at the interface between academia and industry, the essays explore the practical, methodological, theoretical, and ethical challenges involved when food researchers engage with commercial partners, assessing whether they risk undermining academic independence and whose interests they serve. This introductory essay is followed by four case studies from the United Kingdom and Portugal, raising questions about why these issues have emerged more sharply in Europe than elsewhere. The essays are followed by a series of commentaries from different perspectives, opening up a debate with which we hope other readers will engage.
Engaging Science with Commercial Partners
Authors: Truninger Monica
Published: August 2015

Engaging with commercial partners is increasingly required by public science funding agencies and encouraged by government officials. Reasons for this shift include alleviating the strain on government science budgets and opening up possibilities for scientists to secure jobs in private companies. Universities have also begun to advocate for strategies and policies that facilitate commercial collaborations. Similarly, there is interest—although still scattered in Portugal—among the business sector to look for “something different” in order to prepare for the complex problems that await in an uncertain future. This essay addresses the process of gaining entrée to a major Portuguese food retailer by making use of the metaphors of flirting and dating. The slow process of engagement with this retailer is described, in particular a two-day “backstage” visit of its food retail operations. During these interactions the challenges of commercial–science collaborations with regard to differing expectations and objectives—in areas such as trust issues; confidentiality agreements; integrity of scientific objectives versus the pressures of market-driven organizations; the different nature and uses of information—are unveiled. The disparate conceptions of time and output delivery, together with the different rhythms of making business and making science, are discussed. To conclude, the “dating” and “flirting” stages of the relationship between social researchers and food retailers reflect a slow process that involves diplomatic skills, open minds, and the constant juggling of “familiar” and “unfamiliar” ways of thinking and doing.
An alkaline follicular fluid fraction induces capacitation and limited release of oviduct epithelium-bound stallion sperm
Authors: Leemans Bart , Gadella Bart M , Stout Tom A E , Nelis Hilde , Hoogewijs Maarten , Van Soom Ann
Published: August 2015

Induction of hyperactivated motility is considered essential for triggering the release of oviduct-bound mammalian spermatozoa in preparation for fertilization. In this study, oviduct-bound stallion spermatozoa were exposed for 2 h to: i) pre-ovulatory and ii) post-ovulatory oviductal fluid; iii) 100% and iv) 10% follicular fluid (FF); v) cumulus cells, vi) mature equine oocytes, vii) capacitating and viii) non-capacitating medium. None of these triggered sperm release or hyperactivated motility. Interestingly, native FF was detrimental to sperm viability, an effect that was negated by heat inactivation, charcoal treatment and 30 kDa filtration alone or in combination. Moreover, sperm suspensions exposed to treated FF at pH 7.9 but not pH 7.4 showed Ca2+-dependent hypermotility. Fluo-4 AM staining of sperm showed elevated cytoplasmic Ca2+in hyperactivated stallion spermatozoa exposed to treated FF at pH 7.9 compared to a modest response in defined capacitating conditions at pH 7.9 and no response in treated FF at pH 7.4. Moreover, 1 h incubation in alkaline, treated FF induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation in 20% of spermatozoa. None of the conditions tested induced widespread release of sperm pre-bound to oviduct epithelium. However, the hyperactivating conditions did induce release of 70–120 spermatozoa per oviduct explant, of which 48% showed protein tyrosine phosphorylation and all were acrosome-intact, but capable of acrosomal exocytosis in response to calcium ionophore. We conclude that, in the presence of elevated pH and extracellular Ca2+, a heat-resistant, hydrophilic, <30 kDa component of FF can trigger protein tyrosine phosphorylation, elevated cytoplasmic Ca2+and hyperactivated motility in stallion sperm, but infrequent release of sperm pre-bound to oviduct epithelium.
Sucker rod string design of the pumping systems
Authors: Liu Chun Hua
Published: August 2015

The existing design of sucker rod string mainly focuses on the simplifying assumptions that rod string was exposed to simple tension loading. And its goal was to have equal modified stress at the top of each taper. The improved rod design was to have the same degree of safety at each section, and it used a dynamic force distribution that was proportional along the whole string. However, the available procedures did not provide the desired accuracy of its pertinent analysis, and the operators could not identify the specific phenomena that occur in CBM wells. In this paper, the mathematical models of rod loads and string length were developed based on the cyclic nature of rod string loading; the fatigue endurance method is used to design the single rod string; and the tapered rod string is designed to have an equal equivalent stress at the top of each section. Its application characteristics are demonstrated by the example of CBM wells in Ordos Basin. The interpretations of results show that the previous design gave the single rods a larger diameter and the top rods in the string a greater percent than the proposed method. The calculation should concern about inertial, vibration and friction forces to illustrate the elastic force waves travelling in the rod material with the speed of sound. The single string should be designed using fatigue endurance ratings due to asymmetric pulsating tension of rod loading; and the tapered string should involve a balanced design by setting the fatigue endurance at each section equal. A shorter stroke length gives a greater rod taper percentage and an increased load capacity results to an enhanced rod diameter. The rod diameter increases with the pump size and load capacity for the single string, and the rod taper percentage of the top rod strings increases with plunger diameter for the tapered string. The proposed research improves efficiency of the pumping system, assures good operating conditions, and reduces total production costs.
New records of Diploglossus monotropis (Kuhl, 1820) (Squamata: Anguidae) from Urabá and Magdalena River valley, Colombia, with an updated geographic distribution map
Authors: Díaz-Ayala Román Felipe , Gutiérrez Cárdenas Paul David , Vásquez-Correa Angelly Mariela , Caicedo-Portilla Jóse Rances
Published: August 2015

Based on recent records, published data, and review of specimens deposited in scientific collections, we present an updated map of the geographic distribution of Diploglossus monotropis in Colombia. Our data show that this species has a wide geographical distribution, including the Pacific versant of the Cordillera Occidental, the inter-Andean valley of the Magdalena River, and the Caribbean lowlands of northern Colombia.
New Biomaterials For Tissue Engineering
Authors: James Kenneth , Kohn Joachim
Published: August 2015

The success of tissue engineering rests on the ability to direct specific cell types to multiply, migrate, and express normal physiologic behaviors in order to yield a cellular organization that performs the functions of the desired tissue. For example the engineering of living bone to repair skeletal defects has focused on growing osteoblasts—the cells responsible for bone formation—on degradable polymer matrices in vitro. The polymer matrix initially serves as the scaffold for bone-cell proliferation and maturation. Ideally the cells form a bonelike tissue that after implantation is fully integrated into the patient's own bone, thus repairing the bone injury or defect. Soon thereafter, its function complete, the polymer scaffold resorbs away. Readily apparent is the crucial role the scaffold material occupies in tissue engineering since it serves as the template for cell growth and tissue formation. It is the interaction between the cell and the material that dictates whether the cells will proliferate, mature, and express the desired tissue characteristics.

A critical issue facing the biomedical industry today is the availability of raw materials for medical-device manufacture. Furthermore it is now recognized that the materials base of the medical-device industry is outdated. Metals and various industrial plastics (e.g., polysiloxanes, polyurethanes, Dacron®, Teflon®, polyethylene) are the most commonly used biomaterials. These biostable, synthetic implant materials lack the biological sequences and patterns crucial to normal cell function and can trigger aberrant cell responses. Likewise few degradable polymers are available to the medical-device designer and tissue engineer, representing another limitation of the materials base of the medical-device industry (Table I).
EDUCAÇÃO PROFISSIONAL PARA OS JOVENS NAS POLÍTICAS EDUCACIONAIS DA 1ª DÉCADA DO SÉCULO XXI
Authors: Lima Erika Silva , Silva Francisca Natália da , Silva Lenina Lopes Soares
Published: August 2015

No Brasil são considerados jovens os cidadãos e cidadãs com idade compreendida entre os 15 e os 29 anos. São sujeitos de direitos e deveres e devem ter sua autonomia e identidade respeitadas. Na sociedade brasileira a maioria dos jovens das classes menos favorecidas economicamente já assume responsabilidades ligadas à provisão do próprio domicílio. Assim sendo, são vários os jovens que não concluem a Educação Básica, ou tem negada a possibilidade de ingressar no Ensino Superior. Para esses jovens poderiam ser oferecidas condições e oportunidades de acesso à Educação Profissional articulada à Educação Básica. É nesse sentido que se discute, neste artigo, a Educação Profissional para os jovens no Brasil, com ênfase nas políticas educacionais, articuladas à Educação Básica desenvolvidas na 1ª década do século XXI. Para tanto, foi realizada uma pesquisa documental nos principais documentos orientadores das políticas e dos programas voltados para Educação Profissional e também, uma pesquisa bibliografia, embasada principalmente em: Oliveira (2012) Moura (2012), Venturi e Abramo (2000) e Frigotto, Ciavatta e Ramos (2005). Fez-se ainda, um levantamento sobre matrículas de jovens na Educação Profissional, nos Censos Escolares de 2000 a 2010, disponibilizados no site do Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (INEP). Os programas de Educação Profissional articulados à Educação Básica encontrados no período em estudo são políticas públicas de educação, trabalho e qualificação para os jovens brasileiros, especificamente, para aqueles que estão em situação de vulnerabilidade socioeconômica.
EDUCAÇÃO PROFISSIONAL E CURRÍCULO INTEGRADO PARA O ENSINO MÉDIO: ELEMENTOS NECESSÁRIOS AO PROTAGONISMO JUVENIL
Authors: Azevedo Marcio Adriano de , Silva Cybelle Dutra da , Medeiros Dayvyd Lavaniery Marques
Published: August 2015

Este trabalho compreende uma pesquisa que está sendo desenvolvida junto ao Programa de Mestrado Acadêmico do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Profissional do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Norte - IFRN – Campus Natal-central que tem como objeto o Currículo Integrado e a Educação Profissional. Propomo-nos então, a realizar um estudo bibliográfico sobre Educação Profissional na perspectiva do currículo integrado, como espaço privilegiado do exercício da cidadania, e no desenvolvimento do protagonismo juvenil, um traço importante como estratégia educativa. Analisaremos o referencial bibliográfico que norteia o pensamento clássico e atual sobre os seguintes objetos de estudo: Educação Profissional, Currículo Integrado, eixos estruturantes para o Ensino Médio (Trabalho, Ciência, Tecnologia e Cultura). A pesquisa compreende numa abordagem qualitativa, pesquisa tipo bibliográfica e método descritivo. Adotaremos como procedimento metodológico: 1) estudo bibliográfico; 2) Análise documental; 3) análise de conteúdo do aporte documental estudado; 4) pesquisa on-line. O estudo aponta para a importância da educação profissional baseada na concepção de formação humana omnilateral emancipadora e do trabalho como princípio educativo. O ensino médio ancorado nesses sentidos possibilita a formação cidadã para a juventude capaz de compreender a realidade social, econômica, política, cultural, visando contribuir para o alcance dos interesses sociais e coletivos.
Spatial analysis of the tuberculosis treatment dropout, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Authors: Herrero María Belén , Arrossi Silvina , Ramos Silvina , Braga Jose Ueleres
Published: August 2015

OBJECTIVE Identify spatial distribution patterns of the proportion of nonadherence to tuberculosis treatment and its associated factors. METHODS We conducted an ecological study based on secondary and primary data from municipalities of the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. An exploratory analysis of the characteristics of the area and the distributions of the cases included in the sample (proportion of nonadherence) was also carried out along with a multifactor analysis by linear regression. The variables related to the characteristics of the population, residences and families were analyzed. RESULTS Areas with higher proportion of the population without social security benefits (p = 0.007) and of households with unsatisfied basic needs had a higher risk of nonadherence (p = 0.032). In addition, the proportion of nonadherence was higher in areas with the highest proportion of households with no public transportation within 300 meters (p = 0.070). CONCLUSIONS We found a risk area for the nonadherence to treatment characterized by a population living in poverty, with precarious jobs and difficult access to public transportation.
The Buccinator Mucomuscular Flap: An In-Depth Analysis and Evaluation of Its Role in the Management of Velopharyngeal Dysfunction
Authors: Ahl Rebecka , Ahmad Tariq , Harding-Bell Anne , Wharton Laura , Jordan Adam , Hall Per
Published: August 2015

Background

A significant proportion of patients with cleft palate experience persisting velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) after primary surgery. Pharyngoplasty is the most common procedure to correct inadequate velopharyngeal closure. Although it is often effective, it poses a risk for postoperative airway obstruction. The mucomuscular buccinator flap is a more recent alternative: In the largest case series to date, we outline its use and evaluate its effectiveness in managing persistent VPD.

Methods

Over 9 years, 103 buccinator flap procedures were performed by the Cambridge group to improve velar function. Clinical records were retrospectively assessed: 60 patients were analyzed by two expert speech and language therapists external to the group using the Cleft Audit Protocol for Speech—Augmented. In a subset of patients, the buccinator flap was interpolated between the limbs of a large mucosal Z-plasty. Consensus listening was undertaken, and interrater reliability was calculated for 24.17% of the cohort. The remaining samples were assessed by a single listener following calibrated consensus listening.

Results

There was a significant reduction in VPD ( P < .001). Preoperatively, 68.5% of patients demonstrated marked VPD, falling to 24.1% postoperatively. The buccinator procedure demonstrated significant improvement for three of four individual speech parameters: hypernasality, passive cleft speech characteristics, and audible nasal emission. Overall, 13.5% of patients required further corrective speech surgery.

Conclusions

The buccinator mucomuscular flap reliably and effectively improves velar function in the management of VPD and has low complication rates. We therefore recommend the use of the buccinator flap in primary surgical management of persisting VPD.
Orthodontic Treatment and Long-Term Management of a Patient with Marfan Syndrome
Authors: Shiga Momotoshi , Ogawa Takuya , Ekprachayakoon Issareeya , Moriyama Keiji
Published: August 2015

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is caused by abnormal systemic connective tissue. The main clinical manifestations include long limbs, long slender fingers, lens subluxation, abnormal cardiac valves, and aortic aneurysm. We report the case of an 11-year-old patient with MFS who underwent orthodontic treatment and was followed up until the age of 25 years. We found no significant differences in tooth movement between the patient with MFS and healthy subjects. However, because patients with MFS show characteristic facial growth and an increased risk of developing systemic comorbidities, their dental status requires careful observation over time.
Propriedade Familiar e Desempenho de Empresas do Agronegócio Brasileiro
Authors: Guse Jaqueline Carla , Politelo Leandro , Leite Maurício , Silva Tarcísio Pedro da
Published: August 2015

O agronegócio desempenha um papel significativo no cenário econômico e financeiro no Brasil. Esta pesquisa objetiva verificar a relação da propriedade familiar com o desempenho de empresas do agronegócio brasileiro. Para tanto é aplicada uma pesquisa descritiva com abordagem quantitativa em uma amostra de 25 empresas listadas na BM&FBovespa no período de 2010 a 2012. A Análise Envoltória de Dados (DEA) é aplicada para identificar a eficiência quanto ao desempenho das empresas familiares e não familiares, e a técnica estatística ANOVA para se verificar se as empresas familiares apresentavam maior ou menor eficiência em relação ao seu desempenho quando comparadas às empresas não familiares. Os resultados da pesquisa indicam que as empresas Excelsior, Iguaçu Café, Laep e Renar foram eficientes nos três anos analisados tanto em seus grupos (familiar ou não familiar) quanto em relação à amostra total. As empresas Tereos, Cacique e Josapar apresentaram-se como as menos eficientes. Apesar de não significativos, os resultados apresentam indicativos de que as empresas não familiares são mais eficientes que as empresas familiares quanto ao desempenho de curto prazo.
A Inovação Social e o Desenvolvimento Sustentável na Algicultura: O Caso do Projeto Mulheres de Corpo e Alga
Authors: Paula Eugênia Vale de , Penha Emanuel Dheison Dos Santos , Silva Filho José Carlos Lázaro da , Souza Lígia Carla De Lima
Published: August 2015

Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a relação entre a inovação social e o desenvolvimento sustentável. Para isso, foi realizado um estudo de caso junto ao projeto Mulheres de Corpo e Alga, que trabalha com o cultivo, colheita, beneficiamento e venda de produtos a base de substâncias extraídas das algas (algicultura), em Barrinha de Icapuí, uma comunidade do litoral leste do Ceará, Nordeste brasileiro. A pesquisa se caracteriza como qualitativa e descritiva. Os dados coletados pelas entrevistas foram analisados por meio da técnica de análise de conteúdo e, posteriormente, classificados segundo os eixos de inovação social do CRISES (2004) e as dimensões clássicas da sustentabilidade. Verificou-se, através da matriz de relacionamento entre inovação social e desenvolvimento sustentável, que o projeto se caracteriza tanto como inovação social quanto um projeto de desenvolvimento sustentável, havendo consistência na relação entre os eixos e as dimensões, apesar da relação Território x Social não ser evidenciada pelas falas dos entrevistados.
O Uso de Biodigestores em Pequenas e Médias Propriedades Rurais com Ênfase na Agregação de Valor: Um Estudo de Caso na Região Noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul
Authors: Barichello Rodrigo , Hoffmann Ronaldo , Da Silva Suzane Orte Cardoso , Deimling Moacir Francisco , Casarotto Filho Nelson
Published: August 2015

A partir da vigência do Protocolo de Kyoto houve um interesse renovado pela tecnologia dos biodigestores. Como eles permitem uma redução na emissão de gases do efeito estufa, em relação a outros métodos de tratamento de dejetos, a sua implantação pode permitir a comercialização de créditos de carbono, resultando em valores monetários. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar o processo de disseminação desta tecnologia na Microrregião de Santa Rosa, situada na Mesorregião do Noroeste riograndense, impulsionada, especialmente, por empresas privadas. O presente estudo revelou que 33,33% dos equipamentos instalados encontram-se desativados. Estudou-se o perfil das propriedades que possuem estes equipamentos instalados, além de uma análise das possíveis dificuldades encontradas pelos proprietários rurais, no sentido de implantação e utilização dessa tecnologia, verificando-se a contribuição dos biodigestores, referente à questão energética e minimização da poluição do meio ambiente nessas áreas. Através da revisão da literatura existente e aplicação de questionários, foram levantadas diversas informações acerca da instalação de biodigestores, observando se contribuem como alternativa de agregação de valor às propriedades criadoras e como alternativa viável para a solução dos problemas ambientais envolvidos no processo.
Effect of Psycho Education on Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Patients on Hemodialysis
Authors: Espahbodi Fatemeh , Hosseini Hamzeh , Mirzade Mohamad Mehdi , Shafaat Arefeh Beygom
Published: August 2015

Background:: Hemodialysis as a solution for patients with chronic renal failure is a stressful process. Anxiety and depression after hemodialysis could have negative impacts on quality of life, treatment and prognosis of the disease. Some studies indicated that educating patients prior to hemodialysis could enhance patients’ quality of life and increase the likelihood of their survival. Objectives:: This study investigated psychological impacts of psycho education on anxiety and depression symptoms in patients under dialysis. Patients and Methods:: This was a prospective, experimental intervention study with pretest and post-test. Eligible patients (n = 60) were selected randomly from dialysis center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari in 2009. Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) score of patients were eight or greater. They were divided into two matched groups. In one group, patients were given psycho education during three sessions of one-hour, while patients in the control group did not receive any education. HADS was completed for both groups before dialysis and one month after the end of educational sessions. The data were compared and analyzed using paired t-test and Chi-square test. Results:: Psycho education decreased depression score (P < 0.001) and the HADS (P = 0.008) significantly. These decreases were not significant for anxiety scores of patients (P = 0.185). Conclusion:: This research indicated that psycho education based on the designed protocol decreased the scores of depression and total scores of HADS.
A Fresh Look at the Potential Mechanisms of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Therapy on Depression in Female Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Safi Seyyedeh Zahra
Published: August 2015

Background:: According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report released in 2000, about 121 million people worldwide suffer from depression. The major depressive disorder (MDD) among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients is one of the most common mood disorders experienced during life. MS patients who simultaneously suffer from depression have reported more severe symptoms of disease and slower adaptation to new conditions, which ultimately increase the cost of treatment. Objectives:: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation therapy (PMRT) as an adjunctive therapy for reducing level of depression for MS patients. Materials and Methods:: This research had the randomized controlled trial design with pre and posttest. Thirty female patients based on criteria of MS and MDD disease, were selected from the MS Society of Shiraz, Iran. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) was administered at pre and posttest. The participants were randomly allocated to two groups (experimental and control). Twelve sessions of PMRT using Bernstein and Borkovec’s method were held for the experimental group. Levin’s test, covariance and ANOVA with repeated measures were used for data analysis. Results:: Experimental and control groups were compared before and after treatment. Analysis of covariance showed that seven levels of depression decreased in the experimental group and analysis of repeated measure showed that 49% of the changes were related to PMRT. Conclusion:: According to the results, PMRT is effective in reducing depression. This therapy enables patients to reach relaxation quickly, and thus can cope with depression reactions effectively.
Belowground competition among invading detritivores
Authors: Chang Chih‐Han , Szlavecz Katalin , Filley Timothy , Buyer Jeffrey S. , Bernard Michael J. , Pitz Scott L.
Published: August 2015

The factors regulating soil animal communities are poorly understood. Current theory favors niche complementarity and facilitation over competition as the primary forms of non‐trophic interspecific interaction in soil fauna; however, competition has frequently been suggested as an important community‐structuring factor in earthworms, ecosystem engineers that influence belowground processes. To date, direct evidence of competition in earthworms is lacking due to the difficulty inherent in identifying a limiting resource for saprophagous animals. In the present study, we offer the first direct evidence of interspecific competition for food in this dominant soil detritivore group by combining field observations with laboratory mesocosm experiments using 13C and 15N double‐enriched leaf litter to track consumption patterns. In our experiments, the Asian invasive species Amynthas hilgendorfi was a dominant competitor for leaf litter against two European species currently invading the temperate deciduous forests in North America. This competitive advantage may account for recent invasion success of A. hilgendorfi in forests with established populations of European species, and we hypothesize that specific phenological differences play an important role in determining the outcome of the belowground competition. In contrast, Eisenoides lonnbergi, a common native species in the Eastern United States, occupied a unique trophic position with limited interactions with other species, which may contribute to its persistence in habitats dominated by invasive species. Furthermore, our results supported neither the hypothesis that facilitation occurs between species of different functional groups nor the hypothesis that species in the same group exhibit functional equivalency in C and N translocation in the soil. We propose that species identity is a more powerful approach to understand earthworm invasion and its impacts on belowground processes.
Uncertainty Assessment of Chemical EOR in One of the Offshore Fields in Malaysia
Authors: Ghadami Nader , Arsanti Dian , Sedaralit M Faizal
Published: August 2015

Chemical flooding is one of the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods to mobilize the residual oil after waterflooding by reduction of oil-water interfacial tension or wettability alteration and consequently increase of capillary number. The objective of this study is to assess the potential of alkaline surfactant (AS) flooding on a major oil reservoir at offshore Malaysia, besides to conduct the uncertainty assessment. High capital and operating expenditure are associated with chemical EOR (CEOR) projects. Therefore, key subsurface uncertainties quantified thoroughly for a robust assessment of influential parameters.

The considered field is planned to be a pioneer in offshore CEOR. After the completion of pilot and matching the results in the simulation model, the key step is to upscale the results to the full field level. A critical step of the chemical EOR is to find the relative contribution of the influential parameters on the objective function like oil recovery. To do so, a detailed modeling work was performed for sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of AS flooding. Some of the important parameters used in the model are interfacial tension, chemical adsorption, slug size, and reduction of residual oil saturation by chemical.

A single well pilot test project was successfully conducted in 2007. The pilot entailed the injection of Alkaline-Surfactant chemicals and chemical tracer test into a waterflooded reservoir and produced from the same well. The pilot test indicated significant reduction of residual oil saturation (Sorw) in the range of 50% to 80% of Sorw. After running the uncertainty cases for the targeted reservoir, the probability ranges of the objective function were established. Based on the results of this uncertainty analysis, a proxy model has been built and subsequently quality checked to ensure that it can reproduce the simulated data with high accuracy. The developed proxy model was used to capture all combination of parameter ranges and do better decision making on the project. The results showed that based on the corresponding ranges of parameters, the residual oil reduction and slug size exhibited the highest and lowest impact on oil recovery, respectively. Therefore, the uncertainty of the objective function can be reduced by mitigating the uncertainty of the most influential parameters. Moreover, this work presents a proper workflow of CEOR modeling in addition to detailed and systematic approach for uncertainty evaluation.
Low-Salinity Waterflood Simulation: Mechanistic and Phenomenological Models
Authors: Kuznetsov Dan , Cotterill Sam , Giddins Marie Ann , Blunt Martin J.
Published: August 2015

This paper describes a simulation study of the low-salinity effect in sandstone reservoirs. The proposed mechanistic model allows differentiation of water composition effects and includes multi-ionic exchange and double layer expansion. The manifestation of these effects can be observed in coreflood experiments.

We define a set of chemical reactions, to describe the contribution of van der Waals forces, ligand exchange, and cation bridging to mobilization of residual oil. The reaction set is simplified by incorporating wettability weighting coefficients that reflect the contribution of different adsorbed ions to the wettability of the rock. Changes in wettability are accounted for by interpolation of the relative permeability and capillary pressure curves between the low and high salinity sets. We also construct and test simplified phenomenological models, one relating the change of the relative permeability to the concentration of a dissolved salinity tracer and another one to the concentration of a single adsorbed tracer.

The full mechanistic model, with multiple ion tracking, is in good qualitative agreement with experimental data reported in the literature. A very close agreement with the mechanistic model was obtained for a coreflood simulation using single tracer phenomenological models. The similarity of the results is explained by the fact that the most critical factor influencing the flow behavior was the function used to interpolate between the oil- and water-wet sets of saturation curves. Similar interpolation functions in different models lead to similar oil recovery predictions.

This study has developed a detailed chemical reaction model that captures both multicomponent ion exchange and double layer expansion effects, and can be used to improve understanding of low-salinity recovery mechanisms by analyzing their relative contributions. The approach of matching a tracer model to a detailed mechanistic model promises a route to the development of simplified, less computationally demanding proxy models for full field simulation studies.
Nanowetting Microscopy Probes Liquid-Solid Interaction at the Nanoscale
Authors: Steiner M. B. , Engel M.. , Bryant P. W. , Giro R.. , Neumann R. F. , Avouris P.. , Feger C..
Published: August 2015

Advances in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) require quantification of surface wetting phenomena on the nanometer scale under well controlled conditions. We introduce a novel measurement platform that enables optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy within a dedicated, optically transparent analysis device. The measurement entails the deposition and characterization of extremely small amounts of liquids having volumes on the order of 10 attoliters (10–17liter). The analyzed liquids are located at a well-characterized test surface that is customizable to match the specifics of the experiment, e.g. by surface patterning or surface functionalization. We present initial experimental and simulation results that demonstrate that it is possible to map within the device individual, spatially isolated oil droplets with diameters well below the micrometer scale having heights of several tens of nanometers only. The combined analysis of high-resolution optical and topographical data reveals how oil droplet shape and surface wetting behavior are determined by the properties of the liquid and local properties of the test surface, such as surface roughness. Future applications of the measurement platform in the domain of oil recovery include screening of EOR chemicals and verification of advanced molecular dynamics models of liquid-solid interactions.
Laboratory to Field Scale Simulation of a Complex Micro-Emulsion System Performance for Enhanced Oil Recovery
Authors: Kharghoria A.. , Lett Nathan , Portwood J. T. , Biswas D.. , Hammond Charles , Penny Glenn , Rigoris Adriana
Published: August 2015

This paper investigates the application of a proprietary surfactant-solvent package as an alternate chemical solution in Enhance Oil Recovery (EOR). This micro-emulsion system (MES) has many upsides to traditional solvent or surfactant-alone alternatives, as the package can be transported in-depth with less sacrificial adsorption yet maintain its interfacial tension reduction and oil swelling abilities to mobilize residual oil.

While designing conformance jobs over the past several years, it has been observed that often times the injected fluids tend to travel through high permeability channels between a binary pair(s) of injector and producer. This short-circuit of injected fluids leaves residual oil in the channels and renders a large volume of the reservoir unswept. This paper examines the specific MES application where a high permeability channel is treated to mobilize the residual oil. The characteristic of the high permeability channel is based on production data and is comparatively relative to the total flood zone between a producer and an injector. Due to the small size of the channel the mobilized oil will be produced quickly resulting in attractive economics (due to smaller volume of treatment required). Due to quick response and attractive economics, there will be added incentive and field data to decide whether to expand the treatment on a field wide basis. Subsequently, the moving forward plan could be that once the treatment is validated, this process will be used in conjunction with conformance control along with Polymer as mobility control drive fluid for fieldwide expansion.

Laboratory core flood experiment shows that a 1.0 PV slug of 1 gallons for thousand gallons (gpt) of the complex MES additives recovers about 9-12% OOIP (23-27% OIP). The experiment shows that an increase of oil cut from 1% to 12% occurs due to use of the complex MES. The laboratory experiment was performed with oil saturated Torrey Buff sandstone core. The results of this experiment were simulated using CMG's STARS simulation tool. The laboratory results were scaled up to test in two pilot configurations where the remaining oil in the channels was the primary target of the simulation exercise.

The first pilot is a quarter 9-spot with one injector and three producers. The second pilot is a central injector in the up-dip of the structure with 5 producers. The simulation results show that the peak oil production due to the effect of the MES is very significant. The economic analysis indicates attractive returns over continued waterflood for both pilots.
Flow Potential of Thin Beds in DW Turbidite Reservoirs from Production Logs
Authors: Arogun Olubunmi , Itua Osazua J.
Published: August 2015

XY is a deepwater turbidite field with potential untapped volume opportunity estimated at ~100MMbbls residing in Inter-Channel Thin Beds (ICTB) facies. Quantitative interpretation of Production Logging Tool (PLT) data was performed using commercial production log interpretation software to accurately quantify contributions to total flow and flow potential of the ICTB facies. The PLT data was acquired pre-production across two ICTB dominated “A” and “B” reservoirs in the XY-P well during a production test at flow rates of 5,000 and 12,000 bbls/day. The PLT evaluation result was calibrated using production test data.

This paper demonstrates the application of a simple workflow to estimate the flow potential of ICTBs from conventional PLT data. The results suggest ICTBs have significant potential to flow at economic rates. The interpretation also demonstrates producibility of ICTB at relatively high Productivity Index (PI) at flow rate above 12,000bbls/day. Intuitively, one can infer that though the flow potential of ICTB is lower than Channel Storey Margin (CSM) facies, ICTBs could become potential producers in the XY Field if produced standalone at relatively high drawdown.
Entrenching Process Safety Culture in The Face of Shifting Demography – a key to Sustaining Goal Zero Performance in Well Operations
Authors: Egbeocha Judith O , Reginald-Ugwuadu Onyinye G , Oluchi Ekpemu , Ebisike Richard C , Obanya Philip
Published: August 2015

The oil and gas industry is at a time when sustaining the license-to-operate; maintaining a positive reputation amongst stakeholders as well as achieving competitive performance is at the heart of business objective. This period also coincides with an all-time high entrance of young technical professionals into the industry due to an accelerated reaction to the impending crew change. Recent catastrophic process safety related incidents which resulted in fatalities, reputational damage and financial loss to the industry have once again brought to the forefront the importance of Process Safety management to industry leadership. Historically, the industry builds on long established focus on personal safety. In this regard, several organisations have developed Process Safety capability frameworks and terms of reference. Efforts have also been made to align these as much as possible to existing Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) critical competencies. “A process safety risk is a hazard that can give rise to major accidents involving the release of potentially hazardous materials, release of energy, or both; and Process safety in Wells is about keeping all hydrocarbons safely in the pipe, well or reservoir at all times” – Shell. Demographic shift in the oil and gas industry is emerging as one of the most significant challenges to business continuity and sustainability in the face of a rapidly aging workforce and shortfall in skilled and experienced manpower. The need for a well-knit strategy to enhance the training and competency development of young technical professionals becomes imperative in order to ensure that Process Safety oriented culture is fully understood and imbibed. This paper will examine how process safety can be successfully managed with the ‘big crew change’.
A Comparative Study of the Mechanism of Asp Flooding for Light Oil Recovery in Strongly Water Wet Cores Using Sodium Hydroxide, Lauryl Sulphate, and Gum Arabic
Authors: Rieborue Kharma , Oluwaseun Taiwo , Olalekan Olafuyi
Published: August 2015

Oil recovery resulting from Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer (ASP) flooding is mainly due to the improvement in sweep efficiency by the action of the chemicals. The alkaline modifies the wettability of the reservoir rock and generates in-situ surfactants, the surfactant impairs the capillary pressure between water and oil in the reservoir, while the polymer increases the viscosity of the mobilizing slug and improves mobility ratio. The resulting effect therefore is an improvement in volumetric sweep efficiency, which in turn leads to higher oil recovery.

This work presents an experimental study of ASP flooding. Four methods classified as A, B, C and D were studied. Method “A” involving the mixture of Sodium Hydroxide, Lauryl sulphate and Gum Arabic to form an ASP slug resulted to further oil recovery of 7.1% of the Initial Oil in Place(IOIP). Method “B” (Sodium Hydroxide Pre-flush before Lauryl sulphate and Gum Arabic slug) gave an oil recovery of 7.9% IOIP. Method “C” (Sodium Hydroxide, Lauryl sulphate Pre-flush, Gum Arabic) had an oil recovery of 6.3% IOIP. While Method “D” (Lauryl Sulphate pre-flush before Sodium Hydroxide and Gum Arabic slug)recovered7.6% IOIP.

The results of the experimental study show that the usage of an alkaline as pre-flush and a mixture of surfactant and polymer to flood yield a much greater oil recovery. This reveals that the effectiveness of an ASP flooding is dependent on the mechanism employed in implementing the flooding process.
Sowing Date and Wheat Quality as Determined by Gluten Index
Authors: Bonfil David J. , Abbo Shahal , Svoray Tal
Published: August 2015

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Mediterranean regions is highly variable in end‐use quality at the producer level. This study aimed to understand how sowing date affects wheat quality, especially gluten index (GI). Experiments were conducted in five fields over three consecutive seasons in 2009–2011. Twenty cultivars (four of which were common to all experiments) were sown from late October to mid‐January on three dates (early, normal, and late) in each field. Grain yield, test weight, protein content, GI, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) sedimentation, and alveograph parameters were analyzed. The GI of the four common cultivars showed a significant environment (experiment) × cultivar × sowing date interaction. In two experiments, GI increased with a delay in sowing; in two other experiments, a similar increase resulted from delaying sowing from the early to normal sowing dates but there was no further increase following late sowing or in one experiment where GI was unaffected by sowing date. Hence, delayed sowing mostly increased GI, except where weed or severe drought stress prevailed. Similarly, dough tenacity increased with delayed sowing. A high correlation was found among grain protein, wet gluten contents, SDS sedimentation, and alveograph index. Wheat GI was not a good predictor of quality and did not correlate with other parameters, whereas flour GI showed better correlations. Hence, we suggest delaying sowing (from late October to mid‐January) to increase GI and that GI should be used with caution as a quality predictor. Instead of GI, using different methods may improve the determination of wheat quality.