bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Managing HSE in the Turn Around Maintenance of a Deepwater Asset in the Gulf of Guinea
Authors: Awonusi Samuel , Oamen Christopher
Published: July 2014

Oil and Gas exploration and production activities are increasing by the day in the deepwater zone of the Gulf of Guinea (GoG). The assets are situated over 100 kilometers away from the continental shore.

To maintain asset integrity and comply with statutory regulations of government, the assets are taken through periodic Turn Around Maintenance (TAM). During the TAM of such remotely located facilities, resources such as vessels for the transportation of procured equipment and floating hotel for accommodating additional human resources in excess of the facility's class approved personnel on board are mobilized offshore. The workforce for the execution of the identified and approved scope is also mobilized to the field. Several concurrent activities such as water transportation, lifting and hoisting of heavy spools, fabricated equipment, demolition and installation of spools, diving and vessel/tank cleaning are executed simultaneously thereby increasing HSE risks exposures.

Local content drive of national governments in the GoG has increased the participation of local contractors in the delivery of TAM of oil and gas facilities. This comes with its attendant challenges in the area of competence of local contractors and high attrition rate of competent work force.

Though the facility is brought to a static state i.e. complete shutdown, the workforce would have to intrusively work on pipings, vessels and other components of the facility thereby increasing the risk levels.

Through the combination of various strategies, the challenges were safely managed in the execution of TAM of a Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading facility in the deep water zone of Nigeria. The operator's aspiration of achieving goal zero which implies no harm to people, environment, FPSO and the operator's reputation was fully achieved.
Enhancing the Production Performance of Dual Completed Gaslifted Wells Using the Nova Venturi Orifice Valves
Authors: Nkilika Grace Nwadike , Ifeanyichukwu Jude Ofia , Uwem Udom Essien , Benjamin Uduak Obong , Trost Amos , Enoto Udo Oton , Adoghe Sheri
Published: July 2014

Efficient gas lift optimization and sustained steady state production performance in dual-completion gas lifted wells has remained an industry challenge as a result of the inherent legacy well configuration in which two strings of a dual completion well share a common gas injection annulus. Common well symptoms include, but are not limited to, surging, instability as a result of fluctuations in casing and tubing pressure, gas deprivation to one arm of the dual completion, low productivity, and, in extreme cases, inability to concurrently produce both arms of the dual completion.

A deep investigation into the identified problems of instability, gas sharing, and gas deprivation revealed that optimal gas allocation to the respective arms of the dual completion was influenced by the surface injection pressures, fluctuations in tubing pressure, and inability to attain critical flow using the traditional square-edge orifice valve installed in most of the wells under review.

The existing conventional square-edge orifice valve typically would require approximately 56% pressure1 differential between upstream and downstream to attain critical flow; this contrasts with the NOVA venturi orifice valve, which requires barely 10% pressure differential. This pressure differential is rarely achieved in the traditional square-edge orifice valve. Consequently, slugging, suboptimal gas injection, unstable production, and sometimes total loss of production are evident.

Whilst industry research is on-going to identify optimal management of this class of wells, the NOVA venturi orifice valves deployed in some carefully screened candidate wells using established criteria have addressed, to a large extent, some of the challenges inherent with the current well configuration.

The NOVA venturi valve uses a venturi-type mechanism and overcomes the limitation of the square-edge orifice valve to achieve critical flow and stabilize the gas injection rate through the orifice by minimizing the pressure drop across the valve to as low as 10%.

A pilot trial of the NOVA venturi orifice valves in the restoration and stabilization of five candidate wells in two brownfields located in the Niger Delta resulted in recommendations for optimal use of the NOVA venturi orifice valves.
Optimal Gas Production Design in Gas Condensate Reservoir
Authors: Izuwa Nkemakolam Chinedu , Obah Boniface , Appah Dulu
Published: July 2014

Optimal production of gas from gas condensate reservoirs have been a major concern to the petroleum industry. Enormous liquid dropout lost to the reservoir during depletion process has been found to restrict the flow of gas near the wellbore, thereby reducing wellbore productivity. The search for the optimal production strategy to produce gas and even the condensed liquid has resulted to the use of enhanced production technique such as gas cycling, water flooding or wettability alteration. Gas cycling is used in gas condensate reservoirs to improve permeability to gas by evaporating the condensed liquid. Where the cycling is commenced early It may defer the dew point pressure. The challenge is the choice of the best production strategy to effectively recover gas trapped by the condensed liquid hydrocarbon and the condensed liquid hence enhancing the productivity of gas condensate reservoirs. In this study, technical and economic approaches are combined to evaluate the potentials of different production strategies using various injection rate and pressures. In the study dynamic uncertainty parameters that influence recovery of gas, condensate and production profile determination are considered. Model that can predict the recovery of gas was developed by the integration of experimental design, fluid characterization and reservoir compositional simulation. The research investigated a range of production strategies in gas cycling project using the predictive model to assess the effects of the reservoir and production parameters on recovery of gas and condensate. The best strategy was established from the optimal injection rate and the effective injective pressure. The work concluded that cycling is best started above dew point pressure. It also established the minimum injection pressure below which gas cycling is uneconomical.
Distinct Value Realisation from Pulsed Neutron Spectroscopy (PNS) and Subsurface Integration in a Mature Niger Delta field
Authors: Nduka Ezechukwu , Chinedu Anijekwu , Linus Nwoke , Nkonyeasua Oghene , Ezeike Emeka , Olayinka David
Published: July 2014

Understanding fluid dynamics is key in optimal well and reservoir management practices in brown fields. This is more apparent in strong water drive reservoirs where water shut-off (WSO), zone change, recompletion and work-over drilling are key well intervention activities usually carried out to optimize the production from these fields. Geologically, the structural architecture of these reservoirs makes it difficult to have uniform fluid movement with time as they are produced. In addition, the interpretation of Carbon/Oxygen (C/O) ratios as derived from Pulse Neutron Spectroscopy (PNS) logs in terms of hydrocarbon saturation is such that, a lot of variables can influence the outcome of the result. Water leg calibration, type of completion, and open hole log interpretation are some of the factors that can affect C/O interpretations negatively. PNS logs when combined with extensive subsurface data integration can become very useful in understanding fluid dynamics and optimization of intervention activities. This has been demonstrated recently in the X Field of SPDC.

The two case studies in this paper demonstrate how PNS data and subsurface integration has helped resolve both non-uniform flushing as well as interpretation problems usually associated with PNS logs. Significant cost savings of ca. USD0.5 mln and ca. 2000 bopb have been realized from optimizing the planned well intervention activities on these cases. The result and observation from the study is already being applied to de-risk other similar opportunities in the portfolio while still exploring further understanding to further improve the gains.
Confidence Check from Seal Capacity Analysis for Resource Volumes Estimation
Authors: Poon Becky B. , Itua Osazua J. , Wodu Ebimobowei K. , Horst Peter A.
Published: July 2014

For a green field, estimating fluid contacts can be challenging when there is large uncertainty due to the lack of fluid contact penetration by the appraisal wells, insufficient pressure data in oil or water legs, or ambiguous seismic amplitude shut off. For reserves booking, SEC Rule 4-10(a)(22) states that "In the absence of data on fluid contacts, proved quantities in a reservoir are limited by the lowest known hydrocarbons (LKH) as seen in a well penetration unless Geosciences, Engineering, or performance data and reliable technology establishes a lower contact with reasonable certainty." One way to ensure reasonable certainty conditions are met for contacts beyond LKH and to increase confidence for probable and possible fluid contacts that may be estimated using regional pressure trends is to analyze the seal capacity to check whether the seal would hold the hydrocarbon column associated with the proposed contacts.

There are two methods for testing seal capacity within the framework of a capillary pressure model. One method uses the capillary entry pressure for a sealing layer (Pseal) to compute the maximum hydrocarbon column (Hmax_seal) that a sealing layer (e.g. shale, silt, salt, anhydrite, etc.) can sustain without leaking. However, Pseal data are usually not available since such lab measurements are not typically made with the sealing layers. The other method uses the shale fracture pressure (Pfrac) estimated from a model that incorporates leak of pressure measurements across sealing layer to compute the Hmax_frac that the shale layer above the reservoir can sustain without fracturing.

This presentation is aimed at sharing the approach using fracture pressure to analyze seal capacity, establishing reasonable certainty associated with proposed fluid contacts. Application of this method will be shown using examples from a Deepwater Nigeria field.
Analysis of Injectivity Decline in Some Offshore Water Injectors
Authors: Dambani S. L. , Blunt M. J. , Tendo F. , Lawal K. A.
Published: July 2014

The challenges and risks relating to injectivity decline due to injection of particulate-laden water are well documented in the petroleum industry and elsewhere. Although different theories have been advanced to rationalize this problem, the modeling aspects remain largely unresolved, putting huge investments at risk. By combining the fractional-flow and deep-bed filtration (DBF) theories, this work formulates a new model for describing reservoir impairments due to suspension transport by injection water.

The critical settling velocity of the suspended particulates is determined from fractional-flow theory and used to create a condition at which particle settling will occur, dependent on its size. The particle settling velocity as obtained from Stokes law for laminar flow (NRe ≪1) is compared to the critical settling velocity, which is a function of the residence time of the particles, to obtain the optimum transported particle size profile in the formation. Furthermore, the average size of transportable particulates and their total volumes are then obtained and used to determine the volume of deposits which is in turn used to develop a new injectivity decline model for predicting permeability impairment due to the deposition of suspended particles in the porous media.

The resulting models are validated by analyzing reported dataset from two water injectors offshore Niger Delta. Overall, the results are reasonable as the impairment model rationalized available field dataset satisfactorily. The developed models should find relevance in the following field applications: (1) quantifying formation damage; (2) optimising water treatment facilities design; (3) implementing an effective and safe backflow operation.
Exception Based Monitoring of Oil and Gas pipelines using VTOL type-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
Authors: Idachaba Francis Enejo
Published: July 2014

The vast and diverse spread of the oil and gas pipeline infrastructure makes real-time monitoring of the entire network a very costly and impossible task. This topology has provided vandals and crude oil thieves with the opportunity of tapping the pipelines and successfully stealing crude oil from these lines unhindered. Nigeria lost over $11 billion to crude oil theft and pipeline vandalisation over a 4 year period (2007 to 2011). The increase in vandalisation has led to the divestment of assets by some of these oil companies as it is no longer economical to continue operating the assets. Strategies employed by the government and Oil companies to tackle these challenges include the deployment of military personnel to these assets and also along their pipeline right of way. In spite of this attempts, the results show that the deployment of these personnel and the attendant cost have not reduced the quantity and frequency of oil theft as the deployment time to some of these locations also contribute to delay in the response of the security personnel. The deployment of dynamic pipeline pressure profiles of enables the determination of the onset of a leak or a loss of crude oil. This paper presents the deployment plan and communication architecture of the Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) type of Unmanned Air Vehicles for pipeline monitoring. The pipeline network of the company is divided into wide area cells and each cell is controlled from a facility. Low power UAVs with directional antennas and long range zoom cameras are deployed to provide real-time visual monitoring of the pipeline section whenever a pressure drop or any significant third party activity is detected on section of the pipeline. Security personnel can then be deployed to the pipeline section if vandal activity is detected. This solution has the capability of reducing crude oil theft by providing accurate location data in a timely manner to the company with respect to the bunkering activity along its pipeline ROW and also enabling the timely deployment of personnel to contain the situation.
Pilot trial study of a compact macro-filtration membrane bioreactor process for saline wastewater treatment
Authors: Guan Dao , Fung W. C. , Lau Frankie , Deng Chao , Leung Anthony , Dai Ji , Chen G. H.
Published: July 2014

Conventional membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems have increasingly been studied in recent decades. However, their applications have been limited due to their drawbacks such as low flux, membrane fouling, and high operating cost. In this study, a compact macro-filtration MBR (MfMBR) process was developed by using a large pore size membrane to mitigate the membrane fouling problem. A pilot trial of MfMBR process was set up and operated to treat 10 m3/day of saline wastewater within 4 h. The system was operated under an average permeate flux of 13.1 m3/(m2·day) for 74 days. The average total suspended solids, total chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, and total nitrogen removal efficiencies achieved were 94.3, 83.1, 98.0, 93.1, and 63.3%, respectively, during steady-state operation. The confocal laser scanning microscopy image indicated that the backwash could effectively remove the bio-cake and dead bacteria. Thus, the results showed that the MfMBR process, which is essentially a primary wastewater treatment process, had the potential to yield the same high quality effluent standards as the secondary treatment process; thereby suggesting that it could be used as an option when the economic budget and/or land space is limited.
Removal of hazardous pharmaceutical dyes by adsorption onto papaya seeds
Authors: Weber Caroline Trevisan , Collazzo Gabriela Carvalho , Mazutti Marcio Antonio , Foletto Edson Luiz , Dotto Guilherme Luiz
Published: July 2014

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) seeds were used as adsorbent to remove toxic pharmaceutical dyes (tartrazine and amaranth) from aqueous solutions, in order to extend application range. The effects of pH, initial dye concentration, contact time and temperature were investigated. The kinetic data were evaluated by the pseudo first-order, pseudo second-order and Elovich models. The equilibrium was evaluated by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models. It was found that adsorption favored a pH of 2.5, temperature of 298 K and equilibrium was attained at 180–200 min. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo second-order model, and the equilibrium was well represented by the Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacities were 51.0 and 37.4 mg g−1 for tartrazine and amaranth, respectively. These results revealed that papaya seeds can be used as an alternative adsorbent to remove pharmaceutical dyes from aqueous solutions.
Increased Intraretinal PO2 in Short-Term Diabetic Rats
Authors: Lau Jennifer C.M. , Linsenmeier Robert A.
Published: July 2014

In diabetic retinopathy, neovascularization is hypothesized to develop due to hypoxia in the retina. However, evidence for retinal hypoxia is limited, and the progressive changes in oxygenation are unknown. The objective of this study was to determine if retinal hypoxia occurs early in the development of diabetes. Intraretinal oxygen (PO2) profiles were recorded with oxygen-sensitive microelectrodes in control and diabetic Long-Evans rats at 4 and 12 weeks after induction of diabetes. Diabetes did not affect oxygen consumption in the photoreceptors in either dark or light adaptation. Oxygenation of the inner retina was not affected after 4 weeks of diabetes, although vascular endothelial growth factor levels increased. At 12 weeks, average inner retinal PO2, normalized to choriocapillaris PO2, was higher in diabetic rats than in age-matched controls, which was opposite to what was expected. Thus retinal hypoxia is not a condition of early diabetes in rat retina. Increased inner retinal PO2 may occur because oxygen consumption decreases in the inner retina.
New Records of Lecanora for Bolivia. II
Authors: Śliwa Lucyna , Wilk Karina , Flakus Adam , Rodriguez Flakus Pamela
Published: July 2014

Members of the lichen genus Lecanora Ach. are important but still poorly known components of almost all vegetation types in Bolivia. In this paper, seven species new for Bolivia are presented: Lecanora bicincta Ramond, L. fulvastra Kremp., L. hagenii (Ach.) Ach., L. muralis (Schreb.) Rabenh., L. percrenata H. Magn., L. stramineoalbida Vain. and L. strobilina (Spreng.) Kieff. Their distributions are described and information on their diagnostic characters and chemistry is given
Prevalence of Ciprofloxacin Resistance among Gram-Negative Bacilli Isolated From Urinary Tract Infection Specimens at a Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Hossain Md. Afzal , Mohal Shirin , Islam Md. Saiful , Yusuf Mohammad Abdullah
Published: July 2014

Background: Susceptibility to fluoroquinolones is very important information before prescribing to the urinary tract infection (UTI) patients. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to see the sensitivity pattern of the Gram-Negative bacilli isolated from urinary tract infection to various antibiotics as well as to know the prevalence rate of Ciprofloxacin resistance. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted in a specialized hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from January2006 to June2006 for over a period of six months. The Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) were isolated from clinical specimens of UTIs and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed. Isolates with resistance or with a decreased susceptibility to Ciprofloxacin (20 mm) were than screened for their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by using the E-test. Results: Out of 510 GNB, 97(19%) isolates were resistant to Ciprofloxacin. The MIC of these isolates ranged from 4 to 32µg/ml. Most of the Ciprofloxacin resistant isolates were from urinary tract infections (UTI) of hospital patients both (indoor & outdoor). The Ciprofloxacin resistance was also closely associated with multi-drug resistance, thus limiting the treatment options. Conclusion: The considerably high MIC values for Ciprofloxacin in this study reflected the extent of the treatment problems for these resistant isolates.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jsf.v11i1.19395
Biotransformation and in Vitro Metabolic Profile of Bioactive Extracts from a Traditional Miao-Nationality Herbal Medicine, Polygonum capitatum
Authors: He Chi-Yu , Fu Jie , Ma Jing-Yi , Feng Ru , Tan Xiang-Shan , Huang Min , Shou Jia-Wen , Zhao Zhen-Xiong , Li Xiao-Yang , Zhang Xian-Feng , Chen Yangchao , Wang Yan
Published: July 2014

Polygonum capitatum Buch.-Ham.ex D. Don, a traditional Miao-nationality herbal medicine, has been widely used in the treatment of various urologic disorders. Recent pharmacological studies demonstrated that a pure compound, FR429, isolated from the ethanol extracts of P. capitatum could selectively inhibit the growth of four hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, P. capitatum probably exhibits potential antitumor activity. However, there is very little information on the metabolism of substances present in P. capitatum extracts. In this study, gallic acid, quercetrin, ethanol extracts and ethyl acetate fraction of ethnolic extract (EtOAc fraction) of P. capitatum were cultured anaerobically with rat intestinal bacteria. A highly sensitive and selective liquid chromatography electrospray ionization-ion trap-time of fight mass spectrometry (LC/MSn-IT-TOF) technique was employed to identify and characterize the resulting metabolites. A total of 22 metabolites (M1–M22), including tannins, phenolic acids and flavonoids, were detected and characterized. The overall results demonstrated that the intestinal bacteria played an important role in the metabolism of P. capitatum, and the main metabolic pathways were hydrolysis, reduction and oxidation reactions. Our results provided a basis for the estimation of the metabolic transformation of P. capitatum in vivo.
Between Buddhism and Science, Between Mind and Body
Authors: Samuel Geoffrey
Published: July 2014

Buddhism has been seen, at least since the Theravāda reform movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as particularly compatible with Western science. The recent explosion of Mindfulness therapies have strengthened this perception. However, the 'Buddhism' which is being brought into relation with science in the context of the Mindfulness movement has already undergone extensive rewriting under modernist influences, and many of the more critical aspects of Buddhist thought and practice are dismissed or ignored. The Mind and Life Institute encounters, under the patronage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, present a different kind of dialogue, in which a Tibetan Buddhism which is only beginning to undergo modernist rewriting confronts Western scientists and scholars on more equal terms. However, is the highly sophisticated but radically other world of Tantric thought really compatible with contemporary science? In this article I look at problem areas within the dialogue, and suggest that genuine progress is most likely to come if we recognise the differences between Buddhist thought and contemporary science, and take them as an opportunity to rethink scientific assumptions.
Ecological specialization in Trebouxia (Trebouxiophyceae) photobionts of Ramalina menziesii (Ramalinaceae) across six range‐covering ecoregions of western North America
Authors: Werth Silke , Sork Victoria L.
Published: July 2014

• Premise of the study: Many lichens exhibit extensive ranges spanning several ecoregions. It has been hypothesized that this wide ecological amplitude is facilitated by fungal association with locally adapted photobiont strains.

• Methods: We studied the identity and geographic distribution of photobionts of the widely distributed North American lichen Ramalina menziesii based on rbcL (chloroplast DNA) and nuclear ribosomal ITS DNA sequences. To test for ecological specialization, we associate photobiont genotypes with local climate and phorophyte.

• Key results: Of the photobiont lineages of R. menziesii, 94% belong to a clade including Trebouxia decolorans. The remaining are related to T. jamesii. The photobionts showed (1) significant structure according to ecoregion and phorophyte species and (2) genetic associations with phorophyte species and climate.

• Conclusions: Geography, climate, and ecological specialization shape genetic differentiation of lichen photobionts. One great advantage of independent dispersal of the fungus is symbiotic association with locally adapted photobiont strains.
Habitat fragmentation threatens wild populations of Carica papaya (Caricaceae) in a lowland rainforest
Authors: Chávez‐Pesqueira Mariana , Suárez‐Montes Pilar , Castillo Guillermo , Núñez‐Farfán Juan
Published: July 2014

• Premise of the study: Wild populations of domesticated species constitute a genetic reservoir and are fundamental to the evolutionary potential of species. Wild papaya (Carica papaya) is a rare, short‐lived, gap‐colonizing, dioecious tree that persists in the forest by continuous dispersal. Theoretically, these life‐history characteristics render wild papaya highly susceptible to habitat fragmentation, with anticipated negative effects on its gene pool. Further, species dioecy may cause founder effects to generate local biases in sex ratio, decreasing effective population size.

• Methods: We contrasted the genetic diversity and structure of C. papaya between wild populations from rainforest fragments and continuous forest at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. We evaluated recent migration rates among populations as well as landscape resistance to gene flow. Finally, we calculated the sex ratio of the populations in both habitats.

• Key results: Populations of wild papaya in rainforest fragments showed lower genetic diversity and higher population differentiation than populations in continuous rainforest. Estimates of recent migration rates showed a higher percentage of migrants moving from the continuous forest to the forest fragments than in the opposite direction. Agricultural land and cattle pasture were found to be the most resistant matrices to gene flow. Finally, biased sex ratios were seen to affect the effective population size in both habitats.

• Conclusions: The mating system, rarity, and short life cycle of C. papaya are exacerbating the effects of rainforest fragmentation on its genetic diversity, threatening the persistence of its natural populations in the proposed place of origin as well as its genetic reservoir.
Phylogeny and historical biogeography of the lastreopsid ferns (Dryopteridaceae)
Authors: Labiak Paulo H. , Sundue Michael , Rouhan Germinal , Hanks Judith G. , Mickel John T. , Moran Robbin C.
Published: July 2014

• Premise of the study: As currently circumscribed, Lastreopsis has about 45 species and occurs in Australia, southern Asia, Africa, Madagascar, and the neotropics. Previous molecular phylogenetic studies suggested that Lastreopsis is paraphyletic. Our study focuses on resolving relationships among the lastreopsid ferns (Lastreopsis, Megalastrum, and Rumohra), the evolution of morphological characters, and an understanding of the temporal and spatial patterns that have led to the current diversity and geographical distribution of its extant species.

• Methods: Phylogenetic relationships were recovered under Bayesian, maximum likelihood, and maximum parsimony methods, using a data set of four plastid markers. Divergence time estimates were made using BEAST, and the biogeographic hypotheses were tested under the DEC model and the RASP/S‐DIVA methods.

• Key results: Lastreopsis was recovered as paraphyletic, and at least one of its clades should be recognized as a distinct genus, Parapolystichum. Coveniella poecilophlebia and Oenotrichia tripinnata were nested within Lastreopsis s.s., Megalastrum and Rumohra as sister to the Lastreopsis s.s., and the Lastreopsis amplissima clades. The initial diversification of the lastreopsids took place at about 56.55 Ma, from a neotropical ancestor.

• Conclusions: Taxonomic recognition of Parapolystichum is warranted to preserve the monophyly of Lastreopsis. Diversification among the main clades of the lastreopsid ferns was influenced by climatic and geological changes in the southern hemisphere. The biogeographic history of the group is intimately related to the trans‐Antarctic corridor between Australia and South America, with evidence for multiple lineage interchanges between Australia and South America during the Oligocene and the Eocene epochs.
Roles of maternal effects and nuclear genetic composition change across the life cycle of crop–wild hybrids
Authors: Alexander Helen M. , Emry D. Jason , Pace Brian A. , Kost Matthew A. , Sparks Kathryn A. , Mercer Kristin L.
Published: July 2014

• Premise of the study: The fitness of an offspring may depend on its nuclear genetic composition (via both parental genotypes) as well as on genetic maternal effects (via only the maternal parent). Understanding the relative importance of these two genetic factors is particularly important for research on crop–wild hybridization, since traits with important genetic maternal effects (e.g., seed size) often differ among crops and their relatives. We hypothesized that the effects of these genetic factors on fitness components would change across the life cycle of hybrids.

• Methods: We followed seed, plant size, and reproductive traits in field experiments with wild and four crop–wild hybrids of sunflower (Helianthus annuus), which differed in nuclear genetic composition and maternal parent (wild or F1 hybrid).

• Key results: We identified strong genetic maternal effects for early life cycle characteristics, with seeds produced on an F1 mother having premature germination, negligible seed dormancy, and greater seedling size. Increased percentages of crop alleles also increased premature germination and reduced dormancy in seeds produced on a wild mother. For mature plants, nuclear genetic composition dominated: greater percentages of crop alleles reduced height, branching, and fecundity.

• Conclusions: Particular backcrosses between hybrids and wilds may differentially facilitate movement of crop alleles into wild populations due to their specific features. For example, backcross seeds produced on wild mothers can persist in the seed bank, illustrating the importance of genetic maternal effects, whereas backcross individuals with either wild or F1 mothers have high fecundity, resulting from their wild‐like nuclear genetic composition.
Hydration history and attachment morphology regulate seed release in Chorizanthe rigida (Polygonaceae), a serotinous desert annual
Authors: Martínez‐Berdeja Alejandra , Torres Mauricio , Altshuler Douglas L. , Ezcurra Exequiel
Published: July 2014

• Premise of the study: Most seed dispersal studies focus on the spatial aspects of propagule dissemination, i.e., the movement of seeds away from the mother plant. However, the timing of seed release can also be a critical variable influencing the probability of seedling survival. We used a biomechanical approach to analyze seed release in Chorizanthe rigida, a serotinous desert annual, to understand the adaptive significance of seed retention in this species.

• Methods: We performed pull‐to‐break tests on individual propagules (i.e., involucres and achene) from newly developed and older plants, under dry and wet conditions, and recorded the breaking force. We measured the involucral base area using digital images and image processing software.

• Key results: There is a positive correlation between the force required to detach an involucre and the size of its base area. The force required to detach involucres from soaked and older plants was lower than that for dry and new plants. This pattern provides a mechanism for the plant to regulate the number of involucres released in different rain events.

• Conclusions: Seed release in C. rigida is mediated by propagule morphology, rainfall conditions, and age of the dry plant. These factors allow this species to cope with desert environmental variability by influencing the timing and number of seeds released.
High but variable outcrossing rates in the invasive Geranium carolinianum (Geraniaceae)
Authors: Shirk Rebecca Y. , Hamrick J. L.
Published: July 2014

• Premise of the study: Mating system plays an important role in population establishment and persistence, maintenance of genetic variation, and adaptive ability, especially for invasive species that colonize new environments to which they may be poorly adapted. In mixed‐mating species, population differences in self‐fertilization rates often arise due to variation in local ecological conditions (e.g., pollinator or mate availability) or genetic variation in traits promoting selfing or outcrossing. Knowledge of how and why selfing rates vary can help us understand how populations respond to different environments, how this affects patterns of genetic variation, and the role of mating systems in biological invasions.

• Methods: We determined outcrossing rates in invasive (China) and native (US) populations of the weedy annual Geranium carolinianum in natural populations and an open‐pollinated common garden to answer the following questions: To what extent do populations vary in mating system? Do invasive populations differ from native populations? Is interpopulation variation in mating system under genetic control?

• Key results: Despite having many characteristics of selfing species, we found high variation in outcrossing rates (tm from 0.1 to 1.0) resulting from both environmental and genetic variation. Outcrossing rates were generally high and plastic in the Chinese populations.

• Conclusions: A delayed selfing mechanism provides reproductive assurance while allowing facultative outcrossing when mates are not limiting. In invasive populations, high outcrossing rates were facilitated by large admixed founding populations, promoting local adaptation and the maintenance of genetic diversity.
Phylogenetic placement, species delimitation, and cyanobiont identity of endangered aquatic Peltigera species (lichen‐forming Ascomycota, Lecanoromycetes)
Authors: Miadlikowska Jolanta , Richardson David , Magain Nicolas , Ball Bernard , Anderson Frances , Cameron Robert , Lendemer James , Truong Camille , Lutzoni François
Published: July 2014

• Premise of this study: Aquatic cyanolichens from the genus Peltigera section Hydrothyriae are subject to anthropogenic threats and, therefore, are considered endangered. In this study we addressed the phylogenetic placement of section Hydrothyriae within Peltigera. We delimited species within the section and identified their symbiotic cyanobacteria.

• Methods: Species delimitation and population structure were explored using monophyly as a grouping criterion (RAxML) and Structurama based on three protein‐coding genes in combination with two nuclear ribosomal loci. The 16S and rbcLX sequences for the cyanobionts were analyzed in the broad phylogenetic context of free‐living and symbiotic cyanobacteria.

• Key results: We confirm with high confidence the placement of section Hydrothyriae within the monophyletic genus Peltigera; however, its phylogenetic position within the genus remains unsettled. We recovered three distinct monophyletic groups corresponding to three species: P. hydrothyria, P. gowardii s.s., and P. aquatica Miadl. & Lendemer, the latter being formally introduced here. Each species was associated with an exclusive set of Nostoc haplotypes.

• Conclusions: The ITS region alone provides sufficient genetic information to distinguish the three morphologically cryptic species within section Hydrothyriae. Section Hydrothyriae seems to be associated with a monophyletic lineage of Nostoc, that has not been found in symbiotic association with other members of Peltigera. Capsosira lowei should be transferred to the genus Nostoc. Potential threats to P. aquatica should be re‐examined based on the recognition of two aquatic species in western North America.
Vivre par le sport, ou comment devenir soi
Authors: Houssier Florian
Published: July 2014

Entre fétichisation du corps devenu un repère de la valeur du sujet et maintien du jeu comme modalité d’obtention de satisfactions narcissiques et libidinales, le sport est devenu une source d’investissement à la croisée du sujet, du social et du politique. À partir de la biographie d’Andre Agassi, célèbre joueur de tennis des années 1990, nous explorons les divers aspects de l’emprise parentale – ici un père – sur le destin psychique d’un sportif de haut niveau.
Les vicissitudes de l'identification héroïque
Authors: Birraux Annie
Published: July 2014

L’auteur s’interroge sur le devenir du travail identificatoire dans la formation des sportifs de haut niveau et en particulier dans les disciplines où le but à atteindre est de devenir un objet monnayable. Article qui inscrit ce problème dans un contexte économique fétichiste où l’appropriation du corps psychique demeure un exploit.
« Plonger dans mon corps ! » : les immersions sensorielles des sports adolescents
Authors: Andrieu Bernard
Published: July 2014

L’adolescent a-t-il le choix aujourd’hui de ne pas s’immerger dans son corps et dans le corps des autres pour ressentir son existence et se faire reconnaître ? Au XXI e siècle, l’adolescent hypermoderne doit prendre le risque d’incarner plusieurs corps devant la nécessité de construire son existence, non sans danger identitaire.
Des forçats de la gloire ou la passion de l'extrême
Authors: Morhain Yves , Morhain Émilie
Published: July 2014

À travers l’étude d’un cas, les auteurs interrogent la pratique sportive de haut niveau de jeunes « forçats de la gloire » dont l’accès à une position de démiurge passe par le déni des limites et le fantasme de toute-puissance. Lorsque le réel du corps et des blessures fait irruption, ces champions formulent d’abord une demande de restauration de leur « appareil à performance », qui chemine progressivement jusqu’à permettre l’ouverture de leur monde interne et l’émergence d’une conflictualité antérieure complexe.
Le sport, un objet culturel ?
Authors: Petit Laetitia
Published: July 2014

Parmi les activités supposées culturelles, le sport a été récupéré comme un objet de culture et d’éducation. La pratique sportive, qu’elle soit intensive, de compétition ou de (re)mise en forme, est un rejeton du surmoi culturel et représente le paradigme d’un phénomène plus général : la sévérité surmoïque culturelle. Ainsi, la solution sportive comme réponse au passage adolescent peut représenter une alternative exemplaire pour éviter le processus adolescent, en ce qu’elle colmate, plus ou moins efficacement, toute tension liée au trauma de cette rencontre sexuelle.
Représentations de buts
Authors: Cornalba Vincent
Published: July 2014

La construction des représentations procède à la fois de l’influence de représentations-but, formées pour certaines dans l’enfance, et d’une transformation consécutive aux expériences passées, actuelles et à venir. L’inscription de l’adolescent sous l’ordre du génital provoque une renégociation de ces représentations, qui se manifeste dans l’œuvre de projet, tel qu’il se présente à lui. Le cadre thérapeutique peut signifier l’importance de l’instauration d’une matrice qui promeut ce travail de reprise par la pensée. Certains épisodes de la vie de Messi, footballeur de renom, servent de fil rouge à cette étude.
Le masochisme dans le tennis de haut niveau
Authors: Maurissen Sophie
Published: July 2014

À partir de notre expérience clinique dans le domaine du tennis de haut niveau, nous interrogeons le rapport à l’érotisme et à l’auto-érotisme chez des joueurs adolescents à travers certains mouvements corporels et musculaires répétés et parfois associés à une douleur physique et morale, afin de démontrer le caractère du masochisme féminin présent dans cette pratique sportive intensive. Pour éclairer la relation à ce type de masochisme théorisé par Freud dès 1924, nous tentons d’établir une distinction entre la jouissance et le plaisir qui peuvent être ressentis par le joueur adolescent dans la pratique du tennis de haut niveau.
Entre emprise paternelle et attachement incestuel : championnes sous influence
Authors: Proia Stéphane
Published: July 2014

À contre-courant de la pensée freudienne qui convoque les excès maternels dans la relation mère-fille, ce travail démontre en quoi il est pertinent de parler d’emprise paternelle dans les cas où l’exigence absolue de l’excellence aménage un système clos au service d’un projet sportif. Une des conséquences de la contrainte intériorisée à devenir une championne est le gel de la métamorphose adolescente. L’exemple du tennis où la fréquence des duos père/fille est remarquable, est ici retenu.
Sport et psychothérapie phénoménologique
Authors: Leroy-Viémon Brigitte , Decocq Frédérique , Chamond Jeanine , Gal Corinne
Published: July 2014

À partir d’une étude de cas, les auteurs montrent la valeur opératoire d’un dispositif thérapeutique psycho-phénoménologique articulant une instance phénoménologique, où s’élabore un travail enactif du processus originaire par et dans le mouvement, et une instance psychanalytique où s’effectue la mise en représentation des processus primaire et secondaire. Cette proposition psychothérapique permet à l’adolescent, enfermé dans des passages à l’acte, une métabolisation originale de son agressivité.
Ronde de Capoeira : jouons (la violence) camarade !
Authors: Karsenty Laura
Published: July 2014

Cet article propose d’aborder la Capoeira, art afro-brésilien entre lutte et danse, en lien avec le processus adolescent. La singularité de cette activité et de son dispositif, la Roda (ronde), met en jeu de façon particulière : le corps, une possible sublimation de la violence et une proposition de rencontre narcissique et objectale à l’intérieur d’un cadre contenant. Ce jeu corporel créatif s’articule avec la vie pulsionnelle adolescente. Il pourrait être développé comme médiation thérapeutique intéressante en soutenant le travail de subjectivation : il s’agirait de proposer à ces adolescents d’agir leur violence pubertaire en passant par le jeu.
La rencontre dansée : effets de symbolisation d'un atelier thérapeutique
Authors: Paul Anne-Marie
Published: July 2014

La description d’un groupe thérapeutique à médiation danse et écriture, en hôpital de jour, montre comment des traces mnésiques non symbolisées émergent et se transforment à travers l’associativité groupale, corporelle et verbale. Sont ainsi créées de nouvelles représentations du corps et des origines, vectrices de subjectivation.
La souillure, l'informe et l'idéal. L'analité dans l'obésité adolescente
Authors: Vargioni Jacques
Published: July 2014

Cet article montre la place centrale de l’analité dans l’apparition, la disparition et les transformations de l’obésité à l’adolescence. Pour Danièle, un fantasme de fécalisation du Moi-corps entache gravement le narcissisme et l’idéal du Moi adolescent, et obstruela bonne intégration de l’analité au sein du Moi féminin. À l’inverse pour Camille, une sphinctérisation fantasmatique a minima du Moi permet une sortie bien tempérée de l’obésité et de l’informe mélancolique.
La nuit au Parc des Princes ...
Authors: Tassel Anne
Published: July 2014

La série des tableaux « Les footballeurs » modifie chez Nicolas de Staël sa façon de peindre en prenant appui sur la toile, générant chez lui le souci de représenter une expérience présente qui « peine » à prendre forme. Ce tournant pictural peut s’interpréter comme la traduction de la tension adolescente qui cherche à se tenir au plus près de la forme vitale de l’expérience et qui s’en trouve effacée dès qu’elle a pris corps.
China and the EU to Lead International Efforts on Climate Change Mitigation
Authors: Ma Junjie
Published: July 2014

Le changement climatique est un défi international pour l’humanité tout entière. En tant que plus grands émetteurs de gaz à effet de serre, mais également partisans des systèmes les plus avancés d’échange de quotas d’émission, la Chine et l’Union européenne pèsent lourdement sur les efforts internationaux de limitation du changement climatique. Cet article compare les systèmes d’échange de quotas d’émissions de l’UE et de la Chine, à partir de trois dimensions : les motivations et l’évolution, la conception, et les enjeux et opportunités pour la coopération Chine-UE. Il fait valoir que les systèmes chinois et européens ont varié en fonction de la centralisation du pouvoir et les quotas d’émission, et que ces différences peuvent être le terrain pour un échange d’informations pour de meilleures pratiques. Il explore également les différences structurelles et les similarités entre les deux systèmes afin de mettre en valeur la possibilité de leur amélioration et d’information sur les risques potentiels.
China, Still an Unknown Giant?
Authors: Marhold Hartmut
Published: July 2014

La montée de la Chine a suscité d’innombrables articles et livres en Occident, qui reflètent l’inquiétude aussi bien que l’admiration, et parfois même le désir d’approfondir notre compréhension pour ce géant oriental qui se redresse. Cet article propose un survol d’efforts symptomatiques d’intégrer la Chine dans notre perception – celle de l’Occident – du monde du xxi e  siècle. On y trouve des sceptiques, qui mettent l’accent sur les dangers d’un système de valeurs étranger à nous, ainsi que sur l’instabilité du système politique et social ; d’autres positions reflètent plus de confiance dans la capacité d’adaptation et d’évolution des élites et structures chinoises – et l’étendue des interprétations divergentes est particulièrement grande dans ce cas. Enfin, un des défis les plus excitants est une comparaison entre l’Est et l’Ouest dans le long terme, ce que Ian Morris a entrepris ; sa contribution mérite une attention spécifique.
La diplomatie économique, « nouvelle frontière » de la politique française
Authors: Carrère Jean-Louis
Published: July 2014

Le Gouvernement est pleinement mobilisé pour gagner la bataille de l’emploi ; la diplomatie doit naturellement être mise au service de ce combat, qui se mène à l’intérieur comme à l’extérieur. La mondialisation n’est pas qu’une machine à détruire l’emploi industriel et à favoriser le « dumping » environnemental et social. Avec la montée de classes moyennes de plus en plus nombreuses en Asie et en Afrique, les entreprises françaises ont beaucoup d’atouts à faire valoir. À nous de conquérir ces marchés et défendre nos intérêts, en exigeant la réciprocité. L’Europe ouverte, oui, l’Europe offerte, non ! La priorité à l’économie fait aujourd’hui consensus en France. Pour autant, l’économie ne saurait être le seul horizon de notre diplomatie. La France, membre permanent du Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies, porte une parole qui dépasse le cercle strict de ses intérêts propres. La diplomatie française se détermine sur des critères politiques, au sens le plus noble du terme. Notre offre économique peut, à l’inverse, servir nos objectifs diplomatiques - pour promouvoir une croissance plus verte par exemple. Mais sans développement économique, les fondements mêmes de notre puissance seraient fragilisés à terme. L’enjeu économique est donc aussi un enjeu de puissance et d’influence.