bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Poland Twenty Years With Market Economy
Authors: Jacobsen Gorm
Published: March 2016

This article presents the main factors behind the developement of the Polish economy since the introduction of a market economy twenty years ago. First there is a decription of how the privatisation process actually took place. Then is followed by some information about the development of a financial market, i.e. the banking sector. At the end there is a summary of some of the main factors behind the huge inflow of foreign investments to Poland during this period.
The Role Of The Business Sector In Promoting A Greener Future
Authors: Ristovska Milena
Published: March 2016

The problem with environmental degradation has been one of the main issues both social and political in recent times. Major reasons for the environmental pollution that companies produce are mainly contributed to the market inefficiency which calls for an immediate action in this field. Nowadays the environmental revolution is gaining a greater intensity and there has been a significant change in how companies do business. And, as the demands placed upon industry to improve its environmental performance are likely to grow even further, not only is it ethical for a company to improve its environmental performance rather, it is sound business practice. Entrepreneurs and administrators are increasingly putting efforts in the incorporation of the environmental variable in their strategic planning, aiming at the more rational use of natural resources. As ecologically responsive organisations, companies are increasingly adopting a set of corporate initiatives aimed at mitigating a firm's impact on the natural environment, the initiatives that reduce the firm's “ecological footprints”. The initiatives could include changes to the firm's products, processes, and policies, such as reducing energy consumption and waste generation, using ecologically sustainable resources, and implementing an environmental management system. Overall, an environmental management system which embeds the concept of sustainable development into the processes of production and supply of goods and services is efficiently and effectively implemented and functioning if there are different mechanisms that efficiently and effectively combine the technological process, economic and business growth and sustainability. Such a system that is integrated into the organisation’s global management system, strongly contributes to its competitiveness and corporate and brand image.
Improving Entrepreneurship In Nigerias Emerging Economy
Authors: Onifade Adewale
Published: March 2016

Employment is a cure for unemployment and its attendant vices like armed robbery, corruption, forgery, internet fraud, and drug trafficking. An “idle mind is the devil’s workshop”, so says a popular adage. There is increasing unemployment due to too much emphasis on liberal education devoid of vocational and entrepreneurship education and increasing population. Although Nigerian governments try to promote entrepreneurship by making policies regarding funding of businesses, providing enabling infrastructure, implementation of the policies is nothing to write home about because corruption has led to the abandonment of contracts on electricity supply and means of transportation. If the government is to achieve its dream of making Nigeria one of the 20 greatest economies of the world, it should improve electricity, road and railway transportation systems, security, and  reduce the cost of communication and entrepreneurship development which is newly introduced at all levels of its educational system.
Applying Moral Development Literature And Ethical Theories To The Administration Of Taxes In Kosovo
Authors: Campbell William C. , Cavico Frank J. , Pellet Pedro F. , Mujtaba Bahaudin G.
Published: March 2016

The population of Kosovo had suffered years of abuse, ethnic cleansing, turmoil, human atrocities, and constant conflict - the results of which plunged Kosovo into costly war. Following the war Kosovo was placed under the protection of the United Nations in 1999. Kosovo received many years of support and developmental assistance from the international community and became a sovereign nation in February 2008. It was very important for Kosovo’s government to serve the needs of the people without continued oversight and intervention by the United Nations. Public institutions are vital to the success of the government. There is no institution more important to the successful development of a sovereign nation and their economy than the ethical administration of a tax authority. In the spring of 2008, after Kosovo’s declaration of independence, this study was initiated to determine the moral maturity of the members of the Tax Authority of Kosovo. This study provides a review of the current situation in Kosovo and discusses ethical considerations in tax administration. The paper further provides a comprehensive discussion of ethical concerns and discusses the importance of moral development in the tax administration of Kosovo. Recommendations for managers and future research are presented.
A expressão do real: estética e hermenêutica das imagens
Authors: Almeida Rogério de , Beccari Marcos
Published: March 2016

O objetivo deste artigo é explorar a relação de complementaridade entre o real e o imaginário, com foco no aspecto estético-hermenêutico que constitui a expressividade das imagens. Partimos da problematização do estatuto epistemológico da imagem no pensamento ocidental, recorrendo a autores (Durand e Rosset) que privilegiam a imagem como expressão do real. Por fim, discutirmos a prevalência da “imagem estética”, por meio da qual o mundo explicita-se como aparência de mundo no cenário contemporâneo. Por este caminho, propomos uma abordagem da imagem que possa abranger a intensidade dos fluxos afetivos e, ao mesmo tempo, a pluralidade das interpretações.
Políticas do imaginário: História, educação e cultura visual
Authors: Honorato Cayo
Published: March 2016

Neste texto, repasso algumas questões do livro A guerra das imagens (1990), do historiador Serge Gruzinski, enfatizando o caráter contraprodutivo das visualidades indígenas em relação às imagens cristãs. Mas, principalmente, proponho que essa leitura seja considerada em um contexto particular de problemas, que diz respeito às narrativas do ensino da arte que trabalham a partir das premissas de uma virada pictorial (Mitchell); qual seja: o de um domínio da visão pelas imagens e de um déficit de historicidade das visualidades.
Disrupção subjetiva e crítica social: surrealismo e imagens de pensamento benjaminianas
Authors: Machado Francisco de Ambrosis Pinheiro
Published: March 2016

A vanguarda surrealista, em suas manifestações literárias e artísticas dos anos 1920, explorava as imagens de caráter disruptivo como uma forma de transformar a arte e a vida cotidiana. Influenciado pelos surrealistas, Walter Benjamin, em seu livro Rua de mão única, publicado em 1928, elaborou um diagnóstico crítico de seu presente histórico e apontou o caminho para uma possível transformação do mesmo, explorando uma forma filosófico-literária que denominou imagem de pensamento (Denkbild). Pressupondo a fundamental influência do surrealismo nesta e em toda a obra posterior de Benjamin, o presente artigo, não obstante, tem como objetivo apresentar brevemente algumas diferenças importantes entre estas posturas, a saber: que as imagens de pensamento benjaminianas abordam de modo mais radical o vínculo das experiências disruptivas subjetivas com uma dimensão coletiva, histórica e social. A diferenciação destes dois casos de revalorização filosófica da imagem traz elementos importantes para se pensar o papel da imagem na educação e em que medida a própria imagem pode abrir espaço a uma crítica da sociedade do espetáculo e das mídias de massa em que vivemos.
Imagens em movimento e representações: desembrulhando imaginários coloniais
Authors: Pires Ema , Esperança Eduardo
Published: March 2016

Este texto explora a relação entre imagens em movimento e suas formas de representação. Partindo do diálogo entre os campos da antropologia e da sociologia, contribuímos para a discussão acerca da conexão entre imagens, suas formas de representar e educação, através de um exercício de desconstrução crítica de imaginários coloniais. Propomos em seguida uma reflexão localizada em Heidegger, no modo como este observa o trabalho de Kant na Crítica da Razão Pura, particularmente no que ao representar da imagem diz respeito.
State based factors affecting inward FDI employment in the U.S. Economy
Authors: Kornecki Lucyna , Ekanayake E. M. Ekanayake
Published: March 2016

This empirical research investigates state based factors affecting the inward FDI employment among fifty states of the United States, uses annual data for the period of time from 1997 to 2007 and identifies several state-specific determinants of FDI employment. The results indicate that the major factors exerting positive impact on inward US FDI employment are: real wages, infrastructure, unionization level, educational attainment, FDI stock and manufacturing density. In addition, the results show that gross state product growth rate, real per capita taxes and share of scientists and engineers have negative impact on FDI employment. Our findings indicate the importance of selected variables in evaluating the effects of FDI flow
The introduction of corporate governance codes in a transitional economy and its impact on compliance with mandatory disclosures
Authors: Hassaan Marwa
Published: March 2016

This study aims to investigate the influence of the introduction of a corporate governance code in 2005 on the levels of compliance with mandatory IFRSs disclosure requirements by companies listed on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) as a leading stock exchange in the Middle East. Using a disclosure index derived from mandatory IFRSs disclosure requirements for the fiscal year 2007, this study measures the levels of compliance by a sample of 75 non-financial companies listed on the focus stock exchange. This study extends the financial reporting literature and the emerging markets disclosure literature by being the first to investigate the influence of corporate governance requirements for best practices on the levels of compliance with mandatory IFRSs disclosure requirements by companies listed on the EGX. Results provide evidence of the lack of influence of corporate governance best practices on the levels of compliance with mandatory IFRSs disclosure requirements as it is not yet part of the cultural values within the Egyptian context. These findings are consistent with the notions of the proposed theoretical foundation.
Policies and Institutional Supports for Women Entrepreneurship Development in Bangladesh: Achievements and Challenges
Authors: Chowdhury Solaiman , Rabbani Golam
Published: March 2016

Women’s entrepreneurship is important for women’s position in society, and for economic development of a country. Many scholars pointed out that women faces diverse challenges in doing business in a patriarchal society like Bangladesh. Women are now involved in economic activities than in the past, women constitute around 10 percent of the country's total business entrepreneurs. The present study is an effort to find out the factors which act as pull and push factors to engage women in entrepreneurship development in Bangladesh. In this study mixed method approach has been chosen. To attain the objective of the research researchers relied solely on the secondary sources. The study revealed that Government agencies provide policy, legal and financial support with active support from non-State actors. On the contrary, they do not get proper support from all relevant institutions because of corruption and lack of information. It is suggested that combined initiatives of Government and non- government institutions will be successful in meeting the needs of business women in Bangladesh.
The Volatile Effect of Conflict Risk on Foreign Investment
Authors: Hacioglu Umit , Dincer Hasan , Celik Ismail
Published: March 2016

The opportunities of investment brought along by the global economic integrity might turn into a threat in an instant and undermine the underlying structures of national economies. It is necessary to analyze the conflict risk properly in terms of both portfolio investment and finance strategies. This is an important step to be included in the process of arriving to a rational decision. In that way, the existing investment risks could be priced more efficiently. It is proved on Collier and Starr models that there is a correlation between the conflict risk and unemployment, economic recession, inflation and fiscal discipline. In brief, the breakdown in the economic parameters increases the conflict risk and a progress occurring in the opposite way, decreases that risk. In this study, it is discussed the effects of the conflict risk for foreign investment availabilities.
Lean Production Applications in a Manufacturing Company
Authors: Gorener Ali , Baser Humeyra , Türkyılmaz Ali
Published: March 2016

Lean production is a production model which comes about the pursuit of companies to be able to meet competition and make effective production. The main purpose of lean production is to get control about the wastage. This study includes the requirements for the success of the lean production and how the lean production system can be established. In this paper, lean production techniques were applied to the electric water heater line. Measurements using lean initiatives were made, operation cycle times were determined, and Kaizen improvement methods and line balancing methods were applied according to the results. And the last section of study showed conclusion of lean implementation.
Investigation of the Factors Influencing Family Functions Style
Authors: Copur Zeynep , Aydiner Boylu Ayfer , Oztop Hulya
Published: March 2016

The purpose of this study is to explore the factors which affect the family functions. Participants of this study consisted of married employees with children at the Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey. The sample size is determined using a random sampling method (n = 551). In this research, family functioning style scale, support functions scale, and family needs scale developed by Dunst, Trivette and Deal (1988) used as well as the socio-economic data such as age, gender, level of education, number of children, and the income level. The majority (64.6%) of the sample was men, 35.4% were women. The ages of the participants ranged from 23-65 years (M = 39.76 years, SD =6.98). More than half of were college or more degree (57.0%) and 43.0% had high school or less graduates. Results of means comparisons showed significant differences on the family functioning style by working hours and working status. Regression analysis results suggested significant relationships exist among emotional support and agency support and family functioning style when controlling for socioeconomic variables.
The Limitations of Using the Existing TAM in Adoption of Clinical Decision Support System in Hospitals
Authors: Emaeilzadeh Pouyan , Sambasivan Murali , Nezakati Hossein
Published: March 2016

The technology acceptance model (TAM) has been widely used to study user acceptance of new computer technologies. Previous studies claimed that future technology acceptance research should explore other additional explanatory variables, which may affect the originally proposed constructs of the TAM. The use of information technology in the health care sector and especially in hospitals offers great potential for improving the performance of physicians, increasing the quality of services and also reducing the organizational expenses. However, the main challenge that arises according to the literature is whether healthcare professionals are willing to adopt and use clinical information technology while performing their tasks. Although adoption of various information technologies has been studied using the technology acceptance model (TAM), the study of technology acceptance for professional groups (such as physicians) has been limited. Physician adoption of clinical information technology is important for its successful implementation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to gain a better insight about factors affecting physicians’ acceptance of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) in a hospital setting. The results reflect the importance of perceived threat to professional autonomy, perceived interactivity with clinical IT, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use in determining physicians’ intention to use CDSS.
A Field Research on Organizational Learning, Crisis Management Capability and Firm Performance
Authors: Yavuz Mahmut , Zehir Cemal
Published: March 2016

Turkey has experienced a series of crises in 1994, 1999 and 2001, which induced remarkable damage in Turkish economy. Thus crisis management has been the main topic in Turkish agenda so many years. Besides crisis management, organizational learning also has been focused as an affective crisis management mean. Crisis preparedness process which is a part of crisis management is vital for any organization’s existence because the emergence of crises is inevitable. Therefore the crisis preparedness has been a topic of increasing importance for organizations seeking an effective way to fight against potential crises. In this context, this research aim to investigate the relationship among the crisis preparedness capability, organizational learning capability and organizational performance.  This survey is conducted on 400 managers of 114 firms operating in the Marmara region.  SPSS 15.0 statistics package program was used to analyze the data obtained from 400 questionnaires. Factor analysis, and reliability analysis have been executed to reveal the reliability of scale, and correlation and regression analyses have been executed to reveal the relationship among the crisis preparedness capability, organizational learning capability, and organizational performance.
Art of War and Its Implications on Marketing Strategies: Thinking like a Warrior
Authors: Bekoglu Filiz Bozkurt , Ergen Ahu
Published: March 2016

Throughout the evolution of marketing, as a result of increasing competition, there has been a shift from a production oriented approach to a marketing oriented approach. Strategic thinking that gives companies an advantage over their competitors gained importance. By the end of the 1980s, experts studying strategy looked back into rich military literature to find some basic principles to help them define strategies for today’s business environment. In this period warfare and its similarities with the business world were a great inspiration for marketers. The aim of this study is to show the relation between marketing strategies and military strategies. This exploratory research used secondary data. It is expected that, in the twenty-first century’s highly competitive conditions, this study will give marketers a different point of strategic view and contribute to marketing literature.
The Role of Regional Strategies in Sustainable Development: The Approach of City Plan
Authors: Polat Mustafa , Arun Korhan
Published: March 2016

In the world economy and development, understanding changes are occurring, with the EU integration process of developments and understanding of planning priorities when considered as together, "city" scale development approach and an appropriate planning system, that is the basis of Turkey`s administrative division and the national management system, should be improved self-rises. To reduce disparities among regions to an acceptable level and development of relatively underdeveloped regions and cities, naturally, a development and planning system even starting from the city and province levels, is required. In today's sustainable understanding and evolution tools, burden important functions to local units, as "participation" in the foreground stands out in the stages of planning and execution of the development strategies. Regional and city development plans and strategies as the center of rapid and balanced development dynamics are sensitive to local needs and local initiatives are required in being a trigger level. The study is done with Goal Directed Project Management methodology, and in the study city level taken as an example of city scale development approach and an appropriate planning system.
Variations in Strategy Perception among Business and Military Managers
Authors: Ozleblebici Zafer , Pinto Castro , Antonio Nelson
Published: March 2016

The paper aims to identify the similarities and differences in the emphases and patterns that military and civilian managers attribute to strategy. Two different analysis methods were employed in order to achieve abovementioned research objective. In the first method, the aim was to reveal and compare strategy understanding of the sample groups. Towards that end, ten different strategy definitions and nine different necessity statements compiled from various definitions/statements in the existing strategic management literature were provided to the samples. Then, the samples were requested to consider how strategy and necessity of strategy is formed in their minds, and then to choose top three definitions out of 9/10, and finally rank them in preference order, from one to three.  Lastly, we counted the ranks/perceived importance of the various strategy definitions and necessity statements that which statement is ranked to which place. Using mean rank assessment by nonparametric comparison method the study shows differences between military and civilian managers in following aspect: the comparison of the emphases that are attributed to approach to strategy identified significant differences among business and military managers. Concisely, the paper reveals the varying perceptions of business and military managers on strategy based on their personal perceptions.
Workplace Innovations as Reflected in the Romanian Economic Press
Authors: Leovaridis Cristina
Published: March 2016

Workplace innovations are designed to optimize production processes in firms and improve employees’ working conditions; few researches on this topic have shown that workplace innovations increased employees’ job satisfaction, as well as a sense of responsibility and autonomy, but also employees’ overall well-being, especially regarding to work–life balance and health. Workplace innovation includes aspects regarding work organization (job autonomy, self-managed teams, flexible working etc.), organizational structure and systems (devolution of decision-making to employees, fairness and equality, supporting employee initiative etc.), learning and development (high involvement innovation, staff learning and development, shared knowledge and experience etc.), workplace partnership (social dialogue, representative participation, involvement in change, openness and communication, integrating tacit and strategic knowledge etc.). This paper aims to highlight the main characteristics of workplace innovations in Romanian firms, as they are presented in some economical, business and academic, journals in our country. The research methodology consisted of a content analysis performed on four Romanian economic journals two from academic area (Management and Marketing and Management Dynamics in Knowledge Economy) and two from business area (Cariere and Biz). The dimensions of content analysis included the different types of workplace innovations and their effects on organizational performance as well as on employees’ quality of life at the workplace, the size and the source of capital and economic sector of firms that innovate in human resource management, barriers and drivers to the implementation of workplace innovations etc. The period for journals content analysis was 1 year, between January 1 and December 31, 2013. The paper contains a case study for each journal, including abstracts of the most relevant articles on the workplace innovations and related topics.
Book review of The Crisis of the European Union. Identity, Citizenship, and Solidarity Reassessed edited by Loredana Radu, Alina Bârgãoanu and Nicoleta Corbu. Bucharest: Comunicare.ro, 2013, 311 pages
Authors: Robescu Bianca
Published: March 2016

The Crisis of the European Union. Identity, Citizenship, and Solidarity Reassessed explores very popular and very sensitive subjects such as the solidarity of member states, the dichotomy between the “centre” and the “periphery” of the EU, the European identity, and possible solutions to the crisis. The authors of the 11 chapters have joined forces to depict a complete picture of the aspects related to the European crisis. 
Book review of Capital in the Twenty-First Century, by Thomas Piketty. Cambridge, Massachusetts, London, England: The Belknap Press of Harvard Press, 2014, 605 pages
Authors: Dobrescu Paul , Ciocea Mălina
Published: March 2016

“Every now and then, the field of economics produces an important book; this is one of them” (Cowen, 2014). These are the opening words of Tyler Cowen’s presentation of Thomas Piketty’s work, “Capital in the Twenty-First Century” (Piketty, 2014), in Foreign Affairs. This is a book that is visibly placed in all important bookstores around the world, widely debated, acclaimed, sold (over 1 million copies have been sold so far). It has been favorably reviewed or quoted in all major journals. The assessment of “Capital in the Twenty-First Century” by Paul Krugman, Nobel Economics Prize Laureate as a “magnificent, sweeping meditation on inequality”, is highly relevant: “This is a book that will change both the way we think about society and the way we do economics” (Krugman, 2014). Finally, Piketty’s book is included in the list of the year’s best books by prestigious journals, such as The Economist, Financial Times, The Washington Post, Observer, The Independent, Daily Telegraph; Financial Times and McKinsey have hailed it as the best book of 2014.
The 2014 European Elections in Romania – Media Frames and Their Implications in the Europeanization Process
Authors: Ștefăniță Oana , Buturoiu Dana Raluca
Published: March 2016

This paper addresses the implications of the media in two major processes at the EU level – the process of Europeanization and the process of building a European identity. So, it analyses European subjects, by focusing on the visibility and the media framing of these subjects during the 2014 EU Parliament elections. Recent theoretical studies in the domain show that media could be one of the actors that might be responsible for influencing the Europeanization process – either in the sense of enabling the emergence and functioning of a European public sphere or in the sense of even preventing its birth. Thus, our empirical research aims at investigating the degree of Europeanization of the Romanian media discourse in order to reveal the current situation regarding the public sphere in Romania today. Since the content analysis indicates a low degree of visibility of the European issues and rather low levels of issue-specific frames that might sustain the development of a mature European identity, we can conclude that media still have to struggle to accomplish the transition from the national level to the European(ized) one.
Understanding the videograme genre: a qualitative analysis of the “playing contract”
Authors: Cășvean Tulia Maria
Published: March 2016

Available in the widest variety of forms, with or without the ”story” or the scoring, played alone (single player), with a few partners (multiplayer) or with many others (massive multiplayer online games), the videogames categories are built on multiple perspectives that depend on the observer and his or her agenda. Embedded in the popular culture, videogames exploit models and formal containers, pre-worked materials, well-known heroes, stereotypes and myths. Paraphrasing Umberto Eco, (1989) different videogame categories become a “playing contract” between producers and players, who should instantly recognize on its basis the videogame’s genre -characterized by multiple meanings, functions, production models and audience expectations, and evolving through time. The overall understanding of videogames depends on defining their genre framework as opposed to labels or marketing tools used by the game producers – a blueprint that requires an arrangement of specific elements. While not proposing an exhaustive genre categorization, this paper aims to assess the plot as a suitable criterion for videogame genre framework by correlating the specialists’ opinions on plot usage with the manner in which the plot is reflected into the game features. The findings and the conclusion of this paper are supported by in-depth interviews with industry professionals and by a videogames plot evaluation grid built in line with the methodology proposed by Aarseth, Smedetad and Sunnanå (2003) and Tobias’ plot evaluation (1993).
Cost Reduction of Production Operations by Statistical Process Control
Authors: Burgen J. G.
Published: March 2016

It is predicted that a significant reduction in the cost of oil field operations can be achieved by the practice of Statistical Process Control. SPC brings a practical field methodology to all production operations. Industries that have adopted SPC have found it helps develop a more detailed understanding of each production step, and this permits tighter process control which in turn results in improved efficiency and lower cost for each unit produced. Examples of SPC potential to oil production operations are presented for EOR reservoir balance and for individual well optimization of the Inflow Performance Relationship.
Improved Magnetic Surveying Techniques: Field Experience
Authors: Zijsling D. H. , Wilson R. A.
Published: March 2016

A magnetic survey correction method (MSCM) has been developed and used to process MWD surveys. The local magnetic field strength and dip angle required for the method were obtained from a commercially available computer model of the Earth's magnetic field. The method corrects for both radial and axial magnetic drillstring interference and has led to improved quality control for magnetic surveys. The only nonmagnetic tubular incorporated in the drillstring is the MWD's own nonmagnetic housing. Comparison of the MWD results with north-seeking gyro surveys confirmed that the theoretically predicted accuracy of the MWD surveys processed with the correction method is generally better than conventional surveys taken in a full length of nonmagnetic drillcollars. No additional rig time was incurred and operational benefits include reduced rental, inspection and risk of lost-in-hole costs.

Magnetic survey accuracy can be enhanced by using locally measured geomagnetic parameters for the correction method. Field examples of enhanced magnetic surveying with electronic magnetic multishot tools are given. The achievable accuracy of magnetic surveying onshore in the Netherlands is comparable to the accuracy of current north-seeking gyro tools and a reduction in the number of gyro surveys is therefore planned.
Removing Oil from Drill Cuttings - An Offshore Solution
Authors: Shaw G. A. M , Slater B
Published: March 2016

Drill cuttings contaminated with oil-based mud (OBM) are treated to remove excess oil prior to discharge into the environment. Recent European legislation has set the limits of permitted oil associated with discharged rock cuttings to 15%w/w in the UK sector and to 10%w/w in Norway and Holland, with a view to substantially reducing this limit further in the near future. Given the geological conditions encountered in the North Sea, the use of OBM's is virtually essential if drilling is to be cost effective. A reduction in discharge limits to significantly below 10%w/w cannot be met economically by existing cuttings cleaning technology and would mean cuttings being returned to land for disposal. The associated costs in doing this will greatly restrict operators' flexibility in exploiting future reserves.

A cuttings cleaning fluid has been developed and tested which can reduce the level of oil on cuttings from >20%w/w to 2-5%w/w (patent pending). The cleaner neither dissolves nor emulsifies the removed oil. Once the contaminating oil has been displaced from the surface of the rock, cutting, the cleaner and the recovered oil separate under centrifugal force into two distinct phases. This allows recycling of the oil back, to the active mud pit and recovery of the cleaner for re-use.

The cleaner has been tested extensively in the laboratory under pressure filtration and centrifuge conditions. Further it has been successful in deoiling small, relatively highly contaminated drill cuttings in a laboratory scale decanting centrifuge system. Full scale tests are underway.
5 Year Operating Experience with Subsea Safety Installations in a Gas Transmission Line
Authors: Thygesen J. E.
Published: March 2016

The Danish market for natural gas is supplied through a single 30″ and 220 km long offshore pipeline, starting at the TYRA East platform complex and ending at the gas treatment plant on the west coast of Denmark.

The line was designed in 1980/81, installed in 1982/ 83 and commissioned in 1984. The system has a subsea safety installation 1500m downstream from the platform. This paper describes the philosophy behind the design, the construction and the 5 year operational experience with this safety installation.
Study of Well Deliverability in Water Drive Gas Reservoirs
Authors: Folefac A. N. , Issa R. I. , Wall C. G.
Published: March 2016

The paper presents an analysis to account for the coupling between the flow of gas in a water drive reservoir and the flow in the wellbore. The study considers two cases. The first is one in which the underlying water encroaches into the wellbore but does not flow; the second is when both gas and water are produced. The analysis yields the critical gas flow rate necessary for equilibrium in the first case, and predicts the water cut in the second. Agreement with field data is reasonable.
Shell Expro's Northern Operations Structural Integrity Project
Authors: Inglis R. B. , Mathieson R. J. B. , Snedden N. W. , Staton V. A.
Published: March 2016

In September 1985, Shell Expro, operating on behalf of the Shell/Esso joint venture in the North Sea, initiated the Structural Integrity Project (SIP) to develop a modern, comprehensive, in-house structural analysis facility comprising detailed finite element models of some 15 installations and a database of analysis results. The SIP was established to enable high quality technical assessments to be made in a short period of time and to provide engineering support in the areas of safety, re-certification, emergency response, inspection and maintenance and to assess changes in operational requirements, such as increases in topside weight. Recent work with the completed models of all the steel, concrete and floating/compliant structures indicates that the structural analysis database will be a valuable and cost effective resource for Shell Expro's business needs for the next 10 to 15 years.
In-Situ Machining and Repair of Cameron FC Style Xmas Trees
Authors: Bryne D. , Terry P
Published: March 2016

During 1988 Shell Expro (‘Shell UK Exploration and Production Ltd’, operators in the UK North Sea on behalf of Shell and Esso) identified an increase in failed leak off tests in Cameron FC style valves on water injection trees.

Corrosion/erosion on a primary seal face of the upper master and flow wing valves left the trees with reduced shut off ability. Nineteen trees were involved and the implications of changing out so many trees at once prompted us to look seriously at offshore machining and repair.

To carry out this type of detailed work offshore required full manufacturers' support to arrive at a technically acceptable engineered solution that complied with Company Safety Standards and DOE requirements.
An Update on GRI's Comprehensive Study Well Program in the Devonian Shales of the Appalachian Basin
Authors: Lancaster D. E.
Published: March 2016

This paper presents an update of the stimulation research being performed as part of the Gas Research Institute's (GRI) Comprehensive Study Well (CSW) program in the Devonian Shales of the Appalachian Basin. Initiated in mid-1987, the CSW program is a planned series of highly instrumented study wells drilled in cooperation with industry partners. Seven wells have been drilled and are In various stages of study. Extensive data are being collected and special experiments are being conducted on each CSW with the objective of identifying geologic production controls, refining formation evaluation tools, and improving stimulation practices in the Devonian Shales.

This paper reviews the progress of the CSW program thus far and concentrates specifically on the ongoing stimulation research. The focus of stimulation research in the CSW program is on pumping larger treatments carrying more sand at higher concentrations, developing an optimal fluid system for the Devonian Shales, and improving quality control. Results to date indicate that higher sand concentration treatments can be pumped routinely in the Devonian Shales, but the treatments pumped so far have not proven high sand concentrations lead to better wells. Although research on fluid design for the Devonian Shales is continuing, an optimal fluid system has not been developed yet; this remains a key objective in ongoing efforts to improve stimulation on a routine basis.
Reservoir Simulation of the Antrim Shale in the Michigan Basin
Authors: Rushing J. A. , Oliver S. J. P. , Scheper R. J.
Published: March 2016

This paper presents the results from a preliminary investigation into the reservoir mechanisms controlling gas production from the Antrim Shale of the Michigan Basin. We used a two–phase, dual porosity, finite– difference reservoir simulator incorporating shale– specific reservoir characteristics to match a well's gas and water production history. We also analyzed the sensitivity of Antrim Shale gas production behavior to drainage area and several reservoir properties.

The results indicate that long–term gas production from the Antrim Shale is primarily controlled by natural fracture properties, desorption properties, and drainage area. Based on development strategies for coalbed methane reservoirs, there is an optimum well spacing for effectively dewatering the Antrim Shale, thus accelerating gas production and improving ultimate recovery. Finally, we found that shale matrix diffusion properties have little effect on short–term gas productivity, and preliminary results also suggest long–term gas productivity does not depend on matrix diffusion.
Sonocatalytic treatment of baker's yeast effluent
Authors: Yılmaz E. , Fındık S.
Published: March 2016

Baker's yeast effluent is a major source of pollution with a high organic load and dark colour. It can be treated by using advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). AOPs, such as ultrasonic irradiation, are ambient temperature processes involving the generation of free radicals. We have investigated sonocatalytic treatment of baker's yeast effluent by using ultrasound. TiO2–ZnO composites were used as sonocatalysts to increase the efficiency of the ultrasonic irradiation. The TiO2/ZnO composite was prepared by two different methods. Ultrasonic irradiation or mechanical stirring was used to prepare the TiO2–ZnO composite, and an ultrasonic homogenizer with a 20 kHz frequency was used to treat the baker's yeast effluent. We studied the effects of several parameters, including the molar ratio of TiO2/ZnO, calcination temperature, calcination time and catalyst amount, on the sonocatalytic treatment of the effluent. According to the results, the decolorization rate was 25% when using the composite TiO2/ZnO prepared at a 4:1 molar ratio and treated at 700 °C for 60 min, and the optimum catalyst amount was 0.15 g/l.
Towards the Molecular Foundations of Glutamatergic-targeted Antidepressants
Authors: Kroes Roger A. , Nilsson Carol L.
Published: March 2016

Background: Depression affects over 120 million individuals of all ages
and is the leading cause of disability worldwide. The lack of objective diagnostic
criteria, together with the heterogeneity of the depressive disorder itself, makes it
challenging to develop effective therapies. The accumulation of preclinical data over
the past 20 years derived from a multitude of models using many divergent approaches,
has fueled the resurgence of interest in targeting glutamatergic neurotransmission for
the treatment of major depression.

Objective: The emergence of mechanistic studies are advancing our understanding of
the molecular underpinnings of depression. While clearly far from complete and
conclusive, they offer the potential to lead to the rational design of more specific therapeutic
strategies and the development of safer and more effective rapid acting, long lasting antidepressants.

Methods: The development of comprehensive omics-based approaches to the dysregulation of synaptic
transmission and plasticity that underlies the core pathophysiology of MDD are reviewed to illustrate the
fundamental elements.

Results: This review frames the rationale for the conceptualization of depression as a “pathway disease”.
As such, it culminates in the call for the development of novel state-of-the-art “-omics approaches” and
neurosystems biological techniques necessary to advance our understanding of spatiotemporal
interactions associated with targeting glutamatergic-triggered signaling in the CNS.

Conclusion: These technologies will enable the development of novel psychiatric medications
specifically targeted to impact specific, critical intracellular networks in a more focused manner and have
the potential to offer new dimensions in the area of translational neuropsychiatry.
Effect of oral administration of Lactobacillus paracasei L9 on mouse systemic immunity and the immune response in the intestine
Authors: Zhu Yuanbo , Zhu Jun , Zhao Liang , Zhang Ming , Guo Huiyuan , Ren Fazheng
Published: March 2016

A probiotic strain Lactobacillus paracasei L9,which was isolated from human
intestine, was investigated for its immunomodulatory activity in
vivo. Results showed that L9 improved systemic immunity by enhancing the
phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages, the proliferation ratio of
splenocytes, the IgG level in the serum and the level of IgA in the mucosa.
Further, L9induced theTh1-polarized immune response by elevating the
IFN-?/IL-4 ratio in the mucosa. This effect was confirmed by the enhanced
IL-12-inducing activity of macrophages after in vitro stimulation of L9. Also
detected was increased expression of TLR-2mRNA in the mucosa. We predict
that L9 could enhance innate immunity by activating TLR-2 in the mucosa, and
enhance acquired immunity by promoting Th1 polarization through
induced production of IL-12 by macrophages.
Key design features of multi-vacuum glazing for windows: A review
Authors: Ali Hassan , Hayat Nasir , Farukh Farukh , Imran Shahid , Kamran Muhammad , Ali Hafiz
Published: March 2016

The use of vacuum glazed windows is increasing due to their application in mod-ern building design. Among various types of vacuum glazed windows reported in literature, thermal transmittance of single glass sheet (conventional window) i. e 6 W/m2k is reduced by 66 and 77% using air filled double glazed and air filled triple glazed windows, respectively. Using low emittance coatings thermal transmittance of double glazed windows is reduced by 53%, however it offsets the visibility by reduc-ing light transmittance by 5%. Stresses due to temperature/pressure gradients if not eliminated may lead to reduction in service life of vacuum glazed windows. Vacuum created between the glass sheets is used to reduce conductive heat transfer. Degrada-tion in the vacuum is caused by number of factors such as, permeation of gaseous molecules through glass sheets, leakage through sealing, thermal/optical desorption, and photo-fragmentation of organic species have been critically reviewed and future trends are outlined.
An experimental investigation of transient heat transfer in surrounding rock mass of high geothermal roadway
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Wan Zhijun , Gu Bin , Zhou Changbing
Published: March 2016

A self-designed experimental installation for transient heat transfer in the
modelling surrounding rock mass of high geothermal roadways was elaborated in
this paper. By utilizing the new installation, the temperature variation
rules in surrounding rock mass of the high geothermal roadway during
mechanical ventilation were studied. The results show that the roadway wall
temperature decreases dramatically at the early stage of ventilation, and the
temperature at every position of the surrounding rock mass is decreasing
constantly with time passing by. From roadway wall to deep area, the
temperature gradually increases until reaching original rock temperature. The
relationship between dimensionless temperature and dimensionless radius
demonstrates approximately exponential function. Meanwhile, the temperature
disturbance range in the simulated surrounding rock mass extends gradually
from the roadway wall to deep area in the surrounding rock mass. Besides, as
the air velocity increases, heat loss in the surrounding rock mass rises and
the ratio of temperature reduction becomes larger, the speed of disturbance
range expansion also gets faster.
Optimal usage of biomass for energy purposes toward sustainable development - a case of Macedonia
Authors: Kanevce Gligor , Dedinec Aleksandar , Dedinec Aleksandra
Published: March 2016

One of the main goals for sustainable development of a country is providing
sustainable energy resources, which means satisfying the current needs for
energy without compromising the future generations. Moreover, sustainable
energy resources primarily involve greater inclusion of renewable energy
sources. The biomass is the most widely used renewable energy source, mainly
because of its relatively low price and its availability. However, in order
for the biomass to stay a renewable energy source, it must be used rationally
and with a plan, which primarily requires a detailed analysis of the current
situation and resources. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to calculate the
optimal utilization of biomass in energy purposes, taking into account the
sustainable development of a country. As an example, in this paper Macedonia
is considered. A detailed analysis of the data sources related to biomass is
made and several different indicators that describe the current situation in
Macedonia are presented. Furthermore, several scenarios are defined in this
paper in order to calculate the optimal share of biomass in the overall
energy mix in Macedonia for the next 20 years, using the MARKAL model.
Henoch-Schönlein purpura associated with Strongyloides stercoralis infection
Authors: Jankovic Sveta , Nikolic Marijana , Simovic Aleksandra , Vujic Ana
Published: March 2016

Introduction. Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura (HSP) is a small blood vessel
vasculitis, which usually manifests during childhood. The exact cause of the
disease is unknown. Case report. We reported a 14-year-old girl who had been
admitted to our clinic due to the appearance of red macules on her
extremities and face, vomiting, and pain in the abdomen and joints. The
patient was initially diagnosed with Henoch- Sch?nlein purpura. At the end of
the fourth week of illness, larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis were detected
in stool samples. The patient was therefore treated with mebendazole, after
which all symptoms permanently withdrew. About a month later laboratory
examinations were repeated demonstrating increasing signs of renal damage.
Kidney biopsy was performed, showing mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis
with crescents and IgA and C3 positive staining in the mesangium. Upon
reviewing the clinical presentation, biochemically demonstrated progressive
renal damage and biopsy results, the patient was diagnosed with HSP
nephritis. Conclusion. The time course of the disease and present knowledge
concerning the pathogenic mechanisms of HSP suggest that Strongyloides
stercoralis infection could have caused HSP in the presented patient, which
was complicated by nephritis.