bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Attenuation of the suppressive activity of cellular splicing factor SRSF3 by Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus ORF57 protein is required for RNA splicing
Authors: Majerciak Vladimir , Lu Mathew , Li Xiaofan , Zheng Zhi-Ming
Published: September 2014

Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV) ORF57 is a multifunctional post-transcriptional regulator essential for viral gene expression during KSHV lytic infection. ORF57 requires interactions with various cellular proteins for its function. Here, we identified serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 3 (SRSF3, formerly known as SRp20) as a cellular cofactor involved in ORF57-mediated splicing of KSHV K8β RNA. In the absence of ORF57, SRSF3 binds to a suboptimal K8β intron and inhibits K8β splicing. Knockdown of SRSF3 promotes K8β splicing, mimicking the effect of ORF57. The N-terminal half of ORF57 binds to the RNA recognition motif of SRSF3, which prevents SRSF3 from associating with the K8β intron RNA and therefore attenuates the suppressive effect of SRSF3 on K8β splicing. ORF57 also promotes splicing of heterologous non-KSHV transcripts that are negatively regulated by SRSF3, indicating that the effect of ORF57 on SRSF3 activity is independent of RNA target. SPEN proteins, previously identified as ORF57-interacting partners, suppress ORF57 splicing activity by displacing ORF57 from SRSF3–RNA complexes. In summary, we have identified modulation of SRSF3 activity as the molecular mechanism by which ORF57 promotes RNA splicing.
PAGAL - Properties and corresponding graphics of alpha helical structures in proteins
Authors: Chakraborty Sandeep , Rao Basuthkar J. , Dandekar Abhaya M.
Published: September 2014

Alpha helices (AH) are peptide fragments characterized by regular patterns of hydrogen bonding between the carbonyl oxygen and amino nitrogen of residues regularly spaced in sequence, resulting in spiral conformations. Their preponderance in protein structures underlines their importance. Interestingly, AHs are present in most anti-microbial peptides, although they might remain in random-coil conformations depending on the solvent dielectric. For example, the cecropin component of the chimeric anti-microbial protein designed previously by our group comprises of two AHs linked by a short stretch of random coil. These anti-microbial peptides are often amphipathic (quantified by a hydrophobic moment), aligning hydrophobic residues on one surface and charged residues on the others. In the current work, we reproduce previously described computational methods to compute the hydrophobic moment of AHs - and provide open access to the source code (PAGAL). We simultaneously generated input files for TikZ (a package for creating high resolution graphics programmatically) to obtain the Edmundson wheel and showing the direction and magnitude of the hydrophobic moment, and Pymol scripts to generate color coded protein surfaces. Additionally, we have observed an empirical structural property of AHs: the distance between the Cα atoms of the ith and (i+4)th residue is equal to the distance between the carbonyl oxygens of the ith and (i+4)th residue. We validated this using 100 non-homologous high resolution structures from the PISCES database. The source code and manual is available at http://github.com/sanchak/pagal and on http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11136.
Value-in-Context of Healthcare: What Human Factors Differentiate Quality of Nursing Services?
Authors: Matsushita Hironobu , Kijima Kyoichi
Published: September 2014

With social issues such as an aging society and the sustainability of health service systems becoming of greater concern, decision makers in health service sectors need to identify the human factors that differentiate the performance of health service professionals such as nurses. However, the fact remains that a nursing shortage has hindered such efforts in many countries.

What brings about value in nursing services? How is value cocreated in clinical settings by nurses, patients, and other agents? Given that service is the application of competencies for the benefit of another entity, this work is an attempt to identify the typology of competencies as operant resources where value is idiosyncratic, experiential, contextual, and meaning-laden. In so doing, this paper explores meaningful relations among service quality, human competency, and contextualization. Therefore, the objective of this study, conducted in one of the leading university hospitals that employs 1,448 nurses, and with the support of the Japanese government, was to identify the characteristics of human activity systems, focusing on the relationships between service quality, human competency, and value-in-context. This work used the original transcript text obtained by combining the critical incident technique and behavioral event interview approaches. After collecting qualitative data, text coding was performed on the interview transcripts.

The findings of the present work contribute to practitioners and theoreticians by providing a bridging concept between human resources management and service systems management. First, our ethnographical research reveals that nurses in different role groups applied different sets of competencies in their diverse job contexts, where there exist commonly applied differentiating competencies as well as other threshold competencies. Second, in an attempt to explore the features of value cocreation, this paper explores the relationship between competencies in action and dynamic contexts translation. Third, to address value cocreation systems in value-in-contexts focusing on nursing and caring services, this paper proposes a meta value-in-context translational model.
Signs and Practices as Resources in IT-Related Service Innovation
Authors: Löbler Helge , Lusch Robert F.
Published: September 2014

Emerging from the rapid growth of information technology (IT) in a digital world is the explosion and rapid ascent of IT-related service innovation occurring around the globe. All successful service innovation in a digital world consists of two main abstract domains: signs (because only signs can be digitized) and practices. Signs are perceivable, but practices are not. Signs are commonly understood as resources in the digital world, whereas practices are understood as providing context, not as resources. This article proposes a change in this perspective: according to service-dominant logic, both signs and practices can become resources for service and value cocreation. They become resources if they are integrated in a service offering. We illustrate how recent digital service innovations can be explained with this perspective and how it can be used to distinguish incremental from radical innovation. The article also suggests, using this perspective, that IT and innovation specialists can productively develop ideas and concepts for future service innovation. From the practices framework presented, directions for further research are discussed.
Cyclic compressive loading on 3D tissue of human synovial fibroblasts upregulates prostaglandin E2 via COX-2 production without IL-1β and TNF-α
Authors: Shimomura K. , Kanamoto T. , Kita K. , Akamine Y. , Nakamura N. , Mae T. , Yoshikawa H. , Nakata K.
Published: September 2014

Objective

Excessive mechanical stress on synovial joints causes osteoarthritis (OA) and results in the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a key molecule in arthritis, by synovial fibroblasts. However, the relationship between arthritis-related molecules and mechanical stress is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the synovial fibroblast response to cyclic mechanical stress using an in vitro osteoarthritis model.

Method

Human synovial fibroblasts were cultured on collagen scaffolds to produce three-dimensional constructs. A cyclic compressive loading of 40 kPa at 0.5 Hz was applied to the constructs, with or without the administration of a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibitor or dexamethasone, and then the concentrations of PGE2, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-8 and COX-2 were measured.

Results

The concentrations of PGE2, IL-6 and IL-8 in the loaded samples were significantly higher than those of unloaded samples; however, the concentrations of IL-1β and TNF-α were the same as the unloaded samples. After the administration of a COX-2 selective inhibitor, the increased concentration of PGE2 by cyclic compressive loading was impeded, but the concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 remained high. With dexamethasone, upregulation of PGE2, IL-6 and IL-8 was suppressed.

Conclusion

These results could be useful in revealing the molecular mechanism of mechanical stress in vivo for a better understanding of the pathology and therapy of OA. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2014;3:280–8.
The Current State of Resident Training in Genomic Pathology
Authors: Haspel Richard L. , Rinder Henry M. , Frank Karen M. , Wagner Jay , Ali Asma M. , Fisher Patrick B. , Parks Eric R.
Published: September 2014

Objectives:

To determine the current state of pathology resident training in genomic and molecular pathology.

Methods:

The Training Residents in Genomics (TRIG) Working Group developed survey and knowledge questions for the 2013 pathology Resident In-Service Examination (RISE). Sixteen demographic questions related to amount of training, current and predicted future use, and perceived ability in molecular pathology vs genomic medicine were included, along with five genomic pathology and 19 molecular pathology knowledge questions.

Results:

A total of 2,506 pathology residents took the 2013 RISE, with approximately 600 individuals per postgraduate year (PGY). For genomic medicine, 42% of PGY-4 respondents stated they had no training, compared with 7% for molecular pathology (P < .001). PGY-4 residents’ perceived ability, comfort in discussing results, and predicted future use as a practicing pathologist were reported to be less in genomic medicine than in molecular pathology (P < .001). Based on PGY, knowledge question scores showed a greater increase in molecular pathology than in genomic pathology.

Conclusions:

The RISE is a powerful tool for assessing the state of resident training in genomic pathology and current results suggest a significant deficit. The results also provide a baseline to assess future initiatives to improve genomics education for pathology residents such as those developed by the TRIG Working Group.
Models for vertical wood density of Scots pine, Norway spruce and birch stems, and their application to determine average wood density
Authors: Repola Jaakko
Published: September 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the vertical dependence of the basic density of Scots pine, Norway spruce, and birch stems, and how such dependence could be applied for determining the average stem wood density. The study material consisted of 38 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), 39 Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and 15 birch (Betula pendula and Betula pubescens) stands located on mineral soil sites in southern Finland. The stem material mainly represented thinning removal from stands at different stages of development. The linear mixed model technique, with both fixed and random effects, was used to estimate the model. According to the fixed part of the model, wood density was dependent on the vertical location along the stem in all three tree species. Wood density in pine decreased from the butt to the top, and the gradient in wood density was steep at the butt but decreased in the upper part of the stem. The vertical dependence was similar in birch, but the density gradient was much smaller. For spruce the vertical dependence of the basic density was moderate. The model can be calibrated for a tree stem when one or more sample disks are measured at freely selected heights. Using treewise calibrated predictions of the vertical density dependence and measured stem diameters, almost unbiased estimates, and lower prediction errors than with traditional methods, were obtained for the average stem wood density. The advantages of the method were greater for pine with a strong vertical dependence in basic density, than for spruce and birch.
Conflict management as a means to the sustainable use of natural resources
Authors: Kyllönen Simo , Colpaert Alfred , Heikkinen Hannu , Jokinen Mikko , Kumpula Jouko , Marttunen Mika , Muje Kari , Raitio Kaisa
Published: September 2014

Democratic societiesâ emphasis on individual rights and freedoms inevitably opens them up to political disputes. Conflict management should thus be seen as an integral part of democratic institutional design. The evolution and management of policy disputes concerning the use of different natural resources in Finland is analysed by using the theoretical models of frame analysis and strategic interaction. The studied disputes include lake fisheries, watercourse regulation, reindeer herding, and forestry. The institutional design in the case studies varies. Despite the differences, many common features are identified that could explain their successes or difficulties in achieving sustainable and cooperative use of the resources. Among these are problems involving complex and uncertain knowledge, differences in frames held by multiple users of a resource, and distrust between the users and other parties. The analysis concludes with preliminary conclusions on how various disputes related to sustainable resource use could be managed. These include addressing the knowledge and frame problems in order to initiate a learning process; establishing sub-processes in which mutual trust between the parties â including a managing authority or a third party â can emerge; giving explicit roles and a clear division of entitlement to the parties; and providing a credible alternative for co-operation that affects the partiesâ payoff assessments during the process. Finally, the conflict management process shouldnât be regarded as a distinct phase of dispute resolution, but as an essential aspect of ongoing co-management practices of resource use.
A new species of phyllophoracean red algae (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) from Korea: Stenogramma guleopensis sp. nov.
Authors: Calderon Martha S. , Boo Sung Min
Published: September 2014

The occurrence of Stenogramma interruptum in northeast Asian waters is a matter of debate. We analyzed rbcL from Korean specimens filed under the species name S. interruptum in combination with morphological observations. A partial rbcL sequence revealed that the Korean specimens were clearly distinct from other species of Stenogramma as well as S. interruptum from Europe. The morphology and anatomy of the Korean specimens were consistent with the rbcL data. Based on these results, we herein describe the new species Stenogramma guleopensis from Korea. Stenogramma guleopensis is distinguished mostly by its small size (up to 8 cm), slender thallus with narrow and parallel-sided segments, terminal branches basally constricted, two layers of cortical cells, two to three layers of medullary cells, and a gradient of two layers of smaller cells between the cortex and medulla. Further collections and careful examinations in the field will probably reveal extension of the distribution of S. guleopensis to the waters surrounding Korea.
Piecewise Cause-Specific Association Analyses of Multivariate Untied or Tied Competing Risks Data
Authors: Wang Hao , Cheng Yu
Published: September 2014

In this paper we extend the bivariate hazard ratio to multivariate competing risks data and show that it is equivalent to the cause-specific cross hazard ratio. Two approaches are proposed to estimate these two equivalent association measures. One extends the plug-in estimator, and the other adapts the pseudo-likelihood estimator for bivariate survival data to multivariate competing risks data. The asymptotic properties of the extended estimators are established by using empirical processes techniques. The extended plug-in and pseudo-likelihood estimators have comparable performance with the existing U-statistic when the data have no tied events. However, in many applications, there are tied events in which all the three estimators are found to produce biased results. To our best knowledge, we are not aware of any association analysis for multivariate competing risks data that has considered tied events. Hence we propose a modified U-statistic to specifically handle tied observations. The modified U-statistic clearly outperforms the other estimators when there are rounding errors. All methods are applied to the Cache County Study to examine mother–child and sibship associations in dementia among this aging population, where the event times are rounded to the nearest integers. The modified U performs consistently with our simulation results and provides more reliable results in the presence of tied events.
Efficient Algorithms for Mining Frequent Patterns from Sparse and Dense Databases
Authors: Vu Lan , Alaghband Gita
Published: September 2014

In this article, we present a new approach for frequent pattern mining (FPM) that runs fast for both sparse and dense databases. Two algorithms, FEM and DFEM, based on our approach are also introduced. FEM applies a fixed threshold as the condition for switching between the two mining strategies; meanwhile, DFEM adopts this threshold dynamically at runtime to best fit the characteristics of the database during the mining process, especially when minimum support threshold is low. Additionally, we present optimization techniques for the proposed algorithms to speed the mining process, reduce the memory usage, and optimize the I/O cost. We also analyze in depth the performance of FEM and DFEM and compare them with several existing algorithms. The experimental results show that FEM and DFEM achieve a significant improvement in execution time and consume less memory than many popular FPM algorithms including the well-known Apriori, FP-growth, and Eclat.
Polymer engineering for drug/gene delivery: from simple towards complex architectures and hybrid materials
Authors: David Geta , Fundueanu Gheorghe , Pinteala Mariana , Minea Bogdan , Dascalu Andrei , Simionescu Bogdan C.
Published: September 2014

The paper summarizes the history of the drug/gene delivery domain, pointing on polymers as a solution to specific challenges, and outlines the current situation in the field – focusing on the newest strategies intended to improve systems effectiveness and responsiveness (design keys, preparative approaches). Some recent results of the authors are briefly presented.
Wild Sex in Zebrafish: Loss of the Natural Sex Determinant in Domesticated Strains
Authors: Wilson Catherine A , High Samantha K , McCluskey Braedan M , Amores Angel , Yan Yi-lin , Titus Tom A , Anderson Jennifer L , Batzel Peter , Carvan Michael J , Schartl Manfred , Postlethwait John H
Published: September 2014

Sex determination can be robustly genetic, strongly environmental, or genetic subject to environmental perturbation. The genetic basis of sex determination is unknown for zebrafish (Danio rerio), a model for development and human health. We used RAD-tag population genomics to identify sex-linked polymorphisms. After verifying this “RAD-sex” method on medaka (Oryzias latipes), we studied two domesticated zebrafish strains (AB and TU), two natural laboratory strains (WIK and EKW), and two recent isolates from nature (NA and CB). All four natural strains had a single sex-linked region at the right tip of chromosome 4, enabling sex genotyping by PCR. Genotypes for the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with the strongest statistical association to sex suggested that wild zebrafish have WZ/ZZ sex chromosomes. In natural strains, “male genotypes” became males and some “female genotypes” also became males, suggesting that the environment or genetic background can cause female-to-male sex reversal. Surprisingly, TU and AB lacked detectable sex-linked loci. Phylogenomics rooted on D. nigrofasciatus verified that all strains are monophyletic. Because AB and TU branched as a monophyletic clade, we could not rule out shared loss of the wild sex locus in a common ancestor despite their independent domestication. Mitochondrial DNA sequences showed that investigated strains represent only one of the three identified zebrafish haplogroups. Results suggest that zebrafish in nature possess a WZ/ZZ sex-determination mechanism with a major determinant lying near the right telomere of chromosome 4 that was modified during domestication. Strains providing the zebrafish reference genome lack key components of the natural sex-determination system but may have evolved variant sex-determining mechanisms during two decades in laboratory culture.
ZYMOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF CHITINASE AGAINST PHYTOFUNGAL PATHOGENS
Authors: Pandya Urja , Sudhir Ankit , Gohel Hardik , Subramanian R.B. , Saraf Meenu
Published: September 2014

An endospore forming Gram positive bacterium (MBCU4) was isolated from a vermicompost amended soil, and confirmed as Bacillus subtilis through the 16S rRNA sequence analysis. An extracellular chitinase was detected from this strain of B. subtilis under specific environmental condition. An attempt was made to purify the enzyme by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by DEAE sepharose CL-6B column chromatography. The purified enzyme was demonstrated as a single band, having the molecular weight 31kDa on SDS PAGE analysis and its activity in the gel was determined by clear zone on zymogram. Further characterization of the isolated enzymes has showed that this enzyme is most active at pH 6.0 and at the optimized temperature of 50 0C. The purified chitinase exhibited high degree of antifungal activity particularly by degrading their cell wall components of plant pathogens Macrophomina phaseolina (69.0%) and Rhizoctonia solani (52.0%). It infers that the chitinase produced by B. subtilis could play an important role for biopesticidal activity.
ESTIMATION OF AMOXICILLIN RESIDUES IN COMMERCIAL MEAT AND MILK SAMPLES
Authors: Irum Ainee , Saeed Huma , Ali Shafaqat , Farid Mujahid , Parveen Rushda , Maqbool Uzma , Ahmad Rehan
Published: September 2014

The present study was conducted to evaluate the extent of ß - lactam antibiotic, amoxicillin residues in market milk and meat. Samples were randomly collected from Faisalabad city, Pakistan. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method with inflorescent detector was used to detect, identify and quantify the amoxicillin residues in milk and meat samples. The milk samples were purified by performing a protein precipitation step, followed by derivatization. To clean up tissue samples, a liquid extraction, followed by a solid-phase extraction procedure C18 (4.0X4.6mm, 5μm) was performed. A 50% meat and 90% milk samples were found contaminated with residues. The residues of amoxicillin in milk were in range of 28 to 46μg/kg and in meat were 9 to 84μg/kg. All of the contaminated milk and 40 out of 50% meat samples fall in maximum residue limits.
PARTIAL PURIFICATION OF MILK-CLOTTING ENZYME FROM THE SEEDS OF MORINGA OLEIFERA
Authors: E.  Tajalsir Amna , S. A. Ebraheem Ali , M. Abdallah Abdelmoez , J. Khider Fatima , O. Elsamani Mohamed , A. Mohamed Ahmed Isam
Published: September 2014

The aim of the present study was to search for milk clotting substitute from different parts (flowers, seeds, stem, leaves, ripe and unripe fruits) of Moringa oleifera. The samples were blended and extracted using different types of extracting solutions. The most reliable, quick and efficient enzyme extracting solution was found to be 5% NaCl in 100 mM sodium acetate buffer, pH 5.0, which was used throughout the study. The milk clotting activity was only observed in the seeds extract while the other parts were either deficient or has very low milk clotting activity. Thus, the moringa seeds were used as source of milk clotting enzyme. The extracted proteins were fractionated with ammonium sulfate at concentration of 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 %. Highest milk clotting activity was observed in the 20 % fraction. This fraction was assumed to contain the clotting enzymes and characterized for its heating stability (30 – 90°C) and optimum temperature (30 – 90°C). The results demonstrated that moringa seeds milk clotting enzyme is stable up to 50°C with an optimum milk clotting activity of 70°C. The high ratio of milk-clotting to proteolytic activity of the partially purified enzyme indicates the potential of this enzyme as suitable rennet substitute in dairy industry. However, further study is needed to completely purify and characterize this promising milk clotting enzyme from moringa seeds.
Deciduous teeth structure changes in congenital heart disease: Ultrastructure and microanalysis
Authors: El-Hawary Yousry M. , El-Sayed Basmah , Abd-Alhakem Gehan , Ibrahim Fatma M.
Published: September 2014

Objectives

Oral manifestations recorded for congenital heart disease (CHD) patients include teeth hypoplasia and high caries incidence. These observations suggested that the enamel and dentin of the teeth may be altered, increasing the risk for caries incidence. This study was designed to investigate the eff ect of CHD on the ultrastructure and composition of deciduous sound teeth.

Methods

Thirty sound exfoliated human deciduous incisor teeth were selected for this study. They were divided into three groups, Group I (control) from healthy children (n = 6), Group II from acyanotic CHD children (n = 12) and Group III from cyanotic CHD children (n = 12). Each tooth was longitudinally sectioned, providing enough specimens for ultrastructure and chemical analysis using ESEM/EDAX. The results of ESEM/EDAX and dentin image analysis were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey's test.

Results

Enamel of groups II and III showed increased dissolution and irregular orientation of enamel prisms. Orifices of dentinal tubules demonstrated widening and irregular outlines, also lateral branching increased markedly. Image analysis of dentin ESEM photomicrographs showed a highly significant increase in surface area of dentinal tubules. Decrease in calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

CHDs affect the structure and chemical composition of deciduous teeth.
Litters of photosynthetically divergent grasses exhibit differential metabolic responses to warming and elevated CO2
Authors: Suseela Vidya , Triebwasser-Freese Daniella , Linscheid Nora , Morgan Jack A. , Tharayil Nishanth
Published: September 2014

Climatic stress such as warming would alter physiological pathways in plants leading to changes in tissue chemistry. Elevated CO2 could partly mitigate warming induced moisture stress, and the degree of this mitigation may vary with plant functional types. We studied the composition of structural and non‐structural metabolites in senesced tissues of Bouteloua gracilis (C4) and Pascopyrum smithii (C3) at the Prairie Heating and CO2 Enrichment experiment, Wyoming, USA. We hypothesized that P. smithii and B. gracilis would respond to unfavorable global change factors by producing structural metabolites and osmoregulatory compounds that are necessary to combat stress. However, due to the inherent variation in the tolerance of their photosynthetic pathways to warming and CO2, we hypothesized that these species will exhibit differential response under different combinations of warming and CO2 conditions. Due to a lower thermo‐tolerance of the C4 photosynthesis we expected B. gracilis to exhibit a greater metabolic response under warming with ambient CO2 (cT) and P. smithii to exhibit a similar response under warming combined with elevated CO2 (CT). Our hypothesis was supported by the differential response of structural compounds in these two species, where cT increased the content of lignin and cuticular‐matrix in B. gracilis. In P. smithii a similar response was observed in plants exposed to CT, possibly due to the partial alleviation of moisture stress. With warming, the total cell‐wall bound phenolic acids that cross link polysaccharides to lignins increased in B. gracilis and decreased in P. smithii, indicating a potentially adaptive response of C4 pathway to warming alone. Similarly, in B. gracilis, extractable polar metabolites such as sugars and phenolic acids increased with the main effect of warming. Conversely, in P. smithii, only sugars showed a higher abundance in plants exposed to warming treatments indicating that warming alone might be metabolically too disruptive for the C3 photosynthetic pathway. Here we show for the first time, that along with traditionally probed extractable metabolites, warming and elevated CO2 differentially influence the structural metabolites in litters of photosynthetically divergent grass species. If these unique metabolite responses occur in other species of similar functional types, this could potentially alter carbon cycling in grasslands due to the varying degradability of these litters.
Innovative In-Situ Remedial Technologies for Petroleum Hydrocarbon Remediation
Authors: Ayyaswami Arul
Published: September 2014

INNOVATIVE IN-SITU REMEDIAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON REMEDIATION

A Presentation by

Arul Ayyaswami, Vice-President Tetra Tech, Langhorne, PA

Innovative in-situ technologies have been implemented in the United States and the Western European countries to cost effectively treat the petroleum hydrocarbons in the sub-surface. These technologies are not only cheaper, but also effectively remove the mass faster than conventional treatment technologies for soil and groundwater treatment.
The Case for a Case
Authors: Hamad Tawfiq Abu
Published: September 2014

Qatargas embarked on the development of an Operational Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Case in June 2011 for all Offshore and Onshore facilities including terminal operation and logistics.

The SHE Case is a methodical and auditable document to demonstrate how Qatargas SHE objectives are being met for a particular facility or activity. It is intended to demonstrate that all Major Hazards and Risks associated with a particular facility or operation are identified and that suitable controls and preventive measures and strategies for reducing the effects of a major incident, if one does occur are effectively and consistently applied in order to manage the risks to a level that is tolerable and ‘As Low As Reasonably Practicable’ (ALARP).

This includes a requirement to ensure adequacy of the site's safety management system, critical safety elements and controls and compliance with the requirements of Qatargas SHE Standards, State of Qatar Environmental Regulations, and any other relevant stakeholder requirements for SHE management.

The SHE Case has helped Qatargas identifying focus areas, and SHE critical aspects of the facilities. Operationalizing the SHE Case is the next step to ensure that the case is making impacts to safety of the facilities and incorporating the process of continuous improvement in SHE performance.

An operational SHE Case is a reflection of Qatargas; proactive and beyond-compliance initiative. The efforts, challenges and experiences of the development and operational of such a massive SHE Case offers very valuable lessons learned for industries in Qatar and the region.
A Potential Solution for Waste Management at Remote Sites
Authors: Findley J.. , Al-Haj H.. , Shanaa J.. , Al-Duaiji A.. , Economou S..
Published: September 2014

Environmentally-friendly solid waste management can present a challenge at small, often temporary, remote sites due to the high cost of waste hauling. A transportable solid waste gasification system was evaluated over a five-month period as a potential solution for waste management at remote drilling and workover sites. The demonstration was conducted at a workover camp in Saudi Arabia in late 2012 and early 2013. The system evaluated was an automated, modular unit capable of thermally gasifying 20-40 kg batches of organic solid waste per hour at temperatures exceeding 600 °C. Ordinary camp garbage and kitchen wastes were treated. The system was designed to recycle and burn the syngas generated to sustain the operation. Gaseous emissions are rapidly quenched below 200°C to avoid the formation of dioxins and furans. Following gasification, a small volume of residual solids remain as non-toxic bio-char. This bio-char can potentially be used as a soil additive. Inorganic waste is sterilized, but otherwise unaffected by the gasification process. Preliminary results indicate that a waste volume reduction of more than 95% of the waste processed was achieved. This system is expected to be especially applicable to remote operations or on-board off-shore rigs and marine vessels where costs to transport waste are high.
Coral Relocation as Habitat Mitigation for Impacts From the Barzan Gas Project Pipeline Construction Offshore Eastern Qatar
Authors: Deb Kaushik , McCarthy Anne
Published: September 2014

Description: The Barzan Gas Project is a critical program to deliver natural gas to Qatar’s future industries. This project was expected to cause impacts to shallow coral communities during pipeline construction. To partially meet the state’s environmental clearance for the project whilst supporting the state’s national vision, RasGas Company Limited developed a project-specific Coral Management, Relocation, and Monitoring Plan that incorporated proven methodologies to relocate at-risk coral colonies to a suitable location. The coral relocation project includes: 1) an initial survey to assess coral colonies’ health and suitability for relocation; 2) the relocation of more than 1,600 corals from the pipeline corridor to a recipient site containing 550 limestone boulders and 3) a 5-year monitoring program to assess the health of the reattached coral colonies, colonization of the artificial habitat and document reef fish associated with the recipient site. Applications: 1) Oil and gas and large infrastructure project developers seeking to identify, mitigate and potentially compensate marine environmental impacts from construction activities 2) Government and private organizations involved in marine environmental protection and developing knowledge on coral communities in Qatar and the Middle East Results and Conclusions: 1) Results from the initial Baseline Environmental Survey (BES) completed in the pipeline corridor and at proposed coral transplantation sites 2) Results from the post-construction monitoring surveys competed at the transplantation sites with comparison to other coral relocation projects in the region and focus on monitoring techniques and survivorship rates. 3) Innovative technological approaches and knowledge-based compensation initiatives under development to supplement the coral relocation project in the area of coral, sea grass and fisheries habitat management. Technical Contributions: 1) Coral habitat management 2) Coral relocation techniques 3) Innovative monitoring tools for marine environmental protection.
Addressing Safety Challenges of Operating in Sour Gas Fields: A Case Study from the Middle East
Authors: Onerhime Anthony , Kveps Andy , Daher Elie
Published: September 2014

In the Middle East, there is a gas field that is one of the most challenging gas extraction development projects in the world. The field has a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentration in excess of 20%. The field was discovered over 40 years ago, but due to the absence of appropriate technologies to safely extract the reservoirs, field development had been sidelined for several decades. With the advances in oilfield technologies and processes, the field operator commenced field development a few years back. The operator protects its facilities from H2S risk by a comprehensive air management process that uses leading industry gas monitoring and protection systems. During the project design phase, the emphasis focused on fixed facilities and protection at these facilities. However, the possibility of an unexpected gas release and exposure in areas away from the fixed facilities and while in transit within the field soon became apparent. The challenge was to provide for the safety of personnel from the time they entered the field to the time they exited it.

An oilfield services company identified the potential risk that possible H2S exposure represented to the safety of personnel while in transit through this field. To address the challenge, the company sought the help of an innovative safety solutions provider. After a series of discussions between the safety solutions provider and the oilfield services company, it became apparent that there was a need to develop a solution that would provide early-warning gas detection while on the move, ensure immediate availability of breathing air protection, and allow communication and documentation of hazards and air status within a crew transportation vehicle. The resulting solution was a vehicle gas protection system (VGPS) with an integrated gas detection system and a proprietary breathing air management system that enables users to transit safely through such terrain.
Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) Initiatives in Natural Gas Processing Plants in Qatar
Authors: Syed Riyaz A.
Published: September 2014

Emerging water regulations and fresh water scarcity are driving the natural gas processing industries in Qatar towards implementing Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems. ZLD implies that all wastewater produced in the plant is contained within the plant fence and treated industrial and process water (TIPW) is not discharged into the environment.

This paper presents an evaluation of technologies, their potential effectiveness and challenges in achieving ZLD. Pre-treatment facilities for TIPW re-use generally consist of neutralisation and filtration packages, Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) strippers and Dissolved Air Floatation (DAF) and Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) units. A combination of technologies such as Brine Concentrators, Ultrafiltration (UF), Reverse Osmosis (RO), evaporation-crystallisation unit, and other emerging technologies, are considered as viable solutions for ZLD. However, space limitations, capital expenditure, and concentrate management (brine disposal minimisation) are being recognised as significant obstacles for the existing plants. Deep well injections, evaporation ponds (and landfill disposal options) and discharge to the marine environment (with proper mixing) are the only feasible options for disposal of concentrated brine. With restrictive environmental permits and requirements for these disposal methods, industrial facilities find it difficult to economically justify a ZLD system. A combination of re-concentration techniques and a comprehensive utilisation of concentrated brine, with supportive governmental policies, would be one of the most effective ways to fulfill ZLD.
Precision Manure Management across Site‐Specific Management Zones: Grain Yield and Economic Analysis
Authors: Moshia M. E. , Khosla R. , Longchamps L. , Reich R. , Davis J. G. , Westfall D. G.
Published: September 2014

Precision manure management is a relatively new concept that merges the best agronomic and manure management practices along with precision agricultural techniques, such as site‐specific management zones (MZs), for agricultural productivity and environmental quality. The objective of the study was to assess the influence and compare the economic efficiency of variable‐rate applications of animal manure on grain yield in maize (Zea maysL.) fields across MZs in limited irrigation cropping systems. The study was conducted on furrow‐irrigated maize fields in northeastern Colorado, USA. Fields were classified into low, medium, and high yielding MZs, based on soil color, elevation, and yield history. Experimental strips were 4.5 m wide and 540 m long spanning across all MZs with manure and N fertilizer management strategies nested within MZs. Variable‐rate manure applications of 22, 44, and 67 Mg ha–1were considered for variable yield goal (VYG) and constant yield goal (CYG) manure management strategies. The results of this study indicates that maize grain yield was significantly different across MZs a majority of times, however, not always consistent with the MZ productivity level. For instance, the low MZ showed a significantly (P≤ 0.05) higher grain yield under a CYG manure management strategy. The enterprise budget analysis indicated that application of animal manure alone was economically inefficient for maize grain production. The study suggests that variable‐rates of manure can be used in conjunction with synthetic N fertilizer to ensure that crop N requirements are met at early growth stages of maize.
Soybean Seed Treatments Interact with Locations for Populations, Yield, and Partial Returns
Authors: Cox William J. , Cherney Jerome H.
Published: September 2014

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] prices and profitability have increased recently, so growers manage the crop more intensively, including using seed treatments. Field‐scale studies were conducted at four locations in New York in 2012 and 2013 to evaluate agronomic and economic responses to rhizobia (Bradyrhizobium japonicum), biological, fungicide, and insecticide seed treatments. Plant populations, yield, and partial returns had location × seed treatment interactions. Rhizobia, biological, and fungicide seed treatments vs. untreated seed increased plant populations by 22 and 8% but not yield at two locations. Rhizobia, biological, fungicide, and insecticide seed treatments vs. untreated seed increased plant populations (20 and 10%) and yield (7 and 4.5%) at two other locations, along with partial returns (US$155 ha−1) where yield increased by 7% but not where yield increased by 4.5%. Growers seeded at 383,000 to 492,000 seeds ha−1, which may have been too high to fully realize the benefit of seed treatments. Application of rhizobia at planting vs. untreated seed did not increase yield and partial returns, even at locations where soybean had been grown only twice in the previous 10 yr. Growers who are risk averse to poor plant establishment will probably apply biological, fungicide, and insecticide seed treatments, whereas growers who are risk averse to additional inputs without a high probability of increased profit will probably not apply seed treatments or rhizobia inoculant, especially if low market prices prevail. The results of this study are site specific, so growers should conduct strip tests to determine if soybean seed treatments or rhizobia inoculants are beneficial, given their production practices, soil resources, and risk tolerance.
Field Test and Sensitivity Analysis of a Sensible Heat Balance Method to Determine Soil Ice Contents
Authors: Kojima Yuki , Heitman Joshua L. , Flerchinger Gerald N. , Ren Tusheng , Ewing Robert P. , Horton Robert
Published: September 2014

Soil ice content impacts winter vadose zone hydrology. It may be possible to estimate changes in soil ice content with a sensible heat balance (SHB) method, using measurements from heat pulse (HP) sensors. Feasibility of the SHB method is unknown because of difficulties in measuring soil thermal properties in partially frozen soils. The objectives of this study were (i) to examine the SHB method for determining in situ ice content, and (ii) to evaluate the required accuracy of HP sensors for use in the SHB method. Heat pulse sensors were installed in a bare field to measure soil temperatures and thermal properties during freezing and thawing events. In situ soil ice contents were determined at 60‐min intervals with SHB theory. Sensitivity of the SHB method to temperature, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and time step size was analyzed based on numerically produced soil freezing and thawing events. The in situ ice contents determined with the SHB method were sometimes unrealistically large or even negative. Thermal conductivity accuracy and time step size were the key factors contributing to SHB errors, while temperature and heat capacity accuracy had less influence. Ice content estimated with a 15‐min SHB time step was more accurate than that estimated with a 60‐min time step. Sensitivity analysis indicated that measurement errors in soil temperature and thermal conductivity should be less than ±0.05°C and ±20%, respectively, but the error in the soil heat capacity could vary by ±50%. Thus, improving the accuracy of thermal conductivity measurements and using short time steps are required to accurately estimate soil ice contents with the SHB method.
Long‐Term Leachate Water Quality Trends from a Broiler‐Litter‐Amended Udult in a Karst Region
Authors: McMullen R.L. , Brye K.R. , Daigh A.L. , Miller D.M. , Gbur E.E. , Pirani A.L. , Evans-White M.A. , Mason R.E.
Published: September 2014

Application of broiler (Gallus gallus) litter (BL) to pasturelands in karst regions like the Ozark Highlands can potentially reduce water quality due to leaching of BL‐derived nutrients and trace metals. The objective of this study was to determine long‐term linear trends in drainage and soil leachate water quality under natural precipitation from a silt‐loam soil amended annually with BL at three application rates (0 [control], 5.6 [low], and 11.2 [high] Mg BL ha−1]. Automated equilibrium tension lysimeters were used to continuously monitor and collect leachate from an undisturbed soil profile with a history of litter applications under forage management at a depth of 0.9 m for the 8‐yr period from May 2003 through April 2011. Average annual flow‐weighted mean (FWM) concentrations and loads of NH4–N, As, Mn, and Ni decreased linearly (P < 0.05), while Cu and Se increased (P < 0.05) linearly during the 8 yr. Nearly all water quality parameters measured were unaffected (P > 0.05) by BL rate alone. Continued annual additions of BL linearly increased (P < 0.05) the average annual FWM leachate Na concentrations relative to the unamended control. Results indicated that pasturelands with a history of BL application may continue to release BL‐derived metals, such as As and Se, at concentrations harmful to health regardless of current management practice long after litter application has ceased. Land application of nutrient‐ and trace‐metal‐containing animal wastes in regions with underlying karst features needs to be carefully managed to minimize subsoil leaching losses.
Remembering: A Narrative with Different Characters
Authors: Carroll Lesley
Published: September 2014

I recently attended a conference at which a speaker from Romania posed this question:

How do we transmit the memory of atrocities, victimhood dictatorship, to people who have already heard that story, only with different characters?

In this article I take remembering in Northern Ireland as a story with different characters. A shared narrative to transmit the memory of what happened over thirty years of Northern Irelands Troubles remains to be told by and for the whole society. The purpose of a shared narrative is to contribute to a number of mechanisms that direct society to a future in which what happened in the past will never happen again. By a shared narrative I mean one that reflects the different characters and experiences, from different local experiences to different individual and community experiences. An agreed narrative is not possible at this time and perhaps that should never be the ambition for it would obscure the many characters within the one narrative. The kind of narrative that is shared may be defined as a ‘composite’ narrative that tells about individuals within the broader context of what was happening across Northern Ireland. It is important that remembering is understood to be narrative and not event, composite and not obscuring the characters involved. I will reflect on visits to Yad Vashem and the Kigali Memorial Centre as place where narrative was evoked about how to remember well for a better future where there has been conflict. I will share some of that challenges to remembering together in Northern Ireland and I will look to the Passover Seder and Lord's Supper for wisdom. I will conclude with some challenges to remembering as a contributor to peacemaking but without betrayal.