bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Employing Statistical Machine Reading for Inferring Key Concepts of a Research Field From a Body of Abstracts and Blog Posts
Authors: Ng Wenfa
Published: October 2021

The world of science is drowned in a wealth of information. How to make sense of this wealth of published articles, blog posts and abstracts has become an important challenge given the importance of science to different aspects of societal function. At the crux of the issue lies the increasing trend where scientific discovery informs decision making at the societal level. One example, is the elucidation of the ozone hole to the promulgation of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, and documenting increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration led to climate action and signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015. Hence, understanding a research field becomes an important need for many decision makers across different sectors of society. But, the scientific literature is cryptic and esoteric, and presents a significant barrier to comprehension. One approach to ameliorate the problem is statistical machine reading, which provides the critical capability of identifying key concepts that underpins a research field. Such important concepts help provide an incision point to gain further understanding of the field and initiating further conversation about the field. This work sought to validate the concept of whether applying statistical machine reading to a body of literature comprising short blog posts and abstracts of published articles help in understanding the field of metabolic engineering. One important angle pursued in this research is whether the tabulated list of terms and phrases identified by statistical machine reading could be creatively analyzed to gain a deeper understanding of the research field. For example, the most frequently occurring terms and phrases could describe key concepts of the research field. Moving down in frequency occurrence would be terms and phrases that describe methodologies and approaches of the field. Finally, less frequently occurring terms and phrases may be tools and resources used in the research field. Results validated the utility of statistical machine reading in identifying important terms and phrases associated with the research field. But the small dataset of blog posts and abstracts used in this study severely hampered the identification of most of the key concepts of metabolic engineering, which is a fairly broad field of research. Overall, statistical machine reading shows utility in identifying terms and phrases that could describe a field. However, the level of understanding is closely tied in to the breadth and depth of reading material available, which meant that the methodology is data intensive in nature. Future use of supercomputing or quantum computing could help alleviate constraints of computational capacity, and help tackle the exponential rise in computational complexity as the size of the reading material for machine reading expands.
Decapods Associated with the Southern King Crab (Lithodes santolla) Fishery in Central Patagonia (44º S, Chile).
Authors: Figueroa-Muñoz Guillermo , Molinet Carlos , Diaz Manuel , De los Rios-Escalante Patricio
Published: October 2021

The Southern king crab, Lithodes santolla, is an important fishery resource in the inner seas of Chilean Patagonia. The fishing gear used to catch Southern king crab (bait trap) and its operation at different depths over several months provide the opportunity to gather information about relative abundance. The aim of the present study was to analyze the information collected from the catches of Southern king crab and its associated fauna in the Magdalena Fjord to study the biodiversity and ecology of scavenging decapod crustaceans. Specifically, the study aimed to determine the bathymetric patterns of abundance by species, to model the abundance by season (winter and spring) and to determine the structuring pattern of scavenging decapods assemblage. Samples were collected between June and November 2019 by deploying traps in four bathymetric strata: 1 = 0–50 m; 2 = 51–100 m; 3 =101–150 m; 4 = 151–200 m. We registered a total of 673 decapod specimens associated with the Southern king crab fishery, representing five species: Lithodes santolla (n = 96), Libidoclaea smithii (n = 10), Metacarcinus edwardsii (n = 58), Munida gregaria (n = 507) and Peltarion spinulosum (n = 2). The abundance of decapod species varied by month and bathymetric strata. We found bathymetric patterns for L. santolla abundance, M. gregaria, M. edwardsii, and total species abundance. The most informative model to explain scavenging decapod abundance by GLM included species and season. The null model of species co-occurrence analysis revealed that all species associations during the sampled months were random. Our study is the first that provides evidence about patterns of bathymetrical and temporal variation of scavenging decapod abundance and expands the body of knowledge regarding the biodiversity of scavenger decapods in the Magdalena Sound, which currently is affected by multiple stressors such as climate change and anthropic activities (aquaculture and fisheries).
Biological Contamination: A Serious Constraint in Large Scale Microalgae Biomass Production
Authors: Makut Bidhu Bhusan , Samantaray Saubhagya Manjari
Published: October 2021

Microalgae biomass is a budding raw material for the origination of food, fuel, and other value-added products. However, bulk production of microalgal biomass at commercial level is a herculean task for the current microalgal mass production technologies due to the undesirable contaminations by biological pollutants. These contaminants hamstring the production of microalgae biomass by debilitating the growth of cultures, crumble the quality of biomass and sometimes may crash the whole culture. The best utilization of the microalgae biomass at industrial level could be attained by avoiding various possible biological contaminations in mass cultivation system, understanding the contamination mechanisms, and the complex interactions of algae with other microorganisms. This review explores the various types of biological pollutants, their possible mode of infection along with mechanisms, different controlling methods to maintain desired microalgae culture.
The Influence of Coaching Behavior on Job Satisfaction in Hong Kong
Authors: Sakib S M Nazmuz
Published: October 2021

Coaches are vital stakeholders in sports development and player/team performances. However, how they perform as coaches is significantly anchored on their relationship with players as the coach-player relationship influences coach’s roles and responsibilities. This study aimed to establish an understanding of how coaching behavior positively influences job satisfaction in Hong Kong. This study sought to achieve the following objectives; to investigate coaching traits for coaching different sports, explore the factors contributing to a coaching behavior, identify effects of coaching behavior on job satisfaction, and describe how coaching behaviors influence the way coaches react to player behavior and competitions. The study used a quantitative research approach to collect and analyze data. A closed-ended questionnaire was used. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. The main finding of this study is that career commitment positively influences coaches’ job satisfaction; however, their coaching behavior plays a substantial mediating role. This implies that coaches with high career commitment are positively satisfied with coaching when they focus on coaching behavior factors such as effective communication to have their players perform and achieve common goals.
Application of Life-cycle Assessment for the Study of Carbon and Water Footprints of the 16.5 MWe Wind Farm in Villonaco, Loja – Ecuador
Authors: Tama Franco Alberto
Published: October 2021

Wind technology is considered to be among the most promising types of renewable energy sources, and due to high oil prices and growing concerns about climate change and energy security, it has been the subject of extensive considerations in recent years, including questions related to the relative sustainability of electricity production when the manufacturing, assembly, transportation and dismantling processes of these facilities are taken into account. The present article evaluates the environmental impacts, carbon emissions and water consumption, derived from the production of electric energy of the Villonaco wind farm, located in Loja-Ecuador, during its entire life cycle, using the Life Cycle Analysis method. Finally, it is concluded that wind energy has greater environmental advantages, since it has lower values of carbon and water footprints than other energy sources. Additionally, with the techniques Cumulative Energy Demand and Energy Return on Investment, sustainability in the production of electricity from wind power in Ecuador is demonstrated; and, that due to issues of vulnerability to climate change, the diversification of its energy mix is essential considering the inclusion of non-conventional renewable sources such as solar or wind, this being the only way to reduce both the carbon footprint and the water supply power.
Contributions of Nature-Based Solutions to Reduce Peoples’ Vulnerabilities to Climate Change across the Rural Global South
Authors: Woroniecki Stephen , Spiegelenberg Femke Anna , Chausson Alexandre , Turner Beth , Key Isabel , Irfanullah Haseeb , Seddon Nathalie
Published: October 2021

Nature-based solutions (NbS) —i.e. working with and enhancing nature to address societal challenges— feature with increasing prominence in responses to climate change, including in the adaptation plans of the most vulnerable nations. Although evidence for the effectiveness of NbS for adaptation is growing, there is less evidence on whether and how NbS reduce vulnerability to climate change in the Global South, despite this region being home to most of the world’s most climate-vulnerable people. To address this, we analysed the vulnerability-reduction outcomes of 85 nature-based interventions in rural areas across the Global South, and factors mediating their effectiveness, based on a systematic map of peer-reviewed studies encompassing a wide diversity of ecosystems, climate impacts, intervention types and institutions. We applied an analytical framework based on social-ecological systems and climate change vulnerability, coding studies with respect to six pathways of vulnerability reduction: social and ecological exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. We find widespread effectiveness of NbS in the dataset with 95% providing positive outcomes for climate change adaptation. Overall, nature-based interventions reduced vulnerability primarily by lowering ecosystem sensitivity to climate impacts (73% of interventions), followed by reducing social sensitivity (43%), reducing ecological exposure (37%), and/or increasing social adaptive capacity (34%), ecological adaptive capacity (18%) and reducing social exposure (12%). With an analysis of mediating factors, we show that vulnerability-reduction effectiveness was affected as much by social and political factors as by technical considerations. Indeed configurations of existing and introduced formal and informal institutions appear central to the efficacy and distributive effects of the studied interventions. We conclude that attention to the distinct pathways through which vulnerability is reduced can help maximise the benefits of NbS and that to be successful, careful consideration is required on their applicability to particular circumstances as well as their social dimensions.
Multi Stimuli Responsive Materials Supported by Orthogonal Hydrogen and Halogen Bonding or I···Alkene Interaction
Authors: Frangville Pierre , Kumar Shiv , Gelbcke Michel , Van Hecke Kristof , Meyer Franck
Published: October 2021

Smart materials represent an elegant class of (macro)-molecules endowed with the ability to react to chemical/physical changes in the environment. Herein, we prepared new photo responsive azobenzenes possessing halogen bond donor groups. The X-ray structures of two molecules highlight supramolecular organizations governed by unusual noncovalent bonds. In azo dye I-azo-NO2, the nitro group is engaged in orthogonal H···O···I halogen and hydrogen bonding, linking the units in parallel undulating chains. As concern parent I-azo-NH-MMA, a non-centrosymmetric pattern is formed due to a very rare I···π interaction involving the alkene group supplemented by hydrogen bonds. The Cambridge Structural Database contains only four structures with the same I···CH2=C contact. For all compounds, a 19F NMR spectroscopic analysis confirms the formation of halogen bonds in solution through a recognition process with chloride anion, and the reversible photo-responsiveness is demonstrated upon exposing a solution to UV light irradiation. Finally, intermediate I-azo-NO2 also shows a pronounced color change due to pH variation. These azobenzenes are thereby attractive building blocks to design multi-stimuli responsive materials for highly functional devices.
Bible and Spiritual Intelligence: Conceptual Analysis
Authors: Moleka Pitshou
Published: October 2021

Since the works of Zohar, the concept of spiritual intelligence has been at the center of scientific debates, but exegetical and philological, and other studies have revealed that this concept is not new (Zinsstag, 2010; Moleka, 2021a). The Bible speaks about it with Hebrew words (hokhmah, binah) and Greek words (phronesis, sunesis, noûs, and sophia). In this essay, we examine spiritual intelligence from a philosophical standpoint and discuss some ramifications, such as ethos.
An Assessment of Spatio-Temporal Characteristics of Lightning Occurrence with Elevation, a Case of Uganda
Authors: Wasswa Peter , Sabiiti Geoffrey , Okal Harriette , Kato Paul , Lunyolo Joyce , Namulindwa Harriet
Published: October 2021

Lightning has received a lot of attention in scientific literature during the recent decade, not only because it is an impressive atmospheric phenomenon but also its associations with severe storms that cause unprecedented damages to agriculture, electric power networks, property, and life. This study assessed the Spatio-temporal characteristics of lightning occurrence with elevation in Uganda using lightning flash and elevation datasets for a period of fifteen years (1998-2013). Datasets used in this study included daily lightning flashes as captured by Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) aboard on Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) satellite and elevation data in form of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) obtained from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). Spatio-temporal results indicated that ~80% of areas with an elevation that ranges from 800-1200 m above mean sea level (masl) in Uganda had severe lightning occurrences and ~20% of areas with an elevation greater than 1200 m (masl) had severe lightning occurrences. The country received an enhanced number of lighting events with the highest number in 1999. Subsequently, a reduced trend was observed from 2002 to 2007 followed by an increment in the number of lightning events in (2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013). The intensity of the events decreased gradually though two peaks were observed, (1998-2001) and (2010-2013). Furthermore, results indicate escalations in the frequency and duration of lightning events from 60 times in 1998 to approximately 200 times in 2013 and from 1000 microseconds in 1998 to more than 2000 microseconds in 2013. Generally, the country experienced an enhanced increase in lighting occurrences over the study period which therefore calls for urgent actions to combat the root cause and also provide effective measures to reduce the impacts of lightning strikes.
Properties of the Ignimbrites in the Architecture of the Historical Center of Arequipa, Peru
Authors: Bustamante Rosa , Vázquez Patricia , Prendes Nicanor
Published: October 2021

The petrographic and petrophysical characteristics of three varieties of ignimbrites used in the architectural heritage of Arequipa (southwest Peru) are analyzed. The modal classification QAFP and TAS diagram discriminate their dacitic nature. Mercury injection porometry revealed very high porosity: 46.5% for white and beige ignimbrites and 35.5% for the pink variety. Ignimbrites contain intrusions of vulcanodetrital fragments and vacuoles that influence their predominantly non-linear mechanical behavior. Results of water absorption by capillarity (C) and ultrasound pulse velocity (UPV) demonstrated a slight anisotropy for the beige variety and near isotropy for white and pink ignimbrites, which justify the randomness of the application of the ashlars in the masonry and in the selection of the faces to carve. Surfaces with hollows in the white and beige ignimbrites are the result of the erosion of the acicular pumice that fills the vacuoles.
Evaporation Induced Crystal Nucleation and Morphology of Dried Poly (Vinylidene Fluoride) Droplets
Authors: Liang Yongri , Wang Susu
Published: October 2021

The evaporation of polymer solution droplet is an important in solution-based polymer film fabrications, such as inkjet print, spray coatings, and droplet casting etc. In this work, we investigated the effect of droplet size, solvent evaporation rate, and concentration on “coffee-ring” effect, crystal nucleation, polymorphism, and morphology of dried poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) solution droplets with atomic force microscopy (AFM) method. We found that the crystal structure, morphology and crystal distribution in the center and edge regions of dried PVDF droplets were different due to “coffee-ring” effect. The “coffee-ring” effect of dried PVDF droplets was mainly composited of accumulated crystals at the edge region of droplet, which was mainly made by crystallization of migrated chains. The interplay between migration of chains, crystallization and solidification of PVDF droplets significantly influenced the formation of “coffee-ring”. In addition, our results showed that the decrease of droplet size and controlling solvent evaporation rate were effective ways to improve the PVDF β-phase nucleation and decrease crystal size.
Hand Hygiene Knowledge and Perception Among the Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Qassim, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Abalkhail Adil , Mahmud Ilias , Alhumaydhi Fahad A. , Alslamah Thamer , Alwashmi Ameen S S , Vinnakota Divya , Kabir Russell
Published: October 2021

Hand hygiene is among the most important factors of infection control in healthcare settings. Healthcare workers are considered the primary source of hospital acquired infection. We assessed the current state of hand hygiene knowledge, perception and practice among the healthcare workers in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. In this cross-sectional study we used the hand hygiene knowledge and perception questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization. Knowledge and perceptions were classified into good (80 – 100%), moderate (60 – 79%) and poor (<60% score). Majority of the healthcare workers had moderate knowledge (57.8%) and perception (73.4%) of hand hygiene. Males were less likely to have moderate/good knowledge compared to females (OR: 0.52, p<.05). Private healthcare workers were less likely (OR: 0.33, p<0.01) to have moderate/good perception compared to the government healthcare workers. Healthcare workers who received training on hand hygiene were 3.2 times likely (p<.05) to have good/moderate perception and 3.8 times likely (p<0.05) to routinely use alcohol-based hand-rub than the ones without such training. Physicians were 4.9 times likely (p<0.05) to routinely use alcohol-based hand-rub than the technicians. Our research highlighted gaps on hand hygiene knowledge and perception and practice among healthcare workers in Qassim and importance of training in this regard.
Covid-19 Maneuver on Socio-economic: Exploitation Using Correlation
Authors: Roy Juliansyah , Hasid Zamruddin , Lestari Diana , Darma Dio Caisar , Kurniawan A Erwin
Published: October 2021

Apart from the health aspect, Covid-19 has also had socio-economic effects from the fragile balance of development that has designed so far. Instantly, humans experience suffering that is difficult to predict when it will stop. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the fragility of the socio-economic order because of Covid-19. These two motifs are the basic essence of human beings, especially the population in Indonesia. A two-way correlation applied to the IBM SPSS to predict the effect of Covid-19 on poverty, natality, minimum wages, divorce, GRDP per capita, unemployment, and crime over two periods. The database is as cross-section covering ten areas in East Kalimantan Province. We found the importance of the correlation parameter in this study that it turns out that Covid-19 closely related to the minimum wage, unemployment, and crime. Because Covid-19 has a positive effect on these three variables and the probability has met the criteria, this is also the right instrument for the government in determining special strategies. The implications of the research are to contribute to long-term management in disaster mitigation planning.
Determinants of Job Satisfaction and Its Implications for the Lecturers Performance
Authors: Subarto Subarto , Solihin Dede , Qurbani Derita
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this research is to examine the positive effects of leadership style, work environment, and organizational climate on lecturer performance through Pamulang University’s job satisfaction. Researchers used the quantitative research method in this study. The data was collected by using questionnaires distributed through surveys. Proportional random sampling was used, earning 135 samples, and partial least squares (PLS) were used for statistical analysis. The results show that leadership style, work environment, and organizational climate have an impact on job satisfaction. Job satisfaction affects the performance of lecturers. Leadership style, work environment, and organizational atmosphere will also affect the performance of lecturers. Job satisfaction can mediate the influence of leadership style, work environment, and organizational climate on lecturer performance. This research is expected to be a recommendation for Pamulang University on how to improve lecturer performance which can be tried by improving leadership style, work environment, organizational climate, and job satisfaction.
Supporting Health Equity Through Data-Driven Decision-Making: A Local Health Department Response to COVID-19
Authors: Hansotte Elinor , Bowman Elizabeth , Gibson P. Joseph , Dixon Brian E. , Madden Virgil R. , Caine Virginia A.
Published: October 2021

COVID-19 highlights preexisting inequities that affect health outcomes and access to care for Black and Brown Americans. The Marion County Public Health Department in Indiana sought to address inequities in COVID-19 testing by using surveillance data to place community testing sites in areas with the highest incidence of disease. Testing site demographic data indicated that targeted testing reached populations with the highest disease burden, suggesting that local health departments can effectively use surveillance data as a tool to address inequities. (Am J Public Health. 2021;111(S3):S197–S200. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306421 )
Cross-Sector Monitoring and Evaluation Framework: Social, Economic, and Health Conditions Impacted During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Wong Eva Y. , Schachter Abigail , Collins Hannah N. , Song Lin , Ta Myduc L. , Dawadi Shuva , Neal Scott , Pajimula Fel F. , Colombara Danny V. , Johnson Kristen , Laurent Amy A.
Published: October 2021

Public Health 3.0 approaches are critical for monitoring disparities in economic, social, and overall health impacts following the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated policy changes to slow community spread. Timely, cross-sector data as identified using this approach help decisionmakers identify changes, track racial disparities, and address unintended consequences during a pandemic.

We applied a monitoring and evaluation framework that combined policy changes with timely, relevant cross-sector data and community review. Indicators covered unemployment, basic needs, family violence, education, childcare, access to health care, and mental, physical, and behavioral health. In response to increasing COVID-19 cases, nonpharmaceutical intervention strategies were implemented in March 2020 in King County, Washington. By December 2020, 554 000 unemployment claims were filed. Social service calls increased 100%, behavioral health crisis calls increased 25%, and domestic violence calls increased 25%, with disproportionate impact on communities of color.

This framework can be replicated by local jurisdictions to inform and address racial inequities in ongoing COVID-19 mitigation and recovery. Cross-sector collaboration between public health and sectors addressing the social determinants of health are an essential first step to have an impact on long-standing racial inequities. (Am J Public Health. 2021;111(S3):S215–S223. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306422 )
Successful, Easy to Access, Online Publication of COVID-19 Data During the Pandemic, New York City, 2020
Authors: Montesano Matthew Peter Mannix , Johnson Kimberly , Tang Andrew , Slutsker Jennifer Sanderson , Chan Pui Ying , Guerra Kevin , MacGregor Jennifer , Grossman Jeffrey , Kennelly Maura , Thompson Corinne N.
Published: October 2021

Making public health data easier to access, understand, and use makes it more likely that the data will be influential. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Web-based data communication became a cornerstone of NYC’s response and allowed the public, journalists, and researchers to access and understand the data in a way that supported the pandemic response and brought attention to the deeply unequal patterns of COVID-19’s morbidity and mortality in NYC. (Am J Public Health. 2021;111(S3):S193–S196. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306446 )
Mobile Harbor, Alabama navigation study : ship simulation report
Authors: Johnston Morgan , Kim Sung-Chan , Allison Mary
Published: October 2021

Mobile Bay is a large estuary located in the southwest corner of Alabama, which connects to the Gulf of Mexico. Mobile Harbor contains the only port in the state that supports ocean-going vessels. Some of the larger vessels calling on the port experience transit delays and limited cargo capacity, so a study was conducted by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District (CESAM), and the Alabama State Port Authority to investigate channel improvements. In 2017, the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) assisted CESAM in screening proposed deepening and widening alternatives in Mobile Bay by completing a Feasibility Level Ship Simulation (FLSS) study using the ERDC Ship/Tow Simulator. These lower-resolution databases from the FLSS study were used as a foundation to complete a more robust navigation study in 2020 to test the proposed modifications to Mobile Harbor. During this study, three main areas were focused on: a bend easing, a passing lane, and a turning basin. Testing of the proposed design was evaluated over the course of 2 weeks with eight pilots. Assessment of the proposed modifications was accomplished through analysis of ship simulations completed by experienced local pilots, discussions, track plots, run sheets, and final pilot surveys.
UNDERSTANDING MARKET REACTION TO COVID-19 MONETARY AND FISCAL STIMULUS IN MAJOR ASEAN COUNTRIES
Authors: Rizvi Syed Aun R. , Juhro Solikin M. , Narayan Paresh K.
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we examine the effect of fiscal and monetary policy stimulus actions during the COVID-19 pandemic on the stock markets of four ASEAN countries, namely, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Using time-series regression models, we show the relative importance of monetary and fiscal policies. Our findings suggest that 7-days after the policy announcement, fiscal policies helped cushion financial market losses in Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. We do not find any robust evidence of policy effectiveness for Malaysia. While our investigation is preliminary it opens an additional avenue for understanding the effectiveness of policy stimulus.
Provenance of the Incipient Passive Margin of NW Laurentia (Neoproterozoic): Detrital Zircon from Continental Slope and Basin Floor Deposits of the Windermere Supergroup, Southern Canadian Cordillera
Authors: Hadlari Thomas , Arnott R. W. C. , Matthews W. A. , Poulton T. P. , Root K. , Madronich L. I.
Published: October 2021

The origin of the passive margin forming the paleo-Pacific western edge of the ancestral North American continent (Laurentia) constrains the breakup of Rodinia and sets the stage for the Phanerozoic evolution of Laurentia. The Windermere Supergroup in the southern Canadian Cordillera records rift-to-drift sedimentation in the form of a prograding continental margin deposited between ~730 and 570 Ma. New U-Pb detrital zircon analysis from samples of the post-rift deposits shows that the ultimate source area was the shield of NW Laurentia and the near uniformity of age spectra are consistent with a stable continental drainage system. No western sediment source area was detected. Detrital zircon from postrift continental slope deposits are a proxy for ca. 676-656 Ma igneous activity in the Windermere basin, likely related to continental breakup, and set a maximum depositional age for slope deposits on the eastern side of the basin at 652±9 Ma. These results are consistent with previous interpretations. The St. Mary-Moyie fault zone near the Canada-U.S. border was most likely a major transform boundary separating a rifted continental margin to the north from intracratonic rift basins to the south, resolving north-south variations along western Laurentia in the late Neoproterozoic at approximately 650-600 Ma. For Rodinia reconstructions, the conjugate margin to the southern Canadian Cordillera would have a record of rifting between ~730 and 650 Ma followed by passive margin sedimentation.
Cretaceous Subsurface Geology of the Middle East Region
Authors: Christian Louis
Published: October 2021

A regional structure contour map at Near Top Cretaceous is based on hundreds of well tops from extensive bibliographic references from throughout the Middle East. This structure map shows strong basin asymmetry. Major faults are shown in outcrop and/or suspected at basement or intermediate levels, based in part on gravity and magnetics modeling, published and in ‘open file’ studies. Major uplifts associated with several super-giant oil and gas fields are clearly indicated even at the shallow Cretaceous level (Ghawar Anticline, Qatar Arch, Burgan-Khurais Trend, etc.), even at a very regional scale with a contour interval of 1,000 feet. Isopach maps of Upper, Middle, and Lower Cretaceous are contoured at intervals of 500 feet. Each of these three isopach maps is overprinted in color to show generalized lithofacies trends. Lower and Middle Cretaceous deltaic sandstone fairways on the western shelf provide excellent reservoir rocks for a trend containing many of the world’s very largest oil fields. Somewhat more basinward, predominantly carbonate facies include oil reservoirs in the Upper, Middle, and Lower Cretaceous. Deepest facies lie beneath the Zagros Foothills Belt in coastal Iran and eastern Iraq. This is particularly true for the Upper Cretaceous, where Coniacian to Maestrichtian thick, deep basinal shales, cherts, clastic turbidites, and slumped exotic blocks of ophiolites mark the northeastern border of the Late Cretaceous basin as it approaches the Main Zagros Fault and an assumed subduction zone underthrusting the Iranian Plate or Eurasia.
The Great Pearl Bank Barrier of the Arabian Gulf as a Possible Shu’aiba Analogue
Authors: Hughes Geraint W.
Published: October 2021

Within the Arabian Peninsula, the Shu’aiba Formation is one of three Cretaceous carbonate formations in which rudist bivalves are an important component. The favourable hydrocarbon reservoir properties of these carbonates are primarily attributed to the presence of the rudists and their associated debris, which accumulated along the margins of an intra-shelf basin. The rudist banks caused differentiation of an earlier carbonate platform into lagoon, back-bank, bank, fore-bank and open marine environments. Understanding of the orientation of these banks has been significantly assisted by micropalaeontological analysis of the rudist-associated sediment, but may be additionally enhanced by the study of Recent large bivalves, such as the ‘fan mussel’ Pinna spp. The depositional geometries of the rudist-dominated facies of the Shu’aiba Formation may be better understood by studying the Great Pearl Bank Barrier, located on the southern flank of the Arabian Gulf, as this may present a Recent analogue for variations in sedimentation and bioclast distribution.

The Great Pearl Bank Barrier complex includes a submarine ridge that extends for approximately 200 kilometers between the Qatar Peninsula and Abu Dhabi, and lies in water depths of less than 8 meters, together with a deep lagoon and barrier flank facies. The submarine barrier complex and the back island lagoons consist primarily of bivalve shells, sands and mud, in which are embedded locally dense populations of the large bivalve species Pinna bicolor Gmelin and P.mururicata (Linnaeus). These forms may serve as Recent counterparts for the extinct Aptian constratal elevator rudists, such as Glossomyophorus costatus Masse, Skelton and Sliskovic, with a form that resembles Pachytraga sp., and Agriopleura blumenbachi that characterise the back-barrier and lagoonal facies, respectively, of the Shu’aiba Formation in the region. The oysters that have colonised the barrier crest have a clinging habit and may occupy a niche that equates with the Aptian recumbent rudist Offneria murgensis.
Structural Development of Jebel Abd Al Aziz, Northeast Syria
Authors: Kent W. Norman , Hickman Robert G.
Published: October 2021

Jebel Abd Al Aziz, one of the most prominent topographic features in northeastern Syria, is a large surface anticline. An integrated structural and stratigraphic study conducted by Unocal from 1988 to 1995 resulted in recognition that Jebel Abd Al Aziz originated from inversion of a pre-existing graben. Understanding the complex structural and stratigraphic history of the Jebel Abd Al Aziz is important to hydrocarbon exploration and development in the northern Arabian tectonic plate. This importance is demonstrated by the strong correlation between hydrocarbon productive areas and the areas of Plio-Pleistocene structural inversion.

Our study illustrates how the evolution of this structure is recorded in its local stratigraphy. Prior to the development of the Jebel Abd Al Aziz structure, Senonian shelf carbonates prograded southward from Turkey into the Palmyride-Sinjar Trough that extended from west central to northeastern Syria. The shelf edge of this carbonate system was south of and subparallel to the Syrian border. In the Jebel Abd Al Aziz area, fine-grained basinal mudstones were deposited on a thin, transgressive, rudistid, bioclastic unit. In Early Maastrichtian, an east-west-trending graben developed at the present site of Jebel Abd Al Aziz. Reactivated northwest- and northeast-striking faults bound structural blocks within the graben. Seismic data indicate that the edges of the rift basin were deeply eroded. Valleys, cut into the sides of the basin along the trend of the older cross-cutting regional faults, exposed Carboniferous and possibly older strata. Olistostromes formed along the basin-bounding fault scarps and small turbidite fans developed at the channel mouths. Paleocurrent direction data from the turbidite sand bodies corresponds well with the trends of the valleys mapped on seismic data.

Maastrichtian-age sediments are largely confined to the graben proper. Early Tertiary sediments filled a wider basin, but there is evidence that minor episodic inversion on some northeast and northwest trending faults occurred during the Eocene and early Miocene. The main inversion of the Jebel Abd Al Aziz structure occurred in the Late Pliocene and Pleistocene. Inversion produced a large fault-propagation fold above east-west trending faults near the northern margin of the graben. Smaller folds developed above other graben-bounding faults and the northeast- and northwest-striking faults within the graben underwent oblique slip during the deformation.
Jurassic Sequence Stratigraphy of the Western and Southern Arabian Gulf
Authors: Al-Husseini Moujahed I.
Published: October 2021

The Jurassic sequence stratigraphic scheme for Central Saudi Arabia is extrapolated to the formations of the western and southern Arabian Gulf region resulting in a tentative chronostratigraphic framework. The framework is tentaively constrained as follows: (1) Upper Triassic-?Lower Jurassic continental clastics (Minjur and equivalents) and the subsequent pre-Toarcian unconformity indicate regional erosion and non-deposition over the Arabian platform. (2) A Toarcian sequence (Marrat and equivalents) provides a basal Jurassic regional datum, except in Oman. (3) The late Toarcian and Aalenian correspond to a substantial sea- level lowstand and a regional depositional hiatus. (4) The Middle Jurassic Dhruma Formation corresponds to four different sequences with a major intervening hiatus. The Upper Dhruma Member, together with the Tuwaiq Mountain form the topmost sequence. The correlation between the Dhruma, Tuwaiq Mountain, Hanifa and Jubaila formations, to their equivalents in other Arabian Gulf countries, requires clearer definitions. (5) The Arab and Hith Anhydrite formations are Tithonian based on their sequence assignment, while the Sulaiy Formation is Berriasian and straddles the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary. (6) The four Tithonian Arab carbonates may have been deposited as transgressive and early highstand deposits. The Tithonian Arab, Gotnia and Hith anhydrites may be late highstand deposits which overstep inland “salinas” (Gotnia and western Rub’ Al-Khali). Each carbonate and overlying anhydrite sequence appear to correspond to a complete third-order cycle. (7) The equivalents to the Kimmeridgian Jubaila Formation and Tithonian Arab carbonates are absent by non-deposition in Kuwait. In Oman, the Arab and Hith Anhydrite formations are absent by erosion. (8) The Tithonian Hith Anhydrite provides a final Jurassic regional, stratigraphic datum, except in Oman and eastern United Arab Emirates.
Source Rock Distribution and Thermal Maturity in the Southern Arabian Peninsula
Authors: Milner Penelope A.
Published: October 2021

Recent work by Phillips Petroleum in the Southern Arabian Peninsula has elucidated the source potential of the Palaeozoic strata. A group of newly drilled and older wells, together with exclusive and non-exclusive reports, have been used in order to develop improved maturation and migration models for emerging plays, and to gain a better understanding of the subsidence and maturation history of this large and diverse area. It has been possible to conduct comprehensive burial history modelling for a number of wells from Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This, together with the modelling of hypothetical wells derived from depth structure maps, has improved our understanding of oil- and gas-prone source rocks in the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Palaeozoic strata. The resultant maturity distribution has been developed with the aid of a more detailed structural model for the Southern Arabian Peninsula.

In tandem with this study, available cores and cuttings were analysed to measure source rock total organic carbon, maturity and richness parameters and summarised using proprietary techniques. It is concluded that the Jurassic Hanifa Formation is less mature and not source facies to the south and west of the Rub’ Al-Khali. The oil and gas mature source facies is present in the north and east of the Rub’ Al-Khali and in the Western Emirates. In addition, it is concluded that the oil mature Silurian source facies is confined to the narrow southern and western margins of the Rub’ Al-Khali. Outside this area the overmature area is in the core of the Rub’ Al-Khali extending northeast to the United Arab Emirates. The remaining area is modelled as gas mature in western Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Stratigraphy and Operational Palynology of the Devonian System in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Hajri Sa’id A. , Filatoff John , Wender Lawrence E. , Norton A. Kent
Published: October 2021

Surface and subsurface Devonian rocks of Saudi Arabia are correlated using a combination of palynology and sequence stratigraphy. Recent exploratory drilling in eastern Saudi Arabia has confirmed that sweet gas and condensate-bearing Devonian strata are preserved on the flanks of high-relief Hercynian structures such as Ghawar field. This Devonian succession is composed of three homogeneous litho-stratigraphic units, the Tawil, Jauf and Jubah formations that cannot be imaged seismically nor readily discerned with conventional wireline logs.

An operational palynological zonation was consequently devised based on first down-hole occurrences (i.e. extinctions) of encountered palynomorphs. This zonation was calibrated with the standard European spore zonations of Streel et al. (1987) and Richardson and McGregor (1986), and further controlled by mega-fossil data from outcrops in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Six palynozones, and four subzones, have been recognized. A particularly reliable late Early Devonian zone is based on the acme of an endemic Leiosphaeridia species. This palynosubzone coincides stratigraphically with the upper part of the gas-bearing Jauf Reservoir.
The Natih Petroleum System of North Oman
Authors: Terken Jos M.J.
Published: October 2021

The Cretaceous Natih petroleum system is one of the smaller petroleum systems in Oman, measuring only some 20,000 square kilometers in areal extent. Resource volumes of oil initially in-place, however, are significant and amount to 1.3x109 cubic meters (equivalent to 8.2 billion barrels). Most of the recoverable oil is concentrated in two giant fields that were discovered in the early 1960s. Since that prolific time no new major discoveries have been made, except some marginally economic accumulations in the early 1980s.

To evaluate the remaining hydrocarbon potential of the system, the oil kitchen was mapped and its generation and migration histories modeled and integrated with the regional setting to outline the geographical and stratigraphical extent of the petroleum system. The volume of liquid hydrocarbons generated by Natih source rocks was calculated and compared to the estimated oil-in-place to determine the generation-trapping efficiency of the petroleum system. Some 100x109 cubic meters of source rock is currently mature and produced a cumulative volume of 14x109 cubic meters (88 billion barrels) oil. Of this volume 9% has actually been discovered and 0.25x109 cubic meters (1.57 billion barrels) are currently booked as recoverable reserves, equivalent to 1.8% of the total generated volume. Both percentages classify the Natih petroleum system as the most efficient system in Oman.

This extreme efficiency results from several factors, such as: (1) modest structural deformation in the foreland basin, which permits lateral migration to remain the dominant style; (2) abundant and uninterrupted access to oil charge from an active kitchen in the foreland basin; and (3) excellent intra-formational source rocks, which is retained by thick Fiqa shales. Most structural prospects have been tested in four decades of exploration. The remaining hydrocarbon potential is anticipated to exist mainly in stratigraphic traps in Fiqa turbidites in the foreland basin, and truncation traps across the northern flank of the peripheral bulge.
Subsalt Depth Imaging Using 3-D VSP Technique in the Ras El Ush Field, Gulf of Suez, Egypt
Authors: Badri Mohammed A. , Taha Taha M. , Wiley Robert W.
Published: October 2021

In 1995 oil was discovered in the pre-Miocene Matulla and Nubia Sandstones in the Ras El Ush field, Gulf of Suez, Egypt. The discovery was based on an aeromagnetic anomaly from a basement high. After drilling several delineation wells, based on a geological model, it became evident that the field is very complex as it is broken into tilted and rotated compartmental blocks by two perpendicular fault systems. Also the 2-D seismic data were of poor quality beneath the thick Miocene South Gharib Evaporite. Since part of the field lies below shallow-water, 3-D seismic was considered to be too costly. When a delineation well did not encounter the reservoir, due to an unanticipated fault, a 2-D walkaway Vertical Seismic Profile (VSP) was acquired. It clearly revealed the presence of a cross fault. The success of the 2-D VSP in imaging the fault led to the acquisition of the first Middle East 3-D VSP survey in the following well. A downhole, tri-axial, five geophone array tool was used to acquire the 3-D VSP. The 3-D volume of the final migrated VSP data provided the means for the reliable mapping of horizons beneath the South Gharib Evaporite. These maps improved the definition of the field and helped detect previously unrecognized prospective blocks. Four further successful delineation wells confirmed the 3-D VSP interpretation.
Carbonate Platform to Basin Transition along an Upper Cretaceous to Lower Tertiary Syrian Arc Uplift, Galala Plateaus, Eastern Desert of Egypt
Authors: Kuss Jochen , Scheibner Christian , Gietl Ralf
Published: October 2021

Biostratigraphic and facies analyses were made on Upper Campanian to Lower Eocene strata along a 58-kilometer-long dip transect across the Northern and Southern Galala plateaus, west of the Gulf of Suez. The analyses enabled us to reconstruct the evolution of a platform–slope–basin transition that is roughly parallel with the trend of the plateaus. We interpret individual sedimentary cycles as processes of a southward-prograding carbonate platform that developed along a branch of the Syrian Arc Fold Belt. The Northern Galala area was a structural high as shown by hiatuses spanning Late Cretaceous (Coniacian) to Early Paleocene times. To the south, carbonate platform progradation is evident from the Late Campanian onward. Late Cretaceous platform-derived slope deposits interfinger with basinal chalks and calcareous shales farther south. Early Tertiary carbonates were deposited in platform, slope, and basin settings. The evolution of the platform–slope–basin transition is documented by the changing large-scale depositional geometry. The evolution occurs within sedimentary sequences that are interpreted by means of a high-resolution biostratigraphic framework. The facies architecture reflects the evolution from a rimmed shelf (Late Cretaceous) to a distally steepened ramp (latest Cretaceous to Paleocene) and eventually to a homoclinal ramp (Early Eocene). The reconstruction of the imprint of fluctuating sea levels on the sedimentary record has been used to establish comparisons with age-equivalent cycles from neighboring regions.