bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Object in Motion Stays in Motion
Authors: Dragani Jarrett
Published: February 2016

What’s Ahead–From TWA’s Editor-in-Chief

Being a young professional working in the oil and gas industry right now means learning a lot of things the tough way. Our business is changing rapidly, working to reflect the changing realities of a cyclical commodity, changes to environmental legislation, and increased technical rigor required to explore for and produce oil and gas. This means that for many young professionals, the required skill sets are changing quickly as is the need for certain expertise.

I suspect many people have gone through some major career transitions in the last year, or at minimum, have association with individuals that have gone through one. The simple truth is that we all go through major transitions during the course of our life, whether it is at work or in our personal lives. Some transitions are memorable, others are noble, and some are regrettable, but all of them provide you with an opportunity to reflect, learn, and adapt.

I can think of several major transitions that I have gone through in my life, and all of them have provided me with an opportunity to grow as a person. One of the more memorable ones was moving to Christina Lake, Alberta—located in the boreal forest of the Canadian North—where I lived for 18 months supporting the construction and commissioning of a major oil sands facility. The experience I gained on site was both rewarding and exhausting. We worked long hours, lived in an on-site camp (the baked goods always get you), and spent evenings catching up on current events. Fortunately, our camp had a great recreational center which allowed me to keep in shape and inhibit the weight gain that almost seems inevitable at such times.

I made some great friends at the site and I would say that the experience was well worth it for my career development, helping me understand our business and later transfer to more subsurface-based roles. But there was also an impact on my personal life. I was separated from the ones I loved and lost touch with many people over the 18 months. In many respects, I put my life on hold during the time I was up there.

Working in the field as a young engineer provides development opportunities that are hard to replicate elsewhere—seeing well and field operations in action, conducting inspections, troubleshooting on the fly, and most of all, working with field personnel who have a plethora of experiences and wisdom to share.

I suspect that many readers have their own stories of career transitions in the field, office, or academia. I would encourage you to share stories of your career transitions on SPE platforms like SPEConnect or SPE social media sites for the benefit of other young professionals.
Keeping the Bridges Intact While Blazing Your Trail
Authors: Dang Angela , Morgan Colter , Offurum Chieke
Published: February 2016

Technical Leaders

Millennials, loosely defined as individuals born between the 1980s and 2000s, now make up the SPE young professional demographic. We are known for many things, both good and bad, but perhaps most notably, we are not satisfied with putting our heads down and waiting our turn to climb the corporate ladder. Millennials desire challenging and impactful careers. We have come to expect exceptional reward for exceptional work. As a result, we are rarely satisfied staying in one role or at one company for too long. So, the question is, how do we keep our careers exciting and dynamic? Kim McHugh, general manager of drilling and completions for Chevron Services Company, and Jake Howard, operations supervisor for Chevron, weigh in on how to manage these transitions gracefully and strategically.

What was the motivation for your transitioning of roles?

Kim McHugh (KM): Operations is such an exciting part of our business. I love being a part of the day-today operations at the rig, delivering production for the business plans, all at a very fast pace. That being said, the motivation to change to a corporate role is that I get to know what is happening around the world for Chevron. This is a role of influence with industry interaction outside of Chevron. Being able to travel is also a plus, as I get to visit operations around the world.

Jake Howard (JH): I have always been excited to take on new challenges. Moving into operations as a production team lead, then as an operations supervisor presented a number of new development opportunities.

With prior engineering experience in carbon dioxide flooding, waterfloods, and heavy-oil steamfloods, this move gave me an opportunity to learn the frontline challenges that come with our modern day unconventional tight oil play. This transition would also give me the chance to learn the core of the business from the ground floor, spending time at the wellhead learning. Yet, the biggest opportunity I saw was to begin expanding my scope within a technical role to a leadership role.

Being responsible for a team to accomplish results through motivating and developing others was the biggest driver for taking on this transition. Being able to do so in a company such as Chevron, knowing I would never have to compromise my integrity or values, made the opportunity even more attractive.
SPE eMentoring: Expert Career Guidance Across Boundaries and Borders
Authors: Gill Aman , de Almeida Tiago
Published: February 2016

SPE 101

If you are, or soon will become, a young member of the oil and gas industry and have questions about which career path to choose, and are looking for guidance in setting and reaching your professional goals, an excellent resource to use is the SPE eMentoring program. For students, mentors can provide academic and career direction. Young professionals (YPs) can receive guidance on how to orient their career progression and diversify their skill sets to speed up their career growth. YPs also have the opportunity to serve as mentors to students.

With an online approach, this program helps mentees benefit from the knowledge of experienced professionals from around the world, irrespective of the distances that might separate a mentor and mentee.

“Being a mentor in the SPE eMentoring program has been a good and rewarding experience for me,” said Brett Levy, who recently mentored two students, one from Penn State University, and another from Tufts University. “During my mentoring period, I have lived in Denver and Worland, Wyoming, working for Schlumberger, and the program has allowed me to build relationships with my mentees in spite of being thousands of miles away from them.

We would communicate regularly via email and LinkedIn to check in on how their classes and projects in school were going, what internships they were interested in, and what career paths they were looking at pursuing after their graduation. I provided as much insight as I possibly could to help them start their careers.”
Pillars of the Industry (February 2016)
Authors: Barba Bob , Guerrera Lupo
Published: February 2016

Pillars of the Industry

An Energy Career Compass

Bob Barba, Integrated Energy Services

After graduating from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, I spent 6 years in the US Navy and decided to move on when my obligation was over. After finishing my MBA, I began to look for a job. With an Annapolis degree, 6 years of management experience, and an MBA, I had numerous job offers from a wide variety of companies. In 1981, the oil and gas business was in full swing and many firms were hiring. The process of searching for and producing oil and gas was fascinating, and it called on a lot of the skill sets that I had acquired in my career.

The job Schlumberger offered me provided a unique work environment and paid better than most of the jobs I was being offered by other industries. The position came with my own logging truck and crew of two operators. Each job was a technical and logistical challenge to accomplish successfully. I was able to work with oil and gas operators directly and received an excellent education in how a critical portion of the business ran.

Going the Extra Mile

Over the course of my career, I have found that the traffic on the extra mile is pretty thin. It is possible to survive most of the time without going the extra mile, however, your chances increase significantly if you constantly strive to be the best at what you do. The “only” constant I have observed in the industry is change, and adapting to change requires a constant effort. This involves attending a lot of conferences and staying current with new technology. When you are self-employed, this often requires a significant investment of time and money.

What Inspires Me in My Career in Oil and Gas

Lupo Guerrera, Woodside Energy

It is actually quite humbling to think about the scales that we deal with in the oil and gas industry. At the most fundamental level, we are making something dynamic that has been static for eons of time, unleashing the energy harnessed from ancient sunshine captured by trillions of simple versions of the earliest forms of life. But think, too, of the industry in its complex current configuration. It is probably the most pervasive human endeavor of our time, involving staggering quantities of human, industrial, and financial capital, across all continents and their waters. It all points to huge responsibilities for those of us who work in and aspire to have an influence in this industry. We need to respect the resources that are at our disposal and understand the potential impact of exploiting them. This continues to inspire me in my career in oil and gas. As a reservoir engineer, I am passionate about the stewardship of hydrocarbons that ancient processes have provided us, and am driven to working with others to use more efficient ways of recovering them.
Pressure to Reduce Methane Emissions Highlights the Need for Better Monitoring
Authors: Rassenfoss Stephen
Published: February 2016

Methane Emissions

The US government is working on regulations to reduce oil industry methane emissions by more than 40% over the next 10 years.

Meanwhile, it is making a large investment in research seeking reliable ways to measure how much of the methane in the atmosphere is from natural gas production versus other sources of the gas that can lead to global warming and smog.

“We can tell how dirty the air is. What is really tricky is ‘where it is coming from.’ ” said Susan Stuver, a senior research scientist at the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, who was among the first persons to begin gathering emissions data in unconventional gas plays.

There are a growing number of estimates published and they vary wildly, with studies estimating natural gas losses ranging from 1% to 7% of US production, according to a summary in a US Department of Energy research grant.

The methods, the math, and the politics of methane measurement are complex and changing. What once was an economic question facing the natural gas business—how to cut losses of a valuable product—has become a contentious environmental issue of how to reduce emissions of a gas that is able to warm the Earth far more than carbon dioxide?

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that nearly 29% of all methane emissions in 2012 came from oil and gas industry activity. It is the largest source, followed by enteric fermentation, at 25%, which is the digestive process used by grazing animals, such as cattle, producing methane as a gassy byproduct. Those animals also produce manure, which is responsible for an added 9% of methane emitted.

Other estimates suggest far higher industry emission levels. That matters to the oil and gas business because those numbers will guide future emissions rule making.

The public furor several years ago over whether fracturing polluted water supplies led to studies of how unconventional exploration and production (E&P) affects air quality. Some high-profile academic studies said methane leaking from gas operations are far higher than thought, challenging industry claims that natural gas is the cheaper, cleaner fuel option.
Review of Downhole Wireless Communication Techniques
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: February 2016

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 171706, “Review of Downhole Wireless Communication Techniques,” by Muhammad Arsalan, Talha J. Ahmad, and Mohamed N. Noui-Mehidi, Saudi Aramco, prepared for the 2014 SPE Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, 10–13 November. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

For openhole horizontal wells, providing power and data through an umbilical is very challenging. Wireless communication is the essential component of any downhole monitoring-and-control solution. A wireless solution can also significantly reduce the complexity and cost associated with the wired solutions. In this paper, various wireless communication techniques are classified and an extensive review of state-of-the-art downhole applications is presented.

Introduction

Long-term reservoir monitoring remains one of the critical requirements for the effective development and optimization of oil and gas reservoirs. Frequent monitoring and control are equally important for both new and mature fields. Many new well completions now include sophisticated permanent monitoring systems that can transmit data to the surface through an electrical or fiber-optic cable, associated with other downhole tools such as clamps, wellhead and packer penetrations, surface power supply, and surface data- acquisition and -transmission systems. These systems require significant capital expenditure (CAPEX) in both components and rig time and are prone to premature failure. A downhole wireless communication system can help resolve many of the problems associated with wired well- monitoring and -control solutions by avoiding the difficulties, costs, and maintenance associated with the wired infrastructure. A wireless system can potentially be retrofitted on demand to avoid upfront CAPEX and operational expense (OPEX) associated with traditional wired advanced-completion monitoring-and -control systems. Any downhole wireless system, however, will require a power source or needs to generate its own power, which may limit its use and its operational life.

This paper is focused on comparing a wide range of wireless communication techniques for downhole environments and exploring the possibilities and limitations of using those techniques in restrictive openhole-well configurations with no infrastructure (i.e., no umbilicals for power, control, and communication, and no production tubing and liners) (Fig. 1).
Analysis of Steam/Solvent-Coinjection Processes by Use of Dynamic Gridding
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: February 2016

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 169075, “A Methodological Analysis of the Mechanisms Associated With Steam/Solvent-Coinjection Processes by Use of Dynamic Gridding,” by A. Perez-Perez, M. Mujica, and I. Bogdanov, CHLOE, and J. Hy-Billiot, Total, prepared for the 2014 SPE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, 12–16 April. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Hybrid steam/solvent processes have gained importance as a thermal-recovery process for heavy oils in recent years. Among the identified physical mechanisms that play a role during these processes are heat-transfer phenomena, gravity drainage and viscous flow, solvent mass transfer, and mass-diffusion/-dispersion phenomena. In this paper, a study of sensitivity to grid size is described. Ideally, this work will provide some insight into methodological aspects to be considered when hybrid steam/ solvent processes are modeled.

Introduction

Recent studies concerning the size of the liquid-solvent-rich zone where molecular diffusion and dispersion occur have implied that a detailed representation of the solvent/steam- chamber edge is necessary in the numerical model. To represent this front appropriately, the authors propose application of fine-grid models to represent the steam/ solvent condensation zone and, in parallel, activation of the adaptive-mesh refinement (AMR) option for amalgamating the internal and external portions of the steam chamber zone. It is expected that, with this simulation strategy, a detailed representation of the front will be caught by a fine model, while a coarse model will be sufficient to represent the heat-transfer phenomenon that dominates in the noncritical zone. For a discussion of the amalgamation process, please see the complete paper.

Model Description

Synthetic Reservoir Model. A synthetic reservoir representing a generic formation of Athabasca oil sands (western Canada) is used in this work. The reservoir consists of a pay zone rich in oil. The pay zone is 45.5 m in length (x-direction) and 50 m in thickness (z-direction).
Blended-Source Ocean-Bottom Seismic Acquisition
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: February 2016

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper OTC 25226, “Blended-Source Ocean-Bottom Seismic Acquisition,” by C.D.T. Walker, FairfieldNodal; D.J. Monk, Apache Corporation; and D.B. Hays, FairfieldNodal, prepared for the 2014 Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, 5–8 May. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

The offshore application of blended, or simultaneous-source, seismic acquisition has been comparatively limited. For ocean-bottom seismic (OBS) applications, survey durations can be almost halved with a modest increase in costs by firing more than one source into the receiver spread simultaneously. In this paper, the authors describe the acquisition of what is believed to be the world’s largest ocean-bottom survey—more than 2200 km2—by use of two blended sources and a very large receiver spread.

Introduction

Blended, or simultaneous, sources have been introduced recently in land seismic operations, with dramatic improvements in both crew productivity and data quality. Their application offshore, however, has been relatively limited. For towed-streamer surveys, the firing of more than one source at a time increases the fold of coverage and hence data quality but does not reduce acquisition time; for OBS, however, the use of two or more blended sources can have a dramatic impact on survey duration and hence cost. The challenge has been how to ensure not only that data quality is not lost when multiple sources are fired at once but also that technical downtime of the equipment on the seafloor is minimized.

Traditionally, the performance of OBS systems has been hampered by the inherent technical downtime experienced by all contractors operating ocean-bottom systems; the terminations, connectors, power distribution, and data-telemetry components within a traditional ocean-bottom- cable (OBC) system are inherently prone to failure because of the intrinsic nature of the cable-deployment-and- recovery cycle, during which the cables are stressed and destressed every time they are laid onto or recovered from the seabed. It is akin to recovering the full streamer spread at every line change for towed-streamer operations.

The desire to improve operational performance was the driving force behind the development of autonomous nodal systems, and the extreme reliability of these systems has allowed ever larger seafloor spreads to be operated, with multiple benefits.
New Approaches for the Treatment of Diabetes and Hypertension Using Herbal Medicines: An Overview
Authors: Karthikeyan Subburayan , Islam Md. Shahidul
Published: February 2016

Diabetes and hypertension are the two major global public health problems and
are associated with each other. The number of diabetic and hypertensive patients is
increasing all over the world at an alarming rate rapidly in developing countries due to a
number of reasons. Conventional anti-diabetic and antihypertensive drugs are usually
associated with many side effects such as severe hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis,
idiosyncratic liver cell injury, permanent neurological deficit, digestive discomfort,
headache, dizziness and even death. On the other hand, about 75 to 80% of the world
population use herbal medicines, particularly in the developing countries, for primary
health care not only due to their better acceptability by human body and lesser side effects
but also due to lower cost compared to conventional drugs. This chapter is aimed at
providing an in-depth information about the antidiabetic herbs such as Ficus religiosa,
Pterocarpus marsupium, Gymnema sylvestre, Allium sativum, Eugenia jambolana,
Momordica charantia, Tinospora cordifolia, Trigonella foenum-graecum and
antihypertensive herbs such as Ginkgo biloba, Passiflora nepalensis, Zingiber officinale
which have shown considerable protective effects in the recent studies. The chapter will
also provide some directions for future studies which may be aimed at isolation,
purification, and characterization of bioactive antidiabetic and antihypertensive compounds
present in these plants. Apart from antidiabetic and antihypertensive activities, the possible
mechanisms of actions of the above-mentioned plants are also discussed in this chapter.
Traditional Chinese Medicines for the Treatment of Diabetes and Hypertension
Authors: Ji Xiwei , Jin Xin , C. Cho William
Published: February 2016

There is a long history of using traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) for the
treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN). However, their
functioning mechanisms are still unknown. In this chapter, we summarize some
common Chinese herbs that have been applied to treat DM and/or HTN since ancient
times. Their active ingredients and the underlying mechanisms have been expounded.
This may provide us a better understanding of the functions of these TCM for the
treatment of DM and HTN, as well as a clue to unveil their possible efficacies for these
chronic diseases. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to more accurately represent
TCM in this field.
Dissolution mechanism of Al2O3 in refining slags containing Ce2O3
Authors: Wang L.J. , Wang Q. , Li J.M. , Chou K.C.
Published: February 2016

In the present work, the rate of dissolution of Al2O3 rod in CaO-SiO2-Al2O3
and CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-Ce2O3 slags were carried out in the temperature range of
1793 K (1520?C) - 1853 K (1580?C) under static conditions. The cross section
of the rod and the boundary layers were identified and analyzed by SEM-EDS.
The dissolution of Al2O3 was favored with the increasing CaO/Al2O3 ratio,
elevating temperatures as well as the addition of Ce2O3. An intermediate
product 3CaO5Al2O3Ce2O3 was detected. The mechanism of dissolution of Al2O3
in the Ce2O3 containing slag were also proposed as three steps involved: 1)
the formation of calcium aluminates CaO?Al2O3 at the interface 2) the
formation of 3CaO5Al2O3Ce2O3 as the reaction progresses; and 3) the
dissolution of 3CaO5Al2O3Ce2O3 into the slag.
Effect of Na2Co3 on the preparation of metallic tin from cassiterite roasted under strong reductive atmosphere
Authors: Zhang Y. , Liu B. , Su Z. , Chen J. , Li G. , Jiang T.
Published: February 2016

Tin is an indispensable metal in the modern industry. The current tin
smelting processes, however, have the disadvantages of high smelting
temperature, long smelting time, especially high tin loss ratio (>10 wt%).
The tin loss attributes to the volatilization as gaseous SnO and stannous
silicate (SnO?SiO2) residual in the slag. An innovative approach for
preparing metallic tin effectively from cassiterite in the presence of
Na2CO3, named gas-based reduction roasting followed by water leaching
process, is under development in Central South University, China. The present
study, using chemically pure SnO2 and SiO2, aims to determine the impact of
Na2CO3 on the metallic tin preparation from cassiterite by the novel process
using XRD, SEM-EDS, chemical analysis, etc. It was found that Na2CO3
effectively restrained the tin volatilization as SnO and the formation of
hardly reductive SnO?SiO2 during the reduction roasting process. In the
presence of Na2CO3, most of SnO2 in the raw materials (mixture of SnO2+SiO2)
was directly reduced to metallic tin, and part of SnO2 reacted with Na2CO3 to
form intermediate Na2SnO3, which was then reduced to metallic tin. The SiO2
was transformed into Na2SiO3 and then went into the water solution in the
following water-leaching process. The main reactions of the SnO2 + SiO2
system in the presence of Na2CO3 under reductive atmosphere were ascertained.
Towards sustainable development of social housing model in Serbia: Case study of Belgrade
Authors: Djokic Vladan , Gligorijevic Zaklina , Colic-Damjanovic Vesna
Published: February 2016

Social housing in Serbia has been experiencing drastic transformations over
the last 25 years. Although new solutions have begun to develop, they are
based predominantly on various types of local supported housing provisions,
insufficient in terms of supply and deprived of crucial elements of long-term
sustainability. The main hypothesis of this paper is that the national system
of social housing should include systemic approach and that improvement of
social housing in Serbia towards sustainable development could be achieved by
implementation of general criteria and specific indicators of social,
economic and environmental sustainability. This paper may contribute to
systemic sustainability evaluation of social housing projects in Serbia and
consequently propose improvements in regulations and decision-making process,
at both national and local levels.
Human capital and its spatial distribution as limiting factors for the balanced development of Serbia
Authors: Jokic Vesna , Dzelebdzic Omiljena , Petovar Ksenija
Published: February 2016

Human capital is one of the key factors of economic and social development.
Namely, the growth potential of a territory is largely dependent on human
capital that is, on citizen?s creative potential and especially on their
education. Society with a better endowment of human capital has a greater
development potential. The subject of this paper is Serbia?s human capital
seen from the point of view of workforce education structure (20-64 age
group). In this paper we present spatial distribution of workforce, i.e. the
differences in workforce education levels and polarization of Serbian
territory in terms of human capital pool. The result is a typology of
municipalities in Serbia based on calculated values of average completed
education level - the EMN index. Mapping of the corresponding values was done
at the municipality level in order to get a clear distinction and a more
accurate picture of spatial disparities in human resources.
Public health challenges and legacies of Japan’s response to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa 2014 to 2015
Authors: Saito Tomoya
Published: February 2016

The largest outbreak of Ebola virus disease occurred in West Africa in 2014 and resulted in unprecedented transmission even in distant countries. In Japan, only nine individuals were screened for Ebola and there was no confirmed case. However, the government promoted the reinforcement of response measures and interagency collaboration, with training and simulation exercises conducted country-wide. The legacies included: publication of a communication policy on case disclosure, a protocol for collaboration between public health and other agencies, and establishing an expert committee to assemble the limited available expertise. There were challenges in taking proportionate and flexible measures in the management of people identified to be at high risk at entry points to Japan, in the decentralised medical response strategy, and in the medical countermeasures preparedness. The Ebola outbreak in West Africa provided a crucial opportunity to reveal the challenges and improve the preparedness for rare but high impact emerging diseases that are prone to be neglected. Efforts to uphold the lessons learnt and maintain public health preparedness should help prepare for future emerging diseases, including bioterrorist acts and pandemics.
Zanamivir-resistant influenza viruses with Q136K or Q136R neuraminidase residue mutations can arise during MDCK cell culture creating challenges for antiviral susceptibility monitoring
Authors: Little Karen , Leang Sook-Kwan , Butler Jeff , Baas Chantal , Harrower Bruce , Mosse Jenny , Barr Ian G , Hurt Aeron C
Published: February 2016

Surveillance of circulating influenza strains for antiviral susceptibility is important to ensure patient treatment guidelines remain appropriate. Influenza A(H3N2) and A(H1N1)pdm09 virus isolates containing mutations at the Q136 residue of the neuraminidase (NA) that conferred reduced susceptibility to the NA inhibitor (NAI) zanamivir were detected during antiviral susceptibility monitoring. Interestingly, the mutations were not detectable in the viruses from respective clinical specimens, only in the cultured isolates. We showed that variant viruses containing the Q136K and Q136R NA mutations were preferentially selected in Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial (MDCK) cells, but were less well supported in MDCK-SIAT1 cells and embryonated eggs. The effect of Q136K, Q136R, Q136H and Q136L substitutions in NA subtypes N1 and N2 on NAI susceptibility and in vitro viral fitness was assessed. This study highlights the challenges that cell culture derived mutations can pose to the NAI susceptibility analysis and interpretation and reaffirms the need to sequence viruses from respective clinical specimens to avoid misdiagnosis. However, we also demonstrate that NA mutations at residue Q136 can confer reduced zanamivir, peramivir or laninamivir susceptibility, and therefore close monitoring of viruses for mutations at this site from patients being treated with these antivirals is important.
Persistent occurrence of serogroup Y/sequence type (ST)-23 complex invasive meningococcal disease among patients aged five to 14 years, Italy, 2007 to 2013
Authors: Fazio Cecilia , Neri Arianna , Renna Giovanna , Vacca Paola , Antonetti Raffaele , Barbui Anna Maria , Daprai Laura , Lanzafame Paolo , Rossi Lucia , Santino Iolanda , Tascini Carlo , Vocale Caterina , Stefanelli Paola
Published: February 2016

In Italy, the incidence of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) has remained stable since 2007 (around 0.3 cases/100,000 inhabitants). However, as reported for other European countries, an increase of serogroup Y Neisseria meningitidis has been observed. In this study we report IMD cases from 2007 to 2013 in Italy and investigate the clinical and epidemiological features of cases affected by serogroup Y. Molecular characteristics of serogroup Y strains are also described. During the study period, the proportion of IMD cases due to serogroup Y increased, ranging from 2% in 2007 to 17% in 2013 (odds ratio (OR): 8.8), whereby the five to 14 years age group was mostly affected (p < 0.001). Overall 81 serogroup Y IMD cases were identified, with a median age of 18 years, ranging from three months to 84 years. Of the 81 respective patient samples, 56 were further subject to molecular typing. The sequence type (ST)-23 complex (clonal complex (cc)23) was predominant among serogroup Y meningococci (54/56 samples), and included nine different STs. Presumably, ST-23 was the founding genotype, with all the other STs presenting as single-locus variants. All cc23 isolates analysed harboured mutations in the lpxL1 gene; however, no associations among lpxL1 mutations, ST and age group were identified. Overall, these findings generate scientific evidence for the use of the quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine in the five to 14 years age group.
Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Europe: assessment by national experts from 38 countries, May 2015
Authors: Albiger Barbara , Glasner Corinna , Struelens Marc J. , Grundmann Hajo , Monnet Dominique L. ,   the European Survey of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (EuSCAPE) working group
Published: February 2016

In 2012, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) launched the ‘European survey of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (EuSCAPE)’ project to gain insights into the occurrence and epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE), to increase the awareness of the spread of CPE, and to build and enhance the laboratory capacity for diagnosis and surveillance of CPE in Europe. Data collected through a post-EuSCAPE feedback questionnaire in May 2015 documented improvement compared with 2013 in capacity and ability to detect CPE and identify the different carbapenemases genes in the 38 participating countries, thus contributing to their awareness of and knowledge about the spread of CPE. Over the last two years, the epidemiological situation of CPE worsened, in particular with the rapid spread of carbapenem-hydrolysing oxacillinase-48 (OXA-48)- and New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM)-producing Enterobacteriaceae. In 2015, 13/38 countries reported inter-regional spread of or an endemic situation for CPE, compared with 6/38 in 2013. Only three countries replied that they had not identified one single case of CPE. The ongoing spread of CPE represents an increasing threat to patient safety in European hospitals, and a majority of countries reacted by establishing national CPE surveillances systems and issuing guidance on control measures for health professionals. However, 14 countries still lacked specific national guidelines for prevention and control of CPE in mid-2015.
Intensive care unit surveillance of influenza infection in France: the 2009/10 pandemic and the three subsequent seasons
Authors: Bonmarin Isabelle , Belchior Emmanuel , Bergounioux Jean , Brun-Buisson Christian , Mégarbane Bruno , Chappert Jean Loup , Hubert Bruno , Le Strat Yann , Lévy-Bruhl Daniel
Published: February 2016

During the 2009/10 pandemic, a national surveillance system for severe influenza cases was set up in France. We present results from the system's first four years. All severe influenza cases admitted to intensive care units (ICU) were reported to the Institut de Veille Sanitaire using a standardised form: data on demographics, immunisation and virological status, risk factors, severity (e.g. acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) onset, mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal life support) and outcome. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with ARDS and death. The number of confirmed influenza cases varied from 1,210 in 2009/10 to 321 in 2011/12. Most ICU patients were infected with A(H1N1)pdm09, except during the 2011/12 winter season when A(H3N2)-related infections predominated. Patients' characteristics varied according to the predominant strain. Based on multivariate analysis, risk factors associated with death were age ≥ 65 years, patients with any of the usual recommended indications for vaccination and clinical severity. ARDS occurred more frequently in patients who were middle-aged (36–55 years), pregnant, obese, or infected with A(H1N1)pdm09. Female sex and influenza vaccination were protective. These data confirm the persistent virulence of A(H1N1)pdm09 after the pandemic and the heterogeneity of influenza seasons, and reinforce the need for surveillance of severe influenza cases.
How Does Professional Development Improve Teaching?
Authors: Kennedy Mary M.
Published: February 2016

Professional development programs are based on different theories of how students learn and different theories of how teachers learn. Reviewers often sort programs according to design features such as program duration, intensity, or the use of specific techniques such as coaches or online lessons, but these categories do not illuminate the programs’ underlying purpose or premises about teaching and teacher learning. This review sorts programs according to their underlying theories of action, which include (a) a main idea that teachers should learn and (b) a strategy for helping teachers enact that idea within their own ongoing systems of practice. Using rigorous research design standards, the review identifies 28 studies. Because studies differ in multiple ways, the review presents program effects graphically rather than statistically. Visual patterns suggest that many popular design features are not associated with program effectiveness. Furthermore, different main ideas are not differentially effective. However, the pedagogies used to facilitate enactment differ in their effectiveness. Finally, the review addresses the question of research design for studies of professional development and suggests that some widely favored research designs might adversely affect study outcomes.
Upscaling and Evaluation of BARI Inclined Plate Planter
Authors: Hoque M A , Karim M R
Published: February 2016

The BARI inclined plate planter was developed for one pass tillage and seeding operation. But the planter was not capable of planting small seeds as seeds were entering between the plate and base. So, six additional MS base plates were incorporated in the planter. Three plates were redesigned and fabricated for maize seed (9 cells); for wheat, mungbean, lentil, jute, etc (32 cells) and for rice seed (11 cells). Changing of inclination of the plate is needed to use same (32 seed cell) plates for different crops and to calibrate the planter for 10% more or less seed than the predefined rates. Field test of BARI developed inclined plate planter was conducted in Gazipur, Pabna, and Barisal and its performance were evaluated. The planter was tested for sowing maize, wheat and mungbean during 2011-12. Effective field capacity and field efficiency were 0.17 ha/h and 75%, respectively. Coefficient of seed distribution uniformity and coefficient of planting depth uniformity were 97 and 94%, respectively. Time and cost saving to complete land preparation and planting of maize by inclined plate planter were 90 and 86%, respectively than conventional hand planting. The payback period of the BARI planter is 1.20 year. Break-even use time is 97 hours.The Agriculturists 2015; 13(2) 01-08
Analysis of Yield Components and Aroma of Small Grain Aromatic Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Bangladesh
Authors: Saha Parth Sarothi , Islam Mizan Ul , Islam Md. Sirajul , Salam Muhammad Abdus
Published: February 2016

The study was conducted to evaluate the extent of variability among the small grain aromatic (SGA) rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes for yield and yield components. Twenty four popular SGA rice genotypes were evaluated for yield and yield contributing characters in BRAC Agricultural Research and Development Centre, Gazipur, Bangladesh. BRRI dhan34 was used as check variety. Highest grain yield per plant was observed in Chinikanai-1, which was followed by Kalijira PL-9, Kalijira PL-3 and Badshabhog. Chinikanai-1 had the highest number of grains per panicle. Correlation analysis revealed that the number of panicles per plant (r = 0.646) and number of grains per panicle (r = 0.525) had the positive contribution to grain yield. Based on sensory test, it was found that 18 genotypes were scented and six were lightly scented. After evaluation of yield components, four genotypes namely Chinikanai-1, Kalijira PL-9, Kalijira PL-3 and Badshabhog were selected as outstanding genotypes, which can be used as potential breeding materials for sub-tropical environment of Bangladesh.The Agriculturists 2015; 13(2) 17-24
Stability Analysis of Selected Jute (Corchorus capsularis L.) Genotypes in Saline and Non-saline Soils of Bangladesh
Authors: Billah M , Sikder B , Latif M A , Chowdhury A K
Published: February 2016

Ten white jute genotypes (Corchorus capsularis L.) were evaluated across three different locations including saline and non-saline soils of Bangladesh during 2014 to assess genotype × environment interaction and stability for plant height, base diameter, fresh weight with leaves, dry stick weight and dry fiber weight. Additive Main Effect Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) model was used to assess the additive and multiplicative interaction of jute genotypes for these characters across three environments. Significant variations in genotype environment interaction were observed for all characters except plant height and base diameter. Based on stability parameters bi1 and bio, the genotype C-3465 showed stability for plant height, D-154 for base diameter and fresh weight with leaves. The genotypes C-2753 showed stability for fresh weight with leaves, without leaves and dry stick weight, CVL-1 for fresh weight without leaves, C-2760 for fresh weight with leaves, without leaves and for dry fiber weight across saline and non- saline area. Heritability in broad sense was quite high for all characters (85-90%) except plant height (17%) indicating less environmental fluctuation. Expected genetic advanced of mean was moderate to high (14%-29.16%) except plant height (3.20%) indicating the good scope of selection for improving the traits.The Agriculturists 2015; 13(2) 25-35
Effect of Herbicide in Controlling Broadleaf and Sedge Weeds in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Kamrozzaman M M , Khan M A H , Ahmed S , Quddus A F M Ruhul
Published: February 2016

The study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of herbicide for controlling of weeds in wheat field at FSRD Site, Hatgobindapur, Faridpur during rabi 2011-12 and 2012-13. The experiment was laid out in a RCB design with five replications. There were four treatments viz. U46D fluid, ronstar 25 EC, one hand weeding and control (no weeding). Seven weed species were found in the plots and Cyperus rotundus, Cynodon dactylon, Chenopodium album were the most important weed species. Weed density and dry weight were affected significantly by different treatments. The highest weed dry weight was obtained in control while the lowest dry weight and the highest weed control efficiency were obtained from ronstar 25EC@1 ml/liter water against all types of weed species. Weed control efficiencies of ronstar 25EC against broad leaf, sedge and grass were 92, 86 and 64 %, respectively over control. The lowest weed control efficiency was obtained from one hand weeding treatment, which might be due to lack of proper weeding. Ronstar 25EC produced the highest grain (4.33 t/ha) and straw yields (4.38 t/ha) which were statistically identical to those of U46D fluid. The highest harvest index (49.71%) was found in ronstar 25EC and the lowest (41.89%) was obtained in control. The highest benefit cost ratio (2.30) was obtained from ronstar 25EC that was much higher than hand weeding (1.69). The lowest BCR (1.58) was recorded from the control. It was concluded that herbicide could be a viable alternative of manual weed control practices in wheat cultivation.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/agric.v13i2.26588The Agriculturists 2015; 13(2) 54-61
Influence of Fertilizer Levels on the Growth and Yield of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.)
Authors: Ali M M K , Hasan M A , Islam M R
Published: February 2016

An experiment was conducted at the research farm of Crop Physiology and Ecology Department, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh, during November 2013 to April 2014 to determine the growth and yield performance of four varieties of black cumin (Exotic variety, BARI kalozira-1, Faridpur local and Natore local) as influenced by three levels of fertilizers (40-20-30 Kg ha-1, 80-30-45 Kg ha-1 and 120-40-60 Kg ha-1 N-P-K, respectively).  The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. First flower bud initiation day, capsule setting, and capsule ripening in 50% plant were not significantly influenced by N-P-K fertilizer levels. The secondary branch plant-1, tertiary branch plant-1,plant height at harvest, capsule length, capsule diameter and 1000 seed weight of black cumin were also not influenced significantly by the fertilizer levels. The dry matter weight  plant-1, primary branch plant-1, fruit plant-1, seed capsule-1 and grain yield of black cumin genotypes were significantly influenced by different levels of N-P-K fertilizers. Natore local gave maximum dry matter  production plant-1  at 55 DAS with moderate  N-P-K levels and at 70 DAS with higher N-P-K fertilizer levels (0.22 and 1.06 g, respectively), whereas Exotic black cumin genotype showed maximum dry matter plant-1  at 85 and 100 DAS with higher N-P-K fertilizer levels  (2.30 and 4.97 g, respectively). Exotic variety produced maximum grain yield (3.43 g plant­­-1 and 2.30 t ha-1)  at higher level of N-P-K fertilizer, but BARI kalozira-1 (2.95 g plant­­-1  and 1.95 t ha-1), Faridpur local (2.80g plant­­-1  and 1.90 t ha-1) and Natore local (2.69 g plant­­-1  and 1.80 t ha-1) showed maximum yields at moderate N-P-K fertilizer levels. Among the test varieties of black cumin, the exotic variety showed better yield performance than the others.The Agriculturists 2015; 13(2) 97-104
Genetic Diversity of Drought Tolerant Upland Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes
Authors: Hossain S , Salim M , Akter M S , Afroz S , Noman M S
Published: February 2016

Genetic divergence of thirty three drought tolerant rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes were studied through Mohalanobiss D2 and principal component analysis for twelve characters. The genotypes were grouped into seven clusters. The cluster I and II were comprised of the maximum number of genotypes (eight) in each followed by cluster V containing five genotypes. The highest inter-cluster distance was in between cluster III and I (368.64) indicating a wide genetic diversity between these two clusters followed by clusters VII and III (346.04). The lowest inter-cluster distance was in between cluster IV and II (42.46) followed by cluster VI and IV (63.29) indicating that the genotypes of these clusters were genetically close. The intra cluster distance in the entire seven clusters was less, which indicate that the genotypes within the same clusters were closely related. Considering the magnitude of genetic distance, contribution of different characters towards the total divergence and magnitude of cluster means for different characters performance, BR 7391-2B-7, BR 7392-2B-25, BR 6855-2B-11-3-4, BR 6855-2B-11-3-5  from cluster I, genotypes BR 6976-2B-15, and Morichbati from cluster III, genotypes BR 7187-2B-2-5 from cluster IV, genotype BR 7187-2B-2-3 and BR 7181-2B-35-2 from cluster V and genotypes BR 6855-2B-11-3-7 and BRRI dhan 42 from the cluster VII are likely to perform better if used in hybridization program.The Agriculturists 2015; 13(2) 133-139
A Study on Different Arabian Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Accessions in Bangladesh
Authors: Khan M J U , Billah M , Latif M A
Published: February 2016

A pot experiment was conducted at Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali during April 2013 to May 2014 to study the survival abilities of 10 Arabian date palm accessions in Bangladesh. The experiment was laid out in a two factors (ten accessions and three pot mixtures) in the Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. There were significant differences in various traits among the genotypes. The time required for germination was the lowest for Dubai small but the highest for Dabash. The time required the completion of germination of saplings was the least for Deglet Nour (Algeria) and the highest for Marium (Algeria). The highest number of leaves was found in the Deglet Nour (UAE) and the lowest was in Farida. After 12 months, the tallest plant was measured for Dubai small but the shortest was for Deglet Nour (UAE). The highest plant vigour after 12 months was found in Deglet Nour (Saudi), while the lowest was in the Deglet Nour (UAE). Among the three pot mixtures, soil : cowdung = 1:1,showed best results for plant height and vigour.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/agric.v13i2.26655The Agriculturists 2015; 13(2) 36-43