bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between An Auditing Firm's Characteristics And The Incidence Rate Of Its Clients Subject To AAERs
Authors: Koh Yunsung , Choi Hyunjung , Woo Sohee
Published: March 2016

This paper examines the relationship between an auditors characteristics and the incidence rate of its client subject to the Accounting and Auditing Enforcement Release. Using the sample of AAERs from 2002 to 2006, we find that when a firm is audited from a large accounting firm, there is a significantly less incidence rate subject to AAERs. Also, we find that the audit time of AAERs firms is significantly less than that of non-AAERs firms. Because AAER is related with audit quality, it implies that AAER depends on audit time and audit firm size, and that a firm is affected by the incidence rate of subjects toward AAERs. However, there is no difference between the audit fee of AAERs firms audit fee and that of non-AAERs firms. Although audit time leads to a high audit fee, audit firms are very competitive and therefore, there are some limitations with receiving a high audit fee according to audit time. Therefore, the audit fee is significantly affected by the incidence rate of subjects toward AAERs. Additionally, we also examine the effectiveness of AAERs and the difference of audit efforts depending on the cause of AAERs and the degree of penalties imposed by FSS. Overall, the results suggest that depending on the auditors characteristics, such as the size of accounting firm, audit time, and audit fee, a company is affected by the incidence rate subject to AAERs.
A Comparative Study Of Smartphone Users Perception And Preference Towards Mobile Payment Methods In The U.S. And Korea
Authors: Shin Seungjae , Lee Won-jun , Odom Dustin Odom
Published: March 2016

As the Smartphone adoption rate increases, Smartphone users pay more attention to mobile payment. There are several options for mobile payment but there is no dominate method. Proximity mobile payment is the newest form of mobile payment. Security, cost, and convenience are three main factors Smartphone users keep in mind when making a mobile payment. This paper investigates Smartphone users perceptions and preferences toward mobile payment methods in Korea and the U.S. U.S. Smartphone users have a willingness to pay more for a secure mobile payment transaction, even though Korean users have more experience in the mobile payment frequency. Among the three factors, mobile security is the factor of strongest influence on mobile payment frequency in both countries.
Detecting Cosmetic Debt Management Using Benfords Law
Authors: Geyer Dominique , Drechsler Christoph
Published: March 2016

Benfords law states that the frequency of first significant digit in certain samples decreases as those digits increase. This law is used in accounting to find rounding behavior. Several studies provided evidence that firms may round up earnings when they are just below reference points denoted by Nx10k. Most studies are focused on earnings variables. Few studies are focused on other accounting variables like sales for example (Jordan & Alii, 2009; Geyer, 2012). No previous study examines accounting variable from balance sheet (excepted earnings of course). The aim of this short paper is to investigate rounding behavior of long term debt. Using a sample of US public companies, we observe that US firms round down the total long term debt considering two cognitive points: Nx10k and (2xN+1)x5x10j (N is an integer between 1 to 9; k is an integer from 1 and j is an integer from 0). In other words, US public firms exercise Cosmetic Debt Management.
Enhancing Football Brands Brand Equity
Authors: Blumrodt Jens
Published: March 2016

The sport entertainment industry has its most famous representative in Europe. Hundreds of professional football clubs are playing in their European football leagues. They attract supporters in front of the screen and in stadiums. The clubs in competitions are medium sized companies. They are competing and working together while they are delivering their core service, the game on the ground. The spectator can be considered as an important budget line for all clubs. Budgets are nevertheless often not balanced and stadium attendance is underdeveloped. We conducted research within two different football nations, France and Germany. Four clubs were in the sample and interviews with the management were carried out. The conceptual approach was based on brand image theories. Football clubs are specific sport brands. Brand image elements attract spectators into the stadium for those brands. These elements can explain the purchase intentions of season tickets and merchandising products. Our research revealed that common elements and differences exist between the clubs, each club having a brand identity. We identified which elements lead to purchase intentions and made best practices evident. The importance of the game is often overestimated by a clubs management. The game and the attractiveness of the stadium are important, but not the only factors explaining stadium attendance. The club has also to be a good club in the community, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) becomes a crucial issue.
A Discrete Choice Analysis Of Smallholder Farmers' Preferences And Willingness To Pay For Weather Derivatives: Evidence From Ethiopia
Authors: Castellani Davide , Vigan0 Laura , Tamre Belaynesh
Published: March 2016

The ability of Ethiopian farmers to deal with rainfall risk is scanty due to the extension of land plots and incomplete and inefficient financial markets. Traditional drought insurance is flawed by information asymmetries, high administrative costs, and non-diversifiable risks. Insurance based on indexes is a promising alternative. Working on 120 rural households, we estimate the willingness to pay for a drought weather derivative through a mixed logit model allowing for random preferences. The results suggest that the premium, indemnity, and perceived frequency of drought are important determinants of the take-up. Apparent inconsistencies in behavior can be interpreted as rational choices.
A Strategic E-Marketing Framework For Sport Mega-Events
Authors: Radikonyana Paul S. , Heath Ernie , Fairer-Wessels Felicite , Prinsloo J.J. , Pelser Theuns G.
Published: March 2016

This article reports on a study that was conducted which aims to understand the optimal usage of e-marketing in sport mega-events with reference to the 2010 FIFA Soccer World CupTM which was held in South Africa. A conceptual framework to optimally leverage e-marketing opportunities related to the hosting of sport mega-events was developed from the findings of this study. Building on an in-depth analysis of the contemporary literature on this very dynamic topic, as well as key lessons learned from an analysis of international case studies, primary research was conducted before and after the 2010 FIFA Soccer World CupTM, involving key stakeholders in the event and destination marketing sphere. Based on the preceding phases, the strategic framework that was conceptualised provides parameters and guidelines for the effective utilisation of e-marketing and e-marketing tools in future sport mega-events. Furthermore, 11 critical success factors (CSFs) were determined that should be considered when developing and implementing an e-marketing strategy for mega-events. In addition to adding value to the body of knowledge in this increasingly important sphere of tourism, recommendations regarding future research in this dynamic field of study are addressed.
My Little Box, Oh My Little Box A Video-Netnographic Study On The Expression Of Values In Subscription-Based E-Commerce
Authors: Ben Mimoun Mohamed Slim , Garnier Marion , Depledt Delphine
Published: March 2016

This paper focuses on the consumption experience of a cosmetics box issued from subscription-based e-commerce. On the basis of a netnographic analysis of videos and comments on YouTube, we highlight that the value typology developed by Holbrook (1999) applies to that new form of e-commerce and consumption experience.
Professional Employee Retention: Examining The Relationships Between Organizational Citizenship Behavior And Turnover Cognitions.
Authors: Paille Pascal , Raineri Nicolas , Valeau Patrick J
Published: March 2016

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between organizational citizenship behaviour, intention to search a job, intention to leave the organization, and the profession. Using a sample of social workers (N = 327), findings show that while intention to leave the employer is explained by helping, civic virtue and sportsmanship, intention to leave the profession is explained only by civic virtue and sportsmanship. The implications of the findings are discussed.
Corporate Disclosure, Ownership Structure And Earnings Management: The Case Of French-Listed Firms
Authors: Lakhal Nadia
Published: March 2016

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of corporate governance devices on earnings management for French-listed firms. Particularly, it examines the relationship between corporate disclosure practices, ownership structure features and earnings management by French managers. Results show that the relationship between earnings management measures and disclosure scores is negative suggesting that less transparent firms are likely to engage in earnings management practices. The findings also show that families, institutional investors and multiple large shareholders negatively influence earnings management, and hence, act as good corporate governance devices to limit managerial discretion. This paper shed light on the monitoring role of corporate disclosures and ownership structure in the French context where minority shareholders interests are less protected than in common law countries.
Spotting The Elusive Prospect Customer: Exploratory Study Of A Web-Powered Customer Relationship Management Framework
Authors: Ertz Myriam , Graf Raoul
Published: March 2016

Research on how Web-Mining (WM) optimizes marketing, is sparse. Especially absent, is research on WM usefulness for Customer Relationship Management (CRM). The purpose of this research, is to propose a Web Mining-enabled knowledge acquisition framework for analytical CRM. An exploratory study consisting of eleven in-depth interviews with marketing scholars and practitioners revealed that, WM methods and techniques - currently available to practitioners - are well-suited for identifying the profile of web prospects according to their browsing behaviour and to classify them into homogeneous groups. Besides, the nascent technologies regarding opinion mining, sentiment analysis or natural language parsing, and which underlie WM, seem sufficient to acquire knowledge pertaining to attitudinal and other more psychometrically-based characteristics about web prospects. Such tools enable to better understand the so-often termed elusive prospects, by crafting fine-grained online marketing strategies to acquire those would-be customers. The authors discuss the managerial implications that derive from these findings.
Educational Change In Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alnahdi Ghaleb Hamad
Published: March 2016

The main goal of this article is to discuss the possibility of adapting the suggestions by Hargreaves and Shirley (2009) in their book "The Fourth Way." This paper will discuss the topic of educational change and reform through three main points. First, it will review the most important advantages and disadvantages that characterize the three periods of change, as presented by Hargreaves and Shirley (2009). Second, it will extract the main principles proposed by Hargreaves and Shirley (2009) as the fourth way (the principles of how education should be changed in the future) and discuss whether or not officials in Saudi Arabia will be able to apply it. Third, it will review the movement of change and reform that has taken place in the Ministry of Education of Saudi Arabia (MESA) in order to reform education.
Relationship Between Teachers Teaching Styles And Students Interest Towards Integrated Living Skills Subjects In Schools
Authors: Pying How Shwu , Rashid Abdullah Mat
Published: March 2016

The focus of this study is to determine the relationship of teacher's teaching styles (expert, formal authority, personal model, delegation, and facilitator) towards student's interests in Integrated Living Skills (ILS) subjects. The research is designed to explore the common teaching styles applied by ILS teachers in schools and identify the relationship between teaching styles and the interest it generates towards students in the ILS subjects. Furthermore, the study will also focus on the cluster teaching styles which the students preferred. The study involved 240 students of Form 3 in Lower Secondary School of Puchong Perdana as samples. The instruments used are questionnaires of Grasha-Riechman Teaching Styles Inventory and all the data is processed utilizing SPSS software program to get the frequencies, percentage, mean scores and Pearson product moment correlation. Results show that there is a form of positive relationship between the teaching methods applied and the interest of students in ILS subjects. Several recommendations are made based on the findings of the study.
Comparing Voice-Only And Video Interviews In A Practical English Classroom At A Korean University
Authors: Kobylinski Chris
Published: March 2016

This paper explores why the use of video interviews in the classroom can be advantageous to voice-only interviews. The researcher documented the improvement in student motivation and listening comprehension when students watched interviews versus listening to them on the same subject matter.
Obstacles To Scientific Research In Light Of A Number Of Variables
Authors: Algadheeb Nourah A. , Almeqren Monira A.
Published: March 2016

The present study aimed to identify the scientific research obstacles facing faculty members in the College of Education at Princess Nora bint Abdul Rahman University (PNU) and to determine the differences in the obstacles according to age, academic rank, scientific specialty, marital status, number of completed studies, and time since the last academic rank was received. An initial data form and questionnaire were prepared to identify the obstacles to scientific research. The questionnaire assessed personal and family obstacles, social factors, technical skills, organizational and professional obstacles, and societal obstacles. The researcher assessed the validity and reliability of the survey instrument by testing it on a sample of 23 faculty members at the university. The results demonstrated a high degree of validity (i.e., high internal consistency) and reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient: .97). The study instrument was administered to a final sample of 69 faculty members (out of 111) at the university. The results demonstrated a decrease in the averages of the obstacles. The arithmetic averages for the obstacles were organizational and professional obstacles (2.76), societal obstacles (2.64), personal and family obstacles (1.87), and skills-related obstacles (1.70). The results demonstrated no significant differences for any obstacles with respect to age, academic rank or scientific specialization. There were significant differences in skills-related obstacles according to the number of completed studies; researchers with no completed projects faced greater obstacles. The results also demonstrated significant differences in societal obstacles associated with the length of time since the last academic rank was received.
Do You Understand What I Mean? How Cognitive Interviewing Can Strengthen Valid, Reliable Study Instruments And Dissemination Products
Authors: Hofmeyer Anne , Sheingold Brenda Helen , Taylor Ruth
Published: March 2016

It is now well accepted that working in research teams that span universities, jurisdictions and countries can be rewarding and economically prudent. To this end, investigators collaborate in the pursuit of knowledge to address human and societal problems and translate results into local and global contexts. This implies that investigators need to develop study instruments that are fit for purpose and strategically manage issues arising from geographical, linguistic and cultural diversity.  A proven method is cognitive interviewing to pre-test the study materials to ensure clarity and relevance in the study population. This paper describes the steps taken to increase the methodological reliability of study instruments through the use of cognitive interviewing and argues this technique should be a standard step in instrument development.
Private Vs. Public Investment In The Mexican Utility Company: A Case Study
Authors: Dieck-Assad Flory Anette
Published: March 2016

How should the strategies and regulations of the Mexican laws be designed in order to trigger a country to go from a non-sustainable energy economy towards a sustainable energy economy? This paper proposes a classroom debate of the reformed Law of Public Electricity Service in Mexico (LSPEE, 1992: Ley del Servicio Publico de Energia Electrica), which, in 1992, opened new opportunities for private investment in the Mexican utility industry. The legal reforms allow the private sector to invest, operate, and be owners of part of the public utility system in Mexico, mainly, for power generation. Evaluating the dilemmas of the past, students are encouraged to debate present and future reforms considering political, economic and financial frameworks with a sustainable development approach and to evaluate the role of foreign and private investment in public utilities around the world.
Promoting Cooperative Learning In An Expository Writing Course
Authors: Sanderson Cole Karen
Published: March 2016

English for Academic Purposes is a compulsory one-semester course offered to first-year students at the University of the West Indies in St. Augustine, Trinidad. Its primary objective is to assist students in developing competency in the targeted expository strategies that are deemed necessary to meet the writing requirements of the tertiary level. During Semester 2 in 2009-2010, cooperative learning was introduced in both the lecture and tutorial sessions of the evening programme in an attempt to improve the learning outcomes among the registered adult students. This paper examines the impact of cooperative learning on these students in the context of the lecture and tutorial sessions as students worked toward the production of a credited expository assignment. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to assess student feedback through questionnaires, peer feedback, and group performance on the credited assignment. The study confirmed that clear guidelines, practical-based content, and multiple opportunities to practice are significant in maximizing cooperative learning opportunities. However, cooperative learning cannot completely militate against the individual or collective disadvantages of weak language skills.
Maintaining Long-Distance Friendships: Communication Practices For Seeking And Providing Social Support Across Geographic Divides
Authors: Lobburi Patipan
Published: March 2016

People seek and provide support through their personal social network, especially when they must cope with stress, deal with an emergency, or need help. Coping with a new culture or new environment is a stressful situation that sojourner students must face. Support through friendship plays an important role in facing such new situations. Focusing on the perspectives of Asian student sojourners, this study addresses the challenges that they face in soliciting, receiving, and providing social support from friends back home. The results from interviewing 25 Asian student sojourners revealed that few students included in the study lacked physical support. However, when they found that they must cope with a big problem, their friends would still be close and help them. The participants in this research reported perceiving emotional support from their friends while abroad, similar to the support they enjoyed when they were home. The participants also noted that they experienced satisfaction through mediated communication but that they preferred face-to-face communication.
Analyzing The Impact Of The 2012 Ford Focus Target Hunt: Can Student Managed Projects Accomplish Both Academic And Corporate Objectives?
Authors: Aurand Timothy W. , St. Clair Jordan , Sullivan Ursula
Published: March 2016

Student-managed business projects offer students the opportunity to garner valuable real world experience while businesses can fulfill corporate responsibilities utilizing relatively inexpensive manpower. This paper describes an event marketing/social media marketing project completed in conjunction with Jackson-Dawson Communications, representing the Ford Motor Company, and a Midwestern University chapter of the American Marketing Association. Through the successful implementation of the AIDA-IMC promotion model, a committed AMA Chapter, and a number of very cooperative business partnerships, a host of corporate and academic objectives were accomplished while participants gained valuable insight into event marketing principles.
Transformative Learning: Teaching Vocabulary To Disadvantaged Non-Native Language Learners
Authors: Andriansyah Andriansyah
Published: March 2016

Teaching English as a foreign language to students from disadvantaged situations requires focus on vocabulary building through contextualization, development of student-teacher relationships, and building the curriculum around collaborative activities.
The Native Language In Teaching Kindergarten Mathematics
Authors: Espada Janet P.
Published: March 2016

The use of the native language as a medium of instruction is believed to be the fastest and most natural route towards developing a strong foundation in mathematics literacy (Mimaropa, In D.O.No. 74, s.2009). This study examined the effect of using the native language in the teaching of kindergarten mathematics. A total of 34 five to six year old children went through a pretest-posttest, quasi-experimental study with 17 participants in each of the control or English group and the native language (Waray) or experimental group, respectively. It was assumed that the use of the native language would increase academic performance in mathematics. Findings revealed a highly significant difference between the mean gain of the control and experimental groups (p-value=.000) indicating that the level of mathematics performance of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group. The result implies that the kindergarten pupils exposed to the native language performed better in mathematics than those who were exposed to English. The study concludes that the use of the native language in teaching kindergarten mathematics results in a higher mathematics performance than the use of a foreign language as a medium of instruction.
Using Multilevel Confirmatory Factor Analysis To Study Student Well-Being In Thailand
Authors: Siriparp Thomrat , Traiwichitkhun Duangkamol , Kanjanawasee Sirichai
Published: March 2016

Multilevel confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the factor structure of the six-factor student well-being scale at between- and within-class levels. A total of 2,707 Matthayom 4-6 students (equivalent to grades 10-12) from 71 classrooms (785 male and 1,922 female) completed this 54-items student well-being scale. Results showed that a single latent factor structure was acceptable fitted at between and within class levels. The reliability estimates of the six factors (Positive attitudes and emotions towards school, Enjoyment in school, Positive academic self-concept, (Absence of) Social problems in school, (Absence of) School worries, and (Absence of) Physical complaints) were 0.73, 0.38, 0.22, 0.13, 0.14, and 0.02, respectively, at the student level, whereas these estimates were 0.39, 0.44, 0.48, 0.61, 0.65, and 0.82, respectively, at the classroom level.
Development Of Higher Education In Albania
Authors: Xhafa Sonila
Published: March 2016

Albania is looking to take its place within Europe. To do so, the nation needs to develop more skilled and educated working population. Following the political and economic changes of 1991, the system of higher education in Albania has not necessarily been adequately organised or capable of providing a sufficiently high-quality education. This paper will present some information on higher education (including degree and diploma programmes) in Albania during the transition and in the present day, and give attention to the development of higher education in the country and conclude with some suggestions for improving public universities and education infrastructure and increasing the quality of the experience undergone by both students and academic staff.
Restructuring And Mergers Of The South African Post-Apartheid Tertiary System (1994-2011): A Critical Analysis
Authors: Mouton Nelda , Louw G. P. , Strydom G. L.
Published: March 2016

Socio-economic and vocational needs of communities, governments and individuals change over the years and these discourses served as a compass for restructuring of higher institutions in South Africa from 1994. Before 1994, the claim to legitimacy for government policies in higher education rested on meeting primarily the interests of the white minority. From 1996 onwards, the newly established government considered education a major vehicle of societal transformation. The main objective had been to focus on reducing inequality and fostering internationalisation. Therefore, the rationale for the restructuring of South African universities included a shift from science systems to global science networks. Various challenges are associated with restructuring and include access, diversity, equity and equality. Thus, the restructuring and mergers between former technikons and traditional universities were probably the most difficult to achieve in terms of establishing a common academic platform, as transitional conditions also had to be taken into account and had a twin logic: It was not only the legacy of apartheid that had to be overcome but the incorporation of South Africa into the globalised world was equally important as globalisation transforms the economic, political, social and environmental dimensions of countries and their place in the world. Initially, the post-apartheid higher education transformation started with the founding policy document on higher education, the Report of the National Commission on Higher Education and this report laid the foundation for the 1997 Education White Paper 3 on Higher Education in which a transformed higher education system is described. Restructuring and mergers also had a far-reaching impact, positive and negative, on the various tertiary institutions. This article also reflects on the impact of restructuring and mergers of higher education and reaches the conclusion that higher education faces many more challenges than initially anticipated prior to transformation.
Areas Of Cross-Cultural Difference In The Workplace
Authors: Castaneda Mario E. , Bateh Justin , Heyliger Wilton
Published: March 2016

In the last 30 years, there has been a shift towards using multicultural management strategies. The constant shifts taking place in multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multinational workforces indicate that both administrators of these organizations and higher education practices must evolve to adapt to needs for changing skill sets. A multicultural workforce offers advantages in that businesses may reach out effectively to various stakeholders. Leaders do well to cultivate an organizational culture that incorporates flexibility, understanding, and acceptance of alternate values, especially when working in foreign locations or multi-national organizations. Understanding of differences in cultural values and customs may reduce conflict and increase collaboration. To meet these challenges, leaders must be trained and educated to develop flexibility, understanding, and acceptance of alternate values when working in foreign locations or multi-national organizations. This article points out important areas of difference for organizations to address.
Literacy Instruction In The Mother Tongue: The Case Of Pupils Using Mixed Vocabularies
Authors: Sanchez Alma Sonia Q.
Published: March 2016

In the institutionalization of the mother tongue-basedmultilingual education (MTB-MLE) in the country, several trainings wereconducted introducing its unique features such as the use of the two-trackmethod in teaching reading based on the frequency of the sounds of the firstlanguage (L1). This study attemptedto find out how the accuracy track method worked with Waray pupils using mixedvocabularies. This is a part of a developmental study that aims to improveWaray reading instruction in basic education. The researcher used a checklistof the 100 Most Common Words in Waray for pretest and posttest, interviews,survey questionnaires, and daily observations during the three-weekimplementation of the method. The averages of the pretest and posttest scoreswere compared. Themes and patterns in the responses were likewise analyzed. Theresults showed a big gap in the performance of pupils classified as readers andbeginning readers. Several issues and challenges met were also identified.These imply that the method is less facilitative for effective teaching andlearning in Waray of speakers using mixed vocabularies. This study recommendsto modify the method or to develop an appropriate method for literacyinstruction of speakers without a strong linguistic foundation in their mothertongue.
Dpaper: An Authoring Tool for Extractable Digital Papers
Authors: Le Xiaoqiu , Mao Chenyu , He Yuanbiao , Fu Changlei , Xu Liyuan
Published: March 2016

Purpose

To develop a structured, rich media digital paper authoring tool with an object-based model that enables interactive, playable, and convertible functions.

Design/methodology/approach

We propose Dpaper to organize the content (text, data, rich media, etc.) of dissertation papers as XML and HTML5 files by means of digital objects and digital templates.

Findings

Dpaper provides a structured-paper editorial platform for the authors of PhDs to organize research materials and to generate various digital paper objects that are playable and reusable. The PhD papers are represented as Web pages and structured XML files, which are marked with semantic tags.

Research limitations

The proposed tool only provides access to a limited number of digital objects. For instance, the tool cannot create equations and graphs, and typesetting is not yet flexible compared to MS Word.

Practical implications

The Dpaper tool is designed to break through the patterns of unstructured content organization of traditional papers, and makes the paper accessible for not only reading but for exploitation as data, where the document can be extractable and reusable. As a result, Dpaper can make the digital publishing of dissertation texts more flexible and efficient, and their data more assessable.

Originality/value

The Dpaper tool solves the challenge of making a paper structured and object-based in the stage of authoring, and has practical values for semantic publishing.
Ocorrência fúngica em acervos bibliográficos do município de Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil
Authors: Paixão Germana Costa , Rizzo Roberta Silva , De Lima Ari Clecius Alves , Pantoja Lydia Dayanne Maia
Published: March 2016

Na atualidade a conservação dos documentos bibliográficos ainda apresenta problemas complexos e diversificados, apesar da maior consciência do tema nos últimos anos. Nesse contexto, a presente pesquisa objetiva conhecer o espectro fúngico de acervos de bibliotecas públicas de referência no município de Fortaleza-CE. Bimestralmente, durante 24 meses, 05 amostras/biblioteca provenientes de livros e/ou documentos históricos escolhidos aleatoriamente foram analisadas, perfazendo no total 180 amostras. As amostras foram colhidas através de swabs estéreis, friccionados por 30 segundos e em seguida transportados em solução salina estéril. Ao chegarem ao laboratório, as amostras foram semeadas em meio de cultura Ágar Batata Dextrose (Himedia®), incubadas por 7 dias (26 – 28 °C) com posterior contagem global e identificação das colônias fúngicas baseada nas análises macro e micromorfológicas. Do total de obras analisadas 86% mostraram positividade para fungos. Nas bibliotecas A, B e C foram contabilizadas 3.612, 4.235 e 2.978 colônias fúngicas, respectivamente e identificados 55 diferentes achados fúngicos (29 gêneros e 26 espécies fúngicas), com destaque para os hialohifomicetos Aspergillus e Penicillium. Os dados revelaram alguns agrupamentos com forte correlação, isto é, quando um dos achados fúngicos ocorre, os demais achados do agrupamento também podem estar presentes nos livros analisados, a saber: Bibliotecas A e B (Aspergillus sp., Aspergillus flavus, Apergillus niger e Penicillium sp.) e Biblioteca C (Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma sp. e Penicillium sp.). A pesquisa permitiu oferecer aos gestores das bibliotecas, elementos para aprofundar seus conhecimentos na área de preservação e conservação de obras literárias de inestimável valor.
Overcrowding and Mortality During the Influenza Pandemic of 1918
Authors: Aligne C. Andrew
Published: March 2016

The influenza pandemic of 1918 killed more than 50 million people. Why was 1918 such an outlier? I. W. Brewer, a US Army physician at Camp Humphreys, Virginia, during the First World War, investigated several factors suspected of increasing the risk of severe flu: length of service in the army, race, dirty dishes, flies, dust, crowding, and weather. Overcrowding stood out, increasing the risk of flu 10-fold and the risk of flu complicated with pneumonia five-fold. Calculations made with Brewer’s data show that the overall relationship between overcrowding and severe flu was highly significant (P < .001). Brewer’s findings suggest that man-made conditions increased the severity of the pandemic flu illness.
Integration of Cumulative-Distribution-Function Mapping With Principal-Component Analysis for the History Matching of Channelized Reservoirs
Authors: Chen C.. , Gao G.. , Gelderblom P.. , Jimenez E..
Published: March 2016

Although principal-component analysis (PCA) has been widely applied to effectively reduce the number of parameters characterizing a reservoir, its disadvantages are well-recognized by researchers. First, PCA may distort the probability-distribution function (PDF) of the original model, especially for non-Gaussian properties such as facies indicator or permeability field of a fluvial reservoir. Second, it smears the boundaries between different facies. Therefore, the models reconstructed by traditional PCA are generally unacceptable.

In this paper, a work flow is proposed to integrate cumulative-distribution-function (CDF) mapping with PCA (CDF/PCA) for assisted history matching on a two-facies channelized reservoir. The CDF/PCA is developed to reconstruct reservoir models by use of only a few hundred principal components. It inherits the advantage of PCA to capture the main features or trends of spatial correlations among properties, and more importantly, it can properly correct the smoothing effect of PCA. Integer variables such as facies indicators are regenerated by truncating their corresponding PCA results with thresholds that honor the fraction of each facies at first, and then real variables such as permeability and porosity are regenerated by mapping their corresponding PCA results to new values according to the CDF curves of different properties in different facies. Therefore, the models reconstructed by CDF/PCA preserve both geological (facies fraction) and geostatistical (non-Gaussian distribution with multipeaks) characteristics of their original or prior models.

The CDF/PCA method is first applied to a real-field case with three facies to quantify the quality of the models reconstructed. Compared with the traditional PCA results, the integration of CDF-based mapping with PCA can significantly improve the quality of the reconstructed reservoir models. Results for the real-field case also reveal some limitations of the proposed CDF/PCA, especially when it is applied to reservoirs with three or more facies. Then, the CDF/PCA together with an effectively parallelized derivative-free optimization method is applied to history matching of a synthetic case with two facies. The geological facies, reservoir properties, and uncertainty characteristics of production forecasts of models reconstructed with CDF/PCA are well-consistent with those of the original models. Our results also demonstrate that the CDF/PCA is applicable for conditioning to both hard data and production data with minimal compromise of geological realism.
Livewire Project for Young Entrepreneurs in Basilicata Region South Italy
Authors: Baggi Ivan
Published: March 2016

Shell LiveWIRE is a Royal Dutch Shell Social Investment Programme, which enables young people to start their own business and create employment. Shell LiveWIRE strengthens young people's career options by enabling them to switch from being an employee to becoming an employer, or making the transition from seeking employment to creating employment.

The original Shell LiveWIRE programme was launched in 1982 in the Strathclyde region of Scotland in response to the region's high level of youth unemployment. Shell LiveWIRE programmes are currently operating in 15 countries including: Italy, UK, Egypt, Oman, Brazil, Nigeria, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Over 9.2m young entrepreneurs have benefited from Shell LiveWIRE programmes since 1982.
Recovering Business Value From Near Misses
Authors: Ritchie Norman W
Published: March 2016

No-loss Unplanned Events (Near Misses) present value recovery and organizational learning opportunities which can be taken advantage of only when events are reported into corporate systems, analyzed and the underlying issues resolved. This paper enumerates the moral and business drivers for actively pursuing a robust Near Miss program, from improved employee Near Miss recognition and reporting to efficient, effective and sustainable resolution of the underlying problem. Examples of business cases are included to demonstrate return on investment scenarios.
Risk Management: Typical Safety Regulator Findings in the Norwegian Petroleum Industry
Authors: Heide Bjørnar , Rasmussen Else Riis , Husebø Torleif
Published: March 2016

Excellent risk management by the petroleum industry is a premise for the Norwegian regulatory approach. The Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority has identified some clear trends in the industry's risk management quality in the last few years, through various revision activities. In this paper, we highlight some of the most relevant findings. We discuss what these findings mean in practice and what their importance is for safety. To our knowledge, this kind of comprehensive summary of findings through risk management revisions of the industry has not been published previously.
Predicting Toxicity for Simple Water-Based Drilling Fluids Using a Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Cortner Thomas , Trickey Erica
Published: March 2016

Drilling fluids contain multiple components that can interact in complex ways to affect overall toxicity; the nature of these interactions is not presently well-understood. A response-surface methodology (RSM) is an empirical technique that is suited to modeling such effects using a small number of data points. A RSM was used to model the toxicity of basic water-based drilling fluids consisting of bentonite, polyanionic cellulose (PAC), and partially-hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA). Modeling was achieved by relating the 48-hour EC50 of Daphnia magna to the mass ratio of each solid component. The RSM model was able to fit the data better than the conventional concentration addition (CA) approach. Three typical drilling fluid compositions were then tested and found to be below the EC50 without dilution; this finding was consistent with predictions made by the RSM model, but in contrast to expectations based on CA. The effectiveness of the model opens opportunities for reduced testing requirements, enhanced regulatory compliance, and more accurate understanding of composition-toxicity relationships.
Functional Barrier Model - A Structured Approach To Barrier Analysis
Authors: Aggelen Alwin van
Published: March 2016

Barrier Analysis has become a key element in managing major hazards and process safety, including and increasing attention from regulators for barriers and barrier management. In practice however the quality of the barrier analysis is often very poor and differences in understanding of barriers prevails throughout due to the lack of a good, generally accepted, barrier model and the absence of a good process for defining barriers. Typically focus has been on the equipment part of barriers (Safety Critical Elements - SCE's).

The objective of this paper is to describe a structured approach for barrier analysis based on a Functional Barrier Model to determine independent and fully functional Barriers and their barrier elements. The method as described has evolved from best practices and projects for regulators, operators and drilling contractors and provides the latest views on barriers and barrier management.

The approach focuses on the Barrier Function; why do we have this Barrier? Based on this Barrier Function an in-depth analysis of barriers is described in 4 consecutive steps; 1 Establishing Barrier Type; How the Barrier delivers its function (passive, active or procedural). 2 Identifying Primary Barrier Elements; What components are required for delivering the barrier function based on the " Sense-Decide-Act" model for a barrier to be fully functional. 3 Identifying secondary barrier elements, all measures in place to ensure that a specific barrier functions as intended and is effective. 4 Assign ownership to barriers and barrier elements.

With the use of the Functional Barrier Model it is demonstrated that the procedural part of barriers (Safety Critical Tasks) can be equally or even more important. Especially in a drilling environment, where there is a low level of automation and a high dependence on the human element, most of the barriers are a combination of equipment and human interaction instead of what is currently perceived as "hardware" barriers. Application of the Functional Barrier Model results in fewer but real barriers in which safety critical elements and safety critical tasks are included in a balanced manner.

As the use of Barriers increases the maturity of our thinking and understanding of barriers needs to increase as well. The Functional Barrier Model provides this necessary maturity and increased understanding of Barriers and forms the sound foundation that is required for good Barrier Management.
Changing Minds, Winning Hearts - Shifting a Cultural Paradigm
Authors: Jagadaseen Veallu
Published: March 2016

Amidst many challenges, construction works started on the PETRONAS LNG Train 9 Project, in Bintulu, Sarawak, East Malaysia – set to be the fastest LNG facility to be constructed in the world. A study was carried out jointly by both the Client and Contractor for the project prior to field mobilization and actual site works. The objective of the study was to identify the key challenges and develop appropriate strategies in meeting them.

It was recognized that one of the key success factors, amongst many others, in completing and delivering the project within the planned time frame successfully depended on good health, safety and environmental performance on and off the project. As such a traditional approach to managing safety may not yield the intended outcomes. The project had to develop safety culture which would endure the many challenges that it would face during the lifcycle of the construction and commissioning phase. The project needed to implement a program which would challenge the status quo whilst empowering all in the project to take ownership on matters relating to health and safety.

After much consideration, the project decided to implement the ‘incident and injury free’ program to replicate the success of Pearl GTL Project in Qatar – which had implemented the incident and injury free program resulting in an excellent safety performance which also greatly altered the traditional approach to managing health and safety – construction industry. Yet, the project was careful with its approach. It would not replicate all that was done in the Pearl GTL Project but would implement similar programs that would work for it based on its unique project demographics and other factors.

The incident and injury free approach to managing health and safety on the project took on a very personal stance. Various programs were put in place to elicit the employees’ participation on matters relating to health and safety on a personal level.

This paper discusses the programs which were implemented on the project to inculcate a positive safety culture which would subsequently drive the project HSE program in keeping all employees safe. It would would not delve into details of what an incident and injury free (IIF) program is all about as there are numerous scholarly articles already published and available to the public.

Instead, this paper describes the impacts of the various IIF programs which were implemented on the project and describes its effectiveness which was monitored through various surveys and interviews carried out by third party entities.

The positive safety culture of the project greatly enhanced the project safety performance and this led the project to win the National Council of Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH) excellence award for the year 2015. The award is a testament to the excellent safety culture that had been developed over the life span of the project.
The Potential of Local Community Compensation for Hosting Facilities
Authors: Mors Emma ter , Groeneweg Jop
Published: March 2016

Public acceptance is a major challenge for the siting of facilities like fracking, carbon capture and storage and wind farms. The offering of compensation to communities potentially helps to create the perception of a fairer distribution of local risks and non- local benefits. This may help to prevent or solve siting controversies. This paper will discuss insights obtained from an extensive empirical research program in The Netherlands on psychological factors that determine the effectiveness of compensation beyond showing that the project is ‘safe’ from a technical perspective. The studies show that when specific non self-evident criteria are met, the offering of host community compensation has the potential to ease the process of siting facilities. The type of compensation offered matters, e.g. contrary to what many local government authorities believe, citizens prefer compensation funds and measures to improve the local economy over monetary compensation. Also, responses to host community compensation are not a simple matter of balancing the cost-benefit aspects of the proposed developments. Social aspects play an important role, e.g. the perceived corporate social responsibility and trustworthiness of the players involved. Consultation of members of an affected community in the process of deciding about compensation is perceived as fair and communicates that the company takes their social responsibility serious. Before this project, there was little empirical research on the effectiveness of host community compensation, and very little was known about psychological factors and how compensation mechanisms work. The knowledge acquired allows project developers and governments to utilize more effective compensation strategies in complex siting projects.