bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opening Pandora's Film
Authors: Taylor Bron , Ivakhiv Adrian
Published: December 2011

By metaphorically taking on the themes of imperialism and the suppression of indigenous peoples, by implicitly criticizing industrial capitalism with its voracious appetite for natural resources, while also participating in it, by linking militarism with ecocide while finding hope only in redemptive violence, and by presenting a religious worldview at variance with that of billions of people, the film Avatar has generated great controversy. Only through a multi-disciplinary analysis that examines the cultural tributaries of the film, and takes on-the-ground and cyber spaces seriously, will it be possible to begin an assessment of the significance and influence of this form of nature-related cinematic art.
Ecotopian Exceptionalism
Authors: Proctor James D. , Berry Evan
Published: December 2011

Literature on the U.S. Paci?c Northwest generally paints the region in exceptionalist stripes, certainly in the deep connection its people maintain with an abundant natural landscape. Is Ecotopia exceptional? We interrogate the empirical basis for this claim, applying results from a mixed-method study of intentional and other communities in Oregon, and a comparative survey situating the Paci?c Northwest amidst other regions of the United States. Our focus was on imagined landscapes, both utopian and dystopian, as expressions of late-modern nature spirituality; we situated this emphasis in larger conversations around contemporary spiritual seeking and dwelling. Though there is no doubt that the biographies of those living in intentional communities and in the Paci?c Northwest are to some extent unique, our results suggest the need to temper this exceptionalist trope, both as a distinctive category of regional and spiritual identity, and as a salutary model of late-modern living worthy of the inordinate amount of attention it has received.
Twilight of Utopias
Authors: Deese R. S.
Published: December 2011

The biologist Julian Huxley and his younger brother, the novelist Aldous Huxley, each presented a distinct approach to utopian thought in the twentieth century. Julian Huxley sketched a vision of ideal polity that was nothing less than global, calling for the creation of a uni?ed world culture, a new religion predicated on the methods and discoveries of evolutionary biology, and, ultimately, the emergence of a global government. Aldous Huxley’s vision of utopia was deliberately local, based on his view that the machinations of large states, however well intentioned, were a threat to human liberty. Island, Aldous Huxley’s utopian novel of 1962, depicts a small cooperative society, employing low-impact technologies while draw¬ing its worldview from a combination of modern science and Mahayana Buddhism. The distinct visions of the Huxley brothers did share one common trait which remains resonant today. Each identi?ed ecological sustainability as the primary foundation for any plausible utopia.
Ideologies and practices of multilingualism in bureaucratic and legal advice encounters
Authors: Codó Eva , Garrido Maria Rosa
Published: December 2011

The increasing growth of foreign immigration to Spain has changed the communicative reality of various types of institutions. Civil servants, doctors, teachers, social workers and all sorts of service providers face new communicative challenges in their daily professional practice. The changing face and voice of their clientele calls into question habitualised forms of service delivery based on the homogeneity of practices and worldviews (Moyer and Martín Rojo 2007). In this paper, we undertake a comparative study of the multilingual practices observed in two service contexts dealing with transnational migrants in Barcelona: a state legalisation office and a free legal advice service offered by a non-profit organisation. We use various types of interactional, observational and textual data. Our theoretical standpoint is that of critical sociolinguistics (Blommaert 2003; Heller 2007). We problematise the role of language in social life and try to shed light on the ways in which linguistic practices are deeply implicated in processes of stratification and social exclusion. The analysis of our data shows that, in spite of their different social missions and grounding ideologies, the two institutions examined reproduce hegemonic stances towards service communication which problematise multilingualism and ignore the exclusionary effects that overlooking communication-related matters have for certain groups of migrants. Both organisations assume Spanish to be the normal, logical and natural language of communication and neglect the need for more fluid and unproblematising forms of multilingual practice.
Undrained vertical bearing capacity factors for shallow foundations
Authors: Gourvenec S. M. , Mana D. S. K.
Published: December 2011

The undrained vertical bearing capacity of a shallow foundation is a fundamental problem in geotechnics. Bearing capacity factors based on analytical and numerical methods have been published for strip and circular, surface and shallowly embedded foundations, with rough and smooth foundation–soil interfaces in soils with uniform and linearly increasing shear strength profiles – although not comprehensively for all combinations. Furthermore, in the case of limit analysis solutions, considerable disparity can exist between upper and lower bound solutions for some foundation and soil conditions. This letter presents a coherent set of bearing capacity factors based on finite element and finite-element limit analysis, for strip and circular shallow foundations across a practical range of foundation embedment ratio, foundation–soil interface roughness and soil shear strength heterogeneity.
Experiments and Analysis of Multiscale Viscous Fingering during Forced Imbibition
Authors: Sharma Jyotsna , Inwood1 S. B , Kovscek A. R.
Published: December 2011

Immiscible displacement of one fluid by another in porous media has practical applications where viscous oil is produced by water injection. A greater understanding of the flow patterns that evolve during such unstable displacements yields insights to improve predictive capability and increase oil recovery. Immiscible multiphase displacement exhibits a wide range of behaviors depending on the relative magnitude of viscous, capillary, and gravity forces. Using flow visualization images from forced imbibition experiments carried out in etched-silicon micromodels, we show that the conventional Darcy-type modeling of fluid flux is not predictive under unstable, immiscible, imbibition conditions at the scale of interest. When a less viscous fluid displaces a more viscous fluid at low capillary numbers, the displacement patterns show fractal, self-similar characteristics arising from viscous instabilities as well as local capillary control of interface movement. We show that such complex displacement patterns are modeled using statistical theories. We derive a scaling model to describe quantitatively the functional forms for saturation, fractional flow, and capillary dispersion profiles using the self-similarity characteristics inherent in the displacement patterns. For the specific range of flow rates (Nc~10−7) and oil to water viscosity ratios (M~8-400) considered in our experiments, both capillary and viscous forces are important and the displacement shows features similar to the invasion-percolation regime in the presence of a viscous gradient. Results show that functional relations of the scaling model are in considerable agreement with our experimental data.

Keywords: imbibition, nonequilibrium effects, viscous instabilities, multiphase flow
ESP installation in Very High Gas Environment (GOR 500 m3/m3), Using Multi Vane Pump and Tail-Pipe in PDO
Authors: Jedda Jamel , Al Houqani Said , Wardi Said
Published: December 2011

Running ESP in gassy environment was always a big challenge causing frequent pump gas lock and ESP motor to overheat due lack of sufficient fluid to cool it and eventually shorten ESP run life.

ESP was found to be the most suitable Artificial Lift method for WELL-01 as per the conducted Artificial Lift modelling. However, any selected ESP system has to have the capability to handle high Gas Oil Ratio (GOR), which was estimated around 500 m3/m3. After exploring all available technologies for handling high GOR in the market, decision was made to use the Centurion Multi Vane Pump (MVP) stage which was presented as the latest solution for gas handling. MVP integrates the three principles of Gas handling to a level of 90% of free gas at the pump intake:

- Balancing holes mitigate the pressure difference and thrust loading. If gas forms because of low pressure area, it can easily escape through those holes. - It has a split vane design. As a general rule when dealing with gas, the more homogenous the fluid, the better. The split vane design allows turbulent mixing to occur, which favourable for flow capacities to carry the gas without becoming stagnant. - The steep discharge angle of the MVP transmits a greater amount of Kinetic energy to the liquid, increasing lift at lower flow rates

In addition to that and for more precautionary measures, ESP installed in 5.5" shroud cross-overed to 2 7/8" tail-pipe in order to produce from below perforations to minimize the risk of gas entry to the pump. The total concept (MVP + Gas separator + tailpipe) worked well as the system last for almost three years after installation with a permanent annulus pressure of 38 bar.

WELL- 01 was meant to assess the reservoir potential and is the first high GOR (200‒500 m3/m3) well completed with an ESP system capable to handle such level of GOR.
Effects of Rapid Gas Decompression on Swellable Rubber and Common Oilfield Rubber Compounds
Authors: Young Dustin , Sevre Alf K. , Smith Peter E. , al-Madlouh Mohammed , Gjelstad Geir
Published: December 2011

Rubber or elastomeric seals are flexible polymers used in a variety of applications in many industries, and as polymer technology has advanced, they have become more widely used in oilfield equipment. One significant problem, however, has concerned the fact that they can be damaged during a rapid decrease of pressure after being exposed to environments containing gas. This phenomenon is known as explosive decompression (ED) or rapid gas decompression (RGD).

RGD damage can be manifested as splits, cracks, or bubbles in the seals (depending on the rubber type), length of exposure to the gas, and the rate of pressure decrease. Damage caused to a seal by RGD can range in severity from a slight weakening of the physical properties of the rubber to a catastrophic failure of the integrity of the seal. RGD can be caused by both surface operations and downhole conditions and can result in failure of the equipment in which the seals are used.

This paper discusses tests performed on various elastomeric samples, including swellable rubber, to determine the effects that RGD will have on the seals under varying conditions. The tests exposed each sample to a range of pressure drops and gas exposure times. The samples were analyzed after each test for physical changes and signs of RGD damage. The purpose of mapping the effects of RGD on multiple samples and the various conditions to which the seals were subjected was to 1) develop a better understanding of the conditions leading to RGD damage, and 2), to identify operations at risk for causing RGD damage to elastomeric seals. The testing and results are discussed in this paper.
Dynamical and structural symmetries for the highest Landau levels on the AdS
2
Authors: Espoukeh Pakhshan , Fakhri Hossein
Published: December 2011

The aim of the paper is to use the recurrence relations with respect to both indices of the associated Legendre functions for the extraction of the Dirac quantization condition and dynamical symmetry group U(1, 1) corresponding to the highest Landau levels on the hyperbolic plane with uniform magnetic field B. Irreducible representations of the su(2) algebra are obtained by the ladder differential operators which change B by 1/2 unit and mode number by one unit. Two different classes of the irreducible representations of SU(1, 1) with the even and odd boson numbers 2B − 1/2 are extracted for the Bargmann indices 1/4 and 3/4, respectively. Finally, we show that shape invariance symmetry is realized by the ladder operators which shift only the magnetic field B by 1/2 unit.
Aspects Regarding the Neurobiology of Psycho-Affective Functions
Authors: Ciobica Alin , Popescu Raducu , Haulica Ion , Bild Walther
Published: December 2011

Aspects Regarding the Neurobiology of Psycho-Affective Functions

In this mini-review we were interested in analyzing the main achievements concerning the neurobiological substrate of the human psycho-affective functions. The cortico-subcortical areas implicated in the elaboration and the control of the sensorial and psycho-affective reactions of the human brain are described, as well as the neurobiological basis of the psychic and affective manifestations, with focus on the new achievements in understanding the genetic, morpho-chemical and electromagnetic bases of the psycho-affective and behavioral manifestations, both normal and pathological. It is known that emotional states like anxiety, fear or anger generate complex psycho-affective reactions that are controlled by the limbic system, which is called the emotional brain. This is connected with the polyneuronal circuits of the Papez loop, the hypothalamic-pituitary complex and the reticular formation of the brainstem. Some imagistic aspects concerning the implication of the amygdala and the cingulate gyrus in laughing and crying are mentioned, as well as the cerebral areas implicated in romantic and maternal love. Also, some electromagnetic manifestations of the brain are presented, introducing the concept of «electromagnetic plasma», as a possible component of the human brain activity.
Solutions to Linear Inverse Problems on the Sphere by Tikhonov Regularization, Wiener filtering and Spectral Smoothing and Combination — A Comparison
Authors: Sjöberg L.
Published: December 2011

Solutions to Linear Inverse Problems on the Sphere by Tikhonov Regularization, Wiener filtering and Spectral Smoothing and Combination — A Comparison

Solutions to linear inverse problems on the sphere, common in geodesy and geophysics, are compared for Tikhonov's method of regularization, Wiener filtering and spectral smoothing and combination as well as harmonic analysis. It is concluded that Wiener and spectral smoothing, although based on different assumptions and target functions, yield the same estimator. Also, provided that the extra information on the signal and error degree variances is available, the standard Tikhonov method is inferior to the other methods, which, in contrast to Tikhonov's approach, match the spectral errors and signals in an optimum way. We show that the corresponding Tikhonov matrix for optimum regularization can only be determined approximately. Moreover, as Tikhonov's method solves an integral equation, it is less computationally efficient than the other methods, which use forward integration. Also harmonic analysis uses direct integration and is not hampered, as previous methods, with spectral leakage. Spectral combination, in addition to filtering, has the advantage of combining different data sets by least squares spectral weighting.
Rapid warfarin reversal: a 3-factor prothrombin complex concentrate and recombinant factor VIIa cocktail for intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Sarode Ravi , Matevosyan Karén , Bhagat Ramesh , Rutherford Cynthia , Madden Christopher , Beshay Joseph E.
Published: December 2011

Object

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most serious bleeding complication of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy, carrying a high mortality. Rapid reversal of VKA in ICH is critical. Plasma therapy, the standard of care in the US, is not optimal. The ideal prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) containing all vitamin K–dependent factors (VKDFs) is not available in the US. Therefore, the authors developed a Trauma Coumadin Protocol (TCP) consisting of a 3-factor PCC available in the US (which contains insufficient factor VII [FVII]) with a low-dose recombinant FVIIa to rapidly reverse VKA.

Methods

Forty-six patients treated with the TCP were retrospectively analyzed. Fourteen patients had pre- and post-TCP plasma samples collected to assess their VKDF increment. Eleven patients had measurable intraparenchymal hematomas, which were evaluated for expansion.

Results

The mean pre- and post-TCP international normalized ratios (INRs) were 3.4 (median 2.9) and 1.0 (median 0.9), respectively. Once corrected, INR was maintained at < 1.3 during a patient's hospital stay. The pre-TCP median values of FII, FVII, FIX, and FX were 28%, 21%, 45%, and 20%, respectively; post-TCP median values increased to 144%, 417%, 102%, and 143%, respectively. Four of the 11 patients with measurable intraparenchymal hemorrhage had expansion at 24 hours after TCP. One patient probably (8 hours post-TCP) and 1 patient possibly (3 days post-TCP) had thrombotic complications.

Conclusions

The TCP was very effective in rapidly reversing VKA-associated coagulopathy; however, this protocol should be used cautiously in patients at high risk for thrombosis.
Clinical Investigation of the Role of Interleukin-4 and Interleukin-13 in the Evolution of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Goldstein Robert , Hanley Charles , Morris Jonathan , Cahill Declan , Chandra Ashish , Harper Peter , Chowdhury Simon , Maher John , Burbridge Sophie
Published: December 2011

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, both in the USA and Europe. Although incurable, metastatic disease can often be controlled for years with anti-androgen therapy. Once the disease becomes castrate resistant, the median survival is 18 months. There is growing evidence that the immune system, and in particular cytokines, play an important role in prostate cancer immunosurveillance and progression. Here, we have undertaken a clinical investigation of the role of two closely related cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13 in prostate cancer. In the largest series studied to date, we show that serum IL-4, but not IL-13 is significantly elevated in castrate resistant, compared to androgen sensitive disease. Notably however, serum IL-4 levels are also raised in patients with benign prostatic disease. Analysis of benign and malignant prostate tissue demonstrates that the source of IL-4 is epithelial cells rather than infiltrating leukocytes. Together, our data are consistent with a dual role for IL-4 in prostate cancer development. In benign disease, our data add to the evidence that IL-4 serves a protective role. By contrast, the data support a direct role for IL-4 in the progression of prostate cancer from androgen responsive, to advanced castrate-resistant disease.
Individual and Public-Program Adaptation: Coping with Heat Waves in Five Cities in Canada
Authors: Alberini Anna , Gans Will , Alhassan Mustapha
Published: December 2011

Heat Alert and Response Systems (HARS) are currently undergoing testing and implementation in Canada. These programs seek to reduce the adverse health effects of heat waves on human health by issuing weather forecasts and warnings, informing individuals about possible protections from excessive heat, and providing such protections to vulnerable subpopulations and individuals at risk. For these programs to be designed effectively, it is important to know how individuals perceive the heat, what their experience with heat-related illness is, how they protect themselves from excessive heat, and how they acquire information about such protections. In September 2010, we conducted a survey of households in 5 cities in Canada to study these issues. At the time of the survey, these cities had not implemented heat outreach and response systems. The study results indicate that individuals’ recollections of recent heat wave events were generally accurate. About 21% of the sample reported feeling unwell during the most recent heat spell, but these illnesses were generally minor. Only in 25 cases out of 243, these illnesses were confirmed or diagnosed by a health care professional. The rate at which our respondents reported heat-related illnesses was higher among those with cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, was higher among younger respondents and bore no relationship with the availability of air conditioning at home. Most of the respondents indicated that they would not dismiss themselves as “not at risk” and that they would cope with excessive heat by staying in air conditioned environments and keeping well hydrated. Despite the absence of heat outreach and education programs in their city, our respondents at least a rough idea of how to take care of themselves. The presence of air conditioning and knowledge of cooling centers is location-specific, which provides opportunities for targeting HARS interventions.
The Potential Role of Vitamin D Enhanced Foods in Improving Vitamin D Status
Authors: O’Mahony Louise , Stepien Magdalena , Gibney Michael J. , Nugent Anne P. , Brennan Lorraine
Published: December 2011

Low vitamin D intake and status have been reported worldwide and many studies have suggested that this low status may be involved in the development of several chronic diseases. There are a limited number of natural dietary sources of vitamin D leading to a real need for alternatives to improve dietary intake. Enhancement of foods with vitamin D is a possible mode for ensuring increased consumption and thus improved vitamin D status. The present review examines studies investigating effects of vitamin D enhanced foods in humans and the feasibility of the approach is discussed.
Navigating the tip of the genomic iceberg: Next‐generation sequencing for plant systematics
Authors: Straub Shannon C. K. , Parks Matthew , Weitemier Kevin , Fishbein Mark , Cronn Richard C. , Liston Aaron
Published: December 2011

• Premise of the study: Just as Sanger sequencing did more than 20 years ago, next‐generation sequencing (NGS) is poised to revolutionize plant systematics. By combining multiplexing approaches with NGS throughput, systematists may no longer need to choose between more taxa or more characters. Here we describe a genome skimming (shallow sequencing) approach for plant systematics.

• Methods: Through simulations, we evaluated optimal sequencing depth and performance of single‐end and paired‐end short read sequences for assembly of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and plastomes and addressed the effect of divergence on reference‐guided plastome assembly. We also used simulations to identify potential phylogenetic markers from low‐copy nuclear loci at different sequencing depths. We demonstrated the utility of genome skimming through phylogenetic analysis of the Sonoran Desert clade (SDC) of Asclepias (Apocynaceae).

• Key results: Paired‐end reads performed better than single‐end reads. Minimum sequencing depths for high quality rDNA and plastome assemblies were 40× and 30×, respectively. Divergence from the reference significantly affected plastome assembly, but relatively similar references are available for most seed plants. Deeper rDNA sequencing is necessary to characterize intragenomic polymorphism. The low‐copy fraction of the nuclear genome was readily surveyed, even at low sequencing depths. Nearly 160000 bp of sequence from three organelles provided evidence of phylogenetic incongruence in the SDC.

• Conclusions: Adoption of NGS will facilitate progress in plant systematics, as whole plastome and rDNA cistrons, partial mitochondrial genomes, and low‐copy nuclear markers can now be efficiently obtained for molecular phylogenetics studies.
Increased CD34+/KDR+ cells are not associated with carotid artery intima-media thickness progression in chronic HIV-positive subjects
Authors: Papasavvas Emmanouil , Hsue Priscilla , Reynolds Griffin , Pistilli Maxwell , Hancock Aidan , Martin Jeffrey N , Deeks Steven G , Montaner Luis J
Published: December 2011

Background

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are involved in the endothelium repair. Low circulating EPC levels are predictive of cardiovascular events in HIV-negative subjects. The impact of HIV infection on EPCs, and the role of EPCs in HIV-associated cardiovascular disease, is not known. We hypothesized that circulating EPCs would be inversely associated with carotid artery intima-media thickness (c-IMT) changes in HIV-infected subjects.

Methods

EPCs (CD34+/KDR+, CD133+/KDR+ and CD34+/ CD133+/KDR+) were defined retrospectively by flow cytometry in cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected longitudinally from 66 chronic HIV-infected subjects and cross-sectionally from 50 at-risk HIV- negative subjects. The HIV-infected subjects participated in the Study of the Consequences of the Protease Inhibitor Era (SCOPE) cohort, were receiving antiretroviral therapy (59/66) and had two sequential measurements of c-IMT 1 year apart. Two distinct groups of HIV-infected subjects were identified a priori: rapid c-IMT progressors (subjects with rapid c-IMT progression, n=13, Δc-IMT>0.2 mm) and slow c-IMT progressors (subjects with slow or no c-IMT progression, n=53, Δc-IMT<0.2 mm).

Results

Although cryopreservation reduced sensitivity of detection, EPC frequency in HIV-infected subjects was still significantly higher compared to at-risk HIV-negative subjects (CD34+/KDR+; P=0.01) and correlated positively with CD4+ T-cell count (CD34+/KDR+, r=0.27; P=0.03). No association was found between the change of EPC frequencies over time (ΔEPC) and Δc-IMT or between EPC frequencies and c-IMT or Δc-IMT.

Conclusions

The lack of an association between EPCs and c-IMT in our cohort does not support HIV-associated reductions in EPC frequency as a cause of accelerated atherosclerosis.
Scleritis: A Paradoxical Effect of Etanercept? Etanercept-associated Inflammatory Eye Disease
Authors: GAUJOUX-VIALA CÉCILE , GIAMPIETRO CECILIA , GAUJOUX THOMAS , EA HANG-KORNG , PRATI CLÉMENT , ORCEL PHILIPPE , WENDLING DANIEL , LIOTÉ FRÉDÉRIC
Published: December 2011

Objective.

To describe 3 cases of scleritis associated with etanercept use for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to review the literature related to inflammatory eye diseases associated with the use of etanercept.

Methods.

Three cases of severe scleritis during etanercept therapy were analyzed. A systematic review of the literature in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was performed, from 1962 to July 2010.

Results.

Three patients with seropositive RA developed scleritis 7–28 months after initiation of etanercept, for the first time during their long-lasting disease. In all patients the underlying disease had responded well to anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy. Ocular inflammation went into remission after discontinuation of etanercept, and no other relapses were observed. One patient experienced a dechallenge-rechallenge phenomenon (improvement in symptoms following discontinuation of the agent, then reappearance or worsening of symptoms on reexposure to the agent). Forty-two cases of inflammatory eye diseases believed to be associated with the use of etanercept have been reported in the literature: 33 uveitis, 8 scleritis, 1 orbital myositis, concerning 16 patients with RA, 10 with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, 14 with ankylosing spondylitis, and 2 with psoriatic spondyloarthropathy. Dechallenge was performed in 28 patients, leading to resolution of symptoms. Rechallenge was done in 6 cases, with clear exacerbation.

Conclusion.

Ocular inflammation is paradoxically a potential adverse effect of etanercept, even in previously uninvolved eyes.
Financement agricole par l’échange grains / intrants : l’impact de la NPR à Sapezal–MT entre 2004 et 2009
Authors: Brum Argemiro Luís , Marquezin Charles Luan , Dalfovo Wylmor Constantino Tives , Heck Cláudia Regina
Published: December 2011

La NPR (Note de Produit Rural) apparaît comme un instrument régulé par le Gouvernement Fédéral, grâce à laquelle le producteur anticipe sa recette de production en ayant comme contrepartie la remise aux entreprises privées d’une certaine quantité venue de sa production de soja. Ce système a pris de l’ampleur pendant la spirale inflationnaire et la crise fiscale brésilienne, durant les années 1980, qui a restreint le crédit. On a cherché dans cet article, ayant comme référence des entreprises de la commune de Sapezal – MT, à décrire les coûts d’acquisition des intrants à travers deux mécanismes distincts. Le premier, le mécanisme d’achat au comptant avec les prix des intrants obtenu en Reais, et le deuxième, le mécanisme à longue échéance connu comme NPR, où les prix ont été analysés sous le système d’échange contre des paquets d’intrants. Parmi les résultats, on a eu que la principale variable responsable du succès de la NPR est la variation du prix de la denrée à la période de réalisation du contrat et de son échéance. Autre résultat important, le fait que la majorité des producteurs que cherchent la NPR à Sapezal – MT ce sont les moyens producteurs. Enfin, quant aux agents financiers, les plus grandes entreprises occupent un pourcentage élevé de participation dans l’émission de ce type de négociation rurale.
User Acceptance of Location-Based Mobile Advertising
Authors: Zolfaghar Kiyana , Khoshalhan Farid , Rabiei Mohammad
Published: December 2011

Location-based advertising (LBA) opens up new frontiers for marketers to place their advertisements in front of consumers. LBA is a new form of marketing communication that uses location-tracking technology in mobile networks to target consumers with location-specific advertising on their cell phones. It provides more targeted communication and interaction between the marketer and its potential customers. This paper reviews different aspects of LBA advertising and investigates the drivers of consumer acceptance toward it. Achieving this, a research framework is developed to explore the factors influencing consumer intention for using LBA in Iran. Individuals’ responses to questions about intention to accept/use of LBA advertising were collected and analyzed with various factors modified from UTAUT with main constructs of utility expectancy, trust, effort expectancy, and control. While the model confirms the classical role of utility expectancy and effort expectancy as the key factors in technology acceptance, the results also show that users’ behavioral intentions are influenced by trust and their control on ads flow.
Wiki Interaction Tracks in Geometry Learning
Authors: Daher Wajeeh
Published: December 2011

The constant comparative method (Lincoln & Guba, 1985) was used to analyze preservice teachers’ discussions and interactions in wiki discussion sections regarding geometric lessons that were written by other preservice teachers in the year before. The data was compared for the following interaction aspects of knowledge building: dialogical actions, participants’ roles, and discussion tracks. Research shows that building their content and pedagogic content knowledge, the preservice teachers together with the lecturer used mainly proposing, asking, requesting, arguing, presenting, and moving the discussion forward as dialogical actions. Proposing and asking were used for various goals such as proposing various ideas and actions, and asking about different issues concerned with geometric content and pedagogic content knowledge. The lecturer asked questions more than the preservice teachers, while the preservice teachers proposed more than the lecturer. The knowledge building was collaborative in nature, and one important aspect which enabled the collaboration is the topology of the wiki discussion section. This topology enables presenting the content of the messages; not just the titles, where the contents are presented as having the same level and thus the same importance.
Intelligent Industrial Data Acquisition and Energy Monitoring using Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Gupta Sumeet , Verma Shekhar , Tomar G.S. , Abrol Raj Kumar
Published: December 2011

Most of the application-oriented research in the field of Wireless Sensor Networks has been in remote monitoring, including environmental, building automation, and security. However, this paper presents the methodology followed for implementation of a Wireless Sensor Network based solution in a process plant for energy management and leak detection. The sensor network acquires data pertaining to detection of leakage in a plant. The network further serves effectively as a maintenance and diagnostic system that is used to manage the plant and conserve energy in a process plant. The critical design issues, testing methodologies and implementation problems pertaining to the system are also presented. Additionally, special focus has been placed on the calculations pertaining to the network life time.
Meaningful Connections
Authors: Bubb Terri Edwards , McDonald Denise , Crawford Caroline M.
Published: December 2011

This chapter explores the importance of collaborative and authentic learning in online distance learning environments. It focuses upon the interactive activities between the instructor, learners, online environment, and larger community, which are all engaged towards developing a community of learners in which meaningful connections enhance learner motivation (Ardichvili, Page & Wentling, 2003; Conrad & Donaldson, 2004) and acquisition of learning objectives. Built-in opportunities are integral to the process for socialization-type learning activities and instructor’s awareness, and alignment of those activities to the readiness of individual learners and collective learning community (i.e., zone of proximal development) (Vygotsky, 1962, 1978). Practical instructional ideas and activities for building an online learning community are presented.
Complex Real-Life Supply Chain Planning Problems
Authors: Fahimnia Behnam , Ebrahimi Mohammad Hassan , Molaei Reza
Published: December 2011

Supply chain planning concerns the selection of strategies and methodologies to facilitate the optimal flow of material from raw material suppliers to end-users through procurement, production and distribution activities. Supply chain (SC) implementation has significant impacts on the financial performance of manufacturing and distribution companies. Developing real-life SC models with centralised planning naturally leads to complex models which are difficult to solve optimally. This chapter firstly presents a comprehensive review on the current literature of SC planning and optimisation and classifies the published models based on their complexity. Next, a mixed-integer non-linear formulation is presented for modelling complex real-life SC planning problems which accommodates the identified gaps in the current literature. Evaluation of the available tools and techniques for the optimisation of the proposed SC model will conclude this chapter.
Supply Chain Risk Management
Authors: Nikbakhsh Ehsan
Published: December 2011

During the past two decades, environments surrounding supply chains (SC) have faced many changes, which require SC managers to deal proactively with unknown situations and new risks. Therefore, one of the most important issues in supply chain management is managing uncertainties of a SC and mitigating negative effects of SC risks. In this chapter, an overview of supply chain risk management (SCRM) is given. First, fundamental concepts in SCRM are introduced. Next, sources of SC risks, SCRM and its process, and some robust SC risk mitigation strategies are introduced. Finally, an introduction to several mathematical models for SCRM is given.
Disruption in Supply Chain
Authors: Baygi Mohammad Bakhshayeshi , Mousavi Seyyed Mostafa , Kuzgunkaya Onur
Published: December 2011

Recent trends in the global business environment such as overwhelming globalization, short product life cycle, and cost reducing strategies have exposed various types of supply chains in the face of a great deal of uncertainties and risks. One of the main risks in supply chain is risk of disruption. Disruptions, which can derive from natural and man-made sources, have attracted the attention of academia, industry, as well as supply chain advisors. The importance of the topic becomes more vital when it is observed that prior planning for the disruption can significantly reduce the adverse consequences of disruption. Therefore, in the chapter, the authors would try to introduce the phenomenon of supply chain disruption along with its importance. Recent trends that greatly necessitate careful planning of supply chain disruption are presented, and lastly, different ways through which the adverse consequences of disruption can be mitigated are given to the readers.
Allowable Drill Rig Wheel Loads on Frozen Muskeg
Authors: Oswell James , Stancliffe Russell , Coutts Ron , Karambelkar Vik , Wood Mark
Published: December 2011

Considerable expanses of Alaska, Canada and Russia have unfrozen muskeg terrain. A broad study was undertaken to determine the seasonally frozen thickness of muskeg required to support heavy drill vehicle loads. The study included field testing and collection of frozen muskeg samples for laboratory testing to assess the engineering properties of the frozen muskeg, insitu testing of the muskeg and underlying mineral soils, and numerical modeling of a frozen muskeg layer subject to loading by heavy drilling equipment. This paper reports on the numerical modeling to assess the wheel load capacity of relatively thin frozen layers overlying a weak (non-zero strength) unfrozen stratum.

The wheel load capacity of the frozen muskeg was assessed considering several failure mechanisms. For the shear failure mode a finite element model was used to predict soil and muskeg deformation and assess the factor of safety against failure. For a punching shear failure, the factor of safety against failure was estimated by a closed-form solution. The results are presented as a series of graphs of factor of safety versus frozen layer thickness for a number of average frozen layer strengths. A single loading scenario was considered, consisting of a loaded drill rig with a gross weight of 62,000kg.

Introduction

Large drilling and support vehicles can often exceed 50,000 kg in gross vehicle weight and require special permits to travel over some roads during parts of the year. In many areas the travel surface to drilling or well sites consists of soft and weak soils or organic layers that restrict access by all vehicle travel to winter periods when the ground is frozen. The capacity of the soil or organic layer to support vehicles is notionally a function of the thickness and strength of the surface layer and the mass of the vehicle. If the access requirements to this terrain can be addressed in a rational manner then operators can undertake better planning and allocation of equipment and resources.

This paper documents a study to determine the required seasonally frozen thickness of muskeg required to support heavy drill vehicle loads. The broader study included field testing and collection of frozen muskeg samples for laboratory testing to assess the engineering properties of the frozen muskeg, insitu testing of the muskeg and underlying mineral soils, and numerical modeling of a frozen muskeg layer subject to loading by heavy vehicles. The goal of the overall study was to develop a field assessment method to determine the potential load carrying capacity of frozen organic soils such as muskegs. The study assumed that the frozen muskeg was underlain by a material with some low, but non-zero, shear strength.
Feasibility of Escape, Evacuation and Rescue for Facilities in Arctic Shear Zone Environments
Authors: Marsden Arnold , Totten Melanie , Spring Walt
Published: December 2011

An area of concern for any offshore oil development beyond the "transition zone", the zone where multi-year ice and land- fast ice meet, is Escape, Evacuation and Rescue (EER). Due to the unique environmental conditions, e.g., large ice ridges, conventional evacuation methods such as lifeboats may not be sufficient. The unique environmental challenges in the Alaskan OCS and their potential impact on EER will be described. A feasibility assessment focused on the secondary evacuation component of EER will also be described. This assessment consisted of establishing performance standards related to the expected operating environment, identification of proven and novel evacuation methods, evaluation of these methods versus the performance standards, and prioritization of future work. Finally, recently-conduted data collection and analysis and technology maturation studies related to EER will be discussed.

INTRODUCTION

Shell's objective in Alaska is to find and develop commercial hydrocarbon resources in the Chukchi and Beaufort Outer Continental Shelf. As with all Shell ventures, the company maintains high operational and social performance standards that will bring, with exploration success, economic expansion and new opportunities to communities across Alaska and the Northwest. Since returning to Alaska in 2005 Shell has embarked on an extensive field data acquisition, R&D and technology maturation effort aimed at supporting exploration and future development. This paper focuses on development of a robust Escape, Evacuation, and Rescue (EER) solution for the Alaska OCS operating environment.

The oil industry has operated successfully in Arctic and sub-Arctic locations since the 1960s. However, as the industry pursues offshore developments in the Arctic with more severe environmental conditions, it must develop new solutions and/or extend existing ones to meet these new challenges. One of the key technology challenges is development of a robust Escape, Evacuation, and Rescue (EER) solution for offshore developments in the "shear zone", where land-fast ice interacts with the mobile polar ice pack. Solutions for less severe mobile first year regions, such as Cook Inlet, offshore Newfoundland, offshore Sakhalin Island, and the northern Caspian Sea, have been developed using modified open water equipment and techniques and purpose-built craft.
Drilling Rigs in Arctic Deep Temperature Environments - Design an Operation Challenges
Authors: Kipker Thomas
Published: December 2011

Running a drilling rig in arctic environments is a challenge in many points. Bentec produced many drilling rigs for arctic conditions in recent years. Bentec go decades of experience with problems and risks in these cases. Therefore Bentec will explain the important challenges with arctic rigs by using neutral examples out of the field.

Operating a drilling rig in arctic environments is one of the hardest challenges for a rig builder and a drilling contractor worldwide.

When a rig is operated in these environments there are many risks and challenges:It begins with the absolutely isolated location of the rig itself - for example the accessibility only at wintertime by winter roads this fact requires a complete other logistic and project planning.Bentec will describe with some examples how the contractors handle a rig commissioning and a rig move.The engineering process of an arctic rig differs completely to a normal rig. It starts with the choice of materials an ends with the complete winterization concept of the rig itself.We explain by using examples out of the field which points during the engineering and design process are important and critical.Writer also shows with examples out of the field how the winterization process of a rig works. Bentec will describe different rig heating concepts and where the advantages and disadvantages are. The Writer will use a land rig and a rig located on an artificial island in arctic environment. Writer will show how an innovative heat recovery system works.Writer show also with which kind of technologies, tools and methods a full rig winterization can be made.Writer also shows many different aspects of an arctic rig and Requirements of the Logistics / Arctic Specific HSE- Management and Maintenance.

Introduction

The Bentec Arctic Rigs are Drilling Systems for operating in harsh environments such as those found in Siberia. The System is designed to operate on cluster locations, with a full winterization package incorporated into the design. All direct drilling related subsystems are installed on a rail track, allowing fast skidding in one direction. The rig design incorporates not only modern and high performing items; particular focus was set on creating a safe and well protected work area. Components that require a certain level of maintenance are easily accessible and well illuminated.
Corrosion Issues of Arctic Pipelines and Flowlines
Authors: Trimble Whitt L.
Published: December 2011

Arctic pipelines have unique corrosion mitigation problems resulting from the arctic environment itself and the practical limits on processing facilities in the arctic infrastructure. This paper will discuss a number of the unique artic pipeline corrosion issues and will present practical solutions to those problems.

Background

With a few exceptions, the oil and gas industry has produced the resources of the easy and relatively easy locations - which is why oil and gas was relatively inexpensive in the past. Today, ALL of the author's current and pending project assignments are either extremely remote, further offshore, in deeper waters, more sour or otherwise contaminated, subject to greater environmental extremes, subject to greater operating temperatures and pressures, or a combination of the above.

If asked why " arctic pipelines and flowlines?? are different from pipelines and flowlines in more temperate climates, this group would give a number of answers. Obvious, but still accurate answers would be:Unique safety concerns - weather conditions, equipment reliability, wildlife, and terrain.More remote - significantly increased costs of construction, operation, supply, and maintenance.Greater risk - mechanical integrity, spill response, and environmental clean up consequences.

But that's not why the audience is here and not why this presentation was prepared. The solutions to the above are basically financial. If the oil and gas resources are there in sufficient quantity and value, the necessary investment capital will become available.

However, there are corrosion issues for arctic pipelines and flowlines that will require an increased emphasis on corrosion mitigation during construction, from the first day of production, and altered operating and maintenance (O&M) practices. There will be greater corrosion mitigation O&M costs but these can be minimized over the long term if adequate consideration and preplanning for corrosion control is conducted. Corrosion mitigation should not be thought of as a necessary evil (costs should be reduced whenever and wherever possible) but should rather be thought of as a means to reduce capital investment costs in exchange for slightly increased O&M costs over the life of the structure. After all, the pipeline industry installs relatively inexpensive carbon steel (a material that does not, and cannot exist long in most of the environments found on this planet) underground and expects it to contain high pressures, for decades, with minimal if any maintenance. Are we stupid or what?