bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Entre a criação e a exposição: o museu como ateliê do artista. Breve introdução ao tema
Authors: Azevedo Teresa
Published: May 2014

Este texto constitui-se como um passo para o entendimento do que hoje pode ser o ateliê de artista considerado no seu campo expandido, explorando ideias preliminares para a investigação em curso. Apesar de artistas como Daniel Buren ou Robert Smithson, no início dos anos 1970, terem declarado a extinção do ateliê ao evidenciarem um processo criativo no qual o espaço de criação seria parte integrante da obra e instaurando o que se viria a chamar uma era pós-estúdio, pretendo mostrar que, se entendido enquanto espaço e condição, o ateliê está sempre presente na génese e desenvolvimento do processo criativo, sendo um reflexo das tensões, avanços e retrocessos inerentes a esse processo. Com a expansão do conceito de ateliê alargaram-se também as suas modalidades na produção da arte contemporânea, permitindo novas e importantes relações e dinâmicas com outros dispositivos inerentes (ou não) ao meio artístico. O museu funciona, para muitos artistas contemporâneos, como um elemento de continuidade do ateliê, sendo muitas vezes ele mesmo o espaço preferencial de criação artística. É precisamente sobre essa perspetiva do museu como ateliê do artista que este artigo procura refletir, introduzindo alguns estudos atuais sobre o tema acompanhados de exemplos recentes. Em jeito de conclusão pretendo lançar pistas para uma futura discussão mais alargada sobre o modo como um estudo transdisciplinar sobre o ateliê pode contribuir para aprofundar o conhecimento da produção artística contemporânea, bem como da sua receção, documentação ou musealização.
Museus do feminino, museologia de género e o contributo da história
Authors: Vaquinhas Irene
Published: May 2014

Os museus da mulher, criados num determinado contexto sociocultural, são relativamente recentes, datando os primeiros casos de meados dos anos 1980, embora se multipliquem nas décadas posteriores. Neste artigo é feito o levantamento dos principais museus da mulher e/ou género existentes ao nível mundial, assim como é problematizada a relação entre museus e história das mulheres e o conceito recente de museologia de género. Equacionam-se igualmente os principais vetores, as missões e as linhas estratégicas dessa tipologia de museus e abordam-se os principais conteúdos das respetivas exposições permanentes.
Study on the Mechanisms and Evaluation Methods of Borehole Instabilities in Gas Drilling
Authors: Li Gao , Luo Bing , Liu Houbin , Meng Yingfeng , Han Lin
Published: June 2014

As a bottleneck problem, borehole instabilities have severely restricted further development and application of gas drilling technology. Here, the mechanisms of borehole instabilities in gas drilling are studied and four instability mechanisms are presented, including mechanical instability of weak rocks or crumbliness rocks because of their low mechanical strength, mechanics-chemical coupling instability caused by production or injection of fluid, rock burst of payzone and dynamically instability of overlying mudstone with pressure during hi-speed production. Because gas drilling has special operating conditions compared with conventional drilling, the experiment simulating field operating conditions is crucial to evaluation of borehole stability in gas drilling and need relate to more evaluating parameters, including formation temperature, pore pressure, overlying pressure, confining pressure, borehole pressure, types and production of formation fluid, velocity of slide wave as well as drilling operation, including dry gas drilling, foam or liquid drilling and conversion process of gas-liquid drilling operation. Meanwhile, deepening study on the mechanisms and evaluation methods of borehole instabilities, improving treating agents and treating process and advancing forecasting technique and sealing technique of formation fluid are thought of as effective approaches of enhancing borehole stability in gas drilling. This will be helpful for understanding the mechanisms of borehole instabilities in gas drilling and improving evaluation methods.
The Importance of Recognizing Hydrodynamics for Understanding Reservoir Volumetrics, Field Development and Well Placement
Authors: Green Sam , Swarbrick Richard E. , O'Connor Stephen A.
Published: June 2014

Hydrodynamically active reservoirs have been recognized in various parts of the world. The majority of these are termed "conventional", following the nomenclature presented in Swarbrick (2009), whereby fluid flow is driven by hydraulic head. More recently "unconventional" hydrodynamic reservoirs have been recognized where fluid flow is driven by lateral drainage, typically found in laterally extensive reservoirs.

The lateral drainage of pressure in reservoir sand units leads to a pressure gradient from higher pressured non-reservoir sediments (shales) above and below into the reservoir, leading to a focus of fluids, including hydrocarbons, within the reservoir. Within a laterally extensive reservoir fill and spill up-dip is likely to dominate the trapping of hydrocarbons, which is typically assisted by hydrodynamic flow as the aquifer will drain up-dip. Hence, secondary migration along extensive sand units is a highly effective carrier system, with little/no potential for vertical migration of hydrocarbons since there are higher pressures above and below. Hydrocarbon column heights can extend above the limits imposed by capillary entry pressures on account of the higher water pressures in the sealing rocks relative to the aquifer pressures in the sands.

Such reservoirs are present in the Miocene of the Gulf of Mexico and there are multiple sources of evidence for active "unconventional" hydrodynamics which are summarized within this paper. Furthermore, new data is presented that indicates the deeper Lower Tertiary Wilcox play is hydrodynamically active by combining direct pressure data interpretation with the geological depositional model.
Numerical Analysis of Wellbore Behaviour during Methane Gas Recovery from Hydrate Bearing Sediments
Authors: Xu Ermao , Soga Kenichi , Zhou Mingliang , Uchida Shun , Yamamoto Koji
Published: June 2014

Japan Oil, Gas, and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) conducted the first offshore methane hydrate production trial on March 2013, in the eastern Nankai Trough, Japan. Field work for the gas production trial began in early 2012. Coring and logging operations were conducted to prepare for the gas hydrate production trial. On March 12th, 2013, JOGMEC succeeded in extracting methane gas from the hydrate-bearing sediments by the depressurization method and approximately 120, 000 cubic meters of methane gas were produced totally. The production finally terminated due to the increase in sand production. It indicates the importance of evaluation the state of wellbore in order to produce methane gas safety and efficiently. It calls for an analysis to predict the stress changes and plastic strain evolution of wellbore during the life of well. Hence, a wellbore model, specifically designed for methane gas production, is necessary to assess the potential risks associated with the construction and production stage.

This paper describes a finite element approach, which mainly takes into account of (a) all the typical processes associated with wellbore construction and gas production and (b) the interaction between cement-casing-formation. Based on this approach, a finite element model, which includes the layered soil profile, cement, casing, gravel and sand screen, was developed in ABAQUS to simulate the gas production trial at East Nankai Trough in March, 2013. The Methane Hydrate Critical State (MHCS) model (Uchida et al., 2012), which was developed to simulate the geomechanical response of the methane hydrate bearing sediment, was incorporated into this finite element model. It presents results of coupled ground deformation and pore fluid flow analysis of a gas production wellbore from a methane hydrate formation. The study focused on the short- and long-term mechanical behaviour of the critical physical components at and near the wellbore by simulating the construction processes of the wellbore as well as the production stage. The interaction between cement-casing-formation was examined in detail.
How new seismic acquisition and processing technology is delivering high-resolution images
Authors: Vinje Vetle , Ratcliffe Andrew , Hoeber Henning
Published: June 2014

The objective of seismic acquisition and imaging is to recover the true properties of the earth. Major obstacles to obtaining this ideal goal are:the bandwith of the emitted source signals,the spatial sampling of the seismic survey and spatial aliasing,the aperture of the recorded data,the ghost effects on the source and receiver sides,the external and internal noise andthe ambiguity (nullspace) of the inversion problem (Yilmaz, 1987).
Analysis of Hurricane Winds
Authors: Vickery Peter J.
Published: June 2014

This effort represents a critical examination of the suitability of the models for atmospheric turbulence used in the draft API RP 2MET for describing the characteristics of hurricane winds offshore, using data collected from recent (post-2000) hurricanes. The preliminary results indicate that the current provisions are not suitable for describing hurricane winds, and hence wind loads associated with hurricanes.

Using wind speed measurements obtained from Gulf of Mexico hurricanes from a number of sources, the models for mean velocity profiles, gust factors and turbulence intensities given in the draft API RP 2MET were tested against these data. The wind speed data sources include:1.0 Vertical variation of wind speed with height using NOAA dropwindsonde data2.0 Gust factor data from NOAA data buoys and C-MAN stations3.0 Time series of wind speeds from a number of production facilities located in the Gulf of Mexico

The investigation found that the provisions of API RP 2MET do not provide a good representation of the structure of the hurricane boundary layer. A major reason that the provisions of API RP 2MET do not model the hurricane boundary layer well is that the models were developed using North Sea data, coupled with an assumption that the surface drag coefficient increases with wind speed. The net result is that at high wind speeds the API RP 2MET relations yield a mean velocity profile that increases too rapidly with height, overestimating wind speeds at typical deck height. For typical design wind speeds for structures located in the Gulf of Mexico the error associated with the API RP 2MET representation of the gust factor varies with height, overestimating the gust factor near the surface (10 m elevation or less), and underestimating it at higher elevations.
Numerical Simulation of Liquid Sloshing in Floating LNG
Authors: Agrawal Madhusuden , Rahumathulla Lubeena
Published: June 2014

The sloshing impact loads is one of the major design factors for tank containment system in LNG FPSO (Floating production storage and of?oading). With the development of offshore natural gas exploration and LNG transportation, the application of FLNG is growing rapidly. Sloshing of LNG cargo results in large impact loads on the containment system and the structure needs to be designed to withstand these peak loads.

Liquid sloshing is a complex phenomenon of fluid movement, showing a strong nonlinearity and randomness. Partially filled container which is subjected to external excitation can undergo intense movement, and large impacts on container wall, resulting in structure damage. The earlier sloshing study used experimental methods, but the number and size of tests are subject to great restrictions due to high cost, long period, and complicated operation. In view of this, the development of numerical simulation is necessary. CFD modeling can be reliably used to find the sloshing loads at different sea states, liquid levels and vapor properties, as well optimizing internal baffles to dampen sloshing.

The current paper proposes Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method to predict the sloshing loads in FLNG during the ship motion. The proposed CFD method is validated with experiments for the free surface level and the impact pressure during the sloshing in various scenarios. Series of CFD studies were performed to investigate effect of mesh sensitivity, solver options and time step size. A separate study was performed to investigate effect of density ratio on impact pressure.

Volume of Fluid (VOF) method along with rigid body motion is used to model the liquid sloshing in a moving container. Validation case studies are chosen in accordance with literature.
SCORCH JIP - Feedback from Field Recovered Mooring Wire Ropes
Authors: Rosen Jeremy , Potts Andrew , Fontaine Emmanuel , Ma Kai-Tung , Chaplin Richard , Storesund Walther
Published: June 2014

Forensic investigations performed as part of the SCORCH JIP on wire ropes that were recovered from FPU mooring systems from Indonesia and Thailand are described. These wire ropes were used in tropical seawater for operating periods ranging from 9 to 14 years before being replaced for various reasons, including corrosion and fatigue concerns. The observed degradation mechanisms within the wire ropes are summarised and the severity of degradation is assessed in view of the external conditions (load duty, direct environment – sea water or mud), sustained by the rope and the rope construction (6-strand and 8-strand). Residual break tests were performed on 7 of the recovered wire rope samples. Mooring design codes pertaining to the corrosion endurance of steel wire ropes are reviewed with respect to recommendations for galvanic coating thickness and lubricant/blocking compound. The results for the recovered wire ropes from tropical waters are compared with reported zinc dissolution rates from cold North Sea waters.
Flow Assurance Indicators for the Design of Long Subsea Tiebacks
Authors: Zakarian Erich , Morgan Julie
Published: June 2014

Failure to model representative pipeline geometries during the design phase of new multiphase pipeline projects can result in poor pipeline operating flexibility which could lead to deferred production and reduced ultimate hydrocarbon recovery. Detailed analyses of high resolution bathymetric data and out-of-straightness pipeline surveys have revealed that indicators can be practical flow assurance tools for the modeling of multiphase pipeline profiles:The Terrain Indicator can be used to quickly quantify the roughness of pipeline topographies and to anticipate the influence of route selection on hydrodynamic phenomena such as liquid accumulation and slugging.When only low resolution bathymetry is available, regional regressions of roughness indicators can be used to create pipeline geometries that are representative of the actual seabed roughness for a better prediction of operating envelopes.Roughness indicators can be used to fingerprint the roughness of existing pipeline topographies and to characterize geomorphic features of the seafloor.

Reducing noise in raw survey data is essential for pertinent characterizations of the seafloor and pipeline profiles. Noise in data from seabed and out-of-straightness surveys can be reduced through a smoothing technique combining a moving average and a linear least squares fit. According to high resolution survey data, the span of this moving average should be equivalent to the length of one pipe joint; i.e. 40 feet or 12.2 meters. Before the completion of onerous Finite Element simulations for on-bottom roughness analyses, the same smoothing technique can be applied to the transformation of bathymetric data into representative pipeline geometry. The span of the moving average required for this transformation appears to be equivalent to the length of one double pipe joint.

Two examples are presented to illustrate the application of flow assurance indicators to the design of long subsea tiebacks.
Sediment Mobility Effects on Seabed Resistance for Unburied Pipelines
Authors: Bransby Fraser , Rodriguez Antonio Borges , Zhou Hongjie , Tom Joe , Low Han Eng , White David
Published: June 2014

In order to design unburied pipelines, pipeline engineers require information about lateral and axial seabed resistances (normally known as ‘friction factors’) prior to and during operation. Geotechnical engineers must provide this information based on knowledge of pipeline properties, seabed conditions and metocean conditions. Accurate prediction of the seabed resistances requires accurate prediction of pipeline embedments. This paper discusses how pipeline embedments and geometries can change from the as-laid state as the result of sediment mobility around pipelines and demonstrates how these embedment changes will change the pipe-soil friction factors using a series of numerical analyses. Sediment mobility tends to cause a general trend of increasing pipe embedment, which is beneficial for hydrodynamic stability but can be onerous for thermal buckling. Recommendations are provided to accommodate these effects in design, without unnecessary levels of over-conservatism.
Numerical Simulation on the Impact of Temperature Behavior for Cement Hydration for the World's First Offshore Methane Hydrate Production Test
Authors: Wang X. , Takekoshi M. , Kanno T. , Shako V. , Pimenov V. , Parshin A. , Yamamoto K.
Published: June 2014

The world's first offshore production test of the methane hydrate (MH) project was successfully carried out in the deepwater Nankai Troughin 2013. In February and March 2012, a production well and two monitoring wells were drilled and cemented to deploy temperature monitoring systems for which a combination of distributed temperature sensing (DTS) and array-type RTD (Resistance Temperature Detector) was employed.

For cement hydration, the chemical reactions are exothermic in nature so that a measureable temperature increase will be observed once the heat is released. With a typical cement system in wellbore configuration, this temperature increase could result in MH dissociation prior to the production that may have some impacts on the extraction of actual methane gas. Additionally, potential problems of thermally induced cracking are another concern.

To evaluate the thermal effect from the cement heat to MH, a 1D numerical model of cement hydration is developed based on the radial heterogeneity of thermal properties. The temperature data acquired during cementing stage is used as the input data for the model, and the parameters such as activation energies for the cement hydration heat correlation in the model are determined. It was shown that the variation of simulated temperature from different MH saturation within the upper MH zone is so small that a reliable estimation of MH saturation becomes difficult while the estimated MH saturations from temperature data inversion in the lower MH zone are relatively high. A sensitivity study is also performed to understand which parameters in the developed model most significantly influence the temperature during the different stages of the cement hydration, respectively.
Designing a Permanent Underwater Monitoring Network For Leak Detection
Authors: Strout J.M. , Sparrevik P.M. , Hayes S. , Kvistedal Y.A. , Tollefsrud D.
Published: June 2014

The process to design and deliver any monitoring system follows several well-defined phases: concept design and sensor selection; performance testing and verification of individual system components; detail design of the system architecture (mechanical and electrical); procurement, manufacturing and system assembly; and finally installation and commissioning. Quality control management and system documentation are common requirements throughout all phases.

This article uses a real-world design case to expound upon the needs and challenges encountered as project development progressed through all design phases. The monitoring architecture consists of a seabed broadband network servicing instrumented monitoring nodes. The primary mission for the system is leak detection, however secondary monitoring missions can be hosted using auxiliary access ports and the available power/data capacity. Although this monitoring network is implemented as an independent system, the site owner (a major energy company) required that the design be fully integrated in the design philosophy and technical requirements for a subsea modification project.

An interesting observation from this case study is that each of the phases have significant challenges, although these challenges do vary in nature and complexity through the phases. As the project progresses, choices made early on often gain increasing significance in later design processes. As an example, in this project the choice of the primary sensing technology later dictated requirements for installation height and verticality relative to seabed, which in turn affected design of the foundation solution for each installation. A second important observation is that a detailed strategy for developing and managing system documentation should be established at the concept phase, as the industry requires stringent and detailed documentation.

The case presented represents the complete design cycle, from initial concept development through final deployment. The experience from this process provides insight in the design process, as well as the technical and administrative challenges associated with developing an underwater monitoring network near offshore installations. This insight is useful for potential system designers, as well as for organizations considering implementing a dedicated scientific monitoring network on or near their infrastructure.
Endogenously Expressed IL-13Rα2 Attenuates IL-13–Mediated Responses but Does Not Activate Signaling in Human Lung Fibroblasts
Authors: Chandriani Sanjay , DePianto Daryle J. , N’Diaye Elsa N. , Abbas Alexander R. , Jackman Janet , Bevers Jack , Ramirez-Carrozzi Vladimir , Pappu Rajita , Kauder Steven E. , Toy Karen , Ha Connie , Modrusan Zora , Wu Lawren C. , Collard Harold R. , Wolters Paul J. , Egen Jackson G. , Arron Joseph R.
Published: May 2014

IL-13 can bind to two distinct receptors: a heterodimer of IL-13Rα1/IL-4Rα and IL-13Rα2. Whereas IL-13Rα1/IL-4Rα engagement by IL-13 leads to the activation of STAT6, the molecular events triggered by IL-13 binding to IL-13Rα2 remain incompletely understood. IL-4 can bind to and signal through the IL-13Rα1/IL-4Rα complex but does not interact with IL-13Rα2. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and generally fatal parenchymal lung disease of unknown etiology with no current pharmacologic treatment options that substantially prolong survival. Preclinical models of fibrotic diseases have implicated IL-13 activity on multiple cell types, including macrophages and fibroblasts, in initiating and perpetuating pathological fibrosis. In this study, we show that IL-13, IL-4, IL-13Rα2, and IL-13–inducible target genes are expressed at significantly elevated levels in lung tissue from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis compared with control lung tissue. IL-4 and IL-13 induce virtually identical transcriptional responses in human monocytes, macrophages, and lung fibroblasts. IL-13Rα2 expression can be induced in lung fibroblasts by IL-4 or IL-13 via a STAT6-dependent mechanism, or by TNF-α via a STAT6-independent mechanism. Endogenously expressed IL-13Rα2 decreases, but does not abolish, sensitivity of lung fibroblasts to IL-13 and does not affect sensitivity to IL-4. Genome-wide transcriptional analyses of lung fibroblasts stimulated with IL-13 in the presence of Abs that selectively block interactions of IL-13 with IL-13Rα1/IL-4Rα or IL-13Rα2 show that endogenously expressed IL-13Rα2 does not activate any unique IL-13–mediated gene expression patterns, confirming its role as a decoy receptor for IL-13 signaling.
BCL6 Controls Th9 Cell Development by Repressing Il9 Transcription
Authors: Bassil Ribal , Orent William , Olah Marta , Kurdi Ahmed T. , Frangieh Michael , Buttrick Thomas , Khoury Samia J. , Elyaman Wassim
Published: May 2014

The transcriptional repressor B cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is required for the development of Th follicular cells, and it has been shown to suppress Th2 cell differentiation. We demonstrate that BCL6 is a key regulator of Th9 cell development. BCL6 expression is transiently downregulated in polarized Th9 cells, and forced expression of BCL6 in Th9 cells impairs Th9 cell differentiation. In contrast, BCL6 knockdown upregulated IL-9 production in Th9 cells. The function of BCL6 in Th9 cells is under the control of IL-2/JAK3/STAT5 signaling pathway. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we show that, in Th9 cells, BCL6 and STAT5 bind to adjacent motifs in the Il9 promoter. Furthermore, we found that STAT5 binding was associated with the abundance of a permissive histone mark at the Il9 promoter, whereas under conditions in which BCL6 binding was predominant, a repressive histone mark was prevalent. The effects of STAT5 and BCL6 on IL-9 transcription were further demonstrated using an IL-9 luciferase reporter assay in which BCL6 repressed STAT5-mediated Il9 transactivation. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, forced expression of BCL6 in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein35–55-specific Th9 cells resulted in decreased IL-9 production and induction of IFN-γ, causing an exacerbation of the clinical disease. Our findings demonstrate a novel role of BCL6 in the regulation of Th9 cell development and their encephalitogenicity.
A Critical Role for Human Caspase-4 in Endotoxin Sensitivity
Authors: Kajiwara Yuji , Schiff Tamar , Voloudakis Georgios , Gama Sosa Miguel A. , Elder Gregory , Bozdagi Ozlem , Buxbaum Joseph D.
Published: May 2014

Response to endotoxins is an important part of the organismal reaction to Gram-negative bacteria and plays a critical role in sepsis and septic shock, as well as other conditions such as metabolic endotoxemia. Humans are generally more sensitive to endotoxins when compared with experimental animals such as mice. Inflammatory caspases mediate endotoxin-induced IL-1β secretion and lethality in mice, and caspase-4 is an inflammatory caspase that is found in the human, and not mouse, genome. To test whether caspase-4 is involved in endotoxin sensitivity, we developed a transgenic mouse expressing human caspase-4 in its genomic context. Caspase-4 transgenic mice exhibited significantly higher endotoxin sensitivity, as measured by enhanced cytokine secretion and lethality following LPS challenge. Using bone marrow–derived macrophages, we then observed that caspase-4 can support activation of caspase-1 and secretion of IL-1β and IL-18 in response to priming signals (LPS or Pam3CSK4) alone, without the need for second signals to stimulate the assembly of the inflammasome. These findings indicate that the regulation of caspase-1 activity by human caspase-4 could represent a unique mechanism in humans, as compared with laboratory rodents, and may partially explain the higher sensitivity to endotoxins observed in humans. Regulation of the expression, activation, or activity of caspase-4 therefore represents targets for systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis, septic shock, and related disorders.
Hemin Controls T Cell Polarization in Sickle Cell Alloimmunization
Authors: Zhong Hui , Bao Weili , Friedman David , Yazdanbakhsh Karina
Published: May 2014

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) often require transfusions to treat and prevent worsening anemia and other SCD complications. However, transfusions can trigger alloimmunization against transfused RBCs with serious clinical sequelae. Risk factors for alloimmunization in SCD remain poorly understood. We recently reported altered regulatory T cell (Treg) and Th responses with higher circulating Th1 (IFN-γ+) cytokines in chronically transfused SCD patients with alloantibodies as compared with those without alloantibodies. Because monocytes play a critical role in polarization of T cell subsets and participate in clearance of transfused RBCs, we tested the hypothesis that in response to the RBC breakdown product hemin, monocyte control of T cell polarization will differ between alloimmunized and non-alloimmunized SCD patients. Exogenous hemin induced Treg polarization in purified T cell/monocyte cocultures from healthy volunteers through the monocyte anti-inflammatory heme-degrading enzyme heme oxygenase-1. Importantly, hemin primarily through its effect on CD16+ monocytes induced an anti-inflammatory (higher Treg/lower Th1) polarization state in the non-alloimmunized SCD group, whereas it had little effect in the alloimmunized group. Non-alloimmunized SCD CD16+ monocytes expressed higher basal levels of heme oxygenase-1. Furthermore, IL-12, which contributed to a proinflammatory polarization state (low Treg/high Th1) in SCD, was dampened in hemin-treated stimulated monocytes from non-alloimmunized SCD patients, but not in the alloimmunized group. These data suggest that unlike alloimmunized patients, non-alloimmunized SCD CD16+ monocytes in response to transfused RBC breakdown products promote an anti-inflammatory state that is less conducive to alloimmunization.
Binding of AID to DNA Does Not Correlate with Mutator Activity
Authors: Matthews Allysia J. , Husain Solomon , Chaudhuri Jayanta
Published: May 2014

The DNA deaminase activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) initiates somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class switch recombination (CSR) by deaminating cytidines to uridines at V region (V) genes and switch (S) regions. The mechanism by which AID is recruited to V genes and S region DNA is poorly understood. In this study, we used the CH12 B lymphoma line to demonstrate that, although S regions can efficiently recruit AID and undergo mutations and deletions, AID neither binds to nor mutates the V gene, thus clearly demonstrating intraimmunoglobulin locus specificity. Depletion of the RNA-binding protein polypyrimidine tract binding protein-2, previously shown to promote recruitment of AID to S regions, enables stable association of AID with the V gene. Surprisingly, AID binding to the V gene does not induce SHM. These results unmask a striking lack of correlation between AID binding and its mutator activity, providing evidence for the presence of factors required downstream of AID binding to effect SHM. Furthermore, our findings suggest that S regions are preferred targets for AID and, aided by polypyrimidine tract binding protein-2, act as “sinks” to sequester AID activity from other genomic regions.
The Thyroxine-Containing Thyroglobulin Peptide (aa 2549–2560) Is a Target Epitope in Iodide-Accelerated Spontaneous Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Authors: Kolypetri Panayota , Carayanniotis Karen , Rahman Shofiur , Georghiou Paris E. , Magafa Vassiliki , Cordopatis Paul , Carayanniotis George
Published: May 2014

Enhanced iodide ingestion is known to accelerate the incidence and severity of spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis [iodide-accelerated spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis (ISAT)] in NOD.H2h4 mice. CD4+ cells are required for the development and maintenance of ISAT, but their target epitopes remain unknown. In this study, we show that the previously identified thyroglobulin (Tg) T cell epitope p2549–2560 containing thyroxine at position 2553 (T4p2553) induces thyroiditis as well as strong specific T and B cell responses in NOD.H2h4 mice. In ISAT, activated CD4+ T cells specific for T4p2553 are detected before the disease onset in thyroid-draining cervical lymph nodes only in mice placed on an iodide-rich diet and not in age-matched controls. In addition, selective enrichment of CD4+ IFN-γ+ T4p2553-specific cells is observed among cervical lymph node cells and intrathyroidal lymphocytes. T4p2553 was equally detectable on dendritic cells obtained ex vivo from cervical lymph node cells of NaI-fed or control mice, suggesting that the iodide-rich diet contributes to the activation of autoreactive cells rather than the generation of the autoantigenic epitope. Furthermore, spontaneous T4p2553-specific IgG are not detectable within the strong Tg-specific autoantibody response. To our knowledge, these data identify for the first time a Tg T cell epitope as a spontaneous target in ISAT.
A Survey of Internet Financial Reporting in Egypt
Authors: Elhelaly Moataz , Mohamed Ehab K.A
Published: May 2014

Internet financial reporting (IFR) is fast becoming the norm in most western countries, however little is known about IFR practices in developing countries. This paper investigates the extent and variety of practices of internet financial reporting (IFR) by companies listed in the Egyptian Stock Market (CASE). This paper attempts to add to the literature on IFR by providing evidence of IFR practices in Egypt. Out of 213 companies which is the number of companies listed in 2010 the 100 companies in index EGX 100 were investigated to ascertain whether they maintain websites and/or if these sites are being used for communicating financial information. Only 36 of the listed companies on EGX 100 were found to operate websites, with even less (only twenty nine) engaging in IFR. However, IFR is not restricted to the publication of annual financial statements only as the companies also disclose financial highlights through their websites. The results of this study indicate that IFR is still at an embryonic stage in Egypt and there are lots of opportunities and challenges for all stakeholder parties in corporate reporting.
The effectiveness of accounting information systems in Jordanian private higher education institutions
Authors: Abu Taber Thaer Ahmad , Alaryan Laith Abdullah , Abu Haija Ayman Ahmad
Published: May 2014

This study aimed to explore the factors that affecting the accounting information systems in Jordanian private higher education institutions.  In doing so, this study distributed 94 questionnaires, only 54 questionnaires were returned. The results showed that the human resources, hardware, software, and data bases have a positive significant relationship with efficiency of AIS. More studies are needed to explore other factors that affecting accounting information systems efficiency since the R2 of current study is 63.8% which means there are 36.2% of factors did not explored yet
The Relationship between Fair Value Accounting and Presence of Manipulation in Financial Statements
Authors: Alaryan Laith Abdullah , Abu Haija Ayman Ahmad , Alrabei Ali Mahmoud
Published: May 2014

The application of fair value has started early in Jordan, which was a bone of contention among supporters and opponents. This study came to provide empirical evidence on the relationship between fair value and financial manipulation. The study extracted data from 45 companies’ annual reports during a ten-year period (1997- 2006) five years before and after the application of fair value to examine the relationship among the application of fair value accounting and the presence of manipulation in financial statements. The result indicates that the number of firms that manipulated information in the financial statements had increased after applying fair value accounting. The results have policy implications, one of which is that the Jordanian government should either enact new regulations or modify the current regulations in the face of an increasing number of manipulations by firms after the application of fair value accounting. These regulations are needed to increase both the managements’ and accountants’ responsibility towards the firms and to enhance the business ethics of the organization.
Executive Compensation and Earning Management
Authors: Hassen Rim Ben
Published: May 2014

Given the growing complexity of business, the need for financial reporting to include more reliable information is increased. For this information to be relevant, they must be conducted in an implementation of an efficient system of control to ensure a high quality result. The directors of listed companies may be required to affect the quality of accounting earnings as their compensation depends. Therefore, it would be wise to examine the relationship between the elements of executive compensation and earning management. The objective of this paper is to examine one of the motivations that could encourage managers to manage the accounting results, namely the managerial remuneration. The results of this study show that executive compensation is determined by the requirements of earning management. Specifically, our litters indicate that total compensation is negatively related to the absolute value of accruals. This result confirms the theoretical hypothesis alignment of interests of executives with those of shareholders.
Co-integration of Karachi Stock Exchange with major South Asian Stock Exchanges
Authors: Khan Salleh Nawaz , Aslam Mohamad Saad
Published: May 2014

International cross  listing have   amplified  the interest of  academics   and  investors  to the subject  of  co movement among  the  stock  markets of  the world . This  study  investigates the co integration of  Pakistan stock exchange (KSE 100 index) with  major stock exchanges of south Asia . The results reveals that there is no co integration  of  Pakistan’s stock  market  (KSE100  index)  with china and  Japan stock markets.  However   there  is co integration of Pakistan’s stock market (KSE 100 index) with the stock market of India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Libya’s IAS/IFRS Adoption and Accounting Quality: What Lessons from the European Union Experience
Authors: Masoud Najeb
Published: May 2014

This study provides a review of the literature on adoption of IAS/IFRS in Libya, the time the IFRS standards decision is made in EU countries and the time IAS/IFRS adoption becomes undertaking in Libyan economy. The adoption of IAS/IFRS in Europe on the quality of ﬁnancial reporting is an example of accounting standardisation among countries with diﬀerent institutional frameworks and implementation rules. Impacts of this adoption in Libya will gain many benefit include the improve quality of financial reporting, less earnings management, more comparability, and provide more reliable, accurate, transparency, and high relevance for stock price determination of financial accounting information. These findings could be fruitful and helpful for outside users of accounting reports and also for regulators and legislators in their attempts to constrain the incidence of earnings accounting practises and to enhance the quality of accounting information. To explore the relevance (applicability) of international accounting standards to developing countries such as Libya is a topic of significant interest amongst disclosure (non-accounting information) users. This is a key subject for standard setting purposes as IAS/IFRS have been adopted in many different nations all over the world, and many others are likely to adopt them in the near future (including, Libya). Finally the main limitations of this study are outlined and opportunities for future research are discussed, particularly in relation to this study’s findings about the requirement to reconsider the usefulness of the relationship between accounting practices and framework adoption of IAS/IFRS in Libya.
Risk Comparison of Karachi Stock Exchange with Next Eleven Countries: A Country Beta Approach
Authors: Abbas Aqeel , Baig Sajjad Ahmad , Zia-ur-Rehman Muhammad , Abrar Muhammad
Published: May 2014

This study is based on the Country risk of different stock exchanges of the world. Here Country risk is derived from the Country Beta Approach, as this approach is described by the Erb, Harvey and Viskanta (1996). Specifically, this study is based on the risk comparison of KSE 100 with next eleven countries (South Korea, Iran, Mexico, Philippine, Indonesia, Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan, Vietnam and Bangladesh), which are defined by the Goldman Sachs (2005). For this purpose, the stock exchange's data of these countries is compared with the global index. Actually, the global index is consisted on the 44 countries of the world. Here only one factor is discussed, which is a country risk (country beta). Actually the riskiness is measured in this study on the basis of beta, higher the beta means higher the risk; lower the beta means low the risk. The result shows that the performance of KSE is much better than the next eleven economies but Nigerian stock exchange has less risk than the KSE 100.
Understanding Policy Change: Multiple Streams and National Education Curriculum Policy in Hong Kong
Authors: Chow Anthony
Published: May 2014

The purpose of this paper is to critically analyse the policymaking process of the Moral and National Education (MNE) curriculum in Hong Kong by employing Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework. The aim of the paper is threefold. First, it will describe the policy process of the national education curriculum policy as a foundation for the analysis. Second, the author will critically evaluate and apply Kingdon’s MSF to examine the policymaking process, both to analyse how such policy came to be constructed as a problem and to consider the proposed policy solutions, as well as the surrounding political forces. Third, the analysis will identify the possible coupling of these lines of thought and the notions of “policy entrepreneurs” and “policy windows.”The MNE policy provided a good example of how a policy problem is constructed in various policy contexts, as well as how the solution is matched to the problem. Although the policy outcome is not entirely predictable, Kingdon’s framework is excellent for explaining the likely outcomes.This paper contributes to the wider policy literature by bridging the East-West gap in policy analysis. It provides a better understanding of the policymaking process in Asian countries, and it should also prove useful to both education policy scholars and policymakers. Finally it suggests further research is needed on how social media affects each of Kingdon’s streams in Hong Kong.
Lean Production Role in Improving Public Service Performance in Egypt: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Omran Aly Wael
Published: May 2014

For decades, Egypt strives to adopt development administration principles and techniques; in order to transform their conventional traditional public service into modern developing new one; able to meet people expectations. While Current conventional public service in Egypt deals with regulatory aspects of administration such as law and order, judicial administration and revenue collection; new public service is concerned with the socio-economic developmental activities relevant to new public management principles.Thus, traditional public service is structure-oriented while new public service is action- oriented. Many third world countries failed in realizing such desired shift by converting its conventional public service to effective new public service; able to satisfy people needs by  implementing plans, policies, programs and projects necessary for sustainable development purposes. Such bad governance would lead the frustrated people to go up against such government; as it happens lately in Egypt. Hence, in this paper we aim to shed light on lean production techniques; as a suggested philosophy that can be adopted by the crippled government of Egypt; to convert its traditional ineffective public service performance into effective new one; able to fulfill the desired developmental programs and projects that meet people needs and aspirations
Understanding the Compensation System at Zarai Tarqiati Bank Limited Pakistan (ZTBL)
Authors: Aslam Muhammad Mehmood
Published: May 2014

Purpose The core aim of this research is to explore those ways through which employees at Zarai Tarqiati Bank Limited Pakistan (ZTBL) are being paid financially or non-financially for the work they perform or are asked to perform in tough routine. Therefore, those factors are under consideration which put immense influence over employees’ behavior & attitude besides the level of satisfaction of the workers. In order to go ahead in line of the purpose of this study, a number of recommendations are to be given to the management of Zarai Tarqiati Bank Limited Pakistan (ZTBL) so that the employees under different cadres and scales get satisfied with the practices and policies relating to the compensation rigorously followed by the bank under different circumstances which can prove to be a milestone in achieving success not only for the employees at the bank but also for the bank itself in the present arena of stiff competition in the banking industry of Pakistan.MethodologyFor the sake of achieving results survey methodology is carried out and a questionnaire as an instrument has been used. The questionnaire form is an opted one and taken from Malik’s work, 2005 on compensation policies and practices being followed in foreign bank here in Pakistan. However, in order to have clear picture as what employees deliberate so as far compensation practices are concerned; percentage analysis technique has been used to have the clear understanding as what the respondents say about a particular phenomenon.FindingsThe results suggest that pay incentives in different forms are very meager in amount and so is the case with benefits given to the employees. Mixed results have been extracted as those who points out that employee earnings largely depends on organizational performance and those who don’t think so. Seniority has been observed as powerful criteria upon which employees get handsome compensation package & this is what employees aspire for as well. However, most of the employees highlighted that they need to be paid for the better performance they show up against their work assigned. Results also show that most of the employees think that ZTBL pay practices are well designed to have top performer at work along with the phenomenon that pay practices are smart enough to bring effectiveness even for the bank itself while at the same time most of them think this is not happening at all.RecommendationsIt is suggested to the bank policy makers that individual performance has to be taken into consideration and be rewarded accordingly. For better results for the bank; seniority should not be focused altogether but pay for performance is duly prescribed. The bank has to reshape its existing benefits package along with those non-financial aspects to be used as part of total compensation package. Pay practices need to be tailored in line of employees needs and lastly the alignment has to be there between organizational philosophy/objective & compensation strategy out there in ZTBL, Pakistan.
Decent Termination: A Moral Case for Severance Pay
Authors: Kim Tae Wan
Published: May 2014

People are often involuntarily laid off from their jobs through no fault of their own. Employees who are dismissed in this manner cannot always legitimately hold employers accountable for these miserable situations because the decision to implement layoffs is often the best possible outcome given the context—that is, layoffs in and of themselves may be “necessary evils.” Yet, even in circumstances in which layoffs qualify as “necessary evils,” morality demands that employers respect the dignity of those whose employment is involuntarily terminated. In this paper I argue that to preserve the dignity of employees who are involuntarily terminated, in most cases employers have a substantial reason to offer a special kind of unemployment benefit, “severance pay.” To support my claim I draw and expand upon Bernard Williams’s analysis of “agent-regret,” which I believe greatly helps to address and articulate employers’ obligations in the context of involuntary termination.