bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An R&D Career in the Energy Industry
Authors: Bennion Brant
Published: April 2015

Pillars of the Industry - D. Brant Bennion discusses careers in R&D.

I appreciate the invitation by SPE to share a few thoughts on my experiences over the last 30 years as a research scientist in the energy industry. It has been a very rewarding career for me, and I hope that the following insights will be of benefit to those who might be considering a career in research and development, or R&D.

A career in R&D is certainly not for everyone. But for those to whom it has appeal, there are many different niches that I have seen over the years into which someone can fit their personal interests, talents, and strengths. There are currently three major venues for a career in R&D in the energy industry:

1. University or technical institution academic programs that are working primarily on “fundamental” research

2. Oil- or gas-operating-company or government-sponsored research centers or institutes that are working on a combination of both fundamental and process- or field-specific “applied” research studies

3. Commercial research institutes or service-company-affiliated laboratories that are working on mostly applied or field-specific/fit-for-purpose research studies or projects on a for-profit or cost-recovery basis

Each of these venues has particular advantages and disadvantages. Although my personal experience has primarily been in the third category, I have had the opportunity over the years to have close association with many individuals in the first two categories as well.
Women in R&D
Authors: Karpyn Zuleima , Jonoud Sima , Turich Courtney
Published: April 2015

Women on the Frontline - Three women working in R&D offer perspectives on their work, why they joined that branch of the industry, what projects they work on, and what keeps them challenged.
Academia and Independent E&P Companies: A Win-Win Partnership
Authors: Ayirala Subhash , Pires Paulo , Rai Sanchit
Published: April 2015

Academia - Explore the win-win partnership that exists between academia and independents.

Independents play an important role in the oil and gas industry. They specialize in unconventional field development and are largely credited with the shale gas boom that has occurred in the US. Despite this success, they differ from the large, integrated majors in that they usually have limited or no research and development (R&D) capability. In order to remain competitive, independents commonly rely on academia to meet this need.

This article presents three important R&D realms that demonstrate good collaborative efforts between independents and academic research institutions.

Pilot EOR Operations

One key area for independents in North America is mature field development whose aim is to extract the proven residual oil trapped in these reservoirs. Independents acquire mature assets primarily from major exploration and production (E&P) companies once the majors start viewing them as marginal or economically unattractive. Independents tend to view mature fields as attractive because, as smaller companies, they typically have more efficient operating structures with lower overhead, and are more willing to deploy advanced and emerging technologies. Several mature onshore fields, such as Yates in Texas and Salem in Illinois, are good examples of these acquisitions.
Financial Roadmap of an Independent’s Asset
Authors: de Saint Gerand Marc
Published: April 2015

Economist's Corner - Exploring the financial roadmap of an independent’s asset.

Finance theory is based on a very simple principle: Reward is a function of risk. In other words, when comparing two investments—two “assets”—the riskier one should serve a higher return (yield) than the other.

A fair and efficient market is, by definition, a market that serves an adequate level of return for a given level of risk. The reality of finance is obviously somewhat different, and even though we understand the definition of a transparent and efficient market, we still have not witnessed a pure and perfect market. This is probably where finance and geology meet: Neither is a pure science.

Although we all know our stated equations, we struggle in our everyday job to approach the perfect system (be it a financial or a hydrocarbon system). Even though risk/reward theory can be challenged (as evidenced by the abundant number of academic papers addressing the inefficiency of the market), it remains a powerful paradigm to understanding the basics of finance, how funding flows into the oil and gas business, and ultimately how money is made available to companies exploring, appraising, and developing oil and gas assets.
Public Perception of the Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Edman Sarah
Published: April 2015

Pillars of the Industry - Sarah Edman, ConocoPhillips’ manager of corporate public policy, discusses public perception of the oil and gas industry.
The Global Gas Industry: A Cleaner Energy Source Needs a Smart Workforce
Authors: Kulkarni Abhijeet
Published: April 2015

Soft Skills - A methodical and structured approach will go a long way in ensuring a stable and sustainable gas industry by encouraging youth to choose a career in the gas industry.
Earning Job and Career Security
Authors: Vaucher David
Published: April 2015

What's Ahead - David Vaucher, TWA editor-in-chief, on “Earning Job and Career Security.”

Think of all the benefits a job in the oil and gas industry gives you: excellent pay and benefits, the chance to work on challenging projects and see some really exciting places around the world, and maybe even flexible work hours.

But what about job security?

Arguably, job security is the ultimate benefit. After all, how great are salary and challenging projects if you work in constant fear they could disappear from one day to the next? This is the idea behind being a tenured professor at a university: Not having to worry about losing their jobs, university professors who have earned tenure have the freedom to focus their energy on teaching and research.

Of course, while academia and business have ties to each other, they are entirely different operating environments. Certainly, the market is good now for young professionals in oil and gas because energy prices are high and the level of skill required to bring this energy to the market is extremely high. But can anyone really count on something similar to tenure in oil and gas—or really in any other industry?

In today’s business world—in which seemingly nothing matters more than how much a stock price moves from quarter to quarter; in which technology enables work to be done from anywhere, by anyone with an Internet connection; and with an energy mix that is broadening to include other options besides oil and gas—can we as young professionals in the oil and gas industry be assured a measure of security, not only in our day-to-day jobs but also in our long-term careers?
Oil and Gas Job Security - From an Economic Viewpoint
Authors: Deore Prakash , Cronlund Jenny , Hale Matthew , Agarwal Ankit
Published: April 2015

Economist's Corner - Petroleum industry job security - from an economic viewpoint.

Job security in the oil and gas industry is a big consideration for young professionals starting a career hoping it will last a lifetime. For job security to be a reality in the oil and gas industry, three things must occur over the next several decades:

Demand on a global scale for oil and gas continues to rise (or at least remains sustained).

Reserves replacement keeps pace with demand.

The need for people to bring oil and gas out of the Earth remains steady or rises.

Findings and Forecasts

Many industry economists and other experts have forecasted that there are plenty of remaining unexploited hydrocarbons in the world to produce, consequently requiring a steady stream of new talent. Below are a few recent findings noted in industry studies, and by experts and strategists, on the potential of this industry to meet future demand, which in turn will mean new opportunities for young professionals.
Future Job Security in the Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Jones Deanna L.
Published: April 2015

Pillars of the Industry - Deanna Jones, vice president of human resources and administrative services at Marathon Oil, shares her own career "best practices."
Interview with Jeroen van der Veer
Authors: van der Veer Jeroen
Published: April 2015

The Way Ahead Interview - A conversation with Jeroen van der Veer, Chief Executive Officer of Royal Dutch Shell.
A Discussion with Weldon Mire
Authors: Mire Weldon
Published: April 2015

HR Advice - A discussion with Weldon Mire, Vice President of Human Resources for Halliburton.
Technical Journals - Why Read Them?
Authors: Thorogood John
Published: April 2015

Pillars of the Industry - John Thorogood, Chief Engineer for the BP Sakhalin exploration program, explains why technical journals play such an important role in the life of an engineering professional.
Industry Offers Excellent Job Opportunities
Authors: Nussbaumer Klaus
Published: April 2015

HR Advice - The E&P industry offers young professionals something that no other industry can, writes Klaus Nussbaumer, Senior Vice President of the Human Resources Div. at Wintershall Group: an international venue that combines business and technology in a challenging way.
Looking Back: SPE Young Professionals Generate Energy
Authors: Beugelsdijk Leon
Published: April 2015

International Activities Update - The history and future of YP programs at SPE.

During the 2006 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE) in San Antonio, the Young Professionals Coordinating Committee (YPCC) will celebrate its first anniversary with confidence that it will continue to build on the strengths of the young members of the Society. The suggestion to create a committee looking at programs dedicated to young professionals originated in Stresa, Italy, in 2003 during the first international workshop under supervision of 2005 SPE President Giovanni Paccaloni. During the last year, 2006 SPE President Eve Sprunt has supported our group by suggesting a health, safety, and environment section in The Way Ahead. The growing support of the SPE leadership toward young members has also been shown by bringing SPE Board member Susan Howes in as a YPCC mentor. During the 2006 ATCE, Josh Etkind, a reservoir engineer for Shell and cofounder of the YPCC, will take over from me as Chairperson. With that, an exciting year comes to an end for me personally, although I will continue to contribute to and support the YPCC as the past chairperson for the next year.
Numerical Simulation of Complex Reservoir Problems and the Need for a Different Line of Attack
Authors: Firoozabadi Abbas , Hoteit Hussein
Published: April 2015

Pillars of the Industry - Abbas Firoozabadi, Director of the Reservoir Engineering Research Institute, and Hussein Hoteit, ConocoPhillips, on "Numerical Simulation of Complex Reservoir Problems and the Need for a Different Line of Attack."
Should a Technical Career Track/Ladder Be a Preferred Option for Young Professionals?
Authors: Thakur Ganesh
Published: April 2015

Pillars of the Industry - Ganesh Thakur, Global Adviser-Reservoir Management and Fellow for Chevron Energy Technology, discusses "Should a Technical Career Track/Ladder Be a Preferred Option for Young Professionals?"
Systems Thinking in Learning Organizations
Authors: Crookes David
Published: April 2015

Soft Skills - David Crookes, a leadership and organizational-development consultant for Saudi Aramco, discusses the concept of systems thinking.
Old School vs. New School in Economic Evaluation
Authors: Petrosyan Kristine
Published: April 2015

TWA Editorial - Deputy Editor Kristine Petrosyan discusses old school vs. new school in economic evaluation.
Gender Diversity and Innovation
Authors: Thomas Tony
Published: April 2015

What's Ahead

Comments from TWA Editor Tony Thomas.

How many of you have thought about the value add of gender diversity to innovation, or have thought about the phrases "gender diversity" and "innovation" in the same context? Diversity in the workplace and a "genderless" environment are areas that companies are looking into. Not simply because they are nice buzz words to have but for the fact that there is untapped potential in having a diverse workforce working together for the greater benefit of the industry. The shades of differing perspectives that are brought into the business mix by gender diversity just makes it an imperative. As innovation tops the strategic agenda of companies across the world, people—diverse in gender, ready for action, and working synergistically in teams—form the core that would lead to the realization of this strategy.
Interview with Jerri Babin
Authors: Babin Jerri
Published: April 2015

HR Discussion

Jerri Babin of National Oilwell Varco shares her perspective on how the industry has evolved and the future prospects for women.
Obstacles on the Road to Success
Authors: Akbar Sara
Published: April 2015

Pillars of the Industry

Sara Akbar, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director, Kuwait Energy Company, shares her experiences and wisdom gained while working in the oil and gas industry.
Managing Gender Diversity: Five Secrets for a Manager’s Toolkit
Authors: Weiss Kurt K.
Published: April 2015

Soft Skills

Author Kurt Weiss walks readers through several recent studies about the importance of gender diversity within the industry, the struggles involved, and how supervisors can effectively manage gender diversity in the workplace.
Interview with Gabrielle Guerre
Authors: Guerre Gabrielle
Published: April 2015

Technical Leaders Interview

Conversation with Gabrielle Guerre, a reservoir engineer with Ryder Scott.
Interview with Yves-Louis Darricarrere
Authors: Darricarrere Yves-Louis , Chalbaud Carlos
Published: April 2015

The Way Ahead Interview - Yves-Louis Darricarrere, president of Total Exploration & Production, offers insight about continuing education, and what he looks for when recruiting young professionals.
Gas is the New Oil: What Does It Mean for Young Professionals?
Authors: Verhoef Matthijs , Roberts Tyler , Chalbaud Carlos
Published: April 2015

Forum - What will a shift from oil to gas mean for young professionals?

Forty-two SPE young professional and student members, in various geographical regions and technical disciplines, were surveyed by TWA on the effect of the increasing importance of gas production on young professionals’ careers. In addition, several industry leaders were consulted to gain perspective into the nature of today’s oil and gas business.

Natural gas is one of the cleanest and safest natural energy resources. It is a combustible mixture of hydrocarbon gases, primarily methane, and can include ethane, propane, butane, and pentane. It was discovered thousands of years ago in the Middle East, where ignited (probably by lightning) gas seeps were found, and provided fuel for the eternal flames of the fire-worshipping ancient Persians. Around 1000 BC, one of the gas seeps in ancient Greece was selected as the site for a temple that housed a priestess known as the Oracle of Delphi.

It was not until 1821 that the first well specifically intended to obtain natural gas was dug near New York by William Hart, a few years ahead of the dawn of the oil industry. Gas transportation remained a major issue for a long time. After World War II, pipeline infrastructure boomed and new uses for natural gas were discovered. Competition characterizes the natural gas industry today. Increased efficiency and technological improvements have resulted in natural gas being obtained more efficiently, cheaply, and easily than before. However, the search for more natural gas to meet a growing demand requires new techniques and knowledge to obtain it from hard-to-reach places.
Work/Life Balance in the 21st Century
Authors: Dragani Jarrett
Published: April 2015

Soft Skills - A survey looking at work/life balance in the 21st century.

Work to live, or live to work? Working hard, getting the job done, and having a fulfilled life at home—can we really have it all? In a globalized world where business never stops and nearly all our business tools enable constant communication, where do we draw the line between work and leisure? In addition, what impact does separation between work and leisure have on our performance, job satisfaction, and wellbeing? These intriguing questions were among those posed to participants in The Way Ahead’s global survey in an attempt to investigate and contrast work/life balances found in the oil and gas industry compared with other industries.

The Concept of Work/Life Balance

Work/life balance is a concept that significantly affects the health and happiness of one’s life. The concept rests on your agenda for demarcating the amount of time you spend with work and the amount of time you spend in leisurely pursuits, where leisure is everything outside the scope of your work. Work/life balance is an area of research dating back to the 1960s. In fact, it began as a topic of study in management as an attempt to formulate working conditions that maximized productivity for industrial companies. It has often been a theme of political and social discussion, and it is important to realize that different societies have different perceptions about what a suitable work/life balance is.
The Appeal of Mature Fields
Authors: Willis Todd B.
Published: April 2015

What's Ahead - Final column from 2013’s TWA editor-in-chief, Todd Willis.

Ask most YPs what they want in their career, and you’re likely to hear descriptors like “cutting-edge,” “major project,” or “new development.” Ask us where we want to work, and locations like Houston, London, or Dubai might come to mind. You probably won’t hear us wanting to tend to 5-B/D stripper wells in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico, or be a field engineer in Baku, Azerbaijan, one of the world’s earliest major energy hubs.

Upon initial consideration, these places seem unimportant—not the sexy, cutting-edge future of the oil field. They are where the action was 50 years ago, a relic, interesting to read about in history books, but certainly not to work in. The real technology and capital spending—or so the thinking goes—is in deep water or unconventional gas fields. Indeed, TWA focused this year’s first issue on deepwater plays and the technology required to operate in these areas.

On closer inspection, though, the level of ongoing investment into mature assets and their significance to the operations of companies large and small show that this initial impression just doesn’t hold up.

Many operators have invested tens and even hundreds of millions of dollars into sustaining or revitalizing older assets. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and i-Field (intelligent-field) efforts enable an engineer sitting at a desk hundreds of miles away to monitor entire fields single-handedly. Waterfloods, steam floods, polymer floods, infill drilling programs, horizontal side-tracks—all of these enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and improved recovery projects bring tens of millions of dollars of investment capital to these so-called oilfield “relics.” They also bring with them the need for project managers, financial analysts, and talented engineers who can maximize return on investment.
Interview with Martin Craighead
Authors: Craighead Martin
Published: April 2015

The Way Ahead Interview - Interview with Martin Craighead, chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes.

What attracted you to the service sector of our industry?

When I spoke to our 200-plus interns [this summer], I explained to them that when I was in their shoes I followed what my gut was telling me, which was to pursue a service company career versus an E&P [exploration and production] career. I was comfortable in what I sensed to be a more commercially intensive environment [in a service company] versus a long-term engineering environment [in an E&P company]. A lot of logic can be presented to rationalize an E&P career. In fact, I believe 80% of my colleagues began their careers with an E&P company. It is hard to say how things would have turned out otherwise, but I followed my gut and I am glad I made this decision. The key is to trust your instincts and avoid over-intellectualizing the decision.

Thinking back to when you started working in the oil and gas industry, can you think of specific decisions and/or relationships that had a lasting impact in your career?

When I was a student [at Pennsylvania State University] and over the course of the first few years of my career, maintaining relationships to the degree of publishing technical papers with my professors gave me the confidence I needed in an otherwise intimidating workforce environment. People can be overwhelmed when they are surrounded by experts with a great deal of experience and academic reputations. Having that conduit back to trusted professors while I was a junior engineer in the R&D [research and development] function at BJ Services made it a nice transition, a tieback to a world that was familiar to me as I entered a world I was not so familiar with. I was also fortunate enough to form genuine relationships with my bosses early in my career. I found my first boss in this new environment to be of high integrity, and he was also very supportive and committed to my success. He created a learning environment that was very constructive. Had I been just one of many engineers and/or was in a hands-off culture, I don’t think I would have flourished in such a positive way.
The Power of Small When the Small Is Really Big
Authors: Tohami Mohamed
Published: April 2015

HR Discussion - Success is usually achieved by doing small things consistently.

Think big! Have you heard this motivational advice before? It sounds nice, it seems to make sense. However, when you really think about it, the small is usually bigger than the big. One day, I was reading a very interesting article by Laura Vanderkam, titled “How to Change Your Life Before Breakfast.” Her insight was an eye opener. She claims you really can change your life by making the best use of the couple of hours before breakfast. She believes early mornings are the secret key to building habits that will make us happier, more productive, and successful—exercising, doing spiritual practices, reading, writing, for instance. Laura’s insight led me to think of the power of the small: Success is usually achieved by doing small things–consistently. It’s not always easy to get out of a comfortable bed to hit the gym. We are always encouraged to think big and have big dreams. Indeed, it’s important. However, a person often gets stuck when it comes to getting started. Having a big goal can paralyze you. When it looks big, it’s difficult to know when, where, or how to start. The hard truth is that if you don’t start, you’ll never get where you want to go. When you have a big goal, don’t just think about how you’re going to achieve it. Focus on doing one small action that gets you started. It could be any action in any direction. It doesn’t really matter. The most important thing is to get the ball rolling and start building momentum.
Developments and Challenges of Mature Oil Fields
Authors: Banerjee Salil
Published: April 2015

Pillars of the Industry - Shell’s Salil Banerjee talks about the challenges of mature oil fields.
Permanent Well Abandonment
Authors: Campbell Kenny , Smith Rod
Published: April 2015

Tech 101 - Schlumberger’s Kenny Campbell and Rod Smith talk about permanent well abandonment.
Reflections: The Last Decade and the Next Decade
Authors: Jadhav Pradeep B. , Kshirsagar Lalitkumar K.
Published: April 2015

Economist's Corner - The past technology-driven decade and the economic challenges ahead.

For the oil and gas industry, the last decade (2003 to 2013) has been one of “resilience, extraordinary innovation, and, despite setbacks, significant gains in safety and environmental conformance,” according to Paal Kibsbaard, chief executive officer of Schlumberger, in his report “A Decade of Upstream Technology Innovation” included in the World Petroleum Council’s 80th Anniversary Edition report (2013). The industry remains strong, after sustaining humanity’s supply of oil and gas and thereby meeting more than half the global energy needs throughout the decade. In the June 2010 issue of the Journal of Petroleum Technology, Behrooz Fattahi, 2010 SPE president, said the industry has been focusing on the concept of sustainability or its components “for a long time, but under different descriptive terms—optimizing production, maximizing reserves, reducing cost, cutting waste, increasing efficiency, optimizing processes, minimizing footprint, maximizing safety, reducing environmental impact, and increasing corporate social responsibility.” Sensitivity to all these factors is required when looking back on the industry’s last 10 years and looking ahead to the next 10 years. The oil and gas industry has always been a risky business for many reasons—from geophysics to geopolitics.
A Decade of Career Choices and Defining Moments
Authors: Sharma Vivek
Published: April 2015

Pillars of the Industry - Vivek Sharma, well engineering services manager, Halliburton Consulting Asia Pacific region, gives insight into his career and the industry’s future.
Discover a Career in Social Media
Authors: Harting Olivia , Conner Erika
Published: April 2015

Discover a Career - What is it like to be an oil and gas social media professional? According to Olivia Harting and Erika Conner, social media leaders at Chevron, it’s fast-paced, complex, challenging, global, and requires constant learning.
The Way Ahead for US Unconventional Reservoirs
Authors: Ozkan Erdal
Published: April 2015

Academia - How to understand the complexities of unconventional reservoirs.

For the oil and gas industry, the last decade (2003 to 2013) has been one of “resilience, extraordinary innovation, and, despite setbacks, significant gains in safety and environmental conformance,” according to Paal Kibsbaard, chief executive officer of Schlumberger, in his report “A Decade of Upstream Technology Innovation” included in the World Petroleum Council’s 80th Anniversary Edition report (2013). The industry remains strong, after sustaining humanity’s supply of oil and gas and thereby meeting more than half the global energy needs throughout the decade. In the June 2010 issue of the Journal of Petroleum Technology, Behrooz Fattahi, 2010 SPE president, said the industry has been focusing on the concept of sustainability or its components “for a long time, but under different descriptive terms—optimizing production, maximizing reserves, reducing cost, cutting waste, increasing efficiency, optimizing processes, minimizing footprint, maximizing safety, reducing environmental impact, and increasing corporate social responsibility.” Sensitivity to all these factors is required when looking back on the industry’s last 10 years and looking ahead to the next 10 years. The oil and gas industry has always been a risky business for many reasons—from geophysics to geopolitics.
Plurilingual Learners’ Beliefs and Practices Toward Native and Nonnative Language Mediation during Learner-Learner Interaction
Authors: Payant Caroline
Published: April 2015

Abstract:

Due to the growing number of plurilingual learners in the world today (Hammarberg, 2010), the present multiple case study examines four plurilingual participants’ beliefs toward first language (L1) and second language (L2) mediation in the acquisition of French as a third language (L3). During a 16-week classroom-based study in a French university language class in central Mexico, four Spanish (L1) – English (L2) participants completed eight collaborative pedagogic tasks and participated in four in-depth one-on-one interviews. A qualitative analysis of the focal participants’ beliefs about L1 and L2 mediation in the acquisition of an L3 was conducted and their beliefs were compared to task performance gathered from task-based learner–learner interaction. Findings suggest that both native and non-native languages serve cognitive and social functions during task completion but that individual differences are subject to previous factors including educational experiences, language proficiency, and context of language learning.
On English Speakers’ Ability to Communicate Emotion in Mandarin
Authors: Jian Hua-Li
Published: April 2015

Abstract:

The ability of Mandarin learners to express emotion in Mandarin has received little attention. This study examines how English L1 users express emotions in Mandarin and how this expression differs from that of Mandarin L1 users. Scenarios were adopted to elicit joy, anger, sadness, fear, and neutrality. Both groups articulated anger, joy, and fear with a high pitch. Both groups also employed high intensity for anger and joy and low intensity for sadness and fear. Learners generally employed larger F0 ranges than native speakers, particularly for anger and fear. Learners articulated level tones with lengthened duration and contour tones with shortened duration, affecting the correctness of the portrayal of emotions. Learners used a similar intensity range for all emotions, whereas native speakers tended to vary the intensity with different emotions. The results have implications for teaching Mandarin as a second language with special reference to prosodic naturalness in expressing emotions.
Body As Subject, Body As Object: Percival P. Puppet, in Conversation
Authors: DePloom Noam
Published: April 2015

Abstract:

A satirical interview with Percival P. Puppet, actor, director, and producer of Seven Easy Puppet Pieces, a video performance project executed by his “Marina Abramović Institute Department of Puppets.” In conversation with Noam DePloom * , Percival reflects on the current state of performance art in light of practices of re-performance, his career spent exploring the limits of the puppetbody, and being the target of recent artist-on-artist litigation.
Marathon Theatre as Affective Labour: Productive Exhaustion inThe Godot CycleandLife and Times
Authors: Switzky Lawrence
Published: April 2015

Abstract:

Actors and audiences often imagine that marathon theatre, i.e., productions longer than four hours in duration, can transform perception and life practices through sustained collective attention. This essay investigates two marathon productions, Eric Craig and Caden Douglas’s The Godot Cycle and the Nature Theater of Oklahoma’s The Life and Times, as attempts to use marathon theatre to query affective labour, to create immaterial “products” through emotional and communicative acts, and to re-appropriate affective labour for artistic and self-directed ends. Voluntary physical and affective exhaustion during marathon productions can resist and re-appropriate exploitative labour practices while disabling conventional standards for calculating value. But the self-injury performers undertake also threatens to recapitulate the harm that their productions were designed to oppose.
Chew, Drink, and Spit: A Book Review
Authors: Morelli Didier
Published: April 2015

Abstract:

The performance entitled Chew, Drink and Spit: A Book Review took place in a studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, as a response to the 2012 publication of The Last Art College (MIT Press) by Canadian conceptual artist Garry Neil Kennedy. An urgent need was felt to address the typical ahistorical and nostalgic fashion with which Mr. Kennedy presented “his” period of conceptual art and pedagogy at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) as the height of Canadian conceptualism and arts-based education. The action combined performance and book review. Sitting at a table, each page where Garry Neill Kennedy’s name appeared in his book was partially chewed and spitted back into a peanut butter container labelled “Last Art College.” This article explores whether the protesting body, as it consumed and regurgitated the “Last Art College,” can be read and interpreted as an embodied epistemology. Can flesh and embodied critique offer a new and different dynamic perspective on the “Last Art College” as the epitome of art serving as capital in a market-driven profession? Chew, Drink and Spit: A Book Review will serve as a point to discuss questions of historical critique within the socio-political and economic framework of the art school and university.
Unsustainable Acts of Love and Resistance: The Politics of Value and Cost in One-on-One Performances
Authors: Pearson Deborah
Published: April 2015

Abstract:

One-on-one performance, particularly those examples of the genre that take on a political perspective, offer theatre makers and -goers alike an alternative value, composed of a sense of importance, worth, or usefulness beyond the parameters of the stage. But does this conceptual value offset the genre’s inherent financial unsustainability? Exploring “value” versus “cost” in my 2012 site-specific collaboration with Allison Cummings, The Queen West Project, I will also be considering works from Adrian Howells and Jess Dobkin, to contend that politically themed one-on-one performances provide value precisely because their budgets do not fit into a comfortable capitalist model of exchange.
Cloud
Authors: Borsato Diane
Published: April 2015

Abstract:

Toronto-based artist Diane Borsato invited twenty-four participants each to wear a highly fragrant gardenia boutonniere to the opening reception of a major new commercial gallery for Cloud (2012). The eponymous “cloud” of fragrance hung in the air even after the performers and their flowers left the building.
The Surgeon's View: Comparison of Two Digital Video Recording Systems in Veterinary Surgery
Authors: Giusto Gessica , Caramello Vittorio , Comino Francesco , Gandini Marco
Published: April 2015

Video recording and photography during surgical procedures are useful in veterinary medicine for several reasons, including legal, educational, and archival purposes. Many systems are available, such as hand cameras, light-mounted cameras, and head cameras. We chose a reasonably priced head camera that is among the smallest video cameras available. To best describe its possible uses and advantages, we recorded video and images of eight different surgical cases and procedures, both in hospital and field settings. All procedures were recorded both with a head-mounted camera and a commercial hand-held photo camera. Then sixteen volunteers (eight senior clinicians and eight final-year students) completed an evaluation questionnaire. Both cameras produced high-quality photographs and videos, but observers rated the head camera significantly better regarding point of view and their understanding of the surgical operation. The head camera was considered significantly more useful in teaching surgical procedures. Interestingly, senior clinicians tended to assign generally lower scores compared to students. The head camera we tested is an effective, easy-to-use tool for recording surgeries and various veterinary procedures in all situations, with no need for assistance from a dedicated operator. It can be a valuable aid for veterinarians working in all fields of the profession and a useful tool for veterinary surgical education.
Subclinical hypothyroidism & infertility: a review
Authors: Ferdous HS , Afsana Faria , Qureshi Nazmul Kabir , Rouf Rushda SB , Noor Irfan N , Parvez AA , Mir AS
Published: April 2015

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) may be of greater clinical importance in women with unexplained infertility, especially when the luteal phase is inadequate, and such patients should be investigated for thyroid dysfunction in detail. To date, studies investigating the association between SCH and infertility are still based on the high serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels while some older studies are based on the presence of an abnormal serum TSH after a thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test. The recommendation in the current guidelines to treat subclinical hypothyroidism is based on minimal evidence and it is thought that with treatment the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks. Thyroxine-replacement therapy should be started in patients with SCH caused by conditions which are at high risk of progression to overt hypothyroidism.Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2014; 8(1): 17-24
Melioidosis  case reports and review of cases recorded among Bangladeshi population from 1988-2014
Authors: Barai Lovely , Jilani Md Shariful Alam , Haq J Ashraful
Published: April 2015

Melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is a potentially fatal infectious disease. Early and correct diagnosis is important, as mortality in untreated melioidosis is high. The first case of melioidosis from Bangladesh was reported in 1988. Since then a few cases have been reported from Bangladesh. We report here four culture confirmed cases of melioidosis diagnosed in BIRDEM Genaral Hospital during May 2009 to April 2010.The detail demographic data, clinical features and outcome are discussed. We have also reviewed all the melioidosis cases among Bangladeshi population recorded from 1988 to 2014.Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2014; 8(1): 25-31
Some Comments on the Entropy-Based Criteria for Piping
Authors: Imre Emöke , Nagy Laszlo , Lőrincz Janos , Rahemi Negar , Schanz Tom , Singh Vijay , Fityus Stephen
Published: April 2015

This paper is an extension of previous work which characterises soil behaviours using the grading entropy diagram. The present work looks at the piping process in granular soils, by considering some new data from flood-protection dikes. The piping process is divided into three parts here: particle movement at the micro scale to segregate free water; sand boil development (which is the initiation of the pipe), and pipe growth. In the first part of the process, which occurs during the rising flood, the increase in shear stress along the dike base may cause segregation of water into micro pipes if the subsoil in the dike base is relatively loose. This occurs at the maximum dike base shear stress level (ratio of shear stress and strength) zone which is close to the toe. In the second part of the process, the shear strain increment causes a sudden, asymmetric slide and cracking of the dike leading to the localized excess pore pressure, liquefaction and the formation of a sand boil. In the third part of the process, the soil erosion initiated through the sand boil continues, and the pipe grows. The piping in the Hungarian dikes often occurs in a two-layer system; where the base layer is coarser with higher permeability and the cover layer is finer with lower permeability. The new data presented here show that the soils ejected from the sand boils are generally silty sands and sands, which are prone to both erosion (on the basis of the entropy criterion) and liquefaction. They originate from the cover layer which is basically identical to the soil used in the Dutch backward erosion experiments.
Exploiting Spatial Abstraction in Predictive Analytics of Vehicle Traffic
Authors: Andrienko Natalia , Andrienko Gennady , Rinzivillo Salvatore
Published: April 2015

By applying visual analytics techniques to vehicle traffic data, we found a way to visualize and study the relationships between the traffic intensity and movement speed on links of a spatially abstracted transportation network. We observed that the traffic intensities and speeds in an abstracted network are interrelated in the same way as they are in a detailed street network at the level of street segments. We developed interactive visual interfaces that support representing these interdependencies by mathematical models. To test the possibility of utilizing them for performing traffic simulations on the basis of abstracted transportation networks, we devised a prototypical simulation algorithm employing these dependency models. The algorithm is embedded in an interactive visual environment for defining traffic scenarios, running simulations, and exploring their results. Our research demonstrates a principal possibility of performing traffic simulations on the basis of spatially abstracted transportation networks using dependency models derived from real traffic data. This possibility needs to be comprehensively investigated and tested in collaboration with transportation domain specialists.
N-acetylglucosamine-1-Phosphate Transferase Suppresses Lysosomal Hydrolases in Dysfunctional Osteoclasts: A Potential Mechanism for Vascular Calcification
Authors: Lei Yang , Iwashita Masaya , Choi Jung , Aikawa Masanori , Aikawa Elena
Published: April 2015

In addition to increased differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells into osteoblast-like phenotypes, the limited accumulation of osteoclasts in atherosclerotic plaques or their dysfunction may participate in potential mechanisms for vascular calcification. N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase containing alpha and beta subunits (GNPTAB) is a transmembrane enzyme complex that mediates the vesicular transport of lysosomal hydrolases. GNPTAB may also regulate the biogenesis of lysosomal hydrolases from bone-marrow derived osteoclasts. In this study, the areas surrounding calcification in human atherosclerotic plaques contained high levels of GNPTAB and low levels of lysosomal hydrolases such as cathepsin K (CTSK) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and laser-capture microdissection-assisted mRNA expression analysis. We therefore hypothesized that GNPTAB secretion may suppress the release of CTSK and TRAP by vascular osteoclast-like cells, thus causing their dysfunction and reducing the resorption of calcification. We used human primary macrophages derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, an established osteoclast differentiation model. GNPTAB siRNA silencing accelerated the formation of functional osteoclasts as detected by increased secretion of CTSK and TRAP and increased their bone resorption activity as gauged by resorption pits assay. We concluded that high levels of GNPTAB inhibit secretion of lysosomal hydrolases in dysfunctional osteoclasts, thereby affecting their resorption potential in cardiovascular calcification.
Mitigating Fish-Killing Prymnesium parvum Algal Blooms in Aquaculture Ponds with Clay: The Importance of pH and Clay Type
Authors: Seger Andreas , Dorantes-Aranda Juan , Müller Marius , Body Adam , Peristyy Anton , Place Allen , Park Tae , Hallegraeff Gustaaf
Published: April 2015

Clay minerals have previously been used to mitigate algal blooms because of their ability to flocculate algal cells or remove nutrients, but also offer considerable potential to remove ichthyotoxins. When a barramundi farm in tropical Australia suffered substantial fish mortalities due to a bloom of the ichthyotoxic haptophyte Prymnesium parvum, the farm manager decided to manipulate pond water N:P ratios through removal of phosphorus by the addition of lanthanum-modified bentonite clay (Phoslock™) to successfully mitigate ichthyotoxic effects. We conducted Prymnesium culture experiments under a range of N:P ratios, screening 14 different clays (two zeolites, four kaolins, six bentonites and two types of Korean loess) at pH 7 and 9 for cell flocculation and removal of ichthyotoxicity assessed with the RTgill-W1 cell line assay. Application of Phoslock™ to cultures grown at different N:P effectively removed 60%–100% of water-soluble toxicity of live Prymnesium (dependent on nutritional status). While most clays efficiently flocculated Prymnesium cells (≥80% removal), cell removal proved a poor predictor of ichthyotoxin adsorption. Extensive clay screening revealed that at elevated pH, as commonly associated with dense algal blooms, most clays either exacerbated ichthyotoxicity or exhibited significantly reduced toxin adsorption. Interpretation of changes in clay zeta potential at pH 7 and 9 provided valuable insight into clay/ichthyotoxin interactions, yet further research is required to completely understand the adsorption mechanisms. Bentonite-type clays proved best suited for ichthyotoxin removal purposes (100% removal at ecologically relevant pH 9) and offer great potential for on-farm emergency response.
A Patient-Centered Perspective on Cancer Survivorship
Authors: Zebrack Brad
Published: April 2015

Survivorship is a complicated notion because people often confuse a process of survivorship with a mythic identity of being a cancer survivor. This confusion may be a distraction to addressing the real-life struggles and challenges experienced by all people diagnosed with cancer. A more expansive perspective of survivorship, one that attends to patients’ physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and existential challenges throughout a continuum of care, would be more in line with what is known empirically about people’s experiences with cancer. In an effort to gain a patient-centered perspective on cancer, and one that emphasizes multiple dimensions of cancer survivorship, the author reports findings from a non-scientific social media poll (via Facebook and personal emails) in which survivors and colleagues working in the field of cancer survivorship answered the question: What does cancer survivorship mean to you? The comments are enlightening and useful for guiding the development of a patient-centered, and, thus, more comprehensive, approach to caring for people affected by cancer.
Effect of Heat Treatment on the Physical Properties of Provisional Crowns during Polymerization: An in Vitro Study
Authors: Mei May , So Sam , Li Hao , Chu Chun-Hung
Published: April 2015

This study concerned the effect of heat treatment during setting on the physical properties of four resin-based provisional restorative materials: Duralay (polymethyl methacrylate), Trim II (polyethyl methacrylate), Luxatemp (bis-acrylic composite), and Protemp 4 (bis-acrylic composite). Specimens were prepared at 23, 37, or 60 °C for evaluation of flexural strength, surface roughness, color change and marginal discrepancy. Flexural strength was determined by a three-point bending test. Surface profile was studied using atomic force microscopy. Color change was evaluated by comparing the color of the materials before and after placement in coffee. A travelling microscope helped prepare standardized crowns for assessment of marginal discrepancy. Flexural strength of all tested materials cured at 23 °C or 37 °C did not significantly change. The surface roughness and marginal discrepancy of the materials increased at 60 °C curing temperature. Marginal discrepancies, color stability, and other physical properties of materials cured at 23 °C or 37 °C did not significantly change. Flexural strength of certain provisional materials cured at 60 °C increased, but there was also an increase in surface roughness and marginal discrepancy.
Simultaneous Determination of Five Components in Rat Plasma by UPLC–MS/MS and Its Application to a Comparative Pharmacokinetic Study in Baihe Zhimu Tang and Zhimu Extract
Authors: Li Guolong , Tang Zhishu , Yang Jie , Duan Jinao , Qian Dawei , Guo Jianming , Zhu Zhenhua , Liu Hongbo
Published: April 2015

Baihe Zhimu Tang (BZT) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine recipe to treat dry coughing due to yin deficiency and for moisturizing the lungs. Zhimu is an essential ingredient in BZT used to treat inflammation, fever and diabetes. The most important active components in Zhimu are flavonoids such as neomangiferin, mangiferin, and steroid saponins (e.g., timosaponin BII, anemarsaponin BIII, timosaponin AIII). The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics of mangiferin, neomangiferin, timosaponin BII, anemarsaponin BIII and timosaponin AIII in rat plasma after oral administration of BZT and Zhimu extract (ZME). A sensitive, reliable and robust LC-MS/MS method to simultaneously determine steroid saponins and flavonoids in rat plasma was successfully validated. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in the pharmacokinetic parameters of timosaponin BII, anemarsaponin BIII and timosaponin AIII between BZT and ZME. It was surmised that formula compatibility could significantly influence the pharmacokinetics of BZT and our study is the first to study the administration of BZT based on pharmacokinetic studies.