bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the grain yield and quality potential of maize hybrids in different FAO maturity groups
Authors: Hegyi Z. , Pók I. , Berzy T. , Pintér J. , Marton L.
Published: August 2008

A total of 96 hybrids from four maturity groups (FAO 200, 300, 400, 500) were tested in two years (2006, 2007) at two locations in Hungary (Martonvásár, Szarvas). Considerable differences were found between the years for the grain yield per hectare and for the grain quality parameters. In 2006 record yields were achieved at both locations, averaging 11.61 t/ha in Martonvásár and 12.20 t/ha in Szarvas, due primarily to well-timed irrigation in Martonvásár and to good rainfall supplies in Szarvas. In 2007 both locations suffered from drought, with less rainfall than average during the critical months of the vegetation period, which was partially compensated for by irrigation in Martonvásár, giving a yield average of 5.96 t/ha, while the hybrids grown in Szarvas had a yield average of 5.06 t/ha. The grain quality parameters exhibited a close correlation with the grain yield in the individual FAO maturity groups. Hybrids of the flint type, which have a short vegetation period, had high protein and oil contents, but the yield averages were low due to the slower rate of starch incorporation. Hybrids of the dent type have a longer vegetation period and more intense carbohydrate accumulation, but low protein and oil contents. In wet years and locations there was a higher rate of starch accumulation, while dry years are favourable for protein and oil accumulation. The Bravais correlation coefficient was calculated between the yield and the grain quality parameters (averaged over years, locations and varieties). A positive, moderately strong correlation (0.68) was found between the yield and the starch content, a negative, moderately strong correlation (−0.52) between the yield and the protein content, and a loose negative correlation (−0.19) between the yield and the oil content.
Effects of organic matter and time of incorporation on root development of tropical maize seedlings
Authors: Sangakkara U. , Nissanka S. , Stamp P.
Published: August 2008

Smallholders in the tropics add different organic materials to their crops at different times, based on the availability of materials and labour. However, the time of application could have an effect on the establishment and early growth of crops, especially their root systems, which has not yet been clearly identified. This paper presents the results of a study conducted under greenhouse conditions using soils from a field treated with three organic materials at 4 or 2 weeks before or at the planting of maize seeds, corresponding to the times that tropical smallholders apply these materials. The organic materials used were leaves of
Gliricidia sepium
and
Tithonia diversifolia
or rice straw, incorporated at a rate equivalent to 6 Mt ha
−1
. A control treatment where no organic matter was added was used for comparison. The impact of the treatments on soil properties at the planting of maize seed and detailed root analysis based on root lengths were carried out until the last growth stage (V4). The addition of organic matter improved the soil characteristics, and the impact of adding
Gliricidia
leaves was most pronounced when incorporated 2 weeks before planting. The benefits of leaves of
Tithonia
or rice straw on soil quality parameters were clearly evident when added 4 weeks before planting. Organic matter enhanced the root number, root length, root growth rate and branching indices. All the organic materials suppressed the growth of maize roots when applied at planting, suggesting the existence of allelopathic effects, which could result in poor growth. The most benefits in terms of root growth were observed with
Tithonia
.
Investigation on direct and reciprocal crosses in maize ( Zea mays L.)
Authors: Bódi Z. , Pepó P. , Kovács A.
Published: August 2008

Seven traits of twelve hybrids derived from direct and reciprocal crosses of four parental lines were examined during three years in Hungary. No significant differences were found between the direct and reciprocal crosses for stalk diameter or leaf number over the average of three years in any of the hybrids. Significant differences in the number of primary tassel branches were observed between UDH5 and its reciprocal UDH8, and between UDH6 and its reciprocal UDH11. It was evident in both instances that the degree of heterosis in the reciprocal crosses far exceeded that in the direct ones. A high number of tassel branches was dominant over a low number, so this trait was preferentially inherited in the hybrids. A positive correlation was observed between plant height and main ear attachment height (r = 0.67**). A positive correlation (r = 0.89**) was also found between the length of the main tassel axis above the lowest and above the uppermost side-branch. A medium correlation was observed between the number of primary tassel branches and the plant height (r = −0.42**). The number of primary tassel branches exhibited the highest heterosis. These results can be utilized in practical selection and seed production.
Impact of distillery effluent application along with inorganic fertilizers on dry matter yield and mineral composition of rice
Authors: Sharma P. , Dhillon K. , Dhillon S.
Published: August 2008

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the impact of premethanation (PREME) and postmethanation (POME) distillery effluent applied as pre-sowing irrigation (PSI) along with graded levels of inorganic fertilizers on the grain and straw yield and nutrient content of a rice crop (var. PR 116). Maximum grain yield (29.4 g pot−1) was recorded with the application of 100% recommended NPK along with one pre-sowing irrigation (PSI) through POME and the lowest yield (7.4 g pot−1) was obtained with 2 PSI applied through PREME without any inorganic fertilizers. The application of POME equivalent to 1 PSI was more effective in increasing the grain and straw yield of rice than no POME application or POME application equivalent to 2 PSI. A significant decrease in yield occurred with the application of 2 PSI of either effluent, and beyond 2 PSI the rice seedlings did not grow.In comparison to POME, the application of PREME increased the content of K (5%), Cu (10%), Fe (17%) and Mo (21%), but decreased that of P (12%), S (5%) and Mg (11%) in rice grain. In rice straw an increase was only observed in K (9%) and Mo (14%), while the contents of other nutrients (P, S, Zn, Cu, Mn) decreased by 8 to 21%. An increase in the level of effluent from 0 to 2 PSI significantly increased the content of N (by 21%), K (11%), S (10%), Zn (9%), Cu (21%) and Mo (8%), but decreased that of P (16%) and Mg (19%) in rice grain. In the case of rice straw, an increase in K (28%), S (32%), Cu (65%) and Mo (45%) content was recorded. Effluent application, inorganic fertilizers and their interactions had a significant effect on both the grain and straw yields and on the nutrient concentration in the plants.
Study on drought resistance indices in spring safflower
Authors: Pourdad S.
Published: August 2008

Safflower (
Carthamus tinctorius
L.) is a native Iranian oilseed crop adapted to various environments in the country. It can be planted as a winter or spring crop. The calculation of drought resistance indices could help us to identify drought-resistant genotypes. To determine these yield-based indices, an investigation was carried out with 16 safflower varieties/lines in spring planting at six research stations located at Sararood, Maragheh, Ghamlo, Zanjan, Shirvan and Kohdasht in 2001. The experiments were laid out in a random complete block design under drought-stressed and non-stressed conditions with three replications. Drought resistance indices, including MP, GMP, TOL, STI and SSI, were calculated from the seed yield data. The genotypes were planted in a greenhouse and the cell membrane stability (CMS) was measured using PEG solutions. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for all indices between the locations, so experiments should be conducted at different locations over several years for the accurate estimation of drought resistance indices. STI was the best index to identify superior genotypes in conditions both with and without drought stress. The estimation of STI from the mean of all locations showed that Gila had the highest STI (0.430), with high seed yield under both conditions. Analysis of variance showed significant differences between the genotypes for CMS at the 1% level of probability, with the highest value for S-541 and the lowest for Kino-76. There were significant and strong correlations between STI, MP and GMP with CMS, so cell membrane stability could be useful as a fast, cheap method for screening germplasm and identifying drought-resistant genotypes. Cluster analysis on the basis of STI, MP, GMP, CMS and seed yield under both stressed and non-stressed conditions divided the genotypes into three groups.
Effects of Tributary Spatial Position, Urbanization, and Multiple Low-Head Dams on Warmwater Fish Community Structure in a Midwestern Stream
Authors: Slawski Thomas M. , Veraldi Francis M. , Pescitelli Stephen M. , Pauers Michael J.
Published: August 2008

A survey of stream fish communities was conducted in the upper Des Plaines River watershed in Illinois and Wisconsin to determine the distribution of fish species and to evaluate the effects of tributary spatial position, urbanization, and multiple low-head dams on fish species diversity and species composition. Forty-eight sites upstream of Salt Creek in Illinois to the headwaters in Wisconsin were surveyed between 2002 and 2004. We found that fish species diversity decreased as agricultural land was replaced by urban land. In addition, tributary position within the drainage network caused significant differences in fish species diversity; specifically, we found significantly less fish species diversity in main-stem tributary streams located lower in the drainage network than in similarly sized streams located in the headwaters of the drainage area. Fish species composition, determined by multivariate principal components analysis, also showed significant differences among stream position within the drainage network. Increases in urbanization did not have a significant effect on fish species diversity within undammed tributary sites, but it did have a strong influence on fish species composition. Hence, as urbanization increased in these undammed tributaries, the fish species composition changed from coolwater–riverine specialist to warmwater–riverine generalist assemblages. In contrast, for tributary streams with low-head dams, the presence of dams had a greater effect on fish species composition than urbanization. In addition, the presence of multiple low-head dams on the main stem had a cumulative detrimental effect on fish species diversity, which decreased along an upstream-to-downstream gradient. Consequently, it is important to consider tributary spatial position within the drainage network, the amount of urbanization, and the number and locations of dams when characterizing the structure of warmwater fish communities, especially in relation to the development of restoration plans in highly urbanized or urbanizing watersheds.
Physiology, Behavior, and Survival of Angled and Air-Exposed Largemouth Bass
Authors: Thompson Lisa A. , Cooke Steven J. , Donaldson Michael R. , Hanson Kyle C. , Gingerich Andrew , Klefoth Thomas , Arlinghaus Robert
Published: August 2008

Catch-and-release practices are common in recreational fisheries, yet little is known about the behavior, physiology, and ultimate fate of released fish. We used a combination of radiotelemetry (external attachment) and nonlethal blood sampling (i.e., the blood concentrations of lactate and glucose and plasma concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Na+, K+, and Cl−) to assess the relationship between the prerelease physiological status and postrelease behavior and mortality of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides. The experiments were conducted at two temperatures: approximately 15°C and 21°C. Immediately after capture by standard angling techniques, largemouth bass were exposed to air for 0 to 15 min to assess the consequences of air exposure at two moderate water temperatures. Fish exposed to air for long periods (approximately 10 min or more) had significantly higher concentrations of blood glucose 30 min after air exposure and took significantly longer to regain equilibrium than fish exposed for shorter periods (approximately 3 min or less). The responses of other physiological indicators were inconsistent. Interestingly, at lower water temperatures, males had greater initial concentrations of glucose and AST than females, revealing the importance of sexual differences in the response to angling stress. The fish exposed to air for longer durations tended to exhibit behavioral impairments and remained close to the release site longer than those exposed for short periods. Despite exposure to air for lengthy periods, no postrelease mortality was observed during the 5-d monitoring period. Although the two water temperatures that we used were moderate for this species, a number of sublethal differences (e.g., physiological disturbances and behavioral impairments) were evident in the longer-air-exposure treatment group, highlighting the need to minimize air exposure during catch-and-release angling to maintain the welfare of angled fish.
Lowermost Silurian graptolites of Montagne Noire, France
Authors: Štorch Petr , Feist Raimund
Published: August 2008

Twenty-seven graptolite species are reported from the lowermost Silurian (Rhuddanian)ascensus-acuminatusandvesiculosusbiozones of Montagne Noire in southwestern France. Four species are left in open nomenclature, four are new:Normalograptus crassus, Neodiplograptus lautus, Dimorphograptus compactusandHuttagraptus solidus.The joint occurrence ofAkidograptus ascensus, Parakidograptus acuminatusandCystograptus ancestralis, recorded in the Gabian-1 section, suggests correlation of the whole succession at this site with the middle part of a combinedascensus-acuminatusBiozone. Revision of museum collections revealed that other elements that are characteristic of theascensus-acuminatusBiozone assemblage in peri-Gondwanan Europe, such asNormalograptus trifilis, N. longifilisandNeodiplograptus lanceolatus, have been recovered from several other localities in Montagne Noire that are no longer accessible. The graptolite assemblage of the Gabian-2 section, with commonCystograptus vesiculosus, Dimorphograptus extenuatus, D. elongatusandAtavograptus atavus, belongs to the lower part of thevesiculosusBiozone, whilst the appearance ofD. swanstoniandD.?physophorain the upper part of the section represents a higher, although not the uppermost, part of the biozone. This is the first record of a diverse dimorphograptid fauna within thevesiculosusBiozone in the Gondwanan part of Europe.
The proximal development inCymatograptus(Graptoloidea) from Argentina and its relevance for the early evolution of the Dichograptacea
Authors: Toro Blanca A. , Maletz Jörg
Published: August 2008

Cymatograptus bidextrosp. nov. from the Floian“Baltograptus deflexus”Biozone of northwest Argentina represents the oldest expansograptid with anartustype proximal development and a prosicular origin of the first theca. The species bears a variably dextral or sinistral proximal development, previously known exclusively from Tremadocian members of the Anisograptidae, but not from the Dichograptidae. The proximal development types of the Dichograptacea are shown to consist of several independently changing characters and cannot be used as phylogenetically useful descriptors. Proximal developments are more variable than expected and several independent origins of anartustype proximal development can be recognized in the Lower to Middle Ordovician.
Biostratigraphy and paleobiogeography of Middle and Late Ordovician conodonts from the Langkawi Islands, northwestern peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Agematsu Sachiko , Sashida Katsuo , Ibrahim Amnan B.
Published: August 2008

The Middle and Upper Ordovician sequence of the Langkawi Islands, northwestern peninsular Malaysia, contains 20 species of conodonts belonging to 15 genera and four unidentified species, which are described and illustrated. The following four biostratigraphic zones are established for the study area: theScolopodus striatusassemblage zone, thePeriodonsp. A range zone, theBaltoniodus alobatusrange zone, and theHamarodus europaeusrange zone, in ascending order. The Middle Ordovician fauna belongs to the low-latitude, warm-water Australian Province. Conodonts of theH. europaeuszone represent the HDS (Hamarodus europaeus-Dapsilodus mutatus-Scabbardella altipes) biofacies, which has been reported from the cool-water North Atlantic Faunal Region. The middle Arenigian limestones in the study area were deposited on a shallow-water shelf, whereas the late Arenigian to middle Darriwilian limestones formed in hemipelagic deeper-water conditions on an outer shelf or slope.
Herbivory in gingers from latest Cretaceous to present: is the ichnogenus Cephaloleichnites (Hispinae, Coleoptera) a rolled-leaf beetle?
Authors: García-Robledo Carlos , Staines Charles L.
Published: August 2008

It is suggested that rolled-leaf hispine beetles (Hispinae, Coleoptera) and plants from the order Zingiberales maintained a highly specialized plant-herbivore interaction for >60 My. The evidence supporting this old and conservative interaction are herbivory marks found on leaves of the genus Zingiberopsis (Zingiberaceae) from the latest Cretaceous and early Eocene. This fossil herbivory was described as the ichnotaxon Cephaloleichnites strongii (Hispinae, Coleoptera), based on the assumption that this type of herbivory can be solely attributed to extant rolled-leaf beetles. This ichnotaxon has been a key element in several analyses on the origin, radiation and diversification of tropical insect herbivores. In this paper we report feeding patterns equivalent to those described in Zingiberopsis fossils but produced by larvae of Pyralidae and Choreutidae (Lepidoptera) and Anopsilus weevils (Curculionidae, Coleoptera) in four families of extant Zingiberales. We discuss the implications of C. strongii not being a rolled leaf beetle and how this may affect the current knowledge of the co-diversification of rolled-leaf beetles and their host plants from the order Zingiberales.
Famennian chondrichthyan microremains from Morocco and Sardinia
Authors: Derycke Claire , Spalletta Claudia , Perri Maria Cristina , Corradini Carlo
Published: August 2008

New material from the Famennian of Morocco in the southern Maider comprises chondrichthyan teeth(Thrinacodus, Cobelodus, Denaea, Stethacanthus), actinopterygian remains (scales, teeth and hemilepidotrichium) and one acanthodian scale. The absence of crushing teeth suggests deeper water environments for the Maider Basin than the Tafilalt Basin. Vertebrate microremains from the Famennian of Sardinia, includingSiamodusandJalodusteeth, are illustrated and described. Ichthyofaunal relationships of the North Gondwanan platform during the Famennian are examined.
New foraminifers in the Visean/Serpukhovian boundary interval of the Lower Limestone Formation, Midland Valley, Scotland
Authors: Cózar Pedro , Somerville Ian D. , Burgess Iain
Published: August 2008

The biostratigraphy of the upper part of the Mississippian Lower Limestone Formation in the Midland Valley, Scotland is revised using foraminiferal assemblages. This formation was previously assigned exclusively to the upper part of the Brigantian Substage (upper Cf6δ, P2or latest Visean), whereas the succeeding Limestone Coal Formation (barren of foraminifers and conodonts) was assigned to the Pendleian Substage (lower Cf7, E1or early Serpukhovian). The foraminifers, in particular those recorded from the Second Hosie and Top Hosie limestones and their lateral equivalents (Anvil and MacDonald limestones), are comparable to Serpukhovian assemblages from the Ukraine and Russia. Consequently, the Visean/Serpukhovian stage boundary is repositioned at the base of the Second Hosie Limestone. This assignment of the Second Hosie Limestone to the Pendleian is reinforced by the first occurrence of the ammonoidEmstites(Cravenoceras), although it occurs 1 m below the Top Hosie Limestone. Pendleian foraminiferal assemblages from northern England, its geographically closest equivalent, are similar but not well enough known for a detailed comparison. A few similarities are found between the foraminiferal assemblages from the Midland Valley and those from southwest Spain and North African basins. Faunas from the Second and Top Hosie limestones and their lateral equivalents allow us to propose an assemblage zone, valid for regional correlations within the British Isles, and the faunas can be potentially used as Serpukhovian markers for western Paleotethyan basins. Two new genera and species are described,Praeplectostaffella anvilensisn. gen. n. sp. andPraeostaffellina macdonaldensisn. gen. n. sp., and two new species,Tubispirodiscus hosiensisn. sp. andEuxinita pendleiensisn. sp.
Fossil ceratioid anglerfishes (Teleostei: Lophiiformes) from the Miocene of the Los Angeles Basin, California
Authors: Carnevale Giorgio , Pietsch Theodore W. , Takeuchi Gary T. , Huddleston Richard W.
Published: August 2008

Fossil ceratioid anglerfishes are described from the Upper Miocene (upper Mohnian) deposits of the Puente Formation, Los Angeles Basin, California. The specimens were collected from the laminated turbiditic deposits of the Yorba Member in the eastern sector of the Los Angeles Basin during the construction of a new metro rail line. Five taxa (Borophrynecf.apogon; Chaenophryneaff.melanorhabdus; Leptacanthichthyscf.gracilispinis; Linophrynecf.indica; Oneirodessp.) belonging to two families, Linophrynidae and Oneirodidae, are described based on nine metamorphosed females. A detailed osteological analysis of the fossils has revealed that they can be tentatively assigned to extant species, suggesting that little or no relevant morphological change has characterized these taxa at least since the Late Miocene. Biogeographic considerations suggest that the Late Miocene ceratioid assemblages of the Los Angeles Basin are strikingly similar to those that currently inhabit the tropical and subtropical eastern Pacific region. From a paleoenvironmental point of view, the excellent preservation of the specimens suggests a reduced turbulence and velocity of the turbidity fluxes. Finally, the comparative study of the bathymetric ranges of the ceratioid taxa recognized in the fossil assemblage described in this paper suggests that the minimum depth of the depositional environment might be estimated at approximately 1,000 m.
Miospores and cryptospores from the Silurian section at Allenport, Pennsylvania, USA
Authors: Beck John H. , Strother Paul K.
Published: August 2008

Non-marine and marine palynomorphs were collected from a Telychian through Gorstian rock outcrop located near Allenport, Pennsylvania, USA in the east-central part of the Appalachian Foreland Basin. Close sampling of the section revealed six distinct palynological assemblages of spores, cryptospores, acritarchs and prasinophycean algae, likely deposited in nearshore marine settings. The Silurian Period is a critical time in plant evolution as megafossils found elsewhere indicate that vascular plants (tracheophytes) originated during this interval. Palynoflorules generally show a transition from cryptospore-dominated to miospore-dominated assemblages during the latter half of the Silurian. This transition is evident at Allenport, where over 30 species of miospores and cryptospores are recognized, including two new species:Vermiverruspora cotteraandRugosphaera falloambita.The sequential progression of innovations in exine structure and sculpture seen in the nonmarine palynomorphs at Allenport closely matches evolutionary patterns documented previously in the Appalachian Basin, Avalonia, and elsewhere around the world.
Constructed wetland as tertiary treatment for municipal wastewater
Authors: Ahmed S. , Popov V. , Trevedi R. C.
Published: August 2008

An assessment is made of the performance of a horizontal flow sub-surface constructed wetland (SSCW) for polishing effluent from an activated sludge process (ASP) treatment plant. The results of experiments conducted at Mother Dairy Pilot Plant, New Delhi, India are reported in this study. The treated wastewater from the ASP was retreated by subsurface CW planted with Phragmites australius. CW has been extensively researched in Europe and USA. Very limited studies on the suitability of the CW have, however, been reported under tropical and subtropical climatic conditions. The parameters studied were pH, total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), PO4-P, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total coliforms (TC) and faecal coliforms (FC). The study was carried out for various temperatures, hydraulic and organic loading conditions. The average efficiency for TSS, BOD, TC and FC was found as 81·02, 88·93, 97·16 and 99·31% respectively under hydraulic loading varying from 24 to 74·8 l/m2/day. The highly encouraging results of these experiments have proved the viability of CW as tertiary (polishing) unit in tropical and subtropical climatic conditions.
Development and Field Use of a Novel Solvent/Water Emulsion for the Removal of Asphaltene Deposits in Fractured Carbonate Formations
Authors: Lightford Stephen , Pitoni E. , Armesi F. , Mauri L.
Published: August 2008

The formation of asphaltene scale inside the tubing or in the reservoir is a common problem associated with crude oils in many parts of Italy and is common to the industry as whole. In Italy, regular treatments with coiled tubing or washing by bullheading are performed to re-establish production. While asphaltene inhibitors can be injected into the tubing string, asphaltenes can still create problems below the injection point and plug the perforations, formation pores, and/or natural-fracture-network systems.

There is a wide range of hydrocarbon-based solvents that have been used in the industry to remove asphaltenes. The more effective solvents have a low flash-point temperature, making them expensive and hazardous. In addition, these hydrocarbon-based solvents leave the formation in an oil-wet state after asphaltene removal instead of re-establishing the water-wet condition that acts as barrier to slow down the deposition of the asphaltene on the formation. This effect accelerates the redeposition of the asphaltene in the formation and increases the rate of the production decline, increasing the frequency of remedial treatments.

This paper describes the laboratory development and field application of a water/aromatic-solvent emulsion system that has been used successfully to clean/dissolve asphaltene and leave the carbonate fractured formation in a water-wet state to delay the production decline. Other advantages when using this type of emulsion are cost reduction and improved effectiveness in removing asphaltene deposits, when compared to alternative solvents that have been used. This is of particular significance to those wells where large volumes of a washing phase have to be pumped down-hole. Hazards also have been reduced by using relatively high-flash-point aromatics. Continuous mixing of the emulsion when pumping reduces waste and improves the logistics involved in pumping the large volumes needed to treat long openhole sections and/or to treat the fractures deeper in the near-wellbore region.

Two successful field applications in southern Italy will be discussed, describing the placement technique used and the results achieved with this new system. These treatments will be compared to previous treatments using a hydrocarbon-based solvent. In the first well where previous treatments had failed to make significant improvements, following the application of this emulsion the production was almost fully restored and the production decline was significantly slower than previous treatments. The second well treated was a long horizontal wellbore; again, the emulsion and technique proved successful in returning the production to previous levels and sustaining the new level for an extended period of time.
Challenges for Waterflooding in a Deepwater Environment
Authors: Al-kindi Azhar , Prince-Wright Robert , Walsh John , Kuijvenhoven Cor , Morgenthaler Lee , Moore Wesley
Published: August 2008

Big reservoirs in deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM) typically produce at world-class rates. The scale of investment is likewise world class.

The energy industry's drive to invest in enhanced oil recovery from deepwater basins is sustainable in a world of volatile oil prices and increasing demand for energy. However, project economics will continue to depend on accurate risk assessment, risk-mitigation strategies, and, more fundamentally, progressive deployment of evolving technologies in brownfield deepwater secondary-recovery projects.

Details of well geometry and design optimizations may prove to be minor sensitivities in high-cost deepwater developments; however, rig rate has a major impact on economics. The assessment required to minimize the number of injectors and ensure their proper placement logically takes more time than exotic choices of injection patterns. With such major constraints in mind, an optimal design for wells and materials has to take precedence. Accepting this as a given, additional, more common challenges would then follow.

The waterflood-study team for the deepwater Ursa/Princess field in the GOM has spent appreciable time and effort evaluating various potential challenges affecting the surface and subsurface aspects of the development plan. The design for an optimum injection rate was a bottom-up process starting from the reservoir up to the topsides injection facilities. Reservoir-sweep efficiency and reservoir-pressure distribution logically dictated injection-well designs and injection-pump sizing. Subsurface risks, such as reservoir souring and hydrate formation, dictated materials selection and completions design.

This paper addresses the challenges primarily affecting the design of the deepwater subsea-injection wells. In addition to the well cost, several other underlying factors have played an influential role in defining the boundary conditions for the injectors design.
The Sense of Self in Lucid Dreams: “Self as Subject” vs. “Self as Agent” vs. “Self as Object”
Authors: Kunzendorf Robert G. , Treantafel Nicole , Savoie Steven , Taing Boly , Agersea Susan , Flete Ana , Williams Rebecca
Published: August 2008

Kunzendorf (1987-1988, 2000) asserts that nocturnal dream images are not accompanied by any definitive self-consciousness that one is imaging, rather than perceiving, and that “lucid” dreams are indiscriminatively inferred to be imaginary. Consistent with this assertion, 35% of the 93 lucid dreamers in this study knew it to be true that “[d]uring a lucid dream, [they] have heard a real noise (an alarm clock, e.g.) and have believed the noise to be part of [their] lucid dream … without any immediate self-awareness [of] actually perceiving the noise.” Also consistent with Kunzendorf's assertion, every participant reportedly inferred the imaginary nature of his or her lucid dreams—8% of the time because his or her “experience was too nightmarish to be real,” 6% of the time because his or her “secret wishes were realized in the dream,” and so on. Focusing on the sense of self as agent, rather than self-consciousness or the sense of self as subject, Georgieff and Jeannerod (1998) suggest that concordance between the wishes of the lucid dreamer and the actions in the lucid dream can be attributed to an illusory self as agent controlling the dreamed actions. Consistent with Georgieff and Jeannerod's suggestion, 34% of the 93 subjects knew themselves to be a self as agent “able to control” a lucid dream, whereas almost none of the subjects knew themselves to be a self as agent “able to control” a non-lucid dream.
Study of the Case of Carl Gustav Jung: The Semi-Private Sphere as the Core of Analysis in His Creative Work
Authors: Valadez Martha , Romo Manuela
Published: August 2008

The aim of the present work is to analyze the interrelationship of cognition and emotion in the creative process of Carl Gustav Jung during the years 1906–1916, the period in which he sketched the basic ideas of his theory of the collective unconscious. The framework of this work is that of Howard Gruber, especially developed for carrying out psychological studies on scientific creativity, and designed for studying both the affective and cognitive aspects of the creative person, in order to recover the individual behind a work through the analysis of the three spheres in which she/he moves: private (personal documents, diaries), semi-private (discussions with close friends, face-to-face or by letter), and public (teachers, colleagues, etc.). Gruber attributes equal importance to all three; nevertheless, in this research the emphasis is placed on the semi-private sphere, as the connecting thread of the creative process, in that it is the most appropriate analytical space in which the cognitive and affective aspects are manifested in Jung. Therefore, its functioning is studied during the creative process, mentioning first its importance as the core of analysis in case studies, and moving on to analyze how it is projected toward the public sphere and toward the private sphere by means of inter-sphere connections.
Politics of the U.S. Federal Budget Process
Authors: Elwood Thomas W.
Published: August 2008

U.S. Congress members are influenced in three ways: 1) through the acquisition of money to finance political campaigns; 2) by acquiring enough votes to enable them to be reelected; and 3) obtaining expert information on topics of personal interest. Federal spending patterns have a strong impact on the first two items. The ability to funnel money into a congressional district or state provides an excellent opportunity for a legislator to remain in office. Congress often appears to be highly irrational but individual legislators find it in their rational self-interest to behave in ways that are detrimental to the collective interest of Congress as an institution and to the collective good of society. Every year, leaders of both parties begin a legislative session with the intention of producing both a concurrent budget resolution and a set of spending bills according to schedule. Usually, they fail dismally. This article discusses the reasons why such failures tend to occur regularly.
Child Malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa: Effective Control and Prevention Require a Health Promotion Approach
Authors: Houeto David , Deccache Alain
Published: August 2008

Malaria remains a vital concern of child survival in sub-Saharan Africa despite the existence of effective curative and preventive measures. It is known that child malaria is underpinned by factors such as socioeconomic, cultural, environmental, and so forth, that must be considered simultaneously in order to effectively control it. This study applied to a rural community in Benin (West Africa) the Health Promotion concept (community participation and empowerment, contextualism, intersectorality, multistrategy, equity, and sustainability) to develop a program in order to control child malaria and close the gap of unsuccessful programs. The study design was a quasi-experimental pre-post conducted over a period of 27 months. As results, 80% of the community members participated in six of the seven sub-projects planned. The prevalence of fever (malaria) was significantly reduced after the intervention ( p = 0.008). The recourse to adequate health care has significantly increased after the intervention (χ2 = 48.07, p = 0.000000). All these contributed to a statistically significant reduction of children deaths due to malaria ( p = 0.001) in the village. Health Promotion strategies are likely to contribute to sustainable malaria programs' implementation that reduce malaria incidence and deaths in children under five.
Alcohol and Substance Use Portrayals in Nigerian Video Tapes: An Analysis of 479 Films and Implications for Public Drug Education
Authors: Aina Olatunji F. , Olorunshola Derin A.
Published: August 2008

There is an observed increasing trend of substance use among the adolescents and young adults. One of the important aetiologies is “modeling” especially from popular artists portraying their use to the viewing public over the electronic media. Indigenous films on video tapes acted in English or “Yoruba” (a popular Nigerian language) were randomly selected from various retail outlets in Lagos for viewing. The settings were the Ikorodu and Ipaja suburbs of Lagos. The viewing audience in each center was made up of a researcher and two adolescent secondary school students. They were to make notes on each film with scenes of substance use, type, and nature of use. A total of 479 video tapes were studied over a 6 month period, of which 268 (55.9%) contained scenes portraying the use of one or more substances. Two hundred forty-seven (51.6%, N = 479) depicted the use of only one type of substance and the rest, 21 (4.3%, N = 479), portrayed the use of multiple substances. The commonest substance portrayed to be used was alcohol, 197 (41.1%, N = 479), followed by tobacco, 81 (16.9%, N = 479). Cannabis was shown to be used in only 3 (0.6%, N = 479); Cocaine and Heroin in 8 (1.6%, N = 479) of the films. There was no statistically significant difference on substance use portrayal between the home movies acted in English and Yoruba (χ2 = 32.8; df = 7 at p < 0.05). A significant number of films on video tapes in Nigeria portrayed substance use which could act as triggers or reinforcement for substance use among the viewing audience, especially adolescents and young adults. The need to censor video tapes on substance use portrayal was advocated.
Relationship-Specific Investments and Earnings Management: Evidence on Corporate Suppliers and Customers
Authors: Raman Kartik , Shahrur Husayn
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT: We examine the determinants and consequences of earnings management by firms in the context of their relationships with suppliers and customers. We find that industry-level proxies for relationship-specific investments by suppliers/customers are positively associated with the magnitude of discretionary accruals, volatility of earnings, and the frequency of large earnings increases. We also find that firm-level proxies for the intensity of relationship-specific investments by actual suppliers are positively related to the magnitude of discretionary accruals. In addition, earnings management by the firm in one period is positively related to the magnitude of R&D investments by suppliers and customers in the next period. However, we find that earnings management adversely affects the duration of customer-supplier relationships. Overall, our findings suggest that earnings management is used opportunistically to influence the perception of suppliers/customers about the firm’s prospects.
Asset Revaluation Regulation with Multiple Information Sources
Authors: Demski Joel S. , Lin Haijin , Sappington David E. M.
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT: We examine the design of asset revaluation policies in settings where a regulator can mandate fair value disclosure in order to mitigate a lemons problem in the asset resale market. The welfare-maximizing policy generally prescribes fair value certification for the lower asset values and (less costly) historical cost reporting for the higher asset values. The potential for voluntary certification can reduce welfare by increasing equilibrium certification costs and promoting underinvestment in socially valuable projects. Thus, a single regulated source of information (mandated disclosure) can be preferable to two sources of information (mandated and voluntary disclosure).
The Effects of Disseminating Relative Performance Feedback in Tournament and Individual Performance Compensation Plans
Authors: Hannan R. Lynn , Krishnan Ranjani , Newman Andrew H.
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the effects of relative performance feedback and incentive compensation method on performance. We examine whether the presence and the content of relative performance feedback have different effects on performance when participants are compensated via a tournament or an individual incentive scheme. Our experimental results show a disordinal interaction between incentive scheme and feedback. Specifically, providing relative performance feedback improves the mean performance of participants compensated under an individual incentive scheme regardless of the precision or specific content of the feedback. In contrast, providing relative performance feedback deteriorates the mean performance of participants compensated under a tournament incentive scheme, but only if the feedback is sufficiently precise. Supplementary analysis suggests that this deterioration in performance is due to ineffective task strategies rather than reduced effort. We also find that in the absence of relative performance feedback, participants compensated under a tournament incentive scheme perform better, and their performance improves to a greater extent over time, compared to participants compensated under an individual incentive scheme. These results have implications for the design of accounting, control, and reporting systems in firms.
The Effects of Financial Statement and Informational Complexity on Analysts’ Cash Flow Forecasts
Authors: Hodder Leslie , Hopkins Patrick E. , Wood David A.
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT: We characterize the operating-activities section of the indirect-approach statement of cash flows as backward because it presents reconciling adjustments in a way that is opposite from the intuitively appealing, future-oriented, Conceptual Framework definitions of assets, liabilities, and the accruals process. We propose that the reversed-accruals orientation required in the currently mandated indirect-approach statement of cash flows is unnecessarily complex, causing information-processing problems that result in increased cash flow forecast error and dispersion. We also predict that the mixed pattern (i.e., +/−, −/+) of operating cash flows and operating accruals reported by most companies impedes investors’ ability to learn the time-series properties of cash flows and accruals. We conduct a carefully controlled experiment and find that (1) cash flow forecasts have lower forecast error and dispersion when the indirect-approach statement of cash flows starts with operating cash flows and adds changes in accruals to arrive at net income and (2) cash flow forecasts have lower forecast error and dispersion when the cash flows and accruals are of the same sign (i.e., +/+, −/−); with the sign-based difference attenuated in the forward-oriented statement of cash flows. We also conduct a quasi-experiment to test our mixed-sign versus same-sign hypotheses using archival samples of publicly available I/B/E/S and Value Line cash flow forecasts. We find that the passively observed samples of cash flow forecasts exhibit a similar pattern of mixed-sign versus same-sign forecast error as documented in our experiment.
Investor Protection, Income Smoothing, and Earnings Informativeness
Authors: Cahan Steven F. , Liu Guoping , Sun Jerry
Published: August 2008

This study investigates whether investor protection affects the efficient communication of private information about future prospects through income smoothing. While prior research suggests that the level of earnings management differs between high and low investor protection countries, we examine whether the underlying motive for earnings management differs between high and low investor protection countries. Using firm-level data from 44 countries for 1993 to 2002 and Tucker and Zarowin's (2006) method to measure earnings informativeness, we find that earnings informativeness is more positively associated with income smoothing in countries with strong investor protection than it is in countries with weak investor protection. Our findings suggest that managers in weak investor protection countries are more likely to use income smoothing for opportunistic reasons while managers in strong investor protection countries are more likely to use income smoothing to convey their private information about future earnings. The results are robust through various additional analyses. More broadly, our results suggest that the role of accounting discretion is affected by a country's institutional infrastructure, specifically, its ability to provide protection for outside shareholders.
Agency Cost Reduction Associated with EU Financial Reporting Reform
Authors: Pae Jinhan , Thornton Daniel B. , Welker Michael
Published: August 2008

We predict and find that regulations expected to harmonize and strengthen firms' financial reporting in the European Union (EU) in the early 2000s increase Tobin's Q ratios of firms with high agency costs due to (1) concentration of control (entrenchment) and (2) an excess of the largest shareholder's voting rights over cash flow rights. These results are consistent with stronger reporting standards enhancing firm value by mitigating incentives for controlling shareholders to expropriate minority shareholders. Increases in Tobin's Q associated with financial reporting reform are concentrated in EU firms that (1) are not cross-listed in the U.S., (2) have families as their largest shareholders, or (3) have a largest shareholder who holds 20 percent or more of the firm's cash flow rights. These results suggest that minority shareholders of firms with the most severe perceived information asymmetries are among the major beneficiaries of EU financial reporting reform.
Maternal Thrombophilias Are Associated with Specific Placental Lesions
Authors: Gogia Navneet , Machin Geoffrey A.
Published: August 2008

Maternal floor infarction (MFI), massive perivillous fibrin deposition (MPVFD), and fetal thrombotic vasculopathy (FTV) are specific placental lesions with associations to recurrent adverse fetal outcomes and with maternal thrombophilia. We studied the frequency of a range of acquired and genetic maternal thrombophilias in MFI (40 cases), MPVFD (87 cases), FTV (7 cases), and FTV+MPVFD (4 cases). Thrombophilias were identified in 16 (40%), 20 (23%), 5 (71%), and 2 (50%) of these lesions, respectively. Seventy-seven percent of the identified thrombophilias were genetic, and 23% were acquired. The most common genetic thrombophilia was protein S deficiency, which constituted 14 of the 36 genetic thrombophilias (39%). We advocate full maternal thrombophilia testing when the diagnosis of MFI, MPVFD, and FTV is made by placental pathology examination. Because of the possible contribution of paternal thrombophilic mutations to the fetal genotype, it would be desirable to test the whole family as well.