bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Key Elements of a Migrant Worker Health and Welfare Program and Its Impact in a Major Construction Project
Authors: Ahmed Israr , Wirtz Herman , Donnelly Robin Patrick , Fraser Alistair , Castillo Salvador
Published: April 2012

Pearl GTL (Gas to Liquids) required the construction of a state of the art hydrocarbon processing facility with at peak 55,000 employed on site. The company created a worker health and welfare program based on a simple stated premise that it was "the right thing to do". The goal was to enhance health and performance by creating a culture of care and concern for the wellbeing of workers throughout construction as well as mitigate projected risks for a project of such magnitude, This programme involved the creation of a living and working environment (Pearl Village) that delivered quality accommodation, excellent dining facilities and high catering standards reflecting national diets and preferences, medical care, recreational facilities and psychological support network (professional psychologists and a system of camp uncles and aunties) for a population that was living away from home for extended periods.

Throughout the entire lifecycle of the project, various metrics were tracked making comparisons possible with other projects of a similar scale. While not solely attributable to the programme, step change results were seen in terms of increase in productivity and performance during peak construction and a decrease in fatality rates, Total Recordable Case Frequencies (TRCFs) and Non-Accidental Death (NAD) cases.

In conclusion, the worker health and welfare program was seen as key by the project to delivering results. Combined with committed leadership across all participating companies, this translated into creating the culture of genuine care, personal development, and purpose within the construction workforce living inside Pearl Village. It proved that worker health and welfare is not only the right thing to do, but has a material impact on the health, safety and productivity of the migrant workforce.
Injuries and Fatalities Prevention during Lifeboat Drills and Maintenance
Authors: Fahmy Ibrahim
Published: April 2012

The purpose of this paper is to provide the best practice to prevent injuries and fatalities during drills and maintenance for totally enclosed motor propelled survival craft (TEMPSC) on any normally manned Fixed offshore installations, Mobile Offshore Drilling Rigs, jack-up barges and floating barges/heavy lift vessels to ensure safe evacuation of personnel to safe place where they can be recovered.

Lifeboats have been involved in a number of serious/fatal incidents during maintenance operations and drills (e.g. Offshore Drilling Rig AD22 in 2009) when the boat has inadvertently fallen into the sea.

The outcomes of worldwide Survey investigated the root causes of most lifeboats incidents in the last 15 years, Root causes have been categorized as follow:

Unsafe practices during lifeboat drills and inspections; Communication failures; Inadequate maintenance of lifeboats, davits and launching equipment; Inadequate training for personnel maintaining/operating the lifeboat. Lack of familiarity with lifeboats, davits, equipment and associated controls; Failure of on-load release mechanism; Inadvertent operation of on-load release mechanism;and Design faults other than on-load release mechanisms. [2]

The survey highlited that unsafe drills by manned launching and recovery of lifeboats and poor maintenance have been played the significant root causes in the high number of incidents and consequences.

Totally enclosed motor propelled survival craft (TEMPSC) should be considered to be a safety-critical element, Therefore Performance Standards should be established and a Written Scheme of Verification prepared to demonstrate their integrity.

Performance standards should be expressed in qualitative and quantitative terms against the fundamental parameters of Functionality, Reliability/Availability, and Survivability and should be measurable & auditable.

Eliminating the associated root causes of fatal Lifeboats accidents during launching and recovery of lifeboats for the purpose of drills/preventive planned maintenance program is the way forward by Making Lifeboat Drills Safer.
The Importance of Noise Management Early in the Design Process
Authors: Alvarez Daniel
Published: April 2012

Headaches, tiredness, stomach ulcers, hypertension, vertigo, nausea, a permanent whining, buzzing, hissing or humming in the ears. Noise can also damage hearing permanently in the worst cases. Excessive noise reduces work efficiency, and increases absenteeism. In extreme cases, noise can be fatal if there is so much noise that personnel cannot hear instructions or alarms.

Good noise performance is critical to the business performance, safety and environmental excellence of any asset. Good noise performance is largely a question of good management, coupled with the necessary technical expertise.

Noise management practice varies from a high risk, zero cost "do nothing!" approach to a low risk, high cost "do everything possible!" Apart from the operational penalties of inadequate or non-existing noise management – harm to personnel, environmental damage and reduced performance – the immediate financial risks of the "do nothing" approach are increasing as authorities around the world become more acutely sensitive to the issue of noise in the welfare of workers and the environment. Permits and licenses may be revoked on the basis of poor noise performance and retroactive noise control can be extremely costly.

However, the "do everything!" approach has an equally dramatic downside. Noise control measures can be intrusive; they can limit access to essential machinery, impact negatively on other aspects of health and safety and, in many cases, impose limitations on the performance of facilities and equipment.

Between these two extremes lies successful noise management which minimizes the health and safety impact of noise, while maintaining the accessibility, operability and performance of machinery and components. The best noise management does this in the most cost-efficient manner, focusing treatment only where it is needed. This requires an intimate understanding of not only where noise comes from and how it spreads and fills work spaces, but also knowledge of the practices of personnel and how these affect their exposure to noise.

This document presents the different aspects of importance when conducting noise prediction in offshore assets and the consequences of executing noise studies at different phases of projects.
Integrated Safety and Technical Competency Training for New Oil Spill Responders
Authors: Xin Dong
Published: April 2012

The objective of the paper is to introduce the integrated safety and technical competency training provided to new staff in Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL). Oil spill response is not only associated with generic operational risks, but also special risks due to the emergency nature of the tasks. New employees in such response organisations, depending on their years of experience and the area of previous work, have broadly varied ability in safety management. The significant number of responders recruited after the Macondo incident leads to a notable dilution of safety skill and technical skill in the company. This paper demonstrates how OSRL addressed this issue by using a matrix training model.

The aim of running this model is to train people into competent spill response specialists with well-built safety skills. All the new recruits are put through the training the first year after they join the organisation. The model is divided into three stages: induction and initial training, Offline Training program, and Approved Competence Management System (ACMS) appraisal. In each stage, safety training is incorporated at three levels. They are general technical level, specific module level, and assessment level. At the general technical level, candidates receive technical training where safety aspects are added in as an important ingredient. At the specific module level, they attend training which focuses on safety topics. At the assessment level, candidates expect exams or assessment where they are formally tested how they handle safety issues. The training forms a learning curve from awareness to performance to competence. Following this model, new responders are able to perform the role of spill response specialist in a safe manner and understand the knowledge behind it.

The training model adopted by OSRL provides a comprehensive, solid, and practical approach to address the diluted safety skill issue. It has been successfully implemented and received positive feedbacks. The model structure is applicable to similar organisations, while the concept of matrix training models is applicable to a much wider area. It sets Best Management Practice (BMP) for further implementations in the industry.
Life-Saver Program
Authors: Al Shiri Hyatt
Published: April 2012

In early 2010, the Bunduq Company Ltd. ("Bunduq") commenced a wide-ranging Program aimed at upgrading the first aid and emergency response skills and equipment across its onshore and offshore facilities, with a particular focus on enhancing the capabilities of its offshore nursing staff and Emergency Teams. Though still ongoing, the Program has delivered significant benefits in each of the target areas. By taking a new approach to training: combining formal training delivered offshore followed up with comprehensive scenario-based drills and practices and supporting the nursing staff through individual coaching, the Life-Saver Program has created a step change in the readiness of Bunduq's staff to deal with any medical emergency.
A Picture Paints A Thousand Words
Authors: Moussa Khaled
Published: April 2012

ADMA-OPCO is committed to enhancing the health, safety and quality of life of its employees through our HSEQ programs. The drive for continual improvement and achieving excellence is an integral part of our business culture.

Another HSEQ initiative ADMA-OPCO HSEQ Visual Guidelines which aim to enhance the HSE Performance and increase observation reporting at all sites.

The HSEQ Visual Guidelines has been developed in order to provide a simple, user-friendly visual reference guide for all employees on how to perform work safely and maintain an incident-free work environment, to improve the health and performance of people, and to increase the awareness on environmental protection.

Health, Safety, Environment and Quality Visual Guidelines are the result of a series of illustrations highlighting the correct and incorrect practices.
Xmas Tree Risk Ranking
Authors: Bhatti Ali
Published: April 2012

The increase in the field of awareness of well risk ranking and integrity compliance has increased the concerns about the integrity assurance of the surface barriers. In order to safeguard the asset integrity and flow assurance, it is becoming increasingly important to adequately service and maintain the Xmas tree to confirm the well integrity and ensure the surface barrier against hydrocarbon leakage can be relied upon in the event of an emergency.

This paper describes the process the risk ranking process of the Xmas tree as the last surface barrier. It explains the criticality of valve components and risk rank of the Xmas tree finally leading to the overall risk rank of the well. It also priorties the maintance jobs priority for the failed components of each risk ranked Xmas tree. All possible scenarios of the valve failure in Xmas tree are considered in this matrix. It also describes the shift in the maintenance strategy of the Xmas tree to reduce the number of high risk wells.
Development of a Risk-Based Approach for High-Sour Exploration Wells
Authors: Book Gareth , Bates Mike
Published: April 2012

Approximately one-third of the world's gas fields contain ‘sour gas’, contaminated by hydrogen sulphide, (H2S)[1]. H2S is one of the most deadly hazards in the oil and gas industry, making such fields more difficult to develop, especially when they are located in the vicinity of populated areas. Conventional approaches to wellsite layout generally use conservative consequence- based criteria, which mean a large number of high-sour wells cannot be drilled due to the potential impact on population centres from an uncontrolled release of sour gas. However, adopting a risk-based approach to wellsite layout could change this.

This paper presents a case study in which a Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) of a high-sour exploration well was performed to quantify the risk to members of the public from the drilling operation, and ensure that risks were tolerable and As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). The QRA demonstrated that although the maximum airborne H2S concentration at the closest populated area would be 60 ppm, the risk levels were assessed as being tolerable and significantly below industry accepted risk tolerability criteria for members of the public. The QRA shows a snap-shot of what can happen but does not demonstrate how the risks are managed in order to prevent the ‘one in a million’ event from happening. Notwithstanding this, the project team identified a series of further risk reduction measures that were implemented to ensure that the risk to members of the public was ALARP.

The well was subsequently drilled successfully without incident, and the approach described in this paper implemented as the framework for future high-sour exploration drilling operations in the organisation.
Flare Tip Replacement by Helicopter: Methodology Selected Based on HSE Risk Reduction
Authors: Gonzalbo Alexandre , Saheb Suleiman , Al-Shaikh-Ali Amer
Published: April 2012

The best way to reduce risk is to eliminate it all together. Total Abu Al Bukhoosh (TABK) is a mature field being operated for many years, yet new technologies and innovative solutions are constantly fed into our operations and maintenance toolbox. Through use of an innovative approach for maintenance activities, Total ABK reduced by 90% the overall manhours of exposure during an offshore flare tip replacement.

TABK compared two alternatives for the flare tip replacement program. The first was to perform the operation using conventional heavy load crane barge methodology. The activity is performed by landing the barge near the flare header and removing the tip with the crane. The second option was to perform the replacement by helicopter rather than crane barge, using the "long line" flying technique (sometime referred to as "Vertical Reference"). This methodology is very innovative and is performed by expert crews only as it requires experienced hands, high-tech equipment and specialized guidance tools.

There are many benefits using the helicopter approach, most impressive of which is the overall reduction in workplace exposure. Total hours for the helicopter operation including on-site prep time was 123 hours, versus an estimated 2880 hours for the crane barge approach. Additional benefits include reduced down time (two field days vs. three weeks), reduced chance of weather delays and up to 7 times less CO2 emissions. HSE performance improvement doesn’t mean additional cost as this approach was 1/3 of the cost of the crane barge approach.
Managing Shift Work in the Offshore Workplace
Authors: Duguay Alexandra , Sridhar Biju , Boisson Guy , Dolmetta Laurent
Published: April 2012

Working on offshore installations involves rotation scheme that are very variable; 4 weeks on-4 weeks off, 6 weeks on -3 weeks off, 8 weeks on- 4 weeks off, or even 20 weeks on-4 weeks off.

At TOTAL ABK, we are convinced that human factors make a significant contribution to Health and Safety and that further improvements in HSE performance, over and above those resulting from improvements in engineering and management systems, will only come about if human factors are taken into account.

Committed to tackle this issue and sensible to the increasing international evidence that long working patterns can lead to adverse health effects such as demotivation, anxiety, biological rhythms disturbances, and/or negative sleep patterns, TOTAL ABK Management has decided to implement a comprehensive shift work life style training program and to optimize rotation schemes of key personnel. A thorough assessment was done and the longest rotation periods were reduced without salary cuts on all the employees.

Although the effects of extended work hours and shift patterns on performance is well documented in the international HSE literature, the local expectations are not set in terms of the maximum duration of work assignment in remote locations. Therefore efforts were undertaken by TOTAL ABK to enforce these optimized rotations to key contractors who responded positively.

TOTAL ABK Commitment to reduce the likelihood of accidents and ill health is paramount and the continuous strive to eradicate any latent sources of risk to Health and Safety of its personnel has been successfully demonstrated with this initiative.
Benchmarking Safety KPI's - Enhancing Safety Performance
Authors: Al Abdul Salam Abdulla , Adivi Bala Siva
Published: April 2012

Benchmarking has become a general activity in today's business environment. It permits an apparent understanding of the performance of a business entity in comparison with its peers, competitors and global leaders. As a step towards world-class performance it undoubtedly has its benefits in identifying areas for commendation and areas for improvement.

Creating benchmarks for environmental health and safety are key components of a Health Safety Environment Management System. However, there is a need to be cautious in how benchmarking is carried out. Businesses are complex organisms - they operate in an environment where external and internal pressures compete to drive strategy and tactical decisions in a variety of disparate directions. Focusing on a particular area may give and unbalanced view of the performance of the business. Benchmarking needs to be holistic in its approach, giving a clear overview of the performance of the whole business and shows the areas where focus to be given by the management to enhance the performance. It is presumed that companies use their own selection of Key Performance Indicators to measure HSE Performance. However, this paper gives emphasis the importance of benchmarking, Safety KPI's of industry wide accepted which can be used to benchmark their performance against that of the global oil & gas industry, in particular to E&P industry through which safety performance can be accessed regularly and ensures continual improvement.
Integrated Measures to Reduce Oil Flaring to Zero
Authors: El-Sheikh Hosny , Al Mazen Ghuloom
Published: April 2012

To achieve full compliance with ADNOC HSE guidelines, and to align with ADMA-OPCO management Vision, Mission and values to have one integrated team to optimize oil & Gas production from offshore areas in a safe maner through high performance respecting healthy safety & Environments. Inline with that purpose ADMA-OPCO Drilling Division Rigless Team introduced in year 2000 an innovation & low cost integrated set up to handle well intervention operations in sfae manner. This system were perminantelly installed on also low cost multi-purpose service self propelld jack up barge as below pictures.

The goal to have this integrated set-up, is to handle all well intervention operation in a closed loope work envelop. All fluids produced from the well will be handeld safely with out harming environment. In ADMA OPCO it is commomon / standard practice to carry out acid stimulation post rig operations to enhance well productivity. The well must be cleaned out from spent acid and depries created from acid reaction with Limeston formations (ADMA reservoir). During this clean up the well must be opend on a fully open choke size & low separator pressure which will cause separation for produced fluids (Gas, Oil and water). For water, it is treated & dumped overboard but for oil & gas it the the issue. In the past they were obliged to flaire oil and gas. Since re-injection system introduced oil flaring reduced / eliminated gradually to currently Zero % as well as the gas during clean up and flow test periods. The gas flaring was reduced by more than 75% during the whole operation. This set up provided in a perminant long term contract price which is condidered very cheep price compaired with the total volume of oil re-injected to production facility. Atotal off ±2.5 MM barrels of oil re-injected into production since utilizing the system in 2000 up to date.

These proven practices is currentelly implemented in all fields, where ADMA -OPCO is operating, and also extended to other ADNOC group offshore companies.
Framework for multi-criteria decision management in watershed restoration
Authors: Udías Angel , Galbiati Lorenzo , Elorza Francisco Javier , Efremov Roman , Pons Jordi , Borras Gabriel
Published: April 2012

This paper presents a hydroinformatics management tool designed to optimize the program of measures (PoM) to achieve the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) objectives in the internal Catalonian watersheds. The tool incorporates the Qual2kw water quality model to simulate the effects of the PoM used to reduce pollution pressure on the hydrologic network. It includes a Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm (MOEA) to identify efficient trade-offs between PoM cost and water quality. It also uses multi-criteria visualization and statistical analysis tools as a user-friendly interface. This management tool is based on the Pressure–Impact concept, selecting the most effective combinations of sewage treatment technologies from millions of technologically admissible combinations. Moreover, the tool is oriented to guide stakeholders and water managers in their decision-making processes. Some guidelines are also given in this paper on the use of analytical relationships from the field of evolutionary multi-criteria optimization algorithms for different parameters (elitism, crossover and mutation rate, population size) to ensure that the MOEA is competently designed to navigate the criteria space of the management problem. Additionally, this paper analyzes the results of applying the management tool in the Muga watershed, whereby guaranteeing its convergence within a reasonable computational time, in order to simplify the decision-making process.
Development of two-dimensional water quality management model using the reliability analysis method
Authors: Kim Sang-Ho , Han Kun-Yeun , Kim Ji-Sung , Noh Joonwoo
Published: April 2012

A two-dimensional water quality management model, the unsteady/uncertainty water quality model (UUWQM), is developed for three kinds of analysis: hydrodynamic and advection–diffusion analyses by using the Petrov–Galerkin finite element method, and a reliability analysis by using uncertainty techniques. This model is then applied to a 35 km reach of the Nakdong River in Korea. Two-dimensional hydrodynamic and deterministic water quality analyses were performed in this reach. The Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method was used to decide and verify 14 key input parameters among 80 total input parameters. These key input parameters were incorporated to compute exceedance probabilities and frequency distributions using the mean first-order second-moment (MFOSM) and MCS methods at several locations along this reach of the Nakdong River. From the results of the probable risk for water quality standard, it shows that the outputs from the MFOSM method were similar to those from the MCS method. In practical usage, the MFOSM method is more attractive in terms of its computational simplicity and shorter execution time. Therefore, the UUWQM can be applied efficiently and accurately to estimate the water quality distribution and the risk assessment for the specified water quality in any river.
Near-optimal scheduling of device activation in water distribution systems to reduce the impact of a contamination event
Authors: Alvisi S. , Franchini M. , Gavanelli M. , Nonato M.
Published: April 2012

This paper proposes an innovative procedure for identifying, in the event of accidental or intentional contamination of a water distribution system, the optimal scheduling of activation of a pre-selected set of flow control devices which will serve to minimise the volume of contaminated water consumed by users after the detection of the contaminant in the system. The constraints are represented by the number of available response teams and the maximum speed at which these teams can travel along the roadway. The optimal scheduling of device activation is sought by means of an optimisation process based on a genetic algorithm (GA) which interacts with a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) solver in order to ensure the feasibility of the scheduling identified. The optimisation procedure is coupled to a hydraulic and quality simulator, which enables a calculation of the volumes of contaminated water consumed by users, and a dynamic cache memory, which, by storing information on the system's behaviour as the optimisation process progresses, serves to limit the computational times. The application of the procedure to a highly complex real water distribution system shows that the optimisation process is robust and efficacious and produces a smaller volume of contaminated water consumed by the users than when the activation of all the devices was completed in the shortest amount of time.
Advanced phosphorus removal for secondary effluent using a natural treatment system
Authors: Ke F. , Li W. C. , Li H. Y. , Xiong F. , Zhao A. N.
Published: April 2012

Mechanisms for low concentrations phosphorus removal in secondary effluent were studied, and a process was developed using limestone filters (LF), submerged macrophyte oxidation ponds (SMOPs) and a subsurface vertical flow wetland (SVFW). Pilot scale experimental models were applied in series to investigate the advanced purification of total phosphorus (TP) in secondary effluent at the Chengjiang sewage treatment plant. With a total hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 82.52 h, the average effluent TP dropped to 0.17 mg L−1, meeting the standard for Class III surface waters. The major functions of the LF were adsorption and forced precipitation, with a particulate phosphorus (PP) removal of 82.93% and a total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) removal of 41.07%. Oxygen-releasing submerged macrophytes in the SMOPs resulted in maximum dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH values of 11.55 mg L−1 and 8.10, respectively. This regime provided suitable conditions for chemical precipitation of TDP, which was reduced by a further 39.29%. In the SVFW, TDP was further reduced, and the TP removal in the final effluent reached 85.08%.
The use of a rotating cylinder electrode to recover zinc from rinse water generated by the electroplating industry
Authors: Matlalcuatzi Sairi , Nava José L.
Published: April 2012

This work concerns the application of a laboratory scale rotating cylinder electrode (RCE) to recover zinc from rinse water generated by the electrolytic zinc process (initially 1,300, 4,400, 50, 20 mg L−1 of Zn(II), Fe(III), Ag(I) and Cr(VI), respectively, at pH 2), although it is also applicable to other electroplating industries. Experimental results demonstrated the convenience of the removal of ferric ions, as (Fe(OH)3(s)) by a pH adjustment to 4, before zinc electro recovery on the RCE. The generation of smooth zinc deposits on the RCE was obtained at Reynolds numbers within the range of 15,000 ≤ Re ≤ 124,000 and limiting current densities (JL) in the interval of −4.8 to −13 mA cm−2. The zinc recovery reached a conversion of 67% in 90 min of electrolysis for Re = 124,000 and J = −13 mA cm−2, 21% current efficiency, and energy consumption of 9.5 kWh m−3. The treated solution can be recycled back through the same rinsing process.
Long-term variations of water quality in a reservoir in China
Authors: Chen Y. Y. , Zhang C. , Gao X. P. , Wang L. Y.
Published: April 2012

To study the spatial and temporal trends of water quality in the Yuqiao Reservoir (Ji County, Tianjin) in China, water quality data for ten physical and chemical parameters from three monitoring stations (S1, S2 and S3) was collected from 1989 to 2007 and from an other three stations (S4, S5 and S6) during the period of 1999–2007. A one-way ANOVA was employed to evaluate the spatial variation of water quality for each station. The results showed that there were statistically significant spatial differences for most water quality parameters except temperature and dissolved oxygen in the entire reservoir, and the concentrations of most parameters were higher in the uppermost part of the reservoir. The temporal trend study was conducted using the Seasonal–Kendall's test. The results revealed improving trends of water quality from 1989 to 2007, including a reduction of total phosphorous, temperature and biochemical oxygen demand and an increase of dissolved oxygen. High N:P ratios, ranging from 52.61 to 78.75, indicated that the reservoir was a phosphorous-limited environment. This study suggests long-term spatial and temporal variations of water quality in the Yuqiao Reservoir, which could be informative for water quality managers and scientists.
A note on the influence of heat and mass transfer on a peristaltic flow of a viscous fluid in a vertical asymmetric channel with wall slip
Authors: Srinivas S. , Muthuraj R. , Sakina J.
Published: April 2012

This note deals with the influence of heat and mass transfer on peristaltic
flow of an viscous fluid with wall slip condition. The flow is investigated
in a wave frame of reference moving with the velocity of the wave. The
channel asymmetry is produced by choosing the peristaltic wave train on the
walls to have different amplitude and phase. The momentum and energy
equations have been linearized under the assumption of long-wavelength
approximation. The arising equations are solved by perturbation technique
and the expressions for Temperature, Concentration, Velocity and Stream
function are constructed. Graphical results are sketched for various
embedded parameters and discussed in detail.
Opioid-regulated pro- and anti-apoptotic gene expression in cancer cells
Authors: Gach Katarzyna , Wyrębska Anna , Szemraj Janusz , Janecka Anna
Published: April 2012

Morphine, as well as opioid peptides, are well-known powerful analgesics. In addition to their use in the treatment of pain, opioids appear to be important in the growth regulation of neoplastic tissue. However, little is known on the influence of opioid peptides on apoptosis modulation in cancer cells. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of the µ-opioid receptor (MOR)-selective peptide, morphiceptin and its two synthetic analogs, on mRNA expression and protein levels of some crucial factors involved in apoptosis in three human cancer cell lines: MCF-7, HT-29, and SH-SY5Y. Using real-time PCR and ELISA assays, we have shown that the selected opioid peptides enhanced apoptosis of cancer cells by increasing the expression of pro-apoptoticc Bax and caspase-3, and decreasing expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. Additionally, flow cytometry analysis performed on MCF-7 cells treated with annexin V/propidium iodide confirmed that the tested opioid peptides induced apoptosis in cancer cells. However, induction of apoptosis was not reversed by the opioid antagonist, naloxone, which suggests that this process is not mediated by the opioid receptors.
Functional Limitations and Workdays Lost Associated with Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Bhattacharyya Neil
Published: April 2012

Background

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and allergic rhinitis are associated with functional limitations, but these impacts are not known on a population basis. Our objective was to epidemiologically determine functional limitations and workdays lost that are associated with CRS and allergic rhinitis in adults.

Methods

The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey for calendar year 2007 was examined to identify cases of CRS and allergic rhinitis. Functional limitation variables for activity limitation, work limitation, social limitation, and cognitive limitation determined by the survey also were extracted. Using multivariate models adjusting for age, gender, race, ethnicity, education level, insurance status, geographic region, as well as the Charlson comorbidity index, incremental differences in workdays lost and these functional limitations were determined for patients with and without CRS and allergic rhinitis.

Results

Among 225.1 million adults, the prevalences of CRS and allergic rhinitis were 4.9 ± 0.2% and 7.9 ± 0.3%, respectively. Patients with CRS demonstrated an incremental 1.04 ± 0.3 workdays lost per year along with significant increased adjusted odds ratios for activity limitation (odds ratio, 1.54), work limitation (1.50), and social limitation (1.49, all p < .005) but not cognitive limitation (1.05, p = .21 Patients with allergic rhinitis demonstrated an incremental 0.60 ± 0.45 workdays lost along with significant increased adjusted odds ratios for activity limitation (1.42), work limitation (1.43), social limitation (1.47), and cognitive limitation (1.32, all p < .019).

Conclusions

Both CRS and allergic rhinitis impart significantly increased odds ratios for activity, work, and social limitations. Allergic rhinitis also carries with it statistically significant odds of functional cognitive limitation. The total aggregate workdays missed in the United States may be estimated at 11.5 million workdays and 10.7 million workdays for CRS and allergic rhinitis, respectively.
L'Express et l'espace après Apollo 11
Authors: Lamy Jérôme
Published: April 2012

This article examines the treatment of outer space in the French weekly magazine L'Express from 1969 to 2009. After the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, space was essentially analyzed from the perspective of geopolitics: International tensions, the Cold War, and the emergence of an integrated Europe served as prisms through which the subject of outer space was explored. After the Challenger crash in 1986, thinking about space took on a more commercial orientation; business, trade, and competition became a powerful frame of reference. At the same time, ecological concerns emerged to reinforce a negative view of space exploration. Space debris and the decline of utopian expectations became recurring themes. This cultural history of disenchantment over space reflected both a scaling back of Promethean ambitions and the assimilation of space into everyday life.
Barnett Newman's Zip as Figure
Authors: Gardner Colin
Published: April 2012

Challenging the formalist critical legacy of Clement Greenberg and Michael Fried, this essay advocates an alternative philosophical lineage for Modernist painting through a specific focus on Barnett Newman's vertical stripe or ‘zip’. This genealogy is rooted in Newman's own self-confessed interest in painting as a disclosure of the sensation of time and Deleuze's overt break with Kant. In light of the latter, the zip takes on the function of Deleuze's Figure: the material support that generates, sustains and also disperses a precise sensation.
Liquid Spaces of Engagement: Entering the Waves with Antony Gormley and Olafur Eliasson
Authors: Hillier Jean
Published: April 2012

Antony Gormley's Another Place and Olafur Eliasson's Your watercolour machine exemplify passages and combinations of smooth and striated space as beings of sensation on planes of technical and aesthetic composition. They are frames which striate the smoothness of light, water, molten iron, etc., using scientific planes of reference. Smooth and striated mix as boundaries between visitors’ bodies and installation become permeable. Optic becomes tactile, becomes haptic, generative engagement. Both artists experiment with the interface between striated and smooth to encourage visitors to experiment and experience sensation. The installations are liquid spaces; forms of perpetual non-permanence which affect and react with others’ behaviours in processes of co-emergence.
Mechanical and Thermal Dehydrogenation of Lithium Alanate (LiAlH4) and Lithium Amide (LiNH2) Hydride Composites
Authors: Varin Robert A. , Zbroniec Leszek
Published: April 2012

Hydrogen storage properties of the (nLiAlH4 + LiNH2) hydride composite where n = 1, 3, 11.5 and 30, synthesized by high energy ball milling have been investigated. The composite with the molar ratio n = 1 releases large quantities of H2 (up to ~5 wt.%) during ball milling up to 100–150 min. The quantity of released H2 rapidly decreases for the molar ratio n = 3 and is not observed for n = 11.5 and 30. The XRD studies indicate that the H2 release is a result of a solid state decomposition of LiAlH4 into (1/3)Li3AlH6 + (2/3)Al + H2 and subsequently decomposition of (1/3)Li3AlH6 into LiH + (1/3)Al + 0.5H2. Apparently, LiAlH4 is profoundly destabilized during ball milling by the presence of a large quantity of LiNH2 (37.7 wt.%) in the n = 1 composite. The rate of dehydrogenation at 100–170 °C (at 1 bar H2) is adversely affected by insufficient microstructural refinement, as observed for the n = 1 composite, which was milled for only 2 min to avoid H2 discharge during milling. XRD studies show that isothermal dehydrogenation of (nLiAlH4 + LiNH2) occurs by the same LiAlH4 decomposition reactions as those found during ball milling. The ball milled n = 1 composite stored under Ar at 80 °C slowly discharges large quantities of H2 approaching 3.5 wt.% after 8 days of storage.
Collaboration between Professionals: The Use of Videoconferencing for Delivering E-Health
Authors: Nilsen Line Lundvoll
Published: April 2012

This article explores the ways in which collaboration between professionals using videoconferencing affects the e-health delivered to patients. In Norway, general practitioners (GPs) and specialists routinely hold videoconferences. Observations of 42 VC meetings, each lasting from 5 to 40 min, were analysed in terms of the interactions. In addition, five semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted, each lasting from 20 to 70 minutes. Statements were selected to illustrate the content of the interactions and how collaborative work affects the delivery of healthcare. Successful collaborative work provides practitioners with a new way of thinking: exchanging information and knowledge between levels of care in order to provide the best treatment for patients locally. The regularity makes the collaborative work a two-way achievement. GPs receive decision support and second opinions, and specialists receive information and opportunities to follow up. How the professionals manage their work (i.e., collaborating) may benefit their patients. The regular use of videoconferencing will furnish professionals with enhanced resources for the meeting of patients’ demands in the future. Regularly informing one another and exchanging knowledge, benefits the professionals by providing increased certainty with regard to their medical decisions, and it benefits the patients because they will feel satisfied with the competence of the specialists where they live.
An Empirical Assessment of Temporal Decorrelation Using the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar over Forested Landscapes
Authors: Simard Marc , Hensley Scott , Lavalle Marco , Dubayah Ralph , Pinto Naiara , Hofton Michelle
Published: April 2012

We present an empirical assessment of the impact of temporal decorrelation on interferometric coherence measured over a forested landscape. A series of repeat-pass interferometric radar images with a zero spatial baseline were collected with UAVSAR (Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar), a fully polarimetric airborne L-band radar system. The dataset provided temporal separations of 45 minutes, 2, 7 and 9 days. Coincident airborne lidar and weather data were collected. We theoretically demonstrate that UAVSAR measurement accuracy enables accurate quantification of temporal decorrelation. Data analysis revealed precipitation events to be the main driver of temporal decorrelation over the acquisition period. The experiment also shows temporal decorrelation increases with canopy height, and this pattern was found consistent across forest types and polarization.
Interplay between Interferon-Mediated Innate Immunity and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus
Authors: Sun Yan , Han Mingyuan , Kim Chiyong , Calvert Jay G. , Yoo Dongwan
Published: April 2012

Innate immunity is the first line of defense against viral infection, and in turn, viruses have evolved to evade host immune surveillance. As a result, viruses may persist in host and develop chronic infections. Type I interferons (IFN-α/β) are among the most potent antiviral cytokines triggered by viral infections. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a disease of pigs that is characterized by negligible induction of type I IFNs and viral persistence for an extended period. For IFN production, RIG-I/MDA5 and JAK-STAT pathways are two major signaling pathways, and recent studies indicate that PRRS virus is armed to modulate type I IFN responses during infection. This review describes the viral strategies for modulation of type I IFN responses. At least three non‑structural proteins (Nsp1, Nsp2, and Nsp11) and a structural protein (N nucleocapsid protein) have been identified and characterized to play roles in the IFN suppression and NF-κB pathways. Nsp’s are early proteins while N is a late protein, suggesting that additional signaling pathways may be involved in addition to the IFN pathway. The understanding of molecular bases for virus-mediated modulation of host innate immune signaling will help us design new generation vaccines and control PRRS.
Antecedents and Consequences of Tourist Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction: A Case Study of a Festival in Korea
Authors: Ryu Siyoung , Um Seoho , Lee Timothy J.
Published: April 2012

The study aims to verify the two-dimensional construct, compare it to a unidimensional model, and identify the causality among the antecedents and consequences of tourist satisfaction/dissatisfaction. It examines satisfaction and attitude change of visitors to a festival in Korea. It
used the Expectation-Disconfirmation Paradigm but excluded expectation and perceived performance. It found that wants-disconfirmation had a strong relationship with both satisfaction and dissatisfaction, while needs-disconfirmation had a relationship only with satisfaction. Tourist satisfaction
was positively related to attitude change; however, the relationship between tourist dissatisfaction and attitude change was not significant. The results of the study lead to a better understanding of tourist behavior and an improved ability to predict future behavior more accurately, especially
of a festival event.
From Solid to Liquid: New Literacies to the Cultural Changes of Web 2.0
Authors: Area-Moreira Manuel , Ribeiro-Pessoa Maria Teresa
Published: April 2012

This paper proposes a model for developing new literacies of citizenship in the digital society. Using Baumman’s metaphor, we contrast the 'solid' culture of the 19th and 20th centuries to the ‘liquid’ information culture of the 21st century in which Web 2.0 plays a fundamental role and affects many aspects of our culture. We first review the main features of Web 2.0 through six major dimensions: as a universal library, global market, as a giant hypertext jigsaw puzzle, a public space for social communities, a territory for multimedia and audiovisual expression, and as a space for multiple virtual interactive environments. In the second part, we propose an integrated theoretical model of literacy for the citizen. This model is based on two pillars: the areas or dimensions of literacy, and the competences (instrumental, cognitive-intellectual, socio-communicative, emotional and axiological) to be developed in citizens. Finally we contend that the new literacies amount to a civic right and a necessary condition for social development and a more democratic society in the 21st century.

En este artículo se propone un modelo de nuevas alfabetizaciones para la formación de la ciudadanía de la sociedad digital. Usando la metáfora de Baumman se hace referencia a la oposición entre la cultura «sólida» predominante en los siglos XIX y XX con la cultura de la información «líquida» en la que la Web 2.0 tiene efectos muy relevantes sobre múltiples planos de nuestra cultura actual. En un primer momento, se examinan las principales características de la Web 2.0 definiéndola en relación a seis grandes dimensiones o planos que se entrecruzan y son simultáneos: la Web 2.0 como la biblioteca universal, como mercado global, como un puzzle gigante de hipertextos, como una plaza pública de comunicación e interacción social, como un territorio de expresión multimedia y audiovisual, y como múltiples entornos virtuales interactivos. En una segunda parte, se propone un modelo teórico de la alfabetización del ciudadano ante esta cultura digital que consta de dos ejes o planos básicos: el primero referido a los ámbitos o dimensiones de la alfabetización, y el segundo a las competencias de aprendizaje (instrumentales, cognitivo-intelectuales, sociocomunicacionales, emocionales y axiológicas) a desarrollar en los sujetos. Por último, se defiende que las nuevas alfabetizaciones son un derecho de los individuos y una condición necesaria para un desarrollo social y democrático de la sociedad en el siglo XXI.
Passions et raison du droit en matière de jeux d'argent
Authors: Gautier Pierre-Yves
Published: April 2012

Résumé Cette contribution a pour objet de présenter le statut décousu des jeux d’argent en droit privé, très imprégné des anciennes conceptions morales, mais en même temps sollicité de toutes parts pour accueillir les paris des joueurs, fondés sur la chance et l’optique de récolter leur argent. Le goût du jeu reste le même et les interdits sont progressivement levés. Internet et l’Union européenne en sont de puissants facteurs. Une des conséquences de cette évolution normative est cependant l’incohérence des sources : le vieux code civil, conservateur du droit commun de la France sur ce chapitre, reste inchangé, alors que le droit spécial, de plus en plus libéral, s’épanouit en marge. Il ne serait pas du luxe de recodifier le régime légal du contrat de jeu.
Services juridiques : la fin des professions ?
Authors: Jamin Christophe
Published: April 2012

Résumé Depuis plus d’une décennie, l’emprise exercée par l’économie industrielle sur les décideurs publics contribue à une remise en cause de la légitimité même des professions juridiques. Afin de moderniser le domaine des services juridiques et de favoriser un accroissement de concurrence réputé bénéfique au public, il serait nécessaire de démanteler au moins partiellement les règles professionnelles. Pour faire face à cette évolution, les professionnels du droit, au premier rang desquels figurent avocats et notaires, réagissent, mais en adoptant en France des stratégies largement distinctes qui les conduisent irrémédiablement à l’affrontement, sans pour autant éviter vraiment à la machine à « déprofessionnaliser » les activités juridiques de progresser au profit du marché.
Élite politico-administrative et barreau d'affaires. Sociologie d'un espace-frontière
Authors: Vauchez Antoine
Published: April 2012

Résumé L’engouement récent d’hommes politiques de premier plan pour le barreau de Paris intrigue et invite à explorer à de nouveaux frais l’espace-frontière entre «politique » et « barreau ». Cet article propose ainsi de dépasser l’alternative entre la thèse du retour à la « République des avocats » et celle de la dérive vers une « République des affaires » et du conflit d’intérêts. En suivant les circulations, cumuls et passages à la frontière du champ politique et du barreau de Paris, on montre ici l’émergence d’une zone inédite, quoique circonscrite et précaire, de contiguïté et d’interdépendance aux confins de l’élite politico-administrative et des cabinets d’avocats d’affaires.