bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Scale Mitigation Options for a Mature Gas Field
Authors: Mokdad Belkhir , Akuanyionwu Obinna , Fava Guido , Wahid Fazrie , Elghanduri Khaled , Stefanescu Dan Paul
Published: June 2013

The deposition and accumulation of inorganic scales is a major concern for oil and gas producing companies worldwide. This concern typically stems from two main factors: the strong possibility of total production loss due to scale plugging of production conduits, and the significant impact that managing scaling challenges could have on field economics. These issues become even more pronounced for marginal and mature field developments.

Following the retrieval of scale deposits (predominantly calcite and halite) in a number of wells in a mature gas field in eastern Europe, implementing an effective scale-management strategy became top priority. This paper discusses the principal components of scale-management strategy formulation, including the procedures adopted to explicitly identify, assess, and rank at-risk producer wells in the field. A systematic approach was used to combine the main aspects of scale management, ranging from thermodynamic predictions of scale deposition to a scaling risk assessment. Additionally, the approach was adapted to address the significant degree of uncertainty emanating from the water chemistry and pressure/temperature history, eventually enabling the identification and proposal of adequate mitigation plans with attendant potential for optimization of field production.

Workflows developed on this field are described, including field results as examples. Our work helped to create a risk matrix and well ranking based on saturation ratio. It helped to characterize the location of the precipitating scale. Finally, we highlight the different remediation techniques that have been proposed and their success rate based on the recommendations following their field implementation three years later.
Reservoir Permeability from Wireline Formation Testers
Authors: Cantini Stefano , Baldini Davide , Beretta Enzo , Loi Daniele , Mazzoni Stefano
Published: June 2013

Permeability is an essential parameter in order to properly define well and reservoir performance. Permeability is also relevant in overall reservoir management and development, including reservoir simulation, gravity drainage, flood performance, assessment of gas or water coning.

Attempts to derive reservoir permeability with wireline formation testers started in the 70s, calculating drawdown mobility from pretests taken with a single probe. However, despite drawdown mobility provides valuable information about reservoir behavior, it is not comparable to reservoir permeability traditionally measured with Drill Stem Tests (DST). This is due to its limited depth of investigation, the upscaling difficulties and the fact that probe type tools do not develop a complete radial flow regime. In the 90s the introduction of the latest generation of wireline formation testers, equipped with straddle packer modules able to develop radial flow with radius of investigation in the order of tens of meters, enabled measurement of permeability at reservoir scale. These tests, called miniDST or IPTT (Interval Pressure Transient Testing), represent in some cases a valid alternative to conventional DST tests, especially for the environmental, safety and the economic aspects.

MiniDST/IPTT method is here described, from the design phase, very important in order to obtain a reliable test, to final interpretation, with a critical review of the method applicability, its limitations and comparison versus traditional DST. Latest developments in terms of hardware and interpretation techniques are included.

Case histories are also provided in order to demonstrate the IPTT application, its integration with the other permeability sources and the reservoir model, including comparison between simulated reservoir deliverability and measured well test rates.
Effect of pH and HNO2 concentration on the activity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in a partial nitritation reactor
Authors: Claros J. , Jiménez E. , Aguado D. , Ferrer J. , Seco A. , Serralta J.
Published: June 2013

Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are very sensitive to environmental conditions and wastewater treatment plant operational parameters. One of the most important factors affecting their activity is pH. Its effect is associated with: NH3/NH4+ and HNO2/NO2− chemical equilibriums and biological reaction rates. The aim of this study was to quantify and model the effect of pH and free nitrous acid (FNA) concentration on the activity of AOB present in a lab-scale partial nitritation reactor. For this purpose, two sets of batch experiments were carried out using biomass from this reactor. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis showed that Nitrosomona eutropha and Nitrosomona europaea species were dominant in the partial nitritation reactor (>94%). The experimental results showed that FNA inhibits the AOB activity. This inhibition was properly modelled by the non-competitive inhibition function and the half inhibition constant value was determined as 1.32 mg HNO2-N L−1. The optimal pH for these AOB was found to be in the range 7.4–7.8. The pH inhibitory effect was stronger at high pH values than at low pH values. Therefore, an asymmetric inhibition function was proposed to represent the pH effect on these bacteria. A combination of two sigmoidal functions was able to reproduce the experimental results obtained.
Evaluating Escherichia coli removal performance in stormwater biofilters: a preliminary modelling approach
Authors: Chandrasena G. I. , Deletic A. , McCarthy D. T.
Published: June 2013

Stormwater biofilters are not currently optimised for pathogen removal since the behaviour of these pollutants within the stormwater biofilters is poorly understood. Modelling is a common way of optimising these systems, which also provides a better understanding of the major processes that govern the pathogen removal. This paper provides an overview of a laboratory-scale study that investigated how different design and operational conditions impact pathogen removal in the stormwater biofilters. These data were then used to develop a modelling tool that can be used to optimise the design and operation of the stormwater biofilters. The model uses continuous simulations where adsorption and desorption were dominant during wet weather periods and first order die-off kinetics were significant in dry periods between the wet weather events. Relatively high Nash Sutcliffe Efficiencies (>0.5) indicate that the calibrated model is in good agreement with observed data and the optimised model parameters were comparable with values reported in the literature. The model's sensitivity is highest towards the adsorption process parameter followed by the die-off and desorption rate parameters, which implies that adsorption is the governing process of the model. Vegetation is found to have an impact on the wet weather processes since the adsorption and desorption parameters vary significantly with the different plant configurations. The model is yet to be tested against field data and needs to be improved to represent the effect of some other biofilter design configurations, such as the inclusion of the submerged zone.
The Microbial Database for Danish wastewater treatment plants with nutrient removal (MiDas-DK) – a tool for understanding activated sludge population dynamics and community stability
Authors: Mielczarek A. T. , Saunders A. M. , Larsen P. , Albertsen M. , Stevenson M. , Nielsen J. L. , Nielsen P. H.
Published: June 2013

Since 2006 more than 50 Danish full-scale wastewater treatment plants with nutrient removal have been investigated in a project called ‘The Microbial Database for Danish Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Plants with Nutrient Removal (MiDas-DK)’. Comprehensive sets of samples have been collected, analyzed and associated with extensive operational data from the plants. The community composition was analyzed by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) supported by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and deep metagenomics. MiDas-DK has been a powerful tool to study the complex activated sludge ecosystems, and, besides many scientific articles on fundamental issues on mixed communities encompassing nitrifiers, denitrifiers, bacteria involved in P-removal, hydrolysis, fermentation, and foaming, the project has provided results that can be used to optimize the operation of full-scale plants and carry out trouble-shooting. A core microbial community has been defined comprising the majority of microorganisms present in the plants. Time series have been established, providing an overview of temporal variations in the different plants. Interestingly, although most microorganisms were present in all plants, there seemed to be plant-specific factors that controlled the population composition thereby keeping it unique in each plant over time. Statistical analyses of FISH and operational data revealed some correlations, but less than expected. MiDas-DK (www.midasdk.dk) will continue over the next years and we hope the approach can inspire others to make similar projects in other parts of the world to get a more comprehensive understanding of microbial communities in wastewater engineering.
Pretreatment followed by anaerobic digestion of secondary sludge for reduction of sewage sludge volume
Authors: Abe Naoki , Tang Yue-Qin , Iwamura Makoto , Morimura Shigeru , Kida Kenji
Published: June 2013

The influence of two pretreatment methods, thermal treatment and low-pressure wet oxidation, on the sludge digestion efficiency was examined. Batch thermophilic anaerobic digestion was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the pretreatment methods in terms of volatile suspended solids (VSS) digestion efficiency and gas production. The results showed that the gas production was not proportional to the VSS degradation efficiency of either thermal treatment or low-pressure wet oxidation. Low-pressure wet oxidation treatment at 150 °C along with 40% of the theoretical oxygen required to oxidize organic carbon gave the highest gas production and the VSS digestion efficiency of 77% at a VSS loading rate of 8 g l−1 d−1. The digestion efficiency was about 30% higher than that of thermophilic anaerobic digestion without sludge pretreatment. Sewage sludge could be treated effectively at a high VSS digestion efficiency with this pretreatment followed by thermophilic anaerobic digestion.
Anaerobic degradation of carbon capture reclaimer MEA waste
Authors: Wang S. , Hovland J. , Bakke R.
Published: June 2013

The anaerobic biodegradation of reclaimer MEA (monoethanolamine) waste (MEAw) with easily degradable co-substrates was investigated in a laboratory-scale bioreactor at room temperature during a 160 d experimental run. The reactor that was constructed with three phases to facilitate attached biofilm and suspended biomass retention for degradation of the complex and challenging MEAw performed well. A feed strategy of step-wise increasing organic loading rate (OLR) by either increasing feed MEAw concentration or the hydraulic loading rate was applied. The system performance was evaluated by chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency, methane yield, MEA removal, and the accumulation of ammonia and volatile fatty acid (VFA). The total COD removal efficiency initially was 93% when the feed was mainly easily degradable co-substrate. The total removal dropped to 75% at the end when MEAw constituted 60% of the feed COD. Ion chromatography results show that the MEA and some unidentified feed chemicals were almost completely consumed. The main products of MEAw degradation were ammonia, VFAs and biogas. The ammonia nitrogen concentration reached about 2.0 g/L, which may explain the observed inhibition of acetoclastic methanogenesis leading to acetate accumulation. Methane accounted for up to 80% of the biogas generated. The highest methane yield was 0.34 L/g-COD while the yield was 0.16 L/g-COD at the highest load. This study shows that more than 80% reclaimer MEAw COD degradation with a co-substrate can be maintained in a hybrid anaerobic bioreactor operated in a wide loading range.
Adsorption of tetracyclines on marine sediment during organic matter diagenesis
Authors: Fei Ying-Heng , Li Xiao-Yan
Published: June 2013

The effect of decomposition and diagenesis of sediment organic matter (SOM) on the adsorption of emerging pollutants by the sediment has been seldom addressed. In the present experimental study, artificial sediment was incubated to simulate the natural organic diagenesis process and hence investigate the influence of organic diagenesis on the adsorption of tetracyclines (TCs) by marine sediment. During a period of 4 months of incubation, SOM initially added into the sediment underwent biodegradation and diagenesis. The results showed an early decrease in TC adsorption by the sediment, which was likely caused by the competition between the microbial organic products and TC molecules for the adsorption sites. Afterward, TC adsorption by the sediment increased significantly, which was mainly due to the accumulation of condensed SOM. The experimental results indicate the interactions between TCs and the sediment during the dynamic process of SOM diagenesis. Moreover, the remaining SOM is shown to have an increasing affinity with the antibiotics.
Monitoring and validation of decentralised water and wastewater systems for increased uptake
Authors: Sharma A. K. , Cook S. , Chong M. N.
Published: June 2013

Decentralised water and wastewater systems are being implemented to meet growing demand for municipal services either in combination with centralised systems or as standalone systems. In Australia, there has been increased investment in decentralised water and wastewater systems in response to the capacity constraints of existing centralised systems, an extended period of below average rainfall, uncertainly in traditional water sources due to potential climate change impacts, and the need to reduce the environmental impact of urban development. The implementation of decentralised water systems as a mainstream practice at different development scales is impeded by the knowledge gaps on their actual performance in a range of development types and settings. As the wide-spread uptake of these approaches in modern cities is relatively new compared to centralised approaches, there is limited information available on their planning, design, implementation, reliability and robustness. This paper presents a number of case studies where monitoring studies are under way to validate the performance of decentralised water and wastewater systems. The results from these case studies show the yield and reliability of these decentralised systems, as well as the associated energy demand and ecological footprint. The outputs from these case studies, and other monitoring studies, are important in improving decentralised system design guidelines and developing industry wide management norms for the operation and maintenance of decentralised systems.
Effect of sponge volume fraction on the performance of a novel fluidized bed bioreactor
Authors: Nguyen T. T. , Ngo H. H. , Guo W. S.
Published: June 2013

A novel fluidized bed bioreactor (FBBR) was designed by integration of anaerobic granular activated carbon and aerobic sponge reactors. This FBBR was evaluated at different sponge volume fractions for treating a synthetic wastewater. Polyester urethane sponge with cube size of 1 × 1 × 1 cm and density of 28–30 kg/m3 with 90 cells per 25 mm was used as biomass carrier. The results indicate that the FBBR could remove more than 93% of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The highest nutrient removal efficiencies (58.2% PO4-P and 75.4% NH4-N) were achieved at 40% sponge volume fraction. The system could provide a good condition for biomass growth (e.g. 186.2 mg biomass/g sponge). No significant different performance in specific oxygen uptake rate was observed between 30, 40, and 50% sponge volume fractions.
Membrane fouling caused by sub-micron particles in a mixed liquor suspension of an MBR
Authors: Kimura K. , Ogyu R. , Miyoshi T. , Naruse T. , Tsuyuhara T. , Watanabe Y.
Published: June 2013

Membrane fouling needs to be mitigated for widespread use of membrane bioreactors (MBRs). It has been pointed out that particles with small sizes found in supernatants (sub-micron particles) of mixed liquor suspensions of MBRs are important in the evolution of membrane fouling of this technology. However, information on characteristics of sub-micron particles in MBRs is still insufficient. In this study, a pilot-scale MBR treating municipal wastewater was used to investigate and characterize sub-micron particles in an MBR and to identify the size fraction(s) responsible for irreversible fouling in an MBR. It was clearly shown that characteristics of sub-micron particles in the MBR varied considerably depending on their sizes. Results of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis and monosaccharide analysis suggested that irreversible fouling in this study was mainly caused by the specific size fraction of 0.1–0.45 μm, which was close to the size of micropores of the membrane used. Pore plugging might explain this to some extent.
Architecture and .NET Implementation of Multi- Robot Management System
Authors: Liekna Aleksis , Nikitenko Agris
Published: June 2013

In this paper we propose architecture for a multirobot management system, ways of identifying the implementation challenges and analyzing how to address these challenges by using out-of-the-box features provided by .NET framework. We make a departure from using agent or robot specific development tools in order to take a fresh look at one of the industry leading general purpose development platforms that is .NET framework to analyze its applicability to multi-robot system development. For verification of the proposed ideas in practice, a multi-robot system is implemented using physical iRobot Roomba robots as the robot platform.
Algorithm of Ontology Transformation to Concept Map for Usage in Semantic Web Expert System
Authors: Verhodubs Olegs , Grundspenkis Janis
Published: June 2013

The main purpose of this paper is to present an algorithm of OWL (Web Ontology Language) ontology transformation to concept map for subsequent generation of rules and also to evaluate the efficiency of this algorithm. These generated rules are necessary to supplement and even to develop SWES (Semantic Web Expert System) knowledge base. This paper is a continuation of the earlier research of OWL ontology transformation to rules.
On Discontinuties in Thermoelastic Plane Waves without Energy Dissipation Due to a Thermo-Mechanical Shock
Authors: Sarkar N. , Lahiri A.
Published: June 2013

The present paper deals with the thermoelastic plane waves due to a thermo-mechanical shock in the form of pulse at the boundary of a homogeneous, isotropic thermoelastic half-space. The field equations of the Green- Naugdhi theory without energy dissipation for an thermoelastic solid in the generalized thermoelasticity theory are written in the form of a vector-matrix differential equation using Laplace transform techniques and then solved by an eigenvalue approach. Exact expressions for the considered field variables are obtained and presented graphically for copper-like material. The characteristic features of the present theory are analyzed by comparing these solutions with their counterparts in other generalized thcrmoelasticity theories.
Delayed Renal Graft Function in the Early Post-Transplant Period and its Impact on the Late Post-Transplant Results
Authors: Jušinskis Jānis , Amerika Diāna , Maļcevs Aleksandrs
Published: June 2013

Delayed renal graft function (DGF) is a frequent complication with negative impact on the course of early post-transplantation period. The data concerning the impact on the late results are contradictory. This study describes results of 5-year follow-up of 248 recipients after deceased donor renal transplantation. All patients were divided into two groups: with delayed graft function (DGF, n = 53) and immediate graft function, considered as the control group (IGF, n = 195). We evaluated factors that were associated with development of DGF and its impact on the survival of graft and recipient, and frequency of acute rejections and chronic dysfunctions. The rate of observed DGF was 21.4%. Its development was associated with the following factors: age of recipient and their weight, age of donor and their body mass index, high frequency of asystole/hypotension in donors prior to organ explantation (P < 0.05 for all), and longer time of cold ischemia (P = 0.058). The DGF group had higher rate of acute rejections (P < 0.001), and also lower 1.5 and 5-year graft survival and 1.5-year patient survival (P < 0.05 for all). The conclusion is that DGF has negative impact on the survival of renal grafts and patients, especially during the first 1.5 years after transplantation.
An alternative approach to the tomographic reconstruction of smooth refractive index distributions
Authors: de la Rosa-Miranda E. , Berriel-Valdos L. R. , Gonzalez-Ramirez E. , Alaniz-Lumbreras D. , Saucedo-Anaya T. , de la Rosa-Vargas J. I. , Villa-Hernández J. J. , Torres-Argüelles V. , Castaño V. M.
Published: June 2013

Continuous, mathematically smooth Phase Objects with radial symmetry are reconstructed from cross sections of their refractive index distribution by a novel method, consisting of a linear combination of Gaussian basis functions, whose technical details are discussed. As an application example, this approach is used to get a fast and accurate estimation of the temperature distribution of an actual soldering tip.
Three ‘Jacques’ for one ‘Hélène’ (or, how to build a Gnomon with No-One)
Authors: Rabaté Jean-Michel
Published: June 2013

Starting from the various ways in which the name of James Joyce is evoked in Cixous's critical books and essays, I sketch her unique position as a writer between psychoanalysis (with Jacques Lacan) and philosophy (with Jacques Derrida). If James Joyce's last name can be translated as ‘Freud’ in German, if his first name can be variously Jim, James or even Jacques, then we may translate him into French as Jacques Joyeux. Taking my cue from varying strategies of address deployed in The Exile of James Joyce, I conclude by calling upon my own father, another Jacques, to provide a vignette that aims at replacing Joyce's gnomon between the psychoanalytic symptom and the deconstruction of the letter by the postcard.
Acknowledgements
Authors: Fornäs Johan , Fredriksson Martin , Stead Naomi
Published: June 2013

No abstract available.
Disturbing Femininity
Authors: Hvenegård-Lassen Kirsten
Published: June 2013

When Helle Thorning-Schmidt in 2011 became the first female Prime Minister in Denmark, this “victory for the women” was praised in highly celebratory tones in Danish newspapers. The celebration involved a paradoxical representation of gender as simultaneously irrelevant to politics and – when it comes to femininity – in need of management. Based on an analysis of the newspaper coverage of the election, I argue that highlighting gender (in)equality as either an important political issue or as something that conditions the possibilities of taking up a position as politician was evaluated as a performative speech act, i.e. an act that creates the trouble it names. Ruling out gender equality as relevant was, however, continually interrupted by comments on how Thorning-Schmidt and other female politicians perform gender in ways that fit or do not fit with “doing politician”. These com-ments tended to concern the styling of bodies and behaviour and followed well known – or sticky – gendered scripts.
European Cultural Studies: Pathways in an Unbound Geography
Authors: Keskin Ferda
Published: June 2013

No abstract available.
Virtue as Adventure and Excess: Intertextuality, Masculinity, and Desire in the Twilight Series
Authors: Lindén Claudia
Published: June 2013

The vampire is still primarily a literary figure. The vampires we have seen on TV and cinema in recent years are all based on literary models. The vampire is at the same time a popular cultural icon and a figure that, especially women writers, use to problematize gender, sexuality and power. As a vampire story the Twilight series both produces and problematizes norms in regard to gender, class and ethnici-ty. As the main romantic character in Twilight, Edward Cullen becomes interesting both as a vampire of our time and as a man. In a similar way as in the 19th century novel the terms of relationship are negotiated and like his namesake Edward Rochester, Edward Cullen has to change in important ways for the “happy end-ing” to take place. In spite of a strong interest in sexuality and gender norms in relation to vampires very few studies have focused exclusively on masculinity. This article examines the construction of masculinity in relation to vampirism in the Twilight series. It offers an interpretation of Stephenie Meyer’s novels and the character of Edward as part of a broader field of feminist (re-)uses of the vampire in modern literature with its roots in the literary tradition from Austen and the Brontë-sisters as well as from classic Gothic fiction.
Culture Unbound Vol. 5 Editorial
Authors: Fornäs Johan , Fredriksson Martin , Stead Naomi
Published: June 2013

We are proud to present the fifth volume of Culture Unbound: Journal of Current Cultural Research. This time we have some important news to share. First, the journal’s scholarly success has been financially rewarded, in that Culture Unbound has received two different publishing grants: one from the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) and the other from the Joint Committee for Nordic Research Councils for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NOS-HS). Together these two grants cover most of the costs for Martin Fredriksson’s work as executive editor, which forms the core of our rather minimal costs. The remaining expenses are covered by our three collaborating host institutions at Linköping University: the Advanced Cultural Studies Institute of Sweden (ACSIS), the Department of Culture Studies (Tema Q) and the Swedish Cultural Policy Research Observatory (SweCult).
Portuguese Cultural Studies/Cultural Studies in Portugal: Some Thoughts on the Making and Remaking of a Field
Authors: Sampaio Sofia
Published: June 2013

This article discusses the overall situation of cultural studies in Portugal. It starts by analysing some of the courses and graduate programmes currently on offer. The results suggest that cultural studies is experiencing a fast academic expansion. While this seems to be entangled with top-down institutional changes, in the wake of the Bologna process and the turn to the cultural/ creative industries and as part of a more general shift to the ’new economy’, there are reasons to believe that al-ternative understandings of cultural studies have not died out. The name ’cultural studies’ continues to cause unease in some academic quarters (namely, in literary studies) and there is ambiguity regarding what is meant by it. Cautioning against the tendency to reduce Portuguese cultural studies to a straightforward import from the Anglophone world, I argue for the need to conduct historically informed research on local strands and traditions of cultural theory and critique. I conclude that only a combined synchronic and diachronic approach – one that is sensitive to national and transnational contexts and intersections – will allow us to gain a bet-ter understanding of the deep-running contradictions that characterise the field, helping us to clarify the stakes and reconnect to a socially relevant and critique-orientated intellectual project.
L'« intégration linguistique » en question
Authors: Calinon Anne-Sophie
Published: June 2013

Que signifie l’expression « intégration linguistique » ? L’objectif de cet article est de cerner ce que l’on entend par « intégration linguistique » dans les discours institutionnels et scientifiques pour, ensuite, en proposer une définition précise afin de renforcer la pertinence de son utilisation dans le champ de la sociolinguistique. Notre hypothèse principale est que cette expression ne « dit » pas, dans tous les sens du terme, ce qu’elle signifie. D’une part, l’analyse linguistique de cette locution permet de conclure que sa composition sémantique contribue à entretenir le mythe du rôle primordial et suffisant de la langue dans les processus d’intégration. D’autre part, les sens des occurrences de cette expression observés dans les discours académiques et institutionnels montrent qu’ils varient très fortement selon les utilisateurs et les contextes sociopolitiques dans lesquels ils apparaissent sans qu’ils ne soient clairement définis. Ce manque d’assises théoriques entraînerait une utilisation imprécise et marquée. En se basant sur ces différents éléments d’analyse discursive et linguistique, nous proposons que l’expression « intégration linguistique », dans les recherches scientifiques, soit restreinte au seul contexte micro, celui où les individus en situation de mobilité expriment, racontent comment la/les langue/s a/ont été un élément, une entrave, un objet de désir ou de rejet dans leurs processus d’intégration.
Atteindre l'interdiscours par la circulation des discours et du sens
Authors: Garric Nathalie , Longhi Julien
Published: June 2013

Nous étudions, par deux exemples d’hétérogénéité non marquée (publicité Virgin Radio et allocution de M. Le Pen), les relations interdiscursives entre discours politique et discours publicitaire. À l’aide des notions d’interdiscours et de formation discursive (Pêcheux), prolongées par celles de doxa et de stéréotypie (Sarfati), nous décrivons les fonctionnements à l’œuvre, étudions leurs enjeux socio-idéologiques et envisageons leurs implications théoriques pour une sémantique discursive. La notion de frontière est ainsi abordée dans une perspective discursive, à travers notamment les relations entre idéologie et doxa, et le concept d’idéologisation. En questionnant les frontières du discours politique et publicitaire, nous montrons que le passage de l’un à l’autre dépasse le simple mimétisme stylistique, ou la stratégie rhétorique : ce changement importe avec lui un ensemble d'éléments propres à la situation d’échange, vus comme sémiotisation spécifique d’objets, dont la réussite dépend des topiques propres au genre et au discours. Le questionnement des frontières peut se situer à un niveau métadiscursif (cas de Marine Le Pen) montrant un dysfonctionnement socio-discursif dans l’espace public, mais l’interdiscursivité est aussi et surtout subversive, questionnant alors la frontière entre dicible et indicible, créant et confrontant des réseaux de conflictualité entre topiques divergentes.
The evolution of farming networks in a fragile institutional environment: the case of Argentina
Authors: Senesi S.I. , Palau H. , Chaddad F.R. , Daziano M.
Published: June 2013

In Argentina, farming traditionally took place in small and medium-sized family farms, mostly by means of their own land, labour, capital (financial, machinery, etc.) and entrepreneurship. Farmers owned enough equipment to cope with all the activities required for the production cycle. This traditional family farm model is the dominant organisational form in agriculture in almost every country. However, the way of managing, contracting and organising agriculture in Argentina has changed since the 1990s as a result of several institutional innovations. Even though the 2002 economic crisis created a highly uncertain scenario, farm production continued to expand and new organisational forms appeared. Since 2007, institutional changes (more related to Government intervention) had a negative impact on production and organisational forms. These different periods and scenarios enable us to explore the dynamics and interrelationships of the different institutional, organisational and technological environments. The paper discusses organisational adaptation in the agriculture sector as a response to radical changes in the technological and institutional environments, in a context of increased international demand for agricultural commodities.
The challenge of building effective hybrid organizations in Brazil
Authors: de Britto Pires A.M. , Lima Cruz Teixeira F. , Hastenreiter Filho H.N. , Góes Oliveira S.R.
Published: June 2013

Since 1996, Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras, the biggest oil company in Latin America, has been supporting a programme for the design, customization, and implementation of tri-lateral collaborative arrangements called the Centres and Networks of Excellence (CNE) Programme, in areas which are critical to the company's competitiveness. This programme is aligned with the Open Innovation proposal, as it is designed to intensify the inflows and outflows of information and technology, from internal and external sources, in the RD&I activities of the participating organizations. This article presents qualitative research based on the case study of the Centre of Excellence (CE) in Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), a hybrid organization which brings together oil companies, EPC companies, universities and technical schools, government entities, professional associations and industry bodies, in an effort to make the Brazilian EPC sector related to the oil and gas industry sustainable and competitive worldwide. The principal objective was to investigate the governance elements and managerial mechanisms that support or hinder collaboration among the parties. The work included the identification of collaborative activities within the organization and aspects of trust. Qualitative data was collected by means of in-depth interviews with staff and executive members of the CE-EPC. The case study highlighted the potential of the method to help set up hybrid collaborative initiatives among parties from different institutional spheres. However, the research identified some barriers to the full accomplishment of CNE. A weak culture of collaboration was the greatest difficulty found in the CE-EPC case. The lack of positive previous cooperation experiences together with a lifelong practice of market relations make it hard to get members to focus attention on a new work logic. Yet, despite the high asymmetry among members and the weak network culture, the results indicate that the CE-EPC has accomplished significant positive results in twenty months of operation and that its internal environment is supportive and favours the improvement and consolidation of the organization.
Between weak markets and weak regulations: determinants of contracting in orchard farming in Albania
Authors: Imami D. , Zhllima E. , Viaggi D. , Bokelmann W.
Published: June 2013

This paper analyses the relations and contracting behaviour of orchard farmers with their customers in Albania. The study is based on a structured farm survey, including information about relations and contracting with clients, and a cluster analysis aimed at identifying key farm typologies with respect to contracting. As expected, most farmers rely on spot transactions. Formal contracts are used sparingly due to a lack of interest from buyers, small farm size and lack of trust in contract enforcement. However, farmers commonly use informal agreements/contracts as a substitute for formal ones. The most common differences between those farmers who engage in contracting and those that do not concern household size, the number of years in orchard production, and the amount of losses incurred.
Biological and synthetic binders for immunoassay and sensor-based detection: generation and characterisation of an anti-AFB2 single-chain variable fragment (scFv)
Authors: Edupuganti S.R. , Edupuganti O.P. , O'Kennedy R.
Published: June 2013

Aflatoxins are highly carcinogenic in nature and occur in a variety of food and feed samples. To ensure food is free from aflatoxins and safe for human consumption, methods to detect these toxins are necessary. Both aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin B2 (AFB2) co-occur in a variety of foods. The present study focuses on the generation of single-chain variable antibody fragments (scFvs) that are highly specific to AFB2. A panel of murine scFvs was isolated from a recombinant AFB2 library that was subjected to biopanning against AFB2-bovine serum albumin. The scFvs (E9 and H12) were found to be highly specific to AFB2, with no cross reactivity for other aflatoxins. The analytical potential of these two scFvs was tested by competitive inhibition ELISA and half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 85 and 138 ng/ml, respectively, were shown. The affinity and sensitivity of scFv-E9 was determined by kinetic analysis and surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based competitive inhibition assay using an AFB2-immobilised sensor chip. An SPR-based inhibition assay with IC50 of 8 ng/ml and LOD of 0.9 ng/ml was developed and subsequently successfully applied for AFB2 detection in spiked almond extracts.
Critical Thinking of Registered Nurses in a Fellowship Program
Authors: Zori Susan , Kohn Nina , Gallo Kathleen , Friedman M. Isabel
Published: June 2013

Background:

Critical thinking is essential to nursing practice. This study examined differences in the critical thinking dispositions of registered nurses (RNs) in a nursing fellowship program.

Methods:

Control and experimental groups were used to compare differences in scores on the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI) of RNs at three points during a fellowship program: baseline, week 7, and month 5. The control group consisted of RNs who received no education in critical thinking. The experimental group received education in critical thinking using simulated scenarios and reflective journaling.

Results:

CCTDI scores examined with analysis of variance showed no significant difference within groups over time or between groups. The baseline scores of the experimental group were slightly higher than those of the control group. Chi-square analysis of demographic variables between the two groups showed no significant differences.

Conclusion:

Critical thinking dispositions are a combination of attitudes, values, and beliefs that make up one’s personality based on life experience. Lack of statistical significance using a quantitative approach did not capture the development of the critical thinking dispositions of participants. A secondary qualitative analysis of journal entries is being conducted.

J Contin Educ Nurs
2013;44(8):374–380.
Extending the ABCDE Bundle to the Post-Intensive Care Unit Setting
Authors: Balas Michele , Buckingham Rose , Braley Tami , Saldi Sarah , Vasilevskis Eduard E.
Published: June 2013

A recently proposed interprofessional, evidence-based, multicomponent approach to mitigating the effects of intensive care unit (ICU)–acquired delirium and weakness has the potential to radically transform the way care is delivered to older adults requiring sedation, mechanical ventilation, or both. The Awakening and Breathing Coordination, Delirium Monitoring and Management, and Early Mobility (ABCDE) bundle empowers members of the interdisciplinary ICU team to implement the best available evidence regarding mechanical ventilation, sedation, weakness, and delirium in a safe, effective, and patient-centered manner. Considering that critically ill older adults are cared for in a number of different settings during the course of hospitalization and recovery, the purpose of this article is to explore the rationale and possible benefits of extending the ABCDE bundle into the post-ICU setting. We provide a case study that illustrates how ABCDE bundle adoption could be the key to improving the quality of care provided to seriously ill older adults in the ICU and beyond. [
Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 39
(8), 39–51.]
Teaching the Quality Improvement Process to Nursing Students
Authors: Dotson Barbara J. , Lewis Lisa
Published: June 2013

During the past decade, there has been increasing emphasis on nurses leading and participating in quality improvement (QI) activities, creating a need for nursing students to learn QI skills. There is minimal information that explains how to teach QI skills or provide nursing students with the opportunity to participate in actual QI projects. Faculty in a prelicensure diploma RN program developed a project that provides an opportunity for senior students to participate in an interdisciplinary team related to the development, planning, and implementation of QI projects in a geriatric setting. [
J Nurs Educ.
2013;52(7):398–400.]
Substance Use and Brain Reward Mechanisms in Older Adults
Authors: Snyder Marsha , Platt Lois
Published: June 2013

Substance use among older adults is on the rise, with statistics indicating this to be a growing health problem. Brain changes in the reward center of the brain that naturally occur with aging are offered as one source of these statistics. Aging is generally associated with increased prevalence of chronic disease, disability, and death, and therefore a public health goal for older adults is to maintain health, independence, and function. Psychiatric-mental health nurses are uniquely positioned to assist older adults in achievement of these goals through health assessment and promotion. The use of client-centered counseling approaches that recognize the older adult’s developmental need for autonomy and choice in decision making have been shown to be effective in increasing motivation in this adult population. [
Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 51
(7), 15–20.]
Moving Toward Health and Fitness: A Collaborative Academic and Community Mental Health Services Partnership
Authors: Lesley Marsha L. , Creech Constance J. , Sprague Robert M. , Pfalzer Lucinda A. , Quijano Kelley , McHugh Justin
Published: June 2013

For individuals with serious mental illness, physical fitness is a health imperative. This article describes the progression of an ongoing interprofessional partnership formed between a university’s school of health professions and a community mental health services agency to find ways to improve the physical health status of individuals served by the agency. Clinical and research initiatives involving nursing and physical therapy faculty and students have contributed to the establishment of a growing physical fitness and health promotion program championed by agency administrators, staff, and service users. The groundwork has been laid for future collaborative efforts. More needs to be done to turn the tide on the chronic disease tsunami that prematurely takes the lives of people struggling with mental disorders. [
Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 51
(8), 26–32.]
Fibrovascular Ingrowth After 25-Gauge Transconjunctival Vitrectomy in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Rezende Flavio A. , Qian Cynthia X. , Robert Marie-Claude
Published: June 2013

The authors describe two patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy bilaterally who were treated with transconjunctival 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for dense vitreous hemorrhage (VH). After 4 and 10 months, respectively, both developed recurrent VH. They were initially managed with in-office gas-fluid exchange and anti-VEGF intravitreal injection. Soon after gas bubble resorption, the VH recurred. Color external photos revealed engorged episcleral vessels superotemporally, and ultrasound biomicroscopy confirmed the presence of fibrovascular ingrowth (FVI) at the sclerotomy site in both patients. They were successfully treated with a slightly modified 25-gauge PPV technique. Although FVI is well-recognized following conventional 20-gauge vitrectomy, this report is the first to detail FVI arising after small-gauge transconjunctival vitrectomy.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina.
2013;44:405–408.]
Expanding Usability of E-Training System in ERP Education
Authors: Chen Tinggui , Zhou Guanglan
Published: June 2013

This article presents the prosperous enterprise resource planning (ERP) course layout aiming at the current problems from six aspects of the curriculum, teaching content, teaching resource, teaching method, teaching evaluation, teacher training. Furthermore, it provides the implementation procedures. In addition, it demonstrates the empirical outcome and achievement promotion. The final result proclaims that the practice method of e-ERP sandbox simulation through teaching reform is feasible.
Language Learning Assisted by Group Profiling in Social Networks
Authors: Troussas Christos , Virvou Maria , Caro Jaime , Espinosa Kurt Junshean
Published: June 2013

This paper describes an implementation for group profiling assisting language learning in social networking sites and particularly in Facebook. In this study, we have developed an educational application in Facebook for grammar learning, while the whole procedure is assisted by group profiling. We applied K-means clustering algorithm to determine the groups of students with the same learning styles and abilities, creating a more sophisticated and dynamic model. The algorithm takes as input, to initialize the process, two important studentsâ?? characteristics â?? age and knowledge. Our study exploits the fact that educational systems have a large number of users and we use a machine learning reasoning mechanism that is based on recognized similarities between them. Future plans include evaluating our Facebook application in order to examine the degree of usefulness of the group profiling for language learning.
ReCa: A Social Relationship Mining Tool in Virtual Learning Environment
Authors: Guo Yuqing
Published: June 2013

This paper provides an introduction to a membersâ?? Relationship Calculation Tool (ReCa) of Sakai platform and a brief discussion of its design research process. Learning Management Systems (LMSs) usually gather a range of usersâ?? performance log, which can be used in educational data mining in different perspectives, including social relationship exploration. However, data mining approach usually consumes a lot of manual work and requires database search skills. There is still no effective tool for instructors to find out participantsâ?? social relationship in online learning community. The main objective of ReCa design is to fill the gap by easily carrying out participantsâ?? social relationship matrix in Sakai platform.
A Moving Pseudo-Boundary MFS for Three-Dimensional Void Detection
Authors: Karageorghis Andreas , Lesnic Daniel , Marin Liviu
Published: June 2013

We propose a new moving pseudo-boundary method of fundamental solutions (MFS) for the determination of the boundary of a three-dimensional void (rigid inclusion or cavity) within a conducting homogeneous host medium from overdetermined Cauchy data on the accessible exterior boundary. The algorithm for imaging the interior of the medium also makes use of radial spherical parametrization of the unknown star-shaped void and its centre in three dimensions. We also include the contraction and dilation factors in selecting the fictitious surfaces where the MFS sources are to be positioned in the set of unknowns in the resulting regularized nonlinear least-squares minimization. The feasibility of this new method is illustrated in several numerical examples.