bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Information Technology Project Management and Project Success
Authors: Peslak Alan R.
Published: December 2012

One of the most important issues for organizations and information technology professionals is the success of information technology (IT) projects. This study reviews a survey of financial executives and examines their views on aspects of project management and project success. First, it was found that overall systems development projects are viewed as being successful by organizations. Next, a series of analyses were performed to assess several variables’ impact on IT project success. Skilled project measurement was found to result in higher IT project success. Restrictions on IT application development were found to correlate to lower IT project success. The most important project consideration did not affect project success. Finally, a significant positive relationship was found between the IT project success and overall IT returns. The implications, limitations, and conclusions of these findings are discussed. The study can be used as a basis for further exploration on project management success, influencing variables, and motivators. The findings can also be used to guide management teams in project management decisions to maximize returns to their organizations. The paper studies a large secondary data sample set, which empirically reviews corporations’ experiences with project management. In addition, it explores variables influencing overall project management success perception.
Security Challenges and Selected Legal Aspects for Wearable Computing
Authors: Lindström John , Hanken Claas
Published: December 2012

This paper discusses information security challenges encountered during the wearIT@work project and selected legal aspects of wearable computing. Wearable computing will offer interesting opportunities to improve and reengineer work processes in organizations, but can at the same introduce alignment problems as users in organizations may adopt the new technology before organizations are prepared. In addition, needed supportive legal frameworks have not yet fully addressed the new wearable computing technology. Different alignment concepts for how such challenges can be managed are discussed in the paper.
Incorporating Technology Acceptance and IS Success Frameworks into a System Dynamics Conceptual Model
Authors: Fryling Meg
Published: December 2012

Like any IT project, the intricacy of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementations brings with it high risks to the organization because of high upfront costs and low success rates. ERP implementations are not simply software installations but a radical integration and transformation of an organization’s business practices. System acceptance and perceptions of success weight heavily on non-technical forces such as people, processes, policies, and organizational culture. This study employs system dynamics techniques to elicit perceptions regarding system acceptance and success in an ERP post-implementation case study setting. A conceptual model was developed based on various literature streams and structure validation was conducted with ERP experts via semi-structured interviews. The resulting model includes technology acceptance and information system success model concepts as well as theories from related literature. Interview findings and methodology reflections are also discussed in this paper.
Developing an Instrument for E-Public Services’ Acceptance Using Confirmatory Factor Analysis
Authors: Alzahrani Ahmed , Stahl Bernd Carsten , Prior Mary
Published: December 2012

Governments worldwide spend billions from their allocated IT budgets to deliver convenient electronic services to their citizens. As a result, it is important to encourage citizens to use these services to avoid potential failures. Yet, few empirical studies exist that cover the relevant issues of adoption from the perspective of citizens in developing countries. Moreover, the need for a well-validated instrument to capture citizen adoption of such services is vital, given the vast investment in technology and the potential cost-saving implications. This study integrates elements from the most popular theories, including adoption technology acceptance model (TAM), innovation diffusion theory (IDT), and theory of planned behavior (TPB), in conjunction with web trust models. It develops an instrument to measure citizens’ acceptance of electronic public services by utilizing confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) within the structural equation modeling technique. Findings of a large scale data sampling of citizens in Saudi Arabia indicate that the proposed measurement model is an acceptable fit with the data. Overall, the findings supply a rigorous instrument for measuring citizens’ acceptance of e-public services, providing further insights for researchers and offering policy makers a suitable tool with which to study proposed strategies.
Inhibitors and Enablers of Public E-Services in Lebanon
Authors: Harfouche Antoine , Robbin Alice
Published: December 2012

This paper examines user intentions to accept or reject public e-services in Lebanon based on the model of acceptance of technology in households (MATH) and on the two-factors theory. Data were gathered in 2009 in two phases via interviews with open-ended questions in the first stage and through a survey questionnaire in the second phase. Results of the qualitative and the quantitative studies show that only a small percentage of Lebanese intended to accept government e-services. For intenders, perceived usefulness, perceived government support, computer self efficacy, and perceived government influences are key drivers of the e-services acceptance intention. For non-intenders, barriers such as fear of government control, lack of trust in security and privacy of personal information, lack of support, and lack of knowledge were most significant. In both studies, fear of government control was the most important determinant. Willingness to use public e-services will take place if the Lebanese government develops trust relationships with citizens, provides assurances that their financial details are secure, provides guarantees to protect the privacy of citizens, and does not employ e-services to increase political control over its citizens.
The Role of End User in E-Government Application Development
Authors: Miah Shah Jahan
Published: December 2012

This paper describes a new conceptual approach of e-government application development in which end users such as government managers, responsible officials and citizens at different levels can engage in effective service delivery, particularly in the agricultural sector. This approach provides end-user specific customizable provisions in which responsible government officials can design public services for the target end-user groups/local citizens such as primary producers. In the G2C (Government to Citizen) dimension, the author focuses on a hypothetical case of an e-government solution that provides various agricultural extension services such as training, awareness, consultation services, and knowledge sharing services provision, according to individual or farming requirements. This initiative reinforces a shift from the traditional information portal process to a new provision where citizens/primary producers can actively contribute in designing their useful services from the relevant government agencies. This paper presents a generic process model and identifies the critical interplaying roles between the end-user groups. The study argues that the process model may be operationalized in various other government service sectors.
Pressure Management Under Arctic Operations
Authors: Karlsen Morten Roll , Hohler Erling , Kristiansen Ulrik , Petersen David Christian , Borgen Harald , Schmedlin Petter F.
Published: December 2012

The hunt for further oil and gas recovery from old wells isbooming, and the industry look to new and improved technology for addingseveral years of operational time to exicting wells. New methods like lightwell intervention procedures sets high stress on old wellheads andinfrastructure, and a general increase in development of marginal fields haveraised issues over safety aspects.

Aside from developing improved procedures around cementingoperations, leakage detection and oil spill recovery, additional successfactors will be the ability to monitor pressure and temperature fluctuations inB annulus, as well as finding models and produce technology to manage suchpressure build upsuccessfully.

This paper introduces a new method of B-annulus monitoring using ultrasoundsignals originating from a device in the A-annulus providing measurements basedon time of flight in chambers placed in the B-annulus as a means of determiningthe temperature and pressure in the B-annulus.
Ice Data Collection for Arctic Operation
Authors: Wilkman Goran , Leiviska Topi , Oikkonen Annu
Published: December 2012

Every operation site, oil and gas drilling, shipping, pipelines and loadingfacilities, need a design basis to be properly planned. Also monitoring of theenvironment when the operation has already started is of utmost importance. This became noticed already in late 1960ies during the Manhattan voyages. Eversince ice data has been collected around various projects both in the westernand eastern Arctic. In Canada the heat was on during the Polar Gas and ArcticPilot Project in the 1970ies and 80ies. The discoveries in the Russian Arcticlaunched systematic arrangements to collect ice data in the in thePechora Sea, Barents Sea, Kara Sea, Ob Bay and offshore Sakhalin Island duringthe last 25 years. This paper describes the main features of typicalarrangements made for a successful data collection expedition, how arrangementsworked and also difficulties met during the execution of such anexpedition.

Introduction

In a successful project the ice conditions play a significant role and it isof utmost importance to have sufficient data on the design conditions. Forinstance each component in an oil export system like onshore pipelines/terminals, underwater pipelines, offloading terminals, assistant icebreakersand export transportation vessels, has design requirements of its own. A designbasis must be made for each component of the system. This requires aconsiderable amount of work, both data collection in the field and reviews ofliterature as well as analyses to make a reliable design basis. This is thefirst step.

Planning of any offshore or transport project requires careful analyses ofsafety, impact and economics of the planned operations and equipment.

A lot of information is needed both on the environment as well as of theoperations themselves. Planning the operations and doing the design based oninadequate or unreliable data may lead to uneconomic operation or in worstcases severe damages of the environment or human life.
Exploring Cementing Practices Throughout the Arctic Region
Authors: DeBruijn Gunnar , Popov Mikhail , Bellabarba Mario
Published: December 2012

The development of arctic resources requires wells to be drilled, cased, andcemented through permafrost. Permafrost presents unique challenges, especiallyto cementing operations, requiring a cement system with the capability toperform in the subfreezing permafrost environment. The performance required isthat the cement provides isolation, exhibits low heat of hydration, and setswith sufficient strength to provide casing support. There are also specifictesting requirements detailed in API recommended practices.

In the polar region, there are several approaches used in the design of cementsystems. The approaches used in Russia, Canada, and USA (Alaska) areillustrated. The design considerations take into account local conditions andrequirements and use knowledge from cementing practices employed in thedrilling industry.

It is important to understand the current cementing practices in use withinthe arctic region. This will allow future improvements as more developmenttakes place and the resources become exploited.

Introduction

To be successful, hydrocarbon resource development in arctic regions mustmeet the challenges posed by drilling, casing, and cementing wells throughpermafrost layers in the remote arctic environment. The Russian Far East, forexample, is almost completely covered in permafrost and holds significant gasreserves that remain largely untapped due to the remoteness of the area and thecomplexity of drilling through the permafrost layers. Offshore operations areadditionally impacted by sea ice, which does not directly affect cementingoperations; however, the short operational window certainly requires detailedplanning and reliable performance.

The remoteness of arctic locations affects all aspects of development, impacting overall logistics: access, timing, and materials delivery andstorage. In addition, several of the challenges faced during the initialdevelopment phases affect the subsequent cement job and cementing practices. These challenges need to be addressed as part of the overall development plan;they include borehole maintenance, casing centralization, and mud conditioningand removal, and all require careful consideration of the permafrost.
Use of Jack-up Drilling Units in Arctic Seas with Potential Ice Incursions during Open Water Season
Authors: Wang Cynthia , Quah Matthew , Noble Peter G. , Shafer Randall , Soofi Khalid A. , Alvord Chip , Brassfield Tom
Published: December 2012

Jack-up drilling units have been used in Arctic open water seasons and areaswith icebergs. They have not been used in areas where significant sea ice canmove in with high concentrations. These areas have typically been drilled usinga floating mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) although the water depths aretypically less than 50 meters. Floating MODUs in shallow water depths can havesignificant downtime due to the limited offset in shallow water and typicallyrequire placing the well control equipment in a seabed cellar. In these areas, jack-ups can improve both operational safety and efficiency as they havelimited weather related downtime.

Several studies were carried out to determine the feasibility of using amodern high capacity jack-up MODUs for exploratory drilling in these areas. This paper will review the studies including structural analysis, icemanagement approaches, and well control considerations. It will also review thefurther potential of jack-ups in the Arctic.

Studies showed that using a jack-up drilling unit is feasible in shallowArctic seas such as the Chukchi Sea when coupled with an effective icemanagement system. The jack-up unit has sufficient ice resistance to withstandinteraction with thin early winter ice. Specific designs of jack-ups arecapable of taking impact forces from thicker ice floes that may occur during anice incursion event during the open water season. The maximum floe size duringan ice incursion is limited and controlled by the associated icemanagement system.

An ice management system was developed using a combination of satelliteimagery, ice management vessels, and ice alert procedures. This system wasdetermined as effective in managing ice to allow the jack-up to operate in theChukchi Sea area.

Environmental and personnel safety is enhanced by the use of aPre-positioned Capping Device, an in place source control device. The device isindependent from the rig's well control system and provides another level ofprotection in additional to the jack-up's BOP.

The conclusion, based on structural and ice management studies, is thatmodern high capacity jack-up drilling units can be an effective way to drillwells during the open water season in shallow waters of Arctic seas includingareas in to which sea ice can move. The studies also show that there ispotential for use in other areas.
Advanced Design and Execution Techniques for Delivering High Data Rate MWD Telemetry for Ultradeep Wells
Authors: Caruzo A. , Hutin R. , Reyes S. , Tweel A. , Temple P.
Published: December 2012

Description.

The purpose of this paper is to describe innovativeimprovements to mud pulse telemetry in an ultra deep environment. This alignstelemetry services with the customer need to enhance drilling performancewithout data quality sacrifice through mud pulse technology, providing thecapability of drilling to 15 km and beyond.

Application.

The MWD pressure pulse signal suffers attenuation anddegradation while traveling uphole. Echoes and reflections, drill pipe IDchanges, pulsation dampener type and mud plastic viscosity, attenuates thepressure signal up 95% as it reaches surface. Planning becomes keystone for thetelemetry system where;–Quantification ofsignal attenuation enables a risk managed planning.–Hardware, improvesMWD Signal detection capabilities.–Software, allowspractical transmission and bandwidth utilization

Results.

This effort resulted in the development of comprehensivemodels for the telemetry signal; as it evolves with depth and is affected bythe different elements of the drilling system.–Integratingenhancements in software and hardware resulted in doubling of MWD transmissiondata rates.–Application ofcompression schemes increasing up to 7 times effective transmission speeds.

Significance of subject matter.

Successful drilling of deep wellsrelies heavily on the planning stage, to extract the maximum value from thedrilling investment. The initiatives outlined in this paper expand theoperating envelope of the more applicable telemetry technology, supporting thenew depth limits to be set. The effort of this investigation delivered areliable, high band-width transmission system designed for wells targeting 15kmreach and beyond.

Introduction

Arctic environments hold a big share of the world oil and gas reserves, locations where drilling performance and cost efficient operations become thekey factor for a successful drilling campaign. Several operators have adoptednew drilling capabilities to achieve production on geographically challengingreservoirs. Proliferation of extreme extended reach drilling wells increasedthe demands of reliable and enhanced mud pulse telemetry systems, aimed tosatisfy the new oilfield milestones.
Leveraging Air Cushion Technology to Transport Cargo in the Arctic
Authors: Turner Daniel G.W. , Turner Stuart J. , Ireland James E.
Published: December 2012

The paper provides information on a unique vehicle, the amphibiousHoverbarge which can be used for transporting heavy cargo, modules and drillingrigs over Arctic terrain, such as snow, ice and tundra. The paper draws uponexperience of Hoverbarge operations in Alaska back in the 1970s along withrecent technical developments of the Hoverbarge to make it more suitable forArctic operations, including skirt ice protection and selfpropulsion.

Application

The paper also highlights important environmental advantages the Hoverbargecan bring, hovering cargo and equipment above the tundra whilst only exerting1psi ground pressure. In addition the paper explains how the Hoverbarge canmeet current demands to extend operating seasons and transport heavy loads suchas pre fabricated modules without building new infrastructure.

Results, Observations and Conclusions

The paper also focuses on the potential of transporting cargo during summermonths when winter roads are not in use and the subsequent advantages that thisbrings.

Significance of Subject Matter

Although first developed over 35 years ago, the Hoverbarge remainsrelatively unknown to current day engineers. This paper seeks to increaseawareness of this technology which may solve a number of current logisticalissues.

Introduction

Overview of Hoverbarge Technology

The Hoverbarge is a marine barge which is designed to meet the localoperating conditions and will float safely when off hover. Resilience is built in, being able to operate on 50% of its lift fan capacityon good ground conditions.

The Hoverbarge is fully amphibious enabling it to operate during any season, at any water depth and without the need to build roads or to dredge rivers.
Finite Element Modeling of Iceberg Interaction with Subsea Protection Structures
Authors: Drover E. , Kenny S.
Published: December 2012

Ice feature interaction with subsea infrastructure or the seabed is acomplex nonlinear event, for which many analytical and advanced computationaltools have been developed with demonstrated application. Although subsea fieldshave been developed in ice gouge environments, such as the Grand Banks, consideration of alternative methods for protecting subsea infrastructure is ofgreat importance. A more in-depth understanding of ice feature mechanicalbehavior and interaction with subsea infrastructure is required.

For various iceberg shapes and loading conditions, the finite element modelspresented in this paper examine the interaction of free-floating ice featureswith protective structures located above or partially above the mudline. Apreliminary assessment of an interaction scenario involving a gouging icebergkeel with a buried protection structure is also presented. The outcome of thisstudy enhances understanding of the primary factors to be considered for thedesign of protection structures in ice environments and highlights some of thetechnical issues associated with the development and calibration of advancedsimulation tools.

Introduction

For conventional design scenarios, protection schemes have been developedfor pipelines and subsea wellheads that include rock placement, mattresses, andstructural frames comprised of steel or concrete (e.g. Alexander, 2008; Berntand Smedsrud, 2007; Copsey and Johnson, 1993; Faden et al., 1980; Figenschouand Wikdal, 1992; Kirkbride and Bloomer, 1994). Ice keel/seabed reactionforces, however, can be an order of magnitude greater than other pipelineloading events such as anchor dragging and pullover (Kenny et al., 2007a, b;Palmer et al., 1990). From this perspective, for subsea infrastructure such aspipelines and wellheads, positioned above or buried beneath the mudline, freelyfloating ice keel contact and seabed ice gouging events have the potential tocause damage or failure of these systems.

For large field developments, where technical, risk and economic factorsdemonstrate project viability, subsea facilities can be housed withinprotective offshore structures (e.g. Hibernia or Sakhalin gravity baseplatforms), or excavated drill centers (EDC), such as those used on the TerraNova and White Rose fields on the Canadian Grand Banks (e.g. Allen, 2011;Finch, 1998; Lever and Dunsmore, 2011; Norman et al., 2008). The primaryconcept for subsea protection was to place the infrastructure within an openexcavation within the seabed or within a drilled, cylindrical counter boredepression below the mudline. These ideas evolved in response to the drillingoperations and potential development of hydrocarbon resources in the BeaufortSea (e.g. Logsdon and Field, 1983; McKay et al., 1995; Meadows and Gilbert,1989; Shields, 1994; Stewart and Goldby, 1984; Todd, 1978).
Ice Gouge Interaction with Buried Pipelines Assessment Using Advanced Coupled Eulerian Lagrangian
Authors: El-Gebaly Sherif , Paulin Mike , Lanan Glenn , Cooper Philip
Published: December 2012

Ice gouging of the seabed is an issue in cold regions where ice or icebergscan contact the seabed. This creates a design challenge as pipelines must beburied to a sufficient depth to resist loads transferred through the soil tothe pipeline. However, as trenching and backfilling is expensive andtechnically challenging, a goal needs to be to optimize the depth ofburial.

Conventional methods to evaluate the ice gouge loading on a buried pipelinerely on decoupled analysis of the ice-soil and soil-pipe responses, whichisbelieved to be a conservative approach and not adequatelyrepresentative. Inthis paper, ice gouging is investigated usingadvanced numerical modelling techniques to reduce this conservatism and betterquantify the loads experienced by the pipeline due to ice gouges.

The Coupled Eulerian Lagrangian (CEL) finite element method is utilized in aseries of comparative studies based upon available centrifuge and full scaletest data. The CEL analysis results in relatively smaller sub-gougedeformation depth than the current guidance suggests, based on centrifugetests. The shallow sub-gouge deformation zone indicated appears to correlatewell with the limited amount of full scale test data available. If the lessconservative CEL result can be validated, significant burial depth reductionscan be achieved.

CEL technology originally developed in the early 1960s however it has notbeen widely used until the late 1990s. The soil behaviour in this matter iscritical, thus the paper investigates the CEL capabilities to implementgeotechnical soil models i.e. Mohr- coulomb and Drucker-Prager yieldcriterion.

Furthermore, the paper assesses the benefits and limitations of usingadvanced finite element methods to investigate ice-soil-pipe interaction, highlighting the constraints and the required further developments for thecurrent technology to enable the industry to better evaluate the risk of icegouging.
Hull Structural Performance Monitoring System for Ships Operating
Authors: Yu Han , Iyerusalimskiy Aleksandr , Kim Yong-Sung , St. John James
Published: December 2012

Research on measuring the ice impact pressure on icebreaker hulls began inthe late 1970's, and its focus was to determine the magnitude of the impactpressures and to obtain long-term statistics of the impacts. Increasedcomputing power in the 1980's allowed the recording of time-histories onmultiple sensors that led to the development of the pressure-contact arearelationship. The aim of these systems, however, was to understand theice impact process and to provide guidance to design engineers. Thispaper presents a new hull structure monitoring system that can benefit both theship designers and operators for ships operating in ice-covered waters. With this system, the ice load monitoring system can measure and process theice impact loads immediately after each impact in near real-time. Theimpact measurements are used to estimate the resulting stresses on the hullstructures which are then compared to the allowable stresses. This systemcan provide meaningful near real-time feedback to the ship's crew of thestresses due to ice impact compared to the allowable stress. Thisinformation can assist the ship's crew in making informed decisions for safeand efficient operations in ice. The main focus of this paper is on themethodology for assessing the hull structural responses under ice impact andthe presentation of this information to the ship's crew.

Introduction

The state-of-the-art ice load monitoring and alarm system (ILMS) has beeninstalled on the Arctic shuttle tanker Timofey Guzhenko. The workassociated with the development, design, installation of the system, datacollection and analysis is a joint venture between ABS, ConocoPhillips, andSamsung Heavy Industries (SHI) with vessel owner cooperation [1]. This systemis designed to measure and record ice pressures and loads as well as computeice-induced responses of the hull structure at highly loaded locations on thehull. Stresses resulting from the ice loads are compared with allowablestresses in near real-time and the margin of safety in the structure isdisplayed on a bridge monitor. The system was commissioned in April 2009with the intent of long-term unmanned operation.
Numerical Simulations of ice forces on the Kulluk: the role of ice confinement, ice pressure and ice management
Authors: Sayed Mohamed , Kubat Ivana Kubat , Wright Brian
Published: December 2012

The interaction of managed ice coverswith a wide structure is examined. Numerical simulations are used to simulatethe modes of ice cover deformation and forces on the structure. Theobjective of the present work is to validate the performance of the numericalmodel using historical data recorded during operations of the Kulluk in theBeaufort Sea during the 1980s and early 1990s. This paper is the last part ofan investigation aimed at developing an approach for modeling managed iceinteraction with wide moored structures. Previous papers examined the role ofthe mooring system (Sayed and Barker, 2011) and the effects of ice coverconfinement and managed floes sizes (Sayed et al., 2012). The focus of thepresent paper is on providing quantitative comparison between predicted iceforce statistics and observations.

The numerical model is based on solving equations describing theconservation of mass and linear momentum together with a plastic yieldcriterion that describes ice properties. The managed ice cover consistsof a heterogeneous ensemble of relatively small floes. The floes are assignedvaried thickness values in order to reflect field conditions. The simulationsaddress a class of interaction scenarios corresponding to confined managed ice. As the ice cover is driven within confined boundaries, pressure conditionsarise. These conditions are of interest to designers since forces areconsiderably higher than those corresponding to unconfined ice covers. Thesolution of the governing equations simulate the evolution of the distributionsof ice thickness, concentration (or coverage) and stresses. The resulting iceforces, including peak values, averages and rise-time of forces, are comparedto field measurements. The influence of ice thickness and velocity on expectedice forces is also examined.

Introduction

Future offshore developments in ice covered zones will likely require icemanagement support. This has generated an interest in providing reliablepredictions of the modes of interaction of managed ice covers with widestructures and the resulting forces. This paper concerns validation of anumerical approach for modeling managed ice covers interaction with structures. To date, the historical data collected during operations of the Kulluk in theBeaufort Sea during the 1980s and early 1990s provide the best availableinformation on the interaction of managed ice covers with a wide mooredstructure. The observations and measurements were analyzed by Wright (1999) and(2000). The reports of Wright provide comprehensive information on measuredforces and the corresponding modes of ice interaction with the Kulluk, icecover characteristics and ice management operations.
Potential Floating and Fixed Concepts for Shallow Water Arctic Drilling
Authors: Srinivasan Nagan , Sridhar Meena
Published: December 2012

The purpose of this paper is to introduce various offshore platform conceptsthat can be employed in ice infested waters, particularly shallow waters, depths varying from 65 ft to 500 ft. The paper illustrates five innovativeplatform concepts that for arctic drilling. The proposed platform conceptswould have ability to withstand extreme ice, wind, wave and temperatureconditions to extend the drilling seasons either near to winter sever storm orfor round the year operation. The platforms are designed to operate indifferent water depths in different part of the arctic by accommodating thedrilling structures and equipment on the deck. The emphasis is on theefficient of breaking, moving ice sheets around the structure and withholdingthe topside loads. Some of the platform concepts are fixed and others aredeveloped from the floating solution and the technical details are presented inthis paper.

Introduction

Arctic is one of the frontier regions with rich oil and gas resources thatcould be unlocked with innovative and reliable technology. The developedtechnology should ensure minimum and or no damages to the environmental andsocial impacts. The developed technology should solve complex projects withmuch simplified solutions that are feasible, economically viable and safe. Forthis purpose a few innovative concepts are proposed in this paper with state ofthe art technologies to overcome the physical challenges. These concepts aredeveloped for drilling in arctic shallow waters from 65 ft to 500 ft. Howeverthe use of these concepts for other applications in arctic is open to theindustry. These drilling units are designed to drill wells in ice infestedwaters with ice thickness say up to 14 feet or even more in shallow waters, potentially to meet year round operational challenges in arctic. Precisely, a Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) concept is used so thatdrilling operations could move to a new location once completed in one site. The drilling rig, equipment and the supporting structure are facilitated tohave normal drilling procedures to withstand severe arctic conditions. Specialtechnologies are required for the isolation of the drifting of the platform bythe sea-ice that can damage the fixed drill strings. In order to increase theself-reliability while challenging the severe arctic conditions, the platformshould be designed with inbuilt inherent and sufficient ice breaking capacitysuch that dependency of external icebreakers could be minimized. Oil spills inarctic are cost sensitive and environmental hazards.
Preliminary results from a two-dimensional model of wave-ice interactions in the Fram Strait
Authors: Williams T.D. , Bennetts L.G. , Squire V.A. , Dumont D.
Published: December 2012

We present numerical results arising from a parameterization of wave-iceinteractions in a two-dimensional ice-ocean model of the Fram Strait (HYCOM:HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model). The model takes wave predictions/hindcasts fromthe WAM wave model and these waves are advected into the ice, breaking it asthey go. They in turn are attenuated by the ice using the model of Bennetts andSquire (2012). We use a truncated power law for the floe size distribution, following the observations of Toyota et al. (2011). The maximum floe size isdetermined by the dominant wavelength in the ice field. The maximum valueincreases with distance from the ice edge as shorter waves are attenuated morestrongly than long ones. At some distance from the ice edge, breaking is nolonger able to occur, and this marks the end of the Marginal Ice Zone(MIZ).

Consequently, we now have a model that predicts the expected floe size andwave intensity at any point in the ice, something that current wave models areunable to do at present, and which is a notable weakness. Recognizing that acombination of large waves and ice can be extremely hazardous, Arctic operatorswho need to know both wave and ice conditions in ice-infested areas will usethe model as a forecasting tool when it is fully operational.
Where are we short and who are we short of? A review of the human resources for health in South Africa
Authors: George Gavin , Quinlan Timothy , Reardon Candice , Aguilera Jean-François
Published: December 2012

This review showed that thinking about the shortage of health care personnel merely in terms of insufficient numbers prevents sound strategic interventions to solve the country’s human resources for health (HRH) problem. It revealed that the numbers shortage was one facet of a broader problem that included the mal distribution of HRH, production of the wrong skills in the nursing care, the attrition of staff from the public health services and, contextually, the ever-changing demands on the health services. The challenge in South Africa was furthermore to train and retain health care personnel with skills and expertise that are commensurate with the changing demands on the public health services.Uit hierdie oorsig het dit duidelik geblyk dat die tekort van gesondheidsorgpersoneel slegs in terme van ontoereikende getalle val en ’n omvattende strategiese ingryping om die land se menslike gesondheidshulpbron krisis op te los, belemmer. Dit het aangedui dat die getalletekort  maar slegs een fasset van ’n groter probleem uitmaak, wat onder andere die volgende insluit: die oneweredige verspeiding van menslike gesondheidshulpbronne, ’n fokus op ontoepaslike vaardighede in die opleiding van verpleegpersoneel, die behoud van personeel in die openbare gesondheidsektor, asook die konstant-veranderlike eise van die gesondheidsdienste. Verder was die uitdaging in Suid Afrika die opleiding en behoud van gesondheidsorgpersoneel met kennis en vaardighede wat tred hou met die veranderlike eise van die openbare gesondheidsdienste.
Coherence and connections in teachers’ mathematical discourses in instruction
Authors: Venkat Hamsa , Adler Jill
Published: December 2012

In this article, we share our combination of analytical concepts drawn from the literature with a set of grounded framing questions for thinking about differences in the nature of coherence and connections in teachers’ mathematical discourses in instruction (MDI). The literature-based concepts that we use are drawn from writing focused on transformation activity as a fundamental feature of mathematical activity. Within this writing, the need for connections between stated problems and the representations introduced and subsequently produced through transformation steps are highlighted. Drawing from four empirical episodes located across primary and secondary mathematics teaching, we outline a set of framing questions that explore coherence and connections between these concepts, and the ways in which accompanying explanations work to establish these connections. This combination allows us to describe differences between the episodes in terms of the nature and degree of coherence and connection.
Stochastic Multi-Symplectic Integrator for Stochastic Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation
Authors: Jiang Shanshan , Wang Lijin , Hong Jialin
Published: December 2012

In this paper we propose stochastic multi-symplectic conservation law for stochastic Hamiltonian partial differential equations, and develop a stochastic multi-symplectic method for numerically solving a kind of stochastic nonlinear Schrödinger equations. It is shown that the stochastic multi-symplectic method preserves the multi-symplectic structure, the discrete charge conservation law, and deduces the recurrence relation of the discrete energy. Numerical experiments are performed to verify the good behaviors of the stochastic multi-symplectic method in cases of both solitary wave and collision.
Competency, Coping, And Contributory Life Skills Development Of Early Adolescents
Authors: Miller Jeffrey P. , Bowen Blannie E.
Published: December 2012

No abstract available
LOUISIANA MASS MEDIA PERCEPTIONS OF THE LSU AGCENTER COMMUNICATIONS EFFORT
Authors: Soileau Robert J. , Kotrlik Joe W.
Published: December 2012

The LSU Agricultural Center communications group sends news stories and materials to all three major mass media for news - newspaper, radio and television – in Louisiana. These news releases are designed to educate and inform the general public about LSU Agricultural Center (LSU AgCenter) programs and research. LSU AgCenter Communications wanted to know the effectiveness of its news effort in terms of usage by the media, and the media’s perception of the LSU AgCenter’s news topics. Three researcher-designed surveys were developed, one for each medium (newspaper, radio, television). Each questionnaire was designed to determine how effective, in terms of usage, news materials are being incorporated by each medium. Each survey contained a list of the topics used by LSU AgCenter Communications in their news materials. AgCenter Communications wanted to determine the level of awareness and importance of its topics among the newsroom leaders of each medium: newspaper editors, radio news directors or general managers, and television news directors. According to the results the LSU AgCenter Communications effort has been effective in terms of usage of the news materials delivered to each medium. The newspaper and television efforts were found to be more effective than the radio service.
JOB SATISFACTION AND RETENTION OF SECONDARY AGRICULTURE TEACHERS
Authors: Walker Weston D. , Garton Bryan L. , Kitchel Tracy J.
Published: December 2012

The shortage and demand for teachers have been well publicized. This study investigated the extent to which the level of job satisfaction of Missouri secondary agriculture teachers changed from their initial year of teaching to their current employment, either in teaching or industry. A comparison between the job satisfaction of teachers who remained in the profession with those who changed school districts and those who left the profession was conducted. Additionally, the likes and dislikes of the specific responsibilities of a secondary agriculture teacher were investigated. It was concluded that all three groups of teachers were generally satisfied with their first year of teaching. They were also generally satisfied with their current employment position and had relatively the same degree of job satisfaction increase over time from their first teaching position to their current position. Teachers who left the profession were generally as satisfied as those who remained in the profession with regard to the job responsibilities of an agriculture teacher, with the exception of teaching agricultural mechanics and in working with school administrators. The results implied that teachers leaving the profession were relatively satisfied but were leaving the profession for opportunities/job satisfaction aspects that they could not receive through teaching.
A HISTORY OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE INSTRUCTION AND AND EVENTS IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND FFA
Authors: Connors James J.
Published: December 2012

Leadership development, parliamentary procedure and agricultural education/FFA have been closely related for over 75 years. This historical research study investigated the history of parliamentary procedure instruction, the use of parliamentary procedure to develop the leadership skills of FFA members, research related to parliamentary procedure, and the establishment of a national FFA competitive event in parliamentary procedure. The study found evidence that the curricula of some secondary agricultural education programs included parliamentary procedure in the early part of the 1900s. FFA members, advisors, national FFA officers, the National FFA Alumni Association, and the National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association all played a part in promoting the establishment of a national competitive event in parliamentary procedure.
AN EXPLORATION OF THE OUTCOMES OF UTILIZING ILL-STRUCTURED PROBLEMS IN PRE-SERVICE TEACHER PREPARATION
Authors: Ball Anna L. , Knobloch Neil A.
Published: December 2012

The researchers of this collective case study sought to explore and understand the population of a cohort group of 22 pre-service teachers in agricultural education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The purpose of this study was to determine the outcomes of using problem-based learning cases by pre-service teachers to learn how to manage difficult student problems related to FFA supervision. Pre-service teachers faced difficulties in making decisions regarding ill-structured problems. They expressed challenges related to thinking of creative alternatives, considering the interests of others, and pursuing legal action if necessary in reaching solutions that were fair, relevant, appropriate, and effective. Ill-structured problems engaged pre-service teachers to be creative and reflective problem-solvers in making decisions. The pre-service teachers learned how to creatively generate alternatives, determine potential consequences for each alternative, consider possible implications of the consequences, and make decisions in a more reasonable period of time. Finally, pre-service teachers indicated that the ill-structured problems related to FFA supervision prepared them to solve similar problems that they may face as future agriculture teachers and exposed them to a variety of situations that they did not consider before the problem-based learning experience.
Using a Preflective Activity to Identify Faculty Beliefs Prior to an International Professional Development Experience
Authors: Harder Amy , Lamm Alexa , Roberts T. Grady , Navarro Maria , Ricketts John
Published: December 2012

Today’s college graduates in agricultural and life sciences must be prepared to work in a global society. Increasing the integration of international content into on–campus courses requires globally competent faculty members. This study reports faculty’s initial attitudes and beliefs about Latin American culture prior to participating in a 12–day professional development experience in Costa Rica and what they expected to gain from the international experience. A basic qualitative design was used for this study. Ten agricultural and life sciences faculty at the University of Georgia were included in the population. A survey instrument with four open–ended questions was used for data collection. Content analysis was used to analyze the data and trustworthiness was maintained by including an audit trail, triangulation, acknowledgement of researcher bias, and member checks. Three major themes (and several subthemes) emerged from the responses to the question on attitudes and beliefs about Latin American culture: U.S comparisons, beliefs about the country/region, and Latin American values. The preflection process and results should be integrated into international faculty experiences and used to help participants and trip organizers maximize faculty learning, and, ultimately, student learning.
Investigating the International Awareness of Students Meeting Their International Dimension Requirement through Course Offerings in a College of Agriculture
Authors: Moriba Samba , Edwards M. Craig , Robinson J. Shane , Cartmell D. Dwayne , Henneberry David M.
Published: December 2012

Many U.S. universities are preparing their students to attain international awareness through various approaches. The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) at Oklahoma State University offers three international dimension undergraduate courses intended to provide students a formal educational opportunity to learn about international issues in agricultural and natural resources contexts. The investigation was a non–experimental, pretest–posttest descriptive and comparative design study. The target population (N = 147) consisted of all undergraduate students enrolled in three international dimension courses during the Fall semester of 2010. The study’s findings revealed that students’ attitudes regarding CASNR’s role in developing their international awareness as well as general awareness of the impact of international issues and globalization on the agriculture sector changed favorably from pre course to post course. These results showed statistically significant differences (p < .05) in students’ attitudes. Comparing students’ attitudes, from pre course to post course, revealed that the international dimension courses studied did impact students’ views related to aspects of enhanced international awareness, including the agriculture sector and their college’s role therein. The attitudes of students who participate in international dimension courses can change positively if U.S. universities internationalize their curricula adequately.