bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
O papel da família no desenvolvimento da economia dos "francophones" de Quebec
Authors: Forges Éric , Hamel Jacques
Published: February 2015

Este artigo aborda a cultura de empresa articulada nas organizações dirigidas pelos nativos do Quebec de língua francesa. Esta cultura visa redefinir as relações sociais de produção, a organização taylorista do trabalho, a relação entre dirigentes e empregados e o papel social da empresa. Demonstra-se o enraizamento deste novo modo de gestão das empresas em antigas formas econômicas. O estudo de casos de empresas exemplares mostra que as relação de parentesco constituem a base desta cultura de empresa. Com este fundamento, coloca-se em xeque a hipótese de Pierre Bourdieu da reinversão da função da família.
Novas formas organizacionais: onde se encontram as evidências empíricas de ruptura com o modelo burocrático de organizações?
Authors: Dellagnelo Eloise Livramento , Machado-da-Silva Clóvis L.
Published: February 2015

O objetivo do presente trabalho consistiu em verificar se as evidências empíricas das novas formas organizacionais, publicadas em periódicos nacionais e estrangeiros (de língua inglesa) durante o período de 1995 a 1998, representam ruptura com o modelo burocrático de organização. As discussões nesse campo de estudos a respeito da emergência de novos modelos organizacionais que possam representar ruptura com a burocracia têm sido marcantes, nos últimos anos. As organizações foram analisadas em termos de seu potencial de flexibilidade tecnológica, estrutural e cultural; considerou-se, em especial, o tipo de racionalidade predominante em sua lógica de ação. A dimensão tecnológica foi caracterizada como sendo a de maior potencial de flexibilidade; observou-se médio potencial de flexibilidade nas dimensões estrutural e cultural. A racionalidade formal foi predominante. Conclui-se que apesar da forte tendência de flexibilização do modelo burocrático não se verifica a ruptura, uma vez que a lógica de ação predominante nas organizações ainda é aquela voltada para o cálculo utilitário de conseqüências.
Por fora bela viola, por dentro...: análise crítica sobre a gestão do espaço nas organizações através de um estudo de caso sobre a implementação de um escritório aberto no Brasil
Authors: Alcadipani Rafael , Almeida Aline
Published: February 2015

A questão do espaço físico nos estudos organizacionais é um assunto geralmente negligenciado. O espaço é, no mais da vezes, tomado como um elemento neutro no processo organizacional e no processo de trabalho. No mundo da prática organizacional há, nos dias de hoje, uma febre de implementação de escritórios abertos. Os defensores deste tipo de escritório argumentam que eles propiciam uma maior integração entre as pessoas, um aumento significativo dos fluxos de informação, da participação, da autonomia e da liberdade dos empregados. Entretanto, algumas análises mostram que a realidade não é tão bela quanto se tem propagado. Este artigo analisa a implementação de espaços abertos de forma crítica, discutindo um estudo de caso brasileiro e utilizando-se das idéias do pensador Michel Foucault para ajudar na interpretação e reflexão sobre o fenômeno.
Remando a favor da maré: racionalidade instrumental no curso de administração de empresas
Authors: Barros Manoel Joaquim Fernandes de , Passos Elizete Silva
Published: February 2015

Este estudo procura analisar os motivos que levaram os cursos de administração de empresas a orientar a formação do bacharel por uma racionalidade predominantemente instrumental. Para tanto, são referenciadas as condições histórico-sociais que conformaram a criação dos cursos de formação de administradores de empresa no Brasil e no mundo, tomando-se especificamente, o estudo do caso de uma instituição de ensino superior na cidade de Salvador. Utilizando-se de elementos da história de vida dos sujeitos, do processo de ensino- aprendizagem, o estudo demonstra como a racionalidade instrumental se reproduz no cotidiano do curso através das práticas docentes, da estrutura de ensino e dos instrumentos de ação pedagógica.
Response of Deeproot Sedge (Cyperus entrerianus) to Herbicide and Prescribed Fire in Texas Coastal Prairie
Authors: King Jonathan R. , Bennett Andrew J. , Conway Warren C. , Rosen David J. , Oswald Brian P.
Published: February 2015

Introduced accidentally from South America, deeproot sedge is rapidly expanding in a variety of habitats throughout the southeastern United States. Of particular concern is its rapid expansion, naturalization, and formation of monocultures in Texas coastal prairie, one of the most imperiled temperate ecoregions in North America. The objective of this research was to examine how deeproot sedge responds to prescribed fire, to the herbicide imazapic, and to treatment combinations of both. Combinations of prescribed fire and imazapic treatments and imazapic-only treatments effectively reduced deeproot sedge cover and frequency. However, plots exposed to dormant season fires (with no imazapic) had greater deeproot sedge cover after burn treatments were applied, indicating that coastal prairie management using only dormant season prescribed fire will not work toward reduction or management of this exotic invasive species. Although deeproot sedge cover was often reduced in fire–imazapic treatment combinations, it was still present in treatment plots. Moreover, desirable functional plant groups (i.e., native bunchgrasses) did not respond positively to the fire–imazapic treatments, but in some instances, woody plant coverage increased. Repeated, long-term approaches using integrated and coordinated efforts with multiple treatment options will be necessary to restore community structure to desired compositional levels. Such integrated approaches should be effective in reducing deeproot sedge frequency, cover, and extent to more manageable levels throughout its introduced geographic range.
Potential for Nonnative Endozoochorous Seed Dispersal by White-Tailed Deer in a Southeastern Maritime Forest
Authors: Pile Lauren S. , Wang Geofeng Geoff , Polomski Robert , Yarrow Greg , Stuyck Claire M.
Published: February 2015

Nonnative invasive plants (NNIP) have far-reaching effects on native ecosystems worldwide. Understanding the role of generalist seed dispersers in spreading NNIP across the landscape is important to the conservation of native ecosystems and to the management of NNIP. We studied white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) as a seed disperser in a mixed maritime pine (Pinusspp.) forests on Parris Island, SC, with particular interest in the dispersal of Chinese tallowtree [Triadica sebifera(L.) Small], a highly invasive tree species in the southeastern United States, which is a management concern on Parris Island, SC. We collected deer scat pellet groups along transects in two forest types: those that had recently been treated with silvicultural timber harvest (thinned) and those that have not been so treated (unthinned). Using two pellet-treatment methods, directly planting or rinsing and sorting, we determined that, out of 25 species grown under greenhouse conditions, 28% (n= 7) were nonnative, small-seeded, herbaceous species. However,T. sebiferawas not identified in either of the two treatment methods. Recent forest thinning significantly affected the number of species determined in deer pellet groups (F= 8.37; df = 1; P < 0.01), with more native plant species identified in unthinned (x̄= 25 ± 11) than in thinned (x̄= 3 ± 10) forest stands (F= 5.33; df = 1; P = 0.02). Our results indicate that white-tailed deer are actively dispersing nonnative seeds but not those ofT. sebiferaor other woody NNIP.
Experimental Methods for Crop–Weed Competition Studies
Authors: Swanton Clarence J. , Nkoa Roger , Blackshaw Robert E.
Published: February 2015

The annual global economic loss caused by weeds has been estimated at more than $100 billion U.S. dollars (Appleby et al. 2000). Additionally, worldwide annual herbicide sales are in the range of U.S. $25 billion (Agrow 2003). In light of these large dollar figures, it becomes clear that a greater understanding of crop—weed interactions is essential in order to develop cost-effective and sustainable weed management practices.
Experimental Methods to Study Gene Flow
Authors: Mallory-Smith Carol , Hall Linda M. , Burgos Nilda R.
Published: February 2015

Herbicide resistance is an exceptional marker to quantify gene flow. Quantification of pollen-, seed-, and vegetative propagule-mediated gene flow provides key weed biology information. Pollen-mediated gene flow influences the genetic variance within a population, the frequency of multiple or polygenic herbicide resistance, and the evolutionary dynamics of a species. Seed-mediated gene flow predominates in self-pollinating species. Gene flow quantification may enable the estimation of herbicide resistance epicenter, the comparison of the relative importance of gene flow pathways, and prediction of future distribution of resistance traits. Gene flow studies using herbicide resistance also can provide insight into the rates and importance of hybridization.
Molecular Mechanisms of Herbicide Resistance
Authors: Délye Christophe , Duhoux Arnaud , Pernin Fanny , Riggins Chance W. , Tranel Patrick J.
Published: February 2015

Resistance to herbicides occurs in weeds as the result of evolutionary adaptation (Jasieniuk et al. 1996). Basically, two types of mechanisms are involved in resistance (Beckie and Tardif 2012; Délye 2013). Target-site resistance (TSR) is caused by changes in the tridimensional structure of the herbicide target protein that decrease herbicide binding, or by increased activity (e.g., due to increased expression or increased intrinsic activity) of the target protein. Nontarget-site resistance (NTSR) is endowed by any mechanism not belonging to TSR, e.g., reduction in herbicide uptake or translocation in the plant, or enhanced herbicide detoxification (reviewed in Délye 2013; Yuan et al. 2007).
Herbicide Absorption and Translocation in Plants using Radioisotopes
Authors: Nandula Vijay K. , Vencill William K.
Published: February 2015

2,4-D, discovered independently in the United States and Europe in the mid-1940s, was one of the first synthetic herbicides to be used selectively for weed control (Cobb and Reade 2010). Since then, several herbicides belonging to different chemical classes and possessing diverse mechanisms of action have been synthesized and marketed globally. Herbicides have vastly contributed to increasing world food, fiber, fuel, and feed production in an efficient, economic, and environmentally sustainable manner. Before receiving regulatory approval, all herbicides (pesticides) undergo rigorous testing for their toxicological, residual, physicochemical, and biological properties. Additionally, herbicides are suitably formulated to reach their target site and maximize their efficacy on target weeds while being safe on crops.
Methods To Measure Herbicide Volatility
Authors: Mueller Thomas C.
Published: February 2015

Herbicides are powerful chemical agents that exert strong biological activity on plants. The release of new formulations of dicamba and 2,4-D and their use in transgenic agronomic crops will probably result in many more applications during the time of year when sensitive nontarget vegetation will be present. The use of herbicides is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and there are usually no negative effects on nontarget species. One negative aspect of herbicide use occurs when the application moves away from the target area and causes unwanted plant injury on susceptible species. Interest in herbicide drift is increasing, as evidenced by the number of refereed articles that investigate the mitigation or potential for herbicide drift (Figure 1). Although the topic of herbicide drift is broad, in this manuscript I will focus on an overview of off-site movement from a historical perspective and then discuss specific research protocols to examine vapor drift.
Methods Related to Herbicide Dissipation or Degradation under Field or Laboratory Conditions
Authors: Mueller Thomas C. , Senseman Scott A.
Published: February 2015

Herbicide degradation in soil is a major research issue, as evidenced by the number of refereed articles on the subject (Figure 1). The approximate number of total citations per year has increased from about 70 in the mid-1990s to approximately 170 per year in the last few years (Figure 1a). From a weed science perspective, publications in the journalsWeed ScienceandWeed Technologyhave tended to decline from an average of eight per year in the 1995 to 2005 interval to about three per year in the last 10 yr (Figure 1b). This discrepancy of total citations vs. Weed Science Society of America journals may be due to funding availability and other more immediate research needs in weed science. Other reasons might be a lack of reader interest (indicating low potential impact in this specific topic area) or the perception thatWeed ScienceandWeed Technologyare light venues for such papers and therefore not the first choice for publication. The authors believe this research topic to be important and relevant to the discipline of weed science, even more so as herbicide use patterns become more complicated because of glyphosate-resistant (GR) weeds.
The Critical Period for Weed Control: Revisiting Data Analysis
Authors: Knezevic Stevan Z. , Datta Avishek
Published: February 2015

There is an ever-larger need for designing an integrated weed management (IWM) program largely because of the increase in glyphosate-resistant weeds, not only in the United States but also worldwide. An IWM program involves a combination of various methods (cultural, mechanical, biological, genetic, and chemical) for effective and economical weed control (Swanton and Weise 1991). One of the first steps in designing an IWM program is to identify thecritical period for weed control(CPWC), defined as a period in the crop growth cycle during which weeds must be controlled to prevent crop yield losses (Zimdahl 1988).
The European Medicines Agency Review of Pomalidomide in Combination With Low-Dose Dexamethasone for the Treatment of Adult Patients With Multiple Myeloma: Summary of the Scientific Assessment of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use
Authors: Hanaizi Zahra , Flores Beatriz , Hemmings Robert , Camarero Jorge , Sancho-Lopez Arantxa , Salmonson Tomas , Gisselbrecht Christian , Laane Edward , Pignatti Francesco
Published: February 2015

On August 5, 2013, a marketing authorization valid throughout the European Union (EU) was issued for pomalidomide in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (MM) who have received at least two prior treatment regimens, including both lenalidomide and bortezomib, and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. Pomalidomide is an immunomodulating agent. The recommended starting dose of pomalidomide is 4 mg once daily taken on days 1–21 of repeated 28-day cycles. The main evidence of efficacy for pomalidomide in MM was based on a phase III multicenter, randomized, open-label study (CC-4047-MM-003) in which pomalidomide plus low-dose dexamethasone therapy (POM+LoDEX) was compared with high-dose dexamethasone alone (HiDEX) in previously treated adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who had received at least two prior treatment regimens, including both lenalidomide and bortezomib, and had demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. For the intent-to-treat population, median progression-free survival based on International Myeloma Working Group criteria was 15.7 weeks (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.0–20.1) in the POM+LoDEX group versus 8.0 weeks (95% CI: 7.0–9.0) in the HiDEX group (log-rank p value <.001). Overall survival (secondary endpoint) was also different in the two treatment groups (hazard ratio 0.53 [95% CI: 0.37–0.74]). The most commonly reported adverse reactions to pomalidomide in clinical studies were anemia (45.7%), neutropenia (45.3%) and thrombocytopenia (27%), fatigue (28.3%), pyrexia (21%), peripheral edema (13%), and infections including pneumonia (10.7%). Peripheral neuropathy adverse reactions were reported in 12.3% of patients, and venous embolic or thrombotic (VTE) adverse reactions were reported in 3.3% of patients. Pomalidomide is expected to be teratogenic. This paper summarizes the scientific review of the application leading to approval in the EU. The detailed scientific assessment report and product information, including the summary of product characteristics, are available on the EMA website (http://www.ema.europa.eu).
Dynamic characterisation of municipal solid waste by SDMT
Authors: Castelli Francesco , Lentini Valentina , Maugeri Michele
Published: February 2015

As documented after some recent earthquakes, landfills can be damaged by seismic loading. Thus, to analyse their stability, site-specific dynamic soil properties must be evaluated, and representative dynamic properties of the waste material need to be used. Dilatometer Marchetti tests (DMTs) are used widely for measuring soil properties, but little is found in the literature regarding their use for measuring the properties of municipal solid waste (MSW). To validate their applicability when estimating the properties of MSW, the results of an investigation carried out on MSW materials at the Cozzo Vuturo landfill in the Enna area (Sicily, Italy) are discussed. Seismic DMTs (SDMTs) are performed, and the test results are used to derive the dynamic properties of the waste materials in the deposit. A comparison among SDMTs, multichannel analysis of surface waves and seismic refraction tomography is reported. These preliminary results seem to be promising. The S-wave velocity distribution deduced by SDMT appears to be in very good agreement with the state of the art reported by the literature. The measured S-wave distribution confirms reliability in estimating the zones of the landfill with different compaction due to the age of the waste.
Hermann S. Schibli: Hierocles of Alexandria
Authors: Saffrey H. D.
Published: February 2015

Hermann S. Schibli: Hierocles of Alexandria. Oxford: Oxford UP 2002. XVI, 419 S. 60 £.
Plato, Republic 1–2.368c4. with Introduction, Translation and Commentary by Chris Emlyn-Jones.
Authors: Blößner Norbert
Published: February 2015

Plato, Republic 1–2.368c4. with Introduction, Translation and Commentary by Chris Emlyn-Jones. Oxford: Oxbow Books 2007. VI, 194 S. (Aris & Phillips Classical Texts.)
M. Tulli Ciceronis in C. Verrem actionis secundae liber quartus (de signis). A cura di Gianluigi Baldo.
Authors: Reeve Michael D.
Published: February 2015

M. Tulli Ciceronis in C. Verrem actionis secundae liber quartus (de signis). A cura di Gianluigi Baldo. Firenze: Felice Le Monnier 2004. 661 S. (Biblioteca nazionale. Serie dei classici greci e latini. Testi con commento filologico. 11.) 45 €.
Francisco Pina Polo: The Consul at Rome. The Civil Functions of the Consuls in the Roman Republic.
Authors: Lundgreen Christoph
Published: February 2015

Francisco Pina Polo: The Consul at Rome. The Civil Functions of the Consuls in the Roman Republic. Cambridge: Cambridge UP 2011. X, 379 S. Abb. 65 £.
Pierre Pinon: Pierre-Adrien Pâris, 1745–1819, architecte, et les monuments antiques de Rome et de la Campanie.
Authors: Palombi Domenico
Published: February 2015

Pierre Pinon: Pierre-Adrien Pâris, 1745–1819, architecte, et les monuments antiques de Rome et de la Campanie. Rome: École Française de Rome 2007. 446 S. 32 Abb. 16 Taf. (Collection de l’École Française de Rome. 378).
Una nueva especie del género Opuntia (Cactaceae) para el estado de Veracruz, México
Authors: Scheinvar Léia , Olalde-Parra Gabriel , Gallegos-Vázquez Clemente
Published: February 2015

Se describe e ilustra la Opuntia perotensis Scheinvar, Olalde & Gallegos, nueva especie de un nopal silvestre del Frijol Colorado, Cofre de Perote, Veracruz, México. La nueva especie estaba identificada como O. huajuapensis Bravo en el herbario del Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas de la Universidad Veracruzana. Opuntia huajuapensis es una especie endémica de la mixteca oaxacense, distinguiéndose de O. perotensis , la cual presenta epidermis papilosa, cladodios con espinas en todas las aréolas, con algunos pelos negros; flores de dos colores; frutos subglobosos con paredes anchas; arilo piloso, semillas ubicadas en el centro del fruto y granos de polen de dos tipos morfológicos. Se considera que se trata de una especie nueva, posiblemente de origen híbrida, ubicada en la serie Criniferae Pfeiff.
Cambios en las características funcionales de epífitas vasculares de bosque mesófilo de montaña y vegetación secundaria en la región central de Veracruz, México
Authors: Susan-Tepetlan Tania M. , Velázquez-Rosas Noé , Krömer Thorsten
Published: February 2015

En los bosques mesófilos de montaña, los disturbios antropogénicos afectan la abundancia y diversidad de las comunidades de epífitas; sin embargo, las causas de estos cambios han sido poco exploradas. En este trabajo se evalúa la variación del área foliar, grosor de la lámina foliar, masa seca por unidad de área, densidad foliar y contenido de humedad en las diez especies de epífitas vasculares más abundantes de bosque mesófilo y vegetación derivada (bosque conservado, acahual de 20 años y cafetal bajo sombra), ubicado en la región central de Veracruz, México. El propósito del estudio fue entender de qué manera la variación mircroambiental (temperatura, humedad relativa y radiación fotosintéticamente activa), determinada por la apertura del dosel que provocan las actividades antrópicas, influye en las características funcionales de las epífitas. Las condiciones de mayor estrés hídrico y mayor radiación se registraron en la comunidad más modificada y con mayor apertura del dosel (cafetal), y disminuyeron conforme se incrementa el grado de conservación y el dosel es más cerrado (acahual-bosque). Estos cambios microambientales se asociaron con las respuestas funcionales de las especies estudiadas. En el bosque conservado, las epífitas presentaron significativamente hojas más delgadas, con mayor contenido de humedad, menor masa seca y densidad foliar; mientras que en el cafetal se encontró el patrón opuesto. Las características funcionales de las comunidades de epífitas fueron útiles para determinar el estado de conservación en el bosque mesófilo y, permitieron entender que factores microambientales determinan sus respuestas funcionales.
Novedades en el género Dahlia (Asteraceae: Coreopsideae) en Nueva Galicia, México
Authors: Castro-Castro Arturo , Zuno-Delgadillo Osvaldo , Carrasco-Ortiz Marco Antonio , Harker Mollie , Rodríguez Aarón
Published: February 2015

La tribu Coreopsideae (Asteraceae) concentra una alta diversidad y endemismo en el área conocida como Nueva Galicia, en el occidente de México. Dahlia es un género característico de Coreopsideae, y en Nueva Galicia se sabía que crecían D. barkerae , D. coccinea , D. pugana , D. scapigera , D. sherffii y D. tenuicaulis . En el presente trabajo, se registra la presencia de D. sorensenii y se propone a D. wixarika como especie nueva para la ciencia. La especie nueva es exclusiva del sur del estado de Durango y norte de Jalisco, presenta morfología afín a las secciones Dahlia y Entemophyllon , y tiene semejanzas morfológicas con D.  dissecta , D. pugana y D. scapigera , con las cuales se compara. Además, se aportan datos nuevos relacionados con la distribución geográfica y macromorfología de D. pugana . Por último, se incluye una clave para la identificación de las especies presentes en Nueva Galicia.
Authors: Корнилов В.В. , Kornilov V.V.
Published: February 2015

The article examines the state of modern "science of life" - computational biology, discusses the problem of "big data" and the ways to resolve this extremely relevant to modern
science tasks associated with storage and online analytical processing of huge volumes of information received during scientific experiments. Also it analyzes the capacity of
data centers and, particularly, the modular data centers as the primary means of ensuring of scientific centers with computational resources necessary to successfully solve
their research problems.
Periodontal Health in Women With Early‐Stage Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Newly on Aromatase Inhibitors: A Pilot Study
Authors: Taichman L. Susan , Inglehart Marita R. , Giannobile William V. , Braun Thomas , Kolenic Giselle , Van Poznak Catherine
Published: February 2015

Background: Aromatase inhibitor (AI) use results in low estrogen levels, which in turn affect bone mineral density (BMD). Periodontitis, alveolar bone loss, and tooth loss are associated with low BMD. The goal of this study is to assess the prevalence of periodontitis and perceived oral health and evaluate salivary biomarkers in postmenopausal women who are survivors of early‐stage (I to IIIA) breast cancer (BCa) and receive adjuvant AI therapy.

Methods: Participants included 58 postmenopausal women: 29 with BCa on AIs and 29 controls without BCa diagnoses. Baseline periodontal status was assessed with: 1) periodontal probing depth (PD); 2) bleeding on probing (BOP); and 3) attachment loss (AL). Demographic and dental utilization information was gathered by questionnaire. Linear regression modeling was used to analyze the outcomes.

Results: No differences were found in mean PD or number of teeth. The AI group had significantly more sites with BOP (27.8 versus 16.7; P = 0.02), higher worst‐site AL (5.2 versus 4.0 mm; P <0.01), and more sites with dental calculus (18.2 versus 6.4; P <0.001) than controls. Linear regression adjusted for income, tobacco use, dental insurance, and previous radiation and chemotherapy exposure demonstrated that AI use increased AL by >2 mm (95% confidence interval, 0.46 to 3.92). Median salivary osteocalcin and tumor necrosis factor‐α levels were significantly higher in the AI group than the control group.

Conclusion: This first investigation of the periodontal status of women initiating adjuvant AI therapy identifies this population as having an increased risk for periodontitis.
Combined Glenoid and Humeral Head Reconstruction with Allografts
Authors: Yi Anthony , Zusmanovich Mike , Jahn Ryan , Villacis Diego , Rick Hatch George F.
Published: February 2015

Case:

We present two cases of anterior glenohumeral instability in which both the humeral head and the glenoid were reconstructed concurrently with use of allografts; we discuss the midterm outcomes at four and one-half and five years of follow-up, respectively.

Conclusion:

In our experience, concomitant glenoid and humeral head allograft reconstruction for anterior glenohumeral instability with severe combined humeral head and glenoid pathology yielded good midterm clinical, functional, and radiographic outcomes. This treatment approach may be a viable option for young and active patients presenting with severe combined glenoid and humeral pathology and warrants additional investigation.
Battle for Oil Market Control Could Have a Lasting Impact
Authors: Rassenfoss Stephen , Betz Jack
Published: February 2015

Global Oil Prices - Low Oil Prices and Stiff Competition Causes of Anxiety for Graduates

Expectations of continued USD 100/bbl of oil were shattered by a sharp price drop last year that eventually halved the prices of benchmark crudes. Prices were still sinking at the start of the year to lows not seen since 2009 due to a global oversupply of oil.

The US has gone from the world’s best import market for oil to a market moving producer, and a large and growing exporter of refined products. Total US output rose from 5 million B/D in 2008 to 9.2 million B/D in December, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), which predicts 9.3 million B/D by the end of this year.

While the magnitude of the drop rivals the one in 2009, the cause of it resembles the longer-lasting downturn that began in the 1980s, after a run of high prices rapidly expanded oil supplies, creating a glut.

The rise of oil flowing from US shale formations has sparked a battle for control of the market with OPEC, which has been unwilling to reduce its production to prop up prices because that would further erode its share of a market where production outside OPEC rose by 2 million B/D in 2014, according to the EIA, which said demand was up by 900,000 B/D.

OPEC’s goal is to ultimately reduce production by forcing output reductions by what Saudi Arabian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali al-Naimi has described as “inefficient producers.”

The strategy, which allowed the price of a barrel of oil to drop to less than USD 50 early this year, appears aimed at the independent companies producing millions of barrels a day from tight, unconventional formations, where the cost of extracting oil is far more expensive than Saudi Arabia’s world-class reservoirs.

So far the news suggests this could be a slow-moving process. The large, public US producers have announced significant reductions in planned exploration and production (E&P) budgets, but still predict greater production in the year ahead.
Industry Needs Re-Education in Uncertainty Assessment
Authors: McVay Duane
Published: February 2015

Management

It is clear the oil and gas industry recognizes the large uncertainty in which it operates. A search in the OnePetro technical paper database using the keywords “uncertainty” or “risk” returns more than 53,000 conference and journal papers. Yet, it is also clear that the industry does not know how to reliably assess uncertainty and that this inability negatively affects industry performance. Capen (1976) described the difficulty of assessing uncertainty. He pointed to massive capital overruns and low industry returns due to an almost universal tendency to underestimate uncertainty. Brashear et al. (2001) and Rose (2004) later documented the dismal performance of the industry in the last 10 to 20 years of the 20th century due to chronic bias and evaluation methods that do not account for the full uncertainty.

Although industry profitability may have improved in the past decade because of high oil prices, Neeraj Nandurdikar in an October 2014 JPT article, “Wanted: A New Type of Business Leader to Fix E&P Asset Developments,” showed that the oil and gas industry continues to perform significantly below estimations and expectations. He cited three ways that assets erode value, all of which relate to unreliable assessments of uncertainty: (1) production and reserves estimates are overestimated, (2) capital costs are underestimated, and (3) development times are underestimated. And these do not include price estimations; the surprising oil price slide at the time of this writing has the potential to move industry performance from below expectations to below profitability.

While project evaluations can be affected by many different types of biases, these can be reduced fundamentally to two primary biases: overconfidence and directional bias.

Overconfidence is underestimation of uncertainty; i.e., our estimated distributions of uncertain quantities, such as reserves, are too narrow. They are too narrow because we do not consider all the possible outcomes. There is considerable evidence in the literature, both inside and outside the petroleum industry, of our general human tendency for overconfidence.

Directional bias results when the subset of possible outcomes considered is shifted in either the optimistic or pessimistic direction. There is also evidence that we are usually optimistic in our overconfidence; i.e., we fail to consider some possible negative outcomes, or we give greater weight to possible positive outcomes than possible negative outcomes. As a result of the two primary biases, we make decisions with incorrect estimated distributions rather than true distributions (Fig. 1).
Managed-Pressure-Drilling Technology in Offshore HP/HT Gas/Condensate Fields
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: February 2015

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 171429, ’The Deployment of Managed-Pressure-Drilling Technology To Assist in the Development of Offshore HP/HT Gas/Condensate Fields in Vietnam: Planning, Engineering, and Implementation,’ by Ben Gedge, Tan Chai Yong, Jordan Rao, Harpreet Kaur Dalgit Singh, Joseph Oracion, and Bao Ta Quoc, Weatherford; Nguyen Viet Bot, PVD Well Services; Nam Hong Tran, Tri Le Tran Minh, Richard Buitenhuis, and Lich Tran Dai, Bien Dong POC; and Alan E. Wittry, Peter Malpas, Aldric Beaugeois, Nhieu Nguyen Huu, and Nguyen Van Que, Cuu Long JOC, prepared for the 2014 SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, Adelaide, Australia, 14-16 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

The paper discusses two gas/ condensate-development projects offshore Vietnam that deploy managed-pressure-drilling (MPD) technology. Bien Dong POC in 2010 commenced planning for the Bien Dong 1 high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) gas/condensate-development project. The Bien Dong 1 development is a complex HP/HT project ranking as one of the most difficult and challenging projects of its kind in the Asia Pacific region. The second project covered by this paper is the gas-condensate development for Cuu Long JOC.

Introduction

The Bien Dong drilling team decided to deploy MPD technology in the planning phase of the development drilling and mobilized it for the first well drilled in the project. This decision was made because of the very low kick-and-loss margin and potential for ballooning and kick events, given the very high pore pressure. The frequency of well-control incidents can be higher in HP/HT wells; MPD enables easier control of kicks with the automated choke manifold.

A semisubmersible tender assist rig is being used to drill all the current development wells; it is the largest of its type in the world and incorporates a quad mast. The MPD equipment was integrated into the rig on a flexible “plug-and- play” basis.

The Cuu Long JOC wells, drilled from a cantilever jack-up over the platform, had somewhat different drivers, given that a number of wells in this field had previously encountered challenges that MPD could mitigate. These included low rates of penetration and fracture-induced losses because of the equivalent-circulating-density (ECD) effect. Managing the ECD became the main driver as experience was gained with MPD.
Unique System for Underbalanced Drilling Using Air in the Marcellus Shale
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: February 2015

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 171024, ’Unique System for Underbalanced Drilling by Use of Air in the Marcellus Shale,’ by Chris Maranuk, SPE, Ali Rodriguez, SPE, Joe Trapasso, SPE, and Joshua Watson, SPE, Weatherford, prepared for the 2014 SPE Eastern Regional Meeting, Charleston, West Virginia, USA, 21-23 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Air drilling has become popular in the Marcellus and Utica shale reservoirs because of its higher rate of penetration (ROP) and less resulting formation damage. A unique drilling system incorporating the use of downhole mud motors, electromagnetic (EM) measurement-while-drilling (MWD), and air hammers has been specifically designed and ruggedized to address downhole shock and vibration encountered in air drilling. Use of this system has resulted in significant reduction of nonproductive time (NPT).

Introduction

While seeking alternatives to increase ROP and reduce drilling costs, a few operators in the northeastern US implemented batch-drilling practices from pad locations. This provides an attractive alternative by allowing multiple wells to share the same surface location, effectively reducing footprint and environmental impact. Common well design uses streamlined well construction, where low-cost rigs can drill the tophole sections and larger, more-expensive rigs drill the curve and lateral sections. The typical well plan incorporates surface, intermediate, curve, and lateral sections that, combined, may exceed 18,000 ft. The lateral sections are the most critical and range between 2,000 and 8,000 ft, depending on formation and well geometry. The goal for close-proximity-well design is to minimize well-to-well interference and maximize reservoir exposure.

Air drilling provides a significant decrease in hydrostatic pressure over common mud types, resulting in an increased ROP. Additionally, significantly better hole cleaning can be achieved because of the high air velocities used to drill the well. Finally, mud- and cuttings-handling costs can be reduced because there are no chemicals to absorb and no cuttings-cleaning requirements on virgin formations. Early tests of this application proved it to be a viable option for the Marcellus and the Utica fields. Initially, hammer bits were used for air drilling, but significant challenges involving directional control emerged as well-plan trajectories became more advanced. The development of ruggedized mud motors and MWD tools capable of handling these challenges, and the use of specialized fluid-control systems, eventually allowed more-conventional bottomhole assemblies (BHAs) to be successful when used for air drilling.
Mars-B Development: An Evolution of Traditional Well, Rig, and Facility Design
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: February 2015

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper OTC 25437, ’Mars-B Development: Well Challenges and Solutions - An Evolution of Traditional Well, Rig, and Facility Design,’ by Arno L.M. van den Haak, Wylie J. Cameron, Lisa S. Grant, Nor Janiah H. Japar, and Deandre R. Reagins, Shell, prepared for the 2014 Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, 5-8 May. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

The Mars-B project is the operator’s sixth Gulf of Mexico (GOM) tension-leg- platform (TLP) development. The Mars-B project is aiming to unlock resources over the next 50 years through the deployment of a new 24-slot TLP structure [the Olympus direct-vertical-access (DVA) TLP] and additional subsea infrastructure for the west Boreas and south Deimos fields. The Olympus rig is a novel platform drilling rig designed specifically to meet the execution requirements of complex well designs. A high-level overview of the design challenges and the resulting surface-equipment requirements of this project is discussed in this paper.

Introduction

The operator discovered the Mars field in the Mississippi Canyon Area Block 763 in 1989, located 130 miles southeast of New Orleans in approximately 3,000 ft of water. The Mars-B project made its final investment decision in September 2010 to expand the existing Mars operation with a new 24-slot TLP structure and additional subsea infrastructure for the west Boreas and south Deimos fields. The Olympus TLP is located approximately 1 mile southwest of the existing Mars TLP and represents the first brownfield development of a deepwater field in the GOM. It will enable production of an additional 1.1 billion BOE over the approximately 700 million BOE that has been produced today with the Mars TLP.
Improving the Interpretation of Formation-Damage Laboratory Tests
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: February 2015

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 165110, ’Use of Micro-CT-Scanning Visualizations To Improve Interpretation of Formation-Damage Laboratory Tests Including a Case Study From the South Morecambe Field,’ by Justin Green, Ruaridh Cameron, and Ian Patey, Corex, and Vishal Nagassar and Mark Quine, Centrica, prepared for the 2013 SPE European Formation Damage Conference and Exhibition, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 5-7 June. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

The paper presents a new approach that uses X-ray-microcomputed-tomography (micro-CT) scanning to produce high-resolution data of entire core samples. The images of core produced are superior to those produced by commonly used medical scanners and give insight into core properties as well as issues such as drilling-mud-constituent infiltration, mudcake structure and thickness, and alterations in the pore network. Through a technique that the authors refer to as “difference mapping,” data sets captured before and after laboratory testing are compared to reveal the distribution of changes within samples.

Introduction

Formation-damage laboratory studies aid in risk reduction when making important well-design decisions, so reducing uncertainty surrounding test results is an important effort.

The major areas in which laboratory testing can be influenced to provide the most meaningful (and therefore more valuable) information include the following:

Performing tests at reservoir conditions of temperature and pressure by use of reservoir overbalance and underbalance pressures and real/representative fluids and exposure periods

Ensuring that the equipment and procedures used have minimal or no effect on the results of testing

Understanding test results through interpretive analysis to put laboratory-test results into a field context

For a discussion of current techniques used to aid in core-sample interpretation, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thin-section analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and computed- tomography scanning, please see the complete paper.

Micro-CT Scanning

Micro-CT scanning uses a class of scanner that can rapidly capture a series of scans at high resolution; these scans can be reconstructed with software to create a 3D model of the object scanned. Resolution of significantly less than 1 Μm can be achieved on smaller subsamples, reducing as the sample size and length increases. The time taken to capture a data set also decreases as the resolution lowers, so the selection of operational settings is a balance of resolution vs. sampling times and data-set sizes. For scans of intact core samples, a maximum resolution of 10–15 Μm is achievable after taking into account sample size and sampling time.
Modeling Formation Damage and Completion Geometry in the Gyda Reservoir
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: February 2015

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 165113, ’Modeling Formation Damage and Completion Geometry in an Old Well Enables Better Planning for New Wells: Gyda Development Case Study,’ by M. Byrne, SPE, and E. Rojas, SPE, Synergy, and V.B. Holst, SPE, Talisman Energy, prepared for the 2013 SPE European Formation Damage Conference and Exhibition, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 5-7 June. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

This study concerns the mature Gyda reservoir, where some recent production wells have underperformed relative to equivalent initial wells. In particular, a sidetrack to an early successful well had very poor performance on initial startup. Subsequently, the geometry of both the original well and the sidetrack was simulated. In the original well, an attempted hydraulic fracture was assumed to have failed. This assumption was challenged in the model. The model has enabled evaluation of old wells and, more importantly, design of new wells in this mature-reservoir development.

Introduction

Gyda is a mature oil development in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. The first production wells were drilled more than 20 years ago. Some recently drilled Gyda wells have not fulfilled production objectives. A numerical 3D model was proposed in order to investigate and understand the flow dynamics and the production potential from the Gyda A19 and A19A wells. This modeling process includes a detailed numerical 3D fluid-flow simulator based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD), which captures the reservoir, well, and completion geometry complexity.

The CFD simulations are used to determine potential explanations for the wells’ performance and lead to stimulation options and development of optimum drilling and completion for future wells. Because Well A-19 is very similar to Well A19A, some conclusions may be derived from the present study that could support the understanding of the productivity behavior of Well A19A.

To achieve the objective, one CFD model of both wells was constructed. Different completion options were provided, including the case of the hydraulically fractured well. Several sensitivity analyses were carried out in order to depict the well potential.
Phosphate Source Interacts with Endophyte Strain to Influence Biomass and Root System Architecture in Tall Fescue
Authors: Ding Na , Kupper Joseph V. , McNear David H.
Published: February 2015

Endophyte infection in tall fescue has been associated with greater P uptake. This study was designed to determine the influence of endophyte genotype on the ability of tall fescue to mobilize inorganic phosphorus (Pi) from four Pi sources (KH2PO4 [K–Ps], FePO4 [Fe–Ps], AlPO4 [Al–Ps] and Ca3(PO4)2 [Ca–Ps]). Tall fescue infected with three different endophytes (CTE+, AR542E+, and AR584E+) and endophyte free (E–) were grown in growth media amended with four P sources at three P levels (control, low 0.31 mg/L, and high 31 mg/L) for 3 wk after which root system architecture, P uptake, and dry biomass were determined. The P source and P concentration had the most influence on plant growth and P uptake. Endophyte and the interaction between P source and endophyte strongly influenced shoot and total dry mass in P‐limiting conditions. Greater P uptake was found in plants grown with Ca–Ps compared to the other Pi sources and control treatments, regardless of P level and endophyte status. Endophyte‐infection, irrespective of type, resulted in more plant biomass (dry matter, DM) than non‐infected tall fescue in low K–P treatment. Longer roots, greater surface area and root/shoot ratio in high Fe–Ps level than those in other P treatments, but lower P uptake were observed, regardless of endophyte status. Morphological changes in the roots system of tall fescue due to endophyte infection were influenced by P source.
Growth, Photosynthesis, Solute Accumulation, and Ion Balance of Tomato Plant under Sodium‐ or Potassium‐Salt Stress and Alkali Stress
Authors: Wang Xiaoping , Geng Shujuan , Ma Yiqiao , Shi Decheng , Yang Chunwu , Wang Huan
Published: February 2015

In this study, tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plant seedlings were subjected to Na‐ or K‐salt stress and Na‐ or K‐alkali stress. The growth, photosynthesis, and concentrations of solutes and inorganic ions in dry samples of stressed seedlings were measured to identify the physiological adaptive mechanisms by which tomato plants tolerate alkali stresses. The results showed that alkali stresses (Na‐ and K‐alkali stresses) significantly inhibited growth and photosynthesis, and the inhibitory effects of K‐salt stress on photosynthesis were greater for Na‐salt stress. The ions accumulation and balance were closely related to types of salts which were applied to. Under Na‐salt stress, Na+, K+ and Cl− were the main osmolytes in both the roots and leaves, whereas K‐salt stress decreased the contribution of Na+ and increased the contribution of K+. In the stems, the contribution of NO3− increased under all stresses. Compared to salt stresses, the alkali stresses decreased the contribution of Cl− and increased the contribution of organic acids (OAs) in the stems and leaves. However, the roots revealed a different mechanism of ion accumulation and governing ionic balance. In addition to Na+, K+ and OAs, the contributions of Ca2+ and Mg2+ should not be ignored. Although K and Na possess similar atomic characteristic, consisting with osmotic or high‐pH stress, they showed a distinct effect on plant photosynthesis and ion accumulation.