bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Booking Reserves
Authors: Ross J.G.
Published: June 2014

This paper (SPE 52015) was revised for publication from paper SPE 49178, prepared for the 1998 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, 27 30 September. Original manuscript received 15 June 1998. This paper has not been peer reviewed.

Inconsistency in approaches used for booking reserves, whether for internal or external reporting requirements, represents a significant problem for the industry. Despite all the efforts made to establish a broadly acceptable set of reserve definitions and the guidelines published by various regulatory bodies, many areas exist where different interpretations are adopted. Therefore, the key requirement of any system, consistency, is not achieved. Inconsistency occurs at two fundamental levels:in the interpretation of what is meant by "reserves," particularly with respect to commerciality, andabout what volumes should be booked in specific circumstances (e.g., under production-sharing contract terms, where nonhydrocarbons are present, and where hydrocarbons are used on site for fuel).

The first problem may be addressed by an integrated resource-reporting system that ensures that reserves are seen in their correct context as discovered, commercial, recoverable, remaining resources. While the new Society of Petroleum Engineers/World Petroleum Congress (SPE/WPC) definitions provide a basis for the system, additional definitions and guidelines are required to ensure that an acceptable level of consistency is achieved. The second area of difficulty is related to the actual volumes booked. This is an issue that has not been addressed adequately to date. We propose a series of "guiding principles" as the basis for discussion and debate in the hope that it may lead to an improved understanding of the problem and, ultimately, to much greater consistency in the booking of reserves.

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Analysis of Slug and Drillstem Tests Under Water-Oil Two Phase Flow Conditions
Authors: Spinelli Vicente D. , Peres Alvaro M. M.
Published: June 2014

Special procedures for the analysis of Slug and DrillStem Tests when the produced fluid does not reach the surface have appeared in the literature over the last ten years. However, such analysis techniques are based on single phase theory. This paper considers the effects of water-oil two phase flow on the pressure analysis of such tests. In particular, this work verifies when the single phase analysis procedure modified by Perrine-Martin theory can be extended to Slug and DST with simultaneous water and oil production.

Two cases are considered: (1) uniform initial water saturation profile within the area investigated during test time, representing tests run in a transition zone; (2) a region of higher water saturation exists near the wellbore, which simulates the case where a significant wellbore fluid invasion into the formation have occurred during drilling or well completion.

It is shown that when saturation gradients are small, the wellbore and reservoir equations are weakly non-linear. In such cases the pressure solution for two phase flow can be correlated with the single phase analytical solution for both drawdown and buildup periods. For cases with a high water saturation region close to the well, the total mobility contrast between the invaded zone and the virgin zone can be represent by an apparent skin factor. During the flow period this apparent skin rapidly changes due to the cleaning effect in the invaded zone, thus the two phase pressure solution cannot be correlated with the constant skin-slug test analytical solution. The main conclusions of this work are: (1) single phase analysis procedures can be applied to both flow and buildup data, provided the saturation profile is nearly uniform; (2) when an invasion zone exists near the wellbore, single phase analysis procedures applied to buildup data give an excellent total mobility estimate of the virgin zone. Skin factors calculated from such buildup data represent a total skin, that is, the mechanical skin plus the apparent skin at the moment of shut-in. Calculated values from the flow period may not represent the virgin zone total mobility and the total skin factor.
New Directions in Foam and Aerated Mud Research and Development
Authors: Kuru E. , Miska S. , Pickell M. , Takach N. , Volk M.
Published: June 2014

A review of foam and aerated drilling fluid technology is presented. The review includes an analysis of foam and aerated fluid rheology and flow-pressure loss models. Problems associated with the applications of current models are discussed. Suggestions for possible model modifications and needs for future research are offered.

Recently, a new research initiative has been undertaken by the University of Tulsa to build an Advanced Cuttings Transport Facility (ACTF). Development and utilization of the ACTF will offer the industry an insight into the complex processes that govern fluid flow during drilling and production phases. The basic construction of the facility is in progress. The facility will eventually allow investigation of cuttings transport with incompressible and compressible drilling fluids at elevated temperature (200 °F) and elevated pressure (2000 psi). The design aspects of the ACTF and the scope of the project are discussed in the present paper.
Design, Implementation, and Assessment of a Sand Control Strategy For The Horizontal Completions of the West BraeISedgwick Joint Development
Authors: Mclninch B. E.
Published: June 2014

The North Sea Block 16/7a West Brae and 16/6a Sedgwick fields were discovered in 1975 and 1985 respectively. The developments languished for several years because of limited reserves, unconsolidated sands, and slightly heavy (22 deg API) oil. Advances in horizontal drilling techniques, mud systems, sand control, and subsea completion technology, revived the potential of an economic development during 1996. Infrastructure synergies and utilisation of an experienced core team of six Marathon engineers and one geologist, helped minimise development costs of this subsea tieback to the existing Brae Alpha platform.

This paper intends to record the considerations for effective and economic engineering of sand control requirements for the West Brae/Sedgwick wells. Horizontal wells were selected as the best solution to delay coning of water or gas, thereby maximising oil drainage. The goal of the production well design was simply to maximise recovery of hydrocarbons by minimising formation drawdown and sand production. To achieve this goal, emphasis was placed on proper engineering and testing of drill-in fluids and sand screens. The upper completion components were selected based on reliability and ease of installation to minimise costly rig time. Similar engineering emphasis was placed on the injection well design to ensure completion longevity and long term pressure support.

Thus far, the implemented completion strategies appear to have met the West Brae/Sedgwick sand control objectives. The designed drill-in fluid system cleaned up quickly and efficiently without the requirement for potential formation or screen damaging breakers. No evidence of sand production was found during clean-up to the rig, or during 16 months production.

Furthermore, results of a wireline conveyed production spinner log demonstrated flow contribution along the entire horizontal length of the first West Brae completion, thus increasing the likelihood of proper drainage. Four wells are currently producing to the host platform at a combined liquid rate of 40,000 bpd. Water encroachment has lagged model projections and productivity has exceeded expectations. A single injection well is providing pressure support to the Balder reservoir in both the West Brae and Sedgwick fields. Finally, total development costs for this project have been recovered within 16 months despite a depressed oil product price.
Where Have All the Profits Gone?
Authors: Brashear J.P. , Becker A.B. , Faulder D.D.
Published: June 2014

This paper (73141) was revised for publication from paper SPE 63056, first presented at the 2000 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held in Dallas, Texas, 1–4 October 2000.

Despite massive improvements in productivity due to technology advances, the E&P industry has averaged a disappointing 7% return on net assets over the last decade (less than its cost of capital). Its market capitalization relative to the S&P 500, even at recent high oil and gas prices, is about half what it was a decade ago. A small-scale, very simple case study suggests that at least part of the reason for this disappointing perform-ance lies in the way that the industry conventionally allocates capital and selects portfolios of projects. Ranking of projects by deterministic estimates of value and even some of the so-called advanced methods significantly overstates value, understates risk, and misallocates capital by incurring unnecessary, uncompensated risks. Suggestions for improvements in the project selection/capital allocation prices are offered.

Why Change?

Petroleum exploration and production is enjoying a "golden age" in technology. Over the past two decades, finding costs have fallen more than threefold and lifting costs by half or better (EIA, 1998). Three-dimensional seismic has improved exploration success rates by as much as 90% and development success rates by 30% (Bohi, 1997). Yet, at the same time, the return on net assets by the largest U.S.-based companies in the E&P sector has averaged 7% for both integrated majors and large independents. (Original analysis based on Simpson et al., 1999). This return is the result of projects selected because they all exceeded the minimum estimated internal rate of return "hurdle rates," generally set at 15% or more, and were all financed with capital that generally costs in the range of 9-12% or more. This would appear to indicate long-term destruction of shareholder value. The recent period of high oil and gas prices has ameliorated these results but not enough to offset the long-term trend.

Investors have noted these discouraging results and have responded accordingly. Relative to the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (the largest 500 U.S.-traded, nonfinancial companies), the Amex Oil Index (the 16 largest U.S.-traded oil companies) has fallen 50% between January 1990 and October 2000. This reflects real value loss relative to alternative directly comparable investments.
The Missing Ingredient in Knowledge Management
Authors: Holland Winford , Nash Bill
Published: June 2014

A major oilfield services company commissioned research to find out what know-how was vital to the advancement of their packer business. Would it be the scientific attributes of the tools themselves, the rubber seals, hydraulics, or pressure capabilities?

Research, using a knowledge management-targeting technique, determined it was none of the above, but instead was knowledge of metal-to-metal sealing. Armed with this fact, the company proceeded to develop a competitive edge in the marketplace by finding, connecting, and energizing the critical people inside and outside the company who were "in the know" on that vital subject.

In other words, in this extraordinary technological era, knowledge management (KM) for this company was not about millisecond communication of information, but about the age-old power of what people know, the front-end of the word "knowledge." By systematically developing, integrating, and deploying what key people know, KM can be a positive force in increasing a company's value in the marketplace.

Today's KM can be traced to important work started in the 1960's and 1970's in the field then called scientific and technical information (STI). STI brought out the critical importance of enabled information flows among knowledgeable scientists and engineers for optimal technical productivity. Furthermore, STI research found that in most organizations, only a minority of the technical professions was really in the know, serving as the organizational nodes for their organization's vital knowledge.
Fluid Flow in Fractures Visualized by MRI During Waterfloods at Various Wettability Conditions – Emphasis on Fracture Width and Flow Rate
Authors: Aspenes E. , Graue A. , Baldwin B. A. , Moradi A. , Stevens J. , Tobola D. P.
Published: June 2014

The mechanism of wetting phase flow into and across fractures was determined for stacked core plugs using highly water-wet and less water-wet chalk and several fracture widths and flow rates. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure 2D saturation distributions in the matrix along the flow axis and 2D spatial distributions of the wetting and nonwetting phases in the fracture.

For the strongly water-wet system, even at high flow rates, the inlet plug reached its spontaneous imbibition endpoint water saturation before the water entered the fracture. When water entered the fracture, gravity segregation resulted in the displacement of oil from the bottom of the fracture and upward. The rate of displacement was determined by the water injection rate. At less-water-wet conditions, the water produced a dispersed front that allowed water; at both high and low flow rates, to flow across the fracture and into the outlet plug as if there was no fracture. MRI images showed that water droplets formed on the outlet face of the inlet plug, formed bridges across the fracture and provided a path for water movement into the outlet plug while the oil phase was still being produced from the inlet plug. With time the bridges grew in size, coalesced and dropped to the bottom of the fracture eventually filling the fracture with water. At wider fracture widths the coalescence occurred earlier and the fracture was filled sooner. The capillary continuity provided by the bridges suggested a viscous component contributing to the total oil recovery in the fractured system for less than highly water-wet conditions.
The Technical and Economic Challenge of "Mature Gas Fields": The Giant Altmark Field, a German Example
Authors: Rückheim J. , Voigtländer G. , Stein-Khokhlov M.
Published: June 2014

"Mature" fields today account for over 70% of the worldwide oil and gas production.

In view of the increasing global demand for fossil fuels during the next decades, it is the task of the E&P industry to develop innovative and cost effective technologies to substantially increase the rate of recovery from today's average of 35% to over 50% for oil and from about 70% to over 80% ultimate recovery for gas. To achieve this goal it will be necessary to optimise the efficiency of operation and maintenance while minimizing environmental impact. In addition to the exploitation of new technologies the industry needs to be open minded for modern management techniques and new business models in order to keep control of the technical and economic risks.

The successful integration of various new technologies will have a major effect on the reserve renewal rate as 1% increase in recovery would provide an additional 2 years of supply.

Main focus will be on the presentation of the giant and mature Altmark gas field - with 9.4 Tcf GIIP the biggest gas field in Germany - which has currently reached a recovery factor of 78%. It will be shown how the operator, EEG, is applying various technologies and an alternative business model to constantly increase the field life and hence reserves.

Due to the field specifics, e.g. high temperature, constantly decreased reservoir pressure and high formation water salinity, the main operational challenges the operator is facing are rock stability, water lifting, scales removal and remediation of formation damage, a variety of reserves development and maintenance methods are applied like sidetracks and chemical treatments with surfactants and polymers, respectively.

Apart from presenting the range of well treatment and monitoring technologies, another important topic which will be presented in this paper is the economic approach to efficiently handle the compartmentalised brownfield reservoir and production issues that allow the expected ultimate recovery to exceed 80%.
Unsteady Flow to a Well Produced at Constant Pressure in a Fractured Reservoir
Authors: Raghavan Rajagopal , Ohaeri Charles U.
Published: June 2014

The objective of this study is to delineate the characteristics of a well flowing at a constant pressure in a naturally fractured reservoir. Methods are suggested to determine system parameters. We consider both pseudosteady state and unsteady state fluid transfer from the matrix system to the fracture system. If pseudo steady state flow governs the transfer of fluids, then the rate data exhibit an initial period of decline indicating the depletion of the fracture, followed by a period in which the rate is nearly constant and finally a rapid decline in rate. The period of constant rate reflects replenishment of the fracture by the matrix. If unsteady state flow in the matrix governs the well response, then the constant rate period does not exist. Instead, the rate vs. time graph is a straight line on log-log coordinates with slope equal to 0.5. That is, a linear period is evident. This characteristic response is evident in all the unsteady state flow models discussed in the literature. Thus, it is possible to determine the flow regime in the matrix by analyzing rate data.

The flow periods described above will be evident if αkm/kf ≤ C/A. Here,k is the permeability, A is the drainage area, α is a parameter which depends on the characteristic length of the matrix element (block) and C is a constant which also depends on the shape of the matrix element. The symbols m and f represent the matrix and fracture, respectively.
The Anti-Suicidal Potential of Buprenorphine: A Case Report
Authors: Striebel Joan M. , Kalapatapu Raj K.
Published: May 2014

The very strong relationship between suicide, depressive disorders, and substance use disorders is well recognized. Certain pain syndromes are significantly associated with suicide, irrespective of co-occurring medical or psychiatric diagnosis. Chronic pain, depression, substance use disorders, and suicide appear to involve overlapping neural pathways and brain regions that function in the processing of emotional and physical pain, as well as maintaining reward and anti-reward circuitry. In this article, we employ a clinical case to illustrate how various stressors disrupted the balance between pain and opioid-facilitated analgesia. This disruption resulted in excessive use of short-acting opioids to treat pain with ensuing allostatic overload and culmination in chronic suicidal ideation with a suicide attempt. Sublingual buprenorphine was selected to treat the opioid use disorder. We propose that the unique pharmacodynamics of this drug served to stabilize dysregulated neural circuits, neurotransmitters, and neuropeptides, allowing the mitigation of pain, assuaging opioid cravings, easing depression, and resolving suicidal ideation. To our knowledge, this is the first case report to describe the possible anti-suicidal effect of sublingual buprenorphine.
Metabolic Syndrome, C-Reactive Protein, and Mortality in U.S. Blacks and Whites: The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study
Authors: Suzuki Takeki , Voeks Jenifer , Zakai Neil A. , Jenny Nancy Swords , Brown Todd M. , Safford Monika M. , LeWinter Martin , Howard George , Cushman Mary
Published: May 2014

OBJECTIVE

We evaluate associations of metabolic syndrome (MetS), C-reactive protein (CRP), and a CRP-incorporated definition of MetS (CRPMetS) with risk of all-cause mortality in a biracial population.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We studied 23,998 participants in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort, an observational study of black and white adults ≥45 years old across the U.S. Elevated CRP was defined as ≥3 mg/L and MetS by the revised Third Report of the Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III; ATP III) criteria (three of five components). CRPMetS was defined as presence of three out of six components, with elevated CRP added to ATP III criteria as a sixth component. Cox models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality, and population attributable risk (PAR) was calculated. Stratified analyses based on race and diabetes status were performed.

RESULTS

There were 9,741 participants (41%) with MetS and 12,179 (51%) with CRPMetS at baseline. Over 4.8 years of follow-up, 2,050 participants died. After adjustment for multiple confounders, MetS, elevated CRP, and CRPMetS were each significantly associated with increased mortality risk (HRs 1.26 [95% CI 1.15–1.38], 1.55 [1.41–1.70], and 1.34 [1.22–1.48], respectively). The PAR was 9.5% for MetS, 18.1% for CRP, and 14.7% for CRPMetS. Associations of elevated CRP and of CRPMetS with mortality were significantly greater in whites than blacks, while no differences in associations were observed based on diabetes status.

CONCLUSIONS

By definition, CRPMetS identifies more people at risk than MetS but still maintains a similar mortality risk. Incorporating CRP into the definition for MetS may be useful in identifying additional high-risk populations to target for prevention.
Overnight Glucose Control With an Automated, Unified Safety System in Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes at Diabetes Camp
Authors: Ly Trang T. , Breton Marc D. , Keith-Hynes Patrick , De Salvo Daniel , Clinton Paula , Benassi Kari , Mize Benton , Chernavvsky Daniel , Place Jéróme , Wilson Darrell M. , Kovatchev Boris P. , Buckingham Bruce A.
Published: May 2014

OBJECTIVE

To determine the safety and efficacy of an automated unified safety system (USS) in providing overnight closed-loop (OCL) control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes attending diabetes summer camps.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The Diabetes Assistant (DIAS) USS used the Dexcom G4 Platinum glucose sensor (Dexcom) and t:slim insulin pump (Tandem Diabetes Care). An initial inpatient study was completed for 12 participants to evaluate safety. For the main camp study, 20 participants with type 1 diabetes were randomized to either OCL or sensor-augmented therapy (control conditions) per night over the course of a 5- to 6-day diabetes camp.

RESULTS

Subjects completed 54 OCL nights and 52 control nights. On an intention-to-treat basis, with glucose data analyzed regardless of system status, the median percent time in range, from 70–150 mg/dL, was 62% (29, 87) for OCL nights versus 55% (25, 80) for sensor-augmented pump therapy (P = 0.233). A per-protocol analysis allowed for assessment of algorithm performance. The median percent time in range, from 70–150 mg/dL, was 73% (50, 89) for OCL nights (n = 41) versus 52% (24, 83) for control conditions (n = 39) (P = 0.037). There was less time spent in the hypoglycemic range <50, <60, and <70 mg/dL during OCL compared with the control period (P = 0.019, P = 0.009, and P = 0.023, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The DIAS USS algorithm is effective in improving time spent in range as well as reducing nocturnal hypoglycemia during the overnight period in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in a diabetes camp setting.
Lower-Extremity Amputation Risk Is Associated With Variation in Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Responses
Authors: Margolis David J. , Hoffstad Ole , Weibe Douglas J.
Published: May 2014

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether regional variation in the rate of lower-extremity amputation (LEA) is associated with health behaviors.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional prevalence study of merged data from the U.S. Census, Medicare parts A and B, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We used regression models to determine whether previously described regional variation in LEA incidence was associated with responses to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Regions were created using Dartmouth Atlas Health Referral Regions.

RESULTS

The mean and median incidence of LEA was 4.5 per 1,000 persons with diabetes; the rate varied from 2.4 to 7.9 LEA per 1,000 persons by health referral region. Statistically significant inverse associations were found between LEA and the rate of patients reporting colorectal screening (P < 0.0001) or the participation in diabetes management classes (P = 0.018). Most other factors, including daily foot evaluations, were not associated with a decreased risk of LEA. These findings were also found to be associated with geographically clustered regions known for increased risk of LEA.

CONCLUSIONS

LEA is known to vary by region in the U.S., and regions with higher rates of LEA tend to be clustered together. Some of this variation may be explained by health behaviors in those regions, such as attending diabetes education classes or better health prevention habits (e.g., colon cancer screening). It should be possible to prevent unwanted LEAs by educating individuals with diabetes and foot ulcers about the need for participation in foot ulcer treatment.
Primary Low-Grade Fibromyxoid Sarcoma of the Kidney in a Child with the Alternative EWSR1-CREB3L1 Gene Fusion
Authors: Rubinstein Jill C. , Visa Arjun , Zhang Lei , Antonescu Cristina R. , Christison-Lagay Emily R. , Morotti Raffaella
Published: June 2014

We present the case of a 6-year-old boy with a deceptively bland spindle cell renal neoplasm found to harbor the EWSR1-CREB3L1 gene fusion. This fusion has recently been described as a variant translocation in low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS), a tumor more typically characterized by a recurrent t(7;16) chromosomal translocation, resulting in the fusion of FUS and CREB3L2 genes. LGFMS is an indolent tumor with late metastatic potential and a propensity for long-term disease recurrence. The tumor is rare in children, with only 33 published cases. In the pediatric population, it has not previously been reported arising in the kidney.
Evaluation and Measurement in Local Public administration
Authors: Dobó Marianna
Published: June 2014

The judgement of self-governmental operation and the evaluation of providing public services have been focused on since the democratic transformation. By the 1st of January 2012 (CXCIX/2011. and CLXXXIX/2011. law) amendment of the Hungarian on civil servants, the civil servants work performance evaluation system has been introduced with the consideration of the principles of the civil servants carrier programme. The purposes of this evaluation system are made in order to grow the workers management efficiency in the field of public service, and also to improve their work standards.
Moral Organisation: Dream Or Reality
Authors: Hornyák Andrea
Published: June 2014

In the area of the financial services, the contracts are not between equal signatories to a treaty. On one side there is a professional financial institution while on the other side there is a client with lack of information and weak ability to enforce interest. The high school student age group is in a rather exposed situation because they have to make very serious financial decisions. As far as Hungary concerned, a negative social mood towards banks is accompanied by poor financial literacy, and therefore, financial institutions have a lot to do in order to gain confidence in the young generation. However, in the long term, a financial institution can only achieve market success if it can integrate moral viewpoints into its corporate policy.
Monte Carlo Simulation in Random Coefficient Logit Models Involving Large Sums
Authors: Sándor Zsolt
Published: June 2014

We study Monte Carlo simulation in some recent versions of random coefficient logit models that contain large sums of expressions involving multivariate integrals. Such large sums occur in the random coefficient logit with demographic characteristics, the random coefficient logit with limited consumer information and the design of choice experiments for the panel mixed logit. We show that certain quasi-Monte Carlo methods, that is, so-called (t, m, s)-nets, provide improved performance over pseudo-Monte Carlo methods in terms of bias, standard deviation and root mean squared error.
Haptic Vision and the Experience of Difference in Agnès Varda’s Les Glaneurs et la glaneuse (2000)
Authors: Chareyron Romain
Published: June 2014

This article investigates how, in her documentary The Gleaners and I (Les Glaneurs et la glaneuse, 2000), French director Agnès Varda relies on the establishment of haptic vision in order to merge the experience of her own body with the representation of another “body,” that of people living at the margins of society and gleaning for food. In so doing, the article will bring out the director’s social and aesthetic concerns by positing that Varda turns to a sensuous depiction based on the textural properties of the image to deter any form of instrumental vision regarding the representation of the body and its connections to pre-determined norms of conduct. The article will show that, in its portrayal of a socially and economically alienated group of people, as well as in the rendering of her aging body, Varda’s miseen- scène brings forth a tactile form of knowledge that calls for a humanistic approach, thus defusing any form of mastery of the gaze over the image.
Efficient computing of n-dimensional simultaneous Diophantine approximation problems
Authors: Kovács Attila , Tihanyi Norbert
Published: June 2014

In this paper we consider two algorithmic problems of simultaneous Diophantine approximations. The first algorithm produces a full solution set for approximating an irrational number with rationals with common denominators from a given interval. The second one aims at finding as many simultaneous solutions as possible in a given time unit. All the presented algorithms are implemented, tested and the PariGP version made publicly available.
Nonexistence of a Kruskal–Katona type theorem for double-sided shadow minimization in the Boolean cube layer
Authors: Bashov Maksim
Published: June 2014

A double-sided shadow minimization problem in the Boolean cube layer is investigated in this paper. The problem is to minimize the size of the union of the lower and upper shadows of a k-uniform family of subsets of [n]. It is shown that if 3 ⋜ k ⋜ n−3, there is no total order such that all its initial segments have minimal double-sided shadow.
Location-stamp for GPS coordinates
Authors: Ádámkó Eva , Pethő Attila
Published: June 2014

Anybody can make a time information authentic easily nowadays with the help of a time-stamp by a Certification Authority. In this paper, we propose a similar service for mobile devices-which have GPS receiver-to authentication GPS coordinates. This service name is location-stamping, and we propose two protocols for this service.
Parallel enumeration of degree sequences of simple graphs II
Authors: Iványi Antal , Gombos Gergő , Lucz Loránd , Matuszka Tamás
Published: June 2014

In the paper we report on the parallel enumeration of the degree sequences (their number is denoted by G(n)) and zerofree degree sequences (their number is denoted by (Gz(n)) of simple graphs on n = 30 and n = 31 vertices. Among others we obtained that the number of zerofree degree sequences of graphs on n = 30 vertices is Gz(30) = 5 876 236 938 019 300 and on n = 31 vertices is Gz(31) = 22 974 847 474 172 374. Due to Corollary 21 in [52] these results give the number of degree sequences of simple graphs on 30 and 31 vertices.
Linear programming over exponent pairs
Authors: Lelechenko Andrew V.
Published: June 2014

We consider the problem of the computation of infp θp over the set of exponent pairs P ∋ p under linear constrains for a certain class of objective functions θ. An effective algorithm is presented. The output of the algorithm leads to the improvement and establishing new estimates in the various divisor problems in the analytical number theory.
Surrealist Senses: Marcel Jean’s Representations of Budapest
Authors: Balázs Imre József
Published: June 2014

The paper analyses the spatial representations and the self- representajtions of the surrealist author Marcel Jean in his late autobiography entitled Au galop dans le vent, where he reflects upon his life and upon the seven years that he spent in Budapest with his wife between 1939 and 1945, and also in his book Mnésiques, published in 1942 in Budapest. In this latter book the presence of the surrealist mythology of transformation can be interpreted as a representation of the dislocated self, Au galop dans le vent showing the historical and biographical contexts of these experiences.
Europe’s Fe/Male Identity
Authors: Mihály Vilma
Published: June 2014

The following study discusses Europe’s identity focussing upon questions such as how Europa’s destiny-the next of kin from Greek mythology-has influenced that of the continent, the relationship between Europe and its nations or Europe’s role in the world. According to French anthropologist Annick de Souzenelle. there is a lunar, that is female and a solar, that is a male side to both Europa and Europe but whereas the mythical figure failed to find and integrate the opposite within herself, Europe does still have the opportunity to discover its solar aspects and reach unity within itself and the world as a whole. Apart from the theory the present paper also tries to give examples from different fields of study such as politics, philosophy and literature, which shall underline Europe’s fe/male identity and role. e. g. Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech. Jose Ortega y Gasset’s Meditation on Europe. Sándor Márai’s Europe’s Abduction or Czeszlaw Milosz’s Native Realm.
Representations of Female Alterity in Contemporary Hungarian and Romanian
Authors: Pieldner Judit
Published: June 2014

The present study carries out a comparative/contrastive analysis of two ways of contemporary Hungarian and Romanian film discourse, namely magic realism and micro-realism, and will focus on the representation of the woman in the contemporary films entitled Witch Circle (Dezső Zsigmond, 2009),exploring a subversive female mythologem of a confined traditional community, that of the Csángó people, Bibliothéque Pascal (Szabolcs Hajdú, 2010),which creates a private mythology, materialised in form of surrealist images, of the female self interpreting herself out of her conditions, and Beyond the Hills (Cristian Mungiu, 2012), drawing its topic from a real event -reality generating fiction-that inspired Tatiana Niculescu Bran’s Deadly Confession [Spovedanie la Tanacu), Judges’ Book [Cartea Judecătorilor), as well as Zsolt Láng's The Monasteryr of Protection (Az oltalom kolostora). Beyond dealing with related female patterns, the films imder discussion are engaged in mediating collective and private mental representations, as well as in creating film narratives with the convergent feature of juxtaposing the real and the mythical. The films approach the topic from distinct possibilities of cinematic representation and offer, in my view, a complementary and intercultural image of the woman trapped between the East and the West, between social and religious institutions and victimised by the stereotypical view of society.
The Multipurpose New Wind Tunnel STU
Authors: Hubová Oľga , Lobotka Peter
Published: June 2014

BLWT STU tunnel, which is currently in test mode, will in its two measuring sections allow to prepare measurements with laminar and turbulent wind flow. The front section will fulfill technical parameters of steady flow for testing sectional models and dynamically similar models. In the rear operating section it is necessary to reproduce correctly the roughness of the earth surface covering different terrain categories and to prepare boundary layer suitable for experimental testing. Article deals with the brief description of the preparation and testing laminar flow and boundary layer for the urban terrain, which was simulated with rough elements and barriers of different heights. The attention is focused in getting get at least 1 meter height of boundary layer, which allows to optimize scale similarity of model.
Determination of Antioxidant Capacity, Flavonoids, and Total Phenolic Content in Eucalyptus and Clover Honeys
Authors: Ciappini María C. , Stoppani Fernando S.
Published: June 2014

Polyphenolic compounds reportedly produce physiological effects that are beneficial to health. Bee products are particularly rich in polyphenolic compounds. We determined the antioxidant capacity and the phenolic and flavonoid compounds content of 81 samples of honey. We used the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method to evaluate the total phenolic content. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using in vitro scavenging assays of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH ) and hydroxyl radicals (OH ), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC ), and ferric-reducing antioxidant capacity (FRAC ). Total phenolic content ranged from 40.3 to 193.0 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE )/100 g; the flavonoid content varied from 1.4 to 7.5 mg quercetin equivalents (QE)/100 g. Eucalyptus honeys exhibited significantly higher phenolic content and free radical-scavenging activity than clover honey samples (p<0.05 for all). Principal component analysis explained 73% of the differences observed in antiradical activity with respect to floral origin. Total phenolic content may be more useful than the radical-scavenging assay for detecting antioxidant capacity in honey; it also represents the variable that most appropriately discriminated among these honeys.
Optimal Banking and Other Financial Business for the Economic Growth of Serbia
Authors: Milojević Nenad
Published: June 2014

The analysis of the banking / financial business impact on economic growth is a topic present in the world economy for centuries. In recent years, this topic has gained on importance in international economic circles. Actuality of the aforementioned impact particularly sparked the global economic crisis. In the focus of this paper is the impact of the level and speed of the financial development, particularly banking, on the economic growth in Serbia. Within the overall financial development, the focus is primarily dedicated to the banking business, which is still highly dominant segment of the financial sector in Serbia. We have conducted an analysis of the most important elements that have marked recent years` banking impact on the economic growth in Serbia. Actual characteristics of the aforementioned impact are also presented. Possible predictions of the banking / financial business movement in the future, as well as its impact on economic growth are presented in the paper. The focus is on determination of the optimal banking business volume for achieving sustainable economic growth in Serbia. The analysis presented in the paper indicate that there is significant potential for moderate and balanced growth of the banking / financial business in the medium term, which could make a significant contribution to the achievement of sustainable economic growth in Serbia, while providing financial stability. However, for the realization of this important and demanding goal, it is necessary to meet a significant number of factors and creation of the adequate conditions at the micro and macro level, essential for achieving the above mentioned aim.
Stress Testing of the Montenegrin Banking System with Aggregated and Bank-Specific Data
Authors: Vuković Sanja
Published: June 2014

There are many different approaches to the process of stress testing and two of them will be investigated in this paper. The first one is a stress test performed on aggregated data i.e. the banking system as a whole. The variable of interest in both exercises is the Loan Loss Provision ratio (hereinafter: the LLP). The main goal of the thesis is to find an answer to the following question: what are the macroeconomic variables that influence LLP the most and how will LLP, as a variable of interest, behave in a situation when all these variables were to experience negative performance at the same time? The resilience of the banking system to such scenario will be tested through the capital adequacy ratio. In order to find out more about the management practices of banks, microlevel data on banks were also used in the analysis. The focus was to see which of the variables are able to explain the LLP ratio for each bank individually and how is this information helpful for possible improvements in the banking sector. The relations between these variables will be able to explain some of the banks’ losses and some of the banks’ practices regarding credit activities. The analysis there will provide for some recommendations for the banks but also for the Central Bank and its way to influence the practices in the banking sector.
Application of nanomaterials in microbial-cell biosensor constructions
Authors: Šefčovičová Jana , Tkac Jan
Published: June 2014

Microbial cell biosensors, where cells are in direct connection with a transducer enabling quantitative and qualitative detection of an analyte, are very promising analytical tools applied mainly for assays in the environmental field, food industry or biomedicine. Microbial cell biosensors are an excellent alternative to conventional analytical methods due to their specificity, rapid detection and low cost of analysis. Nowadays, nanomaterials are often used in the construction of biosensors to improve their sensitivity and stability. In this review, the combination of microbial and other individual cells with different nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, graphene, gold nanoparticles, etc.) for the construction of biosensors is described and their applications are provided as well.
An assessment of deep hot-water drilling as a means to undertake direct measurement and sampling of Antarctic subglacial lakes: experience and lessons learned from the Lake Ellsworth field season 2012/13
Authors: Siegert Martin J. , Makinson Keith , Blake David , Mowlem Matt , Ross Neil
Published: June 2014

In the early hours of 25 December 2012, an attempt to explore Subglacial Lake Ellsworth, West Antarctica, using a specially designed hot-water drill, was halted. This UK project, involving several universities, the British Antarctic Survey and the National Oceanography Centre, had been in planning for 10 years. The project developed a full blueprint for subglacial lakes research, involving access to the subglacial environment through deep drilling, direct measurement and sampling of water and sediment by the construction of a probe and sediment corer, and environmental protocols to ensure cleanliness in line with international agreements on stewardship and protection of subglacial systems. Drilling was ceased after the main borehole failed to link with a subsurface cavity of water, built up over ∽40 hours. Without this link, insufficient water was available to continue drilling downwards to the lake, ∽3000 m beneath the surface. On return to the UK, an external review of the programme was undertaken to formally assess the reasons for the fieldwork failure, and to make recommendations on the modifications necessary for success. From this review, the Lake Ellsworth programme formulated a pathway along which a second attempt to explore the lake can be developed. Here details of the Lake Ellsworth field experiment, the circumstances that led to its failure and the corrections required are presented. Hot-water drilling is still regarded as the only feasible scheme for assuring clean access to the subglacial environment. The lessons learned from the Lake Ellsworth experience are substantial, however, and demonstrate that considerable technological and methodological advances are necessary for successful future research on subglacial lakes beneath thick (>2 km) ice.
Footwear and Wrist Communication Links using 2.4 GHz and UWB Antennas
Authors: Gaetano Domenico , McEvoy Patrick , Ammann Max , Brannigan Colm , Keating Louise , Horgan Frances
Published: June 2014

It is reported that wearable electronic devices are to be used extensively in the next generation of sensors for sports and health monitoring. The information obtained from sensors on the human body depends on the biological parameters, the measurement rate and the number of sensors. The choice of the wireless protocol depends on the required data rates and on system configurations. The communication link quality is achieved with narrowband technologies such as Bluetooth or Zigbee, provided that the number of sensors is small and data rates are low. However, real-time measurements using wideband channels may also be necessary. This paper reports narrowband link performance at 2.45 GHz for comparison with two UWB channels centered at 3.95 GHz and 7.25 GHz. A monopole antenna covering 2.45 GHz and UWB is optimized for an on-body communication link between the footwear and the wrist. The cumulative distribution function of several path loss measurements is reported and compared for a subject standing and walking. Results show that the larger bandwidth in the UWB channel reduces fading and stabilizes the channel predictability.
Selective Isolation of Trypsin Inhibitor and Lectin from Soybean Whey by Chitosan/Tripolyphosphate/Genipin Co-Crosslinked Beads
Authors: Chang Yu-Lung , Liu Tristan , Tsai Min-Lang
Published: June 2014

Selective isolation of Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI) and lectin from soybean whey solutions by different types of chitosan beads was investigated. The chitosan beads were co-crosslinked with tripolyphosphate/genipin in solutions at pH 5, 7 or 9 (CB5, CB7, CB9). The maximum adsorption ratios of chitosan beads to KTI and lectin were observed at pH 4.4 and 5.4, respectively; highly selective separation was also demonstrated at these pHs. The adsorption ratios increased with temperature, rising between 5 and 25 °C. CB9 produced the best adsorption ratio, followed by CB7 then CB5. The critical interaction governing absorption of chitosan beads to KTI and lectin could be hydrogen bonding. At pH 9, KTI and lectin desorbed efficiently from CB7 with desorption ratios of 80.9% and 81.4%, respectively. The desorption was most likely caused predominantly by electrostatic repulsion. KTI and lectin can effectively be selectively isolated from soybean whey using this novel separation technique.
Montmorillonite Clay-Promoted, Solvent-Free Cross-Aldol Condensations under Focused Microwave Irradiation
Authors: Rocchi Damiano , González Juan , Menéndez J.
Published: June 2014

An environmentally benign, clean and general protocol was developed for the synthesis of aryl and heteroaryl trans-chalcones. This method involved solvent-free reaction conditions under microwave irradiation in the presence of a clay-based catalyst, and afforded the target compounds in good yields and short reaction times. Furthermore, the same conditions allowed the synthesis of symmetrical, diarylmethylene-α,β-unsaturated ketones from aromatic aldehydes and ketones.
Governing Through Resilience? Exploring Flood Protection in Dresden, Germany
Authors: Hutter Gérard , Leibenath Markus , Mattissek Annika
Published: June 2014

The paper argues for a governmentality perspective on risk-management politics and resilience-related governance. This perspective pays ample attention to conflicts and discursive ‘battles’ in which different truths and normative assessments, including specific rationalities, subjectivities and technologies of governing compete against. Up to now, the literature on governmentality and resilience has mainly been based on empirical research in the UK. This research highlights the growing importance of neoliberal forms of governing, including a shift in governing strategies towards activating and responsibilizing the public. This is to some extent in contrast to observations about dealing with flood risk on the river Weisseritz in Dresden. The paper reflects on possible avenues for further conceptual and empirical research on ‘governing through resilience’ in the context of flood protection in Germany. It is based on a brief conceptualization of ‘governmentality’ as introduced by Michel Foucault, a literature review, and selected observations from a case study on flood protection for the river Weisseritz in Dresden.