bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Offshore Operators Shed Costs, But Can They Keep Them Off?
Authors: Rassenfoss Stephen 
Published: June 2016

Offshore Cost Cuts
Offshore drillers have been battered by the plunge in oil prices with falling day rates and a growing number of older rigs headed for demolition.
Lower oil prices added to the pain of a down market due to a glut of drilling capacity. A wave of new, efficient drilling rigs coming into service created an oversupply that has been magnified by more productive drilling operations, said Bob Fryklund, chief upstream strategist at IHS Energy.
He said day rates for new contracts are off by more than 50%, with rigs once commanding day rates of USD 650,000 now leasing for USD 250,000, he said. For oil companies, “it is a good time to renegotiate contracts. It is a bad time to be on the other end,” Fryklund said during a presentation at the 2015 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC).
Drilling rigs are the highest profile target for cost cuts, but “operators are seeking reductions in the cost of most things,” said Andrew Meyers, a manager at Douglas-Westwood, which provides market data and consulting services for companies working offshore.
This low-cost environment is expected to linger. It could take until 2018 for the rig market to tighten enough for rates to recover, said Thomas Shattuck, a research analyst at Wood McKenzie.
But when the oversupply passes, the cost of offshore services will rise again. Lasting cost control will require companies to rethink how projects are run to eliminate inefficient methods that add to the cost of the complex multibilliondollar developments.
“You can cut costs a certain amount but efficiencies that increase productivity are likely to have a benefit that lasts into the next up cycle,” Fryklund said. There is fat to cut. Even when oil was still selling for USD 100/bbl, operators were saying fast-rising costs were eroding margins.
“There have been a lot of inefficiencies in the market for a long time,” Meyers said. The problems include soaring project management costs. Multiple design teams can create incompatible systems requiring costly changes. One sign of the times is the rising number of joint ventures between large offshore service companies that promise to bring together a wider range of experts into teams that look at the larger picture.
“There is a little rethinking of project development,” said Imran Khan, a senior research analyst covering the Gulf of Mexico at Wood Mackenzie. “It is a challenging environment economically and technologically. Low oil prices offer a strong argument for doing things differently, but are not the only motivation for change,” he said.
It is still too early to know if things will change, but the record of past costcutting efforts have been spotty. “What I understand is with every downturn, the major operators talk about savings (on project development), but they never materialize,” Khan said. “This time, they say it is different. Time will tell.”
TECNOLOGIA, CULTURA E MEIO AMBIENTE: DETERMINANTES DAS PRÁTICAS DO ALEITAMENTO MATERNO NO BRASIL
Authors: Martins Machado da Silveira Marluce , Bezerra Barbosa Nelson 
Published: June 2016

A importância do aleitamento materno foi consagrada no século XX assim como sua total compatibilidade com a vida moderna das mulheres. Inúmeras são as evidências científicas comprovando os benefícios do leite materno para o bebê, a mãe, a família e a sociedade. Os Bancos de Leite Humano têm permitido que prematuros e recémnascidos impossibilitados de sugar recebam este benefício. Os baixos índices de aleitamento materno no Brasil refletem uma contradição que não pode ser explicada sem a visão de nossa natureza híbrida, assim como da interferência da industrialização do mundo moderno. Ao refletirmos sobre as influências culturais, ambientais e tecnológicas um grande cenário se abre sobre nós. As iniqüidades de gênero, a falta de autonomia da mulher o papel da mulher na sociedade refletem os interesses econômicos, políticos e sociais que historicamente se solidificam. Concluímos que a visão integral da mulher e o respeito às suas decisões são direitos que devem ser assegurados pelos profissionais da saúde e por toda a sociedade.
Routine fecal occult blood testing does not predict necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight neonates
Authors: Pickering A. , White R. , Davis N.L. 
Published: June 2016

OBJECTIVE: To determine sensitivity, specificity, predictive value of routine fecal occult blood (FOB) testing on the identification of Bell’s Stage II or III necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. METHODS: Retrospective medical record review of VLBW infants from 2012– 2013 evaluating FOB results and clinical and demographic risk factors. We determined predictive values of positive FOB testing within 48 hours of definite NEC diagnosis. We performed logistic regression analyses for predictors of NEC and for predictors of having positive FOB during NICU admission. RESULTS: The incidence of NEC in our cohort of 203 infants was 3.9% ( n = 8). None had positive FOB results within 48 hours of diagnosis, and only 12.5% had any positive FOB within 7 days. Sensitivity of positive FOB for predicting definite NEC = 0%, specificity = 34.4%, and positive predictive value = 0%. A majority of VLBWs (67.0%) had > one positive FOB result during their NICU course. On logistic regression, intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) infants had significantly higher odds of both developing NEC and of having positive FOB. Positive FOB was not a significant predictor of NEC. Those with lower birth gestational ages had higher odds of positive FOB. CONCLUSIONS: Positive FOB testing occurred in a majority of VLBW infants, with higher odds in the more preterm and IUGR. However, the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of routine FOB testing for identifying NEC were all very poor. Our data demonstrates that this test offers no advantages in the early diagnosis of NEC.
Anti-depressant activity of <i>Nyctanthes arbor-tristis</i> in mice
Authors: Gupta Sumeet , Kashyap Priyanaka , Asad Mohammed , Chattopadhyaya Ipshita , Dahiya Randhir 
Published: June 2016

<p class="Abstract">The present study assesses the protective effect of <em>Nyctanthes arbor-tristis</em> (<em>Nyctaginaceae</em>) extracts and in combination with fluoxetine on stress-induced depression in mice. Leaves were extracted using different solvents (petroleum ether, chloroform and hydroethanol) and administered orally for 14 days. These extracts showed significant improvement in the mobility percentage but among these, hydroethanol extract showed better protective effect from day 1 to 14 in both forced swimming and tail suspension test model. Hydroethanol (100 mg/kg) and chloroform (100 mg/kg) extracts with fluoxetine showed synergistic effect when compared with fluoxetine treated group (10 mg/kg) alone at day 7 and 14. Among monoamine levels only hydroethanol extract (400 mg/kg) restored the 5-HT level near to level of fluoxetine-treated group. Hydroethanol extracts with two higher doses showed significant decrease in glucose and triglycerides levels. Clinically, it may useful as anti-depressant drug. </p><p><strong>Video Clip:</strong></p><p><a href="https://youtube.com/v/EYRuTWpPDqk">Tail suspension test:</a> 5 min 57 sec </p>
Screening of arsenic tolerance in rice at germination and early seedling stage as influenced by sodium arsenate
Authors: Halim Md Abdul , Ghosh Maitry , Nigar Meher , Hossain Feroza , Akhter Nahid 
Published: June 2016

Arsenic contamination in rice would be a serious problem for uman ealt . A screening program was conducted at germination and early seedling stage of rice cultivars w ic were grown under plate culture and ydroponic culture condition. Five different concentrations of arsenate viz.T1 (1ppm), T2 (3ppm), T3 (6ppm), T4(9ppm), T5 (12ppm) and distilled water (control) were applied on seven cultivars of rice suc as BR-26, BRRI-28, BRRI-29, BRRI-45, BRRI-50, BR-3 and BR-14.T e germination percentage and tolerant percentage, root lengt and s oot lengt and biomass or seedling dry weig t decreased significantly wit t e increase of arsenic levels.Among seven cultivars, BRRI-29 s owed t e maximum percentage of germination and tolerant percentage, BR-26 produced t e ig est root lengt and s oot lengt to ig est arsenic concentration (12 ppm) w ereas maximum biomass was obtained for BR-14.Jahangirnagar University J. Biol. Sci. 3(1): 17-26, 2014 (June)
Décentraliser pour améliorer la performance ? Évaluation quantitative des réformes fonctionnelles dans les Länder d’Allemagne
Authors: Ebinger Falk , Richter Philipp 
Published: June 2016

Ces dix dernières années, les gouvernements de la plupart des Länder d’Allemagne ont appliqué des réformes administratives. Ces différentes initiatives prévoyaient toutes la municipalisation de vastes ensembles de tâches. Comme ailleurs, les gouvernements soutiennent que la prestation de service par les communes est plus rentable, efficace et réactive. Les données empiriques qui confirment ces affirmations sont, dans le meilleur des cas, incohérentes : un nombre considérable d’études de cas jettent le doute sur le caractère inconditionnel de ces appréciations positives. Il semble que les effets de la décentralisation varient en fonction de la dimension liée à la performance concernée et des tâches considérées. Des questions de généralisabilité se posent néanmoins, ces observations n’ayant pas encore été confirmées par des données d’archives plus « objectives ». Nous présentons ici des données empiriques sur les effets de la décentralisation pour deux domaines stratégiques différents sur la base de deux études. Dans le présent article, nous présentons dès lors d’autres possibilités de recherches sur les effets de la décentralisation et comparons les attentes théoriques au sujet des effets de la décentralisation avec des résultats plus robustes. L’analyse confirme que les affirmations exagérément positives concernant les effets de la décentralisation ne sont que partiellement justifiées. Comme l’indiquent les études de cas antérieures, les effets doivent être examinés de manière nettement plus nuancée, notamment en prenant en considération la situation de départ et en faisant la distinction entre les différentes dimensions pertinentes de la performance et les différents domaines stratégiques. Remarques à l’intention des praticiens Dans les systèmes à niveaux multiples, les réformateurs de l’administration publique doivent décider du niveau le plus approprié pour s’acquitter des différentes tâches. Ces dernières années, les réformateurs ont été nombreux à opter pour la décentralisation des fonctions de l’État dans l’espoir de créer un gouvernement efficace et efficient. En réalité, cependant, l’idée de réaliser des tâches publiques de façon plus efficace et, en même temps, plus économique dans les unités décentralisées s’avère irréalisable. Nous proposons des données empiriques sur les effets de la décentralisation sur la performance et verrons que le processus comporte d’autres avantages et d’autres inconvénients par rapport à la prestation de service par les États. Les réformateurs de l’administration publique doivent réfléchir à ces avantages et ces inconvénients au cas par cas.
The importance of a people-centred approach for Corporate Social Responsibility: A case study of Welverdiend and the surrounding community
Authors: Bester Vidette , Cronjé Freek 
Published: June 2016

Despite the contribution of mining to the South African economy, this industry has impacted negatively on the environment and society for many decades. These negative impacts are mostly evidence of poor corporate actions. Instead of contributing to society, it seems that mining companies, more often than not, neglect their corporate social responsibilities (CSR) mostly in the pursuit of financial profit. It has been well documented that it is mostly local populations, living close to mining operations, that pay the price of social and environmental damages and degradation, while the industry’s benefits are measured in economic and political terms. Such an imbalance between the economic, environmental and social factors makes Sustainable Development impossible to achieve. Welverdiend, on the Far West Rand of Johannesburg, South Africa, is a community paying a dear price in terms of social problems caused by mining operations. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of mining on the social wellbeing of Welverdiend and the surrounding community’s residents. In the light of these findings on different social issues, the research aimed to confirm the importance of a people-centred approach to Corporate Social Responsibility.
Non-profit organisations and government’s pro-poor spending: the case of health and development in Gauteng
Authors: Mzini L B 
Published: June 2016

Globally, there is growing recognition of participatory public expenditure management (PPEM). PPEM is seen as the process whereby citizens and civil society organisations participate in the management of public expenditures. The adoption of PPEM is aimed at ensuring greater transparency, better targeting and tracking of resources, and increased overall responsiveness. The Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development (GDHSD) is committed to co-operative governance; this includes working with different spheres of government and civil society or non-profit organisations (NPOs).NPOs are required to have a governing committee to manage funds allocated by GDHSD. The committee has the capacity to hold the NPO management accountable for the resources (financial and material) entrusted to it by the GDHSD. The effectiveness of NPOs is challenged by poor attendance of board members at meetings, poor understanding of the board’s mandate and responsibilities and lack of experience amongst members.The paradigm of PPEM is still faced with challenges to ensure that significant flows of revenue are accounted for and used effectively for growth and poverty reduction. This study is divided into three components. The first section focuses on the background, the introduction and the conceptual framework. The second part focuses on the empirical study for deriving a benchmark for the South African NPO sector. The third section highlights good practices as well as governance-related challenges. Finally, for further consideration by the GDHSD, a series of recommendations is provided, focusing on how key domestic stakeholders can better contribute to successful participatory budgeting programmes.Keywords: Participatory public expenditure management, non-profit organisations, pro-poor spending, public finance, public financial management, early childhood development. Disciplines: Public Management and Administration, Public Financial Management
How Pat Metheny came to Carolina in Mpumalanga, South Africa: using music in transdisciplinary water research
Authors: Tempelhoff Johann 
Published: June 2016

Listening to music can help researchers to comprehend and gain insight into complex problems in transdisciplinary research. This article explains how members of a research group at North-West University in South Africa conducted research on a crisis in the urban settlement of Carolina in Mpumalanga Province when acid mine drainage (AMD) from local coal mining operations was found in the municipal water supply. In grappling with complex issues such as the failure of communication with local stakeholders, the group resorted to using the music of Pat Metheny’s music to come to abetter understanding of the crisis. Keywords:Carolina, acid mine drainage (AMD), Pat Metheny, transdisciplinarity, coal mining.Disciplines: History, water studies, music studies, transdisciplinarymethodology.
Extremal Sequences for the Bellman Function of the Dyadic Maximal Operator and Applications to the Hardy Operator
Authors: Nikolaos Nikolidakis Eleftherios 
Published: June 2016

AbstractWe prove that the extremal sequences for the Bellman function of the dyadic maximal operator behave approximately as eigenfunctions of this operator for a specific eigenvalue. We use this result to prove the analogous one with respect to the Hardy operator.
Analytical Study on Piezoelectric Effects on Exciton Dissociation
Authors: Kim SeongMin , Ha Jaewook , Kim Hyeok , Kim Jin-Baek 
Published: June 2016

AbstractWe analytically and numerically compute the Onsager dissociation rate (exciton dissociation) on an interface induced by a piezoelectric potential in an inorganicorganic hybrid p-n junction system (ZnO + (poly(p-phenylene vinylene)); PPV). When a positive piezoelectric potential is created at the interface region owing to the deformation of the system, free electrons accumulate at the interface. Hence, screening effects are observed. It is assumed that the electron layer formed at the interface then attracts free holes from the p-type PPV region, which leads to exciton formation, possibly via the Langevin recombination process. The increased exciton density can then contribute to the Onsager dissociation rate, which is maximum around the interface. This paper focuses on the role of piezoelectric effects in promoting exciton formation at the interface and its relation with the exciton dissociation rate.
A study of the concession speech by President Goodluck Jonathan
Authors: Okoye Adaobi Ngozi , Mmadike Benjamin Ifeanyi 
Published: June 2016

When language is used to communicate to an audience, the listeners are given an insight into the intention of the speaker. This study analyses the concession speech made by President Goodluck Jonathan. It adopts the speech act theory in the classification of the illocutionary acts which are contained in the speech. The simple percentage is used in computing the frequency of the various illocutionary acts. Our findings show a preponderance of the representative speech act and the absence of the directive.
Exposing the Transverse Acetabular Ligament in the Presence of Large Floor Osteophytes in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Sun Huaqiang , Li Shufeng , He Yeteng , Wang Teng , Yu Zhaolong , Yan Xinfeng 
Published: June 2016

Background/objective The transverse acetabular ligament (TAL) can be used to position the acetabular cup and may help to improve the accuracy of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, because the TAL may be covered by osteophytes, the ability to find the TAL varies greatly in the reported literature. In the present study, we introduce 2 methods and make a comparison between them to identify the easier procedure for finding an osteophyte-covered TAL. Methods During primary THA operations conducted from January 2012 to June 2015, a total of 100 patients (100 hips) were confirmed to have an osteophyte-covered TAL following the exposure of the acetabulum and removal of all soft tissues covering the TAL. These 100 patients were enrolled in this study. 2 methods were used to identify the TAL: the use of a bone chisel or a small reamer, and patients were allocated randomly to 1 of these 2 methods. The proportion of patients in whom TAL was identified was compared between the 2 methods using the chi-square test. Results The percentage of patients in whom the TAL was found using a bone chisel was 54.1% (26/48), whereas the percentage was 94.2% (49/52) in patients for whom a small reamer was used. The difference between the 2 methods was statistically significant (chi-square test, p<0.05). Conclusions The TAL can be found more easily with a small reamer than with a bone chisel.
Effect of Different Cleaning Methods of Polyetheretherketone on Surface Roughness and Surface Free Energy Properties
Authors: Heimer Sina , Schmidlin Patrick R. , Stawarczyk Bogna 
Published: June 2016

Purpose To determine the effect of different individual, laboratory and professional cleaning methods on the surface-roughness (SR) and surface free energy (SFE) of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), PMMA-based (PMMA) and composite (COMP) materials. Methods 330 specimens of PEEK, PMMA and COMP (N = 990) were prepared and divided into the following cleaning protocols (n = 30/group): (i) individual prophylaxis using (ST) soft, (MT) medium-hard and (SOT) sonic toothbrushes, (ii) in-lab cleaning protocols consisting of (SY) Sympro cleaning system, (SS) SunSparkle, (UB) ultrasonic bath and (AP) Al2O3-powder device and (iii) professional prophylaxis applying (PS) Perio Soft-Scaler, (SO) Sonicsys, (AFC) Air Flow Comfort, and (AFP) Air Flow Plus. After each protocol SR (profilometer), SFE (contact angle devise) and surface topography (SEM) were measured. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis, Kruskal-Wallis-H- and Mann-Whitney- U-test (p<0.05). Results No impact of material on SR was observed (p = 0.443). Cleaning using conventional air-abrasion and powders (AP), followed by AFC produced higher SR values than the remaining methods (p<0.001). Within SFE, the cleaning method exerted the highest influence on SFE values (p<0.001, ηP2 = 0.246), closely followed by the polymer material (p<0.001, ηP2 = 0.136). PMMA and PEEK presented after cleaning lower SFE than COMP. PS, UB and SO showed lower SFE than specimens cleaned using SS, ST and SY. Cleaning using SY led to the highest SFE. Conclusions With regard to SR, all methods – with exception of conventional air-abrasion – can be recommended to clean PEEK. According to the SFE, PEEK may be an acceptable material providing even lower plaque accumulation rates than COMP. The field for more research is now open for scrutiny.
Osteointegration in Cranial Bone Reconstruction: A Goal to Achieve
Authors: Sprio Simone , Fricia Marco , Maddalena Giuseppe F. , Nataloni Angelo , Tampieri Anna 
Published: June 2016

Background The number of cranioplasty procedures is steadily increasing, mainly due to growing indications for decompressive procedures following trauma, tumor or malformations. Although autologous bone is still considered the gold standard for bone replacement in skull, there is an urgent need for synthetic porous implants able to guide bone regeneration and stable reconstruction of the defect. In this respect, hydroxyapatite scaffolds with highly porous architecture are very promising materials, due to the excellent biocompatibility and intrinsic osteogenic and osteoconductive properties that enable deep bone penetration in the scaffold and excellent osteointegration. Osteointegration is here highlighted as a key aspect for the early recovery of bone-like biomechanical performance, for which custom-made porous hydroxyapatite scaffolds play a major role. There are still very few cases documenting the clinical performance of porous scaffolds following cranioplasty. Methods This paper reports 2 clinical cases where large cranial defects were repaired by the aid of porous hydroxyapatite scaffolds with customized shapes and 3D profiles (Fin-Ceramica, Faenza, Italy). Results In the long term (i.e., after 2 years), these scaffolds yielded extensive osteointegration through formation and penetration of new organized bone. Conclusions These results confirm that porous hydroxyapatite scaffolds, uniquely possessing chemico-physical and morphological/mechanical properties very close to those of bone, can be considered as a tool to provide effective bone regeneration in large cranial bone defects. Moreover, they may potentially prevent most of the postsurgical drawbacks related to the use of metal or plastic implants.