Consistent with the require-ment of KJO’s Safety Manage-ment System, the Executive Management Safety Review (EMSR) Team continued its effort to maintain and promote highest level of safety standards throughout KJO facilities by conducting the first EMSR for the year 2014. The review was conducted on the 20th of March 2014. The EMSR Team, consisting of Mr. Abdullah N. Al-Helal (Chairman – Joint Operations Committee), Mr. Moham-med R. Al-Khatib (Executive Director of Operations), Mo-hammed A. Al-Subaie (Acting Executive Director of Indus-

trial Services), Mr. Hussain Ali Al-Rashoud (Executive Direc-tor of Human Resources) and the department heads and representatives of concerned departments, visited MSSD & OND operations and facili-ties. Individual groups checked and verified the departments’ com-pliance with safety require-ments for shops and plants. Executive management’s pres-ence in those areas provided opportunities for interaction with operations and main-tenance crew, primarily to discuss safety and operational issues that clearly showed company’s active leadership

and interest in the personal safety of employees, on top of promoting safe and efficient operations.Following the tour, the Team headed for a presentation meeting at the Office Park Conference Hall. The meet-ing started with a welcome note by Mr. Mohammed N. Al-Ghamdi, Manager, and Industrial Security & Safety Department. This was fol-lowed by LPD Safety Engi-neer, Mr. Arnel Arcos who presented OND’s and MSSD’s safety performances including essential safety related issues requiring executive manage-ment’s urgent attention and

direction.Among the issues discussed were KJO safety awareness program implementation, safety and fire training en-hancement, relief valve inspec-tion and testing plus other relevant safety matters.In his closing remarks, Mr. Abdullah N. Al-Helal, JOC Chairman, conveyed his ap-preciation and gratitude to the host departments and to the EMSR team for their active participation in ensuring that safety is given its primary place in KJO’s operation as envisioned in the company’s HSE vision, mission and policy.

KGOC Board Members paid a visit to KJO on March 24th, overviewing the joint opera-tions activities, current projects and examining means of developing future operations. The Board delegation formed the membership of Deputy Chairman Saad Al-Ajmi, Sheikh Talal Al-Sabah, Ismael Abdullah, Mona Al-Obeid and Ali Al-Shammari. KJO formed a reception delegation consist-ing of Deputy CEO, KJO Eng. Yousef Ali, Board Secretary Bader Al-Harbi, Board Legal Counsel Mohammed Al-Sardi, A/C-JOC Eng. Mohammed Al-Khatib, A/EDI Eng. Mo-hammed Al-Subaie, EDP Eng. Mutlaq Al-Khodhair, EDH Eng. Hussain Al-Rashoud, A/EDB Eng. Salem Al-Bisher, C-JOC Consultant Abdulrauf Allarakia, KGOC General Coordinator Qais Fayrouz and KJO Managers. The visit cov-ered a presentation under the

title “KJO General Overview” at the Office Park. Al-Khatib delivered a welcoming state-ment to the delegation and left ISD Eng. Ahmed Al-Majhouli to deliver the safety note. Later a video was played about the joint operations history. There-after, A/EDB and Al-Bisher de-livered an overview about the joint operations achievements in various fields. TDD Superin-

tendent Eng. Fareed Al-Shalahi then presented TDD’s progress and achievements. CBD Super-intendent Naser Al-Eid came forward to present ongoing Offshore and Onshore Capital Projects. MEX Eng. Suleiman Malek presented his depart-ment’s achievements and finally MES Eng. Mohammed Khaleel presented the Nuwaiseeb Boarders Project which links

the two brother countries, which will facilitate employee’s transportation to and from their offices.Later the board members took an inspection visit in the south area where they were received by OND Superintendent Eng. Abdullah Al-Mutairi to provide them with a general overview over the projects and facilities.

View Point

KGOC Board Holds a Meeting with Consolidated Contractors Company C.C.C. Director

ISD Organizes a Presentation about Safety Culture Evaluation

KJO Hosts Saudi Aramco & Joint Venture Cyber Security Forum 2014

Oil Price (Monthly)Source : Opec

( US Dollar 104.99)

2

2

3

4

6 7

8

In This Issue

Year

6 V

ol.N

o: (5

2)Ap

ril 2

014AD-Dorra

M O N T H L Y N E W S

Panorama

Executive Management Safety Review TeamVisits Onshore Production (OND) and Main-tenance Support (MSSD) Offices & Facilities

KGOC Board Pays a Visit to KJO

Heavy Equipment Safety

Arctic Ozone Hole Looking Good

How to Operate Yard Machinery SafelyEavesdropping on brain cell chatter

Al-Helal posing with the EMSR Team

Part of the visitNon-vaccine Drug Ready to Fight Measles 5 Lessons In Learning And Leadership

Al-Hazza Inaugurates GCC Traffic Week in Al-Khafji

Year 6 Vol.No: (52) April 20142 Joint Operation’s News

KGOC CEO Eng. Ali Al-Sham-mari received at his office last month, Deputy Director of the In-ternational Consolidated Contrac-

tors Company (C.C.C.) Tawfeeq Khouri. The meeting was attended by Board Member Sheikh Ali H. Al-Sabah and the Deputy CEO,

Khafji Joint Operations Eng. Yousef Ali. The two parties discussed means to improve relations between the two companies and enhance

the level of cooperation. It is worth mentioning that C.C.C. is consid-ered one of the most prominent companies in the field of Contact-

ing and Engineering within the Middle East, performing number of petrochemical and petroleum core projects in the region.

Al-Khafji Governor Moham-med Bin Sultan Al-Hazaa inaugurated on March 9th this year, GCC 30th Traffic Week entitled “your safety is our goal” at Al-Khafji Traffic Police Department. The event was attended by representa-tives of Public Authority Members in Al-Khafji, the Traffic Police Authority as well as Khafji Joint Opera-tions.The opening ceremony kicked off with a recitation from the Holy Book followed by a statement delivered by Al-Khafji Traffic Police

Director, Colonel Saad F. Al-Humaidani, in which he gave a presentation of the Exhibits and works executed by the Traffic Police Department, in collaboration with KJOs’ PGD and ISD, to limit traffic accidents. The works include restruc-turing traffic lights of the roundabouts, placing speed bumpers before dangerous intersections and increasing traffic campaigns. Al-Hu-maidani concluded with an appreciative word to all Exhi-bition Supporters and KJO for successful deliverance of

this event. Al-Hazaa delivered a state-ment as well, he focused on traffic accidents that threatens the society and exhaust both manpower and resources. He emphasized that the work of the traffic police will be limited if the society won’t cooperate. He concluded with an appreciative word to the Traffic Police Depart-ment Director, C-JOC Eng. Abdullah Al-Helal and all supporters. Afterward the visitors took a tour around the exhibition and a group picture.

The Joint Operations signed an opera-tion agreement with Al-Riyadh Bank last February, in a ceremony held at EDB office. EDB Eng. Muhammed N. Al-Ajmi proceeded to sign the agreement on behalf of KJO top management. The signed agreement covers number of services to the joint operations as raising the effectiveness and the facility of the work flow and improve the work enterprise between the two parties. The signing ceremony was attended by MFA Saleh F. Al-Marri, FAD A/Super-intendent Yousef Al-Harbi, Al-Riyadh Bank Regional Manager of the Eastern Province Ibrahim F. Al-Shehri, Deputy of Al-Riyadh Bank Regional Manager Nawar M. AbuA’aysha and Al-Riyadh Bank Branch Manager in the divided zone Meqbel E. Al-Rasheedi.

Al-Hazza Inaugurates GCC Traffic Week in Al-Khafji

KGOC Board Holds a Meeting with Consolidated Contractors Company C.C.C. Director

KJO Signs an Operation Agreement with Al-Riyadh Bank

KJO EDB with Al-Riyadh Bank Regional Manager during the signing ceremony

Al-Shammari, Yousef Ali and Al-Sabah in a meeting with Tawfeeq Khouri

Al-Khafji Governor handing the Traffic Department’s gift to KJO representative A/EDI Eng. Mohammed Al-Subaie

Year 6 Vol.No: (52) April 2014 3Joint Operation’s News

Built on the basis of safety as a core role in the joint opera-tions, Intertek Company with ISD Loss Prevention Division held a presentation pertain-ing Safety Culture Evaluation as well as improving it at KJO. The event was attended by C-JOC Eng. Abdullah Al-Helal, EDO Eng. Moham-med Al-Khatib, A/EDI Eng. Mohammed Al-Subaie, EDH

Eng. Hussain Al-Rashoud, A/EDB Eng. Mubarak Al-Saeedi, KJO Managers and employees as well. ISD Loss Prevention Superintendent Eng. Moham-med Al-Marghalani welcomed the attendees and explained to all, the keenness of the joint operations toward raising the safety levels and creating a safety culture between the employees permanently, result-

ing in higher standards of work efficiency. MIS Eng. Moham-med Al-Ghamdi continued with the presentation and stated that the joint operations is adopting the finest work standards to raise the safety and security protocols in KJO. This however, doesn’t mean that internal safety courses would be sufficient for this purpose, as it will require the

joint operations to coopera-tively work with international consultation companies to evaluate the safety standards, as well as culture. He also dis-cussed the Safety Management System currently implemented at KJO.C-JOC then took the stage to discuss the important role of safety in the thriving and yet developing petrochemical,

oil and gas industry globally. Intertek Manager Mustafa Musa followed and delivered his presentation about safety culture, explaining the phases the joint operations would take upon implementing it. He explained that the results of the questionnaire given to all employees previously to evaluate the safety culture both on the personal and work pro-

tocols, has driven the results given in the presentation. He then discussed the work regu-lations, the main indicators of a safe work environment, the required safety levels needed to cause change as well as the policy and authority to stop insecure work operations. He concluded stating that safety is a joint responsibility.

In a brotherly atmosphere, ESD honored on Monday March 17th this year, three of its retirees after 28 years journey with KJO. The ceremony took place at KJO Mass Hall, receiving the following retires:

Nawaf J. Al-Shammari, Abdulkareem M. Al-Shammari and Nawaf B. Al-Enezi. MES Eng. Mohammed Khaleel, MTD Eng. Jamal Al-Fadalah, MEL Eng. Adel Abbas attended the ceremony among with the Department’s

Superintendents and Employees.Khaleel delivered a speech, extending his salute and remarks to the retirees and attend-ees. Later the retiree Eng. Nawaf Al-Sham-mari delivered the retirees reply, thanking all

KJO staff and ESD for the life experience that will never be forgotten. Afterwards MES came forward to hand the department retirees KJO gifts and later invited all to lunch.

ISD Organizes a Presentation about Safety Culture Evaluation

ESD Honors its Retirees

C-JOC giving a statement regarding safety culture

A group picture of the Department employees with MES Mohammed Khaleel in the middle

ISD performed a drill at KJO office park last month. It was supervised by ISD Loss Prevention Eng. Mohammed Al-Marghalani. The objective of this drill is to assess the emergency response level for fire outbreaks and medical cases. The drill took place at ELD Meeting Room at Nine am. The selected scenario was a fire outbreak resulting from a cigarette butt thrown in the dustbin, leaving behind two human casualties, due to smoke inhaling. The case was noticed

by the cleaning staff who called the emergency hotline 111. ISD members contacted the hospi-tal to send in the ambulance, as well as the fire brigadiers to the site and managed the situation in a record time. Before that, ISD evacuated the personnel in the building to Assembly points and later broke in to the site to fight the fire. The drill took an exact 30 minutes to handle the scenario, where every member made sure to act at the highest levels of professionalism.

EDD Technology and Data base Division organized in co-operation with Schlumberger Company, a four day training course between March 10th – 13th. The course covered main elements about Petroleum

Engineering applications used for reservoir management. Eight Reservoir Engineers attended the course which is related to Geological databases and engineering in the depart-ment, facilitating engineering

and petro physics analysis, as well as data follow up. This application is part of an in-novative projects chain, which the department is working on to develop their fields and oil reservoirs.

Drill: ISD Successfully Manages a Fire Outbreak in an Office EDD Holds a Petroleum Engineering Course

ISD team responding to the emergency

A group of trainees during the training course

Year 6 Vol.No: (52) April 20144 Joint Operation’s News

OND Mohammed Al-Saleh received the first place award in a photography competition organized on the sidelines of Off-shore Arabia 2014. The ceremony took place at Sheikh Mak-toom Hall in Dubai, where C-JOC Eng. Abdullah Al-Helal was present with EDP Eng. Mutlaq Al-Khodhair, MMT Eng. Odais Al-Qahtani, MEL Eng. Adel Abbas, with PGD employ-ees as well as other employees from the joint operations.

Al-Saleh participated in the event with number of photos that covered several themes. However the referee committee turned attention to Al-Saleh’s “The small green turtle” photo that eventually reaped the first place at the wildlife theme. Al-Saleh took this photo at Qarouh Island in Kuwait during the turtle hatching season. At Armani Hotel, Al-Saleh received a plaque and a winning award certificate from Offshore Arabia orga-

nizers in the presence of C-JOC Eng. Abdullah Al-Helal and KJO Management, amongst other participants in the competi-tion. Al-Helal praised and congratulated Al-Saleh saying that these talents should be invested by companies and organizations to improve the hobbies and enhance their image.

Mohammed Al-Saleh Reaps First Place in the Offshore 2014 Photography Competition

FAD Honors Al-Ajmi on the Occasion of his Appointment

Mohammed Al-Saleh receiving the first place award The winning photo

FAD celebrated last month with their former Manager Mohammed N. Al-Ajmi newly appointed as KJO EDB, gathering

with the department employees and their new MFA Eng. Saleh F. Al-Marri. The celebration came as an initiative from the

department’s employees in appreciation for Al-Ajmi’s outstanding efforts in his former department. The ceremony took

place in the Cultural Tent, where Al-Ajmi received an honoring plaque and later, all were invited to lunch.

A group picture of the department employees with Al-Ajmi

Al-Helal, Al-Junaidi, Al-Qahtani and Al-Saleh during the ceremony

Year 6 Vol.No: (52) April 2014 5Joint Operation’s News

Under the patronage of C-JOC Eng. Abdullah Al-Helal, on Wednesday morning, March 19th, Saudi Aramco & Joint Ventures Cyber Security Forum 2014 was inaugurated at the KJO Cultural tent. The entitled ceremony “Together against Cyber-attacks” was attended by A/EDI Eng. Mohammed A. Al-Subaie, EDB Eng. Mubarak Al-Sa’edi as well as many company delegates and members of KJO’s ITD. Due to the crucial role the cyber security plays world-wide; Saudi Aramco strives relentlessly to hold these important events every three months with its corporates. The participating companiesSaudi Aramco held this event in the presence of many companies as SAS-REF, Yasref, Petro Rabigh, SATORP, Cisco and KJO.

The WorkshopThe main objectives of the workshop were to develop an integrated communica-tion channel to respond to cyber security incidents, handling cyber security attacks and threats through implementing a sustain-able list of procedures at the company’s facilities, as well as developing poli-cies and tools to face cyber threats and emergencies. The workshop also covered other core topic concerning the Readiness Assessment Program which will improve the cyber security system at the company and the corporates, to face the rapid cyber-attacks and collabo-rate effectively to develop immunity.

Quick responseThe workshop kicked off with a word delivered by the

workshop presenter Eng. Yahya Assiri, who communi-cated the workshop program and introduced company delegates and their busi-nesses. Afterwards, C-JOC Eng. Abdullah Al-Helal took floor stating the impor-tance of these events where professionals come together and share their experience in the cyber safety and security, to prevent cyber-attacks. Al-Helal reiterated the necessity to prevent cyber-attacks both externally and inter-nally. He closed his state-ment by thanking MIT Eng. Nabeel Al-Najrani and ITD staff for their preparations and valuing the corporates’ quick response to attend the event, which is part of the Regional Centre for Cyber security functions.

WorksheetA worksheet was intro-

duced in the workshop by Saudi Aramco pertaining the current cyber security state regarding the control of companies’ authoriza-tion and entry. SASREF also took part in the event by presenting an analytical study about network entry control. Yasref also shared a worksheet in regards to the challenges and success factors upon implementing the suggested recommen-dations. In another event, Rabigh also shared their ex-perience in adjusting infor-mation security. Thereafter, three seminars were held to discuss the cyber security. The first seminar discussed IT Security, delivered by KJO ITD Eng. Khalid Al-Balawi. The second seminar discussed Network Entry Control Project by SA-TORP and the final seminar

discussed the information security administration by Cisco. The event was finally concluded with a Readiness Assessment workshop to tackle cyber security threats.

ImpressionsSATORP Eng. Moham-med A. Al-Ruwaie said that he was keen to attend all the sessions in the forum due to the outstanding efforts he witnessed in the Joint Operations and he looks forward to attend and participate again with the joint operations in the future. He also conveyed a message of regard to C-JOC Eng. Abdullah Al-Helal for taking the time and attend-ing this event, regardless of the amount of work filling his work schedule, to voice an important message and delivering the forum to success.In another interview with Saudi Aramco Dr. Sami A. Al-Malghooth, he said that

the work commenced since 2003 and the base concep-tion was introduced by Abdulaziz Al-Abdulkareem, where Saudi Aramco has first started in Dhahran and carried on its development till it reached Al-Jubail, Rabigh, and Yanbu and finally made it to the joint operations. He also stated that the development of this project didn’t require Saudi Aramco to phase from its current quarters in Dhahran, but hold workshops with Specialists due to its strong belief in cyber security.

The Next EventAt the end of the event, MIT Eng. Nabeel Al-Najra-ni thanked all the partici-pants and attendees for their effective contribution. Later he called for a vote to decide on where the next event will take place. The unanimous vote was given to SASREF.

KJO Hosts Saudi Aramco & Joint Venture Cyber Security Forum 2014

Workshop presenter Eng. Yahya Assiri

Al-Helal amidst the attendees of the forum

Al-Helal delivering the opening statement

6 Panorama Year 6 Vol.No: (52) April 2014

Here in the Boston, Cambridge we are lucky, there’s a college around every corner. Harvard, M.I.T., Wellesley, Boston University, the list goes on and on. Our streets, libraries and local coffee shops are clogged with passion-ate students shelling out 40k (plus extras) a year for the privilege of earning those coveted diplomas.I hate to be a bubble-burster, but some of them may be overpaying. Please don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge proponent of education, and a degree from a top-flight school still counts. But we’re seeing a sea change in the kind of learning the marketplace is demand-ing. That start-up in Silicon Valley or Wil-liamsburg, Brooklyn cares more about your passion, social-media skills and ability to keep learning than it does about that little piece of paper from your alma mater. And established companies are realizing that they need people who have their pulse on emerging knowledge, innovation and markets. In a nutshell: these days the learning curve stops at the grave and starts very early in our careers.So whether you’re a leader, manager, employee or freelancer, it’s time to start actively learning to maintain career momentum. Please, no groans. I’m not talking about homework and pop quizzes. I’m talking about igniting your curiosity, following your bliss, and exploring the infinite possibilities of real-world, social media and online learning.Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

Here are 5 steps to jump start your adventure in learning:1. Take inventory. What are your strengths, and more importantly, what are your weak-nesses and limitations? This is both in relation to your organization, and to the larger world of work. Write them down. Be honest. This inventory is your roadmap to action.2. Know your options. You need to know what’s out there: where are the on-line cours-es, social media, and real-world, non-digital opportunities to learn? Stay focused on two things: first, what will help you bolster your strengths, up your performance, and grow as a leader; and second, what excites you. Which

leads me to:3. Follow your passion. We all remember sitting through classes that bored us to tears. Invariably we did poorly in those subjects. There may be some basics you need to know for the specific demands of your work. Nail those. Then turn to what turns you on. Follow your natural curiosity. Obviously, this can’t be the extinct birds of Borneo? Or can it? If some subject or endeavor really stimulates you, it may well contain nuggets of applicable, actionable wisdom. Make a list of what excites you. Find online communities of like-minded people. And watch the sparks fly and the learning start.

4. Put first things second. Once you’ve got the learning bug and know where to go to find your fix, start thinking in terms of your cur-rent project. At the end of the day, delivering sustained, stellar performance is what learning is all about. Find that piece of the project that most ignites your passion, and dive into the learning pool in search of actionable knowl-edge, skills, and insights. Look at your current project through this learning lens. Today.5. Teach to learn. Teaching is an amazing learning tool. Find someone whose curios-ity dovetails with yours, but where you have more knowledge and/or skills. Mentor this person. Pass on what you know. Engage. Give back. In the doing, your own know-how will be refreshed and replenished. And you will learn from your mentee. I guarantee it. His or her questions will force you to expand your knowledge, and her beginners’ minds will deliver fresh insights. You will be renewed. A variation of this is to find a peer and become learning partners. Two brains are better than one; your curiosity and hers will spark new explorations, your passionate exchanges will strengthen you both.Lifelong learning used to be a cozy catch-phrase popular in retirement communities aiming at the PBS/NPR demographic. No more. Today, it is an imperative for a sus-tained, successful, fulfilling career. And that’s the most important lesson of all. Every single generation. Every one of us.http://www.forbes.com/

A drug that could contain measles outbreaks works on animals, researchers reported to-day. In animals infected with a virus closely related to the one that causes the measles, the drug reduced the virus, prevented death and promoted immunity.The drug is cheap to produce and shelf-stable, and it could be stockpiled if approved for humans in or-der to suppress local outbreaks, researchers said. Such a drug could help permanently eradicate the disease.Despite a global initiative to eradicate measles begun over a decade ago, measles deaths have hovered around 150,000 since 2007 due to insufficient vaccine in developing countries combined with parental concerns about vaccines in first world countries, Dr. Rich-ard Plemper of the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University said in a press conference.“People have collectively forgotten the dangers of this disease,” he said. “It’s the most contagious virus that we have today.”That led Plemper to collaborate with the Emory Center for Drug Development and the Paul-Ehrlich Institute in Germany on an oral drug that could treat people who have

had contact with someone infected with the measles virus but who have not developed symptoms.It’s not, he emphasized, an alternative to vac-cination.“We decided we may need to combine efforts to eradicate it,” he said, since “at the end of the day, it’s an individual decision [to vac-cinate].”“The emergence of strong antiviral immunity in treated animals is particularly encourag-ing, since it suggests that the drug may not only save an infected individual from disease but contribute to closing measles immunity gaps in a population,” Plemper said in a press release.Research is in early stages; it could be years before the drug would be available to humans. Researchers plan to study potential toxicity in monkeys next.http://news.discovery.com/

Handling heavy equipment can be dangerous on many levels, as it may result in catastrophic situations leading to injuries and losses. The labor power within the field should keep a sufficient background knowl-edge to be able to utilize these equipment to ensure safety at all time. As it may be suggested below there is a list of informa-tion that may assist the reader but it requires a further reading into manuals and placing pre-cautions before proceeding. General Heavy Equipment SafetyMake sure no person or pet is standing close to you when operating outdoor power equipment. Communicate to family members that they never should approach you unannounced when you’re operating power equipment. Wear tight-fitting clothing (long pants, long-sleeve shirt), goggles, ear protection, and rugged, slip-resistant footwear. If you have long hair, tie it back. When you have to unclog the discharge chute of power equipment, stop the engine and use a stick to remove the debris, not your hands.

Don’t let your body come into contact with any part of power equipment that gets hot. Don’t leave power equipment running unattended. Heavy Equipment Safety for Electrical DevicesMake sure the ON / OFF switch is in the OFF position before plugging device into an outlet. You shouldn’t use any power equipment under wet condi-tions, but this goes doubly for electrical power equipment. Don’t take extension cords for granted. Old, nicked up exten-sion cords should be replaced. Make sure extension cords are the right size for the device’s electric current capacity. Be conscious of the where-

abouts of the cords at all times, so that you don’t trip over them or sever them with your power equipment. Unplug electric power equip-ment prior to making any adjustments to it. Heavy Equipment Safety for Gas-Powered DevicesDisconnect the spark plug wires prior to making any adjustments, as when you tune up lawn mowers Don’t refill a gas tank while the device is running or when the engine is still hot, and wipe up any spillage. Don’t leave gas-powered ma-chines running in an enclosed area. Store gas in a proper contain-er, clearly marked, G-A-S. http://landscaping.about.com/

Management

5 Lessons In Learning And Leadership

Health

Non-vaccine Drug Ready to Fight Measles Safety

Heavy Equipment SafetyHow to Operate Yard Machinery Safely

7PanoramaYear 6 Vol.No: (52) April 2014

Everything we do -- all of our movements, thoughts and feelings -- are the result of neurons talk-ing with one another, and recent studies have suggested that some of the conversations might not be all that private. Brain cells known as astrocytes may be listening in on, or even participating in, some of those discussions. But a new mouse study suggests that astro-cytes might only be tuning in part of the time -- specifically, when the neurons get really excited about something. This research, published in Neuron, was sup-ported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health.For a long time, researchers thought that the star-shaped astro-cytes (the name comes from the Greek word for star) were simply support cells for the neurons.It turns out that these cells have a number of important jobs, including providing nutrients and signaling molecules to neurons, regulating blood flow, and remov-ing brain chemicals called neu-rotransmitters from the synapse. The synapse is the point of information transfer between two neurons. At this connection point, neurotransmitters are released from one neuron to affect the elec-trical properties of the other. Long arms of astrocytes are located next to synapses, where they can keep tabs on the conversations going on between neurons.In recent years, it has been shown that astrocytes may also play a role in neuronal communication. When neurons release neurotrans-

mitters, levels of calcium change within astrocytes. Calcium is criti-cal for many processes, including release of molecules from the cell, and activation of a host of proteins within the cell. The role of this astrocytic calcium signaling for brain function remains a mystery.In this study, Baljit S. Khakh, Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles and his colleagues wanted to know when astrocytes responded to neuron activity with changes in their internal calcium levels. Using cal-cium indicator dyes, the research-ers were able to image, for the first time, changes in calcium levels in the entire astrocyte. Previously, it was only possible to look at certain

areas of the cell at one time, which provided an incomplete picture of what was happening.Dr. Khakh said one of the most important outcomes of this work was in the methods that were used. “What our use of these calcium indicators shows is that we can image calcium throughout the entire astrocyte. This provides a new set of tools for the research community to use and to extend these findings,” he said.“There has been intense interest in understanding how astrocytes facilitate communication between neurons, but it is only recently that studies with this level of precision have been possible,” said Edmund Talley, Ph.D., program

director at NINDS. “Dr. Khakh’s study is an example of an exciting basic, or fundamental, research project that could have an impor-tant contribution to the shifting field of astrocyte biology,” he added.For these experiments, research-ers focused on the mossy fiber pathway, which connects two areas of the hippocampus, the structure involved in learning and memory. “This pathway has a unique architecture and although it has been very well studied, the role of astrocytes in this circuit has not been previously explored. This study provides one of the first really detailed understandings of astrocytes within this particular circuit,” said Dr. Khakh.Dr. Khakh’s team activated neurons (getting them to release neurotransmitter by a variety of techniques) and then looked for a response in the neighbor-ing astrocyte. As calcium levels rose, the astrocyte would light up quickly. They discovered that two neurotransmitters, glutamate and GABA, triggered the astrocytes to release calcium from their internal stores. Importantly, the research-ers discovered that calcium levels increased through the entire astrocyte only if there was a large burst of neurotransmitter being released.“We found that astrocytes in the mossy fiber pathway do not listen to the constant, millisecond by millisecond synaptic chatter that neurons engage in. Instead, they listen when neurons get excessively excited during bursts of activa-tion,” said Dr. Khakh.

“We found that astrocytes in the mossy fiber pathway do not listen to the constant, millisecond by millisecond synaptic chatter that neurons engage in. Instead, they listen when neurons get excessively excited during bursts of activa-tion,” said Dr. Khakh.These findings suggest that astro-cytes in the mossy fiber system may act as a switch that reacts to large amounts of neuronal activity by raising their levels of calcium. These calcium increases occur over multiple seconds, a relatively long time period compared to that seen in neurons. The spatial extent of the astrocyte calcium increases was also relatively large in comparison to the size of the synapse.“Astrocytes may be sitting there quietly and when there is exces-sive activation in the neuronal circuit, they immediately respond with an increase in calcium which we could detect. And the next big question becomes, what they do with that calcium?” said Dr. Khakh.Dr. Khakh’s results in the mossy fiber system differ from those oth-ers have described in other brain regions. This raises the intriguing possibility that astrocytes are not all the same and may serve various roles throughout the brain.“It would be really interesting and important to find that astrocytes function differently in different areas of the brain, in a circuit-specific manner. This study gives a hint that this might be true,” said Dr. Talley.

With a boost from Mother Na-ture, the worldwide ban on ozone-depleting chemicals stopped Arc-tic ozone from disappearing and forming an “ozone hole” similar in size to Antarctica’s, a new study finds.“It seems like we did just the right thing at the right time,” said Susan Solomon, an atmospheric chemist at MIT and lead study author. “It’s quite a success story.”Looking back at some 50 years of Arctic ozone records, Solomon and her co-authors found no evidence that Arctic ozone levels have dropped to the extremes seen above Antarctica. Though described as a “hole,” the area over Antarctica actually represents the partial to complete disappearance of Earth’s protective ozone layer. This protective ozone layer has yet to vanish above the Arctic.But it turns out that Arctic ozone

is protected by more than just environmental limits, the study also finds.Natural differences between the Arctic and Antarctica, including warmer temperatures over the Arctic, different geographies and different sunlight amounts, kept ozone above the North Pole from disappearing as quickly it did above the South Pole. “The main difference is a few degrees of extra

cold temperature,” Solomon told Live Science. “Antarctica really is the coldest place on Earth. The few degrees of extra cooling make a big difference in how effectively you destroy ozone.”The findings were published today (April 14) in the journal Proceed-ings of the National Academy of Sciences.Ozone in the stratosphere helps block damaging ultraviolet-B

(UV-B) radiation from the sun. The stratosphere is the layer of Earth’s atmosphere above the one humans live in, which is called the troposphere.The ozone-destroying chemicals are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), banned in 1987 by the Montreal Protocol. Manufacturers had used CFCs in aerosols like hairspray, as well as in air conditioners, refrig-erators and cleaning solvents.Researchers confirmed the link between the recurring Antarctic ozone hole and CFCs in the early 1980s. The chemicals linger for decades in the atmosphere, slow-ing recovery of ozone, which is constantly made and destroyed in the stratosphere. Chlorine from CFCs tilts this chemistry more toward destruction.Solomon and her co-authors com-pared how CFCs attack protective ozone in different layers of the

atmosphere above the Arctic and Antarctica. One of the biggest Arctic ozone losses in 30 years, in 2011, sparked the study. Unusually cold temperatures in the Arctic drove that loss.The researchers compared the 2011 Arctic extreme to conditions in Antarctica, and also looked at ozone data extending back to the 1960s.The lowest ozone concentrations occur when air temperatures are minus 112 degrees to minus 121 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 80 degrees to minus 85 degrees Celsius), the researchers found. These extremely cold temperatures are closely linked with low nitric acid levels in the air, a key step in the chemical chain that destroys ozone, the study shows. And such bitter cold is much more common above Antarctica.http://news.discovery.com/

Science

Eavesdropping on brain cell chatter

Environment

Arctic Ozone Hole Looking Good

From KJO Archive

Technology

Training Superintendent Suleiman Al-Qathi and his Assistant Rabeh Al-Rabeh honoring Fireman Mohammed

Turki Al-Mutari and Behind Ahmed Khalid, Saleh Al-Naffesi and Ibraheem Al-Khatib.

Dr. Adnan Mehrez

Self-esteem and leadership

Open Invitation to write in Ad-DoraAre you interested in writing? Would you like to share your knowledge with your colleagues? Contact

our editorial on the following number 4155 or via Ramezihm@kjo.com.saEditor-in-Chief Eng. Riyadh Abdulrahman Al-Hassan

Chairman Eng. Abdullah Al-Helal

Editorial

Managing Editor Faris F. Al-Subaie

Graphic Designer Mustafa ChoorappulanMultimedia ProcessorPhotographers Mahmoud Al- Refaei - Julio Vinas - Ali Al-Shammari

Salem Al-Dousary - Mohammed A. Abdulrahim - Mohammed H. Al-Ramezi

AD-DorraM O N T H L Y N E W S

Arm .. War injuries boost advancesTechnology has always strived to match the incredible sophistication of the human body. Now electronics and hi-tech materials are replacing whole limbs and organs in a merger of machine and man.Later this year a team of research-ers will try out the first bionic eye implant in the UK hoping to help a blind patient see for the first time. It is one of the extraordinary medical breakthroughs in the field, which are extending life by years and providing near-natural movement for those who have lost limbs.Injured soldiers have fuelled bionics research in prosthetic limbs. A uni-versity in the US has developed one of the most advanced bionic arms with military funding. It has nearly as much dexterity as a natural arm and independent finger movement.It responds to the user’s muscles that remain in their residual limb. Muscles generate small electrical signals when they contract, these can be detected by sensors placed on the surface of the skin. The bionic arm uses these, so that contract-

ing different muscles produces specific move-ment, such as opening or closing a fist.One of the next steps is to work on using brain implants to control the arm. Initial work with the MPL has used brain cell signals to enable a patient to stroke his partner’s hand with his robotic one.http://www.bbc.com/news/health-17235058

Can you build a human body?

Self-esteem is essential possession if you seek success and excellence. Deficiency or lack of Self-esteem upset the balance of power you have.

What is self-esteem? Self-esteem refers to how much you value yourself and how impor-tant you think you are. It’s a measure of how you see yourself and how you feel about your life and your achievements. Basically, it is a collection of your believes of yourselves and the feeling that you are valuable person who is valuable for receiving love and for receiving other people’s care. Self-esteem is related to many aspects of personality. It is related to an ability of sempathizing with others. If a person thinks he is not loved or he is always in trouble and unlucky, he doesn’t have enough energy to read other people’s mind and he can’t respond to it prop-erly. Therefore, he has distorted viewpoint. It makes misunderstand-ing more and more, which makes a person has difficulty in making healthy social relationship with others. A person with high self-esteem usually has good leadership. If a per-son has affection for himself, he is warmhearted, so he can under-stand others’ mistakes or bad behavior without blame. At the same time, he can lead to a desirable result coping with others and respect-ing each person’s opinions and their strength.Every individual needs to have self-esteem, quite simply because it af-fects every aspect of one’s life. Having a good self-esteem is essential, because it helps you feel good about yourself and everything you do. It translates into belief in yourself, giving you the courage to try new things. When you have a good self-esteem, you will know that you’re smart enough to make your own decisions. When you honor yourself, you will make choices that nourish your mind and body. You will value your safety, your feelings and health. Therefore, you will choose to make healthier eating choices, exer-cising, or taking time off to do something you like (without feeling guilty about not doing something for somebody else).If you do not have a good self-esteem, then it’s time you work on hav-ing a better image of yourself thereby improving the overall quality of your life.you have to have high self-esteem in order to feel comfortable in a leadership position where you’re telling everyone what to do. And the empathy part makes sense too. If you can’t understand people around you, your self-esteem will go down.

CALL FOR EMERGENCY 111

8 View Point Year 6 Vol.No: (52) April 2014

Ahmed Al-Azmi