Food labels are imperative in consumers‟ decision-making process of packaged food products as they communicate important information such as expiry dates, nutrition information and information about allergies to the consumer. Especially during a first-time purchase, consumers rely on food labels to assist them in making their product choice easier. In the heterogeneous context of South Africa, consumers‟ product needs vary and one may assume that consumer needs in terms of food label information differ. Although food labelling is regulated in South Africa, it is still important that consumers are satisfied with labels due to their significant communicative function. However, to the knowledge of the author, little previous research exists on South African consumers‟ satisfaction with food labels. Therefore, this study aimed to explore and describe consumers‟ satisfaction with food labels based on a typical in-store encounter. The confirmation/disconfirmation paradigm had been used as theoretical foundation in this study and consumers‟ expectations and performance judgement of food labels were therefore explored and compared within the confirmation/disconfirmation paradigm. This study furthermore aimed to explore the influence of food labels on consumers‟ product choice as well as to determine the influence of demographic characteristics on consumers‟ expectations and performance judgement of food labels. Lastly, this study aimed to make recommendations to food regulators and manufacturers on how existing food labels could be improved in order to enhance consumer satisfaction. Based on the literature, satisfaction with food labels might be influenced by the information on food labels such as ingredient lists, expiry dates and nutrition information as well as attributes of food labels such as the readability, understandability, credibility and adequacy. Exploratory factor analysis used in the present study indicated that the information on food labels can be classified as either primary (ingredient list, expiry date, health and nutrition information, information about allergies and quality guarantee) or secondary (name of manufacturer, well-known logos or symbols, country of origin or geographical region, usage instructions and number of servings). A quantitative research method by means of a survey approach was used in this study over a period of three weeks. A total of 400 self-administered questionnaires were distributed at office buildings and business premises in the urban Gauteng Province in September 2010 by means of a non-probability sampling method. A total of 279 useful questionnaires were retrieved and data analysis was performed by Statistical Consultations Services of the North-West University using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). Results show that respondents were only partially satisfied with food labels as they were satisfied with secondary information, but dissatisfied with primary information as well as with label attributes. The results furthermore show that primary information tended to be more likely to influence respondents‟ product choice than secondary information. In addition, results show that demographics had little influence on respondents‟ expectations and performance judgement of food labels. Based on the findings of this study, recommendations can be made to regulators and manufacturers on how consumer satisfaction with existing food labels can be improved. Recommendations include the improvement of the overall readability, understandability, credibility as well as adequacy of food labels. Especially primary information and the way it gets portrayed should be considered for improvement to increase consumer satisfaction. / Thesis (M. Consumer Science)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011

Denna undersökning syftar till att undersöka vilka attribut som ska tas hänsyn till vid skapande av ikoner. Undersökningen utgår från en taiwanesisk undersökning där attribut har identifierats och undersökts med hjälp av grafiska designers. Som grund för ikonförståelse appliceras semiotik och Charles Sanders Peirces triadiska modell på ikoner. Intervjuer och enkäter har utförts för att rangordna attribut, samt diskutera dess relevans vid ikonskapande. Resultatet visar att kontext (kultur, ikonens placering, medium etc.) och målgrupp har mycket stor betydelse vid ikonskapande och respondenterna uppvisade därför svårigheter med att rangordna attributen. / This study aims to investigate what attributes to take into consideration when designing computer icons. The study is based on a Taiwanese study where attributes are identified and investigated by Taiwanese graphic designers. The theoretical basis is semiotics, Charles Sanders Peirces triad model in particular, applied on icons. Interviews and surveys has been executed to rate attributes as well as discussing their relevance to icon design. The results shows that context (culture, the placement of the icon, medium etc.) and target group is a high priority when creating icons and the respondents showed difficulties with rating the attributes.

Attempts to identify information as an asset has led to an increased awareness of the role of information in enhancing organisational performance. Central to this role is the identification of attributes of information assets which include quality, utility, productivity, effectiveness and financial and economic aspects. Measurement of attributes of information as an asset may provide an identifiable link between information management and improved business performance. Identifying attributes of information assets that are recognised and valued by senior managers in today's information-intensive UK organisations is a key step in developing evidence for a link between information management and organisational performance. The research study engaged with a range of stakeholders in the information as an asset domain, including: senior British information managers, senior executives and managers and internationally-active information professionals and academics. Open-ended guided interviews were conducted with stakeholders. Four case studies in information-intensive UK organisations formed the major data collection strategy. Findings highlighted the importance of customer information assets. The most important attribute identified was quality. Information assets and their attributes were linked to competitive advantage with customer involvement and management attention being the key issues identified. A grounded theory of information assets that takes competitive advantage as its core category, is proposed.

The aim of this study was to investigate empirically the extent of mandatory compliance with international accounting standards (IASs) by companies in the Gulf Co-Operation Council (GCC) member states - namely, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - between 1996 and 2002, and to explain why some companies comply more than others. Official personnel in the relevant enforcement bodies were interviewed to obtain information about their monitoring and enforcement activities. An index of compliance was devised to quantify the level of compliance. This was applied to the financial statements of 137 listed companies. Multivariate regression analysis was employed to explore the relationships between the level of compliance and particular attributes of the companies and year-by-year dummy variables. This was done to discover if the level of compliance with IASs was influenced only by company attributes or whether there were time trends as well. The attributes were country of origin, size, leverage, liquidity, profitability, auditor, industry, internationality, ownership diffusion and the company’s age. The average level of compliance for all companies and all years was 75% of the items in the index. No company within the examined time period fully complied with all requirements. The average level of compliance increased over time, though, from 68% in 1996 to 82% in 2002. There was significant variation in the level of compliance across the six GCC member states as well, but the level of compliance increased in all states over the sample period. The highest average level of compliance was in Saudi Arabia, where it reached 88% in the last year of the study. The degree of non-compliance with IASs across the GCC member states was partially attributable to limited monitoring and enforcement by the bodies responsible for overseeing financial reporting, and to the limited comprehensiveness of audits by external auditors. In addition to the role of the enforcement bodies and external auditors, several company attributes helped explain the level of compliance with IASs. Compliance variation increased with a company’s size, leverage and internationality. The level of compliance varied by industry too; however, company profitability, liquidity, ownership diffusion and whether the audit was conducted by a major international audit firm were found not to be significant factors.

Thesis (MSc Food Sc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Nectar formulations containing red-fleshed plum pulp and varying amounts of red-fleshed plum skin extract were developed. Red-fleshed plum nectar formulations containing 0, 8, 16, 24, and 32% skin extract were benchmarked against twenty-two commercial beverages containing red, violet and blue fruits. The total soluble solid content, pH, titratable acidity, colour, total polyphenolic, individual polyphenolic, total anthocyanin, and ascorbic acid contents, as well as antioxidant activity (oxygen radical antioxidant capacity (ORAC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP)) of the commercial beverages and plum formulations were determined. The plum nectar formulations had similar or higher total polyphenolic content, antioxidant activity, and colour values than the average for the commercial beverages. The individual polyphenolic compounds analysed in the nectar formulations were cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3- rutinoside, quercetin-3-glucoside, quercetin-3-rutinoside, quercetin-3-xyloside, and neochlorogenic acid. Increasing polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity was observed with an increase in skin extract content of the formulations. The sensory attributes of the formulations were plum and plantlike aroma, plum and plantlike flavour, sweetness, acidity, and astringency. Increases in plantlike aroma and flavour, acidity, and astringency in conjunction with decreases in plum aroma, plum flavour, and sweetness extract were observed with an increase in skin extract. Consumer analysis indicated that all formulations were acceptable. The 0 and 16% skin extract formulations were most preferred, while the 32% skin extract formulation was least preferred. A shelf-life study was conducted in two phases. In Phase 1, the 0, 16 and 24% skin extract formulations were stored at 0 and 5°C (analysis time points: before pasteurisation, after pasteurisation (week 0), and after 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 18, 20, and 24 weeks of storage). Chemical analyses conducted included colour, total polyphenolic, individual polyphenolic compound, and total anthocyanin contents, and antioxidant activity (DPPH• scavenging activity). Results from Phase 1 indicated close associations between the 16 and 24% skin extract formulations, and between these formulations and all chemical attributes. Regression analysis of results indicated significant (P 0.05) decreases in red colour, total anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3- rutinoside, DPPH• scavenging activity, total polyphenolic content, quercetin-3-rutinoside, and quercetin- 3-xyloside for formulations stored at 0°C. The total and red colour, total anthocyanins, cyanidin-3- glucoside, and cyanidin-3-rutinoside in formulations stored at 5°C showed similar results. During Phase 2 of the shelf life study, sensory analysis was conducted on the 0 and 24% skin extract formulations stored at 5°C (preparation time points: 0, 1, 2, and 3 months). Sensory attributes, including plum, plantlike, and raisin flavour, sweetness, acidity, and astringency, were stable during storage. Chemical results from Phase 2 were similar to those of Phase 1. The chemical and sensory stability of formulations after 24 weeks of storage in Phase 1 and Phase 2 indicated that, with the exception of the anthocyanin degradation, the formulations could be beneficial to juice industries. Thus, red-fleshed plum nectars have the potential to compete with high-antioxidant fruit beverages. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nektarformulasies wat rooivleis pruimpulp en varieërende hoeveelhede rooivleis pruimskilekstrak bevat, is ontwikkel en ondersoek. Rooivleis pruimnektarformulasies wat 0, 8, 16, 24, en 32% skilekstrak bevat, is vergelyk met twee-en-twintig kommersiële drankies wat rooi, violet en blou vrugte bevat. Die totale oplosbare vastestof, totale polifenoliese, individuele polifenoliese, totale antosianien- en askorbiensuur inhoude, sowel as die pH, titreerbare suurheid, kleur, antioksidant aktiwiteit (suurstofradikale antioksidantkapasiteit (ORAC), 2,2-difeniel-1-pikrielhidrasiel (DPPH) radikaal blussingsaktiwiteit, en ysterreduserende/antikoksidantkrag (FRAP)) van die kommersiële drankies en pruimnektarformulasies, is bepaal. Die pruimnektarformulasies het soortgelyke of hoër totale polifenoliese inhoud, antioksidantaktiwiteit, en kleurwaardes gehad in vergelyking met die gemiddelde vir die kommersiële drankies. Die individuele polifenoliese verbindings wat in die nektarformulasies geanaliseer is, was sianidien-3-glukosied, sianidien-3-rutinosied, kwersetien-3-glukosied, kwersetien-3-rutinosied, kwersetien-3-xylosied, en neochlorogeniese suur. ‘n Toenames in die kleurwaardes, polifenoliese inhoud, en antioksidantaktiwiteit is waargeneem met ‘n toename in skilekstrak is in die formulasies. Die sensoriese eienskappe van die formulasies was pruim- en plantagtige aroma, pruim- en plantagtige geur, soetheid, suurheid, en frankheid. Toenames in plantagtige aroma en geur, suurheid en frankheid, sowel as ‘n afname in pruimaroma, pruimgeur, en -soetheid, is met ‘n toename in skilekstrak waargeneem. Verbruikersanalise het aangedui dat al die formulasies aanvaarbaar was. Die 0 en 16% skilekstrakformulasies was die mees aanvaarbaarste, terwyl die 32% skilekstrakformulasie die minste aanvaarbaar geag is. ‘n Rakleeftydstudie is in twee fases gedoen. In Fase 1 is die 0, 16, en 24% skilekstrakformulasies by 0 en 5°C gestoor (analiseringstydpunte: voor pasturisasie, na pasturisasie (week 0), en na 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 18, 20, en 24 weke van berging). Chemiese analise wat gedoen is, sluit totale polifenoliese, individuele polifenoliese verbinding, en totale antosianien inhoude, sowel as kleur en antioksidantaktiwiteit (DPPH• blussingsaktiwiteit) in. Resultate van Fase 1 het ‘n nou verband tussen die 16 en 24% skilekstrakformulasies, sowel as tussen hierdie formulasies en hul chemiese kenmerke aangedui. Regressie-analise van resultate het betekenisvolle (P 0.05) afnames geïllustreer in rooi kleurwaardes, DPPH• blussingsaktiwiteit, sowel as totale antosianiene, sianidien-3-glukosied, sianidien-3-rutinosied, totale polifenoliese, kwersetien-3-rutinosied, en kwersetien-3-xylosied inhoude van die formulasies wat by 0°C gestoor is. Die totale kleur-, rooi kleurwaardes, sowel as totale antosianien, sianidien-3-glukosied, en sianidien-3-rutinosied in die formulasies wat by 5°C gestoor is, het soortgelyke resultate gegee. Gedurend Fase 2 van die rakleeftydstudie is sensoriese analise op die 0 en 24% skilekstrakformulasies wat by 5°C gestoor is, gedoen (voorbereidingstydpunte: 0, 1, 2, en 3 maande). Sensoriese eienskappe, insluitend pruim-, plantagtige-, en rosyntjiesmake, soetheid, suurheid, en frankheid, was stabiel gedurende berging. Chemiese resultate van Fase 2 was soortgelyk aan dié van Fase 1. Die chemiese en sensoriese stabiliteit van die formulasies na 24 weke van opberging in Fase 1 en Fase 2 nieteenstaande antosianienafname, het aangedui dat die formulasies voordelig kan wees vir die vrugtedrankiebedryf. Dus het rooivleis pruimnektars die vermoeë om met hoë antioksidant vrugtedrankies mee te ding.

Resumo: O Pólo Regional de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico do Agronegócio da Região Centro Norte em Pindorama, SP, com 532,8 ha possui quatro fragmentos florestais distribuídos em 120 ha classificados como floresta tropical estacional semidecidual do bioma Mata Atlântica. Transformados em Reserva Biológica (Lei Estadual nº 4960/86) detêm grande diversidade das espécies de ocorrência regional. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo caracterizar a vegetação arbórea de dois fragmentos pertencentes à Reserva Biológica de Pindorama - SP e sua possível variação florística e estrutural decorrente dos atributos de solos, de relevo, distância da borda e infestação da área. Foram demarcados dois transectos com parcelas sequenciais de 20 m x 20 m em fragmentos e solos distintos. Foi realizado um levantamento planialtimétrico usando as variáveis: declividade, altitude e disposição das parcelas ao longo do transecto. Foi sorteado um quadrante de 10 m x 10 m por parcela, para realizar as avaliações de granulometria e fertilidade do solo, bem como de identificação e classificação dos indivíduos arbóreos com diâmetro a altura do peito (DAP) ≥ 5,0 cm e dos seguintes descritores fitossociológicos: frequência, dominância e densidades relativas e absolutas, valor de importância (VI), Índice de Diversidade de Shannon (H'), Coeficiente de Equabilidade de Pielou (J) e o Índice de Similaridade de Jaccard (ISJ) entre as duas áreas. Em cada parcela de 20 m x 20 m foi avaliado o grau de infestação por plantas invasoras, a altura, o DAP, a área basal, e o distanciamento da borda das quatro maiores árvores. A caracterização da vegetação arbórea foi feita com o uso de análises estatísticas multivariadas dos dados obtidos. O Índice de Diversidade de Shannon (H') calculado foi 3,38 para as duas áreas e se encontra dentro da média para fragmentos de ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The Pólo Regional Centro Norte in Pindorama, SP, has a 120 hectares area constituted of forest remainders transformed into Biological Reserve by the law nº 4960/86 since a great diversity of regional occurrence species was withhold. These forest remainders are classified as seasonal semi-deciduous tropical forest of the Atlantic Forest biome. This work aimed carry out a phytosociological survey of two toposequences in different remainders and its possible soil attributes due variation and relief. To such work two transects were demarcated with sequential parcels of 20 m x 20 m. A topographic survey was carried out using the following variables: slope, height and localization of the plots throughout the profile. A quadrant of 10 m x 10 m was chosen randomly in each parcel and in its area an evaluation of the physical and chemical soil attributes using samples in the 0-20 cm depth composed of 20 sub-samples. In this quadrant the individuals with breast height diameter (DBH) ≥ 5,0 cm were identified, marked, classified and their phytosociology describers calculated: relative and absolute frequency and densities, value of importance (VI), Shannon Diversity Index (H '), Equability (J) and the Jaccard Similarity Index (ISJ) between the two areas. For each parcel the degree of weeds was evaluated adopting ten classes according the infestation percentage varying from null to very high. The hierarchic grouping test based on the soil physical and chemical attributes allowed a division in five groups of parcels. For each group the average values of each characteristic were determined, as well as recalculated the diversity species index, equability and the similarity between the groups index. It could be concluded that the hierarchic method grouping analysis showed efficient to separate groups of phytosociology sampling parcels in seasonal semi-deciduous tropical forest when it was ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Sergio Valiengo Valeri / Coorientador: Antônio Sérgio Ferraudo / Banca: Rinaldo César de Paula / Banca: Teresa Cristina Tarlé Pissarra / Banca: Sidney Rosa Vieira / Banca: Luiz Fernando Duarte de Moraes / Doutor

Magister Artium - MA (Psychology) / The present study aimed to determine the employment and employability profiles of alumni from structured professional Masters programmes in psychology. Issues of low enrolment rates and high attrition rates are at the fore of transformation efforts in the South African higher education sector. The concern of graduate employability and the relevance of skills training received to the labour market are of international concern. Graduate tracer studies have been successfully implemented internationally to attempt to understand these issues. Training relevance is of particular concern for the field of psychology in South Africa, as there is a significant shortage of mental health professionals. Understanding where graduates from professional Masters degrees in psychology find employment, as well as understanding their employability, may lead to greater absorption of graduates from these programmes into the workforce. Permission to conduct the present study and ethics clearance was obtained from the Senate Research Committee of the University of the Western Cape, and all relevant ethics principles were adhered to. An incentivised, online survey was conducted with a sample of 29 Masters-level graduates from two professional psychology programmes at a historically disadvantaged university. The study used a modified version of the Standard Instrument for Graduates. The survey had a 50% response rate (29 of 58) after at least four electronic reminders. Respondents graduated between 2008 and 2013, 13 from the clinical Masters programme and 16 from the research Masters programme. Descriptive statistics were used to depict the employment and employability profiles of the alumni. Most of the respondents were female (n=21), and about a third were first generation students (n=11). Most of the respondents were currently employed (n=25). They were employed in a variety of fields, predominantly health (n=10) and higher education (n=7), and largely clustered in the public sector (n=17). This suggested a transferability of skills. The training received was perceived to be relevant, in terms of accessing employment and conducting current work. Most of the clinical graduates were registered as clinical psychologists (n=12) with the Health Professionals Council of South Africa. There were varied registrations held by graduates from the research programme and some were not registered. The respondents held generally positive attitudes towards their alma mater. These descriptive results were interpreted through the use of McQuaid and Lindsay's (2005) framework of employability, based on the interaction between their individual factors, personal circumstances and external factors. Through this frame, the results highlighted the complex nature of the employability of these graduates.

Magister Artium - MA (Psychology) / The present study aimed to determine the employment and employability profiles of alumni from structured professional Masters programmes in psychology. Issues of low enrolment rates and high attrition rates are at the fore of transformation efforts in the South African higher education sector. The concern of graduate employability and the relevance of skills training received to the labour market are of international concern. Graduate tracer studies have been successfully implemented internationally to attempt to understand these issues. Training relevance is of particular concern for the field of psychology in South Africa, as there is a significant shortage of mental health professionals. Understanding where graduates from professional Masters degrees in psychology find employment, as well as understanding their employability, may lead to greater absorption of graduates from these programmes into the workforce. Permission to conduct the present study and ethics clearance was obtained from the Senate Research Committee of the University of the Western Cape, and all relevant ethics principles were adhered to. An incentivised, online survey was conducted with a sample of 29 Masters-level graduates from two professional psychology programmes at a historically disadvantaged university. The study used a modified version of the Standard Instrument for Graduates. The survey had a 50% response rate (29 of 58) after at least four electronic reminders. Respondents graduated between 2008 and 2013, 13 from the clinical Masters programme and 16 from the research Masters programme. Descriptive statistics were used to depict the employment and employability profiles of the alumni.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo estabelecer um procedimento metodológico e prático de estudo estratigráfico utilizando dados sísmicos, para bacias rifte, enfocando em análise tectônica e estratigráfica e sismofácies, especificadamente para bacias do tipo rifte. Para isso, foram utilizados os depósitos sedimentares do Grupo Lagoa Feia, Offshore da Bacia Campos, margem continental sudeste brasileira. O Grupo Lagoa Feia é caracterizado por sedimentos siliciclásticos, carbonáticos e evaporíticos depositados durante a fase rifte e pós-rifte. Linhas sísmica 2D, perfis litológico de poços exploratórios e testemunhos serviram como base de dados para suporte a este trabalho. Utilizando os conceitos fundamentais da sismoestratigrafia, padrão de refletores e dados litológico de poços, foram identificadas três sismofácies associados a meio-grabens da fase rifte: Sismofácies 1 (depósito de falha de borda) – tem sua ocorrência encaixada na falha de borda em uma zona ampla e bem definida; Sismofácies 2 (depósito de sedimentos finos) – amplamente identificada e grada lateralmente para a sismofácies 3; Sismofácies 3 (depósito de grainstones e rudstones) – têm ocorrência restrita e de ocorrência errática, tanto em zonas altas da margem flexural, quanto nas zonas profundas próximas do depocentro dos meiográbens analisados. Estas sismofácies identificadas nas linhas sísmica da Bacia de Campos foram transpostas para linhas selecionadas da Bacia de Santos, mostrandose operacional na definição de potenciais reservatórios. Uma quarta sismofácies distinta e de ocorrência pontual foi identificada. Esta sismofácies é caracterizada por forte descontinuidade nos refletores e efeitos de redução de amplitude, sendo identificada como vent hidrotermal. Auxiliado por exemplos da literatura, foram identificadas dez vents hidrotermais caracterizadas como do tipo dome e eye e identificados também, os dutos e corpos intrusivos associados a esta estrutura. Com os conceitos da estratigrafia de sequências adaptados para bacias do tipo rifte, foi proposto um arcabouço crono-estratigráfico que compreendeu unidades representativas de eventos distintos, com suas superfícies limítrofes (superfícies estratigráficas) e por vezes, superfícies funcionais (sem controle estratigráfico preciso). O arcabouço tectono-estratigráfico da sucessão rifte foi subdividido em uma fase prérifte, sin-rifte e pós-rifte. O intervalo sin-rifte foi subdividido com base nos padrões geométricos dos refletores, visto que as sismofácies analisadas não apresentavam padrões de empilhamento reconhecíveis, não permitindo assim definir variações específicas do nível de base relativo. Foram separados três tratos no intervalo sin-rifte da Bacia de Campos (i) Trato de Sistemas de Início de Rifte; (ii) Trato de Sistemas de Alta Atividade tectônica e (iii) Trato de Sistemas de Baixa Atividade Tectônica. Assim, o arcabouço estratigráfico aqui proposto apresenta um padrão evolutivo que compreende reservatórios jamais testados em diversos locais ainda não explorados da Bacia de Campos, facilitando assim campanhas exploratórias futuras. / This work aims to establish a methodological and practical procedure for the stratigraphic using study seismic data of rift basins, focusing on tectonic stratigraphic analysis and seismofacies, specifically for rift basins. For this, we used the sedimentary deposits of the Lagoa Feia Group, Offshore Campos Basin, southeast continental margin Brazilian. The Lagoa Feia Group is characterized by siliciclastic, carbonate and evaporite sediments deposited during the rift and post-rift phases. 2D seismic lines, exploration wells with core and lithological logs were the data employer. Using the fundamental concepts of sismoestratigraphy, reflector patterns and lithologic data from wells three seismofacies were identified associated with the halfgraben fill of the rift phase: Seismofacies 1 (fault-border deposits) occurrence restricted to the fault borders in a well-defined area; Seismofacies 2 (fine-grained deposits) are widespread and grade laterally to seismofacies 3; Seismofacies 3 (grainstone and rudstone deposits) have restricted and erratic occurrences in both areas of the flexural margin, as well as in the deep areas of the basin, near the depocenter of the analyzed half-grabens. These seismofacies identified on the seismic lines of the Campos Basin have been transposed into selected lines of the Santos Basin, proved to be operational in the definition of potential reservoirs. A fourth distinct seismofacies with a punctual occurrence has been identified. This seismofacies is characterized by strongly discontinuous reflectors and amplitude reduction effects, being identified as hydrothermal vents. Aided by examples from the literature, ten hydrothermal vents were identified, characterized as dome and eye types. Pipes and intrusive bodies associated with these structures were also identified. Sequences stratigraphy concepts were adapted to the rift basins, in order to propose a chrono-stratigraphic framework, which included representative units of different events, with their bordering surfaces (stratigraphic surfaces) and in some cases functional surfaces (no precise stratigraphic control). The tectonic-stratigraphic framework of the rift sequence was divided into a pre-rift, syn-rift and post-rift stage. The syn-rift range has been subdivided based on the geometric patterns of the reflectors. The seismofacies analyzed no showed stacking patterns recognizable and did not allow the definition specific variations of base level. Were separated into three tectonic systems tracts (i) Rift initiation systems tract; (ii) High tectonic activity systems tract and (iii) Low tectonic activity systems tract. Thus, the stratigraphic framework proposed here presents an evolutionary pattern which comprises untested reservoirs in unexplored areas of the Campos Basin, thus facilitating future exploration campaigns.

In June 2009, a 2.2 square mile 3-D high resolution seismic reflection survey was shot in southeastern Illinois in the Phillipstown Consolidated oilfield. A well was drilled in the 3-D survey area to tie the seismic to the geological data with a synthetic seismogram from the sonic log. The objectives of the 3-D seismic survey were three-fold: 1.) To image and interpret faulting of the Herald-Phillipstown Fault using drillhole-based geological and seismic cross-sections and structural contour maps created from the drillhole data and seismic reflection data, 2.) To test the effectiveness of imaging the faults by selected seismic attributes, and 3.) To compare spectral decomposition amplitude maps with an isochron map and an isopach map of a selected geologic interval (VTG interval). Drillhole and seismic reflection data show that various formation offsets increase near the main Herald-Phillipstown fault, and that the fault and its large offset subsidiary faults penetrate the Precambrian crystalline basement. A broad, northeast-trending 10,000 feet wide graben is consistently observed in the drillhole data. Both shallow and deep formations in the geological cross-sections reveal small horst and graben features within the broad graben created possibly in response to fault reactivations. The HPF faults have been interpreted as originally Precambrian age high-angle, normal faults reactivated with various amounts and types of offset. Evidence for strike-slip movement is also clear on several faults. Changes in the seismic attribute values in the selected interval and along various time slices throughout the whole dataset correlate with the Herald-Phillipstown faults. Overall, seismic attributes could provide a means of mapping large offset faults in areas with limited or absent drillhole data. Results of the spectral decomposition suggest that if the interval velocity is known for a particular formation or interval, high-resolution 3-D seismic reflection surveys could utilize these amplitudes as an alternative seismic interpretation method for estimating formation thicknesses. A VTG isopach map was compared with an isochron map and a spectral decomposition amplitude map. The results reveal that the isochron map strongly correlates with the isopach map as well as the spectral decomposition map. It was also found that thicker areas in the isopach correlated with higher amplitude values in the spectral decomposition amplitude map. Offsets along the faults appear sharper in these amplitudes and isochron maps than in the isopach map, possibly as a result of increased spatial sampling.