bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Architecture of Adaptive Lignin Biosynthesis Navigating Environmental Stresses in Plants
Authors: Jalal Abdul , Wang Yongli , Cai Chenyang , Ayaz Aliya , Alabbosh Khulood Fahad , Khan Khalid Ali , Han Song , Zhu Daochen
Published: December 2024

In natural ecosystems, plants are under continuous environmental stresses, compromising plants' survival and propagation. Being sessile in nature, plants evolved various signalling pathways to cope with adverse changing environments, and to optimise their adaptation to terrestrial conditions. The plant cell wall, rich in polymers, is actively engaged in the signalling process. In this context, the phenylpropanoid pathway, producing protective secondary metabolites like flavonoids and lignin, played a crucial role in the early plants' colonisation on land. In this review, we highlighted the current knowledge and the impending gaps of lignin biosynthesis in plants, and the hydrophobic and impervious properties of lignin facilitating effective transportation of solutes and water within vascular system along with its significance to protect plants from environmental stressors either abiotic like temperature, drought, salinity and heavy metals or biotic such as herbivorous insects, root‐knot nematodes and phytopathogens. Additionally, the identification of essential biosynthetic genes that play a role in regulating lignin biosynthesis, as well as their contribution to improving stress tolerance through modifications in lignification of cell wall and biochemical mechanisms of lignin in the evolution of land plants are discussed, including the synergistic action of dirigent proteins and laccase in producing monolignol radicals. This discussion provided future research direction to develop genetic engineering approaches to improve lignin in terrestrial plants and develop stress‐tolerant plants that will improve the resilience and survival of plants under challenging environmental conditions.
Regulation of Clusterin in the Heart and Plasma of Mice After Transverse Aortic Constriction
Authors: Turkieh Annie , Weber Lukas , Chwastyniak Maggy , Baydar Simge , Beseme Olivia , Ernst Matthias , Ye Quianling , Amouyel Philippe , Podesser Bruno K. , Kiss Attila , Pinet Florence
Published: December 2024

Chronic pressure overload induces adverse cardiac remodelling characterised by left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and fibrosis, leading to heart failure (HF). Identification of new biomarkers for adverse cardiac remodelling enables us to better understand this process and, consequently, to prevent HF. We recently identified clusterin (CLU) as a biomarker of cardiac remodelling and HF after myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to investigate whether CLU expression is regulated in the heart and could be used as an indicator of adverse cardiac remodelling in response to pressure overload. We quantified CLU in the LV of mice subjected to transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and observed increased CLU mRNA levels and its mature protein form (m‐CLU) compared to the sham. Interestingly, CLU mRNA levels were positively correlated with pro‐hypertrophic (ANP, BNP, B‐MHC), pro‐ and anti‐fibrotic (TGFb, ColI and CILP) genes. In addition, m‐CLU was positively correlated with LV hypertrophy, LV end diastolic and systolic diameters, and negatively correlated with LV ejection fraction. Finally, we observed that m‐CLU levels only increased in TAC mice with severe cardiac remodelling and dysfunction without any significant difference in plasma CLU levels. This is the first study to demonstrate that cardiac expression of CLU is induced in the LV of TAC mice during adverse cardiac remodelling. However, plasma CLU levels could not be used as biomarkers of TAC‐induced cardiac remodelling and dysfunction.
Molecular Identification of Spironucleus vortens From the Digestive Tract of Discus (Symphysodon discus Heckel, 1840) and Its Association With Mixed Bacterial Coinfection
Authors: Pastuszka Anna , Puk Krzysztof , Guz Leszek
Published: December 2024

This study presents the first case in Poland of isolation and molecular identification of the Spironucleus vortens parasite from the digestive tract of diseased ornamental fish belonging to the species discus fish (Symphysodon discus Heckel, 1840). Recently, an increasing percentage of fish submitted for testing to the Department of Biology and Fish Diseases, have been observed that show typical symptoms of hole‐in‐the‐head disease, therefore it is important to have accurate information about this disease. In preparation of this work, two fish were studied. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) used a pair of primers designed specifically for this experiment. The amplification product was sequenced and the partial sequence of small ribosomal subunit (18S rRNA) was deposited in the GenBank database. The obtained nucleotide sequence showed a high percentage of identity with the compared sequence of the S. vortens reference strain (98.52%). Additionally, the presence of potentially dangerous bacteria belonging to four species, namely Citrobacter braakii, Acinetobacter lwoffi, Pseudomonas putida and Comamonas testosteroni was confirmed in the material collected from the tested fish. Bacterial isolates were examined biochemically. An antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that in three of the four isolates there appeared resistance to the drugs used.

Trial Registration: Clinical trial registration was not required for this study.
Recovery and Survival of Aerosolized Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium on Food‐Grade Rubber, HDPE Plastic, Stainless Steel, and Waxed Cardboard
Authors: Le Tuan , Eifert Joseph D. , Etaka Cyril A. , Strawn Laura K.
Published: December 2024

Contamination of food contact surfaces by airborne transmission of pathogens from the environment has contributed to disease outbreaks. Therefore, this study evaluated the survival and recovery of aerosolized generic Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium from four food contact surfaces (food‐grade silicone rubber, high‐density polyethylene [HDPE] plastic, stainless steel, and waxed cardboard), after four contact times (10, 20, 40, and 60 min), two relative humidity (RH) levels (high: 80%–90%, low: 40%–50%), three distances from aerosolization source (0, 36.5, and 73 cm; E. coli only), and with and without airflow (E. coli only). ANOVA test with Tukey's HSD at α = 0.05 was used to determine how treatment combinations influenced recovery. At high humidity, E. coli recovery on all materials after 40 min was ~1.0 log lower than recovery after 10 min, and further reduced by 1.0 log at 60 min. At lower humidity, E. coli recovery on all materials was ~1.0 log lower at 10 and 20 min compared with high humidity. Distances exerted no significance, whereas airflow presence lowered E. coli recovery. E. coli survival on all materials declined from ~5.0 log CFU/coupon at 0 h to 3.5 log CFU/coupon at 6 h, and 2.0 log CFU/coupon at 24 h post‐inoculation. E. coli recovery was significantly lower (p < 0.05) on waxed cardboard. Low RH and longer contact time reduced E. coli recovery but not E. faecium. E. faecium recovery was consistent across treatment combinations, with changes < 0.5 log CFU/coupon. The findings are relevant for the survival of bacteria on common food contact surfaces and the potential of transmission to food products.
Activation of the Melatonin Receptor MT1 by the Natural Product Gastrodin to Promote Sleep
Authors: Zhang Lijing , Lan Mengli , Chen Hui , Ward Richard , Zhao Ya , Guo Jing , Xiong Lang , Yang Xiuyu , Pu Yuxuan , Xiang Cheng , An Su , Guo Xiaoxi , Xu Tian‐Rui , Yang Yang
Published: December 2024

The activation of melatonin receptors, belonging to the G‐protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) superfamily, has been recognized as a vital approach in the clinical management of sleep disorders. Although the natural agonist melatonin and synthetic agonists (e.g., ramelteon) targeting these receptors have been extensively studied, the identification of natural compounds acting as ligands remains elusive. We applied a combination of methods including GPCR‐induced ERK1/2 MAP kinase phosphorylation assay, inhibition of forskolin‐stimulated cAMP production, drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS), cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), solvent‐induced protein precipitation (SIP), 2‐[125I]‐iodomelatonin binding assay, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and molecular docking to investigate MT1 activation by gastrodin and the gastrodin–MT1 interaction. The in vivo study was performed with mice whose MT1 receptors were knocked down in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the brain. The sleep behavior and sleep‐related hypothalamic neurotransmitters were evaluated. The results identified that the gastrodin acted as an agonist of MT1 through direct binding to the receptor. The interaction of gastrodin‐MT1 was similar to that of melatonin–MT1. The in vivo sleep‐promoting effect of the gastrodin depended on the presence of MT1 in the SCN and was associated with the hypothalamic neurotransmitters, similarly to melatonin.
The incidence and impact of re‐deployment on registered paediatric critical care nurses
Authors: Whittaker Carli , Credland Nicki
Published: December 2024

Background

Re‐deployment of medical, nursing and Allied Health Professional workforce became a more prevalent feature in filling workforce gaps during the Covid‐19 pandemic; however, very little evidence exists surrounding the impact of this re‐deployment of registered nursing workforce. Prior to the Covid‐19 pandemic and subsequently in an attempt to address nursing shortages across paediatric ward areas, there is a growing trend to utilize registered nursing staff more flexibly to meet the demands of the whole organization.

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore the incidence impact of re‐deployment to cover workforce shortages in the registered paediatric critical care nursing workforce.

Study Design

This is a cross‐sectional electronic survey of paediatric critical care nurses registered with the Paediatric Critical Care Society as nursing members (n = 688). Anonymous quantitative and qualitative data were collected between January and March 2023. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data were analysed thematically.

Results

There were 225 participant responses representing 21 of the 26 paediatric critical care units within the United Kingdom. This represents a response rate of 33%. The frequency of re‐deployment ranged from zero to two occurrences per month (n = 195; 87%). Thirty percent (n = 67) of respondents felt that re‐deployment to other wards to cover staffing shortfalls impacted the safety of care delivered to the patients. Five themes were identified: Quality of Care, Wellbeing, Teamwork, Training and Support and Leadership.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the significant impact that re‐deployment has on the paediatric critical care nurse population. With retention of experienced critical care nurses at crisis point, it is essential that we identify factors that contribute to this poor retention and address these factors accordingly. Re‐deployment is a significant factor.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

This study has provided a greater understanding of the impact of re‐deploying paediatric critical care to cover workforce shortages throughout acute hospital settings.
Frailty and fear of death among geriatric patients in critical care units: A mixed methods study
Authors: Hassan Eman Arafa , Elsayed Shimmaa Mohamed , Monged Heba Hashem , Abdelwahab Basma Taher
Published: December 2024

Background

Frailty, a geriatric syndrome characterized by decreased resilience, is a known risk factor for mortality in critical care settings and can significantly impact a patient's perception of their own health and prognosis.

Aim

To explore the relationship between frailty and fear of death in geriatric patients admitted to critical care units.

Study Design

A convergent parallel mixed methods design was applied.

Methods

Data were collected from 247 geriatric patients in critical care units from March 2023 to February 2024. Quantitative data included clinical frailty score and death anxiety questionnaire. Qualitative data were gathered through semi‐structured interviews with a subset of 34 participants. Quantitative analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and multiple linear regression. Qualitative data were analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke's approach.

Results

Quantitative analysis revealed a positive significant correlation between frailty and death anxiety (r = 0.19, p = 0.003). Additionally, regression analysis identified age (B = 0.69, 95% CI [0.22, 1.15], p = 0.004), lack of social support (B = 2.88, 95% CI [0.28, 5.47], p = 0.030), lower income (B = −5.33, 95% CI [−9.03, −1.63], p = 0.005) and higher frailty scores (B = 0.83, 95% CI [0.10, 1.56], p = 0.025) as significant predictors of increased death anxiety. Qualitative findings yielded four key themes: the impact of frailty on perception of mortality, the psychological and emotional dimensions of fear of death, the role of the critical care unit environment on fear of death and coping mechanisms and support.

Conclusion

Frailty in geriatric critically ill patients heightened death anxiety due to physical decline, existential worries and the overwhelming critical care environment.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

This study can help nurses provide more personalized care to geriatric patients by addressing both their physical frailty and psychological needs related to fear of death. This, in turn, can improve the quality of care and enhance patient satisfaction.
Kākāʻōlelo: Logic in Hawaiian Terms
Authors: Ing Michael David Kaulana
Published: December 2024

In January 1902, Joseph Mokuʻōhai Poepoe began publishing a monthly journal titled Ke Kanawai (the law). As an attorney, author, and editor, Poepoe endeavored to provide resources in ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (the Hawaiian language) for Kanaka (Hawaiians) living in a world now governed by American law. The three extant issues (January through March) contain a column titled “Kakaolelo—Logika,” a transliteration of “logic” paired with the term “kākāʻōlelo,” commonly glossed as “oration,” “counsel,” or “debate,” but traditionally referring to cultural specialists that advised leaders and were known for being adept in speaking. This column is likely the earliest prolonged engagement with western philosophy by a Kanaka writing in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. The purpose of this article is to lay the groundwork for further discussing questions of comparative philosophy in a Hawaiian context. Thus, the article proceeds in two parts. First, I contextualize the column within its historical setting; then, I translate the column. This will set the stage for future work of interpretation and comparison.
Literacidades académicas, prácticas multimodales y agencia indígena en el Chaco (Argentina)
Authors: Messina Lara Amalia , Unamuno Virginia
Published: December 2024

En muchos casos, las experiencias que transitan las comunidades indígenas en los espacios de educación formal se expresan, según sus propios actores, como momentos enmarcados en regímenes de literacidad vinculados a la repetición, a la copia de las grafías de las lenguas hegemónicas y a la no-participación. Esto limita sus posibilidades de apropiación del decir/hacer con los textos, y perpetúa la injusticia social. En este trabajo, presentamos la investigación que llevamos adelante junto a docentes y activistas lingüísticoculturales indígenas en Chaco, Argentina, sobre sobre los usos, sentidos y valores del escribir en lengua wichi en espacios formales. Desde la perspectiva de los estudios de literacidades y a través del análisis de tres momentos letrados en diferentes niveles de la educación formal (medio, superior y universitario), nos proponemos dar cuenta de lo que sucede alrededor de los textos cuando se ponen en juego repertorios plurales y epistemologías habitualmente marginados en los entornos de educación formal. Según mostraremos, los adolescentes y jóvenes wichi se involucran, resuelven y resignifican las actividades en que participan, al tiempo que disputan, desde la subalternidad, los modos de hacer y decir académicos.
Una mirada crítica de la literacidad académica universitaria más allá del aula
Authors: Trigos-Carrillo Lina
Published: December 2024

La literacidad académica se desarrolla dentro de sistemas sociales y contextos en los que hace parte. Por ello, está relacionada con la circulación de poder, pero también con la posibilidad de transformación social. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo entender las prácticas de literacidad académica dentro y fuera de la universidad de estudiantes de primera generación en tener acceso a la educación universitaria en México, Colombia y Costa Rica. A partir de una etnografía, la autora documentó las prácticas de literacidad de nueve estudiantes de primera generación en universidades públicas. Este artículo presenta casos representativos de prácticas de literacidad académica que limitan el acceso a la justicia social y prácticas por fuera del aula a través de las cuales los estudiantes resisten y demuestran su capacidad transformadora. Estos resultados demuestran que algunas prácticas pedagógicas a nivel universitario se constituyen en una barrera para lograr el acceso a la justicia social a través de la literacidad académica. Este estudio es relevante porque evidencia la importancia de conocer y vincular las prácticas, intereses y experiencias de los estudiantes en la enseñanza de la literacidad, ya que ellas ayudan a repensar la práctica pedagógica para promover procesos educativos más justos.
In-Situ Concentration Measurement of Blended Hydrogen Gas Using Sensor Fusion Enhanced by Machine Learning Model
Authors: Costa Marcos , Lee Hansaem , Kim Seonghwan , Hugo Ron , Park Simon S.
Published: December 2024

Blending hydrogen (H2) into natural gas via existing pipelines presents a practical method for H2 transportation. However, accurately measuring the H2 concentration in these blends is crucial for safety, operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and energy content tracking. This study proposes an effective sensor fusion system for in-site measurement of blended H2 concentration by combining ultrasonic and thermal conductivity (TC) sensors. To test this system, these sensors were installed in a pipeline along with pressure, temperature, and humidity sensors to compensate for environmental factors, while mass flow controllers regulated gas composition. Calibration across the full range of H2 concentrations confirmed the suitability of ultrasonic and TC sensors for H2 measurement. A dataset comprising 185 sensing data points under various environmental conditions was collected to train a machine-learning model for in-site H2 measurement. The evaluation of the model demonstrated higher accuracy in H2 measurement through sensor fusion compared to individual models, with the optimized model exhibiting excellent performance, achieving a coefficient of determination (r2) of 0.98 between actual and measured values. While this study was conducted under limited environmental conditions, it is anticipated that accurate H2 concentration measurement will be feasible in more diverse environments with additional sensor data collected in the future.
Prediction of Critical Exposure Temperature (CET) of Natural Gas Pipeline– a Practical Approach
Authors: Ebrahimnia Bajestan Ehsan , Saad Bassam
Published: December 2024

The minimum working temperature of metal pipeline is a critical parameter for design and integrity management of pipelines and facilities piping. This design temperature is called Critical Exposure Temperature (CET). In this research, a novel practical approach to model CET of buried pipelines was proposed and explained. This approach can replace the transient models which are computationally costly, and in some situations, measurement thermal sensors, which can be expensive and practically challenging. The present technique considers a wide range of effective parameters governing pipeline temperature. The estimated CET is influenced by thermal interactions among gas flow, pipeline wall, surrounding soil and ambient air. It also takes into account the convection heat transfer inside the pipeline, conduction through the pipe wall, coating layer, soil, and convection heat transfer with ambient air. The developed transient heat transfer model was solved to obtain the minimum soil temperature over time. Then, a reduced order model (ROM) was derived to correlate the predicted minimum soil temperatures with soil type, soil depth and climate condition. The developed ROM was combined with an analytical thermal-hydraulic model for natural gas pipelines to predict CET. This novel method was programmed in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) and finalized as a simplified calculation tool for CET prediction.
A Novel Spatial-Temporal Hybrid Framework for Natural Gas Consumption Prediction
Authors: Niu Pengtao , Du Jian , Zheng Jianqin , Xu Ning , Liao Qi , Liang Yongtu
Published: December 2024

Efficient scheduling of natural gas pipeline networks and reliable gas supply are contingent upon the accuracy and dependability of consumption forecasts. In light of this, a novel point-interval prediction framework for natural gas consumption is proposed. Firstly, a high-quality correlation graph is constructed based on the topological structure of the pipeline network and historical natural gas consumption data, and a graph convolutional network is established for topological structure learning. Subsequently, time series data is collected, and gated recurrent units are employed to extract temporal features. Next, historical time series data and the correlation graph are fed into a hybrid deep learning network to forecast natural gas consumption. Finally, adaptive bandwidth kernel density estimation (ABKDE) is employed to compute prediction intervals for natural gas consumption at various confidence levels. The model is validated through comparative experiments using real-world natural gas consumption cases. The results indicate that in all scenarios, the model’s mean absolute relative error and root mean square relative error consistently remain below 0.11 and 0.14, respectively. Moreover, the predictive interval coverage probability and predictive interval normalized average width surpass those of other advanced models, such as decision trees and gated recurrent units, demonstrating significant improvements. This work can provide decision-making support for the scheduling and operational optimization of natural gas pipeline networks.
Safety Assurance of LOPC MAH Scenarios That Have Potential to Result in Fatality
Authors: Ferdous Refaul , Ainsworth Michael , McKechnie Doug , Keane Sean
Published: December 2024

Enbridge operates the world’s longest and most complex crude oil and liquids transportation system, with approximately 28,000 kilometers of active pipeline across North America. The system transports a wide variety of crude oil and liquid products ranging from heavy crude to Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) via various sizes and lengths of pipeline that traverse populated areas such as city, town and sensitive public places.

An ignition of a hypothetical hydrocarbon releases from the pipeline system in populated areas represents a hazard to health and safety with potential to lead to fatalities and/or injuries. Such scenarios with catastrophic consequence are often referred to as Major Accident Hazards (MAH) and a focus on MAH is common in Safety Case regimes (e.g. UK HSE).

Enbridge’s liquid pipeline system executes systematic, comprehensive, and proactive approaches to achieve safety and reliability objectives across the lifecycle of assets. As part of integrity assurance, Safety Case assessments include a focus on MAH. The Safety Case assessment of MAH is comprehensive and considers process and non-process LoPC scenarios that have potential to lead to MAH and includes assessment of the controls relied on to manage risk. The assessment methodology is scalable and utilizes qualitative and quantitative risk methods. The results of the Safety Case assessment bring visibility to the information useful for establishing confidence in the systems relied on to achieve the safety and reliability objectives.

This paper provides a high-level description of the Safety Case assurance methodology deployed by Enbridge specific to LoPC MAH scenario related to Health & Safety impact in a facility setting. The methodology is compared to best practice from other regulatory regimes. Enbridge has continued to develop the integrity Safety Case program over the past years and this paper discusses observations, including benefits and challenges, from applying the Safety Case assurance methodology within a large operating company.
Accounting for Corrosion Growth and Interaction in Future Severity Assessments
Authors: Dawson Jane , Farnie Steve
Published: December 2024

The determination of corrosion growth rates and their application in the prediction of future severity is a critical part of pipeline integrity management. Accurate corrosion growth rates are needed to predict pipeline reliability as a function of time, to identify the need for and timing of field investigations and/or repairs and to determine optimum re-inspection intervals. The consequences associated with both underestimating and overestimating growth rates can be significant in terms of both safety and resource performance.

The use of repeat ILI data to match and compare metal loss sites in order to estimate the corrosion growth rates at individual defects along a pipeline is a well-used and established practice in the industry. There are many ways that corrosion growth rates can be used in future integrity predictions with most approaches only accounting for corrosion growth in the depth dimension taking no account of surface area growth and potential interactions between adjacent corrosion areas over time.

Now that we have a wealth of historical data with 3, 4 or even 5 sets of ILI data for the same pipelines we are able to experiment with more advanced three-dimensional modelling and have the ability to test new approaches vs actual “truth” data. With the benefit of this progressive viewpoint, the methodologies employed for evaluating and applying ILI based corrosion rates are being further improved and refined to give more accurate predictions of the future pipeline condition, the response schedule and for setting the timing of re-inspections.

This paper describes a new approach that predicts how areas of corrosion can increase in depth over-time and in surface area by combining with surrounding corrosion defects and with newly developing defects. The main differences between this approach and the more commonly used approaches are:

• It does not use fixed individual defect or pipe spool growth rates, but instead uses local growth rate distributions drawn from groups of corrosion defects under the same or very similar corrosive environments.

• The assessment accounts for growth in all three dimensions (depth, length and width) and models the more complex interaction between nearby areas of corrosion.

• It uses a machine learning model to predict the location and pattern of potential new corrosion sites.

This new approach is illustrated and compared to the more commonly used methodologies via the use of case studies on real ILI data sets.
Landing Zone Guidance for Welds on In-Service Pipelines
Authors: Bruce William A. , Boring Matt , Finneran Shane , Hoehman Lee
Published: December 2024

Prior to making welds on an in-service pipeline for the purpose of installing full-encirclement repair sleeves or hot tap branch connections, it is customary to inspect the pipe wall in the zones where these welds will “land.” A recently completed Phase 1 of a joint industry project (JIP) at DNV [1] focused on developing guidance for these landing zones, both in terms of inspection procedures and acceptance criteria for indications discovered during inspection.

The primary purpose of the pre-weld pipe wall inspection is to ensure adequate thickness to prevent burnthrough, where the welding arc causes the pipe wall to be penetrated, and to investigate for the presence of discontinuities — laminations in particular — within the pipe wall. Laminations are internal separations that create layers parallel to the pipe surface. The presence of a lamination can reduce the effective thickness of the pipe wall resulting in a risk of burnthrough even though the nominal wall thickness is considered to be sufficient.

Recent trends in inspection practices have resulted in indications discovered during pre-weld pipe wall inspection being misidentified as laminations when they are actually small, isolated non-metallic inclusions that do not represent a pipe wall separation. This misidentification has resulted in the need to extend the length of full-encirclement repair sleeves, sometime by significant amounts, and relocate hot tap branch connections. Extending the length of repair sleeves increases the cost of repair activities, as well as the required extent of welding and time for which the ditch must be open. Long repair sleeves are also heavy, which can result in additional bending stresses in the pipeline at the sleeve ends. The ability to avoid this misidentification will decrease the cost of repair and increase the integrity of the repaired pipeline.

The work in Phase 1 began with a review of current industry practices. Welding trials were then conducted on pipe materials with both true laminations and with indications that were reported to be laminations but were misidentified. Following welding, metallographic examination was carried out to identify any changes to the mid-wall features, such as the presence of lamellar tearing. The results of the review and the experimental work were used to develop recommended acceptance criteria to differentiate between inclusions and laminations. Lastly, recommended practices for the pre-weld pipe wall inspection were developed. This paper will present an outline of guidance that was developed. Additional welding trials are planned for Phase 2 of the JIP to further validate the guidance that has been developed to date.
Significant Changes in the Twenty-Second Edition of API 1104
Authors: Gould Melissa , Bruce William A. , Boring Matt , Lee Kenneth Y. , Scoles Russell
Published: December 2024

API Standard 1104, Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities, (API 1104) is the most widely-used industry standard in the world for pipeline construction. For operators in the United States, the use of certain sections of API 1104 are mandated by Federal regulations for the construction of cross-country pipelines. Since the First Edition was published in 1953, API 1104 is revised regularly to adapt to changing pipeline construction, welding, and inspection practices. The current version, which was issued in July 2021, is the Twenty-second Edition, which incorporates extensive changes as compared to the Twenty-first Edition.

This paper summarizes the major substantive changes between the Twenty-first and Twenty-second Editions of API 1104, and provides some insight into the rationale behind these changes. One example of a major substantive change is the introduction of “Category I” and “Category II” essential variables, which are applicable to “standard” welding procedure specifications (WPSs) and those that require hardness and/or toughness testing, respectively. The Twenty-second Edition also contains updated information on ultrasonic inspection of welds. Furthermore, requirements for the in-service repair of welds, including procedure qualification and welder qualification were added.

This paper will increase the understanding of the major substantive changes in the Twenty-second Edition of API 1104 for both users and regulators. It may also be used by operating companies in transitioning their welding practices and procedures to the requirements in the Twenty-second Edition from earlier editions of the standard.
Modelling Consequence From Natural Gas Storage Wells
Authors: Smith Shawn , Fraser Alex , Petraglia Pedro , Shironishi Mari , Shapiro Dan
Published: December 2024

A comprehensive quantitative framework for the risk assessment of natural gas storage wells, inclusive of wellhead components and associated piping, has been formulated for the evaluation of SoCalGas’s underground gas storage facilities located in California. This framework has been designed to surpass the stipulated requirements set forth by API RP 1171, as referenced in the US regulation 49 CFR 192.12, and to address the recent amendments to the California Code of Regulations. Additionally, it integrates several recommendations from the 2021 PHMSA study titled “Risk Assessment and Treatment of Wells.” This framework encompasses assessments of both life safety and environmental impacts resulting from potential releases from these wells. The methodology for consequence assessment involves several critical processes, including:

• Determining the probability of ignition using an empirical model based on historical release data.

• Adapting the Potential Impact Radius (PIR) model, initially developed for gas transmission pipelines by Stephens et al. in 2002, to the context of gas storage wells to identify areas at risk due to ignited releases.

• Computing the individual and societal life safety risk, distinguishing between normal operations, planned well interventions, and the public.

• Estimating the expected quantity of methane released and the corresponding global warming potential, incorporating an empirical model for time to contain a release based on historical release data.

• Combining the life safety and environmental risk using estimates for the value of a statistical life and the societal cost of carbon.

• Evaluating the efficacy of surface safety valves and downhole safety valves based on the reduction in life safety and/or environmental consequences.

This paper illustrates how the risk-reduction of a mitigation measure, installing a downhole safety valve, is captured by this framework, differentiating by the specific well context.
Modeling of Thermal Cycling on Initiation of Stress Corrosion Cracking
Authors: Zhu Zhenjin , Cooper Steven , Cooper Brian
Published: December 2024

This paper develops a theoretical model to investigate the impact of thermal cycling on the initiation of stress corrosion cracking (SCC). Prior to commissioning, coatings may be disbonded in places due to poor material selection or application. Corrosive gases (i.e., O2, CO2) and water vapor diffuse into coating disbondment areas from the soil side. The diffused amount of each species is governed by Fick’s First Law. The accumulation of condensed water vapor depends on the solubility change of water vapor with respect to thermal cycling frequency and magnitude. The concentrations of [H+], [HCO3−], and [CO32−] are dependent on CO2 partial pressure. The metal surface potential is predicted using a resistance circuit model. When an open coating holiday occurs, the cathodic protection (CP) current arrives at the metal surface directly through the exposed electrolyte. The local surface potentials inside the crevice are simulated using a parametric equation. The pH value at an open holiday obeys Faraday’s Second Law of Electrolysis. Local tensile stress may come from hoop stress from design, residual stress from manufacturing and fabrication, thermal stress from operation, geotechnical stress from soil movement, and mechanical stress from deformation. When the pH value, surface potential, and tensile stress are within certain bounds, stress corrosion cracking may take place longitudinally or circumferentially depending on stress orientation. Types of SCC such as high-pH SCC or near-neutral pH SCC can be characterized. The findings should be useful for stakeholders in proactively developing preventive and mitigative measures for effective SCC threat management.
Design and Testing of a Flow Facility for Pipeline Leak Prediction, Detection, and Investigation
Authors: Ng Marlon Anthony , Chen Haobin , Khayami Farbod , Gulam Dhasthagir Yaser Arafath , Hugo Ron
Published: December 2024

Flow facilities play a crucial role in advancing pipeline leak detection systems. Existing experiments are performed with a simulated leak from a hole drilled in the pipe wall with flow rate controlled by a valve. Although adequate for certain research objectives, the boundary conditions of a real-world pipeline failure are not properly replicated using this approach and as a result some of the critical mechanical signatures of an actual leak or rupture event are missed. The current research aims to address this deficiency.

A customized flow facility with flexible operating pressure and temperature has been designed for leak investigation of both gaseous and liquid transport. The pump and blower can deliver up to 50% (liquid) and 20% (gas) of a typical operational Reynolds number (ReD) in a 3-inch nominal diameter test section. The system is designed with the ability to perform flowing burst tests, controlled by increasing the average pressure of the flow loop while maintaining a constant ReD. Pipe sections with common threat mechanisms that include pitting corrosion, axial and circumferential cracking, or combinations with denting can be examined. The flow facility enables naturally evolving leak processes to be investigated in detail, starting with the precursors before a leak to the early stages of a leak. The data collected in the facility will be instrumental in the development of real-time monitoring technology for safe pipeline transport.
Defect Separation for Full-Scale Burst and Fatigue Testing
Authors: Lockey Aaron , Cosham Andrew , Simpson Gemma
Published: December 2024

The LTS (Local Transmission System) Futures Project is conducting full-scale burst and fatigue testing in hydrogen and in water as part of an investigation into repurposing the gas transmission system. The length of the available pipe was limited, so it needed to be used efficiently, by minimising the length of each test vessel.

Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to determine the minimum separation distances between the end of the part-through-wall defect or dent, and the end of the test vessel in the burst and fatigue tests, and the minimum separation distances between the individual dents in the fatigue tests. The stress distributions along the pipe axis were calculated and compared with those for a large separation to determine whether the reduced separation was predicted to have a significant effect on the results of the burst or fatigue tests.

The methodology used for the analysis, the resulting stress distributions, and the conclusions drawn about minimum separation distances are presented and discussed. The findings show that FEA is useful for designing full-scale burst or fatigue tests when the available material is limited.
Full-Scale Burst Tests With Hydrogen
Authors: Cosham Andrew , Huescar Medina Clara , Koronka Max , Senior Gary , Simpson Gemma
Published: December 2024

Five full-scale burst tests in hydrogen and four in water have been conducted on nominally identical pairs of vessels containing nominally identical defects to investigate the effect of hydrogen on the burst strength of defects in pipelines.

A short section of line pipe cut from a pipeline commissioned in 1969 was used to fabricate the test vessels. The line pipe has a nominal diameter equal to 609.6 mm (24 in.) and a nominal wall thickness equal to 11.91 mm. It is Grade X52. It has a longitudinal seam weld.

Five different types of defects were tested in the burst tests: an internal and external, sharp, part-through-wall defect (the internal defect was only tested in hydrogen); an external, blunt part-through-wall defect; a plain dent; and a dent and gouge (a notch). The part-through-wall defects were longitudinally orientated. The defects were all in the pipe body. The blunt and sharp, part-through-wall defects had nominally identical depths and lengths.

The failure pressures of the external, blunt and sharp, part-through-wall defects, plain dents and smooth dents and gouges (notches) in hydrogen and in water were similar.

The failure pressures of the internal, sharp, part-through-wall defect in hydrogen was significantly lower than that of the external defect in hydrogen and in water.
Managing Scaleup: Installation of a Novel Integrity Monitoring System Through Challenging Terrain
Authors: Jalilian Ehsan , Koles Steven , Kochatt Biju
Published: December 2024

High fidelity distributed fiber optic sensing (HDS) provides highly sensitive integrated acoustics, temperature, and strain/vibration over long distances. This technology has enabled preventative pipeline leak detection and several value-added integrity and operationally oriented applications utilizing acoustics and real-time and cumulative strain measurements. Machine Learning (ML) algorithms have successfully leveraged HDS data to deliver accurate event detection.

Deploying and commissioning this technology over very long distance pipelines comes with a multitude of practical challenges, including conduit deployment with open cut and trenchless construction methods, fiber cable injection, handhole and system hardware location selection, design of optical architectures to optimize data quality, autonomous and fault-tolerant management of remote systems, data management for hundreds of terabytes acquired daily, and the computationally intensive nature of field-deployed ML models. To complicate matters, some requirements remain dynamic, changing over the course of pipeline construction. For instance, optical architectures must continually adapt to the as-built reality of construction.

Case studies will be provided to demonstrate how these long-distance pipeline challenges were addressed throughout the construction of ∼980 kilometres (km) of new pipeline. Examples will be provided of challenges encountered during fiber optic placement along the right of way, including deployment using Horizontal Directional Drills (HDD), micro-tunneling, auger boring, Direct Pipe and other methods. Another study will review the innovative solutions employed to accelerate and automate the commissioning of the monitoring systems as well as performance of acoustic baselining to satisfy the regulatory requirements of the external leak detection / pipeline monitoring system being active at the onset of pipeline operation.

A discussion will be provided on how the deployment of this pipeline monitoring system has resulted in the delivery of a leak detection and integrity monitoring solution, while simultaneously enabling advanced pipeline analytics, automation, and control.
Predicting Fatigue Growth of Pipeline Cracks With Non-Ideal Depth Profiles
Authors: Anderson Ted L. , Ma Jing , Hay Clifford
Published: December 2024

The MAT-8 fracture model has been widely applied in the pipeline industry since it was first introduced in 2016. It was recently modified to handle burst pressure predictions in pipe joints with axial surface flaws with complex depth profiles. However, this recent innovation did not address the fatigue growth of a complex crack-like feature. The present article fills this knowledge gap. Fatigue crack growth was analyzed in finite element simulations of 50 complex crack features that have been reported by ILI vendors. Based on the finite element results, an analytical methodology for modeling fatigue growth of complex crack-like features has been developed, which can be directly utilized in a probabilistic framework. Further work is required to experimentally validate the Modified MAT-8 model, including the burst pressure predictions and the fatigue crack growth estimates for cracking features with non-ideal depth profiles. Nevertheless, the approach presented herein represents a material improvement in handing fatigue propagation in crack-like flaws, compared with current models that assume an elliptical crack that encompasses a complex flaw.
Optimization of Hydrostatic Test Plan for Pipeline Crossing Significant Elevation Difference Terrain
Authors: Ma Te , Wu Tiantian , Gao Katherine
Published: December 2024

The purpose of Hydrostatic Testing for new constructed pipeline is to establish the Maximum Operating Pressure (MOP) prior to pipeline operation.

There are challenges in conducting hydrostatic tests for pipeline passing through geological areas with significant elevation changes. These challenges include a large number of hydrostatic test sections and associated hydrostatic test risks and costs. A Point Specific MOP approach has been developed to address these issues. This approach considers the pressure variance associated with elevation changes along the pipeline and determines the actual pressure at each point during the hydrostatic testing. It optimizes the test sections to achieve the design capacity and ensures the transient pressure safety.

The subject pipeline is a newly constructed liquid transmission pipeline system with approximately 1180 km total length of pipe (nominal diameters of 762 mm/914 mm/1066 mm) and 16 stations (pump stations/trap sites/terminals). This pipeline system passes through geological areas with significant elevation changes (with the biggest elevation change of 1326 m within 50 km, between mountain top and river valley bottom).

This paper presents the hydrostatic testing considerations and optimization philosophies of Point Specific MOP approach, and the use of Hydraulic Pipeline Simulator to conduct hydraulic analysis for validation.

This paper also discusses the importance of incorporating this methodology during design and hydrostatic test phases, to provide guidance for future pipeline design.
Hydrogen Impurities and Their Potential Impact on Retrofitting Plans When Transitioning to Hydrogen – Natural Gas Blends
Authors: Esmaeely Saba N. , Sonke Johannes , Brown Martin J. , Finneran Shane
Published: December 2024

Hydrogen is being considered as one of the key options toward decarbonizing the existing energy system, however, hydrogen production, which is a key part of hydrogen value chain, has remained a challenge as producing enough hydrogen for an impactful decarbonization plan is an energy and resource intense process. There are several pathways to produce hydrogen, with different colors such as grey, brown, blue, turquoise, and green have been designated to different hydrogens based on their production methods. For example, blue hydrogen is produced from steam methane reforming (SMR) process that includes carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, whereas green hydrogen is produced via water (H2O) electrolysis using renewable energy sources. While green hydrogen does not contain many impurities, hydrogen produced from fossil fuels may contain impurities such as carbon monoxide (CO), H2O, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), etc., that could jeopardize the integrity of the gas grid upon blending. Additionally, stored hydrogen including green hydrogen could get contaminated while being stored, e.g., stored hydrogen in depleted gas reservoirs could be contaminated with biological contaminants, which could lead to microbiological corrosion (MIC). The current paper examines different hydrogen impurities based on their production or storage paths and their potential adverse impact on the existing natural gas grid. Additionally, potential approaches are discussed to mitigate the negative impact of impurities on the overall grid’s integrity and continuity of operation.