bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do pharmacists contribute to patients’ management of symptoms suggestive of cancer: a qualitative study
Authors: Notman Frances , Porteous Terry , Murchie Peter , Bond Christine M
Published: September 2018

Objectives

Limited awareness of cancer symptoms results in patient delay in seeking help and contributes to delay in diagnosis. Few UK studies have investigated the potential for community pharmacists to facilitate earlier detection of cancer. This study aimed to investigate what actions patients take to manage their early cancer symptoms, to identify the extent of current community pharmacy involvement and to consider the potential role for community pharmacists to facilitate appropriate management and appraisal of potential early cancer symptoms.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with lung, colorectal or gastro-oesophageal cancer in the preceding 12 months were identified during clinic visits by consultants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, audio-recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed, using the Framework Approach.

Key findings

Twenty-five consenting patients were interviewed: two-thirds were male and more than half had lung cancer. Although all had experienced potential cancer symptoms prior to diagnosis, most underestimated seriousness and misattributed causation. Symptoms were managed by lifestyle changes and self-selecting medicines from local shops, supermarkets and pharmacies but without engaging with the pharmacist.

Conclusions

For symptom management, participants self-selected medicines from community pharmacies, but pharmacy staff were rarely involved. Involving community pharmacists or their staff at the point of sale of these medicines might have facilitated earlier cancer diagnosis. Further research is needed to quantify how many patients with symptoms suggestive of cancer present in community pharmacies to understand if a pharmacist’s role in facilitating symptom management and appraisal of potential cancer symptoms would be acceptable and effective, before developing any interventions.
Small Area Quantile Estimation
Authors: Chen Jiahua , Liu Yukun
Published: September 2018

Sample surveys are widely used to obtain information about totals, means, medians and other parameters of finite populations. In many applications, similar information is desired for subpopulations such as individuals in specific geographic areas and socio‐demographic groups. When the surveys are conducted at national or similarly high levels, a probability sampling can result in just a few sampling units from many unplanned subpopulations at the design stage. Cost considerations may also lead to low sample sizes from individual small areas. Estimating the parameters of these subpopulations with satisfactory precision and evaluating their accuracy are serious challenges for statisticians. To overcome the difficulties, statisticians resort to pooling information across the small areas via suitable model assumptions, administrative archives and census data. In this paper, we develop an array of small area quantile estimators. The novelty is the introduction of a semiparametric density ratio model for the error distribution in the unit‐level nested error regression model. In contrast, the existing methods are usually most effective when the response values are jointly normal. We also propose a resampling procedure for estimating the mean square errors of these estimators. Simulation results indicate that the new methods have superior performance when the population distributions are skewed and remain competitive otherwise.
Taylorooism: when network technology meets corporate power
Authors: McGaughey Ewan
Published: September 2018

Despite the glitzy rhetoric of techno‐utopia, the ‘gig economy’ presents no new issue for labour rights. Yet an unusually aggressive mode of business has developed: a kind of ‘technological management’ or ‘Taylorooism’. Its basis is the misrepresentation of employment status in the search for profit without responsibility and is seen in companies using apps like Uber, CitySprint or Deliveroo. In the early 20th century, ‘Taylorism’ professed to have found principles of ‘scientific management’, but this merely concealed an authoritarian rejection of the right to organise and contempt for the dignity of staff. In the early 21st century, Taylorooism professes that its use of network technology and apps means efficiency in matching suppliers and customers of services, but this merely conceals the evasion of legal duties and contempt for employees and their rights. This article unpacks the response of the UK and other EU countries to this business practice. It outlines a government report, coincidentally named the Taylor Review (July 2017) that proposed the deepest cuts to employment rights for 30 years. It explains why the Review was corrupted by one of its member's conflicts of interests and must be regarded as a squandered opportunity. The real issue is the misrepresentation by tech corporations of the employment status of their staff. In Aslam v Uber BV, the Employment Tribunal found as fact that Uber is ‘an excellent illustration … of “armies of lawyers” contriving documents … which simply misrepresent the true rights and obligations on both sides’. With new Supreme Court case law, tech firms may be risking liability for fraud.
Communing with Nature: The Collective Journey of Yatoo Artists and its Pedagogical Potentials
Authors: Paek Kyong‐Mi
Published: September 2018

Increasing concern over environmental sustainability and socioecological well‐being has motivated people to consider ways to reconnect humans with the natural world through lifestyle changes that integrate well with natural systems. Educators who share environmental concerns have explored diverse aspects of ecological art practices to envision an extended and socially relevant role of art. Accordingly, the present study aims to bring educators’ attention to a collective journey of artists who have immersed themselves in making an affective relationships with nature. Regarding the journey as an invaluable cultural resource that holds the potential to extend the horizon of how we may live with nature, it examines the collective journey of the artists in Yatoo, an artist association based in Gongju, a greenery city in the southwest region of South Korea. The guiding questions set for the contextual analysis are: ‘how do Yatoo artists become native to their place?’ and ‘what can be learned from their collective journey?’. First, the collective journey of the artists is examined based on four major factors: regionality, positioning, methodology and networking. This is followed by discussions focusing on the value of the collective identity shaped by bioregionally conscious art practices and the pedagogical potentials arising from the collective journey. This paper suggests that the collective journey of Yatoo's life‐sustaining practice, operating in an era of environmental crisis, contributes to the recently developing alternative pedagogical discussions by opening up dialogues that navigate ways to encourage more sustainable practices for the future.
Playing to Draw [for Design]
Authors: Perren Nicola L.
Published: September 2018

There is a disconnect for a number of applied design students who utilise drawing from online, published and photographic sources, in the development of design collections. In practice they are engaged with a subject that physically demands the direct use of hands in the making of artefacts, particularly within textile fields. Drawing is at the core of the development of ideas but it is often seen as being different or awkward and can cause anxiety amongst students who may be more focused on the end [designed] result. This article reflects upon the teaching of a drawing class with year two undergraduates on a textiles degree course at a UK university. Rather than relying on that which is readily available (from museums, online content, galleries, archives or trend forecasting sites), students make their own 2D and 3D primary sources from which they develop drawn proposals for textile and surface samples. Does this approach allow fresh visuals, new languages and translations for design to emerge? Will it provide a further level of engagement for those students who already love drawing as well as those who don't (yet)? Data has been drawn from key texts, questionnaires, journals and observations of the work carried out by participating students.
Modeled state‐level estimates of hypertension prevalence and undiagnosed hypertension among US adults during 2013‐2015
Authors: Park Soyoun , Gillespie Cathleen , Baumgardner Jason , Yang Quanhe , Valderrama Amy L. , Fang Jing , Loustalot Fleetwood , Hong Yuling
Published: September 2018

Hypertension affects about one in three US adults, from recent surveillance, or four in nine based on the 2017 ACC/AHA Hypertension Guideline; about half of them have their blood pressure controlled, and nearly one in six are unaware of their hypertension status. National estimates of hypertension awareness, treatment, and control in the United States are traditionally based on measured BP from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES); however, at the state level, only self‐reported hypertension awareness and treatment are available from BRFSS. We used national‐ and state‐level representative samples of adults (≥20 years) from NHANES 2011‐2014 and BRFSS 2013 and 2015, respectively. The authors generated multivariable logistic regression models using NHANES to predict the probability of hypertension and undiagnosed hypertension and then applied the fitted model parameters to BRFSS to generate state‐level estimates. The predicted prevalence of hypertension was highest in Mississippi among adults (42.4%; 95% CI: 41.8‐43.0) and among women (42.6%; 41.8‐43.4) and highest in West Virginia among men (43.4%; 42.2‐44.6). The predicted prevalence was lowest in Utah 23.7% (22.8‐24.6), 26.4% (25.0‐27.7), and 21.0% (20.0‐22.1) for adults, men, and women, respectively. Hypertension predicted prevalence was higher in most Southern states and higher among men than women in all states except Mississippi and DC. The predicted prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension ranged from 4.1% (3.4‐4.8; Kentucky) to 6.5% (5.5‐7.5; Hawaii) among adults, from 5.0% (4.0‐5.9; Kentucky) to 8.3% (6.9‐9.7; Hawaii) among men, and from 3.3% (2.5‐4.1; Kentucky) to 4.8% (3.4‐6.1; Vermont) among women. Undiagnosed hypertension was more prevalent among men than women in all states and DC.
Pelvic abscess: A late complication of abdominal trachelectomy for cervical cancer
Authors: Okugawa Kaoru , Sonoda Kenzo , Ohgami Tatsuhiro , Yasunaga Masafumi , Kaneki Eisuke , Yahata Hideaki , Kato Kiyoko
Published: September 2018

Aim

Only a few reports of pelvic abscess as a late complication of trachelectomy have been published to date. To evaluate the cases of pelvic abscess as a late complication of abdominal trachelectomy for cervical cancer.

Methods

In June 2005, we began a clinical trial of abdominal trachelectomy at our institution. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent trachelectomy and extracted the data of patients who experienced pelvic abscess as a late complication.

Results

From June 2005 to September 2017, we performed 181 trachelectomies at our institution. In total, 15 pelvic abscesses occurred in 12 of these patients more than 1 month after trachelectomy. The median postoperative period before the onset of pelvic abscess was 51 months (range, 1−104 months). Among the 15 cases, abscess formed in the uterine adnexa in 12, in a pelvic lymphocyst in two, and in the uterus in one. Abscess drainage was performed in six cases. Three patients underwent laparotomy with salpingo‐oophorectomy.

Conclusion

It is possible that not only surgical removal of the uterine cervix but also the use of nonabsorbable suture in cervical cerclage and placement of an intrauterine device triggered post‐trachelectomy infection. Pelvic abscess can occur as a late complication of abdominal trachelectomy.
PPARα-independent action against metabolic syndrome development by fibrates is mediated by inhibition of STAT3 signalling
Authors: Hua Huiying , Yang Julin , Lin Hante , Xi Yang , Dai Manyun , Xu Gangming , Wang Fuyan , Liu Lihong , Zhao Tingqi , Huang Jing , Gonzalez Frank J , Liu Aiming
Published: September 2018

Objectives

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is the concurrence of at least three of five medical conditions: obesity, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, high serum triglyceride (TG) and low serum high-density lipoprotein levels. While fibrates are used to treat disorders other than the lowering serum TG, the mechanism by which fibrates decrease MS has not been established.

Methods

In this study, wild-type and Ppara-null mice fed a medium-fat diet (MFD) were administered gemfibrozil and fenofibrate for 3 months respectively, to explore the effect and action mechanism.

Key findings

In Ppara-null mice, MFD treatment increased body weight, adipose tissue, serum TG and impaired glucose tolerance. These phenotypes were attenuated in two groups treated with gemfibrozil and fenofibrate. The STAT3 pathway was activated in adipose and hepatic tissues in positive control, and inhibited in groups treated with gemfibrozil and fenofibrate. The above phenotypes and inflammation were not observed in any wild-type group. In 3T3-L1 adipogenic stem cells treated with high glucose, STAT3 knockdown greatly decreased the number of lipid droplets.

Conclusions

Low dose of clinical fibrates was effective against MS development independent of PPARα, and this action was mediated by STAT3 signalling inhibition in adipose tissue and, to a lesser extent, in hepatic tissues.
Muhammad Abd al‐Rahman (Phillip) Barker: Bridging Cultural Divides through Fantasy/Science‐Fiction Role‐Playing Games and Fictional Religion
Authors: Inloes Amina
Published: September 2018

“Muslims” and “Dungeons & Dragons” are rarely discussed in the same sentence. However, one of the earliest fantasy role‐playing games, which left a lasting impact on the industry, was the brainchild of Muhammad Abd al‐Rahman (Phillip) Barker (1929‐2012), a professor of South Asian Studies, an expert in Native American languages, and an American convert to Islam. Like Tolkien, Barker created an enormous fantasy world; however, unlike Tolkien, his world was redolent with Native American and South Asian cultural and religious influences. Through this world, he shared with his fans a nuanced understanding of non‐Western societies, cultures, and beliefs – the facets of the human experience that truly constitute multiculturalism. While fictional religion in role‐playing games has been feared and condemned, fictional religion (and occultism) plays a pivotal role in Barker's work; an exploration of his approach towards fictional religion also sheds more light on the question of why fantasy role‐playing games came across as competitors towards religion. Barker's fantasy world brought people of diverse backgrounds together in a beautiful demonstration of how fantasy and science fiction can bring about intercultural and interreligious tolerance in an otherwise intolerant world. Given the centrality of games such as Dungeons & Dragons to American popular culture, an exploration of Barker's legacy can also be seen in the light of the study of the history and contributions of Muslims in America.
Black or White: The Turbanization of Shi‘i Islam
Authors: Takim Liyakat
Published: September 2018

The Turban has been worn by Muslims since the early period of Islamic history. This paper examines the significance of the turban in Twelver Shi‘ism. It argues that the turban and its color have been used to enhance the social and religious status of the descendants (sayyids) of the Prophet Muhammad. The paper also discusses the importance attached to the method of tying the turban and demonstrates how social pressure forced scholars to abandon a practice established by the Prophet and Imams. It will also argue that the method of trying the turban was used as an ideological tool among Shi‘i scholars.
Illness trajectory of initial infection for patients with hepatitis C: A qualitative study
Authors: Tsai Shu‐Mei , Kao Jung‐Ta , Tsai Yun‐Fang
Published: September 2018

Little is known about how the initial infection and diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) impacts a patient's experience of living with and adjusting to the disease. In the present qualitative, descriptive study, we explored the initial experiences of patients in Taiwan diagnosed with HCV. Eighteen participants were recruited from hepatology clinics of a teaching hospital in Taichung, Taiwan by purposive sampling. Data were collected via in‐depth face‐to‐face interviews and analyzed by conventional content analysis. The core theme describing the illness trajectory was “Oasis in the desert”. Two main themes described the participants' experiences and adjustment to the diagnosis of hepatitis C: “Getting lost in the journey” and “The calm after the storm”. Our findings highlight the need for health‐care providers to coordinate interactions between patients and multi‐disciplinary teams to manage the integration of different treatment options. There is a demand for educational interventions and online information for patients and the general population, which could improve knowledge of HCV.
The roles of jasmonate signalling in nitrogen uptake and allocation in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Wu Xiaoying , Ding Chaohui , Baerson Scott R. , Lian Fazhuo , Lin Xianhui , Zhang Liqin , Wu Choufei , Hwang Shaw‐Yhi , Zeng Rensen , Song Yuanyuan
Published: September 2018

Herbivore damage by chewing insects activates jasmonate (JA) signalling that can elicit systemic defense responses in rice. Few details are known, however, concerning the mechanism, whereby JA signalling modulates nutrient status in rice in response to herbivory. (15NH4)2SO4 labelling experiments, proteomic surveys, and RT‐qPCR analyses were used to identify the roles of JA signalling in nitrogen (N) uptake and allocation in rice plants. Exogenous applications of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) to rice seedlings led to significantly reduced N uptake in roots and reduced translocation of recently‐absorbed 15N from roots to leaves, likely occurring as a result of down‐regulation of glutamine synthetase cytosolic isozyme 1–2 and ferredoxin–nitrite reductase. Shoot MeJA treatment resulted in a remobilization of endogenous unlabelled 14N from leaves to roots, and root MeJA treatment also increased 14N accumulation in roots but did not affect 14N accumulation in leaves of rice. Additionally, proteomic and RT‐qPCR experiments showed that JA‐mediated plastid disassembly and dehydrogenases GDH2 up‐regulation contribute to N release in leaves to support production of defensive proteins/compounds under N‐limited condition. Collectively, our results indicate that JA signalling mediates large‐scale systemic changes in N uptake and allocation in rice plants.
If you build it, will they come? Use of restored dunes by beach mice
Authors: Stoddard Margo A. , Miller Deborah L. , Thetford Mack , Branch Lyn C.
Published: September 2018

Restoration of coastal habitat fragmented, degraded, or destroyed by development and climate‐related processes such as sea level rise and storm surge usually involves planting native plants to restore habitat structure, but whether and how restored areas benefit taxa other than plants is rarely reported. Installing restoration plantings is one method used to build habitat such as beach dunes where dunes have been lost, potentially creating habitat for dune‐dependent species. We compared use of natural vegetated dunes, open sand gaps, and restoration plantings (habitat treatment) by Perdido Key beach mice (Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis) over 3 years using tracking tubes to assess the value of restoration plantings for beach mice. Tubes were monitored in two seasons (early and mid‐summer), and under new and full moon conditions. Mice used restoration plantings less than natural vegetated dunes but more than open sand gaps, which suggests restoration plantings may facilitate movement of mice across fragmented areas. Both season and moon phase influenced the effect of habitat treatment, interactions which may be attributable to perceived risk associated with movement under a combination of different conditions of ambient light, vegetation cover, and habitat novelty. Our results show restoration plantings provide habitat for movement and foraging, and may ameliorate some consequences of sea level rise and storms for beach mice and potentially other dune‐dependent species into the future.
HLA‐B*56:55:01:02, ‐C*03:374 and ‐DPB1*13:01:03 characterized by next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Planelles Dolores , Balas Antonio , Caro José L. , Rodríguez‐Cebriá Manuel , Vicario José L.
Published: September 2018

The new HLA alleles HLA‐B*56:55:01:02, ‐C*03:374 and ‐DPB1*13:01:03 were characterized by NGS methodology.
Corrupt Actions and Forest Loss: A Cross-National Analysis
Authors: Sommer Jamie M
Published: September 2018

Extant literature documents the negative environmental impacts of corruption on forest loss. More recently, research has shown that both grand and petty corruption are associated with higher levels of forest loss in low- and middle-income nations. However, the extant research neglects to assess how different types of grand and petty corruption impact forest loss. To address the gap in the literature, this article differentiates the effect of various types of corrupt actions on forest loss. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression for a sample of 87 low- and middle-income nations from 2000 is used to test if grand corrupt actions, namely embezzlement and bribes, and petty corrupt actions including theft and corrupt exchanges are related to increased forest loss. The dependent variable uses satellite forest data from 2001 to 2014. Results show that embezzlement, bribes, theft, and corrupt exchanges all impact forest loss, which suggests that policy measures to curb corruption should take a holistic approach to corruption, rather than rely on individual interventions.
The Rise of Rightwing Populism in Europe and the United States
Authors: Nagan Winston P. , Manausa Samantha R.
Published: September 2018

Building off of recent scholarship that has already addressed and debated the myriad causes of the contemporary rise of global populism, the authors seek to explore conceptually the inherent dynamic between identity and mass communications that enables such factors, among others, as economic inequality, systematic corruption by the “elite”, or dissatisfaction with neoliberal politics, to motivate populist trends on a global level. The authors seek to strengthen the current understanding of this trend by providing a deeper theoretical explanation for how identity and mass communications have contributed to the international political dynamic that we live in today. The authors will first provide a brief review of relevant recent scholarship on the aforementioned factors seen to be the cause of the current populism trend. They will follow by examining the history of political and group identities in order to identify the ways in which these identities form the building blocks for nationalism and xenophobia, consequences of the rise of rightwing populism. Next, the authors will explain the methods by which people or groups utilize communication to influence others and achieve power. This will include an in-depth discussion of the historical value of narratives and modern communications theories. This will provide a foundational understanding for the final section, in which the authors discuss modern techniques for influencing narratives and effectively communicating to achieve power, including different types of hacking and election-meddling. Ultimately the authors advocate for the strategic utilization of narratives to promote compassion and affection, given the lethality of a future dominated by misinformation and international interference in the democratic process.
Analysis of the Perceived Quality of Service at Kocaeli International Youth Center
Authors: Sadık Reşat , Kardaş Nurgül Tezcan
Published: September 2018

This study aims to evaluate the quality of service as perceived by the young members, who get service from the Kocaeli International Youth Center, which operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. In order to fulfill this objective, the three-dimensional “Scale of the Perceived Service Quality at Youth Centers,” developed by Aycan et. al.(2005) and intended for youth centers, has been applied to 247 youths, who are members of and get service from youth centers. Within the scope of the research, viewpoints of the youths, with regard to some of their demographic characteristics, concerning the elements of the service quality have been analyzed. Consisting of 103 males and 144 females, a total of 247 individuals have taken part in the research. Following the analyses done and in the context of the elements of the service quality at the youth centers as perceived by the youths, it is found that there are no gender-specific differences; according to age variable, there is a difference in all factors in favor of the age group 7-12; as for the variable of family income, there is a difference in output quality factor in favor of the youths with an income level lower than 1300 TLs; and as for the variable of school type, there are significant differences in favor of the primary school level.
For Jet Engine Wing Mounting
Authors: Langston Lee S.
Published: September 2018

The mounting of a jet engine under the wing of an airliner can be a daunting task for turbofan engineers.

Thrust forces generated by gas path momentum flow changes in a jet engine are transmitted by pressure (and friction) forces on stators and struts attached to the engine case. Case engine mounts then transmit the thrust forces (as high as 100,000 pounds thrust on the largest engines) to the wing pylons to pull the plane forward. The mounts must also support the engine weight (as high as 20,000 pounds) and carry nacelle flight loads.

Engine bypass ratios are increasing (12:1 on the new geared fan engines), with fan sizes ever growing (178 inch diameter fan on the new GE9X). Mounting these new engines under a wing can present new challenges.

During the early days of its introduction in the late 1960’s, Boeing’s iconic 747 jumbo jet had engine mount problems. These are examined, together with their solution.
Role of Crack Closure in Crack-Size-Dependent Corrosion-Fatigue Crack Growth of X65 Steel Exposed to Sour Brine Environment
Authors: Lu Baotong , Hudak Stephen J. , Popelar Carl F.
Published: September 2018

Corrosion-fatigue in sour brine (SB) environments is a significant design consideration in deepwater floating production systems. Extensive testing over the past 20 years has shown that sour brine environments can reduce the fatigue life of line pipe steels by factors of 10× to 50× compared to fatigue lives measured in laboratory air; moreover, the extent of material degradation depends on a multitude of loading, environmental, and materials variables. Thus, in 2010 Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) embarked on an industry-supported Joint Industry Project (JIP) to develop a quantitative model to predict the effects of these variables on corrosion-fatigue crack growth rate (CFCGR) in offshore structure steels exposed to sour brine environments. Phase 1 of this JIP had successfully developed and validated such a model in the intermediate fatigue crack growth rate regime — i.e., with CFCGRs between 10−4 ∼ 10−2 mm/cycle. However, the Phase 1 model gave overly conservative CFCGRs at rates in the low growth rate regime below 1 × 10−4 mm/cycle, corresponding to S-N corrosion-fatigue lives in the high-cycle fatigue regime. It was hypothesized that these conservative predictions might result from the fact that the model did not consider effects of crack closure that could significantly reduce the effective crack-driving force in this low growth rate regime, a process that might also give rise to crack-size effects. Thus, the primary objective of the current study was to assess whether or not crack closure is responsible for the conservativism in the Phase 1 CFCGR model, as well as to explore related crack-size effects that in theory would not be predictable with conventional linear elastic fracture mechanics. Both of these possible effects are explored here using critical CFCGR experiments on X65 steel in sour brine under loading conditions for which the nominally applied mechanical driving force (ΔK), as well as the stress ratio (Rσ) and loading frequency were held constant, while crack closure measurements were made as the crack grew from 2 mm to about 10 mm. The crack closure measurements were made using elastic compliance measurements made with a specially designed, high-sensitivity clip gage. Results indicate that a crack-size dependence of CFCGR did occur and could be correlated using a crack-closure-corrected effective stress intensity factor (ΔKeff). These results have provided a foundation for extending the JIP’s Phase 1 CFCGR model into the low growth rate regime in the ongoing Phase 2 of the JIP.
Observed Wave Actions on Norwegian Semi-Submersible and TLP Decks
Authors: Kvitrud Arne , Løland Anders H.
Published: September 2018

Waves have impacted decks on Norwegian semi-submersibles (semis) and TLPs several times. However, it did not get necessary attention before two accidents in 2015.

In 2015, a wave impact caused a fatality and four injured on the semi-submersible drilling rig COSLInnovator. The same year, a wave washed away gratings on Scarabeo 8, causing a man to fall 13.5m to the sea. When examining our records, we found 29 reported incidents related to waves in deck on 17 platforms from 2000–2017. 27 of the wave actions were mainly directed upward and the remaining two were mainly horizontal wave hits.

We describe each incident and the circumstances. We discuss common causes related to weather conditions and the physical appearance of the platforms. Further, we summarise design and operational precautions taken by the industry.
Qualification of Thermoplastic Composite Pipes
Authors: Wilkins Jonathan
Published: September 2018

Magma Global has developed m-pipe®, a high performance pipe built from a thermoplastic matrix and carbon fibre, designed for use in subsea oil and gas applications to offer a high pressure and sour service capability. Managing the qualification of such a disruptive technology is a unique challenge. Magma must demonstrate reliability to our customers and to the regulators. There is little prior art that applies directly and so Magma is following the guiding principles in the recent DNVGL RP-F119 “Recommended practice for thermoplastic composite pipe” [1] together with the risk based approach in DNVGL-RP-A203 “Qualification of new technology” [2]. We discuss our approach to:

• Identify design and qualification standards.

• Develop tests to evaluate material behaviour at the coupon level in simulated oilfield environments.

• Develop an FEA based design tool to predict structural performance of pipes based on material properties tested on coupons.

• Correlate simulations to structural testing of pipes.

We hope the paper will be useful to anyone in the oil and gas community who is interested in developing composite materials and ensuring qualification for subsea applications.
Biosurfactant Versus Commercial Surfactant: Study on Effectiveness for Application in EOR
Authors: de Castilho Livia V. A. , Pasqualino Ilson P. , Duarte Alan M. , Waldow Vinicius de A. , de Sousa Maíra P. , Seldin Lucy , Freire Denise Maria G.
Published: September 2018

The aim of this work was to compare the efficiency of a biosurfactant (BS) and a commercial surfactant under post-salt and pre-salt reservoirs conditions, to evaluate their potential use to EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery). Rhamnolipids BS from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (INCQS 4046), were produced [1] and characterized [2], [3], and Ultrasperse II® was purchased. Calcite flotation test was conducted to access wettability reversal [4]. IFT analysis was performed [5] under controlled pressure, temperature and salinity to simulate post-salt and pre-salt environmental conditions. Central Composite Rotational Designs (CCRD) were analyzed [6]. According to results, it was demonstrated that both products can reverse wettability and are even more effective under post-salt and pre-salt reservoirs environmental conditions. However, rhamnolipids present better potential for use, since it was more effective when compared to the commercial surfactant, attaining lower interfacial tension values and higher reversal wettability percentages using lower concentrations of product.
Risk-Based Assessment of Fixed Offshore Wind Turbine Support Structures
Authors: Yeter Baran , Garbatov Yordan , Guedes Soares C.
Published: September 2018

This work presents a structural assessment of fixed offshore wind turbine support structures with respect to possible failure mechanisms. The studied support structures are verified based on the design criteria, which concern the static and dynamic behavior. Subsequently, the fatigue assessment is carried out a more detailed design. Moreover, the ultimate strength of a monopile support structure is analyzed accounting for the nonlinearities associated with the material properties and geometry. Finally, it is also developed a risk-based assessment for an optimal life-cycle of offshore wind turbine support structures. The economic criteria are considered in the defining the consequences of failure. A multi-dimensional framework is developed as a decision-making tool to evaluate the viability of the offshore wind turbine project throughout the service life accounting for the necessary measures. Recently performed studies in the field are also revised here.
Pure Bending Test on a Box Girder With Low Panel’s Slenderness
Authors: Gordo José Manuel , Guedes Soares Carlos
Published: September 2018

The results of a four points bending test on a box girder are presented. The experiment is part of series of tests with similar configuration but different thickness, spacing between longitudinal stiffeners and span between frames. The present work refers to the stockiest plate box girder with a plate’s thickness of 4 mm and a span between frames of 800 mm. The experiment includes initial loading cycles allowing for residual stresses relief. It also includes a series of cycles close to collapse load allowing the analysis of linear characteristic at high levels of load.

The moment curvature relationship is established for a large range of curvatures. The ultimate bending moment of the box is evaluated and compared with the first yield moment and the plastic moment allowing the evaluation of the efficiency of the structure. The post buckling behavior and collapse mode are characterized. Comparison of the experiment with a progressive collapse method is made taking into consideration the effect of residual stresses on envelop of the moment curvature curve of the structure.
Maneuverability Towing Tank Experiments With Manifold Models: Part I — Static Tests
Authors: Kleine Felipe Augusto de Souza , Guedes Danyllo de Lima , de Castro Felipe Santos , Carvalho Daniel , Dozzi Dantas João Lucas
Published: September 2018

This work is the Part I of a two-part work, where the maneuverability of three manifold geometries was investigated by Towing Tank tests at the Institute for Technological Research, in order to verify the influence of geometrical simplifications and modifications. In this work is presented a comparison between the forces and moments measured in static drift tests, considering a pitch orientation ranging from 0 to 360 degrees, and the static hydrodynamic derivatives in a reference orientation. In the Part II, the investigations were complemented by the results of dynamic tests. The manifold models were constructed in a 1:13 scale. The first model was a geometrically simplified version of the prototype, composed of two simple blocks; the second one was constructed with almost all the prototype geometric details; the last one used the second model with a plate installed on its top. The tests results indicate that the geometrical simplification of manifold models did not have a significant influence on the maneuvering coefficients, in contrast to the addition of the top plate, which significantly changed the maneuvering capabilities of the model. The study presented in both papers will be used to form a data base for numerical simulation studies for manifolds installation.
Comparison of Mooring Solutions and Array Systems for Point Absorbing Wave Energy Devices
Authors: Ringsberg Jonas W. , Jansson Hanna , Yang Shun-Han , Örgård Martin , Johnson Erland
Published: September 2018

Most of the ocean energy technologies are considered to be in a pre-commercial phase and need technical development. This study focuses on design of mooring solutions and compares array systems of a specific floating point-absorbing wave energy converter (WEC) developed by the company Waves4Power. A full-scale prototype of the WEC is installed in Runde (Norway) where it is moored with three polyester mooring lines, each having one floater and one gravity anchor. Based on this reference installation, the method of systems engineering was used to propose twenty-two conceptual mooring solutions for different array systems. They were compared and reduced to four top concepts in a systematic elimination procedure using Pugh and Kesselring matrices. The top concepts were assessed in detail by means of LCOE (levelised cost of energy), LCA (life cycle analysis) and risk analyses. The fatigue life of the mooring lines and the energy capture were calculated using results obtained from coupled hydrodynamic and structure response analyses in the DNV-GL DeepC software. Two final concepts were proposed for the water depths 75 and 200 m.
Drill Riser Fairing Hydrodynamic Assessment With 3-Dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Lai Lawrence
Published: September 2018

Fairings have historically been known to achieve in-line drag coefficients (Cdx) of approximately 0.60 across the Reynolds number (Re) range of 100,000 to 1,000,000, typical for the offshore environment [1]. The recent development of helically grooved drill riser buoyancy was shown to achieve Cdx values of 0.65 for this Re range [2], presenting a strong alternative to fairing products especially considering the additional installation, storage and maintenance requirements of fairings.

Therefore it is the purpose of this paper to investigate possible fairing designs capable of achieving even lower Cdx values where fairings can still be beneficial in further reducing drag loading. This paper proposes a non-parallel reduced chord horseshoe (RCH) fairing design and is analysed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in 3-d using the transient k-epsilon (Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes) turbulence model. The modelling approach is validated against tow tank test data of a previous teardrop-shaped (TD) fairing design which showed good agreement with published, peer-reviewed literature.

It was found CFD simulations with axially continuous fairings provide artificially low Cdx values due to the absence of fairing end-effects and gaps between fairing sections. In essence, an infinitely long and uninterrupted fairing in the riser axial dimension is not realistic. Incorporation of this discontinuity sees a significant increase in Cdx compared to the axially continuous fairing configuration. Although this is the case, it was found Cdx of approximately 0.48 or lower is achievable for the entire offshore Re range for the discontinuous fairing configuration (assuming a chord/diameter ratio of 2.0). Larger chord/diameter ratios would provide lower Cdx at the cost of a longer chord length which may impact fairing installation efficiency. Longer axial lengths would also achieve lower Cdx but with the risk of flutter instability.

This development in RCH fairing design sees a possible option for further fairing applicability to offshore drilling operations where lower drag is desirable beyond that offered by the helically grooved buoyancy.
Characteristics of Bragg Reflection of Water Waves by Multiple Vertical Flexible Membranes
Authors: Ding Wei-Wei , Zou Zao-Jian , Wu Jing-Ping
Published: September 2018

Bragg reflection of water waves by multiple vertical flexible membranes in water of uniform depth is investigated based on the assumption of linear wave theory and small membrane deflection. The multiple vertical flexible membranes consist of several floating vertical flexible membranes which are installed with both ends fixed. First, a single vertical flexible membrane in water waves is considered, and the reflection and transmission coefficients are obtained based on the eigenfunction expansion method and the least square method. Then the interaction of water waves with the multiple vertical flexible membranes is studied. Using the reflection and transmission coefficients obtained for the single flexible membrane, the reflection and transmission coefficients of the multiple vertical flexible membranes are obtained based on the wide spacing approximation. The proposed method is proved to be efficient by comparing the calculated coefficients with the results published in literature. The characteristics of Bragg reflection, such as the occurring condition, the primary amplitude and the effective bandwidth, are systematically investigated under various factors including the number, the tension, the draft and the spacing of membranes. The results of the present study have certain reference value for design of multiple vertical flexible membranes as effective floating breakwaters.
Application of Boundary Element Method for Determination of the Wavemaker Driving Signal
Authors: Khait Anatoliy , Shemer Lev
Published: September 2018

Excitation of steep unidirectional broad-banded wave trains is studied numerically and experimentally. Iterative method is developed to adjust the driving signal of a paddle-type wavemaker to generate wave train with a prescribed free waves’ spectrum. Analytical post-processing procedure based on the Zakharov equation is applied to separate complex amplitude spectrum of the surface elevation into free and bound components, as required for the proposed method of the adjustment of the wavemaker driving signal. Numerical wave tank in the simulations was based on application of the Boundary Element Method. The results of numerical simulations were supported by measurements in a wave tank. The measured and the designed shapes of the surface elevation variation with time, as well as of the corresponding amplitude spectra were found to be in a good agreement.
Proposition of Operational Maps As Tools for Evaluating Safety During the Emergency Disconnection of Risers
Authors: Jaculli Marcelo Anunciação , Pelaquim Mendes José Ricardo , Miura Kazuo , Yamamoto Márcio
Published: September 2018

The construction of subsea wells under deep water depths brought the necessity to understand the behavior of columns on such conditions. These columns can be risers, drill strings or casing strings, which are either being installed by lowering them until they reach the sea bottom and/or inside the well, or they are already connected and fully operational. Since these columns are exposed to the open sea, environmental loads such as waves and currents will affect them. Depending on how harsh these environmental conditions are, drilling operations may be suspended. Therefore, understanding how such loads interact with such columns are of the utmost importance if one wants to ensure operational safety. In this paper, we discuss about the problem of emergency disconnections of risers. The concern of doing an emergency disconnection is fundamental for ensuring operational safety because the well will lose a safety barrier, as the level of the drilling fluid inside the well can no longer be controlled after the riser is disconnected, and thus the fluid cannot maintain its downhole pressure anymore. This work focuses on a finite elements modeling of riser dynamics, with the appropriate applied loads, to verify under which sea conditions the riser must be disconnected. The result of such analysis is called an “operational map”, which displays the maximum values of stress along the riser as a function of different sea conditions. Using the riser material properties, this map can then be divided in two regions — failure and admissible — and thus one can see for which sea conditions the riser must be disconnected to avoid its failure. The contribution of the present study is proposing a methodology to elaborate an operational map for a given riser scenario, from which both failure and admissible regions can be seen for emergency disconnection operations.
Gravity Based Foundations for Offshore Wind Turbines: Cyclic Loading and Liquefaction
Authors: van Wijngaarden Martijn , Meijers Piet , Raaijmakers Tim , de Jager Richard , Gavin Kenneth
Published: September 2018

In current modelling of excess pore pressures (EPPs) below marine structures, the irregular nature of cyclic loads and the real storm development are not taken into account. The effect of the irregular cyclic loading in time is investigated in this paper. The wind, wave and turbine loads on a gravity based foundation (GBF) are derived in the frequency domain. The real storm development is based on the CoastDat dataset. The load input is used in a program which takes the generation and dissipation of pore pressures under cyclic loading into account. Also, densification is included. The results show that the first storm in the lifetime of the GBF results in the highest EPPs. The EPP decreases in time, due to significant dissipation and densification during the build-up of a storm. Therefore, not the storms with the largest cyclic loads but the storms with the fastest build-up result in the highest EPPs, since this limits the process of densification. A large scatter is found in the maximum values of EPPs due to the irregular nature of the loads.
The Granular Structure of Two Marine Carbonate Sediments
Authors: Beemer Ryan D. , Bandini-Maeder Alexandre N. , Shaw Jeremy , Lebrec Ulysse , Cassidy Mark J.
Published: September 2018

Calcareous sediments are prominent throughout the low-latitudinal offshore environment and have been known to be problematic for offshore foundation systems. These fascinating soils consist largely of the skeletal remains of single-celled marine organisms (plankton and zooplankton) and can be as geologically complex as their onshore siliceous counter parts. To enable an adequate understanding of their characteristics, in particular, their intra-granular micro-structure, it is important that geotechnical engineers do not forget about the multifaceted biological origins of these calcareous sediments and the different geological processes that created them. In this paper, the 3D models of soils grains generated from micro-computed tomography scans, scanning electeron microscope images, and optical microscope images of two calcareous sediments from two different depositional environments are presented and their geotechnical implications discussed. One is a coastal bioclastic sediment from Perth, Western Australia that is geologically similar to carbonate sediments typically used in micro-mechanics and particle crushing studies in the literature. The other is a hemipelagic sediment from a region of the North West Shelf of Australia that has historically been geotechnically problematic for engineers. The results show there is a marked difference between coastal bioclastic and hemipelagic sediments in terms of geological context and the associated particle micro-structures. This brings into question whether a coastal bioclastic calcareous sediment is a good micro-mechanical substitute for a hemipelagic one.