bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Two Approaches Provide Quality Control for NMR Measurement of Unconventional Rock
Authors: Carpenter Chris 
Published: January 2021

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 201358, “Quality Control of NMR Measurements in Unconventional Rocks Using Hilbert Transforms and Semilogarithmic Derivatives,” by Pierre Aérens, SPE, David Medellin, and Carlos Torres-Verdin, SPE, The University of Texas at Austin, prepared for the 2020 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, originally scheduled to be held in Denver, 5-7 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements are extremely valuable in the assessment of fluid-flow properties of rocks. However, inverted transverse-relaxation time (T2) distributions are often biased. The authors of the complete paper introduce and compare two quality-control approaches based on two different signal-processing practices: the semilogarithmic derivative and the Hilbert transform. This work provides the basis of effective quality-control methods for NMR measurements for the petrophysical interpretation of rocks with complex pore-size distributions. The fast and reliable quality control of estimated T2 distributions is not affected by inversion artifacts, relying only on unfiltered, raw data.
Introduction
Borehole NMR measurements are commonly riddled with excessive noise that precludes high-resolution assessments of rock and fluid properties, especially in unconventional rock. Inverted T2 distributions can be biased by positivity constraints and the regularization method used in the inversion, making it difficult to determine whether the estimated pore-size distributions are reliable or byproducts of the inversion or regularization. Quality control of inversion results is essential for the robust quantitative interpretation of proton magnetization decays.
The complete paper presents a mathematical analysis for the two data-quality assessment methods and the work flow to estimate pseudo-T2 distributions on the basis of time-decay proton magnetizations. The estimation and assessment methods are then applied to both synthetic and experimental data sets to verify their validity and reliability. The laboratory examples are detailed in the complete paper.
Validation With Synthetic Cases
The authors apply the derivative and Hilbert methods to two synthetic examples for a total of three cases. Both synthetic examples comprise three exponential magnetization decays, with amplitudes equal to A1=0.5, A2 =0.2, and A3=0.3. The first example is referred to as ideal because it is not contaminated with noise and because the authors chose the T2 peak times separated by three orders of magnitude at 1 µs, 1 ms, and 1000 ms, respectively. The second example showcases a more-realistic choice of T2 peak values, namely 0.1, 10, and 200 ms, respectively.
Just Add Water: Why US Shale’s Next Big Supply-Chain Revolution Is Wet Sand
Authors: Jacobs Trent 
Published: January 2021

Sand is mined. It is washed. It is dried. Then it gets wet again.
Such is the unassuming life cycle of most every grain of sand ever pumped down a horizontal well along with millions of gallons of water and into the freshly opened fractures of a tight-rock formation in the US.
But what if the sand never had to be dried?
To start with, the unconventional sector could save tens or hundreds of millions of dollars a year, simply by cutting out the capital-intensive drying process.
That might mean mines of the future could be made small enough to follow operators as they sail slowly across their vast acreages.
Wet sand also lends itself to safer and more regulatory-friendly worksites, an important consideration given that more-stringent air-quality standards are coming into effect in the US next year.
A wet-sand revolution may also represent a major boon for the industrywide effort to reduce CO2 emissions - making each horizontal well completed with wet sand a bit greener than one that used dry sand.
This is all according to a newly shared case study (SPE 199975) from sand supplier PropX and US shale producer Ovintiv. Since the highlighted field test was completed last year, PropX has pumped more than 1 billion pounds of wet sand down wells in Texas and Oklahoma.
“What we propose in this paper is the next logical step in the supply-chain reduction,” of the unconventional sand sector, said Brian Dorfman. “That is, the removal or the significant scaling down of the drying facility.”
Dorfman is a business development manager at PropX and one of the authors of the whimsically titled paper, “Can Wet Sand Be Used for More Than Building Sand Castles on the Beach?”
On a multiwell pad in Oklahoma, Ovintiv found that wet sand - defined as having a moisture content of 1-10% - could be used to stimulate more than a hundred fracture stages in under 2 weeks. Addressing any concerns over efficiency, the operation saw an average of nearly 4 million pounds of wet sand pumped downhole each day - well within shale-sector norms.
Sand is washed to remove contaminants. It is then run through industrial-sized kilns because dry sand flows from a hopper and into a train car or a truck far easier than wet sand which clumps together, as any child at the beach knows well.
Technology Focus: Production and Facilities (December 2020)
Authors: Bailey William 
Published: January 2021

The notion of reducing our environmental footprint, minimizing leaks and spillages, and identifying operational efficiencies is nothing new. We have been addressing these issues for years. Sustainability, however, has gained a higher profile recently, especially since the 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change accord and the evolution of alternative energies. It came, therefore, as a pleasant surprise to review an extraordinary wealth of well-written papers relating not only to this topic, but to all manner of fascinating engineering issues.
Let me back up a bit. For 6 years, I have provided commentary concerning matters relating to reservoir simulation. This was often illuminating, but my primary interest has always been in full-field modeling: coupling our models for flow in porous media, wellbore, network, and to facilities. I firmly believe that unified full-field modeling can furnish benefits both operationally and economically. In accepting the challenge to write this, however, I did not expect to encounter the extraordinary breadth of topics covered. Saying that, one clear thread did emerge from the articles reviewed - namely reliability, emissions control, and energy saving and monitoring, all of which relate to sustainability in one way or another. Novel methods for valve- failure prediction, pipeline coatings, floating storage tank roof optimization, and the use of drones (from spray painting to surveillance) along with robots for unmanned installations were all topics represented in the papers provided me.
Paper SPE 198165 is an informative overview of alternative fuels and how these may affect Middle East production; however, this should appeal to a wider readership because it reviews alternative energies nicely. Paper IPTC 19775 provides a means to better quantify separator shrinkage, which can result in errors in stock-tank rates up to 20% (essential if one is to quantify unit energy consumption accurately). Paper SPE 197759 proposes methods for energy savings. These papers represent but a small sample of a broader swath of articles from the past year relating to this catch-all term “sustainability.”
Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org.
SPE 197753 Parametric Study on Wind Fatigue Life of Long Span Flare-Boom Based on Directional Input Parameters to Harris Wind Spectra and Selection of Wind Blocks by Sachin Samant, National Petroleum Construction Company, et al.
SPE 198133 Internal Corrosion Severity Ranking of Crude Oil Pipelines by Amer Jaragh, Kuwait Oil Company, et al.
SPE 197620 Ground Robotics Enabler for Normally Unattended Installations by Jean-Michel Munoz, Total, et al.
Value Methodology Identifies Energy-Saving Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Carpenter Chris 
Published: January 2021

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 197759, “Energy-Saving Challenges and Opportunities in Upstream Operations Using Value Methodology,” by Mohamed Ahmed Soliman, Saudi Aramco, prepared for the 2019 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, 11-14 November. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
The objective of the complete paper is to investigate and analyze energy-saving and process-optimization opportunities in upstream surface facilities, from downhole to the gas/oil separation plants (GOSPs), using a value-methodology approach. Function analysis was used to identify those functions that can be reduced, eliminated, or synergized to minimize GOSP operating and maintenance cost. All successful opportunities were selected on the basis of their minimum operating expenses and capital expenditure (CAPEX) with a value-engineering methodology.
Introduction
Value methodology has been implemented successfully in new projects to save costs but rarely has been implemented in oil and gas operating facilities to minimize operating costs. The success of value methodology in reducing capital project costs prompted the author to explore its application to operating facilities, specifically toward minimizing operating and maintenance cost. Value methodology is used when value is a concern and requires optimization. Value is defined as the ratio of function to cost. The value-engineering methodology consists of the following six-step process (Fig. 1):
Information: Collect, review, and analyze all information about the project or the plant, including the cost. Review and define current project conditions and identify study goals.
Function analysis: Define the primary function of the product or project in a simple format.
Creativity: Generate the largest number of innovative ideas (brainstorming) without being controlled by standards and best practices.
Evaluation: Evaluate the ideas generated from the creativity phase, eliminate impractical ones, and select the most-profitable and -achievable improvement idea.
Development: Develop further the selected best ideas from the evaluation phase and estimate the cost. The development phase includes cost/benefit analyses, drawings, implementation steps, and responsibilities.
Presentation: Present the selected ideas to decision-makers and stakeholders for final approval.
Case Studies
Several energy-saving opportunities were analyzed to highlight the need to check continuously the function of each equipment item and process in any operating facility. Many functions were found to be unnecessary. In some cases, these unnecessary functions adversely affected plant operation. The complete paper provides four case studies; this synopsis will highlight three of them.
Determinants of Market Outlet Choices by Smallholder Chickpea Farmers in Estie District Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Erkie Chernet Worku , Adugna Marlign , Chanie Essa 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
In Ethiopia, chickpea is an important plus crop, particularly in Estie district. It is a source of food and provides cash income for majority of smallholder farmers. To commercialize chickpea producers, selecting an appropriate market channel is mandatory. However, selecting an appropriate market channel is not an easy task because there are different factors that affect market outlet choices in the district. Hence, this study aimed to identify factors that affecting chickpea market outlet choices. Both primary & secondary sources of data were used. A two-stage random sampling procedure was used and a total of 122 smallholder farmers were randomly and proportionally selected to collect primary data. Multivariate probit model was employed to identify factors affecting chickpea market outlet choices. The result shows that five major chickpea marketing channels were identified and among them wholesalers and retailers purchased about (61.84%) and (18.2%) respectively. The estimation result of multivariate probit model showed that the likelihood of sampled households to select collectors, consumers, retailers and wholesalers were 25.3%, 35.4%, 30.5% and 36%, respectively. The joint probability of success and failure to select all market outlets was 0.01537% and 13.4% respectively. It also indicated that sex of household, education status, family size, off-farm income, access to credit; lagged price and distance to market significantly affected the market channel choice decision of producers. Based on the findings, Government and concerned stakeholders need to focus more on enhancing accessibility of infrastructures facilities, strengthening credit access and improving yield through extension service to accelerate selecting appropriate market channel.
Comparative Evaluation of Methods for Isolating Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Authors: Wang Jie-Min , Li Yong-Jiang , Wu Jun-Yong , Cai Jia-Xin , Wen Jing , Xiang Daxiong , Hu Xiong-Bin , Li Wen-Qun 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are nanosized vesicles involved in cell-to-cell communication. sEVs have been widely studied for clinical applications such as early detection of diseases and as therapeutics. Various methods for sEVs isolation are been using, but different methods may result in different qualities of sEVs and impact downstream analysis and applications. Here, we compared current isolation methods and performed a comparative analysis of sEVs from supernatant of cultured pancreatic cancer cells.Methods: Ultracentrifugation, ultrafiltration and co-precipitation as concentration methods were firstly evaluated for yield, size, morphology and protein level of pellets. Then, isolate sEVs obtained by four different purification methods: size exclusion chromatography, density gradient ultracentrifugation, ultracentrifugation, and immunoaffinity capturing, were analysed and compared.Results: For the concentration process, ultracentrifugation method obtained high quality and high concentration of pellets. For the purification process, immunoaffinity capturing method obtained the purest sEVs with less contaminants, while density gradient ultracentrifugation-based method obtained sEVs with the smallest size. Proteomic analysis revealed distinct protein contents of purified sEVs from different methods. Conclusions: For isolating sEVs derived from supernatant of cultured pancreatic cancer cell line, ultracentrifugation-based method is recommended for concentration of sEVs, density gradient ultracentrifugation-based method may be applied for obtaining purified sEVs with controlled size, immunoaffinity capturing may be suitable for studies requiring sEVs with high purity but may loss subtypes of sEVs without specific protein marker.
Laboratory and field studies on the use of artificial mussels as a monitoring tool of platinum exposure in the freshwater environment.
Authors: Labuschagne Marelize , Zimmermann Sonja , Smit Nico J. , Erasmus Johannes H. , Nachev Milen , Sures Bernd , Wepener Victor 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background The artificial mussel (AM) is a passive sampling device that was originally developed for monitoring metal concentrations in the marine environment but is also increasingly used in freshwater environments. The AM consists of a non-permeable Perspex tube, which is closed on both sides with a semi-permeable membrane. In the space in between are Chelex-100 beads, which bind metals. The AM allows the determination of the dissolved, bioaccessible metal fraction in water bodies without killing organisms, as well as environments with unfavorable conditions for living bioindicators. In the present study, the use of the AM was adapted for the monitoring of platinum (Pt) in a freshwater ecosystem. Results The elution of Pt from the Chelex-100 beads was optimized. Two modifications to the original method for the use of AMs are recommended, i.e. washing and separation of the beads through centrifugation and elution with a mixture of 4.5 mL HNO3 and 0.5 mL HCl for approximately 2-3 hours to ensure the release of all Pt bound to the beads. Additionally, the uptake kinetics of the AM were determined under laboratory conditions over a wide exposure concentration range (0.1-1000 µg/L) showing highly correlated Pt accumulation in the AMs with the aqueous exposure concentration. For the tested Pt exposure concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 µg/L, the Pt concentrations in the AMs increased during the exposure period of 6 weeks. At the highest exposure concentration of 1000 µg/L, the increase stagnated after 3 weeks. To validate the AM in the field, the Pt accumulation of the AM was assessed together with that of freshwater clams (Corbicula fluminalis africana), muscle and liver tissue of three fish species sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), as well as water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes) at two sampling sites in the Pt mining area of South Africa. Conclusion Results from the present study showed that the AM is a promising tool to monitor Pt concentrations in the freshwater environment at contaminated sites.
A Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome case with de novo 24 Mb duplication of chromosome 11p15.5p14.3
Authors: Jiang Huling , Ping Zepeng , Wang Jianguo , Liu Xiaodan , Jin Yuxia , Li Suping , Zhou Chiyan , Huang Pinghua , Jin Yi , Ai Ling , Chen Jie 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Molecular genetic testing for the 11p15-associated imprinting disorder Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome(BWS) is challenging because of the molecular heterogeneity and complexity of the affected imprinted regions. An integrated molecular approach to analyze the epigenetic-genetic alterations is required for accurate diagnosis of BWS.Case presentation: We reported a Chinese case with BWS detected by SNP array analysis and methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS‑MLPA). The genetic analysis showed a de novo duplication of 24 Mb at 11p15.5p14.3 is much longer than ever reported. MS-MLPA showed copy number changes with a peak height ratio value of 1.5(three copies) at 11p15. The duplication of paternal origin with increase of methylation index of 0.68 at H19 and decreased methylation index of 0.37 at KCNQ1OT1. Conclusion: Combined chromosome microarray analysis and methylation profiling provided reliable diagnosis for this paternally derived duplication of BWS. The phenotype associated with 11p15 duplications depends on the size, genetic content, parental inheritance and imprinting status. Identification of these rare duplications is crucial for genetic counselling.
Treatment of Compulsive Exercise in Eating Disorders and Muscle Dysmorphia: Protocol for a Systematic Review
Authors: Martenstyn Jordan Andre , Touyz Stephen , Maguire Sarah 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Compulsive exercise is a core feature of both eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia. Earlier models of treatment recommended complete abstinence from exercise in eating disorder populations, but recent guidelines advocate for the gradual inclusion of healthier forms of exercise into an overall treatment plan where appropriate. Given the association between problematic exercise behaviour and poorer prognosis, there has been a recent upsurge in the number of treatment interventions for compulsive exercise in eating disorders. However, no systematic review has been published summarising this existing treatment literature. The aim of this review is to determine the efficacy of existing treatments for compulsive exercise in eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia. Methods: A systematic review will be conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Five electronic databases (PsycInfo, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus) will be searched from database inception until November 2020. We will include studies that: (a) sampled adolescents and/or adults with either an eating disorder or muscle dysmorphia; (b) assessed changes in compulsive exercise from pre- to post-intervention; and (c) used a standardised instrument to measure compulsive exercise or related constructs. We will include studies with a comparison group (e.g., randomised controlled trials) and without a comparison group (e.g., pilot studies and case studies) to provide a comprehensive overview of the literature. One reviewer will screen all titles and abstracts against eligibility criteria, with 20% of excluded articles cross-referenced by another reviewer. Full texts will be obtained for articles deemed relevant or where inclusion was uncertain, and will be screened by both reviewers. We will also evaluate the quality of the included studies using a modified Downs and Black (1998) assessment checklist. Discussion: Results from this review will help to determine the most efficacious treatment components for compulsive exercise in eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia. We hope that our results will help inform clinical practice guidelines in recommending targeted interventions for the treatment of compulsive exercise.
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor facilitates the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells derived exosomes in acute myocardial infarction through upregulating miR-133a-3p
Authors: Zhu Wenwu , Sun Ling , Zhao Pengcheng , Liu Yaowu , Zhang Jian , Zhang Yuelin , Hong Yimei , Zhu Yeqian , Lu Yao , Zhao Wei , Chen Xinguang , Zhang Fengxiang 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background Exosome transplantation is a promising cell-free therapeutic approach for the treatment of ischemic heart disease. The purpose of this study was to explore whether exosomes derived from Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) engineered umbilical cord MSCs (ucMSCs) exhibit superior cardioprotective effects in a rat model of AMI and reveal the mechanisms underlying it. Results Exosomes isolated from ucMSCs (MSC-Exo), MIF engineered ucMSCs (MIF-Exo) and MIF downregulated ucMSCs (siMIF-Exo) were used to investigate cellular protective function in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and H9C2 cardiomyocytes under hypoxia and serum deprivation (H/SD) and infarcted hearts in rats. Compared with MSC-Exo and siMIF-Exo, MIF-Exo significantly enhanced proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of HUVECs and inhibited H9C2 cardiomyocyte apoptosis under H/SD in vitro. MIF-Exo also significantly inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis, reduced fibrotic area, and improved cardiac function as measured by echocardiography in infarcted rats in vivo. Exosomal miRNAs sequencing and qRT-PCR confirmed miRNA-133a-3p significantly increased in MIF-Exo. The biological effects of HUVECs and H9C2 cardiomyocytes were attenuated with incubation of MIF-Exo and miR-133a-3p inhibitors. These effects were accentuated with incubation of siMIF-Exo and miR-133a-3p mimics that increased the phosphorylation of AKT protein in these cells. Conclusion MIF-Exo can provide cardioprotective effects by promoting angiogenesis, inhibiting apoptosis, reducing fibrosis, and preserving heart function in vitro and in vivo. The mechanism in the biological activities of MIF-Exo involves miR-133a-3p and the downstream AKT signaling pathway.