bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Economic and Operational Evaluation of the Use of Drag Reducing Agents in a Pipeline
Authors: Amorim Bruno Henrique S. , Pires Luis Fernando G. , Menezes Ivan , Montalvão António Filipe F. , Limeira Fábio M. 
Published: November 2018

The use of drag reduction agents (DRA) can be a decisive factor in determining the technical and economic feasibility of new pipelines projects, meeting the demands not foreseen and seasonality accommodation without large investments in infrastructure. Knowing the friction reduction mechanism and its impact on the operating procedure of existing products is essential in order to have the guarantee of the benefit for your application.
Most of the works published report field experiences obtained from its application, seeking to determine the influence that internal and external factors have on the polymer. Knowing these effects is essential for better application performance. However, few authors have sought to identify the best way to operate an existing pipeline with DRA, with either an increase in capacity or an energy reduction.
Operationally, the use of drag reducing agents may decrease the currently used arrangement of pumps, or even the complete shutdown of a pumping station. In this context, the use of drag reducers may be a suitable solution for decreasing power consumption in fluid transport pipelines of petroleum and derivatives.
This paper presents a case study of the application of drag reducing agents in a Brazilian high-energy pipeline. It features five intermediate pumping stations and three withdrawal points along its nearly one thousand kilometer stretch. With the aid of a computer simulation software, it is proposed a methodology to evaluate the best application condition, minimizing pump costs, polymer volume and meeting the scheduled demand of the month.
This methodology first sought to validate the computational model of the pipeline. It was made a historical survey and inserted into the simulator, in order to reproduce faithfully a monthly operation. A sensitivity analysis is performed to determine which pump stations are most relevant. It was established an initial concentration of polymer to be injected in the sending refinery, aiming the reduction of arrangement or total shutdown of the subsequent station and keeping volume delivered on all points. The other bases remain working according to the operation of the month. This procedure is then repeated for the other bases, resulting in a combined and continuous injection, minimizing the operating costs.
An economic evaluation is finally performed to quantify the benefits of this application. A reduction in energy consumption of 49% was noticed, and considering the costs with DRA, the monthly movement had a 35% drop in the total costs of operation.
Determining Pipeline Depth of Cover at River Crossings by Data Integration
Authors: Chan Peter , Wei Jin 
Published: November 2018

Having sufficient depth of cover ensures pipeline protection and is a regulatory requirement. Confirming the pipeline depth of cover on dry land is generally easy and produces accurate results. However, determining the pipeline depth of cover at a river crossing can be problematic because of accessibility difficulties and the increased measurement errors from aboveground surveys.
The difficulty of determining the pipeline depth of cover at river crossings can be resolved by integrating both the aboveground survey data and the inline inspection data. By comparing both sets of data, errors from both above survey data and inline inspection data can be detected.
This paper describes watercourse management, aboveground DOC surveys, and a spreadsheet based tool developed for both the quick verification of aboveground survey results, and the calculation of the true DOC at water crossings without needing to set new GPS tie-points on both banks of the crossing and running a new ILI.
Are Pipelines Being Held to an Unreasonably High Standard of Performance?
Authors: Murray Alan 
Published: November 2018

The media and sections of the public have shown recently an acute interest in Pipeline operational performance incident statistics. Published data for North America shows that 99.999% of crude oil and petroleum products shipped by pipelines reach their destination safely. Some pipeline operators claim even better performance, 99.9996 % being one example. However, should failing to deliver 4 barrels of product for every million shipped be a legitimate cause for concern? If not how about the more general case of 1 per one hundred thousand?
Is pipeline performance being singled out unreasonably when compared to other threats to public and environmental wellbeing such as medical malpractice or industrial waste contamination? Evidence from Canada and elsewhere, indicates that, during their hospital stay, an appreciable number of patients, one in every 18, experience adverse events, such as medication error, injurious falls, infections, and other medical misadventures. Errors (mostly minor), in fulfilling pharmaceutical prescriptions show an even higher error rate — 1 in 4 in one recent study, yet the public appears to be unperturbed.
A common thread is determining what constitutes an acceptable level of risk whether individual or societal, voluntary or involuntary. Besides providing a broader context for pipeline risk, the paper explores the origin and intent of the environmental screening standard of 1 in 10−6, as well as the concept of setting risk tolerance to be as low as reasonably practicable — ALARP. The question of why there may be a reticence for many Pipeline Regulators to set, as other industries have, a prescriptive value for ALARP is considered.
Guidelines for Quantitative Risk Model Development
Authors: Koduru Smitha D. , Skow Jason B. 
Published: November 2018

A critical review of quantitative risk analysis (QRA) models used in the pipeline industry was conducted as part of a project titled “Critical Review of Candidate Pipeline Risk Models”, which was carried out for the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Guidelines for the development and application of pipeline QRA models were developed as a part of this project, following an extensive literature review and an industry survey.
The guidelines provide a framework for performing QRA for natural gas and hazardous liquids transmission pipelines, and address risk estimation, which involves estimating the failure frequency and failure consequences. They are intended to assist operators in developing new QRA models, and in identifying and addressing gaps in their existing models. They are also intended to help regulators evaluate the accuracy, completeness, and effectiveness of the QRA models developed by operators.
Burst Pressure of Wrinkles Under High Longitudinal Strain
Authors: Zhou Honggang , Wang Yong-Yi , Nanney Steve 
Published: November 2018

Wrinkles may form in pipelines experiencing high longitudinal strains in areas of ground movement and seismic activities. Current assessment procedures for wrinkles were developed and validated under the assumption that the predominant loading was internal pressure and that the level of longitudinal strain was low. The impact of wrinkles on the burst pressure of pipes under high longitudinal strain is not known. This paper describes work funded by US DOT PHMSA on the assessment of burst pressure of wrinkled pipes under high longitudinal strain.
Both numerical analyses and full-scale tests were conducted to examine the burst pressure of wrinkled pipes. The numerical analysis results were compared with the full-scale test data. The effect of wrinkles on burst pressure were discussed. The biaxial loading conditions in the pipe were found affect the burst pressure of wrinkled pipes.
CTOD-Resistance Curve Testing and Evaluation for Clamped SENT Specimens
Authors: Zhu Xian-Kui , McGaughy Tom 
Published: November 2018

To assess the integrity of pipelines containing cracks, single edge-notched tension (SENT) specimens in the end-clamped conditions have been widely adopted in the oil and gas industry to measure fracture toughness or resistance curves in terms of the J-integral or crack-tip opening displacement (CTOD). The CTOD toughness is often utilized in the strain-based design, and thus its measurement is important to the pipeline industry. Two types of CTOD-R curve test methods are available for a single SENT specimen test: J-conversion method and double clip gage (DCG) measurement method. However, these two CTOD test methods often determine different R-curves, leading to a long-running dispute.
To better understand the difference of the two CTOD test methods as well as the effect of material strain hardening rate on CTOD-R curves, a set of clamped SENT specimens are tested for two ductile steels with a high strain hardening rate (A36) and a low strain hardening rate (X80). Experimental R-curves are analyzed for the two steels, and results show that the CTOD-R curves determined using the J-conversion method and the DCG method are comparable for X80, but significantly different for A36. To study the root cause, elastic-plastic finite element analyses are performed for the SENT specimens of A36 and X80. With the numerical results of J-integral and CTOD, different CTOD estimation methods are evaluated, and the root causes of their differences are analyzed. On this basis, discussions are made on how to use the two types of CTOD-R curves in the pipeline design and integrity assessment.
Early life factors for myopia in the British Twins Early Development Study
Authors: Williams Katie M , Kraphol Eva , Yonova-Doing Ekaterina , Hysi Pirro G , Plomin Robert , Hammond Christopher J 
Published: November 2018

PurposeMyopia is an increasingly prevalent condition globally. A greater understanding of contemporaneous, early life factors associated with myopia risk is urgently required, particularly in younger onset myopia as this correlates with higher severity and increased complications in adult life.MethodsAnalysis of a subset of the longitudinal, UK-based Twins Early Development Study (n=1991) recruited at birth between 1994 and 1996. Subjective refraction was obtained from the twin’s optometrists; mean age 16.3 years (SD 1.7). Myopia was defined as mean spherical equivalent ≤−0.75 dioptres. A life course epidemiology approach was used to appropriately weight candidate myopia risk factors during critical periods of eye growth. Adjusted ORs for myopia were estimated using multivariable logistic regression models at each life stage, together with variance explained (r2) and area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) statistic of predictive models.ResultsFactors significantly associated with myopia included level of maternal education (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.59), fertility treatment (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.92), summer birth (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.28 to 2.90) and hours spent playing computer games (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.06). The total variance explained by this model was 4.4 % (p<0.001) and the AUROC was 0.68 (95% CI 0.64 to 0.72). Consistent associations were observed with socioeconomic status, educational attainment, reading enjoyment and cognitive variables, particularly verbal cognition, at multiple points over the life course.ConclusionsThis study identifies known and novel associations with myopia during childhood development; associated factors identified in early life reflect sociological and lifestyle trends such as rates of maternal education, fertility treatment, early schooling and computer games.
Triple therapy in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zheng Yayuan , Zhu Jianhong , Liu Yuyu , Lai Weiguang , Lin Chunyu , Qiu Kaifen , Wu Junyan , Yao Weimin 
Published: November 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the rate of moderate to severe exacerbations between triple therapy and dual therapy or monotherapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Data sourcesPubMed, Embase, Cochrane databases, and clinical trial registries searched from inception to April 2018.Eligibility criteriaRandomised controlled trials comparing triple therapy with dual therapy or monotherapy in patients with COPD were eligible. Efficacy and safety outcomes of interest were also available.Data extraction and synthesisData were collected independently. Meta-analyses were conducted to calculate rate ratios, hazard ratios, risk ratios, and mean differences with 95% confidence intervals. Quality of evidence was summarised in accordance with GRADE methodology (grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation).Results21 trials (19 publications) were included. Triple therapy consisted of a long acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), long acting β agonist (LABA), and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS). Triple therapy was associated with a significantly reduced rate of moderate or severe exacerbations compared with LAMA monotherapy (rate ratio 0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.60 to 0.85), LAMA and LABA (0.78, 0.70 to 0.88), and ICS and LABA (0.77, 0.66 to 0.91). Trough forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and quality of life were favourable with triple therapy. The overall safety profile of triple therapy is reassuring, but pneumonia was significantly higher with triple therapy than with dual therapy of LAMA and LABA (relative risk 1.53, 95% confidence interval 1.25 to 1.87).ConclusionsUse of triple therapy resulted in a lower rate of moderate or severe exacerbations of COPD, better lung function, and better health related quality of life than dual therapy or monotherapy in patients with advanced COPD.Study registrationProspero CRD42018077033.
Does perception of drug-related harm change with age? A cross-sectional online survey of young and older people
Authors: Cheeta Survjit , Halil Adem , Kenny Matthew , Sheehan Erin , Zamyadi Roxanne , Williams Adrian Lloyd , Webb Lucy 
Published: November 2018

ObjectivesTo investigate how young and older people perceive the harms associated with legal and illegal drugs.DesignCross-sectional study: adults aged 18–24 years versus 45+ completed an online survey ranking the perceived harms associated with 11 drugs on 16 drug-related harm criteria.SettingOnline survey.Participants184 participants aged 18–24 years (113 female: mean age 21: SD 1.3) and 91 participants aged 45+ (51 female: mean age 60: SD 8.5).Main outcome measures‘Perception of drug-related harms’: This was measured using a rating scale ranging from 1 (no risk of harm) to 4 (high risk of harm). Participants were also asked about sources which informed their perception on drug-related harms as well as their own personal self-reported drug experiences.ResultsOf the illegal drugs, heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine were rated as the most harmful and cannabis was rated as the least harmful. Alcohol and tobacco were also rated as less harmful. The results showed that perceptions of drug-related harms were inconsistent with current knowledge from research on drugs. Furthermore, perceptions on drug harms were more conservative in the 45+ group for a number of illegal drugs and tobacco. However, the 45+ age group did not perceive alcohol as any more harmful than the younger group.ConclusionsThis survey demonstrates that the greatest misperception was in relation to alcohol-related harms which did not change with age. In order to minimise harms, this misperception needs to be addressed through education and policies that legislate drug use.
Risk of olfactory dysfunction of the workers in the automobile repair, printing, shoemaking and plating industries in Korea: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Lee Soo-Jin , Kim Eun-Mi , Cho Seok-Hyun , Song Jaechul , Jang Tae-Won , Lee Mi-Young 
Published: November 2018

ObjectivesThe present study was performed to investigate the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in workers exposed to hazardous substances in a variety of occupations in Korea.MethodsWe designed a cross-sectional study. The exposed group (n=296) consisted of Korean workers in the automobile repair, printing, shoemaking and plating industries and was compared with office workers (non-exposed group, n=99). A self-report questionnaire was administered to the subjects for demographic characteristics. In addition, olfactory function was evaluated using the Korean version of Sniffin’s Stick (KVSS) I and II test, which has been reported to be valid and reliable in Korean subjects. KVSS I score ≥7 or KVSS II score ≥30 was classified as normal, KVSS I score <7 or KVSS II score <30 was classified as oflactory dysfunction. The statistical analyses were performed with olfactory dysfunction as a dependent variable to calculate prevalence ratio (PR) of the exposed group.ResultsThe prevalence of olfactory dysfunction was 21.2% in office, 45.1% in automobile repair, 69.7% in printing and 88.9% in shoemaking and plating workers. The adjusted PR was highest in plating (3.589, 95% CI 1.957 to 6.583), followed by shoemaking (3.136, 95% CI 1.763 to 5.579), printing (2.669, 95% CI 1.610 to 4.424) and automobile repair (1.914, 95% CI 1.105 to 3.317) workers.ConclusionsIn comparison with office workers, the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction and the PR of olfactory dysfunction were very high in the four occupational groups. This finding could be an important basis for establishing the olfactory dysfunction prevention policy for workers who are exposed to hazardous substances or work in high-risk occupations.
Drug use in street sex workers (DUSSK) study protocol: a feasibility and acceptability study of a complex intervention to reduce illicit drug use in drug-dependent female street sex workers
Authors: Jeal Nicola , Patel Rita , Redmond Niamh M , Kesten Joanna M , Ramsden Sophie , Macleod John , Coast Joanna , Telfer Maggie , Wilcox David , Nowland Gill , Horwood Jeremy 
Published: November 2018

IntroductionPoor health of sex workers continues to be a source of international concern. Sex work is frequently linked with problematic drug use and drug-dependent sex workers typically work on the street, experiencing the greatest risks to health compared with the general population. Street sex workers (SSWs) are much more likely to have experienced incidences of physical and sexual assault, increasing their risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We have developed a novel complex intervention designed to reduce illicit drug use in drug-dependent female SSWs which involves: female SSW drug treatment groups (provided by a specialist charity) in a female SSW setting (female sex worker charity premises) provided by female-only staff, PTSD care with eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy provided by female staff from National Health Service (NHS) mental health services.Methods and analysisA mixed methods study investigating the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention to inform the design of a future randomised controlled trial. The study aims to recruit up to 30 participants from November 2017 to March 2018 at a single site, with the intervention being delivered until December 2018. It will gather quantitative data using questionnaires and group attendance. Drug treatment group observations and in-depth interviews undertaken with up to 20 service users and 15 service providers to examine experiences and acceptability of the intervention. Study feasibility will be assessed by evaluating the recruitment and retention of participants to the intervention; the feasibility of NHS and third sector organisations working closely to coordinate care for a SSW population; the potential for specialist NHS mental health services to screen and provide EMDR therapy for drug-dependent SSWs and potential costs of implementing the intervention.Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by South West–Frenchay Research Ethics Committee (REC reference: 17/SW/0033; IRAS ID: 220631) and the Health Research Authority (HRA). Findings will be disseminated through research conferences and peer-reviewed journals.
Effectiveness and safety of modified ‘Huoxue Shugan’ formulas on coronary heart disease combined with depression: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Chen Mingtai , Men Ling , Ou Lijun , Li Tao , Li Meihuan , Zhong Xiaoling , Zhang Jian , Zhang Zhong 
Published: November 2018

ObjectiveTo assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of modified ‘Huoxue Shugan’ (HXSG) formulas used as Chinese herbal medicine in treating patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and depression.MethodsA systematic literature search of articles up to March 2018 will be performed in the following electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, Chinese Biomedical Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System and Wanfang Database. Inclusion criteria are as follows: randomised controlled trials of modified HXSG formulas in patients with CHD and depression. The primary outcome measures will be CHD-related clinical evaluation (frequency of acute angina, severity of angina pectoris, ECG changes, dose of nitroglycerin) and the scores or amount of reduction in scales measuring depression (ie, the Hamilton Depression Scale or other widely used depression scales). The safety outcome measures will be adverse events, liver and kidney function. RevMan V.5.3 software will be used for data synthesis, sensitivity analyses, subgroup analyses and risk of bias assessment. A funnel plot will be developed to evaluate reporting bias. Stata V.12.0 will be used for meta-regression and Egger tests. We will use the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system to assess the quality of evidence.Ethics and disseminationThis systematic review does not require ethics approval and will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018089641.