bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Findings From 16 Years of Auditing Pipeline Integrity Management Systems
Authors: Hodgson Oliver J. , Keen Dennis W. J. , Toft Malcolm 
Published: January 2019

A Pipeline Integrity Management System (PIMS) is a comprehensive, systematic, and integrated set of arrangements implemented by an operator to assess, mitigate, and manage pipeline risk. Over the past 16 years, Penspen have performed over 30 PIMS audits of pipeline operators internationally. This paper presents the collated findings from these audits, and examines the common areas in which operators have fallen short of best practice. The paper concludes with a series of recommendations based on the findings, which can be adopted by operators to improve their PIMS arrangements and practices.
Penspen’s standardized 17 -element PIMS Model takes a holistic view of pipeline integrity. The audits, which are based on the Model, assess the adequacy and effectiveness of operators’ management systems and arrangements in keeping risks to people, the environment, and to the business to acceptable levels, given the anticipated pipeline operating conditions and taking into account the pipeline’s history and current status.
Starting at the ‘top level’ of a PIMS, the audits consider the adequacy of operators’ pipeline policies, objectives, and performance metrics, and how these are subject to monitoring, review, and audit. The audits look at the organization responsible for managing the integrity of pipelines, and examine how all those with a role to play in the wider PIMS work together to this end. The numerous activities that take place during a pipeline’s lifecycle are investigated, to assess how the risk assessment results are used to determine the control and mitigation measures to be implemented during the pipeline’s design, construction, handover, commissioning, operation, inspection and maintenance, and how the operator ensures the effectiveness of these measures. The audits also study those ‘supporting’ processes and systems which play an important part in pipeline integrity management, including procurement, emergency response and recovery, incident investigation, change control, document and data management, and legal and code compliance.
The collated results from the 30+ audits reveal that while operators typically have good control systems in place for the project stages of the pipeline lifecycle, controls for the operational stages have been found to be less robust. In terms of management and organization, operators can fail to recognize how many different individuals and teams have a role to play in the management of pipeline integrity. Furthermore, while operators often have good corporate systems in place for change control, emergency response, and risk assessment, such systems may not take into account pipeline-specific risks or requirements. Operators can tend to focus on pipeline safety and/or environmental-related risks, when through holistic assessment it can be shown that risks associated with production interruptions will tend to drive actions in practice.
How Many Pipelines in North America Have Failed by Fatigue and Why?
Authors: Cosham Andrew , Hopkins Phil 
Published: January 2019

Pipelines are aging: more than half of all pipelines in Europe and the United States are over 40 years old. Historically, only a small number of pipeline failures have been attributed to fatigue; however, as pipelines age, this might change. Indeed, two of the most serious pipelines failures in recent years in the United States were partly attributed to fatigue.
The issue with fatigue is not so much how it should be addressed, but if or when, and where, it will become more of a problem. Historical failure data provides a valuable insight into the number and cause of failures that have been attributed to fatigue, and an indication of what might happen in the future.
Historical failure data for onshore gas and liquid pipelines in the United States of America and Canada has been reviewed in order to estimate the number and cause of failures that can be attributed to fatigue; specifically, the OPS 30-day Incident Reports, the listing of pipeline rupture events compiled by the National Energy Board, and the findings of failure investigations conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB).
Failures that can (at least partly) be attributed to fatigue are not readily identifiable in the historical data, because fatigue is not listed as a secondary cause (as it is, strictly, only a growth mechanism). The narrative descriptions in historical data sets, as in the OPS 30-day Incident Reports, and the detail in the Pipeline Investigation Reports or Accident Briefs published by the NTSB, and the Pipeline Investigation Reports published by the TSB are essential for identifying the relevant failures and their causes.
Failures in pipelines that can be attributed to fatigue are relatively rare, but fatigue failures have been reported in both onshore gas and liquid pipelines in both the United States and Canada, mostly originating from pre-existing mechanical damage or manufacturing defects. Corrosion-fatigue has been identified as a contributing factor in a minority of the failures. The number of failures in liquid pipelines is (as would be expected) higher than that in gas pipelines.
The number of failures in onshore liquid pipelines in the United States that can be attributed to fatigue has increased, with over half of such failures having occurred in the last ten years. The increase is statistically significant. There has also been an increase, albeit smaller and not statistically significant, in the number in onshore gas pipelines. The increase in the number of failures is consistent with an ageing system.
An Assessment of State Regulatory Oversight of Pipeline Systems in Alaska
Authors: Norton Dave , Owens Jennifer L. , Annis Gregory 
Published: January 2019

Following pipeline leaks on the Alaskan North Slope in 2006, the state of Alaska, by executive order of the governor, responded by establishing the Petroleum Systems Integrity Office (PSIO) as the lead state agency responsible for oversight of the maintenance of facilities, equipment, and infrastructure for oil and natural gas resources in Alaska. The executive order identified three major activities for PSIO:
• An assessment of Alaska’s oil and gas infrastructure integrity;
• An assessment of current regulatory oversight in Alaska; and
• A review of industry oversight efforts.
The PSIO assessments identified infrastructure with indeterminate regulatory oversight. In addition, PSIO recommended improvements to facilitate efficient and effective regulatory oversight, including establishment of minimum requirements for operators’ integrity management systems and the coordination of data collection among agencies.
The initial activity set of PSIO was completed and the oversight function closed in 2015. Future efforts to improve policies, systems, and methods of oversight will depend on executive direction, legislative support, and management emphasis within state agencies.
Improving Safety Through Engineering Assessments for Change in Location Class
Authors: Kariyawasam Shahani , Al-Amin Mohammad , Wang Hong 
Published: January 2019

In Canada, when location class changes on a gas pipeline CSA Z662-15 requires operators to comply with design requirements of the new location class or perform an Engineering Assessment (EA). The compliance option is often perceived by regulators and the public as the better option compared to the EA option. This paper demonstrates that a well-executed EA that accounts for relevant threats and consequences, and provides explicit levels of reliability, can deliver improved pipeline safety.
To comply with design requirements with respect to location factor, the two compliance options are to de-rate or replace the pipeline to achieve the lower operating stress level dictated by the new location factor. However, lower operating stress levels do not always address the higher risk levels or safety concerns caused by the change in class and ensuing potential increase in mechanical damage.
For gas pipelines, where class location is applicable, ensuring human safety is the primary objective of pipeline integrity management. In this context, safety is defined as the control of recognized hazards to achieve an acceptable level of risk. To provide site-specific safety, an acceptable level of risk needs to be achieved by ensuring sufficiently low enough probabilities of failure for given site-specific consequence levels.
Increased wall thickness via pipe replacement, can lead to lower probability of failure for a pipeline. However, as pipelines are subjected to many different combinations of threats, which depend on site specific conditions, the pipelines that are designed with thicker walled pipes for higher location classes do not always provide lower probabilities of failure. As the general design considerations do not account for the site specific threats and mitigation actions, complying with design requirements alone do not consistently provide lower probabilities of failure, especially in areas of potentially higher third-party activities.
In TransCanada’s site-specific EAs, quantitative risk or reliability assessments consider verified population estimates, actual lethality zones and site-specific threats. Appropriate and site-specific mitigation actions address the actual risk. This enables providing an appropriate site specific reliability level. Case studies and comparison between methodologies are used to illustrate the importance of performing site-specific EAs using site-specific information to achieve safety levels that are greater than those achieved by strictly complying with the standard design requirements. Accounting for actual-site specific threats and the actual consequences ensures accurate assessment of risk and consequent appropriate mitigation and efficient risk reduction.
Optimizing Preventative and Mitigative Measure Selection
Authors: Lachey Jeffrey , Vanderlee Keith , Jewell Robert , Alfano Tony 
Published: January 2019

As risk assessment methodologies, tools, and processes continue to evolve in the industry, utilizing risk outputs to not only identify high risk locations, but to also understand the driver(s) behind the elevated risks for those locations is paramount. The ideal scenario for reducing pipeline risk is utilizing a risk-driven mitigation plan as this ensures the optimal use of company dollars, but also inherently means that a company has a firm understanding of their data and pipeline system. When the company understands their data and the implications for its inaccuracies, whether it be improper data alignment or incorrect application of data, they can effectively employ a campaign for preventative and mitigative measures (P&MM). However, if suspect data is used during a risk assessment, P&MM cannot accurately target risk drivers and high risk locations, making it challenging for the company to maximize their resources.
For well over a year, an on-going partnership between AGL Resources Inc. (AGL) and Det Norske Veritas (U.S.A.), Inc. (DNV GL) has ensued to tailor a GIS-based risk management software solution for AGL. Through this collaboration among Integrity Management, Risk Management, IT, GIS, and Operations & Maintenance subject matter experts (SMEs) on both sides, one central hub of cross-functional pipeline knowledge was created. As a result, countless opportunities were exploited to identify supplementary data sources to employ new data manipulation techniques and processes, providing AGL with the foundation for such a risk-based Preventative & Mitigative Measure program.
With the foundation laid and the proper risk elements present, AGL can now execute optimized risk-informed responses to identified high risk locations, pipeline segments, or pipeline systems. These optimized responses require an understanding of the types of P&MM available to reduce the threats and consequences, the costs involved for each P&MM implemented, and the utilization of a tool to allow various ‘what-if’ risk analyses to be conducted. Adopting and integrating this process as part of AGL’s risk management program allows them to capitalize on the maintenance dollars they spend while also reducing the potential hazards to the surrounding people, places and environment.
Spread of dye injectate in the distal femoral triangle versus the distal adductor canal: a cadaveric study
Authors: Johnston David F , Black Nicholas D , Cowden Rebecca , Turbitt Lloyd , Taylor Samantha 
Published: January 2019

Background and objectivesThe nerve to vastus medialis (NVM) supplies sensation to important structures relevant to total knee arthroplasty via a medial parapatellar approach. There are opposing findings in the literature about the presence of the NVM within the adductor canal (AC). The objective of this cadaveric study is to compare the effect of injection site (distal femoral triangle (FT) vs distal AC) on injectate spread to the saphenous nerve (SN) and the NVM.MethodsFour unembalmed fresh-frozen cadavers acted as their own control with one thigh receiving 20 mL of dye injected via an ultrasound-guided injection in the distal FT while the other thigh received an ultrasound-guided injection in the distal AC. A standardized dissection took place 1 hour later to observe the extent of staining to the NVM and SN in all cadaver thigh specimens.ResultsIn all specimens where the injectate was introduced into the distal FT, both the SN and NVM were stained. In contrast, when the dye was administered in the distal AC only the SN was stained.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that an injection in the distal AC may be suboptimal for knee analgesia as it may spare the NVM, while an injection in the distal FT could provide greater analgesia to the knee but may result in undesirable motor blockade from spread to the nerve to vastus intermedius.
Interfascial block at the serratus muscle plane versus conventional analgesia in breast surgery: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Mazzinari Guido , Rovira Lucas , Casasempere Alma , Ortega Juan , Cort Luis , Esparza-Miñana José-Miguel , Belaouchi Moncef 
Published: January 2019

Background and objectivesIn the context of opioid-sparing perioperative management, there is still little evidence from randomized controlled trials regarding the effectiveness of interfascial thoracic blocks. This study hypothesizes that receiving a serratus plane block reduces opioid requirements, pain scores, and rescue medication needs.MethodsThis double-blind, randomized controlled study was conducted on 60 adult females undergoing oncologic breast surgery. After general anesthesia, patients were randomly allocated to either conventional analgesia (control group, n=30) or single-injection serratus block with L-bupivacaine 0.25% 30mL (study group, n=30). First 24-hour total morphine consumption (primary outcome), pain scores at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours, time-to-first opioid rescue analgesia, and adverse effects were recorded.ResultsMedian 24 hours’ opioid dose was greater in the control group (median difference 9 mg (95% CI 4 to 14.5 mg); p<0.001). Proportional odds model showed that the study group has a lower probability of receiving opioid drugs (OR=0.26 (95% CI 0.10 to 0.68); p<0.001), while mastectomies have a higher probability of receiving them (OR=4.11 (95% CI 1.25 to 13.58); p=0.002). Pain scores in the study group were significantly lower throughout the follow-up period (p<0.001). Control group subjects needed earlier morphine rescue and had a higher risk of rescue dose requirement (p=0.002).ConclusionsInterfascial serratus plane block reduces opioid requirements and is associated with better pain scores and lower and later rescue analgesia needs in the first 24 hours, compared with conventional intravenous analgesia, in breast surgery.Trial registration numberNCT02905149.
“Pseudo-suprascapular notch”: is it a sonographic trap in suprascapular nerve block?
Authors: Podgórski Michał , Rusinek Marcelina , Cichosz Maciej , Olewnik Łukasz , Polguj Michał , Grzelak Piotr 
Published: January 2019

Background and objectivesThe aim of the study was to describe the radiological anatomy of the pseudo-suprascapular notch—a structure localized at the floor of the supraspinatus fossa, just below the true suprascapular notch. In sonographic examination, it may imitate the suprascapular notch leading to misidentification of these structures.MethodsUltrasound assessment of the suprascapular notch region was performed in 100 patients who underwent chest CT due to other indications. The presence of the suprascapular notch and the pseudo-suprascapular notch was evaluated together with their maximal width and depth using both techniques. The correlation between the dimensions of these two notches was assessed.ResultsThe pseudo-suprascapular notch was recognized in 82 patients. In four of them the suprascapular notch could not be visualized in ultrasound due to obscuring clavicle. In all cases the pseudo-suprascapular notch contained a small artery. In comparison to the suprascapular notch, the pseudo-suprascapular notch was significantly narrower and shallower, except for 10 cases with vestigial suprascapular notch where the pseudo-suprascapular notch was the only hollow in this region. The dimensions of both structures did not correlate with each other. Finally, the pseudo-suprascapular notch did not present any significant asymmetry (p=0.1185) or sexual dimorphism (43 women vs 38 men, p=0.2025).ConclusionsThe pseudo-suprascapular notch is a hollow for nutrient vessels that can be mistaken for the regular suprascapular notch in cases of difficult sonographic navigation.
Implementation of an enhanced recovery program in pediatric laparoscopic colorectal patients does not worsen analgesia despite reduced perioperative opioids: a retrospective, matched, non-inferiority study
Authors: Edney John C , Lam Humphrey , Raval Mehul V , Heiss Kurt F , Austin Thomas M 
Published: January 2019

Background and objectivesEnhanced recovery protocols (ERPs) decrease length of stay and postoperative morbidity, but it is important that these benefits do not come at a cost of sacrificing proper perioperative analgesia. In this retrospective, matched cohort study, we evaluated postoperative pain intensity in pediatric patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgeries before and after ERP implementation.MethodsPatients in each cohort were randomly matched based on age, diagnosis, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, and surgical procedure. The primary outcome was average daily postoperative pain score, while the secondary outcomes included postoperative hospital length of stay, complication rate, and 30-day readmissions. Since our hypothesis was non-inferior analgesia in the postprotocol cohort, a non-inferiority study design was used.ResultsAfter matching, 36 pairs of preprotocol and postprotocol patients were evaluated. ERP patients had non-inferior recovery room pain scores (difference 0 (−1.19, 0) points, 95% CI −0.22 to 0.26 points, p valuenon-inferiority<0.001) and 4-day postoperative pain scores (difference −0.3±1.9 points, 95% CI −0.82 to 0.48 points, p valuenon-inferiority<0.001) while receiving less postoperative opioids (difference −0.15 [−0.21, –0.05] intravenous morphine equivalents/kg/day, p<0.001). ERP patients also had reduced postoperative hospital stays (difference −1.5 [−4.5, 0] days, p<0.001) and 30-day readmissions (2.8% vs 27.8%, p=0.008).ConclusionsImplementation of our ERP for pediatric laparoscopic colorectal patients was associated with less perioperative opioids without worsening postoperative pain scores. In addition, patients who received the protocol had faster return of bowel function, shorter postoperative hospital stays, and a lower rate of 30-day hospital readmissions. In pediatric laparoscopic colorectal patients, the incorporation of an ERP was associated with a pronounced decrease in perioperative morbidity without sacrificing postoperative analgesia.
Analysis of corrosion mechanisms of carbon steel in contact with FEBEX bentonite
Authors: Uyama Masao , Hitomi Takashi , Hayagane Sayaka , Kadota Naoe , Saito Hiroyuki , Okamoto Sho , Aoshima Kazuki , Osawa Motoaki 
Published: January 2019

Abstract
Geological disposal is the most realistic option for high-level radioactive waste in Japan. In considering long-term stability for geological disposal, several types of materials have been studied as engineered barriers with a host rock. We focused our study on metal and bentonite as engineered barrier materials and investigated the long-term corrosion tendency of the metal exposed to bentonite. An electrochemical method for inducing accelerated corrosion was studied in a laboratory, and we analysed some field samples from a FEBEX dismantling project (FEBEX-DP) in Switzerland for comparison with our experimental results.
Serum Metabolic Profiling Identified a Distinct Metabolic Signature in Bladder Cancer Smokers: A Key Metabolic Enzyme Associated with Patient Survival
Authors: Amara Chandra Sekhar , Ambati Chandrashekar R. , Vantaku Venkatrao , Badrajee Piyarathna Danthasinghe Waduge , Donepudi Sri Ramya , Ravi Shiva Shankar , Arnold James M. , Putluri Vasanta , Chatta Gurkamal , Guru Khurshid A. , Badr Hoda , Terris Martha K. , Bollag Roni J. , Sreekumar Arun , Apolo Andrea B. , Putluri Nagireddy 
Published: January 2019

Abstract

Background:
The current system to predict the outcome of smokers with bladder cancer is insufficient due to complex genomic and transcriptomic heterogeneities. This study aims to identify serum metabolite-associated genes related to survival in this population.

Methods:
We performed LC/MS-based targeted metabolomic analysis for &gt;300 metabolites in serum obtained from two independent cohorts of bladder cancer never smokers, smokers, healthy smokers, and healthy never smokers. A subset of differential metabolites was validated using Biocrates absoluteIDQ p180 Kit. Genes associated with differential metabolites were integrated with a publicly available cohort of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to obtain an intersecting signature specific for bladder cancer smokers.

Results:
Forty metabolites (FDR &lt; 0.25) were identified to be differential between bladder cancer never smokers and smokers. Increased abundance of amino acids (tyrosine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, valine, isoleucine, glycine, and asparagine) and taurine were observed in bladder cancer smokers. Integration of differential metabolomic gene signature and transcriptomics data from TCGA cohort revealed an intersection of 17 genes that showed significant correlation with patient survival in bladder cancer smokers. Importantly, catechol-O-methyltransferase, iodotyrosine deiodinase, and tubulin tyrosine ligase showed a significant association with patient survival in publicly available bladder cancer smoker datasets and did not have any clinical association in never smokers.

Conclusions:
Serum metabolic profiling of bladder cancer smokers revealed dysregulated amino acid metabolism. It provides a distinct gene signature that shows a prognostic value in predicting bladder cancer smoker survival.

Impact:
Serum metabolic signature–derived genes act as a predictive tool for studying the bladder cancer progression in smokers.