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Petrophysical Models, Their Related Assumptions And Uncertainties In Organic Shales
No full textA substantial challenge to the petrophysical evaluation of shale gas reservoirs can be attributed to the choice of the model used for evaluation, guided by the availability of data and parameter assumptions. One of the key parameters to consider, includes total organic carbon (TOC) estimation, which remains one of the most important attributes to measure the quality of the source rock. Despite the petrophysical and geological heterogeneities in shale formations, the fundamental underpinnings are often bypassed in both choice and comparison of models, ignoring the equivalency of parameter values across the models. This invalidates the results and limits confidence in a model's robustness.This study introduces a novel theoretical shale gas model (TSGM) aimed at advancing our comprehension of factors influencing petrophysical models. The commonly used TOC estimation methodology (ΔLogR), with a historical data set, is used as a starting point to explore the efficacy of the method by applying it to three wells in the Bowland Basin in the NW Carboniferous of England. The results show that there are issues in the application of the ΔLogR methodology, such as the picking of inherent baseline parameters, and that the level of maturity indicator (LOM) doesn’t adequately accommodate the organic and inorganic changes associated with thermal maturity. ΔLogR vs. TOC slope is simulated using TSGM; and a sensitivity analysis of TSGM suggests that inorganic porosity is a contributing factor; this has not been previously reported. Different scenarios are tested by changing the water saturation (Sw), where Sw = 1 reduces the TSGM model to the Alfred and Vernik (2013) model. The TSGM application on three wells in the Bowland Shale Formation shows that the model is generic in its application and parameters can be predicted a priori, this enables the avoidance of data overfitting, ensuring that arguments and conclusions are evidence-based.</p
Indoor air exposures to VOCs and mould, and relationship with severe asthma
No full textPeople spend around 90% of their time indoors, either in public or private buildings, which can lead to long-term exposure to poor air quality and be associated with negative health effects, especially in vulnerable people. Two environments of interest were studied during this PhD, dwellings and hospital clinics. In public buildings, the characterisation was focused on volatile organic compounds (VOCs), while in private buildings, VOCs and fungal spores were identified and quantified, both of which have known impacts on respiratory health. There is little research on VOC exposures, especially in clinical environments, while research on fungal exposures in the home was mainly focused on damp and visible mould with less information on fungal species.Indoor air pollution was characterised in private (32 dwellings, including the home of 14 people with patients) and public (2 hospitals) buildings. The potential impact on the health of the buildings’ occupants was examined. Beforehand, protocols were developed and tested to quantify and identify VOCs and fungal spores.In the dwellings, 38 VOCs were quantified and their sum (TVOC) ranged from 205 to 933 μgm-3. The most abundant VOCs were from aliphatic hydrocarbon and alcohol groups. The most commonly detected fungal species was Cladosporium herbarum, followed by Aspergillus fumigatus. VOC concentrations had an impact on peak flow readings and the use of medication for two people with asthma, while no associations were seen for fungal spores. The hospital VOCs analysis was the first for UK hospitals and the largest worldwide. The four VOCs with the highest concentrations were most likely released by healthcare activities (e.g.2-propanol, ethyl chloride and acetone) or related to the ingress of vehicle emissions (e.g. hexane). Hazard Quotient (HQ) was calculated to identify the potential risk of non-carcinogenic VOCs exposure to the health of healthcare workers. No HQs were measured above 1 which means that no negative health impact would be expected for healthcare workers in the sampled hospitals.To conclude, the data collected showed how complex indoor pollution can be. In particular in the dwellings which all had unique ‘fingerprints’ of VOC and fungal concentrations.</p
Impact of sleep duration on daytime sleepiness in children: A meta-analysis
No full textWhilst previous reviews have identified that shorter sleep duration is associated with poorer cognition in children, it is not known whether short sleep duration increases daytime sleepiness compared with sufficient or extended sleep. A systematic search of the literature identified 17 studies to be included in the meta-analysis. When excluding two sleep deprivation studies, short sleep duration was associated with higher daytime sleepiness compared with sufficient or extended sleep duration, standardised mean difference: 0.74 (95% CI 0.45; 1.02). There was substantial variation in the extent of sleep restriction in the short sleep duration group compared to the sufficient/extended group. This was a significant moderator, accounting for 7% of the effect size. As the effect size was lower for children compared to adolescents, it suggests that adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the effects of short sleep. For individual studies, the standardised mean difference had wide confidence intervals, suggesting that there are substantial inter-individual differences in response to short sleep duration compared to sufficient sleep duration. Further research is needed to identify whether daytime sleepiness mediates the relationship between sleep duration and cognitive outcomes.</p
<b>DATASETS: Collective Identity Everywhere: </b><b>Strategy and Collaboration in the Visual Communication </b><b>of Ten Environmental Organisations in Chile (PhD Thesis)</b>
No full textAbstract:The possibilities offered by digital technologies to communicate ideas have strengthened the power of digital networks as spaces for public discussions, even more in a context of political intensity where groups are defined around ideas and the definition of future challenges is contested. In these digital public discussions, visual communication is essential to reach and influence audiences. This is also true in contemporary environmental crises, whose meanings are constantly negotiated in public debate. Exploring the digital visual communication of environmental organisations in the Chilean discussions about the constitutional referendum of 2022, this research develops three levels of inquiry with emphasis on collective identity: the definition of environmental discussions, the determination of strategies, and the definition of ways of collaboration between environmental organisations. This research proposes a methodological approach comprised of three levels of analysis: quantitative visual content analysis, qualitative multimodal analysis, and interrelational context analysis based on two data sets: the collection of digital images (n=1736) from ten organisations’ Instagram accounts and in-depth photo-elicited interviews (n=10) with visuals producers. The findings indicate the higher relevance of the representation of nature, the benefits of the new constitution, and the role of testimony and information to guide the public. The environmental organisations show positive messages and publicly evidenced their alliances through photography, mixed techniques, and remediation practices. The findings also present the development of two types of strategies: those profoundly related to their identity and those disconnected from it, and the different cases of uncoordinated, formal, and informal collaborations, in which visual partnership is highlighted, as well as conflicts related to their identities and technical issues. Reflecting on the Chilean case, this research illustrates the digital and visual practices in the public construction of environmental ideas and how collaboration and collective identity plays a key role in it.</p
Molecular Organ Lysate Imprinting: For Precision Recognition and Analysis of Organ‐Derived Proteins
No full textRationaleMolecular imprinting has emerged as a promising strategy to create custom imprints for precision recognition of proteins. This study proposes using dopamine polymers as a novel approach to enhance the retrieval of proteins from human plasma. Dopamine polymers possess adhesive properties due to their ability to form hydrophobic interactions, π‐π, hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces with various substrates; in this study, we have leveraged these adhesive properties to capture and retrieve proteins from complex biological samples.MethodsWe imprinted proteins derived from mouse heart lysate and evaluated the performance of the resulting molecularly imprinted polymer for retrieval of the human protein cardiovascular disease plasma samples.ResultsOur results demonstrated the retrieval of troponin T, fatty acid–binding protein, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and myosin‐binding protein C. This novel application of dopamine polymers in protein enrichment and analysis facilitates the discovery of novel biomarkers from complex matrices, such as plasma, and promotes deeper insights into complex biological processes.ConclusionsThis method, characterized by high specificity and stability, offers a new approach for the detection of low abundant proteins and provides a scientific basis for the future development of new diagnostic tools and personalized medical strategies.</p
Library Hide and Seek Project: Library and Learning Services EDI Working Group
No full textThis poster will gives an overview of the South Asian Heritage Month 2024 Book Hide and Seek Project at the University of Leicester Library. South Asian Heritage Month is the name given to the month-long celebration in the South Asian diaspora to celebrate the heritage of people with roots in the South Asian countries. It is particularly appropriate to mark the month in Leicester, given the cultural landscape of the city.We chose five different books by British authors of South Asian Heritage to give away during the event. We bought ten copies of each book, wrapped them in brightly coloured paper and hid them around the library for users to find and keep. The project was inspired by similar events run by Durham University, but as we were running the event during the summer, we also put out clues to where the books were hidden via social media. We used Instagram and the internal Engage platform to advertise the event and give out the clues. Targeting our student communities attending graduation, postgraduate students and staff, including a lot of international students. We had positive feedback from our communities, as well as the organisers of the South Asian Heritage Month.Presented at the Mercian 2025 Conference: Resilience, Relevance, and Reach: Libraries making an impact! Techno Centre, Coventry University Technology Park. 10th September 2025.</p
Lack of Validity of the Glucose Management Indicator in Type 1 Diabetes in Pregnancy
No full textOBJECTIVE
The glucose management indicator (GMI) is widely used as a replacement for HbA1c, but information in pregnancy is very limited. We assessed the accuracy of GMI and associations with pregnancy outcomes in type 1 diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
We compared HbA1c, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) metrics, GMI at 12, 24, and 34 weeks’ gestation and outcomes in 220 women from the Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Women With Type 1 Diabetes in Pregnancy Trial (CONCEPTT) using logistic/linear regression and Bland-Altman plots.
RESULTS
GMI equations performed less accurately in pregnancy, with higher bias, especially in first and third trimesters. GMI and mean CGM glucose had equivalent predictive capability over pregnancy outcomes. GMI did not offer additional predictive capability over time in range (63–140 mg/dL; 3.5–7.8 mmol/L), time above range (>140 mg/dL; >7.8 mmol/L), and average CGM glucose concentrations.
CONCLUSIONS
GMI is not an accurate replacement for HbA1c in pregnancy in women with type 1 diabetes.</p
HWO's next
No full textThe Habitable Worlds Observatory is the next-generation ultraviolet to near-infrared space telescope, and Martin Barstow thinks UK researchers should rush to get involved</p
Risk Factors for Life‐Threatening Asthma Attacks and Asthma‐Related Mortality in Children—A Systematic Review
No full textBackgroundAwareness of factors associated with life‐threatening asthma attacks and asthma mortality is essential for risk prediction in asthma care. There is limited evidence to inform risk factors in children and young people (CYP). The aim of this systematic review is to synthesize existing data to report risk factors for life‐threatening asthma attacks and asthma deaths in CYP.MethodsThis review followed PRISMA‐reporting‐guidelines and was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023494203). We included observational studies of CYP aged 0−18 years with asthma, published in English, from 2000 to the present, exploring variables influencing asthma mortality and life‐threatening attacks (defined as intensive care [ICU] admissions). CINAHL, MEDLINE, Central Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases were searched. Reference lists of eligible studies were screened. The MEDLINE search strategy was adapted across the databases. Results were synthesized narratively.ResultsSix studies met our inclusion criteria (five retrospective cohort, one case‐control study). All were conducted in high‐income countries. In descending order of strength of association, factors found to be associated with ICU admissions were: high salbutamol use, previous hospitalization, low socioeconomic status, allergies, Black ethnicity, prescription of asthma medications, history of pneumonia, rural location, adolescence, paternal asthma, and co‐existing comorbidity.For the outcome of mortality, one study reported a sevenfold risk of asthma death in children of Black ethnicity compared with White.The included studies had low quality of evidence by the GRADE assessment.ConclusionThe small number and high heterogeneity between available studies, identifies a need for robust epidemiological studies and better risk prediction for near‐fatal and fatal attacks in CYP‐asthma.</p
Application of DFEM in Sintering Distortion Analysis of Oxide–Oxide Ceramic Matrix Composite: Digital Twin
No full textIt is time‐consuming and expensive to calibrate the sintering behavior of a ceramic part because of the elevated temperature environment. A Densification‐Based Finite Element Method (DFEM) was developed for calculating the sintering distortion of ceramic parts without detailed knowledge of their constitutive law (such as viscosities and sintering potential). Given this advantage, this study presents the application of a DFEM for predicting and mitigating sintering distortion in a Full‐Scale Heat Shield (FSHS) made of oxide–oxide ceramic matrix composites (Ox‐Ox CMCs). DFEM was used to develop a digital twin that accurately identified geometric regions prone to distortion and quantified deviations between experimental measurements and finite element predictions. Suppression strategies were evaluated by applying boundary conditions, demonstrating a significant reduction in distortion in targeted regions. The findings highlight DFEM as an approximate yet computationally efficient approach, capable of eliminating the need for extensive material characterization, such as fiber orientations, ply numbers, matrix compositions, and sintering profiles. Instead, this information is inherently reflected in the measured sintering deformation, including distortion. This study establishes a foundation for further research into addressing distortion causes and optimizing sintering processes for improved manufacturability in aerospace applications.</p