Newcastle University

About: Newcastle University is a education organization based out in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 31772 authors who have published 71187 publications receiving 2539147 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Mudstone diversity: Origin and implications for source, seal, and reservoir properties in petroleum systems

Abstract: Mudstone is the most abundant sedimentary rock and variously acts as sources, seals, and shale gas reservoirs in petroleum systems. Many important physicochemical properties of mudstones are strongly influenced by the mineralogy and size of deposited grains, and by diagenetic changes (precompaction and postcompaction); these are commonly predictable. The diverse composition of mudstones reflects input and hydrodynamic segregation of detrital materials to basins, primary production within basins, and diagenetic processes (both precipitation and dissolution) in the sediment. High-magnification observations both in modern and ancient sediments demonstrate that mudstones are texturally and mineralogically heterogeneous; this variability is not always readily apparent. Although some mud is indeed deposited by suspension settling out of low-energy buoyant plumes, textural analyses reveal that it is commonly dispersed by a combination of waves, gravity-driven processes, and unidirectional currents driven variously by storms and tides. Such dispersal mechanisms mean that muddy successions are typically organized into packages that can be interpreted using sequence stratigraphy. Early bioturbation homogenizes mud, whereas early chemical diagenesis can result in highly cemented zones developing, especially at stratal surfaces. The nature of deeper burial diagenesis, which involves compaction, mineral dissolution, recrystallization, mineral reorientation and lithification, and petroleum generation, is preconditioned by depositional and early diagenetic characteristics of the mud. Although the petrophysical properties of homogeneous mudstones are reasonably well known, the quantitative implications of heterogeneity for petroleum expulsion, retention, petroleum migration, seal capacity, acoustic anisotropy, and identification of shale gas reservoir sweet spots are essentially unexplored. Future work should seek to redress this position.

Effect of Home Noninvasive Ventilation With Oxygen Therapy vs Oxygen Therapy Alone on Hospital Readmission or Death After an Acute COPD Exacerbation: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract: Importance Outcomes after exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requiring acute noninvasive ventilation (NIV) are poor and there are few treatments to prevent hospital readmission and death Objective To investigate the effect of home NIV plus oxygen on time to readmission or death in patients with persistent hypercapnia after an acute COPD exacerbation Design, Setting, and Participants A randomized clinical trial of patients with persistent hypercapnia (Paco 2 >53 mm Hg) 2 weeks to 4 weeks after resolution of respiratory acidemia, who were recruited from 13 UK centers between 2010 and 2015 Exclusion criteria included obesity (body mass index [BMI] >35), obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, or other causes of respiratory failure Of 2021 patients screened, 124 were eligible Interventions There were 59 patients randomized to home oxygen alone (median oxygen flow rate, 10 L/min [interquartile range {IQR}, 05-20 L/min]) and 57 patients to home oxygen plus home NIV (median oxygen flow rate, 10 L/min [IQR, 05-15 L/min]) The median home ventilator settings were an inspiratory positive airway pressure of 24 (IQR, 22-26) cm H 2 O, an expiratory positive airway pressure of 4 (IQR, 4-5) cm H 2 O, and a backup rate of 14 (IQR, 14-16) breaths/minute Main Outcomes and Measures Time to readmission or death within 12 months adjusted for the number of previous COPD admissions, previous use of long-term oxygen, age, and BMI Results A total of 116 patients (mean [SD] age of 67 [10] years, 53% female, mean BMI of 216 [IQR, 182-261], mean [SD] forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration of 06 L [02 L], and mean [SD] Paco 2 while breathing room air of 59 [7] mm Hg) were randomized Sixty-four patients (28 in home oxygen alone and 36 in home oxygen plus home NIV) completed the 12-month study period The median time to readmission or death was 43 months (IQR, 13-138 months) in the home oxygen plus home NIV group vs 14 months (IQR, 05-39 months) in the home oxygen alone group, adjusted hazard ratio of 049 (95% CI, 031-077; P = 002) The 12-month risk of readmission or death was 634% in the home oxygen plus home NIV group vs 804% in the home oxygen alone group, absolute risk reduction of 170% (95% CI, 01%-340%) At 12 months, 16 patients had died in the home oxygen plus home NIV group vs 19 in the home oxygen alone group Conclusions and Relevance Among patients with persistent hypercapnia following an acute exacerbation of COPD, adding home noninvasive ventilation to home oxygen therapy prolonged the time to readmission or death within 12 months Trial Registration clinicaltrialsgov Identifier:NCT00990132

The importance of patient preferences in treatment decisions - Challenges for doctors

Abstract: The expectation that patients will become increasingly involved in making treatment decisions poses new challenges for doctors. This article discusses what these are and how doctors might face them Health professionals are increasingly encouraged to involve patients in treatment decisions, recognising patients as experts with a unique knowledge of their own health and their preferences for treatments, health states, and outcomes.1 2 Increased patient involvement, a result of various sociopolitical changes,w1 is an important part of quality improvement since it has been associated with improved health outcomes3 w1-w9 and enables doctors to be more accountable to the public. However, this poses challenges for doctors. We discuss these in relation to the competences for shared decision making that have been proposed.4 w10 We made literature searches using Medline, Web of Science, PsychINFO, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, and HMIC (key words “consumer participation,” “patient participation,” “decision making,” “patient preferences,” “shared decision making,” “patient involvement in decision making”). We also searched references of articles, indexes of key journals, important texts about patient involvement, and key reviews. We conducted informal interviews with doctors from a range of specialties (general practice, orthopaedics, stroke medicine, accident and emergency, and vascular surgery) and recorded their opinions to provide a focus to this discussion (quotes in italics). For patients' views about treatment options to be valued and necessary, there must be a partnership between doctor and patient, but establishing one requires both time and certain skills. “There's not enough time”— The pressure of time is a perpetual challenge; doctors are particularly concerned about the implications of informing patients without allowing extra time for this.5 However, involving patients more in treatment decisions may have no significant effect on consultation length3: adequate discussion at an early stage may allow more succinct discussion later …