An improved method for hydrofracture induced microseismic event detection and phase picking

The ability to detect small microearthquakes and identify their P and S phase arrivals is a key issue in hydrofracture downhole monitoring because of the low signal-to-noise ratios. We apply an array-based waveform correlation approach (matched filter) to improve the detectability of small magnitude events with mechanisms and locations similar to a nearby master event. After detecting the weak events, we use a transformed spectrogram method to identify the phase arrivals. We have tested the technique on a downhole monitoring dataset of the microseismic events induced by hydraulic fracturing. We show that, for this case, one event with a signal-to-noise ratio around 6dB, which is barely detectable using an array-stacked short-time average/long-time average (STA/LTA) detector under a reasonable false alarm rate, is readily detected on the array-stacked correlation traces. The transformed spectrogram analysis of the detected events improves P and S phase picking.Halliburton Compan

Improved Methods for Hydrofrac Event Detection and Phase Picking

The ability to detect small microseismic events and identify their P and S phase arrivals is a key issue in hydraulic fracture monitoring because of the low signal-to-noise ratios. We propose a array-based waveform correlation approach to detect small magnitude events with similar mechanisms and locations as a nearby master event. For the phase picking part, a transformed spectrogram method is used to identify the weak P arrivals. We have applied the technique to a downhole monitoring dataset of the microseismic events induced by hydraulic fracturing. The results show a better phase identification

Size-Tailored Physicochemical Properties of Monodisperse Polystyrene Nanoparticles and the Nanocomposites Made Thereof

The latex monodisperse polystyrene (PS) colloids are important for different advanced applications (e.g. in coating, biotechnology etc.). However, the size dependency of their structural properties that impacts the characteristics of the nanocomposites composed thereof is largely unknown. Here, monodisperse PS nanoparticles (MPNPs) are synthesized via emulsion polymerization in five sizes (50, 150, 300, 350, and 450 nm). The size of the PS MPNPs is tailored by controlling the reaction time, temperature, and amount of surfactant and initiator. The correlation between the particle size and structural properties of the PS MPNPs is established by different thermomechanical and optical characterizations. The smaller particles (50 and 150 nm) show a lower glass transition (Tg) and thermal decomposition temperature and a lower Raman peak intensity. Yet, they trigger a higher IR absorption, thanks to a larger surface area. When incorporated in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix, the smaller particles impart the resulting nanocomposite a higher tensile strength, and elastic and storage moduli. Whereas, they decline the elongation and loss factor. The very few examples of the MPNPs incorporated polymeric nanocomposites have been unstudied from this perspective. Thus, these tangible knowledge can profit scalable production of this kind of nanocomposite materials for different applications in a cost/energy efficient manner.Peer reviewe

The impact of surgical delay on resectability of colorectal cancer: An international prospective cohort study

AIM: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to explore the impact of surgical delays on cancer resectability. This study aimed to compare resectability for colorectal cancer patients undergoing delayed versus non-delayed surgery. METHODS: This was an international prospective cohort study of consecutive colorectal cancer patients with a decision for curative surgery (January-April 2020). Surgical delay was defined as an operation taking place more than 4 weeks after treatment decision, in a patient who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. A subgroup analysis explored the effects of delay in elective patients only. The impact of longer delays was explored in a sensitivity analysis. The primary outcome was complete resection, defined as curative resection with an R0 margin. RESULTS: Overall, 5453 patients from 304 hospitals in 47 countries were included, of whom 6.6% (358/5453) did not receive their planned operation. Of the 4304 operated patients without neoadjuvant therapy, 40.5% (1744/4304) were delayed beyond 4 weeks. Delayed patients were more likely to be older, men, more comorbid, have higher body mass index and have rectal cancer and early stage disease. Delayed patients had higher unadjusted rates of complete resection (93.7% vs. 91.9%, P = 0.032) and lower rates of emergency surgery (4.5% vs. 22.5%, P < 0.001). After adjustment, delay was not associated with a lower rate of complete resection (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.90-1.55, P = 0.224), which was consistent in elective patients only (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.69-1.27, P = 0.672). Longer delays were not associated with poorer outcomes. CONCLUSION: One in 15 colorectal cancer patients did not receive their planned operation during the first wave of COVID-19. Surgical delay did not appear to compromise resectability, raising the hypothesis that any reduction in long-term survival attributable to delays is likely to be due to micro-metastatic disease

Dry reforming of methane over CeO2 supported Ni, Co and Ni–Co catalysts

Ceria supported Ni, Co monometallic and Ni-Co bimetallic catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation method, calcined at two different temperatures (700 degrees C and 900 degrees C) and tested for dry reforming of methane reaction at 700 degrees C. The activities of ceria-based Ni containing catalysts decreased with increasing calcination temperature accompanied by a decrease in coke deposition. While Ni/CeO2 and Ni-Co/CeO2 catalysts exhibited comparable high activities, Co/CeO2 catalysts exhibited very low activity. The lower activity of Co/CeO2 catalyst was attributed to strong metal support interaction (SMSI). The SMSI effect was confirmed with TEM images showing a layer of support coating the metal particles. The diversity of the deposited carbon structures in terms morphology (straight long filaments, highly entangled and curly shaped filaments, filaments with knuckle-like structure and carbon onions) was noted. In addition to the carbon buildup, the deactivation was observed to be due to the loss of active metals in the carbon filaments