RSS 1.0Welcome to ChesterRep - the University of Chester's Online Research Repository
ChesterRep is the University of Chester's institutional repository and an online platform designed to collate, store, and aid discoverability of the University’s research.
All University of Chester staff are expected to use the Current Research Information System, Symplectic Elements, to submit material to ChesterRep. Guidance on how to deposit and manage publications using Elements can be found here. You can also discover more about our editorial and open access policies here. Please note that you must be a member of the University to view these pages.
If you are a student at the University of Chester and want to submit work to ChesterRep, please contact researchsupport.lis@chester.ac.uk.
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A corrected Crank–Nicolson scheme for the time fractional parabolic integro-differential equation with nonsmooth dataThis paper proposes a corrected Crank–Nicolson (CN) scheme for solving time fractional parabolic integro-differential equations which involve Caputo time fractional derivative and fractional Riemann–Liouville (R-L) integral. The weighted and shifted Grünwald–Letnikov (WSGL) formulae is adopted to approximate the time fractional Riemann–Liouville integral. The Crank–Nicolson scheme is applied to approximate the Caputo time fractional derivative. After appropriating corrections, the proposed scheme attains the optimal convergence order of O(\tau^2) with respect to the time step size \tau for both smooth and nonsmooth data at any fixed time $t$. When combined with the Galerkin finite element method for spatial discretization, it forms a fully discrete scheme. The second-order error estimate for this scheme is rigorously established using the Laplace transform technique and verified by some numerical examples.
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Cardiovascular disease in the context of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): A comprehensive narrative reviewMetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a chronic hepatic disease with a rising global prevalence (25–38% of the general population). As a new term, MASLD was introduced in 2023 to replace the previous nomenclature of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). This new term/definition introduced changes in the diagnostic criteria and underscores the direct link between cardio-metabolic risk and this prevalent liver disease. In this context, the present review examines the clinical and pathophysiological links between MASLD and cardiovascular disease (CVD), providing a robust evidence synthesis of primarily systematic review data on the association between MASLD and coronary artery disease (CAD), atrial fibrillation (AF), and heart failure (HF). This association appears to be not only synergistic, but also independent of other known CVD risk factors, highlighting MASLD as a key cardio-metabolic risk factor that merits prompt diagnosis and treatment. The development of MASLD-related cardiovascular morbidity increases with the severity of the underlying hepatic pathology, particularly with progression to steatohepatitis and fibrosis. Notably, growing evidence highlights the links between MASLD and CVD through cardiac structural, electrical, and functional alterations that can progress to CAD, AF, and new-onset HF. Recognizing these links in clinical practice underscores the importance of early detection and multi-disciplinary management of MASLD to prevent disease progression and CVD complications.
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A qualitative exploration of the practice learning experiences of third‐year nursing students: challenges and opportunitiesAim: This study investigated the practice‐based learning experiences of third‐year nursing students under the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Future Nurse Standards (2018). The study identified enablers and barriers to proficiency achievement and explored how these experiences inform their preparation for roles as registered nurses and future practice supervisors. Background: The study focused on nursing students who began their undergraduate programs in September 2020, the first cohort under the NMC Future Nurse Standards (2018). Conducted during the COVID‐19 pandemic, the research explored clinical practice learning experiences across three higher education institutions in England, highlighting the challenges in meeting required proficiencies. Design: A qualitative approach was used, underpinned by hermeneutic phenomenology. Focus group discussions with 17 final‐year nursing students were undertaken. Methods: Thematic analysis was employed to explore shared experiences of practice‐based learning. Ethical approval was obtained, and data saturation ensured robust findings. Results: Five themes emerged: the physical and emotional impact of practice learning, lack of confidence in the process of assessment due to inconsistency, being prepared for practice, the impact of the practice supervisor/assessor, and what might help. Students described the process of achieving proficiencies as exhausting and emotionally draining, with assessment inconsistencies and limited supervisor engagement contributing to stress, isolation, and reduced learning opportunities. Conclusion: While students navigated the pandemic’s impact on education, practice supervisors/assessors were seen as pivotal yet overstretched or insufficiently prepared. Findings highlight the need for standardized assessments, improved supervisor training, and tailored preplacement support to enhance practice‐based learning and better prepare students for registration and future supervisory responsibilities.
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Dynamic pricing-driven load optimization in islanded microgrid for home energy management systemsIn order to maximize residential energy use and reduce electricity costs, home energy management systems (HEMS), are crucial. A distinct dynamic pricing-driven load optimization technique for HEMS running in islanded mode where grid access is either limited or nonexistent is presented in this paper. Incorporating important distributed energy resources like photovoltaic (PV) systems, electric vehicles (EVs), battery energy storage systems (BESS), and limited grid access, the optimal schedule is also used for real-time dynamic pricing analysis. A planned short-duration outage and a full 24-hour islanding scenario are the two different outage scenarios that are assessed. In short-duration outages, grid dependency decreases to roughly 10% in the spring and approximately 50% in the summer and winter, according to a thorough seasonal analysis conducted in the spring, summer, and winter. The suggested approach guarantees total self-sufficiency in the 24-hour outage scenario, with local resources satisfying load demands in full.
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Steps to sustainability: Dance as a learning pathway to enhance engagement with sustainabilityThis paper explores dance as a transformative learning pathway for communicating and engaging individuals with sustainable development. Growing recognition of the challenges and cultural politics involved in conveying sustainability has prompted efforts to explore alternative communication modes and ways to engage audiences. Combining a rising interest in cultural geography with performative and creative practices and methods, this paper investigates how dance can act as an alternative communicative approach, generating embodied knowledge that can change how people engage with and understand sustainable development. We argue that dance provides a unique medium for translating sustainable development concepts into lived experiences, enabling individuals to undertake personal and collective learning pathways and become more aware of global sustainability concerns. In a creative workshop, participants were invited to interpret and choreograph dance performances based on information about the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), conveying themes such as gender equality, hunger, and ocean pollution. Using participant observation, focus groups, and individual interviews, we critically reflect on a five-stage learning pathway—Information, Thinking, Creating, Performing, and Reflecting—to highlight the co-creative and transformative potential of dance in sustainability communication and nurturing sustainability-minded citizens. We outline the value of dance as a communicative and pedagogical tool, demonstrating its capacity to humanise sustainability challenges and offer innovative, embodied forms of engagement that can contribute to the cultural shifts needed for a more sustainable society.
