Longwall Mining Stability in Take-Off Phase

Mechanised longwall mining is one of the more commonly employed exploitation methods in underground mines in the north of Spain as well as in the rest of the world. It is continuously changing and evolving, with new techniques, technology, equipment, and face management practices and systems appearing for the purposes of improving aspects such as operational and financial performances and, above all, the safety of the miners. Despite its importance, there are no regulations for the mining of longwall coal seams. This work aims to contribute to an advance in the design and optimisation of the roof support in longwall mining, analysing the stability of the roof using a method based on the resistance of materials, which considers the characteristics of the properties of the roof materials. The influence of not only the individual elements of support but also the coalface, which is considered one more supporting element, is investigated. The longitudinal and transverse spacings of the support and the number of walkways constituting the exploitation panel are analysed. The proposed formulation is validated by information gathered in a mine located in the region of Castilla-Leon

A New SJ* Value Based on Sievers' J-Miniature Drill Tests to Determine the Drillability of Limestones

[EN] This research presents a new drillability value (SJ*) that corrects the most-used Sievers¿ J-value (SJ) by removing the accommodation effect of the drill bit in the first tenths of a millimetre to better represent the real drillability of limestones. Moreover, this research demonstrates how such an effect is more notable when porosity and micro-cracking increase, which in this study has been achieved by inducing thermal damage in the samples. To do so, limestone samples from the Prada formation were subjected to temperatures of 105, 300 and 600 °C and then cooled at fast and slow rates to induce porosity and micro-cracking. Two characteristic zones were identified in the penetration¿time plots: (a) a shallow region (Zone 1) with a variable drilling rate including an initial peak and (b) a deeper region (Zone 2) where the drilling rate stabilises. These drilling rates increase with thermally induced porosity and mi-cro-cracking, and the authors propose a new method to delimit Zones 1 and 2. Zone 1 is attributed to the time it takes for the drill bit to adjust and settle in the rock surface, while Zone 2 more realistically represents the drillability of the material. The above influ-ences the SJ value derived from Sievers¿ J-miniature drill tests, so a new drillability value SJ* is proposed that corrects SJ by ex-cluding Zone 1 and giving more weight to Zone 2. The novel SJ* presented in this research constitutes a more accurate tool to assess and predict the drilling performance in limestones.This research received no external funding. The author, Roberto Tomas, is supported by the Conselleria de Innovación, Universidades, Ciencia y Sociedad Digital within the framework of the CIAICO/2021/335 project.Martínez Ibáñez, V.; Garrido De La Torre, ME.; Hidalgo Signes, C.; Tomás, R.; Álvarez-Fernández, M. (2023). A New SJ* Value Based on Sievers' J-Miniature Drill Tests to Determine the Drillability of Limestones. Sustainability. 16(1):1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/su1601000811716

Simoctocog alfa (Nuwiq ® ) in children: early steps in life’s journey for people with severe hemophilia A

People with severe hemophilia A usually experience their first bleed early in life. In children with severe hemophilia A, primary prophylaxis is recommended to prevent recurrent and potentially life-threatening bleeds that significantly impact day-to-day life. Factor VIII (FVIII) prophylaxis is well-established in children and has been shown to reduce the development of hemophilic arthropathy. However, a major challenge of FVIII therapy is the development of neutralizing anti-FVIII antibodies (FVIII inhibitors). Simoctocog alfa (Nuwiq®) is a human cell line-derived recombinant FVIII (rFVIII) whose immunogenicity, efficacy, and safety have been studied in 167 children with severe hemophilia A across two prospective clinical trials and their long-term extensions. In 105 previously untreated children, the inhibitor rate of 16.2% for high-titer inhibitors (26.7% for all inhibitors) was lower than published rates for hamster cell line-derived rFVIII products. There was no inhibitor development in previously untreated children with non-null F8 mutations and in previously treated children. In a case series of 10 inhibitor patients, 8 (80%) underwent successful immune tolerance induction with simoctocog alfa with a median time to undetectable inhibitor of 3.5 months. In an analysis of 96 children who enrolled in the extension studies and received long-term simoctocog alfa prophylaxis for up to 5 years, median spontaneous, joint, and total annualized bleeding rates were 0.3, 0.4, and 1.8, respectively. No thromboembolisms were reported in any of the 167 children, and there were no treatment-related deaths. Optimal care of children should consider several factors, including minimization of inhibitor development risk, maintaining tolerance to FVIII, highly effective bleed prevention and treatment, safety, and impact on long-term outcomes such as bone and joint health. In this context we review the pediatric clinical data and ongoing studies with simoctocog alfa

Expression, purification and initial characterization of human serum albumin domain I and its cysteine 34

Human serum albumin presents in its primary structure only one free cysteine (Cys34) which constitutes the most abundant thiol of plasma. An antioxidant role can be attributed to this thiol, which is located in domain I of the protein. Herein we expressed domain I as a secretion protein using the yeast Pichia pastoris. In the initial step of ammonium sulfate precipitation, a brown pigment co-precipitated with domain I. Three chromatographic methods were evaluated, aiming to purify domain I from the pigment and other contaminants. Purification was achieved by cation exchange chromatography. The protein behaved as a noncovalent dimer. The primary sequence of domain I and the possibility of reducing Cys34 to the thiol state while avoiding the reduction of internal disulfides were confirmed by mass spectrometry. The reactivity of the thiol towards the disulfide 5,5´-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) was studied and compared to that of full-length albumin. A ~24-fold increase in the rate constant was observed for domain I with respect to the entire protein. These results open the door to further characterization of the Cys34 thiol and its oxidized derivatives

Synergistic effect of acetazolamide-(2-hydroxy)propyl β-cyclodextrin in timolol liposomes for decreasing and prolonging intraocular pressure levels

The purpose of this study was to design, for the first time, a co-loaded liposomal formulation (CLL) for treatment of glaucoma including timolol maleate (TM) in the lipid bilayer and acetazolamide (Acz)-(2-hydroxy)propyl β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) complexes (AczHP) solubilized in the aqueous core of liposomes. Formulations with TM (TM-L) and AczHP (AczHP-L), separately, were also prepared and characterized. A preliminary study comprising the Acz/HPβCD complexes and their interaction with cholesterol (a component of the lipid bilayer) was realized. Then, a screening study on formulation factors affecting the quality of the product was carried out following the design of the experiment methodology. In addition, in vitro release and permeation studies and in vivo lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) studies were performed. The results of the inclusion com-plexation behavior, characterization, and binding ability of Acz with HPβCD showed that HPβCD could enhance the water solubility of Acz despite the weak binding ability of the complex. Ch disturbed the stability and solubility parameters of Acz due to the fact of its competence by CD; thus, Chems (steroid derivative) was selected for further liposome formulation studies. The optimization of the lipid bilayer composition (DDAB, 0.0173 mmol and no double loading) and the extrusion as methods to reduce vesicle size were crucial for improving the physico-chemical properties and encapsulation efficiency of both drugs. In vitro release and permeation studies demonstrated that the CLL formulation showed improvement in in vitro drug release and permeation compared to the liposomal formulations with a single drug (TM-L and AczHP-L) and the standard solutions (TM-S and AczHP-S). CLL showed high efficacy in reducing and prolonging IOP, suggesting that the synergistic effect of TM and Acz on aqueous humor retention and the presence of this cyclodextrin and liposomes as permeation enhancers are responsible for the success of this strategy of co-loading for glaucoma therapy.Junta de Andalucía 2017/CTS214Universidad de Sevilla PPI546/202

Late Neanderthal subsistence strategies and cultural traditions in the northern Iberia Peninsula: Insights from Prado Vargas, Burgos, Spain

In order to better understand the causes and geographic patterns of Neanderthal demise it is necessary to broaden the focus of existing Neanderthal studies to include new sites from understudied regions, particularly those containing multi-level fossil and lithic records, and to improve regional-scale Neanderthal extinction frameworks using multiple dating techniques. To this end, we present an interdisciplinary study of the stratigraphy, chronology, pollen, fauna, lithic technology and human remains of the last Neanderthal level (Level N4) of Prado Vargas – a cave in northern Iberia, whose geographic location and chronology are ideal for investigating possible socio-economic and climatic influences on Neanderthal decline. Level N4 has yielded a rich Late Mousterian palimpsest indicative of repeated seasonal occupations, as well as a deciduous Neanderthal tooth, confirming the presence of children at the site. A wide range of human activities are detected in Level 4, with subsistence strategies demonstrating knowledgeable exploitation of the natural environs around the area. The site provides evidence for a distinctive recycling economy, including bone retouchers, recycling of cores, and intense (re)use of raw materials, which may reflect recurrent occupations or the particular cultural traditions of a regional group. Level N4 is dated to between 54.7 and 39.8 thousand years ago (ka) according to our new OSL and radiocarbon study. The late Neanderthal inhabitants of Prado Vargas were cold-adapted, and may have already been living in small, separate groups with marked territories and cultural traditions prior to the arrival of Homo sapiens in the Iberia Peninsula.Consejería de Cultura y Turismo de la Junta de Castilla y León y Ayuntamiento Merindad de Sotoscueva. The C14 dating was funded by Fundación Palarq. The OSL dating research was funded by Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award DE160100743 and ARC Future Fellowship project FT200100816 awarded to M. Demuro. Marta Santamaría is the beneficiary of a predoctoral grant from University of Burgos (UBU). Gala Gómez Merino did tasks of cleaning and conservation of the tooth. We are grateful to Fundación La Escuela (Cornejo), Asociación Naboki (Quisicedo), Casa del Parque del Monumento Natural de Ojo Guareña and Benigno Gómez Pereda

Valoración de la anestesia raquídea para operación cesárea por parte de la paciente y su relacionamiento con el anestesiólogo, en el Hospital Pereira Rossell, año 2019

Silvina Davila: Estudiante de Medicina, Ciclo de Metodología Científica II, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Uruguay. La contribución en la realización del trabajo fue equivalente a la de los demás estudiantes.-- Agustina Del Palacio: Estudiante de Medicina, Ciclo de Metodología Científica II, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Uruguay. La contribución en la realización del trabajo fue equivalente a la de los demás estudiantes.-- Valentina Garcia: Estudiante de Medicina, Ciclo de Metodología Científica II, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Uruguay. La contribución en la realización del trabajo fue equivalente a la de los demás estudiantes.-- Andrés Gonzalez: Estudiante de Medicina, Ciclo de Metodología Científica II, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Uruguay. La contribución en la realización del trabajo fue equivalente a la de los demás estudiantes.-- Diego Royano: Estudiante de Medicina, Ciclo de Metodología Científica II, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Uruguay. La contribución en la realización del trabajo fue equivalente a la de los demás estudiantes.-- Martina Salgueiro: Estudiante de Medicina, Ciclo de Metodología Científica II, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Uruguay. La contribución en la realización del trabajo fue equivalente a la de los demás estudiantes.-- Martín Pérez De Palleja: Docente supervisor. Departamento de Anestesiología de la Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.-- Carlos Álvarez: Docente supervisor. Departamento de Anestesiología de la Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.-- Contacto: [email protected] nuestro país las cifras de cesárea han venido aumentando en los últimos años, siendo la anestesia raquídea la de elección en la mayoría de las situaciones. El presente estudio pretende determinar la valoración de la anestesia raquídea, así como el relacionamiento con el anestesiólogo tratante, por parte de la paciente. Se realizó un estudio observacional, retrospectivo en el cual se tomó una muestra de 215 pacientes que recibieron anestesia raquídea para operación cesárea durante el período julio-setiembre del año 2019 en el Hospital Pereira Rossell. La información se recabó mediante encuesta de opinión. De los datos obtenidos resulta que el 76,7% afirma que de ser necesario una cesárea en el futuro lo haría nuevamente con esta misma técnica y más del 90% de las pacientes recibieron buen trato por parte del anestesiólogo tratante. Estos resultados se correlacionan con el hecho de que un 86,5% de las encuestadas refieren una buena experiencia con la anestesia raquídea. Este trabajo logró demostrar una asociación entre elementos relacionados a la técnica anestésica y al trato recibido por el anestesiólogo con el grado de satisfacción frente a la experiencia anestésica.There has been an increasing tendency during the latest years on caesarean section in our country; spinal anesthesia being the one of choice in most situations.The aim of our study is to determine the degree of satisfaction on neuraxial anaesthesia of pregnant women and how they qualify the relationship with the treating anesthesiologist during 2019 at Pereira Rossell Hospital. We conducted a retrospective observational study from july to september from 2019, 215 postnatal women that record having received neuraxial anesthesia during labour were surveyed. Overall, 76.7% women agreed with applying this anesthesia at a future childbirth, and over 90% refer experienced a good relationship with the anesthesiologist. These factors were related to maternal satisfaction due to 86,5% of them recall neuraxial anesthesia as a good experience. This work allows us to demonstrate that anesthesias technic application and the relationship with the anesthesiologist can be related to patients satisfaction towards neuraxial anesthesia

Monitoreo y simulaciones de desempeño térmico de aulas de la Facultad de Arquitectura de la UNNE en días de verano y condiciones reales de uso

Se exponen los resultados del monitoreo térmico, contrastado con simulaciones mediante ECOTECT, de seis aulas del edificio de la Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo (FAU) de la Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (UNNE), durante un período de 15 días de verano, en la ciudad de Resistencia, Chaco. El objetivo fue detectar posibles problemas de disconfort y completar un diagnóstico de situación higrotérmica, cuya primera etapa la constituyó el monitoreo y simulaciones previas del mismo edificio, durante Julio de 2011, así como validar los resultados de las simulaciones. Por los resultados obtenidos, el edificio monitoreado, que constituye una tipología constructiva tradicional representativa de muchos edificios institucionales de la década del ’50 (en servicio activo en varias provincias del país), constituye un caso de desempeño térmico deficiente durante días de verano típicos de la zona “Ib”, con temperaturas interiores por encima del límite superior confortable definido, durante el 95% del tiempo de monitoreo.This work presents the thermal monitoring’s results, contrasted with simulations by ECOTECT, of six classrooms of the building of Architecture and Urbanism Faculty (FAU) of Northeast National University (UNNE) during a period of 15 summer days, in Resistencia city. The objective was to validate the results of the simulations and to detect potential thermal discomfort problems and complete a diagnosis of hygrothermal situation, whose first stage was the previous monitoring and simulations of the same building during a period of July 2011. As the results, the monitored building, which is a traditional building type, representative of many institutional buildings of the ´50s (on active duty in several argentine provinces), is a case of poor thermal performance during typical summer days in the "Ib" zone, with indoor temperatures above the upper defined comfort limit , during 95% of monitoring time.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Monitoreo y simulaciones de desempeño térmico de aulas de la Facultad de Arquitectura de la UNNE en días de verano y condiciones reales de uso

Se exponen los resultados del monitoreo térmico, contrastado con simulaciones mediante ECOTECT, de seis aulas del edificio de la Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo (FAU) de la Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (UNNE), durante un período de 15 días de verano, en la ciudad de Resistencia, Chaco. El objetivo fue detectar posibles problemas de disconfort y completar un diagnóstico de situación higrotérmica, cuya primera etapa la constituyó el monitoreo y simulaciones previas del mismo edificio, durante Julio de 2011, así como validar los resultados de las simulaciones. Por los resultados obtenidos, el edificio monitoreado, que constituye una tipología constructiva tradicional representativa de muchos edificios institucionales de la década del ’50 (en servicio activo en varias provincias del país), constituye un caso de desempeño térmico deficiente durante días de verano típicos de la zona “Ib”, con temperaturas interiores por encima del límite superior confortable definido, durante el 95% del tiempo de monitoreo.This work presents the thermal monitoring’s results, contrasted with simulations by ECOTECT, of six classrooms of the building of Architecture and Urbanism Faculty (FAU) of Northeast National University (UNNE) during a period of 15 summer days, in Resistencia city. The objective was to validate the results of the simulations and to detect potential thermal discomfort problems and complete a diagnosis of hygrothermal situation, whose first stage was the previous monitoring and simulations of the same building during a period of July 2011. As the results, the monitored building, which is a traditional building type, representative of many institutional buildings of the ´50s (on active duty in several argentine provinces), is a case of poor thermal performance during typical summer days in the "Ib" zone, with indoor temperatures above the upper defined comfort limit , during 95% of monitoring time.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES