Optimización de KPI's y reducción de costos de voladura en vetas angostas, método Bench and Fill Unidad Minera Chipmo CIA. Minera Buenaventura S.A.A.

En el presente informe de servicios profesionales denominado “Optimización de KPI's y reducción de costos de voladura en vetas angostas, método Bench and Fill Unidad Minera Chipmo Cía. Minera Buenaventura S.A.A.”, se han realizado estudios e investigaciones para demostrar que colocando “decks” en la columna de carga explosiva y ampliando el espaciamiento en la malla de perforación, se reducen KPI's de voladura y por ende también sus costos asociados. El diseño original de perforación y voladura estima una malla de perforación cuadrada con burden y espaciamiento de 0,75 m; asimismo el diseño de carguío no contempla “decks” en la columna de carga. Por otra parte, en el nuevo diseño de perforación y voladura, la malla de perforación es rectangular con un burden de 0,75 m y un espaciamiento de 1,0 m; y en el carguío se usan decks de aire intercalados en la columna de carga. Después de todas las voladuras de prueba que se realizaron y los análisis respectivos: simulación de halos de energía, análisis de desviación de taladros, análisis técnico vibracional y análisis de fragmentación, los resultados demostraron que con los nuevos diseños tanto de malla de perforación como de carguío se obtienen mejoras en cuanto a optimización de KPI's lo que se traduce en la reducción de costos en perforación y voladura.Servicios Profesionale

Water-Vapour Monitoring from Ground-Based GNSS Observations in Northwestern Argentina

The Central Andes in northwestern Argentina are characterized by steep topographic and climatic gradients. The humid foreland areas at 1 km asl elevation rapidly rise to over 5 km in the eastern Cordillera, and they form an orographic rainfall barrier on the eastern windward side. This topographic setting combined with seasonal moisture transport through the South American monsoon system leads to intense rainstorms with cascading effects such as landsliding and flooding. In order to better quantify the dynamics of water vapour transport, we use high-temporal-resolution global navigation satellite system (GNSS) remote sensing techniques. We are particularly interested in better understanding the dynamics of high-magnitude storms with high water vapour amounts that have destructive effects on human infrastructure. We used an existing GNSS station network with 12 years of time series data, and we installed two new ground stations along the climatic gradient and collected GNSS time series data for three years. For several stations we calculated the GNSS signal delay gradient to determine water vapour transport direction. Our statistical analysis combines in situ rainfall measurements and ERA5 reanalysis data to reveal the water vapour transport mechanism for the study area. The results show a strong relationship between altitude and the water vapour content, as well as between the transportation pathways and the topography.Fil: Antonoglou, Nikolaos. German Research Centre for Geosciences; Alemania. Universitat Potsdam; AlemaniaFil: Balidakis, Kyriakos. German Research Centre for Geosciences; AlemaniaFil: Wickert, Jens. Technishe Universitat Berlin; Alemania. German Research Centre for Geosciences; AlemaniaFil: Dick, Galina. German Research Centre for Geosciences; AlemaniaFil: de la Torre, Alejandro. Universidad Austral; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bookhagen, Bodo. Universitat Potsdam; Alemani

Glucose-targeted niosomes deliver vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) to the brain

The aim of this study was to evaluate glucose-bearing niosomes as a brain targeted delivery system for the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). To this end, VIP/125I-VIP-loaded glucose-bearing niosomes were intravenously injected to mice. Brain uptake was determined by measuring the radioactivity of 125I-labeled VIP using gamma-counting, after intravenous administration of VIP in solution or encapsulated in glucose-bearing niosomes or in control niosomes. VIP integrity was assessed by reversed-phase HPLC analysis of brain extracts. Distribution of 125I-VIP derived radioactivity was examined from serial brain slices. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of intact VIP in brain after administration of VIP-loaded niosomes, but not after administration of VIP solution. Encapsulation within glucose-bearing niosomes mainly allowed a significantly higher VIP brain uptake compared to control niosomes (up to 86%, 5min after treatment). Brain distribution of intact VIP after injection of glucose-bearing niosomes, indicated that radioactivity was preferentially located in the posterior and the anterior parts of the brain, whereas it was homogeneously distributed in the whole brain after the administration of control vesicles. In conclusion, this novel vesicular formulation of VIP delivers intact VIP to particular brain regions in mice. Glucose-bearing vesicles might be therefore a novel tool to deliver drugs across the blood-brain barrier (BBB)

Deterioration of muscle force and contractile characteristics are early pathological events in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy mice

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), also known as Kennedy's Disease, is a late-onset, X-linked, progressive neuromuscular disease, which predominantly affects males. The pathological hallmarks of the disease are defined by selective loss of spinal and bulbar motor neurons, accompanied by weakness, atrophy and fasciculations of bulbar and limb muscles. SBMA is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the gene that encodes the androgen receptor (AR) protein. Disease manifestation is androgen dependent and results principally from a toxic gain of AR function. There are currently no effective treatments for this debilitating disease. It is important to understand the course of the disease in order to target therapeutics to key pathological stages. This is especially relevant in disorders such as SBMA, where disease can be identified prior to symptom onset, through family history and genetic testing. To fully characterise the role of muscle in SBMA, we undertook a longitudinal physiological and histological characterisation of disease progression in the AR100 mouse model of SBMA. Our results show that the disease first manifests in skeletal muscle, prior to any motor neuron degeneration, which only occurs in late stage disease. These findings reveal alterations in muscle function, including reduced muscle force and changes in contractile characteristics, are early pathological events in SBMA mice and suggest that muscle-targeted therapeutics may be effective in SBMA

Total organic carbon, total nitrogen and chemical characteristics of an haplic cambisol after biochar incorporation

Biochar has been used as a soil conditioner to increase the soil organic carbon content and to improve the soil chemical characteristics. However, the effect of biochar on soil is still not clear and the soil type and biochar composition should also play an important role. In this context, the main objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of biochar application on the organic carbon (C) content and on chemical characteristics of subtropical Cambisol. The field experiment was located at the State University of Centro ‐ Oeste in Irati, Brazil, and the soil was classified as an Haplic Cambisol (Embrapa, 1999). The applied biochar was composed mainly by fine residues ( 70% < 2mm ) of an eucalyptus biochar that was a waste of the local steel industry. In February 2010, four increasing doses of biochar were applied to the soil (T1 ‐ 0 t ha ‐ 1 ; T2 ‐ 10 t ha ‐ 1 ; T3 ‐ 20 t ha ‐ 1 and T4 ‐ 40 t ha ‐ 1 ) with four replicates. Soil samples were composed by three subsamples collected within each plot. Biochar was applied on the soil surface and thereafter it was incorporated into a 0 ‐ 10 cm soil depth with an harrow. Soil samples were collected in September 2011 at four soil depths: 0 ‐ 5; 5 ‐ 10; 10 ‐ 20 and 20 ‐ 30 cm. The samples were air dried and passed through a 2 mm sieve. Soil C and nitrogen (N) contents were determined by dry combustion and the soil characteristics assessed were: pH in water, available P, exchangeable K, Ca, Mg and Al, potential acidity (H + Al), cation exchange capacity (CEC), effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) and base saturation (V%) (Tedesco et al., 1995). The mean values were compared using SAS software (Tukey 10%). The main alterations in soil characteristics were observed in the superficial depth (0 ‐ 5 cm) (Table 1) probably due to the permanence of the biochar fine particles at the soil surface. In this layer, the application of 40 t ha ‐ 1 of biochar (treatment T4) increased in 15.5 g kg ‐ 1 the C content in comparison to treatment T1. The treatments T2 and T3 also increased the C content, but the differences were not significant. N content was not affected by biochar application. The highest dose of biochar (treatment T4) promoted an increase of the C/N ratio from 12 to 16 at the 0 ‐ 5 cm depth. Treatment T4 also increased the soil pH value in comparison to treatment T1. In addition, the contents of available P, exchangeable K and Ca where higher under treatment T4 in comparison to treatment T1 (Table 1). In opposition, exchangeable Mg content, Al+H, V% and CEC were not altered by any treatment, but T4 increased the ECEC in 3.1 cmol c dm ‐ 3 in comparison to T1. The results observed are probably due the high C and ash (26,5%) contents of biochar. A contribution of the functional groups on the surface of the biochar to the ECEC should not be excluded (Sparkes & Stoutjesdijk, 2011). Our results indicate that after two years of biochar application an increase of soil organic carbon and a positive impact on the soil chemical characteristics at the soil surface were attained, but only with the highest tested dose (40 t ha ‐ 1 ) .Peer reviewe

The Ursinus Weekly, March 1, 1954

Helfferich tells causes of delay in Union work • U.C. Supply Store resumes full operation today • Ruby show to be presented • Band starts practice for Spring concert • Composition and technique discussed by Walter Hansen • Summer School to feature single session • U. of Penn band to present concert here • Dorthee von Miller to speak at AAUW program Wed. • Spring play cast revealed; Wright, Rack in lead roles • WSGA group holds meeting • John Canady to speak at seminar sessions • WAA will present variety show Mar. 11 • Dr. Allan Rice to present Scandinavian readings • Editorials: Support the Supply; Chinese controversy • Unusual campus rules • She felt like a young colt; But looked like an old .45 • Al Sare tells of Navy life • Reporter misses big scoop; Must turn in notebook • Just plain Bill reports Belles vs. Albright game • Little Belles top Bryn Mawr • Muhlenberg decisions Bears in heartbreaker • Shreiner, Hobson, South, Rimby\u27s, Maples win • Cagemen top Fords in two overtimes • Belles down C. Hill, 57-13 • Bears top Drexel, 24-8 prior to M.A.C. wrestling • Chestnut Hill topples U.C. mermaids, 37-19 • PMC squeezes netmen to win • Snell\u27s Belles win again; Hand Wagner 55-20 losshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1490/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, March 1, 1954

Helfferich tells causes of delay in Union work • U.C. Supply Store resumes full operation today • Ruby show to be presented • Band starts practice for Spring concert • Composition and technique discussed by Walter Hansen • Summer School to feature single session • U. of Penn band to present concert here • Dorthee von Miller to speak at AAUW program Wed. • Spring play cast revealed; Wright, Rack in lead roles • WSGA group holds meeting • John Canady to speak at seminar sessions • WAA will present variety show Mar. 11 • Dr. Allan Rice to present Scandinavian readings • Editorials: Support the Supply; Chinese controversy • Unusual campus rules • She felt like a young colt; But looked like an old .45 • Al Sare tells of Navy life • Reporter misses big scoop; Must turn in notebook • Just plain Bill reports Belles vs. Albright game • Little Belles top Bryn Mawr • Muhlenberg decisions Bears in heartbreaker • Shreiner, Hobson, South, Rimby\u27s, Maples win • Cagemen top Fords in two overtimes • Belles down C. Hill, 57-13 • Bears top Drexel, 24-8 prior to M.A.C. wrestling • Chestnut Hill topples U.C. mermaids, 37-19 • PMC squeezes netmen to win • Snell\u27s Belles win again; Hand Wagner 55-20 losshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1490/thumbnail.jp

Squirrelpox virus: assessing prevalence, transmission and environmental degradation

Red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) declined in Great Britain and Ireland during the last century, due to habitat loss and the introduction of grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), which competitively exclude the red squirrel and act as a reservoir for squirrelpox virus (SQPV). The disease is generally fatal to red squirrels and their ecological replacement by grey squirrels is up to 25 times faster where the virus is present. We aimed to determine: (1) the seropositivity and prevalence of SQPV DNA in the invasive and native species at a regional scale; (2) possible SQPV transmission routes; and, (3) virus degradation rates under differing environmental conditions. Grey (n = 208) and red (n = 40) squirrel blood and tissues were sampled. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) techniques established seropositivity and viral DNA presence, respectively. Overall 8% of squirrels sampled (both species combined) had evidence of SQPV DNA in their tissues and 22% were in possession of antibodies. SQPV prevalence in sampled red squirrels was 2.5%. Viral loads were typically low in grey squirrels by comparison to red squirrels. There was a trend for a greater number of positive samples in spring and summer than in winter. Possible transmission routes were identified through the presence of viral DNA in faeces (red squirrels only), urine and ectoparasites (both species). Virus degradation analyses suggested that, after 30 days of exposure to six combinations of environments, there were more intact virus particles in scabs kept in warm (25°C) and dry conditions than in cooler (5 and 15°C) or wet conditions. We conclude that SQPV is present at low prevalence in invasive grey squirrel populations with a lower prevalence in native red squirrels. Virus transmission could occur through urine especially during warm dry summer conditions but, more notably, via ectoparasites, which are shared by both species

The Hubble constant and dark energy from cosmological distance measures

We study how the determination of the Hubble constant from cosmological distance measures is affected by models of dark energy and vice versa. For this purpose, constraints on the Hubble constant and dark energy are investigated using the cosmological observations of cosmic microwave background, baryon acoustic oscillations and type Ia suprenovae. When one investigates dark energy, the Hubble constant is often a nuisance parameter, thus it is usually marginalized over. On the other hand, when one focuses on the Hubble constant, simple dark energy models such as a cosmological constant and a constant equation of state are usually assumed. Since we do not know the nature of dark energy yet, it is interesting to investigate the Hubble constant assuming some types of dark energy and see to what extent the constraint on the Hubble constant is affected by the assumption concerning dark energy. We show that the constraint on the Hubble constant is not affected much by the assumption for dark energy. We furthermore show that this holds true even if we remove the assumption that the universe is flat. We also discuss how the prior on the Hubble constant affects the constraints on dark energy and/or the curvature of the universe.Comment: 45 pages, 15 figure

The OPERA experiment Target Tracker

The main task of the Target Tracker detector of the long baseline neutrino oscillation OPERA experiment is to locate in which of the target elementary constituents, the lead/emulsion bricks, the neutrino interactions have occurred and also to give calorimetric information about each event. The technology used consists in walls of two planes of plastic scintillator strips, one per transverse direction. Wavelength shifting fibres collect the light signal emitted by the scintillator strips and guide it to both ends where it is read by multi-anode photomultiplier tubes. All the elements used in the construction of this detector and its main characteristics are described.Comment: 25 pages, submitted to Nuclear Instrument and Method