Incorporating Hydrologic Uncertainty in Industrial Economic Models: Implications of Extreme Rainfall Variability on Metal Mining Investments

Water balance uncertainties have long been known to lead to potential environmental hazards, but their effect on economic profitability of mines is an under-studied field of research. Historical rainfall data are analyzed using the extreme value theory (EVT) and the peak over threshold method (POT). The resulting distributions are used as inputs into a system dynamics techno-economic metal mining investment profitability model, and simulation analysis is performed. The proposed methodology incorporates rainfall extremes and uncertainty into techno-economic modeling of metal mining operations. A case study with real-life historical rainfall data was used to illustrate the relationship between hydrologic uncertainty and the economic value of a metal mining investment

Effects of Long-Term Paired Associative Stimulation on Strength of Leg Muscles and Walking in Chronic Tetraplegia : A Proof-of-Concept Pilot Study

Recovery of lower-limb function after spinal cord injury (SCI) is dependent on the extent of remaining neural transmission in the corticospinal pathway. The aim of this proof-of-concept pilot study was to explore the effects of long-term paired associative stimulation (PAS) on leg muscle strength and walking in people with SCI. Five individuals with traumatic incomplete chronic tetraplegia (>34 months post-injury, motor incomplete, 3 females, mean age 60 years) with no contraindications to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) received PAS to one or both legs for 2 months (28 sessions in total, 5 times a week for the first 2 weeks and 3 times a week thereafter). The participants were evaluated with the Manual Muscle Test (MMT), AIS motor and sensory examination, Modified Asworth Scale (MAS), and the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM) prior to the intervention, after 1 and 2 months of PAS, and after a 1-month follow-up. The study was registered at (NCT03459885). During the intervention, MMT scores and AIS motor scores increased significantly (p = 0.014 and p = 0.033, respectively). Improvements were stable in follow-up. AIS sensory scores, MAS, and SCIM were not modified significantly. MMT score prior to intervention was a good predictor of changes in walking speed (Radj2 = 0.962). The results of this proof-of-concept pilot study justify a larger trial on the effect of long-term PAS on leg muscle strength and walking in people with chronic incomplete SCI.Peer reviewe

The use of F-response in defining interstimulus intervals appropriate for LTP-like plasticity induction in lower limb spinal paired associative stimulation

Background In spinal paired associative stimulation (PAS), orthodromic volleys are induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in upper motor neurons, and antidromic volleys by peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) in lower motor neurons of human corticospinal tract. The volleys arriving synchronously to the corticomotoneuronal synapses induce spike time-dependent plasticity in the spinal cord. For clinical use of spinal PAS, it is important to develop protocols that reliably induce facilitation of corticospinal transmission. Due to variability in conductivity of neuronal tracts in neurological patients, it is beneficial to estimate interstimulus interval (ISI) between TMS and PNS on individual basis. Spinal root magnetic stimulation has previously been used for this purpose in spinal PAS targeting upper limbs. However, at lumbar level this method does not take into account the conduction time of spinal nerves of the cauda equina in the spinal canal. New method For lower limbs spinal PAS, we propose estimating appropriate ISIs on the basis of F-response and motor-evoked potential (MEP) latencies. The use of navigation in TMS and ensuring correct PNS electrode placement with F-response recording enhances the precision of the method. Results Our protocol induced 186 ± 17% (mean ± STE) MEP amplitude facilitation in healthy subjects, being effective in all subjects and nerves tested. Comparison with existing method We report for the first time the individual estimation of ISIs in spinal PAS for lower limbs. Conclusions Estimation of ISI on the basis of F and MEP latencies is sufficient to effectively enhance corticospinal transmission by lower limb spinal PAS in healthy subjects. Keywords Paired associative stimulation; Neuronal plasticity; Transcranial magnetic stimulation; Electrical stimulation therapy; F-responsePeer reviewe

Long-Term Paired Associative Stimulation Enhances Motor Output of the Tetraplegic Hand

A large proportion of spinal cord injuries (SCI) are incomplete. Even in clinically complete injuries, silent non-functional connections can be present. Therapeutic approaches that can strengthen transmission in weak neural connections to improve motor performance are needed. Our aim was to determine whether long-term delivery of paired associative stimulation (PAS, a combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation [TMS] with peripheral nerve stimulation [PNS]) can enhance motor output in the hands of patients with chronic traumatic tetraplegia, and to compare this technique with long-term PNS. Five patients (4 males; age 38-68, mean 48) with no contraindications to TMS received 4 weeks (16 sessions) of stimulation. PAS was given to one hand and PNS combined with sham TMS to the other hand. Patients were blinded to the treatment. Hands were selected randomly. The patients were evaluated by a physiotherapist blinded to the treatment. The follow-up period was 1 month. Patients were evaluated with Daniels and Worthingham's Muscle Testing (0-5 scale) before the first stimulation session, after the last stimulation session, and 1 month after the last stimulation session. One month after the last stimulation session, the improvement in the PAS-treated hand was 1.02 +/- 0.17 points (p <0.0001, n = 100 muscles from 5 patients). The improvement was significantly higher in PAS-treated than in PNS-treated hands (176 +/- 29%, p = 0.046, n = 5 patients). Longterm PAS might be an effective tool for improving motor performance in incomplete chronic SCI patients. Further studies on PAS in larger patient cohorts, with longer stimulation duration and at earlier stages after the injury, are warranted.Peer reviewe

Paired associative stimulation improves hand function after nontraumatic spinal cord injury: a case series

Objectives Long-term paired associative stimulation (PAS) is a non-invasive combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation and leads to improved hand motor function in individuals with incomplete traumatic tetraplegia. Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) can also be induced by neurological diseases. We tested a similar long-term PAS approach in patients with nontraumatic neurological SCI. Methods In this case series five patients with nontraumatic tetraplegia received PAS to the weaker upper limb 3 to 5 times per week for 6 weeks. Patients were evaluated with manual muscle testing (MMT) before and immediately after therapy and at the 1- and 6-month follow ups. Patients were also evaluated for spasticity, hand mechanical and digital dynamometry, pinch, and Box and Blocks tests. Results All patients had improved MMT values at all post-PAS evaluations. The mean±standard error MMT increase was 1.44±0.37 points (p=0.043) immediately after PAS, 1.57±0.4 points (p=0.043) at the 1-month follow-up, and 1.71±0.47 points (p=0.043) at the 6-month follow up. The pinch, digital dynamometry values, and Box and Blocks test results also improved in all patients. Conclusions Long-term PAS may be a safe and effective treatment for improving hand function in patients with nontraumatic tetraplegia. Significance This is the first report demonstrating the therapeutic potential of PAS for neurological SCI.Peer reviewe

Protocol for motor and language mapping by navigated TMS in patients and healthy volunteers; workshop report

Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) is increasingly used for preoperative mapping of motor function, and clinical evidence for its benefit for brain tumor patients is accumulating. In respect to language mapping with repetitive nTMS, literature reports have yielded variable results, and it is currently not routinely performed for presurgical language localization. The aim of this project is to define a common protocol for nTMS motor and language mapping to standardize its neurosurgical application and increase its clinical value. The nTMS workshop group, consisting of highly experienced nTMS users with experience of more than 1500 preoperative nTMS examinations, met in Helsinki in January 2016 for thorough discussions of current evidence and personal experiences with the goal to recommend a standardized protocol for neurosurgical applications. nTMS motor mapping is a reliable and clinically validated tool to identify functional areas belonging to both normal and lesioned primary motor cortex. In contrast, this is less clear for language-eloquent cortical areas identified by nTMS. The user group agreed on a core protocol, which enables comparison of results between centers and has an excellent safety profile. Recommendations for nTMS motor and language mapping protocols and their optimal clinical integration are presented here. At present, the expert panel recommends nTMS motor mapping in routine neurosurgical practice, as it has a sufficient level of evidence supporting its reliability. The panel recommends that nTMS language mapping be used in the framework of clinical studies to continue refinement of its protocol and increase reliability.Peer reviewe

InDEx – Industrial Data Excellence

InDEx, the Industrial Data Excellence program, was created to investigate what industrial data can be collected, shared, and utilized for new intelligent services in high-performing, reliable and secure ways, and how to accomplish that in practice in the Finnish manufacturing industry.InDEx produced several insights into data in an industrial environment, collecting data, sharing data in the value chain and in the factory environment, and utilizing and manipulating data with artificial intelligence. Data has an important role in the future in an industrial context, but data sources and utilization mechanisms are more diverse than in cases related to consumer data. Experiences in the InDEx cases showed that there is great potential in data utili zation.Currently, successful business cases built on data sharing are either company-internal or utilize an existing value chain. The data market has not yet matured, and third-party offerings based on public and private data sources are rare. In this program, we tried out a framework that aimed to securely and in a controlled manner share data between organizations. We also worked to improve the contractual framework needed to support new business based on shared data, and we conducted a study of applicable business models. Based on this, we searched for new data-based opportunities within the project consortium. The vision of data as a tradeable good or of sharing with external partners is still to come true, but we believe that we have taken steps in the right direction.The program started in fall 2019 and ended in April 2022. The program faced restrictions caused by COVID-19, which had an effect on the intensity of the work during 2020 and 2021, and the program was extended by one year. Because of meeting restrictions, InDEx collaboration was realized through online meetings. We learned to work and collaborate using digital tools and environments. Despite the mentioned hindrances, and thanks to Business Finland’s flexibility, the extension time made it possible for most of the planned goals to be achieved.This report gives insights in the outcomes of the companies’ work within the InDEx program. DIMECC InDEx is the first finalized program by the members of the Finnish Advanced Manufacturing Network (FAMN, www.famn.fi).</p

Using meta-models in simulation-based investment analysis – studying the financing mix of metal mining investments

This paper is the first documented research effort on how simple meta-models can be used in simulation-based investment analysis. Modern computers allow the construction and simulation of near real-world emulating models, often referred to as “digital twins”, that offer requisite variety to real world phenomena, such as an industrial investment. These models can be extremely complex and computationally demanding which reduces the scope of their practical applications. This is where meta-models can help. Meta-models are simple black-box models that are fitted with the input-output -combinations from more complex models to be able to approximate complex model behavior. As the simple meta-models are very fast to solve they may be used to explore much larger solution spaces with considerably higher speed and less computing power needed than the original models. We demonstrate how the meta-modeling approach can be used in the context of metal mining investment analysis that is originally conducted with a dynamic system model constructed based on a real-world metal mining investment. We show how two simple meta-models, a linear regression model and a regression-tree model, can be used in gaining insight about a suitable financing-mix for the said metal mining investment.peerReviewe

Profitability Analysis and Financial Evaluation of Projects

This chapter presents and gives practical tools for the financial analysis and evaluation of all kinds of projects. The chapter discusses the foundations underlying modern profitability analysis, presents and illustrates the use of the three most commonly used profitability analysis methods, and explains what is the value of flexibility, or having real options, in a project and about how that value can be quantitatively analyzed. Illustrative real-world examples with detailed step-by-step explanations help understand how the presented methods should be used in practice. Best practices and the usability of the presented methods are discussed throughout the chapter. Presentation and interpretation of results are also discussed. Helpful references are given and additional supportive material is included.peerReviewe