GPR clutter amplitude processing to detect shallow geological targets

The analysis of clutter in A-scans produced by energy randomly scattered in some specific geological structures, provides information about changes in the shallow sedimentary geology. The A-scans are composed by the coherent energy received from reflections on electromagnetic discontinuities and the incoherent waves from the scattering in small heterogeneities. The reflected waves are attenuated as consequence of absorption, geometrical spreading and losses due to reflections and scattering. Therefore, the amplitude of those waves diminishes and at certain two-way travel times becomes on the same magnitude as the background noise in the radargram, mainly produced by the scattering. The amplitude of the mean background noise is higher when the dispersion of the energy increases. Then, the mean amplitude measured in a properly selected time window is a measurement of the amount of the scattered energy and, therefore, a measurement of the increase of scatterers in the ground. This paper presents a simple processing that allows determining the Mean Amplitude of Incoherent Energy (MAEI) for each A-scan, which is represented in front of the position of the trace. This procedure is tested in a field study, in a city built on a sedimentary basin. The basin is crossed by a large number of hidden subterranean streams and paleochannels. The sedimentary structures due to alluvial deposits produce an amount of the random backscattering of the energy that is measured in a time window. The results are compared along the entire radar line, allowing the location of streams and paleochannels. Numerical models were also used in order to compare the synthetic traces with the field radargrams and to test the proposed processing methodology. The results underscore the amount of the MAEI over the streams and also the existence of a surrounding zone where the amplitude is increasing from the average value to the maximum obtained over the structure. Simulations show that this zone does not correspond to any particular geological change but is consequence of the path of the antenna that receives the scattered energy before arriving to the alluvial depositsPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Biological Calorimetry: Old Friend, New Insights

Calorimetry is an old experimental technique (first instrument developed in S. XVIII), but it is broadly used and still provides key information for understanding biological processes at the molecular level, particularly, cooperative phenomena in protein interactions. Here, we review and highlight some key aspects of biological calorimetry. Several biological systems will be described in which calorimetry was instrumental for modeling the behavior of the protein and obtaining further biological insight

COST Action TU1208 - Civil Engineering Application of Ground Penetrating Radar: Una acción coordinada a nivel europeo: Objetivos, organización y trabajos

Fundada en 1971 a partir de acuerdos intergubernamentales de 35 paises, la red European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) es la primera organización creada para la coordinación de actividades de investigación financiadas de los países de Europa. El objetivo principal de esta red es disminuir la fragmentación de la inversión en investigación europea, facilitando el desarrollo científico y reforzando la capacidad investigadora y de innovación. Dentro de estos objetivos generales se pueden considerar cuatro vertientes principales: - La mejora de la capacidad investigadora gracias a la conexión entre comunidades científicas de gran calidad, europeas y del resto del mundo. - El aumento y desarrollo de oportunidades para investigadores jóvenes. - El impulso del impacto de la investigación desarrollada entre los cuerpos legislativos y reguladores centrados en la toma de decisiones. - La difusión y promoción de la investigación en el sector privado.Peer Reviewe

Ground-penetrating radar evaluation of the ancient Mycenaean monument Tholos Acharnon tomb

The assessment of cultural heritage requires high-resolution and non-destructive methodologies. Ground-penetrating radar is widely applied in the inspection of historical buildings. However, some structures with curved surfaces make the radar data acquisition process difficult and consequently the following data interpretation. This paper describes a case study concerning a circular and buried Greek monument. This monument is a magnificent tomb buried with irregular stones. However, its structure and the internal stones arrangement are unknown. Therefore, a radar survey was carried out to achieve two main objectives: (i) identification of hidden elements and arrangement of the stones and (ii) detection of specific zones where further restoration and maintenance should be recommended. The methodology for the radar data acquisition involves the use of a laser scan in order to define accurately each radar line, covering all the internal surface of the tomb. Radar data processing was developed by converting Cartesian coordinates into polar coordinates. This procedure allows defining better the internal anomalies, improving the radar data interpretation. The main results of the survey were three: (i) the presence of a hidden target buried in the corridor access to the tomb; (ii) the description of the internal structure of the walls of the tomb, defining the stones arrangement and the position and depth to the keystone; and (iii) the existence of delimited zones where the signal is highly attenuated, probably due to a high salt content.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Gestión educativa y clima organizacional en docentes de la institución educativa N.º 2095 “Herman Busse de la Guerra”, Los Olivos, 2014

La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar la relación entre gestión educativa y clima organizacional en docentes de la institución educativa n.º 2095 “Herman Busse de la Guerra”, Los Olivos, 2014, la investigación fue básica, el método hipotético deductivo, diseño no experimental corte transversal, de tipo correlacional; la muestra estuvo conformada por 75 docentes, se usó el muestreo no probabilístico; se utilizó la técnica de la encuesta y como instrumentos se emplearon dos cuestionarios, uno para cada variable; se concluyó que existe una relación directa, alta y significativa r = ,779 y una significancia p = ,000, por lo cual se rechazó la H0 y se aceptó la hipótesis de trabajo, es decir existe relación entre gestión educativa y clima organizacional en docentes de la institución educativa n.º 2095 “Herman Busse de la Guerra”, Los Olivos, 2014

Fuzzy inference system for integrated VVC in isolated power systems

This paper presents a fuzzy inference system for integrated volt/var control (VVC) in distribution substations. The purpose is go forward to automation distribution applying conservation voltage reduction (CVR) in isolated power systems where control capabilities are limited. A fuzzy controller has been designed. Working as an on-line tool, it has been tested under real conditions and it has managed the operation during a whole day in a distribution substation. Within the limits of control capabilities of the system, the controller maintained successfully an acceptable voltage profile, power factor values over 0,98 and it has ostensibly improved the performance given by an optimal power flow based automation system. CVR savings during the test are evaluated and the aim to integrate it in the VVC is presented.Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1401.163

Combining ground penetrating radar and seismic surveys in the assessment of cultural heritage buildings: The study of roofs, columns, and ground of the gothic church Santa Maria del Mar, in Barcelona (Spain)

Combined non-destructive techniques are applied in the study of a historical building in Barcelona. Santa Maria del Mar is a magnificent Mediterranean gothic church built between 1329 and 1383. Two of the most important characteristics of this building are the slender columns and the almost flat rooftop. This structure, used to create a visual impression of a unique space, transmits high loads to the tall columns. Previous to restoration, vaults, roofs, and columns were extensively assessed with non-destructive tests, in order to improve the knowledge of those structures. This information will be used in further simulations to analyse load distributions at each part of the structure. Ground and floor were also studied. The analysis of the columns was based on ground- penetrating radar (GPR) surveys and on seismic tomography. Finally, the dynamic behaviour of the structure was determined by seismic monitoring of the main nave and the bell tower. Results obtained at the radar survey highlight the existence of unexpected anomalies in homogeneous materials, supporting the hypothesis of an inner structure between arches and roof composed by hollow elements. Seismic tomography defined the inner geometry of the columns and detected some damage or lower quality stone in various zones. Seismic monitoring established the perfect junction between the bell tower and the main nave. GPR survey on the floor allowed detecting a large number of graves, and some images suggest the existence of large underground walls and some of the foundations of the main façade.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Conformational Stability of Hepatitis C Virus NS3 Protease

AbstractThe hepatitis C virus NS3 protease is responsible for the processing of the nonstructural region of viral precursor polyprotein in infected hepatic cells. NS3 has been considered a target for drug discovery for a long time. NS3 is a zinc-dependent serine protease. However, the zinc ion is not involved in the catalytic mechanism, because it is bound far away from the active site. Thus, zinc is essential for the structural integrity of the protein and it is considered to have a structural role. The first thermodynamic study on the conformational equilibrium and stability of NS3 and the effect of zinc on such equilibrium is presented here. In agreement with a previous calorimetric study on the binding of zinc to NS3, the global unfolding heat capacity is dominated by the zinc dissociation step, suggesting that the binding of zinc induces a significant structural rearrangement of the protein. In addition, contrary to other homologous zinc-dependent proteases, the zinc-free NS3 protease is not completely unstructured. It is apparent that the conformational landscape of hepatitis C virus NS3 protease is fairly complex due to its intrinsic plasticity, and to the interactions with its different effectors (zinc and the accessory viral protein NS4A) and their modulation of the population of the different conformational states

Gestión administrativa y calidad de servicio en el área de cajachica de la Corte Superior de Justicia del Santa, 2021

La presente investigación ha tenido por objeto determinar la relación de la calidad de servicio respecto a la gestión administrativa en la oficina de Caja Chica de la Corte Superior de Justicia Del Santa. El estudio se ha realizado a partir del marco teórico de la problemática y sus variables, orientándose a conocer la conexión de las mismas, para lo cual la investigación se ha elaborado bajo la metodología descriptiva–correlacional, de diseño no experimental, permitiéndose de esta manera describir, analizar y correlacionar la realidad problemática sobre la Gestión Administrativa y la Calidad de Servicio en el área de Caja Chica de la Corte Superior de Justicia del Santa en el periodo 2021. Así mismo se ha tenido una muestra de 241 servidores entre usuarios y directivos de la entidad, aplicándose la encuesta como instrumento, obteniendo como resultado que existe relación significativa entre la gestión administrativa y calidad de servicio (p < 0.01), en grado moderado (r = 0,537) esto quiere decir que si aumenta la gestión administrativa también aumentará la calidad de servicio. Por lo tanto, nos permite rechazar la hipótesis nula, aceptando la hipótesis de investigación que dicta que existe relación significativa entre la gestión administrativa y la calidad de servicio en el área de caja-chica de la corte superior de justicia del santa, 202

Gestión Empresarial Y La Competitividad De Las Mypes Exportadoras Textiles, San Juan De Lurigancho, 2017

La investigación realizada tuvo como objetivo general determinar la relación entre la gestión empresarial y competitividad de las MYPES exportadoras textiles S.J.L, 2017. El tipo de estudio que se aplico fue de carácter cuantitativo debido al enfoque de la investigación y de los objetivos planteados, tipo de investigación fue descriptivo correlacional de diseño no experimental y de corte transversal ya que se adquirió la información en un solo momento durante toda la investigación. La población consto de 242 mypes exportadoras en el distrito de san juan de Lurigancho de lo cual se obtuvo una muestra de 92 encuestados. Por otro lado, se realizó 32 preguntas por cada variable con una escala Likert de 5 niveles a las respuestas, las cuales fueron aplicadas a los representantes de la mypes exportadoras, aquellas respuestas fueron registradas en una base de datos para obtener los resultados atreves del SPSS versión 22, lo cual dio como resultado que no existe ninguna relación entre, Gestión Empresarial Y La Competitividad De Las Mypes Exportadoras Textiles, San Juan De Lurigancho, 201