One of the most difficult problems in mining operation is how to determine optimum cut-off grades of ores at different periods over the lifespan of the mine that will maximize the net present value (NPV) of the mine. Maximizing the NPV of a mining operation, subject to different constraints is a nonlinear programming problem. Cut-off grade optimization is used to arrive at an operating strategy...

Lack of point-of-care tests for tuberculosis (TB) result in diagnostic delay, and increased mortality and healthcare-related costs. The urine Determine(TM) TB-LAM point-of-care strip-test was evaluated in 335 prospectively-recruited hospitalised patients with suspected TB-HIV co-infection (group 1) and from 88 HIV-infected hospitalised patients with non-TB diagnoses (group 2). Cut-off point-spe...

Background: Prostate cancer has been reported as a worldwide important kind of cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality among men. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) serum level is one of the most important markers of prostate cancer diagnosis. While PSA level helps predict the risk of prostate cancer development, researchers still looking for ways to increase the accura...

Optimization of the exploitation operation is one of the most important issues facing the mining engineers. Since several technical and economic parameters depend on the cut-off grade, optimization of this parameter is of particular importance. The aim of this optimization is to maximize the net present value (NPV). Since the objective function of this problem is non-linear, three methods can b...

Wire electric discharge machining (WEDM) is one of the advanced machining processes. Response surface methodology coupled with Grey relation analysis method has been proposed and used to optimise the machining parameters of WEDM. A face centred cubic design is used for conducting experiments on high speed steel (HSS) M2 grade workpiece material. The regression model of significant factors such ...

The Sungun copper deposit is located in about 40km north west of Ahar city in the east Azarbaigan province of Iran. The total geological ore deposit is estimated to be 740 million tons. In this study using all information from exploration and geotechnical studies of the area, final pit limits of Sungun copper deposit is designed by the 2-D Lerchs & Grossmann Algorithm. By this method, from 740 ...