Geometry, kinematics and rates of deformation in a normal fault segment boundary, central Greece

The geometry, kinematics and rates of deformation within a fault segment boundary between the ends of two major active normal fault segments have been investigated through examination of a faulted 126 ka marine terrace. Slip‐vector azimuths defined by striations on the faults indicate N‐S extension on c. E‐W faults, sub‐parallel to those from earthquake focal mechanisms, together with significant and contemporaneous E‐W extension on c. N‐S faults. Summed rates of E‐W extension along a c. 550 m transect (0.17 mm/yr) are comparable with those for N‐S extension (0.20 mm/yr) along a c. 350 m transect. Our observations show that distributed non‐plane strain extension occurs in fault segment boundaries and this should be noted when studying fault‐tip fracture toughness and regional deformation rates

An Initial Review of the Copyright Concerns of Generative Artificial Intelligence

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) heralds a new era of creativity and technological advancement. Despite its promising benefits, GAI raises concerns about its trustworthiness and associated challenges. This study employs a digital trust framework to examine the nuanced issues surrounding GAI\u27s interaction with copyright law, delving into pivotal legal cases and uncovering complexities. From the ambiguity of GAI regulations to questions of authorship, the research underscores the urgent need for dedicated legal and trust frameworks tailored to GAI. The sustainability of GAI systems is also a critical consideration, given the potential long-term impact of GAI systems on society and the environment. Findings from this preliminary review underscore the central role of human creativity in copyright protection, illuminating the constraints of AI-generated content. As GAI technology progresses, it becomes paramount to embed comprehensive copyright considerations into regulations to ensure the trustworthiness of GAI systems, striking a delicate balance between innovation, legal and ethical standards. Consequently, accountability, fairness, safeguarding intellectual property rights, promoting responsible data usage, and fostering harmonious coexistence between technology and creativity are recommended for the development of trusted GAI systems. Future research should focus on developing specific legal frameworks for GAI and exploring the impact of GAI on creative industries

Crustal strain in central Greece from repeated GPS measurements in the interval 1989-1997

A 66-station GPS network spanning central Greece, first observed in 1989, has been occupied fully on three occasions: June 1989, October 1991 and May 1993. Subsets of this network bounding the Gulf of Korinthos have also been occupied in June 1995, October 1995, May 1996 and September/October 1997. The first three occupations were processed using a fiducial GPS methodology, whereas later surveys were processed using CODE precise orbits. Combination of data from different surveys to yield smooth site velocities requires global network translations at each epoch to compensate for errors in the realization of the reference frame. This method provides a posteriori estimates of the relative coordinate errors and reference frame noise. Only one earthquake, the 1995 June 15 Egion event, has caused significant local coseismic displacement, and its effects on the interseismic velocity field are removed using an elastic dislocation model. We constrain the orientation of the 100 yr triangulation—GPS velocity estimates of Davies et al. (1997) using 14 sites common to the two networks. The goodness of fit of this transformation indicates that the short-term and 100 yr geodetic estimates of deformation are highly compatible. We infer that short-term geodetic studies are capable of determining longer-term deformation rates provided that transient, local effects can be modelled. From the combined velocity field, we estimate principal strains and rigid-body rotation rates at points on a regular grid using data from neighbouring sites. Strain rates are high within the Gulf of Korinthos and much lower elsewhere. The extension rate across the Gulf of Korinthos increases from east to west. Comparison of the extension rate with historical and recent rates of seismic release of strain reveals significant medium-term seismic hazard in the western Gulf of Korinthos, and may also indicate long-term aseismic strai

Improving the Efficiency of Rice Drying: Impact of Operational Variables on the Drying Rate and Quality of a South American Variety

A key challenge for the rice industry during harvest is to improve the efficiency of the drying process, which involves increasing the drying rate and the head rice yield (HRY). In the present chapter, the main variables affecting the efficiency of rice drying were discussed. Then, the impact of the drying air conditions on the drying efficiency of a long-grain South American rice variety at different rice moisture contents (MC) was studied using a thin-layer lab-scale dryer. Drying at each air condition was modeled using Page’s equation. The drying rate increased as the air conditions became more extreme (higher temperature or lower relative humidity). The effect on the HRY depended on the rice MC. Therefore, a two-stage drying program was proposed using different drying air temperatures depending on rice MC. These results were applied to create a drying program for a long-grain South American variety dried in a cross-flow commercial dryer. The two programs tested increased the drying rate and one of them also increased the HRY, compared to drying at the industry operational conditions. Implementing this program would improve the efficiency of the drying process, increasing the reception capacity and the profitability of the rice obtained

Almacenamiento de arroz: influencia en la inocuidad del grano = Rice storage: effects on grain safety

La producción de arroz (Oryza sativa) ocupa el quinto lugar en las exportaciones agrícolas de Uruguay. Inadecuadas condiciones de temperatura y humedad favorecen el desarrollo de hongos e insectos impactando en la inocuidad del arroz almacenado. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la sanidad del arroz cáscara en condiciones de almacenamiento en silos comerciales durante dos zafras. Se utilizó la variedad de grano largo “El Paso 144” durante 8,5 y 7 meses en los años 2017 y 2018, respectivamente. Se detectaron e identificaron agentes de biodeterioro; se determinó capacidad germinativa, recuento microbiano y contenido de toxinas en arroz extraído de las zonas superior e inferior del silo, a distintos tiempos de almacenamiento. La población microbiana disminuyó en ambos años y posiciones dentro del silo. Se identificaron principalmente dos géneros micotoxigénicos, Fusarium sp. y Aspergillus sp. En relación con micotoxinas no se detectó Zearalenona ni Ocratoxina A, y Deoxinivalenol se detectó en un máximo 120 ppb (zafra 2017). No se dectaron aflatoxinas B1, B2, G1 y G2. Los insectos identificados fueron Sitophilus sp. y Rhizopertha sp. con una incidencia máxima de 0,1%. Estos resultados demuestran que las condiciones de almacenamiento no afectaron la seguridad del grano

Armazenamento de arroz: influência na segurança dos grãos

Rice (Oryza sativa) production ranks fifth in Uruguay’s agricultural exports. Inadequate temperature and humidity conditions increase grain respiration and favor the action of insects and fungi. This process contributes to mass grain losses and stored rice biodeterioration. The objective of this work was to evaluate paddy rice sanitary conditions during storage in commercial silos through two years. The study was carried out using the “El Paso 144” long grain variety for 8,5 and 7 months in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Main biodeterioration agents were detected  and identifed. Germination capacity, microbial population and toxin content in rice extracted from the upper and lower areas of the silo were determined at differentstorage times. The microbial population decreased after storage time and in both silos sampling positions. Two mycotoxigenic genera, Fusarium sp and Aspergillus sp. were detected. Mycotoxins, Zearalenone and Ocratoxin-A were not detected, while Deoxinivalenol reached a maximum level of 120 ppb (2017). Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 were not detected. The coleopteran Sitophilus sp and Rhizopertha sp. were identifed and quantifed with a maximum incidence of 0,1%. These results demonstrate that storage conditions did not affect grain safety.La producción de arroz (Oryza sativa) ocupa el quinto lugar en las exportaciones agrícolas de Uruguay. Inadecuadas condiciones de temperatura y humedad favorecen el desarrollo de hongos e insectos impactando en la inocuidad del arroz almacenado. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la sanidad del arroz cáscara en condiciones de almacenamiento en silos comerciales durante dos zafras. Se utilizó la variedad degrano largo “El Paso 144” durante 8,5 y 7 meses en los años 2017 y 2018, respectivamente. Se detectaron e identifcaron agentes de biodeterioro; se determinó capacidad germinativa, recuento microbiano y contenido de toxinas en arroz extraído de las zonas superior e inferior del silo, a distintos tiempos de almacenamiento. La población microbiana disminuyó en ambos años y posiciones dentro del silo. Se identifcaron principalmente dos géneros micotoxigénicos, Fusarium sp. y Aspergillus sp. En relación con micotoxinas no se detectó Zearalenona ni Ocratoxina A, y Deoxinivalenol se detectó en un máximo 120 ppb (zafra 2017). No se dectaron aflatoxinas B1, B2, G1 y G2. Los insectos identifcados fueron Sitophilus sp. y Rhizopertha sp. con una incidencia máxima de 0,1%. Estos resultados demuestran que las condiciones de almacenamiento no afectaron la seguridad del grano.A produção de arroz (Oryza sativa) ocupa o quinto lugar nas exportações agrícolas do Uruguai. Condições inadequadas de temperatura e umidade favorecen a ação de insetos e fungos impactando na saúde do grão. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o estado sanitário de casca de arroz em condições de armazenamento em silos comerciais para duas safras. O estudo foi realizado com a variedade de grão longo “El Paso 144” por 8,5 e 7 meses em 2017 e 2018, respectivamente. Os agentes de biodeterioração foram detectados e identifcados e a capacidade de germinação, a contagem microbiana e o conteúdo de toxinas no arroz extraído das áreas superior e inferior do silo foram determinados em diferentes tempos de armazenamento.A população microbiana diminuiu nos dois anos e nas posições dentro do silo. Dois gêneros micotoxigênicos foram identifcados principalmente: Fusarium sp. e Aspergillus sp. Em relação às micotoxinas, Zearalenona e Ocratoxina-A não foram detectadas, enquanto o Deoxinivalenol foi detectado no máximo em 120 ppb (safra2017). Não foram prescritas aflatoxinas B1, B2, G1 e G2. Os insetos Sitophilus sp. e Rhizopertha sp. foram detectados com uma incidência máxima de 0,1%. Portanto, as condições de armazenamento não afetaram a segurança do grão

Towards the Development of a Copyright Risk Checker Tool for Generative Artificial Intelligence Systems

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) is fundamentally changing the ways of working and blurring the boundaries between human and machine-generated contents. While there is an increasing interest in the adoption of GAI systems, such as ChatGPT and DALL-E, there are also serious concerns about the copyright of the contents—the inputs or generated as outputs by the GAI systems. Such concerns need to be identified and assessed to ensure the ethical and responsible use of GAI systems. Thus, this article aims to address the key research challenge: “how to identify and assess GAI system's copyright concerns”? In response, we propose the development of a Copyright Risk Checker (CRC) Tool. This tool has been formulated and evaluated using a recognised design science research methodology, drawing on an analysis of 10 legal cases across Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe. The CRC Tool has undergone evaluation through an experimental scenario, and the results suggest that it is suitable for conducting an indicative copyright risk check of GAI systems. The outcomes of this preliminary assessment can be further examined by expert legal advisors for an in-depth analysis. The development of the CRC Tool provides a foundation for continued research and advancement in this significant area of study.</jats:p

Efecto de la variedad y de la humedad de cosecha en la temperatura de transición vítrea de variedades uruguayas de arroz = Effect of rice variety and harvest moisture content on the glass transition temperature of Uruguayan rice varieties

La temperatura de transición vítrea (Tg) de un material es el rango de tempe-raturas donde ocurre la transición entre un estado cauchoso y un estado vítreo, produciéndose cambios que se ven reflejados en sus propiedades fisicoquímicas. El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar las curvas de transición vítrea (Tg vs. Humedad de grano) de tres variedades uruguayas de arroz y evaluar si existen di-ferencias significativas entre ellas. Se estudia también la influencia de la humedad de cosecha (HC). Para ello, cada muestra de arroz se seca por diferentes períodos de tiempo para obtener humedades de grano (HG) en un rango entre 10% y 22% (en base húmeda). A continuación, se mide la Tg por calorimetría diferencial de barrido (DSC). Los resultados se comparan aplicando ANOVA y el test de Tukey. Se observó que la Tg aumenta a medida que disminuye la HG para las tres variedades estudiadas. Las curvas de transición vítrea muestran que existen diferencias significativas entre las tres variedades en el rango de HG de 12% a 16%. La HC no afectó la Tg en todo el rango estudiado. Los resultados obtenidos pueden aplicarse para optimizar el proceso de secado del arroz, minimizando la formación de fisura

Geodetic estimate of seismic hazard in the Gulf of Korinthos

The recent 15 June 1995, M0 = 6.0 × 1018 N m, Aigion earthquake in the western Gulf of Korinthos has focussed attention on the seismic hazard of the region. Although there have been few large earthquakes in the region during this century, the historical record suggests that there may have been many large earthquakes there in the interval 1750–1900. We present geodetic data that give estimates of the rate of extension of the Gulf of Korinthos during this century and which suggest that less than half of the elastic strain in the central and western Gulf of Korinthos has been released by earthquakes during this century. In contrast, the seismic and geodetic strains in the eastern Gulf of Korinthos are in agreement with each other. If the discrepancy between seismic and geodetic strains in the western Gulf of Korinthos that has accumulated during this century is removed in earthquakes, the moment release will be equivalent to several Ms > 6.5 earthquakes