Effect of Some Threshing Parameters on Sesame Separation

The threshing section on combine harvester or thresher machine affects grain and stalk separation performance. In this study, effect of some threshing parameters such as drum speed, feed rate and concave open on closed capsules sesame straw sieve in developed threshing unit. Threshing drums used were a rasp bar with tooth type. Three threshing drum speeds of 500, 700 and 900 min-1 (6.5, 9.1, 11.7 m/s) were used to investigations. Three feed rate as 90, 180 and 270 kg/h and three concave open as 20, 35 and 50 mm were used in this study. Four sieves were used for separation of straw. Their mesh numbers are 7, 10, 14 and 18. Results show that the best performance for separation of sesame straw were gave at the maximum drum speeds, minimum feed rates and concave opens experienced in this study

High-Frequency Attenuation in the Lake Van Region, Eastern Turkey

We provide a complete description of the characteristics of excitation and attenuation of the ground motion in the Lake Van region (eastern Turkey) using a data set that includes three-component seismograms from the 23 October 2011 Mw 7.1 Van earthquake, as well as its aftershocks. Regional attenuation and source scaling are parameterized to describe the observed ground motions as a function of distance, frequency, and magnitude. Peak ground velocities are measured in selected narrow frequency bands from 0.25 to 12.5 Hz; observed peaks are regressed to define a piecewise linear regional attenu- ation function, a set of excitation terms, and a set of site response terms. Results are modeled through random vibration theory (see Cartwright and Longuet-Higgins, 1956). In the log–log space, the regional crustal attenuation is modeled with a bilinear geo- metrical spreading g r characterized by a crossover distance at 40 km: g r ∝ r^−1 fits our results at short distances (r < 40 km), whereas g r ∝ r^−0.3 is better at larger distances (40 < r < 200 km). A frequency-dependent quality factor, Q f =100( f/fref)^ 0:43 (in which fref 1.0 Hz), is coupled to the geometrical spreading. Because of the inherent trade-off of the excitation/attenuation parameters (Δσ and κ), their specific values strongly depend on the choice made for the stress drop of the smaller earthquakes. After choosing a Brune stress drop ΔσBrune 4 MPa at Mw 3:5, we were able to define (1) an effective high frequency, distance- and mag- nitude-independent roll-off spectral parameter, κeff = 0:03 s and (2) a size-dependent stress-drop parameter, which increases with moment magnitude, from ΔσBrune 4 MPa at Mw 3.5 to ΔσBrune 20 MPa at Mw 7.1. The set of parameters mentioned here may be used in order to predict the earthquake-induced ground motions expected from future earthquakes in the region surrounding Lake Van

Effect of time-dependence on probabilistic seismic hazard maps and deaggregation for the central apennines, Italy

We produce probabilistic seismic hazard assessments for the Central Apennines, Italy, using time-dependent models that are characterized using a Brownian Passage Time (BPT) recurrence model. Using aperiodicity parameters,  of 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7, we examine the sensitivity of the probabilistic ground motion and its deaggregation to these parameters. For the seismic source model we incorporate both smoothed historical seismicity over the area and geological information on faults. We use the maximum magnitude model for the fault sources together with a uniform probability of rupture along the fault (floating fault model) to model fictitious faults to account for earthquakes that cannot be correlated with known geologic structural segmentation. We show maps for peak ground acceleration (PGA) and 1.0-Hz spectral acceleration (SA1) on rock having 10% probability of exceedence (PE) in 50 years. We produce maps to compare the separate contributions of smoothed seismicity and fault components. In addition we construct maps that show sensitivity of the hazard for different  parameters and the Poisson model. For the Poisson model, the addition of fault sources to the smoothed seismicity raises the hazard by 50 % at locations where the smoothed seismicity contributes the highest hazard, and up to 100 % at locations where the hazard from smoothed seismicity is low. For the strongest aperiodicity parameter (smallest ), the hazard may further increase 60-80 % or more or may decrease by as much as 20 %, depending on the recency of the last event on the fault that dominates the hazard at a given site. In order to present the most likely earthquake magnitude and/or the most likely source-site distance for scenario studies, we deaggregate the seismic hazard for SA1 and PGA for two important cities (Roma and l’Aquila) . For PGA, both locations show the predominance of local sources, having magnitudes of about 5.3 and 6.5 respectively. For SA1 at a site in Rome, there is significant contribution from local smoothed seismicity, and an additional contribution from the more distant Apennine faults having magnitude around 6.8. For l’Aquila, the predominant sources remain local. In order to show the variety of impact of different  values we also obtained deaggregations for another three sites. In general, as  decreases (periodicity increases), the deaggregation indicates that the hazard is highest near faults with the highest earthquakes rates. This effect is strongest for the long-period (1 s) ground motions

Resistivity studies under hydrostatic pressure on a low-resistance variant of the quasi-2D organic superconductor kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu[N(CN)2]Br: quest for intrinsic scattering contributions

Resistivity measurements have been performed on a low (LR)- and high (HR)-resistance variant of the kappa-(BEDT-TTF)_2Cu[N(CN)_2]Br superconductor. While the HR sample was synthesized following the standard procedure, the LR crystal is a result of a somewhat modified synthesis route. According to their residual resistivities and residual resistivity ratios, the LR crystal is of distinctly superior quality. He-gas pressure was used to study the effect of hydrostatic pressure on the different transport regimes for both variants. The main results of these comparative investigations are (i) a significant part of the inelastic-scattering contribution, which causes the anomalous rho(T) maximum in standard HR crystals around 90 K, is sample dependent, i.e. extrinsic in nature, (ii) the abrupt change in rho(T) at T* approx. 40 K from a strongly temperature-dependent behavior at T > T* to an only weakly T-dependent rho(T) at T < T* is unaffected by this scattering contribution and thus marks an independent property, most likely a second-order phase transition, (iii) both variants reveal a rho(T) proportional to AT^2 dependence at low temperatures, i.e. for T_c < T < T_0, although with strongly sample-dependent coefficients A and upper bounds for the T^2 behavior measured by T_0. The latter result is inconsistent with the T^2 dependence originating from coherent Fermi-liquid excitations.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

Results from shallow geophysical investigations in the northwestern sector of the island of Malta

We performed geophysical investigations in the northwestern sector of the island of Malta to reconstruct velocity-depth models and provide shear-wave velocity profiles. We have chosen two sites, one located in Rabat (Malta) and another in the Golden Bay area. We used both active (seismic and electrical 2D-tomography, Multichanel Analysis of Surface Waves – MASW) and passive (2D arrays and single-station measurements using ambient noise) geophysical methods. Consistently with previous studies performed in this part of Malta, we have found that both sites are characterised by site resonance in the frequency range 1-2 Hz as an effect of the local lithostratigraphic succession that shows an impedance contrast at about 60-90 m depth. This resonance effect can have important implications on both seismic hazard as well as seismic risk evaluation of the region since the amplified frequency range coincides with the resonance frequencies typical of 5–10 storey buildings which are very diffuse in the Maltese Islands, especially after intense recent urbanization.Published41-484T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismicaJCR Journa

The XMM Cluster Survey: the interplay between the brightest cluster galaxy and the intracluster medium via AGN feedback

Using a sample of 123 X‐ray clusters and groups drawn from the XMM Cluster Survey first data release, we investigate the interplay between the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG), its black hole and the intracluster/group medium (ICM). It appears that for groups and clusters with a BCG likely to host significant active galactic nuclei (AGN) feedback, gas cooling dominates in those with T X > 2 keV while AGN feedback dominates below. This may be understood through the subunity exponent found in the scaling relation we derive between the BCG mass and cluster mass over the halo mass range 10 13 < M 500 < 10 15  M ⊙ and the lack of correlation between radio luminosity and cluster mass, such that BCG AGN in groups can have relatively more energetic influence on the ICM. The L X – T X relation for systems with the most massive BCGs, or those with BCGs co‐located with the peak of the ICM emission, is steeper than that for those with the least massive and most offset, which instead follows self‐similarity. This is evidence that a combination of central gas cooling and powerful, well fuelled AGN causes the departure of the ICM from pure gravitational heating, with the steepened relation crossing self‐similarity at T X = 2 keV. Importantly, regardless of their black hole mass, BCGs are more likely to host radio‐loud AGN if they are in a massive cluster ( T X ≳ 2 keV) and again co‐located with an effective fuel supply of dense, cooling gas. This demonstrates that the most massive black holes appear to know more about their host cluster than they do about their host galaxy. The results lead us to propose a physically motivated, empirical definition of ‘cluster’ and ‘group’, delineated at 2 keV.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/91324/1/j.1365-2966.2012.20764.x.pd

Seismological constraints for the dyke emplacement of the July-August 2001 lateral eruption at Mt. Etna volcano, Italy

In this paper we report seismological evidence regarding the emplacement of the dike that fed the July 18 - August 9, 2001 lateral eruption at Mt. Etna volcano. The shallow intrusion and the opening of the eruptive fracture system, which mostly occurred during July 12, and July 18, were accompanied by one of the most intense seismic swarms of the last 20 years. A total of 2694 earthquakes (1 £ Md £ 3.9) were recorded from the beginning of the swarm (July 12) to the end of the eruption (August 9). Seismicity shows the upward migration of the dike from the basement to the relatively thin volcanic pile. A clear hypocentral migration was observed, well constraining the upwards propagation of a near-vertical dike, oriented roughly N-S, and located a few kilometers south of the summit region. Earthquake distribution and orientation of the P-axes from focal mechanisms indicate that the swarm was caused by the local stress source related to the dike intrusion

European lipodystrophy registry: Background and structure

Background: Lipodystrophy syndromes comprise a group of extremely rare and heterogeneous diseases characterized by a selective loss of adipose tissue in the absence of nutritional deprivation or catabolic state. Because of the rarity of each lipodystrophy subform, research in this area is difficult and international co-operation mandatory. Therefore, in 2016, the European Consortium of Lipodystrophies (ECLip) decided to create a registry for patients with lipodystrophy. Results: The registry was build using the information technology Open Source Registry System for Rare Diseases in the EU (OSSE), an open-source software and toolbox. Lipodystrophy specific data forms were developed based on current knowledge of typical signs and symptoms of lipodystrophy. The platform complies with the new General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 by ensuring patient pseudonymization, informational separation of powers, secure data storage and security of communication, user authentication, person specific access to data, and recording of access granted to any data. Inclusion criteria are all patients with any form of lipodystrophy (with the exception of HIV-associated lipodystrophy). So far 246 patients from nine centres (Amsterdam, Bologna, Izmir, Leipzig, M\ufcnster, Moscow, Pisa, Santiago de Compostela, Ulm) have been recruited. With the help from the six centres on the brink of recruitment (Cambridge, Lille, Nicosia, Paris, Porto, Rome) this number is expected to double within the next one or 2 years. Conclusions: A European registry for all patients with lipodystrophy will provide a platform for improved research in the area of lipodystrophy. All physicians from Europe and neighbouring countries caring for patients with lipodystrophy are invited to participate in the ECLip Registry. Study registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03553420). Registered 14 March 2018, retrospectively registered

Earthquake rupture forecasts for the mps19 seismic hazard model of Italy

In recent years, new approaches for developing earthquake rupture forecasts (ERFs) have been proposed to be used as an input for probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA). Zone-based approaches with seismicity rates derived from earthquake catalogs are commonly used in many countries as the standard for national seismic hazard models. In Italy, a single zone-based ERF is currently the basis for the official seismic hazard model. In this contribution, we present eleven new ERFs, including five zone-based, two smoothed seismicity-based, two fault-based, and two geodetic-based, used for a new PSH model in Italy. The ERFs were tested against observed seismicity and were subject to an elicitation procedure by a panel of PSHA experts to verify the scientific robustness and consistency of the forecasts with respect to the observations. Tests and elicitation were finalized to weight the ERFs. The results show a good response to the new inputs to observed seismicity in the last few centuries. The entire approach was a first attempt to build a community-based set of ERFs for an Italian PSHA model. The project involved a large number of seismic hazard practitioners, with their knowledge and experience, and the development of different models to capture and explore a large range of epistemic uncertainties in building ERFs, and represents an important step forward for the new national seismic hazard model