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

The 2012 Ferrara seismic sequence: Regional crustal structure, earthquake sources, and seismic hazard

Inadequate seismic design codes can be dangerous, particularly when they underestimate the true hazard. In this study we use data from a sequence of moderate-sized earthquakes in northeast Italy to validate and test a regional wave propagation model which, in turn, is used to under- stand some weaknesses of the current design spectra. Our velocity model, while regionalized and somewhat ad hoc, is consistent with geophysical observations and the local geology. In the 0.02–0.1 Hz band, this model is validated by using it to calculate moment tensor solutions of 20 earth- quakes (5.6 MW 3.2) in the 2012 Ferrara, Italy, seismic sequence. The seismic spectra observed for the relatively small main shock significantly exceeded the design spectra to be used in the area for critical structures. Observations and synthetics reveal that the ground motions are dominated by long-duration surface waves, which, apparently, the design codes do not adequately anticipate. In light of our results, the present seismic hazard assessment in the entire Pianura Padana, including the city of Milan, needs to be re-evaluated. Citation: Malagnini, L., R. B. Herrmann, I. Munafò, M. Buttinelli, M. Anselmi, A. Akinci, and E. Boschi (2012), The 2012 Ferrara seismic sequence: Regional crustal structure, earthquake sources, and seismic hazard, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L19302, doi:10.1029/ 2012GL053214

Characterization of platinum nitride from first-principles calculations

We have performed a systematic study of the ground state properties of the zinc-blende, rock-salt, tetragonal, cuprite, fluorite and pyrite phases of platinum nitride by using the plane wave pseudopotential calculations within the density functional theory. The equilibrium structural parameters and bulk moduli are computed within both the local density approximation (LDA) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The comparison of the equation of state (EOS) calculated within the LDA for the pyrite structure with the experimental results demonstrates an excellent agreement, hence the use of the LDA rather than the GGA is essential. Complete sets of elastic moduli are presented for cubic forms. The analysis of the results reveal that the pyrite phase with PtN2 stoichiometry leads to the formation of a hard material with the shear modulus G = 206GPa. The electronic structure of pyrite PtN2 is given, which shows a narrow indirect gap. The vibrational properties of platinum nitride are investigated in detail from lattice dynamical calculations. The calculations show that fluorite and pyrite structures are dynamically stable as well. However, the calculated vibrational modes of pyrite PtN2 do not show complete agreement with experimental Raman frequencies. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd

Stationary State Solutions of a Bond Diluted Kinetic Ising Model: An Effective-Field Theory Analysis

We have examined the stationary state solutions of a bond diluted kinetic Ising model under a time dependent oscillating magnetic field within the effective-field theory (EFT) for a honeycomb lattice $(q=3)$. Time evolution of the system has been modeled with a formalism of master equation. The effects of the bond dilution, as well as the frequency $(\omega)$ and amplitude $(h/J)$ of the external field on the dynamic phase diagrams have been discussed in detail. We have found that the system exhibits the first order phase transition with a dynamic tricritical point (DTCP) at low temperature and high amplitude regions, in contrast to the previously published results for the pure case \cite{Ling}. Bond dilution process on the kinetic Ising model gives rise to a number of interesting and unusual phenomena such as reentrant phenomena and has a tendency to destruct the first-order transitions and the DTCP. Moreover, we have investigated the variation of the bond percolation threshold as functions of the amplitude and frequency of the oscillating field.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Embedded Commissioning for Building Design

Building Commissioning has a broad scope that extends to all phases of building delivery. We view commissioning as a building delivery embedded process that persistently verifies and validates design intent throughout the building lifecycle process. In the building lifecycle approach, buildings are considered to have cradle-to-grave life spans. They are modeled through a variety of different developmental phases. In this research project, we intend to build the necessary theory and tools to support the embedded commissioning process as a co-function of building lifecycle

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

Pre-pandemic Alzheimer Disease Biomarkers and Anxious-Depressive Symptoms During the COVID-19 Confinement in Cognitively Unimpaired Adults

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Increased anxious-depressive symptomatology is observed in the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which may accelerate disease progression. We investigated whether amyloid-β, cortical thickness in medial temporal lobe structures , neuroinflammation and sociodemographic factors were associated with greater anxious-depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 confinement. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included cognitively unimpaired older adults from the ALFA (Alzheimer and FAmilies) cohort, the majority with a family history of sporadic AD. Participants performed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) during the COVID-19 confinement. A subset had available retrospective (on average: 2.4 years before) HADS assessment, amyloid [18F] flutemetamol PET and structural MRI scans and CSF markers of neuroinflammation (interleukin-6 [IL-6], triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 and glial fibrillary acidic protein levels). We performed multivariable linear regression models to investigate the associations of pre-pandemic AD-related biomarkers and sociodemographic factors with HADS scores during the confinement. We further performed an analysis of covariance in order to adjust by participants' pre-pandemic anxiety-depression levels . Finally, we explored the role of stress and lifestyle changes (sleep patterns, eating, drinking, smoking habits, and medication use) on the tested associations and performed sex-stratified analyses. RESULTS: We included 921 (254 with AD biomarkers) participants. Amyloid-β positivity (B=3.73; 95%CI=1.1 to 6.36; p=.006), caregiving (B=1.37; 95%CI=0.24 to 2.5; p=.018), sex (women: B=1.95; 95%CI=1.1 to 2.79; p<.001), younger age (B=-0.12; 95%CI=-0.18 to -0.052; p<.001) and lower education (B=-0.16; 95%CI=-0.28 to -0.042; p=.008) were associated with greater anxious-depressive symptoms during the confinement. Considering pre-pandemic anxiety-depression levels, we further observed an association between lower levels of CSF IL-6 (B=-5.11; 95%CI=-10.1 to -0.13; p=.044) and greater HADS scores. The results were independent of stress-related variables and lifestyle changes. Stratified analysis revealed that the associations were mainly driven by women. DISCUSSION: Our results link AD-related pathophysiology and neuroinflammation with greater anxious-depressive symptomatology during the COVID-19-related confinement, notably in women. AD pathophysiology may increase neuropsychiatric symptomatology in response to stressors. This association may imply a worse clinical prognosis in people at risk for AD after the pandemic, and thus deserves to be considered by clinicians. TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02485730