Thx Lowell:

I knew that some work had been done. I'm just aware that sometimes for a small data set (i.e. # of strong/great quakes in sample ~small) that an effect can be "washed out" when a larger number of samples is included.

In addition, the possibility of a cyclic regulation effect (or other possibilities) is still out there...(where the effect may "come" and then "go"...)

By "automating the process" more data samples may be added which would tend to better support the claim(s).