Recent Decisions

ACT OF STATE--Act of State Doctrine Not a Bar to Adjudication of a Counterclaim Robert M. Erickson ========================== ADMIRALTY--Ship Mortgage Act of 1920--Deficiency Judgment against Mortgagor in Personam Not Precluded by State Law when Vessels were Sold at Public Foreclosure Auction without Prior Appraisal Jack F. Stringham, II =========================== ALIENS--Immigration and Naturalization--Restriction of Commuter Aliens\u27 Access to Domestic Employment by Attorney General is Abuse of Discretion Alan Marchisotto ================= EXTRADITION--Principle of Specialty--Specialty does not Preclude Prosecution for Similar Offense when Asylum Nation Would Not Consider it a Breach of Faith Attorney General of the United States, 462 F.2d 475 (2d Cir. 1972),petition for cert. filed, 41 U.S.L.W. 3114 (U.S. Aug. 26, 1972) (No.332). James T. Campbell ========================= JURISDICTION--Forum Selection Clauses--United States Courts will Enforce Forum Selection Clauses in International Towage Contracts Absent Exceptional Circumstances Ralph C. Oser ======================== TAXATION--Foreign Tax Credit--Foreign Income Tax Credit Under Section 901 Allowable Only for Taxes Imposed on Net Gain or Profit David A. Boillo

Overview of the recent operation of the AAC and LEAR for the low-energy antiproton physics programme

This paper reviews the recent performance of the AAC and LEAR. Activities on the AAC include the successful exploitation of a magnetic horn as an antiproton collector lens and an energy-saving mode of operation, which has been possible since 1992, when LEAR became the only client of the AAC. LEAR worked in its full momentum range between 100 MeV/c and 2 GeV/c, with perform-ance (intensities, ejection modes and spill length) exceeding the design specifications. Improvements are described, which contributed to the quality of the beam delivered to experiments. The reliability and availability of the antiproton machines are also discussed

The formation of passive margins: constraints from the crustal structure and segmentation of the deep Galicia margin, Spain

The crustal structure of the Mesozoic deep Galicia margin and adjacent ocean-continent boundary (OCB) was investigated by seismic reflection (including pre-stack depth migration and attenuation of seismic waves with time). The seismic data were calibrated using numerous geological samples recovered by drilling and/or by diving with submersible. The N-S trending margin and OCB are divided in two distinct segments by NE-SW synrift transverse faults locally reactivated and inverted by Cenozoic tectonics. The transverse faulting and OCB segmentation result from crustal stretching probably in a NE-SW direction during the rifting stage of the margin in early Cretaceous times. The Cenozoic tectonics are related to Iberia-Eurasia convergence in Palaeogene times (Pyrenean event). In both segments of the deep margin, the seismic crust is made of four horizontal layers: (1) two sedimentary layers corresponding to post- and syn-rift sequences, where velocity ranges from 1.9 to 3.5 km s−1, and where the Q factor is low, the two sedimentary layers being separated by a strong reflector marking the break-up unconformity; (2) a faulted layer, where velocity ranges from 4.0 to 5.2 km s−1, and where the Q factor is high. This layer corresponds to the margin tilted blocks, where continental basement and lithified pre-rift sediments were sampled; (3) the lower seismic crust, where the velocity (7 km s−1 and more) and the Q factor are the highest. This layer, probably made of partly serpentinized peridotite, is roofed by a strong S-S’ seismic reflector, and resting on a scattering, poorly reflective Moho. A composite model, based both on analogue modelling of lithosphere stretching and on available structural data, accounts for the present structure of the margin and OCB. Stretching and thinning of the lithosphere are accommodated by boudinage of the brittle levels (upper crust and uppermost mantle) and by simple shear in the ductile levels (lower crust and upper lithospheric mantle). Two main conjugate shear zones may account for the observations and seismic data: one (SZ1), located in the lower ductile continental crust, is synthetic to the tilting sense of the margin crustal blocks; another (SZ2), located in the ductile mantle, accounts for the deformation of mantle terranes and their final unroofing and exposure at the continental rift axis (now the OCB). The S-S′ reflector is interpreted as the seismic signature of the tectonic contact between crustal terranes and mantle rocks partly transformed into serpentinite by syn-rift hydrothermal activity. It is probably related to both shear zones SZ1 and SZ2. The seismic Moho is lower within the lithosphere, at the fresh-serpentinized peridotite boundary

DNA adducts in fish following an oil spill exposure

On 12 December 1999, one third of the load of the Erika tanker, amounting to about 10,000 t crude oil flowed into sea waters close to the French Atlantic Coast. This oil contained polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC) that are known to be genotoxic. Genotoxic effects induce DNA adducts formation, which can thus be used as pollution biomarkers. Here, we assessed the genotoxic impact of the “Erika” oil spill by DNA adducts detection in the liver of immature fishes (Solea solea) from four locations of the French Brittany coasts. Two months after the spill, a high amount of DNA adducts was found in samples from all locations, amounting to 92–290 DNA adduct per 109 nucleotides. Then total DNA adduct levels decreased to reach about 50 adducts per 109 nucleotides nine months after the spill. In vitro experiments using human cell cultures and fish liver microsomes evidence the genotoxicity of the Erika fuel. They also prove the formation of reactive species able to create DNA adducts. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo DNA adducts fingerprints are similar, thus confirming that DNA adducts are a result of the oil spill

Obesity and the Microvasculature: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

10.1371/journal.pone.0052708PLoS ONE82

Interplay of tectonics and magmatism during post-rift inversion on the central West Iberian Margin (Estremadura Spur)

ABSTRACT: The combined effects of post-rift magma emplacement and tectonic inversion on the hyper-extended West Iberian Margin are unravelled in detail using multichan nel 2D/3D seismic data. The Estremadura Spur, acting as an uplifted crustal block bounded by two first-order transfer zones, shows evidence of four post-rift tectonic events each with a distinctive seismic-stratigraphic response that can be used to dem onstrate the tectono-magmatic interplay, namely: (a) the Campanian onset of mag matism (including the Fontanelas Volcano, the widespread evidence of multiple sill complexes and the detailed description of a >20 km long laccolith, the Estremadura Spur Intrusion; (b) the Campanian-Maastrichtian NE-SW event pervasively affecting the area, resulting in regional uplift, reverse faulting and folding; (c) the Paleocene mid Eocene inversion that resulted in widespread erosion and; (d) the Oligocene-mid Miocene evidence of rejuvenated NW-SE inversion marked by crestal faulting and forced-fault folding establishing the final geometry of the area. The distinct deforma tion styles within each tectonic phase document a case of decoupled deformation be tween Late Cretaceous and Tertiary units, in response to the predominant stress field evolution, revealing that the magnitude of Late Cretaceous inversion is far more sig nificant than the one affecting the latter units. A detailed analysis of the laccolith and its overburden demonstrate the distinct deformation patterns associated both with magma ascent (including extensional faulting, forced-folding and concentric reverse faulting) and its interference as a rigid intrusive body during subsequent transpres sive inversion. This reinforces the role that the combined tectono-magmatic events played on the margin. Also analysed is the wider impact of post-rift magmatism and the associate emplacement of sub-lithospheric magma on the rheology of a thinned continental crust. This takes into account the simultaneous tectonic inversion of the margin, the implied alternative views on characteristic heat flow, and on how these can be incorporated in source rock organic maturity modelling.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Seismic images and magnetic signature of the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Africa-Eurasia plate boundary off SW Iberia

Over the last two decades numerous studies have investigated the structure of the west Iberia continental margin, a non-volcanic margin characterized by a broad continent–ocean transition (COT). However, the nature and structure of the crust of the segment of the margin off SW Iberia is still poorly understood, because of sparse geophysical and geological data coverage. Here we present a 275-km-long multichannel seismic reflection (MCS) profile, line AR01, acquired in E–W direction across the Horseshoe Abyssal Plain, to partially fill the gap of information along the SW Iberia margin. Line AR01 runs across the inferred plate boundary between the Iberian and the African plates during the opening of the Central Atlantic ocean. The boundary separates crust formed during or soon after continental rifting of the SW Iberian margin from normal seafloor spreading oceanic crust of the Central Atlantic ocean. Line AR01 has been processed and pre-stack depth migrated to show the tectonic structure of the crust across the palaeo plate boundary. This boundary is characterized by a 30–40-km-wide zone of large basements highs related to landward-dipping reflections, which penetrate to depths of 13–15 km, and it marks a change in the character of the basement structure and relief from east to west. In this study, we have used pre-stack depth migrated images, the velocity model of line AR01 and magnetic data available in the area to show that the change in basement structure occurs across the fossil plate boundary, separating African oceanic crust of the M series (M21–M16) to the west from the transitional crust of the Iberian margin to the east

Robotic Wireless Sensor Networks

In this chapter, we present a literature survey of an emerging, cutting-edge, and multi-disciplinary field of research at the intersection of Robotics and Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) which we refer to as Robotic Wireless Sensor Networks (RWSN). We define a RWSN as an autonomous networked multi-robot system that aims to achieve certain sensing goals while meeting and maintaining certain communication performance requirements, through cooperative control, learning and adaptation. While both of the component areas, i.e., Robotics and WSN, are very well-known and well-explored, there exist a whole set of new opportunities and research directions at the intersection of these two fields which are relatively or even completely unexplored. One such example would be the use of a set of robotic routers to set up a temporary communication path between a sender and a receiver that uses the controlled mobility to the advantage of packet routing. We find that there exist only a limited number of articles to be directly categorized as RWSN related works whereas there exist a range of articles in the robotics and the WSN literature that are also relevant to this new field of research. To connect the dots, we first identify the core problems and research trends related to RWSN such as connectivity, localization, routing, and robust flow of information. Next, we classify the existing research on RWSN as well as the relevant state-of-the-arts from robotics and WSN community according to the problems and trends identified in the first step. Lastly, we analyze what is missing in the existing literature, and identify topics that require more research attention in the future

The antiproton decelerator: AD

A simplified scheme for the provision of antiprotons at 100 MeV/c based on fast extraction is described. The scheme uses the existing production target area and the modified Antiproton Collector Ring in their current location. The physics programme is largely based on capturing and storing antiprotons in Penning traps for the production and spectroscopy of antihydrogen. The machine modifications necessary to deliver batches of 1 107 /min at 100 MeV/c are described. Details of the machine layout and the experimental area in the existing AAC Hall are given