Landslides near Enguri dam (Caucasus, Georgia) and possible seismotectonic effects

The Enguri dam and water reservoir, nested in the southwestern Caucasus (Republic of Georgia), are surrounded by steep mountain slopes. At a distance of 2.5 km from the dam, a mountain ridge along the reservoir is affected by active deformations with a double vergence. The western slope, directly facing the reservoir, has deformations that affect a subaerial area of 1.2 km2. The head scarp affects the Jvari–Khaishi–Mestia main road with offsets of man-made features that indicate slip rates of 2–9 cm yr−1. Static, pseudostatic and Newmark analyses, based on field and seismological data, suggest different unstable rock volumes based on the environmental conditions. An important effect of variation of the water table is shown, as well as the possible destabilization of the slope following seismic shaking, compatible with the expected local peak ground acceleration. This worst-case scenario corresponds to an unstable volume on the order of up to 48±12×106 m3. The opposite, eastern slope of the same mountain ridge is also affected by wide deformation affecting an area of 0.37 km2. Here, field data indicate 2–5 cm yr−1 of slip rates. All this evidence is interpreted as resulting from two similar landslides, whose possible causes are discussed, comprising seismic triggering, mountain rapid uplift, river erosion and lake variations

Landsliding near Enguri dam (Caucasus, Georgia) and possible seismoectonic effects

The Enguri dam and water reservoir, nested in southwestern Caucasus (Republic of Georgia), are surrounded by steep mountain slopes. At a distance of 2.5 km from the dam, a mountain ridge along the reservoir is affected by active deformations with a double vergence. The western slope, directly facing the reservoir, has deformations that involve a subaerial area of 1.2 km2. The head scarp interests the main Jvari-Khaishi-Mestia road with offset of man-made features that indicate slip rates of 2-9 cm/y. Static, pseudostatic and Newmark numerical analyses, based on field and seismological data, suggest different unstable rock volumes basing on the environment conditions. An important effect of variation of water table is showed, as well as the possible destabilization of the landslide following seismic shaking compatible with the expected local Peak Ground Acceleration. This worst scenario corresponds to an unstable volume in the order of up to 48 ± 12*106 m3. The opposite, eastern slope of the same mountain ridge is also affected by wide deformation involving an area of 0.37 km2. Here, field data indicate 2-5 cm/y of short-term and long-term slip rates. Ground Penetrating Radar surveys of the head scarps confirm that these slip planes are steep and extend downward. All these evidences are interpreted as resulting from two similar landslides, whose possible causes are discussed, comprising seismic triggering, mountain rapid uplift, river erosion and lake variations

Ernst Freund as Precursor of the Rational Study of Corporate Law

Gindis, David, Ernst Freund as Precursor of the Rational Study of Corporate Law (October 27, 2017). Journal of Institutional Economics, Forthcoming. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2905547, doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2905547The rise of large business corporations in the late 19th century compelled many American observers to admit that the nature of the corporation had yet to be understood. Published in this context, Ernst Freund's little-known The Legal Nature of Corporations (1897) was an original attempt to come to terms with a new legal and economic reality. But it can also be described, to paraphrase Oliver Wendell Holmes, as the earliest example of the rational study of corporate law. The paper shows that Freund had the intuitions of an institutional economist, and engaged in what today would be called comparative institutional analysis. Remarkably, his argument that the corporate form secures property against insider defection and against outsiders anticipated recent work on entity shielding and capital lock-in, and can be read as an early contribution to what today would be called the theory of the firm.Peer reviewe

Small molecule inhibition of group I p21-activated kinases in breast cancer induces apoptosis and potentiates the activity of microtubule stabilizing agents

IntroductionBreast cancer, the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide among women, is a molecularly and clinically heterogeneous disease. Extensive genetic and epigenetic profiling of breast tumors has recently revealed novel putative driver genes, including p21-activated kinase (PAK)1. PAK1 is a serine/threonine kinase downstream of small GTP-binding proteins, Rac1 and Cdc42, and is an integral component of growth factor signaling networks and cellular functions fundamental to tumorigenesis.MethodsPAK1 dysregulation (copy number gain, mRNA and protein expression) was evaluated in two cohorts of breast cancer tissues (n = 980 and 1,108). A novel small molecule inhibitor, FRAX1036, and RNA interference were used to examine PAK1 loss of function and combination with docetaxel in vitro. Mechanism of action for the therapeutic combination, both cellular and molecular, was assessed via time-lapse microscopy and immunoblotting.ResultsWe demonstrate that focal genomic amplification and overexpression of PAK1 are associated with poor clinical outcome in the luminal subtype of breast cancer (P = 1.29 × 10−4 and P = 0.015, respectively). Given the role for PAK1 in regulating cytoskeletal organization, we hypothesized that combination of PAK1 inhibition with taxane treatment could be combined to further interfere with microtubule dynamics and cell survival. Consistent with this, administration of docetaxel with either a novel small molecule inhibitor of group I PAKs, FRAX1036, or PAK1 small interfering RNA oligonucleotides dramatically altered signaling to cytoskeletal-associated proteins, such as stathmin, and induced microtubule disorganization and cellular apoptosis. Live-cell imaging revealed that the duration of mitotic arrest mediated by docetaxel was significantly reduced in the presence of FRAX1036, and this was associated with increased kinetics of apoptosis.ConclusionsTaken together, these findings further support PAK1 as a potential target in breast cancer and suggest combination with taxanes as a viable strategy to increase anti-tumor efficacy

Increasing implementation of in situ treatment technologies through field-scale performance assessments

In situ treatment technologies are important components of subsurface remediation efforts at a wide variety of sites. Too often, however, innovative technologies are not given adequate consideration by consultants, regulators, and site owners due to a lack of conclusive evidence that they will be effective alternatives. Field-scale demonstrations of the efficacy of in situ remediation technologies are important for effective engineering design. These types of projects provide an increase in the accuracy of conceptual models of the governing processes and can elucidate the practical aspects of full-scale implementation. Demonstration projects conducted at the field scale have a number of components necessary for complete assessment of treatment performance. Depending somewhat on the technology, these can include: pre- and posttreatment sampling, detailed site characterization of stratigraphy and hydrogeology, and comparisons between predictions of engineering models and actual performance

Decision making for social sustainability: A life-cycle assessment approach

The need for sustainable development requires organizations to consider the economic, environmental, and social repercussions of their actions. While the economic effects, and increasingly the environmental consequences, of engineering design and business decisions are evaluated, little attention has been devoted to understanding the social impacts. It has been recognized that corporate decisions are linked to social sustainability indicators, and the need exists to better understand these links. This research represents a first step toward modeling the relationships between corporate decision alternatives and lower-order human needs (e.g., physiological requirements) and higher-order needs (e.g., belonging). ©2009 IEEE

A Peace Corps Master\u27s International program in mitigation of natural geological hazards: Student outcomes and lessons learned

© 2016 The Geological Society of America. All rights reserved. The Michigan Technological University Peace Corps Master\u27s International (PCMI) program in mitigation of natural geological hazards combines Peace Corps service with a master\u27s degree in geology, geophysics, or geological engineering. The program provides students with a 2 yr international fi eld experience, which helps to educate an adaptable, interculturally competent geoscientist. The challenges of conducting research while serving in the Peace Corps often provide opportunities for substantial learning and growth. A multiple-year evaluation of the PCMI program (2005-2013) suggests substantial impacts on students\u27 professional confi dence and career aspirations. These conclusions are supported by data drawn from an objective-based evaluation of the Remote Sensing for Hazard Mitigation and Natural Resource Protection project, which supported the PCMI students. Instruments employed in the project assessment include the Intercultural Development Inventory, exit surveys, individual qualitative interviews, postparticipation tracking, and a comparison group survey. The small participant population and relatively short project duration, however, limit the defi nitiveness of the conclusions and how broadly they can be applied. These fi rst 10 yr of this unique program have provided many lessons on the administration of a nontraditional international master\u27s degree program, including the diffi culties of applying research to international development, funding, and advising students serving abroad in the Peace Corps. While the career paths of the program\u27s graduates remain in progress, the students\u27 unique skills and experiences are likely to be in demand given the global scope of many natural resource and environmental challenges

State of technology review: Soil vapor extraction systems

Extracting vapor from soil is a cost-effective technique for the removal of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) from contaminated soils. Among the advant. Unfortunately, there are few guidelines for the optimal design, installation, and operation of soil vapor extraction systems. A large number of pilot-. Soil vapor extraction can be effectively used for removing a wide range of volatile chemicals over a wide range of conditions. The design and Operation. This Project Summary was developed by EPA\u27s Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH, to announce key findings of the research project tha. © 1991