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The paper traces the origin of the Middle East conflict and discusses the gradual evolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict from a historical perspective. The paper discusses the peace negotiations undertaken for the region during different periods and the contribution of the international community in reaching a compromise formula. The paper discusses the emergence and the role of Hamas and how it gained political legitimacy. The paper concludes with the views of Israel and India perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the evolutionary phases of a collapsing dissipative star cluster in the presence of dark matter. For this purpose, the minimal coupling model of f(R,T) gravity is used as a candidate for exotic matter in star cluster. The collapse equation is derived from generalized dynamical equations which show the total conservation of energy within the cluster. In this context, the approach of Misner and Sharp is applied to study the phenomenon and differentiate between homologous as well as non-homologous gravitational collapse. The generalized dynamical equations are also connected to modified heat transport equations related to heat flux, viscosity and shear, which deals with Israel–Stewart theory (without removing the thermodynamics heat/viscous coupling coefficients). It is found that shear-free and non-dissipative fluid give homologous collapse. The dissipation of collapsing star cluster provides a relation between tidal forces and density inhomogeneity. It is theoretically predicted that the presence of exotic matter controlled the collapsing mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the study of quasi-spherical gravitational collapse in the framework of f (R , T) theory. We will divide geometry of the star into two distinct portions i.e. interior portion and exterior portion. In the interior portion, we consider quasi-spherical Szekeres line element and in the exterior portion we take Vaidya line element. The interior and exterior portions will be glued by using Israel's junction conditions [W. Israel, Il Nuovo Cimento B (1965–1970) 44, 1 (1966); W. Israel, Phys. Lett. A 24, 184 (1967)]. The field equations will be derived in the context of f (R , T) theory for a particular model. Apparent horizons and their time configuration for various desirable cases will also be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the role of nonlinear electrodynamics on the stable configuration of thin-shell wormholes formulated from two equivalent geometries of Reissner–Nordström black hole with nonlinear electrodynamics. For this purpose, we use cut and paste approach to eliminate the central singularity and event horizons of the black hole geometry. Then, we explore the stability of the developed model by considering different types of matter distribution located at thin-shell, i.e. barotropic model and variable equations of state (phantomlike variable and Chaplygin variable models). We use linearized radial perturbation to explore the stable characteristics of thin-shell wormholes. It is interesting to mention that Schwarzschild and Reissner–Nordström black holes show the unstable configuration for such type of matter distribution while Reissner–Nordström black hole with nonlinear electrodynamics expresses stable regions. It is found that the presence of nonlinear electrodynamics gives the possibility of a stable structure for barotropic as well as variable models. It is concluded that stable region increases for these models by considering higher negative values of coupling constant α and the real constant n. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we inspect the stable geometry of thin-shell wormholes in the background of static spherically-symmetric AdS black holes solution bounded by dark fluid and Chaplygin-like equation of state p = − ℬ / ρ , where p and ρ denote the pressure and energy density that are related through positive constant ℬ. For this purpose, we consider the two equivalent copies of black holes and connected them at the hypersurface through cut and paste approach. Then, we employ the linearized radial perturbation to discuss the stability of the developed wormhole geometry by assuming variable equations of state. We obtain the maximum stable configuration for massive black holes for both barotropic and Chaplygin variable equations of state while for higher values of n , stable regions decrease. It is found that for every selection of physical parameters of black hole geometry with low intensity of Chaplygin dark fluid, we get the stable configuration of thin-shell wormholes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the complex mechanism of evolving charged self-gravitational (dissipating or non-dissipating) systems using a structure scalar Y T F , resulting from the basic procedure of orthogonal decomposition of the Riemann–Christoffel curvature tensor. The influence of electrical charge on the complexity of the considered system is analyzed in detail. We find several analytical Einstein–Maxwell models fulfilling the quasi-homologous ( Q H ) evolution plus the vanishing complexity factor ( C F ′ ) condition. Few of the presented models fulfill the Darmois constraints and exhibit shells, however, others satisfy the Israel constraints on both the boundary surfaces. Finally, some possible applications of the presented solutions are mentioned, which are important from astrophysical stand points. It is expected that some of the provided evolving Einstein–Maxwell fluid configurations may be utilized as a toy model of general frameworks like supernova explosions. It is found that the Q H implies the vanishing of the C F and gives rise to a unique and simplest configuration (Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker model) fulfilling the condition Y T F = 0 and evolving in the Q H regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the structure of gravastar (gravitationally vacuum star) in the background of f (ℜ , 2) theory. The gravastar can be regarded as a substitute for a black hole comprising of three regions (i) the interior domain, (ii) the intrinsic shell and (iii) the exterior domain. We investigate these domains by employing Karmarkar's condition by assuming a specific f (ℜ , 2) model. The field equations are solved to evaluate nonsingular solutions of both the interior and intermediate regions. Inner as well as outer spacetimes are matched together using Israel formalism to obtain density and pressure at the joining surface. Different attributes of gravastar like the equation of state parameter, proper length, entropy and energy are analyzed through graphical behavior. It is found that the gravastar model is a viable alternative to the black hole in the context of this gravity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper was motivated by a recent paper by Krumm and Pollack ([Twists of hyperelliptic curves by integers in progressions modulo p , preprint (2018); https://arXiv.org/abs/1807.00972]) investigating modulo- p behavior of quadratic twists with rational points of a given hyperelliptic curve, conditional on the abc-conjecture. We extend those results to twisted Galois covers with arbitrary Galois groups. The main point of this generalization is to interpret those results as statements about the sets of specializations of a given Galois cover under restrictions on the discriminant. In particular, we make a connection with existing heuristics about the distribution of discriminants of Galois extensions such as the Malle conjecture: our results show in a precise sense the non-existence of "local obstructions" to such heuristics, in many cases essentially only under the assumption that G occurs as the Galois group of a Galois cover defined over ℚ. This complements and generalizes a similar result in the direction of the Malle conjecture by Dèbes ([On the Malle conjecture and the self-twisted cover, Israel J. Math.218(1) (2017) 101–131]). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is devoted to studying the structure of gravitationally vacuum condensate stars under the influence of matter and geometry coupled gravity. This alternative to black hole comprises three domains, i.e. interior, exterior and thin-shell. We investigate such regions by considering particular equations of state for a specific model of energy–momentum squared gravity. The nonsingular solutions of field equations are obtained to describe the interior region of gravastar and the Schwarzschild spacetime represents the exterior region. The junction conditions are used to match interior and exterior domains while Lanczos equations provide the surface density and pressure at thin-shell. We investigate various attributes of gravastar such as the equation of state parameter, entropy, proper length as well as energy. The physical features of a gravitationally vacuum star indicate a linear relationship with the thickness of the shell and provide a viable structure similar to general relativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let G be a finite group and ψ (G) = ∑ g ∈ G o (g) , where o (g) denotes the order of g. The function ψ ′ ′ (G) = ψ (G) / | G | 2 was introduced by Tărnăuceanu. In [M. Tărnăuceanu, Detecting structural properties of finite groups by the sum of element orders, Israel J. Math. (2020), doi:10.1007/s11856-020-2033-9], some lower bounds for ψ ″ (G) are determined such that if ψ ″ (G) is greater than each of them, then G is cyclic, abelian, nilpotent, supersolvable and solvable. Also, an open problem aroused about finite groups G such that ψ ″ (G) is equal to the amount of each lower bound. In this paper, we give an answer to the equality condition which is a partial answer to the open problem posed by Tărnăuceanu. Also, in [M. Baniasad Azad and B. Khosravi, A criterion for p-nilpotency and p-closedness by the sum of element orders, Commun. Algebra (2020), doi:10.1080/00927872.2020.1788571], it is shown that: If ψ ″ (G) > ψ ″ (D 2 p) , where p is a prime number, then G ≅ O p (G) × O p ′ (G) and O p (G) is cyclic. As the next result, we show that if G is not a p -nilpotent group and ψ ″ (G) = ψ ″ (D 2 p) , then G ≅ D 2 p . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the structure of a gravitational vacuum star (also known as gravastar) in the background of f (ℜ , 2) theory. This hypothetical object can be treated as a substitute of a black hole, with three regions: (i) the internal region, (ii) the intrinsic shell and (iii) the outer region. We examine these geometries using Finch–Skea metric for the radial metric component along with the particular f (ℜ , 2) model. We determine singularity-free solutions for both the inner as well as thin-shell domains. The smooth matching of the interior region with external Schwarzschild spacetime is obtained through Israel matching constraints. Finally, we study various characteristics of gravastar domains including the equation-of-state parameter, proper length, entropy, energy as well as surface redshift. It is found that the compact gravastar structure is a viable alternate to the black hole in the perspective of this gravity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we analyze a few physical characteristics of gravastar with cylindrical geometry in f (R , T) theory, where R is the Ricci scalar and T is the trace of energy-momentum tensor. The gravastar is generally considered to be a substitute of a black hole with three different regions. In this work, we examine the formulation of gravastar-like cylindrical structures in f (R , T) theory. By using Darmois and Israel matching conditions, we formulate a mass function of a thin shell. We calculate the different physical characteristics of gravastar, in particular, entropy within the thin shell, proper length of the intermediate thin shell as well as energy of the shell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates stability of thin-shell developed from the matching of interior traversable wormhole with exterior Ayon–Beato–Garcia–de Sitter regular black hole through cut and paste approach. We employ Israel formalism and Lanczos equations to obtain the components of surface stress-energy tensor at thin-shell. These surface stresses violate null and weak energy conditions that suggest the presence of exotic matter at thin-shell. The surface pressure explains collapse as well as expanding behavior of the developed geometry. We explore stability of the constructed thin-shell through both perturbations along shell radius as well as barotropic equation of state for three appropriate values of the shape function b (x) = a x α + (1 − a). It is concluded that stability of thin-shell depends on the shape function, charge and cosmological constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we study the consistency of a cosmological model representing a universe filled with a one-component dissipative dark matter fluid, in the framework of the causal Israel–Stewart theory, where a general expression arising from perturbation analysis for the relaxation time τ is used. This model is described by an exact analytic solution recently found in [N. Cruz, E. González and G. Palma, Gen. Relat. Gravit. 52, 62 (2020), which depends on several model parameters as well as integration constants, allowing the use of Type Ia Supernovae and Observational Hubble data to perform by an astringent observational tests. The constraint regions found for the parameters of the solution allow the existence of an accelerated expansion of the universe at late times, after the domination era of the viscous pressure, which holds without the need of including a cosmological constant. Nevertheless, the fitted parameter values lead to drawbacks as a very large non-adiabatic contribution to the speed of sound, and some inconsistencies, not totally conclusive, with the description of the dissipative dark matter as a fluid, which is nevertheless a common feature of these kind of models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the (Lascar) Galois group of any countable theory as a quotient of a compact Polish group by an F σ normal subgroup: in general, as a topological group, and under NIP, also in terms of Borel cardinality. This allows us to obtain similar results for arbitrary strong types defined on a single complete type over ∅. As an easy conclusion of our main theorem, we get the main result of [K. Krupiński, A. Pillay and T. Rzepecki, Topological dynamics and the complexity of strong types, Israel J. Math.228 (2018) 863–932] which says that for any strong type defined on a single complete type over ∅ , smoothness is equivalent to type-definability. We also explain how similar results are obtained in the case of bounded quotients of type-definable groups. This gives us a generalization of a former result from the paper mentioned above about bounded quotients of type-definable subgroups of definable groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent monumental detection of gravitational waves by LIGO, the subsequent detection by the LIGO/VIRGO observatories of a binary neutron star merger seen in the gravitational wave signal G W 1 7 0 8 1 7 , the first photo of the event horizon of the supermassive black hole at the center of Andromeda galaxy released by the EHT telescope and the ongoing experiments on Relativistic Heavy Ion Collisions at the BNL and at the CERN, demonstrate that we are witnessing the second golden era of observational relativistic gravity. These new observational breakthroughs, although in the long run would influence our views regarding this Kosmos, in the short run, they suggest that relativistic dissipative fluids (or magnetofluids) and relativistic continuous media play an important role in astrophysical-and also subnuclear-scales. This realization brings into the frontiers of current research theories of irreversible thermodynamics of relativistic continuous media. Motivated by these considerations, we summarize the progress that has been made in the last few decades in the field of nonequilibrium thermodynamics of relativistic continuous media. For coherence and completeness purposes, we begin with a brief description of the balance laws for classical (Newtonian) continuous media and introduce the classical irreversible thermodynamics (CIT) and point out the role of the local-equilibrium postulate within this theory. Tangentially, we touch the program of rational thermodynamics (RT), the Clausius–Duhem inequality, the theory of constitutive relations and the emergence of the entropy principle in the description of continuous media. We discuss at some length, theories of non equilibrium thermodynamics that sprang out of a fundamental paper written by Müller in 1967, with emphasis on the principles of extended irreversible thermodynamics (EIT) and the rational extended irreversible thermodynamics (REIT). Subsequently, after a brief introduction to the equilibrium thermodynamics of relativistic fluids, we discuss the Israel–Stewart transient (or causal) thermodynamics and its main features. Moreover, we introduce the Liu–Müller–Ruggeri theory describing relativistic fluids. We analyze the structure and compare this theory to the class of dissipative relativistic fluid theories of divergent type developed in the late 1990 by Pennisi, Geroch and Lindblom. As far as theories of nonequilibrium thermodynamics of classical media are concerned, it is fair to state that substantial progress has been made and many predictions of the extended theories have been placed under experimental scrutiny. However, at the relativistic level, the situation is different. Although the efforts aiming to the development of a sensible theory (or theories) of nonequilibrium thermodynamics of relativistic fluids (or continuous media) spans less than a half-century, and even though enormous steps in the right direction have been taken, nevertheless as we shall see in this review, still a successful theory of relativistic dissipation is lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the effects of shear viscosity on a dissipative spherical collapse in the presence of heat dissipation and anisotropic pressure. In the background of f (R , T , Q) gravity, where R is Ricci scalar, T constitutes the trace of energy–momentum tensor, and Q ≡ R μ ν T μ ν , we examine the particular role of shear viscosity on the dynamical equations, and couple it with the heat transport equation, which is interpreted by Israel–Stewart theory. We reacquire the reduction in the inertial mass density of the matter with the addition of viscosity terms, by a factor (1 − α) which depends upon the inner states of thermodynamics. With the conformity of the equivalence relationship, the decline in inertial density is very close to gravitational force. To determine the particular results, we construct a relationship of Weyl tensor with distinctive matter variables. We study the inhomogeneous characteristics of energy density in this scenario and examine the significant effects of modified gravity along with shear viscosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues concerning the consequences of trade liberalization and the resulting reduction in domestic fiscal budgets have always been the 'hot' topic in the trade policy community. This paper approaches this issue by focusing on the experience of the Israeli economy in the twenty year period (1984-2005) where Israel undertook both major tariff liberalization and a related domestic tax reform, with no reversion to border taxes. The Israeli experience highlights the initial budget revenue concerns associated with tariff liberalization, and quickly moves the issue away from border tax substitutes to domestic issues concerning enforcement. By de-linking the two issues the paper demonstrates that it is feasible to successfully tackling both external and internal tax reforms. Furthermore, it demonstrates that it is possible not to fall into the trap of looking at border taxes as a cure for internal high costs of tax revenue. The appropriate prescription for other developing or newly industrialized countries is to de-link the two tax issues, focus on the collection side of the domestic tax structure while at the same time reducing local taxes and broadening the tax base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is aimed to set up a thin-shell gravastar model and address its physically accepted features in the background of noncommutative geometry. For this purpose, we have considered the cylindrically symmetric interior metric matched with suitable noncommutative exterior geometry using Israel boundary conditions. The stability of this thin-shell as well as thermodynamical stability is then explored under linear perturbations around the throat. We have found the stable regions near the horizon with some specific values of the involved parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Israel has undergone several changes in its environmental policy. This paper reviews the shift in environmental policy, from regulatory-based instruments to more flexible economic instruments in Israel. A substantial change has taken place in this respect over the last few decades in many OECD countries. In recent years, environmental policy in Israel has been going through a similar change, in part due to the recent accession to the OECD. Yet, Israel still lacks the use of certain main economic tools, such as greenhouse gas emissions trading and carbon taxes, which are available in many OECD countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We construct a thin-shell wormhole using the cut and paste technique from regular charged black holes with a nonlinear electrodynamics source (proposed by Balart and Vagenas). Using Darmois{Israel formalism we determine the surface stresses, which are localized at the wormhole throat. We also determine the amount of exotic matter present in the shell. To analyze the stability of the constructed wormhole we consider an equation of state as a linear perturbation. The stability region is shown in the graph by varying the values of the parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the phenomenon of inverse stochastic resonance (ISR) induced by Levy noise is investigated in a single neuron. Firstly, the discharge of Hodgkin–Huxley neuron at different current strengths without noise is studied. Then we cite the concept of average spiking rate and use it as a scale to measure the discharge of neuron. Under the influence of Levy noise, it is found that the average firing rate can reach a minimum caused by stability index and a scale parameter of Levy noise. The conclusion is that ISR could be induced by Levy noise when the input current strength reaches the critical threshold. Besides, in order to further prove that Levy noise can produce ISR, interspike intervals (ISIs) histogram is used for studying discharge patterns in voltage. Finally, we find that with the increase of stability index and scale parameter of Levy noise, the total number of ISIs decreases first and then increases, which implies the appearance of ISR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cosmological model executing hybrid expansion law (HEL) of scale factor in Randall–Sundrum type II (RS) braneworld gravity with Gauss–Bonnet terms in the presence of bulk viscosity described by Eckart theory, Truncated Israel–Stewart (TIS) theory, Full Israel–Stewart (FIS) theory and nonlinear Israel–Stewart (nIS) theory is studied. In the hybrid expansion law, the scale factor of the universe is described by the product of power-law and exponential expansions. In the HEL model, the early inflation and its transition from deceleration phase to present accelerated phase of expansion can be explored. The constraints of hybrid expansion law model parameters are determined using the recent observational data. Thereafter, the estimated parameters are considered to explore the present value of deceleration parameter, jerk parameter and transition epoch from early deceleration to the present accelerating phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spherical energy shells in General Relativity tend to collapse due to gravitational effects and/or due to tension effects. Shell stabilization may be achieved by modifying the gravitational properties of the background spacetime. Thus, gravastars consist of stiff matter shells with an interior deSitter space and an exterior Schwarzshild spacetime whose attractive gravity balances the interior repulsive gravity of the interior deSitter spacetime leading to a stable stiff matter shell. Similar stabilization effects may be achieved by considering rotating shells. Here we study the stability of slowly rotating fluid shells. We show that the angular velocity of the shell has stabilizing properties analogous to the repulsive deSitter gravity of the interior of a gravastar. We thus use the Israel junction conditions [W. Israel, Nuovo Cim. B44S10 (1966) 1, Erratum: Nuovo Cim. B48 (1967) 463; N. Deruelle, M. Sasaki and Y. Sendouda, Prog. Theor. Phys.119 (2008) 237, arXiv:0711.1150 [gr-qc]] and the fluid equation of state of the rotating shell to construct the dynamical equations that determine the evolution of the rotating shell radius. These dynamical equations depend on the parameters of the background spacetime and on the angular velocity of the shell. Assuming a rotating interior and a Schwarzschild exterior spacetime we show that the angular velocity of the shell has interesting stabilizing properties on the evolution of its radius R. Thus, rotating matter (or vacuum) shells can imitate black holes while avoiding the presence of a singularity and without the presence of an interior deSitter space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a free massive quantized Klein–Gordon field in a spacetime (M , g) containing a stationary bifurcate Killing horizon, i.e. a bifurcate Killing horizon whose Killing vector field is globally time-like in the right wedge ℳ + associated to the horizon. We prove the existence of the Hartle–Hawking–Israel (HHI) vacuum state, which is a pure state on the whole spacetime whose restriction to ℳ + is a thermal state ω T H for the time-like Killing field at Hawking temperature T H = κ (2 π) − 1 , where κ is the surface gravity of the horizon. We show that the HHI state is a Hadamard state and is the unique Hadamard state which is equal to the double T H − 1 -KMS state in the double wedge ℳ − ∪ ℳ + . We construct the HHI state by Wick rotation in Killing time coordinates, using the notion of the Calderón projector for elliptic boundary value problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let ℭ be a monster model of an arbitrary theory T , let α ̄ be any (possibly infinite) tuple of bounded length of elements of ℭ , and let c ̄ be an enumeration of all elements of ℭ (so a tuple of unbounded length). By S α ̄ (ℭ) we denote the compact space of all complete types over ℭ extending tp (α ̄ / ∅) , and S c ̄ (ℭ) is defined analogously. Then S α ̄ (ℭ) and S c ̄ (ℭ) are naturally Aut (ℭ) -flows (even Aut (ℭ) -ambits). We show that the Ellis groups of both these flows are of bounded size (i.e. smaller than the degree of saturation of ℭ), providing an explicit bound on this size. Next, we prove that these Ellis groups do not depend (as groups equipped with the so-called τ -topology) on the choice of the monster model ℭ ; thus, we say that these Ellis groups are absolute. We also study minimal left ideals (equivalently subflows) of the Ellis semigroups of the flows S α ̄ (ℭ) and S c ̄ (ℭ). We give an example of a NIP theory in which the minimal left ideals are of unbounded size. Then we show that in each of these two cases, boundedness of a minimal left ideal (equivalently, of all the minimal left ideals) is an absolute property (i.e. it does not depend on the choice of ℭ) and that whenever such an ideal is bounded, then in some sense its isomorphism type is also absolute. Under the assumption that T has NIP, we give characterizations (in various terms) of when a minimal left ideal of the Ellis semigroup of S c ̄ (ℭ) is bounded. Then we adapt the proof of Theorem 5.7 in Definably amenable NIP groups, J. Amer. Math. Soc.31 (2018) 609–641 to show that whenever such an ideal is bounded, a certain natural epimorphism (described in [K. Krupiński, A. Pillay and T. Rzepecki, Topological dynamics and the complexity of strong types, Israel J. Math.228 (2018) 863–932]) from the Ellis group of the flow S c ̄ (ℭ) to the Kim–Pillay Galois group Gal KP (T) is an isomorphism (in particular, T is G-compact). We also obtain some variants of these results, formulate some questions, and explain differences (providing a few counterexamples) which occur when the flow S c ̄ (ℭ) is replaced by S α ̄ (ℭ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The illustration of cosmic acceleration is being presented in the framework of DGP braneworld and dynamical Chern–Simons modified gravity in the presence of casual Israel–Stewart formalism. In this way, we discuss the evolution parameter which leads to the accelerated expansion of the universe in the phantom as well as quintessence region for both gravities. The squared speed of sound ( v s 2) leads to the stable behavior of the current physical system in both gravities in the later epoch. Also, the entropy variation, as well as thermal equilibrium condition, remains valid in both frameworks at the present and later epoch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents latest information about international conferences on safety management. The Annual Reliability and Maintainability Symposium is scheduled to be held between January 24-27, 2005 in Virginia. International Symposium on Stochastic Models in Reliability, Safety, Security, and Logistics is scheduled to be held between February 16-18, 2005 in Israel.

This study analyzes the effects of setting policy measures for reducing the emission of air pollutants. The study focuses on five main air pollutants, PM, PM, O3, NO2 and SO2. Appropriate policy measures for improving air quality were determined based on data on current and expected air quality obtained by dispersion models, as well as on expected emission inventories for the target years 2015 and 2020. The scenario anticipated to result from implementing these measures was also analyzed by dispersion models. The findings indicate that 'business as usual' (BAU) policy measures are not sufficient for meeting the target values for the target years. This study identifies additional policy measures that can considerably improve air quality. However, the concentrations of several pollutants are still expected to exceed their target values in many areas, requiring an even greater expansion of the proposed measures for their reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates differences in financial funding between immigrant and non-immigrant businesses and delineates factors influencing financial funding of immigrant businesses. Data for the study were collected in Israel between 2000 and 2005. By combining convenient and snowball samples, 214 native Israelis and 153 FSU immigrant entrepreneurs answered a questionnaire. We classified financial sources for immigrant businesses according to their affiliation to the ethnic community, and according to their relation to official financial institutions. Our study revealed that the scope of funding of immigrant businesses is significantly smaller than that of non-immigrant businesses. Immigrant entrepreneurs are more likely to finance their businesses from informal sources but they use fewer loans from family and friends than non-immigrant entrepreneurs. We found that immigrant entrepreneurs who deal with co-ethnic clients do not use more ethnic sources of capital for financing their businesses: the share of co-ethnic clients does not influence the ratio of ethnic financial sources for both setting up and expanding immigrant businesses. Our study revealed that governmental support in the terms of designated loans is the most salient factor influencing financial funding of immigrant businesses. The results suggest important implications for public policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss some open problems in hydrodynamical approach to the relativistic heavy ion collisions. In particular, we propose a new, very simple alternative approach to the relativistic dissipative hydrodynamics of Israel and Stewart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]