Palestinian Refugees in Gaza

Events since Arthur Helton\u27s death - including the change in leadership of the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli proposal for disengagement from Gaza make it even timelier to examine some practical solutions. For improving Palestinian lives in the short term, much can be learned from the approaches taken in other refugee situations. This Article begins with background information on Palestinian refugees in Gaza. It then discusses Israeli plans for disengagement from Gaza. In the following section, the Article reviews options for addressing the problems faced by Palestinian refugees in Gaza, utilizing the broader literature devoted to the integration of refugees and displaced persons in post-conflict and post-occupation societies. It concludes with an agenda of action for the international community, Palestinian Authority, and Israel

Phase transitions of nematic rubbers

Single crystal nematic elastomers undergo a transition from a strongly ordered phase N to an "isotropic" phase I. We show that: (a) samples produced under tension by the Finkelmann procedure are intrinsically anisotropic and should show a small (temperature dependent) birefringence in the high temperature I phase. (b) for the I->Ntransition via cooling there is a spinodal limit but for the N->I transition via heating there is no soft mode at the standard spinodal temperature. (c) the N->I transition is reminiscent of a martensitic transformation: nucleation of the I phase should occur in the form of platelets, making a well defined angle with the director.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures (To appear in Europhys. Lett.

Utilization of VAS satellite data in the initialization of an oceanic-cyclogenesis simulation

A series of experiments was performed to test various method of incorporating Visible Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer Atmospheric Sounder (VAS)-sounding data into the initial conditions of the Penn State University/National Center for Atmospheric mesoscale model. The VAS data for this ocean-cyclogenesis case consist of 110 irregularly distributed temperature and humidity soundings located over the North Pacific Ocean and apply at approximately 1200 GMT 10 November 1981. Various methods of utilizing VAS data in the initial condition of a mesoscale model were evaluated

Uniaxial and biaxial soft deformations of nematic elastomers

We give a geometric interpretation of the soft elastic deformation modes of nematic elastomers, with explicit examples, for both uniaxial and biaxial nematic order. We show the importance of body rotations in this non-classical elasticity and how the invariance under rotations of the reference and target states gives soft elasticity (the Golubovic and Lubensky theorem). The role of rotations makes the Polar Decomposition Theorem vital for decomposing general deformations into body rotations and symmetric strains. The role of the square roots of tensors is discussed in this context and that of finding explicit forms for soft deformations (the approach of Olmsted).Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, RevTex, AmsTe

Theory of photoferroelectric response in SmC* liquids

We are concerned with the modification of liquid crystalline and polar order in SmC* liquids by illumination. In particular we show that non-uniformity due to absorption and also dynamics, can be complex. The variation of polarization with temperature, while illuminated, is modified from that assuming uniformity. Apparent changes of polarization with illumination will be shown to be underestimated due to non-uniformity. The dynamics is shown to depend on propagating fronts of photo-conversion penetrating the sample.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Smectic-C tilt under shear in Smectic-A elastomers

Stenull and Lubensky [Phys. Rev. E {\bf 76}, 011706 (2007)] have argued that shear strain and tilt of the director relative to the layer normal are coupled in smectic elastomers and that the imposition of one necessarily leads to the development of the other. This means, in particular, that a Smectic-A elastomer subjected to a simple shear will develop Smectic-C-like tilt of the director. Recently, Kramer and Finkelmann [arXiv:0708.2024, Phys. Rev. E {\bf 78}, 021704 (2008)] performed shear experiments on Smectic-A elastomers using two different shear geometries. One of the experiments, which implements simple shear, produces clear evidence for the development of Smectic-C-like tilt. Here, we generalize a model for smectic elastomers introduced by Adams and Warner [Phys. Rev. E {\bf 71}, 021708 (2005)] and use it to study the magnitude of Smectic-C-like tilt under shear for the two geometries investigated by Kramer and Finkelmann. Using reasonable estimates of model parameters, we estimate the tilt angle for both geometries, and we compare our estimates to the experimental results. The other shear geometry is problematic since it introduces additional in-plane compressions in a sheet-like sample, thus inducing instabilities that we discuss.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Imprinted Networks as Chiral Pumps

We investigate the interaction between a chirally imprinted network and a solvent of chiral molecules. We find, a liquid crystalline polymer network is preferentially swollen by one component of a racemic solvent. This ability to separate is linked to the chiral order parameter of the network, and can be reversibly controlled via temperature or a mechanical deformation. It is maximal near the point at which the network loses its imprinted structure. One possible practical application of this effect would be a mechanical device for sorting mixed chiral molecules.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Conflicting Norms: Impact of the Model Law on Chapter 11\u27s Global Restructuring Role

(Excerpt) The Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency is said to embody the concept of modified universalism for cross-border insolvency matters. In a pure universalist system, a single proceeding would deal with all of the debtor’s assets and debts globally. This is in contrast to a purely territorial approach, where multiple local proceedings would be required; one in each jurisdiction where the debtor had assets or debts, but each limited to the assets and debts located in that jurisdiction. While universalism emphasizes the economic goals of insolvency theory – to maximize the value of the estate and minimize the expense of the process -- territorialism emphasizes (or at least recognizes) the sovereignty of the states where the assets of the debtor are located or the effects of the insolvency proceeding are felt. The modified universalist approach embodied in the Model Law reflects a compromise between the theory of universalism and the practical realities of the territorial sovereignty limitations on the effectiveness of any one state’s insolvency orders. It does this by accepting that there would be multiple proceedings in different states and then trying to reduce the inefficiencies that might create. Some of the inefficiencies can be reduced simply by communication and cooperation, but often the goal of maximizing value requires that there be a single plan for the resolution of the affairs of a single debtor. This requires coordination of the multiple proceedings pending in diverse jurisdictions. Coordination will often require that one of the local proceedings (the “main” proceeding) control the process and that the other proceedings (the “secondary” proceedings) defer to that proceeding. The Model Law accomplishes this by permitting the courts in an adopting jurisdiction to grant additional relief to a foreign representative from the main proceeding and encouraging deference to the main proceeding