Influence of Tariff Liberalization on Bilateral Trade

The study aims at evaluating and comparing trade effects of tariff liberalization on bilateral trade between Russian and its Asian trade partners: China, India, Thailand and Vietnam. The partial equilibrium model - the Software for Market Analysis and Restrictions on Trade (SMART) model - underlies the research methodology. The authors calculate the trade effects of 1% linear cut of customs duties imposed on key commodity groups of mutual import flows and identify elasticities of bilateral import of different commodity groups on customs duties. On the basis of a comparative analysis of the results obtained, the authors formulated a set of conclusions regarding the efficiency of tariff regulation of imports in different countries and industrial sectors, tracking the changes of the influence of tariff liberalization on the dynamics of import of various categories of goods (depending on the value added and technological effectiveness).

The contribution of A. Gref to clinical ophthalmology (to the 190th anniversary of the birth)

The first scientific and practices works in ophthalmology of Professor Albreht Grephe are possibilities. Notes, that in 1850 Hermann Helmholtz introduced the ophthalmoscope into clinical practice, this tool allowed Albrecht Gref to make a number of discoveries and scientific proposals concerning the pathology of the fundus. He described the embolism of the retinal artery, differentiated central recurrent syphilitic retinitis from diffuse, described optic neuritis and much more. Seven years of his scientific work, A. Gref has devoted to the study of the functioning of the eye muscles, strabismus and its correction by surgery, the study of amblyopia. Later, he described in detail the symptoms of ocular muscle paralysis and the clinical manifestations of diphtheria and benign renal conjunctivitis, outlined the ways of drug treatment of these diseases. Gref considered eye pressure the main cause of glaucoma. In his opinion, reducing pressure, it was possible to save the patient from glaucoma. During the treatment of the patient with complete infection of the pupil, A. Grefe made iridectomy (excision of the iris part) and noticed that the eye after the operation became softer. This prompted the doctor to think about the possibility of using such an operation for glaucoma. It is important to note that at the first International Ophthalmological Congress in Brussels in 1857 Gref made a report «On the nature and treatment of glaucoma by iridectomy». This operation brought him world fame and saved many glaucoma patients from blindness. Iridectomy is used in ophthalmic practice and at the present time. In 1859 Grefe proposed a method for peripheral linear extraction of cataracts. He made a peripheral linear cut, thanks to which the divergence of the edges of the wound of the patch cut was eliminated. For such a cut Grefe invented a special long and narrow scalpel, behind which the name Grefevsky was preserved. As time has shown, the basic theoretical and practical provisions and discoveries of Grefe still form the foundation of our knowledge in ophthalmology.

Glass finds from Areas U and G at the Kom el-Dikka site in Alexandria (excavations in 2012 and 2013)

The glass material from PCMA excavations at the Kom el-Dikka site in Alexandria in the 2012 and 2013 seasons consisted mainly of a late Roman/early Byzantine assemblage, mostly yellowish-green blown glass characterized by a homogeneity of the fabric, a limited variety of vessel types and simple workmanship, all indicative of a local glasshouse most likely operating at the site. Fragments of early and late Roman mosaic glass were also an important element of the set. Excavations in area U (sub-area US) also yielded a handful of late Hellenistic/early Roman glasses: various types of cast bowls seldom previously reported from Kom el-Dikka, a linear-cut bowl, monochrome patella, and colorless bowl with broad rim and overhung edge. The assemblage coming from area G (basement of the late Roman baths) comprised late Roman free-blown, utilitarian wares representing a limited range of forms. Also found in this area was cast glass of the late Hellenistic/early Roman period: mosaic glass and a grooved bowl, the latter recorded for the first time at Kom el-Dikka.

Density-modulation effects on the propagation of an electromagnetic wave in a plasma

The propagation of an electromagnetic wave through a transparent plasma characterized by a spatial modulation of the density in the direction of propagation is analysed by computing the reflection coefficient of a single plasma slab and then that relevant to a set of many identical or slightly different slabs. The transmission spectra relevant to different density profiles of a single slab are computed to show the effects of (a) the density gradient, (b) a slight non-uniformity among adjacent slabs and (c) plasma modulation on the linear cut-off.

Rayleigh–Taylor instability of a plasma in a magnetic field: nonlinear theory

Kaira & Kathuria used the method of multiple scales to develop nonlinear analysis of Rayleigh–Taylor instability of a plasma in a magnetic field. Their calculations remain valid only for wavenumbers k away from the linear cut-off value kc, and break down for wavenumbers near kc. The purpose of this paper is to treat the latter case. The solution uses the method of strained parameters. The results show the instability persists even at k = kc, despite the cut-off predicted by the linear theory.