Longibacter salinarum gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a marine solar saltern

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A bacterial strain, designated WDS2C18**T, was isolated from a marine solar saltern in the coast of Weihai, Shandong Province, PR China. Cells of strain WDS2C18**T were long rod-shaped, red, and approximately 6.0–12.0 µm in length and 0.3–0.6 µm in width. The strain was Gram-stain-negative, facultat...

Israel`s unauthorized arms transfers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Clarke, D.

1995-10-01

Israel confronts a spectrum of security threats. Given that harsh reality and America`s firm commitment to the Jewish state as reiterated by successive presidents, Israel requires, and rightly receives, unique attention and support from the United States (U.S). Indeed, Israel`s welfare, even survival, is dependent on its `special` relationship with Washington. Thus far, U.S.-Israel ties have weathered America`s post-Cold War retrenchment in world affairs. Israel retains its customary level of foreign aid, for example, even as the overall foreign assistance budget shrinks. Yet below the surface, the relationship is threatened by Israel`s repeated contraventions of American law. Evidence shows thatmore » Israel has systematically circumvented U.S. restrictions on the re-export of U.S. defense products, components, and technical data. Other countries have been caught evading U.S. re-export controls, but Israel`s case appears unique. The author examines the details and implications of the Israel transgressions.« less

Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-11-01

Ray Kook and a future leader of Gush Emunim, to establish a small illegal presence in a hotel in the middle of Hebron during the spring festival of...countries, the beggars who live off the wealth of others will build, from Eilat to Metula (i.e within the Green Line--IL) a boutique for strictly European

Halophilic and halotolerant actinomycetes from a marine saltern of Goa, India producing anti-bacterial metabolites.

PubMed

Ballav, Shuvankar; Kerkar, Savita; Thomas, Sabu; Augustine, Nimmy

2015-03-01

Marine salterns are estuarine ecosystems in Goa, receiving inputs from riverine and marine waters. The Salinity fluctuates between 0 and 300 psu which makes it a conducive niche for salt tolerant and salt loving Actinomycetales. Halotolerant and halophilic Actinomycetales producing anti-bacterial metabolites were studied from crystallizer pond sediments of Ribandar saltern, Goa. Three media viz. Starch casein, R2A and Inorganic salt starch agar at four different salinities (35, 50, 75 and 100 psu) were used for isolation. R2A agar at 35 psu was the most preferred by hypersaline actinomycetes. The dominant group was halotolerant Streptomyces spp. others being rare actinomycetes viz. Nocardiopsis, Micromonospora and Kocuria spp. More than 50% of the isolates showed anti-bacterial activity against one or more of the fifteen human pathogens tested. Eight strains from 4 genera showed consistent anti-bacterial activity and studied in detail. Most halotolerant isolates grew from 0 to 75 psu, with optimum antibiotic production at 35 psu whereas halophiles grew at 20 to 100 psu with optimum antibiotic production at 35 psu. Four Streptomyces strains showed multiple inhibition against test organisms while four rare actinomycetes were specific in their inhibitory activity. This is the first report of a halophilic Kocuria sp., Nocardiopsis sp., and halotolerant Micromonospora sp. producing anti-bacterial compound(s) against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus citreus, and Vibrio cholerae, respectively. Sequential extraction with varying polarity of organic solvents showed that the extracts inhibited different test pathogens. These results suggest that halophilic and halotolerant actinomycetes from marine salterns are a potential source of anti-bacterial compounds. Copyright © 2014 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Patterns of microbial diversity along a salinity gradient in the Guerrero Negro solar saltern, Baja CA Sur, Mexico

PubMed Central

Dillon, Jesse G.; Carlin, Mark; Gutierrez, Abraham; Nguyen, Vivian; McLain, Nathan

2013-01-01

The goal of this study was to use environmental sequencing of 16S rRNA and bop genes to compare the diversity of planktonic bacteria and archaea across ponds with increasing salinity in the Exportadora de Sal (ESSA) evaporative saltern in Guerrero Negro, Baja CA S., Mexico. We hypothesized that diverse communities of heterotrophic bacteria and archaea would be found in the ESSA ponds, but that bacterial diversity would decrease relative to archaea at the highest salinities. Archaeal 16S rRNA diversity was higher in Ponds 11 and 12 (370 and 380 g l−1 total salts, respectively) compared to Pond 9 (180 g l−1 total salts). Both Pond 11 and 12 communities had high representation (47 and 45% of clones, respectively) by Haloquadratum walsbyi-like (99% similarity) lineages. The archaeal community in Pond 9 was dominated (79%) by a single uncultured phylotype with 99% similarity to sequences recovered from the Sfax saltern in Tunisia. This pattern was mirrored in bop gene diversity with greater numbers of highly supported phylotypes including many Haloquadratum-like sequences from the two highest salinity ponds. In Pond 9, most bop sequences, were not closely related to sequences in databases. Bacterial 16S rRNA diversity was higher than archaeal in both Pond 9 and Pond 12 samples, but not Pond 11, where a non-Salinibacter lineage within the Bacteroidetes >98% similar to environmental clones recovered from Lake Tuz in Turkey and a saltern in Chula Vista, CA was most abundant (69% of community). This OTU was also the most abundant in Pond 12, but only represented 14% of clones in the more diverse pond. The most abundant OTU in Pond 9 (33% of community) was 99% similar to an uncultured gammaproteobacterial clone from the Salton Sea. Results suggest that the communities of saltern bacteria and archaea vary even in ponds with similar salinity and further investigation into the ecology of diverse, uncultured halophile communities is warranted. PMID:24391633

Can the halophilic ciliate Fabrea salina be used as a bio-control of microalgae blooms in solar salterns?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Hyun Pyo; Choi, Joong Ki

2015-09-01

The microlage Dunaliella salina, a major producer in salterns, is a serious problem for salt production. In this study we tried to assess if Fabrea salina can control D. salina. By parameterising numerical and functional response (growth and grazing vs prey abundance, respectively) at 90 psu and 30°C, where the ciliate is abundant and grows well, we developed a predator-prey model. The model is used to explore how change in microalga growth rate affect the dynamics, and the functional response is used in combination with field data to assess the potential impact of F. salina on D. salina. Over the 20 d simulation the ciliate controlled the prey population under all prey growth rates; although once D. salina were exhausted below the threshold level, F. salina died due to starvation, allowing the alga to increase in abundance, resulting in one or two predatorprey cycle, depending on prey growth rate. In general, the model predicted trends observed by others in the field, suggesting that it provided a good prediction of what may occur under the conditions we examined. Likewise we show that the ciliate can have a high impact on microalgal populations in the field. Finally, a literature review indicated that F. salina could be a good competitor with other protozoa and metazoan in salterns, depending on salinity and temperature, which requires further study and attention. In summary, we encourage continued studies on this unique ciliate on solar salterns and suggest that it may be useful in the bio-control of micoalgae.

Extremely Halophilic Bacteria in Crystallizer Ponds from Solar Salterns

PubMed Central

Antón, Josefa; Rosselló-Mora, Ramón; Rodríguez-Valera, Francisco; Amann, Rudolf

2000-01-01

It is generally assumed that hypersaline environments with sodium chloride concentrations close to saturation are dominated by halophilic members of the domain Archaea, while Bacteria are not considered to be relevant in this kind of environment. Here, we report the high abundance and growth of a new group of hitherto-uncultured Bacteria in crystallizer ponds (salinity, from 30 to 37%) from multipond solar salterns. In the present study, these Bacteria constituted from 5 to 25% of the total prokaryotic community and were affiliated with the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides phylum. Growth was demonstrated in saturated NaCl. A provisional classification of this new bacterial group as “Candidatus Salinibacter gen. nov.” is proposed. The perception that Archaea are the only ecologically relevant prokaryotes in hypersaline aquatic environments should be revised. PMID:10877805

USE OF PHOSPHOLIPID FATTY ACID PROFILES TO STUDY THE MICROBIAL COMPOSITION OF CYANOBACTERIAL MATS IN CABO ROJO SOLAR SALTERNS

EPA Science Inventory

The Cabo Rojo Saltern located in the West side of Puerto Rico is a hypersaline ecosystem that consists of crystallizer ponds surrounded by series of cyanobacterial mats. Although this ecosystem harbors a variety of microorganisms not much is known about their identity and relati...

Use of a mixed culture strategy to isolate halophilic bacteria with antibacterial and cytotoxic activity from the Manaure solar saltern in Colombia.

PubMed

Conde-Martínez, Natalia; Acosta-González, Alejandro; Díaz, Luis E; Tello, Edisson

2017-12-08

Water evaporation in solar salterns creates salinity gradients that promote the adaptation of microbial species to different salinities. This competitive habitat challenges the metabolic capabilities of microorganisms and promotes alterations in their production of secondary metabolites. Thus, solar salterns are a potentially important source of new natural products. In Colombia, the most important and representative solar saltern is located in Manaure (La Guajira) in the north of Colombia. The aim of this study was to develop an alternative screening strategy to select halophilic bacteria as producers of bioactive compounds from mixed microbial cultures rather than individual environmental isolates. Brine and sediment samples from different ponds (across a salinity gradient) were inoculated in seven different culture media to grow bacteria and archaea, allowing for a total of 40 different mixed cultures. An organic extract from each mixed culture was obtained and tested against multidrug resistant pathogens, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. In addition, the extracts were tested against two human cancer cell lines, cervical adenocarcinoma (SiHa) and lung carcinoma (A-549). Twenty-four of the forty extracts from mixed cultures obtained from brine and sediment samples from the Manaure solar saltern showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis. Two extracts, referred to as A1SM3-29 and A1SM3-36, were also active against a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, with the latter extract also showing slight cytotoxic activity against the assayed human lung cancer cell line. From this mixed culture, nine isolates were cultivated, and their extracts were tested against the same pathogens, resulting in the identification of a Vibrio sp. strain (A1SM3-36-8) with antimicrobial activity that was similar to that observed for the mixed culture extract

Borrelidins C-E: New Antibacterial Macrolides from a Saltern-Derived Halophilic Nocardiopsis sp.

PubMed

Kim, Jungwoo; Shin, Daniel; Kim, Seong-Hwan; Park, Wanki; Shin, Yoonho; Kim, Won Kyung; Lee, Sang Kook; Oh, Ki-Bong; Shin, Jongheon; Oh, Dong-Chan

2017-06-06

Chemical investigation of a halophilic actinomycete strain belonging to the genus Nocardiopsis inhabiting a hypersaline saltern led to the discovery of new 18-membered macrolides with nitrile functionality, borrelidins C-E ( 1 - 3 ), along with a previously reported borrelidin ( 4 ). The planar structures of borrelidins C-E, which are new members of the rare borrelidin class of antibiotics, were elucidated by NMR, mass, IR, and UV spectroscopic analyses. The configurations of borrelidines C-E were determined by the interpretation of ROESY NMR spectra, J-based configuration analysis, a modified Mosher's method, and CD spectroscopic analysis. Borrelidins C and D displayed inhibitory activity, particularly against the Gram-negative pathogen Salmonella enterica , and moderate cytotoxicity against the SNU638 and K562 carcinoma cell lines.

Long-Period Seismological Research Program

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-06-30

previously gain seismograph stations at Charters Towers, Australia Alaska (FbK), Eilat, Israel (EIL), Chiang Mai , Thailand burg. New Jersey (OGD...digital systems have been operational. On 26 December 1971, the digital technician from Townsville, Australia, was sent to Chiang Mai , Thailand, to work...combined inspection-maintenance trips to ions at Charters Towers, Australia (CTA); Chiang Mai , Thailand a, Hawaii (KIP); and Matsushiro, Japan (MAT). As a

Heavy Metal Detoxification by Different Bacillus Species Isolated from Solar Salterns

PubMed Central

Syed, Shameer; Chinthala, Paramageetham

2015-01-01

The biosorption mechanism is an alternative for chemical precipitation and ultrafiltration which have been employed to treat heavy metal contamination with a limited success. In the present study, three species of Bacillus which were isolated from solar salterns were screened for their detoxification potential of the heavy metals, lead, chromium, and copper, by biosorption. Biosorption potential of each isolate was determined by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) as the amount of metal present in the medium after the treatment with the isolates. Bacterial isolates, Bacillus licheniformis NSPA5, Bacillus cereus NSPA8, and Bacillus subtilis NSPA13, showed significant level of lead biosorption with maximum of 87–90% by Bacillus cereus NSPA8. The biosorption of copper and chromium was relatively low in comparison with lead. With the obtained results, we have concluded that the bacterial isolates are potential agents to treat metal contamination in more efficient and ecofriendly manner. PMID:26525498

Spatial and seasonal prokaryotic community dynamics in ponds of increasing salinity of Sfax solar saltern in Tunisia.

PubMed

Boujelben, Ines; Gomariz, María; Martínez-García, Manuel; Santos, Fernando; Peña, Arantxa; López, Cristina; Antón, Josefa; Maalej, Sami

2012-05-01

The spatial and seasonal dynamics of the halophilic prokaryotic community was investigated in five ponds from Sfax solar saltern (Tunisia), covering a salinity gradient ranging from 20 to 36%. Fluorescence in situ hybridization indicated that, above 24% salinity, the prokaryotic community shifted from bacterial to archaeal dominance with a remarkable increase in the proportion of detected cells. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles were rather similar in all the samples analyzed, except in the lowest salinity pond (around 20% salt) where several specific archaeal and bacterial phylotypes were detected. In spite of previous studies on these salterns, DGGE analysis unveiled the presence of microorganisms not previously described in these ponds, such as Archaea related to Natronomonas or bacteria related to Alkalimnicola, as well as many new sequences of Bacteroidetes. Some phylotypes, such as those related to Haloquadratum or to some Bacteroidetes, displayed a strong dependence of salinity and/or magnesium concentrations, which in the case of Haloquadratum could be related to the presence of ecotypes. Seasonal variability in the prokaryotic community composition was focused on two ponds with the lowest (20%) and the highest salinity (36%). In contrast to the crystallized pond, where comparable profiles between autumn 2007 and summer 2008 were obtained, the non-crystallized pond showed pronounced seasonal changes and a sharp succession of "species" during the year. Canonical correspondence analysis of biological and physicochemical parameters indicated that temperature was a strong factor structuring the prokaryotic community in the non-crystallizer pond, that had salinities ranging from 20 to 23.8% during the year.

The Arab Boycott of Israel Economic Political Warfare Against Israel

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-12-01

analyze these factors separately. In order to assess the effectiveness of the Arab boycott, this thesis focuses on Israel’s trade and compares it to...many factors that influence it (e.g., inflation, rate of interest, etc.), it is useful to compare the growth of Israel’s trade with western countries and...below. In order to compare trade between Japan and the Arab countries to that with Israel, I will present the trade data as close as possible to years

Archaeal Viruses Multiply: Temporal Screening in a Solar Saltern

PubMed Central

Atanasova, Nina S.; Demina, Tatiana A.; Buivydas, Andrius; Bamford, Dennis H.; Oksanen, Hanna M.

2015-01-01

Hypersaline environments around the world are dominated by archaea and their viruses. To date, very little is known about these viruses and their interaction with the host strains when compared to bacterial and eukaryotic viruses. We performed the first culture-dependent temporal screening of haloarchaeal viruses and their hosts in the saltern of Samut Sakhon, Thailand, during two subsequent years (2009, 2010). Altogether we obtained 36 haloarchaeal virus isolates and 36 archaeal strains, significantly increasing the number of known archaeal virus isolates. Interestingly, the morphological distribution of our temporal isolates (head-tailed, pleomorphic, and icosahedral membrane-containing viruses) was similar to the outcome of our previous spatial survey supporting the observations of a global resemblance of halophilic microorganisms and their viruses. Myoviruses represented the most abundant virus morphotype with strikingly broad host ranges. The other viral morphotypes (siphoviruses, as well as pleomorphic and icosahedral internal membrane-containing viruses) were more host-specific. We also identified a group of Halorubrum strains highly susceptible to numerous different viruses (up to 26). This high virus sensitivity, the abundance of broad host range viruses, and the maintenance of infectivity over a period of one year suggest constant interplay of halophilic microorganisms and their viruses within an extreme environment. PMID:25866903

Archaeal viruses multiply: temporal screening in a solar saltern.

PubMed

Atanasova, Nina S; Demina, Tatiana A; Buivydas, Andrius; Bamford, Dennis H; Oksanen, Hanna M

2015-04-10

Hypersaline environments around the world are dominated by archaea and their viruses. To date, very little is known about these viruses and their interaction with the host strains when compared to bacterial and eukaryotic viruses. We performed the first culture-dependent temporal screening of haloarchaeal viruses and their hosts in the saltern of Samut Sakhon, Thailand, during two subsequent years (2009, 2010). Altogether we obtained 36 haloarchaeal virus isolates and 36 archaeal strains, significantly increasing the number of known archaeal virus isolates. Interestingly, the morphological distribution of our temporal isolates (head-tailed, pleomorphic, and icosahedral membrane-containing viruses) was similar to the outcome of our previous spatial survey supporting the observations of a global resemblance of halophilic microorganisms and their viruses. Myoviruses represented the most abundant virus morphotype with strikingly broad host ranges. The other viral morphotypes (siphoviruses, as well as pleomorphic and icosahedral internal membrane-containing viruses) were more host-specific. We also identified a group of Halorubrum strains highly susceptible to numerous different viruses (up to 26). This high virus sensitivity, the abundance of broad host range viruses, and the maintenance of infectivity over a period of one year suggest constant interplay of halophilic microorganisms and their viruses within an extreme environment.

"Israel Is Meant for Me": Kindergarteners' Conceptions of Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zakai, Sivan

2015-01-01

What is Israel in the minds and hearts of young American Jewish children? Through interviews and photo and music elicitation exercises, this research uncovers how day school kindergarten students conceive of Israel. This study, part of an ongoing longitudinal project, shows how 5- and 6-year-old children are able to form a multilayered conception…

[Ethiopia in Israel--an ethnopharmacological study of Ethiopian immigrants in Israel].

PubMed

Danino, Dikla; Amar, Zohar

2008-07-01

There is a large Ethiopian community in Israel which preserves its unique culture and customs. Many of the members of this community still use traditional methods of healing, such as blood-letting, burns, tattooing, amulets, healing water, incense and various medicinal herbs that are prescribed based on the diagnosis of the disease. This study deals with documenting the use of the medicinal drugs implemented by the Ethiopian community in Israel, which is a rapidly vanishing world. The study is based on interviews with hundreds of informants, among them traditional healers, and it surveyed some fifty shops which sell Ethiopian medicinal drugs and spices. The survey brought to light a list of medical materials which are found in the Ethiopian markets in Israel including 89 kinds of plants (some 85%); 6 different minerals (some 6%); 5 types of animals (some 4.5%); and 5 substances of various origins (some 4.5%). Most of the drugs are imported from Ethiopia to Israel, since they are endemic. There are also other medicinal drugs that are gathered in the field in Israel or brought through personal import; in total, our estimate is that there are approximately 150 different kinds of medicinal drugs in use in Israel. This is a relatively small number when compared to the inventory of drugs in the land of origin, Ethiopia. The decline in the use of traditional drugs, due to limited availability and processes of modernization in the Ethiopian community in Israel, heightens the importance of a study that documents this unique culture. The study is also of assistance to the modern medical authorities in order to better understand and become more familiar with the Ethiopian community and with its needs and special practices, in terms of both prevention and treatment.

[Development of acupuncture in Israel].

PubMed

Luo, Lu; Maayan, Pinhasy; Yang, Yuyang

2016-08-12

By collecting and analyzing information regarding the history development, current situation, legislation, health insurance, education and academic organizations of acupuncture in Israel, the development characteristics of acupuncture in Israel were summarized. The overall traditional medicine developed well in Israel, yet acupuncture have only appeared in Israel for 18 years. The proposal of Israeli Acupuncture Legislation Act improved the development of health insurance, education and public awareness of acupuncture in Israel. However, improvement in areas of education, legislation and health insurance are still in need. Suggestions are proposed to improve the education quality, acupuncture legislation, international cooperation, volunteer activities and cultural exchanges. In addition, the legislative process of acupuncture in the countries of "the Belt and Road", especially the Middle East countries, are promoted.

International Spotlight: Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Glicksman, Allen; Litwin, Howard

2011-01-01

The State of Israel provides significant opportunities to study social processes that can enhance our understanding of the aging experience. It has high life expectancy and rapid growth of its older population. With an older cohort that is composed largely of former immigrants and includes a minority Arab population, Israel provides much diversity…

Pluralistic Approaches to Israel Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grant, Lisa D.

2011-01-01

Teaching Israel is a complex endeavor in today's world where the founding myths of Israel no longer appear to capture the hearts and minds of American Jews as they did a generation ago. As a result, a new way of speaking about and conceptualizing Israel education is evolving among researchers, program providers, policy makers, and many teachers.…

Plasmodium spp. in raptors on the Eurasian-African migration route.

PubMed

Paperna, I; Yosef, R; Landau, I

2007-12-01

Examination of blood smears obtained from raptors trapped while on migration at Eilat, Israel, demonstrated Plasmodium infection in Accipiter brevipes and Buteo buteo. The following species are described, from A. brevipes: Plasmodium alloelongatum n. sp., P. accipiteris n. sp. and from B. buteo: P. buteonis n. sp. and Plasmodium sp. for which we lack sufficient data for adequate species description. Overall prevalence of infection with Plasmodium spp. was very low: among 38 examined A. brevipes 5% and among 56 B. buteo 3.6%.

Forest seedling production in Israel

Treesearch

Nir Atzmon; David Brand

2002-01-01

Afforestation and reforestation in Israel are done on marginal lands, which consist of poor and shallow soils, with precipitation ranging from 650 mm in the north down to 200 mm in the south. Therefore, seedling quality is of great concern. All forest seedlings planted in Israel are produced by three forest nurseries which belong to the Forest Authority of Israel....

Recruitment, mortality, and resilience potential of scleractinian corals at Eilat, Red Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shlesinger, Tom; Loya, Yossi

2016-12-01

Events of mass coral bleaching and mortality have increased in recent decades worldwide, making coral recruitment more important than ever in sustaining coral-reef ecosystems and ensuring their resilience. During the last four decades, the coral reefs of Eilat have undergone severe deterioration due to both anthropogenic and natural causes. Recruitment failure has been frequently suggested as one of the main mechanisms underlying this deterioration. Here we assess the demographic replenishment and resilience potential of the local reefs, i.e., the potential for new sexually derived corals to recruit and exceed the community's mortality rate. We present a detailed analysis of coral community demography, obtained by means of high-resolution photographic monitoring of permanently marked plots. Coral spats as small as 1 mm were documented and the detailed dynamics of coral recruitment and mortality were recorded, in addition to other common ecological measurements. The cumulative quantity of recruited individuals was twofold to fivefold higher than total mortality. The most significant predictor variable for coral recruitment among all ecological parameters measured was the available substrate for settlement, and the survival of recruited corals was correlated with reef structural complexity. Two consecutive annual reproductive seasons (June-September of each year) with high recruitment rates were monitored. Combined with the high survival of recruits and the increase in coral live cover and abundance, the findings from this study indicate an encouraging potential for recovery of these reefs.

Bibliographic Projects and Tools in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kedar, Rochelle

This paper presents several of the most prominent bibliographic tools and projects current in Israel, as well as a few specialized and less well-known projects. Bibliographic tools include the Israel Union Catalog and the Israel Union List of Serials. The following are the major bibliographic projects described: the National Jewish Bibliography…

Seasonal and spatial trends in the sources of fine particle organic carbon in Israel, Jordan, and Palestine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

von Schneidemesser, Erika; Zhou, Jiabin; Stone, Elizabeth A.; Schauer, James J.; Qasrawi, Radwan; Abdeen, Ziad; Shpund, Jacob; Vanger, Arye; Sharf, Geula; Moise, Tamar; Brenner, Shmuel; Nassar, Khaled; Saleh, Rami; Al-Mahasneh, Qusai M.; Sarnat, Jeremy A.

2010-09-01

A study of carbonaceous particulate matter (PM) was conducted in the Middle East at sites in Israel, Jordan, and Palestine. The sources and seasonal variation of organic carbon, as well as the contribution to fine aerosol (PM 2.5) mass, were determined. Of the 11 sites studied, Nablus had the highest contribution of organic carbon (OC), 29%, and elemental carbon (EC), 19%, to total PM 2.5 mass. The lowest concentrations of PM 2.5 mass, OC, and EC were measured at southern desert sites, located in Aqaba, Eilat, and Rachma. The OC contribution to PM 2.5 mass at these sites ranged between 9.4% and 16%, with mean annual PM 2.5 mass concentrations ranging from 21 to 25 ug m -3. These sites were also observed to have the highest OC to EC ratios (4.1-5.0), indicative of smaller contributions from primary combustion sources and/or a higher contribution of secondary organic aerosol. Biomass burning and vehicular emissions were found to be important sources of carbonaceous PM in this region at the non-southern desert sites, which together accounted for 30%-55% of the fine particle organic carbon at these sites. The fraction of measured OC unapportioned to primary sources (1.4 μgC m -3 to 4.9 μgC m -3; 30%-74%), which has been shown to be largely from secondary organic aerosol, is relatively constant at the sites examined in this study. This suggests that secondary organic aerosol is important in the Middle East during all seasons of the year.

Case Studies of North American Jewish Educators: Attitudes Regarding Israel and Israel Engagement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bell-Kligler, Roberta

2013-01-01

The role of Israel in the identity of North American Jews is of concern and interest to community leaders, philosophers of Jewish education, and most important, practitioners in the field. Although there is an awareness of the need to help emerging Jewish educators grapple with the complex questions surrounding Israel engagement, little research…

Anti-Israel Sentiment Predicts Anti-Semitism in Europe

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kaplan, Edward H.; Small, Charles A.

2006-01-01

In the discourse surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, extreme criticisms of Israel (e.g., Israel is an apartheid state, the Israel Defense Forces deliberately target Palestinian civilians), coupled with extreme policy proposals (e.g., boycott of Israeli academics and institutions, divest from companies doing business with Israel), have…

Euphyllia paradivisa, a successful mesophotic coral in the northern Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba, Red Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eyal, Gal; Eyal-Shaham, Lee; Cohen, Itay; Tamir, Raz; Ben-Zvi, Or; Sinniger, Frederic; Loya, Yossi

2016-03-01

Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) host a thriving community of biota that has remained virtually unexplored. Here we report for the first time on a large population of the endangered coral species Euphyllia paradivisa from the MCEs of the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba (GOE/A), Red Sea. The mesophotic zone in some parts of the study site harbors a specialized coral community predominantly comprising E. paradivisa (73 % of the total coral cover), distributed from 36 to 72 m depth. Here we sought to elucidate the strict distribution but high abundance of E. paradivisa in the MCEs at the GOE/A. We present 4 yr of observations and experiments that provide insight into the physiological plasticity of E. paradivisa: its low mortality rates at high light intensities, high competitive abilities, successful symbiont adaptation to the shallow-water environment, and tolerance to bleaching conditions or survival during prolonged bleaching. Despite its ability to survive under high irradiance in shallow water, E. paradivisa is not found in the shallow reef of the GOE/A. We suggest several factors that may explain the high abundance and exclusivity of E. paradivisa in the MCE: its heterotrophic capabilities; its high competition abilities; the possibility of it finding a deep-reef refuge there from fish predation; and its concomitant adaptation to this environment.

[ISRAEL NEONATOLOGY: PRESENT AND FUTURE].

PubMed

Dollberg, Shaul

2016-01-01

The practice of neonatology in Israel debuted in the 1970s as local enterprises by individual hospitals that needed to provide sick and preterm newly born infants with up-to-date and effective care. Descriptions of research and advances in humane and gentle treatment during neonatal care for preterm infants and their families, as well as prevention of neonatal infections, follow-up of preterm infants and care of full-term infants are presented in this issue. The Israel National Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) Infant database provides an excellent source of knowledge, which has led to multiple scientific publications. Recent international comparisons of the outcome of preterm VLBW infants, made possible by this unique database in Israel, has provided the neonatal community and the Ministry of Health with insights as to the differences in prognosis between Israel and other countries, especially among extremely low birth weight infants. At the border of viability, mortality in Israelis significantly higher than that reported in other countries and proactive steps undertaken to examine these differences and prompt correctional action should be pursued. The Israel Ministry of Health started positive initiatives and should ensure that their steps are implemented at the preterm infant's bedside.

English Teachers' Journal (Israel), 1991.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

English Teachers' Journal (Israel), 1991

1991-01-01

This document consists of the two issues of "English Teachers' Journal (Israel)" issued during 1991. Contents include: "Introduction for English Teachers"; "Announcements for Bagrut Teachers and Examiners"; "News from E.T.A.I. (English Teachers' Association of Israel)" (Ephraim Weintroub); "Learning…

75 FR 75151 - International Service Changes-Israel

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-02

... POSTAL SERVICE 39 CFR Part 20 International Service Changes--Israel AGENCY: Postal Service TM... Limits, and the Individual Country Listings to incorporate a change in Israel's First-Class Mail... proposed rule Federal Register notice (75 FR 39475-39477) that included a change to Israel's First-Class...

Israel: Strategic Asset or Strategic Liability?

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-04-23

Martin Fletcher, an NBC News correspondent, with a Palestinian man in Ramallah, Israel. During the interview, Mustafa al Khteeb says, “I cannot feed my...Kilometers Petra Qunaltlra Syria Az-Zarqa . • Jordan AI Karak CJ - Arab State/Palestine Jewish State{Israel Corpus Separatum/ Jerusalem BASED...and Walt, The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy, 53. 129 Ibid., 53-4. 130 Ibid., 54. 131 Martin Fletcher, “Not Welcome: Disappointment Greets

The State of Young Children in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kosher, Hanita, Ed.

2015-01-01

This document, based on the statistical yearbook, "Children in Israel 2014," presents data on the population of young children in Israel. The document presents a current picture of the well-being of young children in Israel intended to assist policy-makers and practitioners to understand the situation of this group of children and to…

A Kid's Catalog of Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burstein, Chaya M.

This book examines the history, customs, language, crafts, recipes, geography, and music of Israel. Written in a format that appeals to juvenile readers, the book contains stories, facts, legends, photographs, maps, and illustrations to enhance the text. The 17 chapters include: (1) "All Around Israel"; (2) "A Mishmash of…

Chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments in solar saltern microbial mats

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Villanueva, Joan; Grimalt, Joan O.; de Wit, Rutger; Keely, Brendan J.; Maxwell, James R.

1994-11-01

The distributions of carotenoids, chlorophylls, and their degradation products have been studied in two microbial mat systems developed in the calcite and calcite/gypsum evaporite domains of a solar saltern system. Phormidium valderianum and Microcoleus chthonoplastes are the dominant cyanobacterial species, respectively, and large amounts of Chloroflexus-like bacteria occur in the carbonate/gypsum mat. In both systems, the major pigments are chlorophyll a, zeaxanthin, β-carotene and myxoxanthophyll, which originate from these mat-building cyanobacteria. This common feature contrasts with differences in other pigments that are specific for each mat community. Thus, chlorophyll c and fucoxanthin, reflecting diatom inputs, are only found in the calcite mat, whereas the calcite/gypsum mat contains high concentrations of bacteriochlorophylls c produced by the multicellular green filamentous bacteria. In both cases, the depth concentration profiles (0-30 and 0-40 mm) show a relatively good preservation of the cyanobacterial carotenoids, zeaxanthin, β-carotene, myxoxanthophyll, and echinenone. This contrasts with the extensive biodegradation of cyanobacterial remains observed microscopically. Fucoxanthin in the calcite mat is also transformed at a faster rate than the cyanobacterial carotenoids. Chlorophyll a, the major pigment in both mats, exhibits different transformation pathways. In the calcite/gypsum mat, it is transformed via C-13 2 carbomethoxy defunctionalization prior to loss of the phytyl chain, leading to the formation of pyrophaeophytin a and, subsequently, pyrophaeophorbide a. On the other hand, the occurrence of the enzyme chlorophyllase, attributed to diatoms in the calcite mat, gives rise to extensive phytyl hydrolysis, with the formation of chlorophyllide a, pyrophaeophorbide a and, in minor proportion, phaeophorbide a. Studies of the sources of the photosynthetic pigments and of their transformation pathways in such simplified ecosystems provide a

Mature Zionism: Education and the Scholarly Study of Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alexander, Hanan A.

2015-01-01

A new approach to Israel education has emerged to counteract what has been a tendency to romanticize Israel by avoiding criticism; it presumes that Israel engagement has much to offer a meaningful Jewish identity, but only when encountered critically, taking into account Israel's many complexities. However, prevailing scholarly trends may not…

Commitment among Arab adolescents in Israel.

PubMed

Ben-Ari, A T; Azaiza, F

1998-10-01

Arab adolescents' commitments to their own self-development, their family, their extended family, the Arab people, and their village were explored. The sample consisted of 662 Arab adolescents in 12th grade in 7 high schools in Arab villages, Arab towns, and mixed towns (Jews and Arabs) in Israel. The findings reflect the unique situation of Arab adolescents living in Israel. The polarity found between individualistic and collectivistic ideas, in terms of commitment, illustrates the cultural transformation that Arab society in Israel is currently undergoing.

Girls in Distress in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steiner, Yosepha

The typical girl in distress in Israel comes from a Jewish family of oriental origin. Her distress is partially due to the strains of immigrating to Israel from, in most cases, North Africa. Authority models in distressed girls' families feature either the role of the father as the commanding familial authority figure; the mother as the dominant…

[The history of plastic surgery in Israel].

PubMed

Wiser, Itay; Scheflan, Michael; Heller, Lior

2014-09-01

The medical institutions in the country have advanced together with the development of the state of Israel. Plastic surgery, which has progressed significantly during the 20th century, has also grown rapidly in the new state. The arrival of Jewish plastic surgeons from all over the world with the knowledge and experience gained in their countries of origin, as well as the need for reconstructive surgical treatment for many combat injured soldiers, also contributed to the development of plastic surgery. This review tells the story of plastic surgery in Israel, since its foundation until nowadays. This article reviews the work of the founders of plastic surgery in Israel, indicating significant milestones in its development, and clinical and scientific contribution to the international plastic surgery profession. Moreover, the article describes the current condition of the field of plastic surgery in Israel and presents the trends and the future challenges facing the next generation of plastic surgery in Israel.

7 CFR 319.56-49 - Eggplant from Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 5 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Eggplant from Israel. 319.56-49 Section 319.56-49... from Israel. Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) may be imported into the continental United States from Israel only under the conditions described in this section. These conditions are designed to prevent the...

7 CFR 319.56-49 - Eggplant from Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 5 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Eggplant from Israel. 319.56-49 Section 319.56-49... from Israel. Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) may be imported into the continental United States from Israel only under the conditions described in this section. These conditions are designed to prevent the...

7 CFR 319.56-49 - Eggplant from Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 5 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Eggplant from Israel. 319.56-49 Section 319.56-49... from Israel. Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) may be imported into the continental United States from Israel only under the conditions described in this section. These conditions are designed to prevent the...

Offshore Evidence for an Undocumented Tsunami Event in the 'Low Risk' Gulf of Aqaba-Eilat, Northern Red Sea.

PubMed

Goodman Tchernov, Beverly; Katz, Timor; Shaked, Yonathan; Qupty, Nairooz; Kanari, Mor; Niemi, Tina; Agnon, Amotz

2016-01-01

Although the Gulf of Aqaba-Eilat is located in the tectonically active northern Red Sea, it has been described as low-risk with regard to tsunami activity because there are no modern records of damaging tsunami events and only one tsunami (1068 AD) referred to in historical records. However, this assessment may be poorly informed given that the area was formed by and is located along the seismically active Dead Sea Fault, its population is known to fluctuate in size and literacy in part due to its harsh hyper-arid climate, and there is a dearth of field studies addressing the presence or absence of tsunamigenic deposits. Here we show evidence from two offshore cores for a major paleotsunami that occurred ~2300 years ago with a sedimentological footprint that far exceeds the scarce markers of the historically mentioned 1068 AD event. The interpretation is based on the presence of a laterally continuous and synchronous, anomalous sedimentological deposit that includes allochtonous inclusions and unique structural characteristics. Based on sedimentological parameters, these deposits could not be accounted for by other transport events, or other known background sedimentological processes.

Utilization of antiepileptic drugs in Israel.

PubMed

Berman, Erez; Marom, Eli; Ekstein, Dana; Blatt, Ilan; Eyal, Sara

2016-08-01

The aim of the study was to identify trends in utilization of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) over time in a nation-wide population in Israel. Data on AED utilization (for all indications) for the period 2010-2014 were obtained from pharmaceutical companies that distribute AEDs in Israel. Prevalence of AED utilization was reported as defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 inhabitants/day. The utilization of most AEDs included in our analysis remained stable over the study period. The greatest increases in utilization of drugs established in Israel were observed for lamotrigine (33%), oxcarbazepine (31%), and primidone (18%). Decreases in use were recorded for carbamazepine (18%) and phenobarbital (15%). Use of older AEDs appeared to be relatively high, compared with the use of newer AEDs. During the study period of 2010-2014, conventional AEDs remained a main treatment choice in Israel, in certain cases in contrast to current recommendations and guidelines, for reasons yet to be revealed in further research. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Species Diversity of Hypogeous Ascomycetes in Israel

PubMed Central

Wasser, Solomon P.

2010-01-01

We conducted a species diversity study of the hypogeous Ascomycetes of Israel. The hypogeous Ascomycetes in Israel include members of the families Pyronemataceae, Pezizaceae, and Tuberaceae, which are represented by seven species: Hydnocystis piligera, Terfezia arenaria, T. claveryi, T. oligosperma, Tirmania africana, Tuber asa, and T. nitidum; only T. asa is new to Israeli mycobiota. Synonymy, locations, collection data, general distribution, distribution in Israel, descriptions, a key to identification, illustrations, and taxonomic remarks are provided. PMID:23956647

[60 years of medical genetics in Israel].

PubMed

Shalev, Stavit A; Borochowitz, Zvi U; Zlotogora, Joel

2010-02-01

The principle deeds of genetics in Israel consist of a wide array of disciplines including agriculture, nutrients, biotechnology, pharmacology and pharmacogenetics, pertaining to criminal as well as medical aspects. In the scope of this state of the art historical review, the authors emphasize the medical issues. The initial stimulus for genetic studies and medical awareness among the various ethnic populations in Israel was the immigration, in the early 1950s, of over a million Jewish immigrants from more than 100 countries from all continents. It was soon recognized that frequencies of genetic diseases differed markedly among the various communities, serving as a trigger for studying and managing these populations. In this state of the art historical review, particular emphasize was given to the historical events concerning genetics in the land of Israel, as well as in the state of Israel. Highlights of genetic diversity of the various ethnic and sub-populations are added, along with the advances and major achievements of the human genetics discipline in the state of Israel.

[Dental manpower prediction in Israel for 2017].

PubMed

Vered, Y; Zini, A; Mann, J

2010-07-01

A recent study published by the authors indicated that according to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics in 2008, Israel had 5800 active dentists, a figure well below the publication by the Ministry of Health. Based on this figure, using the manpower to population ratio method, the following results were obtained: The predicted number of dentist in 2017 would be 6090, based on, the estimated number of Israel: graduates, the estimated number of dentists who would arrive in Israel as immigrants or Israelis who studied abroad, based on an attrition rate of 3% and on the assumption that the number of dentists leaving the country is negligible. Table 2, based on manpower to population ratio, indicates that by 2017, Israel would have 1 dentist per 1400 population, a ratio which is still far above what many countries present, but high for Israel. This might reflect a dramatic change, from employment in public clinics, back to private practices. The results clearly indicate that a shortage of dentists is predicted in the near future and a major brainstorming is urgently required to evaluate these results.

FOREWORD: Nuclear Physics in Astrophysics V

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Auerbach, Naftali; Hass, Michael; Paul, Michael

2012-02-01

The fifth edition of the bi-annual 'Nuclear Physics in Astrophysics (NPA)' conference series was held in Eilat, Israel on April 3-8, 2011. This Conference is also designated as the 24th Nuclear Physics Divisional Conference of the EPS. The main purpose of this conference, as that of the four previous ones in this series, is to deal with those aspects of nuclear physics that are directly related to astrophysics. The concept of such a meeting was conceived by the Nuclear Physics Board of the European Physical Society in 1998. At that time, the idea of such a conference was quite new and it was decided that this meeting would be sponsored by the EPS. The first meeting, in January 2001, was planned and organized in Eilat, Israel. Due to international circumstances the conference was moved to Debrecen, Hungary. Subsequent conferences were held in Debrecen again, in Dresden, Germany, and in Frascati, Italy (moved from Gran Sasso due to the tragic earthquake that hit the L'Aquila region). After 10 years the conference finally returned to Eilat, the originally envisioned site. Eilat is a resort town located on the shore of the Gulf of Eilat, which connects Israel to the Red Sea and further south to the Indian Ocean. It commands spectacular views of the desert and mountains, offering unique touristic attractions. The local scientific backdrop of the conference is the fact that the Israeli scientific scene exhibits a wide variety of research activities in many areas of nuclear physics and astrophysics. A new accelerator, SARAF at Soreq Nuclear Research Center is presently undergoing final acceptance tests. SARAF will serve as a platform for production of radioactive ion beams and nuclear-astrophysics research in Israel. The meeting in Eilat was organized by four Israeli scientific institutions, Hebrew University, Soreq Nuclear Research Center, Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute of Science. The welcome reception and lectures were held at the King Solomon hotel and

Israel: health and beyond.

PubMed

Skorecki, Karl; Horton, Richard

2017-06-24

The principle that global human identity and dignity supersede other values is a broadly accepted conviction that guides practice and policies in the realm of human health in most of the world. An assessment of the level of success that Israel has achieved in health, in the face of formidable challenges, including rapid population growth, diverse and often divided ethnic affiliations, and existential security threats, leads us to propose that extension of this principle of global human identity and dignity, together with the objective of a decent society, as overriding values beyond health to other domains of human endeavour within Israel and in its relations with neighbouring peoples, represents an entirely achievable imperative. The result will be to further advance Israel's aspiration to serve as a model for societal decency with wide international acceptance and engagement. We have identified several determinants of Israel's advancement in health, including: articulation of a clear vision, national purpose, and long-term commitment that seeks to take the health of its citizens seriously; a multi-ethnic population that brings diversity and energy to national progress; a political democracy, which is characterised by robust debate and discussion about the nation's future; national legislation governing cardinal health-care processes; cultural and religious histories that respect and revere scholarship, learning, research, and charitable donation; an expanding economy, with recent but increasing appreciation of the economic, social, and political underpinnings of health and health inequalities; a strong base of international support from the Diaspora Jewish community; and a strong desire for acceptance by the international community in key arenas, especially science and health. As a result, despite the fewer than seven decades since its establishment, Israel has achieved important milestones in health. Nevertheless, this trajectory of achievement is threatened by

Reproduction, abundance and survivorship of two Alveopora spp. in the mesophotic reefs of Eilat, Red Sea

PubMed Central

Eyal-Shaham, Lee; Eyal, Gal; Tamir, Raz; Loya, Yossi

2016-01-01

Although the study of coral reproduction has advanced tremendously over the last few decades, a particular gap exists in our knowledge of the reproductive modes of corals from ‘mesophotic coral ecosystems’ (MCEs) found at 30–150 m depth. Here, we report for the first time on the reproductive patterns, living cover, and survivorship under different light treatments of two scleractinian species from the MCEs of Eilat, Red-Sea: Alveopora allingi and A. ocellata. Both species are found exclusively within MCEs and are high in both abundance and relative cover. These species display a synchronous gametogenic cycles with consecutive oocyte growth and development. Peak of reproductive activity occurs in late summer (September-October), typified by accelerated oocyte growth, coinciding with the rise in seawater temperature. Estimates of fecundity show mean monthly maxima of 48.5 ± 26.3 and 23.5 ± 11.8 (Mean ± SE) oocytes per cm2 for A. allingi and A. ocellata respectively, prior to spawning. A comparison of light and temperature regimes in the shallow vs. MCE environments is presented, and the response of these species to changes in these parameters is discussed. A call encouraging the much-needed studies on the sexuality and reproductive modes of MCE coral species is expressed. PMID:26860656

7 CFR 319.56-24 - Lettuce and peppers from Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 5 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Lettuce and peppers from Israel. 319.56-24 Section 319... Lettuce and peppers from Israel. (a) Lettuce may be imported into the United States from Israel without... section have been met. (b) Peppers (fruit) (Capsicum spp.) from Israel may be imported into the United...

7 CFR 319.56-24 - Lettuce and peppers from Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 5 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Lettuce and peppers from Israel. 319.56-24 Section 319... Lettuce and peppers from Israel. (a) Lettuce may be imported into the United States from Israel without... protected with sticky traps and prophylactic sprays approved for the crop by Israel; (v) The lettuce must be...

7 CFR 319.56-24 - Lettuce and peppers from Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 5 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Lettuce and peppers from Israel. 319.56-24 Section 319... Lettuce and peppers from Israel. (a) Lettuce may be imported into the United States from Israel without... protected with sticky traps and prophylactic sprays approved for the crop by Israel; (v) The lettuce must be...

7 CFR 319.56-24 - Lettuce and peppers from Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 5 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Lettuce and peppers from Israel. 319.56-24 Section 319... Lettuce and peppers from Israel. (a) Lettuce may be imported into the United States from Israel without... protected with sticky traps and prophylactic sprays approved for the crop by Israel; (v) The lettuce must be...

The Israel Cancer Association's role as a volunteer organization in forecasting, establishing, implementing and upgrading palliative care services in Israel.

PubMed

Kislev, Livia; Yaffe, Aliza; Ziv, Miri; Waller, Alexander

2013-10-01

The Israel Cancer Association has contributed, as a key player, to the establishment and upgrade of palliative care in Israel. The aim of this article is to describe the involvement and contribution of the ICA, as a volunteer organization, from a clinical, educational, legal, and organizational perspective. Another main goal of this survey is to shed light on the palliative care network in Israel, in each one of these infrastructures.

Salinirubellus salinus gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a marine solar saltern.

PubMed

Hou, Jing; Zhao, Yang-Jie; Zhu, Lin; Cui, Heng-Lin

2018-06-01

A halophilic archaeal strain, designated ZS-35-S2 T , was isolated from Zhoushan marine solar saltern in Zhejiang Province, China. Cells were pleomorphic, Gram-stain-negative and formed red-pigmented colonies on agar plates. The cells lysed in distilled water and the minimal NaCl concentration to prevent cell lysis was 8 % (w/v). Strain ZS-35-S2 T was able to grow at 25-50 °C (optimum, 37 °C), with 1.4-4.8 M NaCl (optimum, 2.1 M), with 0-1.0 M MgCl2 (optimum, 0.1 M) and at pH 5.0-9.5 (optimum, pH 7.5). Phylogenetic tree reconstructions based on 16S rRNA genes and rpoB' genes revealed that strain ZS-35-S2 T was distinct from the related genera Halomarina, Natronomonas, Halorientalis, Salinirubrum and Halobaculum of the order Halobacteriales. The major polar lipids of the strain were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester and three unidentified glycolipids. The two major glycolipids were chromatographically identical to S-DGD-1 and DGD-1, respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain ZS-35-S2 T is 67.0 mol%. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties suggested that strain ZS-35-S2 T (=CGMCC 1.12551 T =JCM 30036 T ) represents a novel species of a new genus within the order Halobacteriales, for which the name Salinirubellus salinus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed.

Formal and Applied Counseling in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Israelashvili, Moshe; Wegman-Rozi, Orit

2012-01-01

Living in Israel is intensive and demanding but also meaningful and exciting. This article addresses the gap between the narrowly defined formal status of counseling in Israel and the widespread occurrence of counseling in various settings. It is argued that several recent changes, especially in the definition of treatment, along with the…

[Dental practitioners in Israel: past, present and future].

PubMed

Mann, J; Vered, Y; Zini, A

2010-04-01

Since 1980 various studies have been published in Israel dealing with dental manpower issues, utilizing several methods such as manpower to population ratio. The dental literature pointed out that dentistry in Israel has an over supply of dentists and that manpower to population ratio is one of the highest in the world 1:770. All studies were based on the information provided by the Ministry of Health which showed that Israel has over 9500 dentists. The Israel Central Bureau of Statistics figures showed a much smaller number which was 5700 active dentists. This enormous gap in between two sources of information, following strict examination of the data revealed that the Bureau of Statistics information is reliable and hence, the real manpower to population ratio in Israel in 2008 was 1:1271. Prediction of manpower is extremely important and the base line information is crucial for future evaluations.

Utilization of waste bittern from saltern as a source for magnesium and an absorbent for carbon dioxide capture.

PubMed

Na, Choon-Ki; Park, Hyunju; Jho, Eun Hea

2017-10-01

During solar salt production, large quantities of bittern, a liquid by-product containing high inorganic substance concentrations, are produced. The purpose of this research was to examine the utilization of waste bittern generated from salterns as a source for Mg production and as an absorbent for carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture. The study was conducted in a sequential two-step process. At NaOH/Mg molar ratios of 2.70-2.75 and pH 9.5-10.0, > 99% Mg precipitation from the bittern was achieved. After washing with water, 100-120 g/L of precipitate containing 94% Mg(OH) 2 was recovered from the bittern. At the optimum NH 4 OH concentration of 5%, 120 g of sodium bicarbonate precipitate per liter of bittern were recovered, which was equivalent to 63 g CO 2 captured per liter of bittern. These results can be used to support the use of bittern as a resource and reduce economic losses during solar salt production.

Israel’s Strategic Doctrine.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-09-01

realism regarding the attainable objectives for the Israelis in any particular war. Former Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Israel Tal notes that...flict, 1975, pp. 193-194. Brigadier General Y. Raviv estimated the possible Iraqi contribution to the "Eastern Front" as up to five divisions with...1200 tanks. Y. Raviv , The Israel-Arab Military Balance Following the Peace Treaty with Egypt (Hebrew), 1979, p. 13. As of this writing, the Iraq-Iran

Advanced Material Nanotechnology in Israel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Figovsky, O.; Beilin, D.; Blank, N.

One of the most interesting directions in material engineering during the past few years is the technical development of nanocomposite materials consisting from two or more phases with precise interphase border and nanostructured materials based on interpenetrated polymer network. Israel is one of world leaders in fundamental and industrial nanotechnology research, including fostering of start-up companies. Some important developments in the field of nanotechnology material engineering in Israel are summarized in the paper.

Israel’s Technology Sector

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-11-01

Israel’s military sales to China , inadequate Israeli protection of U.S. intellectual property, and espionage-related cases. 275 Sharon Sadeh...Brazil, Canada, Germany, and Turkey. China has been a major client, although Israel has backed off on some sales activity after protests from the...Israel to cancel the sale to China of the Phalcon, an advanced, airborne early-warning system. In 2005 the U.S. Department of Defense was angered by

Offshore Evidence for an Undocumented Tsunami Event in the ‘Low Risk’ Gulf of Aqaba-Eilat, Northern Red Sea

PubMed Central

Goodman Tchernov, Beverly; Katz, Timor; Shaked, Yonathan; Qupty, Nairooz; Kanari, Mor; Niemi, Tina; Agnon, Amotz

2016-01-01

Although the Gulf of Aqaba-Eilat is located in the tectonically active northern Red Sea, it has been described as low-risk with regard to tsunami activity because there are no modern records of damaging tsunami events and only one tsunami (1068 AD) referred to in historical records. However, this assessment may be poorly informed given that the area was formed by and is located along the seismically active Dead Sea Fault, its population is known to fluctuate in size and literacy in part due to its harsh hyper-arid climate, and there is a dearth of field studies addressing the presence or absence of tsunamigenic deposits. Here we show evidence from two offshore cores for a major paleotsunami that occurred ~2300 years ago with a sedimentological footprint that far exceeds the scarce markers of the historically mentioned 1068 AD event. The interpretation is based on the presence of a laterally continuous and synchronous, anomalous sedimentological deposit that includes allochtonous inclusions and unique structural characteristics. Based on sedimentological parameters, these deposits could not be accounted for by other transport events, or other known background sedimentological processes. PMID:26815553

Gifted Immigrants and Refugees in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rosemarin, Shoshana

2011-01-01

Since its establishment in 1948, the state of Israel has acquired a lot of experience in absorbing Jews who migrated from different parts of the globe. Two very different groups have immigrated into Israel during the last two decades--Ethiopians (100.000) and Russians (700.000). Due to the basic differences between those groups and cultures, the…

Explaining the United States-Israel Relationship

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-01

OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AMRAAM Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles BARD Binational Agricultural Research and Development BIRD ...United States- Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development ( BIRD ) along with the Binational Agricultural R&D Foundation (BARD) and the...foreign oil. In 2007, the BIRD Energy program was created, which has already received millions in investments for joint United States-Israel

International Spotlight: Israel

PubMed Central

Glicksman, Allen; Litwin, Howard

2011-01-01

The State of Israel provides significant opportunities to study social processes that can enhance our understanding of the aging experience. It has high life expectancy and rapid growth of its older population. With an older cohort that is composed largely of former immigrants and includes a minority Arab population, Israel provides much diversity for gerontological study. Among the unique issues facing older Israelis are the aging of Holocaust survivors, modernization in the Arab sector, and privatization in the kibbutzim. New legislation related to pensions and universal health care is expected to affect aging processes. The development of “supportive communities” offers a new service model. The article notes 2 longitudinal studies of importance—the Israeli component of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe and the Jerusalem Longitudinal Cohort Study. PMID:22038339

Israel versus Hezbollah 2006: Assessing Israeli Strategy

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-02-13

Century Air Force, CSAF White Paper, 27 December 2007. 27 Pressman , Jeremy. Middle East Brief: The United States and the Israel-Hezbollah. Walthan...Divining Victory, 5. 41 Pressman , Jeremy, Middle East Brief: The United States and the Israel-Hezbollah, Crown Center for Middle East Studies

Requirements for Continuing Engineering Education in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brandon, D. G.; Nir, D.

1985-01-01

The population of practicing engineers in Israel was analyzed by age, specialization, and country of training. These results were compared with results of a questionnaire survey of Israeli engineering graduates on the need for continuing engineering education in Israel. Results are reported and discussed. (JN)

Emblematic Gestures among Hebrew Speakers in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Safadi, Michaela; Valentine, Carol Ann

A field study conducted in Israel sought to identify emblematic gestures (body movements that convey specific messages) that are recognized and used by Hebrew speakers. Twenty-six gestures commonly used in classroom interaction were selected for testing, using Schneller's form, "Investigations of Interpersonal Communication in Israel."…

[The pioneer otolaryngologists in Eretz-Israel: 1911-1948].

PubMed

Golz, Avishay

2013-07-01

Until 1911 there was no ear nose and throat (ENT) specialist in Eretz-Israel. Dr. Moshe Sherman, an ENT specialist, disembarked at the port of Jaffa on August 4, 1911. He had trained in Moscow, and was the first otolaryngologist in the country. Between 1911 and 1948, over 100 otolaryngologists arrived in Eretz-Israel and were dispersed throughout the country from Safed and Tiberias in the North to Rehovot in the South. These physicians brought modern and advanced European medicine to Israel. Many left their imprint on the development of ENT medicine in the country, laying the foundations of today's otolaryngologic services both in clinical and academic spheres. ENT medicine, like other fields of medicine, evolved following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Many departments were opened and equipped with the best modern instruments and technology. Department heads are the pupils of our pioneer physicians. The memory of these talented and dedicated physicians should be remembered and cherished by their successors and all physicians in Israel.

Israel's Latest Conflict: Paying for Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kalman, Matthew

2007-01-01

This article describes Israel's latest conflict--plummeting government spending and strikes by faculty members and students which are threatening the stability of the country's universities. The founders of the modern state of Israel considered higher education to be so important that they established the country's first two universities long…

Women's Participation in Academic Conferences in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eden, Devorah

2016-01-01

This article examines the participation of women in academic conferences in Israel, a country in which women are under-represented in academia vertically and horizontally. Data were retrieved from announcements of academic conferences in Israel, for one academic year, covering 56 conferences that attracted 997 participants. Participation was…

Isolation and characterization from solar salterns of North Algeria of a haloarchaeon producing a new halocin.

PubMed

Mazguene, Souhila; Rossi, Mosè; Gogliettino, Marta; Palmieri, Gianna; Cocca, Ennio; Mirino, Sara; Imadalou-Idres, Nacera; Benallaoua, Said

2018-03-01

Halophilic archaea, thriving in hypersaline environments, synthesize antimicrobial substances with an unknown role, called halocins. It has been suggested that halocin production gives transient competitive advantages to the producer strains and represents one of the environmental factors influencing the microbial community composition. Herein, we report on the antibacterial activity of a new haloarchaeon selected from solar salterns of the northern coast of Algeria. A total of 81 halophilic strains, isolated from the microbial consortia, were screened for the production of antimicrobial compounds by interspecies competition test and against a collection of commercial haloarchaea. On the basis of the partial 16S rRNA sequencing, the most efficient halocin producer was recognized as belonging to Haloferax (Hfx) sp., while the best indicator microorganism, showing high sensitivity toward halocin, was related to Haloarcula genus. The main morphological, physiological and biochemical properties of Hfx were investigated and a partial purification of the produced halocin was allowed to identify it as a surface membrane protein with a molecular mass between 30 and 40 kDa. Therefore, in this study, we isolated a new strain belonging to Haloferax genus and producing a promising antimicrobial compound useful for applications in health and food industries.

48 CFR 252.225-7031 - Secondary Arab boycott of Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Israel. 252.225-7031 Section 252.225-7031 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEFENSE ACQUISITION... of Provisions And Clauses 252.225-7031 Secondary Arab boycott of Israel. As prescribed in 225.7605, use the following provision: Secondary Arab Boycott of Israel (JUN 2005) (a) Definitions. As used in...

Conservation, management, and restoration of coral reefs.

PubMed

Chavanich, Suchana; Soong, Keryea; Zvuloni, Assaf; Rinkevich, Baruch; Alino, Porfirio

2015-04-01

The 8th International Conference on Coelenterate Biology (ICCB 8) was held in Eilat, Israel from December 1st to 5th 2013. The conference included 15 sessions, one of which discussed the latest information on the conservation, management, and restoration of Coelenterata in different parts of the world. A total of 16 oral presentations and 5 posters were presented in this session. Of these 21 papers, 11 were related to conservation issues, 7 described management, and 3 discussed restoration. This session provided insights on the current conservation, management, and restoration of coelenterates in different parts of the world. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

77 FR 21748 - Oil and Gas Trade Mission to Israel

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-11

... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration Oil and Gas Trade Mission to Israel... Foreign Commercial Service (CS), is organizing an Executive-led Oil and Gas Trade Mission to Israel.... The purpose of the mission is to introduce U.S. firms to Israel's rapidly expanding oil and gas market...

48 CFR 652.225-70 - Arab League Boycott of Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Israel. 652.225-70 Section 652.225-70 Federal Acquisition Regulations System DEPARTMENT OF STATE CLAUSES... League Boycott of Israel. As prescribed in 625.7002(a), insert the following provision: Arab League Boycott of Israel (AUG 1999) (a) Definitions. As used in this provision: Foreign person means any person...

Israel security in the 21st century: Risks and opportunities. Research report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eisenkot, G.

Unlike the United States which publicizes its national security strategy and national military strategy in official public documents, Israel, does not produce such documents for the general public. This may appear paradoxical in that the State of Israel, from its very inception, has invested enormous energy in its security. Nevertheless, Israel has no detailed security doctrine approved and updated by the Cabinet, the Knesset (Israel`s parliament) or the General Staff. The lack of an official, published, security doctrine does not imply that Israel lacks a coherent political and military strategy based on doctrine-like concepts. Israel`s political and military successes aremore » proof to the contrary. Our purpose, then, is to identify a number of the critical Security Principles that have shaped Israeli strategy. This will provide us the foundation for our main discussion which is the risks and challenges to Israeli security in the 21st century and possible responses to those challenges.« less

Israel’s Interests and Options in Syria

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-01-01

israel-syria-druze-golan-heights-assad-rebels-civil-war.html ———, “Israel Fears Return of Persian Empire,” Al-Monitor, September 21, 2015b. As of...December 14, 2015: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/09/ israel-fear- persian -empire-iran-shiite-hezbollah-axis-nuke.html ———, “Russia, Israeli...December 14, 2015: http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/23796/Default.aspx Peled, Daniella, “ISIS in Jordan: King Abdullah’s Battle for the

Israel: Background and U.S. Relations

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-11-01

material that could be used for nuclear weapons—apparently adding to existing Israeli concerns regarding Iranian uranium enrichment. The reactor under...York, September 24, 2013. 45 Walter Russell Mead, “Threading the Needle,” blogs.the-american-interest.com, October 25, 2013. 46 Israel Prime...civil war,” haaretz.com, September 17, 2013. 59 “‘Israel will not accept deal that allows Iran to enrich uranium ,’” israelhayom.com, October 23, 2013

Spirituality in Teacher Training at an Islamic College in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Erdreich, Lauren

2016-01-01

This article looks at an Islamic teacher training college in Israel in an attempt to understand how religious revival shapes women's understandings of being Muslim women professionals in Israel. The college grew out of Islamic revival in Israel; its teacher training program reflects the sensibilities that Islamic revival hopes to foster in women…

Draft genome sequence of Halorubrum tropicale strain V5, a novel halophilic archaeon isolated from the solar salterns of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.

PubMed

Sánchez-Nieves, Rubén; Facciotti, Marc T; Saavedra-Collado, Sofía; Dávila-Santiago, Lizbeth; Rodríguez-Carrero, Roy; Montalvo-Rodríguez, Rafael

2016-03-01

The genus Halorubrum is a member of the family Halobacteriaceae which currently has the highest number of described species (31) of all the haloarchaea. Here we report the draft genome sequence of strain V5, a new species within this genus that was isolated from the solar salterns of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Assembly was performed and rendered the genome into 17 contigs (N50 = 515,834 bp), the largest of which contains 1,031,026 bp. The genome consists of 3.57 MB in length with G + C content of 67.6%. In general, the genome includes 4 rRNAs, 52 tRNAs, and 3246 protein-coding sequences. The NCBI accession number for this genome is LIST00000000 and the strain deposit number is CECT9000.

Salinisphaera orenii sp. nov., isolated from a solar saltern.

PubMed

Park, Soo-Je; Cha, In-Tae; Kim, So-Jeong; Shin, Kee-Sun; Hong, YoungSoo; Roh, Dong-Hyun; Rhee, Sung-Keun

2012-08-01

A taxonomic study was performed on two isolates, designated strains MK-B5(T) and MK-B7, isolated from sediment of a solar saltern pond in Gomso Bay, Republic of Korea. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strains MK-B5(T) and MK-B7 belong to the Gammaproteobacteria and are related most closely to Salinisphaera shabanensis JCM 11575(T) ( = E1L3A(T)) (96.3 and 96.5% similarity, respectively), Salinisphaera dokdonensis KCCM 90064(T) ( = CL-ES53(T)) (95.6 and 95.6%) and Salinisphaera hydrothermalis JCM 115514(T) ( = EPR70(T)) (95.1 and 95.3%). The level of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strains MK-B5(T) and MK-B7 was 99.8%. The G+C contents of their genomic DNAs were 63.4 and 63.6 mol%, respectively, and the major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8. DNA-DNA relatedness between strains MK-B5(T) and MK-B7 was 98%, indicating that the two isolates represent a single species. However, the level of DNA-DNA relatedness between the two isolates and S. shabanensis E1L3A(T) (26.4-30.8%) indicates that they represent a novel species. Strains MK-B5(T) and MK-B7 possessed C(14:0), C(16:0) and C(19:0)ω8c cyclo as major fatty acids. The two isolates were Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, short rod-shaped and motile. They grew at 10-40 °C (optimum, 35-37 °C), at pH 5.0-8.5 (optimum, 7.0-7.5) and with 5-25% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 15% NaCl). On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses, strains MK-B5(T) and MK-B7 are thus considered to represent a novel species of the genus Salinisphaera, for which the name Salinisphaera orenii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MK-B5(T) ( = KCTC 23198(T) = JCM 17073(T)).

Roseovarius salinarum sp. nov., isolated from a marine solar saltern.

PubMed

Wang, Nan-Nan; Liu, Zuan-Yan; Jiang, Lai-Xiang; Li, Ying-Xiu; Du, Zong-Jun

2018-06-01

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile and halophilic bacterium, designated N53 T , was isolated from a marine solar saltern in Wendeng, China. Cells of strain N53 T were 0.3-0.4 µm wide and 2.0-5.5 µm long, catalase-positive and oxidase-positive. The bacterium grew optimally at 33 °C, at pH 7.0-8.0 and in the presence of 6.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Bacteriochlorophyll a was not found. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain N53 T formed a phylogenetic lineage with members of the genus Roseovarius. Strain N53 T exhibited the highest levels of similarity to Roseovarius pacificus (94.6 %) and Roseovarius confluentis (94.6 %), with a lower level to Roseovarius tolerans was 94.0 %. The percentage of conserved proteins and average nucleotide identity values between N53 T and the type strain of the type species, Roseovarius tolerans, were 66.1 and 76.4 %, respectively. The genomic DNA G+C content was 68.1 mol%. The sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The predominant cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were C18 : 1ω7c (54.0 %) and C16 : 0 (17.9 %). The polar lipids of strain N53 T consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified aminolipid, two unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified glycolipids. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the chemotaxonomic and genomic distinctiveness, revealed that strain N53 T was separate from other recognized species of the genus Roseovarius. On the basis of the data presented here, strain N53 T represents a novel species of the genus Roseovarius, for which the name Roseovariussalinarum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is N53 T (=MCCC 1H00200 T =KCTC 52886 T ).

Special forces medicine in Israel: history and future direction.

PubMed

Ostfeld, Ishay; Paran, Haim; Chen, Jacob; Barneis, Yotam; Dreyfuss, Uriel; Kedem, Hagai; Glassberg, Elon

2014-01-01

The Special Forces (SF) of the Israel Defense Force (IDF) have a long and pioneering history in tactical and medical aspects. Moreover, the importance of medical assistance is highly regarded in the Israeli SF community. Consequently, as current military challenges of Israel increase, the need for SF activity and for its medical support increases as well. Therefore, the authors anticipate that further development of SF medicine (SFM), as a specific branch of military medicine in Israel, will continue. 2014.

Trends in human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancer in Israel.

PubMed

Amit, Moran; Ilana, Kaplan; Avraham, Sharon Pelles; Binenbaum, Yoav; Bachar, Gideon; Billan, Salem; Zaarura, Suliman; Czerninski, Rakefet; Bar-Tov, Matan; Maly, Alexander; Akrish, Sharon; Gil, Ziv

2016-04-01

The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in oropharyngeal cancer (SCC) is well established. The annual incidence of oropharyngeal SCC in Israel is considerably lower than that in the United States. The purpose of this study was to assess the rate of HPV-related oropharyngeal SCC in Israel. The cohort included patients with oropharyngeal SCC who were treated during 1999 to 2011 in Israel. HPV typing was carried out using reverse hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Of the 74 patients analyzed, 25 (33.7%) had detectable HPV DNA. Patients in the HPV-positive group tended to be younger, with a higher rate of nodal metastases, and no history of smoking (p < .02). This study demonstrated a rate of HPV-related oropharyngeal SCC in Israel as approximately 3-fold lower than in Western countries. Low exposure to HPV-16, a lower rate of transformation, to cancer or protective genetic factors may contribute to the lower rate of oropharyngeal SCC in Israel. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E274-E278, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Progress in palliative care in Israel: comparative mapping and next steps

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Palliative care was established rapidly in some countries, while in other countries its establishment has taken a different trajectory. This paper identifies core steps in developing a medical specialty and examines those taken by Israel as compared with the US and England for palliative care. It considers the next steps Israel may take. Palliative care aims to provide quality of life for those with serious illnesses by attending to the illness-prompted physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs of patients and their families. It has ancient roots in medicine; its modern iteration began against the backdrop of new cures and life-sustaining technology which challenged conceptions of how to respect the sanctity of life. The first modern hospice was created by Saunders; it provided proof that palliative care works, and this has occurred in Israel as well (the first step). Another key step is usually skills development among clinicians; in Israel, few education and training opportunities exist so far. Specialty recognition also has not yet occurred in Israel. Service development remains limited and a major shortage of services exists, compared to the US. Research capacity in Israel is also limited. Policy to develop and sustain palliative care in Israel is underway; in 2009, the Ministry of Health established policy for implementing palliative care. However, it still lacks a financially viable infrastructure. We conclude that palliative care in Israel is emerging but has far to go. Adequate resource allocation, educational guidelines, credentialed manpower and specialty leadership are the key factors that palliative care development in Israel needs. PMID:22913773

A "Brief History" of Developmental Biology in Israel.

PubMed

Sela-Donenfeld, Dalit; Frank, Dale

2017-01-01

While the history of developmental biology in Israel is relatively short, its impact is far-reaching, so we wanted to present a concise perspective on the Israeli developmental biology community, past-present-future. This community has undergone a wonderful, nearly exponential growth over the last three decades. How exactly did this happen? There are approximately fifty research groups that focus on developmental biology questions in Israel today that are members of the Israel Society of Developmental Biology (IsSDB; http://issdb.org/). The community has representative groups in a plethora of model systems, such as Nematostella, C. elegans, Drosophila, sea urchin, ascidians, zebrafish, Xenopus, chick and mouse, as well as plants, representing all the major universities and their branches, which include Bar-Ilan University, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The University of Haifa, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute of Science.

U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-12

since the late 1990s. In 2008, the United States authorized Israel to receive the GBU - 39 Small Diameter Bomb, a 250-pound class weapon that can...report, the GBU-28 and GBU - 39 may not have sufficient strike capacity to damage Iranian underground nuclear targets such as the Fordow uranium enrichment...27 DSCA’s notification to Congress of the GBU - 39 is available at http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2008/ Israel_08-82.pdf. 28 “ANALYSIS-Iran

EPA Collaboration with Israel

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The United States and Israel focus on scientific and technical collaboration to protect the environment, by exchanging scientific and technical information, arranging visits of scientific personnel, cooperating in scientific symposia and workshops, etc.

Acanthamoeba keratitis: study of the 5-year incidence in Israel.

PubMed

Graffi, Shmuel; Peretz, Avi; Jabaly, Haneen; Koiefman, Anna; Naftali, Modi

2013-11-01

Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is not a notifiable disease in Israel, so there are no accurate incidence rates for this condition in Israel. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of AK in Israel for the years 2008-2012. We distributed a survey questionnaire to laboratory managers in Israel. The laboratories were affiliated to medical institutes that either provided ophthalmology services or served community ophthalmology clinics. Our questionnaire requested survey respondents to provide information regarding the methods used to diagnose AK, and the number of positive and negative cultures for Acanthamoebae species performed for each of the years from 2008 to 2012. Six laboratories used non-nutrient agar with Escherichia coli as the culture medium, one used calcofluor-white staining with fluorescent microscopy, and two used PCR for diagnosing AK. Twenty-three AK cases were identified, to give an estimated incidence of 1/1 668 552. AK is mostly attributable to the use of contact lenses. As contact lenses are popular in Israel, we expected a higher incidence rate. A lower than expected incidence rate may indicate insufficient awareness of AK in Israel.

Spending on medicines in Israel in an international context.

PubMed

Sax, Philip

2005-05-01

Like most developed countries, in the last decade Israel's healthcare system has been subject to cost-containing measures in the drug sector. To provide comparative information in an international context on the level of outpatient drug expenditures in Israel, both total and those publicly financed, and to analyze how these have changed with time during the last decade. Using definitions of the OECD (Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development), internationally comparable data on total expenditure and public expenditure on medicines in Israel are provided. The Israeli estimates are based on data from the Ministry of Health audited reports of financial activities of the health management organizations and from the family expenditure surveys carried out by the Central Bureau of Statistics. Per capita total and public expenditures in Israel are analyzed over time, as are their share of national expenditure on health and of gross domestic product. Israel expenditures are then compared with those for individual member countries of the OECD, as well as a 21 country average, from 1992 to 2002. Analysis of the Israeli expenditure data shows a considerable reduction in growth of per capita total and public expenditures on medicines since 1997. Growth in the share of total drug expenditure of NEH and of GDP has also been constrained since 1997. In an international context, per capita expenditure on medicines in Israel, particularly what is publicly financed, is one of the lowest. Furthermore, its share of NEH and GDP is also very low compared to other countries. This substantive gap in spending on medicines between Israel and other countries has increased since 1997. Israel, a medium-income country with a lower than average level of expenditure on health compared to OECD countries, has a particularly low level of expenditure on medicines. Whereas the share of health expenditure of GDP in Israel is similar to the international average, the share of drug expenditure

Israel: Background and U.S. Relations in Brief

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-16

above and below the $500 million mark from year to year. 32 Barbara Opall -Rome, “Israel Claims...at page 119-A, available at http://docs.house.gov/meetings/RU/RU00/20151216/104298/HMTG-114-RU00-20151216-SD004.pdf. 34 Barbara Opall -Rome, “Israel

Israel: Background and U.S. Relations in Brief

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-30

Hezbollah drones, anti-aircraft missiles destroyed in alleged IAF attack, says Syrian opposition,” jpost.com, December 8, 2014. 16 Barbara Opall ...border,” Times of Israel, December 30, 2015. 23 Barbara Opall -Rome, “Israel Invests Billions in Border Barricades,” Defense News, September 7, 2015. 24

Bioethics governance in Israel: an expert regime.

PubMed

Shalev, Carmel; Hashiloni-Dolev, Yael

2011-01-01

This paper provides an overview of bioethics governance in Israel through an analytical description of the legal framework for the interface between individuals and biomedical practices. There is no national agency with general oversight of bioethics policy and decision making, and the rules that apply to individual usage of biomedical technologies are laid down in a multitude of different statutes, regulations and administrative directives. Expert committees play a central role in this regulatory system in two capacities: as governmental advisory bodies that recommend policy; and as decision-making bodies that resolve conflicts around patients' rights or grant individual access to biomedical technologies. This decentralised system of governance through expert committees allows for adaptation to dynamic technological developments and flexibility in accommodating creative societal usage. At the same time the experts are the agents of the state's bio-power at the expense of personal autonomy and open public deliberation. The paper is part of a larger study investigating Israel's bioethics governance and its regime of experts, which includes an examination of the normative level of regulation, and an analysis of the composition of the expert committees. Our findings suggest that Israel has a decentralised system of governance with piecemeal regulation that has established a bioethics technocracy, governed by the ministry of health and dominated by the medical profession. The present paper is confined to a description and discussion of the legal framework of Israel's expert bioethics regime. Here, our major conclusion is that Israel has established a technocracy of official expert ethics committees, which controls life and death decisions.

Evaluating the attractiveness and effectiveness of artificial coral reefs as a recreational ecosystem service.

PubMed

Belhassen, Yaniv; Rousseau, Meghan; Tynyakov, Jenny; Shashar, Nadav

2017-12-01

Artificial reefs are increasingly being used around the globe to attract recreational divers, for both environmental and commercial reasons. This paper examines artificial coral reefs as recreational ecosystem services (RES) by evaluating their attractiveness and effectiveness and by examining divers' attitudes toward them. An online survey targeted at divers in Israel (n = 263) indicated that 35% of the dives in Eilat (a resort city on the shore of the Red Sea) take place at artificial reefs. A second study monitored divers' behavior around the Tamar artificial reef, one of the most popular submerged artificial reefs in Eilat, and juxtaposed it with divers' activities around two adjacent natural reefs. Findings show that the average diver density at the artificial reef was higher than at the two nearby natural knolls and that the artificial reef effectively diverts divers from natural knolls. A third study that examined the attitudes towards natural vs. artificial reefs found that the artificial reefs are considered more appropriate for training, but that divers feel less relaxed around them. By utilizing the RES approach as a framework, the study offers a comprehensive methodology that brings together the aesthetic, behavioral, and attitudinal aspects in terms of which artificial reefs can be evaluated. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Short Profile of Hypnotherapy Licensure in Israel.

PubMed

Binyaminy, Binyamin; Haas, Eric J

2016-01-01

In Israel, only physicians, dentists, and psychologists who complete an accredited licensing process may practice hypnosis. This study examines the characteristics of hypnotherapists compared to nonhypnotherapists in the same discipline. All hypnotherapists in Israel were compared to nonhypnotherapist health professionals. There are more subspecialists among hypnotists, and the most common specialties were psychiatry, pediatric dentistry, and clinical psychology. These findings imply self-sorting of hypnotists as a result of the regulation in Israel. Licensure of hypnotherapists could be useful in other countries by comprehensive follow-up of all licensed hypnotists and by improving public and health professional perceptions of the field and its relevance to clinical practice.

Incidence trends and mortality rates of gastric cancer in Israel.

PubMed

Lavy, Ron; Kapiev, Andronik; Poluksht, Natan; Halevy, Ariel; Keinan-Boker, Lital

2013-04-01

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common malignancy worldwide. The incidence trends and mortality rates of gastric cancer in Israel have not been studied in depth. The aim of our study was to try and investigate the aforementioned issues in Israel in different ethnic groups. This retrospective study is based on the data of The Israel National Cancer Registry and The Central Bureau of Statistics. Published data from these two institutes were collected, summarized, and analyzed in this study. Around 650 new cases of gastric cancer are diagnosed yearly in Israel. While we noticed a decline during the period 1990-2007 in the incidence in the Jewish population (13.6-8.9 and 6.75-5.42 cases per 100,000 in Jewish men and women, respectively), an increase in the Arab population was noticed (7.7-10.2 and 3.7-4.2 cases per 100,000 in men and women, respectively). Age-adjusted mortality rates per 10,000 cases of gastric cancer decreased significantly, from 7.21 in 1990 to 5.46 in 2007, in the total population. The 5-year relative survival showed a slight increase for both men and women. There is a difference in the incidence and outcome of gastric cancer between the Jewish and Arab populations in Israel. The grim prognosis of gastric cancer patients in Israel is probably due to the advanced stage at which gastric cancer is diagnosed in Israel.

Biological properties of carotenoids extracted from Halobacterium halobium isolated from a Tunisian solar saltern

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Bioactive molecules have received increasing attention due to their nutraceutical attributes and anticancer, antioxidant, antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing properties. This study aimed to investigate the biological properties of carotenoids extracted from Archaea. Methods Halophilic Archaea strains were isolated from the brine of a local crystallizer pond (TS7) of a solar saltern at Sfax, Tunisia. The most carotenoid-producing strain (M8) was investigated on heptoma cell line (HepG2), and its viability was assessed by the MTT-test. The cells were incubated with different sub-lethal extract rates, with carotenoid concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 μM. Antioxidant activity was evaluated through exposing the cells to sub-lethal extract concentrations for 24 hours and then to oxidative stress induced by 60 μM arachidonic acid and 50 μM H2O2. Results Compared to non-treated cells, bacterial carotenoid extracts inhibited HepG2 cell viability (50%). A time and dose effect was observed, with cell viability undergoing a significant (P < 0.05) decrease with extract concentration. After exposure to oxidative stress, control cells underwent a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in viability as compared to the non-treated cells. Conclusions The bacterial extracts under investigation were noted to exhibit the strongest free radical scavenging activity with high carotenoid concentrations. The carotenoid extract also showed significant antiproliferative activity against HepG2 human cancer cell lines. PMID:24090008

Aeronautical Envineering at Technion - Israel Institute of Technology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mathieu, Richard D.

The shortage of engineers in Israel and the role that the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology plays in the education of engineers is discussed. Emphasis is placed on the academic program, research, and related activities in the Department of Aeronautical Engineering. A brief description of the development of the institute and its…

Usutu Virus RNA in Mosquitoes, Israel, 2014-2015.

PubMed

Mannasse, Batya; Mendelson, Ella; Orshan, Laor; Mor, Orna; Shalom, Uri; Yeger, Tamar; Lustig, Yaniv

2017-10-01

We identified Usutu virus (USUV) RNA in 6 pools of mosquitoes trapped in northern Israel during 2014-2015. These Israeli strains were most similar to strains identified in Senegal and Germany, which further elucidates common ancestry and evolutionary dynamics of USUV. Our findings suggest that human infection with USUV might occur in Israel.

European Immunology Congress (7th), Jerusalem, Israel.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-11-22

Zan-Bar, Israel. glycoprotein hormone which plays a key tivity, and the authors postulated that immunoregulatory role by inducing ac- IL-2 may have a...the expres- tion relationship of this important im- sion of 33B31 receptors, slows down the . munoregulatory hormone . turnover of these receptors once...Israel) have been studying the stimula- stimulation with monoclonal anti-idio- tion of growth by an FCy receptor ex- typic antibodies against

Violence among Arab Elementary School Pupils in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marie-Alsana, Wisam; Haj-Yahia, Muhammad M.; Greenbaum, Charles W.

2006-01-01

This article examines the prevalence of violence in primary schools attended by Arab children in Israel and the relationship between such exposure and violent behavior among these children. Participants are 388 Arab children (aged 10 to 12 years) living in three localities in Israel. The research focuses on three of the child's roles in relation…

Acculturation Models of Immigrant Soviet Adolescents in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shamai, Shmuel; Ilatov, Zinaida

2005-01-01

This study probed acculturation in Israel of immigrant students from the former USSR from the perception of the host society and the students. The finding from a questionnaire distributed to Israeli-born and immigrant students indicated that most but not all of the Israel-born students applied an assimilatory model while the immigrants were split…

Seasonality of tuberculosis in Israel, 2001-2011.

PubMed

Margalit, I; Block, C; Mor, Z

2016-12-01

Several studies have suggested that the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) varies with the seasons. To determine the seasonality of TB in Israel and to explore possible associations with climatic variables. Laboratory-confirmed TB cases reported between 2001 and 2011 in individuals resident in Israel for at least 1 year before diagnosis were included in the study. Climatic variables included average temperature and average ultraviolet radiation. The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of the population was also recorded. Of all 2653 TB cases, incidence peaked during spring (n = 712) and reached its nadir during the fall (n = 577), with a case proportion amplitude (CPA) of 5.1% (P = 0.036). Individuals born in the Horn of Africa exhibited a CPA of 9.5% (P = 0.077). Mean population 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was significantly correlated with the seasonal pattern of the disease. Southern Israel had the highest global radiation and, counter-instinctively, the highest TB incidence. TB exhibited a seasonal tendency in Israel, with the spring peak/fall nadir pattern found elsewhere. Vitamin D is suspected to be an explanatory variable for this seasonal phenomenon. The finding that the highest incidence is in the area receiving the highest global radiation suggests population-related vulnerability to vitamin D deficiency.

Cystic echinococcosis in Southern Israel.

PubMed

Ben-Shimol, Shalom; Sagi, Orli; Houri, Ohad; Bazarsky, Elina; Berkowitz, Anat; Bulkowstein, Shlomi; Barrett, Chiya; Greenberg, David

2016-01-01

The aim of this retrospective, population-based study was to characterize demographically and clinically cystic-echinococcosis (CE) in southern Israel, between 2005 and 2012. Newly-diagnosed (nd-CE) and past-diagnosed (pd-CE, diagnosed before the study) cases were defined. Two populations live in southern-Israel, receiving medical treatment at a single hospital: the Jewish and the Bedouin populations (resembling resource-rich and resource-poor populations, respectively). 126 CE cases were identified; 55 nd-CE and 71 pd-CE. Mean annual nd-CE incidence per 100,000 in the Bedouin and Jewish populations were 2.7 ± 1.2 and 0.4 ± 0.3, respectively (P<0.001). None of the Bedouin and 86.5% of the Jewish patients were born outside Israel. Liver and lung involvement were recorded in 85.7% and 15.1% of overall-CE, respectively. Abdominal pain, cough, fever, eosinophilia and asymptomatic disease were documented in 63.6%, 32.7%, 27.3%, 41.5% and 12.7% of nd-CE, respectively. Serology sensitivity for first test and any positive test were 67.3% and 83.3%, respectively. Computed tomography, ultrasonography and X-ray diagnosis were documented in 79.2%, 58.4% and 17.0% of overall-CE, respectively, with ultrasonography mainly used in liver-CE and X-ray in lung-CE. Treatment included surgery and albendazole in 50.0% and 55.3% of CE, respectively. We conclude that CE is endemic in southern-Israel among the Bedouin population, while disease is probably mainly imported in the Jewish population. Liver involvement and eosinophilia rates were high compared with those of other endemic regions, possibly due to differences in the timing of diagnosis. These findings may help developing treatment and prevention strategies.

78 FR 47546 - Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Type Certificate Previously Held by Israel...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-06

... Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Type Certificate Previously Held by Israel Aircraft... Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Type Certificate Previously Held by Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.) Model... Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI), which is the aviation authority for Israel, has issued Israeli...

The response of native oaks from California and Israel to drought

Treesearch

Douglas McCreary; Jose M. Gruzweig; Yohay Carmel; Curtis H. Flather

2008-01-01

California and Israel are both characterized by Mediterranean climates, and the native oaks growing in these two locales occupy similar ecological niches. However, in California certain oak species are having difficulty regenerating adequately, while in Israel this is not a problem. From 2004 to 2006, a series of greenhouse studies were conducted in both Israel and...

Concentrating Solar Power Projects in Israel | Concentrating Solar Power |

Science.gov Websites

;alphabetical by project name. You can browse a project profile by clicking on the project name. Ashalim Ashalim NREL Israel Concentrating solar power (CSP) projects in Israel are listed belowâ€"

The essence of nursing in the shifting reality of Israel today.

PubMed

Ben Natan, Merav; Oren, Meir

2011-05-23

Israel's healthcare system is undergoing constant transformation; nurses' roles and education are changing accordingly. Israel's severe shortage of physicians has led to an increase in nurses' authority and responsibilities. The nursing profession is addressing many questions particularly in light of its expanded responsibilities and the current lack of legislation related to the practice of nursing. Additionally Israel is coping with an increasing shortage of nurses and the rapid development of innovative technologies. This article describes Israel's shifting reality and the nation's responses to these changing conditions. Responses include increasing financial support, enhancing educational opportunities, expanding the nursing role, and using new technologies.

Spatio-temporal synchrony of influenza in cities across Israel: the "Israel is one city" hypothesis.

PubMed

Barnea, Oren; Huppert, Amit; Katriel, Guy; Stone, Lewi

2014-01-01

We analysed an 11-year dataset (1998-2009) of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) that was based on surveillance of ∽23% of Israel's population. We examined whether the level of synchrony of ILI epidemics in Israel's 12 largest cities is high enough to view Israel as a single epidemiological unit. Two methods were developed to assess the synchrony: (1) City-specific attack rates were fitted to a simple model in order to estimate the temporal differences in attack rates and spatial differences in reporting rates of ILI. The model showed good fit to the data (R2  =  0.76) and revealed considerable differences in reporting rates of ILI in different cities (up to a factor of 2.2). (2) A statistical test was developed to examine the null hypothesis (H0) that ILI incidence curves in two cities are essentially identical, and was tested using ILI data. Upon examining all possible pairs of incidence curves, 77.4% of pairs were found not to be different (H0 was not rejected). It was concluded that all cities generally have the same attack rate and follow the same epidemic curve each season, although the attack rate changes from season to season, providing strong support for the "Israel is one city" hypothesis. The cities which were the most out of synchronization were Bnei Brak, Beersheba and Haifa, the latter two being geographically remote from all other cities in the dataset and the former geographically very close to several other cities but socially separate due to being populated almost exclusively by ultra-orthodox Jews. Further evidence of assortative mixing of the ultra-orthodox population can be found in the 2001-2002 season, when ultra-orthodox cities and neighborhoods showed distinctly different incidence curves compared to the general population.

Is Israel ready for disease management?

PubMed

Linden, Ariel

2006-10-01

Approximately 60% of all worldwide deaths are caused by chronic disease resulting from modifiable health behaviors. In the United States, structured programs tailored to identify and modify health behaviors of patients with chronic illness have grown into a robust industry called disease management. DM is premised upon the basic assumption that health services utilization and morbidity can be reduced for those with chronic illness by augmenting traditional episodic medical care services and support between physician visits. Given that Israel and the U.S. have similar demographics in their chronically ill populations, it would make intuitive sense for Israel to replicate efforts made in the U.S. to incorporate DM strategies. This paper provides a conceptual framework of how DM could be integrated within the current organizational structure of the Israeli healthcare system, which is uniquely conducive to the implementation of DM on a population-wide basis. While ultimately the decision to invest in DM lies with stakeholders at various institutional levels in Israel, this paper is intended to provide direction and support for that decision-making process.

77 FR 58323 - Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Type Certificate Previously Held by Israel...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-20

... Aerospace LP (Type Certificate Previously Held by Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.) Airplanes AGENCY... Previously Held by Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.) Model Gulfstream G150 airplanes. This proposed AD was.... Discussion The Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI), which is the aviation authority for Israel, has...

Demography and the shaping of Israel's borders.

PubMed

Soffer, A

1989-01-01

"This paper will show that the demographic map of the Land of Israel in its present form is essentially the principal factor in shaping the extent of Jewish settlement in this generation, and that there is little possibility of changing this pattern except for making small and insignificant adjustments." The author describes the changing demographic picture in Palestine from the late nineteenth century to the present day, particularly changes in the ethnic composition of the population. He concludes that the presence of a majority Arab population in the Occupied Territories of Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip will oblige Israel to compromise with regard to granting cultural and political autonomy. Furthermore, three large Arab enclaves in Israel proper--Galilee, the triangle, and the Bedouin Negev--will have to be given up if current settlement patterns do not radically change, which is itself unlikely. excerpt

Divorce and immigration: the social integration of immigrant divorcees in Israel.

PubMed

Damian, N

1985-12-01

This paper attempts to supply information on what motivated some 7000 Jewish divorcees to leave their countries of origin in the last decade and settle in Israel. The study also examines the differences in social integration of immigrant divorcees who came to Israel from different political systems--authoritarian or democratic regimes. Finally, the study examines the extent to which immigrant divorcees, who generally arrive in Israel with children, are to be considered as a "high risk" social group requiring special attention and particular aid. Of the 287,487 immigrants aged 15 years and over who arrived in Israel between 1970-1980, 53.7% were women (sex ratio: 860 males per 1000 females), and 3.6% were divorced. The findings indicate that there are significant differences between divorcees from Anglophone and Eastern European countries in their motivation for immigrating to Israel. The former decide to immigrate primarily for individual reasons--generally after divorce--expecting that immigration will increase chances of remarriage. In contrast, those who came from Eastern Europe are motivated by political, economic, and ideological reasons; the issue of immigration often sparks the divorce crisis. Divorcees from Anglophone countries are less socially isolated, more likely to meet veteran Israelis, and more satisfied with their life in Israel. Eastern European divorcees usually restrict their social contact to encounters with other immigrants from their country of origin, are less satisfied with their life in Israel, and feel themselves more isolated and frustrated. Despite the difficulties encountered by this group, it was found that there are no marked differences between divorcees and married immigrant women in social integration. In Israel, immigrant divorcees cannot be considered as a "high risk" social group.

Cloud microphysical background for the Israel-4 cloud seeding experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Freud, Eyal; Koussevitzky, Hagai; Goren, Tom; Rosenfeld, Daniel

2015-05-01

The modest amount of rainfall in Israel occurs in winter storms that bring convective clouds from the Mediterranean Sea when the cold post frontal air interacts with its relatively warm surface. These clouds were seeded in the Israel-1 and Israel-2 cloud glaciogenic seeding experiments, which have shown statistically significant positive effect of added rainfall of at least 13% in northern Israel, whereas the Israel-3 experiment showed no added rainfall in the south. This was followed by operational seeding in the north since 1975. The lack of physical evidence for the causes of the positive effects in the north caused a lack of confidence in the statistical results and led to the Israel-4 randomized seeding experiment in northern Israel. This experiment started in the winter of 2013/14. The main difference from the previous experiments is the focus on the orographic clouds in the catchment of the Sea of Galilee. The decision to commence the experiment was partially based on evidence supporting the existence of seeding potential, which is reported here. Aircraft and satellite microphysical and dynamic measurements of the clouds document the critical roles of aerosols, especially sea spray, on cloud microstructure and precipitation forming processes. It was found that the convective clouds over sea and coastal areas are naturally seeded hygroscopically by sea spray and develop precipitation efficiently. The diminution of the large sea spray aerosols farther inland along with the increase in aerosol concentrations causes the clouds to develop precipitation more slowly. The short time available for the precipitation forming processes in super-cooled orographic clouds over the Golan Heights farthest inland represents the best glaciogenic seeding potential.

Fire in Haifu, Israel

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-12-17

This image from NASA Terra spacecraft was acquired on Dec. 9, 2010 and shows Israel Carmel region near the city of Haifa where a deadly forest fire raged from Dec.3 to Dec.6, 2010; the burned areas appear in dark gray.

Jamaica plans petchem JV with Israel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

1995-11-22

Israel`s Dankner group is negotiating with the Jamaican government for conversion of the Pertojam refinery into a petrochemical complex. The plan represents a revival of a year-old proposal by the Jamaican opposition leader Edward Seaga. It calls for a $120-million upgrade of the refinery, including a catalytic cracker and a $150-million chlor-alkali facility to produce 550,000 m.t./year of chlorine that would in turn be used to produce 300,000 m.t./year of polvinyl chloride. Jamaica is a major importer of caustic soda, consuming about 330,000 m.t./year in its bauxite industry.

Rotavirus vaccines in Israel: Uptake and impact.

PubMed

Muhsen, Khitam; Cohen, Daniel

2017-07-03

We present an overview of the impact of universal rotavirus immunization with the pentavalent vaccine, RotaTeq, which was introduced in Israel in 2010. The vaccine is given free of charge at age 2, 4 and 6 months, with an 80% coverage that was shortly achieved during the universal immunization period. Compared to pre-universal immunization years (2008-2010), a reduction of 66-68% in the incidence of rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) hospitalizations was observed in 2011-2015 among children aged 0-23 months in central and northern Israel. In southern Israel a reduction of 80-88% in RVGE hospital visit rate was found among Jewish children aged 0-23 months in 2011-2013. Among Bedouins, the respective decline was 62-75%. A significant reduction of 59% was also observed in RVGE clinic visits, presumably representing less severe illness. Indirect benefit was evident in children aged 24-59 months who were ineligible for universal immunization. Vaccine effectiveness against RVGE hospitalization was estimated at 86% in children aged 6-23 months. Changes in the circulating rotavirus genotypes occurred but the contribution of vaccine induced immune pressure is unclear. Universal rotavirus immunization was followed by an impressive decrease in the burden of RVGE in young children in Israel, likely attributed to good vaccine coverage and effectiveness.

Rotavirus vaccines in Israel: Uptake and impact

PubMed Central

Muhsen, Khitam; Cohen, Daniel

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT We present an overview of the impact of universal rotavirus immunization with the pentavalent vaccine, RotaTeq, which was introduced in Israel in 2010. The vaccine is given free of charge at age 2, 4 and 6 months, with an 80% coverage that was shortly achieved during the universal immunization period. Compared to pre-universal immunization years (2008–2010), a reduction of 66–68% in the incidence of rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) hospitalizations was observed in 2011–2015 among children aged 0–23 months in central and northern Israel. In southern Israel a reduction of 80–88% in RVGE hospital visit rate was found among Jewish children aged 0–23 months in 2011–2013. Among Bedouins, the respective decline was 62–75%. A significant reduction of 59% was also observed in RVGE clinic visits, presumably representing less severe illness. Indirect benefit was evident in children aged 24–59 months who were ineligible for universal immunization. Vaccine effectiveness against RVGE hospitalization was estimated at 86% in children aged 6–23 months. Changes in the circulating rotavirus genotypes occurred but the contribution of vaccine induced immune pressure is unclear. Universal rotavirus immunization was followed by an impressive decrease in the burden of RVGE in young children in Israel, likely attributed to good vaccine coverage and effectiveness. PMID:28281866

Archaeological Geophysics in Israel: Past, Present and Future

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eppelbaum, L. V.

2009-04-01

Israel is a country with diverse and rapidly changeable environments where is localized a giant number of archaeological objects of various age, origin and size. The archaeological remains occur in a complex (multi-layered and variable) geological-archaeological media. It is obvious that direct archaeological excavations cannot be employed at all localized and supposed sites taking into account the financial, organizational, ecological and other reasons. Therefore, for delineation of buried archaeological objects, determination their physical-geometrical characteristics and classification, different geophysical methods are widely applied. The number of employed geophysical methodologies is constantly increasing and now Israeli territory may be considered as a peculiar polygon for various geophysical methods testing. The geophysical investigations at archaeological sites in Israel could be tentatively divided on three stages: (1) past [- 1990] (e.g., Batey, 1987; Ben-Menahem, 1979; Dolphin, 1981; Ginzburg and Levanon, 1977; Karcz et al., 1977; Karcz and Kafri, 1978; Tanzi et al., 1983; Shalem, 1949; Willis, 1928), (2) present [1991 - 2008] (e.g., Bauman et al., 2005; Ben-Dor et al., 1999; Ben-Yosef et al., 2008; Berkovitch et al., 2000; Borradaile, 2003; Boyce et al., 2004; Bruins et al., 2003; Daniels et al., 2003; Ellenblum et al., 1998; Eppelbaum, 1999, 2000a, 2000b, 2005, 2007a, 2007b, 2008b; Eppelbaum and Ben-Avraham, 2002; Eppelbaum and Itkis, 2000, 2001; 2003, 2009; Eppelbaum et al., 2000a, 2000b, 2001a, 2001b, 2003a, 2003b, 2004a, 2004b; 2005, 2006a, 2006b, 2006c, 2006d, 2007, 2009a, 2009b; Ezersky et al., 2000; Frumkin et al., 2003; Itkis and Eppelbaum, 1998; Itkis, 2003; Itkis et al., 2002, 2003, 2008; Jol et al., 2003, 2008; Kamai and Hatzor, 2007; Khesin et al., 1996; Korjenkov and Mazor, 1999; Laukin et al., 2001; McDermott et al., 1993; Marco, 2008; Marco et al., 2003; Nahas et al., 2006; Neishtadt et al., 2006; Nur and Ron, 1997; Paparo, 1991; Porat

Poisoning in Israel: annual report of the Israel Poison Information Center, 2012.

PubMed

Bentur, Yedidia; Lurie, Yael; Cahana, Alfred; Kovler, Nona; Bloom-Krasik, Anna; Gurevych, Bella; Klein-Schwartz, Wendy

2014-11-01

The Israel National Poison Information Center (IPIC), Rambam Health Care Campus, provides 24 hour telephone consultations in clinical toxicology as well as drug and teratogen information. It participates in research, teaching and regulatory activities, and also provides laboratory services. To report data on the epidemiology of poisonings and poison exposures in Israel. We made computerized queries and descriptive analyses of the medical records database of the IPIC during 2012. A total of 31,519 poison exposure cases were recorded, a 157.6% increase compared with 1995. Children < 6 years of age were involved in 43.1% of cases; 74.0% of calls were made by the public and 23.7% by physicians; 74.8% of exposures were unintentional and 9.1% intentional. Chemicals were involved in 35.8% of all cases (single and multiple substances), pharmaceuticals in 48.8%, bites and stings in 3.8%, and plants and mushrooms in 1.6%. Substances most frequently involved were analgesics, cleaning products and antimicrobials. Clinical severity was moderate/major in 3.4%. Substances most frequently involved in moderate/major exposures were corrosives, insecticides and snake venom. Four fatalities were recorded; all were intentional exposures in adults (corrosive, medications, energy drink). Poison exposures and poisonings have increased significantly and have contributed substantially to morbidity and mortality in Israel. The IPIC database is a valuable national resource for the collection and monitoring of poisoning exposure cases. It can be used as a real-time surveillance system for the benefit of public health. It is recommended that reporting to the IPIC become mandatory and its activities be adequately supported by national resources.

Young Children with Disabilities in Israel: System of Early Intervention Service Delivery

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shulman, Cory; Meadan, Hedda; Sandhaus, Yoram

2012-01-01

This article aims to analyze early intervention programs in Israel according to the Developmental Systems Model (Guralnick, 2001), in an attempt to identify strengths and areas for further development for service delivery for young children with disabilities in Israel. Early intervention in Israel is part of a comprehensive healthcare model…

Israel Country Analysis Brief

EIA Publications

2016-01-01

Israel, once dependent on imports to supply its energy, now has a growing natural gas industry. Recent discoveries of offshore natural gas fields have the potential to provide adequate amounts of energy to meet domestic demand, while allowing the country to export excess volumes.

Checklist of Hymenomycetes (Aphyllophorales s.l.) and Heterobasidiomycetes in Israel

PubMed Central

Zmitrovich, Ivan V.; Wasser, Solomon P.; Nevo, Eviatar

2010-01-01

A checklist is presented concerning the species composition of Hymenomycetes (Aphyllophorales s.l.) and Heterobasidiomycetes in Israel based on data of previous studies and field sample collections. In total, 242 species are presented, of which five are new records for the Israeli mycobiota, namely Australohydnum dregeanum, Ceriporiopsis consobrina, C. resinascens, Fibroporia vaillantii, and Postia inocybe. The distribution and habitat of each species in Israel are also summarized. This checklist will serve as valuable data for future species diversity studies of these fungi in Israel. PMID:23956665

Israel: Background and U.S. Relations in Brief

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-02-24

further negotiation . The status of the Gaza Strip is a final status issue to be resolved through negotiations . Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its...largely anticipated a negotiated conflict-ending outcome that would result in two states.8 In a White House press conference on February 15, 2017...pending negotiations between Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Palestinian representatives on the territories’ final status. April 1987 – Secret London

America-Israel Young Ambassadors Student Exchange Program. Orientation Manual.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Neeson, Eileen; And Others

This orientation manual for the America-Israel Young Ambassadors Student Exchange Program is written for the exchange of high school students between these two countries. The goal is to familiarize American students with the history, politics, economy, religions and society of Israel. Thirteen training sessions are suggested on the following…

Israel: A Resource Guide for Teachers of Social Studies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ruderman, Jerome L.

This pamphlet provides teachers with a brief overview of topics about Israel and suggests how they can be incorporated into the elementary and secondary social studies curriculum. There are five main sections. Section one describes geographical features of Israel including its principal cities, seaports, water resources, and the Negev. Section two…

Draft genome of Haloarcula rubripromontorii strain SL3, a novel halophilic archaeon isolated from the solar salterns of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.

PubMed

Sánchez-Nieves, Rubén; Facciotti, Marc; Saavedra-Collado, Sofía; Dávila-Santiago, Lizbeth; Rodríguez-Carrero, Roy; Montalvo-Rodríguez, Rafael

2016-03-01

The genus Haloarcula belongs to the family Halobacteriaceae which currently has 10 valid species. Here we report the draft genome sequence of strain SL3, a new species within this genus, isolated from the Solar Salterns of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Genome assembly performed using NGEN Assembler resulted in 18 contigs (N50 = 601,911 bp), the largest of which contains 1,023,775 bp. The genome consists of 3.97 MB and has a GC content of 61.97%. Like all species of Haloarcula, the genome encodes heterogeneous copies of the small subunit ribosomal RNA. In addition, the genome includes 6 rRNAs, 48 tRNAs, and 3797 protein coding sequences. Several carbohydrate-active enzymes genes were found, as well as enzymes involved in the dihydroxyacetone processing pathway which are not found in other Haloarcula species. The NCBI accession number for this genome is LIUF00000000 and the strain deposit number is CECT9001.

Spatio-Temporal Synchrony of Influenza in Cities across Israel: The “Israel Is One City” Hypothesis

PubMed Central

Barnea, Oren; Huppert, Amit; Katriel, Guy; Stone, Lewi

2014-01-01

We analysed an 11-year dataset (1998–2009) of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) that was based on surveillance of ∽23% of Israel's population. We examined whether the level of synchrony of ILI epidemics in Israel's 12 largest cities is high enough to view Israel as a single epidemiological unit. Two methods were developed to assess the synchrony: (1) City-specific attack rates were fitted to a simple model in order to estimate the temporal differences in attack rates and spatial differences in reporting rates of ILI. The model showed good fit to the data (R2  =  0.76) and revealed considerable differences in reporting rates of ILI in different cities (up to a factor of 2.2). (2) A statistical test was developed to examine the null hypothesis (H0) that ILI incidence curves in two cities are essentially identical, and was tested using ILI data. Upon examining all possible pairs of incidence curves, 77.4% of pairs were found not to be different (H0 was not rejected). It was concluded that all cities generally have the same attack rate and follow the same epidemic curve each season, although the attack rate changes from season to season, providing strong support for the “Israel is one city” hypothesis. The cities which were the most out of synchronization were Bnei Brak, Beersheba and Haifa, the latter two being geographically remote from all other cities in the dataset and the former geographically very close to several other cities but socially separate due to being populated almost exclusively by ultra-orthodox Jews. Further evidence of assortative mixing of the ultra-orthodox population can be found in the 2001–2002 season, when ultra-orthodox cities and neighborhoods showed distinctly different incidence curves compared to the general population. PMID:24622820

The tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Cicindelinae) of Israel and adjacent lands

PubMed Central

Matalin, Andrey V.; Chikatunov, Vladimir I.

2016-01-01

Abstract Based on field studies, museums collections and literature sources, the current knowledge of the tiger beetle fauna of Israel and adjacent lands is presented. In Israel eight species occur, one of them with two subspecies, while in the Sinai Peninsula nine species of tiger beetles are now known. In the combined regions seven genera from two tribes were found. The Rift Valley with six cicindelids species is the most specious region of Israel. Cylindera contorta valdenbergi and Cicindela javeti azari have localized distributions and should be considered regional endemics. A similarity analysis of the tiger beetles faunas of different regions of Israel and the Sinai Peninsula reveal two clusters of species. The first includes the Great Rift Valley and most parts of the Sinai Peninsula, and the second incorporates most regions of Israel together with Central Sinai Foothills. Five distinct adult phenological groups of tiger beetles can be distinguished in these two clusters: active all-year (three species), spring-fall (five species), summer (two species), spring-summer (one species) and spring (one species). The likely origins of the tiger beetle fauna of this area are presented. An annotated list and illustrated identification key of the Cicindelinae of Israel and adjacent lands are provided. PMID:27110198

Jewish Education, Past and Present: Israel Friedlaender Re-Visited

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Graff, Gil

2016-01-01

A century ago, Israel Friedlaender--scholar, communal activist, and educator--played a key role in such educational institutions as the Teachers Institute of JTS, the Bureau of Jewish Education, the Menorah Society, Young Israel, and Young Judea. A JTS professor and prolific writer, Friedlaender has been described as "the teacher of the…

Second-generation detector work in Israel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenfeld, David

2001-10-01

A tremendous developmental effort in the field of infrared detectors during the last decade in Israel has resulted in a variety of InSb and HgCdTe infrared detectors. Additional and significant R&D effort associated with other IR components, have also been done in Israel, in order to integrate the detectors into advanced Detector-Dewar-Cooler assemblies (DDCs). This R&D effort included notable activities in the field of materials, signal processors, dewars and cryocoolers. These activities are presented together with the status of infrared detector work in Israel. Several two-dimensional InSb staring detectors and DDCs are demonstrated. This includes two versions of the classical 256 X 256 detectors and DDCs, improved 640 X 480 InSb detectors and DDC, and a 2000- element detector with high TDI level. SADA II type HgCdTe detectors are also presented. Considerations regarding the course of future detector work are also described. The classical DDC requirement list which traditionally included demands for high D*, low NETD and high resolution is widened to include cost related issues such as higher reliability, lower maintenance, smaller volume, lower power consumption and higher operation temperature.

A Linguistic Analysis of the Role of Israel in American Jewish Schooling

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chazan, Barry

2015-01-01

This essay analyzes the place of Israel in American Jewish schooling from the beginning of the 20th century until the early years of the 21st century. It utilizes curricula, textbooks, and instructional units, as well as other primary and secondary sources to delineate four distinct periods of Israel education. The subject of Teaching Israel is…

77 FR 48497 - Oil and Gas Trade Mission to Israel-Clarification and Amendment

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-14

... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration Oil and Gas Trade Mission to Israel... Commercial Service (CS) is publishing this amendment to the Notice of the Oil and Gas Trade Mission to Israel... to Israel has been changed to October 28-November 1, 2012. [[Page 48498

Educational Travel to Israel in the Era of Globalization

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ezrachi, Elan

2015-01-01

Travel to Israel has been a central feature of Jewish and Zionist education yet it is time for this educational travel to be examined in the context of current cultural trends of travel and transnational experiences. The Jewish educational community has not yet internalized the impact of global trends on the field of travel to Israel from a…

Usutu Virus RNA in Mosquitoes, Israel, 2014–2015

PubMed Central

Mannasse, Batya; Mendelson, Ella; Orshan, Laor; Mor, Orna; Shalom, Uri; Yeger, Tamar

2017-01-01

We identified Usutu virus (USUV) RNA in 6 pools of mosquitoes trapped in northern Israel during 2014–2015. These Israeli strains were most similar to strains identified in Senegal and Germany, which further elucidates common ancestry and evolutionary dynamics of USUV. Our findings suggest that human infection with USUV might occur in Israel. PMID:28930008

What's in a Name? In Pursuit of "Israel Education"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Attias, Shlomit

2015-01-01

Naming a discipline is a key component in both the shaping and unpacking of its development. Still, little attention has been devoted to studying the ways in which this process has influenced Israel Education. Based on a long-term ethnographic study, this article presents Israel Education name choices and discusses the manner in which this naming…

77 FR 38584 - Oil and Gas Trade Mission to Israel-Clarification and Amendment

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-28

....zhtml?c=160695&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1464492&highlight= . [7] ``Oil Shale Country Notes: Israel.'' World....'' Globes Israel Business News. 13 Mar. 2012. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did... Field Development.'' Globes Israel Business News, 30 Jan. 2012. http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes...

Medical research in Israel and the Israel biomedical database.

PubMed

Berns, D S; Rager-Zisman, B

2000-11-01

The data collected for the second edition of the Directory of Medical Research in Israel and the Israel Biomedical Database have yielded very relevant information concerning the distribution of investigators, publication activities and funding sources. The aggregate data confirm the findings of the first edition published in 1996 [2]. Those facts endorse the highly concentrated and extensive nature of medical research in the Jerusalem area, which is conducted at the Hebrew University and its affiliated hospitals. In contrast, Tel Aviv University, whose basic research staff is about two-thirds the size of the Hebrew University staff, has a more diffuse relationship with its clinical staff who are located at more than half a dozen hospitals. Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheva and the Technion in Haifa are smaller in size, but have closer geographic contact between their clinical and basic research staff. Nonetheless, all the medical schools and affiliated hospitals have good publication and funding records. It is important to note that while some aspects of the performance at basic research institutions seem to be somewhat better than at hospitals, the records are actually quite similar despite the greater burden of clinical services at the hospitals as compared to teaching responsibilities in the basic sciences. The survey also indicates the substantial number of young investigators in the latest survey who did not appear in the first survey. While this is certainly encouraging, it is also disturbing that the funding sources are apparently decreasing at a time when young investigators are attempting to become established and the increasing burden of health care costs precludes financial assistance from hospital sources. The intensity and undoubtedly the quality of medical research in Israel remains at a level consistent with many of the more advanced western countries. This conclusion is somewhat mitigated by the fact that there is a decrease in available funding

How Distorted Thinking Influence Arab Children Academic Achievement in Israel?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gith, Emad

2018-01-01

The purpose of the current study was to examine the relation between the parents Cognitive Distortion and Arab children academic achievements in Israel. 52 fifth grade Arab Children and their parents from Israel were participated. The results indicated that parent's cognitive distortion related negatively to children academic achievements; there…

78 FR 11567 - Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Type Certificate Previously Held by Israel...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-19

... Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Type Certificate Previously Held by Israel Aircraft... Aerospace LP (Type Certificate Previously Held by Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.) Model Gulfstream G150... Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Type Certificate Previously Held by Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.): Amendment 39...

Affirmative Action in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lerner, Natan

This paper examines issues of equality, discrimination, affirmative action, and preferential treatment in Israel. An introduction provides a broad outline of topics addressed in the paper: the status of the Jewish sector, with treatment of Jewish immigrants to serve as an example of affirmative action; the policies of the state in relation to the…

Wars and suicides in Israel, 1948-2006.

PubMed

Oron Ostre, Israel

2012-05-01

This paper reports the characteristics of suicides which occurred during the existential and the non-existential wars in Israel. It provides a first approximation of whether the suicide patterns in each war are consistent with the findings of Morselli and Durkheim, and whether their theoretical interpretations can serve as a preliminary guideline to explaining the Israeli case, which is characterized by short periods of war, social integration during some of the non-existential wars, and a sharp rise in post-war male suicide rates following all of the existential wars. Implications for further studies on the subject in Israel and elsewhere are discussed.

48 CFR 252.225-7031 - Secondary Arab boycott of Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Secondary Arab boycott of... of Provisions And Clauses 252.225-7031 Secondary Arab boycott of Israel. As prescribed in 225.7605, use the following provision: Secondary Arab Boycott of Israel (JUN 2005) (a) Definitions. As used in...

48 CFR 252.225-7031 - Secondary Arab boycott of Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Secondary Arab boycott of... of Provisions And Clauses 252.225-7031 Secondary Arab boycott of Israel. As prescribed in 225.7605, use the following provision: Secondary Arab Boycott of Israel (JUN 2005) (a) Definitions. As used in...

48 CFR 252.225-7031 - Secondary Arab boycott of Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Secondary Arab boycott of... of Provisions And Clauses 252.225-7031 Secondary Arab boycott of Israel. As prescribed in 225.7605, use the following provision: Secondary Arab Boycott of Israel (JUN 2005) (a) Definitions. As used in...

48 CFR 252.225-7031 - Secondary Arab boycott of Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 3 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Secondary Arab boycott of... of Provisions And Clauses 252.225-7031 Secondary Arab boycott of Israel. As prescribed in 225.7605, use the following provision: Secondary Arab Boycott of Israel (JUN 2005) (a) Definitions. As used in...

Human Rights Education in Israel: Four Types of Good Citizenship

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Agbaria, Ayman K.; Katz-Pade, Revital

2016-01-01

This article examines the involvement of civil society organizations in human rights education (HRE) in Israel. Focussing on the educational programs of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), as a qualitative instrumental case study, this article examines the conceptions of good citizenship embedded in these programs. Specifically, the…

Israel: Background and Relations with the United States

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-07-26

grant of 15% of an investment of up to $3.5 billion or $525 million to secure the deal. In May 2006, prominent U.S. investor Warren Buffet announced...President Bush noted the need to take into account changed “realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli population centers,” (i.e...Issues Military Sales. Israel accounts for about 10% of the world’s defense exports, totaling $3.5 billion in 2004. The United States and Israel have

Trends in the Epidemiology of Campylobacteriosis in Israel (1999-2012).

PubMed

Bassal, Ravit; Lerner, Larisa; Valinsky, Lea; Agmon, Vered; Peled, Nehama; Block, Colin; Keller, Nati; Keness, Yoram; Taran, Diana; Shainberg, Bracha; Ken-Dror, Shifra; Treygerman, Orit; Rouach, Tsvi; Lowenthal, Shulamit; Shohat, Tamar; Cohen, Daniel

2016-08-01

The objective of this study was to examine the recent trends in the epidemiology of campylobacteriosis in Israel. A Sentinel Laboratory-Based Surveillance Network for Bacterial Enteric Diseases was established in Israel by the Israel Center for Disease Control (ICDC). This network generated data on subjects from whom Campylobacter spp. was isolated in community and hospital laboratories. Further characterization of the isolates was done at the Campylobacter National Reference Laboratory. Data from these two sources were integrated and analyzed at the ICDC. Between 1999 and 2012, 40,978 Campylobacter stool isolates were reported to the ICDC by the sentinel laboratories. The incidence rate of campylobacteriosis increased from 65.7 per 100,000 in 1999 to 101.7 per 100,000 in 2012. This increase resulted from a significant rise in the incidence of campylobacteriosis in the Jewish population which, since 2009, surpassed the consistent higher incidence of the disease in Israeli Arabs. The peak morbidity in Israel consistently occurred in late spring, with a risk excess in males compared with females, in younger age groups and earlier in the life span among Arabs than among Jews and others. These results suggest that further analytical studies should be carried out to identify risk factors responsible for the increased incidence of campylobacteriosis and better direct prevention and control of the disease in Israel.

Spiribacter curvatus sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a saltern.

PubMed

León, María José; Rodríguez-Olmos, Angel; Sánchez-Porro, Cristina; López-Pérez, Mario; Rodríguez-Valera, Francisco; Soliveri, Juan; Ventosa, Antonio; Copa-Patiño, José Luis

2015-12-01

A novel pink-pigmented bacterial strain, UAH-SP71T, was isolated from a saltern located in Santa Pola, Alicante (Spain) and the complete genome sequence was analysed and compared with that of Spiribacter salinus M19-40T, suggesting that the two strains constituted two separate species, with a 77.3% ANI value. In this paper, strain UAH-SP71T was investigated in a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. Strain UAH-SP71T was a Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile curved rod that grew in media containing 5-20% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 10% NaCl), at 5-40 °C (optimum 37 °C) and at pH 5-10 (optimum pH 8). Phylogenetic analysis based on the comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed thatstrain UAH-SP71T is a member of the genus Spiribacter, showing a sequence similarity of 96.5% with Spiribacter salinus M19-40T. Other related species are also members of the family Ectothiorhodospiraceae, including Arhodomonas recens RS91T (95.5% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Arhodomonas aquaeolei ATCC 49307T (95.4 %) and Alkalilimnicola ehrlichii MLHE-1T (94.9 %). DNA-DNA hybridization between strain UAH-SP71T and Spiribacter salinus M19-40T was 39 %. The major cellular fatty acids of strain UAH-SP71T were C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c, C10 : 0 3-OH and C12 : 0, a pattern similar to that of Spiribacter salinus M19-40T. Phylogenetic, phenotypic and genotypic differences between strain UAH-SP71T and Spiribacter salinus M19-40T indicate that strainUAH-SP71T represents a novel species of the genus Spiribacter, for which the name Spiribacter curvatus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is UAH-SP71T (5CECT8396T5DSM 28542T).

Flipside of the COIN: Israel’s Lebanese Incursion Between 1982-2000

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-01-01

sarcastically put it, Operation Accountability “seemed specially designed for Israel bashers . What could be better fodder than pictures of...July 1993. 72. David Bar-Illan, “Lebanon Scenes—a Field Day for Israel Bashers ,” The Jerusalem Post, 6 Aug 1993, available from Lexis-Nexis® Academic...Peace, 1984. Bar-Illan, David. “Lebanon Scenes—a Field Day for Israel Bashers .” The Jeru- salem Post. Available from Lexis-Nexis® Academic Universe, http

MEDICINE AMONG NEW IMMIGRANTS AND ARAB MINORITIES IN ISRAEL.

PubMed

MISHKIN, S

1965-05-29

The reaction to modern medicine and the general health of the new immigrants and Arab populations of Israel are described. The material was gathered during a threemonth visit to Israel where the author participated in the medical care of these persons. While these peoples still share many of the traditional medical superstitions and practices, the new immigrants have progressed much more during the 16 years of Israel's existence. At present over 99% of Jewish women give birth in hospital, whereas only 65% of Israeli Arabs do. The infant mortality rate among the Jews in 1963 was about 21 deaths per 1000 live births, about one-half the rate for Arabs. The importance of understanding the cultural background and social conflicts of these people as a preliminary to the provision of proper medical care is stressed.

Education for Democracy in Israel: Structural Impediments and Basic Dilemmas

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Neuberger, Benyamin

2007-01-01

Research in Israel has shown a high level of non-democratic, and even anti-democratic, attitudes among Israeli high-school students. Similar findings in the adult population indicate that this is not a "childhood disorder" that evaporates with age, but something which could pose a threat to Israel's young and fragile democracy. The…

Oil shale as an energy source in Israel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fainberg, V.; Hetsroni, G.

1996-01-01

Reserves, characteristics, energetics, chemistry, and technology of Israeli oil shales are described. Oil shale is the only source of energy and the only organic natural resource in Israel. Its reserves of about 12 billion tons will be enough to meet Israel`s requirements for about 80 years. The heating value of the oil shale is 1,150 kcal/kg, oil yield is 6%, and sulfur content of the oil is 5--7%. A method of oil shale processing, providing exhaustive utilization of its energy and chemical potential, developed in the Technion, is described. The principal feature of the method is a two-stage pyrolysis ofmore » the oil shale. As a result, gas and aromatic liquids are obtained. The gas may be used for energy production in a high-efficiency power unit, or as a source for chemical synthesis. The liquid products can be an excellent source for production of chemicals.« less

Rubella in Israel after the MMR vaccine: elimination or containment?

PubMed

Anis, Emilia; Grotto, Itamar; Moerman, Larisa; Kaliner, Ehud; Warshavsky, Bruce; Slater, Paul E; Lev, Boaz

2013-05-01

Since 1996, after the full institution of the two-dose measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) regimen in Israel, rubella incidence has declined dramatically and has remained extremely low. Cyclical outbreaks ended; the two brief outbreaks that did occur were quickly contained; and epidemiological data indicate that the disease is practically absent from the country. But similar steep declines in the incidence of measles and mumps, the two other MMR-preventable diseases, were followed by major outbreaks in 2007 and 2010. Epidemiological analyses show that undervaccination of subgroups within the Jewish ultra-orthodox population, both in Israel and abroad, and virus importation into Israel, continue to be risk factors for all three MMR-preventable diseases. Israel's public health system, therefore, should focus on a policy of containment: improve MMR coverage among undervaccinated subgroups and assure that virus importation is no longer a risk. Then the goal of rubella elimination will become feasible. We discuss how the Israeli experience may contribute to the World Health Organization Initiative to eliminate simultaneously measles and rubella.

Early Childhood Inclusion in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Yagon, Michal; Aram, Dorit; Margalit, Malka

2016-01-01

This article describes conceptual aspects, current policies and practices, and research representing the Israeli perspective regarding early childhood inclusion (ECI) at preschool ages (3-6 years). We review legislative, historical, attitudinal, philosophical, practical, empirical, and cultural issues regarding ECI in Israel. Finally, we focus on…

The state of municipal solid waste management in Israel.

PubMed

Daskal, Shira; Ayalon, Ofira; Shechter, Mordechai

2018-06-01

Regulation is a key tool for implementing municipal solid waste (MSW) management strategies and plans. While local authorities in Israel are responsible for the storage, collection, and disposal of MSW, Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection (MoEP) is responsible for the formulation and implementation of waste management policies and legislation. For the past 12 years, about 80% of the MSW in Israel has been landfilled and recycling rates have not increased, despite regulations. This paper presents the state of MSW management in Israel in light of the MoEP's strategic goal of landfilling reduction, the regulations and legislation designed and implemented for achieving this goal, and the ensuing results. Among other things, the results indicate the importance of monitoring and assessing policy and regulations to examine whether regulation is in fact effective and whether it keeps track of its own targets and goals or not. It is also concluded that even when there is an extensive regulation that includes a wide range of laws, economic penalties and financial incentives (such as landfill levy and financing of MSW separation at source arrangements), this does not guarantee proper treatment or even an improvement in waste management. The key to success is first and foremost a suitable infrastructure that will enable achievement of the desired results.

Human biomonitoring in Israel: Recent results and lessons learned.

PubMed

Berman, Tamar; Goldsmith, Rebecca; Levine, Hagai; Grotto, Itamar

2017-03-01

The use of human biomonitoring (HBM) as a tool for environmental health policy and research is developing rapidly in Israel. Despite challenges in securing political and financial support for HBM, the Ministry of Health has initiated national HBM studies and has utilized HBM data in environmental health policy decision making. Currently, the Ministry of Health is collecting urine samples from children and adults in the framework of the National Health and Nutrition Study (MABAT), with the goal of ongoing surveillance of population exposure to pesticides and environmental tobacco smoke, and of combining HBM data with data on diet and health behavior. In academic research studies in Israel, biomarkers are used increasingly in environmental epidemiology, including in three active birth cohort studies on adverse health effects of phthalates, brominated flame retardants, and organophosphate pesticides. Future Ministry of Health goals include establishing HBM analytical capabilities, developing a long term national HBM plan for Israel and participating in the proposed HBM4EU project in order to improve data harmonization. One of the lessons learned in Israel is that even in the absence of a formal HBM program, it is possible to collect meaningful HBM data and use it in an ad hoc fashion to support environmental health policy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Adverse Perinatal Outcomes among Immigrant Women from Ethiopia in Israel.

PubMed

Calderon-Margalit, Ronit; Sherman, Dan; Manor, Orly; Kurzweil, Yaffa

2015-06-01

Immigration from Ethiopia to Israel started about 30 years ago. We aimed to compare birth outcomes between Israeli women of Ethiopian origin and Israeli-born, non-Ethiopian women. We hypothesized a higher frequency of adverse birth outcomes among Ethiopian women and a trend of improvement among those who were raised in Israel since early childhood. This is a descriptive study, comparing birth outcomes of Ethiopian (n = 1,319) and non-Ethiopian women (n = 27,307) who gave birth in a medical center in Central Israel in 2002 to 2009. Ethiopian women were further categorized by age at immigration. Logistic regressions were constructed to compare the incidence of adverse birth outcomes between Ethiopian and non-Ethiopian women, controlling for potential confounders. Ethiopian women had about twice the incidence of very and extremely preterm births, compared with non-Ethiopians. Ethiopian women had twice the odds for neonates who were either small for gestational age or had low 5-minute Apgar scores. Ethiopian women had about threefold increased risk of stillbirths (OR 2.9 [95% CI 1.87-4.49]). No trend of improvement was noted for women who were raised in Israel from early childhood. Ethiopian women are at increased risk of adverse birth outcomes. Future research is needed to investigate the underlying causes for the increased risks and lack of improvement among those who were raised in Israel that will lead to effective interventions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

78 FR 1825 - Importation of Fresh Barhi Dates From Israel Into the United States

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-09

...] Importation of Fresh Barhi Dates From Israel Into the United States AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection... Israel into the United States. Based on that analysis, we have concluded that the application of one or... paragraph (b) of that section. APHIS received a request from the Government of Israel to allow the...

Eutrophication processes in the Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba), Red-Sea, and their effects on the coral reef ecosystem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erez, J.; Iluz, D.; Zakai, D.; Silverman, J.; Lazar, B.

2003-04-01

In the past few years (since 1998) an on going eutrophication process has been observed in the Northern Gulf of Eilat. Nutrient levels have increased both in the deep and in the coastal waters. In parallel, the phytoplankton productivity in the open sea has increased by a factor of 3 from 100 to 300 gCm-2y-1. The main source of these nutrients is caged fish farms moored near the North Beach, which over the past 5 years have released more then 300 tons N annually. Surface circulation transports part of the nutrient-algae rich surface water along the Israeli coast, where they have been detected during the stratified period near the coral reef in the Nature Reserve. The bulk of the nutrients released from the fish cages are taken up by phytoplankton and increase the productivity of the pelagic ecosystem. Phytoplankton sinking and zooplankton grazing transport these nutrients to the deep water, below the thermocline where we observed a 50% increase in nitrate and phosphate concentrations relative to the previous decade. During the winter, vertical mixing brings these nutrients to the photic zone where massive blooms of benthic algae are observed in the coastal zone. These blooms are often associated with high coral mortality and have reduced live coral cover by 50% in the winter of 2000. Calcification rates of the reef ecosystem have decreased by a factor of 3--4 compared to earlier measurements in 1989--1991 while the photosynthesis to respiration ratio have increased from 1.0 to values higher then 1.5. These observations demonstrate the detrimental effects of anthropogenic nutrient enrichment on coral reefs.

Community Psychiatric Rehabilitation in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Levy, Amihay; Neumann, Micha

1988-01-01

This paper describes the development of community-based rehabilitation services for persons with mental illness in Israel. It focuses on occupational, social, and residential community psychiatric rehabilitation services. The paper argues that service development has been slow and out of step with the philosophy and objectives of community…

Adult Education in Israel IV.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kirmayer, Paul, Ed.; Michaelson, Serena T., Ed.

This fourth journal edition, oriented towards the topic of adult education and the community in Israel, focuses on these two major themes: the different approaches to analyzing and understanding the community, its populations, and its connection to adult education; and educational institutions and cultural entities within the community. Seventeen…

Adult Education in Israel V.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kirmayer, Paul, Ed.; Michaelson, Serena T., Ed.

This fifth journal edition focuses on the didactics of adult education in Israel. Following a "Preface" (Meir Peretz) discussing the didactics of adult education, three major fields are examined: Learning for Adults; Hebrew Language and Culture for Immigrants; and Special Populations (adults with learning disabilities, senior citizens,…

Comments on Brandow's "Ideology, Myth, and Reality: Sex Equity in Israel."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bar-Yosef, Rivka W.; Lieblich, Amia

1983-01-01

Criticizes Brandow's article on sex equality in Israel, discussing occupational status of women, women's education, women in the military, duality of religious and secular values and legislation, and role division between husbands and wives. Concludes that Israel's equality of the sexes is marked by gains in societal balance. (AOS)

Spiribacter roseus sp. nov., a moderately halophilic species of the genus Spiribacter from salterns.

PubMed

León, María José; Vera-Gargallo, Blanca; Sánchez-Porro, Cristina; Ventosa, Antonio

2016-10-01

Four pink-pigmented, non-motile, Gram-staining-negative and moderately halophilic curved rods, designated strains SSL50T, SSL25, SSL97 and SSL4, were isolated from a saltern located in Isla Cristina, Huelva, south-west Spain. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that they were members of the genus Spiribacter, most closely related to Spiribacter curvatus UAH-SP71T (99.3-99.5 % sequence similarity) and Spiribacter salinus M19-40T (96.5-96.7 %). Other related strains were Alkalilimnicola ehrlichii MLHE-1T (95.1-95.3 %), Arhodomonas recens RS91T (95.1-95.2 %) and Arhodomonas aquaeolei ATCC 49307T (95.0-95.1 %), all members of the family Ectothiorhodospiraceae. The major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and C12 : 0. The DNA G+C range was 64.0-66.3 mol%. The DNA-DNA hybridization values between strains SSL50T, SSL25, SSL97, SSL4 and S. piribacter. curvatus UAH-SP71T were 37-49 %. The average nucleotide identity (ANIb) values between the genome of strain SSL50T and those of the two other representatives of the genus Spiribacter, S. curvatus UAH-SP71T and S. salinus M19-40T, were 82.4 % and 79.1 %, respectively, supporting the proposal of a novel species of the genus Spiribacter. On the basis of the polyphasic analysis, the four new isolates are considered to represent a novel species of the genus Spiribacter, for which the name Spiribacter roseus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SSL50T (=CECT 9117T=IBRC-M 11076T).

Facial image of Biblical Jews from Israel.

PubMed

Kobyliansky, E; Balueva, T; Veselovskaya, E; Arensburg, B

2008-06-01

The present report deals with reconstructing the facial shapes of ancient inhabitants of Israel based on their cranial remains. The skulls of a male from the Hellenistic period and a female from the Roman period have been reconstructed. They were restored using the most recently developed programs in anthropological facial reconstruction, especially that of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Balueva & Veselovskaya 2004). The basic craniometrical measurements of the two skulls were measured according to Martin & Saller (1957) and compared to the data from three ancient populations of Israel described by Arensburg et al. (1980): that of the Hellenistic period dating from 332 to 37 B.C., that of the Roman period, from 37 B.C. to 324 C.E., and that of the Byzantine period that continued until the Arab conquest in 640 C.E. Most of this osteological material was excavated in the Jordan River and the Dead Sea areas. A sample from the XVIIth century Jews from Prague (Matiegka 1926) was also used for osteometrical comparisons. The present study will characterize not only the osteological morphology of the material, but also the facial appearance of ancient inhabitants of Israel. From an anthropometric point of view, the two skulls studied here definitely belong to the same sample from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine populations of Israel as well as from Jews from Prague. Based on its facial reconstruction, the male skull may belong to the large Mediterranean group that inhabited this area from historic to modern times. The female skull also exhibits all the Mediterranean features but, in addition, probably some equatorial (African) mixture manifested by the shape of the reconstructed nose and the facial prognatism.

"Why Israel?" Re-Viewing Israel Education through the Lenses of Civic and Political Engagement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pomson, Alex; Held, Daniel

2012-01-01

This article takes up categories from literature on political and civic engagement to help make sense of data collected from interviews with 40 American Jewish day high school students about what they think and feel about Israel. Viewed through a set of lenses that distinguish between the manifestations and motivations of political and civic…

Medicine Among New Immigrants and Arab Minorities in Israel

PubMed Central

Mishkin, Seymour

1965-01-01

The reaction to modern medicine and the general health of the new immigrants and Arab populations of Israel are described. The material was gathered during a threemonth visit to Israel where the author participated in the medical care of these persons. While these peoples still share many of the traditional medical superstitions and practices, the new immigrants have progressed much more during the 16 years of Israel's existence. At present over 99% of Jewish women give birth in hospital, whereas only 65% of Israeli Arabs do. The infant mortality rate among the Jews in 1963 was about 21 deaths per 1000 live births, about one-half the rate for Arabs. The importance of understanding the cultural background and social conflicts of these people as a preliminary to the provision of proper medical care is stressed. ImagesFig. 2Fig. 3Fig. 4Fig. 5Fig. 6Fig. 7 PMID:14285305

Injury Patterns Among Illegal Migrants from Africa in Israel.

PubMed

Perlman, Amotz; Radomislensky, Irina; Peleg, Kobi

2015-08-01

In recent years Israel has become a destination for many migrants from Africa that illegally cross the Egyptian-Israeli border. The objective of this paper is to describe the epidemiological characteristics of injuries among illegal migrants in Israel. The study was carried out retrospectively using data from 19 trauma centers that participated in the Israel National Trauma Registry between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2011. Illegal migrants from Africa were compared to the local population. Migrants were injured more often than the local population from intentional injuries (57.11 %). Migrants were also less likely than the local population (58.38 %) to sustain a minor injury (i.e., injury severity ≤8). The study also shows the hospitalization cost as a result of injuries among migrants from Africa. Preventive measures among illegal migrants from Africa should prioritize intentional injuries and industrial site injuries.

Hepatitis E in Israel: A nation-wide retrospective study

PubMed Central

Erez-Granat, Ortal; Lachish, Tamar; Daudi, Nili; Shouval, Daniel; Schwartz, Eli

2016-01-01

AIM: To investigate the epidemiology, risk factors and clinical course of acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in Israel, an industrialized country. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of acute HEV cases diagnosed in Israel from 1993 to 2013. Acute HEV was defined by ALT/AST elevation and a positive HEV PCR test or positive anti-HEV-IgM serology. HEV RNA was tested by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Antibodies to HEV were tested retrospectively using an ELISA assay. HEV-RNA was sequenced using RT-PCR of ORF1 and ORF2 regions to diagnose genotype of the virus. Epidemiologic and clinical data were collected by reviewing the clinical files and through a telephone interview according to a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Acute HEV was diagnosed in 68 patients. Among the 59 patients who gave an informed consent and were interviewed, 41% of infections were autochthonous (acquired in Israel), 44% travel-related and 15% imported by foreign workers. Autochthonous patients were mainly females (62.5%), more than half of them pregnant, 26% recalled consuming food or water in areas with poor sanitation, 44% ate non-kosher meat. Fulminant hepatitis developed in 3 patients (5%), all of them were females, two of them with post-partum infection, all acquired the disease in Israel (autochthonous). Israeli travelers with imported infection were predominantly males (73%), acquired the disease in the Indian subcontinent (81%), with 100% reporting having consumed fresh vegetables and drinks with ice cubes abroad. Six patients’ sera were tested for genotype and revealed HEV genotype 1 (all cases acquired in the Indian subcontinent). CONCLUSION: This is the first report which highlights the existence of hepatitis E as an autochthonous infection in Israel. Imported HEV originates mostly from the Indian subcontinent. PMID:27350735

Hepatitis E in Israel: A nation-wide retrospective study.

PubMed

Erez-Granat, Ortal; Lachish, Tamar; Daudi, Nili; Shouval, Daniel; Schwartz, Eli

2016-06-28

To investigate the epidemiology, risk factors and clinical course of acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in Israel, an industrialized country. A retrospective analysis of acute HEV cases diagnosed in Israel from 1993 to 2013. Acute HEV was defined by ALT/AST elevation and a positive HEV PCR test or positive anti-HEV-IgM serology. HEV RNA was tested by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Antibodies to HEV were tested retrospectively using an ELISA assay. HEV-RNA was sequenced using RT-PCR of ORF1 and ORF2 regions to diagnose genotype of the virus. Epidemiologic and clinical data were collected by reviewing the clinical files and through a telephone interview according to a structured questionnaire. Acute HEV was diagnosed in 68 patients. Among the 59 patients who gave an informed consent and were interviewed, 41% of infections were autochthonous (acquired in Israel), 44% travel-related and 15% imported by foreign workers. Autochthonous patients were mainly females (62.5%), more than half of them pregnant, 26% recalled consuming food or water in areas with poor sanitation, 44% ate non-kosher meat. Fulminant hepatitis developed in 3 patients (5%), all of them were females, two of them with post-partum infection, all acquired the disease in Israel (autochthonous). Israeli travelers with imported infection were predominantly males (73%), acquired the disease in the Indian subcontinent (81%), with 100% reporting having consumed fresh vegetables and drinks with ice cubes abroad. Six patients' sera were tested for genotype and revealed HEV genotype 1 (all cases acquired in the Indian subcontinent). This is the first report which highlights the existence of hepatitis E as an autochthonous infection in Israel. Imported HEV originates mostly from the Indian subcontinent.

Seroprevalence of Rhodococcus equi in horses in Israel.

PubMed

Tirosh-Levy, Sharon; Gürbilek, Sevil E; Tel, Osman Y; Keskin, Oktay; Steinman, Amir

2017-06-26

Rhodococcus equi is a common cause of pneumonia in foals and has extensive clinical, economic and possibly zoonotic consequences. This bacterium survives well in the environment and may be considered as normal flora of adult horses. Certain strains of this bacterium are extremely virulent in foals, and early identification and intervention is crucial for prognosis. Rhodococcus equi is endemic in many parts of the world and occasionally isolated in Israel. This study was designed to evaluate R. equi seroprevalence in adult horses in Israel to indirectly indicate the potential level of exposure of susceptible foals. Sera were collected from 144 horses during spring 2011 and from 293 horses during fall 2014, and the presence of antibodies against virulent R. equi was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Equine seroprevalence of R. equi was found to be 7.6% in 2011 and 5.1% in 2014. Only one farm had seropositive horses in 2011, whereas several farms had seropositive horses in 2014. No significant risk factors for seropositivity were found. Rhodococcus equi appears to be endemic in Israel. This is the first survey of R. equi in Israel that provides information on the epidemiology of this important bacterium.

Druze Linguistic Landscape in Israel: Indexicality of New Ethnolinguistic Identity Boundaries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Isleem, Martin

2015-01-01

The Druze community in Israel is a distinct religious community currently undergoing important ethnolinguistic shifts. The government's implementation of an official policy has led to the deconstruction and reshaping of the Druze political and national identity to one that differs substantially from that of the Palestinian minority in Israel. In…

Life-Long Education in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yaron, Kalman, Ed.

The essays in this collection describe some of the main aspects--theories, programs and practices--of adult education in Israel. The 22 essays are: "Problems and Objectives of Adult Education," by Elad Peled; "The Principle of Dialogue in Education," by Martin Buber; "The Jewish Tradition of Life-long Learning," by…

Talking about Israel: 3 Responses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chronicle of Higher Education, 2006

2006-01-01

Alan Wolfe's article "Free Speech, Israel, and Jewish Illiberalism" prompted numerous responses on The Chronicle's online discussion forum. The essay commented on the debate that erupted following the Polish Consulate's decision to cancel a speech by the scholar Tony Judt--allegedly prompted by protests over his critical views of Israel…

ADVANCED ADULT EDUCATION IN ISRAEL.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ministry of Education and Culture, Jerusalem (Israel).

ADULT EDUCATION IN ISRAEL IS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE CULTURAL DEPARTMENT, WHICH RECOMMENDS TEACHERS AND LECTURERS AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INSPECTION AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT. STUDENT FEES ARE COLLECTED LOCALLY. PREVIOUSLY DEVOTED TO JEWISH TOPICS AND HEBREW LANGUAGE, THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE FORMAL SECONDARY EDUCATION, HUMANITIES,…

The Gifted Disadvantaged of Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shmueli, Eliezer

The immigrant population of Israel falls into two large groups: those of European descent and those from North African and Middle Eastern countries. Families from traditionally agrarian Arab countries generally have a lower socioeconomic status, and their children have difficulty competing in school with children from a more urban, industrialized,…

Dr. Israel Cuellar (1946-2008)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zamarripa, Manuel X.

2009-01-01

On September 7th, 2008, the mental health field lost a trailblazing researcher and clinician as he lost his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease. Dr. Israel Cuellar made significant contributions to the study of acculturation including its importance in delivering appropriate mental health…

Biology and survival of extremely halophilic archaeon Haloarcula marismortui RR12 isolated from Mumbai salterns, India in response to salinity stress.

PubMed

Thombre, Rebecca S; Shinde, Vinaya D; Oke, Radhika S; Dhar, Sunil Kumar; Shouche, Yogesh S

2016-05-27

Haloarchaea are unique microorganism's resistant to environmental and osmotic stresses and thrive in their habitats despite extreme fluctuating salinities. In the present study, haloarchaea were isolated from hypersaline thalossohaline salterns of Bhandup, Mumbai, India and were identified as Haloferax prahovense, Haloferax alexandrines, Haloferax lucentense, Haloarcula tradensis, Haloarcula marismortui and Haloarcula argentinensis. The mechanism of adaptation to contrasting salinities (1.5 M and 4.5 M) was investigated in the extreme haloarchaeon, Hal. marismortui RR12. Hal. marismortui RR12 increased the intracellular sequestration of K(+) and Cl(-) ions in hypo salinity and hyper salinity respectively as detected by Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy microanalysis (EDAX) and Inductively Coupled Plasma- atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) indicating the presence of 'salt-in' strategy of osmoadaptation. As a cellular response to salinity stress, it produced small heat shock like proteins (sHSP) identified using MALDI-TOF MS and increased the production of protective red carotenoid pigment. This is the first report on the study of the concomitant cellular, molecular and physiological mechanism adapted by Hal. marismortui RR12 when exposed to contrasting salinities in external environment.

Mother-to-child HIV transmissions in Israel, 1985-2011.

PubMed

Mor, Z; Sheffer, R; Chemtob, D

2017-07-01

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is the leading cause of paediatric HIV-infection in Israel. This study aimed to assess MTCT rates and analyse temporal changes in relation to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) introduction in 1996. This historical prospective study included all HIV-infected women who delivered in Israel between 1988 and 2011. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and therapy characteristics were compared between HIV-infected newborns with all others, and between infants born before and after 1996. Of all 796 infants born in Israel to HIV-infected women, 25 (3·1%) were infected. MTCT rates decreased significantly after HAART introduction compared with infants who were born before 1996 (16·3% vs. 1·7%). Mothers who infected vertically were more likely to be younger, Ethiopian-born, delivered trans-vaginally, not treated with HAART during pregnancy/labour and delivered before 1996 compared with mothers who did not transmit the HIV to their neonates. Newborns who did not receive antiretroviral therapy postpartum were more commonly HIV-infected and their mortality rate was higher. In conclusion, HAART during pregnancy/labour decreased MTCT significantly. Most MTCT in Israel was recorded among Ethiopian migrants, yet, in decreasing rates. Continuous efforts should be employed to encourage early HIV testing and allow effective HAART to pregnant women who belong to a key risk-group.

Supervision Groups at a Time of Violent Social Conflict in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nuttman-Shwartz, Orit; Shay, Sarit

2006-01-01

Beginning in September 2000, terror attacks and large numbers of casualties became part of Israel's harrowing daily routine. The attacks occurred throughout the country, putting everyone at risk. These events also shattered the illusion of coexistence between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel and led to feelings of anger and suspicion between the…

Emigration from Israel 1950-1981: a simulation study.

PubMed

Jacobsen, C; Bronson, R

1988-01-01

"Using our mathematical model of a general theory of normative regulation, we have reproduced over 80% of the variance in the cumulative percentages of emigrants [from Israel], as well as the yearly percentages from 1950 to 1981. These results suggest that, except for a limited period following the 'Six-Day War' of 1967, no situation-specific explanations are needed to account for the trends in emigration from Israel, and the phenomenon can be adequately accounted for by the general theory of normative regulation in modern industrialized societies. Some practical conclusions to mitigate the process are drawn from these findings." excerpt

Israel Electric joins oil shale power plant project

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1986-12-01

The Israel Electric Corporation has purchased a 25% share in PAMA (Energy Resources Development, Ltd). PAMA is planning to build a 7 1/2 megawatt shale-fired demonstration plant at Mishor Rotem in Israel. The demonstration cogeneration plant is being designed to produce 42 tons/hours of steam for use in nearby phosphate plants, and also produce electricity. Construction of the demonstration plant is expected to begin in early 1987 and be completed within 2 years. It will be based on fluidized bed technology. Successful operation of the demo plant could then lead to a 50 to 100 megawatt or larger commercial plant.

Israel’s Settlements in the West Bank: Should the United States Care

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-04-01

Israel – known as “Shechem” in Hebrew ) are the most important geographical locations in the historic land of Israel. The areas of Israel along the...the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God” (Holy Bible , King James...be bright. Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, one of the chief proponents in encouraging the 6 use of Hebrew for the Jewish immigrants to Palestine wrote in his

Language and Citizenship in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shohamy, Elana; Kanza, Tzahi

2009-01-01

This article discusses citizenship policies in Israel within the context of language, ideology, and nationalism. According to the "Law of Return", Jewish immigrants are entitled to be granted citizenship with no prior conditions; Arabs who were living in Palestine in 1948 (the time the state was founded) and their children are entitled…

78 FR 25620 - Importation of Female Squash Flowers From Israel Into the Continental United States

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-02

... Flowers From Israel Into the Continental United States AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service... importation of fruits and vegetables to allow the importation of female squash flowers from Israel into the continental United States. As a condition of entry, female squash flowers from Israel would be subject to a...

Assessing the Impact of Ongoing National Terror: Social Workers in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ron, Pnina; Shamai, Michal

2011-01-01

The main goal of this study was to explore the connections between social workers' personal and professional exposure to national terror in Israel and their professional and personal distress experienced due to ongoing terror attacks. Data were collected from 406 social workers from Israel who worked in agencies that provide help to victims of…

Guided School Visits to Natural History Museums in Israel: Teachers' Roles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tal, Revital; Bamberger, Yael; Morag, Orly

2005-01-01

Museums are favorite and respected resources for learning worldwide. In Israel, there are two relatively large science centers and a number of small natural history museums that are visited by thousands of students. Unlike other countries, studying museum visits in Israel only emerges in the last few years. The study focused on the roles and…

Cervical cancer screening, human papillomavirus vaccination practices and current infrastructure in Israel.

PubMed

Schejter, Eduardo; Bornstein, Jacob; Siegler, Efraim

2013-11-22

The incidence rates for premalignant lesions in Jewish women in Israel are similar to those observed in Western countries, but the incidence of cervical cancer in Israel is low; this discrepancy is not yet clearly understood. Because of the low incidence of cervical cancer in Israel, it was decided to base cervical cancer prevention on opportunistic screening: every woman from the ages of 35-54 years can have a Pap test smear free of charge every 3 years. Over the last decade 12.2% of the women population had an annual Pap test. From 36 to 50% of women who attended the Clalit Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and the Maccabi HMO, the two largest HMOs in Israel, did so. There were also discrepancies between women of different socio-economic status (SES): <10% in the lowest SES level were screened compared to almost 55% in the higher level. HPV vaccination was opportunistic but it will be introduced to the school-based vaccine program at age of 13 years old as of September 2013. The Israel Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends continuing cytologic screening in vaccinated women as recommended for the general population. This article forms part of a regional report entitled "Comprehensive Control of HPV Infections and Related Diseases in Israel" Vaccine Volume 31, Supplement 8, 2013. Updates of the progress in the field are presented in a separate monograph entitled "Comprehensive Control of HPV Infections and Related Diseases" Vaccine Volume 30, Supplement 5, 2012. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

78 FR 15802 - United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act; Re-Designation of Qualifying Industrial...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-12

... OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE United States-Israel Free Trade Area... Representative. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: Under the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act (IFTA Act), articles of qualifying industrial zones (QIZs) encompassing portions of Israel and Jordan or...

Brucellosis Outbreak in Children and Adults in Two Areas in Israel

PubMed Central

Megged, Orli; Chazan, Bibiana; Ganem, Atef; Ayoub, Abeer; Yanovskay, Anna; Sakran, Waheeb; Miron, Dan; Dror-Cohen, Ahuva; Kennes, Yoram; Berdenstein, Svetlana; Glikman, Daniel

2016-01-01

Two parallel outbreaks of Brucella melitensis infection occurred in 2014 in two geographical areas in Israel. In two medical centers in northern Israel and one medical center in Jerusalem, 102 patients (58 children, 47 adults) were diagnosed with brucellosis. Most patients (N = 76, 72%) were Muslim Arabs, 28 (27%) were Druze, and one was Jewish. The source of infection was often traced to cheese from the Palestinian Authority. Biovar-1 was evident in 98% in northern Israel but only in 42% in Jerusalem. Most common manifestations were fever (82%) and osteoarticular symptoms (49%). The major differences between the geographic areas were ethnicity and duration until diagnosis. Compared with adults, children had higher rates of hospitalization (93% versus 64%, P = 0.001), osteoarticular symptoms (60% versus 36%, P = 0.05), elevated alanine aminotransferase (12% versus 0%, P = 0.01), and lower C-reactive protein (2.28 ± 2.08 versus 5.57 ± 6.3l mg/dL, P = 0.001). Two unrelated brucellosis outbreaks occurred in 2014 in two different geographic areas of Israel and were limited to sections of the Arab and Druze populations. Most of the demographic and clinical aspects of patients were not affected by geographic variability. Clinical and laboratory differences were found between children and adults emphasizing the nonuniformity of the disease in different age groups. Effective control of unpasteurized dairy foods, health education programs, and improved regional cooperation are required to control brucellosis in Israel. PMID:27114301

Tobacco policy in Israel: 1948-2014 and beyond.

PubMed

Rosen, Laura J; Peled-Raz, Maya

2015-01-01

Tobacco is the only consumer product known to kill half of its users, and is a significant cause of death and disability to exposed nonsmokers. This presents a unique conundrum for modern democracies, which emphasize personal liberty, yet are obligated to protect citizens. In Israel, the death toll in 2014 from smoking is expected to reach 8000 deaths; nearly a fifth of the population smokes, and over two-thirds of the population are exposed to tobacco smoke. This paper provides an overview of tobacco policy in Israel since the inception of the State, presents the development of the National Tobacco Control Plan, and recommends future actions. Sources for this article included the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) and Ministry of Health websites, Health Minister Reports to the Knesset on Smoking, and the scientific literature. Israel has an impressive record on tobacco control policy, beginning with taxation in 1952, landmark smoke-free air and marketing legislation in the early 1980's, tax increases and expansions of smoke-free air and marketing legislation in the ensuing years, and the addition of subsidized smoking cessation technologies in 2010. Until 2011, actions were taken by various organizations without formal coordination; since the passage of the National Tobacco Control Plan in 2011, the Ministry of Health has held responsibility for coordinating tobacco control, with an action plan. The plan has been partially implemented. Smoke-free air laws were expanded, but enforcement is poor. Passage of critical marketing and advertising restrictions is stalled. Requested funds for tobacco control did not materialize. In order to prevent hundreds of thousands of preventable premature deaths in the coming decades, Israel should considerably strengthen tobacco control policies to include: guaranteed funding for tobacco control; strong curbs on advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco and smoking products; public education; law enforcement; protection of

Prescribing pork in Israel.

PubMed

Vered, Ronit

2010-01-01

Both Judaism and Islam have prohibited eating pork and its products for thousands of years. Scholars have proposed several reasons for the ban to which both religions almost totally adhere. Pork, and the refusal to eat it, possesses powerful cultural baggage for Jews. Israel has legislated two related laws: the Pork Law in 1962, that bans the rearing and slaughter of pigs across the country, and the Meat Law of 1994, prohibiting all imports of nonkosher meats into Israel. While not abounding, Israeli pork-eaters certainly exist, and a small number of pig-breeding farms operate in the country, mostly in Christian villages. The influx of Russian immigrants in the 1990s helped boost sales of pork, but the force of the taboo remains so powerful that many secular Israelis still eschew pork dishes, while willing to eat less charged nonkosher items such as shellfish. A porchetta feast recently held in the Muslim-Jewish town of Jaffa, defied the religious and cultural taboo. It was a celebration of a book by Dr. Eli Landau, The White Book, which is the first Hebrew-language collection of pork recipes. Fearing repercussions, Israeli publishers unanimously refused to publish it and the book chain stores declined to display it. As a result, Landau published it himself.

Salinivibrio kushneri sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from salterns.

PubMed

López-Hermoso, Clara; de la Haba, Rafael R; Sánchez-Porro, Cristina; Ventosa, Antonio

2018-05-01

Ten Gram-strain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, moderately halophilic bacterial strains, designated AL184 T , IB560, IB563, IC202, IC317, MA421, ML277, ML318, ML328A and ML331, were isolated from water ponds of five salterns located in Spain. The cells were motile, curved rods and oxidase and catalase positive. All of them grew optimally at 37°C, at pH 7.2-7.4 and in the presence of 7.5% (w/v) NaCl. Based on phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA, the isolates were most closely related to Salinivibrio sharmensis BAG T (99.6-98.2% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Salinivibrio costicola subsp. costicola ATCC 35508 T (99.0-98.1%). According to the MLSA analyses based on four (gyrB, recA, rpoA and rpoD) and eight (ftsZ, gapA, gyrB, mreB, pyrH, recA, rpoA and topA) concatenated gene sequences, the most closely relatives were S. siamensis JCM 14472 T (96.8-95.4% and 94.9-94.7%, respectively) and S. sharmensis DSM 18182 T (94.0-92.6% and 92.9-92.7%, respectively). In silico DNA-DNA hybridization (GGDC) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) showed values of 23.3-44.8% and 80.2-91.8%, respectively with the related species demonstrating that the ten isolates constituted a single novel species of the genus Salinivibrio. Its pangenome and core genome consist of 6041 and 1230 genes, respectively. The phylogeny based on the concatenated orthologous core genes revealed that the ten strains form a coherent phylogroup well separated from the rest of the species of the genus Salinivibrio. The major cellular fatty acids of strain AL184 T were C 16:0 and C 18:1 . The DNA G+C content range was 51.9-52.5mol% (T m ) and 50.2-50.9mol% (genome). Based on the phylogenetic-phylogenomic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, the ten isolates represent a novel species of the genus Salinivibrio, for which the name Salinivibrio kushneri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AL184 T (=CECT 9177 T =LMG 29817 T ). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Educational Technology Policy in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Slakmon, Benzi

2017-01-01

The study examines Israel's educational technology policy in light of the coming-of-age of ICT. The study shows the ways it has been developing, and identifies two major shifts which have occurred in recent years: the introduction of the national educational cloud, and the enabling of the "bring your own device" (BYOD) policy. The way…

Eilat virus host range restriction is present at multiple levels of the virus life cycle.

PubMed

Nasar, Farooq; Gorchakov, Rodion V; Tesh, Robert B; Weaver, Scott C

2015-01-15

Most alphaviruses are mosquito-borne and exhibit a broad host range, infecting many different vertebrates, including birds, rodents, equids, humans, and nonhuman primates. This ability of most alphaviruses to infect arthropods and vertebrates is essential for their maintenance in nature. Recently, a new alphavirus, Eilat virus (EILV), was described, and in contrast to all other mosquito-borne viruses, it is unable to replicate in vertebrate cell lines. Investigations into the nature of its host range restriction showed the inability of genomic EILV RNA to replicate in vertebrate cells. Here, we investigated whether the EILV host range restriction is present at the entry level and further explored the viral factors responsible for the lack of genomic RNA replication. Utilizing Sindbis virus (SINV) and EILV chimeras, we show that the EILV vertebrate host range restriction is also manifested at the entry level. Furthermore, the EILV RNA replication restriction is independent of the 3' untranslated genome region (UTR). Complementation experiments with SINV suggested that RNA replication is restricted by the inability of the EILV nonstructural proteins to form functional replicative complexes. These data demonstrate that the EILV host range restriction is multigenic, involving at least one gene from both nonstructural protein (nsP) and structural protein (sP) open reading frames (ORFs). As EILV groups phylogenetically within the mosquito-borne virus clade of pathogenic alphaviruses, our findings have important evolutionary implications for arboviruses. Our work explores the nature of host range restriction of the first "mosquito-only alphavirus," EILV. EILV is related to pathogenic mosquito-borne viruses (Eastern equine encephalitis virus [EEEV], Western equine encephalitis virus [WEEV], Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus [VEEV], and Chikungunya virus [CHIKV]) that cause severe disease in humans. Our data demonstrate that EILV is restricted both at entry and genomic

Pediatric allergy and immunology in Israel.

PubMed

Geller-Bernstein, Carmi; Etzioni, Amos

2013-03-01

After the geographic and sociodemographic settings as well as the health care in Israel are briefly described, the scope of pediatric allergy and immunology in Israel is presented. This includes specific disorders commonly encountered, the environment that induces symptoms, the specialists who treat them, and the common challenges of patients, parents, doctors, and allied health personnel who collaborate to manage the maladies and patient care. Allergies usually affect some overall 15-20% of the pediatric population. The main allergens are inhaled, ingested, or injected (insects stings). Generally, the incidence of the various allergens affecting children in Israel, is similar to other parts of the Western world. Owing to the high consanguinity rate in the Israeli population, the prevalence of the various immunodeficiency conditions (in the adaptive as well as the innate system) is higher than that reported worldwide. Pediatric allergists/immunologists also treat autoimmune disorders affecting the pediatric group. Pediatric allergy and clinical immunology are not separate specialties. The 25 specialists who treat children with allergic/immunologic diseases have undergone a basic training in Pediatrics. They also received an additional 2-yr training in allergy and clinical immunology and then have to pass the board examinations. They work mainly in pediatric allergy units, in several hospitals that are affiliated to the five medical schools in the country. Aside from clinical work, most of the centers are also heavily involved in clinical and basic research in allergy and immunology. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Wars and Suicides in Israel, 1948–2006

PubMed Central

Oron (Ostre), Israel

2012-01-01

This paper reports the characteristics of suicides which occurred during the existential and the non-existential wars in Israel. It provides a first approximation of whether the suicide patterns in each war are consistent with the findings of Morselli and Durkheim, and whether their theoretical interpretations can serve as a preliminary guideline to explaining the Israeli case, which is characterized by short periods of war, social integration during some of the non-existential wars, and a sharp rise in post-war male suicide rates following all of the existential wars. Implications for further studies on the subject in Israel and elsewhere are discussed. PMID:22754482

Spatial distribution of West Nile virus in humans and mosquitoes in Israel, 2000-2014.

PubMed

Lustig, Yaniv; Kaufman, Zalman; Mendelson, Ella; Orshan, Laor; Anis, Emilia; Glazer, Yael; Cohen, Daniel; Shohat, Tamy; Bassal, Ravit

2017-11-01

Israel has a long history of West Nile virus (WNV) morbidity, and the rate of detection of WNV in mosquitoes has been high since 2000. The aim of this study was to integrate several WNV datasets in order to gain an insight into the geographical distribution of WNV in Israel. Three choropleth maps were generated showing WNV human morbidity, WNV prevalence in mosquitoes, and the results of a nationwide serological survey, based on the division of Israel into 15 sub-districts. The maps show a high endemicity of WNV in Israel. In respect to the morbidity map, the population residing in the central part of the country and in Arava Region is at higher risk of developing the disease than the population of the rest of Israel. Interestingly, high prevalence rates of both WNV serology and WNV-infected mosquitoes were detected in Arava Region, but lower prevalence rates were detected in most areas of the coastal region, suggesting that other factors might also be important in the development of symptomatic WNV infections. These results underline the high prevalence of WNV in Israel and point to specific risk areas for WNV infections across the country. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Emergence of an Israel faith-based community organization facilitating live donor kidney transplantation.

PubMed

Wasser, Walter G; Boner, Geoffrey; Koslowsky, Meni; Lazar, Adi

2018-06-07

The 2014 Consensus Conference on Best Practices in Living Kidney Donations recognized live donor kidney transplantation as the best treatment for late-stage kidney disease, yielding superior graft and patient survival, improved quality of life, fewer requirements for dialysis and increased cost-effectiveness compared to deceased donor kidney transplantation. Yet in spite of the excellent results of living kidney donation, the annual number of living kidney donors is declining in many countries, including the United States. In Israel, a non-profit organization, Matnat Chaim ("Gift of Life" in Hebrew), a faith-based initiative, has emerged as a major force for arranging living donor kidney transplantation mainly by facilitating altruistic living unrelated donor transplantation. A retrospective review of the records of live kidney donations facilitated by the Matnat Chaim organization and referred to Israel transplant centers, since the organization's inception in 2009, was performed and compared to published data from the Israel Ministry of Health. Matnat Chaim has facilitated 494 live kidney donations since its founding in February 2009 until the end of 2017. Of the 124 live kidney transplants performed in 2016, 111 (90%) were shown to be altruistic and unrelated. This large number of donations was associated with a doubling of the total number of kidney transplantations, performed in Israel (data published by the Israel Ministry of Health). The success of an Israel community organization in the promotion of kidney transplantation may serve as a model for other religious and non-religious communities worldwide.

Principal Leadership Style and Teacher Feelings and Behavior: Arab Schools in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shechtman, Zipora; And Others

1994-01-01

Summarizes a study testing relationship patterns among principal, teacher, and student variables. Participants were randomly selected Arab students (n=800) and teachers (n=160) from 20 schools in northern Israel. Democratic leadership appears to be a central factor of positive school climate in Arab schools in Israel. The social and professional…

Values in Tension: Israel Education at a U.S. Jewish Day School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zakai, Sivan

2011-01-01

The Naphtali Herz Imber Jewish Day School proudly proclaimed its commitment to Israel, yet many of its students experienced profound ambivalence toward the Jewish State. Why? The school was committed to a series of contradictory values which surfaced in its approach to Israel education. This article outlines three distinct yet interrelated…

[The development of the rehabilitation medicine concept in Israel (1948-1974)].

PubMed

Paran, Geula; Rozenberg-Friedman, Lilach; Ohry, Avi

2015-07-01

The field of physical medicine and rehabilitation in Israel was developed in different ways. Some services were developed as a part of comprehensive rehabilitation centers like the Loewenstein Hospital and others were developed as a part of specific disciplines, like the Polio-Rehabilitation Center at Assaf Harofeh hospital. Moreover, the various fields of rehabilitation medicine were developed at different rates. The origin of each stemmed from different circumstances. Sometimes they were developed with a direct connection to a national event and sometimes separately. Occasionally, the field was developed as a result of one person's initiation and others as a result of the establishment's recognition of the value and the essentiality of the field. This essay will focus, in a chronological manner, on the development of the medical rehabilitation fields, that took place in the two leading rehabilitation centers in Israel, the Loewenstein Hospital and at Tel Hashomer. These rehabilitation centers were established in Israel close to the establishment of the State of Israel and their activity will be discussed until 1974, the year in which the Israeli society had to deal with the results of the Yom Kippur war, which had drastic implications on rehabilitation medicine.

Biochemical adaptation of phytoplankton to salinity and nutrient gradients in a coastal solar saltern, Tunisia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abid, Olfa; Sellami-Kammoun, Alya; Ayadi, Habib; Drira, Zaher; Bouain, Abderrahmen; Aleya, Lotfi

2008-11-01

The distribution of protein and carbohydrate concentrations of the particulate matter (size fraction: 0.45-160 μm) was studied, from 22 January 2003 to 02 December 2003, in three ponds of increasing salinity in the Sfax solar saltern (Tunisia). The coupling of N/P: DIN (DIN = NO 2- + NO 3- + NH 4+) to DIP (DIP = PO 43-) with P/C: protein/carbohydrates ratios along salinity gradient allowed the discrimination of three types of ecosystems. Pond A1 (mean salinity: 45.0 ± 5.4) having marine characteristics showed enhanced P/C ratios during a diatom bloom. N/P and P/C ratios were closely coupled throughout the sampling period, suggesting that the nutritional status is important in determining the seasonal change in the phytoplankton community in pond A1. In pond A16 (mean salinity: 78.7 ± 8.8), despite the high nitrate load, P/C ratios were overall lower than in pond A1. This may be explained by the fact that dinoflagellates, which were the most abundant phytoplankton in pond A16 might be strict heterotrophs and/or mixotrophs, and so they may have not contributed strongly to anabolic processes. Also, N/P and P/C ratios were uncoupled, suggesting that cells in pond A16 were stressed due to the increased salinity caused by water evaporation, and so cells synthesized reserve products such as carbohydrates. In pond M2 (mean salinity: 189.0 ± 13.8), P/C levels were higher than those recorded in either pond A1 or A16. N/P and P/C were more coupled than in pond A16. Species in the hypersaline pond seemed paradoxally less stressed than in pond A16, suggesting that salt-tolerant extremophile species overcome hypersaline constraints and react metabolically by synthesizing carbohydrates and proteins.

English Teachers' Journal (Israel), No. 17.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ministry of Education and Culture, Jerusalem (Israel).

This journal, published in Israel, contains articles of interest to teachers of English as a second language, particularly those in Hebrew-English situations. This issue contains the following articles: (1) "Evaluating the Teacher's 'Control of English'," by R. Gefen; (2) "Instructional Television and the English Proficiency Level…

Brucellosis Outbreak in Children and Adults in Two Areas in Israel.

PubMed

Megged, Orli; Chazan, Bibiana; Ganem, Atef; Ayoub, Abeer; Yanovskay, Anna; Sakran, Waheeb; Miron, Dan; Dror-Cohen, Ahuva; Kennes, Yoram; Berdenstein, Svetlana; Glikman, Daniel

2016-07-06

Two parallel outbreaks of Brucella melitensis infection occurred in 2014 in two geographical areas in Israel. In two medical centers in northern Israel and one medical center in Jerusalem, 102 patients (58 children, 47 adults) were diagnosed with brucellosis. Most patients (N = 76, 72%) were Muslim Arabs, 28 (27%) were Druze, and one was Jewish. The source of infection was often traced to cheese from the Palestinian Authority. Biovar-1 was evident in 98% in northern Israel but only in 42% in Jerusalem. Most common manifestations were fever (82%) and osteoarticular symptoms (49%). The major differences between the geographic areas were ethnicity and duration until diagnosis. Compared with adults, children had higher rates of hospitalization (93% versus 64%, P = 0.001), osteoarticular symptoms (60% versus 36%, P = 0.05), elevated alanine aminotransferase (12% versus 0%, P = 0.01), and lower C-reactive protein (2.28 ± 2.08 versus 5.57 ± 6.3l mg/dL, P = 0.001). Two unrelated brucellosis outbreaks occurred in 2014 in two different geographic areas of Israel and were limited to sections of the Arab and Druze populations. Most of the demographic and clinical aspects of patients were not affected by geographic variability. Clinical and laboratory differences were found between children and adults emphasizing the nonuniformity of the disease in different age groups. Effective control of unpasteurized dairy foods, health education programs, and improved regional cooperation are required to control brucellosis in Israel. © The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Peace Education in Israel: An Educational Goal in the Test of Reality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vered, Soli

2015-01-01

Peace education is considered a necessary element in establishing the social conditions required for promoting peace-making between rival parties. As such, it constitutes one of Israel's state education goals, and would therefore be expected to have a significant place in Israel's educational policy in general and in response to peace moves that…

Barriers to human papillomavirus vaccine acceptability in Israel.

PubMed

Fisher, William A; Laniado, Hila; Shoval, Hila; Hakim, Marwan; Bornstein, Jacob

2013-11-22

Barriers to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine acceptability in Israel include Israel's relatively low incidence of cervical cancer; the religiously-based 80% circumcision rate in Israel, which is regarded as contributing to the lower incidence of HPV infection in the country; the fact that HPV vaccine provides immunity against only few virus types; the vaccine's high cost; and the perception that HPV transmission is associated with unacceptable sexual relations. A recent survey has demonstrated that, following media two campaigns, Israeli's level of awareness of the vaccine increased but the actual vaccination rate remained low, at approximately 10%. Survey findings also indicated that an enduring barrier to HPV vaccination is the vaccine's high cost. Recent research on a convenience sample of Israeli undergraduate women 21 to 24 years of age showed that intentions to receive HPV vaccination in the coming year were a function of women's attitudes towards getting vaccinated and their perceptions of social support for doing so. Undergraduate women who intended to be vaccinated perceived the prevention of cervical cancer, avoidance of personal health threat, and avoidance of HPV infection per se to be the advantages of undergoing HPV vaccination. Disadvantages of getting vaccinated included fear of vaccine side effects, cost of the vaccine, and newness of the vaccine, doubts about vaccines, time required to undergo multiple vaccinations, and dislike of injections. Friends', mothers' and physicians' recommendations influenced women's intentions to be vaccinated in the coming year as well. This article forms part of a regional report entitled "Comprehensive Control of HPV Infections and Related Diseases in Israel" Vaccine Volume 31, Supplement 8, 2013. Updates of the progress in the field are presented in a separate monograph entitled "Comprehensive Control of HPV Infections and Related Diseases" Vaccine Volume 30, Supplement 5, 2012. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd

Management of low-level radioactive waste in Israel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shabtai, B.; Brenner, S.; Ne`eman, E.

1995-12-31

Radioactive materials are used extensively in Israel in many areas and applications for medicine, industry, agriculture, research and development and others. Israel`s primary concern in waste management is population safety and environmental protection. The Ministry of The Environment (MOE), in cooperation with the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC), supervise over the disposal system, and ensure an effective control. The MOE is responsible for the granting of permits to users of radioactive elements in about 300 plants and institutes, with about 2,200 installations. The MOE operates a computerized database management system (DBMS) on radioactive materials, with data on licensing, import andmore » distribution, waste disposal and transportation. Supervision over the disposal of LLRW has deepened recently, and periodic reports, based on the number of drums containing LLRW, which were transferred from all institutes in Israel to the NRWDS, were prepared. Draft regulations on the disposal of LLRW from institutes of research and education, hospitals, medical laboratories and other, have been recently prepared. These regulations include instructions on the disposal of solid and liquid LLRW as well as radioactive gases and vapors. As a general rule, no LLRW of any sort will be disposed of through the ordinary waste system or general sewage. However, in some extraordinary cases, residues of liquid LLRW are allowed to be disposed in this manner, if the requirements for disposal are satisfied. There are some conditions, in which solid LLRW might be treated as a conventional waste, as well as for safe emission of radioactive gases and aerosols. In light of these considerations, a new and more specific approach to radiation protection organizations and management of low-level radioactive waste problems, supervision and optimization is presented.« less

78 FR 25692 - Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh Barhi Dates From Israel

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-02

...] Notice of Decision To Authorize the Importation of Fresh Barhi Dates From Israel AGENCY: Animal and Plant... authorize the importation into the United States of fresh dates of the cultivar Barhi from Israel. Based on... weeds via the importation of fresh dates of the cultivar Barhi from Israel. In addition, based on the...

Breastfeeding patterns among Ethiopian immigrant mothers, Israel, 2005-2006.

PubMed

Rubin, Lisa; Nir-lnbar, Sharon; Rishpon, Shmuel

2010-11-01

The rate and duration of breastfeeding in Ethiopia is very high. Factors that could affect breastfeeding among women emigrating to Israel include the desire to adopt "modern" behaviors, the availability of infant formulas, and the greater awareness of AIDS and fear of transmission via breast milk. To examine the rate and duration of breastfeeding among recent Ethiopian immigrants to Israel. Using a structured questionnaire we interviewed 93 Ethiopian born mothers of children aged 2 months to 5 years living in northern Israel. Ninety-two percent of the children born in Ethiopia were exclusively breastfed as compared to 76.3% of the Israeli born children, in whom the rate of mixed feeding was 18.3%. Although the duration of breastfeeding of the youngest child was significantly shorter than that of the firstborn (20.1 vs. 24.8 months), it remains much longer than the average duration for native Israeli mothers. No association was seen between breastfeeding rate or duration and the years since immigration, work outside the home or exposure to formula. The women's attitude towards breastfeeding was positive despite the lack of specific knowledge concerning breast milk and infant formulas. Breastfeeding patterns among Ethiopian women have changed since their immigration to Israel. These changes probably reflect the cultural and societal pressures to acculturate to the mores of the adopted society. Reinforcing traditional family and peer support for these women is important to preserve breastfeeding in this population. This should be done within the context of changes that support breastfeeding in Israeli society.

Post-2000 Law-Based Educational Governance in Israel: From Equality to Diversity?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gibton, Dan

2011-01-01

This article analyses patterns of post 2000 governance in Israel's education system. Drawing upon literature on educational regimes, governance in neo-liberal societies (for example, the UK and the USA), law-based educational reform and policy analysis, this study sets out to inquire how Israel's system was governed with minimal legislation for 60…

Recruiting Arab Fathers in a Center for Children at Risk in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buchbinder, Eli; Jammal-Abboud, Romain

2012-01-01

Arab society in Israel is positioned between the traditional, collective values of Arab culture and the more prevalent Western individualistic values of the Israeli society at large. This poses a challenge for the welfare services in Israel, especially in the case of Arab clients, who tend to receive and interpret the social workers' messages as…

Vision, Curriculum, and Pedagogical Content Knowledge in the Preparation of Israel Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Backenroth, Ofra; Sinclair, Alex

2014-01-01

In this article we explore how we as teacher educators translate a new vision of Israel education into curricular practice in the preparation of emerging Jewish educators. Using a practitioner inquiry mode of research, we reflect on our existential vision of Israel education and its translation into practice as creators and directors of a semester…

Differential Growth Response of Colony-Forming α- and γ-Proteobacteria in Dilution Culture and Nutrient Addition Experiments from Lake Kinneret (Israel), the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, and the Gulf of Eilat†

PubMed Central

Pinhassi, Jarone; Berman, Tom

2003-01-01

Even though it is widely accepted that bacterioplankton growth in lakes and marine ecosystems is determined by the trophic status of the systems, knowledge of the relationship between nutrient concentrations and growth of particular bacterial species is almost nonexistent. To address this question, we performed a series of culture experiments with water from Lake Kinneret (Israel), the eastern Mediterranean Sea, and the Gulf of Eilat (northern Red Sea). In the initial water samples, the proportion of CFU was typically <0.002% of the 4′,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) counts. During incubation until the early stationary phase, the proportion of CFU increased to 20% of the DAPI counts and to 2 to 15% of the DAPI counts in unenriched lake water and seawater dilution cultures, respectively. Sequencing of the 16S ribosomal DNA of colony-forming bacteria in these cultures consistently revealed an abundance of α-proteobacteria, but notable phylogenetic differences were found at the genus level. Marine dilution cultures were dominated by bacteria in the Roseobacter clade, while lake dilution cultures were dominated by bacteria affiliated with the genera Sphingomonas and Caulobacter. In nutrient (glucose, ammonium, phosphate) addition experiments the CFU comprised 20 to 83% of the newly grown cells. In these incubation experiments fast-growing γ-proteobacteria dominated; in the marine experiments primarily different Vibrio and Alteromonas species appeared, while in the lake water experiments species of the genera Shewanella, Aeromonas, and Rheinheimera grew. These results suggest that major, but different, γ-proteobacterial genera in both freshwater and marine environments have a preference for elevated concentrations of nutrients and easily assimilated organic carbon sources but are selectively outcompeted by α-proteobacteria in the presence of low nutrient concentrations. PMID:12513996

Marketing or strategy? Defining the best approach to expand the anesthesiology workforce in Israel.

PubMed

Lewis, Michael C; Grant, Gilbert J

2015-01-01

There is a chronic shortage of anesthesiologists in Israel. The study by Cohen et al. suggests that a marketing campaign may be one method of addressing this shortage. This commentary argues for a more comprehensive strategy based on the US experience. This would not only involve marketing as suggested by Cohen et al. but would also involve a fundamental change in the Israel anesthesia care model, as well as providing substantial financial incentives to young physicians. We believe that a combination of these approaches will help to alleviate the shortage of anesthesia providers in Israel. Creating a new class of physician extenders, namely, anesthesiologist assistants, would also provide an employment pathway for the skilled medical technicians trained by the Israel Defense Forces, and other non-physicians with an interest in anesthesiology.

Drug shortages in Israel: regulatory perspectives, challenges and solutions.

PubMed

Schwartzberg, Eyal; Ainbinder, Denize; Vishkauzan, Alla; Gamzu, Ronni

2017-01-01

Pharmaceutical drug shortages (DSs) are a global problem which presents challenges to countries around the world. Shortages of pharmaceutical products may have a direct detrimental impact on public health and patients' wellbeing by causing delayed, or even lack of, treatment. Moreover, DSs may force both patients and caregivers to use unfamiliar drugs, which could lead to medication errors. The objective of our study was to analyze DSs in Israel during the years 2013-2015, assessing their etiology and exploring the steps taken for their mitigation and prevention. The database of the Israeli Ministry of Health (MoH) on drug shortages contains all the DSs recorded in Israel since 2013, detailing the cause of the DS, its duration, steps taken in its' management and the availability of generic or therapeutic alternatives. Selected examples of DSs from the database are described in this paper in order to identify the causes of DSs, the scope of the problem and possible solutions. Additionally, we have reviewed the recent activities performed by European Medicine Agency (EMA) and the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in their efforts to minimize this problem. Several factors contributing towards DSs in Israel were identified, including quality problems in both the final drug product and in the raw materials, upgrades and improvements of the manufacturing process required by the MoH, manufacturing by a sole supplier, dramatic price decrease in off-patent medications causing the manufacturer to discontinue the distribution of the product in Israel, just-in-time inventory control, and others. One of the most important steps in managing drug shortages was identified to be early notification of the shortage by the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) to the MoH. In 2013, the Israeli MoH updated the regulation on drug shortages instructing MAHs on their obligation of early notification to the MoH. Furthermore, various steps dealing with marketing withdrawal of drugs

Gun utopias? Firearm access and ownership in Israel and Switzerland

PubMed Central

Rosenbaum, Janet

2011-01-01

The 2011 attempted assassination of a US representative renewed the national gun control debate. Gun advocates claim that mass-casualty events are mitigated and deterred with three policies: (1) permissive gun laws, (2) widespread gun ownership, (3) encouragement of armed civilians who can intercept shooters, and cite Switzerland and Israel as exemplars. We evaluate these claims with analysis of International Crime Victimization Survey (ICVS) data and translation of laws and original source material. Swiss and Israeli laws limit firearm ownership and require permit renewal 14 times annually. ICVS analysis finds that the US has more firearms per capita and per household than either country. Switzerland and Israel curtail off-duty soldiers firearm access to prevent firearm deaths. Suicide among soldiers decreased by 40% after the Israeli armys 2006 reforms. Compared with the US, Switzerland and Israel have lower gun ownership and stricter gun laws, and their policies discourage personal gun ownership. PMID:22089893

Gun utopias? Firearm access and ownership in Israel and Switzerland.

PubMed

Rosenbaum, Janet E

2012-02-01

The 2011 attempted assassination of a US representative renewed the national gun control debate. Gun advocates claim mass-casualty events are mitigated and deterred with three policies: (a) permissive gun laws, (b) widespread gun ownership, (c) and encouragement of armed civilians who can intercept shooters. They cite Switzerland and Israel as exemplars. We evaluate these claims with analysis of International Crime Victimization Survey (ICVS) data and translation of laws and original source material. Swiss and Israeli laws limit firearm ownership and require permit renewal one to four times annually. ICVS analysis finds the United States has more firearms per capita and per household than either country. Switzerland and Israel curtail off-duty soldiers' firearm access to prevent firearm deaths. Suicide among soldiers decreased by 40 per cent after the Israeli army's 2006 reforms. Compared with the United States, Switzerland and Israel have lower gun ownership and stricter gun laws, and their policies discourage personal gun ownership.

Serologic Evidence of Human Monocytic and Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis in Israel

PubMed Central

Keysary, Avi; Amram, Lili; Keren, Gershon; Sthoeger, Zev; Potasman, Israel; Jacob, Amir; Strenger, Carmella; Dawson, Jacqueline E.

1999-01-01

We conducted a retrospective serosurvey of 1,000 persons in Israel who had fever of undetermined cause to look for Ehrlichia chaffeensis antibodies. Four of five cases with antibodies reactive to E. chaffeensis were diagnosed in the summer, when ticks are more active. All patients had influenzalike symptoms with high fever. None of the cases was fatal. Three serum samples were also seroreactive for antibodies to E. canis, and one was also reactive to the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) agent. The titer to the HGE agent in this patient was higher than the serum titer to E. chaffeensis, and the Western blot analysis also indicated that the HGE agent was the primary cause of infection. We present the first serologic evidence that the agents of human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) and HGE are present in Israel. Therefore, human ehrlichiosis should be included in the differential diagnoses for persons in Israel who have been exposed to ticks and have influenzalike symptoms. PMID:10603210

Lights, Cameras, Action Research!--Moviemaking as a Pedagogy for Constructivist Israel Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Backenroth, Ofra; Sinclair, Alex

2015-01-01

In this article we analyze moviemaking as a unique pedagogy that is used in a preservice semester in Israel program for the preparation of Israel educators: Students create their own short films about an aspect of Israeli society and/or their relationship with it. We analyze the students' movies, together with students' reflective papers about the…

Jewish Ethnicity and Educational Opportunities in Israel: Evidence from a Curricular Reform

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Feniger, Yariv

2015-01-01

Based on a 20% representative sample of all high school students in Israel in the mid-1990s, this study explores a reform implemented in low socio-economic status (SES) state religious high schools. Most of their students were from the disadvantaged Jewish ethnic group in Israel, Mizrachim. Perceived as unable to meet the requirements of academic…

Immunology Research in Israel.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-11-14

sonCLSIIDFG6S 1 .01 56 *3 2 . 1.8. 11111.2 1111 . MICROCOPY RESOLU TION TEST CHART W NAIN L 8UE OSTNA1936 - Ilile I.. - t"t 4-. r; I...pursued by Israel.i scientists include investigation of irmuno- globulin genes, structure-f unction analysis of antibodies and regulation of antibody...investigation of immuno- that had been first formulated by M. globulin genes, structure-function anal- Sela and R. Arnon. D. Givol pioneered in ysis of

Higher species richness of octocorals in the upper mesophotic zone in Eilat (Gulf of Aqaba) compared to shallower reef zones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shoham, Erez; Benayahu, Yehuda

2017-03-01

Mesophotic coral-reef ecosystems (MCEs), which comprise the light-dependent communities of corals and other organisms found at depths between 30 and 150 m, have received very little study to date. However, current technological advances, such as remotely operated vehicles and closed-circuit rebreather diving, now enable their thorough investigation. Following the reef-building stony corals, octocorals are the second most common benthic component on many shallow reefs and a major component on deep reefs, the Red Sea included. This study is the first to examine octocoral community features on upper MCEs based on species-level identification and to compare them with the shallower reef zones. The study was carried out at Eilat (Gulf of Aqaba, northern Red Sea), comparing octocoral communities at two mesophotic reefs (30-45 m) and two shallow reef zones (reef flat and upper fore-reef) by belt transects. A total of 30 octocoral species were identified, with higher species richness on the upper MCEs compared to the shallower reefs. Although the MCEs were found to host a higher number of species than the shallower reefs, both featured a similar diversity. Each reef zone revealed a unique octocoral species composition and distinct community structure, with only 16% of the species shared by both the MCEs and the shallower reefs. This study has revealed an almost exclusive dominance of zooxanthellate species at the studied upper MCE reefs, thus indicating an adequate light regime for photosynthesis there. The findings should encourage similar studies on other reefs, aimed at understanding the spatiotemporal features and ecological role of octocorals in reef ecosystems down to the deepest limit of the MCEs.

West Nile fever in Israel: the reemergence of an endemic disease.

PubMed

Anis, Emilia; Grotto, Itamar; Mendelson, Ella; Bin, Hanna; Orshan, Laor; Gandacu, Dan; Warshavsky, Bruce; Shinar, Eilat; Slater, Paul E; Lev, Boaz

2014-02-01

As a crossroads for bird migration between Africa and Eurasia and with its long history of human infection, Israel has been a major focus of attention during the continuing global spread of West Nile fever (WNF). This article reviews the background and reemergence of WNF in Israel; the recent epidemiology of WNF among Israelis; and the disease-control strategies being used to combat the disease. Employing the comprehensive base of case data that are reported to the Ministry of Health, an epidemiological record was constructed that details the incidence and distribution of WNF cases in Israel in recent years. After decades of small, intermittent outbreaks, nearly 1400 cases of WNF were reported in Israel between 2000 and 2012. Incidence was consistently highest in the coastal cities, among elderly patients, and in the late summer months and early autumn. A broad range of control measures to prevent human infection has been implemented, and attention has been given to issues such as the protection of the national blood bank and the occurrence of long-term sequelae. The reemergence of WNF in Israel is likely the result of a combination of factors including past immunity to the virus among the human population, a marked increase in awareness of WNF among physicians, and more frequent requests for the laboratory testing of suspected cases. In the absence of effective vaccine to protect humans from WNF, the best disease-control strategies include intensive vector-control measures, the continued development of techniques to forecast outbreaks, and effective public education programs that are targeted toward the high-risk elderly population. Copyright © 2013 The British Infection Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Psycho-social reactions of Palestinian families in Israel and the West Bank following war-related losses.

PubMed

Abu-Baker, Khwala

2012-01-01

to identify psycho-social reactions of Palestinian families to personal losses during the Second Intifada in the West Bank and the Second Lebanese war in Israel. Narratives were collected from support group participants in the west Bank and in individual and family therapy in Israel. the narratives were qualitatively analyzed to identify themes relating to psycho-social reactions to war losses. themes emerging from the west Bank support groups' narratives mostly mirrored those gathered in the therapy sessions in Israel. In both sites, bereaved families exhibited similar psycho-social reactions to war-related losses. Both groups coped with loss collectively and in congruence with their common ethno-cultural background. Also, religious beliefs provided explanations. the loss experiences were ongoing and accumulative for participants in the west Bank, while in Israel it was mostly a single event. Both studies referred solely to war-related losses. the relationships of each population group with the State of Israel shaped their political, national and personal reactions to the loss. Families of "shahids/martyrs" in the west Bank gained socio-political respect, while in Israel, Arab citizens suffering war-related losses did not receive the same political respect from Israeli society, but were awarded sympathy by their communities. In Israel the situation is further complicated since the State is both the enemy and provider of material support, comfort and rescue.

Tragedy or success? Elisabeth Goldschmidt (1912-1970) and genetics in Israel.

PubMed

Kirsh, Nurit

2013-06-01

This article introduces the reader to the life and work of Elisabeth Goldschmidt, the founding mother of the field of genetics in Israel. It concurrently strives to uncover the roots and development of genetics in Israel, tracing the crucial transition from classical Drosophila genetics to human genetics and the shift from a Germanic tradition of scientific research to an American one. Goldschmidt's personal biography is inextricably linked to the early stages of genetic research in Israel. The narrative of her life could have been a heroic and inspiring account of a female scientist who 'had it all', had its end been less tragic. Nevertheless, her life was rich, including a path of achievement and trail-blazing coupled with the joy and satisfaction she gleaned from her scientific work. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An Experience Guide: Egypt and Israel 2000. Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminars Abroad Program, 2000 (Egypt and Israel).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Feijoo, Laura

This "experience guide," developed by a teacher who traveled in the region, aims to provide information on the culture, history, society, geography, and political aspects of Egypt and Israel. Intended for teachers, the guide can enhance lessons in world history. Each segment summarizes a topic and provides questions designed to encourage…

Low Seroprevalence of Leishmania infantum and Toxoplasma gondii in the Horse Population in Israel.

PubMed

Aharonson-Raz, Karin; Baneth, Gad; Lopes, Ana Patrícia; Brancal, Hugo; Schallig, Henk; Cardoso, Luís; Steinman, Amir

2015-12-01

A cross-sectional investigation was done on the seroprevalence of Leishmania infantum and Toxoplasma gondii infection among apparently healthy horses in Israel. This survey included 383 horses distributed in 22 farms throughout Israel during the years 2011-2013. Serum samples were tested for the presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using the direct agglutination test (DAT) specific to Leishmania and by the modified agglutination test (MAT) for the presence of IgG antibodies to T. gondii. Low seroprevalences were detected for both L. infantum and T. gondii in the horse population in Israel; of the 338 horses tested, 6 (1.4%) were found to be seropositive for L. infantum and 11 (2.5%) for T. gondii, with no significant association between seroprevalence and demographic/environmental factors. An ongoing geographical expansion of L. infantum, previously reported in humans and dogs in Israel, was also supported by our results in horses. Here we present evidence of exposure of horses to L. infantum and T. gondii in Israel. Continuous seroprevalence surveillance in horses, such as the one performed in this study, might further elucidate the eco-epidemiology of these two important zoonotic parasites in this country.

Israel: Background and U.S. Relations

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-07-31

59 End- Use Monitoring...conflict on July 6-7, 2014. Israel began a ground operation in Gaza on July 17 with the stated objective of destroying tunnels used by militants to...means of close-quarters combat (including the use of improvised explosive devices, or IEDs) have proven substantially lethal and damaging. According

Israel: Background and U.S. Relations

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-11-07

often seek to determine how regional events and U.S. policy choices may affect Israel’s security, and Congress provides active oversight of executive...14 Issues Affecting U.S.-Israel Relations...Several reports identify Hezbollah as the perpetrator of the July 2012 suicide bus bombing in Burgas, Bulgaria that targeted an Israeli tourist

IMEC-9: The 9th Israel Materials Engineering Conference. Program & Abstracts

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-12-07

non- toxic , magnetite (FesC^) nanoparticles of very narrow size distribution in sizes ranging from approximately 20 nm up to 0.1 urn. The process for...Israel 17 Composites I Hall G Chair: R. Albalak 13:30 -13:50 Synthesis of Dense Oxide -Based In Situ Composites via Thermal Explosion/SHS...Tsionsky, Israel 16:00 -16:20 The Effect of Composition and Microstructure on the Corrosion Behavior of Magnesium- Aluminium Alloys P. Uzan, D. Eliezer

Antagonistic interactions and production of halocin antimicrobial peptides among extremely halophilic prokaryotes isolated from the solar saltern of Sfax, Tunisia.

PubMed

Ghanmi, Fadoua; Carré-Mlouka, Alyssa; Vandervennet, Manon; Boujelben, Ines; Frikha, Doniez; Ayadi, Habib; Peduzzi, Jean; Rebuffat, Sylvie; Maalej, Sami

2016-05-01

Thirty-five extremely halophilic microbial strains isolated from crystallizer (TS18) and non-crystallizer (M1) ponds in the Sfax solar saltern in Tunisia were examined for their ability to exert antimicrobial activity. Antagonistic assays resulted in the selection of eleven strains that displayed such antimicrobial activity and they were further characterized. Three cases of cross-domain inhibition (archaea/bacteria or bacteria/archaea) were observed. Four archaeal strains exerted antimicrobial activity against several other strains. Three strains, for which several lines of evidence suggested the antimicrobial activity was, at least in part, due to peptide/protein agents (Halobacterium salinarum ETD5, Hbt. salinarum ETD8, and Haloterrigena thermotolerans SS1R12), were studied further. Optimal culture conditions for growth and antimicrobial production were determined. Using DNA amplification with specific primers, sequencing and RT-PCR analysis, Hbt. salinarum ETD5 and Hbt. salinarum ETD8 were shown to encode and express halocin S8, a hydrophobic antimicrobial peptide targeting halophilic archaea. Although the gene encoding halocin H4 was amplified from the genome of Htg. thermotolerans SS1R12, no transcript could be detected and the antimicrobial activity was most likely due to multiple antimicrobial compounds. This is also the first report that points to four different strains isolated from different geographical locations with the capacity to produce identical halocin S8 proteins.

Quality of dying and death with cancer in Israel.

PubMed

Braun, Michal; Hasson-Ohayon, Ilanit; Hales, Sarah; Zimmermann, Camilla; Rydall, Anne; Peretz, Tamar; Rodin, Gary

2014-07-01

The quality of dying and death refers to the evaluation of the final days of life and the moment of death with respect to how it is prepared for, faced and experienced by those with a terminal illness. It includes experience in multiple domains: physical, psychological, social, spiritual or existential, the nature of health care, life closure and death preparation, and the circumstances of death. To explore the quality of dying and death in cancer patients in Israel and its relationship to place of death and socio-demographic characteristics of the primary caregivers and the deceased. Retrospective assessment of the quality of dying and death, based on caregiver responses to the Quality of Dying and Death (QODD) questionnaire (overall score ranges from 0 to 100; higher scores reflect better dying and death experiences) 8 to 10 months after the death. Ninety-five caregivers of Jewish cancer patients, most of whom were female spouses or children of the deceased. Mean QODD score was 57.2 (standard deviation [SD]=15), which is in the low-moderate range. Place of death, gender and age of the caregiver, and age of the deceased, were associated with QODD score. This retrospective study in Israel demonstrated that the overall quality of dying and death was regarded as poor by almost half of the caregivers. These findings may reflect the relative lack of specialized palliative care and advance care planning in Israel at the time of this study, which took place between 2006 and 2009. Further research and enhancement of palliative care resources may be needed in Israel and several encouraging recent developments (e.g. staff training and legislation) suggest that such changes are now underway.

West Nile virus outbreak in Israel in 2015: phylogenetic and geographic characterization in humans and mosquitoes.

PubMed

Lustig, Y; Kaufman, Z; Mannasse, B; Koren, R; Katz-Likvornik, S; Orshan, L; Glatman-Freedman, A; Mendelson, E

2017-12-01

West Nile Virus (WNV) is endemic in Israel and was responsible for several outbreaks in the past 16 years. The aim of the present study was to investigate the spatial distribution of WNV acute infections from an outbreak that occurred in 2015 in Israel and report the molecular and geographic characterization of WNV isolates from human cases and mosquito pools obtained during this outbreak. Using a geographical layer comprising 51 continuous areas of Israel, the number of WNV infection cases per 100 000 people in each area and the locations of WNV-infected mosquitoes in 2015 were analysed. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses followed by geographic localization were performed on 13 WNV human isolates and 19 WNV-infected mosquito pools. Substantial geographical variation in the prevalence of acute WNV in patients in Israel was found and an overall correlation with WNV-infected mosquitoes. All human patients sequenced were infected only with the Mediterranean subtype of WNV Lineage 1 and resided primarily in the coastal regions in central Israel. In contrast, mosquitoes were infected with both the Mediterranean and Eastern European subtypes of WNV lineage 1; however, only the Mediterranean subtype was found in mosquitoes from the coastal region in central Israel. These results demonstrate differential geographic dispersion in Israel of the two WNV subtypes and may also point to a differential pattern of human infections. As a geographical bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa, analysis of WNV circulation in humans and mosquitoes in Israel provides information relevant to WNV infections in Eurasia. Copyright © 2017 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Multifocal lenses in coral reef fishes.

PubMed

Karpestam, Björn; Gustafsson, Jonas; Shashar, Nadav; Katzir, Gadi; Kröger, Ronald H H

2007-08-01

The optical properties of crystalline lenses were studied in eleven species of coral reef fish from the Red Sea in Eilat, Israel. Three species each of diurnal planktivores, nocturnal planktivores and diurnal herbivores constituted three groups of animals with little within-group variability. In addition we studied two predators, which differed with respect to body size, prey preference, hunting method and diel activity period. All species studied have multifocal lenses. There were statistically significant differences in the optical properties of the lenses between the first three groups and between the predatory species. The properties of the lenses correlate well with known complements of visual pigments and feeding habits. Lenticular zones focusing ultraviolet light were found in two diurnal planktivores. The optical properties of the lens seem to be specifically adapted to the visual needs of each species.

"My Heart Is in the East and I Am in the West": Enduring Questions of Israel Education in North America

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zakai, Sivan

2014-01-01

By examining writing about Israel education since the founding of the State, this paper highlights three questions that have surfaced repeatedly in Jewish educational discourse: What is the purpose of teaching American Jews about Israel? Who is best equipped to teach American Jews about Israel? How can Israel education foster positive…

Haloplanus salinarum sp. nov., an extremely halophilic archaeon isolated from a solar saltern.

PubMed

Hwang, Han-Bit; Kim, Ye-Eun; Koh, Hyeon-Woo; Song, Hye Seon; Roh, Seong Woon; Kim, So-Jeong; Nam, Seung Won; Park, Soo-Je

2017-11-01

An extremely halophilic archaeal strain SP28 T was isolated from the Gomso solar saltern, Republic of Korea. Cells of the new strain SP28 T were pleomorphic and Gram stain negative, and produced red-pigmented colonies. These grew in medium with 2.5-4.5 M NaCl (optimum 3.1 M) and 0.05-0.5 M MgCl2 (optimum 0.1 M), at 25-50 °C (optimum 37 °C) and at a pH of 6.5-8.5 (optimum pH 8.0). Mg 2+ was required for growth. A concentration of at least 2 M NaCl was required to prevent cell lysis. Polar lipids included phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, phosphatidylglycerol sulfate and one glycolipid chromatographically identical to sulfated mannosyl glucosyl diether. 16S rRNA and rpoB' gene sequence analyses showed that strain SP28 T is closely related to Haloplanus ruber R35 T (97.3 and 94.1 %, 16S rRNA and rpoB' gene sequence similarity, respectively), Haloplanus litoreus GX21 T (97.0 and 92.1 %), Haloplanus salinus YGH66 T (96.0 and 91.9 %), Haloplanus vescus RO5-8 T (95.9 and 90.9 %), Haloplanus aerogenes TBN37 T (95.6 and 90.3 %) and Haloplanus natans RE-101 T (95.3 and 89.8 %). The DNA G+C content of the novel strain SP28 T was 66.2 mol%, which is slightly higher than that of Hpn.litoreus GX21 T (65.8 mol%) and Hpn.ruber R35 T (66.0 mol%). DNA-DNA hybridization values betweenHpn.ruber R35 T and strain SP28 T and between Hpn.litoreus GX21 T and strain SP28 T were about 24.8 and 20.7 %, respectively. We conclude that strain SP28 T represents a novel species of the genus Haloplanus and propose the name Haloplanus salinarum sp. nov. The type strain is SP28 T (=JCM 31424 T =KCCM 43210 T ).

Hezballah, Israel, and Cyber PSYOP

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-01-01

with hundreds of thousands of Jewish activists can place supportive messages.” The Israeli government is supportive of this effort. According to... common sense—must prevail and offer a “best guess” of what the recipient believes. Furthering this movement into the unknown are websites like...developed the video game “Special Forces” that places contestants in operations against Israel. The game praises martyrs, and credits those who shoot

Israel and the Iranian Nuclear Infrastructure

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

cascades are buried 8 to 23 meters underground and protected by multiple layers of concrete.29 But recent sales by the United States of GBU – 39 bunker...Israel has already tested both weapons in combat: the GBU–28 against Hizballah (2006) and the GBU – 39 against Hamas (2009).30 What about Reprisal

West Nile Virus: Seroprevalence in Animals in Palestine and Israel.

PubMed

Azmi, Kifaya; Tirosh-Levy, Sharon; Manasrah, Mu'taz; Mizrahi, Rotem; Nasereddin, Abed; Al-Jawabreh, Amer; Ereqat, Suheir; Abdeen, Ziad; Lustig, Yaniv; Gelman, Boris; Schvartz, Gili; Steinman, Amir

2017-08-01

West Nile virus (WNV) epidemiological situation in Israel and Palestine, due to their unique location, draws attention following to the global spread of West Nile fever (WNF). Although much information is available from Israel on clinical cases and prevalence of WNV, clinical cases are rarely reported in Palestine, and prevalence is not known. The objectives of this study were to determine WNV seroprevalence in various domestic animals in Palestine and to reevaluate current seroprevalence, force of infection, and risk factors for WNV exposure in horses in Israel. Sera samples were collected from 717 animals from Palestine and Israel (460 horses, 124 donkeys, 3 mules, 50 goats, 45 sheep, and 35 camels). Two hundred and ten horses were sampled twice. The level of WNV antibodies was determined using commercial Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Kit. Seroprevalence in equids was 73%. Seroprevalence in Israel (84.6%) was significantly higher than in Palestine (48.6%). Seroprevalence in horses (82.6%) was significantly higher than in donkeys and mules (39.3%). Multivariable statistical analysis showed that geographical area, landscape features (altitude), environmental factors (land surface temperature during the day [LSTD]), species, and age significantly influenced WNV seroprevalence. Fourteen of 95 (14.7%) sheep and goats and 14/35 camels (40%) sampled in Palestine were seropositive for WNV. Of the horses that were sampled twice, 82.8% were seropositive for WNV at the first sampling, and all remained seropositive. Three of the seronegative horses, all from Palestine, converted to positive when resampled (8.5%). The results indicate that domestic animals in Palestine were infected with WNV in the past, and the seroconversion indicates that WNV was circulating in Palestine in the summer of 2014. Control measures to prevent human infection should be implemented in Palestine. Anti WNV antibodies in domestic animals suggest that those species can be used as

A Comparative Study of Educational Environments of Preschool Children in Japan and Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ishigaki, Emiko Hannah

This brief discussion and report of research considers aspects of culture and religion and their influence on young children in Japan and Israel. The discussion of Japan traces the development of early childhood education from the beginning of the modern era to 1985. The discussion of Israel briefly traces population characteristics and…

Ritual plants of Muslim graveyards in northern Israel

PubMed Central

Dafni, Amots; Lev, Efraim; Beckmann, Sabine; Eichberger, Christian

2006-01-01

This article surveys the botanical composition of 40 Muslim graveyards in northern Israel, accompanied by an ethnobotanical study of the folkloristic traditions of the use of these plants in cemeteries. Three groups of plants were found to be repeated systematically and were also recognized for their ritual importance: aromatics herbs (especially Salvia fruticosa and Rosmarinus officinalis), white flowered plants (mainly Narcissus tazetta, Urginea maritima, Iris spp. and Pancratium spp.) and Cupressus sempervirens as the leading cemetery tree. As endemic use we can indicate the essential role of S. fruticosa as the main plant used in all human rites of passage symbolizing the human life cycle. The rosemary is of European origin while the use of basil is of Indian influence. The use of white flowers as cemeteries plants reflects an old European influence and almost the same species are used or their congeners. Most of the trees and shrubs that are planted in Muslim cemeteries in Israel have the same use in ancient as well in modern European cultures. In conclusion, our findings on the occurrence of plants in graveyards reflect the geographic situation of Israel as a crossroads in the cultural arena between Asia and Europe. Most of the traditions are common to the whole Middle East showing high relatedness to the classical world as well as to the present-day Europe. PMID:16961931

[Dr. Moshe Sherman--the first otolaryngologist in Eretz-Israel: 100 years since his arrival].

PubMed

Golz, Avishay; Netzer, Aviram

2012-01-01

On 4.8.1911 Dr. Moshe Sherman landed at the port of Jaffa. He was the first otolaryngologist in Eretz-Israel and for one year he was the only specialist in the country. Dr. Sherman was born in Nikolayev (Russia) in 1881. He started his medical education in Odessa, continued in Berlin, graduated in 1907 at the University of Dorpat (Estonia) and pursued postgraduate studies in otolaryngology at Moscow University. He settled in Jaffa, started a private practice and soon became a famous specialist. He volunteered at the Jewish hospital in Jaffa--"Shaar Zion", and twice a year spent several weeks in Jerusalem seeing patients and performing small operations. On January 1912 Dr. Sherman, together with another 5 physicians, laid the foundations for the first doctors' organization in Israel: "The Medical Society of Jaffa and Jaffa district". In 1918 Dr. Sherman was elected consultant at the Hadassah Hospital in Tel Aviv, and in 1932 a department for ear, nose and throat diseases was established there under his management. He was the founder and first chairman of the Ototaryngology Society in Eretz-Israel, and in 1935 was elected the chairman of the Jewish Medical Association in Eretz-Israel (later--its honorary president). He was the initiator and founder of the "World Fellowship", and the Editor in Chief of 'Harefuah' and "Michtav Lachaver". Dr. Sherman was the author of numerous papers related to his specialty and to the history of Jewish organizations in Eretz-Israel and, later, in the State of Israel. Dr. Sherman died in Tel Aviv on July 17th 1969.

Trauma and identification of victims of suicidal terrorism in Israel.

PubMed

Hiss, J; Kahana, T

2000-11-01

The postmortem examination and identification procedures performed by medical and law enforcement personnel involved in mass disaster management in Israel are reported. The Israel National Police, the Israel Defense Forces, and the L. Greenberg Institute of Forensic Medicine's experts examined 171 victims who died in 21 incidents of suicidal terrorism. The trauma sustained by the victims and perpetrators of suicidal bombings included complete body disruption and explosive, flying missile, and blast injuries. The modus operandi of the perpetrators, reconstructed from the distribution and type of injury of the victims, is discussed. Fifty-five victims perished in open space bombings and 91 inside buses. All perpetrators of these bombings died at the time of the incident regardless of their location. Identification of the victims was achieved using fingerprints, dental records, medical intervention signs, anatomic variation, genetic profile, and personal recognition. Prompt identification of the perpetrators allowed speedy apprehension of the accomplices and prevention of similar attacks. Collaboration between the different forensic, military, and law enforcement teams increased the efficiency of disaster management efforts.

Molecular characterization of Trichinella species from wild animals in Israel.

PubMed

Erster, Oran; Roth, Asael; King, Roni; Markovics, Alex

2016-11-15

Trichinellosis is a worldwide disease caused by nematode worms of the genus Trichinella, frequently diagnosed in Israel. However, the identity of the Israeli isolates have not been studied. Here we describe the molecular characterization of 58 isolates collected from jackals (Canis aureus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and a wolf (Canis lupus) in central and northern Israel. Isolates were analyzed using the multiplex PCR analysis encompassing expansion segment V (ESV) and internal sequence 1 (ITS-1) markers, which identified 52 of the 58 samples. Out of the six unidentified samples, four were successfully identified using extended PCR assays for ESV and ITS-1, developed in this study. Our analysis identified 44 isolates as T. britovi, 8 as T. spiralis, four mixed infections, and two isolates were not identified. Clonal analysis of the ITS-1 sequences from six isolates confirmed the initial identification of four mixed infections. These results show that the prevalent species in Israel are T. britovi and T. spiralis, with nearly 7% (4 of 58) incidence of mixed infection. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Epidemiology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Population-Based Study in Israel.

PubMed

Weil, Clara; Zach, Neta; Rishoni, Shay; Shalev, Varda; Chodick, Gabriel

2016-01-01

Globally, the annual incidence and prevalence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are estimated at 1.9 and 4.5 per 100,000 population, respectively. This study is aimed at describing the epidemiology of ALS in Israel in a real-world setting. A retrospective study was performed using the databases of Maccabi Healthcare Services (MHS), a 2-million-member health maintenance organization in Israel. The study included all MHS adults diagnosed with ALS between 1997 and 2013. In 2013, characteristics of ALS patients were compared to those of age-sex-matched patients without ALS. Survival after ALS diagnosis was assessed until death and until tracheostomy or death (follow-up through 2014). In 2013 (n = 158), the prevalence of ALS was 8.1 per 100,000 population in MHS. In 1997-2013, a total of 375 ALS patients were diagnosed, corresponding to an average annual incidence of 1.8 per 100,000 population in MHS. The median survival from diagnosis to death was 3.5 years (95% CI 2.9-4.1), with approximately 28% surviving at least 10 years. Median tracheostomy-free survival was 2.5 years (95% CI 2.1-2.9). Results suggest that there is a relatively high prevalence of ALS in Israel. Further research is needed to investigate factors that may contribute to the survival of patients with ALS in Israel. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Environmental Projects of Jewish and Arab Youth in Israel: The Adult Leaders' Views

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alkaher, Iris; Tal, Tali

2011-01-01

Socio-environmental projects involving Arab and Jewish youth in Israel are uncommon. In this study, we interviewed 16 adult leaders of two projects that were carried out in the Galilee in northern Israel, to better understand the views of the leaders and their motives. The two projects focused on mutual environmental issues and dealt with social,…

76 FR 41432 - Airworthiness Directives; Gulfstream Aerospace LP (Type Certificate Previously Held by Israel...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-14

... Aerospace LP (Type Certificate Previously Held by Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.) Model Galaxy, Gulfstream... Aerospace LP (Type Certificate previously held by Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd.) Model Galaxy airplanes... Bulletin 150-27- 123, Revision 1, dated January 27, 2011. (2) For Model Galaxy and Gulfstream 200 airplanes...

Establishing and sustaining a biorepository network in Israel: challenges and progress.

PubMed

Cohen, Yehudit; Almog, Ronit; Onn, Amir; Itzhaki-Alfia, Ayelet; Meir, Karen

2013-12-01

Over the past 5 years, using European and North American biobanks as models, the grass-roots establishment of independently operating biobanks has occurred virtually simultaneously in large Israeli teaching hospitals. The process of establishing a national biorepository network in Israel has progressed slowly, sustained mainly by a few proponents working together on a personal level. Slow progress has been due to limited funding and the lack of a legal framework specific to biobanking activities. Recently, due to increasing pressure from the scientific community, the government has earmarked funds for a national biorepository network, and the structure is now being established. In forming a network, Israel's biobanks face certain difficulties, particularly lack of support. Additional challenges include harmonization of standard operating procedures, database centralization, and use of a common informed consent form. In this article, we highlight some of the issues faced by Israel's biobank managers in establishing and sustaining a functional biobank network, information that could provide guidance for other small countries with limited resources.

Modeling options to manage type 1 wild poliovirus imported into Israel in 2013.

PubMed

Kalkowska, Dominika A; Duintjer Tebbens, Radboud J; Grotto, Itamar; Shulman, Lester M; Anis, Emilia; Wassilak, Steven G F; Pallansch, Mark A; Thompson, Kimberly M

2015-06-01

After 25 years without poliomyelitis cases caused by circulating wild poliovirus (WPV) in Israel, sewage sampling detected WPV type 1 (WPV1) in April 2013, despite high vaccination coverage with only inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) since 2005. We used a differential equation-based model to simulate the dynamics of poliovirus transmission and population immunity in Israel due to past exposure to WPV and use of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) in addition to IPV. We explored the influences of various immunization options to stop imported WPV1 circulation in Israel. We successfully modeled the potential for WPVs to circulate without detected cases in Israel. Maintaining a sequential IPV/OPV schedule instead of switching to an IPV-only schedule in 2005 would have kept population immunity high enough in Israel to prevent WPV1 circulation. The Israeli response to WPV1 detection prevented paralytic cases; a more rapid response might have interrupted transmission more quickly. IPV-based protection alone might not provide sufficient population immunity to prevent poliovirus transmission after an importation. As countries transition to IPV in immunization schedules, they may need to actively manage population immunity and consider continued use of OPV, to avoid the potential circulation of imported live polioviruses before globally coordinated cessation of OPV use. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Aiming at Narrowing Social Gaps in Israel through a Special Program of Everyman's University.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guri, Sarah

The philosophy and implementation of the Community Leaders Project at Everyman's University (EU), the Open University of Israel, are discussed. The project is designed to narrow social gaps in Israel by upgrading the educational level of disadvantaged populations and by developing indigeneous leadership for decision-making in the most…

Mammographic breast density in recent and longer-standing ethiopian immigrants to israel.

PubMed

Sklair-Levy, Miri; Segev, Anat; Sella, Tamar; Calderon-Margalit, Ronit; Zippel, Douglas

2018-04-23

High breast density is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer development. Little is known concerning ethnic variations in breast density and its relevant contributing factors. We aimed to study breast density among Ethiopian immigrants to Israel in comparison with Israeli-born women and to determine any effect on breast density of the length of residency in the immigrant population. Mammographic breast density using the BI-RADS system was estimated and compared between 77 women of Ethiopian origin who live in Israel and 177 Israeli-born controls. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the odds ratios (OR) for high density (BI-RADS score ≥ 3) vs low density (BI-RADS score < 3) cases, comparing the 2 origin groups. Ethiopian-born women had a crude OR of 0.15 (95% CI: 0.08-0.26) for high breast density compared with Israeli-born women. Adjustments for various cofounders did not affect the results. Time since immigration to Israel seemed to modify the relationship, with a stronger association for women who immigrated within 2 years prior to mammography (OR:0.07, 95% CI: 0.03-0.17) as opposed to women with a longer residency stay in Israel (OR:0.23, 95% CI:0.10-0.50). Adjustments of various confounders did not alter these findings. Breast density in Ethiopian immigrants to Israel is significantly lower than that of Israeli-born controls. Our study suggests a positive association between time since immigration and breast density. Future studies are required to define the possible effects of dietary change on mammographic density following immigration. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Adjusting health expenditure for military spending and interest payment: Israel and the OECD countries.

PubMed

Shmueli, Amir; Israeli, Avi

2013-02-20

Compared to OECD countries, Israel has a remarkably low percentage of GDP and of government expenditure spent on health, which are not reflected in worse national outcomes. Israel is also characterized by a relatively high share of GDP spent on security expenses and payment of public debt. To determine to what extent differences between Israel and the OECD countries in security expenses and payment of the public debt might account for the gaps in the percentage of GDP and of government expenditures spent on health. We compare the percentages of GDP and of government expenditures spent on health in the OECD countries with the respective percentages when using primary civilian GDP and government expenditures (i.e., when security expenses and interest payment are deducted). We compared Israel with the OECD average and examined the ranking of the OECD countries under the two measures over time. While as a percentage of GDP, the national expenditure on health in Israel was well below the average of the OECD countries, as a percentage of primary civilian GDP it was above the average until 2003 and below the average thereafter. When the OECD countries were ranked according to decreasing percent of GDP and of government expenditure spent on health, adjusting for security and debt payment expenditures changed the Israeli rank from 23rd to 17th and from 27th to 25th, respectively. Adjusting for security expenditures and interest payment, Israel's low spending on health as a percentage of GDP and as a percentage of government's spending increases and is closer to the OECD average. Further analysis should explore the effect of additional population and macroeconomic differences on the remaining gaps.

The Decisive Role of Operational Time and the Information Environment in the Israel-Hezbollah War of 2006

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-06-13

the State of Israel and the Lebanese Republic remain in a technical state of war, this particular conflagration involved Israel and Hezbollah as the...to date there has not been any comparable conflagration between Israel and the Hezbollah, although sporadic reconnaissance, harassment, and...for the conflagration . During an emergency meeting of the Arab League, the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz al

Israel’s Attack on Osiraq: A Model for Future Preventive Strikes?

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-09-01

destroying Israel. July 28, 1980 Israeli Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir met with French Ambassador to Israel, Jean-Pierre Chauvet . Shamir told Chauvet ... Chauvet argued, “Acquisition of nuclear arms would be lunacy on the part of Iraq. After all, Israel’s Jewish and Arab populations are intermingled, and... caved in and a destroyed cooling pool.57 However, Perlmutter claims a specially equipped F-15 flew by the reactor after the bombing on a special

A Critical Look at Psychological Testing in Israel and Comparisons with Its European Neighbors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fine, Saul

2013-01-01

While psychological tests are used extensively in Israel, the current controls over testing practices in Israel deserve some attention. Specifically, unlike in some European countries and the United States, (a) no specific certifications are offered to Israeli psychologists in the area of testing; (b) Israeli psychologists are not obligated to…

Attitudes and Psycholinguistic Aspects of First Language Maintenance among Russian-Jewish Immigrants in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abu-Rabia, Salim

1999-01-01

Investigates the social attitudes toward the Hebrew language and Israeli society and the academic skills in Russian and Hebrew of 60 Russian-Jewish immigrant high school students in Northern Israel. Addresses the linguistic social context in Israel and provides a literature review. Presents and discusses the results. Includes references. (CMK)

Conflict between Israel and Hamas

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-12

this plan, war erupted, leading to the free -for-all Arab land grab. The Egyptians usurped Gaza. The Jordanians occupied the West Bank. Then Israel took...102 Yaacov Amidror, “Line in the Sand ,” The BESA Center, February 2, 2015, accessed March 12, 2015, http://besacenter.org/?s=Line+in+the+ Sand . 69...Laub and Fares Akram, “Hamas Consolidates Its Grip on Gaza as Reconstruction Stalls Gaza City,” ABC News, accessed April 28, 2015, http

["When all of you will be forgotten, the name Israel will still be shining" : James Israel (1848-1926): a career in the German Empire and his nomination for the Nobel Prize].

PubMed

Moll, Friedrich H; Halling, Thorsten; Hansson, Nils; Fangerau, Heiner

2017-03-01

In 1902, the Berlin Jewish urologist James Israel was nominated for the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. Taking scholar, social, and political aspects into consideration, this biographical essay traces how James Israel gained a sound scientific reputation especially in kidney surgery within Imperial Germany and its antisemitic attitude and how he promoted urology to become a specialty in its own right.

Reflections on Working with Ethiopian Families in Israel. Bernard van Leer Foundation Studies and Evaluation Papers No. 3.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ashkenazi, Michael

By 1985, almost 2,500 Ethiopian Jews, who call themselves Beta Israel, had settled in Israel, with more than 1,600 in permanent housing in 2 major areas. This mass immigration caused strains on Israeli society and on the immigrants. The Bernard van Leer Foundation funded the Community and Education Project for Beta Israel to assist in the…

Ten Things Students Need To Know About the Origins of Israel and Palestine. Footnotes. Volume 13, Number 4

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luxenberg, Alan H.

2008-01-01

This essay is based on the author's book, "The Palestine Mandate and the Creation of Israel." As the sixtieth anniversary of Israel's independence in May 2008 approaches, that country remains a focal point of world attention. Israel's origins do much to explain why the Arab-Israeli conflict has been so hard to resolve, but also provide a…

Cost containment: the Middle East. Israel.

PubMed

Stern, Z; Altholz, J; Sprung, C L

1994-08-01

The Israeli Health Service was established with the intent of providing an equal standard of care to the entire Israeli population. The Health Service has dealt with changes over the years, including the governing of large populations of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. In 1990, mass immigration brought 500,000 more individuals to Israel, putting an additional burden on medical services. ICUs in Israel began to emerge after the Six Day War in 1967. The government's Ministry of Health has approved a limited amount of ICU beds. Beyond this set amount, hospital directors decide whether to establish additional ICU beds, weighing departmental pressures from within the hospital to create beds against the knowledge that the hospital will not be reimbursed more than the per diem rate of an ordinary hospital bed ($US 265). Hospital directors and administrators, knowing that the average daily cost of an ICU bed is close to $US 800, turn to their supporting organization to finance the uncontrollable deficit, seek aid from the Ministry of Health to make the per diem rates or diagnosis-related group reimbursements more realistic, and/or implement hospital policies aimed at cutting costs and personnel.

Seroprevalence and risk factor analysis for exposure to equine encephalosis virus in Israel, Palestine and Jordan.

PubMed

Tirosh-Levy, Sharon; Gelman, Boris; Zivotofsky, Doni; Quraan, Lara; Khinich, Evgeny; Nasereddin, Abdelmajeed; Abdeen, Ziad; Steinman, Amir

2017-05-01

Equine encephalosis virus (EEV) is an orbivirus transmitted by Culicoides species. Most infected horses show mild clinical signs and mortality is usually very low. EEV is closely related and similarly transmitted to other, more pathogenic and economically important, orbiviruses such as African horse sickness virus (AHSV), bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic haemorrhagic disease viruses (EHDV), and may serve as an indicator for possible transmission of the latter. Israel has been reported to be endemic for EEV since 2001. This study was initiated to re-evaluate the current seroprevalence and risk factors for EEV exposure in Israel, and to assess, for the first time, the seroprevalence of EEV in Palestine and Jordan. Three hundred and sixteen serum samples were collected from apparently healthy horses at 21 farms in Israel, 66 horses at nine farms in Palestine and 100 horses at three farms in Jordan. The presence of EEV antibodies was detected by a serum neutralization assay. Seroprevalence of EEV was 58.2% (184/316 horses) in Israel, 48.5% (32/66 horses) in Palestine and 2% (2/100 horses) in Jordan. Seroprevalence in Jordan was significantly lower than in Israel and Palestine ( P  < 0.001). The farm ( P  < 0.001) and horse age ( P  = 0.003) were found as significant risk factors for EEV exposure in Israel in multivariable statistical analysis. The results of this study further demonstrate that EEV is no longer limited to South Africa and is endemic in both Israel and Palestine and horses in Jordan were also exposed to this virus emphasizing the potential of pathogens to invade new ecological niches.

Geographical Teaching in Israel: A Retrospective View.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bar-Gal, Yoram

1993-01-01

Reviews geography instruction in Israel (Palestine) during past century beginning with end of Ottoman Empire to 1993 and concentrating on period since beginning of Israeli nation in 1949. Contends local and regional geography was emphasized rather than universal and systematic geography. Concludes geography is viewed as important part of national…

Undergraduate medical education in the U.S. and Israel: contrasts and common challenges.

PubMed

Feldman, Arthur M

2015-01-01

In 2014, the Israeli Council for Higher Education (CHE) commissioned an international panel of outstanding educators to prepare an ad hoc report reviewing the four established medical schools in Israel. The report described the strengths, weaknesses and challenges facing medical education in Israel with a focus on three specific areas: workforce planning, the structure of the curriculum and the financing of medical education. There are interesting parallels between the challenges facing medical education in the U.S. and in Israel: a lack of clarity regarding the optimal size for the workforce and the optimal method for enhancing the number of primary care physicians; an absence of methodologies for evaluating innovations in medical education and a lack of transparency in funds flow. However, there are also important differences, one of the most important being an absence in Israel of students' hands-on responsibility for their patients until year six of their undergraduate medical education. The presence of a small number of medical schools with common funding and geographic proximity, in a relative sense, provides the Israeli medical schools with a unique opportunity to evaluate innovations in medical education and to set a high bar for inter-school collaboration and cooperation.

Nuclear war between Israel and Iran: lethality beyond the pale

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background The proliferation of nuclear technology in the politically volatile Middle East greatly increases the likelihood of a catastrophic nuclear war. It is widely accepted, while not openly declared, that Israel has nuclear weapons, and that Iran has enriched enough nuclear material to build them. The medical consequences of a nuclear exchange between Iran and Israel in the near future are envisioned, with a focus on the distribution of casualties in urban environments. Methods Model estimates of nuclear war casualties employed ESRI's ArcGIS 9.3, blast and prompt radiation were calculated using the Defense Nuclear Agency's WE program, and fallout radiation was calculated using the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's (DTRA's) Hazard Prediction and Assessment Capability (HPAC) V404SP4, as well as custom GIS and database software applications. Further development for thermal burn casualties was based on Brode, as modified by Binninger, to calculate thermal fluence. ESRI ArcGISTM programs were used to calculate affected populations from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's LandScanTM 2007 Global Population Dataset for areas affected by thermal, blast and radiation data. Results Trauma, thermal burn, and radiation casualties were thus estimated on a geographic basis for three Israeli and eighteen Iranian cities. Nuclear weapon detonations in the densely populated cities of Iran and Israel will result in an unprecedented millions of numbers of dead, with millions of injured suffering without adequate medical care, a broad base of lingering mental health issues, a devastating loss of municipal infrastructure, long-term disruption of economic, educational, and other essential social activity, and a breakdown in law and order. Conclusions This will cause a very limited medical response initially for survivors in Iran and Israel. Strategic use of surviving medical response and collaboration with international relief could be expedited by the predicted casualty

Geotechnical and structural lessons learnt from the aqaba (ml = 6.2) earthquake of Novemeber 22, 1995

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Homoud, A.

2003-04-01

This study reflects in some details on the following aspects related to the region: geological and tectonic setting, seismicity, swarms activity data base and seismic hazard assessment. Moreover, it documents the following aspects of the November 22, 1995 earthquake: tectonic, seismological, instrumental seismic data, strong motion recordings and response spectral and local site effect analysis, geotechnical effects and structural observations in the region affected by the earthquake. The study identifies local site effects on structural damages. These observations were analyzed in connection with the observed damages. It is concluded that liquefaction potential, effect of soil column, poor quality of construction, and underestimating the design base shear are the main factors that contributed to the observed damages. Practical recommendations are suggested for the authorities to avoid similar damages in newly constructed buildings and lifelines during future similar earthquakes. On November 22, 1995, the Gulf of Aqaba region was shaken by a strong earthquake that was felt from Sudan to Lebanon. The epicenter was located in the gulf water midway between the Egyptian cities of Dahab and Nuweiba on the Sinai Peninsula. The main shock was followed by thousands of aftershocks, the strongest of which occurred on November 23, 1995 with a local magnitude of 5.4. The main shock triggered strong motion accelerographs belonging to the Jordanian and Israeli networks at Aqaba and Eilat cities, respectively. Structural damages to buildings and lifeline systems were reported in several cities located along the gulf coast including Aqaba in Jordan,Haql in Saudi Arabia, Sharm Al-Sheik, Dahab and Nuweiba in Egypt, and Eilat in Israel. In the city of Nuweiba, located 40 km north of the epicenter, surveyed damage suggests that the horizontal peak ground was in the range of 0.16 g - 0.25 g. Strong motion records indicated that at the port cit of Eilat (a distance of 92.7 km from the

Egg production and hatching success of Paracartia grani (Copepoda, Calanoida, Acartiidae) in two hypersaline ponds of a Tunisian Solar Saltern

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Annabi-Trabelsi, Neila; Rebai, Rayda Kobbi; Ali, Mohammad; Subrahmanyam, M. N. V.; Belmonte, Genuario; Ayadi, Habib

2018-04-01

Reproductive traits of Paracartia grani [percentage of spawning females, egg production rate (EPR), and hatching success (HS)] were investigated for the first time at high salinities (39-121 psu) to examine the impact of such a particular situation. The study was done in two hypersaline ponds [A1 (39-46 psu) and C31 (70-121 psu)] in Sfax Solar Saltern, central-eastern coast of Tunisia. These ponds also differed in terms of the composition and concentrations of nutritional parameters. The EPR differed significantly between the ponds (ANOVA, F = 29.45, p < 0.001). In pond A1, EPR varied between 12.7 ± 1.3 eggs female- 1 day- 1 (7 December 2009) and 14 ± 1 eggs female- 1 day- 1 (19 January 2010) with an average of 13.3 ± 0.44 eggs female- 1 day- 1. HS after 48 h of incubation were significantly higher than those after 24 h. The mean values of HS after 48 h were 42.72 ± 2.58% at pond A1 and 41.67 ± 3.92% at pond C31. The two peaks of HS (after 48 h) were observed at 15 °C in pond A1 (21 December 2009, 45.18% nauplii eggs- 1) and in C31 (4 January 2010, 48.78%) at the same temperature. This study confirms that a broad salinity tolerance allows P. grani to settle itself in environments, which are normally hostile to the development of other Acartiidae.

Israel: Background and U.S. Relations

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-29

security goals and have developed close relations based on common perceptions of shared democratic values and religious affinities. U.S. policymakers...and Christian religious claims in the city. Although Israel withdrew its permanent military presence from the Gaza Strip in 2005, it still controls...trends partly explain why Israel’s current Jewish population is “more nationalistic, religiously conservative, and hawkish on foreign policy and

Israel: Background and U.S. Relations

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-02-14

the United States and Israel have developed a close friendship based on common democratic values, religious affinities, and security interests. U.S...following completion of the interim withdrawal. • Mutual unimpeded access to places of religious and historical significance will be provided on a non...Palestinian state Opposition 3 Habayet Hayehudi (Jewish Home)-New National Religious Party (NRP)c Nationalist; Ashkenazi Orthodox; opposes a

Human enterovirus D68 in clinical and sewage samples in Israel.

PubMed

Weil, Merav; Mandelboim, Michal; Mendelson, Ella; Manor, Yossi; Shulman, Lester; Ram, Daniela; Barkai, Galia; Shemer, Yonat; Wolf, Dana; Kra-Oz, Zipi; Weiss, Leah; Pando, Rakefet; Hindiyeh, Musa; Sofer, Danit

2017-01-01

Since mid-August 2014, North America experienced a wide outbreak of Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) associated with severe respiratory illness in children. Several other countries also reported cases of EV-D68 in 2014. The aim of this study was to determine whether EV-D68 circulated in Israel in 2014, caused severe respiratory illness in children and was the causative agent of Acute Flaccid Paralysis. Archived clinical respiratory samples from a cohort of 710 hospitalized pediatric patient's (<10years old) with respiratory illness were screened for clade B specific EV-D68 by real-time PCR. The patients were seen at four medical centers covering the entire country between August and November 2014. We also evaluated 49 patient stool samples from 26 AFP cases during 2014 for presence of EV-D68. In addition, RNA from sewage samples collected throughout Israel during the same study period was also tested for EV-D68. Partial VP1 sequencing was performed on all positive samples. Of the 710 clinical samples evaluated, 7 (1%) were positive for EV-D68. Two patients were from the central part of Israel, while the rest was from the southern part. The majority of the patients did not have any underlying disease. Not only that, but, none of the 26 suspected AFP cases had EV-D68 nucleic acid in their stool samples. EV-D68 RNA was detected in 9 out of 93 sewage samples, mainly from Southern Israel. Sequence analysis of EV-D68 VP1 gene from both sewage and clinical samples indicated that the Israeli EV-D68 RNA belonged to Clade B which was genetically similar to 2014 circulating European and North American EV-D68 virus. EV-D68 circulated in Israel during the 2014 summer-fall season and caused hospitalization of a small percent of the patients with respiratory illness. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Adjusting health expenditure for military spending and interest payment: Israel and the OECD countries

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Compared to OECD countries, Israel has a remarkably low percentage of GDP and of government expenditure spent on health, which are not reflected in worse national outcomes. Israel is also characterized by a relatively high share of GDP spent on security expenses and payment of public debt. Objectives To determine to what extent differences between Israel and the OECD countries in security expenses and payment of the public debt might account for the gaps in the percentage of GDP and of government expenditures spent on health. Methods We compare the percentages of GDP and of government expenditures spent on health in the OECD countries with the respective percentages when using primary civilian GDP and government expenditures (i.e., when security expenses and interest payment are deducted). We compared Israel with the OECD average and examined the ranking of the OECD countries under the two measures over time. Results While as a percentage of GDP, the national expenditure on health in Israel was well below the average of the OECD countries, as a percentage of primary civilian GDP it was above the average until 2003 and below the average thereafter. When the OECD countries were ranked according to decreasing percent of GDP and of government expenditure spent on health, adjusting for security and debt payment expenditures changed the Israeli rank from 23rd to 17th and from 27th to 25th, respectively. Conclusions Adjusting for security expenditures and interest payment, Israel's low spending on health as a percentage of GDP and as a percentage of government's spending increases and is closer to the OECD average. Further analysis should explore the effect of additional population and macroeconomic differences on the remaining gaps. PMID:23425013

The Genetics of Bene Israel from India Reveals Both Substantial Jewish and Indian Ancestry

PubMed Central

Davidson, Natalie R.; Billing-Ross, Paul; Dubrovsky, Maya; Campbell, Christopher L.; Oddoux, Carole; Friedman, Eitan; Atzmon, Gil; Halperin, Eran; Ostrer, Harry; Keinan, Alon

2016-01-01

The Bene Israel Jewish community from West India is a unique population whose history before the 18th century remains largely unknown. Bene Israel members consider themselves as descendants of Jews, yet the identity of Jewish ancestors and their arrival time to India are unknown, with speculations on arrival time varying between the 8th century BCE and the 6th century CE. Here, we characterize the genetic history of Bene Israel by collecting and genotyping 18 Bene Israel individuals. Combining with 486 individuals from 41 other Jewish, Indian and Pakistani populations, and additional individuals from worldwide populations, we conducted comprehensive genome-wide analyses based on FST, principal component analysis, ADMIXTURE, identity-by-descent sharing, admixture linkage disequilibrium decay, haplotype sharing and allele sharing autocorrelation decay, as well as contrasted patterns between the X chromosome and the autosomes. The genetics of Bene Israel individuals resemble local Indian populations, while at the same time constituting a clearly separated and unique population in India. They are unique among Indian and Pakistani populations we analyzed in sharing considerable genetic ancestry with other Jewish populations. Putting together the results from all analyses point to Bene Israel being an admixed population with both Jewish and Indian ancestry, with the genetic contribution of each of these ancestral populations being substantial. The admixture took place in the last millennium, about 19–33 generations ago. It involved Middle-Eastern Jews and was sex-biased, with more male Jewish and local female contribution. It was followed by a population bottleneck and high endogamy, which can lead to increased prevalence of recessive diseases in this population. This study provides an example of how genetic analysis advances our knowledge of human history in cases where other disciplines lack the relevant data to do so. PMID:27010569

The Genetics of Bene Israel from India Reveals Both Substantial Jewish and Indian Ancestry.

PubMed

Waldman, Yedael Y; Biddanda, Arjun; Davidson, Natalie R; Billing-Ross, Paul; Dubrovsky, Maya; Campbell, Christopher L; Oddoux, Carole; Friedman, Eitan; Atzmon, Gil; Halperin, Eran; Ostrer, Harry; Keinan, Alon

2016-01-01

The Bene Israel Jewish community from West India is a unique population whose history before the 18th century remains largely unknown. Bene Israel members consider themselves as descendants of Jews, yet the identity of Jewish ancestors and their arrival time to India are unknown, with speculations on arrival time varying between the 8th century BCE and the 6th century CE. Here, we characterize the genetic history of Bene Israel by collecting and genotyping 18 Bene Israel individuals. Combining with 486 individuals from 41 other Jewish, Indian and Pakistani populations, and additional individuals from worldwide populations, we conducted comprehensive genome-wide analyses based on FST, principal component analysis, ADMIXTURE, identity-by-descent sharing, admixture linkage disequilibrium decay, haplotype sharing and allele sharing autocorrelation decay, as well as contrasted patterns between the X chromosome and the autosomes. The genetics of Bene Israel individuals resemble local Indian populations, while at the same time constituting a clearly separated and unique population in India. They are unique among Indian and Pakistani populations we analyzed in sharing considerable genetic ancestry with other Jewish populations. Putting together the results from all analyses point to Bene Israel being an admixed population with both Jewish and Indian ancestry, with the genetic contribution of each of these ancestral populations being substantial. The admixture took place in the last millennium, about 19-33 generations ago. It involved Middle-Eastern Jews and was sex-biased, with more male Jewish and local female contribution. It was followed by a population bottleneck and high endogamy, which can lead to increased prevalence of recessive diseases in this population. This study provides an example of how genetic analysis advances our knowledge of human history in cases where other disciplines lack the relevant data to do so.

Enabling Bi-Literacy Patterns in Ethiopian Immigrant Families in Israel: A Socio-Educational Challenge

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stavans, Anat

2015-01-01

This paper explores the role that languages and literacy practices play in Ethiopian immigrant families transposed to Israel as part of Israel's family language policy, by examining parental perspectives on their respective L1 and L2 usages, in both parents' and children's lives, as well as by examining the home literacy provisions supporting…

Situation Report [--Fiji, Indonesia, Israel, and Philippines].

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

International Planned Parenthood Federation, London (England).

This is a series of four situation reports prepared by the International Planned Parenthood Federation for informational and consultative purposes. The countries reported on are Fiji, Indonesia, Israel, and the Philippines. Some of the latest statistical figures for each country are listed. They are area, population and growth rate, birth, death,…

Electronic Theses at Ben-Gurion University: Israel as Part of the Worldwide ETD Movement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Asner, Haya; Polani, Tsviya

2008-01-01

This article discusses the electronic thesis and dissertation project at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel. It describes the status of the ETD movement in Israel as part of the worldwide spread of ETDs as reported in the literature. It also examines openness to ETDs by faculty and by publisher discipline. (Contains 6…

Persistence of Lineage IV Peste-des-petits ruminants virus within Israel since 1993: An evolutionary perspective

PubMed Central

Clarke, Brian; Mahapatra, Mana; Friedgut, Orly; Bumbarov, Velizar

2017-01-01

Peste-des-petits ruminants (PPR) is one of the most important infectious diseases of domesticated small ruminants. From the initial identification in 1942 in West Africa, PPR virus (PPRV) has spread throughout much of the developing world. PPRV is now considered endemic throughout Africa, with the notable exception of South Africa, the Middle-East and Israel, as well as South-, East-, and Central Asia. Despite this widespread dispersal, the evolution and transmission of PPRV in endemic populations is not well understood. This understanding will be critical in the planning of rational measures to eradicate PPRV by the planned time as defined by the FAO and OIE. To further advance the understanding of the evolution of PPRV the full genome sequence of 18 viruses isolated from Israel from consecutive years between 1997–2014 were generated. This data set is unique and crucial for the understanding of the evolution of PPRV, as it represents the first set of full-length sequence data available from consecutive years from a single geographic location. Analysis of these full genome sequences shows 96.2–99.9% nucleotide conservation across the Israel isolates and further demonstrates the strong purifying selection pressures on PPRV within Israel and globally. Four amino acid substitutions indicative of putative positive selection were additionally identified within the Israel isolates. The mean substitution rate per site per year was estimated to be 9.22 x 10−4 (95% HPD 6.206 x 10−4–1.26 x 10−3). Using Bayesian and phylogenetic analyses we further demonstrate that the PPRV isolates from Israel belongs to linage IV and form a single strong regional cluster within all other lineage IV viruses circulating worldwide implying a single incursion into Israel. PMID:28545149

Persistence of Lineage IV Peste-des-petits ruminants virus within Israel since 1993: An evolutionary perspective.

PubMed

Clarke, Brian; Mahapatra, Mana; Friedgut, Orly; Bumbarov, Velizar; Parida, Satya

2017-01-01

Peste-des-petits ruminants (PPR) is one of the most important infectious diseases of domesticated small ruminants. From the initial identification in 1942 in West Africa, PPR virus (PPRV) has spread throughout much of the developing world. PPRV is now considered endemic throughout Africa, with the notable exception of South Africa, the Middle-East and Israel, as well as South-, East-, and Central Asia. Despite this widespread dispersal, the evolution and transmission of PPRV in endemic populations is not well understood. This understanding will be critical in the planning of rational measures to eradicate PPRV by the planned time as defined by the FAO and OIE. To further advance the understanding of the evolution of PPRV the full genome sequence of 18 viruses isolated from Israel from consecutive years between 1997-2014 were generated. This data set is unique and crucial for the understanding of the evolution of PPRV, as it represents the first set of full-length sequence data available from consecutive years from a single geographic location. Analysis of these full genome sequences shows 96.2-99.9% nucleotide conservation across the Israel isolates and further demonstrates the strong purifying selection pressures on PPRV within Israel and globally. Four amino acid substitutions indicative of putative positive selection were additionally identified within the Israel isolates. The mean substitution rate per site per year was estimated to be 9.22 x 10-4 (95% HPD 6.206 x 10-4-1.26 x 10-3). Using Bayesian and phylogenetic analyses we further demonstrate that the PPRV isolates from Israel belongs to linage IV and form a single strong regional cluster within all other lineage IV viruses circulating worldwide implying a single incursion into Israel.

Returning to ourselves: Palestinian complementary healers in Israel.

PubMed

Popper-Giveon, Ariela; Weiner-Levy, Naomi

2014-01-01

Studies of traditional healers in various cultures describe their initiation into the healing profession as a climax that constructs their professional and personal identity. Literature emphasizes the healers' intense association with the culture in which they work, as reflected in the initiation narratives that healers in various cultures recount. In this article we reveal unique initiation stories and identity formation from Palestinian nonconventional healers in Israel who described a cross-cultural journey: After studying healing traditions of foreign cultures and on returning to their own cultural environment, they developed a unique and complex combination of healing values and traditions. We examine the stories of these healers, whose personal and professional identities are affected by cultural, political, and social contexts. We note the blending of healing traditions and practices, and the changes in identity, assessing them against cultural processes that many Palestinians in Israel have been undergoing over the past few decades.

Conflict in Israel and the Middle East: Differing Perspectives. Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminars Abroad Program, 2000 (Egypt and Israel).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rice, Susan

This curriculum project is intended for studying nonviolent conflict resolution at the undergraduate and graduate level, but it could be adapted for high school classes. The project first presents an historical context of Israel to illuminate the present conflict in the Middle East. It then presents a series of vignettes that represent differing…

Arab Parents' Involvement in School Reform in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arar, Khalid; Abu-Asbah, Khaled; Nasra, Muhammed Abu

2014-01-01

Current research indicates that parental involvement positively influences children's academic success. This study investigates parental involvement in the Arab education system in Israel, highlighting involvement in the New Horizon reform. We interviewed school principals and parent committee chairpersons from 15 Arab schools. The study confirmed…

(Hydrogeology of hazardous waste, Sede Boker Campus, Ben-Gurion University, Israel)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stow, S.H.

1990-03-29

This trip report describes progress made by the International Commission on the Hydrogeology of Hazardous Waste in preparing a document on hydrogeologic and environmental issues associated with siting of hazardous waste disposal facilities. This document follows the successful completion of a commission report on siting of facilities for subsurface disposal of liquid wastes. Also contained in this trip report are descriptions of water and waste management activities throughout the southern part of Israel. Water availability and the need to protect the country's limited water supplies from contamination resulting from waste disposal are issues of paramount importance to Israel.

Creating patient safety capacity in a nation's health system: A comparison between Israel and Canada

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Injuries to patients by the healthcare system (i.e., adverse events) are common and their impact on individuals and systems is considerable. Over the last decade, extensive efforts have been made worldwide to improve patient safety. Given the complexity and extent of the activities required to address the issue, coordinating and organizing them at a national level is likely beneficial. Whereas some capacity and expertise already exist in Israel, there is a considerable gap that needs to be filled. In this paper two countries, Canada and Israel, are examined and some of the essential steps for any country are considered. Possible immediate next steps for Israel are suggested. PMID:22913865

The Teaching of Additional Languages in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hallel, Michael; Spolsky, Bernard

1992-01-01

Describes the linguistic situation in Israel and the language teaching policies and practices in Israeli schools. Policy is dominated by the ideological role and practical value of Hebrew, and is further driven by the large numbers of non-Jewish minorities, the status of English as a world language, and the political values of Arabic. (21…

Multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis, Israel.

PubMed

Gal-Mor, Ohad; Valinsky, Lea; Weinberger, Miriam; Guy, Sara; Jaffe, Joseph; Schorr, Yosef Ilan; Raisfeld, Abraham; Agmon, Vered; Nissan, Israel

2010-11-01

To determine whether rapid emergence of Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis in Israel resulted from an increase in different biotypes or spread of 1 clone, we characterized 87 serovar Infantis isolates on the genotypic and phenotypic levels. The emerging strain comprised 1 genetic clone with a distinct pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profile and a common antimicrobial drug resistance pattern.

Promoting meaningful use of health information technology in Israel: ministry of health vision.

PubMed

Gerber, Ayala; Topaz, Maxim Max

2014-01-01

The Ministry of Health (MOH) of Israel has overall responsibility for the healthcare system. In recent years the MOH has developed strong capabilities in the areas of technology assessment and prioritization of new technologies. Israel completed the transition to computerized medical records a decade ago in most care settings; however, the processes in Israel was spontaneous, without government control and standards settings, therefore large variations among systems and among organizations were created. Currently, the main challenge is to convert the information scattered in different systems, to organized, visible information and to make it available to various levels in health management. The MOH's solution is of implementing a selected information system from a specific vendor, at all the hospitals and all HMO's clinics, in order to achieve interoperability. The sys-tem will enable access to the patient's medical record history from any location.

Deafness genes in Israel: implications for diagnostics in the clinic.

PubMed

Brownstein, Zippora; Avraham, Karen B

2009-08-01

The identification of the molecular basis of deafness in the last decade has made a remarkable impact on genetic counseling and diagnostics for the hearing impaired population. Since the discovery of the most prevalent form of deafness associated with mutations in the GJB2 (connexin 26) gene, many other genes have been found worldwide, with a subset of these, including unique mutations, in Israel. Here, we review the current status of deafness genes in Israel and report one known mutation in a syndromic form of deafness, Usher syndrome, described in the Jewish Israeli population for the first time. In the future, the identification of specific mutations may be relevant for specific types of treatment.

78 FR 66841 - Israel Loan Guarantees Issued Under the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2003...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-07

... AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 22 CFR Part 230 Israel Loan Guarantees Issued Under the... International Development (USAID). ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This regulation prescribes the revised... International Development, may issue loan guarantees applicable to sums borrowed by the Government of Israel on...

Learning Disabilities: Current Policy and Directions for Community Involvement among the Arab Community in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jabareen-Taha, Samaher; Taha, Haitham

2016-01-01

This article seeks to identify and review the basic characteristics of learning disability which are specifically mentioned in the literature. In addition, the article intends to conduct a brief analysis on learning disability policy in Israel and the differentiation problems at the level of awareness among the Arab society in Israel. Despite the…

Israel and Iran: A Dangerous Rivalry

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

and Knesset view the Islamic Republic as “a bitter ideological enemy that is deter- mined to bring about the physical annihilation of Israel”; only...entirely different set of values. . . . Iran sends children into mine fields. Iran denies the Holocaust. Iran openly calls for Israel’s destruction...compromise on sovereignty by having U.S. troops deployed here.” Quoted in Barbara Opall -Rome, “U.S. to Deploy Radar, Troops In Israel,” Defense News

Mycetoma (Madura Foot) in Israel: Recent Cases and a Systematic Review of the Literature.

PubMed

Bitan, Ohad; Wiener-Well, Yonit; Segal, Rina; Schwartz, Eli

2017-06-01

AbstractMycetoma is a chronic soft tissue infection caused by fungal or bacterial pathogens, and is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions. Cases in developed countries outside the mycetoma belt are rare and usually imported by immigrants. Sporadic cases have been reported in Israel. Unpublished cases in the participating medical centers are reported. In addition, a systematic review of the literature was performed. All published mycetoma cases diagnosed in Israel were included with relevant variables collected. Twenty-one cases of mycetoma were diagnosed in Israel between 1942 and 2015, including four unpublished cases and 17 published cases. The mean age at diagnosis was 42 years (range 23-73), and 16 of the patients were male. The foot was the primary involved organ. Fifteen patients were immigrants from Yemen, Ethiopia, and Sudan. Five cases were autochthonous. One case was travel related. Among patients who developed symptoms after immigration, the mean time from exposure to symptom onset was 5.6 years (range 1-10 years). The mean time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 6.6 years (range 0.2-35 years). The autochthonous cases demonstrate that Israel is endemic of mycetoma. The immigrant population represents two distinct waves of immigration to Israel in the past century. Two unpublished cases of Ethiopian immigrants are the first reported cases of mycetoma acquired in Ethiopia. The diagnostic and therapeutic challenges along with the epidemiological data emphasize the need of raising the awareness of physicians to this devastating condition even in developed countries.

Mycetoma (Madura Foot) in Israel: Recent Cases and a Systematic Review of the Literature

PubMed Central

Bitan, Ohad; Wiener-Well, Yonit; Segal, Rina; Schwartz, Eli

2017-01-01

Mycetoma is a chronic soft tissue infection caused by fungal or bacterial pathogens, and is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions. Cases in developed countries outside the mycetoma belt are rare and usually imported by immigrants. Sporadic cases have been reported in Israel. Unpublished cases in the participating medical centers are reported. In addition, a systematic review of the literature was performed. All published mycetoma cases diagnosed in Israel were included with relevant variables collected. Twenty-one cases of mycetoma were diagnosed in Israel between 1942 and 2015, including four unpublished cases and 17 published cases. The mean age at diagnosis was 42 years (range 23–73), and 16 of the patients were male. The foot was the primary involved organ. Fifteen patients were immigrants from Yemen, Ethiopia, and Sudan. Five cases were autochthonous. One case was travel related. Among patients who developed symptoms after immigration, the mean time from exposure to symptom onset was 5.6 years (range 1–10 years). The mean time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 6.6 years (range 0.2–35 years). The autochthonous cases demonstrate that Israel is endemic of mycetoma. The immigrant population represents two distinct waves of immigration to Israel in the past century. Two unpublished cases of Ethiopian immigrants are the first reported cases of mycetoma acquired in Ethiopia. The diagnostic and therapeutic challenges along with the epidemiological data emphasize the need of raising the awareness of physicians to this devastating condition even in developed countries. PMID:28719270

The equivalence of Darmois-Israel and distributional method for thin shells in general relativity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mansouri, R.; Khorrami, M.

1996-11-01

A distributional method to solve the Einstein{close_quote}s field equations for thin shells is formulated. The familiar field equations and jump conditions of Darmois-Israel formalism are derived. A careful analysis of the Bianchi identities shows that, for cases under consideration, they make sense as distributions and lead to jump conditions of Darmois-Israel formalism. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}

Sickle cell anemia in northern Israel: screening and prevention.

PubMed

Koren, Ariel; Zalman, Lucia; Palmor, Haya; Zamir, Ronit Bril; Levin, Carina; Openheim, Ariella; Daniel-Spiegel, Etty; Shalev, Stavit; Filon, Dvora

2009-04-01

Sickle cell anemia is a hemolytic anemia caused by a single mutation in position 6 of the beta globin molecule. About 80 patients with SCA in northern Israel are currently receiving treatment. To assess a screening program in northern Israel aimed at detecting couples at risk for having offspring with SCA. Since 1987, screening for beta thalassemia in pregnant women in northern Israel has been conducted, and from 1999 all the samples were also tested for hemoglobin S, Hgb C, Hgb D, Hgb O Arab and others. During the 20 year period 1987-2006 a total of 69,340 women were screened; 114 couples who carried Hgb S were detected and 187 prenatal diagnoses were performed in couples at risk for having an offspring with Hgb S. The mean gestational age was 13 +/- 4 weeks. Fifty-four of those diagnoses revealed affected fetuses and in 4 cases the couple declined to perform therapeutic abortion. The economic burden to the health services for treating SCA patients is about U.S.$ 7000 per year, and the institution of prevention programs has proven cost-effective in populations with a high frequency of carriers. Since our program is aimed to also detect beta thalassemia, a disease that is more frequent in this area (> 2.5%), the added cost for the prevention of SCA is less significant despite the low incidence of the S gene in our population, namely < 1%.

Mosquito Surveillance for 15 Years Reveals High Genetic Diversity Among West Nile Viruses in Israel.

PubMed

Lustig, Yaniv; Hindiyeh, Musa; Orshan, Laor; Weiss, Leah; Koren, Ravit; Katz-Likvornik, Shiri; Zadka, Hila; Glatman-Freedman, Aharona; Mendelson, Ella; Shulman, Lester M

2016-04-01

West Nile Virus (WNV) is endemic in Israel and has been the cause of several outbreaks in recent years. In 2000, a countrywide mosquito survey was established to monitor WNV activity and characterize viral genotypes in Israel. We analyzed data from 7135 pools containing 277 186 mosquitoes collected over the past 15 years and, here, report partial sequences of WNV genomes obtained from 102 of the 336 positive mosquito pools. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that cluster 4 and the Mediterranean and Eastern European subtypes of cluster 2 within WNV lineage 1 circulated in Israel, as did WNV lineage 2, highlighting a high genetic diversity of WNV genotypes in our region. As a major crossroads for bird migration between Africa and Eurasia and with a long history of human infection, Israel serves as a resource hub for WNV in Africa and Eurasia and provides valuable information on WNV circulation in these regions. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail journals.permissions@oup.com.

Triple Jeopardy: Special Education for Palestinians in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kasler, Jonathan; Jabareen, Yousef T.

2017-01-01

Research comparing special education for Jews and for Palestinian Arabs in Israel outlines major inequalities. This situation has remained largely unchanged for decades and there is little evidential reason to believe there will be improvement in the near future. Palestinian children requiring special education are adversely affected by a…

Parental Participation Fees in School Expenses in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shaked, Haim

2016-01-01

Purpose: Many countries throughout the world provide all children with free education. However, sometimes there are user charges in publically funded schools worldwide. The purpose of this paper is to explore parental participation fees in school expenses in Israel, depicting the current situation and analyzing its implications.…

Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Infantis, Israel

PubMed Central

Valinsky, Lea; Weinberger, Miriam; Guy, Sara; Jaffe, Joseph; Schorr, Yosef Ilan; Raisfeld, Abraham; Agmon, Vered; Nissan, Israel

2010-01-01

To determine whether rapid emergence of Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis in Israel resulted from an increase in different biotypes or spread of 1 clone, we characterized 87 serovar Infantis isolates on the genotypic and phenotypic levels. The emerging strain comprised 1 genetic clone with a distinct pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profile and a common antimicrobial drug resistance pattern. PMID:21029536

[DR. SHOSHANA SZKOP-FRENKIEL: THE FIRST FEMALE PLASTIC SURGEON IN ISRAEL].

PubMed

Shehory-Rubin, Zipora

2015-11-01

In the history of Israeli medicine, Dr. Shoshana Szkop-Frenkiel is regarded as the first plastic surgeon in the country and among the founders of the profession of plastic surgery. This article describes the long road she traveled, from her acceptance into medical studies in Vilna--at a time when the entry of any woman to the faculty of medicine was strictly limited and of Jewish women in particular; her emigration to Eretz Israel and her struggles as she underwent training in internal medicine at the "Hadassah" Hospital in Tel-Aviv, when she was denied training as a surgeon; and up to the moment she was accepted by the plastic surgery unit of the Tel Hashomer Hospital and became the first such female practitioner in Israel. Dr. Shoshana Szkop-Frenkiel thus fulfilled a childhood dream to become a surgeon at a time when women were excluded from surgery on the grounds that it called for "male" characteristics. This article is intended to illustrate the character of a female doctor pursuing a career in surgery during the time of the British Mandate, to illuminate her professional travails in Israel, and to emphasize her important contribution in the field.

Pioneering Jewish women doctors in Eretz Israel (Ottoman Palestine) 1900-1918.

PubMed

Shehory-Rubin, Zipora

2010-12-01

The first female Jewish doctors in Eretz Israel at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries were partners in laying the foundations of its health system in Eretz Israel. They were young doctors in their late twenties or even mid-thirties, graduates of European medical schools. Educated, independent women, with high motivation and belief in the future of medicine in the country, they worked unceasingly, with devotion and determination and invested most of their efforts and knowledge in creating medical institutions there, in order that a new generation, sound in mind and body, might flourish. These doctors came with a sense of vocation, viewing medicine as a national, Zionist mission and not merely a source of income. Despite the contribution these first doctors made to the creation of the health system in this country, they remained largely anonymous, while their medical and social involvement has been largely ignored in the historical literature. This paper focuses on twenty-two women who successfully completed their medical studies in European institutions, followed by emigration to Eretz Israel between 1900 and 1918. While the secondary literature mentions these women individually they are not considered as a group.

Preparing for imported Ebola cases in Israel, 2014 to 2015.

PubMed

Brosh-Nissimov, Tal; Poles, Lion; Kassirer, Micha; Singer, Roee; Kaliner, Ehud; Shriki, Dikla Dahan; Anis, Emilia; Fogel, Itay; Engelhard, Dan; Grotto, Itamar

2015-01-01

During the current outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa, preventing exportation of the disease posed many challenges for economically more developed countries. In Israel, although the risk of importing single cases was assumed to be low, the implications of local transmission were great. This article describes the EVD preparedness plan of the Israeli Ministry of Health. Key elements were a sensitive case definition, designation of a single treatment centre for suspected and confirmed cases, construction of a mobile unit using customised negative-pressure tents and a vigorous national training programme. There were no patients with EVD in Israel, but a few suspected cases were assessed. The Israeli plan may provide a template for emergency infectious disease response in other geographically small countries.

Female Supervisors of Arab School Education in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arar, Khalid Husny

2014-01-01

This paper discusses the characteristics of women discipline supervisors in the Arab education system in Israel, through their professional development to their attainment of senior supervisory posts. It examines how they attain supervision posts and perform various managerial functions in what is considered a male role, in a patriarchal society,…

Education for Multiculturalism among Arab Youth in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abu Asbah, Khaled

2018-01-01

Education for multiculturalism, founded on liberal-democratic values, is a frequent topic of educational discourse that has not been ignored by Muslim Arab schools in Israel. In general, Arab society is undergoing change processes, in transition from a traditional to a modern society; traditional values are challenged, engendering social crises.…

Spousal Abuse among Immigrants from Ethiopia in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kacen, Lea

2006-01-01

This ethnographic study obtains first-hand information on spousal abuse from Ethiopian immigrants in Israel. Data include 23 interviews with male and female immigrants of various ages and 10 professionals who worked with this community as well as observations and documents. The findings, verified by participants, show that during cultural…

Complementary and alternative health care in Israel

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

The paper explores the patterns of coexistence of alternative/complementary health care (CAM) and conventional medicine in Israel in the cultural, political, and social contexts of the society. The data are drawn from over ten years of sociological research on CAM in Israel, which included observation, survey research, and over one hundred in-depth interviews with a variety of CAM practitioners - many with bio-medical credentials - and with policy makers in the major medical institutions. The analysis considers the reasons for CAM use, number of practitioners, the frequency of CAM use and some of its correlates, and how CAM is regulated. The structure of the relationship between the conventional health care system and CAM is discussed in the public sector, which provides two-thirds of CAM services, and in the private sector, which provides about one-third. The history of the development of these structures and some of the dilemmas of their operation are discussed. A number of policy issues are considered against this background: regulation and licensing, CAM in primary care, reimbursement for CAM treatment, and the inclusion of CAM in education and training for the health professions. PMID:22913721

Attitudes towards Bilingual Arab-Hebrew Education in Israel: A Comparative Study of Jewish and Arab Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Azaiza, Faisal; Hertz-Lazarowitz, Rachel; Shoham, Meyrav; Amara, Muhammad; Mor-Sommerfeld, Aura; 'Ali, Nohad

2011-01-01

This study examines attitudes towards bilingual Jewish-Arab education among Jewish and Arab adults in Israel. The sample consisted of 1014 respondents who participated in a national phone survey in late 2006. Results indicate that Arabs are significantly more supportive of bilingual education in Israel than Jews. Positive attitudes regarding the…

Israel Engagement in Practice: An Empirical Look at the Impact of "The Year of Service" Emissaries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hameiri, Lior

2018-01-01

The current field of Israel engagement has been significantly challenged by young North American Jews' reported alienation from contemporary Israel. Literature in the last decade has addressed this challenge in depth, offering a wide variety of theoretical analyses and recommendations for program development. The present study is the first to…

Sexual harassment in Jewish and Arab public schools in Israel.

PubMed

Zeira, Anat; Astor, Ron Avi; Benbenishty, Rami

2002-02-01

Current empirical literature on sexual harassment in schools is mostly based on nonrepresentative samples of middle-class high-school Caucasian female students. Thus the scope of research regarding gender, age, and cultural differences is very limited. This article reports on findings on sexual harassment in Jewish and Arab schools in Israel with regard to gender, age, and cultural differences. The study is part of the first national survey on school violence in Israel. The representative sample includes 10,400 students in grades 7 through 11 attending public schools in Israel. Students were asked to report whether they were victims of specific acts of sexual harassment in school during the month before the survey. Overall, 29.1% of the students were victims of at least one act of harassment. The more common acts were to show offensive pictures or to send obscene letters, to take off or to try to take off part of the student's clothing, and to try to kiss a student. The most vulnerable groups are the Arab boys and 8th grade students. Report rates were the lowest among Arab girls. Sexual harassment is prevalent in Israeli schools. The pattern of victimization is different for boys and girls and for students in Jewish and Arab schools. These patterns are a complex phenomenon that must be considered in the intervention and policy measures addressing sexual harassment at school.

Hyperemesis gravidarum in northern Israel: a retrospective epidemiological study.

PubMed

Konikoff, Tom; Avraham, Tehila; Ophir, Ella; Bornstein, Jacob

2016-01-01

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is characterized by severe intractable nausea and vomiting in pregnancy leading to electrolyte imbalance, ketonuria, and weight loss. The cause is unknown. This study sought to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of HG in the Western Galilee in two ethnic populations and to estimate its economic burden. Data on ethnicity, age, gestational age, number of pregnancies, and length of hospitalization were collected from the medical files of all women with HG admitted to the Galilee Medical Center in 2010-2013. Findings were compared between Arabs and Jews. Prevalence was assessed relative to total number of births. Economic burden was assessed by cost of hospitalization and work days lost. The cohort included 184 women, 124 Arabic (67.4 %) and 60 Jewish (32.6 %). There were 13,630 births at the medical center during the study period, for a calculated prevalence of HG of 1.2 %. There was no difference in the relative proportions of Arabs and Jews between the cohort and the total women giving birth at our center. Mean patient age was 27.2 years, gestational age 9.3 weeks, parity 2.35. Mean age was significantly higher in the Jewish group. There were no significant between-group differences in the other clinical parameters. Mean number of hospitalization days was 2.24 days, and of additional rest days prescribed, 4.62. The calculated annual cost of HG was 452,943.42 NIS (120,144.14 USD), crudely extrapolated to a nationwide cost of 15-20 million NIS (5,300,000 USD). The prevalence and characteristics of HG are similar in the Arabic and Jewish populations of northern Israel. Mean gestational age at admission for HG was lower in our study than earlier ones, probably owing to the universal health care provided by law in Israel. HG prevalence was twice that reported previously in southern Israel but still within the range observed in other world regions. The socioeconomic differences between Arabs and Jews in the Galilee are smaller

Molecular epidemiology of community-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in Israel.

PubMed

Biber, A; Parizade, M; Taran, D; Jaber, H; Berla, E; Rubin, C; Rahav, G; Glikman, D; Regev-Yochay, G

2015-08-01

Data on community-associated (CA) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Israel are scarce. The objective of this study was to characterize the major CA-MRSA clones in Israel. All clinical MRSA isolates detected in the community during a period of 2.5 years (2011-2013) from individuals insured by a major health maintenance organization in Israel were collected, with additional data from medical records. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns and staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) typing were determined. SCCmec IV and V isolates were further typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), spa typing, and detection of a panel of toxin genes. MRSA were detected in 280 patients, mostly from skin infections. Patients with SCCmec IV (n = 120, 43 %) were younger (p < 0.0001) and reported less contact with healthcare facilities. Almost all isolates were trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole susceptible (98 %). spa-CC032, a typical nosocomial MRSA clone, accounted for 28 % of SCCmec IV. The two major CA-MRSA clones were t008 USA300 (13 %) and t991 (10 %); t991 was isolated mainly from children (75 %), was Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) negative but eta-positive, and was typically susceptible to most antibiotic groups. PVL-positive strains (n = 31) included mainly USA300 (52 %) and t019 (13 %). While multiple genetic lineages were evident among community-onset MRSA in Israel, approximately 20 % are typical CA-MRSA clones, mainly USA300 and a local clone, t991.

Neo-Liberalism and Practices of Selection in Arab Education in Israel: Between Control and Empowerment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pinson, Halleli; Agbaria, Ayman K.

2015-01-01

Similar to other national contexts, in Israel since the 1980s we have witnessed the emergence of neo-liberal policies in education. However, very little attention has been given to the ways in which they affect the school level and even less attention has been given to the impact of these policy changes on Arab schools in Israel. This article…

Perceptions of Forgiveness among Palestinian Teachers in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nasser, Ilham; Abu-Nimer, Mohammed

2012-01-01

This article presents the results of a study conducted among Palestinian teachers in Israel to address their contextual understanding and perceptions of forgiveness. It sheds light on K-12 teachers' responses to daily cultural and social conflict situations in a Middle Eastern context. This research aims to contribute to our understanding of…

Harnessing Teacher Potential as Israel Education Curriculum Developers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Katz, Meredith

2015-01-01

In this article I investigate how one group of teachers deliberated about Israel education with the intention to "modify the myth" as they engaged in curriculum reform. I begin from the idea that curriculum development should be an in-house endeavor that encourages faculty to embrace their roles as curricular decision-makers.…

The Identities of the Ethiopian Community in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baratz, Lea; Kalnisky, Esther

2017-01-01

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the linkage of identity of new and veteran immigrant students of the Ethiopian community in Israel, by examining their attitudes to children's literature books written simultaneously in Hebrew and Amharic. The data were collected using focus groups of Ethiopian students attending a teacher training college.…

Clinical Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Israel: Impact of Ethnic and Social Diversities

PubMed Central

Shalabe, Haitham; Terkel-Dawer, Ruth; Akawi, Ashraf; Zelnik, Nathanel

2015-01-01

Despite the increased global prevalence and recognition of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), it is still scarcely reported in the Arab world. Though Israel has a higher prevalence of ASD, a previous national survey of patients diagnosed between 1972 and 2004, demonstrated that 98% of them were of Jewish ancestry. The disproportional low number of Arab children with ASD in Israel is unclear but may reflect lower awareness and cultural bias. In the present study we collected clinical and demographic characteristics of 200 children with ASD from Arab and Jewish sectors in Israel that were evaluated in two child development centers. We compared the incidence and the medical comorbidity of autism between these two ethnics groups. The medical and psychiatric comorbidity profile in these children was similar to the worldwide published studies. In the present study the prevalence of autism in the Arab sector in Israel was similar to that of the Jewish sector. The Arab patients presented with more severe autistic manifestations and higher incidence of mental retardation, familial members with autism, and consanguinity (P < 0.05), while in the Jewish sector milder forms (such as Asperger syndrome and PDD-NOS) were more frequent. This discrepancy might be explained by both genetic and cultural factors. PMID:25984535

Clinical characteristics of autism spectrum disorder in Israel: impact of ethnic and social diversities.

PubMed

Mahajnah, Muhammad; Sharkia, Rajech; Shalabe, Haitham; Terkel-Dawer, Ruth; Akawi, Ashraf; Zelnik, Nathanel

2015-01-01

Despite the increased global prevalence and recognition of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), it is still scarcely reported in the Arab world. Though Israel has a higher prevalence of ASD, a previous national survey of patients diagnosed between 1972 and 2004, demonstrated that 98% of them were of Jewish ancestry. The disproportional low number of Arab children with ASD in Israel is unclear but may reflect lower awareness and cultural bias. In the present study we collected clinical and demographic characteristics of 200 children with ASD from Arab and Jewish sectors in Israel that were evaluated in two child development centers. We compared the incidence and the medical comorbidity of autism between these two ethnics groups. The medical and psychiatric comorbidity profile in these children was similar to the worldwide published studies. In the present study the prevalence of autism in the Arab sector in Israel was similar to that of the Jewish sector. The Arab patients presented with more severe autistic manifestations and higher incidence of mental retardation, familial members with autism, and consanguinity (P < 0.05), while in the Jewish sector milder forms (such as Asperger syndrome and PDD-NOS) were more frequent. This discrepancy might be explained by both genetic and cultural factors.

School-Based Management: Arab Education System in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arar, Khalid; Abu-Romi, Amal

2016-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the issue of school-based management (SBM) in elementary schools in the Arab education system in Israel, comparing schools experienced in SBM, schools beginning to use SBM and schools that do not use SBM. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative research used a structured questionnaire to…

Academic Choices and Motivation: Diverse Groups in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arar, Khalid; Abramovitz, Ruth; Bar-Yishay, Hanna; Notzer, Neta

2017-01-01

Israel is a multi-cultural society with a Jewish majority and a large Arab minority. This study aims to examine whether Israeli Arab and Jewish students have different motivations and consider different factors when choosing a college for postgraduate studies. A case study, during the academic year 2010-11 administered questionnaires to 290 Jewish…

Arab Women Principals' Empowerment and Leadership in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shapira, Tamar; Arar, Khalid; Azaiza, Faisal

2010-01-01

Purpose: This paper's purpose is to tell the life-stories of four women who succeeded in forging paths to senior positions as principals in Arab schools in Israel and to describe the personal, professional and sociopolitical contexts of their principalship. Design/methodology/approach: This is part of a larger research effort that explored the…

Managing Multilinguality: Israel's Retraining Course for New Immigrant Librarians.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lazinger, Susan S.; Peritz, Bluma C.

1993-01-01

Describes a six-month retraining program developed for Israel's Russian-speaking immigrant librarians and information specialists that includes Hebrew language, Jewish and Israeli history, English, and library automation. Differences from the Soviet library system are discussed, including censorship and public libraries, and characteristics of the…

Methodological Aspects of Documenting Civics Lessons in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohen, Aviv

2014-01-01

In this paper the author wishes to shed light on some methodological aspects of documenting civics classes as part of educational research. Rooted in the research traditions of grounded theory and the use of ideal types, this study concentrates on one case of a civics course taught in an Israel high school. Touching on the empirical and…

A Crossroads: History Textbooks and Curricula in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yogev, Esther

2010-01-01

In Israel, changes in history teaching and the publication of new history textbooks in recent years triggered a stormy public controversy that went far beyond the content of the books themselves. The disputes over how history should be taught revealed the state of transition that had characterized Israeli society since the beginning of the 1990s.…

Sources, composition and spatial distribution of marine debris along the Mediterranean coast of Israel

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pasternak, Galia; Zviely, Dov; Ribic, Christine; Ariel, Asaf; Spanier, Ehud

2017-01-01

Marine debris (litter) is a complex problem that affects human activities and the marine environment worldwide. The Clean Coast Program in Israel has had some success in keeping most of the coasts clean most of the time, but without understanding the mechanisms of accumulation of marine debris on the coasts of Israel. In 2012, we initiated a study to characterize the types of marine debris, its origins and spatial distribution. Nineteen surveys were done from June 2012 to March 2015 on eight beaches that spanned the coast of Israel. Average debris density was 12.1 items per 100 m2 and 90% of the items were plastic. The top debris categories were food wrappers and disposables, plastic bags and cigarette butts. However, there was variation in the top debris categories among the beaches indicating that a flexible approach with multiple options will be important when addressing the marine debris problem.

[TRENDS IN THE RATE OF OCCUPATIONAL PHYSICIANS VERSUS MANPOWER IN ISRAEL - STATUS AND SOLUTIONS].

PubMed

Moshe, Shlomo; Chuwers, Patricia; Solomon Cohen, Efrat

2017-06-01

The specialization in occupational health was recognized in Israel in 1990. The number of specialists grew gradually over the years, yet a systematic analysis of occupational health physicians (OHP)/workers' ratio was never conducted. To determine the trends of OHP/workers' ratio in Israel and the future activities needed in order to achieve the standards of developed countries. The socio-demographic data was obtained by personal communication, from the Israeli Association of Occupational Medicine and Maccabi Health Services. The remaining data was obtained from publications of the Ministry of Health and the National Insurance Institute. By March 2014, 157 OHPs were registered in Israel, 104 active specialists and 25 residents. Among the specialists, 78 worked in the Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO), 18 in the public sector (other than HMOs) and 8 in the private sector. Even though the number of workers rises every year, the number of OHP has remained stable in the last 10 years, around 90-100 physicians. The ratio of occupational health physicians/workers in the HMOs is 1:48,000. The ratio of OHP/workers in Israel is comparable to the ratio in developing countries and 8-10 times less in comparison to the developed countries with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) similar to Israel. The rate has decreased since 2007. The reason for the stable numbers is the lack of payments by the employers and the fact that the subject has been ignored by the regulatory authorities. The way to improve this situation is by doubling the number of residents every year by providing the required resources to support this new arrangement. The funds have to come from the employers, the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Health.

Characterization of Theileria equi genotypes in horses in Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan.

PubMed

Ketter-Ratzon, Dafna; Tirosh-Levy, Sharon; Nachum-Biala, Yaarit; Saar, Tal; Qura'n, Lara; Zivotofsky, Doni; Abdeen, Ziad; Baneth, Gad; Steinman, Amir

2017-06-01

Equine theileriosis caused by Theileria equi is endemic in the Middle East, where it causes a severe disease as well as widespread subclinical infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diversity of T. equi genotypes in Israel and the neighboring Palestinian Authority and Jordan. Blood samples from 355 horses from Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan were tested for the prevalence of T. equi DNA. Two hundred and fourteen (60%) were found positive for T. equi infection by PCR. Of those, the 18S rRNA (1458bp) and the EMA-1 (745bp) genes of T. equi were sequenced from 15 horse samples that represent Israel's geographical distribution together with four samples from the Palestinian Authority and two from Jordan. The results were used for genotype characterization and phylogenetic analysis of T. equi in the equine population in Israel and its surroundings. Three 18S rRNA genotype clades were found in Israel (A, C and D) with clade D being the most prevalent and included all four isolates from the PA. In contrast, the EMA-1 gene showed little diversity with all sequences clustering in the same clade apart from one Jordanian sequence. Results suggest that although the Israeli horse population is small and relatively confined geographically, it is probable that the genetic variability, which was found among Israeli horses, is a result of introduction of horses from other countries. It also suggests that the EMA-1 gene is probably not a good target for the evaluation of variance in T. equi populations. Characterization of the different genotypes prevalent in a certain region is important in order to map out the intra-species sequence heterogeneity of the parasite, which is needed in order to develop new diagnostic tools and vaccines. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Israel, Schools, and Arab Conflict in the Middle East.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parker, Franklin

This paper examines how Israel's educational system attempts to deal with major social, geographic, religious, economic, and political problems. Problems are presented in two main categories--internal and external. Internal problems include high immigration levels, religious and cultural differences among various Jewish sects and between Jews and…

Infrasound Calibration Experiment in Israel: Preparation and Test Shots

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-09-01

surface shots will be conducted at Sayarim Military Range (SMR), located in southern Israel, Negev desert, including the main calibration explosion...measurements of wind direction and velocity near the surface at the airport Uvda in the Negev , very close (~10 km) to Sayarim (see Figure 1). We

Teachers' "Contact" at the Integrated Bilingual Schools in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bekerman, Zvi

2012-01-01

This article is about teachers working at the bilingual integrated schools in Israel. The study allows us to problematise and critically approach cross-cultural encounters on the basis of contact theory, which posits understandings regarding social interaction across cultural-political boundaries. It exposes potential differences between the…

Decision Oriented Evaluation in Education: The Case of Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lewy, A.; Kugelmass, S.

This book contains a series of papers presented at an Israel-American seminar on Educational Evaluation. Sol Kugelmass describes strategies employed to increase the utilization of evaluation results in the process of formulating educational policy. Nachum Blass illustrates the relationship between evaluation and policymaking by discussing an…

Report on the status of vision care in Israel.

PubMed

Levinson, A; Scheiman, M

1981-07-01

Recognition of optometry in Israel has not been achieved due to various factors: the lack of recognition by the Ministry of Health in proposing a law of optometry to the Knesset (Parliament); the opposition of organized ophthalmology; the internal conflict between the various associations of opticians and optometrists within the country which lead to a lack of unification for propagation of a law of optometry; the absence of an academic institution of learning in optometry. The establishment of the Optometric Centre by the American Friends of Israel Optometry has instituted low vision clinics and post-graduate courses which have helped to advance optometry. Optometry must become organized in order to apply pressure on the Ministry of Health in order to recognize optometry as an independent profession. There is a need for the establishment of operating courses to equalize the standard of eye-care in the profession, and for the founding of an academic school of optometry to maintain a constant supply of qualified optometrists.

Dirac relaxation of the Israel junction conditions: Unified Randall-Sundrum brane theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Davidson, Aharon; Gurwich, Ilya

2006-08-15

Following Dirac's brane variation prescription, the brane must not be deformed during the variation process, or else the linearity of the variation may be lost. Alternatively, the variation of the brane is done, in a special Dirac frame, by varying the bulk coordinate system itself. Imposing appropriate Dirac-style boundary conditions on the constrained 'sandwiched' gravitational action, we show how Israel junction conditions get relaxed, but remarkably, all solutions of the original Israel equations are still respected. The Israel junction conditions are traded, in the Z{sub 2}-symmetric case, for a generalized Regge-Teitelboim type equation (plus a local conservation law), and inmore » the generic Z{sub 2}-asymmetric case, for a pair of coupled Regge-Teitelboim equations. The Randall-Sundrum model and its derivatives, such as the Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati and the Collins-Holdom models, get generalized accordingly. Furthermore, Randall-Sundrum and Regge-Teitelboim brane theories appear now to be two different faces of the one and the same unified brane theory. Within the framework of unified brane cosmology, we examine the dark matter/energy interpretation of the effective energy/momentum deviations from general relativity.« less

Exposure to Terrorism, Stress-Related Mental Health Symptoms, and Defensive Coping among Jews and Arabs in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hobfoll, Stevan E.; Canetti-Nisim, Daphna; Johnson, Robert J.

2006-01-01

The authors conducted a large-scale study of terrorism in Israel via telephone surveys in September 2003 with 905 adult Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel (PCIs). Structural equation path modeling indicated that exposure to terrorism was significantly related to greater loss and gain of psychosocial resources and to greater posttraumatic…

Sustainability of Disability-Related Services in Canada and Israel: Will the Real Universal Design Please Stand Up?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fichten, Catherine Susan; Heiman, Tali; Havel, Alice; Jorgensen, Mary; Budd, Jillian; King, Laura

2016-01-01

We have examined the sustainability of providing services for students with disabilities in higher education in Canada and Israel. The two countries differ in their approaches: Israel subscribes to the accommodations model of service delivery; Canada, to the universal design approach. Case examples of services to students with disabilities in…

Design of the Sandia-Israel 20-kW reflux heat-pipe solar receiver/reactor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Diver, R.B.; Ginn, W.C.

1987-09-01

This report describes the design and fabrication of a 20-kW sodium reflux heat-pipe solar receiver/reactor for CO/sub 2/ reforming of methane. This project is part of a bilateral agreement between the United States and Israel. Under the terms of the agreement the solar receiver/reactor has been designed and built by Sandia National Laboratories for testing in the 7-meter solar furnace facility at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. 16 refs., 11 figs., 2 tabs.

Beginning Special Education Teachers in Israel: Perceived Self-Efficacy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gavish, Bella; Bar-On, Sari; shein-kahalon, Rivka

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine perceived self-efficacy among beginning special education teachers in Israel related to their educational roles and responsibilities. Ninety-three first-year teachers participated in the study. The research was carried out using the mixed method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research…

Higher Education and Employment: A Case Study of Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Globerson, Arye

Unemployment among university graduates in Israel is examined in light of their possible retraining for placement in other professional fields experiencing shortages, including new occupations. After an introduction that includes a retraining model, the following are covered in separate chapters: (1) a profile of humanities and social science…

Understanding Aging in a Middle Eastern Context: The SHARE-Israel Survey of Persons Aged 50 and Older

PubMed Central

Litwin, Howard

2013-01-01

This article describes the development of SHARE-Israel, the survey of persons aged 50 and older in Israel, and preliminary results from an early data release. The introduction of an HRS-inspired computer-based survey into a Middle East country required linguistic and cultural adaptations of the survey mechanisms that had not been previously experienced in other countries. Preliminary findings showed that the majority group of veteran Jewish-Israelis aged 50 and over is in a favorable position in terms of health, employment status and household income compared to Arab-Israelis and to new immigrants to Israel from the Former Soviet Union. Arab-Israelis aged 50 and over are at greater risk due to greater disability and lower incomes. Recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union are at greatest risk. They report having the highest degree of depression, long term problems and activity limitation, the fewest children, low rates of home ownership and low incomes. Comparing the older Israeli population with their European counterparts revealed that Israelis are more depressed; more Israeli women are employed, and fewer Israeli men are retired; and household income in Israel is lower, but rises relatively when correcting for purchasing power parity. These trends point to several areas that will require attention in the formulation of public policy on behalf of the aging population in Israel. PMID:18626759

Understanding aging in a Middle Eastern context: the SHARE-Israel survey of persons aged 50 and older.

PubMed

Litwin, Howard

2009-03-01

This article describes the development of SHARE-Israel, the survey of persons aged 50 and older in Israel, and preliminary results from an early data release. The introduction of an HRS-inspired computer-based survey into a Middle East country required linguistic and cultural adaptations of the survey mechanisms that had not been previously experienced in other countries. Preliminary findings showed that the majority group of veteran Jewish-Israelis aged 50 and over is in a favorable position in terms of health, employment status and household income compared to Arab-Israelis and to new immigrants to Israel from the Former Soviet Union. Arab-Israelis aged 50 and over are at greater risk due to greater disability and lower incomes. Recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union are at greatest risk. They report having the highest degree of depression, long term problems and activity limitation, the fewest children, low rates of home ownership and low incomes. Comparing the older Israeli population with their European counterparts revealed that Israelis are more depressed; more Israeli women are employed, and fewer Israeli men are retired; and household income in Israel is lower, but rises relatively when correcting for purchasing power parity. These trends point to several areas that will require attention in the formulation of public policy on behalf of the aging population in Israel.

The Israel DNA database--the establishment of a rapid, semi-automated analysis system.

PubMed

Zamir, Ashira; Dell'Ariccia-Carmon, Aviva; Zaken, Neomi; Oz, Carla

2012-03-01

The Israel Police DNA database, also known as IPDIS (Israel Police DNA Index System), has been operating since February 2007. During that time more than 135,000 reference samples have been uploaded and more than 2000 hits reported. We have developed an effective semi-automated system that includes two automated punchers, three liquid handler robots and four genetic analyzers. An inhouse LIMS program enables full tracking of every sample through the entire process of registration, pre-PCR handling, analysis of profiles, uploading to the database, hit reports and ultimately storage. The LIMS is also responsible for the future tracking of samples and their profiles to be expunged from the database according to the Israeli DNA legislation. The database is administered by an in-house developed software program, where reference and evidentiary profiles are uploaded, stored, searched and matched. The DNA database has proven to be an effective investigative tool which has gained the confidence of the Israeli public and on which the Israel National Police force has grown to rely. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Epidemiology of suicide in Israel: a nationwide population study.

PubMed

Lubin, G; Glasser, S; Boyko, V; Barell, V

2001-03-01

In Israel, some population characteristics and lifestyle patterns make epidemiological research on suicide of particular interest. The Israeli population is characterized by ethnic diversity, with a multi-religious, multi-national mosaic of Jews and Arabs. These subgroups also vary in their suicidal behavior. The aims of the present study were to examine the trends in suicide incidence rates in Israel from 1984 to 1994, to identify sub-populations at high risk for suicide and to identify suicide methods associated with increased risk. Suicide rate trends in Israel over the period from 1984 to 1994 were examined for four subgroups: Jewish men and women, and Arab men and women. Cases of undetermined external cause (UEC) of death were also considered. Mortality data were obtained from the computerized data files of the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, which includes cause of death and sociodemographic variables. Suicide was classified according to the ICD-9 codes. Suicide rates were higher for Jews than for Arabs, and higher for men than for women. The rates among both population and sex groups increased directly with age. A significant increase over the years studied was found for Jewish men, particularly in the 18- to 21-year-old age group. An increase in the use of firearms was noted, mainly in the groups in which total suicide rates increased. The findings of this study highlight the need for further studies to identify both sub-populations at high risk for suicide, and societal trends such as lifestyles, immigration, military service, and media exposure to violence, as first steps toward planning of intervention programs to reduce suicide rates.

Explaining the Frequency of Alcohol Consumption in a Conflict Zone: Jews and Palestinians in Israel

PubMed Central

Massey, Zohar; Chartier, Karen G.; Stebbins, Mary B.; Canetti, Daphna; Hobfoll, Stevan E.; Hall, Brian J.; Shuval, Kerem

2015-01-01

Experiencing stress and exposure to terrorism may have an adverse effect on health risk behaviors. Few studies have examined alcohol use among adults living in Israel under chronic, stressful terrorism-related conditions. In this study, we examined the relationships of demographics, past stressful events, and terrorism exposure to the frequency of alcohol use and the mediating roles of depressive and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. We used three waves of data from a 2007–2008 nationally representative sample of Jewish and Palestinian adults in Israel. We assessed the number of past stressful events, in addition to direct and indirect exposure to terrorism. Results indicated that past stressful events and exposure to terrorism were not directly associated with alcohol use, but were indirectly associated and mediated by depressive and PTSD symptomology. Mental health symptoms were differentially associated with alcohol use. More frequent drinking was mediated by higher levels of depression, including for women and Palestinians; however, PTSD symptom severity was related to less frequent drinking. Mental health may play a prominent role in the frequency of alcohol use among adults exposed to terrorism in Israel. Alcohol use, as a coping mechanism, may differ by demographic characteristics (gender and ethnicity) and psychological symptomology for adults living in a conflict zone in Israel. PMID:25777746

Terror attacks influence driving behavior in Israel

PubMed Central

Stecklov, Guy; Goldstein, Joshua R.

2004-01-01

Terror attacks in Israel produce a temporary lull in light accidents followed by a 35% spike in fatal accidents on Israeli roads 3 days after the attack. Our results are based on time-series analysis of Israeli traffic flows, accidents, and terror attacks from January 2001 through June 2002. Whereas prior studies have focused on subjective reports of posttraumatic stress, our study shows a population-level behavioral response to violent terror attacks. PMID:15448203

Sources, composition and spatial distribution of marine debris along the Mediterranean coast of Israel.

PubMed

Pasternak, Galia; Zviely, Dov; Ribic, Christine A; Ariel, Asaf; Spanier, Ehud

2017-01-30

Marine debris (litter) is a complex problem that affects human activities and the marine environment worldwide. The Clean Coast Program in Israel has had some success in keeping most of the coasts clean most of the time, but without understanding the mechanisms of accumulation of marine debris on the coasts of Israel. In 2012, we initiated a study to characterize the types of marine debris, its origins and spatial distribution. Nineteen surveys were done from June 2012 to March 2015 on eight beaches that spanned the coast of Israel. Average debris density was 12.1 items per 100m 2 and 90% of the items were plastic. The top debris categories were food wrappers and disposables, plastic bags and cigarette butts. However, there was variation in the top debris categories among the beaches indicating that a flexible approach with multiple options will be important when addressing the marine debris problem. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Criminal Mediation for Minors in Israel

PubMed Central

Kandel, Isack; Arie, Yael; Glasner, Sharon

2007-01-01

Mediation was introduced in Canada in 1974 in order to handle a crime of robbery and vandalization committed by adolescents. After mediation, these adolescents agreed to apologize to each of their victims and pay restitution. Several countries (Canada, England, Finland, and the U.S.) have now made this opportunity available in the cases of young offenders. This review describes the process in the south of Israel. We find this method very powerful, but further studies are needed. Due to resource problems, it will not become mainstream in the near future. PMID:17334626

Israel's Gender Equality Policy in Education: Revolution or Containment?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eden, Devorah

2000-01-01

Examines Israel's policy of gender equality in education, discussing: social and economic forces that created the demand for equality; political processes for implementing the policy; and policy content. Data from interviews and document reviews indicate that the policy was devised to address concerns of high-tech industries and women,…

The 2006 Hezbollah-Israeli War: Israel’s Grenada

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-01

William M. Arkin, Divining Victory: Airpower in the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War, (Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Air...Bibliography Arkin, William M. Divining Victory: Airpower in...Operations.” Air and Space Power Journal, (September-October 2012): 118-131. Keegan, John. London Daily Telegraph, 6 June 1999. Kelly , John and David

Israel's Quadrant: Weeping, Laughing, and the Measures of the Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Locci, A. A.

2011-06-01

In the Jewish culture of the Middle Ages, the astral bodies were constantly given a special attention. They were deeply admired in religious poetry, and studied and observed in scientific and technical works. In an elegy of an anonymous poet of the 11th century, which is usually read in the celebrations of the 9th day of Ab, constellations and stars share the grief for the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem. Like the Israel Tribes, all constellations are said to weep; Pleiades and Orion are said to darken their face, the Scales turn asymmetrical, the pan of death overrides the pan of life; Scorpio is scared and trembles, Sagittarius turns his face back. Jacob ben Machir ibn Tibbon, born in Marseille in 1236, was physician, mathematician, and astronomer. He translated Euclides' Elements, the Treatise of the Armillar Sphere by Qusta ibn Luqa, the Treatise on the Astrolabe by abu al-Kasim Ahmad ibn al Saffar, and works of Ptolemy, Averroes, and Aristoteles. His most important work is the short treatise Rova' Israel ("Israel's Quadrant") which he later translated in Latin with the help of Armengaud from Blaise. In the first chapter, he discusses the Sun risings, the days of the month, the place of the Sun in the sky, and the lunar motion. In the second chapter, he discusses the relations between sunrise and sunset, between moonrise and moonset, and between solar year and lunar month. In the following chapters, he illustrates a technical device which he had developed and which he designates "Israel's Quadrant". This instrument could be used both for the sky and for the Earth, since it allowed to survey and measure the elevation of the stars, the elevation of terrestrial reliefs, and terrestrial horizontal distances. The quadrant is flat, and its area is that of a quarter of a circumference. This instrument was very versatile, it also allowed to calculate hours and time, and this favoured its exceptional diffusion. Thus, its name, "quadrant", was transferred to the

76 FR 41858 - Petition Under Section 302 on the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement; Decision Not To Initiate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-15

... respect to alleged conduct of the Government of Israel during the negotiation in the 1980s of the U.S... section 302 of the Trade Act alleging that in 1984, during the negotiation of the U.S.-Israel FTA, the...

Planning Non-Formal Education Curricula: The Case of Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keller, Diana; Dror, Ilana

This paper compares the formal and non-formal education systems currently operating in Israel, describing the special features of curriculum planning in non-formal education. The central argument is that the non-formal education system fulfills functions that constitute a critique of the formal education system. The non-formal system offers the…

The Division of Household Labor in Germany and Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lewin-Epstein, Noah; Stier, Haya; Braun, Michael

2006-01-01

We compare the patterns of household division of labor in Germany and Israel--two countries that share key elements of the corporatist welfare regime but differ in their gender regimes--and evaluate several hypotheses using data from the 2002 International Social Survey Program. Although time constraints and relative resources affect the division…

Multidrug-Resistant Candida haemulonii and C. auris, Tel Aviv, Israel.

PubMed

Ben-Ami, Ronen; Berman, Judith; Novikov, Ana; Bash, Edna; Shachor-Meyouhas, Yael; Zakin, Shiri; Maor, Yasmin; Tarabia, Jalal; Schechner, Vered; Adler, Amos; Finn, Talya

2017-02-01

Candida auris and C. haemulonii are closely related, multidrug-resistant emerging fungal pathogens that are not readily distinguishable with phenotypic assays. We studied C. auris and C. haemulonii clinical isolates from 2 hospitals in central Israel. C. auris was isolated in 5 patients with nosocomial bloodstream infection, and C. haemulonii was found as a colonizer of leg wounds at a peripheral vascular disease clinic. Liberal use of topical miconazole and close contact among patients were implicated in C. haemulonii transmission. C. auris exhibited higher thermotolerance, virulence in a mouse infection model, and ATP-dependent drug efflux activity than C. haemulonii. Comparison of ribosomal DNA sequences found that C. auris strains from Israel were phylogenetically distinct from isolates from East Asia, South Africa and Kuwait, whereas C. haemulonii strains from different countries were closely interrelated. Our findings highlight the pathogenicity of C. auris and underscore the need to limit its spread.

JPRS Report, Near East & South Asia, Israel

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-09-11

practice, however, a but I never heard him; I have enough music here at the good number of ceremonies are held at the Western Western Wall." Wall...Israel on the volume Company, Daihatsu, Suzuki, Sony , Hitachi, and others. of their purchases from Israeli industry. Golan: "We are certain that, under...Kibbutz that arrived in the corresponding period last year. How- Yad Mordekhai, an entertainment center on the Dead ever, in recent months, the branch

Battling Against Interfaith Relations in Israel: Religion, Therapy, and Social Services.

PubMed

Hakak, Yohai

2016-01-01

One of the less studied aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is its demography. On the Jewish side, active steps are taken by the state to encourage Jewish immigration and Jewish births and discourage Jewish assimilation. As part of these efforts, the "problematic relationships" between Arab men and Jewish women from low socioeconomic background have become a high agenda item in public discussions in Israel during the last decade. I will examine here how the diagnostic category "girls at risk" and a therapeutic intervention employed by social services dealing with these couples helps maintaining the delicate balance between Jewish and democratic values. I will analyze these practices as a solution to a structural problem of the Jewish enclave in Israel. © 2015 American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Health systems and policy research evidence in health policy making in Israel: what are researchers' practices in transferring knowledge to policy makers?

PubMed

Ellen, Moriah E; Lavis, John N; Sharon, Assaf; Shemer, Joshua

2014-12-10

Ensuring the use of research evidence in health system management and policy decisions is an important challenge in this century. Knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE) has emerged as a paradigm to address the challenges and start closing the 'know-do' gap. This area of work is gaining momentum in most developed countries, yet, to date, no work has been performed in Israel within this area. The purpose of this study was to identify which KTE activities health systems and policy researchers in Israel have undertaken. A cross-sectional web-based survey of researchers who have conducted health systems and policy research in Israel was developed. The survey consisted of a demographics section, quantitative scales, and open-ended questions. The survey was sent to all health systems and policy researchers in Israel (n = 125). The study response rate (28%) was relatively low as compared to other studies in the same field (range of 42% to 88%). Our survey found that more than a third of the health systems and policy researchers in Israel reported that they were frequently or always involved in the following KTE activities: interactions with target audience through the research process (i.e., during developing a research question or executing the research; 35% to 42%) or through formal or informal meetings during conferences, workshops, or conversations (40%). Less than half of the health systems and policy researchers in Israel are engaged in bridging activities aimed to facilitate target audiences to use research. This is a fairly new area in Israel and therefore the level of engagement of researchers in KTE activities is not very high. The low response rates could be because KTE is a new field in Israel and minimal KTE initiatives have been undertaken. It is preferable to have higher response rates, yet, after several initiatives, this was the outcome. While the findings are relevant, they may not reflect the total population of health system and policy researchers in

Clinical neuropsychology in Israel: history, training, practice and future challenges.

PubMed

Vakil, Eli; Hoofien, Dan

2016-11-01

This is an invited paper for a special issue on international perspectives on training and practice in clinical neuropsychology. We provide a review of the status of clinical neuropsychology in Israel, including the history of neuropsychological, educational, and accreditation requirements to become a clinical neuropsychologist and to practice clinical neuropsychology. The information is based primarily on the personal knowledge of the authors who have been practicing clinical neuropsychology for over three decades and hold various administrative and academic positions in this field. Second, we conducted three ad hoc surveys among clinical and rehabilitation psychologists; heads of academic programs for rehabilitation and neuropsychology; and heads of accredited service providers. Third, we present a literature review of publications by clinical neuropsychologists in Israel. Most of the clinical neuropsychologists are graduates of either rehabilitation or clinical training programs. The vast majority of neuropsychologists are affiliated with rehabilitation psychology. The training programs (2-3 years of graduate school) provide solid therapeutic and diagnostic skills to the students. Seventy-five percent of the participants in this survey are employed at least part-time by public or state-funded institutions. Israeli neuropsychologists are heavily involved in case management, including vocational counseling, and rehabilitation psychotherapy. Conclusions and future goals: Although clinical neuropsychologists in Israel are well educated and valued by all health professionals, there are still several challenges that must be addressed in order to further advance the field and the profession. These included the need for Hebrew-language standardized and normalized neuropsychological tests and the application of evidence-based interventions in neuropsychological rehabilitation.

Israel: Background and Relations with the United States

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-06-14

relations with Israel during the intifadah. Former Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom had predicted that relations with Arab and Muslim countries would...agreed to accept Israeli humanitarian aid after a devastating earthquake in October. Shalom met the Indonesian, Qatari, Algerian, Moroccan, and...and the Bahrain-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, but it has vowed not to normalize relations. In September, Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali sent

Colloquial Arabic vowels in Israel: a comparative acoustic study of two dialects.

PubMed

Amir, Noam; Amir, Ofer; Rosenhouse, Judith

2014-10-01

This study explores the acoustic properties of the vowel systems of two dialects of colloquial Arabic spoken in Israel. One dialect is spoken in the Galilee region in the north of Israel, and the other is spoken in the Triangle (Muthallath) region, in central Israel. These vowel systems have five short and five long vowels /i, i:, e, e:, a, a:, o, o:, u, u:/. Twenty men and twenty women from each region were included, uttering 30 vowels each. All speakers were adult Muslim native speakers of these two dialects. The studied vowels were uttered in non-pharyngeal and non-laryngeal environments in the context of CVC words, embedded in a carrier sentence. The acoustic parameters studied were the two first formants, F0, and duration. Results revealed that long vowels were approximately twice as long as short vowels and differed also in their formant values. The two dialects diverged mainly in the short vowels rather than in the long ones. An overlap was found between the two short vowel pairs /i/-/e/ and /u/-/o/. This study demonstrates the existence of dialectal differences in the colloquial Arabic vowel systems, underlining the need for further research into the numerous additional dialects found in the region.

Is a flat-line a good thing? On the privatization of Israel's healthcare system.

PubMed

Seidman, Guy I

2010-01-01

Israel presents an intriguing conundrum: on the one hand, it provides quality healthcare in a near-universal healthcare system; on the other, it has maintained healthcare costs level at approximately 7.7% of GDP. This comes at a time when all western nations struggle with one or both sides of the equation: how to offer affordable, good quality health care to the population while curbing the sharp rise in health related costs. This paper explains both how Israel has achieved this 'flat line" effect and the social and political costs of this achievement.

Damage patterns of historical earthquakes in and around Israel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zohar, M.; Salamon, A.; Rubin, R.

2013-12-01

Numerous historical reports of earthquakes in the Levant, including their damages and effects, have been accumulating for the last 3,000 years. Most of the seismic activity is associated with the Dead Sea Transform (DST), the plate border between Arabia and Sinai. In this work we focus on the central and southern parts of the DST, where Israel and its surroundings have repeatedly suffered damage. Much of the relevant reports were previously gathered and organized in catalogues and lists. However, some of the early cataloguers did not screen the historical sources and thus their information cannot be taken for granted. In modern times, however, reviewed catalogues have been presented that took care of this shortcoming and consequently provided updated and more reliable information. Yet, the bulk of that data has not yet been fully analyzed, particularly the spatial distribution of the damage. We have collected information associated with damaging events that occurred from the second millennia BCE to the first event recorded by modern instruments in 1927 CE. At the first stage we screened each of the historical reports, determined its reliability, and then characterized the events by date, size, type and approximate geographic origin. At the same time, we related the damage reports to geographic coordinates, approximate severity, and accompanying environmental effects. Finally, we stored these records in a GIS-based relational database constructed so as to enable flexible queries and data manipulations. Preliminary results of frequency-magnitude relations show that the list of events seems to be complete for the estimated magnitudes M > 7, M > 5.5 and M ≥ 5 in the last two millennia, since 1, 500 CE and since 1, 800 CE, respectively. Temporal distribution of the events indicates three periods of relatively intense seismic activity: (1) between the 4th to mid 8th century, followed by almost total silence of reports; (2) from the beginning of the 11th to the

Turnover of registered nurses in Israel: characteristics and predictors.

PubMed

Toren, Orly; Zelker, Revital; Lipschuetz, Michal; Riba, Shoshana; Reicher, Sima; Nirel, Nurit

2012-05-01

In an era of global and local nursing shortages, nursing turnover has negative consequences in terms of diminished quality of care, increased costs and economic losses and decreased job satisfaction. To examine the turnover rate of registered nurses in Israel by assessing the varying degree of turnover between economic sectors, between hospital and community facilities, and/or between types of hospitals; and by examining potential predicting factors of turnover among registered nurses. A national phone survey was undertaken in Israel consisting of a random sampling of registered nurses of working age (up to age 60). The subjects comprised 10% of a national database of 32,000 registered nurses. The turnover rate among working nurses in Israel currently stands at 23%. In addition, 13% of employed nurses have taken a temporary leave of absence for a period greater than 6 months in the past 10 years, most up to 1 year. While job satisfaction rates were relatively high (72%), Professional satisfaction rates were 60% with no significant difference between hospital and community nurses. The turnover rate of registered nurses from a hospital setting to the community was significantly higher (p<.01) than that of community registered nurses to hospitals. Predicting factors of turnover were found to be: young age, part-time work, lack of advanced professional education, academic education and low satisfaction with the nursing profession. The shift of nursing workforce is mainly from hospitals to community health settings. There is a need to monitor and understand the characteristics of job and professional satisfaction among hospital nurses in order to implement crucial organizational interventions and retain hospital nursing staffs. Since young nurses, nurses working part time and nurses with no advanced professional and academic education, tend to move more than others, efforts should be targeted at these specific groups. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights

Education and Identity Control among the Palestinians in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Makkawi, Ibrahim A.

Unlike many Third World nation minorities living in Western societies, the Palestinians in Israel did not immigrate to the new system; rather, the system was imposed on them by the Israeli Jewish government. This paper argues that the Israeli government uses its hegemony over the educational system for its Palestinian citizens to manipulate and…

Day School Israel Education in the Age of Birthright

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pomson, Alex; Deitcher, Howard

2010-01-01

What are North American Jewish day schools doing when they engage in Israel education, what shapes their practices, and to what ends? In this article, we report on a multi-method study inspired by these questions. Our account is organized around an analytical model that helps distinguish between what we call the vehicles, intensifiers, and…

Israel's Education System: An Introduction to a Study Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elazar, Daniel J.

This paper reports on a program to develop a comprehensive overall strategy of educational research that deals with the state of education in Israel. Four dimensions or sets of demands on the schools are discussed: (1) civilizational demands of transmission of heritage and culture; (2) social demands for good citizenship, productive workers, up to…

Explaining the frequency of alcohol consumption in a conflict zone: Jews and Palestinians in Israel.

PubMed

Massey, Zohar; Chartier, Karen G; Stebbins, Mary B; Canetti, Daphna; Hobfoll, Stevan E; Hall, Brian J; Shuval, Kerem

2015-07-01

Experiencing stress and exposure to terrorism may have an adverse effect on health risk behaviors. Few studies have examined alcohol use among adults living in Israel under chronic, stressful terrorism-related conditions. In this study, we examined the relationships of demographics, past stressful events, and terrorism exposure to the frequency of alcohol use and the mediating roles of depressive and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. We used three waves of data from a 2007-2008 nationally representative sample of Jewish and Palestinian adults in Israel. We assessed past stressful events, in addition to direct and indirect exposures to terrorism. Results indicated that past stressful events and exposure to terrorism were not directly associated with alcohol use, but were indirectly associated and mediated by depressive and PTSD symptomology. Mental health symptoms were differentially associated with alcohol use. More frequent drinking was mediated by higher levels of depression, including for women and Palestinians; however, PTSD symptom severity was related to less frequent drinking. Mental health may play a prominent role in the frequency of alcohol use among adults exposed to terrorism in Israel. Alcohol use, as a coping mechanism, may differ by demographic characteristics (gender and ethnicity) and psychological symptomology for adults living in a conflict zone in Israel. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Social considerations of inflammatory bowel disease in Southern Israel.

PubMed

Taylor, Jonathan; Neff, Chase

2017-07-17

Chronic diseases pose unique social challenges beyond traditional health considerations that require specific attention. In this report, we examine the case of a middle-aged woman with ulcerative colitis, living in Southern Israel. Trust between the patient and physician is shown to positively influence a variety of therapeutic outcomes and should be considered a fundamental component of successful care. In context of the military conflict between Israel and Gaza, the needs of patients with chronic diseases cannot be forgotten. The work environment is also identified as an area of particular concern, as a supportive work environment is essential in order to maintain satisfaction in the workplace and sustain a high quality of life. Out-of-pocket costs for medications are confirmed to be a significant barrier to adherence. Better understanding of patients’ financial capabilities, along with affordable therapeutic interventions, will alleviate healthcare-related financial burdens and improve health outcomes. © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Transformation Deja Vu? A Comparison of Military Improvements of Israel (1967-1973) and the United States (1990-2002)

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-09-06

Transformation Déjà Vu ? A Comparison of Military Improvements of Israel (1967-1973) and the United States (1990-2002) Major William A. Forkner, USAF...Transformation Déjà Vu ? A Comparison of Military Improvements of Israel (1967-1973) and the United States (1990-2002) 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER

Opportunities and Challenges of Integrated Education in Conflict-Ridden Societies: The Case of Palestinian-Jewish Schools in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bekerman, Zvi; Nir, Adam

2006-01-01

This article reports on a rather new and revolutionary education initiative in Israel. The information and descriptions offered are based on the results of a long-term ethnographic research effort that has been conducted since 1999 in the integrated bilingual Palestinian-Jewish schools in Israel. The bilingual schools are a product of the…

Individual Psychotherapy ("Talking Therapy"): A Survey of Attitudes among Residents & Specialists in Psychiatry, Israel 2010-2011.

PubMed

Levi Shachar, Orit; Mendlovic, Shlomo; Hertzberg, Libi; Baruch, Yehuda; Lurie, Ido

2016-01-01

Individual psychotherapy is an efficient tool and an integral part of psychiatric treatment. However, its status among psychiatrists in Israel has never been explored. To explore and map the attitudes of psychiatrists in Israel regarding psychotherapy and psychotherapy training during residency, with comparisons between residents vs. specialists, peripheral vs. central institutions and mental health vs. medical centers. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to examine the attitudes toward individual psychotherapy. The questionnaire was delivered via email and direct approach to psychiatrists in Israel. The survey was completed by 229 of 1,502 registered psychiatrists (15.3%). While 96% (n=218) had positive attitudes towards psychotherapy, 93.1% (n=215) thought psychotherapy was less available than pharmacotherapy. Psychiatrists from peripheral institutions prefer cognitive behavioral therapy, while psychiatrists from central institutions prefer dynamic psychotherapy. Psychiatrists from mental health centers use more dynamic psychotherapy compared to psychiatrists from medical centers. The number of dynamic psychotherapy treatments psychiatrists delivered during their residencies has been decreasing over time, meaning residents today deliver fewer dynamic psychotherapy treatments compared to the number of treatments specialists delivered during their residencies. Additionally, 97.4% (n=225) believed psychotherapy training should be included in the psychiatric residency and 87.3% thought that the training should be improved to a great extent. The survey demonstrates mixed but overall positive attitudes towards psychotherapy among psychiatrists in Israel. The findings should be taken into consideration by psychiatrists who design the residency program and by policy makers who are in charge of the mental health reform in Israel, or the psychotherapy usage and therapeutic potential may diminish, as has happened in other countries.

Role Conflict and the Dilemma of Palestinian Teachers in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Makkawi, Ibrahim

2002-01-01

Data from interviews with Palestinian activist college students about their earlier schooling in Israel are used to illustrate Palestinian teachers' dilemmas and challenges and to confirm that the Israeli authorities systematically use formal education to repress Palestinian national identity and awareness among students. Educational goals of…

Students' Reaction to Classroom Discipline in Australia, Israel, and China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lewis, Ramon; Romi, Shlomo; Katz, Yaacov J.; Qui, Xing

2008-01-01

This study investigates the extent to which students from Australia, Israel, and China report that their teachers' classroom disciplinary behaviour affects their attitudes towards schoolwork and the teacher. They also report how justifiable a teacher's intervention appeared. In all three settings, both punishment and aggression relate…

Crowd-out of defence and health spending: is Israel different from other industrialised nations?

PubMed

Reeves, Aaron; Stuckler, David

2013-04-22

Does high defence spending limit the growth of public health investment? Using comparative data from 31 OECD countries between 1980 and 2010, we find little evidence that defence crowds out public health spending. Whether measured in terms of long-term levels or short-term changes, per capita defence and health spending positively and significantly correlate. To investigate the possibility that countries with high security needs such as Israel exhibit differing patterns, we also compare crowd-out among countries experiencing violent conflicts as well as current high military-spending countries. We observed a greater positive correlation between changes in health and defence spending among conflict-countries (r = 0.65, p < 0.01) than in non-conflict countries (r = 0.12, p = 0.01). However, similar to other high-military spending countries, Israel's politicians reduced defence spending while increasing health expenditure during its recent recession. These analyses reveal that while Israel's politicians have chronically underinvested in public health, there are modest steps being taken to rectify the country's unique and avoidable crowding out of public health from its high military spending.

Prevalence of hepatitis E virus antibodies, Israel, 2009-2010.

PubMed

Mor, Orna; Bassal, Ravit; Michaeli, Michal; Wax, Marina; Ram, Daniela; Cohen-Ezra, Oranit; Cohen, Dani; Mendelson, Ella; Ben-Ari, Ziv; Shohat, Tamy

2015-04-01

We investigated prevalence of hepatitis E virus in a sample of the population of Israel. The overall seroprevalence of antibodies to the virus was 10.6% (95% CI 8.4%-13.0%); age-adjusted prevalence was 7.6%. Seropositivity was associated with age, Arab ethnicity, low socioeconomic status, and birth in Africa, Asia, or the former Soviet Union.

The National Mentoring Program in Israel--Challenges and Achievements

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zorman, Rachel; Rachmel, Shlomit; Bashan, Zipi

2016-01-01

The National Mentoring Program was created in 2009 by the Division for Gifted and Outstanding Students in the Ministry of Education and is implemented by the Szold Institute. The program aims to cultivate future leaders in Israel. Highly gifted 10th and 11th graders are matched with top rate professionals in students' areas of interest. They work…

Epidemiological changes of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in Israel.

PubMed

Hirsh, Shira; Hindiyeh, Musa; Kolet, Liat; Regev, Liora; Sherbany, Hilda; Yaary, Karnit; Mendelson, Ella; Mandelboim, Michal

2014-01-01

RSV is the leading cause of lower respiratory-tract infections in infants and therefore demands in-depth epidemiological characterization. We investigated here the distribution of RSV types in Israel between the years 2005-2012. Clinical samples were collected from 11,018 patients hospitalized due to respiratory illnesses and were evaluated for the presence of various respiratory viruses, including RSV A and RSV B. Until 2008, each year was characterized by the presence of one dominant type of RSV. However, from 2008, both RSV A and B types were detected at significant levels, particularly among infants aged 0-2 years. Furthermore, significant changes in the RSV A and RSV B subtypes circulating in Israel since 2008 were observed. Finally, we demonstrate that, irrespectively of the changes observed in RSV epidemiology, when the pandemic H1N1pdm09 influenza virus appeared in 2009, RSV infections were delayed and were detected when infection with H1N1pdm09 had declined.

Epidemiological Changes of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infections in Israel

PubMed Central

Hirsh, Shira; Hindiyeh, Musa; Kolet, Liat; Regev, Liora; Sherbany, Hilda; Yaary, Karnit; Mendelson, Ella; Mandelboim, Michal

2014-01-01

RSV is the leading cause of lower respiratory-tract infections in infants and therefore demands in-depth epidemiological characterization. We investigated here the distribution of RSV types in Israel between the years 2005–2012. Clinical samples were collected from 11,018 patients hospitalized due to respiratory illnesses and were evaluated for the presence of various respiratory viruses, including RSV A and RSV B. Until 2008, each year was characterized by the presence of one dominant type of RSV. However, from 2008, both RSV A and B types were detected at significant levels, particularly among infants aged 0–2 years. Furthermore, significant changes in the RSV A and RSV B subtypes circulating in Israel since 2008 were observed. Finally, we demonstrate that, irrespectively of the changes observed in RSV epidemiology, when the pandemic H1N1pdm09 influenza virus appeared in 2009, RSV infections were delayed and were detected when infection with H1N1pdm09 had declined. PMID:24594694

Clinical Characteristics and Molecular Subtyping of Vibrio vulnificus Illnesses, Israel

PubMed Central

Zaidenstein, Ronit; Sadik, Chantal; Lerner, Larisa; Valinsky, Lea; Kopelowitz, June; Yishai, Ruth; Agmon, Vered; Parsons, Michele; Bopp, Cheryl

2008-01-01

During 1996–1997, a new Vibrio vulnificus biotype 3, which caused severe soft tissue infection after fishbone injury, emerged in Israel. We conducted a follow-up study from 1998 through 2005 to assess changing trends, outcomes, and molecular relatedness of the implicated strains. A total of 132 cases (71% confirmed and 29% suspected) of V. vulnificus biotype 3 infection were found. Most infections (95%) were related to percutaneous fish exposure, mainly tilapia (83%) or common carp (13%). Bacteremia, altered immune status, and history of ischemic heart disease were identified as independent risk factors for death, which reached a prevalence of 7.6%. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns of strains from 1998 through 2005 and from 1996 through 1997 showed a high degree of homogeneity and were distinct from those of V. vulnificus biotype 1. Infections caused by V. vulnificus biotype 3 continue affect the public’s health in Israel. PMID:19046510

Intentions of Muslim Arab women in Israel to attend prenatal classes.

PubMed

Ben Natan, Merav; Ashkenazi, Maayan; Masarwe, Safaa

2016-02-01

Prenatal education has many benefits to both mother and child. In Israel, prenatal classes are offered to pregnant women in their third trimester from all cultures and sectors. However, Israeli Muslim Arab women often do not attend these classes. To explore factors influencing the intention of Muslim Arab women in Israel to attend prenatal classes, using the Theory of Planned Behavior. The study was a cross-sectional quantitative correlational design. A convenience sample consisting of 200 Arab Muslim women completed a questionnaire based on the literature review and the theoretical model. The research findings indicate that women's intention to attend prenatal classes increases with more positive beliefs and attitudes toward prenatal education, greater subjective social pressure to attend classes, and with higher perceived control of attending such classes. The higher a woman's age and level of education, the greater her intention to attend classes. This study shows that the spouse is the most significant factor influencing women's decisions on this matter. In order to raise the intentions of Muslim Arab women in Israel to attend prenatal classes, policy makers must design programs to increase the awareness of prenatal education among both women and men in the Muslim Arab sector, emphasizing its benefits for mothers, infants, and families as a whole. Classes should reflect the uniqueness of Israeli Muslim Arab culture and combine traditional and modern outlooks. Copyright © 2015 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Israel: Background and U.S. Relations in Brief

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-01-06

future Israeli-Palestinian negotiations by Secretary of State John Kerry on December 28, 2016, and other statements and actions related to issues of...Interim Agreement; permanent status to be determined through further negotiation . The status of the Gaza Strip is a final status issue to be resolved...through negotiations . Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the United States, like nearly all other countries, retains its embassy in

The inter-relationship between formal and informal care: a study in France and Israel

PubMed Central

LITWIN, HOWARD; ATTIAS-DONFUT, CLAUDINE

2012-01-01

This study examined whether formal care services delivered to frail older people’s homes in France and Israel substitute for or complement informal support. The two countries have comparable family welfare systems but many historical, cultural and religious differences. Data for the respondents aged 75 or more years at the first wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) were analysed. Regressions were examined of three patterns of care from outside the household: informal support only, formal support only and both formal and informal care, with the predictor variables including whether informal help was provided by a family member living in the household. The results revealed that about one-half of the respondents received no help at all (France 51%, Israel 55%), about one-tenth received care from a household member (France 8%, Israel 10%), and one-third were helped by informal carers from outside the household (France 34%, Israel 33%). More French respondents (35%) received formal care services at home than Israelis (27%). Most predictors of the care patterns were similar in the two countries. The analysis showed that complementarity is a common outcome of the co-existence of formal and informal care, and that mixed provision occurs more frequently in situations of greater need. It is also shown that spouse care-givers had less formal home-care supports than either co-resident children or other family care-givers. Even so, spouses, children and other family care-givers all had considerable support from formal home-delivered care. PMID:23316096

What do Non-clergy Spiritual Care Providers Contribute to End of Life Care in Israel? A Qualitative Study.

PubMed

Pagis, Michal; Tal, Orly; Cadge, Wendy

2017-04-01

Spiritual care is an increasingly important component of end of life care. As it emerges in Israel, it is intentionally built on a nonclerical model. Based on interviews with spiritual care providers in Israel, we find that they help patients and families talk about death and say goodbyes. They encourage the wrapping up of unfinished business, offer diverse cultural resources that can provide meaning, and use presence and touch to produce connection. As spiritual care emerges in Israel, providers are working with patients at the end of life in ways they see as quite distinct from rabbis. They offer broad frames of meaning to which patients from a range of religious traditions can connect.

Self-selection and earnings assimilation: immigrants from the former Soviet Union in Israel and the United States.

PubMed

Cohen, Yinon; Haberfeld, Yitchak

2007-08-01

Drawing on U.S. decennial census data and on Israeli census and longitudinal data, we compare the educational levels and earnings assimilation of Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU) in the United States and Israel during 1968-2000. Because the doors to both countries were practically open to FSU immigrants between 1968 and 1989, when FSU immigrants were entitled to refugee visas in the United States, the comparison can be viewed as a natural experiment in immigrants' destination choices. The results suggest that FSU immigrants to the United States are of significantly higher educational level and experience significantly faster rates of earnings assimilation in their new destination than their counterparts who immigrated to Israel. We present evidence that patterns of self-selection in immigration to Israel and the United States--on both measured and unmeasured productivity-related traits--is the main reason for these results. When the immigration regulations in the United States changed in 1989, and FSU Jewish immigrants to the United States had to rely on family reunification for obtaining immigrant visas, the adverse effects of the policy change on the type of FSU immigrants coming to the United States were minor and short-lived As early as 1992, the gaps in the educational levels between FSU immigrants coming to Israel and to the United States returned to their pre-1989 levels, and the differences in earnings assimilation of post-1989 immigrants in the United States and Israel are similar to the differences detected in the 1980s.

JPRS Report, Near East & South Asia.

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-02-21

communication matters. C. Educational and cultural matters. D. Social and health affairs. E. Information and tourism matters. F. Legislative and... tourism and the free trade areas here have huge potentials, but only if the Egyptians, and the Arabs generally, stop presenting Eilat and its free trade...especially in Egypt, have expressed deep concern about the flourishing tourism in Eilat and Israeli-controlled Taba, and the Western tourist’s

PREDICTING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE STUDENTS IN ISRAEL.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

PERLBERG, ARYE

A LONGITUDINAL STUDY (HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH COLLEGE) WAS CARRIED OUT AT THE TECHNION-ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY TO INVESTIGATE ACADEMIC PREDICTORS AND PROBLEMS RELATED TO PREDICTION. FOR FOUR YEARS, THREE CLASSES OF 1,087 ENGINEERING STUDENTS WERE FOLLOWED. INTELLECTIVE PREDICTORS AND ACADEMIC CRITERIA ALONE WERE INVESTIGATED. HIGH SCHOOL AND…

Addressing a Nation's Challenge: Graduate Programs in Gerontology in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carmel, Sara; Lowenstein, Ariela

2007-01-01

Like other developed nations, Israel has rapidly aged. This demographic revolution has created new challenges for Israeli society. We describe the societal background, including the emerging societal needs, solutions, and problems, as well as the professional principles, which guided us in developing the first two Israeli academic programs in…

School Violence in Bedouin Schools in Israel: A Re-Examination

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elbedour, Salman; ElBassiouny, Amanda; Bart, William M.; Elbedour, Hammad

2013-01-01

Students in Bedouin schools in Israel completed a survey in which they indicated how frequent abusive teacher behaviors occurred in their classrooms; responses indicated that abusive teacher behaviors occur often. Female students tended to register higher levels of punitive teacher behaviors than male students and secondary school students tended…

Changing Attitudes of High School Students in Israel toward Homosexuality

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eick, Uri; Rubinstein, Tanya; Hertz, Shai; Slater, Aylon

2016-01-01

Hoshen, the Hebrew acronym for "Education & Change", is a nonprofit, nationwide education and information center for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in Israel. The main educational method Hoshen uses is the personal story told by volunteers. The present study aimed to examine whether this activity,…

48 CFR 652.225-70 - Arab League Boycott of Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 4 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Arab League Boycott of... AND FORMS SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES Texts of Provisions and Clauses 652.225-70 Arab League Boycott of Israel. As prescribed in 625.7002(a), insert the following provision: Arab League...

48 CFR 652.225-70 - Arab League Boycott of Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 4 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Arab League Boycott of... AND FORMS SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES Texts of Provisions and Clauses 652.225-70 Arab League Boycott of Israel. As prescribed in 625.7002(a), insert the following provision: Arab League...

48 CFR 652.225-70 - Arab League Boycott of Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 4 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Arab League Boycott of... AND FORMS SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES Texts of Provisions and Clauses 652.225-70 Arab League Boycott of Israel. As prescribed in 625.7002(a), insert the following provision: Arab League...

48 CFR 652.225-70 - Arab League Boycott of Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Arab League Boycott of... AND FORMS SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES Texts of Provisions and Clauses 652.225-70 Arab League Boycott of Israel. As prescribed in 625.7002(a), insert the following provision: Arab League...

Education across the Divide: Shared Learning of Separate Jewish and Arab Schools in a Mixed City in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Payes, Shany

2018-01-01

This article examines the impact of contact-based educational encounter strategies of shared learning on Jewish-Arab relations in Israel. It analyses a programme of education for shared life that takes place in a mixed (75% Jewish/25% Arab) city at the centre of Israel since 2012. The programme aims to mitigate Jewish-Arab relations in the city…

[Sexual behavior characteristics of clients attending the Israel AIDS Task Force anonymous clinic in Tel Aviv].

PubMed

Bar-On, Yaeli; Perry, Zvi H; Nof, Einav; Shiber, Asher; Risenberg, Klaris; Ben Zion, Itzhak

2014-09-01

Until now, research on sexual behavior and HIV in Israel has been carried out mainly on the general population, and focused primarily on defining populations at risk, without adequate consideration given to the reasons bringing these populations to be tested, and their specific sexual behaviors. In Israel, one can choose whether to take an HIV test in confidential centers (giving one's name under medical confidentiality) or in anonymous centers (Israel AIDS Task Force in Tel Aviv and Beer Sheva, Levinsky Clinic in Tel Aviv and Haparsim Clinic in Haifa]. At least 21% of the clients of the anonymous testing centers in Israel belong to a high risk population in contrast to 2.6% in confidential clinics, and so, in this study, we hypothesize that characterization of sexual behavior patterns in anonymous testing centers might enable us to better characterize sexual behavior patterns in high risk populations. In this cross-sectional study, we used questionnaires distributed in the clinics by the Israel AIDS Task Force in order to characterize their clinic's clients. The questionnaires were completed by the Israel AIDS Task Force consultants during the consultation period at which the anonymous test was performed. Data collected included: gender, age, testing history, specific sexual behaviors and reasons for applying for the current test. A total of 926 questionnaires were collected; 29.9% of them were of female patients. The average age was 29.47 years (1±8.66]; 21.3% of the clients were men who have sex with men [MSM]; only 2.3% of the clients belonged to other high risk populations. In all groups, the majority of the patients reported high risk sexual behavior (any sexual contact without a condom) and the average age for the first test was much higher than the average age of first sexual intercourse common in Israel. Women reported more participation in unprotected vaginal intercourse than heterosexual men, and a substantial part of MSM reported performing unprotected

Israel: coronary and structural heart interventions from 2010 to 2015.

PubMed

Finkelstein, Ariel; Minha, Saar; Kornowski, Ran; Danenberg, Haim; Banai, Shmuel; Lotan, Haim; Segev, Amit; Barbash, Israel M

2017-05-15

The Israel Heart Society is a member of the European Society of Cardiology, and the Israeli Working Group of Interventional Cardiology is an active participant in EAPCI. The aim of this manuscript is to provide a snapshot of cardiac interventions performed in the State of Israel during the period 2010-2015. Data for this manuscript were collected via collaboration with the National Diseases Registries Unit of the Israel Center for Disease Control. During the survey period, the Israeli population increased by 7% but only one additional hospital with an active cardiac catheterisation laboratory was opened. The vast majority of the percutaneous procedures are performed in public hospital settings. Total coronary angiography procedures remained stable throughout the survey period, and the percentage of PCI out of total coronary angiography procedures remained approximately 50% throughout the survey period. More than 90% of the PCI procedures were performed using stent deployment, and the use of drug-eluting stents increased significantly during the survey period from 46% in 2010 to 92% in 2015. The number of TAVI procedures increased dramatically, by more than sixfold, from 130 procedures in 2010 to 851 procedures in 2015 (with 130 implants/million population at Q4 of 2015). The vast majority of interventional cardiology procedures are funded by the governmental healthcare providers, and all the citizens of the country have access to the most advanced cardiac interventions. If corrected for the increase in the population, the volumes of coronary interventions are decreasing throughout the country. However, structural heart disease interventions, and specifically valvular interventions, are growing rapidly and this trend is expected to continue in the near future.

Did the defeat of Saddam Hussein reduce suicide bombing casualties and attacks in Israel? A statistical analysis.

PubMed

Schumm, Walter R

2004-12-01

It was hypothesized that one of the reasons for the U.S. invasion of Iraq was to stop the payments being made by Saddam Hussein to the families of suicide (homicide) bombers in Israel. The consequences of suicide (homicide) bombing attacks against Israel between March 2001 and August 2004 were evaluated as related to the time of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. On average per month during this period, there were fewer overall casualties after the invasion than before it. As many as nearly 1,100 casualties may have been prevented in Israel as a consequence of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, suggesting that at least one possible goal of the U.S. invasion may have been achieved, at least as averaged over the first 17 months after the invasion.

Is the interspecific variation of body size of land snails correlated with rainfall in Israel and Palestine?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hausdorf, Bernhard

2006-11-01

The hypothesis that body size of land snail species increases with aridity in Israel and Palestine because large snails lose relatively less water due to their lower surface to volume ratio has been investigated. Data on rainfall amplitudes of 84 land snail species in Israel and Palestine and on their body sizes were used to test for interspecific correlations between body size and rainfall. Four methods, means of body sizes in rainfall categories, the midpoint method, the across-species method, and a phylogenetically controlled analysis (CAIC) showed that there is no significant correlation between body size of land snail species and their rainfall amplitude in Israel and Palestine. The lack of an interspecific correlation between body size and rainfall amplitude may be the result of conflicting selective forces on body size.

[Is the rate of medical publication from Israel similar to other countries? A comparative study of three medical specialties].

PubMed

Zer, Matan; Lindner, Arie; Greenstein, Alexander; Leibovici, Dan

2011-07-01

Academic careers of individual doctors are commonly evaluated by examining the number and quality of authored publications. Similarly, the extent and quality of medical research may be assessed nationwide by measuring the number of publications originating from the country of interest over time. This in turn, may indicate on the quality of medicine practiced. To evaluate the extent and quality of IsraeLi publications we measured the rate and quality of medical publications originating from Israel for two decades in the fields of urology, cardiology and orthopedics, and compared the data to those of other countries. Leading journals in urology, cardiology, and orthopedics were selected. A Medline search (http://www.ncbi.ntm.nih.gov/sites/entrez] was conducted for all the publications originating in Israel between the years 1990-2009 in the selected journals. Data from Israel was compared to those from Italy, France, Germany, Egypt and Turkey. The change in rate of publications was tested using Linear regression. The quality of publications was calculated by multiplying the number of publications by the relevant impact factor. While the urology publications rate in Israel increased by 32.7% in the second study decade as compared with the first, the urology publication rates during the same time period from Italy, France, Germany, Egypt and Turkey were 199%, 115%, 184%, 180% and 227% respectively. The regression coefficient for the urology publication rate was 0.51 for Israel, and 0.78, 0.95, 0.78, 0.87 and 0.97 for the other countries, respectively. The regression coefficient for the change in the quality of publications from Israel was 0.31 and 0.81, 0.75, 0.92, 0.73, and 0.92 for the other countries, respectively. In cardiology, the Israeli publication rate increased by 26% during the second study decade, whereas in the other countries the increments were 46%, 35%, 76%, 80% and 309% respectively. The regression coefficient for Israeli pubLication rate was 0.45, and

Prevalence and risk factors for foot and mouth disease infection in small ruminants in Israel.

PubMed

Elnekave, Ehud; van Maanen, Kees; Shilo, Hila; Gelman, Boris; Storm, Nick; Berdenstain, Svetlane; Berke, Olaf; Klement, Eyal

2016-03-01

During the last decade, 27% of the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in Israel affected small ruminant (SR) farms. FMD outbreaks reoccur in Israel despite vaccination of all livestock and application of control measures. We performed a cross-sectional serological study, aimed at estimating the prevalence of FMD infection in SR in Israel and the possible risk factors for infection. Overall, 2305 samples of adult sheep (n=1948) and goats (n=357) were collected during 2011-14 in two separate surveys. One survey was based on random sampling of intensive management system farms and the other was originally aimed at the detection of Brucella melitensis at extensive and semi-intensive management system farms. Sera were tested by NS blocking ELISA (PrioCHECK(®)). The serological prevalence of antibodies against non structural proteins (NSP) of FMD virus was estimated at 3.7% (95% confidence interval (CI95%)=3.0% -4.5%). Additionally, a significantly lower infection prevalence (p value=0.049) of 1.0% (CI95%=0.1%-3.6%) was found in a small sample (197 sera) of young SR, collected during 2012. The positive samples from adult SR were scattered all over Israel, though two significant infection clusters were found by the spatial scan statistic. Occurrence of an outbreak on a non-SR farm within 5km distance was associated with a fifteen times increase in the risk of FMD infection of SR in the univariable analysis. Yet, this variable was not included in the multivariable analysis due to collinearities with the other independent variables. Multivariable logistic regression modeling found significantly negative associations (P value<0.05) of grazing and being in a herd larger than 500 animals with risk of infection. Grazing herds and herds larger than 500 animals, both represent farms that are intensively or semi-intensively managed. Higher maintenance of bio-safety, fewer introductions of new animals and higher vaccination compliance in these farms may explain their lower

Elevated cancer risk in Holocaust survivors residing in Israel: A retrospective cohort study.

PubMed

Ben David, Ran; Biderman, Aya; Sherf, Michael; Zamstein, Omri; Dreiher, Jacob

2018-05-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of malignant diseases among Holocaust survivors in Israel compared with European and American immigrants who did not experience the Holocaust. Study subjects included Holocaust survivors born in European countries under Nazi occupation before 1945, who immigrated to Israel after 1945 and were alive as of the year 2000. Living survivors were identified based on recognition criteria in accordance with the Holocaust Survivor Benefits Law. The comparison group consisted of Clalit enrollees who were born before 1945 in European countries not under Nazi occupation and were alive in 2000 or were born in any European country or America, immigrated to Israel before 1939 and were alive in 2000. The incidence of malignant diseases was compared in univariate and Poisson regression models analyses, controlling for age, smoking, obesity, diabetes and place of residence. The study included 294,543 Holocaust survivors, and the mean age at the beginning of follow-up was 74 ± 8.7 years; 43% males. In multivariable analyses, the rate ratio (RR) values for males and females were 1.9 and 1.3 for colon cancer, 1.9 and 1.4 for lung cancer, 1.6 and 1.4 for bladder cancer and 1.2 and 1.3 for melanoma, respectively. For prostate cancer in males, the RR was 1.4, while for breast cancer in females, it was 1.2. The incidence of malignant diseases among Holocaust survivors residing in Israel was higher than that among non-Holocaust survivors. These associations remained statistically significant in a multivariable analysis and were stronger for males. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Literature review of type 2 diabetes mellitus among minority Muslim populations in Israel

PubMed Central

Treister-Goltzman, Yulia; Peleg, Roni

2015-01-01

This review surveys the literature published on the characteristics and implications of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) for the Arab and Bedouin populations of Israel. T2DM is a global health problem. The rapid rise in its prevalence in the Arab and Bedouin populations in Israel is responsible for their lower life expectancy compared to Israeli Jews. The increased prevalence of T2DM corresponds to increased rates of obesity in these populations. A major risk group is adult Arab women aged 55-64 years. In this group obesity reaches 70%. There are several genetic and nutritional explanations for this increase. We found high hospitalization rates for micro and macrovascular complications among diabetic patients of Arab and Bedouin origin. Despite the high prevalence of diabetes and its negative health implications, there is evidence that care and counseling relating to nutrition, physical activity and self-examination of the feet are unsatisfactory. Economic difficulties are frequently cited as the reason for inadequate medical care. Other proposed reasons include faith in traditional therapy and misconceptions about drugs and their side effects. In Israel, the quality indicators program is based on one of the world’s leading information systems and deals with the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes. The program’s baseline data pointed to health inequality between minority populations and the general population in several areas, including monitoring and control of diabetes. Based on these data, a pilot intervention program was planned, aimed at minority populations. This program led to a decrease in inequality and served as the basis for a broader, more comprehensive intervention that has entered the implementation stage. Interventions that were shown to be effective in other Arabic countries may serve as models for diabetes management in the Arab and Bedouin populations in Israel. PMID:25685290

Teachers' Perceptions of School Principals' Leadership Styles and Parental Involvement--The Case of the Arab Education System in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arar, Khalid; Abramovitz, Ruth; Daod, Saeda; Awad, Yasir; Khalil, Mahmood

2016-01-01

This study deals with teachers' perceptions of principals' leadership style as it affects parental involvement (PI) in the special context of the Arab education system in Israel. Contemporary perceptions of education within the Western individualist society, including in the majority society in Israel, regard the full spectrum of PI, ranging from…

Israel: Background and Relations With the United States

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-08-18

2006, prominent U.S. investor Warren Buffet announced that he was buying 80% of Iscar, a major Israeli metalworks, for $4 billion. On July 26, the House...take into account changed “realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli population centers” (i.e., settlements), asserting “it is...agreements that restrict use of the weapons to military targets. Other Current Issues Military Sales. Israel accounts for about 10% of the world’s defense

Israel: Background and Relations With the United States

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-08-31

million to secure the deal. In May 2006, prominent U.S. investor Warren Buffet announced that he was buying 80% of Iscar, a major Israeli metalworks, for...President Bush noted the need to take into account changed “realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli population centers” (i.e...made cluster bombs violated agreements that restrict use of the weapons to military targets. Other Current Issues Military Sales. Israel accounts for

Israel: Background and Relations with the United States

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-11-14

investment of up to $3.5 billion or $525 million to secure the deal. In May 2006, prominent U.S. investor Warren Buffet announced that he was buying...into account changed “realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli population centers” (i.e., settlements), asserting “it is...weapons to military targets. Other Current Issues Military Sales. Israel accounts for about 10% of the world’s defense exports, totaling $3.5 billion in

Redescription of Clinostomum phalacrocoracis metacercariae (Digenea: Clinostomidae) in cichlids from Lake Kinneret, Israel

PubMed Central

Caffara, Monica; Davidovich, Nadav; Falk, Rama; Smirnov, Margarita; Ofek, Tamir; Cummings, David; Gustinelli, Andrea; Fioravanti, Maria L.

2014-01-01

Clinostomidae are digeneans characterized by a complex taxonomic history, continuously under revision based on both morphological and molecular analysis. Among the 14 species considered valid so far Clinostomum phalacrocoracis has been well described only at the adult stage, whereas the morphology of the metacercarial stage has been reported only once. During a parasitological survey carried out on 262 wild cichlids sampled from Lake Kinneret (Israel) metacercariae referable to C. phalacrocoracis were found in 18 fingerlings. In this study, we report this clinostomid species for the first time in wild fish from Israel describing the metacercarial stage of Clinostomum phalacrocoracis, coupling its morphological description with molecular analysis carried out on ITS rDNA and COI mtDNA sequences. PMID:24986336

Workplace Vaccination and Other Factors Impacting Influenza Vaccination Decision among Employees in Israel

PubMed Central

Shahrabani, Shosh; Benzion, Uri

2010-01-01

The study examined the factors affecting the decision to be vaccinated against influenza among employees in Israel. The research, conducted in 2007/2008, included 616 employees aged 18−65 at various workplaces in Israel, among them companies that offered their employees influenza vaccination. The research questionnaire included socio-demographic characteristics, and the Health Belief Model principles. The results show that the significant factors affecting vaccination compliance include a vaccination program at workplaces, vaccinations in the past, higher levels of vaccine’s perceived benefits, and lower levels of barriers to getting the vaccine. We conclude that vaccine compliance is larger at companies with workplace vaccination programs providing easier accessibility to vaccination. PMID:20617008

Genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from Portugal, Austria, and Israel reveals higher genetic variability within the type II lineage

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

This study compared genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from Portugal, Austria and Israel. For this, we genotyped 90 T. gondii isolates (16 from Portugal, 67 from Austria and 7 from Israel) using 10 nested PCR-restriction length polymorphism (RFLP) genetic markers and 15 microsatellite (...

[The beginnings of orthopedic surgery in Israel].

PubMed

Tauber, Chanan

2013-08-01

In early mandatory Israel, orthopedics was mainly conservative, The first modern orthopedic surgeon was Ernst Spira from Czechoslovakia who established an orthopedic service at the Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva and left in 1948 to establish the Orthopedic Department and the Rehabilitation Center in Tel Hashomer, which treated the War of Independence casualties including amputees and victims of spinal cord injuries. A second orthopedic department was opened in Tel Hashomer by Shmuel Weissman who left in 1961 to open the Orthopedic Department at the Ichilov hospital in Tel Aviv. Shmuel Weissman became the first Chairman of Orthopedic Surgery at the Tel Aviv University medical school. In 1955, Myer Makin opened a modern orthopedic department in the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem and the Alyn Hospital for crippled children. In 1951, Assaf Harofeh Hospital opened the Department of Orthopedic Surgery headed by Anatol Axer who specialized in the treatment and rehabilitation of polio patients. The majority of the second generation of orthopedic department directors was trained by these four surgeons. Major developments in the 1960s and 1970s were the introduction of the AO system revolutionizing fracture treatment from conservative to operative treatment, the advent of total hip and knee replacements, Harrington instrumentation in spinal surgery and arthroscopy were major advances in orthopedic patient care brought to Israel by the aforementioned second generation of orthopedic surgeons. Hand surgery became an independent subspecialty of orthopedics and was lead by the internationally renowned hand surgeon, Isidore Kessler.

[SEAFOOD ALLERGY IN ISRAEL].

PubMed

Rottem, Menachem

2015-10-01

Allergy to seafood such as shrimps, crab, lobster and fish eggs is relatively infrequent in Israel compared to fish allergies and allergies to other foods. This is mainly due to the fact that most of the population and restaurants preserve and maintain Kosher food. Changes in the population eating habits, partly due to immigration, were followed by increased frequency of such sensitivities in recent years. We describe three typical cases that illustrate the characteristics of allergy to sea foods. Allergy to seafood can present as a single sensitivity or be part of an allergic tendency, atopy, with other allergic manifestations. Diagnosis by allergy skin test or laboratory evaluation by specific IgE is available for most sea foods but not for fish eggs. The current therapeutic approach is strict avoidance and all patients should be provided with and carry with them an epinephrine auto-injector.

Characteristics associated with purchasing antidepressant or antianxiety medications through primary care in Israel.

PubMed

Ayalon, Liat; Gross, Revital; Yaari, Aviv; Feldhamer, Elan; Balicer, Ran; Goldfracht, Margalit

2011-09-01

This study analyzed the role of patient and physician characteristics associated with the purchase of antidepressant or antianxiety medications in Israel, a country that has a universal health care system. A national sample of 30,000 primary care patients over the age of 22 was randomly drawn from the registry of the largest health care fund in Israel. Data concerning medication purchase between January and December 2006 were extracted. Physician and patient characteristics were merged with Israel's unique identification number. Multilevel analysis was conducted to identify patient- and physician-level predictors of medication purchase. Overall, 19% (N = 4,762) of the sample purchased antidepressant or antianxiety medications. Individuals with greater general medical and psychiatric comorbidity were more likely to purchase antidepressant or antianxiety medications. Older adults, women, those of higher socioeconomic status, and immigrants (with the exception of Jews born in Asia or Africa) were also more likely to purchase medications. Arabs and Jews born in Asia and Africa were less likely to purchase medications even after all other variables were accounted for. Physician characteristics were minimally associated with the purchase of medications. The findings demonstrate that despite universal health care access, there were variations by population groups. Educational efforts should target patients as well as physicians.

Changing Attitudes toward the Old in Oriental Families in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stahl, Abraham

1993-01-01

Notes change in central position held by old people in traditional Jewish-Oriental family and society following migration to Israel. Changing attitudes within family are reflected in discussions by disadvantaged soldiers of Oriental origin in classes for basic training in Israeli army and by answers of fifth-grade children to questions on their…

Regulation of Academia in Israel: Legislation, Policy, and Market Forces

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohen, Erez; Davidovitch, Nitza

2016-01-01

The rapid development of Israel's system of higher education in recent years has led to a sharp rise in the number of students, the establishment of new institutions certified to award degrees, and legislation and policy changes. The evolving circumstances are explored in the current article, which follows the sources, causes, and justifications…

Biological monitoring of Persistent Organic Pollutants in human milk in Israel.

PubMed

Wasser, Janice; Berman, Tamar; Lerner-Geva, Liat; Grotto, Itamar; Rubin, Lisa

2015-10-01

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of POPs around the globe. The Ministry of Health, collaborating with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, measured the exposure of the population to POPs as part of the WHO-coordinated exposure study. Human milk, with a relatively high fat content is a preferred matrix for the monitoring of exposure. Donors of breast milk were recruited from three hospitals after signing informed consent forms. Breast milk was collected from 52 primipara women, aged 23-35, living in Israel for the last 10 years who gave birth to singleton full term healthy infants. Samples, collected at 3-17 weeks postpartum, were stored at -20 °C until sent to the WHO Reference Laboratory, State Laboratory for Chemical and Veterinary Analysis of Food (CVUA), in Frieburg, Germany for a single pooled analysis. Mothers were provided with the pooled analysis results. Out of over 50 Persistent Organic Pollutants listed in the analysis, 16, including aldrin, endrin, parlar and mirex were not found at detectable levels in the Israeli pooled sample. For the indicator compounds found at detectable levels, most were lower than those reported in European countries. Since 1982, levels of POPs contamination as measured in breast milk have declined significantly. This is likely due to restrictions on agricultural, industrial, and other uses of many POPs in Israel. Ongoing biomonitoring in Israel and inter-ministerial collaboration supports the elimination of POPs in the environment and human milk. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The impact of ongoing national terror on the community of hospital nurses in Israel.

PubMed

Ron, Pnina; Shamai, Michal

2014-04-01

The main goal of this study was to explore the connections between the exposure of nurses in Israel to national terror and the levels of distress experienced due to ongoing terror attacks. The data were collected from 214 nurses from various parts of Israel who work in three types of heath services (mainly hospital departments) and provide help to victims of terror. The nurses reported very high levels of burnout, high levels of stress and medium-to high levels of intrusive memories. Levels of exposure were associated with burnout, intrusive memories and level of stress. More professional attention should be given to hospital nurses who provide care for trauma patients.

Israel: Background and Relations with the United States

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-02-26

2004, however President Bush noted the need to take into account changed “realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli population...Israel provided a grant of 15% of an investment of up to $3.5 billion or $525 million to secure the deal. In May 2006, prominent U.S. investor Warren ... Buffet announced that he was buying 80% of Iscar, a major Israeli metalworks, for $4 billion. Energy Cooperation. In the context of Israel’s

Living kidney donation and masked nationalism in Israel.

PubMed

Epstein, Miran

2017-01-01

This paper draws attention to a current trend of masked conditional-nationalist living kidney donation in Israel, to which the local transplant system has been turning a blind eye. The paper seeks to make the international transplant and bioethics communities aware of this disturbing trend. It also explains why it is wrong and suggests how to tackle it. Finally, it calls on the Israeli system to bring the practice to a halt for the benefit of all parties involved.

Eating disorders and disordered eating in Israel: an updated review.

PubMed

Latzer, Yael; Witztum, Eliezer; Stein, Daniel

2008-09-01

Israel presents a unique opportunity to study the role of socio-cultural parameters in the development of mental disturbances because of the exceptional diversity of the Israeli society. In the present review, we aimed to analyse the current state of disordered eating in Israel by means of an extensive literature review. The following are the main findings of our review: The frequency of maladaptive eating among female and male Israeli Jewish adolescents is higher in comparison to many other Westernized countries. Among different Jewish sub-populations, Kibbutz women have been found until recently to show higher rates of disordered eating in comparison to other Israeli samples. Recent studies show no such difference between Kibbutz members and the general Israeli population. No clear-cut findings emerge with respect to the influence of immigration and degree of Jewish religious affiliation on the occurrence of disordered eating. In contrast, disordered eating is less prevalent in Israeli-Arabs compared with Israeli-Jews. Moreover, diverse Israeli-Arab groups show different rates of disordered eating. We discuss the high rate of disordered eating in Israeli youth in light of Israel being a culture in transition that is constantly exposed to the risk of terrorism. The changes in the rates of disordered eating in the Kibbutzim are discussed in light of the dramatic societal changes occurring in these communities within a relatively brief period of time. The low rates of disordered eating in Israeli-Arabs reflect the traditional non-Westernized characteristics of their society, whereas the differences between diverse Arab sub-populations depend upon the degree of exposure to Westernized influences and the presence of conflicts between modern and traditional values. (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

More than War: Teachers' Stories from Israel and Northern Ireland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kendall, Stefanie Karin

2010-01-01

Increasingly, the effects of war--threat towards health, socio-economic stability, and social trust--are felt on the streets of cities and towns in conflict zones. Teachers in two locations, one a conflict zone, one post conflict, talk about the ways they respond to violent conflict in their community. Sderot, Israel, sits two kilometers from…

The Higher Education System in Israel: Statistical Abstract and Analysis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Herskovic, Shlomo

This edition of a statistical abstract published every few years on the higher education system in Israel presents the most recent data available through 1990-91. The data were gathered through the cooperation of the Central Bureau of Statistics and institutions of higher education. Chapter 1 presents a summary of principal findings covering the…

Assessing Perseverance in Studies at the Open University of Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guri-Rozenblit, Sarah

1990-01-01

A study at the Open University of Israel found students who study in organized groups and get weekly tutorials have a higher persistence rate than those with tutorials every three weeks. More experienced students and those in liberal arts and social sciences have a higher course completion rate. Age, sex, and educational background have little…

Death and Dying Anxiety among Elderly Arab Muslims in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Azaiza, Faisal; Ron, Pnina; Shoham, Meyrav; Gigini, Ibrahim

2010-01-01

Death and dying anxiety were examined among elderly Arab Muslims in Israel. A total of 145 people aged 60 and over were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. Nursing home residents reported higher death anxiety than others; women and uneducated participants reported greater levels of fear of death and dying than others. There were no…

When the GERM Hosts the Antidote: The Surprising New Birth of Israel's Anti-GERM Pre-K Policy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bialik, Gadi; Shefi, Noa

2017-01-01

Since the 1970s, Israel's educational policy has been undergoing a change generated by the neo-liberal agenda. In this light, it is not surprising that since the 1990s, Israel's education system has adopted the main characteristics of the Global Education Reform Movement (GERM). In light of this, the current research will focus on a newly born…

The political economy of healthy system reform in Israel.

PubMed

Chernichovsky, D; Chinitz, D

1995-01-01

On June 15, 1994, the Israeli Parliament voted to enact the National Health Insurance bill (NHI). The bill marks the end of a process that lasted for virtually as long as Israel's almost 50 year history. Israel's attempts at health reform began long before the current spate of reforms in many Western countries. Faced with many of the same problems of access, equity and cost control common to many of its counterparts, Israel initiated a reform process based on the recommendations of a prominent State Commission of Inquiry into the Israeli Health System (the Netanyahu Commission) which reported to the Government in 1990. The Commission's proposals were based on a diagnosis indicating that the major problems of the system stem from the lack of clarity regarding the rights of citizens to health care, the lack of a clear allocation of responsibility and accountability among government, insurance or sick funds, and providers in the system, and undue centralization of system operations. This diagnosis led to three major planks for reform: (1) enactment of national health insurance legislation granting a basic package of care to each citizen and hence bringing most of the system's finance under public auspices; (2) divesting the Government from the organization, management and provision of care; hence integrating the management of preventive and psychiatric services provided by the government with the primary and other services provided by sick funds, and granting financial and operational independence to at least government hospitals; and (3) restructuring the Ministry of Health. As is often the case in public policy, more consensus surrounds the diagnosis than the solutions. As a result, nearly four years of implementation efforts have only recently resulted in a major breakthrough. In this paper we make an effort to outline the inherent weaknesses of the Israeli health care system that have led to the crisis in the mid 1980s, summarize the recommendations of the State

Rethinking the sustainability of Israel's irrigation practices in the Drylands.

PubMed

Tal, Alon

2016-03-01

Broad utilization of drip irrigation technologies in Israel has contributed to the 1600 percent increase in the value of produce grown by local farmers over the past sixty-five years. The recycling of 86% of Israeli sewage now provides 50% of the country's irrigation water and is the second, idiosyncratic component in Israel's strategy to overcome water scarcity and maintain agriculture in a dryland region. The sustainability of these two practices is evaluated in light of decades of experience and ongoing research by the local scientific community. The review confirms the dramatic advantages of drip irrigation over time, relative to flood, furrow and sprinkler irrigation and its significance as a central component in agricultural production, especially under arid conditions. In contrast, empirical findings increasingly report damage to soil and to crops from salinization caused by irrigation with effluents. To be environmentally and agriculturally sustainable over time, wastewater reuse programs must ensure extremely high quality treated effluents and ultimately seek the desalinization of recycled sewage. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Establishing undergraduate public health education: process, challenges, and achievements in a case study in Israel.

PubMed

Bashkin, Osnat; Tulchinsky, Theodore Herzl

2017-01-01

In this paper, we describe the development process of the first undergraduate public health baccalaureate program, in the Ashkelon Academic College in Israel. Expansion of degree-granting colleges in Israel is part of the democratization of higher education providing access to and increasing educational opportunities for groups underrepresented in universities. The main objectives of the program at Ashkelon Academic College have been to open accessible and affordable career opportunities for current workers in the health system and for new entries to health careers for academic advancement in a peripheral and relatively poor region of the country. The program focuses on well-established and literature-based learning goals of public health education but also includes basic medical sciences, incorporation of arts and sciences into public health, development of critical thinking and quantitative skills, experiential field learning, and integrative learning for facing global health challenges. The curricula of the program is composed of seven modules including introductory courses, methodology courses, health organization courses, epidemiology courses, courses related to core content of public health, elective courses and practicum. The first class will graduate in 2017; this will allow for final approval of the Council of Higher Education of Israel and possible revision of curriculum. A second BA program is now seeking approval in Israel and cooperation with post-graduate schools of public health is developing. Our program is in keeping with trends in Europe and the USA to broaden public health education, to reduce inequality of career opportunity, to expand the workforce, and to promote public health.

Redescription of Clinostomum phalacrocoracis metacercariae (Digenea: Clinostomidae) in cichlids from Lake Kinneret, Israel.

PubMed

Caffara, Monica; Davidovich, Nadav; Falk, Rama; Smirnov, Margarita; Ofek, Tamir; Cummings, David; Gustinelli, Andrea; Fioravanti, Maria L

2014-01-01

Clinostomidae are digeneans characterized by a complex taxonomic history, continuously under revision based on both morphological and molecular analysis. Among the 14 species considered valid so far Clinostomum phalacrocoracis has been well described only at the adult stage, whereas the morphology of the metacercarial stage has been reported only once. During a parasitological survey carried out on 262 wild cichlids sampled from Lake Kinneret (Israel) metacercariae referable to C. phalacrocoracis were found in 18 fingerlings. In this study, we report this clinostomid species for the first time in wild fish from Israel describing the metacercarial stage of Clinostomum phalacrocoracis, coupling its morphological description with molecular analysis carried out on ITS rDNA and COI mtDNA sequences. © M. Caffara et al., published by EDP Sciences, 2014.

Ethiopian Emerging Adult Immigrants in Israel: Coping with Discrimination and Racism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walsh, Sophie D.; Tuval-Mashiach, Rivka

2012-01-01

Experiences of discrimination and racism and individual coping strategies were examined among 22 emerging adult Ethiopian immigrants in Israel. In-depth interviews explored the way they perceive, understand, respond to, and cope with experiences of discrimination. Qualitative analysis identified an initial contrast between those interviewees who…

Pre-immigration screening process and pulmonary tuberculosis among Ethiopian migrants in Israel.

PubMed

Mor, Z; Lerman, Y; Leventhal, A

2008-08-01

More than 75,000 displaced Ethiopians have moved to Israel. Tuberculosis (TB) incidence in Ethiopia is 44 times higher than in Israel (344 versus 8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively). The aims of the present retrospective cohort study were to evaluate the pre-immigration screening process initiated in 2001 on pulmonary TB (PTB) morbidity and to assess its cost-effectiveness. Ethiopian immigrants who were screened before departure (study group) were compared with those who were screened after arrival (comparison group). Between 1998 and 2005, 24,051 Ethiopian immigrants arrived in Israel. PTB was diagnosed in 332 (1.4%) immigrants, an incidence density of 325 patients per 100,000 person-yrs. PTB cumulative incidence was lower in the study group than in the comparison group: 711 compared with 1,746 patients per 100,000 immigrants, respectively (rate ratio 0.4). PTB was detected significantly earlier in the study group than in the comparison group: 193 versus 487 days after entry, respectively. Disease incidence declined significantly during the first 2 yrs following immigration. A 5-yr predictive model indicated that 98 individuals would be free of PTB, saving US$91,055 on annual treatment cost, due to screening. The pre-immigration screening process reduced pulmonary tuberculosis incidence in subsequent years following immigration. Pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed earlier in the screened group than in the comparison group and the process was found to be both cost-beneficial and cost-effective.

The prevalence of Parkinson's disease in an Arab population, Wadi Ara, Israel.

PubMed

Masalha, Rafik; Kordysh, Ella; Alpert, Gershon; Hallak, Maher; Morad, Mohammad; Mahajnah, Muhammad; Farkas, Peter; Herishanu, Yuval

2010-01-01

The prevalence of Parkinson's disease varies among ethnic and geographic groups around the world, being very low in China and high in Argentina. While the main etiology of the disease has yet to be determined, environmental, occupational and genetic factors seem to play important roles. To estimate the prevalence of PD in an Arab Muslim population in Israel, using the drug tracer approach. We studied a Muslim Arab population living in a well-defined geographic area in Israel, with the majority located in two towns and two large villages. Of the approximately 115,000 residents, about 38% are under the age of 15 and 7.75% are older than 65. Drug tracer methodology was applied in this study. All those who were on anti-PD medication were identified and examined by a neurologist to confirm the diagnosis. The overall crude prevalence of PD in this population was low, 43.24/100,000, while the prevalence in the age group above 65 years was 477.32/100,000. Below this age, the prevalence was very low, 12.29/100,000. PD prevalence was higher in males than in females (ratio 1.17); 63% of male patients smoked cigarettes. The prevalence was found to be twice as high among the residents of rural areas, where most inhabitants work in agriculture. The prevalence of PD among the Arab population in Israel is considered low and comparable to that reported in other Arab countries.

Impact of new medical technologies on health expenditures in Israel 2000-07.

PubMed

Rabinovich, Mordechai; Wood, Francis; Shemer, Joshua

2007-01-01

The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of new medical technologies on public healthcare expenditures in Israel over the period 2000-07. For each year, government estimates for the costs of new technologies recommended as high-priority for public funding were summarized. The ratio of projected costs of these technologies to total public healthcare expenditures was calculated and compared with actual governmental budget allocations for new technologies. Funding all new high-priority medical technologies would have increased healthcare expenditures by 2.1 percent per year. Government allocations for new technologies raised expenditures by 1.0 percent per year. New medical technologies significantly increase healthcare expenditures in Israel. Budgetary constraints have reduced their actual impact by 52 percent. This study indicates the need for an annual addition of 2 percent to public healthcare budget for funding new high-priority technologies.

Internet Diffusion and Adoption within Arab-Palestinian Society in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ganayem, Asmaa N.

2012-01-01

This study aims to explore the nature of Internet access and use within Arab-Palestinian society in Israel. The research focuses on two points: (i) examining the pace of Internet growth during the last decade and studying the nature of the digital gaps within the studied society in a specific time, (ii) studying the extend of the effect of…

Lives of Quality in the Face of Challenge in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Neikrug, S.; Roth, D.; Judes, J.

2011-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe and analyse the quality of life of Israeli families raising a child with a disability while challenged with all the usual demands of family life. Methods: Respondents were main caregivers of 103 children with disability receiving services at Beit Issie Shapiro, a service agency in Israel. The…

The Politics of Mourning in Cyprus and Israel: Educational Implications

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zembylas, Michalinos; Bekerman, Zvi; Haj-Yahia, Muhammad M.; Schaade, Nader

2010-01-01

This paper suggests the need for a critical analysis of the nationalization of mourning and its educational implications, especially in conflict-ridden areas. Our thoughts are grounded in a comparative study on mourning that has been conducted as part of our long-standing ethnographic research in schools in Cyprus and Israel during the last 10…

View southeast to Canterbury Road (Route 169) showing the Israel ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

View southeast to Canterbury Road (Route 169) showing the Israel Putnam Memorial - Brooklyn Green, North Green, South Green, & West Green, parts of Brown Road, Canterbury Road (Route 169), Hartford Road (Route 6), Hyde Road, Pomfret Road (Route 169), Prince Hill Road, Providence Road (Route 6), Wauregan Road (Routes 169 & 205), & Wolf Den Road, Brooklyn, Windham County, CT

Political Graffiti on the West Bank Wall in Israel/Palestine

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olberg, Steven T.

2011-01-01

Great strife has plagued the Middle East for decades. Israel and the Occupied Territories of the West Bank of Palestine' have been battling over the land they both claim as holy. Regional threats of war loom and increasingly violent rhetoric has been exchanged regarding the claims to holy sites, land, olives, water, and other natural resources in…

Radiocesium body burdens in immigrants to Israel from areas of the Ukraine, Belarus and Russia near Chernobyl

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Quastel, M.R.; Polyak, S.; Kramer, G.H.

1995-07-01

Of the 500,000 immigrants from the former Soviet Union who came to Israel during 1990-1993, about 100,000 are estimated to have come from radiocontaminated areas near Chernobyl. These people were subject to chronic uptake of environmental radiocesium over protracted periods. During October-November 1991, a joint Israeli-Canadian investigation measured radiocesium body burdens in immigrants to Israel from the Ukraine, Belarus, and the southern Russian republic in order to provide factual information on radiocesium levels to concerned immigrants and to relate the body burdens to the geographic area of residence before coming to Israel. Assessments were made of {sup 137}Cs body burdensmore » in 1,228 volunteer men, women, and children. These measurements were accompanied by medical assessments based on clinical histories and examinations. Radiocesium levels were strongly dependent on the duration of residence in Israel, with the highest levels being found in the most recent immigrants. The maximum level, extrapolated back to the time of leaving the former Soviet Union, was estimated to be about 0.83 kBq (10.3 Bp kg{sup -1}). Of the most recent immigrant from the Kiev region (<101 days in Israel), only 15% had back extrapolated body burdens >50 Bq, whereas 53% of those coming from Gomel and other towns in the contaminated zones (>3.7 x 10{sup 10} Bq km{sup -2} of radiocesium) had detectable levels >50 Bq. People coming from the latter region had significantly higher body burdens as compared to those from the former, in accordance with the higher degree of ground radiocesium contamination reported for the latter region. Women and children showed considerably lower total radiocesium content in comparison to men. All radiocesium body burdens at the time of measurement were too low to be of health concern. 19 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.« less

Trends in the incidence and causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in children from Israel.

PubMed

Mezer, Eedy; Chetrit, Angela; Kalter-Leibovici, Ofra; Kinori, Michael; Ben-Zion, Itay; Wygnanski-Jaffe, Tamara

2015-06-01

To describe trends in the incidence and causes of legal childhood blindness in Israel, one of the few countries worldwide that maintain a national registry of the blind. We performed a historical cohort study of annual reports of the National Registry of the Blind (NRB) between 1999 and 2013. All data regarding demographic information, year of registration and cause of blindness of children 0-18 years of age registered for blind certification were obtained from the annual reports of the NRB. Causes of legal blindness analyzed were optic atrophy, retinitis pigmentosa, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), albinism, other retinal disorders, cataract, and glaucoma. The main outcome measure was the incidence of new cases of certified legal blindness. The incidence of newly registered legally blind children in Israel almost halved from 7.7 per 100,000 in 1999 to 3.1 per 100,000 in 2013. The decline was mainly attributable to a decreased incidence of blindness resulting from retinitis pigmentosa and ROP. The incidence of registered cases due to cerebral visual impairment increased. During the past decade the incidence of severe childhood visual impairment and blindness declined in Israel. A continuous decline in consanguineous marriages among the Jewish and Arab populations in Israel may have contributed to the decrease in the rate of vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa in children. Copyright © 2015 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of artificial settlement plate materials and methods of deployment on the sessile epibenthic community development in a tropical environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Field, S. N.; Glassom, D.; Bythell, J.

2007-06-01

The choice of substrata and the methods of deployment in analyses of settlement in benthic communities are often driven by the cost of materials and their local availability, and comparisons are often made between studies using different methodologies. The effects of varying artificial substratum, size of replicates and method of deployment were determined on a shallow reef in Eilat, Israel, while the effect of size of replicates was also investigated on a shallow reef in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. When statistical power was high enough, that is, when sufficient numbers of settlers were recorded, significant differences were found between materials used, tile size and methods of deployment. Significant differences were detected in total coral settlement rates and for the two dominant taxonomic groups, acroporids and pocilloporids. Standardisation of tile materials, dimensions, and method of deployment is needed for comparison between coral and other epibiont settlement studies. However, a greater understanding of the effects of these experimental variables on settlement processes may enable retrospective comparisons between studies utilising a range of materials and methods.

The Assessment of Organisational Climate in Bedouin Arab Schools in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abu-Saad, Ismael

1995-01-01

Summarizes results of a study designed to identify organizational climate factors in Israel's 29 Bedouin Arab elementary schools and to explore their relation to certain teacher and school-level variables, including sex, educational level, tenure, teachers' origin, school type, and school size. The most important organizational climate factor was…

The Evaluation of a Pullout Program for Gifted Children in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rosemarin, Shoshana

2001-01-01

Students, peers, teachers, principals, and parents (total N=180) responded to a questionnaire concerning a pullout program for gifted students in Israel. The questionnaire focused on the identification of the gifted, the level of parent involvement, teaching styles in the program, problems related to separation from home schools, relationships…

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in an American Adolescent Returning From Israel.

PubMed

Ganjaei, Kimia G; Lawton, Kira; Gaur, Sunanda

2018-06-06

We present here the case of a healthy 16-year-old American girl who returned from an organized trip to Israel with cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major; the infection was treated successfully with paromomycin-gentamicin ointment. She was initially misdiagnosed with staphylococcal and pseudomonal cellulitis. Although cutaneous leishmaniasis is seen only rarely in the United States, it should be considered when diagnosing new skin lesions after travel to affected countries.

Refractive surgery in Israel Defense Forces recruits.

PubMed

Horowitz, Josepha; Mezer, Eedy; Shochat, Tzippora; Mandel, Yossi; Buckman, Gila; Sasson, Adi; Geyer, Orna

2008-02-01

To determine the prevalence of refractive surgery history in recruits for military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) between 1998 to 2005 and to evaluate the effect of surgery on the recruits' fitness to serve in combat units. Surgeon General's HQ, Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces. The computerized medical records of all ametropic Israeli army inductees were reviewed. They included spectacle-wearing, contact lens-wearing, and post refractive-surgery individuals who were examined in the recruitment office before their compulsory military service. The extracted data from the personal files consisted of the assignment to combat units of those who had refractive surgery and those who wore corrective eyewear and the first and last military position of all ametropic recruits who were assigned to combat units. Five hundred ninety-seven inductees (513 men, 84 women) had refractive surgery before their military service during the study period. The prevalence of recruits who had refractive surgery increased from 0.8/1000 ametropes in 1998 to 4.9/1000 ametropes in 2005. Significantly more recruits who had surgery (73.5%) than recruits who wore corrective eyewear were assigned to combat units (P<.001). The dropout rate from combat units of the former was significantly lower than that of the latter (13.1% versus 29.2%) (P<.001). More corrective eyewear users had refractive surgery before their IDF military service, and relatively more of them applied for combat duty. The high percentage of recruits who had refractive surgery who serve uninterruptedly in combat units indicates that the procedure has no deleterious effect on the recruits' fitness.

Barriers to contraceptive careseeking: the experience of Eritrean asylum-seeking women in Israel.

PubMed

Gebreyesus, Tsega; Gottlieb, Nora; Sultan, Zebib; Ghebrezghiabher, Habtom Mehari; Tol, Wietse; Winch, Peter J; Davidovitch, Nadav; Surkan, Pamela J

2017-12-28

In recent years, there has been a mass migration of Eritreans (many seeking political asylum) into Israel after precarious irregular movement across international borders. This study qualitatively explores the structural barriers to family planning (i.e. contraceptive services) for Eritrean women in Israel that are rooted in their temporary legal status and the patchwork of family planning services. From December 2012 to September 2013, we interviewed 25 key informants (NGO workers, researchers, Eritrean community activists, International NGO representatives and Ministry of Health officials) and 12 Eritrean asylum seekers. We also conducted 8 focus groups with Eritrean asylum seekers. Data were analyzed using both inductive and deductive coding. We identified 7 main barriers to accessing family planning services: (1) distance to health facilities; (2) limited healthcare resources; (3) fragmentation of the healthcare system; (4) cost of contraceptive services; (5) low standard of care in private clinics; (6) discrimination; and (7) language barriers. The political, economic and social marginalization of Eritrean asylum-seeking women in Israel creates structural barriers to family planning services. Their marginalization complicates providers' efforts (NGO and governmental) to provide them with comprehensive healthcare, and hinders their ability to control their sexual and reproductive health. Failure to act on this evidence may perpetuate the pattern of unwanted pregnancies and social and economic disparities in this population.

Agri-Environmental Policy Measures in Israel: The Potential of Using Market-Oriented Instruments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amdur, Liron; Bertke, Elke; Freese, Jan; Marggraf, Rainer

2011-05-01

This paper examines the possibilities of developing agri-environmental policy measures in Israel, focusing on market-oriented instruments. A conceptual framework for developing agri-environmental policy measures is presented, first in very broad lines (mandatory regulations, economic instruments and advisory measures) and subsequently focusing on economic instruments, and specifically, on market-oriented ones. Two criteria of choice between the measures are suggested: their contribution to improving the effectiveness of the policy; and the feasibility of their implementation. This is the framework used for analyzing agri-environmental measures in Israel. Israel currently implements a mix of mandatory regulations, economic instruments and advisory measures to promote the agri-environment. The use of additional economic instruments may improve the effectiveness of the policy. When comparing the effectiveness of various economic measures, we found that the feasibility of implementation of market-oriented instruments is greater, due to the Israeli public's preference for strengthening market orientation in the agricultural sector. Four market-oriented instruments were practiced in a pilot project conducted in an Israeli rural area. We found that in this case study, the institutional feasibility and acceptance by stakeholders were the major parameters influencing the implementation of the market-oriented instruments, whereas the instruments' contribution to enhancing the ecological or economic effectiveness were hardly considered by the stakeholders as arguments in favor of their use.

Incidence of diabetes mellitus in various population groups in Israel (1989 and 1990).

PubMed

Laron, Z; Mansour, T; Slepon, R; Karp, M; Shohat, T

1994-10-01

A prospective survey of all newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) children and adolescents aged 0-17 years in Israel was conducted for the years 1989 and 1990. All diabetic clinics in Israel treating young diabetics were contacted and they returned written reports to us. Each clinic was also visited regularly by a member of the team who reviewed the individual charts to obtain data on population origin as well as medical and demographic data. A total of 187 patients were identified (164 Jews and 23 Arabs), giving a total incidence rate of 5.46/10(5). Analysis of the incidence rates by population groups showed that Arabs and Jews originating in Asia had the lowest incidence (2.77 and 4.58/10(5) respectively), followed by Jews whose fathers were born in Israel (5.61/10(5)). The highest incidence was registered for Jews originating from Europe and North America (9.34/10(5)). The female-to-male preponderance ratio was higher in the Jews originating in Asia (2.1) than in Jews originating in Europe and North America (1.2). Comparing the present data with a survey performed for the years 1975-80 we found a statistically significant increase in incidence in all population groups. Our findings strongly suggest an influence of genetic factors on the incidence of childhood IDDM.

Agri-environmental policy measures in Israel: the potential of using market-oriented instruments.

PubMed

Amdur, Liron; Bertke, Elke; Freese, Jan; Marggraf, Rainer

2011-05-01

This paper examines the possibilities of developing agri-environmental policy measures in Israel, focusing on market-oriented instruments. A conceptual framework for developing agri-environmental policy measures is presented, first in very broad lines (mandatory regulations, economic instruments and advisory measures) and subsequently focusing on economic instruments, and specifically, on market-oriented ones. Two criteria of choice between the measures are suggested: their contribution to improving the effectiveness of the policy; and the feasibility of their implementation. This is the framework used for analyzing agri-environmental measures in Israel. Israel currently implements a mix of mandatory regulations, economic instruments and advisory measures to promote the agri-environment. The use of additional economic instruments may improve the effectiveness of the policy. When comparing the effectiveness of various economic measures, we found that the feasibility of implementation of market-oriented instruments is greater, due to the Israeli public's preference for strengthening market orientation in the agricultural sector. Four market-oriented instruments were practiced in a pilot project conducted in an Israeli rural area. We found that in this case study, the institutional feasibility and acceptance by stakeholders were the major parameters influencing the implementation of the market-oriented instruments, whereas the instruments' contribution to enhancing the ecological or economic effectiveness were hardly considered by the stakeholders as arguments in favor of their use.

Patterns of globalized reproduction: Egg cells regulation in Israel and Austria

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Since the successful introduction of in vitro fertilization in 1978, medically assisted reproduction (MAR) has proliferated in multiple clinical innovations. Consequently, egg cells have become an object of demand for both infertility treatment and stem cell research, and this raises complex legal, ethical, social and economic issues. In this paper we compare how the procurement and use of human egg cells is regulated in two countries: Israel and Austria. Israel is known for its scientific leadership, generous public funding, high utilization and liberal regulation of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Austria lies at the other extreme of the regulatory spectrum in terms of restrictions on reproductive interventions. In both countries, however, there is a constant increase in the use of the technology, and recent legal developments make egg cells more accessible. Also, in both countries the scarcity of egg cells in concert with the rising demand for donations has led to the emergence of cross-border markets and global 'reproductive tourism' practices. In Israel, in particular, a scandal known as the 'eggs affair' was followed by regulation that allowed egg cell donations from outside the country under certain conditions. Cross-border markets are developed by medical entrepreneurs, driven by global economic gaps, made possible by trans-national regulatory lacunae and find expression as consumer demand. The transnational practice of egg cell donations indicates the emergence of a global public health issue, but there is a general lack of medical and epidemiological data on its efficacy and safety. We conclude that there is need for harmonisation of domestic laws and formulation of new instruments for international governance. PMID:22913734

Human herpesvirus 8 infection among various population groups in southern Israel.

PubMed

Margalith, Miriam; Chatlynne, Louise G; Fuchs, Efrat; Owen, Carole; Lee, Cheng-Rei Ruth; Yermiyahu, Tikva; Whitman, James E; Ablashi, Dharam V

2003-12-15

To compare the prevalence of antibodies to human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) or Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus among Israeli and Ethiopian subjects. Serum samples were obtained from 98 Israeli Jewish students aged 18-30 years, 100 HIV-1-seronegative Ethiopian immigrants to Israel of the same age, and 100 HIV-1-seronegative Ethiopian children 1-12 years old upon their arrival in southern Israel. Plasma samples were obtained from 3 hospitalized patients with multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) as positive controls. All serum samples were tested for antibodies to both latent and lytic antigens. Antibodies to the lytic antigens and the latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) of HHV-8 were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and by immunofluorescence assay. HHV-8 DNA from serum or plasma samples was detected by polymerase chain reaction analysis. Antibodies to HHV-8 LANA were detected in 2.9% of the Israeli subjects aged 18-30 years and in 26% of the Ethiopian subjects from both age groups tested. Antibodies to the lytic antigens were detected in all 3 MCD patients, in 4% of the Ethiopian children, and in 2% of the 18- to 30-year-old Ethiopians. No antibodies to the lytic antigens were detected in the Israeli students. HHV-8 DNA was detected in all 3 MCD patients and in 2 of 4 of the Ethiopian children positive for the lytic antigens. HHV-8 is highly prevalent in Ethiopian immigrants to Israel as compared with Israeli students. Antibodies to HHV-8 in Ethiopia are acquired before puberty. The results of this study indicate the association of HHV-8 with MCD, as has been documented by many other researchers.

Patterns of globalized reproduction: Egg cells regulation in Israel and Austria.

PubMed

Shalev, Carmel; Werner-Felmayer, Gabriele

2012-04-18

Since the successful introduction of in vitro fertilization in 1978, medically assisted reproduction (MAR) has proliferated in multiple clinical innovations. Consequently, egg cells have become an object of demand for both infertility treatment and stem cell research, and this raises complex legal, ethical, social and economic issues.In this paper we compare how the procurement and use of human egg cells is regulated in two countries: Israel and Austria. Israel is known for its scientific leadership, generous public funding, high utilization and liberal regulation of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Austria lies at the other extreme of the regulatory spectrum in terms of restrictions on reproductive interventions.In both countries, however, there is a constant increase in the use of the technology, and recent legal developments make egg cells more accessible. Also, in both countries the scarcity of egg cells in concert with the rising demand for donations has led to the emergence of cross-border markets and global 'reproductive tourism' practices. In Israel, in particular, a scandal known as the 'eggs affair' was followed by regulation that allowed egg cell donations from outside the country under certain conditions.Cross-border markets are developed by medical entrepreneurs, driven by global economic gaps, made possible by trans-national regulatory lacunae and find expression as consumer demand. The transnational practice of egg cell donations indicates the emergence of a global public health issue, but there is a general lack of medical and epidemiological data on its efficacy and safety. We conclude that there is need for harmonisation of domestic laws and formulation of new instruments for international governance.

Same-sex sexual attraction, behavior, and practices of Jewish men in Israel and the association with HIV prevalence.

PubMed

Mor, Zohar; Davidovich, Udi

2016-01-01

In order to efficiently direct efforts and resources required for the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Israel, it is necessary to define their particular behaviors, estimate their size, and asses the HIV-burden. This cross-sectional study included a sub-sample from a random representative National study performed in Israel, which included Jewish males aged 18-44 who completed online anonymous questionnaires regarding their sexual attraction and practices, commercial sex-work, as well as condom and substances' use. Additionally, participants were asked to identify themselves as gay, bisexual, or heterosexual. National estimates regarding prevalence of risk-behaviors and HIV-infection among MSM were based on the Statistical Abstract of Israel and the National HIV Registry, respectively. Of the total sample of 997 men, 11.9% reported lifetime male sex encounters, while 4.5% and 3.7% self-identified as gay or bisexual, respectively. The estimated population of self-identified Jewish gays/bisexuals aged 18-44 in Israel was 94,176, and in Tel-Aviv 33,839. HIV prevalence among MSM was estimated at 0.7% in Israel and 1.0% in Tel-Aviv. MSM were more likely to live in Tel-Aviv, had higher levels of education, and were scored higher on several determinants of sexual risk in comparison to those attracted to women, including early sexual debut, greater number of sexual partners, ever paid/been paid for sex, sexually coerced, and substance use. In conclusion, MSM were involved in greater risk behaviors than those who only had female sex partners. Most MSM were living in Tel-Aviv and their estimated HIV prevalence was 1.0%.

Explosion Source Location Study Using Collocated Acoustic and Seismic Networks in Israel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinsky, V.; Gitterman, Y.; Arrowsmith, S.; Ben-Horin, Y.

2013-12-01

We explore a joined analysis of seismic and infrasonic signals for improvement in automatic monitoring of small local/regional events, such as construction and quarry blasts, military chemical explosions, sonic booms, etc. using collocated seismic and infrasonic networks recently build in Israel (ISIN) in the frame of the project sponsored by the Bi-national USA-Israel Science Foundation (BSF). The general target is to create an automatic system, which will provide detection, location and identification of explosions in real-time or close-to-real time manner. At the moment the network comprises 15 stations hosting a microphone and seismometer (or accelerometer), operated by the Geophysical Institute of Israel (GII), plus two infrasonic arrays, operated by the National Data Center, Soreq: IOB in the South (Negev desert) and IMA in the North of Israel (Upper Galilee),collocated with the IMS seismic array MMAI. The study utilizes a ground-truth data-base of numerous Rotem phosphate quarry blasts, a number of controlled explosions for demolition of outdated ammunitions and experimental surface explosions for a structure protection research, at the Sayarim Military Range. A special event, comprising four military explosions in a neighboring country, that provided both strong seismic (up to 400 km) and infrasound waves (up to 300 km), is also analyzed. For all of these events the ground-truth coordinates and/or the results of seismic location by the Israel Seismic Network (ISN) have been provided. For automatic event detection and phase picking we tested the new recursive picker, based on Statistically optimal detector. The results were compared to the manual picks. Several location techniques have been tested using the ground-truth event recordings and the preliminary results obtained have been compared to the ground-truth locations: 1) a number of events have been located as intersection of azimuths estimated using the wide-band F-K analysis technique applied to the

Israel & Jordan: Paving a Path for the Future through Understanding the Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East. Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminars Abroad, 1998 (Israel and Jordan).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moore, Ilene

This curriculum project on the cultures of the Middle Eastern countries of Israel and Jordan stresses the language arts and focuses on objectives for elementary-age students to attain. The project states that children will: locate, list, identify, label, demonstrate, research, organize, compose, conference, rewrite, proofread, rewrite again,…

The seroprevalence of West Nile Virus in Israel: A nationwide cross sectional study.

PubMed

Bassal, Ravit; Shohat, Tamy; Kaufman, Zalman; Mannasse, Batya; Shinar, Eilat; Amichay, Doron; Barak, Mira; Ben-Dor, Anat; Bar Haim, Adina; Cohen, Daniel; Mendelson, Ella; Lustig, Yaniv

2017-01-01

West Nile Virus (WNV) is endemic in Israel, affecting yearly 40-160 individuals. Israel is located on a central migratory path between Africa and Eurasia and most West Nile Fever (WNF) cases reported in recent years were among residents of the coastal plain. The aim of the study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of WNV among the Israeli population and to assess correlates for WNV infection. A cross-sectional nationwide serologic survey was conducted using 3,145 serum samples collected by the national Israeli serum bank during 2011-2014, representing all age and population groups in Israel. Prevalence rates of WNV IgG antibodies were determined. Logistic regressions models were applied to assess the associations between demographic characteristics and WNV seropositivity. 350 samples were positive to WNV (11.1%; 95%CI: 10.0-12.3%). In the multivariable analysis, there was a significant association between seropositivity and the Arab population group vs. Jews and others (OR = 1.86, 95%CI: 1.37-2.52), the time lived in Israel [50-59 years vs. 0-9 years; OR = 10.80 (95%CI: 1.03-113.46) and ≥60 years vs. 0-9 years; OR = 14.00 (1.32-148.31)] residence area] Coastal Plain, Inland Plain (Shfela) and Great Rift Valley vs. Upper Galilee; OR = 2.24 (95%CI: 1.37-3.65), OR = 2.18 (95%CI: 1.18-4.03), OR = 1.90 (95%CI: 1.10-3.30), respectively [and rural vs. urban settlement (OR = 1.65, 95%CI: 1.26-2.16). People, who reside in the Coastal Plain, Inland Plain and Great Rift Valley, should be aware of the risk of contracting WNV and reduce exposure to mosquito bites, using insect repellents, and wearing protective clothing. The Ministry of Environmental Protection should be active in reducing the mosquito population by eliminating sources of standing water, a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The seroprevalence of West Nile Virus in Israel: A nationwide cross sectional study

PubMed Central

Shohat, Tamy; Kaufman, Zalman; Mannasse, Batya; Shinar, Eilat; Amichay, Doron; Barak, Mira; Ben-Dor, Anat; Bar Haim, Adina; Cohen, Daniel; Mendelson, Ella; Lustig, Yaniv

2017-01-01

West Nile Virus (WNV) is endemic in Israel, affecting yearly 40–160 individuals. Israel is located on a central migratory path between Africa and Eurasia and most West Nile Fever (WNF) cases reported in recent years were among residents of the coastal plain. The aim of the study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of WNV among the Israeli population and to assess correlates for WNV infection. A cross-sectional nationwide serologic survey was conducted using 3,145 serum samples collected by the national Israeli serum bank during 2011–2014, representing all age and population groups in Israel. Prevalence rates of WNV IgG antibodies were determined. Logistic regressions models were applied to assess the associations between demographic characteristics and WNV seropositivity. 350 samples were positive to WNV (11.1%; 95%CI: 10.0–12.3%). In the multivariable analysis, there was a significant association between seropositivity and the Arab population group vs. Jews and others (OR = 1.86, 95%CI: 1.37–2.52), the time lived in Israel [50–59 years vs. 0–9 years; OR = 10.80 (95%CI: 1.03–113.46) and ≥60 years vs. 0–9 years; OR = 14.00 (1.32–148.31)] residence area] Coastal Plain, Inland Plain (Shfela) and Great Rift Valley vs. Upper Galilee; OR = 2.24 (95%CI: 1.37–3.65), OR = 2.18 (95%CI: 1.18–4.03), OR = 1.90 (95%CI: 1.10–3.30), respectively [and rural vs. urban settlement (OR = 1.65, 95%CI: 1.26–2.16). People, who reside in the Coastal Plain, Inland Plain and Great Rift Valley, should be aware of the risk of contracting WNV and reduce exposure to mosquito bites, using insect repellents, and wearing protective clothing. The Ministry of Environmental Protection should be active in reducing the mosquito population by eliminating sources of standing water, a breeding ground for mosquitoes. PMID:28622360

Towards a Sustainable and Holistic Model of Peace Education: A Critique of Conventional Modes of Peace Education through Dialogue in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schimmel, Noam

2009-01-01

This article explores ways of improving peace education, placing emphasis on peace education programmes in Israel that use dialogue to foster mutual understanding and respect. This article offers a critical assessment of contemporary Israeli peace education initiatives, emphasizing that current peace education programmes in Israel have failed to…

Posthumous Reproduction (PHR) in Israel: Policy Rationales Versus Lay People's Concerns, a Preliminary Study.

PubMed

Hashiloni-Dolev, Yael

2015-12-01

Israeli policy concerning PHR has been decided upon in an expertocratic manner, leaving the voice of the public unheard. Based on 26 semi-structured in-depth interviews with 13 Jewish-Israeli young couples, this preliminary study provides the first empirical data regarding lay attitudes toward PHR in Israel. Findings suggest major dissimilarities between the policy and lay people's wishes and rationales. While policy is built on the "presumed wish" assumption, supposing all men living in a loving relationship wish to have their partner carry their child post-mortem, this was empirically unsupported. However, the findings suggest that many interviewees were willing to defer to their surviving spouse's wishes to have their post-mortem child, sometimes even against their own wish, indicating a support for presumed consent. Respecting the wishes of the dead, a dominant argument in the bioethical discussion in Israel and beyond, was mainly irrelevant to informants, whereas interviewees considered the future child's welfare, a concern overlooked by Israeli policy. Likewise, while posthumous grandparenthood is on the rise in Israel, it clearly contradicts the wishes of the majority of this study's informants. Nonetheless, existing policy is not expected to raise any opposition, due to the extreme liberalism of the participants and their support of reproductive autonomy.

Biostratigraphy and biocorrelation of the Late Cretaceous high productivity sequence of the Southern Tethys, Israel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashckenazi-Polivoda, Sarit; Meilijson, Aaron; Ron-Yankovich, Libby; Illner, Peter; Alsenz, Heiko; Speijer, Robert P.; Almogi-Labin, Ahuva; Feinstein, Shimon; Berner, Zsolt; Püttmann, Wilhelm; Abramovich, Sigal

2014-05-01

Organic rich deposits are common throughout Israel and the Levant region, and are a product of intensive and prolonged upwelling system that prevailed during the Late Cretaceous. In the distal Shefela Basin (central Israel) uniform lithology of organic rich carbonates locally referred as oil shale occur, unlike the distinct Si-P-C enriched sequence of the more proximal Negev basins (southern Israel). The high water column productivity and frequent oxygen deficiency caused partial to total disappearance of some index taxa used traditionally in biostratigraphy. This challenges accurate dating and correlation of the studied sequences. Here we present a new detailed chronostratigraphic framework for the high productivity sequence in Israel, based on the most updated Late Cretaceous planktic foraminiferal zonation, coupled with secondary biomarkers and regional acme events of benthic foraminifera. Lithostratigraphic boundaries and gamma ray log markers were integrated and used as tie points in our age model. The newly drilled Aderet borehole from the Shefela Basin is used as a 'type-section' for correlation with the sequences of southern Israel (M8, Saraf, Pama). Ten age intervals were determined in the studied sections ranging from the Late Coniacian Dicarinella concavata Zone to the Late Maastrichtian Pseudoguembelina hariaensis Zone. Some of the zonal subdivision could not be defined and differentiated based on the common biomarkers, due to their rareness or delayed occurrence. In these cases, they were replaced by the following secondary datum: The lowest occurrence (LO) of Rugoglobigerina rugosa and the highest occurrences (HO) of D. concavata and Marginotrunana spp. were used as alternative biomarkers for the top of D. asymetrica Zone and the base of Globotruncanita elevata Zone. The LOs of Pseudoguembelina costulata and P. excolata were used for correlating the undifferentiated Radotruncana calcarata/Globotruncanella havanensis Zones. The LO of Gublerina

Paths to Empowerment. Ten Years of Early Childhood Work in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paz, Ruth

In this book, Bernard van Leer Foundation programs in Israel that combined early childhood education and community development approaches across a 10-year period are described. Chapter (1) provide an introduction; (2) discuss the evolution of this combined approach, its theoretical roots in the separate disciplines of early childhood education and…

A Private Matter? Religious Education and Democracy in Indonesia and Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Künkler, Mirjam; Lerner, Hanna

2016-01-01

The article examines state-supported religious education and its consequences for civic attitudes in Indonesia and Israel, two democracies that grant religion a prominent place in the public sphere, particularly in education. The comparison reveals that while in Indonesia the state was able to gradually introduce a secular curriculum in religious…

Teaching the Land of Israel as Civic Education: A Historical Exploration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohen, Aviv

2018-01-01

Guided by the assumption that geography teaching is connected to nationalism and civic education, this study focused on the manifestation of different citizenship conceptions in the teaching of the land of Israel as implemented in the Israeli educational system. This historical content analysis of Israeli curricula resulted in a division into…

Relative sea level changes during the Cretaceous in Israel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Flexer, A.; Rosenfeld, A.; Lipson-Benitah, S.

1986-11-01

Detailed lithologic, microfaunal, and biometric investigations, using relative abundances, diversity indexes, and duration charts of ostracods and foraminifera, allowed the recognition of sea level changes during the Cretaceous of Israel. Three major transgressive-regressive sedimentation cycles occur on the northwest margins of the Arabian craton. These cycles are the Neocomian-Aptian, which is mostly terrigenous sediments; the Albian-Turonian, which is basin marls and platform carbonates; and the Senonian, which is uniform marly chalks. The cycles are separated by two major regional unconformities, the Aptian-Albian and Turonian-Coniacian boundaries. The sedimentary cycles are related to regional tectonic and volcanic events and eustatic changes. Themore » paleodepth curve illustrates the gradual sea level rise, reaching its maximum during the Late Cretaceous, with conspicuous advances during the late Aptian, late Albian-Cenomanian, early Turonian, early Santonian, and early Campanian. Major lowstands occur at the Aptian-Albian, Cenomanian-Turonian, Turonian-Coniacian, and Campanian-Maastrichtian boundaries. This model for Israel agrees well with other regional and global sea level fluctuations. Four anoxic events (black shales) accompanying transgressions correspond to the Cretaceous oceanic record. They hypothesize the presence of mature oil shales in the present-day eastern Mediterranean basin close to allochthonous reef blocks detached from the Cretaceous platform. 11 figures.« less

Thirty years of family medicine publications in Israel (1975-2004): what, where, and how much?

PubMed

Pshetizky, Y; Tandeter, H; Tabenkin, H; Vinker, S; Lahad, A; Karkabi, K; Kitai, E; Hermoni, D; Shvartzman, P

2009-01-01

Departments of family medicine in Israel were established in the 1970s. Until now, little or no effort has been made to characterize the productivity of Israeli board-certified family medicine physicians in publishing peer-reviewed scientific articles. Publications were identified by 2 methods. First, a PubMed search by names of current and past faculty from all the departments of family medicine in Israel (1975-2004). Secondly, all of the departments in Israel forwarded a list of all publications by their faculty (including those that do not appear in Medline). The abstracts of all publications were extracted and were separately and blindly evaluated by 2 reviewers. Publications were classified according to Medline citation, language, journal impact factor, and publication type. A total of 1165 publications were identified and analyzed. More than half of the articles were published in the last 10 years. Seventy-two percent were cited in Medline. Publications in English encompassed 64.7% of the publications, Hebrew 34.6%, and 0.7% other. Approximately 6% of the articles were published in journals with impact factor > or =3, with research articles accounting for 46.9%. The publication output of family medicine in Israel averaged 85.4 publications per 1000 family medicine physicians per year. Almost 70% of the articles were published in non-family medicine journals. Academically affiliated, board-certified family medicine physicians published at higher rates, averaging 334.3 per 1000 academic family medicine physicians per year (data available for 2000-2004 only). Publishing and research are important to the development of family medicine as an academic profession, in which Israeli family physicians show significant productivity.

Prevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Antibodies, Israel, 2009–2010

PubMed Central

Bassal, Ravit; Michaeli, Michal; Wax, Marina; Ram, Daniela; Cohen-Ezra, Oranit; Cohen, Dani; Mendelson, Ella; Ben-Ari, Ziv; Shohat, Tamy

2015-01-01

We investigated prevalence of hepatitis E virus in a sample of the population of Israel. The overall seroprevalence of antibodies to the virus was 10.6% (95% CI 8.4%–13.0%); age-adjusted prevalence was 7.6%. Seropositivity was associated with age, Arab ethnicity, low socioeconomic status, and birth in Africa, Asia, or the former Soviet Union. PMID:25811302

OHOLO Conference (36th): Multidisciplinary Approaches to Cholinesterase Functions Held in Eilat, Israel on April 6 - 10, 1992.

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-04-10

Acetylcholinesterase in Mosquitoes. Short oral presentation A23.- Roshchina, V.V. - Plant Cholinesterases. A24.- Seidman Shlomo, Revital Ben-Aziz Aloya, Yael ...Hermona Soreq - Differential Transcriptional Control of Cholinesterase Genes in Developing Megakaryocytes. Short oral presentation B13.- Loewenstein Yael ...Against Organophos- phate Poisoning. B20.- Richter ED., I. Orun, J. Ronen , WQ Lu, Y. Yodfat, F. Grauer, J. Marzouk, M. Gordon - Cholinesterase Revisited

"It's Every Family's Dream": Choice of a Medical Career Among the Arab Minority in Israel.

PubMed

Popper-Giveon, Ariela; Keshet, Yael

2016-10-01

Application to medical studies and the choice of medicine as a career are influenced by many factors, some internal (academic ability, intellectual curiosity, interests) and some external (parental pressure, peer pressure, teacher and school expectations). Ethnicity plays a role in motivational orientation and belonging to an ethnic minority group may influence both internal and external motives and priorities in choosing medicine as a career. In this article, we present a qualitative study of the motives that impel Arab physicians in Israel to choose a medical career. As a theoretical framework, we apply self-determination theory (SDT) (Ryan and Deci in Am Psychol 55:68-78, 2000), consisting of three principal categories situated along a continuum: Amotivation, extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation. We show that extrinsic motivation is dominant among Arab physicians in Israel, demonstrating specifically the unique political context and cultural characteristics of Arab society in Israel. These findings, and the attention to the unique motivations of people from different ethnic minority groups who choose medical career, may increase the number of physicians from minority groups, a step known to decrease health gaps in multi-cultural contexts.

In search of the saddiq: visitational dreams among Moroccan Jews in Israel.

PubMed

Bilu, Y; Abramovitch, H

1985-02-01

Folk veneration of saints (hagiolatry) plays a major role in the lives of many Moroccan Jews living in Israel and constitutes a basic ingredient of their distinctive ethnic identity. In this context, pilgrimages to the saint's tomb and visitational dreams, in which he appears in person or in some symbolic guise, are related phenomena through which the linkage to the saint is maintained and his blessing is granted to his adherents. This paper is concerned with visitational dreams collected among Moroccan Jews in a major pilgrimage center in northern Israel. An attempt is made to show how personal concerns of the dreamers are mediated through the culturally shared idiom of the saint. We discuss the basic structure of visitational dreams, the major life problems conveyed by them (drawing on illustrations from the dream collection), their therapeutic qualities and their significance in the framework of the pilgrimage to the saint's sanctuary.

Coming of age: health-care challenges of an ageing population in Israel.

PubMed

Dwolatzky, Tzvi; Brodsky, Jenny; Azaiza, Faisal; Clarfield, A Mark; Jacobs, Jeremy M; Litwin, Howard

2017-06-24

Although Israel is still young in years, with relatively high birth rates and older people (individuals aged 65 years or older) constituting only about 11% of its population, the absolute number of older people is growing rapidly. Life expectancy is high, and increasing numbers of people are living to advanced old age (older than 85 years). A wide spectrum of geriatric care is provided within a universal system providing health services to all citizens. Community and institutional care is available, and many innovative programmes are being developed. The unique demographic characteristics of the ageing society in Israel reflect cultural and multiethnic diversity, in addition to a high rate of immigration of older people. To meet the growing challenges, address disparities, and search for innovation will require planning and development of adequate services at the highest level. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pluralist social constraints on the development of a health care system: the case of Israel.

PubMed

Palley, H A; Yishai, Y; Ever-Hadani, P

1983-01-01

The effectiveness of Israel's health care system is hindered by pluralism, in terms both of its many separate health service institutions and of the particularism of those institutions. Although the health care system provides modern health care to a widely insured population, it does so inefficiently and at unnecessary expense. The lack of vertical and horizontal integration of the health care system has led to problems of fragmentation, duplication, and lack of coordination of services. Because of its limited resources, Israel must work to surmount this pluralism and achieve integrated planning if it is to succeed in providing the efficient and cost-effective care its population needs.

Genetic Analysis of Israel Acute Paralysis Virus: Distinct Clusters Are Circulating in the United States▿

PubMed Central

Palacios, G.; Hui, J.; Quan, P. L.; Kalkstein, A.; Honkavuori, K. S.; Bussetti, A. V.; Conlan, S.; Evans, J.; Chen, Y. P.; vanEngelsdorp, D.; Efrat, H.; Pettis, J.; Cox-Foster, D.; Holmes, E. C.; Briese, T.; Lipkin, W. I.

2008-01-01

Israel acute paralysis virus (IAPV) is associated with colony collapse disorder of honey bees. Nonetheless, its role in the pathogenesis of the disorder and its geographic distribution are unclear. Here, we report phylogenetic analysis of IAPV obtained from bees in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Israel and the establishment of diagnostic real-time PCR assays for IAPV detection. Our data indicate the existence of at least three distinct IAPV lineages, two of them circulating in the United States. Analysis of representatives from each proposed lineage suggested the possibility of recombination events and revealed differences in coding sequences that may have implications for virulence. PMID:18434396

German-Israeli Relations: Security of Israel--Reason of State?

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-01

the sale of submarines which the preceding government had agreed upon.23 When Chancellor Angela Merkel took office in 2005 she made the relationship...authentic conviction of the Chancellor. No Chancellor ever had as much freedom of action in dealing with Israel as Angela Merkel . Since her Knesset speech...Palestinian issue from the Iranians, and the Palestinians not to become hostages of an Iran conflict. Angela Merkel would have more leeway here, if she wanted

Sympatric speciation of spiny mice, Acomys, unfolded transcriptomically at Evolution Canyon, Israel

PubMed Central

Li, Kexin; Wang, Huihua; Cai, Zhenyuan; Wang, Liuyang; Xu, Qinqin; Lövy, Matěj; Wang, Zhenlong; Nevo, Eviatar

2016-01-01

Spiny mice, Acomys cahirinus, colonized Israel 30,000 y ago from dry tropical Africa and inhabited rocky habitats across Israel. Earlier, we had shown by mtDNA that A. cahirinus incipiently sympatrically speciates at Evolution Canyon I (EC I) in Mount Carmel, Israel because of microclimatic interslope divergence. The EC I microsite consists of a dry and hot savannoid “African” slope (AS) and an abutting humid and cool-forested “European” slope (ES). Here, we substantiate incipient SS in A. cahirinus at EC I based on the entire transcriptome, showing that multiple slope-specific adaptive complexes across the transcriptome result in two divergent clusters. Tajima’s D distribution of the abutting Acomys interslope populations shows that the ES population is under stronger positive selection, whereas the AS population is under balancing selection, harboring higher genetic polymorphisms. Considerable sites of the two populations were differentiated with a coefficient of FST = 0.25–0.75. Remarkably, 24 and 37 putatively adaptively selected genes were detected in the AS and ES populations, respectively. The AS genes involved DNA repair, growth arrest, neural cell differentiation, and heat-shock proteins adapting to the local AS stresses of high solar radiation, drought, and high temperature. In contrast, the ES genes involved high ATP associated with energetics stress. The sharp ecological interslope divergence led to strong slope-specific selection overruling the interslope gene flow. Earlier tests suggested slope-specific mate choice. Habitat interslope-adaptive selection across the transcriptome and mate choice substantiate sympatric speciation (SS), suggesting its prevalence at EC I and commonality in nature. PMID:27370801

Gender Differences in Mathematics among Jewish and Arab Youth in Israel.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mittelberg, David; Ari, Lilach Lev

1997-01-01

Discusses gender differences in mathematics among Jewish and Arab youth in Israel by presenting research done in four Jewish and two Israeli Arab coeducational schools. Examines the factors that have influenced the degree to which high school students in the Jewish and Arab sectors anticipate making use of mathematically based professions in the…

University-School Partnerships: Student Teachers' Evaluations across Nine Partnerships in Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maskit, Ditza; Orland-Barak, Lily

2015-01-01

This article presents and discusses the findings of a study which focused on student teachers' evaluation of their practice teaching in the context of a university-school partnership model integrated for the first time into the academic programme of a university teacher education department in Israel. A questionnaire was developed to examine the…

Perspectives of Palestinian and Jewish Parents in Israel on Bilingual Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nasser, Ilham

2011-01-01

This article is based on a study conducted at the first Arabic and Hebrew bilingual school in Israel (Neve-Shalom/Wahat-Alsalam--NSWAS). The article focuses on Jewish as well as Palestinian parents' perspectives and responses to survey questions and interviews conducted at the school. Parents named reasons for choosing the school, satisfaction…

Teachers' Classroom Discipline and Student Misbehavior in Australia, China and Israel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lewis, R.; Romi, S.; Qui, X.; Katz, Y.J.

2005-01-01

This paper reports students' perceptions of the classroom discipline strategies utilized in Australia, China and Israel. It examines data from 748 teachers and 5521 students to identify how teachers' use of various disciplinary strategies, and the extent to which these relate to student misbehavior, differ in three national settings. In general,…