We study the boundary value problem $-{\mathrm{d}iv\left(\right(\left|\nabla u\right|}^{p_1\left(x\right)-2}+{\left|\nabla u\right|}^{p_2\left(x\right)-2}\left)\nabla u\right)=f(x,u)$ in $\Omega$, $u=0$ on $\partial \Omega$, where $\Omega$ is a smooth bounded domain in ${ℝ}^N$. Our attention is focused on two cases when $f(x,u)=\pm (-\lambda |u{|}^{m\left(x\right)-2}u+\left|u{|}^{q\left(x\right)-2}u\right)$, where $m\left(x\right)=max\{p_1\left(x\right),p_2\left(x\right)\}$ for any $x\in \overline{\Omega }$ or $m\left(x\right)<q\left(x\right)<\frac{N·m\left(x\right)}{(N-m(x\left)\right)}$ for any $x\in \overline{\Omega }$. In the former case we show the existence of infinitely many weak solutions for any $\lambda >0$. In the latter we prove that if $\lambda$ is large enough then there exists a nontrivial weak solution. Our approach relies on the variable exponent theory of generalized Lebesgue-Sobolev spaces, combined with a ${\mathbb{Z}}_2$-symmetric version for even functionals...

In classical constitutive models such as the Navier-Stokes fluid model, and the Hookean or neo-Hookean solid models, the stress is given explicitly in terms of kinematical quantities. Models for viscoelastic and inelastic responses on the other hand are usually implicit relationships between the stress and the kinematical quantities. Another class of problems wherein it would be natural to develop implicit constitutive theories, though seldom resorted to, are models for bodies that are constrained....

The first part reviews some recent ideas and L¹-existence results for non-linear stationary equations of Boltzmann type in a bounded domain in ℝⁿ and far from global Maxwellian equilibrium. That is an area not covered by the DiPerna and P. L. Lions methods for the time-dependent Boltzmann equation from the late 1980-ies. The final part discusses the more classical perturbative case close to global equilibrium and corresponding small mean free path limits of fully non-linear stationary problems....