Explaining the wage gap: Heckscher-Ohlin, economic geography and services availability

In the debate on globalisation and wage inequality Heckscher-Ohlin, economic geography and services availability theory has featured prominently. However, a neglected mechanism by which globalisation affects labour market outcomes is through the in-creased tradability of producer services. By integrating elements of Heck-scher- Ohlin theory, the economic geography literature and the literature on producer services linkages, we show that the impact of globalisation on the relative wages is a sophisticated combination of the effects that play a key-role in these models. The most important result we find is that the fall in transportation costs of producer services might indeed have caused the sharp increase in wage inequality. (JEL F1, R1)

Knowledge diffusion from FDI and intellectual property rights

We study the extent to which a country's strength of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection mediates knowledge spillovers from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Following the opposing views in the IPR debate, we propose a negative effect of IPR strength on unintentional horizontal (intra-industry) knowledge diffusion. Using a unique firm-level dataset of large, publicly traded firms in 22 (mostly) developed countries, we find partial support for these expectations. Strong IPR indeed reduces horizontal knowledge diffusion, while it stimulates backward (to suppliers) knowledge diffusion. Somewhat unexpectedly however, we also find that forward (to customers) knowledge diffusion decreases with IPR strength. In general, and in line with earlier literature, the results regarding backward knowledge diffusion are most robust to changes in model specification. Our results contribute to the debate regarding the desirability of strengthening national IPR systems, and suggest that local firms might indeed benefit from this through their (backward) linkages with multinationals. Additionally, our results suggest that the moderating effect of IPR strength might partly explain the inconclusive results in the FDI knowledge diffusion literature

Fixing soft margins

Non-parametric tolerance limits are employed to calculate soft margins such as advocated in Williamson's target zone proposal. In particular, the tradeoff between softness and zone width is quantified. This may be helpful in choosing appropriate margins. Furthermore, it offers policymakers a framework for reference in the case of changing exchange rate policy. The empirical applications include an evaluation of the EMS zone width. We also show that the procedures for calculating the soft margins are robust against alternative data-generating mechanisms

An electronic apparatus for early detection of changes in red cell content of blood during anaesthesia

An electronic apparatus was developed for anaesthetists to use to detect changes in red cell concentration during surgery. The mechanism is based on the relationship between the red cell content and the electrical conductivity of blood. In a pilot study of 170 blood samples, a correlation coefficient of 0,9806 was obtained between haematocrit and the instrument readings. To evaluate the instrument's performance in practice, and factors that might influence its readings, a series of 10 cases of aortic surgery were investigated. It is concluded that, although changes in electrolyte concentration, pH and temperature do affect the instrument's readings, these are insignificant compared with those of red cell content, and that the device can be used to indicate a drop in red cell concentration.S Afr Med J 1989; 76: 148-15

General parenting and mothers’ snack giving behavior to their children aged 2–7

The increasing intake of energy-dense snacks among children is one of the contributing factors to childhood overweight. To understand children's snacking habits, snack choices of parents are essential to take into account. General parenting is one of the important factors that can influence the development of healthy eating patterns and weight status among children. Therefore, this study aims to explore how the key constructs of general parenting (nurturance, structure, behavioral control, overprotection and coercive control) relate to mothers’ snack choice for their children aged 2–7 years. The Dutch version of the validated Comprehensive General Parenting Questionnaire (CGPQ) was used to assess the key constructs of general parenting. An extensive, 13-day diary study with 136 Dutch mothers was used to measure the snacks mothers provided their children aged 2–4 years and 5–7 years. For both groups of mothers in our sample, differences were found on the scores of coercive control and overprotection. No differences between the mothers were present on the key constructs behavioral control, nurturance, and structure. Results give a first indication that more mothers who scored relatively higher on coercive control provided unhealthy products, like candy and cookies, and fewer mothers provided vegetables, compared to mothers who scored lower on coercive control. A higher score on coercive control combined with a higher score on overprotection was associated with fewer mothers providing unhealthy products like cookies and candies.</p

The double [3+2] photocycloaddition reaction

One of a synthetic organic chemists‟ greatest challenges is to create step-efficient routes toward compounds with high molecular complexity. Therefore, reactions such as the meta photocycloaddition of an olefin to a benzene derivative, which provide more than one bond in a single step are of significant importance. It this remarkable reaction three new σ bonds, three new rings and up to six new stereocenters are formed simultaneously. Additional complexity can be added by tethering the two reacting partners together and this form of the reaction has found many uses in natural product synthesis. In this work a remarkable double [3+2] photocycloaddition reaction is reported that results in the formation of a complex cis, cis, cis, trans-[5, 5, 5, 5] fenestrane derivative from a simple flat aromatic acetal with two branching alkenes. During this dramatic transformation four carboncarbon bonds, five new rings and seven new stereocenters are created in a single one-pot process using only UV light. The reaction occurs in a sequential manner from the linear meta photocycloadduct, via a secondary [3+2] addition of the alkene across the cyclopropane of the adduct. In addition, an angular meta photocycloadduct also produced in the initial addition step, undergoes an alternative fragmentation-translocation photoreaction to afford a silphinene-like angular tricyclic compound. In this work the investigation of this newly discovered process is discussed via the synthesis and subsequent irradiation of a series of photosubstrates containing different functional groups in the arene-alkene tether. In addition, attempts toward the synthesis of alternative structures using the same double [3+2] photocycloaddition are reported

Performance of arthroscopic irrigation systems assessed with automatic blood detection

Biomechanical EngineeringMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin

Corruption in Privatization and Governance Regimes

(ISSN 1827-3580