Sweatshop Solutions? : Economic Ground Zero in Bangladesh and Wal-Mart’s responsibility

This document is part of a digital collection provided by the Martin P. Catherwood Library, ILR School, Cornell University, pertaining to the effects of globalization on the workplace worldwide. Special emphasis is placed on labor rights, working conditions, labor market changes, and union organizing.ilrf_Sweatshop_Solutions.pdf: 465 downloads, before Oct. 1, 2020

Coulomb blockade thermometry using a two-dimensional array of tunnel junctions

We have measured current-voltage characteristics of two-dimensional arrays of small tunnel junctions at temperatures from 1.5 K to 4.2 K. This corresponds to thermal energies larger than the charging energy. We show that 2D-arrays can be used as primary thermometers in the same way as 1D-arrays, and even have some advantages over 1D-arrays. We have carried out Monte Carlo simulations, which agree with our experimental results.Comment: 4 pages, 4 eps figures. Also available from Journal of Applied Physics (http://link.aip.org/link/?jap/86/3844

A fast, primary Coulomb blockade thermometer

We have measured the third derivative of the current-voltage characteristics, d^3I/dV^3, in a two-dimensional array of small tunnel junctions using a lock-in amplifier. We show that this derivative is zero at a voltage which scales linearly with the temperature and depends only on the temperature and natural constants, thus providing a primary thermometer. We demonstrate a measurement method which extracts the zero crossing voltage directly using a feedback circuit. This method requires only one voltage measurement, which makes it substantially faster than the original Coulomb blockade thermometry method.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures. This article has been submitted to Applied Physics Letters (http://ojps.aip.org/aplo

Bias and temperature dependence of the noise in a single electron transistor

A single electron transistor based on Al-AlO_x-Nb tunnel junctions was fabricated by shadow evaporation and in situ barrier formation. Its output current noise was measured, using a transimpedance amplifier setup, as a function of bias voltage, gain, and temperature, in the frequency range 1...300 Hz. The spot noise at 10 Hz is dominated by a gain dependent component, indicating that the main noise contribution comes from fluctuations at the input of the transistor. Deviations from ideal input charge noise behaviour are found in the form of a bias dependence of the differential charge equivalent noise, i. e. the derivative of current noise with respect to gain. The temperature dependence of this effect could indicate that heating is activating the noise sources, and that they are located inside or in the near vicinity of the junctions.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures (EPS

Toxic Uniforms: Behind the ‘Made in USA’ label

This document is part of a digital collection provided by the Martin P. Catherwood Library, ILR School, Cornell University, pertaining to the effects of globalization on the workplace worldwide. Special emphasis is placed on labor rights, working conditions, labor market changes, and union organizing.ilrf_Toxic_Uniforms.pdf: 220 downloads, before Oct. 1, 2020

Modernisation of Public Procurement - Making the public market more competitive and collusion proof?

This thesis has its focus on the interaction between competition law and the public procurement regime. Since the two systems have the same objective of the creation of an internal market it is vital that the two systems reach coherence. Despite this there is now express provision on the importance to fight anti competitive behaviour in the Public Sector Directive 2004/18/EC. On March 28th 2014 the new Public Sector Directive 2014/24/EU were published in the OJ. Prior to the modernised and new Directive the Green Paper emphasized that it is vital to avoid distortion of competition and generate the strongest possible competition on the public procurement market. The purpose with the thesis is therefore to analyse the new Public Sector Directive 2014/24/EU in order to see how the changes can create effective competition on the public market and how they can affect the tenderers’ possibility to create and sustain collusive agreements, which is prohibited under Article 101 TFEU. Competition is of essence in a system of tendering and when the tenderers engage in anti competitive behaviour it undermines the contracting authorities’ possibility to reach best value for money. The public procurement market is a risk zone for collusive agreements (bid rigging) due to various reasons. The risk factors relates to both the market structure and the public procurement process. One of the most important risk factors is that transparency permeates the entire process. Because of this bid rigging on the public market tends to be very stable and due to this the leniency programmes does not reach its full potential on the public procurement market. Therefore the contracting authorities have a decisive role in the prevention and detection of bid rigging. OECD has published guidelines on how such prevention and detection can be done. However, it is questioned whether such guidance is enough or whether there is a need of legislative instruments. Despite the importance of fighting anti competitive behaviour there is not a lot of the legislative changes in the new Directive that has as its primary purpose to prevent this kind of behaviour. However, the changes are capable of creating a more accessible market for SMEs and the barriers to entry can be lowered. This will result in more participation and the creation of effective competition, which in turn has the effect of decreasing the tenderers’ possibility to create and sustain collusive agreements. A few of the changes are minimum requirements and others are discretionary, therefore the outcome and creation of effective competition will be dependent on how the Directive is implemented in the different Member States. One of the conclusions to be drawn is that the legislator could have gone much further in its efforts to create a more pro competitive Directive on public procurement

A Geography of Injustice: Understanding and Counteracting the Reproduction of Capitalism

This thesis examines the nature of the capitalist mode of production and begins with the contention that it necessarily produces unjust outcomes do to its economic mandates and corresponding organization of social relationships. More specifically, this thesis will investigate the processes through which the capitalistic mode of production reproduces itself. An understanding of these processes allows us to situate our own lives within the system and to better understand how capitalism effects us all. Specific focus will be given to the role that space plays in the reproduction of capitalism. Understanding how space is appropriated to reproduce the capitalist system allows us the possibility to appropriate space on our own terms, to achieve our own ends and live our own lives. Finally, this thesis will propose a structure in which we can begin to move beyond, or break through, the system. A main contention is that we need not wait for a complete societal transformation, but that we can begin to create our own systems to meet our needs, and in so doing free ourselves from a system that feeds off us

Variation of the synarcual in the California Ray, Raja inornata (Elasmobranchii: Rajidae)

Seven juvenile specimens of Raja inornata were CT scanned and digitally modeled to examine the variation of synarcual morphology with changing size. The synarcual is a highly variable skeletal element across batoids with great potential for use in phylogenetic studies. Results show that as R. inornata increases in body size, the synarcual becomes more elongate and laterally compressed. Projections of the synarcual become more pronounced with increasing size as well. The synarcual of R. inornata is narrower than that of R. erinacea. There appears to be a correlation between median crest width and synarcual spine size. Also, in the context of higher-level batoid phylogenetics, the morphologically ventral position of the u-shaped lateral stay is considered primitive