Gender inequality in Japan: analyzing preliminary findings from a US investment bank

Inequality occurs in every labor market, and in most nations, males expect to be paid more for producing the same work as females. This is a widely held belief in high, low context, and sophisticated cultures. This paper aims to determine the level of gender inequality at a Japanese subsidiary of a U.S. investment bank based in Japan. The research seeks to discover how women are seen and whether they are constrained in terms of equality and advancement. Semi structured interviews are used to interpret qualitative data transcribed and categorized 23 female Japanese workers’ comments. Inequality has been revealed. Despite having greater education and experience, women were seen negatively by male co-workers. The investigation also revealed a ‘glass ceiling.’ The study included 23 female interviews, not limiting generalization and transferability. Change in Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) should concentrate on increasing workplace equity and inclusion. MNEs might use dual-role women as role models. This study’s conclusions benefit researchers, employers, and Japanese employees seeking jobs in U.S. investment banks

Power to the Workers? A qualitative study of workers' experiences of a 4-day working week

The pandemic has resulted in seismic shifts to all aspects of our lives, including views concerning the organisation of work. One impact is the acceleration of workers questioning traditional life stages, of work then retirement, and what they want out of life (Cable & Gratton, 2022) As quality of life is acknowledged as a driving force for many employees leaving their current jobs (Fuller & Kerr, 2022), the implications of a four-day working week are currently being investigated (Miller, 2022). Drawing on a small-scale study at an automotive supplier, based in the North-East of England, this case study will present findings from qualitative interviews conducted with employees who are experiencing a newly established 4-day working week. From the findings presented, discussions will highlight implications of this shift in the organisation of the working week for employees across the organisation. It is intended that the findings and discussions will raise relevant, contemporary questions for the business community more generally

Generation of Vector Partially Coherent Optical Sources Using Phase-Only Spatial Light Modulators

A simple and flexible optical system for generating electromagnetic or vector partially coherent sources or beams is presented. The alternative design controls field amplitude (beam shape), coherence, and polarization using only spatial light modulators. This improvement makes the apparatus simpler to construct and significantly increases the flexibility of vector partially coherent source generators by allowing many different types of sources to be produced without changing the physical setup. The system’s layout and theoretical foundations are thoroughly discussed. The utility and flexibility of the proposed system are demonstrated by producing a vector Schell-model and non-Schell-model source. The experimental results are compared to theoretical predictions to validate the design. Lastly, design aspects, which must be considered when building a vector partially coherent source generator for a specific application, are discussed. Abstract (c) APS

Modeling Random Screens for Predefined Electromagnetic Gaussian-Schell Model Sources

In a previous paper [Opt. Express 22, 31691 (2014)] two different wave optics methodologies (phase screen and complex screen) were introduced to generate electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model sources. A numerical optimization approach based on theoretical realizability conditions was used to determine the screen parameters. In this work we describe a practical modeling approach for the two methodologies that employs a common numerical recipe for generating correlated Gaussian random sequences and establish exact relationships between the screen simulation parameters and the source parameters. Both methodologies are demonstrated in a wave-optics simulation framework for an example source. The two methodologies are found to have some differing features, for example, the phase screen method is more flexible than the complex screen in terms of the range of combinations of beam parameter values that can be modeled. This work supports numerical wave optics simulations or laboratory experiments involving electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model sources

Child Distress Expression and Regulation Behaviors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The goal of the current study was to review and meta-analyze the literature on relationships between child distress expression behaviors (e.g., cry) and three clusters of child distress regulation behaviors (disengagement of attention, parent-focused behaviors, and self-soothing) in the first three years of life. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020157505). Unique abstracts were identified through Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO (n = 13,239), and 295 studies were selected for full-text review. Studies were included if they provided data from infants or toddlers in a distress task, had distinct behavioral measures of distress expression and one of the three distress regulation clusters, and assessed the concurrent association between them. Thirty-one studies were included in the meta-analysis and rated on quality. Nine separate meta-analyses were conducted, stratified by child age (first, second, and third year) and regulation behavior clusters (disengagement of attention, parent-focused, and self-soothing). The weighted mean correlations for disengagement of attention behaviors were −0.28 (year 1), −0.44 (year 2), and −0.30 (year 3). For parent-focused behaviors, the weighted mean effects were 0.00 (year 1), 0.20 (year 2), and 0.11 (year 3). Finally, the weighted mean effects for self-soothing behaviors were −0.23 (year 1), 0.25 (year 2), and −0.10 (year 3). The second year of life showed the strongest relationships, although heterogeneity of effects was substantial across the analyses. Limitations include only analyzing concurrent relationships and lack of naturalistic distress paradigms in the literature

Synthesizing Time-evolving Partially-coherent Schell-model Sources

Time-evolving simulation of sources with partial spatial and temporal coherence is sometimes instructive or necessary to explain optical coherence effects. Yet, existing time-evolving synthesis techniques often require prohibitive amounts of computer memory. This paper discusses three methods for the synthesis of continuous or pulsed time-evolving sources with nearly arbitrary spatial and temporal coherence. One method greatly reduces computer memory requirements, making this type of synthesis more practical. The utility of all three methods is demonstrated via a modified form of Young\u27s experiment. Numerical simulation and laboratory results for time-averaged irradiance are presented and compared with theory to validate the synthesis techniques

Acidity in Vembanad Lake causes fish mortality

The sudden changes of variations in the environmental and climatic patterns in an area always cause certain undesirable and unforeseen events as well as problems. Immediately after the first monsoon rains, in the third week of June, an instance of mass mortality of fishes and clams was reported from the Vembanad Lake. The report indicated that large scale mortality of several groups of aquatic organisms were occurring mainly in the southern half of the lake. The unusual phenomena might have been caused by soil acidity. Hydrogen-ion concentration of the water showed that it was in acid range. The data revealed that the effect of pH reduction seemingly influenced the eco-system only up to the middle of the lake and coming towards the mouth of the estuary the effect appeared to have got neutralized, probably due to the regular tidal action. The reason for the persisting low pH could be that the river water input into the lake after several spells of monsoons showers has not been sufficient to flush the acids produced at the water soil interface continuing for several weeks as the monsoon this season had been weak and halting in the initial period