INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE VERTICAL ORGANIZATION OF INDUSTRY

A model has been developed to study the interdependence between the choice of information technology and industry structure. Advances in information technology might provide incentives for a firm to specialize or focus on its core competence. However, the degree of specialization depends on the extent of industry-level specialization, which is, in turn, the result of the behavior of individual firms and their adoption of information technology favoring specialization. Emerging electronic markets and industries have been chosen as an application domain, as they would not exist without information technology.

Explaining Immigrants' Worries About Ethnic Harassment: Germany, 1986-2004

What factors shape immigrants' worries about becoming targets of ethnic harassment? This is an important question to ask, but most previous studies restricted their focus to the microlevel only. By contrast, few if any studies examined the possible macrolevel antecedents driving harassment-related worries among immigrants. This study aims to help fill this gap. Focusing on a 19-years period from 1986 to 2004 in Germany, we apply multilevel regression modeling techniques to repeated cross-sectional survey data collected among immigrants of Greek, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, and (ex-) Yugoslavian origin, linked with contextual characteristics. Our central finding is that German citizens' anti-immigrant prejudice is the key driver of longitudinal differences in immigrants' harassment-related worries. This association holds net of rival variables, such as fluctuations in media attention to ethnic harassment, as well as across all immigrant groups under study. These results bring us one important step further toward a better understanding of interethnic relations between immigrants and host society members

Demonstrating How to Best Examine Group-based Segregation: A Statistical and Conceptual Multilevel Approach

Segregation between ethnic or sociodemographic groups represents a longstanding key independent and dependent variable for the social sciences. However, researchers have only recently begun to take advantage of inferential rather than descriptive statistical techniques in order to assess various aspects of segregation. Specifically, this paper shows that the multilevel binomial response approach suggested by Leckie et al. (2012) provides a particularly flexible framework for describing and explaining segregation in ways not previously possible. Taking the index of dissimilarity (D) as an example we demonstrate how the multilevel binomial response approach helps to reduce the problem of small unit bias, allows to asses segregation at different scales and enables researchers to better understand the role of individual- and contextual-level explanatory variables in shaping segregation. To this end, we employ three case studies focusing on different manifestations of ethnic and gender segregation using survey data from urban, national and cross-national settings

Interface reconstruction in superconducting CaCuO2/SrTiO3 superlattices: A hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study

Here we report about the interface reconstruction in the recently discovered superconducting artificial superlattices based on insulating CaCuO2 and SrTiO3 blocks. Hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that the valence bands alignment prevents any electronic reconstruction by direct charge transfer between the two blocks. We demonstrate that the electrostatic built-in potential is suppressed by oxygen redistribution in the alkaline earth interface planes. By using highly oxidizing growth conditions, the oxygen coordination in the reconstructed interfaces may be increased, resulting in the hole doping of the cuprate block and thus in the appearance of superconductivity.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

High-resolution and localized parametric embodied impact calculator of PV systems

Buildings are responsible for a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. In order to decarbonize the electricity grid and reduce the environmental impact of the building stock, photovoltaic panels can be installed. However, in order to assess the environmental impact of PVs, the whole life cycle has to be considered including embodied emissions. Several options for photovoltaics exist on the market or are under development including silicon-based panels, thin films, and third generation panels. Currently, many configurations of the panels exist making it difficult to estimate the embodied impact. The goal of this paper is to close this gap by providing a parametric PV carbon calculator for designers and decision-makers. In this study, the embodied impact of different PV types and configurations is assessed. First, the life cycle inventories data and bill of quantities for different generations\u27 panel types are gathered. Second, life cycle impact assessment is performed. The results of the analysis are presented in a form of a software application allowing users to select the panel\u27s composition, e.g., frame and glass type, cell type, encapsulant, etc. The developed application will assist in understanding the impact of choices made in regards to PV systems and will support engineers and architects in the selection of the photovoltaic panels from embodied impact perspective

Mapping nitrogen heteroatoms in carbon fibres using atom probe tomography and photoelectron spectroscopy

Carbon fibres show great potential as multifunctional negative electrode for novel structural battery composites – a rechargeable electrochemical cell with structural function. The electrochemical performance of carbon materials can be enhanced with nitrogen heteroatoms, which conveniently are inherent in polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibres. However, it is not fully understood how the electrochemical performance is governed by microstructure and composition of the carbon fibres, particularly the distribution and chemical states of nitrogen heteroatoms. Here we reveal the atom-by-atom three-dimensional spatial distribution and the chemical states of nitrogen in three PAN-carbon fibre types (M60J, T800 and IMS65), using atom probe tomography (APT) and synchrotron hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES), and correlate the results to electrochemical performance. The findings pave the way for future tailoring of carbon fibre microstructure for multifunctional applications

Experimental benchmark data for Monte Carlo simulated radiation effects of gold nanoparticles. Part I: Experiment and raw data analysis

Electron emission spectra of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) after photon interaction were measured over the energy range between 50 eV and 9500 eV to provide reference data for Monte Carlo radiation-transport simulations. Experiments were performed with the HAXPES spectrometer at the PETRA III high-brilliance beamline P22 at DESY (Hamburg, Germany) for photon energies below and above each of the gold L-edges, i.e., at 11.9 keV, 12.0 keV, 13.7 keV, 13.8 keV, 14.3 keV, and 14.4 keV. The study focused on a sample with gold nanoparticles with an average diameter of 11.0 nm on a thin carbon foil. Additional measurements were performed on a sample with 5.3 nm gold nanoparticles and on reference samples of gold and carbon foils. Further measurements were made to calibrate the photon flux monitor, to characterize the transmission function of the electron spectrometer and to determine the size of the photon beam. This allowed the determination of the absolute values of the spectral particle radiance of secondary electrons per incident photon flux. The paper presents the experimental and raw data analysis procedures, reviews the data obtained for the nanoparticle samples and discusses their limitations.Comment: 18 pages, 13 Figures, 6 Tables plus 4 Supplements with altogether 14 pages, 16 figures, 2 table

Linking Data Sovereignty and Data Economy: Arising Areas of Tension

In the emerging information economy, data evolves as an essential asset and personal data in particular is used for data-driven business models. However, companies frequently leverage personal data without considering individuals’ data sovereignty. Therefore, we strive to strengthen individuals’ position in data ecosystems by combining concepts of data sovereignty and data economy. Our research design comprises an approach to design thinking iteratively generating, validating, and refining such concepts. As a result, we identified ten areas of tension that arise when linking data sovereignty and data economy. Subsequently, we propose initial solutions to resolve these tensions and thus contribute to knowledge about the development of fair data ecosystems benefiting both individuals’ sovereignty and companies’ access to data