Gender Inequality and Trade

The paper empirically explores the international linkages between gender inequality and trade flows of a sample of 92 developed and developing countries. The focus is on comparative advantage in labour-intensive manufactured goods. The results indicate that gender wage inequality is positively associated with comparative advantage in labourintensive goods, that is, countries with a larger gender wage gap have higher exports of these goods. Also, gender inequality in labour force activity rates and educational attainment rates are negatively linked with comparative advantage in labour-intensive commodities. --Gender Inequality,Trade,Comparative Advantage

Numerical modeling of an inductively coupled plasma (ICP)

The growing industrial use of additive manufacturing technologies leads to an increased demand for high-quality metal and ceramic powder materials, which must meet strict quality requirements such as chemical purity, packing density and flowability. The heat treatment of powder particles, the so-called spheroidization, using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) technology is being used successfully to improve powder quality significantly. In order to support experimental research with the in-house built ICP torch at the Kazan National Research Technical University named after A.N. Tupolev - KAI (KNRTU-KAI), a numerical simulation model is developed using the free and open-source software platform OpenFOAM. Therefore, a two-dimensional axisymmetric modeling approach is chosen to simulate the inductively coupled plasma torch. To efficiently calculate the high-frequency electromagnetic fields (f = 3 MHz) generated by the ICP, a solver based on the vector potential formulation of the Maxwell equations and the frequency domain method is implemented using the block coupled matrix library (fvBlockMatrix.H) provided by foam-extend, which is a forked version of OpenFOAM. The electromagnetic field solver is validated using analytical solutions and then merged with the rhoPimpleFoam code, a standard flow solver in OpenFOAM, to compile a plasma solver for steady-state and transient calculations. The simulation results obtained by means of the custom-developed plasma solver have been compared with literature data for the plasma torch TEKNA-PL50 and show good agreement.Die stetig voranschreitende Entwicklung und der zunehmende Einsatz von additiven Fertigungstechnologien in der Industrie führt zu einer verstärkten Nachfrage nach hochwertigen Metall- und Keramikpulverwerkstoffen, welche strenge Qualitätsanforderungen wie chemische Reinheit, Packungsdichte und Fließfähigkeit erfüllen müssen. Die Wärmebehandlung von Metallpulverpartikeln, die sogenannte Sphäroidisierung, mit induktiv gekoppeltem Plasma (ICP) wird bereits erfolgreich eingesetzt, um die Pulverqualität signifikant zu verbessern. Um die experimentelle Forschung mit dem selbst entwickelten ICP-Brenner an der Kasaner Nationalen Technischen Forschungs-Universität (KNRTU-KAI) zu unterstützen, wird ein numerisches Simulationsmodell mit der kostenfreien Open-Source Software-Plattform OpenFOAM entwickelt. Hierzu wird ein zweidimensionaler achsensymmetrischer Modellierungsansatz für die Simulation des induktiv gekoppelten Plasmabrenners verfolgt. Um die beim ICP auftretenden hochfrequenten elektromagnetischen Felder (f = 3 MHz) effizient zu berechnen, wird dazu ein Löser auf Basis der Vektorpotentialformulierung der Maxwell-Gleichungen und der Frequenzbereich-Methode implementiert. Hierbei wird die in foam-extend, einem OpenFOAM-Entwicklungszweig, zur Verfügung stehende Blockmatrizen-Bibliothek (fvBlockMatrix.H) genutzt, um die Gleichungen gekoppelt zu lösen. Der Elektromagnetfeld-Löser wird anhand analytischer Lösungen validiert und anschließend mit dem rhoPimpleFoam Code, einem Standard-Strömungslöser von OpenFOAM, zusammengeführt. Daraus wird ein Löser kompiliert, der sowohl für die stationäre als auch transiente Berechnung des Plasmas verwendet wird. Die Simulationsergebnisse mit dem eigens entwickelten Plasma-Löser wurden mit Literaturdaten für den Plasmabrenner TEKNA-PL50 verglichen und zeigen gute Übereinstimmung

Cost-sharing in the German health care system

In Germany, cost-sharing for health care has been used as a financing mechanism since 1923. In this article, the historical development of user charges in Germany since the 1980s is presented in more detail by type of private expenditure, including direct payments, cost-sharing measures, and voluntary health insurance. This is followed by a mapping of current cost-sharing measures including a discussion of protection mechanisms and responsibility for decision-making on cost-sharing measures and a summary of national policy debates. In the final section, the results of a systematic review of the literature on the impact of cost-sharing on equity, efficiency and health outcomes in Germany are presented. -- Die Selbstbeteiligung des Patienten an den Gesundheitsversorgungskosten hat in Deutschland eine lange Tradition und geht auf das Jahr 1923 zurück. In dieser Arbeit wird die historische Entwicklung und Bedeutung von Kostenselbstbeteiligung im Gesundheitswesen seit 1980 detailliert nach Art der Gesundheitsausgaben dargestellt. Dies beinhaltet direkte Zahlungen, Kostenbeteiligung, und private Krankenversicherung. Darauf folgt eine Darstellung der derzeitigen Regelungen zur Selbstbeteiligung mit Berücksichtigung der verschiedenen Mechanismen zum Schutz vor katastrophalen Gesundheitsausgaben und der Zuständigkeit für politische und administrative Entscheidungsfindungen zur Selbstbeteiligung. Im letzten Abschnitt werden die Ergebnisse einer systematischen Literatursuche zu den Auswirkungen von Kostenbeteiligungen auf Effizienz, Gerechtigkeit und Gesundheitsstatus in Deutschland dargestellt.

The inverse cascade of magnetic helicity in magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

The nonlinear dynamics of magnetic helicity, $H^M$, which is responsible for large-scale magnetic structure formation in electrically conducting turbulent media is investigated in forced and decaying three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic turbulence. This is done with the help of high resolution direct numerical simulations and statistical closure theory. The numerically observed spectral scaling of $H^M$ is at variance with earlier work using a statistical closure model [Pouquet et al., J. Fluid Mech. \textbf{77} 321 (1976)]. By revisiting this theory a universal dynamical balance relation is found that includes effects of kinetic helicity, as well as kinetic and magnetic energy on the inverse cascade of $H^M$ and explains the above-mentioned discrepancy. Considering the result in the context of mean-field dynamo theory suggests a nonlinear modification of the $\alpha$-dynamo effect important in the context of magnetic field excitation in turbulent plasmas.Comment: Minor corrections and improvements mad

Regional Disparities in the Training Market: Opportunities for Adolescents to Obtain a Company-Based Training Place Depending on Regional Training Market Conditions

Context: Due to limited geographical mobility, opportunities for adolescents interested in company-based training are primarily dependent on regional training offers. Competition for company-based training among adolescents varies regionally, and thus, the chance to obtain a training contract varies as well. In this article, we investigate the opportunities for adolescents to obtain company-based training depending on regional training market conditions. We assume that the advantages of obtaining a company-based training place exist in areas of decreased competition among interested adolescents. However, the question is whether those advantages will differ between adolescents depending on characteristics such as school achievement, socioeconomic status or migration background. Furthermore, we assume that, above all, market-induced ease-of-access to company-based training exists for occupations that face hiring challenges and indicates less occupational attractiveness. Methods: The transition from school (after 9th and 10th grade) to company-based training is analysed using data from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS, starting cohort 4). This dataset is merged with the official regional training market data regarding local supply and demand ratio for training places (called "SDR") in the dual system of Vocational Education and Training in Germany. Logistic regressions are used to predict the probabilities of obtaining a training place. The focus lies on the interaction effects between SDR and adolescents’ education-related characteristics (school certificates and grade point average), socioeconomic characteristics and migration backgrounds. Subgroup-specific analyses of different clusters of hiring challenges for trainee occupations are used to examine whether these effects are valid for all occupations. Findings: The results confirm regional differences in obtaining a training place depending on the SDR. Here, applicant hierarchies according to educational achievement continue to exist if competition for company-based training among adolescents decreases. Beneficiaries are better-qualified adolescents with poorer GPAs. SDR hardly influences social disparities. However, the advantages of obtaining a company-based training place primarily exist for training occupations with hiring challenges when competition for company-based training among adolescents decreases. These occupations have a significantly lower occupational prestige (ISEI-08) compared to occupations with fewer hiring challenges. Conclusion: The results make it clear that market-induced ease-of-access to company-based training is not necessarily an advantage. Because the findings indicate that the advantages pertain mainly to low-prestige occupations, it can be assumed that career-path disadvantages can arise down the road. Future studies should investigate this in more differentiated ways

To what extent do secondary effects shape migrants’ educational trajectories after lower-secondary education?

Research shows a heterogeneous picture of migration-related disparities regarding adolescents’ educational trajectories at the end of lower-secondary education. Among other disparities, migrants face large disadvantages with regard to the transition to vocational education and training (VET). They are, however, also more likely to change to upper-secondary school tracks at the end of lower-secondary education. Using longitudinal data drawn from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS, Starting Cohort 4), this study empirically captures patterns in school-leavers’ transition trajectories after lower-secondary education and empirically tests theoretical mechanisms of migration-related educational inequalities. Building on the concept of secondary effects of migrant origin, this study asks to what extent self-selection explains migration-related disparities in the educational trajectories at the end of lower-secondary education. Particular attention is devoted to the extent to which migration-related inequalities in adolescents’ transitions can be explained by differences in (1) rational choice factors and (2) the educational expectations and demands of parents and friends. The results show that rational choice factors and the educational expectations of social groups largely contribute to migration-related educational inequalities. The results provide important starting points for educational policy discussions on strategies and measures to address migration-related inequalities in the transition to VET

The dark side of global sourcing: a systematic literature review and research agenda

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present a systematic review of the literature concerning the negative aspects of global sourcing (GS). It complements prior research on the positive aspects of GS, advances theoretical understanding of the phenomenon, and suggests an agenda for future research. Design/methodology/approach: The sourcing, international business and supply chain management literature is systematically reviewed and findings from 83 previous studies are investigated. Findings: Research on the downsides of GS has intensified over the last decade, but the related knowledge has been very fragmented and oftentimes latent. This literature review extracts knowledge around 28 antecedents to GS downsides from the literature and illustrates their potential harmful effects along operational and financial performance dimensions. Findings suggest that future research should focus more on the effects of decision-making biases and the effects of firm-internal barriers. The dynamic and hidden costs of GS should also be scrutinized in more depth. Originality/value: This study is the first systematic literature review of the downsides of GS. It facilitates a more balanced and nuanced picture of GS to help managers make better-informed GS decisions. The review also offers a holistic research framework that opens up avenues for much-needed research into the “dark side” of GS

Pupil size dynamics predict dLGN firing mode over a wide range of timescales

Pupil size is a commonly used proxy for waking brain states such as arousal, and has been related to activity modulations in cortical sensory areas. Here, we asked whether the dorsolateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), which provides sensory input to the visual cortex, is modulated by pupil-indexed arousal. Observing that the pupil size oscillates at multiple timescales, we developed a method to show that the spiking mode of the dLGN is predicted by pupil size oscillations over several of these timescales. Overall, we found that tonic spikes preferentially occurred during pupil dilation, while bursts occurred during contraction. These preferences could not be explained solely by pupil size per se or by the locomotion of the animal, and were also present during periods of stimulus viewing. We conclude that dLGN spiking activity is modulated by pupil-indexed arousal processes on various timescales, influencing the mode in which sensory signals are passed on to the cortex

Supplier development for sustainability: contextual barriers in global supply chains

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore contextual barriers to supplier development for sustainability (SDS) in global supply chains and managerial remedies to mitigate such barriers. Design/methodology/approach – A dyadic case study design was adopted with a Western European buyer and six of its Chinese suppliers. The database consists of 41 interviews and 81 documents. Findings – Contextual barriers to SDS in global supply chains derive from complexities in the sustainability concept, socio-economic differences, spatial and linguistic distance, as well as cultural differences between buyers and suppliers. Partial remedies include effective joint communications, an open organizational culture, and the fostering of cross-contextual understanding. Research limitations/implications – The findings contribute to theory development at the intersection of sustainable and global supply chain management research. They help to explain why scarce sustainability-related progress in global supply chains has occurred in recent years. Practical implications – The identified barriers facilitate managerial decision making that will expedite SDS progress in global contexts. Social implications – By diffusing knowledge regarding available remedies, the study contributes to improving SDS effectiveness, thereby fostering sustainability capabilities and performance of suppliers. Originality/value – This research highlights the criticality of contextual barriers to SDS. The barrier effects that stem from differing real-world conceptions of sustainability may inform future sustainable supply chain management research within and beyond SDS

The Lagrangian frequency spectrum as a diagnostic for magnetohydrodynamic turbulence dynamics

For the phenomenological description of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence competing models exist, e.g. Boldyrev [Phys.Rev.Lett. \textbf{96}, 115002, 2006] and Gogoberidze [Phys.Plas. \textbf{14}, 022304, 2007], which predict the same Eulerian inertial-range scaling of the turbulent energy spectrum although they employ fundamentally different basic interaction mechanisms. {A relation is found that links} the Lagrangian frequency spectrum {with} the autocorrelation timescale of the turbulent fluctuations, $\tau_\mathrm{ac}$, and the associated cascade timescale, $\tau_{\mathrm{cas}}$. Thus, the Lagrangian energy spectrum can serve to identify weak ($\tau_\mathrm{ac}\ll\tau_{\mathrm{cas}}$) and strong ($\tau_\mathrm{ac}\sim\tau_{\mathrm{cas}}$) interaction mechanisms providing insight into the turbulent energy cascade. The new approach is illustrated by results from direct numerical simulations of two- and three-dimensional incompressible MHD turbulence.Comment: accepted for publication in PR