European Union and the US trade disputes: The role of the WTO

The study discusses the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in dispute resolution and examines issues influencing its effectiveness. This paper investigates the trade disputes between the US and the European Union, focusing on the agricultural sector controversies over crops, beef, and bananas in addition to the conflict over the US government decision to impose tariffs on imported low-cost steel. The final sections of the paper highlight some of the structural factors that create limitation in the role of the WTO in resolution of disputes and provide analyses with the potential of enhancing the capabilities of the WTO in resolving trade disputes

Dow Jones sustainability indices and ESG scores: do they tell the same story?

The focal point of this research is to compare two of the largest global organizations’ sustainability indices and scores, namely Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSIs) and Standard & Poor’s Global (S&P Global) ESG scores (environmental, social, and governance), which rank companies based on their sustainability practices, and to learn if they correspond to each other. Considering that Germany is the hub of large companies from leading global industries, this research compares the ESG scores of the German companies that appear on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. Several statistical analyses are conducted to determine if the German companies on the DJSIs correspond with high ESG scores. The years under consideration are 2018 through 2023. The results of this research indicate that DJSIs and ESG scores do not tell the same story and there are discrepancies regarding the sustainability practices of the studied companies that are added to the DJSIs and the assigned high ESG scores by S&P Global

The Effect of Radio Frequency (RF) on Proteomics Pattern of Brain Tissue in male Wister Rats

Radiated waves from mobile phones are in the Radio Frequency (RF) range, so those are unable to cause ionization and electron excitation. RF that are produced and emitted from sender antenna on the surface of mobile phone systems, ranges from 30 up to 300 GHz in electromagnetic wave spectrum. There is no complete information about the effects of RF on protein changes. For this purpose, we have examined the effects of RF waves on the changes in protein expression pattern of the brain. In this study, 10 heads of male Wistar rats, weighing between 200-250 g, were exposed to transmission antenna in 100-180 meter distance. Then, proteome of RF900 GHz exposed group and control group were extracted. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis evaluation and proteomics analysis was performed. Results showed altered proteome pattern due to radiation. Tissue exposed to nonstandard waves showed similar pattern of changes in the expression of some proteins, which have key roles in the induction of apoptosis. The expressions of key proteins including Bcl-2-A1, Bid, Neurofilament and Cytochrome Oxidase were decreased. Expression or suppression of apoptosis related proteins such as BCL-2 in rat brain proteome exposed to standard RF900 MHz (at 180m and beyond), can serve as a biomarker of brain activity, memory and sleep. RF radiated from transmission antenna in urban and standard spaces may not be carcinogenic, but, individuals exposed in nonstandard distances to those antennas (less than 180meter) may be at risk.HIGHLIGHTS•Radio Frequency (RF) waves can affect the protein expression profile of the cell.•Exposure to nonstandard RF waves changed the expression profile of apoptosis key proteins.•Changes in the expression of Bcl-2-A1, Bid, Neurofilament and Cytochrome Oxidase under the RF was evident

A statistical conversion technique: Objective and perceptive financial measures of the performance construct

This study develops a statistical technique that allows comparison of objective and perceptive financial measures of the performance construct. The proposed technique provides a simple and statistically meaningful method for conversion of objective or archival financial data into scales that can be used for testing the convergent validity with corresponding perceptive measures of performance. Use of the proposed technique can enhance flexibility in application of data collected from different sources and strengthen the generalizability of the findings across studies in the strategic management literature. Empirical data of performance measures are used to demonstrate the use of the technique. © 2005 Sage Publications

Sustainability & CSR: the relationship with Hofstede cultural dimensions

This research explores the relationship between Hofstede’s femininity cultural dimension of quality of life and the masculinity cultural dimension of drive for success manifested by materialistic wealth by investigating the market value of the publicly traded firms appearing on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSIs). The firms added to the DJSIs between the years 2010–2019 in countries with the femininity cultural dimension indicated by scores of ≤42, were selected for the first part of this study. In addition, France, with a masculinity score of 43 and Japan, with the highest masculinity score of 92, were chosen for comparison with the results from the countries with the femininity cultural dimension. The findings of this study indicate that companies in developed and emerging countries with the femininity cultural dimension show significant positive impact on their market values when added to the DJSIs. The publicly traded firms in France show a significant negative impact on their market values when added to the DJSIs. On the other hand, Japanese companies on the addition lists of DJSIs show a significant positive impact on their market values, despite Japan having the highest Hofstede masculinity score, a potential sign of cultural change in Japan

Health Disparities and Cardiovascular Disease

The number one leading cause of death in 2017 for Americans was cardiovascular disease (CVD), and health disparities can exacerbate risks. This study evaluates the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (n = 437,436) to estimate population risks for behavioral, socio-economic, psychological, and biological factors. A general linear model with a quasi-binomial link function indicated higher risks for the following groups: smokers (odds ratio, OR = 0.688), individuals with higher body mass index scores (OR = 1.023), persons unable to work (OR = 2.683), individuals with depression (OR = 1.505), workers who missed more days due to mental issues (OR = 1.12), the elderly, males (OR = 1.954), those in race categories “indigenous Americans, Alaskan non-Hispanics”, “Black Hispanics,” or “other, non-Hispanic,” and individuals with lower income. Surprisingly, increased consumption of alcohol was not found to be a risk factor as in other studies. Additional study of alcohol risk factors is needed. Further, Black non-Hispanics were associated with lower rates of CVD/MI (myocardial infarction), a finding that is supported by recent evidence of more unhealthy behaviors in other races. The results of this study highlight 2018 CVD/MI disparities based on the BRFSS and suggest the need for additional policy interventions including education and providing increased access to health care for the disadvantaged. The principles of beneficence and justice require policy interventions such as these

Green cities and waste management: The restaurant industry

Green Cities are cities with the ultimate goal of achieving a net zero-carbon footprint in energy, transportation, architecture, and the activity cost chain of businesses. These cities define the future of our planet by emphasizing the efficient use of resources and the well-being of communities. This study focuses on Green Cities and the restaurant industry. It examines the beliefs of restaurant owners/managers on the positive impact of sustainability practices on financial situation, reputation, and attraction of customers, and the relationship between such beliefs and the extent of engagement in sustainability practices. The research also explores whether declaring a city Green enhances the sustainability practices in that city. The results indicate that the restaurant owners/managers in all three studied cities strongly believe that sustainability practices enhance the financial performance, reputation of the restaurant, and attraction of customers, yet a significant percentage of the wastes and by-products of the operations of the studied restaurants are discarded. In addition, the results of the study show no significant impact on sustainability practices in the studied restaurants for the declared Green cities of Providence (U.S.) and Nancy (France) versus the city of Springfield (U.S.). The study concludes by highlighting the potential reasons underlying the lack of sustainability practices in the restaurant industry and proposes recommendations that can enhance such practices in this industry

Dow Jones sustainability indices, do they make a difference? The U.S. and the European Union companies

Sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies of companies delineate the health and the welfare of the communities across the globe. The two major goals of this study are (1) To explore the relationship between the environmental regulations, market value, and adoption of sustainability and CSR strategies of the publicly traded firms listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) and (2) To examine the impact of being added to or deleted from DJSI per different market sectors for the firms in the U.S. and the European Union (EU). The selected starting window, the year 2015, for studying the impact of addition to or deletion from the DJS indices was the Paris Accord proposal by the EU and strict sustainability regulations of the EU versus the U.S. We used event study methodology and regression analyses to explain the cumulative abnormal returns utilizing firms\u27 characteristics and specific market sectors. In addition, the other focus of the study was on heavy (polluting) industries and investigating if the addition to or deletion of the firms in these industries from the sustainability indices had an impact on the market value. The findings of this study reveal no impact of the environmental rules and regulations on adopting sustainability and CSR strategies by either the EU or the U.S. firms. The novel findings of this study indicate a significant negative impact on the market value of firms in heavy industries, Energy, Basic Materials, and Utilities when added to the DJS indices. The study discusses the underlying reasons for these differences and proposes strategies to enhance the impact of addition to or deletion from the DISI to increase firms\u27 commitments to sustainability and CSR strategies and altering the attitudes of the investors

Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and ESG Scores: Do They Tell the Same Story?

The focal point of this research is to compare two of the largest global organizations’ sustainability indices and scores, namely Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSIs) and Standard & Poor’s Global (S&P Global) ESG scores (environmental, social, and governance), which rank companies based on their sustainability practices, and to learn if they correspond to each other. Considering that Germany is the hub of large companies from leading global industries, this research compares the ESG scores of the German companies that appear on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. Several statistical analyses are conducted to determine if the German companies on the DJSIs correspond with high ESG scores. The years under consideration are 2018 through 2023. The results of this research indicate that DJSIs and ESG scores do not tell the same story and there are discrepancies regarding the sustainability practices of the studied companies that are added to the DJSIs and the assigned high ESG scores by S&P Global