US Approach Research Articles

The Evolution in Dementia Caregiving Research: NIA's Catalyst Role.

This article celebrates the National Institute of Aging (NIA)'s successes over the past fifty years in advancing the science base informing the need for and response to dementia caregiving. In parallel with other public and private efforts, insightful NIA leadership supported by funding initiatives established the field of dementia caregiving research. In support of the health and well-being of family caregivers, NIA was a catalyst of innovation that led to numerous evidence-based caregiving interventions informed by basic research on care tasks and consequences. As evidence of the impending burden of dementia care on US families mounted, NIA-funded multidisciplinary collaboratives of researchers generated comprehensive models of family caregiving across diverse populations. Today, the dementia caregiving evidence base is shaping public policy and making possible dementia caregiving support services in health systems and community-based organizations. NIA continues to support the scientific study of dementia caregiving with a collaboratory of leading scientists and by making available state-of-the-art datasets and encouraging standardized research methodologies. NIA's leadership in the field of dementia caregiving research has never been more significant as the number of persons living with dementia in the US approaches 7 million, and the value of family caregiving is estimated to be $350 billion.

Environmental Policies and Tax Incentives in the Pillar Two Era: A Comparison of the EU and US Approaches

This article explores the interaction between global corporate taxes, specifically under the OECD’s Pillar Two, as implemented by the EU Minimum Taxation Directive (2022/2523) in the European Union and by the Corporate Minimum Tax (CAMT) in the United States, and fiscal incentives supporting environmental tax policies under the European Union’s Green Deal and the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The article compares the EU and US approaches and reveals the impact on the investment strategies of MNEs, with a focus on the location of intangibles related to renewable energy technologies, as well as State aid considerations. The article proposes that, instead of marginalizing the green tax credits, they should be reshaped and made subject to a benchmark that supports sustainable innovation within the global tax framework.

From roadmap to regulation: will there be a transatlantic approach to governing artificial intelligence?

ABSTRACT The transformative nature and accelerating pace of development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have generated frenzied political debate and urgent calls for regulation. The European Union’s (EU) AI Act is one of the earliest, most ambitious, legally binding efforts to regulate high-risk AI systems. This article argues that the thrust of the EU’s focus on ‘ethical and secure’ AI and its first-mover regulatory status have helped to foster transatlantic cooperation on AI governance. To probe this assertion, the article analyzes the ethical underpinnings and key provisions of the AI Act and compares them to policy developments in the United States. The analysis provides preliminary evidence of policy similarities across the Atlantic from an alignment of ethical concerns to a shared understanding of the risks and associated need for common guidelines and standards in the AI sector. Tracing agreements within the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC) suggests further cooperation and relative congruence in the EU and US approaches to AI.

사상의 자유시장 이론과 플랫폼 거버넌스

The concept of ‘marketplace of ideas’ has been employed as a conventional argument to justify freedom of expression. The Constitutional Court of Korea has also been significantly influenced by this concept, presenting it as a rationale to protect freedom of expression and asserting that “the Internet is the medium most closely approximating the ‘marketplace of ideas’”. However, the proliferation of disinformation, hate speech, and the development of artificial intelligence have urged a re-evaluation of the validity of the ‘marketplace of ideas’, which posits that truth can prevail over falsehoods through unrestricted competition. ‘Marketplace of ideas’, which is advocated from a laissez-faire perspective, also encounters challenges related to market failure when examined from an economic perspective. This phenomenon occurs because market failure is not limited to the market for goods but extends to the market for ideas as well. In the context of freedom of expression, market failure can result in impediments to information distribution, insufficient dissemination of high-quality information, and democratic representation. To address market failure in the realm of free expression, it is imperative to focus on platform governance. In the United States, self-regulation by individual companies or industries, and in Europe, co-regulation by governments, have been proposed as potential solutions to market failure. The divergence between the US and European approaches to platform governance stems from the distinct constitutional traditions of freedom of expression. While platform governance mechanisms, such as self-regulation and co-regulation, offer advantages including flexibility, expedience, and professionalism, they may also generate tensions with the rule of law and potentially result in private censorship when limiting fundamental rights. To ensure the democratic legitimacy of self-regulation, limitations on freedom of expression must be implemented in a manner consistent with the rule of law. Furthermore, to prevent co-regulation from devolving into private censorship, considerable caution must be exercised to ensure that government intervention does not transform into censorship by administrative authority.

The geopolitics of technology standards: historical context for US, EU and Chinese approaches

Abstract This article provides a review of the historical trends that are shaping global competition for standard setting in emerging technologies. Specifically, it explores how the traditional rule-makers of international standardization, namely the United States and Europe, are responding to the rise of China in standard-setting. The article argues that three polities are adapting their standard-setting strategies to shifting power dynamics in the international technology order. To preserve its competitive advantage, the US is becoming more interventionist and proactive in setting technology standards. China has developed a long-term standardization strategy to bolster its domestic industrial development, increase its influence and reap greater profits from the process of rule-making. Finally, the EU is seeking a third way that strikes a balance between competition and cooperation to preserve values like interoperability, which have historically benefited its single market and the global economy at large. Our historical review shows that, while the three polities have different priorities and face distinct challenges, they all seem to converge towards a greater role for governments in standard-setting.

Testicular ultrasound measurement of testicular volume and epididymis diameters: Prediction of semen quality in a prospective study

AbstractPurposeTo identify the most predictive ultrasound parameters for the assessment of male infertility by a multiparametric study.Materials and MethodsA total of 64 males were recruited in the study group and 14 men in the control group. At first, grey-scale and color and Power Doppler ultrasonographic imaging was used to analyze testicular morphological characteristics and detect intratesticular abnormalities. Various ultrasound parameters of B-mode US and strain-elastography were related to total sperm count (TSC).ResultsThe prevalence of varicocele was not significant (P = 0.33), though presented a 2.53-fold odds ratio The strain ratios of both testes, the volume of the left testis and the size of the left appendix were most associated with the results of semen analysis according to a Variable Importance in the Projection (VIP) score of >1. The first latent variable from the PLS analysis explained a significant amount of variance in TSC, concentration, and motility parameters (P < 0.0002) and showed that bilateral strain ratio, the size of the testis, and the volume of left appendix were the most significant US predictors of the pathological semen and sperm cell features.ConclusionsOur results showed that B-mode US with strain elastography is among more sensitive US approaches in evaluating male fertility.

Indirect Tax Impacts of Transfer Pricing Adjustments: EU & US Approaches When the Price Evolves To Make It “Right”?

How do you handle the indirect tax (VAT/sales tax) impact of year-end transfer pricing profit adjustments between related members of a multinational group? This is, by definition, a worldwide question, since such groups operate across borders. Existing approaches (if any) vary across jurisdictions. The European Union and the United States are both grappling with this subject. Three key cases entailing the VAT consequences of such adjustments are currently before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Likewise, in various states in the United States, a growing number of cases reveal potential sales/use tax liabilities arising from transfer pricing adjustments. While awaiting the pending CJEU decisions, in this article, the authors explore, from a comparative perspective, how two fundamentally different systems are trying to address the same problem.

Hybrid Industrial Wastewater Treatment Using a Sono‐Alternating Current‐Electrocoagulation Technique with Power Usage Estimation

AbstractDistillery industrial wastewater (DIW) was tested for color and COD removal percentages using an electrochemical and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Specifically, the study compared direct/alternating–current–electrocoagulation (DC‐EC/AC‐EC), sono (US), and direct/alternating current–electrocoagulation coupled with sono (US) (DC‐EC/US and AC‐EC/US) processes. Also evaluated were the effects of these procedures on the power needed to treat DIW. Experimental results showed that compared to single processes such as DC‐EC, AC‐EC, US, hybrid DC‐EC/US, and the hybrid AC‐EC/US process achieved a total color elimination efficiency of 100 % and a COD elimination efficiency of 100 % while using a lower power consumption of 4.76 kWhrm−3. The effects of important operational factors such treatment duration, cycle of pulse duty, sonication power, current density, chemical oxygen demand, electrode spacing, electrode pairing, pH, concentration of electrolyte on the % removal of COD and power usage of DIW were investigated using hybrid AC‐EC/US process. When using a Fe/Fe electrode combination, the effectiveness of COD removal was shown to be enhanced by increasing the treatment duration, current, US power, and decreasing the COD concentration, electrode spacing. The study also provided the results of an investigation into the synergistic index between AC‐EC and US process and operational cost. Based on its ability to efficiently and effectively remove contaminants from wastewater and industrial effluent, the AC‐EC/US approach stands out among the other methods.

Nuanced futures: Canadian and US defence in the North American Arctic

ABSTRACT Canada and the United States have a shared interest in North American defence, and both have committed to spending on Arctic defence capabilities. Defence interactions with China and Russia, and the development of new weapons systems, have put a spotlight on Arctic defence. Much of the resulting activity is preparation for potential, future competition rather than concerns about confrontation in the short term. Nevertheless, preparation discrepancies between Canadian and US approaches to Arctic defence become apparent. In particular, the United States takes a more forward-leaning military approach to Arctic security than does Canada, with a defence-centric military posture. These differences are not insurmountable, and shared understanding of the most significant defence threats related to the North American Arctic, in addition to the long-standing NORAD connection, represent solid foundations. Nevertheless, differences represent areas of friction that could be exploited by adversaries and Canada–US dialogue to minimize the effect of this non-alignment in approaches will be critical.

The integration of multi-domain capabilities in land forces units combined arms operations

Current conflicts, ongoing across the globe, have highlighted the need for a new form of warfare that reduces the number of casualties and the degree of destruction and, at the same time, mitigates the effects of hybrid means, ubiquitous in the doctrine of all actors. This new approach to warfare utilizes multi-domain operations as a means of achieving success. Although multi-domain operations have been conducted in the past, the concept that encompasses the process of these operations is novel, and there are still significant adjustments that need to be made to make it operational for all actors. This article aims to study the integration of multi-domain operations into land operations by identifying the strengths and limitations of their development process, the conditions and principles of their integration at the land forces level, resulting from a comparative analysis of US and Russian Federation approaches, as well as from lessons learned from current conflicts.

Introduction: racism doesn’t care about democracy either

ABSTRACT As the US approaches an intense inflection point in this grand experiment with democratic ideals, a pinched nerve in the form of a presidential election, this second special anniversary forum considers what resources (I almost said weapons) lay undiscovered or undervalued with which we may forge a future. Fortunately, there are gems – brilliant in the proper light – available for use; from the Global South to the US South, this forum imagines more than geographic places, but rather forms of care and powerful Black feminist community-building and critique of the retrenchment of multiple forms of racialized domination.

Migrants in Waiting in Mexico

Under the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Mexico has abandoned plans for a more humane migration policy. Faced with increasing flows of asylum seekers from elsewhere in the hemisphere, the Mexican government has adopted a strategy of control and enforcement that mirrors the US approach.

Biden's Strategic Competition Approach Towards China

Purpose- This paper aims to analysis and explore the causes of Biden's preference for the strategic competition approach to address China's threat. 
 
 Design/methodology/approach- The paper relies on the offensive realism theory as the most relevant theory to examine the US polies and approaches towards China, or US-Sino strategic competition. In particular, the theory is suited to explore Biden's preference for the strategic competition approach, and not the hostile approach. As the theory contends that the great powers are rational actors do not engage in destructive wars if the balance of power is not in their favor.
 
 Findings- Since 2008 U.S perceives China as a most serious threat to its global hegemony. Obama and Trump's administrations have prioritized the strategic competition approach towards China, which aims at containing China's power smoothly without sliding competition to the level of severe hostility. Biden maintained this approach and also, reinforced it to avoid as much as possible major hostility with China. Through, for instance, rallying alliances and multilateralism. Based on that, the study suggests the U.S will prioritize this approach unless China upsets the existing balance by annexing Taiwan or taking full control of the South China Sea. 
 
 Originality/value -The significance of the paper emanates from providing an in-depth analysis and explanation of the cause of the conflict or the cold war between China and the United States, and the main policies and approaches that the United States adopt to deal with China.

When securitisation fails and succeeds at the same time: the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and functional actors in the US

ABSTRACT This article explores how the 2015 Iran nuclear deal ended up being hailed as both a dangerous historic blunder and a significant peace initiative, despite both sides relying on the same securitisation discourse (Balzacq, T. (2010). Securitization theory: How security problems emerge and dissolve. Routledge). It aims to understand how a diplomatic resolution to the Iranian threat gained acceptance, despite years of confrontational US approaches. The central argument posits that functional actors undermined the securitising actor's authority to define the course of action. Traditional pro-Israel entities were challenged by other pro-Israel actors, notably J Street, which contested the notion that rejecting the deal was common sense for Israel's interests. This, in turn, influenced certain lawmakers’ perspectives. Overall, the paper redirects attention from the securitisation process to the overlooked contestation over the securitising actor's status and its implications for the audience and outcomes of securitisation.

Trademark Protection Versus Parodic Use in Commerce: A Comparative Analysis of the US Approach Post Jack Daniel’s Properties v. VIP Products and the German Likelihood of Confusion Analysis

Abstract In June 2023, the US Supreme Court delivered its highly anticipated verdict in Jack Daniel’s Properties v. VIP Products. The case involves a parodic use of the famous Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey trade dress, name, logo and appearance by VIP Products, which sells dog toys called ‘Silly Squeakers.’ The disputed toy, named ‘Bad Spaniels,’ resembles the whiskey bottle in shape and design but with humorous alterations. Jack Daniel’s argued that this use could confuse consumers and harm the company’s reputation. VIP Products, on the other hand, claimed it was exercising its First Amendment right to free speech through parody. Jack Daniel’s requested VIP Products to stop advertising and selling the toy. The central issue is the balance between brand protection under US Trademark Law and the right to a parodic use in a commercial context when a mark is used as a mark with a source-identifying purpose. Additionally, the impact of consumer surveys for determining the likelihood of confusion in case of an infringement action is emphasized. Overall, the case raises critical questions about trademark protection and freedom of speech, with potential implications for future parodic uses of famous marks in commercial contexts. The distinction between actions for infringement and dilution by tarnishment lies in their respective purposes. Dilution actions aim to safeguard the reputation of a famous mark’s owner, while infringement actions seek to prevent confusion among consumers. These fundamental principles hold true in both US and German trademark law. The forthcoming analysis will delve into the implications and consequences of the US Supreme Court’s ruling, comparing it with pertinent German case law concerning freedom of speech and artistic expression. Particular focus will be given to the potential authorization of parodic use of a mark resembling another’s trademark for commercial purposes. Notably, a relevant case involving canines, referred to as the ‘Leaping Poodle,’ will be central to this contemplation.

The Effectiveness of Halting Measures in Constraining North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons Program

ABSTRACT This paper explores the concept of ‘irreversibility’ in relation to denuclearization efforts on the Korean Peninsula over the past 30 years, covering the most impactful US, South Korean, and North Korean approaches during this timeframe. Attempts to constrain North Korea’s nuclear programme have largely been characterized by ‘halting measures’, such as technical freezes or political moratoria; however, these measures did not have lasting effects. This paper examines the systemic barriers that challenged the sustainability of these halting measures, in particular disagreements over goals, terminology, sequencing, as well as a failure to achieve sustained momentum during challenging periods of domestic politics. It then considers what this suggests about the viability of these types of measures in promoting ‘irreversible’ disarmament in North Korea moving forward.

The Security Cooperation Toolkit and the Future of Great Power Competition

Great powers conduct defense and security cooperation to achieve national interests, usually with an expectation to garner influence with partners. Sometimes the result is contrary to a great power’s intent. Essential factors that contribute to defense and security cooperation effectiveness include: communication, commitment, interests, and coordinated plans. The US approach to security cooperation is grounded in noble intent, but in some cases falls short when compared to its competitors. Russia and China are more transactional in their approaches and have achieved marginal success in their own ways. This article examines great power defense and security cooperation with partners in Africa to assess relative advantages and disadvantages.

Let It Fail? Reflections on the SVB Collapse and the US and Canadian Approaches to Bank Crises

Let It Fail? Reflections on the SVB Collapse and the US and Canadian Approaches to Bank Crises

Let it Fail? Reflections on the SVB Collapse and the US and Canadian Approaches to Bank Crises

Let it Fail? Reflections on the SVB Collapse and the US and Canadian Approaches to Bank Crises

Degradation of Procion Brilliant Purple H-3R using ultrasound coupled with advanced oxidation processes

The complexity of wastewater matrix poses a challenge for conventional processes especially due to the presence of refractory compounds such as dyes. The present work focuses on utilizing ultrasound-induced cavitation in conjunction with different oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide, Fenton's reagent and potassium persulfate to treat Procion Brilliant Purple H-3R dye containing wastewater. The impact of various operating parameters as pH, frequency, and power on degradation levels has been studied with the aim of optimizing degradation. The optimal conditions for the degradation of Procion Brilliant Purple H-3R were determined as pH of 12, frequency of 22 kHz, and power of 250 W, resulting in a maximum degradation of 70.25%. Combination of a cavitation reactor with hydrogen peroxide, Fenton reagent, and KPS was then applied at optimized conditions, which confirmed a notable enhancement in degradation compared to the only ultrasound based process. Specifically, the degradation extent was 95.99% for combination with H2O2 at 0.5 g/L loading, 99.79% for combination with Fenton at H2O2/Fe2+ ratio of 50:1, and 99.05% for combination with KPS at loading of 0.75 g/L. The kinetic rate constant for the combined approach of US + Fenton was also maximum at 7.47 × 10−1 L mg−1 min−1. Toxicity analysis was conducted on two bacterial strains, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, using the wastewater in native form and after treatment. The various processes were evaluated in terms of the cavitational yield and overall treatment cost and it was determined that US + Fenton process is the most efficient treatment method for fully degrading Procion Brilliant Purple H-3R, particularly at larger scales of operation and cost efficiently as demonstrated in the work.