Compensatory Benefits Research Articles

Partnership Histories Shape the Grandparenting Happiness Bonus

Evolutionary theory predicts that returns on investments in family relations will vary by sex and life stage and that there can be a trade-off between mating and (grand)parenting. Family sociology has shown that whereas couple relations are central to happiness in older age, the effects of grandparenting are more mixed and context dependent. Here, we merge these two perspectives and study how partnership histories over the life course relate to happiness among Europeans aged 50+ and whether grandparental investment moderates these associations. Of particular interest is whether there are signs of trade-offs, cumulative benefits, or compensatory benefits between the type of couple relations and grandparenting in postreproductive age.We employed the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe with data from 26 European countries and Israel for the years 2004–2020. The analyses distinguish between respondents who are in their first, second, or third union through marriage or cohabitation; are divorced; are widowed; are living apart from a partner; or are single. We investigated how quality of life and life satisfaction are associated with these seven types of partnership histories and whether the associations are moderated by grandparental status and provision of grandchild care.Europeans with a partner, and especially those in their first union, were happier than those in other partnership groups, and grandparents were happier than individuals without grandchildren. Grandparental investment was associated with being happier in most partnership groups. The “grandparenting bonus” was greatest among unpartnered respondents, suggesting a compensatory effect. We found no signs of a cumulative effect, nor of costs to happiness from grandchild care.Our results illustrate how reproductive strategies over the life course shape happiness returns to grandparenting. Being a grandparent and, especially, providing care for grandchildren may compensate for the lower happiness associated with the loss or lack of a partner.

Lunar rhythms and their carry-over effects may shape environmental sex determination in a coral reef fish.

Lunar rhythms shape spawning phenology and subsequent risks and rewards for early life-history stages in the sea. Here, we consider a perplexing spawning phenology of the sixbar wrasse (Thalassoma hardwicke), in which parents spawn disproportionately around the new moon, despite the low survival of these larvae. Because primary sex determination in this system is highly plastic and sensitive to social environments experienced early in development, we ask whether this puzzling pattern of spawning is explained by fitness trade-offs associated with primary sexual maturation. We used otoliths from 871 fish to explore how spawning on different phases of the moon shapes the environments and phenotypes of settling larvae. Offspring that were born at the new moon were more likely to settle (i) before other larvae, (ii) at a larger body size, (iii) at an older age, (iv) to the best quality sites, and (v) as part of a social group-all increasing the likelihood of primary maturation to male. Selection of birthdates across life stage transitions suggests that the perplexing spawning phenology of adults may reflect an evolutionarily stable strategy that includes new moon spawning for compensatory benefits later in life, including preferential production of primary males at certain times.

Do maternal allocations towards offspring quality and quantity ameliorate the effects of predators on offspring survival?

AbstractReproductive allocation is often balanced between the quantity and quality of offspring. Ecological stresses, like exposure to predators, can cause organisms to shift their allocations along this continuum. While the consequences of such plastic shifts for offspring performance are often untested, they are critical to understanding the potential long‐term benefits of manipulating predation risk as an agricultural pest management technique. Predation risk induces reductions in egg production and increases in nutritional condition due to maternal provisioning in Colorado potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata, CPB). Here, we tested whether reductions in density or increases in offspring condition, which may increase per‐capita larval survival, can compensate for the reduction in total egg production, especially when offspring are exposed to predators. In two field trials, we manipulated density and condition of larval CPB and measured survival through development to adulthood in field cages with and without predaceous stink bugs (Podisus maculiventris). As expected, cages with the higher initial larval densities had more larvae and adults surviving in the treatments without predators – about 30%–50% survival across densities. When predators were present, this relationship did not hold because of density‐dependent predation. Larval condition interacted with density and impacted larval survival in both trials albeit in different ways. In trial 1, unprovisioned beetles had higher survival at the higher densities; in trial 2, provisioned beetles had higher survival across densities. Synthesis and Applications: Overall, our test of the effects of predation risk via manipulations of larval density and condition revealed few net compensatory benefits to the prey of reduced density and higher condition. Benefits to the prey of shifts in allocation from the quantity to quality of offspring may depend on factors that influence the strength of density dependence, including predation intensity. Our results suggest a new strategy of taking advantage of the reductions in prey density due to non‐consumptive effects of predators as a pest management approach to protect plants.

Energy Policy as a Socio-Scientific Issue: Argumentation in the Context of Economic, Environmental and Citizenship Education

One goal of environmental civic education is preparing students, both as citizens and as professionals, to use effective arguments in public debates. Such debates include dominantly economic claims, which are multifaceted and rarely taught in schools. A learning unit that applied the pedagogical principles of socio-scientific issues was developed for ‘Israel’s Natural Gas Export Policy’, a real sustainability dilemma. The study aimed to understand how pre- and in-service science teachers craft their arguments, by comparing their written reasoned opinions on the gas export debate, before and after the learning unit. Content analysis was conducted using Grounded Theory on the two groups’ texts in a multiple case study design. Five reasoning rationales were found: ‘Profits and Risks’, ‘Ethics or Ideology’, ‘Pragmatic Objectives’, ‘Evidence Base’ and ‘Stakeholder Motivations’. Each rationale yielded different reasoning strategies, including ‘Costs/Benefits’, ‘the Trade-Off Dilemma’ or ‘Compromise’, ‘Compensatory Benefits’ and ‘Non-Compensatory Costs/Risks’. The findings show that both groups used more argument types in the post-task. The development of ‘Profits and Risks’ strategies, between the pre- and post-texts, shows how the teachers’ arguments became more complex and decisive. These results exemplify how the SSI-focused learning unit enables learners to enhance their critical citizenship thinking, one of the cornerstones of democracy.

Nuclear power as part of the Greek energy mix: Far better to be cost effectively proactive than unconditionally inactive

This position paper advocates preparatory actions for the incorporation of fission energy into the Greek mix, should this be necessary within the foreseeable future. To this end, and first of all, a concise understanding of the current Greek energy mix and its perspectives is essential in connection to the potential problems due to the expansion of renewable energy. Present and future inefficiencies could be avoided to a manageable extend, mainly by energy savings, mostly applicable for buildings consumption and also by upgrades towards a much denser grid, capable of reversing flows, along with energy storage facilities. In parallel, an assessment of the introduction potential of nuclear power could be examined. The assessment could involve political parties, scientists and other stakeholders, pro and against, and might reasonably result to justified arguments capable of raising public awareness. The country's preparedness to go nuclear could depend more or less on the degree of local energy market regulation framework, on the local and broader investment and financial environment, on the power plant construction and operation insurance possibilities, on the review and introduction of applicable law for licensing and regulating nuclear power and on the local scientific potential in the nuclear engineering field. Parameters like construction of related major engineering parts locally should also be examined along with compensatory benefits to the domestic economy and the local societies in the vicinity of the reactor sites. It is proposed that this work could be accomplished by an adequate task force without particular costs and within reasonable time.

Dairy workers' preferences for compensatory benefits: A field choice experiment with US immigrants and students

AbstractWe designed a discrete choice experiment to elicit preferences for compensatory benefits among two sets of workers in the dairy sector: immigrants and US college students planning to work in the sector. We find that immigrants rank benefits as follows (highest to lowest): retirement plan, health insurance, milk quality incentive bonus, housing assistance, and a bonus meat allotment. Immigrant workers are willing to pay more for a retirement plan and health insurance than college students. Neither group prefers to work more than 48 h per week. Our findings inform ongoing debates on the role of immigrant and industry‐trained dairy workers.

Wild-type MECP2 expression coincides with age-dependent sensory phenotypes in a female mouse model for Rett syndrome.

Rett syndrome is characterized by an early period of typical development and then, regression of learned motor and speech skills in girls. Loss of MECP2 protein is thought to cause Rett syndrome phenotypes. The specific underlying mechanisms from typical developmental trajectory to regression features throughout life are unclear. Lack of established timelines to study the molecular, cellular, and behavioral features of regression in female mouse models is a major contributing factor. Due to random X-chromosome inactivation, female patients with Rett syndrome and female mouse models for Rett syndrome (Mecp2Heterozygous , Het) express a functional copy of wild-type MECP2 protein in approximately half of all cells. As MECP2 expression is regulated during early postnatal development and experience, we characterized the expression of wild-type MECP2 in the primary somatosensory cortex of female Het mice. Here, we report increased MECP2 levels in non-parvalbumin-positive neurons of 6-week-old adolescent Het relative to age-matched wild-type controls, while also displaying typical levels of perineuronal net expression in the barrel field subregion of the primary somatosensory cortex, mild tactile sensory perception deficits, and efficient pup retrieval behavior. In contrast, 12-week-old adult Het express MECP2 at levels similar to age-matched wild-type mice, show increased perineuronal net expression in the cortex, and display significant tactile sensory perception deficits. Thus, we have identified a set of behavioral metrics and the cellular substrates to study regression during a specific time in the female Het mouse model, which coincides with changes in wild-type MECP2 expression. We speculate that the precocious increase in MECP2 expression within specific cell types of adolescent Het may provide compensatory benefits at the behavioral level, while the inability to further increase MECP2 levels leads to regressive behavioral phenotypes over time.

THE REPORTING QUALITY OF NONINFERIORITY TRIALS USING INTRAVITREAL VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR INHIBITORS.

Noninferiority trials (NIFTs) are widely used to study intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors for the treatment of ocular diseases. Thus, this trial design deserves greater attention. We aimed to comprehensively assess the methodological and reporting quality of NIFTs in the field of neovascular ocular diseases. We identified NIFTs using antivascular endothelial growth factor agents published before February 2020 from PubMed and Web of Science. Two independent authors extracted and double-checked predefined elements related to the quality of design and reporting. The characteristics and reporting of NIFTs were described with frequencies and percentages. We summarized important factors that were potentially biased the results of NIFTs and provided point-to-point recommendations. In total, 34 studies involving 15,190 subjects and 51 pairs of noninferiority comparisons were identified. Areas of concern that could potentially affect the qualities of NIFTs included the absence of justification for the selection of noninferiority margins (61.8%), the use of unusually wide noninferiority margins (26.5%), the lack of outcome confirmation provided by the intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses (64.7%), the presence of postrandomization exclusions >10% (52.9%), and not declaring the compensatory benefits (35.3%). Moreover, industry-sponsored NIFTs were more likely to draw positive results (P = 0.036). NIFTs of antivascular endothelial growth factor therapies commonly achieved noninferiority of the tested intervention. However, the methodologies and reporting limitations may affect the confidence of the results. Thus, more awareness must be created among investigators for better adherence to guidelines and recommendations while designing, conducting, and reporting on NIFTs.

Follow Me: The Benefits of Discipleship in the Gospel of John by Mark Zhakevich

Reviewed by: Follow Me: The Benefits of Discipleship in the Gospel of John by Mark Zhakevich Margaret Daly-Denton mark zhakevich, Follow Me: The Benefits of Discipleship in the Gospel of John (Interpreting Johannine Literature; Lanham, MD: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, 2021). Pp. xi + 219. $100. This doctoral dissertation mentored by the late Prof. Larry Hurtado of the University of Edinburgh, is an impressively detailed treatment of its topic. No stone is unturned; every claim is cogently defended, every possible query answered, and every conceivable objection forestalled. Copious endnotes to each chapter reassure the reader that this is a well-researched and reliable work of biblical scholarship. Zhakevich asks what the Fourth Gospel can tell us about the attraction that the Jesus movement held for its intended audience, even though commitment to faith in Jesus would [End Page 516] put them at a considerable disadvantage, in regard to their Jewish sense of belonging. In Z.'s view, there were three major benefits: membership in the divine family, the experience of abiding with the Father and the Son, and royal friendship with Jesus. His study differs from previous studies of discipleship in the Fourth Gospel that take historical, theological, and narratological approaches. In fact, he believes that his book is "the first to draw attention to Johannine themes that are compensatory benefits of continuous discipleship" (p. 15). Zhakevich presents the first of these compensatory benefits, membership in the divine family, against the background of the ancient Mediterranean milieu, where kinship relations were all-important and honor could be achieved by adoption into "the right family" (p. 31; italics original). The first appearance of this benefit, at the chiastic peak of the Prologue (John 1:12), is programmatic for the whole Gospel. The most prominent advantage that it bestows is access to "eternal life," interestingly defined by Z. as "the ability and quality of relating within the divine family" (p. 71). The second key benefit that would have incentivized discipleship is the capacity conferred on the believer to abide with the Father and the Son through the Spirit. This concept has it roots in biblical imagery about God dwelling with humans, particularly that associated with the temple. Johannine abiding has both a present and a future dimension. It includes "additional benefits, namely, fruit, the Paraclete, peace, joy, answered requests, love, confirmation of true discipleship, avoidance of judgement, and the ability to perform great works" (pp. 101–2), all of which could be seen as remarkable compensation that would have encouraged believers to maintain their commitment to Jesus. It is in his treatment of the third major benefit, royal friendship with Jesus, that I believe Z. has made a significant contribution to Johannine scholarship. The Christian spiritual tradition has conditioned us to think of John 15:12–17, where Jesus calls his disciples no longer servants but friends, principally in terms of the warmth and intimacy of personal attachment. Z. shows that there are problems with viewing the Johannine friendship between Jesus and his disciples through this particular lens. What are we to make of the glaring status disparity evident in Jesus's reference to his disciples as his servants and his subsequent definition of friends as those who do what he commands? In a masterly presentation of the politics of friendship in the ancient Mediterranean world, Z. demonstrates that John 15:12–17 has royal overtones, that Jesus's friendship with his disciples is akin to the political reality that lies behind terms such as that actually used by the Fourth Evangelist, "friend of Caesar" (John 19:12). Z. cites numerous references to political friendships in classical Greco-Roman sources, all of which build up a convincing conceptual context for understanding John 15:12–17. In further support of his claim, Z. demonstrates how a consistent portrayal of Jesus as a royal figure, including and even especially as a shepherd-king, is woven into the whole Johannine narrative. He concludes that "since the royal motif is part of the fabric of the entire Gospel, it is plausible to understand Jesus' words, 'I call you friends,' as coming from a royal figure speaking to his followers and conferring on them the benefit of...

Trip Equivalency for Economic Valuation in Recreation Demand Models: Implications for Compensatory Restoration and Benefits Transfer

Trip Equivalency for Economic Valuation in Recreation Demand Models: Implications for Compensatory Restoration and Benefits Transfer

Accessibility of protected natural areas of regional significance: a case study from Samara Oblast, Russia

A significant role is assigned to the preservation of natural areas in the paradigm of sustainable development both in the international and regional aspects. Protected natural areas of regional importance make it possible to solve the problem of the preservation of natural ecosystems. The aim of the research is to establish for the municipal districts of Samara Oblast: dynamics, formation features and provision of PAs of regional significance. In the course of the study, on the basis of analysis, logical presentation, and statistical research, the authors established: the dynamics, features of the formation and provision of the municipal districts of Samara Oblast with specially protected natural areas of regional significance. The authors show a significant variability in areas, specific value and provision of the local population with specially protected natural areas, the relationship of individual parameters. The authors also built a rating and compiled a classification of municipal districts according to the given indicators. The authors identified the categories of municipal districts with a high, medium and low share of specially protected natural areas in the total area of the subregional area and the provision of the population with protected areas. The authors studied various options or models of compensatory benefits and environmental costs of municipal areas, taking into account specially protected natural areas of federal significance and the influence of the urban environment. The results of the analysis make it possible to use the obtained materials for making current managerial decisions in the interaction of regional environmental authorities with the administrations of municipal districts, for correcting the prospective scheme for the development of specially protected natural areas of regional significance, and for modernizing the development strategies of territories.

Risk Shifts in the Gig Economy: The Normative Case for an Insurance Scheme against the Effects of Precarious Work*

Risk Shifts in the Gig Economy: The Normative Case for an Insurance Scheme against the Effects of Precarious Work*

An Overview of GST in India

Taxation is very important for national economic development. Economic development depends on the purchasing power of the nation. Tax policy makes an important contribution to the economy, both in terms of efficiency and equity. The GST is one of the indirect taxes that was introduced in India on 1 July 2017 and is applicable throughout India and replaces various cascading taxes imposed by central and provincial governments. In India dual systems from GST are proposed, including CGST and SGST. In the GST all indirect taxes are placed under a single regime. Under GST, goods and services are taxed at 0%, 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%. It combines various other taxes, such as local and local taxes, entertainment taxes, consumption taxes, surcharges, octroi and others. The final consumer receives only the GST paid by the last dealer in the supply chain and receives the compensatory benefits in the previous step. The GST was originally proposed to replace a number of indirect taxes with uniform taxes, and is expected to drastically change the country's $ 2 trillion economy. GST falls under the jurisdiction of the GST Council and GST is chaired by the Indian Minister of Finance and is supported by the Goods and Services Network (GSTN), a fully integrated tax platform covering all aspects of GST. The portal is used by the government to keep track of all financial transactions and offers taxpayers everything from registration to filing tax returns and keeping track of all tax data.GST becomes the largest reform in Indian tax since 1947.

Local residents’ perception of landfill impacts in Palestine: the case of Zahrat Al-Finjan landfill

Waste disposal sector and local landfills operation are considered one of the major sources of pollution in Palestine. This paper focuses on the determination of the main negative impacts caused by Zahrat Al-Finjan landfill operation in the northern part of the West Bank. The data were collected from seven nearby communities. Overall results showed that odor emissions, impacts on plants and animals, impacts on inhabitants’ hygiene, impacts on traffic and aesthetic views and pollution due to leachate spills, presence of insects and rodents, reduction in the value of the nearby land are the most significant negative impacts. In particular home-landfill distance plays an important role to the negative impact perception in cases such as particularly odors, and quality of life. On the other hand, dust, noise, and impact on groundwater are not considered issues of major issues of concerns from the residents’ point of view. This fact is highly influenced by the application of compensatory benefits to locals. The Logistic Regression Model, that was developed to assess the factors that could affect the residents’ perception of impacts on traffic, aesthetics and pollution due to leachate spills, showcased that age, gender, level of education are the most significant explanatory variables.

Multi‐stage bi‐level linear model for low carbon expansion planning of multi‐area power systems

This study proposes a multi-stage expansion model for coordinated transmission and generation of expansion planning of a multi-area power system (MAPS) wherein each region seeks to benefit from the changes. The proposed model adopts a bi-level optimisation approach. In the first level, the expansion cost and carbon emissions are calculated for each region separately for expansion planning. In the second level of optimisation, the calculated cost and emission values are used as the upper limits for the cost of expansion and emissions of the regions in multi-area expansion planning. The proposed bi-level approach prevents one region from bearing additional expansion costs without compensatory benefits and provides advantageous collaboration for the participant regions in the MAPS expansion. The proposed linear model requires fewer computational expansion models for long-term planning of the MAPS, but takes the uncertain generation of renewable units into account.

The inefficacy of private enforcement of directors’ duties

Company directors play an important role in society. Their activities have significant effects on the interests of their companies, shareholders and other stakeholders. Consequently, the law regards them as fiduciaries and imposes duties which set out behavioural expectations. The private enforcement regime is the primary mechanism adopted by many common law jurisdictions for securing compliance with directors’ duties. The crucial question is whether this regime is effective in securing enforcement of directors’ duties. This article addresses this question by examining the fundamental weaknesses of the private enforcement regime. In exploring these weaknesses, it focuses on the UK and Nigerian experience. It crucially argues that the private enforcement regime, due to its weaknesses, is unable to provide deterrence and compensatory benefits. It is therefore ineffective as an enforcement mechanism for breach of directors’ duties. This article therefore concludes that there is need for a complementary enforcement regime.

Bringing attention restoration theory to the classroom: A tablet app using nature videos to replenish effortful cognition

Abstract Objectives We developed the Calm Spot app, which displays one, randomly selected two-minute nature video per usage, for the purpose of replenishing children’s focused engagement in the subsequent live educational activities in their classroom. The present report has three aims: 1) To describe the theoretical model and technical features of the Calm Spot intervention, which includes a tablet app, physical space in the classroom, and teacher professional development program; 2) To present usage patterns and feasibility results from the first Calm Spot implementation and 3) To explore whether Calm Spot usage was concentrated among students who need it most, i.e., those with initially greater self-regulation and academic challenges. Methods The Calm Spot was implemented in 115 kindergarten through second grade classrooms (approximately 2300 students) in a high-poverty urban center within the U.S. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to analyze the relationship between app usage data, and children’s performance on the Flanker executive function task, and the Woodcock Johnson applied problems and letter-word sub-tests. Results A small majority of the sample (≈ 54%) used the Calm Spot regularly. In high usage classrooms, individuals with higher initial individual-level academic performance were more likely to use the Calm Spot, whereas in lower-usage classrooms individuals with lower initial academic performance were more likely to use it. Conclusions Low usage classrooms may have used the Calm Spot as “triage” for the most inattentive students, yet, the absolute level of use was likely not sufficient to provide compensatory benefits for these students. Ideas for increasing implementation are discussed.

Exercise as Medicine in Multiple Sclerosis—Moving Beyond Compensatory Benefits

Many studies have shown that physical exercise improves multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms, including cognition, fatigue, bowel and bladder function, depression, and overall quality of life. However, the pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for these symptomatic changes remain elusive. Exercise offers a likely path for addressing progressive MS, nervous system repair, and as a wellness approach for people with MS. We as a community need to work toward gaining information to establish an evidence-based exercise prescription for people living with MS.

Exercise as Medicine in Multiple Sclerosis—Moving Beyond Compensatory Benefits

Many studies have shown that physical exercise improves multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms, including cognition, fatigue, bowel and bladder function, depression, and overall quality of life. However, the pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for these symptomatic changes remain elusive. Exercise offers a likely path for addressing progressive MS, nervous system repair, and as a wellness approach for people with MS. We as a community need to work toward gaining information to establish an evidence-based exercise prescription for people living with MS.

Risks of spontaneously and IVF-conceived singleton and twin pregnancies differ, requiring reassessment of statistical premises favoring elective single embryo transfer (eSET).

A published review of the literature by Dutch investigators in 2004 suggested significant outcome differences between spontaneously - and in vitro fertilization (IVF) - conceived singleton and twin pregnancies. Here we review whether later studies between 2004–2015 confirmed these findings. Though methodologies of here reviewed studies varied, and all were retrospective, they overall confirmed results of the 2004 review, and supported significant outcome variances between spontaneously- and IVF-conceived pregnancies: IVF singletons demonstrate significantly poorer and IVF twins significantly better perinatal outcomes than spontaneously conceived singletons and twins, with differences stable over time, and with overall obstetrical outcomes significantly improved. Exaggerations of severe IVF twin risks are likely in the 50 % range, while exaggerations of milder perinatal risks are approximately in 25 % range. Though elective single embryo transfers (eSET) have been confirmed to reduce pregnancy chances, they are, nevertheless, increasingly utilized. eSET, equally unquestionably, however, reduces twin pregnancies. Because twin pregnancies have been alleged to increase outcome risks in comparison to singleton pregnancies, here reported findings should affect the ongoing discussion whether increased twin risks are factual. With no risk excess, eSET significantly reduces IVF pregnancy chances without compensatory benefits and, therefore, is not advisable in IVF, unless patients do not wish to conceive twins or have medical contraindications to conceiving twins.