Universal Benefits Research Articles

Push toward pre-emptive kidney transplantation - for sure?

Pre-emptive kidney transplantation (PKT) has long been considered the optimal treatment for patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) seeking the most favourable long-term outcomes. However, the significant growth in transplant procedures over recent decades has led to a notable increase in wait-listed patients and a disproportionate demand for donor organs. This situation necessitates a re-evaluation of transplantation timing and the establishment of rational indications from both societal and clinical perspectives. An increasing number of retrospective analyses have challenged the universal benefit of PKT, suggesting that premature indications for living or deceased donor PKT may not always yield superior hard outcomes compared with non-PKT approaches. Conventional predictive models have shown limitations in accurately assessing risks for certain subpopulations, potentially leading to significant disparities among wait-listed patients. To address these challenges, we propose the following considerations. Prediction models should not only optimize the distribution of our limited donor resources, but should also illuminate foreseeable risks associated with a potentially 'unsuccessful' PKT. Therefore, this article seeks to underscore the necessity for further discourse on the smouldering concept of when and for whom living or deceased donor PKT should be considered. Is it universally beneficial, or should the clinical paradigm be re-evaluated? In the endeavour to attain superior post-PKT survival outcomes compared with non-PKT or conservative treatment, it seems critical to acknowledge that other treatments may provide more favourable results for certain individuals. This introduces the intricate task of effectively navigating the complexities associated with 'too early' or 'unsuccessful' PKT.

Prevention and control of cardiovascular disease in "real-world" settings: sustainable implementation of effective policies.

Global progress in addressing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has been insufficient to attain the nine WHO non-communicable disease (NCD) targets and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing premature NCD mortality by one-third by 2030. Progress has been slowest in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) where addressing the CVD burden is a foremost development imperative. This review examines the reasons for this situation to propose a way forward. First, we review policy instruments to address behavioral and metabolic risk factors of CVD and health system interventions to improve cardiovascular outcomes. Second, we illustrate the financial, health workforce, health system challenges, and weak national capacity that impede the implementation of these policy instruments. Third, we discuss how LMIC might move forward despite these challenges by (a) giving due consideration to contextual and other factors that determine the success of policy implementation (b) including affordable, high-impact interventions as the core of the universal health coverage health benefit package with primary health care as the foundation and (c) by taking note of the WHO guidance provided in the 2023-2030 implementation roadmap for the Global Action Plan for prevention and control of NCD.

Mastering trust and commitment in the virtual age

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings This study investigated virtual team members’ perception of trust and commitment when using computer-mediated communication across different industries. The results showed that communication method significantly impacted trust and commitment levels, while industry type alone did not produce significant differences. Visual communication methods consistently demonstrated higher trust scores across all industries compared to non-visual methods. Key managerial insights emanating from the findings emphasize the importance of strategic tool selection and the universal benefits of visual communication tools in building trust across virtual teams, regardless of industry context. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Deliberative mini-publics as learning schools for democracy? Examining deliberation impact on dissatisfied and radical participants of a citizens’ assembly in Poland

ABSTRACT In a global context of democratic challenges such as dissatisfaction and social polarization, research on Western European democracies suggests that deliberative democracy instruments like deliberative mini-publics (DMPs) may provide a solution with their positive impact on participants’ attitudes towards politics and democracy. Despite the proliferation of citizens’ assemblies, especially locally, little is known about DMPs in newer democracies in Central and Eastern Europe, and it is uncertain whether the findings about the virtues of deliberation would hold. This study assesses the impact of a mini-public in Poland, focusing on the Citizens’ Assembly on Energy Poverty, the country's first national-level deliberative initiative. Poland has faced heightened political dissatisfaction due to eight years of right-wing populist governance and the rise of radical ideologies, raising questions about deliberation's impact on dissatisfied and radical participants. Our results confirm the positive impact of deliberation on participants, improving their percepetion of knowledge, political interest, efficacy, and support for mini-publics. However, we find no significant differences of deliberation between dissatisfied, radical participants, and other groups highlighting the universal benefits of deliberation. These inconclusive findings may be due to a common recruitment bias in DMPs, specifically enrolling politically engaged citizens, thus limiting the potential for a learning curve.

Relationship between universal health insurance benefits and prostate cancer mortality in Colombia.

Prostate cancer is the most common cause for cancer mortality among men in Colombia. Law 100, in 1993, created a contributory regime (private insurance) and subsidized regime (public insurance) in which the subsidized regime had fewer benefits. However, Ruling T760 in July 2012 mandated that both systems must offer equal quality and access to healthcare. This study examines the impact of this change on prostate cancer mortality rates before and after 2012. Prostate cancer mortality records from 2006 to 2020 were collected from Colombia's National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE). Crude mortality was calculated by health insurance for different geographic areas and analyzed for changes between 2006 and 2012 and 2013-2020. Join-Point regressions were used to analyze trends by health insurance. Crude mortality rates in the contributory regime had a non-statistically significant decrease from 2006 to 2012 (AAPC= -1.32%, P = 0.14, 95% CI= -3.12, 0.52). In contrast, between 2013 and 2020 there was a non-statistically significant increase in crude mortality (AAPC 1.10%, P = 0.07, 95% CI= -0.09, 2.31). Comparatively, crude mortality in the subsidized regime, from 2006 to 2012, increased with a statistically significant AAPC of 2.51% (P < 0.001, 95% CI = 1.21, 3.83). From 2013 to 2020, mortality continued to increase with statistically significant AAPC of 5.52% (P < 0.001, 95% CI = 4.77, 6.27). Compared to their crude mortality differences from 2006 to 2020, from 2013 to 2020, the departments of Atlántico, Córdoba, Sucre, Arauca, Cesar, and Cauca had the highest rates in prostate cancer mortality in the subsidized regime compared to the contributory regime. Ruling T760 did not positively impact prostate cancer mortality, particularly of men in the subsidized regime.

Disability during the last ten years of life: evidence from a register-based study in Austria.

Analyses of late-life disability based on survey data of the oldest old often suffer from non-representative samples due to selective participation and attrition. Here, we use register data on the Austrian long-term care allowance (ALTCA) as a proxy for late-life disability. In this retrospective mortality follow-back study, we analyze receipt of ALTCA, a universal cash benefit based on physician-assessed disability in activities of daily living during the last 10years of life, among all decedents aged 65years and over from 2020 in Austria (n = 76,781) and its association with sex, ageatdeath, and underlying cause of death. We find that on average, ALTCA was received for 3.5 and 5.3years in men and women. At 10years before death, 10% of men and 25% of women received ALTCA, which increased to 56% and 77% at one year before death. Both the probability and duration of ALTCA increased with age at death and varied by cause of death: Those who died from cancer, myocardial infarction, and external causes of death were less likely to receive ALTCA and for shorter durations, while those who died from dementia, Parkinson's disease, chronic heart disease, or chronic lung disease were more likely to receive it and longer so. Overall, our register-based estimates of the prevalence of late-life disability were higher than previous survey-based estimates. Policy-makers should be aware that costs of long-term care will rise as life expectancy rises and deaths from dementia and chronic heart disease will likely increase in therapidly aging European societies.

Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) in Digestive Healthcare: Regulatory Challenges and Ethical Implications.

The growing integration of software in healthcare, particularly the rise of standalone software as a medical device (SaMD), is transforming digestive medicine, a field heavily reliant on medical imaging for both diagnosis and therapeutic interventions. This narrative review aims to explore the impact of SaMD on digestive healthcare, focusing on the evolution of these tools and their regulatory and ethical challenges. Our analysis highlights the exponential growth of SaMD in digestive healthcare, driven by the need for precise diagnostic tools and personalized treatment strategies. This rapid advancement, however, necessitates the parallel development of a robust regulatory framework to ensure SaMDs are transparent and deliver universal clinical benefits without the introduction of bias or harm. In addition, the discussion highlights the importance of adherence to the FAIR principles for data management-findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability. However, enhanced accessibility and interoperability require rigorous protocols to ensure compliance with data protection guidelines and adequate data security, both of which are crucial for effective integration of SaMDs into clinical workflows. In conclusion, while SaMDs hold significant promise for improving patients' outcomes in digestive medicine, their successful integration into clinical workflow depends on rigorous data protection protocols and clinical validation. Future directions include the need for adequate clinical and real-world studies to demonstrate that these devices are safe and well-suited to healthcare settings.

Varieties of capitalism and environmental performance

This paper investigates the role of institutions in decoupling economic growth from environmental impacts, employing the Varieties of Capitalism framework. It finds that Northern European countries have achieved more significant decoupling than other Western OECD countries since the 1980s, as measured by the Ecological Footprint of Consumption. Differences in corporatism, as well as the amount and type of public social expenditures, are hypothesized to play a crucial role in explaining this pattern. Multiple regression analysis reveals that larger proportions of GDP allocated to universal social expenditures — not contingent on work status — are robustly associated with stronger decoupling. This suggests that the considerable investments of Northern European countries in universal social benefits have been key for effectively reducing the environmental impacts associated with economic growth.

Welfare and economic implications of universal child benefits

Universal child benefits are an important component of the social protection systems in many developed economies, particularly in Europe. When evaluating their impact, most studies tend to focus primarily on the empirical evidence and short-term effects. However, given their large-scale implementation, such programs can have sizable general equilibrium effects. The aim of this paper is to study the long-run implications of universal child benefits within a theoretical framework that can capture the complexities of household decisions regarding consumption, labor participation, and the timing of children. To this end, I develop an overlapping generations model with idiosyncratic earnings risk, infertility shocks, and endogenous temporal fertility. According to the model simulations, universal child benefits lead to a reduction in the spacing between children and, on average, lower maternal age at childbirth for all births. This, in turn, alleviates some of the negative aggregate effects typically associated with redistributive policies, but has a detrimental impact on the average quality of children. Finally, universal child benefits increase ex-ante welfare by 0.42% of lifetime adult consumption, significantly outperforming broad-based transfer policies not tied to the number of children.

PARENTAL AUTONOMY SUPPORT AND CHILD PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT: EXAMINING THE ROLE OF CULTURAL HIERARCHY

The studies described in this paper investigated whether cultural hierarchy plays a moderating role in the association between parental autonomy support and child psychosocial adjustment, employing samples presenting a wide range of cultural variability (parents born in 71 different nations). The participants’ cultural backgrounds, based on the parents’ birth country, were rated in terms of emphasis on hierarchical power using Schwartz’s dimensional coding system. Structural equation modelling analyses revealed no moderation effect of cultural hierarchy on the relation between parental autonomy support and child outcomes, with the exception of the relation between parental autonomy support and adolescents’ autonomous self-regulation. As expected, parental autonomy support and cultural hierarchy were significantly and negatively correlated. Parental autonomy support was often associated with indicators of youth psychosocial adjustment, whereas cultural hierarchy was generally unrelated to adjustment. These results support self-determination theory’s position on the universal benefits of autonomy support.

Las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) como servicios públicos esenciales en Argentina. El rol del Estado en la ampliación de la ciudadanía

In the following article we propose to analyze how the Universal and Compulsory Basic Benefit was originated and developed, a public policy created by the Argentine State to guarantee access to Information and Communication Technologies services, decreed within essential public services. In the context of the covid-19 pandemic, we take this case to study how public policies are formulated, the expansion of political and social citizenship, the regulatory role of the State based on its characteristics and definitions within a certain historical, political and economic context, and the responses that this generates in the market forces and with which the State often comes into contradiction and tension.

Parental allowance increase and labor supply: Evidence from a Czech reform

We study the effect of a substantial increase (36%) in parental allowance, a universal basic income-type benefit, on the labor supply of parents of young children in the Czech Republic. Parental allowance does not preclude labor market activity, which allows us to estimate the income effect. We find that the reform resulted in a 4.8 percentage point (11%) decrease in labor market participation of mothers of young children. Mothers with only one child (7.8 p.p., 20%) and university-educated mothers (17 p.p., 32%) reacted particularly strongly. The percentage reduction in hours worked was virtually identical to that in labor force participation. We argue that the sizeable labor supply reduction was driven by the option to extend the parental allowance period, which enabled mothers to postpone their return to work. We find no effect on the labor supply of fathers of young children.

Fitness consequences of variation in social group size are not population‐specific but are associated with access to food in the communally breeding rodent, Octodon degus

AbstractStudies that concurrently investigate the functional benefits of group living in multiple populations of the same species are rare. Over a 3‐year period (2014–2016), we examined two ecologically contrasting populations to test multiple hypotheses for the adaptive significance of group living in the communally breeding rodent Octodon degus. We quantified the size of social units (number of adults, number of adult females), edible vegetation at burrow systems, and per capita offspring weaned (PCOW) in each population. Contrary to expectations, we did not observe population‐specific associations between group size and edible vegetation or PCOW nor universal benefits of group living. In one population, PCOW increased in mid‐sized groups with more edible vegetation. However, this trend was not consistent across years. Notably, we observed a complete reproductive failure in one population during the first year of study, one that was characterized by low rainfall and no detectable edible vegetation. This result is important because reproductive failure occurred regardless of group size, suggesting that communal living may not buffer degus against the harshest of environmental conditions. Examining how social organization shapes individual reproductive success under extreme variation in food availability is an important step towards understanding how populations will respond to a changing climate.

Impact of the universal health insurance benefits on cervical cancer mortality in Colombia

BackgroundCervical cancer patients in Colombia have a lower likelihood of survival compared to breast cancer patients. In 1993, Colombia enrolled citizens in one of two health insurance regimes (contributory-private insurance and subsidized- public insurance) with fewer benefits in the subsidized regime. In 2008, the Constitutional Court required the Colombian government to unify services of both regimes by 2012. This study evaluated the impact of this insurance change on cervical cancer mortality before and after 2012.MethodsWe accessed 24,491 cervical cancer mortality records for 2006–2020 from the vital statistics of Colombia’s National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE). We calculated crude mortality rates by health insurance type and departments (geopolitical division). Changes by department were analyzed by rate differences between 2006 and 2012 and 2013–2020, for each health insurance type. We analyzed trends using join-point regressions by health insurance and the two time-periods.ResultsThe contributory regime (private insurance) exhibited a significant decline in cervical cancer mortality from 2006 to 2012, characterized by a noteworthy average annual percentage change (AAPC) of -3.27% (P = 0.02; 95% CI [-5.81, -0.65]), followed by a marginal non-significant increase from 2013 to 2020 (AAPC 0.08%; P = 0.92; 95% CI [-1.63, 1.82]). In the subsidized regime (public insurance), there is a non-significant decrease in mortality between 2006 and 2012 (AAPC − 0.29%; P = 0.76; 95% CI [-2.17, 1.62]), followed by a significant increase from 2013 to 2020 (AAPC of 2.28%; P < 0.001; 95% CI [1.21, 3.36]). Examining departments from 2013 to 2020 versus 2006 to 2012, the subsidized regime showed fewer cervical cancer-related deaths in 5 out of 32 departments, while 6 departments had higher mortality. In 21 departments, mortality rates remained similar between both regimes.ConclusionImprovement of health benefits of the subsidized regime did not show a positive impact on cervical cancer mortality in women enrolled in this health insurance scheme, possibly due to unresolved administrative and socioeconomic barriers that hinder access to quality cancer screening and treatment.

Social transfer policies and child poverty in European countries: Evaluating policy alternatives through a multiobjective programming model

Child poverty remains a significant concern across Europe and citizens regard policy interventions that effectively address this issue to be of utmost importance. In this work, we analyse the potential of social transfer policy alternatives to alleviate child and overall poverty simultaneously in European countries. Using a logistic regression to define the objective functions and constraints, we rely on multiobjective programming to assess key features of national social transfer systems that can minimize child and overall poverty and tend to equal both levels downwards. Taking into account the starting levels of each country, the results underline the importance of finding an adequate combination of pro-child and pro-poor targeting of social transfer policies. For most European countries, an increase in the level of cash benefits for children is advisable – particularly universal benefits – except in Croatia, the Netherlands, and Norway. Nonetheless, in France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain, the recommended proportion of GDP allocated to universal cash benefits is lower than the proportion allocated to means-tested benefits. In this regard, our research provides an innovative approach for policymakers to optimize poverty reduction strategies by contributing valuable insights for the design and implementation of effective social transfer policies to combat child and overall poverty in European countries.

Racial Disparities in Highly Effective Contraceptive Use Among U.S. Active Duty Servicewomen, Fiscal Years 2016-2019.

Background: Previous studies have found that unintended pregnancy rates are higher among racial minorities and active duty servicewomen (ADSW), correlating with lower rates of effective contraceptive use. The Military Health System (MHS) provides universal health care benefit coverage for all ADSW, including access to all highly effective contraceptive (HEC) methods. This study investigated the association between race and HEC use among ADSW. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using fiscal year 2016-2019 data from the MHS Data Repository for all ADSW ages 18-45 years. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and logistic regression models, adjusted and unadjusted, determining the odds of HEC use, overall and by method. Results: Of the 729,722 ADSW included in the study, 59.7% used at least one HEC during the study period. The highest proportions of users were aged 20-24 years, White, single, Junior Enlisted, and serving in the Army. Lower odds of HEC use were demonstrated in Black (odds ratio [OR] = 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.92-0.95), American Indian/Alaska Native (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.82-0.89), Asian/Pacific Islander (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.80-0.83), and Other (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.94-0.99) ADSW compared with White ADSW. Conclusions: Universal coverage of this optional preventive service did not guarantee its use. The MHS can serve as a model for monitoring racial disparities in HEC use.

The Challenge of Online Education to Educational Equity and its Solving Strategies

As an emerging form of education, online education provides learners with more flexible and extensive learning opportunities, but it also brings a challenge to educational equity. Under the influence of resource allocation, regional differences and technological gap, learners' access to high-quality educational resources is unbalanced. To solve this problem, we need to start from multiple levels. The government should increase the investment in online education resources and formulate relevant policies to ensure educational equity. Online education platforms should improve the openness of educational resources and use advanced technologies to narrow the educational gap between regions. Teachers and educational institutions need to constantly improve the quality of teaching and cultivate learners' independent learning and collaborative learning abilities to adapt to the characteristics of online education. Only with the joint efforts of all parties can we truly realize the universal benefit of online education and promote educational equity.

The Ideality of the Kiai's Role in Practical Political Constellations

This research aims to find a philosophical basis for the ideal position of kiai in practical political constellations. This study is a qualitative research with a literature study design and descriptive method focusing on finding the ideal concept of kiai in politics based on its reality dimensions. The research results show that kiai and politics in Islam are two things that are synergistic, kiai is a prototypical representation of the Prophet's heirs who appear as an active agent of social change, and the kiai's ideality in politics ultimately returns to the kiai's own consistency. In politics which is filled with intrigue and conflict, political leaders must be able to minimize conflict and act as problem solvers. If not, then religious positions can become instruments of power. Kiai must be able to realize his sociological role as agent of change consistently because politics is not just a tool of power but the science of how to build universal benefit.

When Video Improves Learning in Higher Education

The use of video in education has become ubiquitous as technological developments have markedly improved the ability and facility to create, deliver, and view videos. The concomitant pedagogical transformation has created a sense of urgency regarding how video may be used to advance learning. Initial reviews have suggested only limited potential for the use of video in higher education. More recently, a systematic review of studies on the effect of video use on learning in higher education, published in the journal Review of Educational Research, found, overall, effects to be positive. In the present paper, we critique this study. We reveal significant gaps in the study methodology and write-up and use a cognitive processing lens to critically assess and re-analyse study data. We found the results of this study to be only applicable to learning requiring lower-level cognitive processing and conclude, consistent with prior research, that claims of a universal benefit are not yet warranted.

Evaluation of the Maqāṣid al-Sharī’ah Liberalization: An Examination of the Notion of ‘Prioritizing Public Interest over Textual Evidence’

The effort to reconstruct Islamic law from liberal Muslim groups has a positive influence and acceptance for some people. However, the majority of Muslims have not been able to accept and prefer to follow the mindset and methodology of previous scholars. The concept of maqāṣid al-sharī’ah of liberal Muslim thinkers is methodologically considered not to have a strong basis because it dares to ignore the legal provisions in the specific daily, which are considered not in line with the purpose of the law and the benefit. Maqasid al-shari'ah should be built on efforts to integrate the texts of particular propositions into the texts of universal propositions (kully) so that the purpose of legal legislation can be understood. This article critically examines the concept of maqāṣid al-sharī’ah developed by liberal Muslim thinkers, especially in Indonesia. This study explicitly emphasizes the importance of Islamic law in realizing the benefits and being a solution to various problems of contemporary life. The benefit to be achieved is the ultimate and universal benefit, namely the benefit obtained through legal formulation efforts by making specific texts as a foothold to understand the purpose of the law. It is not an assumptive benefit (mawhūmah) obtained through legal reconstruction efforts based on the purpose of the law and the benefit but ignores the texts of particular arguments.