bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generalised rely-guarantee concurrency: an algebraic foundation
Authors: Hayes Ian J.
Published: July 2016

The rely-guarantee technique allows one to reason compositionally about concurrent programs. To handle interference the technique makes use of rely and guarantee conditions, both of which are binary relations on states. A rely condition is an assumption that the environment performs only atomic steps satisfying the rely relation and a guarantee is a commitment that every atomic step the program makes satisfies the guarantee relation. In order to investigate rely-guarantee reasoning more generally, in this paper we allow interference to be represented by a process rather than a relation and hence derive more general rely-guarantee laws. The paper makes use of a weak conjunction operator between processes, which generalises a guarantee relation to a guarantee process, and introduces a rely quotient operator, which generalises a rely relation to a process. The paper focuses on the algebraic properties of the general rely-guarantee theory. The Jones-style rely-guarantee theory can be interpreted as a model of the general algebraic theory and hence the general laws presented here hold for that theory.
Surgical Indications of Distal Pancreatectomy with Celiac Axis Resection for Pancreatic Body/Tail Cancer
Authors: Sugiura Teiichi , Okamura Yukiyasu , Ito Takaaki , Yamamoto Yusuke , Uesaka Katsuhiko
Published: July 2016

Background

The survival impact of distal pancreatectomy (DP) with celiac axis resection for locally advanced pancreatic body/tail cancer remains unclear.

Methods

A total of 16 patients underwent DP with celiac axis resection, while 76 underwent standard DP for pancreatic body/tail cancer. The indications for DP with celiac axis resection included: (a) tumor invasion of either the celiac axis or common hepatic artery or both [CA/CHA (+)] and (b) tumor invasion of the root of the splenic artery, which is difficult to dissect without securing an adequate surgical margin [CA/CHA (−)].

Results

DP with celiac axis resection presented longer operative time and greater amount of blood loss than DP. The median survival time was 17.5 months in the DP with celiac axis resection group and 43.1 months in the DP group (p = 0.040). Among the patients who underwent DP with celiac axis resection, the median survival time was 35.1 months in the CA/CHA (−) group and 13.2 months in the CA/CHA (+) group (p = 0.001). Comparing the patients undergoing standard DP and DP with celiac axis resection with a CA/CHA (−) status, there were no significant differences in either disease‐free or overall survival times. The CA19‐9 value, CA/CHA (+) status, and microscopic venous infiltration were revealed independent significant prognostic factors.

Conclusions

DP with celiac axis resection should therefore be indicated in patients with a CA/CHA (−) status. However, it is difficult to justify the use of DP with celiac axis resection in patients with CA/CHA (+) status due to the poor survival.
The Current State and Path Forward For Enterprise Image Viewing: HIMSS-SIIM Collaborative White Paper
Authors: Roth Christopher J. , Lannum Louis M. , Dennison Donald K. , Towbin Alexander J.
Published: July 2016

Clinical specialties have widely varied needs for diagnostic image interpretation, and clinical image and video image consumption. Enterprise viewers are being deployed as part of electronic health record implementations to present the broad spectrum of clinical imaging and multimedia content created in routine medical practice today. This white paper will describe the enterprise viewer use cases, drivers of recent growth, technical considerations, functionality differences between enterprise and specialty viewers, and likely future states. This white paper is aimed at CMIOs and CIOs interested in optimizing the image-enablement of their electronic health record or those who may be struggling with the many clinical image viewers their enterprises may employ today.
The second report of a new hypomyelinating disease due to a defect in the VPS11 gene discloses a massive lysosomal involvement
Authors: Hörtnagel Konstanze , Krägeloh‐Mann Inge , Bornemann Antje , Döcker Miriam , Biskup Saskia , Mayrhofer Heidi , Battke Florian , du Bois Gabriele , Harzer Klaus
Published: July 2016

Vesicular protein sorting‐associated proteins (VPS, including VPS11) are indispensable in the endocytic network, in particular the endosome‐lysosome biogenesis. Exome sequencing revealed the homozygous variant p.Leu387_ Gly395del in the VPS11 gene in two siblings. On immunoblotting, the mutant VPS11 protein showed a distinctly reduced immunostaining intensity. The children presented with primary and severe developmental delay associated with myoclonic seizures, spastic tetraplegia, trunk and neck hypotonia, blindness, hearing loss, and microcephaly. Neuro‐imaging showed severe hypomyelination affecting cerebral and cerebellar white matter and corpus callosum, in the absence of a peripheral neuropathy. Electron microscopy of a skin biopsy revealed clusters of membranous cytoplasmic bodies in dermal unmyelinated nerve axons, and numbers of vacuoles in eccrine sweat glands, similar to what is seen in a classic lysosomal storage disease (LSD). Bone marrow cytology showed a high number of storage macrophages with a micro‐vacuolated cytoplasm. Biochemically, changes in urinary glycosphingolipids were reminiscent of those in prosaposin deficiency (another LSD). The clinical and neuro‐imaged features in our patients were almost identical to those in some recently reported patients with another variant in the VPS11 gene, p.Cys846Gly; underlining the presumed pathogenic potential of VPS11 defects. A new feature was the morphological evidence for lysosomal storage in VPS11 deficiency: This newly characterised disease can be viewed as belonging to the complex field of LSD.
Molecular and cellular effects of a novel hydroxamate-based HDAC inhibitor – belinostat – in glioblastoma cell lines: a preliminary report
Authors: Kusaczuk Magdalena , Krętowski Rafał , Stypułkowska Anna , Cechowska-Pasko Marzanna
Published: July 2016

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are now intensively investigated as potential cytostatic agents in many malignancies. Here, we provide novel information concerning the influence of belinostat (Bel), a hydroxamate-based pan-HDAC inhibitor, on glioblastoma LN-229 and LN-18 cells. We found that LN-229 cells stimulated with 2 μmol/L of Bel for 48 h resulted in 70 % apoptosis, while equivalent treatment of LN-18 cells resulted in only 28 % apoptosis. In LN-229 cells this effect was followed by up-regulation of pro-apoptotic genes including Puma, Bim, Chop and p21. In treated LN-18 cells only p21 was markedly overexpressed. Simultaneously, LN-229 cells treated with 2 μmol/L of Bel for 48 h exhibited down-regulation of molecular chaperones GRP78 and GRP94 at the protein level. In contrast, in LN-18 cells Western blot analysis did not show any marked changes in GRP78 nor GRP94 expression. Despite noticeable overexpression of p21, there were no signs of evident G1 nor G2/M cell cycle arrest, however, the reduction in number of the S phase cells was observed in both cell lines. These results collectively suggest that Bel can be considered as potential anti-glioblastoma agent. To our knowledge this is the first report presenting the effects of belinostat treatment in glioblastoma cell lines.
Ectopic Penile Prosthesis Reservoir Placement: An Anatomic Cadaver Model of the High Submuscular Technique
Authors: Ziegelmann Matthew J. , Viers Boyd R. , Lomas Derek J. , Westerman Mary E. , Trost Landon W.
Published: July 2016

Introduction

High submuscular ectopic placement of inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) reservoirs via the inguinal canal has been popularized as an alternative to the retropubic (orthotopic) location, particularly among men with prior pelvic surgery. Published results suggest minimal complications and high patient satisfaction. However, in our practice, we identified several patients presenting for IPP revision after high submuscular placement who were found to have reservoirs within the peritoneal cavity.

Aim

Given the potential for complications, we performed a cadaveric study to define the anatomic location of reservoirs placed using this technique.

Methods

We utilized 10 fresh male cadavers without embalming. Bilateral ectopic reservoir placement (10 AMS Conceal [Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA] and 10 Coloplast Cloverleaf [Coloplast Corp, Humlebaek, Denmark]) was performed using the high submuscular technique via a penoscrotal incision. Strict adherence to published reports detailing the technique was emphasized to assure reliability of findings.

Main Outcome Measures

Anatomic dissection was performed to identify reservoir location within the abdominal wall layers.

Results

Twenty IPP reservoirs were placed without difficulty or concern for inadvertent malpositioning. Sixteen reservoirs (80%) were found anterior to the transversalis fascia, including 7 (35%) deep to the rectus muscle and 9 (45%) deep to the external oblique fascia and lateral to the rectus muscle belly. Two reservoirs (10%) were identified in the retroperitoneal space, while 1 (5%) was preperitoneal (deep to transversalis fascia) and 1 (5%) was intraperitoneal.

Conclusion

Placement of IPP reservoirs using the high submuscular technique results in variable anatomic locations, including within or immediately superficial to the peritoneal cavity. Given the lack of immediate recognition and risk of delayed complications with suboptimal reservoir placement, further studies are mandated to assess the long-term safety of the technique.
Relationship between primary restless legs syndrome and migraine with aura
Authors: Acar Bilgehan Atılgan , Acar Türkan , Alagöz Aybala Neslihan , Karacan Alper , Varım Ceyhun , Uyanık Mehmet Şevki , Kaya Tezcan , Akdemir Ramazan
Published: July 2016

In this study, the prevalence and characteristics of definite migraine in primary restless legs syndrome (pRLS) patients and matched control patients (CPs) were investigated. We evaluated 63 consecutive adult pRLS patients and 141 age‐ and sex‐matched controls in this case–control study. The diagnosis of migraine and its subtypes were defined based on The International Classification of Headache Disorders‐II. Only those with “definite” migraine were included in the study. The mean age of 63 adult pRLS patients (15 men and 48 women) who participated in the study was 49.4 years. A total of 27 patients (42.9%) had definite migraine. Of these migraineurs, seven (11.1%) were without aura and 20 (31.8%) were with aura. The mean age of the 141 matched CPs was 48.7 years. A total of 32 CPs (22.7%) experienced migraine. Among these 32 migraineurs, 28 (19.9%) were without aura and four (2.8%) were with aura. Migraine and migraine with aura were significantly more common in pRLS patients than in CPs. pRLS patients with migraine were more anxious and experienced a shorter duration of RLS symptoms than pRLS patients without migraine. Migraineurs in the pRLS group tended to have high scores for severity of migraine headache by Visual Analog Scale score and high levels of disability by Migraine Disability Assessment grading than those in the control group. pRLS patients showed a positive association with definite migraine headaches. In contrast to results highlighted in recent studies, we found a strong link between migraine with aura and pRLS.
Numerical and experimental validation of a morphed wing geometry using Price-Païdoussis wind-tunnel testing – CORRIGENDUM
Authors: Botez R.M. , Koreanschi A. , Sugar-Gabor O.
Published: July 2016

The authors were listed incorrectly in the article by Botez(1). The authors should have appeared in the following order:

A. Koreanschi, O. Sugar-Gabor and R.M. Botez

The article has now been updated with all authors listed in the correct order; this change has been made to the online version only.
The Effects of Climate Change Information on Charitable Giving for Water Quality Protection: A Field Experiment
Authors: Ellis Sean F. , Fooks Jacob R. , Messer Kent D. , Miller Matthew J.
Published: July 2016

This study uses a field experiment involving 251 adult participants to determine which messages related to climate change, extreme weather events, and decaying infrastructure are most effective in encouraging people to pay more for investments that could alleviate future water-quality risks. The experiment also assesses whether people prefer the investments to be directed toward gray or green infrastructure projects. Messages about global warming induced climate change and decaying infrastructure lead to larger contributions than messages about extreme weather events. The results suggest that people are likely to pay more for green infrastructure projects than for gray infrastructure projects.
“FILLING IN”, THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS AND INTUITIONS
Authors: Shaffer Michael J.
Published: July 2016

Recently Timothy Williamson has argued that characterizations of the standard (i.e. intuition-based) philosophical practice of philosophical analysis are misguided because of the erroneous manner in which this practice has been understood. In doing so he implies that experimental critiques of the reliability of intuition are based on this misunderstanding of philosophical methodology and so have little or no bearing on actual philosophical practice or results. His main point is that the orthodox understanding of philosophical methodology is incorrect in that it treats philosophical thought experiments in such a way that they can be “filled in” in various ways that undermines their use as counter-examples and that intuition plays no substantial role in philosophical practice when we properly understand that methodology as a result of the possibility of such filling in. In this paper Williamson's claim that philosophical thought experiments cases can be legitimately filled in this way will be challenged and it will be shown that the experimental critique of the intuition-based methods involved a serious issue.
A dark side of political skill? Awareness and life satisfaction in a Latin American Business
Authors: Hayek Mario , Randolph-Seng Brandon , Williams Wallace Alex , Ingram Kendra
Published: July 2016

Research has typically explained the positive intrapsychic influence of political skill using Conservation of Resources (COR) theory. However, research explaining the possible negative intrapsychic consequences of high levels of political skill is lacking. Therefore, we introduce Cognitive Activation Theory (CAT) to the political skill literature to explain possible negative outcomes of political skill. In testing this theory, we used two hierarchical moderated multiple regressions to examine the relationship between affective and continuance commitment, life satisfaction, and political skill in a large, privately owned, financial services firm in Ecuador. Aligned with prior research, affective commitment positively affected life satisfaction; however, contrary to our hypothesis, continuance commitment also positively affected life satisfaction. Furthermore, consistent with both Conservation of Resources and Cognitive Activation Theory, results indicated that political skill strengthened the relationship between affective commitment and life satisfaction. However, contrary to Cognitive Activation Theory, political skill did not significantly weaken the relationship between continuance commitment and life satisfaction.
Glaciers in equilibrium, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
Authors: FOUNTAIN ANDREW G. , BASAGIC HASSAN J. , NIEBUHR SPENCER
Published: July 2016

The McMurdo Dry Valleys are a cold, dry polar desert and the alpine glaciers therein exhibit small annual and seasonal mass balances, often <±0.06 m w.e. Typically, winter is the accumulation season, but significant snow storms can occur any time of year occasionally making summer the accumulation season. The yearly equilibrium line altitude is poorly correlated with mass balance because the elevation gradient of mass balance on each glacier can change dramatically from year to year. Most likely, winds redistribute the light snowfall disrupting the normal gradient of increasing mass balance with elevation. Reconstructed cumulative mass balance shows that the glaciers have lost <2 m w.e. over the past half century and area changes show minimal retreat. In most cases these changes are less than the uncertainty and the glaciers are considered in equilibrium. Since 2000, however, the glaciers have lost mass despite relatively stable summer air temperatures suggesting a different mechanism in play. Whether this trend is a harbinger of future changes or a temporary excursion is unclear.
THE WAR BETWEEN MILETUS AND SAMOS ΠΕΡΙ ΠΡΙΗΝΗΣ (THUC. 1.115.2; DIOD. SIC. 12.27.2; AND PLUT. PER. 25.1)
Authors: Nudell Joshua P.
Published: July 2016

Thucydides, Diodorus and Plutarch describe the outbreak of war between Miletus and Samos in 441/440 b.c.e., ostensibly over possession of their smaller neighbour Priene, in similar ways (Thuc. 1.115-17; Diod. Sic. 12.27-8; Plut. Per. 25-8). What began as a local conflict over land escalated when Miletus appealed to Athens as hegemon of the Delian League. The Athenians ordered arbitration to resolve the conflict, but the Samians, probably concerned that the Athenians would side with the Milesians (Diod. Sic. 12.27.1), refused, which in turn led to war between Samos and Athens. Eight months later a coup at Samos started another war. When the Samians finally surrendered, the Athenians forced them to repay the cost of the siege (IG I2.293; Thuc. 1.117.3) and collected hostages (Thuc. 1.117.3).
AMPHICTYON, SON OF HELLEN? A MISUNDERSTOOD MYTHOLOGICAL REFERENCE IN DION. HAL. ANT. ROM. 4.25.3
Authors: Wiater N.
Published: July 2016

Virtually all the major scholarly reference works, as well as many more popular sources, provide two alternative versions of the ancestry of Amphictyon, the mythical founder of the Delphic-Pylaic amphictyony, as either the son or the grandson of Deucalion, that is, by implication, either the brother or the son of Hellen. Yet, a review of all relevant sources shows that they unanimously and exclusively refer to Amphictyon as the son of Deucalion.
DILEMMAS OF COMMUNITY-DIRECTED MASS DRUG ADMINISTRATION FOR LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS CONTROL: A QUALITATIVE STUDY FROM URBAN AND RURAL TANZANIA
Authors: Kisoka William , Mushi Declare , Meyrowitsch Dan W. , Malecela Mwele , Simonsen Paul E. , Tersbøl Britt P.
Published: July 2016

There has in recent years been a growing interest in the social significance of global health policy and associated interventions. This paper is concerned with neglected tropical disease control, which prescribes annual mass drug administration to interrupt transmission of, among others, lymphatic filariasis. In Tanzania, this intervention is conducted through community-directed distribution, which aims to improve drug uptake by promoting community participation and local ownership in the intervention. However, the average uptake of drugs often remains too low to achieve the intended interruption of transmission. The qualitative research presented here followed the implementation of mass drug administration in Lindi and Morogoro Regions, Tanzania, in 2011 to understand the different forms of involvement in the campaign and the experiences of stakeholders of their part in community-directed distribution. Some health care workers, community leaders and drug distributors were generally positive about the intervention, emphasizing that the drugs were welcome. Other stakeholders, including the drug-receiving population, reported facing a number of dilemmas of uncertainty, authority and exclusion pertaining to their roles in the intervention. These dilemmas should be of interest to donors, policymakers and implementers. Community-directed distribution relies on social relations between the many different stakeholders. Successful and justifiable interventions for lymphatic filariasis require implementers to recognize the central role of sociality and that the voices and priorities of people count.
Science and the Explanation of Phenomena
Authors: Wodehouse Helen
Published: July 2016

Describing and explaining; tracing the outlines and smoothing out the folds; making clear and making plain; in either case hoping that our hearer may be able to say, “Yes, I see it better now.” Is there really a fundamental difference between these two? Common parlance uses both words for the same kind of process. We may be asked either to “explain” or to “describe” the working of a machine, answering the English boy's question “Why does it do this?” or the Scotch “What's the go of it?” To account for a sum of money is to explain its absence by describing its expenditure. We say, “Why is that man offended?” or, equally, “What's the matter?” and a brief description of the man's character and history, showing on what structure a casual remark has impinged, may lead us to say, “That explains it.” Even where purpose enters we may vary the words we use. “Why on earth did you do that?” “What was your idea in doing that?” “Describe what you had in your mind.” “Please explain”.
Some Practical Notes on the Valuation of Pension Funds
Authors: Carment David
Published: July 2016

Although the question of the valuation of Provident and Pension Funds has recently been so exhaustively treated by Mr. Manly in his two papers appearing in the Journal of the Institute of Actuaries (vol. xxxvi, p. 207, and vol. xxxvii, p. 193), I have been rash enough on the present occasion to undertake to contribute a few practical notes with reference to the subject, with the view of further elucidating, if possible, the effect of the assumption of varying rates of mortality before and after the pension age, of secessions, of different scales of salaries, and of different rates of interest.
The Fourth International Congress of Actuaries, New York, 1903
Authors: Sim William A.
Published: July 2016

The following pages have been written with a view to complying, in some measure, with a request that an early account of the Fourth International Congress of Actuaries should be prepared for the information of those connected with the Faculty of Actuaries who had not an opportunity of attending the meetings and of becoming acquainted with the proceedings. The exceptional length of the programme of the Congress, and the limitations of this occasion, conspired to render impracticable any attempt to present epitomes of more than a comparatively small number of the papers and discussions. It is, perhaps, unnecessary to say that no fragmentary and unannotated compilation, such as this perforce is, can take the place or claim the authority of the full revised official reports, which have yet to be issued.
The Mortality of Female Assured Lives
Authors: Kellock D. G.
Published: July 2016

Synopsis

The paper first discusses the chief tables at present in existence representing female assured mortality, and attention is drawn to the fact that a considerable period has elapsed since the publication of any experience of the mortality exhibited by such lives in this country. It is further pointed out that the Continuous Mortality Investigation now in progress makes no provision for such an enquiry, and this fact, together with the apparently considerable increase in proposals for assurances on female lives, gave rise to the present investigation, which is based on data representing the experience of eight Scottish offices over the period 1920-1930. The methods employed in the collection of the data having been discussed, a short explanation is given of the use made of Powers Machines in the investigation and the increased facilities for sorting and tabulating the particulars which they afforded.

The graduation of the experience formed one of the major problems of the investigation, and after considering the peculiarities of the ungraduated data, and the particular difficulties to which these gave rise, the method finally adopted is explained. Aggregate and ultimate tables on this basis are given, and the usual tests applied to the graduated rates to indicate to what extent smoothness and fidelity to data have been secured. Comparisons are made with other tables of mortality, and these are illustrated in both tabular and graphic form.
The Investment Policy of Life Assurance Offices.
Authors: Murray A. C.
Published: July 2016

Towards the end of Mr. Brown's term of office as President I submitted to him the Table which appears in the appendix to this paper asking whether he thought it of sufficient interest for publication in our Transactions. Mr. Brown replied by inviting me to go further and write a paper for the Faculty on the subject of Investments using the Table as an illustration of past history. Later our present President supported this idea and the notes which I now have the honour to submit are the outcome. Apart from the fact that I dealt with the history of Life Offices' Investments at some length when addressing the Students' Society a few years ago, it seemed to me that something more than a historical survey was desirable. There are few papers in our Transactions dealing with Investment Policy and this was the subject on which I decided. I think that the correct prelude to a discussion of Investment Policy is its own history, and so I give in Part I of this paper a very short general survey of the years from 1871 to 1935. The Table in the appendix will give information additional to what is contained in my remarks to those who wish to go further.
Whole of Life and Endowment Assurance Mortality
Authors: Stoodley Charles L.
Published: July 2016

Synopsis

The object of the paper is to determine the extent to which the differences between the ultimate rates of mortality for the whole life and endowment assurance classes are attributable to class selection.

The effect on the ultimate rates of mortality of the different distributions of the exposed to risk in the two classes is examined on the basis of common “select” rates of mortality derived from the combined experience.

While the effect is found to be appreciable, there remains a substantial proportion of the differences between the actual ultimate rates of mortality unaccounted for, and the conclusion is reached that this unaccounted balance constitutes a measure of the effect of class selection.

Graduations of the separate class experiences with reference to the official combined rates are given in the paper.
Notes on the Effect of Changes in Rates of Interest on the Bonus-Earning Power of an Office Paying a Uniform Compound Reversionary Bonus
Authors: Anderson John Leslie
Published: July 2016

Synopsis

The Paper discusses the general problem of appreciation and depreciation, with special reference to the relation between maturing assets and maturing liabilities, and describes a method of calculating the bonus-earning power of different classes of policy. This method is used to test the effect on bonus-earning power of two types of changes in interest rates:–

(a)

a change, such as that caused by the War Loan conversion of 1932, which takes effect gradually; and

(b)

a subsequent change, due to a rise in the rate of income tax, which has an immediate effect on the income from existing as well as investments.
The Actuary's Tool-Kit
Authors: Deas R. G.
Published: July 2016

Synopsis

The Paper reviews various types of mortality table used for actuarial calculations and suggestions are made whereby future tables might be rendered easier to work with in practice.

The matter is dealt with under two headings, viz. :–

(a)The principles and methods by which future mortality tables might be constructed.

(b)The form in which the factors based on mortality tables should be presented for practical use. The A1924-29 and earlier tables are criticised and a draft lay-out is submitted for future tables.
Integral Equations: Some Applications to Actuarial Science
Authors: Solomon L.
Published: July 2016

1. The theory of Integral Equations, which is an important branch of the wider theory of Functionals, has been developed by mathematicians during the past 60 years. Many valuable applications of these equations have been made in various branches of applied mathematics, including economics, biology, and especially physics. It is believed, too, that they may not be entirely void of interest to the actuary. In this paper, therefore, a brief discussion of integral equations is given, and various problems involving their use are considered. It may be that some of these problems will be thought artificial, or trivial, or both. The writer would request, however, that the examples be regarded as illustrative only. If any of them should suggest new and more important problems to actuaries, or if the methods developed herein should prove of value in the solution of present problems, the purpose of this paper will be achieved.
The Use of ‘Powers’ Cards for the Calculation of Repayment Schedules Under Annuities-Certain
Authors: Scrimgeour D. A. B.
Published: July 2016

One of the disadvantages in practice of a “capital” or “two contract” annuity is the necessity for the office to furnish in the annuity-certain bond, for tax purposes, a schedule showing the capital repayments in each of the periodical instalments of annuity. Thus in a 20‐year annuity-certain payable by half‐yearly instalments 40 calculations are required, and these have to be checked and finally adjusted to agree in total with the original purchase price. The labour involved is considerable if such calculations are frequent.
Errors in Age
Authors: Rankin John A.
Published: July 2016

The subject is one which may seem of somewhat minor importance, but, on investigation, it will be found that, even under present-day conditions, it requires careful attention by life assurance offices and by all societies and funds which have liabilities depending upon the duration of human life. As an illustration of its importance it may be mentioned that it is well known that statements of ages made in the past by the public for the purposes of census and death returns contain a considerable number of errors, both intentional and unintentional: and it can readily be understood that life assurance offices would certainly involve themselves in serious loss if they dispensed with satisfactory proof of age. Were they to do so the resulting errors in age would be relatively far in excess of the corresponding errors contained in census returns, owing to the monetary advantages which could be gained by understating the age at the date of effecting a policy of assurance, and to these advantages acting as an incentive to fraud. Accordingly, it is recognised by all life assurance offices—though not always by their assured—that proof of age is a requirement which must be complied with before payment of a claim.
Combined Endowment Policy and Policy Under the Married Womens' Policies of Assurance Act
Authors: Wark John L.
Published: July 2016

Sir,—The case of Chrystal's Trustee v. Chrystal, reported 1912 S.C. 1003; 49 S.L.R. 726; 1912, 1 S.L.T. 500, appears to me to be of special interest to the Faculty.
Continuous Valuation
Authors: Gwilt G. D.
Published: July 2016

Synopsis

By expressing the values of both liabilities and assets as it is possible to obtain the valuation surplus and its analysis not only at the end of the year but also at any time during the year. Practical forms of gi(t) are discussed and formulae for a continuous analysis of surplus are given.
Early actuarial work in eighteenth-century Scotland
Authors: Dow J. B.
Published: July 2016

Synopsis

The lecture describes how, in 1744, a fund to provide for the widows and children of the Ministers of the Church of Scotland and of the professors of the Scottish Universities came to be established and examines the calculations of an actuarial character on which its provisions were based. Some biographical details are given about the men chiefly responsible for setting up the fund, namely Rev. Robert Wallace, Rev. Alexander Webster and the mathematician Colin Maclaurin. Other work done by Wallace and Webster in the field of population statistics is also outlined.
Estate Duty in Relation to Life Policies, Annuities and Pension and Life Assurance Schemes
Authors: Robertson G. C.
Published: July 2016

Synopsis

The aim of this Paper is to provide a concise guide to Estate Duty Law as it affects policies of assurance and other contracts entered into by Life Offices in the course of their everyday business.

Part I, which is introductory, sets out the main enactments which render property liable to Duty, and covers such matters as aggregation and valuation of property.

The liability of various types of Life Policies to Duty is dealt with in Part II, special reference being made to policies effected under the Married Women's Policies of Assurance (Scotland) Act, 1880, and the Married Women's Property Act, 1882, and to Partnership and Nomination Policies.

Annuities of various types and their liability to Estate Duty are dealt with in Part III.

The treatment of Group Life Assurance and Pension Schemes and other superannuation benefits in Part IV is, of necessity, general in its nature, because of the great variety of such arrangements. An attempt has been made to select the main types and to discuss their liability to Estate Duty.
Trends in Industrial Assurance
Authors: Britt Kenneth J.
Published: July 2016

Synopsis

Since the paper “Industrial Assurance Today” by the same author was submitted to the Faculty in January 1953, publication of the annual reports of the Industrial Assurance Commissioner has been resumed after a gap of about 15 years due to the war. These annual reports have contained more detailed figures than those shown in the previous statistical summaries, and it is possible to follow the trends in the business over a period of years.

The following trends are quite clearly visible in these statistics and are illustrated by tables made up of figures extracted from the reports :—

(i) A fairly rapid rise in sums assured and premiums per new policy, and also a more gradual rise in sums assured and premiums for paying policies in force. The premium income has increased by 33 per cent. between 1950 and 1957.

(ii) A steady tendency to more endowment assurances and, because such policies are usually by lunar monthly premiums, towards monthly premiums.

(iii) Some rise in the expense ratios over the whole business, although societies are able to show decreases due to progress in the elimination of book interest and to an increase in the proportion of endowment assurance business which carries lower commission rates.

(iv) A gradual fall in the lapse rate for the whole business from 24.0 per cent. experienced in 1949 to 16.8 per cent. in 1957. Some offices have distinctly lower rates.

(v) Rising interest rates which, in conjunction with falling mortality rates, have resulted in increased surpluses and improvements in bonus schemes. The share of surplus allocated to policyholders in the proprietary offices is now about the same as in proprietary ordinary life offices.

Other features referred to in the paper are the contraction over a period in the number of agents resulting in a considerable increase in the average collections per agent per week. The earnings of agents have considerably increased. The gradual disappearance of small collecting societies is noted.
Some Problems of Life Office Investment in Ordinary Shares
Authors: Jamieson A. T.
Published: July 2016

Synopsis

The paper discusses some of the questions arising in a life office from a policy of equity investment. An interpretation of the expected yield of such a portfolio is given with its implications for diversification. It is suggested that the chief criterion for the selection of individual stocks should be the quality of management. A description of this and certain other aids to selection is given together with a note on the effects of gearing.

The question of price level is referred to in its relationship with requirements of growth and income distribution, and a policy to be adopted in phasing purchases of such stocks is proposed. Certain of the effects of these methods on portfolio maintenance are mentioned, and there is a brief discussion of reserve requirements for an immunised fund.
The Problems in the Formation of a New Overseas Portfolio
Authors: Mallett R. G.
Published: July 2016

Synopsis

The paper is divided into four sections, viz. :—

(i) The objects and advantages that may accrue from the transaction of business in a country other than that in which an office is established are considered. Reference is made to the nature of the organisation needed in the overseas territory and to the resulting establishment costs.

(ii) Observations are made concerning the level of premium rates, underwriting, and the classes of business to be transacted. The determination of a suitable rate of development is discussed and consideration is given to the nature of the agency organisation. The section concludes with a reference to the duties of the Principal Officer for the territory and the criteria by which progress would be periodically reviewed.

(iii) In this section the financial aspects are examined. Consideration is given to a mutual office commencing with a local Head Office and with Branch offices in two centres at the outset, with a further branch to be opened subsequently. Two plans of new business development over fifteen years are considered and assumptions are made with regard to mortality, lapse and surrender. The premium income is calculated on these assumptions and an estimate is made of the administrative expenses year by year under each plan. The loadings provided by the premiums are then compared with the estimated expenses and tables are produced showing under each plan the excess expenses year by year.

An investigation is thereafter made to ascertain the total expense and valuation strain. Two valuation bases are employed, namely, a net premium valuation and a modified net premium valuation. Hypothetical accounts are produced for both plans to show the emerging development costs year by year. The comparisons show the combined advantages of a satisfactory rate of new business production and a balanced and efficient agency force. Under both plans it is estimated that after twenty years the new territory could. be expected to be no longer in need of financial support.

(iv) The effect of variations in the assumptions made in determining the development costs are referred to. Emphasis is placed on the importance of costing studies, with a regular review of progress.
A Review of the Mortgage Lending of Life Offices
Authors: Spittal R. W.
Published: July 2016

Synopsis

The paper is divided into five sections. The first deals with the historical aspect of mortgage lending and the reasons which, over some 200 years, have modified the percentage of life funds applied in this way.

The second section considers the place of this type of investment in the modern portfolio—particularly in the light of changing ideas on the relation of assets to liabilities.

In the third section, the importance of the selection of suitable loans is stressed, and the general principles which should govern this discussed.

The fourth section details certain classes of security and the factors affecting transactions in each class.

In the concluding part, the author deals with the essentials of the mortgage contract.
Notes on the Census Method of Obtaining Rates of Mortality among Assured Lives
Authors: Gwilt Richard Lloyd
Published: July 2016

Synopsis of Paper

It is desirable that investigations into the mortality experienced by assured lives and more especially by annuitants should be carried out by continuous methods which involve a minimum of time and labour in order that the nature and extent of changes in the mortality from time to time may be observed. The Census Method* meets these requirements, and this method is examined “with the view of establishing how far it can in “itself or with practicable modifications cope with certain questions “arising (1) out of the rapid increase in the rate of mortality during the “period in which selection is in operation and (2) from the disturbance “caused by the heaping-up of business towards the end of each financial “year.” No suitable experience on which to test the method was available, and it was decided to construct hypothetical data in which known rates of mortality prevail in order that some measure of the probable numerical magnitude of the errors in practice might be obtained.
Retirement Benefits in Continental Europe
Authors: Archibald G. C.
Published: July 2016

Synopsis

The majority of the paper is devoted to a comparison of the three principal methods which are used in Europe for the funding of private pension plans, namely: the pay-as-you-go system, book reserves and segregated pre-funding. In the commentary which follows the description of these methods, the author suggests that the book reserve system, when tied to solvency insurance, has several advantages over the other two funding methods.

The paper is also concerned with three other aspects of the provision of retirement pensions in continental European countries. These are : the size of the retirement pensions ; the age at which these retirement pensions commence ; and the methods of removing the adverse effects of inflation on such pensions. In describing the very different pension practices in each of the various European countries, the paper highlights those aspects of a country's pension provision which merit further investigation. The paper then concludes with the view that we, in the U.K., have a considerable amount to gain from a study of pension practices in Europe and that this may eventually help us to solve some of our problems.
The Z-Method for Assurances
Authors: Scott W. F.
Published: July 2016

The use of the Z-method for finding the probability of survival of at least r lives, and the corresponding pure endowment and annuity functions, is well known in acturial circles. (See, for example, Neill [1; section 7.4].) The purpose of this note is to show that similar formulae apply to assurances (including varying, temporary and deferred assurances).
DETERMINANTS OF THE INTENTION TO USE TELEMEDICINE: EVIDENCE FROM PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS
Authors: Saigi-Rubió Francesc , Jiménez-Zarco Ana , Torrent-Sellens Joan
Published: July 2016

Objectives:While most studies have focused on analyzing the results of telemedicine use, it is crucial to consider the determinants of its use to fully understand the issue. This article aims to provide evidence on the determinants of telemedicine use in clinical practice.

Methods:The survey targeted a total population of 398 medical professionals from a healthcare institution in Spain. The study sample was formed by the ninety-three primary care physicians who responded. Using an extended Technology Acceptance Model and microdata for the ninety-six physicians, binary logistic regression analysis was carried out.

Results:The analysis performed confirmed the model's goodness-of-fit, which allowed 48.1 percent of the dependent variable's variance to be explained. The outcomes revealed that the physicians at the healthcare institution placed greater importance on telemedicine's potential to reduce costs, and on its usefulness to the medical profession. The perception of medical information security and confidentiality and the patients’ predisposition toward telemedicine were the second explanatory factors in order of importance. A third set of moderating effects would appear to corroborate the importance of the physicians’ own opinions.

Conclusions:These results have revealed the need for a dynamic approach to the design of telemedicine use, especially when it targets a variety of end-users. Hence, the importance of conducting studies before using telemedicine, and attempting to identify which of the above-mentioned predictors exert an influence and how.
Daily shedding dynamics ofE. coliO157 in an Australian grass-fed beef herd
Authors: LAMMERS G. A. C. , JORDAN D. , McCONNEL C. S. , HELLER J.
Published: July 2016

This study aimed to describe the diurnal shedding dynamics ofEscherichia coliO157 in cattle managed on pasture. The purpose was to identify the value of a single measurement for predicting the shedding status on subsequent days. Over a 14-day period, 24 beef cows with knownE. coliO157 shedding status were sampled twice daily or daily (21 sampling points) andE. coliO157 was enumerated from faeces. No association between shedding status of individual animals within a 7-h period was identified (odds ratio 1·5,P= 0·08). Short-interval sampling demonstrated substantial diurnal volatility in shedding ofE. coliO157 that is not evident in studies based on long-interval (>7 days) sampling. The findings contribute to and support previous findings on the question why it has been difficult to achieve progress in understanding the epidemiology ofE. coliO157 infection in cattle.
Characteristics and management of school phobia/refusal
Authors: Hay Ian
Published: July 2016

School phobics/ref usals form a heterogeneous group of students whose different etiology necessitates an understanding of different management strategies. Although anxiety and psychosomatic symptoms are common traits of the condition, a multi-faceted approach of evaluating and working with the school environment, the family and the student is needed. Younger students have responded well to behaviourally based strategies, while older and adolescent school phobic students are more resistant to treatment, with the school phobia often one aspect of a more complex social-emotional problem. The need to have the student return to school, yet still provide support and understanding to the family and the student is critical. Persistence, consistence and cooperation on the part of the school and family are important factors in the management strategies.
An affective needs support resource for students in the school system: Overdue
Authors: Parker James L.
Published: July 2016

This paper argues the need for the setting up of an Affective Needs Support Resource to complement needs support functions currently being implemented in Queensland State high schools. Such a resource is valuable in its own right for enhancing the quality of life of all students but is seen to be an urgent need if the integration of disabled students is to succeed.
Issues relating to the testing and assessment of Aboriginal students
Authors: Ennis Michael
Published: July 2016

“Tests have been misused to justify race, social class and ethnic discrimination as a racial minority”. (Rescheley, 1979, p. 234.)

The assessment of Aboriginal students as a racial minority is both complex and controversial. All too frequently low achievement scores on standardised tests have placed Aboriginal students in ‘special’ classes for the mildly intellectually handicapped or in non-academic courses (Clark, Clark & Damm, 1979; Cummins, 1980). This paper aims to provide an explanation of the factors influencing the testing and assessment of Aboriginal students. The paper briefly clarifies the terms ‘testing’ and ‘assessment’; offers support for the proposition that Aboriginal students do achieve poorly on both standardised and non-standardised tests; and, most critically, discusses the factors that mitigate against Aboriginal students in assessment situations.