bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glaciers in equilibrium, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica
Authors: FOUNTAIN ANDREW G. , BASAGIC HASSAN J. , NIEBUHR SPENCER 
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACTThe 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.
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

SummaryThere 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.
The Mortality of Female Assured Lives
Authors: Kellock D. G. 
Published: July 2016

SynopsisThe 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.
Whole of Life and Endowment Assurance Mortality
Authors: Stoodley Charles L. 
Published: July 2016

SynopsisThe 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

SynopsisThe 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

SynopsisThe 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.
Early actuarial work in eighteenth-century Scotland
Authors: Dow J. B. 
Published: July 2016

SynopsisThe 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

SynopsisThe 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

SynopsisSince 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

SynopsisThe 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

SynopsisThe 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

SynopsisThe 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 PaperIt 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

SynopsisThe 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

AbstractThe 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

SUMMARYThis 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.
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 &amp; 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.
The social integration of mainstreamed handicapped high school children
Authors: Parker J. L. , Burrows Jenny 
Published: July 2016

The social integration (sociometric status) of 22 mainstreamed handicapped high school children was compared with that of their non-handicapped peers.
Results indicated that in friendship and work oriented situations the handicapped were less socially accepted than their nonhandicapped peers, more frequently identified as stars, and female handicapped students were more popular and accepted than the male handicapped.
A limitation of the study was its small sample size.
Subjective memory complaints in elderly: relationship with health status, multimorbidity, medications, and use of services in a population-based study
Authors: Pedro Montejo C. , Mercedes Montenegro-Peña , Ramón López-Higes , Borja Montejo R. 
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACTBackground:This study examines the associations between subjective memory complaints (SMC) and health variables: multimorbidity, presence of certain diseases, health perceived state, difficulties seeing and hearing, pain, and use of medications and health services. Furthermore, we aim to identify risk groups based on multimorbidity and calculate the effect size for each of these relationships.Methods:Cross-sectional epidemiological study using a face-to-face interview with a structured questionnaire. Sample size: 1,342 people aged 65 years and older taken from a random sample of the census tracts. SMC were studied using questions regarding memory complaints.Results:Multimorbidity and polypharmacy are associated with SMC, so are impaired vision and hearing. SMC are more frequently present in people who use health services more intensively and exhibit reduced functional activity as a result of diseases. With respect to specific diseases, only cerebrovascular accidents and chronic constipation were associated with SMC. In regression analysis, predictors of SMC were vision and hearing impairment, poor self-perceived health, pain, and general practitioner visits. However, the effect size of these factors is low. The variables that indicate risk groups are number of diseases, reduced functional activity, hearing impairment, and poor self-perceived health.Conclusions:Memory complaints are a heterogeneous phenomenon. Our results confirm that multimorbidity, polypharmacy, greater use of health services, pain, and poor self-perceived health are associated with SMC. We identified two risk groups with a high percentage of complaints and a healthy group with a low percentage. Detecting these factors and these risk and healthy groups is useful in achieving proper patients management.