bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Most Efficient Fluctuation Reserves
Authors: Halmstad D. G. 
Published: July 2016

In 1935 the New York Insurance Department introduced the concept of special contingency funds for certain types of insurance. Such requirements had first been introduced in 1925 for mutual workmen's compensation companies. Clear, consistent principles for these funds were not stated at the time, but their purpose seems to be to provide a cushion that may be used in time of serious financial difficulty.In group life insurance, this fund is a “special contingency reserve” and is carried at the suggestion of the New York Department). For mutual casualty, nonprofit hospitalization and medical indemnity plans, and for reciprocal insurers, the fund is treated as “special contingent surplus”, and is a mandated substitute for the minimum capital required of stock insurers). The U.S. federal Life Insurance Company Income Tax Act of 1959 recognizes special credits of a similar nature for health, non-participating life and group life and health insurance coverages.In all of these cases, the accumulations or credits are defined by a designated percentage of premiums). For the New York Department group life reserve and the Income Tax health and group life credit, a maximum is defined by a second percentage of the same annual premiums base. For the nonprofit plans' surplus, a similar maximum in terms of premium is used. However, in the case of mutual casualty companies, and of reciprocal insurers, the “special contingency surplus” must be built up to a defined absolute amount equal to the amount that would be required as capital of a stock company; there are no statutory provisions for withdrawing any part of such a fund once it is accumulated.
Some Comments on the Sparre Andersen Model in the Risk Theory
Authors: Thorin Olof 
Published: July 2016

SummaryThe Sparre Andersen model assumes that the interclaim times and the amounts of claims are independent random variables, the former identically distributed according to a distribution function K(t), t ≥ o, K(o) = o, the latter identically distributed according to a distribution function P(y) — ∞ < y < ∞ As is well known, the Poisson risk process corresponds to the particular case K(t) = 1 — eβt. In the present paper it is pointed out that another particular case, viz. K(t) = є(t — h), corresponding to a fixed (and thus — strictly speaking—nonrandom) mterclaim time, h, has interesting applications. Thus, the ruin problem considered by Giezendanner, Straub and Wettenschwiler in a paper to the 1972 International Congress of Actuaries in Oslo can be formulated by means of this particular case. The same can be said about the earlier model brought forward by Ammeter in his 1948 paper in Skandinavisk Aktuarietidskrift.About the contents of the paper the following further information may be given. The general Sparre Andersen model is first presented and then the ruin formulas are given for the case with a positive gross risk premium. Thereafter, a modified and more direct method for deriving certain necessary auxiliary functions is illustrated by examples including 1 a the Giezendanner—Straub—Wettenschwiler model. The rest of the paper contains a discussion from the point of view of the Sparre Andersen model of (1) the discrete (equidistant) inspection of a Poisson process for ruin, (11) the Ammeter model and analogous models, and (111) the Giezendanner—Straub—Wettenschwiler model.
Factors Affecting Fire Loss—Multiple Regression Models with Extreme Values
Authors: Ramachandran G. 
Published: July 2016

SummaryIn his paper to the Tenth ASTIN Colloquium the author presented generalised extreme value techniques for making use of all large losses that are available for analysis and not merely the largest. In this paper the problem of assessing the relative contributions of various factors to fire losses is investigated. A model concerned with multiple regression with extreme observations of given rank is developed. It takes into consideration the biases due to the use of extremes and the differences between categories of risks in regard to the frequency of fires (or claims). By way of illustration the model was applied to the largest and second largest losses in the textile industries in the United Kingdom during the six-year period 1965 to 1970. The presence or absence of sprinklers, whether the buildings were single-storey or multi-storey, and total floor area were the independent variables included in this preliminary investigation. Judged from extreme losses sprinklers appear to reduce considerably the expected damage in all fires.The technique enables different estimates to be obtained for each regression parameter for different ranks. It is desirable to have a single overall estimate for each parameter; and for this purpose a second model is developed for performing a regression analysis combining observations pertaining to a number of ranks. Covariances of the residual errors are also taken into account in this model.
Aperçu du champ d'application de la théorie du risque dans l'assurance de choses en Autriche
Authors: Neumann L. 
Published: July 2016

Nous donnerons ci-après un aperçu de quelques domaines d'application de la théorie du risque dans l'assurance de choses et en particulier dans l'assurance incendie en Autriche.Il convient cependant de signaler que ce domaine n'a pas encore reçu beaucoup d'applications pratiques en Autriche, mais, ainsi que le montrera la suite de ce travail, l'application pratique de la théorie du risque a déjà conduit à quelques résultats positifs.Du point de vue de la pratique actuarielle dans l'assurance de choses, il faut distinguer deux problèmes principaux:a) la détermination du risque individuel;b) la détermination du risque collectif.Ces deux problèmes feront l'objet des deux prochains chapitres de ce travail. Un dernier chapitre mettra en lumière les relations de ces problèmes avec d'autres disciplines et fera état, pour terminer, de quelques perspectives pratiques.Dans l'assurance de choses, il faut distinguer trois méthodes de détermination du coût de la couverture du risque individuel:a) estimation empirique du coût du risque individuel;b) détermination du coût à l'aide de séries d'observations par la comparaison des sinistres et des primes ou des sinistres et des sommes assurées;c) détermination statistique exacte des primes à l'aide de la théorie individuelle du risque.
Experience Rating A New Application of the Collective Theory of Risk
Authors: Ammeter Hans 
Published: July 2016

Besides its well known applications, the collective risk theory has recently also been applied to problems connected with the so called Experience Rating. This term is used to define a method of premium calculation in insurance business which is based partially or totally on the individual experience of the particular risk involved. It is obvious that Experience Rating is essentially applicable to collective insurances which contain no saving element. In practical applications various possibilities may be considered.The collective theory of risk provides an efficient calculus for the analysis of the various forms of Experience Rating and in paper [3] a particular form of Experience Rating for collective insurances is examined. It is there assumed that the collective risk premium is based on experience derived from non-individual observations. If any cost loading is disregarded, the net premium is given by the relation P′ = (I + λ) P, where λ is a security factor and P the part of the premium covering the expected claims cost.A premium refund
is to be deducted from the basic net premium P′. In this formula α′ and β are suitable numerical values and S means the due sum to be paid out for claims. Hence the net cost to the group considered depends on the actual claims S and therefore takes into account the individual claims experience. It may be shown that for β = I the form of Experience Rating considered is equivalent to a stop loss cover. The general case with β ≠ I represents a combination of ordinary insurance cover and stop loss cover.
A Generalized Model for the Risk Process and its Application to a Tentative Evaluation of Outstanding Liabilities
Authors: Philipson Carl 
Published: July 2016

A compound Poisson process, in this context abbreviated to cPp, is defined by a probability distribution of the number m of events in the interval (o, τ) of the original scale of the process parameter, assumed to be one-dimensional, in the following form.where du shall be inserted for t, λτ being the intensity function of a Poisson process with the expected number t of events in the interval (O, τ) and U(ν, τ) is the distribution function of ν for every fixed value of τ, here called the risk distribution. If the inverse of is substituted for τ, in the right membrum of (1), the function obtained is a function of t.If the risk distribution is defined by the general form U(ν, τ) the process defined by (1) is called a cPp in the wide sense (i.w.s.). In the sequel two particular cases for U(ν, τ) shall be considered, namely when it has the form of distribution functions, which define a primary process being stationary (in the weak sense) or non-stationary, and when it is equal to U1(ν) independently of τ. The process defined by (1) is in these cases called a stationary or non-stationary (s. or n.s.)cPp and a cPpin the narrow sense (i.n.s.) respectively. If a process is non-elementary i.e. the size of one change in the random function constituting the process is a random variable, the distribution of this variable conditioned by the hypothesis that such a change has occurred at τ is here called the change distribution and denoted by V(x, τ), or, if it is independent of τ, by V1(x). In an elementary process the size of one change is a constant, so that, in this case, the change distribution reduces to the unity distribution E(x — k), where E(ξ) is equal to I, o, if ξ is non-negative, negative respectively, and k is a given constant.
A Procedure to Compute Values of the Generalised Poisson Function
Authors: Hovinen Esa 
Published: July 2016

The purpose of this paper is to describe a technical procedure, which enables one to compute values of the generalised Poisson distribution function, with an accuracy considered sufficient for insurance companies and with satisfactory speed. The procedure requires a fast medium sized computer.The computation of values of the generalised Poisson distribution function has become a timely problem in Finland, because of the introduction by the Supervisory Service of more stringent requirements in determining limits of the so called equalisation reserves, which have their theoretical basis in the random fluctuations of claims amounts. The question has also been discussed in papers submitted by Dr. Pentikainen [3] and Dr. Pesonen [4] to this Colloquium. Because the practical computation is a further problem, the Federation of Finnish Insurance Companies set up a committee in 1962 to gather and work up the necessary statistics from various branches of insurance and to develop the computational methods ready for use in practice. The committee has almost completed its work, and one of the results, a procedure to compute values of the generalised Poisson function with a mixed method, is described below. The method is referred to briefly in [4]. The programming and further planning work has been done by Dr. Loimaranta and M. Sc. Porn.
Modern General Risk Theory
Authors: Almer Bertil 
Published: July 2016

Modern life is characterized by risks of different kind: some threatening all persons and some restricted to the owners of property, motor cars, etc., while still others are typical for some individuals or for special occupations. The corresponding accidents, losses or claims will occur suddenly and unexpectedly and may involve considerable financial loss. It is quite evident that modern life is a fit subject for risk theory, and that some results in the pure mathematic theory might have applications in the study of problems in real life.In practice, however, we can identify risk theory with insurance risk theory or with the application of the theory of probability on insurance risk problems. This general definition has the advantage, that it covers a wide field of different risks and risk problems as specified in the insurance texts—and a great collection of risk situations ₌ claims occurred (with corresponding loss amounts) is available in the claims acts. In fact, I believe that any actuary or mathematician, starting his researches in risk theory or in risk statistics, should begin his studies by a series of actual claims acts.
Verification of Outstanding Claim Provisions—Separation Technique
Authors: Beard R. E. 
Published: July 2016

In reference [1] Dr. G. C. Taylor has described a useful advance in the techniques available for verification of outstanding claims estimates when the data provided is the cohort development of numbers and amounts of claims. In this note it is assumed that the numbers relate to settled claims and that the amounts relate to claim payments, so there is an implicit assumption that the pattern of partial payments is constant. If the amounts of settled claims were to be used, there would be a one/one relationship between the numbers and amounts, but the effect of the exogeneous factor would be blurred because the settlements in a year other than the first include partial payments made some time previously, and, by hypothesis, based on different factors. If information relating to partial payments is available the data can be examined for any major fluctuation in the pattern and allowance made accordingly.In paragraph (2) of reference [1] a brief description is given of a standard routine calculation in which the average distribution function of claim payments in time is estimated from the triangle of payments by a chain ladder technique. This distribution function is then used to estimate the expected development of the incomplete cohorts, the implicit assumption being made that the function was stable in time. With a constant rate of inflation the results obtained by this technique were found to be satisfactory but with a rapid increase in the rate of inflation the distribution function changed so that projection led to underestimates of the future claims payments. Various methods of adjusting the projections to allow for the change in the rate of inflation have been investigated, but they all involve an important element of subjective judgment and so far no generally suitable basis for “automatic” verification by this particular technique has been discovered. See however reference [2].
On Optimal Cancellation of Policies
Authors: Gerber Hans U. 
Published: July 2016

One of the basic problems in life is: Given information (from the past), make decisions (that will affect the future). One of the classical actuarial examples is the adaptive ratemaking (or credibility) procedures; here the premium of a given risk is sequentially adjusted, taking into account the claims experience available when the decisions are made.In some cases, the rates are fixed and the premiums cannot be adjusted. Then the actuary faces the question: Should a given risk be underwritten in the first place, and if yes, what is the criterion (in terms of claims performance) for cancellation of the policy at a later time?Recently, Cozzolino and Freifelder [6] developed a model in an attempt to answer these questions. They assumed a discrete time, finite horizon, Poisson model. While the results lend themselves to straightforward numerical evaluation, their analytical form is not too attractive. Here we shall present a continuous time, infinite horizon, diffusion model. At the expense of being somewhat less realistic, this model is very appealing from an analytical point of view.Mathematically, the cancellation of policies amounts to an optimal stopping problem, see [8], [4], or chapter 13 in [7], and (more generally) should be viewed within the framework of discounted dynamic programming [1], [2].
Probing the electrical switching of a memristive optical antenna by STEM EELS
Authors: Schoen David T. , Holsteen Aaron L. , Brongersma Mark L. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThe scaling of active photonic devices to deep-submicron length scales has been hampered by the fundamental diffraction limit and the absence of materials with sufficiently strong electro-optic effects. Plasmonics is providing new opportunities to circumvent this challenge. Here we provide evidence for a solid-state electro-optical switching mechanism that can operate in the visible spectral range with an active volume of less than (5 nm)3 or ∼10−6 λ3, comparable to the size of the smallest electronic components. The switching mechanism relies on electrochemically displacing metal atoms inside the nanometre-scale gap to electrically connect two crossed metallic wires forming a cross-point junction. These junctions afford extreme light concentration and display singular optical behaviour upon formation of a conductive channel. The active tuning of plasmonic antennas attached to such junctions is analysed using a combination of electrical and optical measurements as well as electron energy loss spectroscopy in a scanning transmission electron microscope.
Live attenuated Salmonella displaying HIV-1 10E8 epitope on fimbriae: systemic and mucosal immune responses in BALB/c mice by mucosal administration
Authors: Li Qing-Hai , Jin Gang , Wang Jia-Ye , Li Hai-Ning , Liu Huidi , Chang Xiao-Yun , Wang Fu-Xiang , Liu Shu-Lin 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThe HIV-1 membrane proximal external region (MPER) that is targeted by several broadly neutralizing antibodies (BNAbs) has been considered a potential immunogen for vaccine development. However, to date the immunogenicity of these BNAb epitopes has not been made sufficiently adequate. In the present work, we used live attenuated Salmonella as a platform to present the HIV-1 MPER 10E8 epitope in the fimbriae. The insertion of the 10E8 epitope into the fimbriae had no significant influence on the expression and the absorption capacity of bacterial fimbriae, nor on the virulence and invasiveness of the attenuated Salmonella. After oral administration of the vaccine construct to mice followed by 10E8 epitope peptide boost, specific antibody responses in serum and mucosa as well as memory lymphocytes in spleen and plasma cells in bone marrow were induced. We also found that the live attenuated Salmonella vector directed the immunity toward Th1 bias, induced Th1 and Th2 cytokine responses and stimulated significant B cell differentiation into GC B, memory B and plasma cells. Therefore, we propose that the live attenuated Salmonella constitutively expressing HIV-1 BNAb epitopes on the fimbriae will be an effective approach to improving immune microenvironment and enhancing the immunogenicity of HIV-1 epitope vaccines.
Hybrid Cluster Precursors of the LaZrO Insulator for Transistors: Properties of High-Temperature-Processed Films and Structures of Solutions, Gels and Solids
Authors: Li Jinwang , Zhu Peixin , Hirose Daisuke , Kohara Shinji , Shimoda Tatsuya 
Published: July 2016

AbstractIn the solution processing of oxide electronics, the structure of metal–organic precursors in solution and their effect on processability and on the final structure and properties of the oxide have rarely been studied. We have observed that hybrid clusters, having inorganic cores coordinated by organic ligands, are the typical form of metal–organic precursor structures. For insulating ternary LaZrO, improved synthesis of the cluster precursor under solvothermal conditions led to low-temperature deposition of the film at 200 °C, as we will report in another paper. In the current paper, we first briefly show that solvothermal synthesis of the precursor resulted in significantly improved insulating properties (e.g., two orders lower leakage current) of high-temperature-annealed films and then focus on the structural analysis of the cluster precursors and annealed solids and relate the results to the significant improvement of properties by solvothermal treatment of solutions. A change in the cluster core toward structural unification was brought about by solvothermal treatment, resulting in higher uniformity and higher stability of clusters. The final structure of the material maintained the features of the core structure in solution, even after annealing at high temperatures. These results demonstrate the key role played by designing cluster structure in solution.
Structures and electrical properties of single nanoparticle junctions assembled using LaC2-encapsulating carbon nanocapsules
Authors: Tezura Manabu , Kizuka Tokushi 
Published: July 2016

AbstractAs the miniaturization of integrated circuits advances, electronics using single molecules and nanosize particles are being studied increasingly. Single nanoparticle junctions (SNPJs) consist of two electrodes sandwiching a single nanoparticle. Nanocarbons with nanospaces in their center, such as fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and carbon nanocapsules (CNCs), are expected to be elements of advanced SNPJs. In this study, SNPJs were assembled using lanthanum dicarbide (LaC2)-encapsulating CNCs and two gold (Au) electrodes by a nanotip operation inside a high-resolution transmission electron microscope. The atomic configuration and electrical resistance of the SNPJs were investigated in situ. The results implied that the electrical resistance of the SNPJ depended on the interface structures of the contacts between the CNC and Au electrodes, i.e., the contact electrical resistance and the greatest portion of the current through the SNPJ flowed along the outermost carbon layer of the CNC. Thus, the resistance of the SNPJs using the CNCs was demonstrated and the electrical conduction mechanism of one of the CNC was discussed in this study.
Matrix metalloproteinase-1 induction by diethyldithiocarbamate is regulated via Akt and ERK/miR222/ETS-1 pathways in hepatic stellate cells
Authors: Liu Tianhui , Wang Ping , Cong Min , Zhang Dong , Liu Lin , Li Hongyi , Zhai Qingling , Li Zhuo , Jia Jidong , You Hong 
Published: July 2016

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) plays an important role in fibrolysis by degrading excessively deposited collagen I and III. We previously demonstrated that diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) up-regulates MMP-1 in hepatic stellate cells via the ERK1/2 and Akt signalling pathways. In the current study, we attempted to further explore the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of MMP-1. We treated a co-cultured system that included hepatocytes (C3A) and hepatic stellate cells (LX-2) with DDC. The data revealed that the transcriptional factor ETS-1, which is an important regulator of MMP-1, was up-regulated in LX-2 cells following DDC treatment. Furthermore, the up-regulation of MMP-1 by DDC has been abrogated through employing si-ETS-1 to block expression of ETS-1. We found that DDC significantly inhibited the expression of miR-222 in LX-2 cells. We transfected miR-222 mimic into LX-2 cells and then co-cultured the cells with C3A. The up-regulation of ETS-1 and MMP-1 in LX-2 cells treated with DDC were inhibited after miR-222 mimic transfection. These data indicate that DDC up-regulated MMP-1 in LX-2 cells through the miR-222/ETS-1 pathway. Finally, we treated the co-cultured system with an Akt inhibitor (T3830) and an ERK1/2 inhibitor (U0126). Both T3830 and U0126 blocked the suppression of miR-222 by DDC in LX-2. Collectively, these data indicate that DDC up-regulated MMP-1 in LX-2 cells through the Akt and ERK/miR-222/ETS-1 pathways. Our study provides experimental data that will aid the control of the process of fibrolysis in liver fibrosis prevention and treatment.