Efficiency concept and investigations in insurance industry: A survey

Most recent studies are based on benchmarking analysis allowing the measure of company efficiency relatively to a reference performance. Benchmarking is a helpful tool to analyze and promote efficiency in insurance companies. The fast development of X-efficiency notion makes traditional performance measures (ROA, ROE, etc.) obsolete. Indeed, various methods have been used, various input-output measures have been proposed and various research fields have been explored in insurance company investigation. So, after reviewing most known efficiency concepts and their definitions, this section explores the literature review of two principal points of discussion: the first point is focused on the different used techniques to measure efficiency, including the developed approaches to define inputs, outputs and their prices. The second point represents an overview of efficiency investigations in insurance industry

Matching model of flow table for networked big data

Networking for big data has to be intelligent because it will adjust data transmission requirements adaptively during data splitting and merging. Software-defined networking (SDN) provides a workable and practical paradigm for designing more efficient and flexible networks. Matching strategy in the flow table of SDN switches is most crucial. In this paper, we use a classification approach to analyze the structure of packets based on the tuple-space lookup mechanism, and propose a matching model of the flow table in SDN switches by classifying packets based on a set of fields, which is called an F-OpenFlow. The experiment results show that the proposed F-OpenFlow effectively improves the utilization rate and matching efficiency of the flow table in SDN switches for networked big data.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures, 2 table

Lien entre la préférence d’oviposition et la performance subséquente des larves chez la mineuse des agrumes Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton [Lepidoptera : Gracillariidae]

La femelle de la mineuse des agrumes Phyllocnistis citrella [Lepidoptera : Gracillariidae] recherche de façon préférentielle les jeunes feuilles, riches en éléments nutritifs, pour pondre ses oeufs et délaisse les feuilles âgées. La femelle a aussi tendance à revenir sur un hôte où un dépôt d’oeufs en surnombre a préalablement été effectué par d’autres femelles. Il s’en suit une forte mortalité larvaire. Toutefois, la taille des survivants n’est pas affectée parce que la régulation se fait par élimination des individus surnuméraires.[Relationship between oviposition preference and the subsequent performance of citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella [Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae] larvae]The female citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella [Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae] principally favours young leaves that are the richest in nutritive elements to lay eggs and leaves aside the oldest ones. Females also tend to come back to a host already infested with supernumerary egg deposition by other females. The result of this behaviour is a high larval mortality, but the size of the survivors is not affected as regulation occurs through the elimination of supernumerary individuals

Mathematical study of perturbed asynchronous iterations designed for distributed termination

International audienceThis paper deals with the mathematical study of perturbed xed point asynchronous iterations designed for a distributed termination. The distributed termination of asynchronous iterations is considered by using a perturbed xed point mapping, which is an approximation of an exact xed point mapping. In the general framework of '-approximate contraction, it is shown that the perturbed asynchronous iteration converges in nite time and that the limit of the perturbed asynchronous iteration belongs to a ball of nite radius and center ~ u ? , solution of the exact problem. The value of the radius is given in the case of linear and quadratic convergence, respectively

A Multi-Agent Architecture for the Design of Hierarchical Interval Type-2 Beta Fuzzy System

This paper presents a new methodology for building and evolving hierarchical fuzzy systems. For the system design, a tree-based encoding method is adopted to hierarchically link low dimensional fuzzy systems. Such tree structural representation has by nature a flexible design offering more adjustable and modifiable structures. The proposed hierarchical structure employs a type-2 beta fuzzy system to cope with the faced uncertainties, and the resulting system is called the Hierarchical Interval Type-2 Beta Fuzzy System (HT2BFS). For the system optimization, two main tasks of structure learning and parameter tuning are applied. The structure learning phase aims to evolve and learn the structures of a population of HT2BFS in a multiobjective context taking into account the optimization of both the accuracy and the interpretability metrics. The parameter tuning phase is applied to refine and adjust the parameters of the system. To accomplish these two tasks in the most optimal and faster way, we further employ a multi-agent architecture to provide both a distributed and a cooperative management of the optimization tasks. Agents are divided into two different types based on their functions: a structure agent and a parameter agent. The main function of the structure agent is to perform a multi-objective evolutionary structure learning step by means of the Multi-Objective Immune Programming algorithm (MOIP). The parameter agents have the function of managing different hierarchical structures simultaneously to refine their parameters by means of the Hybrid Harmony Search algorithm (HHS). In this architecture, agents use cooperation and communication concepts to create high-performance HT2BFSs. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated by several comparisons with various state of art approaches on noise-free and noisy time series prediction data sets and regression problems. The results clearly demonstrate a great improvement in the accuracy rate, the convergence speed and the number of used rules as compared with other existing approaches

Simulating the ideal geometrical and biomechanical parameters of the pulmonary autograft to prevent failure in the Ross operation

OBJECTIVES: Reinforcements for the pulmonary autograft (PA) in the Ross operation have been introduced to avoid the drawback of conduit expansion and failure. With the aid of an in silico simulation, the biomechanical boundaries applied to a healthy PA during the operation were studied to tailor the best implant technique to prevent reoperation. METHODS: Follow-up echocardiograms of 66 Ross procedures were reviewed. Changes in the dimensions and geometry of reinforced and non-reinforced PAs were evaluated. Miniroot and subcoronary implantation techniques were used in this series. Mechanical stress tests were performed on 36 human pulmonary and aortic roots explanted from donor hearts. Finite element analysis was applied to obtain high-fidelity simulation under static and dynamic conditions of the biomechanical properties and applied stresses on the PA root and leaflet and the similar components of the native aorta. RESULTS: The non-reinforced group showed increases in the percentages of the mean diameter that were significantly higher than those in the reinforced group at the level of the Valsalva sinuses (3.9%) and the annulus (12.1%). The mechanical simulation confirmed geometrical and dimensional changes detected by clinical imaging and demonstrated the non-linear biomechanical behaviour of the PA anastomosed to the aorta, a stiffer behaviour of the aortic root in relation to the PA and similar qualitative and quantitative behaviours of leaflets of the 2 tissues. The annulus was the most significant constraint to dilation and affected the distribution of stress and strain within the entire complex, with particular strain on the sutured regions. The PA was able to evenly absorb mechanical stresses but was less adaptable to circumferential stresses, potentially explaining its known dilatation tendency over time. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of reinforcement leads to a more marked increase in the diameter of the PA. Preservation of the native geometry of the PA root is crucial; the miniroot technique with external reinforcement is the most suitable strategy in this context

A renal registry for Africa: first steps.

There is a dearth of data on end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Africa. Several national renal registries have been established but have not been sustainable because of resource limitations. The African Association of Nephrology (AFRAN) and the African Paediatric Nephrology Association (AFPNA) recognize the importance of good registry data and plan to establish an African Renal Registry. This article reviews the elements needed for a successful renal registry and gives an overview of renal registries in developed and developing countries, with the emphasis on Africa. It then discusses the proposed African Renal Registry and the first steps towards its implementation. A registry requires a clear purpose, and agreement on inclusion and exclusion criteria, the dataset and the data dictionary. Ethical issues, data ownership and access, the dissemination of findings and funding must all be considered. Well-documented processes should guide data collection and ensure data quality. The ERA-EDTA Registry is the world's oldest renal registry. In Africa, registry data have been published mainly by North African countries, starting with Egypt and Tunisia in 1975. However, in recent years no African country has regularly reported national registry data. A shared renal registry would provide participating countries with a reliable technology platform and a common data dictionary to facilitate joint analyses and comparisons. In March 2015, AFRAN organized a registry workshop for African nephrologists and then took the decision to establish, for the first time, an African Renal Registry. In conclusion, African nephrologists have decided to establish a continental renal registry. This initiative could make a substantial impact on the practice of nephrology and the provision of services for adults and children with ESRD in many African countries

Réaction à Mohamed Said Nakhli et al. à propos de l'article: "Quand le bloc axillaire reste la seule alternative chez un enfant de 5 ans". The Pan African Medical Journal. 2015;21:36

Le bloc axillaire chez l'enfant est une technique facile et recommandée chez l'enfant. Sa réalisation chez un enfant présentant une hépatite A aigue n'est pas démunie de risques surtout lorsqu'il est associé à une sédation au propofol avec du remifentanil. De même, la présence d'un kyste hydatique unique laisse la possibilité de l'anesthésie générale avec ventilation uni pulmonaire.Mots clés: Bloc axillaire, anesthésie générale, hépatite A, kyste hydatiqueEnglish Title: Reaction to Mohamed Said Nakhli et al. concerning the article: "When the axillary block remains the only alternative in a 5 year old child". The Pan African Medical Journal. 2015;21:36English AbstractAxillary block is an easy and recommended technique in children. Its use in children with acute hepatitis A is not risk free especially when associated with sedation using remifentanil and propofol. Similarly, the presence of a single hydatid cyst allows general anesthesia with mono-pulmonary ventilation.Keywords: Axillary block, general anesthesia, hepatitis A, hydatid cys

Persuasion in Political Discourse: Tunisian President Ben Ali\u27s Last Speech as a Case Stud

Within a discourse analysis framework, this research investigates persuasion in political discourse in the last speech of the former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, delivered one day before he left the country in the middle of the Tunisian Revolution that sparked the so-called Arab Spring. Sentences are analyzed to check their illocutionary force in light of Searle\u27s typology of Speech Act Theory. Then, an analysis of agency is carried out to investigate the persuasive dimension of the use of deictic pronouns to construct the self-image as well as the image of the Other. The speech is also examined using the three appeals of Aristotle, and its use of diglossia is analyzed. Lastly, the Gricean maxims are used to check whether the Cooperative Principle is observed or not and whether the deviation is intended for persuasive ends. The findings of this study indicate that multiple speech acts are used in the same utterance either with or without an explicit performative verb. Some speech acts may be used as a medium to carry others. It also shows how the strategic use of deictic pronouns and agency with certain illocutionary forces helps construct otherness as well as the self. This process is enforced by the marked use of ethos, which is a crucial strategy of persuasion in political discourse. Although the use of Tunisian dialect represents a deviation from the norm, the findings show that emotions are more effectively conveyed in dialect than in Standard Arabic. The non-observance of the Gricean maxims is found to be a persuasive strategy to manipulate the audience. However, persuasion cannot be achieved only through linguistic tools. It has to be paralleled with a good awareness of the context