Determining the Risk Level in Client Analysis by Applying Fuzzy Logic in Insurance Sector

The aim of the paper is to determine the risk level of a contract extension with the existing policyholders, which is further propagated to the business effectiveness and long-term sustainability of the company. The uncertainties in the relative importance of risk factors, their values, and risk levels are described by the linguistic forms, which are modeled by using the fuzzy sets theory. The evaluations of the relative importance of risk factors are stated as a fuzzy group decision-making problem. The weights of risk factors are obtained by using a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process. The determination of production rules for the assessment of the risk level is based on fuzzy IF-THAN rules. The verification of the model is performed by using real-life data originating from the insurance company which operates in the Republic of Serbia

CARBON STORAGE IN SHELTERBELTS IN THE AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS OF THE BAČKA PALANKA AREA (SERBIA)

Field shelterbelts as agroforestry practice provides numerous ecosystem services.Carbon capture and storage potential in biomass and soil is among regulatingservices shelterbelts provide. Designing shelterbelts to address the various demandsand provide services, requests special attention to choosing structural and spatialcharacteristics of shelterbelts, and species selection for shelterbelts. This paperpresents the research results of C storage in 20-years old shelterbelts established onGleyic Phaeozem in the area of Bačka Palanka (Serbia). Investigated shelterbeltswere consisted of the most commonly used species for shelterbelt establishment inSerbia: Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila L.), poplar (Populus x euramericana (Dode)Guin. cv. „Serotina“) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.). The diameter atbreast height (d) and the height (h) of all trees in studied shelterbelts weremeasured. Carbon stock in biomass was estimated according to IPCC (2003)methodology. Soil profiles were opened in studied shelterbelts with soil samplingcarried out at fixed depths of 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-40 cm. Assessment ofcarbon storage in soil was performed according to IPCC (2003). According to theresearch results, living biomass C stock in 20-years old Siberian elm and poplarshelterbelts per tree is almost the same 0.333 t per tree and 0.300 t per tree,respectively. In black locust shelterbelt carbon stock is considerable less 0.111 t pertree. However, in species selection for shelterbelts some characteristics should takeinto account such as adaptability and suitability to the environmental conditions,longevity and their impact on crops that are grown in the sheltered fields, as well asthe natural potential vegetation communities of the area. The results of this studyindicate that the poplar is preferred species than the Siberian elm in givenenvironmental conditions. The average carbon stock in the soil of studiedshelterbelts in a layer 0-40 cm is 9.33 kg m-2 C

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Distinct Patterns Between the Invasive and Noninvasive Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors

Although most pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs)/pituitary adenomas remain intrasellar, a significant proportion of tumors show parasellar invasive growth and 6% to 8% infiltrate the bone structures, thus affecting the prognosis. There is an unmet need to identify novel markers that can predict the parasellar growth of PitNETs. Furthermore, mechanisms that regulate bone invasiveness of PitNETs and factors related to tumor vascularization are largely unknown. We used genome-wide mRNA analysis in a cohort of 77 patients with PitNETs of different types to explore the differences in gene expression patterns between invasive and noninvasive tumors with respect to the parasellar growth and regarding the rare phenomenon of bone invasiveness. Additionally, we studied the genes correlated to the contrast enhancement quotient, a novel radiological parameter of tumor vascularization. Most of the genes differentially expressed related to the parasellar growth were genes involved in tumor invasiveness. Differentially expressed genes associated with bone invasiveness are involved in NF-κB pathway and antitumoral immune response. Lack of clear clustering regarding the parasellar and bone invasiveness may be explained by the influence of the cell lineage-related genes in this heterogeneous cohort of PitNETs. Our transcriptomics analysis revealed differences in the molecular fingerprints between invasive, including bone invasive, and noninvasive PitNETs, although without clear clustering. The contrast enhancement quotient emerged as a radiological parameter of tumor vascularization, correlating with several angiogenesis-related genes. Several of the top genes related to the PitNET invasiveness and vascularization have potential prognostic and therapeutic application requiring further research.Correction in: Journal of the Endocrine Society, vol. 8, issue 6, article-id bvae068DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvae068 </p