The future of industries : how personalization of insurance policies using artificial intelligence will disrupt the insurance status-quo

In the future, the concept of insurance will change and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already disrupting the state of this industry. Insurers worldwide are using AI to automatize processes and tasks, such as fraud detention, underwriting and claims processing. Additionally, there has been a rise of new competitors in the market, such as InsurTechs, that are bringing innovative solutions for insurance, responding to the new trends in customers’ lifestyles and behaviours, that are more demanding for services directed for their needs. This study aims to understand how personalization of insurance policies, created with Artificial Intelligence, will disrupt this industry in the future and what will be the impact in the European market. Personalization of an insurance policy with AI would encompass the definition of the coverages and premiums more appropriate for an individual customer and do the risk evaluation, in a market of one strategy. This innovation would take advantage of the accrual of Big Data from customers, as people are each time more connected and information about them is constantly being shared, allowing companies to use it to know consumers better. Some limitations that might arise are related to the regulation applied to the insurance industry in Europe regarding customer’s data privacy, with the GDPR and regulation against discrimination in insurance.No futuro, o conceito dos seguros irá alterar-se e a Inteligência Artificial (IA) já está a causar disrupção no estado desta indústria. Seguradoras por todo o mundo já utilizam IA para automatizar processos e tarefas, como detetar fraudes, na subscrição de seguros ou no processamento de sinistros. Adicionalmente, tem-se assistido a um aumento de concorrentes no mercado, como as InsurTechs, que trazem soluções de seguro inovadoras como resposta às novas tendências nos estilos de vida e comportamentos dos consumidores, que são cada vez mais exigentes e procuram serviços mais direcionados às suas necessidades. A presente dissertação visa estudar como a personalização de apólices de seguro, criadas a partir de Inteligência Artificial, irá disruptar a indústria no futuro, e qual será o impacto no mercado europeu. A personalização de apólices inclui a definição das coberturas e prémio mais apropriados para o consumidor individual, assim como a avaliação do risco, numa estratégia de market of one. Esta inovação tiraria partido da acumulação de Big Data dos clientes, uma vez que os consumidores estão cada vez mais conectados e informação acerca deles está constantemente a ser partilhada, permitindo às empresas conhecê-los melhor. Algumas limitações que poderão surgir estão relacionadas à regulamentação da indústria dos seguros na Europa, relativa à proteção de dados, com o RGPD e com a regulamentação contra a discriminação nos seguros

MOREHealth Research Group: more than clinical data!

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The relevance of α-KLOTHO to the central nervous system: Some key questions

α-Klotho is well described as an anti-aging protein, with critical roles in kidney function as a transmembrane co-receptor for FGF23, and as a soluble factor in serum. α-Klotho is also expressed in the choroid plexus, where it is released into the cerebrospinal fluid. Nonetheless, α-Klotho is also expressed in the brain parenchyma. Accumulating evidence indicates that this pool of α-Klotho, which we define as brain α-Klotho, may play important roles as a neuroprotective factor and in promoting myelination, thereby supporting healthy brain aging. Here we summarize what is known about brain α-Klotho before focusing on the outstanding scientific questions related to its function. We believe there is a need for in vitro studies designed to distinguish between brain α-Klotho and other pools of α-Klotho, and for a greater understanding of the basic function of soluble α-Klotho. The mechanism by which the human KL-VS variant affects cognition also requires further elucidation. To help address these questions we suggest some experimental approaches that other laboratories might consider. In short, we hope to stimulate fresh ideas and encourage new research approaches that will allow the importance of α-Klotho for the aging brain to become clear

The impact of postponing motherhood on women's income in Brazil

Este artigo investiga o impacto do adiamento da maternidade nos rendimentos das mulheres e na diferença de rendimento entre homens e mulheres no mercado de trabalho brasileiro, com base em dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde de 2013. Usando a abordagem Heckman (1979), os resultados sugeremque o adiamento da maternidade tem um impacto anual positivo de 1,55% sobre os rendimentos. Ao comparar homens e mulheres, os resultados sugerem que ser mulher gera uma penalidade de cerca de 22% nos rendimentos, mas o adiamento da maternidade pode eliminar essa diferença de gênero, principalmente para as mulheres brancas, amarelas e com ensino superior.This paper investigates the impact of the postponement of motherhood on women’s earnings and gender gap in Brazilian labor market, based on data from Brazilian National Health Survey of 2013. Using the Heckman (1979) approach, the results suggest that postponing motherhood has a positive impact of 1.55% on earnings each year of postponement. By comparing men and women, the results suggest that being a woman generates a wage penalty of approximately 22%, but the postponing of motherhood can eliminate that gender gap, especially for those who are white, yellow, and higher educated

Tensões entre Imagem e Cultura Organizacional: A Jornada Organizacional dos Membros da Wadō

Este caso para ensino estimula a aprendizagem do processo de criação de valor simbólico e provoca uma reflexão sobre a tensão simbólica que pode existir entre a imagem e cultura organizacional. O caso relata a experiência da Organização Cultural Wadō, considerando os processos de absorção, produção, transferência e adoção de símbolos associados aos seus serviços, do ponto de vista de seus membros. As informações são oriundas de entrevistas, documentos e observações diretas, tanto de ex-membros, como membros e consumidores externos.

Germline development in amniotes : a paradigm shift in primordial germ cell specification

In the field of germline development in amniote vertebrates, primordial germ cell (PGC) specification in birds and reptiles remains controversial. Avians are believed to adopt a predetermination or maternal specification mode of PGC formation, contrary to an inductive mode employed by mammals and, supposedly, reptiles. Here, we revisit and review some key aspects of PGC development that channelled the current subdivision, and challenge the position of birds and reptiles as well as the binary' evolutionary model of PGC development in vertebrates. We propose an alternative view on PGC specification where germ plasm plays a role in laying the foundation for the formation of PGC precursors (pPGC), but not necessarily of PGCs. Moreover, inductive mechanisms may be necessary for the transition from pPGCs to PGCs. Within this framework, the implementation of data from birds and reptiles could provide new insights on the evolution of PGC specification in amniotes

Current status of in vitro differentiation of stem cells into gametes

From an evolutionary point of view, the gametes are the cells in the body that matter the most as they are the ones who transmit their genes to the next generation ensuring continuation of the species. Being able to generate mature oocytes in vitro is of great interest. Oocytes are the key to totipotency and are able to reprogram somatic cells in approximately one day. In addition, in contrast to a clump of pluripotent stem cells, once the developmental program has started, fertilized oocytes develop into a clump of cells with positional information and the possibility to differentiate into both the embryonic and the extraembryonic lineages that form a complete developing and viable organism. How to instruct pluripotent stem cells to become oocytes in vitro is still unclear and even though the first steps to obtain mouse oocytes have recently been successfully demonstrated, inducing meiosis progression and folliculogenesis in vitro are still far from being understood and have not yet been accomplished. In humans, the specific molecular niche that leads to correct oogenesis is less understood. Here, we discuss the current status of in vitro differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into gametes, in particular to oocytes

Adaptation and validation of Child Vulnerability Scale in Portuguese parents

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Processamento sensorial e interacção diádica como promotores de resiliência nas crianças de famílias com baixos rendimentos

A pesquisa sobre resiliência sugere que a criança que se desenvolve em contexto adverso, poderá usufruir de atributos relevantes, pessoais e do ambiente. Neste sentido pretendeu-se estudar, até que ponto, as competências de modulação sensorial da criança e a qualidade das interacções mãe-filho, influenciavam as trajectórias de risco e podiam promover as oportunidades de resiliência da criança. Participaram no estudo 136 crianças, 67 do sexo feminino e 69 do sexo masculino, com idades entre os 7 e os 36 meses. Analisámos a sensibilidade materna em situação de jogo livre recorrendo à escala CARE-Index e o processamento sensorial através do de entrevista baseado no protocolo de Dunn (1997) assente nos quatro padrões de processamento sensorial: baixo registo; sensibilidade sensorial; procura sensorial; evitamento sensorial, construto anteriormente validado. Constituímos, com base nas premissas do modelo de avaliação autêntica, um índex de capacidades, que nos serviu como referencial para a avaliação do risco e da resiliência. Os resultados indicaram que a resiliência infantil em ambiente de pobrezaestava associada a indicadores de elevada sensibilidade materna e a índices adequados de processamento sensorial. A discussão dos resultados enquadrou-se nos modelos actuais e emergentes das influências neurobiológicas e ambientais nos processos de risco e de resiliência.Abstract Research on resilience has shown that a child displaying developmental fitness under an unfavourable environment may benefit from relevant personal and environmental attributes. We intend to investigate whether the infant’s sensory modulation skills and the quality of mother-child interactions may affect risky trajectories and promote resilience opportunities. The sample was composed of 136 infants, 67 female and 69 male, with ages between 7 and 36 months. We investigated the maternal sensitivity under free-game, using the CARE-Index scale and the sensory processing, following the interview protocol by. Dunn (1997) we supported the validity of Dunn’s construct and found 4 sensory processing patterns: low registration; sensory sensitivity; sensory seeking; sensory avoiding. In addition we established a capability index, based on the premises of the authentic assessment model that served as a reference for resilience and risk assessments. The results show that the infant resilience in a poverty environment is linked with high maternal sensitivity indicators and adequate sensory processing levels. The results were examined and discussed in the scope of current and emergent models of environmental and neurobiologically-induced risk and resilience