Modelling the life insurance needs using the human life value revision method

There are numerous methods to determine the appropriate amount of life insurance a person needs ? it can be scientific or simplistic. Many life insurance agents and financial advisors simply rely on traditional rules of thumb using the multiple of income method. The more scientific methods are the needs analysis and the human life value. The needs analysis is regarded as the most commonly used sales tool and the human life value is the most agreed academic expression for the purpose of life insurance. However, there are several weaknesses of using both methods. By using needs analysis as a sales tool, the recommendation amount of life insurance would leave a person underinsured. Similar goes to the human life value method. Nevertheless, both methods can be improved with a few revisions. The post-death needs under the needs analysis must be revised to incorporate the reality that the family's standard of living changes over time. The projection of a changing standard of living is a part of human life value analysis. Therefore, this research looked into both methods and combines both concept of needs analysis and human life value to create a powerful methodology that provide adequate life insurance protection ? a method we name it as 'the Human Life Value Revision Method'

Topographical scattering of waves: a spectral approach

The topographical scattering of gravity waves is investigated using a spectral energy balance equation that accounts for first order wave-bottom Bragg scattering. This model represents the bottom topography and surface waves with spectra, and evaluates a Bragg scattering source term that is theoretically valid for small bottom and surface slopes and slowly varying spectral properties. The robustness of the model is tested for a variety of topographies uniform along one horizontal dimension including nearly sinusoidal, linear ramp and step profiles. Results are compared with reflections computed using an accurate method that applies integral matching along vertical boundaries of a series of steps. For small bottom amplitudes, the source term representation yields accurate reflection estimates even for a localized scatterer. This result is proved for small bottom amplitudes $h$ relative to the mean water depth $H$. Wave reflection by small amplitude bottom topography thus depends primarily on the bottom elevation variance at the Bragg resonance scales, and is insensitive to the detailed shape of the bottom profile. Relative errors in the energy reflection coefficient are found to be typically $2h/H$.Comment: Second revision for Journal of Waterways Ports and Coastal Engineerin

Swine Health: Swine Arthritis

Arthritis of swine is of economic importance to the swine producer and the meat packer. Recent figures from USDA meat inspection records have shown an increasing trend in condemnations of parts of carcasses and of whole carcasses due to arthritis. Figures for 1969 show a multimillion dollar loss due to trim and condemnation on the packing floor. This is only a small portion of the actual loss. Most losses due to arthritis are suffered by the producer in terms of slower and less efficient gains. Death losses may occur from the septicemia due to the infectious agent in the blood stream. These losses while great, are difficult to document but substantially add to the cost of swine production on the farm

The use of a MED calendar to increase medication compliance

This study describes the successful design and implementation of a medications calendar to increase medication compliance among Navajo patients who have difficulty complying with prescription instructions. This paper is presented as an example of a successful method for trying to ensure that medications are taken according to instructions. The MED calendar is designed to help non-English speaking and elderly patients in particular.Initially the calendars were hand made by the drivers from the Public Health Nursing Department. Their primary duty was to serve as interpreters for the Public Health Nurse. Poster board (20 x26 ) was used to simulate a monthly calendar. The days of the week were marked on each grid on each board. The boards were then laminated and the laminated surface was used to mark the name and days of the month for which the calendar was being used. The patients medications were then placed in single unit dose packages. The dose packages were then taped to the calendar according to the prescribed schedule. The patient then received a detailed verbal explanation on when and how to take his or her medicine. The calendar was attached to the wall of the patient\\u27s residence with stick pins and medications were placed for 2-4 weeks at a time. The material cost of the original calendars was $1.75 without labor. Now a professional printer produces them at a total cost of$3.00 per unit. There were two primary safety considerations explored with the implementation of the MED calendars. The first was concern for the stability of the medication in a clear package as opposed to opaque bottle. The Chief of Pharmacy indicated that medicine can be kept in unit dose packages up to six months. The benefits of patient compliance were much greater than any small risk of medication instability. The second concern was safety around small children. In most cases the calendar can be placed high enough on the wall to be out of reach of the children. If this is not possible then the use of the MED calendar is not considered.MED calendars were well accepted by the patients. Navajo patients relate well to ordinary monthly calendars, and this does not require knowledge of the English language. Also, the calendars are highly visible making them difficult to ignore. Medication doses are more easily understood with a pictorial association. The calendars are durable and last at least two or three years. From 1985 to 1987, the MED calendars were used with non-compliant patients. Seventy-three percent of the patients showed some improvement. Improvement was measured by 1) improvement in clinical symptoms including decreased hospitalization, 2) accurate or improved pill count, and 3) patient\\u27s and/or doctor\\u27s affirmation of compliance. There are several difficulties noted in the use of the MED calendar. Safety in the presence of small children is a major concern. Some patients become very dependent on the MED calendar, and this becomes time consuming for the Public Health Nurse who must visit every 2-4 weeks to refill the unit dose packages. Sometimes the unit dose packages do not remain secured to the calendar. Finally, the large size of the calendar can create difficulties in transporting them and are therefore objectionable to some of the patients.The study concludes that the benefits of the MED calendar far outweigh the difficulties encountered in using this system of promoting and facilitating patient compliance