Risk adjustment in a life insurance portfolio

Mestrado em Actuarial ScienceDesde que a IFRS 17 foi emitida, o estudo e compreensão de todas as suas componentes tem sido uma tarefa desafiante para o quadro segurador, principalmente o cálculo das componentes do passivo. A sua complexidade e abordagem baseada em princípios representa um desafio para todas as companhias, consultores e outros stakeholders. Com isso em mente, este estágio teve como objetivo principal a compreensão de uma das suas componentes, o Risk Adjustment, que pode ser comparado à Margem de Risco de Solvência II. O Risk Adjustment representa a compensação que uma entidade requer para suportar a incerteza dos riscos não financeiros. Assim, este relatório pretende perceber e ilustrar dois potenciais métodos para calcular o Risk Adjustment numa carteira de Vida. O primeiro usa a Fórmula Standard de Solvência II num específico grupo de seguros de vida. O segundo usa o Método de Estimação de Máxima Verossimilhança para calcular os parâmetros das distribuições do valor atual dos fluxos de caixa dos riscos não financeiros, para encontrar o Value at Risk e o Tail Value at Risk, e posteriormente, o Risk Adjustment.Since IFRS 17 was issued, the study and understanding of all its components have been a critical task in the insurance framework, particularly the components of the liability's measurement. Its complexity and principle-based approach represent a challenge for all insurance companies, regulators, consultants, and other stakeholders. With that in mind, this internship had the foremost goal of understanding one of its components, the Risk Adjustment, which has some similarities with Solvency II's Risk Margin. The Risk Adjustment represents the compensation an entity requires for bearing the uncertainty regarding non-financial risks. Therefore, this report aims to understand and illustrate two potential methods to compute the Risk Adjustment in a Life Insurance Portfolio. The first one uses the Standard Formula of Solvency II to a specific life insurance group. The second uses the Maximum Likelihood Estimation Approach to find the parameters of the distributions of the present value of the cash flows of non-financial insurance risks to find the Value at Risk and the Tail Value at Risk, and posteriorly, the Risk Adjustment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Enhancing the handling of standard substitution weights on a hydrostatic weighing apparatus

project “17RPT02-rhoLiqThe hydrostatic weighing apparatus is a first-level method used to measure the density of solids and liquids. At the Portuguese Institute for Quality the hydrostatic tests for the determination of the liquids’ density implies the multiple manual placement of a set of standard substitution weights on apparatus’ balance pan, leading to undesirable perturbations in the weighing environment. Also, by this the eccentricity effects on the balance, contribute for an unwanted increase of the measurement uncertainty. To overcome these phenomena, an automated mechanism was designed and implemented, which allows the placing and recollection of the set of standard weights on the balance. To validate the new mechanism, tests to ultrapure water at 20 °C were executed before and after its implementation and the obtained results were compared. Despite a 3-fold increase in density measurement uncertainty, mainly due to the exposure of the standard substitution weights to air convection currents, the execution of hydrostatic tests was improved, not only for the fact that the measurements are now carried out quicker, but also for the fact that the operator only needs to intervene once during the whole test. Moreover, the smaller absolute deviation from the reference density value for ultrapure water at 20 °C results also in a normalised error En lower than 1 (0.3), thus validating the designed automated mechanism for the handling of standard substitution weights.publishersversionpublishe

Sintomas Psicopatológicos, Autocompaixão, Autocriticismo e Vinculação em Mulheres Vítimas de Violência Conjugal

Estudos indicam que a exposição a episódios violentos tem impacto negativo na saúde das vítimas, sendo a causa de alguns sintomas psicopatológicos. Deste modo o principal objetivo da investigação foi a caracterização da amostra e o estudo de associações entre os sintomas psicopatológicos, vinculação, autocompaixão e autocriticismo, em função dos tipos de violência. Para tal foi constituída uma amostra de 34 mulheres, com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e os 81 anos (M = 44,44 ; DP = 14,18) vítimas de violência conjugal (VC) acompanhadas pelo Núcleo de Atendimento às Vítimas de Violência Doméstica de Viseu (NAVVD). O protocolo de investigação foi composto pelo questionário sociodemográfico, o Inventário de Sintomas Psicopatológicos (BSI), a Escala de Autocompaixão (SELFCS), a Escala de Autocriticismo (FSCRS) e a Escala de Vinculação do Adulto (EVA). Os resultados obtidos indicam a presença de sintomatologia psicopatológica nesta amostra de mulheres vítimas de violência conjugal, com o Índice de Sintomas Positivos do BSI bastante acima do ponto de corte, destacando-se pontuações mais altas nas dimensões Ideação Paranóide, Depressão e Ansiedade. De um modo geral, as pontuações obtidas no autocriticismo e na autocompaixão indicam uma baixa capacidade para se autotranquilizarem, elevada resposta destrutiva para com elas próprias, elevado equilíbrio emocional e capacidade de estar mindful. Verificou-se a existência de relações negativas entre a sintomatologia psicopatológica e a autocompaixão, nomeadamente entre a Humanidade Partilhada e a Depressão e entre a Sensibilidade Interpessoal e o Mindfulness. Os sintomas psicopatológicos relacionam-se também de forma negativa com o autocriticismo. No que concerne à vinculação, constataram-se correlações positivas entre os sintomas psicopatológicos e a ansiedade relativa ao receio de abandono e correlação negativa em relação ao conforto com a proximidade. Por fim, a ansiedade relativa ao receio de abandono relaciona-se de forma negativa com a autocompaixão e o autocriticismo. De modo geral, os resultados obtidos vão ao encontro do esperado, revelando-se importante a promoção de estratégias de autocompaixão e de Minfulness para redução de sintomas psicopatológicos e para prevenção de situações abusivas. / Studies indicate that exposure to violent episodes has a negative impact on the health of the victims and causes psychopathological symptoms. Thus the main objective of the research was the characterization of the sample and the study of associations between psychopathological symptoms, attachment, self-compassion and self-criticism, according to the types of violence. Was collected a sample of 34 women, aged between 18 and 81 (M = 44.44; SD = 14.18), victims of conjugal violence monitored by the Core of Care for Domestic Violence Victims of Viseu (NAVVD). The research protocol was consisted of the sociodemographic questionnaire, the Inventory of Psychopathological Symptoms (BSI), the Self-Compassion Scale (SELFCS), the Self-Criticalism Scale (FSCRS) and the Adult Attachment Scale (EVA). The results indicate the presence of psychopathological symptomatology in this sample of women victims of conjugal violence, with the BSI Positive Symptom Index well above the cutoff point, with higher scores in the Paranoid Ideation, Depression and Anxiety. In general, the scores obtained in self-criticism and self-compassion indicate a low capacity for self-reassurance, a high destructive response to self, high emotional balance, and ability to be mindful. The existence of negative relations between psychopathological symptomatology and self-compassion has been verified between Shared Humanity and Depression and between Interpersonal Sensitivity and Mindfulness. Psychopathological symptoms are also negatively related to self-criticism. With regard to attachment, positive correlations were found between psychopathological symptoms and anxiety related to the fear of abandonment and negative correlation in relation to comfort with proximity. Finally, the anxiety about the fear of abandonment relates negatively to self-compassion and self-criticism. In general, the results obtained are in line with what was expected, proving to be important the promotion of strategies of self-compassion and Minfulness in the reduction of psychopathological symptoms and prevention of abusive situations

Association between spiritual intelligence and mental and physical health in elderly

Objetivos: Analisar os níveis de inteligência espiritual, bem-estar psicológico, sintomas depressivos e ansiosos, saúde mental e física em idosos que frequentam instituições em Lar ou Centro de Dia e explorar as associações existentes entre todas estas variáveis (e com algumas variáveis sociodemográficas). Método: Neste estudo não-experimental, foram aplicados, em formato de entrevista individual, a Escala de Inteligência Espiritual Integrada, o Questionário de Avaliação Funcional Multidimensional de Idosos (para avaliar saúde física e mental), a Escala de Ânimo (avalia bem-estar psicológico), a Escala de Depressão Geriátrica e o Inventário de Ansiedade Geriátrica, a 65 idosos (idade, M = 83,46; DP = 6,65; sexo feminino, n = 46; 70,8%). Resultados: A maioria dos idosos percecionou a sua saúde física (80%) e mental (84%) como insatisfatória. Uma percentagem importante apresentou sintomas depressivos (56,9%) e ansiosos (64,6%). A pontuação total de inteligência espiritual correlacionou-se positivamente com as atitudes face ao envelhecimento e negativamente com a pontuação total de sintomas depressivos. No que respeita às dimensões da inteligência espiritual, a consciência associou-se positivamente com as atitudes face ao envelhecimento (bem-estar psicológico) e negativamente com os sintomas depressivos. O significado associou-se negativamente com a pontuação total do bem-estar psicológico e suas dimensões solidão/insatisfação e agitação). A graça associou-se positivamente com a pontuação total do bem-estar psicológico e com a sua dimensão atitudes face ao envelhecimento e negativamente com os sintomas depressivos e ansiosos. Por fim, refira-se que idosos a residir em Lar apresentaram valores inferiores de graça e superiores de significado (inteligência espiritual), bem como de sintomas depressivos e ansiosos. Conclusões: Mostrou-se preocupante a prevalência de saúde física e mental insatisfatória, de depressão e ansiedade. Níveis maiores totais e em algumas dimensões de inteligência espiritual associaram-se a níveis menores de sintomas depressivos e ansiosos e níveis maiores de bem-estar psicológico. Estes dados parecem apontar para a eventual importância de promover a inteligência espiritual junto de idosos institucionalizados. / Aims: To analyze the levels of spiritual intelligence, psychological well-being, depressive and anxious symptoms, and mental and physical health in elderly attending nursing homes or social centers and explore associations between all these variables (and with some sociodemographic variables). Method: In this non-experimental study, the Integrated Spiritual Intelligence Scale, the Older Americans Resources and Services (to evaluate physical and mental health), the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (evaluates psychological well-being), the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory were applied, in an interview format, to 65 aged citizens (age, M = 83.46; SD = 6.65; female, n = 46; 70.8%). Results: Most elders perceived their physical health (80.0%) and mental health (84.0%) as unsatisfactory. An important percentage presented depressive (56.9%) and anxiety symptoms (64.6%). The total score of spiritual intelligence was positively correlated with attitudes towards aging and negatively with the total score of depressive symptoms. Conscience (spiritual intelligence) was positively associated with attitudes towards aging (psychological well-being) and negatively with depressive symptoms. Meaning (spiritual intelligence) was positively associated with the total score of psychological well-being and it´s dimensions, solitude/dissatisfaction, and agitation, and negatively with depressive and anxious symptoms. Grace was positively associated with the total score of psychological well-being and it´s dimension attitudes towards aging and negatively with depressive and anxiety symptoms. Finally, aged citizens living in nursing homes showed lower values of grace and higher values of meaning (spiritual intelligence), depressive and anxious symptoms. Conclusions: It is of concern the prevalence of unsatisfactory physical and mental health, depression and anxiety. Higher total levels (and in some of the dimensions) of spiritual intelligence were associated with lower levels of depressive and anxious symptoms and higher levels of psychological well-being. These data seem to point to the eventual importance of promoting spiritual intelligence in institutionalized elderly

COVID-19-Related Fear and Anxiety: Spiritual-Religious Coping in Healthcare Workers in Portugal

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the mental health of the general population, and for healthcare workers (HCWs) it has been no different. Religiosity and spirituality are known coping strategies for mental illnesses, especially in stressful times. This study aimed to describe the role of spiritual-religious coping regarding fear and anxiety in relation to COVID-19 in HCWs in Portugal. A cross-sectional quantitative online survey was performed. Socio-demographic and health data were collected as well as the Duke University Religion Index, Spirituality Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and Coronavirus Anxiety Scale. Two hundred and twenty-two HCWs participated in the study, 74.3% were female and 81.1% were physicians. The median age was 37 years (Q1, Q3: 31, 51.3). Religiosity was neither a significant factor for coronavirus-related anxiety nor it was for fear of COVID-19. Participants with higher levels in the hope/optimism dimension of the Spirituality Scale showed less coronavirus-related anxiety. Female HCWs, non-physicians, and the ones with a previous history of anxiety presented higher levels of fear and/or anxiety related to COVID-19. HCWs’ levels of distress should be identified and reduced, so their work is not impaired.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Novel Antiretroviral Therapeutic Strategies for HIV.

When the first cases of HIV infection appeared in the 1980s, AIDS was a deadly disease without any therapeutic alternatives. Currently, there is still no cure for most cases mainly due to the multiple tissues that act as a reservoir for this virus besides the high viral mutagenesis that leads to an antiretroviral drug resistance. Throughout the years, multiple drugs with specific mechanisms of action on distinct targets have been approved. In this review, the most recent phase III clinical studies and other research therapies as advanced antiretroviral nanodelivery systems will be here discussed. Although the combined antiretroviral therapy is effective in reducing viral loading to undetectable levels, it also presents some disadvantages, such as usual side effects, high frequency of administration, and the possibility of drug resistance. Therefore, several new drugs, delivery systems, and vaccines have been tested in pre-clinical and clinical trials. Regarding drug delivery, an attempt to change the route of administration of some conventional antiretrovirals has proven to be successful and surpassed some issues related to patient compliance. Nanotechnology has brought a new approach to overcoming certain obstacles of formulation design including drug solubility and biodistribution. Overall, the encapsulation of antiretroviral drugs into nanosystems has shown improved drug release and pharmacokinetic profile.This work was supported with Gilead GÉNESE Ref. PGG/006/2016.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Useful ultrasonographic parameters to predict difficult laryngoscopy and difficult tracheal intubation-a systematic review and meta-analysis

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.671658/full#supplementary-materialUnexpected difficult airway management can cause significant morbidity and mortality in patients admitted for elective procedures. Ultrasonography is a promising tool for perioperative airway assessment, nevertheless it is still unclear which sonographic parameters are useful predictors of difficult laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. To determine the ultrasonographic predictors of a difficult airway that could be applied for routine practice, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Literature search was performed on PubMED, Web of Science and Embase using the selected keywords. Human primary studies, published in English with the use of ultrasonography to prediction of difficult laryngoscopy or tracheal intubation were included. A total of 19 articles (4,570 patients) were analyzed for the systematic review and 12 articles (1,141 patients) for the meta-analysis. Standardized mean differences between easy and difficult laryngoscopy groups were calculated and the parameter effect size quantified. A PRISMA methodology was used and the critical appraisal tool from Joanna Briggs Institute was applied. Twenty-six sonographic parameters were studied. The overall effect of the distance from skin to hyoid bone (p = 0.02); skin to epiglottis (p = 0.02); skin to the anterior commissure of vocal cords (p = 0.02), pre-epiglottis space to distance between epiglottis and midpoint between vocal cords (p = 0.01), hyomental distance in neutral (p < 0.0001), and extended (p = 0.0002) positions and ratio of hyomental distance in neutral to extended (p = 0.001) was significant. This study shows that hyomental distance in the neutral position is the most reliable parameter for pre-operative airway ultrasound assessment. The main limitations of the study are the small sample size, heterogeneity of studies, and absence of a standardized ultrasonographic evaluation method [Registered at International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO): number 167931].This work has been funded by National funds, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)-project UIDB/50026/2020 and UIDP/50026/2020; and by the projects NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000013 and NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000023, supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

A comprehensive assessment of the transcriptome of cork oak (Quercus suber) through EST sequencing

Background: Cork oak (Quercus suber) is one of the rare trees with the ability to produce cork, a material widely used to make wine bottle stoppers, flooring and insulation materials, among many other uses. The molecular mechanisms of cork formation are still poorly understood, in great part due to the difficulty in studying a species with a long life-cycle and for which there is scarce molecular/genomic information. Cork oak forests are of great ecological importance and represent a major economic and social resource in Southern Europe and Northern Africa. However, global warming is threatening the cork oak forests by imposing thermal, hydric and many types of novel biotic stresses. Despite the economic and social value of the Q. suber species, few genomic resources have been developed, useful for biotechnological applications and improved forest management. Results: We generated in excess of 7 million sequence reads, by pyrosequencing 21 normalized cDNA libraries derived from multiple Q. suber tissues and organs, developmental stages and physiological conditions. We deployed a stringent sequence processing and assembly pipeline that resulted in the identification of ~159,000 unigenes. These were annotated according to their similarity to known plant genes, to known Interpro domains, GO classes and E.C. numbers. The phylogenetic extent of this ESTs set was investigated, and we found that cork oak revealed a significant new gene space that is not covered by other model species or EST sequencing projects. The raw data, as well as the full annotated assembly, are now available to the community in a dedicated web portal at http://www.corkoakdb.org. Conclusions: This genomic resource represents the first trancriptome study in a cork producing species. It can be explored to develop new tools and approaches to understand stress responses and developmental processes in forest trees, as well as the molecular cascades underlying cork differentiation and disease response.Peer Reviewe

Helicobacter pylori infection in infants and toddlers in South America: concordance between [¹³C] urea breath test and monoclonal H. pylori stool antigen test

Accurate noninvasive tests for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection in very young children are strongly required. We investigated the agreement between the [¹³C] urea breath test ([¹³C]UBT) and a monoclonal ELISA (HpSA) for detection of H. pylori antigen in stool. From October 2007 to July 2011, we enrolled 414 infants (123 from Brazil and 291 from Peru) of ages 6 to 30 months. Breath and stool samples were obtained at intervals of at least 3 months from Brazilian (n = 415) and Peruvian (n = 908) infants. [¹³C]UBT and stool test results concurred with each other in 1,255 (94.86%) cases (kappa coefficient = 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.87 to 0.92). In the H. pylori-positive group, delta-over-baseline (DOB) and optical density (OD) values were positively correlated (r = 0.62; P < 0.001). The positivity of the tests was higher (P < 0.001; odds ratio [OR] = 6.01; 95% CI = 4.50 to 8.04) in Peru (546/878; 62.2%) than in Brazil (81/377; 21.5%) and increased with increasing age in Brazil (P = 0.02), whereas in Peru it decreased with increasing age (P < 0.001). The disagreement between the test results was associated with birth in Brazil and female gender but not with age and diarrhea. Our results suggest that both [¹³C]UBT and the stool monoclonal test are reliable for diagnosing H. pylori infection in very young children, which will facilitate robust epidemiological studies in infants and toddlers

Práticas artísticas no ensino básico e secundário

A matéria-prima de que trata esta revista é base de trabalho para um ensino artístico alargado, estendendo-se fora dos limites da aula, transgredindo os limites formais dos curricula, implicando património e riqueza cultural, sensibilizando para o imaterial, criando públicos apreciadores e também agentes criadores. É toda uma comunidade que se interliga através dos valores imateriais que sempre foram os da arte. A tarefa do educador é muito alargada: exige-se que esteja à altura deste desígnio humanista, que é também um desafio ao destino da humanidade: pela educação artística constroem-se futuros, e sem arte há intolerância, materialismo, indiferença, alienação, morte. Os tempos que se vivem são exigentes. As questões da pós modernidade estão muito acesas, desde as que nos obrigam ao desassossego, como a sustentabilidade e a poluição, como as que nos implicam politicamente, como a justiça, os direitos civis, a desigualdade. Tudo isto é matéria com a qual se amassa um barro que pode ser mais ou menos criativo: trata-se de extrair a matéria-prima com que se pode fazer os blocos que constroem o futuro. Aos profissionais da educação e do ensino, esta consciência, ao mesmo tempo desamparada – os cortes da economia neoliberal transformaram a arte em indústria, e a sua educação em criação de consumidores – e ao mesmo tempo vigilante e interventiva. Os artigos que responderam a esta chamada, respondem, cada um a seu modo, a este desassossego, a este desconforto, a este mal-estar contemporâneo. Dispuseram-se segundo uma sequência que se articula com base em temas afins que se podem descrever sucintamente: Todos os que participaram neste número mostraram a sua matéria-prima, a sua reação à falta que a arte nos faz. A chamada soa, e ressoa, e é necessário que seja por todos ouvida, em todos os países. É simples: as artes estão em perigo. Perigo porque há menos horas, menos professores, menos opções, menos conhecimento. As reduções no horário, a eliminação de disciplinas tão importantes como a história da arte, fazem de cada professor um agente da resistência, um ser mais implicado na sobrevivência da chama da criação. Matéria-prima: matéria para resgatar a verdade humana, a arte, a expressão mais valiosa da sua vaidade. Resgatar o homem que Michel Foucault (1988: 412) vê ameaçado, como um rosto na areia, desenhado à beira-mar.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio