DeSales University

Vehicle insurance claim severity modeling requires accurate and interpretable methods that can handle skewed and heterogeneous loss data. This study provides a structured empirical comparison between classical parametric regression models and tree-based ensemble learning approaches for predicting claim size conditional on claim occurrence. The analysis is conducted within a cross-sectional conditional severity framework using real-world motor insurance data. We implement and compare ordinary least squares (OLS), a Tweedie generalized linear model (GLM), and three ensemble methods: bagging, random forests (RFs), and gradient boosting. Model performance is evaluated using out-of-sample root mean square error (RMSE), and variable importance measures assess the relative contribution of predictors. The results indicate that tree-based ensemble methods achieve modest improvements in predictive accuracy relative to classical parametric models. The Tweedie GLM remains a competitive, flexible parametric benchmark for skewed positive claim amounts. Variable importance analysis consistently identifies premium and insured value as key determinants of claim severity. Overall, the findings suggest that ensemble learning methods can complement traditional actuarial models, offering additional flexibility in capturing non-linear effects while maintaining comparable predictive performance in moderate-complexity severity data.

Abstract Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Atherosclerosis, characterized by the buildup of lipids within blood vessels accompanied by the release of inflammatory cytokines and leukocyte adhesion, is a factor contributing to coronary heart disease. Another medical concern associated with elevated levels of inflammation is the rejection of implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers. In the pursuit of a natural compound that could attenuate inflammation, bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAOECs) and THP-1 cells were used. Isoquercitrin, a naturally occurring compound found in fruits and vegetables, has shown promise in mitigating inflammation and cytokine responses. To investigate the hypothesis that isoquercitrin can alleviate inflammation in BAOECs, TNF-α assays and wound healing experiments were conducted. Findings suggest that isoquercitrin does not exert significant anti-inflammatory effect on cells subjected to TNF-α-induced inflammation. Furthermore, isoquercitrin does not enhance wound healing in BAOECs. THP-1 adhesion assays were conducted with isoquercitrin to determine the impact of isoquercitrin on biocompatibility. There was no noticeable decrease in adhesion by THP-1 cells after treatment, indicating that isoquercitrin doesn’t have an impact on biomaterial rejection. Overall, isoquercitrin was not found to have anti-inflammatory effects, so it may not be suitable as an anti-inflammatory supplement.

Alternative sustainable and environmentally friendly cement-based materials are now possible because of substantial advancements in concrete technology. In building engineering, supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) have gained popularity and promise as partial binder substitution in recent decades. This study examines the production of a new eco-friendly LC3 concrete (lower cement clinker concentration and CO2 footprint) by substituting nano silica for calcined clay. Surkhi has been used as a calcined clay in the present LC3 concrete and replaced by nano-silica at 2%, 4%, and 6% by weight. A new water replacement material has been introduced as rubber latex, which has helped to reduce the porosity of concrete. Rubber latex has replaced the water at 2% and 5%. Eight new mixes are prepared from which seven mixes are engineered LC3 concrete and one mix belongs to traditional OPC concrete of M40 grade. Several laboratory tests such as rheology, volumetric shrinkage, FTIR, TGA, compressive strength, and split tensile strength are carried out on the above-mentioned mixes of LC3 concrete and compared with the test results of traditional OPC concrete. However engineered LC3 concrete enhanced the workability by showing lower values of static yield stress, structural built-up rate and thixotropic energy as compared to traditional OPC concrete. Introducing rubber latex in LC3 concrete, the workability increases due to the production of similar charges around the cementitious materials which are repulsive. Losing the plasticity of rubber latex the voids of concrete have been filled by solid materials and correspondingly reduce the voids and shrinkage. The volumetric shrinkage was reduced by up to 84%, and compressive strength improved by 15.6% at 90days compared to OPC concrete. Rheological tests using an eBT2 rheometer and shrinkage tests using laser measurement were performed. The mechanical and microstructural qualities of LC3 concrete have improved due to partial substitution of water with rubber latex and increased the packing density due to the partial substitution of nano-silica for surkhi.

The study analyzed the reading practices, purposes, challenges, and institutional support of students’ reading culture at Silenat School, Fitche, Ethiopia. The research employed a descriptive survey research design. 112 grade seven students were comprehensively selected for this study. Two English language teachers and one librarian also participated in the study. A questionnaire, interview, and observation were used to collect data. Quantitative data gained by questionnaire and observation were organized and analyzed statistically using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the mean score and standard deviation. Qualitative data collected by interviews were narrated and interpreted to support the findings. The finding indicated that students read most types of materials ‘rarely’ as indicated by the grand mean of (M=3.70; SD=.673). Students showed an overall low reported frequency of reading culture across all purposes. Their preferences for play, lack of interesting books, and a generally distracting or unsupportive reading environment, and lack of institutional resources and activities that would support reading, such as book clubs, competitions, and adequate library facilities, were found to be big challenges. There is a widespread absence of extracurricular and incentive-based supports for students’ reading culture.

It is unlikely that there will be other development interventions than enhancing agricultural productivity growth to steadily alleviate poverty in many developing countries. The progress observed has been uneven, influenced by many factors. Although the literature has extensively investigated the linkages, the discrepancies in empirical results present challenges to scientific understanding and policymaking. This paper aims to estimate the effect sizes drawn from 40 eligible econometric studies conducted over a three-decade period. A random-effects meta-regression model is employed to explore what determines heterogeneities in the genuine empirical effects of the hypothesized linkages. The finding reveals that agricultural productivity has a medium- and high-level effect on poverty alleviation, as indicated by (un)transformed partial correlations. Likewise, the study finds evidence of publication bias towards a positive impact of agricultural productivity on poverty. When accounting for these biases, the genuine empirical effects vary, attributable to several factors, including the empirical setup, research design, data and publication characteristics, trajectories of key variables, the study duration, and the Cobb-Douglas production function used. Therefore, to unlock agriculture’s potential to alleviate poverty in developing countries, research should prioritize more holistic productivity measures, longitudinal data, and parametric functions, as they capture broader macroeconomic impacts and help understand the complex, dynamic, and often nuanced relationships between agricultural productivity and poverty.

Groundnut shell fiber, an agricultural byproduct rich in cellulose and lignin, offers potential as a sustainable reinforcement in high-performance concrete. This study investigates the effect of chemically treated groundnut shell fibers on the mechanical and blast performance of fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC). Fibers were subjected to alkali, silane, and acetylation treatments, followed by characterization through tensile testing, FTIR, and XRD analyses to evaluate structural and chemical modifications. The results demonstrated that NaOH treatment enhanced tensile strength and modulus of elasticity due to improved crystallinity and reduced fiber diameter. Concrete specimens incorporating fibers at varying dosages (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% by weight of cement) were prepared and tested for compressive, split tensile, and flexural strengths. Findings revealed that untreated and pretreated fibers generally reduced strength, while post-treated fibers improved performance at optimized levels. The best outcomes were achieved at 0.5% post-treated fiber, showing approximately 10–11% improvement in compressive and tensile strengths compared to the control mix, with flexural strength optimized at 1.0%. Beyond these levels, fiber addition reduced performance due to poor dispersion and higher water absorption. Finite element blast simulations further indicated that treated fiber-reinforced panels exhibited improved stress distribution and reduced localized deformation compared to conventional concrete. Overall, the study highlights that chemically treated groundnut shell fibers can enhance the toughness and energy absorption capacity of concrete when used at optimum proportions. However, the blast resistance results are based on numerical modeling, and further large-scale experimental validation is required before structural application in high-impact environments.

Biogas technology offers a sustainable energy solution with potential benefits for reducing fuelwood consumption and mitigating environmental impacts. This study rigorously evaluates the adoption of biogas technology and its potential to reduce carbon emissions and save fuel wood in the Girar Jarso district. Employing a stratified sampling procedure, we collected data from 345 households (50 adopters and 295 non-adopters), supported by 15 key informant interviews, 6 focus group discussions, and field observations. The kitchen performance test (KPT) conducted with 36 households revealed that biogas technology significantly reduces fuel wood consumption, saving 1131.5 kg annually and reducing emissions by 1.6 tCO2 per biogas plant. These findings underscore the critical role of biogas technology in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, conserving fuel wood, and reducing dependency on forest resources. The study contributes novel insights into the environmental and socio-economic benefits of biogas technology, advocating for its broader adoption to combat climate change and promote sustainable energy solutions.

Supporting parents in foundational positive behavior support strategies for use with their child is a commonly employed method to improve child behavior in natural contexts, including the home. Parents have learned and implemented a variety of strategies with integrity; however, there is limited research regarding the maintenance of skills. Furthermore, although parents have been taught to implement behavior-specific praise (BSP), the quality of parent BSP has yet to be evaluated. Using a single-case design, the researchers taught three parents to use targeted levels of BSP that contained quality elements, including contingency, immediacy, and variety. Results demonstrated that behavioral skills training resulted in parent mastery of BSP for both frequency and quality; however, skills diminished during maintenance. Self-monitoring was then introduced, resulting in increases to targeted levels. Child engagement and problem behavior were also assessed, with mixed results. Social validity for both BSP and self-monitoring indicated that parents found the practices to be acceptable and feasible.

Objective.In the present study, we examined the correlations between the recovery of stepping obtained with intrathecal brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) delivery to the lumbar spinal cord and the firing of the lumbar spinal interneurons in a feline model of spinal cord injury (SCI).Approach. In-vivoextracellular recordings of spinal neurons were conducted using two 64-channel microelectrode arrays inserted in the intermediate zone of the L3-L7 segments of cats spinalized at the T11-T12 level that received either saline or BDNF delivered intrathecally to the lumbar cisterna via an implanted minipump. Interneuronal activity was explored in terms of averaged neuronal firing properties and in terms of spike train interactions.Main results.With respect to averaged neuronal firing properties, we observed a significant increase in firing frequency in BNDF-treated animals and a similar distribution of the units' preferred phase of firing relative to the step cycle between the groups. With respect to spike train interactions, we observed higher synchrony of firing in BDNF-treated animals as well as less dependency on the unit's past firing.Significance.Studies conducted in feline models of complete SCI show a gradual recovery of hindlimb stepping after intensive treadmill training. Similarly, delivery of neurotrophins such as BDNF or neurotrophin-3 to the injury site via cellular transplant or via implantable mini-pump to the lumbar cisterna has been shown to promote recovery of locomotor behavior in the absence of locomotor training. The results from this study suggest that BDNF treatment sets the overall population in a state of high excitability, which along with higher synchrony and ensemble-dependent behavior, allows for the proper integration of cutaneous and proprioceptive input resulting in treadmill locomotor recovery after SCI.