The calculus of IT support for the banking, securities, and insurance industries has changed dramatically and rapidly over the past few years. Consolidation and deregulation are creating ...opportunities and challenges never before seen. Unheard of just a few years ago, e-commerce has given birth to new infrastructures and departments needed to support them. And the Internet/Intranet/Extranet triple-whammy is the most critical component of most financial IT shops. At the same time, new intelligent agents stand ready to take on such diverse functions as customer profiling and data mining. Get a handle on all these new and newer ripples with Financial Services Information Systems. Here, in this exhaustive new guide and reference book, industry guru Jessica Keyes gives you the no-nonsense scoop on not just the tried and true IT tools of today, but also the up-and-coming "hot" technologies of tomorrow, and how to plan for them. Financial Services Information Systems addresses challenges and solutions associated with:
supporting the self-service revolution by servicing kiosks and ATMs efficiently and economically,
straight-through processing for the securities industry,
outsourcing business communications in the insurance industry,
distributed integration as a cost-effective alternative to data warehousing, and
putting inbound fax automation to work in financial organizations.
Preface SECTION I: TECHNOLOGY TRENDS IN FINANCIAL SERVICES The "Must-Have" Guide to Total Quality for the Financial Service Manager, Jessica Keyes Distributed Integration: An Alternative to Data Warehousing, Dan Adler Windows Distributed interNet Architecture for Financial Services, Dave Yewman Evaluation of Financial Analysis and Application Prototyping Environments, Charles Bassignani Customer Profiling for Financial Services, Monte F. Hancock and Rhonda R. Delmater Business Rule Systems, Henry Seiler Customer Data Quality: The Foundation for a One-to-One Customer Relationship, Art Petty A History of Knowledge-Based Systems in Financial Services, Jessica Keyes The Unfolding of Wireless Technology in the Financial Services Industry, Michael A. McNeal Personal Financial Appliances, Greg Crandell and David Williams Putting Inbound Fax Automation to Work in the Financial Organization, Jerry Rackley Extranets for Financial Services, Evan Kaplan Designing a High-Performance, High-Availability Network Infrastructure, Chris Marino Applications of GIS Technology in Financial Services, Donald F. Cooke Designing and Implementing a Virus Prevention Policy in Financial Services Organizations: Key Issues and Critical Needs, Pat Bitton Voice Over ATM, Gary Mangus Toward a More Perfect Union: The European Monetary Conversion and Its Impact on Information Technology, Information Technology Association of America Systems that Build Themselves: Anatomy of a Development Before the Fact Software Engineering Methodology, Margaret Hamilton Multimedia-Based Training (MBT) for Financial Services, Barbara Sealund and Tim Brock Law (or the Lack of It) on the Web: A Primer for Financial Services Technology Managers, Frederic M. Wilf Using Net-Based Interactive Technology for Online Marketing, Sales and Support of Financial Services Firms, Steven Semelsberger Internet Security Analysis Report: An Executive Overview, Mary Rose Multicast Applications and Technology for the Financial Services Industry, C. Kenneth Miller An Introduction to the Internet for Financial Services Developers, Jessica Keyes Introduction to e-Commerce, David Peterson Transactional Application Servers: Providing the Scalability for Global Electronic Business, Michael McCaffery Enterprise Application Integration in Financial Services, Ely Eshel Spreadsheets as Containers of Malicious Payloads, Ron Moritz Growth Optimal Asset Allocation Strategies with Downside Protection, Jivendra Kale Quadratic Programming for Large-Scale Portfolio Optimization, Michael J. Best and Jivendra Kale Risk Management Meets Customer Relationship Management: Closing the Data Mining Loop with DCOM and Visual Basic, Eric Apps and Ken Ono Java-Based Application Servers for the Financial Sector, Anura Gurugé SECTION II: BANKING TRENDS IN TECHNOLOGY Grab a Ringside Seat for the Best of Banking Technology, Mark Hill Banking Technology in Emerging Markets, Bernard Lunn Going Global: Systems Issues for Servicing a Global Business, Stephen Bloomer A Brief Case History in Internet Banking, Myers Dupuy How "Internet Bill Presentment" Changes the Deployment Strategy of Homebanking and Online Payment, Richard K. Crone The Self-Service Revolution: Harnessing the Power of Kiosks and ATMs, Aravinda Korala and Philip Basham Checking It Twice: Check Imaging System Offers Greater Flexibility and Efficiency, David Ooley Internet Banking: Leveling the Playing Field for Community Banks, Kim Humphreys Straight Talk on SET: Challenges and Opportunities from a Business Perspective, Chris Hamilton Retail Delivery: A Common Strategy Amidst an Uncommon World, Kenneth E. Russell Growing Your Virtual Branch: Strategies for Successful Internet Banking, Jackie Cuevas Selecting and Implementing a Treasury Workstation: The Amway Experience, Kimberly Bethke SECTION III: SECURITIES TRENDS IN TECHNOLOGY The Future of the Securities Industry: Convergence of Trust and Brokerage, John Buckner A Portfolio Management System for the 21st Century, Tim Scatliff Logging Monitoring in the Financial Services Industry, Knox Henderson Straight Through Processing, Jim Douthitt Designing and Evaluating Investment Performance Systems, Timothy Peterson Building an Internet Strategy for Full-Service Brokers, Jeanne Chinchar Middleware Standards in Capital Markets, Gabriel Bousbib The Broker Desktop: The Future of Trading Has Arrived, John McLeod SECTION IV: INSURANCE TRENDS IN TECHNOLOGY Outsourcing Business Communications in the Insurance Industry, Kim Herren New Business Model for Insurance Industry Demands New Automation Model, Don Chase The Internet and Evolving Technology: Changing How Insurance Companies Service and Operate, Richard H. DuBois Produce Management Systems - The Need for Automation and Integration, Scott L. Price Understanding and Implementing Business Intelligence Solutions in the Insurance Industry, Thomas Chesbrough SECTION V: APPENDIX Selected Product Briefs About the Editor Index
Wide quantum dots were fabricated from multiple quantum-well (MQW) structures based on Zn
1−
x
Mn
x
Te/ZnTe (
x = 0.076) dilute magnetic semiconductors and were investigated via photoluminescence ...(PL) in a magnetic field. Calculations taking into account the strain in the two types of structure enabled the PL transitions to be identified and show that the dominant emission in the MQWs is from heavy-hole (hh) excitons whereas in the quantum dots, the removal of the strain in the barrier layers generates a large biaxial tensile strain in the quantum wells which shifts the light-hole (lh) exciton to lower energy than the hh exciton. The lh exciton σ
+ transition is virtually independent of magnetic field whilst the hh exciton is field-dependent. Thus, at fields of 1–2 T, the hh exciton σ
+ transition again becomes the lowest-energy transition of the quantum dots. These observations are described by a model with a chemical valence band offset of 30% for Zn
1−
x
J:Mn
x
Te/ZnTe.
J. Cryst. Growth 184/185 (1998) 325-329 Wide quantum dots were fabricated from multiple quantum well structures based
on Zn_{1-x}Mn_xTe/ZnTe (x = 0.076) dilute magnetic semiconductors and were
...investigated via photoluminescence (PL) in a magnetic field. Calculations
taking into account the strain in the two types of structure enabled the PL
transitions to be identified and show that the dominant emission in the MQWs is
from heavy-hole (hh) excitons whereas in the quantum dots, the removal of the
strain in the barrier layers generates a large biaxial tensile strain in the
quantum wells which shifts the light-hole (lh) exciton to lower energy than the
hh exciton. The lh exciton sigma^+ transition is virtually independent of
magnetic field whilst the hh exciton is field-dependent. Thus, at fields of 1
to 2 Tesla, the hh exciton sigma^+ transition again becomes the lowest energy
transition of the quantum dots. These observations are described by a model
with a chemical valence band offset of 30% for Zn_{1-x}Mn_xTe/ZnTe.
Wide quantum dots were fabricated from multiple quantum well structures based on Zn_{1-x}Mn_xTe/ZnTe (x = 0.076) dilute magnetic semiconductors and were investigated via photoluminescence (PL) in a ...magnetic field. Calculations taking into account the strain in the two types of structure enabled the PL transitions to be identified and show that the dominant emission in the MQWs is from heavy-hole (hh) excitons whereas in the quantum dots, the removal of the strain in the barrier layers generates a large biaxial tensile strain in the quantum wells which shifts the light-hole (lh) exciton to lower energy than the hh exciton. The lh exciton sigma^+ transition is virtually independent of magnetic field whilst the hh exciton is field-dependent. Thus, at fields of 1 to 2 Tesla, the hh exciton sigma^+ transition again becomes the lowest energy transition of the quantum dots. These observations are described by a model with a chemical valence band offset of 30% for Zn_{1-x}Mn_xTe/ZnTe.
Aim
Climate change is altering marine ecosystems worldwide and is most pronounced in the Arctic. Economic development is increasing leading to more disturbances and pressures on Arctic wildlife. ...Identifying areas that support higher levels of predator abundance and biodiversity is important for the implementation of targeted conservation measures across the Arctic.
Location
Primarily Canadian Arctic marine waters but also parts of the United States, Greenland and Russia.
Methods
We compiled the largest data set of existing telemetry data for marine predators in the North American Arctic consisting of 1,283 individuals from 21 species. Data were arranged into four species groups: (a) cetaceans and pinnipeds, (b) polar bears Ursus maritimus (c) seabirds, and (d) fishes to address the following objectives: (a) to identify abundance hotspots for each species group in the summer–autumn and winter–spring; (b) to identify species diversity hotspots across all species groups and extent of overlap with exclusive economic zones; and (c) to perform a gap analysis that assesses amount of overlap between species diversity hotspots with existing protected areas.
Results
Abundance and species diversity hotpots during summer–autumn and winter–spring were identified in Baffin Bay, Davis Strait, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Amundsen Gulf, and the Beaufort, Chukchi and Bering seas both within and across species groups. Abundance and species diversity hotpots occurred within the continental slope in summer–autumn and offshore in areas of moving pack ice in winter–spring. Gap analysis revealed that the current level of conservation protection that overlaps species diversity hotspots is low covering only 5% (77,498 km2) in summer–autumn and 7% (83,202 km2) in winter–spring.
Main conclusions
We identified several areas of potential importance for Arctic marine predators that could provide policymakers with a starting point for conservation measures given the multitude of threats facing the Arctic. These results are relevant to multilevel and multinational governance to protect this vulnerable ecosystem in our rapidly changing world.
RFC1 disease, caused by biallelic repeat expansion in RFC1, is clinically heterogeneous in terms of age of onset, disease progression and phenotype. We investigated the role of the repeat size in ...influencing clinical variables in RFC1 disease. We also assessed the presence and role of meiotic and somatic instability of the repeat. In this study, we identified 553 patients carrying biallelic RFC1 expansions and measured the repeat expansion size in 392 cases. Pearson's coefficient was calculated to assess the correlation between the repeat size and age at disease onset. A Cox model with robust cluster standard errors was adopted to describe the effect of repeat size on age at disease onset, on age at onset of each individual symptoms, and on disease progression. A quasi-Poisson regression model was used to analyse the relationship between phenotype and repeat size. We performed multivariate linear regression to assess the association of the repeat size with the degree of cerebellar atrophy. Meiotic stability was assessed by Southern blotting on first-degree relatives of 27 probands. Finally, somatic instability was investigated by optical genome mapping on cerebellar and frontal cortex and unaffected peripheral tissue from four post-mortem cases. A larger repeat size of both smaller and larger allele was associated with an earlier age at neurological onset smaller allele hazard ratio (HR) = 2.06, P < 0.001; larger allele HR = 1.53, P < 0.001 and with a higher hazard of developing disabling symptoms, such as dysarthria or dysphagia (smaller allele HR = 3.40, P < 0.001; larger allele HR = 1.71, P = 0.002) or loss of independent walking (smaller allele HR = 2.78, P < 0.001; larger allele HR = 1.60; P < 0.001) earlier in disease course. Patients with more complex phenotypes carried larger expansions smaller allele: complex neuropathy rate ratio (RR) = 1.30, P = 0.003; cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy and vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS) RR = 1.34, P < 0.001; larger allele: complex neuropathy RR = 1.33, P = 0.008; CANVAS RR = 1.31, P = 0.009. Furthermore, larger repeat expansions in the smaller allele were associated with more pronounced cerebellar vermis atrophy (lobules I-V β = -1.06, P < 0.001; lobules VI-VII β = -0.34, P = 0.005). The repeat did not show significant instability during vertical transmission and across different tissues and brain regions. RFC1 repeat size, particularly of the smaller allele, is one of the determinants of variability in RFC1 disease and represents a key prognostic factor to predict disease onset, phenotype and severity. Assessing the repeat size is warranted as part of the diagnostic test for RFC1 expansion.
The synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-azabicyclo3.1.0hexane mu opioid receptor antagonists
2 and
3 are reported. The significant potency enhancement made by a single methyl substituent is ...discussed.
In looking for a novel achiral μ opioid receptor antagonist for the treatment of pruritus, we designed and synthesised azabicyclo3.1.0hexane compounds as a new class of opioid ligand. During optimisation, an addition of a single methyl resulted in a 35-fold improvement in binding. An early example from the series had excellent μ opioid receptor antagonist antagonist activity and was very effective in an in vivo pruritus study.
Objectives: There are some common occupational agents and exposure circumstances for which evidence of carcinogenicity is substantial but not yet conclusive for humans. Our objectives were to ...identify research gaps and needs for 20 agents prioritized for review based on evidence of widespread human exposures and potential carcinogenicity in animals or humans. Data sources: For each chemical agent (or category of agents), a systematic review was conducted of new data published since the most recent pertinent International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monograph meeting on that agent. Data extraction: Reviewers were charged with identifying data gaps and general and specific approaches to address them, focusing on research that would be important in resolving classification uncertainties. An expert meeting brought reviewers together to discuss each agent and the identified data gaps and approaches. Data synthesis: Several overarching issues were identified that pertained to multiple agents; these included the importance of recognizing that carcinogenic agents can act through multiple toxicity pathways and mechanisms, including epigenetic mechanisms, oxidative stress, and immuno- and hormonal modulation. Conclusions: Studies in occupational populations provide important opportunities to understand the mechanisms through which exogenous agents cause cancer and intervene to prevent human exposure and/or prevent or detect cancer among those already exposed. Scientific developments are likely to increase the challenges and complexities of carcinogen testing and evaluation in the future, and epidemiologic studies will be particularly critical to inform carcinogen classification and risk assessment processes.
Dense, nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) are separate phase compounds that commonly contaminate groundwater supplies. Miscible displacement methods using surfactants and alcohols to recover the ...DNAPLs have been proposed, but concerns have been raised about mobilizing the DNAPLs deeper into previously uncontaminated media. In this paper, the concerns are addressed by reducing DNAPL density prior to elimination of interfacial tension. Laboratory-measured equilibrium phase behavior demonstrates the ability of 2-butanol to reverse the density contrast between tetrachloroethene (PCE) and water prior to miscibility, resulting in a DNAPL phase less dense than the aqueous phase. Laboratory experiments using an upward gradient flow cell demonstrate that 2-butanol, introduced as an aqueous solution to a PCE pool suspended within a water-saturated sandpack, partitions strongly into the PCE. Pools of PCE exposed to 1 pore volume of water saturated with 2-butanol and subsequently recovered by miscible displacements with 1-propanol showed that between 56.6% and 97.6% of the DNAPL mass was recovered for total alcohol complements of between 0.24 and 1.0 pore volume. In all two-phase samples produced, the NAPL phase was less dense than the aqueous phase. Analysis of a static DNAPL pool shows that the use of a 2-butanol preflood may prevent the downward mobilization predicted to occur for more conventional alcohol floods.
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