The Society of Actuaries (SOA) is a global professional organization for actuaries. It was founded in 1949 as the merger of two major actuarial organizations in the United States: the Actuarial Society of America and the American Institute of Actuaries. It is a full member organization of the International Actuarial Association.Through education and research, the SOA advances actuaries as leaders in measuring and managing risk to improve financial outcomes for individuals, organizations, and the public. The SOA's vision is for actuaries to be highly sought-after professionals who develop and communicate solutions for complex financial issues. The SOA provides primary and continuing education for students and practicing actuaries, maintains high professional standards for actuaries, and conducts research on actuarial trends and public policy issues.A global organization, the SOA represents actuaries from all major areas of practice, including life and health insurance, retirement and pensions, investment and finance, enterprise risk management, and general insurance (property and casualty) insurance. The Casualty Actuarial Society also represents actuaries working with property and casualty.The SOA, along with its public relations firm Golin, won the PRWeek Corporate Branding Campaign of the Year award for 2008. The award was given for the SOA's efforts to revitalize the actuarial profession's brand in the U.S., including the slogan "Risk is Opportunity.
Rapid population ageing has shifted the global disease burden from acute illness toward chronic conditions, multimorbidity, and age-related functional decline. Prevalence estimates for geriatric syndromes vary because populations, care settings, and diagnostic instruments differ across studies. To estimate the community-based pooled prevalence of major geriatric syndromes among older adults and descriptively summarize setting-specific evidence, quality of life, healthcare utilization, and reported correlates. We conducted a PRISMA 2020-guided systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase were searched for studies reporting prevalence or association data on geriatric syndromes among older adults aged ≥ 60 years from January 2000 to December 2025. Study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. In response to substantial clinical heterogeneity, the primary pooled prevalence analysis was restricted to studies of community-dwelling or general-population older adults. Hospital-based, dialysis, cancer, homeless, residential-care, centenarian, and other specialized cohorts were retained in the systematic review but summarized descriptively. Community-based prevalence estimates were pooled using inverse-variance DerSimonian–Laird random-effects models applied to raw proportions. As an alternative-model sensitivity analysis, all five prevalence outcomes were reanalysed using binomial-normal generalized linear mixed models with a logit link. Quality-of-life (QoL), healthcare utilization (HCU), and reported correlates were narratively synthesized because instruments, metrics, adjustment status, and study designs varied. Fifty-seven studies, including more than 118,000 participants, were included. In the community-based pooled analysis, polypharmacy had the highest pooled prevalence at 29.7
In this study, Fe2O3-modified boron-doped graphitic carbon nitride (B-doped g-C3N4 or BCN) nanocomposites were synthesized and evaluated for their photocatalytic performance in the peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-assisted photo-Fenton degradation of tetracycline (TC), a persistent antibiotic pollutant. Fe2O3 was impregnated onto BCN at varying loadings of 2.5, 5, and 7.5 wt%, denoted as 2.5-FeB, 5-FeB, and 7.5-FeB, respectively. The nano-composites were characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, and UV-Vis DRS to investigate their structural, morphological, and optical properties. Among the composites, the 5-FeB exhibited the highest photocatalytic efficiency, achieving superior degradation of TC under visible light irradiation in the presence of PMS. This enhanced activity is attributed to the synergistic effect between Fe2O3 and BCN, which promotes efficient charge separation, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and accelerated Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox cycling in the photo-Fenton process. The findings suggest that Fe2O3/BCN nanocomposites, particularly the 5-FeB, are promising candidates for the effective removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from wastewater.
Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs) enable a wide range of ocean monitoring applications, including environmental observation, offshore infrastructure inspection, and marine resource exploration. However, reliable deployment of sensor nodes in underwater environments remains challenging due to the three-dimensional monitoring space, acoustic communication constraints, water-current-driven node mobility, and depth-dependent sensing performance. Conventional deployment strategies adapted from terrestrial wireless sensor networks are inadequate for volumetric underwater coverage and often neglect acoustic propagation characteristics and buoyancy-based node actuation. This paper proposes E3DNM, an Efficient 3D Node Deployment Model designed to improve coverage reliability, acoustic connectivity, and energy efficiency in UWSNs. The proposed framework integrates three coordinated mechanisms: a depth-stratified initialization strategy using hexagonal close packing for efficient volumetric coverage, a 3D acoustic virtualforce refinement algorithm incorporating depth-adaptive sensing radii and acoustic propagation constraints, and a buoyancybased mobility compensation mechanism that mitigates currentinduced drift and preserves deployment stability. Extensive simulations in a $500 {m} \times 500 {m} \times 200 {m}$ underwater monitoring volume with 120 sensor nodes demonstrate that E3DNM achieves 94.8% volumetric coverage, improves network lifetime by 28.9 %, and reduces communication energy consumption by 41.3 % compared with conventional 3D random deployment while maintaining acoustic connectivity in 97.6 % of trials. These results indicate that E3DNM provides a scalable and energy-efficient deployment framework for reliable large-scale underwater sensing applications.
With the growing global demand for bromine resources, seawater bromine extraction has gained increasing attention as a critical resource development technology, particularly in terms of efficiency and quality control. The regulation of pH during seawater acidification and oxidation plays a pivotal role in the extraction process. However, traditional control methods often struggle to adapt to complex industrial environments and dynamic process conditions. Fuzzy control systems, as an advanced intelligent control technology, exhibit strong adaptability and robustness in handling nonlinear relationships and uncertainties. This study investigates the feasibility of applying fuzzy control systems to dynamically adjust pH in seawater bromine extraction, analyzing their potential advantages and cutting-edge applications. Theoretical analysis and technical evaluation demonstrate that fuzzy control systems can significantly enhance process stability while reducing energy consumption and operational costs. The implementation of fuzzy control systems in seawater bromine extraction not only holds substantial theoretical significance but also offers innovative solutions for technological advancement and sustainable industrial development.
Bromine is a critical chemical feedstock widely used in flame retardants, oil and gas exploration, pesticides, photographic agents, and pharmaceuticals. Its extraction from brine (via oxidative air-blowing) produces an acidic mother liquor that must be neutralized before disposal to prevent environmental harm. This study systematically evaluates five neutralization strategies-caustic soda (NaOH, S1), soda ash (Na2CO3, S2), quicklime (CaO, S3), calcined magnesia (MgO, S4), and seawater mixing (S5)-using an integrated life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) framework. Laboratory experiments optimized key operating parameters (reagent dosage, reaction time) for each method. The ISO 14040/14044-compliant LCA identified S5 as the most environmentally favorable option, ranking first in five out of nine impact categories, followed by S3 which excels in ecotoxicity and resource efficiency. In contrast, the TEA reveals S3 as the most cost-effective route, whereas S1 and S2 incur the highest costs due to expensive reagents, and S5 is constrained by substantial electricity demand. This combined assessment highlights the trade-offs between environmental and economic performance and provides a practical framework for selecting sustainable neutralization practices. The findings align with China's "dual-carbon" climate goals (peaking CO2 emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060), offering guidance for cleaner production and decision-making in the bromine industry.
