Refraction of sound refers to the change in direction of sound waves as they pass from one medium to another or as they travel through different layers of a medium with varying properties, such as temperature or density. This phenomenon occurs because sound waves travel at different speeds in different materials or under different conditions. Here are some key points about sound refraction: 1. **Sound Speed Variability**: The speed of sound varies with factors like temperature, humidity, and pressure.

The Journal of Sound and Vibration is a peer-reviewed academic journal that focuses on the study of sound and vibration in various contexts. It publishes original research articles, reviews, and technical notes related to the fields of acoustics, vibration analysis, noise control, and related disciplines. Topics covered in the journal may include fundamental research on sound propagation and vibration phenomena, applications in engineering, environmental noise assessments, and methods for sound and vibration measurement and control.

"Ultrasonics" is a scientific journal that publishes research articles, reviews, and technical notes related to the field of ultrasonics, which involves the use of high-frequency sound waves (above the upper limit of human hearing, typically above 20 kHz) in various applications. This can include areas such as medical imaging, non-destructive testing, industrial cleaning, ultrasonic welding, and other areas where ultrasonic technology is applied.

Self-focusing transducers are a type of acoustic transducer designed to focus sound waves onto a particular point or region without the need for external optical or mechanical systems to direct the beam. This technology leverages the unique properties of certain materials and geometries that cause sound waves to converge or focus at specific points due to nonlinear interactions within the medium.

The Actuarial Society of South Africa (ASSA) has developed various models to project the impact of HIV/AIDS on the population, particularly focusing on its effects on mortality, morbidity, and demographic trends. These models are crucial for understanding how the HIV/AIDS epidemic influences life expectancy, disease burden, and the financial implications for insurance and healthcare systems in South Africa.

Insurance underwriters are professionals who evaluate and assess the risk of insuring individuals and businesses. Their primary role is to determine whether to accept or reject insurance applications based on the risk associated with the applicant. Underwriters analyze various factors, including personal information, financial stability, health records, property details, and the nature of the insurance coverage requested. Key functions of insurance underwriters include: 1. **Risk Assessment:** They evaluate potential risks based on data and guidelines provided by the insurance company.

The Annual Growth Rate (AGR) is a measure used to indicate the average rate of growth of an investment, an economy, a population, or any variable over a specified period, typically expressed as a percentage. It helps investors, analysts, and decision-makers to assess the performance and potential of an entity or investment over time. **Key points about Annual Growth Rate:** 1.

Actuarial reserves are funds that insurance companies set aside to pay future claims and obligations. These reserves are calculated based on actuarial methods, which analyze statistical data, such as mortality rates, morbidity rates, and policyholder behavior, to estimate the future liabilities that the insurer will face.

The term "Increased Limit Factor" (ILF) may refer to different concepts depending on the context in which it is used. In general, it is most commonly associated with insurance and risk management industries, particularly in relation to policy limits and coverage. 1. **Insurance Context**: In the context of insurance, the Increased Limit Factor is used to calculate additional premiums for policyholders who wish to raise their coverage limits beyond the standard amount offered by an insurance policy.

Computational finance is an interdisciplinary field that applies computational techniques and algorithms to solve problems and model systems in finance. It combines elements of finance, mathematics, statistics, computer science, and economics to develop quantitative models and tools used for financial analysis, risk management, derivative pricing, portfolio optimization, and other financial applications. Key areas of computational finance include: 1. **Quantitative Modeling**: Creating mathematical models to represent financial phenomena. This may involve stochastic calculus, differential equations, and statistical methods.

An Enrolled Actuary (EA) is a professional who has been authorized by the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries to perform actuarial services for pension plans in the United States. The designation is specifically relevant in the context of federal pension law, primarily under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and subsequent legislation.

A Financial Condition Report (FCR) is a document often used by organizations, particularly in the finance and insurance sectors, to assess and communicate the overall financial health of a business or investment. The FCR examines various financial metrics and indicators to provide an overview of an entity's financial performance, stability, and operational efficiency.

CAUCE is an acronym that can refer to various organizations or concepts, but one notable usage is related to the "Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial Email." This organization was formed to address issues related to spam and promote legislation aimed at curbing unsolicited emails.

Financial models that incorporate long-tailed distributions and volatility clustering are designed to better capture the complexities and dynamics of financial time series data. Let's break down these concepts: ### Long-Tailed Distributions 1. **Definition**: A long-tailed distribution is a probability distribution that features a large number of occurrences far from the "head" of the distribution (i.e., the high-probability region).

In piping and plumbing, "gooseneck" refers to a type of pipe or fitting that has a specific curved shape resembling the neck of a goose. This design is typically characterized by a U-shaped or S-shaped bend, allowing for the transition of flow direction or elevation gain while maintaining a smooth flow path.