Abstract: A computer implemented method of underwriting profitability analysis delivers the analytic process to a wide cross section of insurance decision makers. The underwriting profitability analysis system leverages an existing investment in databases and improves underwriting business processes. Data mining techniques are applied to historical policy and claims to extract rules that describe policy holders with homogeneous claim frequency and severity characteristics. These rule sets are used to classify policy holders into distinct risk groups, each with its own set of characteristics, including pure premium. Breaking up a book of business into segments allows identification of sub-populations of policy holders that distinctly deviate from the expected normal pure premium. This identification allow the insurance business analysts to interactively adjust eligibility criteria and examine altered characteristics of the covered segments until satisfactory.

Abstract: A thermal imager referencing system comprises two rotating cranks in the form of discs (7, 8) each pivotally attached to connecting member (9). The discs (7, 8) are rotated at a constant speed causing two mirrors laterally displaced along connecting member (9) to intercept an optical path X of a thermal imager associated with the referencing system. Each rotation through 360 degrees of the discs (7, 8) causes each mirror to pass once through the optical path, the mirror surfaces being respectively arranged to cause a linear array of detector elements (not shown) of the thermal imager to view alternately thermo-electric devices (14, 16), which are at different temperatures, during the flyback time associated with the thermal imager. The referencing system enables processing means of the thermal imager to normalize the detector array, compensating for DC offset and differences in gain between different elements of the detector array.

Abstract: Load measuring apparatus particularly but not solely for the weighing of animals is supported on load-bearing feet. Each load bearing foot provides an electrical signal indicating the load thereon and the sum of the electrical signals indicates the total load. Each load bearing foot has a strut which is in use attached to the load, housing which rests on a load-bearing surface and a load cell which is fixed within housing and transmits the load force carried by strut to housing and thence to the load-bearing surface. The strut passes through an aperture in housing to bear against load cell which is in the central cavity of the housing. The strut is able to move towards load cell, but is substantially restricted from moving away from the load cell, and preferably is able to have some rotational movement relative to base. The load-bearing feet overcome the bulkiness and expensiveness of prior art weighing systems and are portable, inexpensive and accurate in use.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for encapsulating a substance in a biocapsule comprising passing a solution into the biocapsule, then effecting a change in the biocapsule/solution system such that the substance remains encapsulated while a solvent escapes.

Abstract: A stand for a knitting machine having an upper substantially horizontal main support frame with downwardly extending legs for supporting the stand at a predetermined height above ground level and releasably attached to the main support frame, or pivotally attached thereto to enable them to be folded thereagainst. The knitting machine is clamped to a support section which is pivotally supported on the main support frame for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis for tilting the machine from one operating position to another. The support section consists of two parts extending from either end of the main support frame and interconnected by a common pivot axle with means to clamp the axle in any desired position.