This study investigates the temporal dynamics of exchange rates between various international currencies and the Canadian dollar, with a focus on understanding how these rates influence Canadian inflation. The Functional Principal Component Analysis (FPCA) is applied to effectively reduce the dimensionality of exchange rate data and capture important modes of variation. The extracted functional principal components (FPCs) were then used in a Group LASSO regression model to identify which currencies most significantly impact inflation rates in Canada. Our analysis includes exchange rates from nine countries. The results show that the U.S. Dollar (USD), Mexican Peso (MXN), and Swedish Krona (SEK) are the most influential currencies in predicting Canadian inflation rates. By employing these advanced statistical techniques, this study provides a comprehensive assessment of how fluctuations in global currencies can affect the domestic economic environment, offering valuable insights for policymakers and financial analysts. This study contributes to the broader understanding of currency exchange impacts on inflation and highlights the importance of specific international currencies in economic forecasting.

The secondary market for life insurance policies emerged to provide financial relief for terminally ill patients through viatical settlements. Over time, it expanded to include life settlements for seniors and individuals with chronic conditions. This growth was driven by demographic shifts and increased life expectancies. This paper discusses the historical evolution of the secondary market, the types of transactions involved, and the market dynamics. It explores the benefits and challenges faced by policyholders, insurance companies, and investors. For policyholders, the market offers enhanced liquidity and fair compensation. However, it also requires insurers to adjust premium structures and manage adverse selection. Investors benefit from high returns and risk diversification, but they are also exposed to longevity risk, liquidity risk, return volatility, and regulatory changes. The study highlights the complexities of asymmetric information and emphasizes the need for sophisticated actuarial models and robust regulatory frameworks to ensure market stability and sustainability.

Elliptic curves, intricate mathematical structures, form a nexus between number theory, alge- braic geometry, and cryptography. This paper offers a thorough exploration of these curves, delving into their foundational properties, historical origins, and diverse applications. Beginning with an introduction to the basics of elliptic curves, including their Weierstrass form, group theory, and fundamental concepts such as the group law and torsion points, the paper traces the historical evolution of elliptic curve theory, recognizing the contributions of mathematicians like Abel, Jacobi, and Weierstrass. The crux of the paper by G. Walsh lies in extending prior research by effectively proving that for sufficiently large values of m, elliptic curves expressed as y^2 = f(x) + m^2, where f(x) is a cubic polynomial splitting over the integers, have a rank of at least 2. This result stands as an effective version of Shioda’s theorem, marking a significant advancement in the field. Moreover, the paper delves into the pivotal role of elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) in modern secure communication systems. ECC provides robust encryption, digital signatures, and key exchange protocols, leveraging the security and efficiency advantages inherent in elliptic curves. The paper emphasizes ECC’s prominence in contemporary cryptography, illustrating its preference in securing digital data transmission. Additionally, the paper explores recent developments, including endeavours to address the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture. It also highlights the relevance of elliptic curves in solving complex mathematical problems, such as Diophantine equations and Fermat’s Last Theorem, underscoring their broader significance in number theory. In essence, this paper serves as a comprehensive guide to elliptic curves, illuminating their mathematical elegance and practical utility. It underscores their indispensable role in modern cryptography while acknowledging their enduring impact on the realm of mathematics. By unravelling the theoretical intricacies and real-world applications of elliptic curves, this paper invites readers to appreciate the profound interconnection between pure mathematical concepts and their transformative influence on contemporary technology.

In South Asia, hypertension is the most prevalent modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disorders. Comparing machine learning to statistical approaches, it has been found that it performs better at identifying clinical risk. This study utilized machine learning techniques to estimate undiagnosed hypertension. We created a single dataset out of individual-level data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (2017-18). The JNC-7 and ACCAHA criteria were used to define hypertension. We used two well-known ML approaches logistic regression and log-binomial regression to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension. A considerable number (16%) of hypertension cases in Bangladesh are still undiagnosed. Young people and the divisions of Sylhet and Rangpur were found to be more at risk for undetected hypertension. ML models performed well at identifying undiagnosed hypertension and its contributing factors in South Asia. Future studies incorporating biological markers will be necessary to improve the ML algorithms and determine their applicability.

The aim of the paper is the study of Permutation Polynomials over finite fields and their application to cryptography. In this paper, I will begin by a brief review of finite fields, define permutation polynomials over finite fields and their properties. I will present old results such as Hermite-Dickson’s Theorem as well as some most recent ones. After introducing cryptog- raphy, I will give a historical overview, by explaining some cryptosystems such as RSA and ElGamal. Finally, I will present some cryptographical protocols based on Permutation Polynomials over Finite Fields.