Ensure Social Distancing and Maximize Safety with Terabee’s COVID-19 Solutions
Terabee has released three new devices intending to make it easier for businesses to operate safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With governments issuing ever-changing guidelines on what is considered ‘acceptable’ social distancing, it can be hard for the public to keep track of (and adhere to) best practices. Monitoring and controlling the number of people that are allowed to enter offices, factories, shops, public spaces, and other premises has, therefore, become a responsibility that those businesses and organizations must take on themselves: The CDC advises that employers “should respond in a way that takes into account the level of disease transmission in their communities and revise their business response plans as needed”.
There’s no question that organizations of all sizes are making great efforts to accommodate these guidelines. People density and distancing can be managed fairly effectively by limiting the number of people allowed into premises and reminding people to keep their distance – though this often brings with it an administrative burden, with shops and businesses designating personnel to manually manage the number of people entering and leaving.
Identifying people who may be infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and attempting to prevent them from coming into contact with others is more challenging. Testing takes both time and money – and with even the fastest tests taking around 30 minutes, testing people for the virus before they enter public spaces or business premises is not a viable option. Monitoring symptoms gives us a way of identifying at least some likely COVID-19 cases – many airports have started using infrared thermometers to screen passengers for fever – but even this can be impractical and costly to implement.
Fortunately, sensing technology can provide solutions to many of the difficulties associated with managing the spread of the virus. Infrared depth cameras are highly effective for people counting, which can be used to monitor and manage people density in busy spaces whilst infrared thermal sensors can be used for versatile automatic fever detection. Meanwhile, Radio Frequency (RF) sensors offer a more robust and accurate solution to maintaining safe distances between people.
Monitoring Symptoms with Fever Screening
Terabee’s Fever Detection Mirror uses an IR thermal sensor to measure human body temperature and detect signs of fever.4 The wall-mounted mirror features a visual indicator to inform users when they’re in the correct position in front of it, at which point their temperature is displayed.
The contactless system can optionally be networked by HDMI or ethernet but is completely privacy-protected and GDPR-compliant by design. The IR sensor used is highly sensitive to temperature but, unlike a camera, it doesn’t capture any identifying features of users.
The device is portable and as easy to install as a picture frame. Since there’s no need for a human operator, the Fever Detection Mirror represents a much lower cost of operation than manually operated infrared thermometers. This makes it ideal for scanning people as they enter shops, offices, schools, transport hubs, and other busy spaces.
Minimizing Disease Transmission Risk with Density People Counting
Terabee’s People Density Calculator is another 3D depth Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor device, this time aimed at addressing the issue of maintaining acceptable social distancing in busy spaces.5 The3D infrared depth sensor is used (along with proprietary algorithms) to count the number of people entering and exiting a space. This information can then be used to calculate people density – the average number of people occupying each square meter within that space.
The sensors are easily networked and configured via an intuitive web-based interface. This makes it simple to set up people density monitoring even in spaces with multiple entrances and exits. The calculated people density can then be used to send outputs to trigger screens or other visual indicators.
Like the Fever Detection Mirror, this system doesn’t capture identifying features of the people it counts, making it intrinsically secure and GDPR-compliant. And, once again, these devices are completely automatic, so staff no longer need to be deployed to manually monitor entrances and exits.
Maintaining Social Distancing in the Workplace with Radio Frequency Proximity Sensing
For a more thorough approach to social distancing, Terabee have developed the Distance@Work system: a radio frequency interpersonal distance monitoring system designed for workplaces.
The system comprises portable sensors that are worn by members of staff. The sensors monitor their distance from each other using radio frequency ToF ranging, and users are alerted with visual, haptic, and audible feedback in the event of a distance breach.
The devices are ultra-portable, boasting over 20+ hours of continuous operation on a single charge, and featuring integrated belt clips and lanyard loops. Proximity data with IDs and timestamps are logged and processed internally and regularly backed up to a server via long-range LoRaWAN connectivity.
The Distance@Work system is ideal for factories, warehouses, construction sites, and other environments where staff regularly move from place to place. Distance sensing is accurate to ±10 cm and can help to ensure that staff can do their jobs without worrying about the transmission of the coronavirus.


Vestel W6104DS Front Load Washing Machine 6 Kg 1000 RPM, Silver
Vestel Fully-automatic front-load washing machine gives the best cleanliness to your clothes in the first wash removing the hardest of stains. Its 3 Star ESMA Energy rating saves more on Energy & Water Bills. LED display panel informs and alerts of the progress of the wash cycle and is easy to read even in low light making it a perfect choice for your kitchen solutions. 10 WASH PROGRAMS for all fabrics: Cotton, Synthetics, Mix, Daily Laundry, or Delicate Textiles. With a wide range of 10 programs, you ensure optimal care for your textiles.


You might be in terrible need of buying a UPS for your office servers. UPS performs a crucial role in protecting servers and computers by acting as a battery backup in case of low voltages or power failers. If you are doubtful about your purchase of a UPS, then you should ask yourself the following questions to get a clear idea.
Will Your Servers And Equipment Be Supported?
This is the main function of a UPS. To protect your servers, hardware equipment, network, etc. Downtime that occurs out of the blue is sure to disrupt the flow of work in your office.
Is The Maximum Load Capacity 750 Watts?
Online UPS Manufacturers In Chennai have a wide range of brands when it comes to UPS that offer a limit of 80 % of maximum load.750 Watts is the usual high-capacity load that is supported by UPS systems as it reduces any chance of overload.
Does Your Device Require Sine Wave Power?
UPS systems usually support pure sine wave power as most devices run only on that.
Should Your UPS Be Maintained Remotely?
UPS systems can be maintained remotely via a computer which is connected and the communication ports. There are network management card slots within most UPS for this purpose.
In order to find out the capacity or wattage you need for your UPS, you need to calculate the total power or wattage on which all your equipments run which you are planning on connecting to the UPS.Check the specifications of the UPS provided within the documents provided by Online UPS Dealers In Chennai and look for UPS brands which have higher capacities than your total wattage requirements.Otherwise, if the capacity of UPS is less, more power than what the UPS can support will be drawn by your devices which will result in an overloading. If your capacity is very high, then you may need to go with a 3 phase UPS model or rather split your devices into small batches and support each batch with a single phase UPS model. It is better to choose UPS models that provide higher power factors as it will allow more of your equipments to be connected to the UPS.
You need to ensure that your office has an AC circuit that could be connected to the UPS system about to be installed or else you will need to make necessary arrangements for it. Otherwise you will need to adjust with buying a UPS that supports your present circuit. Check whether the output is compatible with the input plug and also with the power requirements of your devices. The best UPS systems available in the market are designed to support both low voltage as well as high voltage output requiring equipments.Otherwise a step down transformer could do the job.
It is adviced to buy UPS systems from dealers who provide details of data regarding backup run time on the UPS models. Most UPS systems have the option of being able to connect to external batteries to extend the run time. In case of load shedding, these battery backups can be set in order to support only the critical equipments by cutting out the power supply to less essential equipments.Always take care to check the warranty period offered by the UPS manufacturers to ensure that you have a long life for your UPS.


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Set in turbulent times, this reading by Michael Jayston of this classic tale is a bustling and thrilling trip for a listener through the streets and cafes of a Paris finding its feet and losing its head.
© and (P)2007 CSA Telltapes Ltd
This is a powerful and moving book, beautifully narrated. I would say this has to be the most inspiring novel of all time. Jean Val Jean's heroism and generosity are a lesson to us all. 'To die is nothing;but it is terrible not to live'
"A must listen before you enjoy the play or movie"
I understood the entire story much better because I listened to the audiobook - therefore the play was even more enjoyable.
When the priest gave him the candlesticks and the immediate events that followed.
His talent adds such emotion to the story. I doubt that anyone could have done either.
"Reading Les Mis with youth"
Yes, because I love the story and so do they, but I will definitely know where to skip over in the future
The very end. It makes my heart ache.
This story takes me on a roller coaster of emotions. It's horrible and wonderful all at the same time. My children were also affected, though not nearly as much.
I was hoping this edition would be suitable for my 11-13 year olds, but there are parts that I definitely had to skip over- specifically Fantine's downfall. That was a little bit disappointing, but I still would have purchased it and skipped over it as I have done.
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domain: artistic


Nigerian Music Concerts Have Gotten Worse, But Will 2019 Be Different?
Which Nigerian music concert did you go for in December? Whichever one, it probably started late or was hamstrung by technical difficulties or had the familiar setting of expensive tables at the front, to show the gulf between the rich and poor. Or, worse still, it had women getting sexually assaulted and harassed and the problem of inadequate security for all.
These are several issues that have plagued musical concerts in Nigeria for a long time, a string of late-year events put together by huge pop artistes behind the year’s biggest hit songs and headlines, only for them to appear on stage lip-syncing and hardly offering quality live entertainment.
This past December, the trifecta of Davido, Wizkid and Olamide had their yearly concerts in Lagos. Olamide’s OLIC pivoted away from using the Teslim Balogun Stadium, which experienced a low turnout largely attributed to the fear of lack of security, a ripple effect from Phyno’s PhynoFest where women were allegedly raped on the open grounds of the concert.
The fifth instalment of OLIC started very late, with Olamide appearing before the crowd around 1 am and with a surprise cameo from Wizkid, who had also performed at his own Made In Lagos concert that day. Unsurprisingly, Wizkid showed up late for his own show and for a mega artiste who did not perform at the prestigious Coachella and the Made in America concert put together by Jay Z’s Roc Nation in 2016, Wizkid has already established a disturbing trend.
2018 was arguably Burna Boy’s year, with an early album Outside which would debut at the No 3 spot on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart. But his much-anticipated concert “Burna Boy Live” which held on Boxing Day suffered the same malaise – lateness.
At the Convention Centre, Eko Hotel, Burna made his fans wait until around 2 am before he appeared on stage. Although it was a good show, artists coming late to their concerts is so deeply ingrained in our culture we don’t hold them accountable or ask them to do better. Which is why the trend keeps repeating itself, every year.
Simi, Nigeria’s R&B sweetheart, had the first outing of her “See Me Live” series in Lagos, but it was blemished by technical issues and Simi herself showing up hours late.
There’s the pointed irony of the musical acts that performed, using the services of DJs given that the show employs a live performance template. Simi subsequently apologised for her lateness, but there’s the feeling that will happen again.
The New Year is here, and it brings a lot of hopes and wishes and expectations. For loyal fans of Nigerian artistes though, they will expect a better organisation of concerts and shows from their favourite artists – because they deserve better.


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Looking how to make the perfect deviled eggs? Just mix the egg mixture, pipe into hard boiled eggs, sprinkle with paprika and enjoy. This classic deviled eggs recipe is the perfect addition to your Easter feast.
Hard boiled eggs in oven...when you take them out of the oven, plunge them into a bowl/sink full of ice water for 10 minutes. This was so easy. Some had spots on them, but they washed away in the ice water.

domain: food


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|21st June 2010, 17:04||#1|
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Corsair Intros 32GB SSD @ $69.99
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“The 32GB Nova Series SSD is great for streamlined boot drives, netbook upgrades, and even RAID configurations,” stated Jim Carlton, VP of Marketing at Corsair. “The aggressive pricing of these drives makes the benefits of SSDs accessible to everyone.”Corsair’s Nova Series 32GB SSD delivers read speeds up to 195 MB/s and write speeds up to 70 MB/s for outstanding system performance, fast system start-ups, quicker game and application loads for your daily needs. The built-in 64MB cache ensures smooth stutter-free operation for reliable performance. It is supplied with a three year warranty, and is backed up by Corsair's highly regarded customer service and technical support.
More information on the Nova Series 32GB solid-state drive can be found on Corsair’s web site
|Thread||Thread Starter||Forum||Replies||Last Post|
|OCZ intros "Onyx" 32GB SSD Drive at $99||jmke||WebNews||1||10th March 2010 16:35|
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|Corsair Introduces 32GB High-Density USB Flash Drives||Shogun||WebNews||0||3rd January 2008 18:30|


The news surrounding the Bengals these days is more about rookie prospect visits and workouts over free agent signings. Though the possibilities on who the team could be grabbing with their 11 picks seem to be endless, the one thing we know is that the team believes the draft is the primary way they will rebound from a six-win season last year.
This week, we’ve been asked a number of questions--both directly to @CincyJungle on Twitter and on The Orange and Black Insider—and as it goes this time of year, the NFL Draft is on everyone’s minds. Send your questions to us on either platform to have them answered in this regular feature!
With news coming out that the Bengals are targeting Tarell Basham in the 2nd, does that look like a green light on a WR in the 1st? https://t.co/nkyk1rPjFa— (((Jeremiah Jones))) (@Big_Germ_50) April 5, 2017
I very well may be in the minority, but I think the team is looking for some sort of pass-catcher at No. 9. The offense totally sputtered down the stretch in 2016—especially when Andy Dalton was throwing to a group that was without A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert. When you review the film from the end of the year, you’ll see opposing defenses giving zero respect to anything beyond about 10 yards in the passing game.
Cincinnati made the somewhat-wise decision to re-sign Brandon LaFell at a relatively-affordable $4.5 million per year contract, but the need for a big-play guy opposite of Green is apparent. Everyone seems to have their preference, but at No. 9, Mike Williams, Corey Davis and John Ross all seem to bring some form of excitement to an offense that needs it after losing both Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones last offseason.
Obviously, good arguments could be made for the team to draft a pass-rusher, linebacker or offensive lineman at No. 9, but they need to be careful not to reach for a guy out of desperation. It’s a weaker class for offensive linemen, while the team could be looking at the third or fourth best edge player in the draft at No. 9 as guys come off of the board. Does that sound like good value, if that’s the route they take?
The reason I’m more on board for offense in the early rounds for the Bengals this year is because of what the 2016 schedule results show. The team allowed 21 or fewer points nine times last year, with seven of those outputs coming from Weeks 10-17. In that same timeframe at the end of the year, Cincinnati scored 20 or fewer points five times. And, six of their nine losses were by one possession—obviously not including the tie against the Redskins in London.
I’m not saying Cincinnati should ignore defense in the early rounds, because they do need help in a number of different spots. I just think the offense lacked sizzle last year—especially once we saw Green and Eifert out of the lineup. Good teams find ways to get past injuries to their stars, and how they do that is by having other good players to lean on in those cases.
I’m more of a fan of taking a wide receiver than, say, tight end O.J. Howard at No. 9, but I also get the rationale there with Eifert’s injury history and his impending free agency status in 2018. Regardless, Howard, Ross, Davis or Williams should all be able to help the offense right away.
As for Tarell Basham, he’s an interesting guy who racked up 29 sacks while at Ohio University. He recorded 11.5 of those 29 career sacks last year and seems to be a coveted player in a draft full of interesting edge rushers. I always worry about the level of competition when talking about a MAC player, but he still was a near-dominant player in the conference.
He has good size (6’4”, 269 pounds) and a skill set that includes solid tackling and decent pass-rushing technique. I’m not fully sold that the rumor of the Bengals looking at him at No. 41 overall is true, but if they move back and he’s still available, he could be a nice get a little later than where they are currently slated to pick in the second round.
Aside from sharing a name with the legendary heavyweight boxer, University of Cincinnati safety Mike Tyson is a solid player. He tends to be a little streaky, as evidenced by his three-interception game against Purdue and a two-interception performance against Tulsa last year, but he does flash athleticism and a willingness to tackle. He’s currently slated to be a Day 3 pick and might make an impact on an NFL roster.
Gunner Kiel is probably the most well-known prospect out of UC this year, mostly because he played quarterback, but I think he’s more of a undrafted guy whose best shot might start with him on a practice squad. He definitely has athleticism and a good arm, but needs some honing if he’s to latch on to an active NFL roster.
As for wide receiver Nate Cole, I like the 57 catches from 2016, but a paltry 9.1 yards per catch doesn’t blow anyone’s hair back. I don’t see him getting drafted, but he’ll also likely get a shot as an undrafted player somewhere.
Of the names mentioned, I am most intrigued by linebacker Eric Wilson. He was a tackling machine for the Bearcats last year, getting a 129 total, including eight games of 10 or more. The lack of big plays is a little worrisome, as is his slight stature at just 225 pounds, so NFL teams will need to have a specific plan in mind when adding him to their roster.
I wouldn’t mind the Bengals using a late-round flier on Wilson, especially if they use their high amount of picks to take care of a lot of needs early on. Cincinnati tried to create a “rover” type of position with Taylor Mays, so maybe Wilson can have the same kind of nickel niche in the NFL.


One of the first things we decided to do with our new CRF450L is install a set of handguards, which the bike desperately needs. Handguards will protect your hands and the bikes controls from tree branches and other trail hazards, plus they can help prevent damage if you crash or drop your bike. Another side benefit is that they offer wind protection in cooler weather.
On our CRF450L Project bike we've installed both a set of Zeta's standard Armor Handguards, as well as their PRO Armor Handguards. Both work great on the bike with the stock Renthal handlebars, and should also work if you install aftermarket 1 1/8" bars. Here's our recommendations...
OPTION 1: Zeta PRO Armor Handguards
If you want the best handguard setup for your CRF450L, Zeta's PRO Armor Handguards (shown above) are definitely the way to go. These handguards feature long and durable bar end inserts, protective plastic bumpers on the outside of the handguard, and a mounting kit that bolts to the CRF450L's top triple clamp instead of the handlebar itself. They come pre-drilled for mounting of the optional Zeta XC protector shields and Zeta Integrated LED flashers/turn signals.
Where To Buy:
• CRF450L Zeta PRO Armor Handguard Package at SRmoto
OPTION 2: Zeta Armor Handguards
If you're looking for an affordable handguard for your CRF450L, the standard Zeta Armor Handguard is the way to go. These do a great job of protecting your hands/controls at a very affordable price. They come with handlebars clamps to clamp to the bars, and they come pre-drilled for mounting of the optional Zeta XC protector shields and Zeta Integrated LED flashers/turn signals. If you have the bikes stock Renthal handlebars, you'll want the 7/8" size, of you've installed oversize handlebars, go with the 1 1/8" size.
Where To Buy:
• CRF450L Zeta Armor Handguard Package at SRmoto
• CRF450L/RL Handguard Photos


text:
An electric vehicle gets charged via robot in Xiongan New Area, Hebei Province, on March 18 (XINHUA)
In contemporary international discourse, the "global China" concept, as it's generally used, risks imagining China in the first instance as a hegemony-seeking project. Some explain this as a reasonable position to assert within a realist international relations perspective. It's certainly guiding Washington thinking, becoming explicitly clear in a recently published summary fact sheet about America's national defense strategy, obsessing over China as a rising threat. However, a more rigorous realism, what we might call "Chinese realism," reveals compelling evidence to the contrary.
China is a global power economically, and it is growing as one culturally and militarily. We might also speak of China's impact on the global environment and public health. We can note the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, but these are multilateral, based on win-win cooperation, and at worst Chinese efforts to expand peacefully to solve domestic challenges of over-accumulation and surplus capacity.
There are 13 reasons why it's a mistake to consider China a hegemony-seeking danger to the U.S.—or anyone else:
1. Upholding the principle of opposing hegemony: China's historical experiences with hegemony have taught that it's morally wrong, destabilizing and always fails in the end. In short, given Beijing's sort of long-term strategic thinking, why deliberately choose a self-defeating path?
2. International opposition to new and old hegemonies: China is against hegemony, as are many others. The nation is not rising historically in a power vacuum or with overwhelming regional or global advantages—e.g., those enjoyed previously by the United Kingdom, the United States and the USSR. It is rising as a resistance to hegemony at the forefront of a new global culture.
3. Global aloofness within much of China: Chinese politics closely follows public opinion, and much of the domestic public wants little to do with international affairs. While many Chinese do welcome their country standing up for its rights in the global arena, foreign adventurism is widely unpopular. Projecting Chinese power abroad does not serve Chinese leaders domestically the same way it does American politicians, given America's love of hegemony and China's repulsion toward the same.
4. Cultural exceptionalism: China insists that it's different and taking a different path, rejecting universalism. By contrast, American imperialism has always been universalist and "end-of-history" oriented. You can't really rule the world if you insist that you're different, that your system is different, and that you have your own historically and culturally based objectives.
5. Political exceptionalism: China has a non-exportable political system that focuses on governance at home, unable to effectively project power abroad, i.e., ruling others directly or indirectly through proxies or puppets, both in theory and practice. Though constantly tested by itself and others, it's a system that generally has a good understanding of its own strengths and limits.
6. Currency and exchange controls: China employs heavy currency and exchange controls that make a truly hegemonic power impossible to imagine, let alone create. While it has sought to increase the yuan's global value, it is making no moves that would allow it to become a supranational currency with a leading status like the dollar.
7. A macro-control regime: China has a substantial and growing macro-control regime regulating its markets and commercial enterprises—businesses can go global but with Beijing's blessing, through approved channels and financial institutions. Many of America's hegemonic foreign policies, however, were led or pulled by unregulated/unrestrained American companies and business interests.
8. Tech and information restrictions: Substantial restrictions remain in place in China on foreign tech and information that limit its global engagement, reach and reception. But it also has accelerating domestic tech and information advances/openings, outpacing global practices. Examples thereof can be found in finance and banking, digital payments, marketing, retail, public health controls, and governance.
9. Public health restrictions: China's pandemic controls are the new normal for now and perhaps the future. This includes a high degree of self-imposed isolationism, which in turn reinforces the abovementioned
aloofness. Keep in mind: With climate change, more outbreaks are expected. Given the success of its current containment efforts and capacity building, we can expect China to meet future outbreaks with similar resolve.
10. Stability-seeking policymaking: China is often crisis-seeking at home (i.e., it runs toward problems it can solve, especially systemic issues), but stability-seeking whenever possible—especially in international affairs. While it's possible to imagine China vigorously defending its interests, it's impossible to imagine China pursuing adventurist polices overseas like the U.S. did in Iraq, Afghanistan and many other places.
11. Geographical limitations: China has more immediate and near neighbors than any other country, including several nuclear armed states, and a number of contested boundaries. It must tread lightly both regionally and globally, and does so. The Diaoyu Islands and Taiwan are considered sovereign exceptions and thus neither regional nor global matters, but even here China has not shown the sort of direct aggression practiced historically by other major powers on near neighbors.
12. Climate change: Perhaps no other major country is more vulnerable to global warming than China, but all countries that are susceptible will face incredible limits at home and abroad as climate change worsens. And to be clear, it's still getting worse.
13. Prepared to go it alone in the future if necessary: China speaks of a shared future and is moving in that direction, but strategically is also positioning itself for the possibility of going it alone should global affairs make such a path more practical. Resolving key bottlenecks to ensure tech independence, reforming the economy to make it less dependent on exports, and taking a principled stand on the Ukraine issue through neutrality despite heavy international pressure are only a few examples.
It should be clear that China is not a hegemony-seeking power on the rise. While it's unsurprising that Western countries, especially the U.S., are projecting their own worst fears and sins onto China, the limits noted above, including the clear lessons of history—that hegemony-seeking is always self-defeating—are consistent with Chinese reality and consequently, Chinese realism in international affairs.
The author is a professor of politics and international relations at East China Normal University and a senior research fellow with the Institute for the Development of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics at Southeast University
Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon
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domain: news


text:
Ellison Travel & Tours is dedicated to providing accessible customer service. So from Canada Route #6 I turned left (at what I think was just a four-method cease) onto Canada Route #3. Is it just me, or are our neighbors to the north easier about their highway naming conventions? In my time in Canada, I was on #3, #four and #6 (I might have been on #5 if I had gone north into Calgary). For facet journeys, it was typically #3A or#3B. Appears much simpler to me.
Wish to stay in the second? Looking to enrich your life and create unforgettable recollections? Whether your excellent trip involves summiting world-class mountain trails, admiring sweeping views of historic cities, or enjoyable on golden seashores, there’s all the time a great time to journey and expand your horizons.
It’s funny to read all of these ignorant a-holes submit how ugly it’s or how much they hate cats, once they know it is a video of one. HEY MORONS! LEARN THE FREAKIN TITLE! No one cares should you think it is ugly. Hold your opinion to yourself. You look and sound like idiots posting a touch upon one thing you hate a lot.
Our journey was spectacular! We saw so many stunning sights and the tour information and native guides have been fantasticâ€”so educated. It was great to have the hotel, transportation and itinerary taken care of so all we had to do was show up and enjoy. It was also a great mix of deliberate touring and free time so we could do some exploring on our own. We look forward to touring with Gate 1 once more.
We give them new issues to be involved about, Jace, but they are realâ€ issues, not made up bullshit like Morgellons Disease. Certain, they’re sick, but additionally confusedâ€¦ alreadyâ€ confused, and You and Dr. Wymore are helping to maintain them confused.

domain: geography


text:
- Sales Rank:687,321
- Format:Kindle eBook
- Language:English (Published)
- Media:Kindle Edition
- Publication Date:February 7, 2013
Little Women was author Louisa May Alcott's most famous novel. Today, it still stands as one of the most celebrated pieces of American fiction. This edition includes a table of contents.
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.

domain: literature


text:
Development of an Agent-Based Model and Its Application
to the Estimation of Global Carbon Emissions
Paula Castesana1, Salvador Puliafito2
Facultad Regional Buenos Aires, Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 2CONICET-Universidad Tec-nológica Nacional, Mendoza, Argentina.
Email: email@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.org
Received October 23rd, 2013; revised November 17th, 2013; accepted November 24th, 2013
Copyright © 2013 Paula Castesana, Salvador Puliafito. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attri-bution License, which permits unrestricted use, distriAttri-bution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
With the purpose of studying the influence of population dynamics and economic growth on energy consumption and carbon emissions, an endogenous economic growth model is proposed incorporating physical and human capital and using an Agent-Based Model. The model can test different development strategies by identifying the key factors exist-ing at the agent level that may speed up or slow down a given path, and therefore it is an interestexist-ing tool to develop and to test mitigation and/or adaptation measures. Favorable scenarios may be possible in societies that encourage invest-ment in human capital through education and technological developinvest-ment, provided that this is accompanied by a reduc-tion in consumpreduc-tion rates and the creareduc-tion of physical capital by the populareduc-tion. Moreover, this model shows that hu-man capital resulting from education not only raises productivity, but also plays a key role in the development and adoption of new technologies that drive long-term growth.
Keywords: Agent-Based Modeling; Carbon Emissions; Economic Growth; Energy Consumption; Population Dynamics
The rise of the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration due to anthropogenic emissions generated by energy con- sumption of fossil fuels is increasing the additional greenhouse effect. Currently, the analysis of the influen ce of demographic variables on these emissions has be- come a relevant subject in the debate on climate change, since their impact on economic growth has a direct effect on the consumption of goods, primary energy, and there- fore on carbon emissions, modifying the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Population growth rates have declined over the last fifty years in almost every country in the world, showing a reduction in fertility rates and an increase in life expec-tancy at birth . The significant social and health care improvement of the last century has decreased infant mortality and increased longevity, producing a demogra- phic transition which has changed the population struc-ture. In developed countries, a reduction of the youngest age groups is already noticeable, however smoothed by immigration from less developed countries. Global popu-
lation ageing may impact on economic growth through variations in consumptions preferences.
Theories of economic growth have led to the devel-opment of many studies since the beginning of the sys-tematization of this science. Among such theories, we can mention Adam Smith, who proposed the division of labor as a source of growth. Thomas Malthus stated that if income exceeds a certain threshold, mortality rates should decay and birth rates should rise, balancing eco-nomic growth. However, data of the past 150 years show that while mortality rates declined due to improved living conditions and investment in health, birth rates also de-creased in most countries. Neoclassical economists have suggested that the causes of economic growth are related to increased investment in physical capital through an exogenous technical progress, ignoring its relationship with population dynamics [2,3]. But increased invest-ment does not adequately explain the decline in growth rates or the difference in growth between developed and least developed countries.
growth rates using internal feedback variables. They pre-dict GDP growth as a result of investments in research and development (R&D), which generate growth for themselves [4,5]. Another key element in these models is the creation of technology and innovation to maintain sustained growth [6,7]. In this respect, population growth causes an increase in the number of consumers and in the number of workers dedicated to productive activities and research, leading to an increase in the scale of the econ-omy. Education, knowledge and skills are central to tech- nological development and have a positive influence on growth. Human capital is related to the degree of training and productivity of individuals involved in production. As societies have expanded human capital (more educa-tion, better skills and knowledge, higher investment in science), a decline in fertility rates has been observed. This fact is related to female labor force participation, fertility choice, and time spent on individual training , . By contrast, societies with less human capital have higher fertility rates but lower per capita income, which could explain development disparities among countries [10,11]. Jones  argues that the level of investment in R&D has a positive impact on the economy by improv-ing the level of per capita income, although it does not affect the growth rate of GDP/capita in the long term, as this is proportional to the rate of population growth. This concept introduced the idea that long-term sustained economic growth cannot be maintained at low population rates or with stagnant population. However, as the work-ing-age population is declining with respect to the elderly population, it is also becoming smarter and more produc-tive, which increases labor supply. In fact, the same fac-tor that has contributed to the decline in fertility has raised the educational level of young individuals and will sustain rapid productivity growth and income [13,14].
This research simulates the evolution of population and economic growth, its energy consumption and car-bon emissions through an endogenous growth approach, using physical and human capital as feedback variables under an Agent-Based Model (ABM) simulation para-digm. In the ABM, a system is modeled as a set of autonomous entities, called agents, with the ability to act and make decisions based on a set of pre-defined rules. Agents can evolve and adapt, and are able to perform several actions independently, at the same time interact-ing with other agents and their environment [15,16]. Agents’ ability to evolve and adapt often results in the manifestation of an ensemble of emerging patterns as a result of the interaction of individual components , . Consistently with Kelley and Evans , our agent- based approach has the advantage of generating scenarios that are influenced by heterogeneous behavior prefer-ences. The concept of emergence along with the easy and straightforward inclusion of the concept of heterogene-
ous choice and decision making of agents are the main features of the ABM and the main reasons for proposing this simulation paradigm in the present study.
The ABM is beginning to be used in diverse areas such as ecology , ecological economics [19,21], eco- nomic growth based on the production of ideas , and climate change [23,24]. Janssen and De Vries  pre-sented a very interesting work on climate change that includes the concept of agents’ choice. The ABM is also very suitable for social systems simulations which would otherwise result in a high computational cost. These ex-amples show the use of the ABM as a trend for a new kind of simulation approach [26,27].
2. Model Description
We describe an endogenous system through the behavior of individuals1 from 1950 to 2100 using an agent based model (ABM) paradigm. The proposed model is based on individual agents belonging to different families, in which although individuals have finite lives, we consider extended families (dynasties) with infinite life horizon. Individuals of each dynasty are linked through a network of intergenerational transfers of capital, and were not considered marriages or links between dynasties. Agents are differentiated in four groups according to their chro- nological ages: Children (0 to 14 years), Young adults (15 to 49 years), Adults (50 to 69 years) and Senior
adults ( 70). Each individual agent is created with a set of initial values, which are updated with each time step (t = 1 year) through a series of instructions.
All individuals are economically active and independ-ent, having their own physical and human capital, and their own consumer trends and investment rates in both types of capital. Agents have the ability to choose their own reproductive, economic and energy development, according to the family traditions or their personal choice. As a consequence of their growth and development, agents consume energy and generate emissions. The sum of the individual choices are combined (as a society) in a total energy consumption and CO2 emission to the
2.1. Economic Growth
To design the economic module of the model shown, it was considered a closed economy based on one sector, in which households are their only representative agents and all the capital stock is owned by their residents. In such an economy the output may be used for consump-tion or investment by the representative agents. Taking the term capital in a broad sense, the output of each agent
1The model is not intended to describe the behavior of real individuals,
(x) equals the quantities they devote to consumption (cons) and investment, both in physical capital (ik) and
human capital (ih) :
1 1 2
age age t
x cons i i (1) The value of agemax depends in part on the nature of the variable represented by the mapping curve f(t), and also on the agent’s choices and behaviors, which are de-scribed in the Table 1 of the Section 2.3.
Assuming that physical capital (k) and human capital (h) are depreciated at the same rate level (), their values for time (t + 1) are defined by the values in t, plus the investment in physical capital or the investment in hu-man capital, respectively, minus the depreciation of capi- tal:
Once all individuals get their levels of consumption and investment in human capital, they calculate a tenta-tive value for their investment in physical capital, also from an inverted bell-shaped curve. This value is tenta-tive because the intended investment is subject to the availability of resources of their family or dynasty. This restriction corresponds to households’ budget constraint, which states that their total income is the sum of the wage income of the whole family (W), and the asset in-come2 (r). Whereas households use the income that was not used for consumption to accumulate more assets (A), the budget constraint of each family or household is given by:
1 t t 1
t k k
k i k δ k i δ kt (2)
t i δ h
h1 1 (3)
The time evolution of consumption levels and rates of investment depend on each individual, his customs and choices, his type of development and his age [13,29]. To represent the evolution of the levels of consumption (cons) and investment rates in human capital (ih) of an
individual throughout his life, we propose an inverted bell-shaped mapping curve f(t) (Gaussian type). This function grows up to a maximum from which it begins to decrease. The ABM uses discrete-time functions, there-fore the age of each agent is chosen as the independent discrete variable increasing linearly with each time step
t. If we use agemax to represent the age at which the
in-dividual achieves the maximum value of certain variable, and (b) to represent the parameter governing the width of the mapping curve f(t), its rate of change is expressed as:
dA dt r A W C (6)
Being (C) the sum of current consumption level of all individuals of that family. Since we are in a closed economy, family assets (A) are equivalent to the total capital of the family, given by the sum of physical and human capital of all the individuals belonging to that family (K + H). Thus, an increase in an individual in-vestment is possible only if the family budget can afford this growth.
1 df t agemax age t
f t dt b
(4) If the physical capital calculated from the tentative
in-vestment exceeds that permitted by the resource con-straint, all individuals of that family must reduce gradu- In discrete form, the curve f(t) may be written as:
Table 1. Development options: economic and demographic characteristics.
Characteristics Option #1 Option #2 Option #3 Option #4
Low tendency to investment in human and physical capital, low level of consumption. The maximum values are achieved
at lower ages than other individuals. Low levels of production (GDP/capita).
Average tendency to consumption and investment in human and physical capital. Levels similar to global
High tendency to consumption and investment in physical capital. Willingness to invest in human capital higher than the world
average, but lower than
Option #4. High levels of GDP/capita.
High propensity to investment in human capital. Tendency to consumption and investment in physical capital higher than average,
but lower than Option #3. In contrast to the other options, individuals increase their investment in education even at higher
ages. High levels of GDP/capita.
Very high tendency to reproduction. Maximum
number of children per individual: Similar to the trend
in least developed countries. Minimum age: 15 years.
Average trend for fertility Maximum number of children per
individual: Similar to the world average trend. Minimum age: 20 years.
Low tendency to reproduction. Maximum number of children per person:
lower than the global average trend. Minimum age: 25 years.
Very low tendency to reproduction. Maximum number of children per individual: Similar to the trend in more
developed regions. Minimum age: 30 years.
Low, below the average. Similar to the trend observed in least developed countries.
Average ages. Similar to the actual global
High; higher than average. Similar to the trend in more
High; higher than average. Similar to the trend in more developed regions.
ally its investment in physical capital through regulation of the parameter (b) of Equation (5).
If the level of household consumption exceeds the family budget constraint, even after reducing the invest-ment in physical capital; all individuals of this family must reduce their consumption levels. This is achieved (iteratively) by regulating the corresponding mapping curve f(t), until a family capital is reached that meets the restriction of Equation (6).
Once the value of the consumption and investment at each (t) is determined, every agent gets a production level (x) from Equation (1). The sum of production levels of all agents represents the gross domestic product (GDP); the average production of all agents is the GDP/ capita.
Each individual in its childhood devotes most of his wealth to invest in human capital (education and train-ing). As the agent gets older, it increases the consump-tion level and the investment in both types of capital. In its youth (from age 15 to 49) the agent reaches the maxi- mum level of investment in human capital. From this time on, the investment in human capital will decline, increasing the values of consumption and investment in physical capital. At some point in adulthood (50 to 69 years), the agent will reach the highest level of consump-tion and investment in physical capital, decreasing any investment thereafter. As the agent reaches the older age (> 70 years), although the levels of consumption and in- vestment in physical capital are high, his consumption and investment in capital decreases.
2.2. Population Growth
Individuals created in the model have the ability to pro-duce new individuals in their own family. The model does not differentiate the sex of the agents; therefore all individuals of reproductive age (young group) may choose to reproduce (without mating) according to a value of minimum age of reproduction and the maximum number of children they choose to have. The values for
each parameter will depend on the development option
chosen by the individual. Individuals who choose to in-vest much of their time to build human capital will tend to have fewer children, and will reproduce at older ages than other agents. At the same time, since the birth of new individuals introduces new consumers in the family budget, an additional restriction was imposed on the maximum number of reproductions per family at each t, in order to avoid destabilization of the family economy. Thus, if an individual is able to reproduce at a given time
t but total births in his family have already reached the maximum allowed, the reproduction will be executed at time t +1.
When an individual reproduces, he gives half of its physical capital to the new agent, achieving the economic
independence of both. Therefore, the newly born indivi- dual is considered economically active. Given the “non- rival” characteristic of human capital, the new agent in-herits part of the human capital of the parent agent with-out the latter losing his own. The new individual (at age = 0) also receives a level of initial investment and con-sumption proportional to the economic level of his fam-ily, and therefore the initial decisions of the agent will be influenced by the family background.
The analysis of historical data  shows that life ex-pectancy in more developed regions is much greater than in the least developed countries. In addition, global life expectancy has been increasing continuously for the past 50 years, mainly due to improvements in health care, advances in science and medical technologies, and ur-banization rates. In this model, life expectancy is set at birth for each agent, adopting a higher or lower value with respect to the global average life expectancy for a
given birth year depending on the chosen development
option. Once the individual reaches life expectancy age, it dies, leaving as legacy its physical capital, which is divided equally among the remaining (surviving) mem-bers of his family. The number of dynasties or cohorts remains constant, while the number of individuals of each dynasty varies according to the number of surviving agents for the period. Thus, the population p is equal to the number of living agents.
2.3. Development Options
In order to introduce the concept of agents’ choice, tak-ing a similar approach as Janssen and De Vries , four
development options were created as detailed in Table 1. To choose the development option, in each t individu-als compare their own human capital (at time t) to a ref-erence (average) individual born in 1950 (t = 0, initial condition) with a high level of investment in human capital. In turn, the agents observe the trend in the elec-tion of the members of their family, that is, the most of-ten repeated development option among individuals their own family. The higher the human capital of an individ-ual with respect to the reference individindivid-ual, or the higher the family predisposition to invest in human capital, the greater the possibility of economic development, which is represented by a higher development option number.
2.4. Initial Conditions
The initial conditions are assumed to be in a steady state situation, which represents the population distribution in terms of wealth in the initial year (1950). The average per capita GDP data of various countries in 1950 was organized into four groups:
2) Countries with GDP/capita global average times 1/2 < GDP/capita < GDP/capita global average.
3) Countries with GDP/capita global average < GDP/ capita < 2 times GDP/capita global average.
4) Countries with GDP/capita global average times 2 < GDP/capita.
The initial number of agents (or initial population) was distributed proportionally according to these four groups in a fixed number of families (dynasties or households). Within each family, a certain number of members are created (children, young adults, adults and senior adults), replicating the distribution of population by age groups and GDP/capita observed globally in 1950. Each family was assigned an initial wealth, according to the observed distribution for that reference year. The initial wealth of each agent was assigned according to their own age and initial household wealth, using the mapping function f(t) in Equation (4). The initial values for human capital, physical capital, investment and consumption levels of each agent, were obtained following the existing litera-ture . The initial development option of each agent was randomly assigned. To achieve stabilization of the initial conditions, a spin-up time was added at the begin-ning of each run.
3. Application Model to Energy
Consumption and Carbon Emissions
Worldwide, the primary energy consumption and carbon emissions show a behavior linked to the GDP/capita and population growth, as well as to various technology in-dicators [30,31]. Agents consume energy and generate emissions as a consequence of their growth and devel-opment; therefore, at the individual level we assume that
the energy consumption of each agent (e) can be
ex-pressed as the product of the two following factors:
e x (7) Where (ηe) is an energy intensity factor, i.e., the
amount of energy consumed per dollar of generated GDP. In this way, the energy consumption of each agent is de-termined by the level of its current production (x) and the
energy intensity used to generate this production. Ac-cording to historical data [32,33] and the work presented by Castesana and Puliafito , there has been a steady improvement in overall energy intensity, which can be translated into energy savings per unit of production.
In a similar way to what was proposed with life ex-pectancy and fertility, the energy intensity value adopted
by the agents will depend on the chosen development
option as detailed in Table 2, so that higher levels of human capital investment relate to better energy effici- ency.
The carbon emissions (c) produced by each agent from energy consumption can be expressed as follows:
c x i (8) Factor (ic) represents the rate of carbonization, or the
amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere by each unit of consumed energy. This factor is closely re-lated to the type of available energy sources and its emis-sion factor. Similarly as with the energy intensity factor, the value adopted by each agent for this factor depends primarily on the chosen development option as detailed in Table 2.
The model results are obtained from the combination of the behavior of all created agents, for three different sce-narios: high, medium and low scenarios. In each time step, the agents “choose” their options randomly; there-fore, each model run will produce different outputs. That is why the results shown in this section are the average obtained from 40 different runs for each proposed sce-nario. These results have been normalized to 1950 in order to show only the relative increases observed with respect to that reference year. Aggregate outputs, such as population, GDP, GDP/capita, energy consumption and carbon emissions, were compared to historical values.
Figure 1(a) shows the results obtained from the high-
scenario for the global population, and the corresponding distribution of age groups, compared with world histori-cal data and projections of the least developed countries,
Table 2. Development options: Effects on technological indicators.
Characteristics Option #1 Option #2 Option #3 Option #4
Less efficient energy intensity factors, similar to those observed in the least
Energy intensity factors similar to the world average
trend. Mean values for carbonization rates, similar to the global trend.
Energy intensity factors more efficient than global average but
less efficient than Option #4, similar to those shown by more
Most efficient energy intensity factors.
High values of carbonization index similar to the one observed in countries using
mainly inefficient energy sources, such as coal and
Mean values for carbonization rates, similar to the global trend.
Low values of carbonization rates, similar to the ones observed in
countries using clean energy sources with very low emission
rates, such as hydro, nuclear, solar, etc.
Most efficient values of carbonization rates, similar the ones observed in countries using
clean energy sources with very low emission rates, such as
as classified by the United Nations, Figure 1(b) shows the medium-scenario results for the global population, and the corresponding distribution of age groups, com- pared with world historical data and projections, and
Figure 1(c) shows the low-scenario results for the global population, and the corresponding distribution of age groups, compared with world historical data and projec- tions of the more developed regions, as classified by the United Nations.
Figure 2 shows the values obtained from the three proposed scenarios for the GDP/capita, compared with world historical data, and the values for the more devel- oped regions and least developed countries . Figures 3(a) and (b) show the estimation of technological devel- opment factors such as the energy intensity factor and
the rate of carbonization respectively, compared with historical data [32,34,35]. It is important to note a steady improvement in this factor, which can translate into en- ergy savings per unit of production3. Figures 4(a) and (b)
show energy consumption and carbon emissions, re- spectively, compared to historical data and IPCC SRES Scenarios4 [32,34-36].
As shown in Figure 1, the highest global population cal- culated by the model, is similar to the projections for the least developed countries (as classified by the United Nations), with a significant proportion of youth sectors throughout the analyzed period. Both population and
0 3 6 9 12 15
1950 2000 2050 2100
Senior adults Adults Young adults Children
Overall population Least developed countries
0 1 2 3 4 5
1950 2000 2050 2100
Senior adults Adults Young adults Children
Overall population World data and projections
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
1950 2000 2050 2100
Overall population Young adults
Senior adults More developed regions
Figure 1. Global population: (a) high, (b) medium and (c) low scenarios, and the corresponding distribution of age groups compared with world historical data and projections, and the values corresponding to the more developed regions and least developed countries.
3There is an interesting discussion on the rebound effect in consumption caused by lower prices and improved energy efficiency of products (i.e.,
cheaper cars and fuel generate more trips) [37,38]. These authors (and similar opinions) conclude that only an effective (and voluntary) reduction in consumption will allow a reduction in energy consumption (and therefore, in emissions). An improvement in efficiency leads only to an increase in consumption. Despite this interesting controversy, we have not incorporated any kind of rebound effect into the model, but it would be feasible.
0 10 20 30
1950 2000 2050 2100
medium least developed countries data
more developed regions data World data
Figure 2. GDP/capita (relative to 1950) compared with world historical data, and the values corresponding to the more de-veloped regions and least dede-veloped countries.
0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
1950 2000 2050 2100
0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
1950 2000 2050 2100
Data high medium low
high medium low
Figure 3. Technological factors: (a) Energy intensity factor and (b) carbonization index, relative to 1950, compared with his-torical data.
0 10 20 30 40 50
1950 2000 2050 2100
A2‐AIM A1B‐AIM B1‐AIM Data
low high medium
0 10 20 30 40 50
1950 2000 2050 2100
B1‐AIM A2‐AIM A1B‐AIM Data
medium low high
youth rates are higher than the global data average trend. The mean results show stabilization in population growth beyond 2050, accompanied by a demographic transition reflected in a reduction of the proportion of younger sec-tors and an increase in the proportion of older secsec-tors. The lowest results show stagnation in population growth and a more evident population ageing in comparison to the previous case. These results are compared with data and projections for the more developed regions, as clas-sified by the United Nations, which show a much slower than average population growth.
It is also observed that increasing number of agents imply a higher level of primary energy consumption and a consequent increase in the level of carbon emissions. However such emissions increases are partially offset by the reduction of technological indicators, which show a generally downward trend in recent years.
5.1. Effects of Diversity in the Agents’ Choices
5.1.1. Societies with Low Tendency to Investment and Consumption
The analysis of the results of the model shows that the highest values for population growth belong to societies in which a large number of agents choose to develop Op-
tion #1: The observed global average economic growth for the same option is lower than expected, reaching the minimum results shown for that variable. Birth rates ob-tained are higher than the global average, and life expec-tancy is lower than in a more balanced society. The growth in per capita consumption shows a minimum value with a small positive slope, similar to the result ob- served for investment in human capital, in a scenario of slow economic growth.
Per capita energy consumption for this society shows stagnation in its growth curves and also in per capita car- bon emissions, due to the low level of consumption and economic growth. However, the average values for both variables are higher than those obtained for a balanced society due to the inefficient behavior of technological indicators. Despite a slower growth, this scenario shows a steady population growth associated to slow techno-logical change; it produces high values of energy con-sumption and maximum values of global anthropogenic emissions.
5.1.2. Societies with High Propensity to Investment in Human Capital
The fact that agents spend their time in education until later in their lives strongly affects their fertility choices, resulting in very low birth rates and even lower mortality rates, with a consequent reduction and ageing of the population. Mortality rates show a downward trend re-lated to the high average level of human capital existing in this type of scenario. However, at some point in the
model run under these conditions, mortality rates reach a minimum and begin to increase due to population ageing. In a world with an increasing elderly population and a decreasing number of children, the number of deaths per 1000 individuals tends to increase. Population growth in these societies is minimal.
Since in these societies there is a trend to maximum efficiency for technological indicators, the mean values obtained for energy consumption and carbon emissions per individual are lower than those obtained for more balanced societies. These scenarios show high levels of productivity reflected in higher values of GDP/capita compared to the global average trend. However, due to the high efficiency of technological indicators and the low number of inhabitants related to these societies, the values obtained for energy consumption and carbon emissions are minimal.
In this way, the maximum efficiency of technological indicators and the minimum results obtained for birth and death rates for the overall population, and for consump-tion of energy and carbon emission, refer to societies where the proportion of agents who choose to develop
Option #4 is vastly superior to other options.
5.1.3. Societies with High Propensity to Consumption
These are scenarios in which most individuals choose
development options with high levels of consumption labeled as Option #3. These societies show the highest economic growth accompanied by highest levels of per capita consumption and steep slopes in growth rates of consumption and investment in physical capital. This affects per capita growth rates of energy consumption and carbon emissions, which show large positive slopes. Although technological indicators are more efficient than the world average, and population growth is lower than the average trend, the high consumption rates related to such societies result in large global levels of energy con-sumption and carbon emissions.
Thus, the maximum results obtained for GDP/capita, overall energy consumption and carbon emissions corre-spond to societies in which a large number of agents have chosen to develop Option #3.
5.1.4. Balanced Societies
The results obtained from the medium-scenario corre-spond to societies in which agents choose their
mortality rates related to the selected choices of fertility and the improvements in the health system involved in societies with high levels of investment in education and knowledge. The results of such scenarios show popula-tion growth with stagnapopula-tion beyond the middle of the XXI century, and the economic growth, consumption and investment curves show a moderately increasing trend.
Energy consumption levels and rates in these societies show a favorable trend associated to improvements in technological indicators, which results in an average growth of energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Note the importance of heterogeneity in the agents’ choice of behavior, since it allows the model to obtain different development scenarios, avoiding the rigidity observed in the results for homogeneous societies.
It is also noteworthy that balanced societies could be masking great inequality, with sectors or regions exhib-iting high consumption rates and others that show high levels of poverty. However, the results obtained from balanced societies show that, to a greater or lesser extent, all the development options will continue to exist over time, representing most adequately the world economic and cultural diversity.
The model presented simulates the evolution of popula-tion and economic growth through an agent-based ap-proach, using an endogenous growth model with physical and human capital. Such endogenous feature allows all variables of economic and demographic systems to be feed-backed to each other.
The use of the ABM allowed the incorporation of the decision-making concept. This ability of agents to choose their behavior results in a range of possible outcomes. By working with heterogeneous behavior preferences of agents, the model produces stable outcomes bounded within a range of realizable minimum and maximum de- velopment scenarios.
We argue that human capital created by education is not only a productive input that directly raises productiv-ity, but also plays a crucial role in the development and adoption of new technologies that drive long-term growth. In addition, the model shows some evidence of the impact of labor force and fertility, suggesting that increasing levels of education play an important role in family planning. Of course there will always be cultural and religious factors and idiosyncratic variations that affect fertility choices; nevertheless, this cultural diver-sity (expressed in the model as non expected random options) is also an important factor of stabilization for the different scenarios. However, in the context of this work and according to the tested conditions, we conclude that increasing educational levels drive to a fall in fertility and an increase in productivity growth.
From the application of the model to the estimation of the primary energy consumption and carbon emissions, we should highlight the following effects: 1) Societies with low tendency to investment and consumption show high values for global carbon emissions, associated with high rates of population growth and an unfavorable trend in technological efficiency indicators; 2) Societies with positive trend in technological efficiency but high pro-pensity to consumption also lead to scenarios with high energy consumption and carbon emissions. From this, it follows that a possible pathway to achieve favorable sce- narios of anthropogenic carbon emissions can be found in societies that encourage investment in human capital through, for example, education and technological de-velopment, provided that this be accompanied by a stabi-lization or reduction of consumption rates and the crea-tion of physical capital by the populacrea-tion.
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 M. Vaz Martins, T. Araujo, M. Santos and M. Aubyn, “Network Effects in a Human Capital Based Economic Growth Model,” Quantitative Finance, Vol. 388, 2009, pp. 2207-2214.
 S. Natarajan, J. Padget and L. Elliott, “Modelling UK Domestic Energy and Carbon Emissions: An Agent- Based Approach,”Energy and Buildings, Vol. 43, No. 10, 2011, pp. 2602-2612.
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Emission-Trading on Power Generation Emissions,” Tech- nological Forecasting and Social Change, Vol. 76, No. 3, 2009, pp. 358-370.
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|Claimants' Mark||Defendants´ Mark|
The claimants are the owners or exclusive licensee of the Beverly Hills Polo Club mark (above left) worldwide except in the USA and China. The mark is registered in the UK and the EU in classes including classes 3, 18, 24 and 25.
The claimants have brought a number of actions in the UK and at the EUIPO in relation to third parties' POLO CLUB signs.
They commenced UK High Court proceedings against a number of defendants in relation to a number of logos for passing off and trade mark infringement. The trial concerned the logo above right. The Third Defendant, Greenwich Polo Club, owns that logo. The First Defendant was its licensing agent and the Second Defendant a director of the First Defendant. The Fifth to Eighth Defendants were alleged to have sold infringing products. The case against these defendants was stayed pending the outcome of the claims against the First to Third Defendants.
High Court ruling
Smith J found that the First to Third Defendants had not traded in any goods bearing the mark above right and that the Fifth to Eighth Defendants had used that on products in Greece, Cyprus and Bulgaria. (See  EWHC 1212 (Ch) for his judgment.) The claimants had argued that the First to Third Defendants were jointly and severally liable for the acts of the Fifth to Eighth Defendants. The judge commented that the pleading sought "to spread the web of liability extremely wide".
The claimants' submission that infringement should be considered based only on the logo elements of the marks and not take account of the words was dismissed by the judge. He concluded that the figurative elements of the marks was the "least significant element" of the marks and in any event were different. He stated they did nothing more than "evoke the sport of polo" noting that the mark above left consisted of a single mounted rider and the mark on the right consisted of 2 riders. He said the wording actively sought to differentiate between two originators, on the one hand the Greenwich Polo Club and on the other a lifestyle brand represented by the claimants detached from any real polo club. The word elements were orally, visually and conceptually very different.
Having found there was no likelihood of confusion, Smith J also rejected the claim that the claimants' mark had a reputation or there had been passing-off, stating that the evidence of reputation provided by the claimants was "trifling".
Having concluded that the infringement case failed against the Fifth to Eighth Defendants, the judge then considered the First to Third Defendants. The First Defendant managed the brands of third parties. It was held that the court should be extremely careful in finding that this constituted use of a brand in the course of trade. However where a party is licensing the use of a brand then accessory liability would follow. The judge said that if he had found infringement in respect of the Fifth to Eighth Defendants then that would likely have been the case here.
The claim failed against the First Defendant and, as there had been no infringement, the claim against the Third Defendant on the grounds of joint and several liability was also dismissed.
The Second Defendant was alleged to be jointly liable with the First Defendant as a director of that company. Given the case against the First Defendant had failed, the judge thought it was artificial to consider independently the liability of the director. Even if there had been an infringement, on the facts he would require some persuading that what he called the limited activity of the director would make him liable as a joint tortfeasor. He stated the mere signing of contracts would not amount to the director being a joint tortfeasor.
All the claims were dismissed. The judge stated that if there had been infringement he would have had to consider whether he could grant an EU wide injunction in relation to EU trade marks for a period after Brexit (ie from 1 January 2021) but this was unnecessary in this case. It would have been interesting if he had had to look at this issue here.
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domain: law


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What are the warning signs of cancer?
Certain changes in your body may be signs of cancer, including:
These are not always signs of cancer, but they can be clues that something is wrong. If you notice something different in how your body looks or feels, contact your obstetrician–gynecologist (ob-gyn).
How can I reduce my overall risk of cancer?
The following lifestyle changes may reduce your risk of cancer:
What types of cancer should women be aware of?
Some common types of cancer in women include the following:
How can I reduce my risk of breast cancer?
The main risk factors for breast cancer—being a woman and getting older—cannot be controlled. But there are some things you can do that may lower your risk of breast cancer:
Breastfeeding also may lower your risk of breast cancer.
What should I know about mammograms?
Mammography screens for breast cancer. Finding breast cancer early makes it easier to treat. Women at average risk of breast cancer should be offered mammography starting at age 40. If you have not started screening in your 40s, you should begin having mammography no later than 50. Screening should be done every 1 to 2 years until at least 75.
Women at high risk of breast cancer, such as those with BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, may need to have more frequent screening. You and your ob-gyn should talk together about what age to begin screening. See Mammography and Other Screening Tests for Breast Problems for more information.
How can I reduce my risk of lung cancer?
Most cases of lung cancer are caused by cigarette smoking. The best way to protect yourself from lung cancer is to not smoke. As soon as you stop smoking, your risk will begin to decrease. You also should avoid being around people who are smoking.
How can I quit smoking?
Ask your ob-gyn for advice on how to quit or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW. This national network for quitting smoking will connect you to counselors in your state. These counselors can offer resources and advice about quitting.
Is there screening for lung cancer?
Yes. Women between ages 55 and 80 with a history of smoking should ask their ob-gyn or other health care professional about annual screening for lung cancer. Screening is recommended for women who are currently heavy smokers or who have quit within the past 15 years.
How can I reduce my risk of colon cancer?
Colon cancer often begins as a polyp. Routine screenings can help detect polyps before they become cancer. Removing precancerous polyps can prevent colon cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends getting a colon cancer screening test starting at age 45. These tests may include:
Tests that look through the colon with a small camera
Tests that examine stool for blood or abnormal genetic material
Talk with your ob-gyn about which screening test is right for you. Also, limiting how much processed and red meat you eat and having at least 2 to 3 cups of fruits and vegetables every day may reduce your risk of colon cancer.
How can I reduce my risk of endometrial cancer?
Most cases of cancer that affect the lining of the uterus cannot be prevented. But there are a few steps you can take that may reduce your risk:
How can I reduce my risk of skin cancer?
How can I reduce my risk of ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancer is hard to detect, so women should be aware of changes in their bodies. See your ob-gyn if you have any of these symptoms for more than a few weeks:
There are some medical treatments that may reduce your risk.
Birth Control Pills. Using birth control pills lowers the risk of ovarian cancer. The benefit is greater if you have used the pill for several years. Talk with your ob-gyn about the possible benefits and risks of taking birth control pills.
Surgery. Women at high risk of ovarian cancer may consider surgery to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes. This surgery may reduce the risk of cancer. Women at high risk include those with a history of ovarian cancer, BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, or Lynch syndrome. The timing of surgery may depend on your desire to have children in the future. Women at average risk of ovarian cancer also may consider surgery to remove the fallopian tubes, if they are already having abdominal surgery for another reason.
How can I reduce my risk of cervical cancer?
What if I am older than 26 and want the HPV vaccine?
If you are older than 26, have not been vaccinated, and are at risk of a new HPV infection, you and your ob-gyn can talk about whether you need the HPV vaccine. The vaccine is approved for people through age 45.
How can I reduce my risk of vulvar cancer?
There is no screening for cancer of the vulva, so be aware of common symptoms. These include itching, burning, or abnormal skin that may be bumpy, smooth, or a different color like white, brown, or red. Precancerous changes to vulvar skin often are caused by HPV infection. You can reduce your risk of cancer of the vulva by taking the following steps:

domain: biology


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Homeowners’ design choices today are often influenced by what the media tells them is marketplace standard, which can make them unhappy in their homes, according to research released earlier this year.
Annetta Grant, assistant professor of markets, innovation and design at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, said, “What surprised me the most in our research was how uneasy people were in their own homes. Our homes are supposed to be a person’s sanctuary, a place to be away from the world. And yet they have angst and unease within their own homes.”
Grant conducted the research, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, with Jay Handelman, associate professor of marketing at Stephen J.R. School of Business at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario.
“We found that people renovated their homes to the standards they saw in the media, rather than to their own personal tastes,” Grant said. “They often only personalized in an offbeat space in the home, with color or something unique, giving themselves license to go crazy in this one room.”
Homeowners Rely on Others for Renovation Ideas
When making decisions about how to renovate their homes, people relied on others to guide them. “Homeowners were uneasy to make decisions about their own homes, and referred to someone else,” she said. “In some instances that was an interior designer, but in some cases they would ask people who work at the hardware store, a paint store, their painters, or a friend who had a sense for what those market standards are.”
The research notes that after World War II, the government encouraged home building as a strategy to rebuild the country, offering subsidies and mortgage programs as incentives. “Suburbia after the war saw the home as a place for you and your family to reflect your preferences and personalities, giving rise to the avocado appliances and yellow, pink and blue fixtures in bathrooms,” Grant said.
“A lot of homes are created for everyone and yet for no one,” said Annetta Grant, assistant professor of markets, innovation and design at Bucknell University.
Standardization of Colors
“Our research showed that now there is a standardization of colors and your home should not reflect you as an individual. A lot of homes are created for everyone and yet for no one,” she said. “They are more a reflection of the media – what consumers see on home television channels and read in home magazines.”
The home renovation television programs often lead to people feeling concerned about how others will judge their choices. “You often see on home television shows, people will walk into someone else’s home and point out all of the things that are wrong with the home, ‘who would chose those countertops,’ ‘what were they thinking when they painted that color on the walls,’ and people don’t want to be embarrassed by their choices. It creates an uneasy feeling about your own home,” Grant said.
According to the research, the home renovation market has grown into a multibillion-dollar industry with sales in the U.S. increasing 48% over the past decade to more than $400 billion. The size of homes has grown by 48% from 1973 to 2020, despite the fact that the average number of people living in a home has decreased over that same time. And the pandemic has further spurred home renovations, which are expected to hit $450 billion by 2023, a 12.5% increase from 2020.
Renovating to the current market trends leads to more frequent renovations. “Always trying to figure out what the latest standards leads people to feel like their homes are never quite finished,” she said.
“The problem is that when the media creates these standards of grey walls, open concepts, stainless steel appliances, those standards are constantly changing. Once your renovations are done, the standards may change again. This market-reflective gaze of your home makes people feel uneasy,” Grant added. “And they fast forward through the hard parts, giving a sense that renovations can happen quickly.”
She noted that previously most homes had the laundry room in the basement in a dedicated corner. “During our study, we found that media portrayals elevated the laundry room to upper floors, dedicating a specific room and creating a space around the laundry room and one homeowner was disappointed with how she built her home because it didn’t reflect this new standard,” she said.
Ultimately, homeowners are torn between the concept that a home builds wealth and allows you to create your own unique space. “They see their home as an investment and want to preserve the value of a home, but they’re conflicted because making a personal decision to add color may diminish the value of their investment,” she added.
COVID-19 Affect on Choices in Home
The research concludes that it will be interesting to see how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact the future choices in homes, as they now serve as a place of work, school, exercise, social gatherings and online shopping. The report notes, “This drastic change in the ways in which consumers use the home may affect the broader cultural understanding of the home.” New media programming may emerge that portrays this dynamic of multiple home usage, all of which will impact the consumers’ ability to feel at home in their own homes.


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Caribbean BlogWelcome to the Caribbean an amazingly untouched beauty awaits. Welcoming people and amazing activities to transform you in mind body and spirit.
The Caribbean is a delightful location – a selection of white sand beaches; palm trees; holiday resorts; and nature reserves. It's islands vary in size and makeup, but the laid-back attitude is common to all. It’s where you go when you want to get the benefit of sun, sea and sand without the crowds or the overt tourism.
Clearly there is tourism in the Caribbean, of course – it’s just of a slightly different order. Where mainstream package tourism is often crowded and not very relaxing, the price mark-up on a Caribbean tour ensures that a higher level of service and experience is usually achieved.
If you’ve never been on a Caribbean cruise before, you’ll need some packing tips. You’ve got a smart luggage set; you’ve got the guide book – now, apart from that guide book of course, what do you put in your cases?Packing for the Caribbean
Let’s start with the basics. Sun cream (sun tan lotion), after sun cream, and mosquito and insect repellent. Don’t underestimate the power of the tropical sun, which can have you blistered in less than an hour. If you’re British, you’re not used to it for sure. Take sun cream with a factor around 25% stronger than you think you need. SPF50 and above should do the trick. You can start to reduce to 30 and 15, don't risk just 30 initially.
After sun lotion is an absolute lifesaver in the tropics – particularly when you are so near to the sea. On and off your ship, you’re likely to be buffeted by gentle sea breezes most of the day – very pleasant indeed, until you realise they’ve been tricking you into feeling cooler than you actually are. When you inevitable burn your forehead or your ears, after sun lotion can take the heat and pain away in seconds.
There are many romantic places on earth, but it seems that their concentration is highest in the Caribbean region. It comes as no surprise that the travel destinations there are among the most sought after by couples in love, newly-weds and families. So, let us check the places that all those in a romantic mood want to visit. The first spot on our list is the island of Barbados, which has an interesting British atmosphere. Thus, one can expect afternoon tea and garden parties, left car driving and games of cricket. One of the most pleasant places here is the Bathsheba Beach, which must be visited for a great romantic walk. Expect nice places for dining out and luxurious accommodation spots with spa procedures.
The second romantic spot on our list is the French island of St. Barthelemy. This trendy place is preferred by the rich people and one can find famous faces here. The beaches here are fabulous, the cafes are trendy, the restaurants are fantastic and the hotels are exclusive, luxurious and expensive. Thus, if the couple is on a budget, this is not the place to go to.The third place that deserves to be mentioned is the island of Saint Martin, which is one third Dutch and two-thirds French, so the couple can experience both atmospheres. The beaches here are incredible, the best of them being Dawn Beach, Grand Case, Longue Beach and Orient Beach.
If the idea of the couple is to have a romantic, but also a relaxed holiday, then Jamaica is the place to go. The reggae music, the dances, the options for diving are just ideal if you dream about real recreation. Another fantastic place with reasonably priced resorts is the Dominican Republic. This destination is perfect for those who love adventures, as there is plenty to be done here. The couple can go hiking and scuba diving, snorkeling and windsurfing. In addition, one can try sailing with humpback whales. Among the finest spots to be checked here is the Cabarete bay, which is great place for windsurfing. For those couples in love that secluded beaches and beautiful scenery, the place to go is the island of Anguilla, which is appreciated by many famous artists and singers. This is a fantastic spot for those who love snorkeling and also for the food connoisseurs, as there are plenty of restaurants with various types of cuisine.
If the idea of the holiday is to lay on the beach and get great skin complexion, then the couple should head towards Antigua. It is famous for its long sandy beaches, many small and secluded beach zones and great options for watersports. The place though is not very suitable for kids. In case you want an active holiday with parties, shopping, and watersports, then the place to go is Aruba. The island is great for kite surfing, scuba diving and also wind surfing. If diving is the passion of the couple, another great destination for that are the Cayman Islands, which are famous for the crystal water, the great diversity of fish and the tales for the Sunken City of Atlantis.
So you've got your PADI, you've checked out a few of the world's regular diving hotspots but now you've really caught the diving bug. If you're keen to plunge ocean depths in style, there are some great ways to do this with a luxury edge.
There are many exclusive five star resorts across the world that count among their offering scuba diving courses and facilities. You can choose your destination based on the kind of diving you are interested in. Grenada for example is one of the key locations for wreck diving, so if you fancy exploring sunken treasures this could be the place for you. If you're looking for sea life on a large scale, Mozambique could be a good choice. It's famed for year round sightings of stunning Whale Sharks and Manta Rays. Whatever your choice, diving breaks with a base in a luxury resort offer the comfort of a five star hotel by night and the freedom of the waves by day. Some would certainly consider this the best of both worlds.
On another subject, the most number of people injured by one single shark was in
Madagascar, Feb. 1997, 500 injured and 98 dead!
What happened was that a fisherman caught a shark, cut it up for sale in the market,
500 people who ate the shark meat ended up in the hospital with ciguatera fish poisoning
and 98 of those died!
This is the kind of thing you can expect when learning to dive in Jamaica, the line allows for a safe descent and the dive is shallow - you will have been taught a lot in the pool or confined safe water area at this point and you will never go outside your comfort zone !Learning to Dive in Jamaica at Sandals !


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This project have two part, first part i explore around nature, have a lots of development with flowers. The second part i get inspiration from the exhibition, and get deep research in hat and celebration. In the later stage, I was working on to combine these two part together.
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Iron overload is involved in several pathological conditions, including Friedreich ataxia, a disease caused by decreased expression of the mitochondrial protein frataxin. In a previous study,we identified 14 proteins selectively oxidized in yeast cells lacking Yfh1, the yeast frataxin homolog. Most of these were magnesium-binding proteins. Decreased Mn-SOD activity, oxidative damage to CuZn-SOD, and increased levels of chelatable iron were also observed in this model. The present study explores the relationship between low SOD activity, the presence of chelatable iron and protein damage was investigated in more detail. We observed that addition of copper and manganese to the culture medium restored SOD activities prevented both oxidative damage and inactivation of magnesium-binding proteins. This protection was compartment-specific: recovery of mitochondrial enzymes required the addition of manganese while cytosolic enzymes were recovered by adding copper. Copper treatment also decreased Deltayfh1 sensitivity to menadione. Finally, a Deltasod1 mutant showed high levels of chelatable iron and inactivation of magnesium-binding enzymes. These results suggest that reduced superoxide dismutase activities contribute to the toxic effects of iron overloading. This would also apply to pathologies involving iron accumulation.
|Evidence ID||Analyze ID||Interactor||Interactor Systematic Name||Interactor||Interactor Systematic Name||Type||Assay||Annotation||Action||Modification||Phenotype||Source||Reference||Note|
|Evidence ID||Analyze ID||Gene||Gene Systematic Name||Gene Ontology Term||Gene Ontology Term ID||Qualifier||Aspect||Method||Evidence||Source||Assigned On||Annotation Extension||Reference|
|Evidence ID||Analyze ID||Gene||Gene Systematic Name||Phenotype||Experiment Type||Experiment Type Category||Mutant Information||Strain Background||Chemical||Details||Reference|
|Evidence ID||Analyze ID||Regulator||Regulator Systematic Name||Target||Target Systematic Name||Experiment||Assay||Construct||Conditions||Strain Background||Reference|