We propose economically autonomous behavior as a novel goal for robotic systems. Currently examples of robotic autonomy are often limited to restricted physical environments such as a factory or road. In this paper we instead restrict the notion of autonomy to a social environment: the economy. We define economically autonomous behavior and describe different levels of independence culminating ...

IN THE US A DISMAL TRUTH EXISTS about the citizenry’s lack of understanding of economic fundamentals. Perhaps the best example which illustrates this point is the April 2010 US Senate Hearings into the financial crisis. JPMorgan Chase’s Managing Director and Senior Economist James E. Glassman expressed in a memo his great frustration with the senators’ shocking lack of understanding of free mar...

The inequality of wealth distribution is a universal phenomenon in civilized nations and it is often imputed to the Matthew effect, that is, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Some philosophers unjustified this phenomenon and tried to put the human civilization upon the evenness of wealth. Noticing the facts that 1) the emergence of centralism is the starting point of human civilizati...

Introduction IPTV is a young technology, barely five years old. It is now emerging as a mainstream service throughout the world, due in large part to the establishment of standards and availability of technology in the market. Although there is still a lack of “open standards” for interoperability and integration, particularly at the set top box level, IPTV vendors have teamed together to integ...

Larvae of many species of Sesiidae, the clearwing moths, are important pests in commercial nurseries, urban landscapes, timber stands, vineyards, and orchards. They cause economic loss by larval boring in stems and roots of herbaceous and woody plants. Researchers and growers often monitor for the presence of economically important sesiid adults with pheromone traps. These traps often attract m...

Brucellosis is one of the world’s major zoonosis, caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. The world’s most widespread zoonosis affects cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and other animals, leading to abortion, infertility, and low milk yields. Humans acquire brucellosis from direct contact with livestock or from drinking unpasteurized milk. Brucella spp. are considered as the most common laboratory-...