This research aims to understand the psychological, the social and cognitive aspects of ageing and assess the relevance of driving a personal automobile to seniors. We know that biological ageing is an inescapable fac...This research aims to understand the psychological, the social and cognitive aspects of ageing and assess the relevance of driving a personal automobile to seniors. We know that biological ageing is an inescapable fact, but is there also a psychological and a cognitive ageing？ If so, is it related to getting older or to other factors？ How relevant is continuing to drive to seniors, and how can the activity influence psychological and cognitive types of their ageing and self well-being？ To answer these questions, we study several authors and concepts about mental health, development of ageing and their relationship to driving. We also explore psychological and cognitive changes associated with ageing, the principal behavioural changes of healthy senior people （with normal cognitive function） and MCI （mild cognitive impairment）, as well as how driving inhibition can induce and affect psychological and cognitive characteristics. We conclude that low mental functioning is caused by a set of biological, psychological and social factors, connected in turn to environmental factors. The slowdown of cognitive activities and performances in seniors is not inevitably accompanied by a decrease in intellectual capacity, low sensory acuity, or slowing psychomotor skills. Other factors should be considered--such as health status, limitations, anxiety, lack of interest, motivation and attitudes. The loss of cognitive abilities and the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment increase with age and are a growing concern, especially among seniors who drive cars. However, we still lack specific evidence based on tests and criteria--in particular, on psychological and cognitive domains--to assess senior drivers actually at risk. It is important to establish a base of evidence to allow objective risk determination. The safest senior drivers should continue driving for as long as possible, thereby contributing to their mental health, independence and quality of life.展开更多
After the deregulation of the Power Sector in the U.S., planning for generation and transmission capacities is decentralized. There is, however, still need for the long term integrated planning of generation and trans...After the deregulation of the Power Sector in the U.S., planning for generation and transmission capacities is decentralized. There is, however, still need for the long term integrated planning of generation and transmission capacities at the macro level, since these two sectors must operate in a coordinated manner. This paper presents a model for integrating generation and transmission expansion planning to identify an indicative expansion plan for the total sector at the macro level. The argument for an integrated model is supported using evidence from integrated planning efforts in real life systems. The application of the proposed model is illustrated using an example that requires expansion of generation and transmission capacities over three regions in a deregulated power system. The example considers that addition of generating capacity should come from renewable sources. The test results show the potential cost saving from integrated planning.展开更多
文摘This research aims to understand the psychological, the social and cognitive aspects of ageing and assess the relevance of driving a personal automobile to seniors. We know that biological ageing is an inescapable fact, but is there also a psychological and a cognitive ageing？ If so, is it related to getting older or to other factors？ How relevant is continuing to drive to seniors, and how can the activity influence psychological and cognitive types of their ageing and self well-being？ To answer these questions, we study several authors and concepts about mental health, development of ageing and their relationship to driving. We also explore psychological and cognitive changes associated with ageing, the principal behavioural changes of healthy senior people （with normal cognitive function） and MCI （mild cognitive impairment）, as well as how driving inhibition can induce and affect psychological and cognitive characteristics. We conclude that low mental functioning is caused by a set of biological, psychological and social factors, connected in turn to environmental factors. The slowdown of cognitive activities and performances in seniors is not inevitably accompanied by a decrease in intellectual capacity, low sensory acuity, or slowing psychomotor skills. Other factors should be considered--such as health status, limitations, anxiety, lack of interest, motivation and attitudes. The loss of cognitive abilities and the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment increase with age and are a growing concern, especially among seniors who drive cars. However, we still lack specific evidence based on tests and criteria--in particular, on psychological and cognitive domains--to assess senior drivers actually at risk. It is important to establish a base of evidence to allow objective risk determination. The safest senior drivers should continue driving for as long as possible, thereby contributing to their mental health, independence and quality of life.
文摘After the deregulation of the Power Sector in the U.S., planning for generation and transmission capacities is decentralized. There is, however, still need for the long term integrated planning of generation and transmission capacities at the macro level, since these two sectors must operate in a coordinated manner. This paper presents a model for integrating generation and transmission expansion planning to identify an indicative expansion plan for the total sector at the macro level. The argument for an integrated model is supported using evidence from integrated planning efforts in real life systems. The application of the proposed model is illustrated using an example that requires expansion of generation and transmission capacities over three regions in a deregulated power system. The example considers that addition of generating capacity should come from renewable sources. The test results show the potential cost saving from integrated planning.
