Vivid Economics (United Kingdom)

The Cimmino algorithm is an iterative algorithm used for solving linear equations (Ax = b) and is part of a wider family of algebraic reconstruction algorithms. Despite being used in computed tomography and digital signal processing, we present an approach for using it in holographic projections in the Fraunhofer region. Following the work carried out by our group on Kaczmarz holography, an earlier algebraic linear equation solver, we compare the performance and speed of Cimmino against this algorithm. Three versions of the Cimmino algorithm, Cimmino full, Cimmino eye, and Cimmino FFT, are evaluated and compared to both Kaczmarz and Gerchberg-Saxton. Interestingly, the derivation and simplification of Kaczmarz and Cimmino leads to the input-output algorithm originally derived by Fienup and while the solution is well-known, the link between these algorithms is not and despite being around since the 1930s, it was originally used to solve linear equations and not phase retrieval. While the Cimmino full and Cimmino eye reflect fairly poorly against Cimmino FFT and Kaczmarz in terms of image quality and speed, the Cimmino FFT delivers better results in terms of image quality than all algorithms considered. It is significantly faster than Kaczmarz, being only a few milliseconds slower than Gerchberg-Saxton.

The Kaczmarz algorithm is an iterative method for solving linear equations in the form of Ax = b. It is widely used in computed tomography and digital signal processing (DSP) but has yet to be adopted in computer-generated holography. Phase retrieval algorithms, such as Gerchberg–Saxton or Fienup, are significantly more popular in this field. However, we propose a unique and alternative approach to projecting a replay field through discrete Fourier transform matrices and have shown that there are legitimate benefits to implementing this approach. The gradient descent iteration mechanism adopted by Kaczmarz, for instance provides finer granularity control over the individual pixels in the replay field. We consequently demonstrate the quality of the image is significantly improved when compared with Gerchberg–Saxton.

Replication Package for the paper Colonial Legacies: Shaping African Cities

This paper presents an analysis of the multi-sectoral and distributional economic impacts of rainfall shocks in the Awash river basin in Ethiopia. Using novel disaggregated data on crop production, we estimate the direct impacts of rainfall shocks on agriculture and then use a Computable General Equilibrium model to simulate how these rainfall shocks propagate through the wider economy of the basin under three different climate change scenarios. The basin's economy and expanding agricultural sector are highly vulnerable to the impacts of rainfall shocks. A rainfall decrease scenario could lead to a 5% decline in the basin's GDP, with agricultural GDP standing to drop by as much as 10%. All sectors benefit from greater rainfall amounts. Distributional impacts depend on income group, with poor households accruing greater benefits relative to non-poor households under a scenario of additional rainfall and suffering proportionally lower income losses under a scenario of rainfall decrease.

High-rise residential buildings have become the most mainstream housing pattern in the world's metropolises under the current trend of urbanization.The facades of high-rise buildings are essential elements of the urban landscape.The skins of these facades are important media between the interior and exterior of high-rise buildings.They not only connect between users and environments, but also play an important functional and aesthetic role.This research involves a study of skins of high-rise residential buildings using the methodology of shape grammar to find out the rules which determine the combinations of the facade patterns and to analyze the patterns' parameters using software Grasshopper.We chose a number of facades of high-rise residential buildings as source to discover the underlying rules and concepts of the generation of facade skins.This research also provides the rules that influence the composition of facade skins.The items of the facade skins, such as windows, balconies, walls, sun visors and metal grills are treated as elements in the system of facade skins.The compositions of these elements will be categorized and described by logical rules; and the types of high-rise building facade skins will be modelled by Grasshopper.Then a variety of analyzed patterns can also be applied on other facade skins through this parametric mechanism.Using these patterns established in the models, researchers can analyze each single item to do more detailed tests and architects can apply each of these items to construct the facades for their other buildings through various combinations and permutations.The goal of these models is to develop a mechanism to generate prototypes in order to facilitate design process of various facade skins.

The changes in demographic, economic, socio-cultural and health foster the emergence of a new set of caregivers: the hired caregiver, covered generally by immigrant women. This article is a study that aims to inquire into this new reality, focusing mainly on knowing the experiences and emotions of immigrant careers in relation to people and their environment maintained. The study, a qualitative research, collected through direct testimony of caregivers, which is their lived experiences, that is, the stories of a difficult and complex context, where it crosses a double need for affection: on one hand, the one of those suffering bereavement of immigration, by the distancing of their own family, by the harshness and precariousness of their migrant status and on the other hand, those who in old age, beyond physical dependence, suffer from loneliness. It demonstrates the emotional and relational nature of care and the positive contributions of these immigrant women to a situation characteristic of global societies, and with aging populations.

Abstract While farmers' markets are a colourful addition to urban shopping, they are periodic, relatively expensive and provide for a very limited range of consumer requirements. In fact, they are the antithesis of supermarket ubiquity, price sensitivity, wide product/service range and extended opening hours. So, despite their small role in total food retail sales, why are they a growing presence and what do farmers' markets say about the consumer needs that supermarkets do not satisfy? This article reports the findings of a questionnaire‐based survey of 391 farmers' market customers in five Scottish towns during 2006. Customers were seeking high quality food products, even if that meant premium prices, and put a particular value on direct transactions with the producer. Although these data have a specific geographic context, they have resonance for the growing schism between producer and customer in the UK and other countries.

Domain visualization aims to reveal the most significant intellectual structure associated with a subject domain. This article illustrates how domain visualization enables novel ways of accessing scientific literature in digital libraries. The domain of computer graphics is visualized based on a citation analysis of articles appeared in the prestigious IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications over 18 years (1982-1999). The derived the high-dimensional domain structure is uncovered through the use of various visualization and animation techniques. Author co-citation maps open up new ways of visual information retrieval. Not only can users explore domain visualizations as a virtual landscape, but also invoke queries directly to a digital library. In this article, the domain visualization is linked to various citation-related information of scientific literature on the Web through NEC's ResearchIndex system.