1,032 research outputs found
Expanding the conversational terrain: Using a choice experiment to assess community preferences for post-disaster redevelopment options
The Canterbury region of New Zealand was shaken by major earthquakes on the 4th September 2010 and 22nd February 2011. The quakes caused 185 fatalities and extensive land, infrastructure and building damage, particularly in the Eastern suburbs of Christchurch city. Almost 450 ha of residential and public land was designated as a âRed Zoneâ unsuitable for residential redevelopment because land damage was so significant, engineering solutions were uncertain, and repairs would be protracted. Subsequent demolition of all housing and infrastructure in the area has left a blank canvas of land stretching along the Avon River corridor from the CBD to the sea.
Initially the Governmentâs official â but enormously controversial â position was that this land would be cleared and lie fallow until engineering solutions could be found that enabled residential redevelopment. This paper presents an application of a choice experiment (CE) that identified and assessed Christchurch residentsâ preferences for different land use options of this Red Zone. Results demonstrated strong public support for the development of a recreational reserve comprising a unique natural environment with native fauna and flora, healthy wetlands and rivers, and recreational opportunities that align with this vision. By highlighting the value of a range of alternatives, the CE provided a platform for public participation and expanded the conversational terrain upon which redevelopment policy took place. We conclude the method has value for land use decision-making beyond the disaster recovery context
SIMPEL: Circuit model for photonic spike processing laser neurons
We propose an equivalent circuit model for photonic spike processing laser
neurons with an embedded saturable absorber---a simulation model for photonic
excitable lasers (SIMPEL). We show that by mapping the laser neuron rate
equations into a circuit model, SPICE analysis can be used as an efficient and
accurate engine for numerical calculations, capable of generalization to a
variety of different laser neuron types found in literature. The development of
this model parallels the Hodgkin--Huxley model of neuron biophysics, a circuit
framework which brought efficiency, modularity, and generalizability to the
study of neural dynamics. We employ the model to study various
signal-processing effects such as excitability with excitatory and inhibitory
pulses, binary all-or-nothing response, and bistable dynamics.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figure
Core medicines for quality care of the dying
The proposal by Lindqvist and colleagues of four essential
medicines for the control of terminal symptoms is commendable.
Having a finite essential medication list facilitates
prescribers to prescribe and pharmacies to stock and supply
medications to support end-of-life care in the community.
With this issue in mind, a recent collaboration of South
Australian palliative care clinicians developed a core medicines
list for the treatment of symptoms commonly seen at the
end of life. As for Lindqvistâs model, we also involved
widespread consultation with key palliative care stakeholders
Dynamical laser spike processing
Novel materials and devices in photonics have the potential to revolutionize
optical information processing, beyond conventional binary-logic approaches.
Laser systems offer a rich repertoire of useful dynamical behaviors, including
the excitable dynamics also found in the time-resolved "spiking" of neurons.
Spiking reconciles the expressiveness and efficiency of analog processing with
the robustness and scalability of digital processing. We demonstrate that
graphene-coupled laser systems offer a unified low-level spike optical
processing paradigm that goes well beyond previously studied laser dynamics. We
show that this platform can simultaneously exhibit logic-level restoration,
cascadability and input-output isolation---fundamental challenges in optical
information processing. We also implement low-level spike-processing tasks that
are critical for higher level processing: temporal pattern detection and stable
recurrent memory. We study these properties in the context of a fiber laser
system, but the addition of graphene leads to a number of advantages which stem
from its unique properties, including high absorption and fast carrier
relaxation. These could lead to significant speed and efficiency improvements
in unconventional laser processing devices, and ongoing research on graphene
microfabrication promises compatibility with integrated laser platforms.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figure
Emerging versus developed economy consumer willingness to pay for environmentally sustainable food production: A choice experiment approach comparing Indian, Chinese and United Kingdom lamb consumers
In China and India, income growth is driving a structural change in dietary patterns away from staples towards more livestock foodstuffs such as meat products, exacerbating already significant environmental pressures from food production. This study uses the choice experiment (CE) method in surveys of Chinese, Indian and United Kingdom lamb consumers to explore potential for environmental labelling of lamb meat in emerging economies to form part of agri-environmental response to these pressures. Choice experiments are a stated-preference nonmarket approach to valuing consumer willingness to pay. Lamb consumers are presented with differing hypothetical products described by attributes describing environmental certification standards, with observed choices and product attributes analysed in a probabilistic Random Utility Model econometric framework. While preference disparities are found between emerging and developed economy consumers, results demonstrate that emerging economy consumers' choice of lamb products can be influenced by production processes that incorporate environmental sustainability. Indian consumers are found to be willing to pay relatively more for environmentally certified production practices than Chinese or UK counterparts. Of the environmental practices considered in this study, Greenhouse Gas minimisation is valued the most, in all three countries
Principles of Neuromorphic Photonics
In an age overrun with information, the ability to process reams of data has
become crucial. The demand for data will continue to grow as smart gadgets
multiply and become increasingly integrated into our daily lives.
Next-generation industries in artificial intelligence services and
high-performance computing are so far supported by microelectronic platforms.
These data-intensive enterprises rely on continual improvements in hardware.
Their prospects are running up against a stark reality: conventional
one-size-fits-all solutions offered by digital electronics can no longer
satisfy this need, as Moore's law (exponential hardware scaling),
interconnection density, and the von Neumann architecture reach their limits.
With its superior speed and reconfigurability, analog photonics can provide
some relief to these problems; however, complex applications of analog
photonics have remained largely unexplored due to the absence of a robust
photonic integration industry. Recently, the landscape for
commercially-manufacturable photonic chips has been changing rapidly and now
promises to achieve economies of scale previously enjoyed solely by
microelectronics.
The scientific community has set out to build bridges between the domains of
photonic device physics and neural networks, giving rise to the field of
\emph{neuromorphic photonics}. This article reviews the recent progress in
integrated neuromorphic photonics. We provide an overview of neuromorphic
computing, discuss the associated technology (microelectronic and photonic)
platforms and compare their metric performance. We discuss photonic neural
network approaches and challenges for integrated neuromorphic photonic
processors while providing an in-depth description of photonic neurons and a
candidate interconnection architecture. We conclude with a future outlook of
neuro-inspired photonic processing.Comment: 28 pages, 19 figure
Shanghai and Beijing milk consumer consumption behaviour and product preferences: A Latent Class Analysis of New Zealand UHT milk
This study is part of a research programme entitled Unlocking Export Prosperity from the Agri-food Values of Aotearoa New Zealand. It is funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Endeavour Fund for science research programmes. Information on this research programme including reports of other surveys are available from the AERU website https://www.aeru.co.nz/projects/uep.
The research aims to provide new knowledge on how local enterprises can achieve higher returns by ensuring global consumers understand the distinctive qualities of the physical, credence and cultural attributes of agri-food products that are âMade in New Zealandâ.
Agricultural exports are an important contributor to the New Zealand (NZ) economy. While NZ historically relied on key markets such as the United Kingdom for export trade, NZ has more recently significantly expanded its export markets and China has become established as an important dairy product destination. It is critically important for NZ exporters to understand export markets and the different cultures and preferences of those consumers to safeguard market access, and for realising potential premiums.
This report describes the application of a survey of Beijing and Shanghai UHT milk consumers that is designed to examine consumption behaviour and consumer Willingness-to-Pay (WTP) for credence attributes. While search attributes such as price or colour can be observed directly, and experience attributes such as flavour can be assessed when consumed, credence attributes such as environmental sustainability cannot be immediately seen or experienced at the point of sale. For products promoting credence attributes, the role of verification including labelling design is of significant importance.
Our approach is to apply a Discrete Choice Experiment economic valuation method, analysed using a statistical approach called Latent Class Modelling that describes profiles for different consumer segments identified in the data and provides estimates of attribute WTP across these segments
California apple consumer consumption behaviours and product preferences: A Latent Class Analysis of New Zealand apples
This study is part of a research programme entitled Unlocking Export Prosperity from the Agri-food Values of Aotearoa New Zealand. It is funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Endeavour Fund for science research programmes. The research aims to provide new knowledge on how local enterprises can achieve higher returns by ensuring global consumers understand the distinctive qualities of the physical, credence and cultural attributes of agri-food products that are âMade in New Zealandâ. Agricultural exports are an important contributor to the New Zealand (NZ) economy. It is critically important for NZ exporters to understand export markets and the different cultures and preferences of those consumers to safeguard market access, and for realising potential premiums. This report describes the application of a survey of Californian apple consumers that is designed to examine consumption behaviour and consumer Willingness-to-Pay (WTP) for credence attributes. While search attributes such as price or colour can be observed directly, and experience attributes such as flavour can be assessed when consumed, credence attributessuch as environmental sustainability cannot be immediately seen or experienced at the point of sale. For products promoting credence attributes, the role of verification, including labelling, is of significant importance. Our approach is to apply a Discrete Choice Experiment economic valuation method, analysed using a statistical approach called Latent Class Modelling that describes profiles for different consumer segments identified in the data and provides estimates of attribute WTP across these segments
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