HOW SMALL FARMS COMPETE

Farm Management,

THE CURRENT SITUATION ON FARMLAND VALUES AND OWNERSHIP

Farmland Values, Farmland Ownership, Speculative Bubble, Land Purchases, Land Economics/Use, Q15,

ADJUSTMENTS IN BUSINESS AND PRACTICES: HOW FARMERS CAN IMPROVE THE BOTTOM LINES IN TODAY'S FARM ECONOMY

Farm Management,

Similarity solutions for slender rivulets with thermocapillarity

We use the lubrication approximation to investigate the steady flow of slender non-uniform rivulets of a viscous fluid on an inclined plane that is either heated or cooled relative to the surrounding atmosphere. Four non-isothermal situations in which thermocapillary effects play a significant role are considered. We derive the general equations for a slender rivulet subject to gravity, surface tension, thermocapillarity and a constant surface shear stress. Similarity solutions describing a thermocapillary-driven rivulet widening or narrowing due to either gravitational or surface-tension effects on a non-uniformly heated or cooled substrate are obtained, and we present examples of these solutions when the substrate temperature gradient depends on the longitudinal coordinate according to a general power law. When gravitational effects are strong there is a unique solution representing both a narrowing pendent rivulet and a widening sessile rivulet whose transverse profile always has a single global maximum. When surface-tension effects are strong there is a one-parameter family of solutions representing both a narrowing and a widening rivulet whose transverse profile has either a single global maximum or two equal global maxima and a local minimum. Unique similarity solutions whose transverse profiles always have a single global maximum are also obtained for both a gravity-driven and a constant-surface-shear-stress-driven rivulet widening or narrowing due to thermocapillarity on a uniformly heated or cooled substrate. The solutions in both cases represent both a narrowing rivulet on a heated substrate and a widening rivulet on a cooled substrate (albeit with infinite width in the gravity-driven case)

Heterogeneous Homebuyers, Mortgage Choice and the use of Mortgage Brokers

Choosing a mortgage product in the face of labor income risk, interest rate risk and borrowing constraints is one of the most important decisions facing a household. This paper investigates the choice between a variety of fixed rate mortgages and adjustable rate mortgages. We find that households with a high loan-to-value ratio, risky income and high risk aversion are more likely to choose a fixed rate mortgage. Choosing a mortgage product relies market search and information. The paper finds that in general first-time homebuyers and those with a high loan-to-value ratio are more likely to use a mortgage broker.Mortgage choice,First-time homebuyer,Mortgage broker

Similarity solutions for slender dry patches with thermocapillarity

We use the lubrication approximation to investigate slender dry patches in an infinitely wide film of viscous fluid flowing steadily on an inclined plane that is either heated or cooled relative to the surrounding atmosphere. Four non-isothermal situations in which thermocapillary effects play a significant role are considered. Similarity solutions describing a thermocapillary-driven flow with a dry patch that is widening or narrowing due to either gravitational or surface-tension effects on a non-uniformly heated or cooled substrate are obtained, and we present examples of these solutions when the substrate temperature gradient depends on the longitudinal coordinate according to a general power law. When gravitational effects are strong the solution contains a free parameter, and for each value of this parameter there is a unique solution representing both a narrowing pendent dry patch and a widening sessile dry patch, whose transverse profile has a monotonically increasing shape. When surface tension effects are strong the solution also contains a free parameter, and for each value of this parameter there is both a unique solution representing a narrowing dry patch, whose transverse profile has a monotonically increasing shape, and a one-parameter family of solutions representing a widening dry patch, whose transverse profile has a capillary ridge near the contact line and decays in an oscillatory manner far from it. Similarity solutions are also obtained for both a gravity-driven and a constant surface- shear-stress-driven flow with a dry patch that is widening or narrowing due to thermocapillarity on a uniformly heated or cooled substrate. The solutions in both cases contain a free parameter, and for each value of this parameter there is a unique solution representing both a narrowing dry patch on a heated substrate and a widening dry patch on a cooled substrate, whose transverse profile has a monotonically increasing shape

SPIDA: Abstracting and generalizing layout design cases

Abstraction and generalization of layout design cases generate new knowledge that is more widely applicable to use than specific design cases. The abstraction and generalization of design cases into hierarchical levels of abstractions provide the designer with the flexibility to apply any level of abstract and generalized knowledge for a new layout design problem. Existing case-based layout learning (CBLL) systems abstract and generalize cases into single levels of abstractions, but not into a hierarchy. In this paper, we propose a new approach, termed customized viewpoint - spatial (CV-S), which supports the generalization and abstraction of spatial layouts into hierarchies along with a supporting system, SPIDA (SPatial Intelligent Design Assistant)

Role of Quantum Coherence and Energetic Disorder on Exciton Transport in Polymer Films

The cross-over from coherent to incoherent exciton transport in disordered polymer films is studied by computationally solving a modified form of the Redfield equation for the exciton density matrix. This theory models quantum mechanical (ballistic) and incoherent (diffusive) transport as limiting cases. It also reproduces Forster transport for certain parameter regimes. Using model parameters appropriate to polymer thin films it is shown that short-time quantum mechanical coherence increases the exciton diffusion length. It also causes rapid initial energy relaxation and larger line widths. The route to equilibrium is, however, more questionable, as the equilibrium populations of the model do not satisfy the Boltzmann distributions over the site energies. The Redfield equation for the dimer is solved exactly to provide insight into the numerical results.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. B. (July 2006). 19 pages and 8 figure

The Misperception of Inflation by Irish Consumers

Perceptions and forecasts of inflation have the potential to impact on a range of economic outcomes. We reveal large, systematic overestimation of inflation by Irish consumers, which varies by social group. In contrast to previous work in this area, our models suggest the upward bias and the variation by social group should be considered substantially separate phenomena. We also offer evidence that inflation misperceptions are linked to attitudes and intentions with respect to consumption and saving and, hence, are likely to affect household decision-making. The findings therefore raise issues regarding the relationship between financial literacy and consumer behaviour.

Line defects and gauge invariance in glasses

Imperial Users onl