Postharvest characteristics of cut flowers of selected members of the family Myrtaceae : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy at Massey University, New Zealand

Stages of floral development were described for Eucalyptus ficifolia and Metrosideros collina 'Tahiti' flowers (Myrtaceae) attached and detached from plants. Vase solution treatments were applied to promote bud opening of cut flowers and to prevent postharvest stamen wilting and abscission in both species. Water uptake and mass of harvested flowers in both species declined rapidly when the pedicels were placed in water (control). Some flower buds did not open after harvest. The decline in water uptake and flower mass was greatly reduced by a vase solution treatment containing 2% sucrose, and 200 ppm hydroxyquinoline citrate (HQC) adjusted to pH 4 using citrate buffer. Vase solutions containing higher sucrose concentrations (more than 6%) and of greater acidity (pH<4) were not beneficial for vase life of both species. Cut flowers of both species held in the standard solution (2% sucrose, 200 ppm HQC adjusted to pH 4 using citrate buffer) were treated with ethephon (0-10,000 ppm) following pre-treatment with silver thiosulphate (STS) (0-2.0 mM). Ethephon treatments significantly induced stamen wilting, but had no effect on stamen or petal abscission in both species. Pre-treatment with 2 mM STS had no effect on the rate of stamen wilting, but significantly reduced stamen or petal abscission in both species. Cut flowers of M. collina 'Tahiti' held in the standard solution were treated with ethylene (0-5 ppm). Exogenous ethylene significantly promoted abscission of stamens and petals in M. collina 'Tahiti'. Treatment with 0.5 and 5 ppm ethylene also induced flower abscission. Ethylene emanation from untreated cut flowers from plants grown in two environments (greenhouse and outside) was also measured. Untreated cut flowers harvested from plants grown outside produced more endogenous ethylene than those from plants grown in the greenhouse. The abscission of M. collina 'Tahiti' probably results from a relatively high sensitivity to ethylene

Diffractive optics approach towards subwavelength pixels

Pixel size in cameras and other refractive imaging devices is typically limited by the free-space diffraction. However, a vast majority of semiconductor-based detectors are based on materials with substantially high refractive index. We demonstrate that diffractive optics can be used to take advantage of this high refractive index to reduce effective pixel size of the sensors below free-space diffraction limit. At the same time, diffractive systems encode both amplitude and phase information about the incoming beam into multiple pixels, offering the platform for noise-tolerant imaging with dynamical refocusing. We explore the opportunities opened by high index diffractive optics to reduce sensor size and increase signal-to-noise ratio of imaging structures.Comment: submitted to SPIE-DCS 201

FEUTURE EU 28 Country Report. Estonia

Relations between Estonia and Turkey received renewed impetus after 2004, when Estonia joined the European Union (EU) (while Turkey was in the process of securing the official candidate status) and NATO, of which Turkey has been a member since 1952. Since its accession, Estonia has played a generally constructive role at the EU level when it comes to both its institutional future and enlargement policy. Its key tenets, thereby, seem in line with the principled open-door approach advocated by the fellow Nordic countries

From Sochi - 2014 to FIFA - 2018: a Fading Sovereignty?

In this article, we uncover the dynamics and the evolution of Russian discourses of sovereignty before and after the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games using some elements of Foucauldian methodology and constructivist reading of sovereignty as an institution. We argue that there is a discrepancy between the rhetoric of sovereign power and the institutional practices in which it is embedded. It leads us to theorize that sovereignty discourses are contextual, unstable and constitutively shaped by commitments taken as key elements of international socialization. In the case of Russia, these discourses can be divided into three groups: pre-Sochi, post-Sochi and pre-World 2018 Cup discursive formations. As we venture to demonstrate, Putin's model of sovereignty is in crisis, yet it has support, both domestic and international. In the near future, sport is likely to remain one of those spheres of high visibility where the ideology of surviving under sanctions and counter-attacking the West will be reified

Outdoor recreation resources in the Manawatu : with a preliminary case study of Foxton Beach as a water-based recreation resource

The subject of supply of outdoor recreation resources is discussed in this thesis. The nature of the resources suitable for outdoor recreation and the present use made of them are determined. The extent and use of one type of recreation resource in the Manawatu - the Water-based recreation resource - is extensively reviewed. A preliminary case study is made of Foxton Beach as a water - based recreation environment. The results of the study of the ecological implications of recreation on the beach and the visitor surveys conducted there are presented. Major areas of 'ecological intolerance' are described and the recreation behaviours exhibited by the visitors at the beach are reported. Foxton Beach is reported to be able to attract visitors from within and outside the Manawatu region