Non-Weyl Resonance Asymptotics for Quantum Graphs

We consider the resonances of a quantum graph $\mathcal G$ that consists of a compact part with one or more infinite leads attached to it. We discuss the leading term of the asymptotics of the number of resonances of $\mathcal G$ in a disc of a large radius. We call $\mathcal G$ a \emph{Weyl graph} if the coefficient in front of this leading term coincides with the volume of the compact part of $\mathcal G$. We give an explicit topological criterion for a graph to be Weyl. In the final section we analyze a particular example in some detail to explain how the transition from the Weyl to the non-Weyl case occurs.Comment: 29 pages, 2 figure

Investment opportunities in kiwifruit processing : a case study in product development that considers the advisory role of the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries : a thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science at Massey University

This thesis is set in the context of the Economic Section of the Advisory Services Division of the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF). MAF provides management advice to farmers and horticulturalists on what and how to produce. The direction for MAF services is taken from the national development strategy which has historically centred on expansion of traditional agriculture, but is now focusing on the development of non traditional agriculture. This shift in strategy, which involves the development of new food and fibre products, has caused MAF to adopt an industrywide market orientation that focuses on the needs of consumers rather than methods of production, so that marketing and production of both primary and processed products could be considered within the domain of MAF advisory activities. The Economic Section of MAF's Advisory Services Division is responsible for economic evaluations of opportunities in agriculture. While the national development strategy has centred on expansion of traditional agriculture these evaluations have concentrated on opportunities to improve farm management. With the shift in both the national development strategy and MAF's orientation to its work, the Economic Section must consider industrywide market orientated economic evaluations of both product and manage­ment opportunities. This study therefore involves the development and evaluation of an analytical framework for consumer orientated economic evaluations of new product opportunities. The analytical framework that is developed is, in the broadest sense, one of strategic planning, and it is evaluated through its application to a case study in kiwifruit processing. The results of the case study show that the framework is a useful one that allows a systematic consideration of new alternatives given information on markets and the objectives and characteristics of the developing firm. The second aim of the study was to evaluate and discuss MAF's industrywide market orientated approach to its advisory work. The study concludes that MAF should confine its advisory services to on-farm production, and that MAF should assume an industrywide but not a market orientated approach to its work. It is also concluded that the Economic Section of MAF's Advisory Services Division should assume responsibility for the divisions strategic planning and that this planning should involve an industrywide approach to the evaluation of farm production opportunities. To this end it is considered that a production orientated version of the analytical framework developed in this study is appropriate for use by the Economic Section

Blood product transfusion in emergency department patients: A case-control study of practice patterns and impact on outcome

Definitions of comorbid conditions. (DOCX 13 kb

Developing a GIS-Database and Risk Index for Potentially Polluting Marine Sites

The increasing availability of geospatial marine data provides an opportunity for hydrographic offices to contribute to the identification of “Potentially Polluting Marine Sites” (PPMS). These include shipwrecks, oil rigs, pipelines, and dumping areas. To adequately assess the environmental risk of these sites, relevant information must be collected and converted into a multi-scale geodatabase suitable for site inventory and geo-spatial analysis. In addition, a Risk Index – representing an assessment of the magnitude of risk associated with any site – can be derived to determine the potential impacts of these PPMS. However, the successful collection and integration of PPMS information requires some effort to ‘normalize’ and standardize the data based on recognized international standards. In particular, there is benefit in structuring the data in conformance with the Universal Hydrographic Data Model (IHO S-100) recently adopted by the International Hydrographic Organization. In this paper, an S-100 compliant product specification for a PPMS geo-spatial database and associated Marine Site Risk Index is proposed which can be used by national hydrographic offices and marine protection agencies

Potentially Polluting Marine Sites GeoDB: An S-100 Geospatial Database as an Effective Contribution to the Protection of the Marine Environment

Potentially Polluting Marine Sites (PPMS) are objects on, or areas of, the seabed that may release pollution in the future. A rationale for, and design of, a geospatial database to inventory and manipu-late PPMS is presented. Built as an S-100 Product Specification, it is specified through human-readable UML diagrams and implemented through machine-readable GML files, and includes auxiliary information such as pollution-control resources and potentially vulnerable sites in order to support analyses of the core data. The design and some aspects of implementation are presented, along with metadata requirements and structure, and a perspective on potential uses of the database

A Palladium-Catalyzed Vinylcyclopropane (3 + 2) Cycloaddition Approach to the Melodinus Alkaloids

A palladium-catalyzed (3 + 2) cycloaddition of a vinylcyclopropane and a β-nitrostyrene is employed to rapidly assemble the cyclopentane core of the Melodinus alkaloids. The ABCD ring system of the natural product family is prepared in six steps from commercially available materials

Mineralogy and composition of Archean Crust, Greenland: A pilot study

The Portable Instant Display and Analysis Spectrometer (PIDAS) was taken to southwestern Greenland to investigate in situ the potential application of AVIRIS to estimate the mineralogy and composition of rocks exposed in Archean terranes. The goal was to determine the feasibility of using a high spectral resolution scanner to find and study pristine rocks, those that have not been altered by subsequent deformation and metamorphism. The application of AVIRIS data to the problems in Greenland is logical. However, before a costly deployment of the U-2 aircraft to Greenland is proposed, this study was undertaken to acquire the spectral data necessary to verify that mineralogical mapping in the environmental conditions found there is possible. Although field conditions were far from favorable, all of the major objectives of the study were addressed. One of the major concerns was that lichens would obscure the rock surfaces. It was found that the spectral signature of the lichens was distinct from the underlying rocks. Thus, a spectrum of a rock outcrop, with its partial cover of lichens, can be un-mixed into rock and lichen components. The data acquired during the course of this study supports the conclusion that areas of pristine Archean crust can be differentiated from that which has experienced low grade alteration associated with Proterizoic faulting