10,315 research outputs found
A stochastic spreadsheet model analysing investment options for the development of pasture on beef cattle farms : a dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Applied Science at Massey University
The decision to proceed with farm development to increase animal production is complex. Standalone personal computer software to study either the financial or physical aspects of farm development is available, but models which integrate these components and account for the risks associated with the investment are not. A stochastic spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel®) model was therefore developed to predict the profitability, feasibility and risk of pasture development for two case farms: one in southern Brazil and the other near Wanganui in New Zealand. Pasture was developed at different rates for each farm and the model was used to predict the associated physical and financial changes over-time and a probability distribution of the net present values (NPV) of the net operating profit after tax and before interest (NOPAT) relative to the status quo situation. The extra pasture was used solely for increasing beef cattle production. On the Brazilian case farm the development of 2,263 ha at two rates was studied. The continuation of the status quo had first degree stochastic dominance in terms of the NPV over both development rates; it was superior by about NZ 110.000 for the 500 ha/y option at a 16% discount rate. However, at a 6% discount rate the 500 ha/y development rate had first degree stochastic dominance in terms of the NPV over both the continuation of the status quo (by about NZ 120.000). This indicates that pasture development could proceed profitability if interest rates continue to fall in Brazil as predicted. For the New Zealand case farm the development of 247 ha at 50 ha/y had first degree stochastic dominance over the 25 ha/y (ca. NZ 208.000) at a 6% discount rate. Pasture development should therefore continue. Stochastic analysis of the pasture development investment options gave a better insight into the likely outcomes for a project, and provides the farmer with more information for making a decision on whether, and how. to proceed with farm development. The model could easily be adapted for studying farm development with respect to other types of livestock enterprises Keywords: pastures, development, risk, feasibility, profitability, model
Point-source scalar turbulence
The statistics of a passive scalar randomly emitted from a point source is
investigated analytically. Our attention has been focused on the two-point
equal-time scalar correlation function. The latter is indeed easily related to
the spectrum, a statistical indicator widely used both in experiments and in
numerical simulations. The only source of inhomogeneity/anisotropy is in the
injection mechanism, the advecting velocity here being statistically
homogeneous and isotropic. Our main results can be summarized as follows. 1)
For a very large velocity integral scale, a pure scaling behaviour in the
distance between the two points emerges only if their separation is much
smaller than their distance from the point source. 2) The value we have found
for the scaling exponent suggests the existence of a direct cascade, in spite
of the fact that here the forcing integral scale is formally set to zero. 3)
The combined effect of a finite inertial-range extension and of inhomogeneities
causes the emergence of subleading anisotropic corrections to the leading
isotropic term, that we have quantified and discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure, submitted to Journal of Fluid Mechanic
The Productive Structure of the Amazon Region States and the Rest of Brazil: a Comparative Study Using an Interregional Input-Output System
Cardiovascular condition of children after coarctation resection. An invasive and noninvasive study at rest and exercise
Cardiovascular condition of children after coarctation resection. An invasive and noninvasive study at rest and exercise
Cardiovascular condition of children after coarctation resection. An invasive and noninvasive study at rest and exercise
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