Deconstructing Decoherence

The study of environmentally induced superselection and of the process of decoherence was originally motivated by the search for the emergence of classical behavior out of the quantum substrate, in the macroscopic limit. This limit, and other simplifying assumptions, have allowed the derivation of several simple results characterizing the onset of environmentally induced superselection; but these results are increasingly often regarded as a complete phenomenological characterization of decoherence in any regime. This is not necessarily the case: The examples presented in this paper counteract this impression by violating several of the simple ``rules of thumb''. This is relevant because decoherence is now beginning to be tested experimentally, and one may anticipate that, in at least some of the proposed applications (e.g., quantum computers), only the basic principle of ``monitoring by the environment'' will survive. The phenomenology of decoherence may turn out to be significantly different.Comment: 13 two-column pages, 3 embedded figure

Building the Economic Base: A Survey of New and Expanding Firms

The article addresses a negative trend North Dakota was facing in its’ farming and energy sectors. The importance for the state to develop new policies and programs to encourage economic growth, new enterprises and industries. The need to producers create more products to export were cited as being important for the creation of employment opportunities was stressed

Management Adjustments in the Face of Farm Financial Stress

This is a discussion of farmers and ranchers who were using management strategies to overcome the financial pressures in the 1980s in North Dakota. These strategies are addressed, which included the putting off of new capital such as farming machinery, reduced tillage operations, reduced family expenses, the refining of their fertilizer and chemical programs, changing their cultivation practices to include minimum or no till operations, changing their cropping patterns and/or the sell land, machinery or livestock to generate funds. All of these have been utilized to stay solvent in a tough economic marketplace

Farm Financial Stress in North Dakota: Selected Characteristics of Farm and Ranch Operations

The topic is financial stress experienced by farmers in North Dakota. Various other aspects of those farmers they conducted a phone survey are given

Beginning Farmers in North Dakota

A comparison between the severity of 1930s and 1980s North Dakota farming is cited. Study is given into key factors and demographics that led new entrepreneurs into farming during that changing time such as off-farm employment opportunities

Farm Household's Adjustments to Changing Economic Conditions: Highlights of 1986 Farm Survey

This article is a comprehensive summary of survey results from the March 1986 follow-up survey of over 900 North Dakota farmers initially contacted in March and April 1985. That year 933 farmers and ranchers were surveyed regarding their 1984 financial and other socio-economic characteristics, such as their off-farm employment histories and trade patterns. Causes of the farm situation, attitudes about farming and farmers, financial assistance policies, management adjustment strategies and the effects on personal lives are presented in this paper

Revitalizing the Retail Trade Sector in Rural Communities: Experiences of 13 North Dakota Towns

The slow death of small town retail in North Dakota during the 1980's is analyzed. These small towns had a very difficult time adjusting to a changing marketplace. Small town economies could be devastated by the loss of their retail districts. The study presented in this article had the intention of providing strategies which would be most effective in aiding retail, economic concerns of rural and retail trade in these small towns. Various ideas are presented on how to best aid small towns with the creation and sustaining of retail jobs and revenue in these small markets

Smalltown Businesses: Feeling the Effects of Farm Financial Stress

The article discusses how farm economic negatively affects small town business. This leads to job losses in both business and agriculture. In economically depressed rural areas, programs aimed at assisting communities to retain their existing businesses may require approaches that emphasize community wide involvement. Small businesses in these areas would need to reevaluate their operations to improve cost effectiveness overall and to consider advertising. Rural communities themselves need to become proactive in attracting new businesses and creating an environment to entice such