Global wood market, prices and plantation investment

A global wood shortage generating real inflation-adjusted price increases for wood has been a long and widely-held expectation. This paper assesses the validity of this view by examining global trends in wood and wood-products consumption, developing a model to explain movements in wood prices and testing it empirically. No evidence was found of increasing real prices for wood over the long-term, indicating that there is no looming global wood shortage. A global wood shortage is not predicted because technology is increasing resource productivity, enabling wood products to be made using less wood, and also increasing wood supply. It is superficial to interpret this to mean that there is little to worry about from a native forest biodiversity perspective. The analysis presented in this paper suggests that real prices for wood are likely to continue to fall. This will discourage commercially-driven investment in plantation establishment on existing agricultural land. But industrial pressure will continue for a wood resource that is attractive in cost and quality terms, increasing the risk of biodiversity loss through intensification of native forest manage-ment and clearing of native forests for plantations. It is prudent to consider approaches that encourage plantation investment on existing agriculture land using the price mechanism. Currently, much private sector plantation investment is based on price expec-tations derived from an incorrect view of an imminent global wood shortage. Withdrawing old-growth forests from commodity wood supply is likely to increase wood prices in line with widely-held, though appar-ently no, expectations and also deliver an absolute best ecological outcome. As increasing volumes of wood become available from maturing plantations, government policy changes will be required to ensure that levels of logging in native forests actually decline rather than new markets being found for native forest wood. Despite its strategic commercial importance, little is known about the potential of the existing global plantation estate to supply wood. Addressing this information gap is a timely task that would enhance industry policy and clarify future plantation investment requirements

Deuterium and snow hydrology

August 1970.Includes bibliographical references (pages 56-68).Covers not scanned.Print version deaccessioned 2021.HDO samples from natural and laboratory snowpacks show that snowpack metamorphism can reduce the initial variability in the HDO content of snow. Field studies in Colorado indicated melt water percolation reduced the variability from a spread of -229%o to -106% relative to Standard Mean Ocean Water for fresh snow to a spread of -182%a to -158%o for the snowpack in the middle of the melt period. Further studies in the laboratory indicated that isotopic fractionation and vapor transport occurring during depth hoar formation may homogenize the lower part of the snowpack before melt occurs. The homogenization of the HDO content of the snowpack would reduce the problems involved in following snowmelt through the hydrologic system. Preliminary studies indicated three unexpected results. No clear relationship was found between the HDO content of fresh snow and altitude. Fractionation did occur during sublimation from a snow surface. Depth hoar formation appeared to occur because of a continuous diffusion of material, not exclusively by a crystal-to-crystal transfer of mass

Acute or Chronic spontaneous urticaria patients report increased rates of medication allergies.

Background The pathophysiology of acute urticaria and chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is not completely known. Antibiotic allergies are on the rise, and the typical history is associated with urticarial reactions which can persist. Given this overlap, we sought to determine whether self-reported antibiotic allergies are increased in patients with a history of acute urticaria or CSU. Methods Retrospective chart review of 950 patients was completed using the electronic medical record of the Windsor Allergy & Asthma Clinic. Cases were identified to have a history of acute urticaria or CSU, whereas controls have an established diagnosis of food allergies, asthma, allergic rhinitis or non-allergic rhinitis. The number of reported medication and antibiotic allergies were compared between the case and control groups using Pearson’s chi square analyses. Results Patients with a history of urticaria were more likely to report an antibiotic allergy than would be expected by chance when compared to our control group (p = 0.023). A total of 42/239 (17.6%) patients with a history of urticaria (acute or chronic) vs 82/711 (12%) of the control group reported one antibiotic allergy. Additionally, 8/239 (3.3%) of our cases (acute or chronic) versus 14/711 (2%) of our control group reported 2 antibiotic allergies. Subgroup analyses looking at whether the nature of urticaria, acute vs. chronic, affected the allergy reporting risk did not find a significant difference. Both groups were more likely to report antibiotic allergies when compared to the control group (p= 0.036) Conclusions These results raise concern regarding the nature of self-reported antibiotic allergies in patients with a history of urticaria. These “antibiotic allergies” may be a result of concomitant urticarial exacerbations rather than truly IgE mediated mechanisms. This has implications on choice of antibiotic agents in the era of antibiotic stewardship and growing microbial resistance

Identifying Exceptional Application Software Developers: A Comparison of Students and Professionals

Exceptional application software developers are a scarce resource. It is therefore important for employers to identify, retain, and cultivate individuals who exhibit this capacity. This study compared the personality characteristics of exceptional, experienced application software developers with the personality characteristics of junior and senior level IS and CS students (who can be seen as entry-level, or pre-entry level, IT developers). We used the Adjective Checklist to measure personality characteristics for all subjects, then mapped the resultant scales to the Five Factor Model of Personality. The results of this study suggest that exceptional application software developers exhibit significantly higher levels of Extraversion and Conscientiousness. Exceptional students (as determined by GPA), however, were actually found to be introverted. Thus, when GPA is used to pre-screen or filter for entry-level positions, recruiters may actually be excluding some of those candidates who are most likely to become exceptional application software developers. These results have implications for understanding and managing the recruiting of IT personnel and their progression from entry level (novice) to more experienced positions

Prospectus, April 19, 2006

https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2006/1012/thumbnail.jp

Amygdalar Functional Connectivity Differences Associated With Reduced Pain Intensity in Pediatric Peripheral Neuropathic Pain

Background: There is evidence of altered corticolimbic circuitry in adults with chronic pain, but relatively little is known of functional brain mechanisms in adolescents with neuropathic pain (NeuP). Pediatric NeuP is etiologically and phenotypically different from NeuP in adults, highlighting the need for pediatric-focused research. The amygdala is a key limbic region with important roles in the emotional-affective dimension of pain and in pain modulation. Objective: To investigate amygdalar resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) in adolescents with NeuP. Methods This cross-sectional observational cohort study compared resting state functional MRI scans in adolescents aged 11–18 years with clinical features of chronic peripheral NeuP (n = 17), recruited from a tertiary clinic, relative to healthy adolescents (n = 17). We performed seed-to-voxel whole-brain rsFC analysis of the bilateral amygdalae. Next, we performed post hoc exploratory correlations with clinical variables to further explain rsFC differences. Results: Adolescents with NeuP had stronger negative rsFC between right amygdala and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and stronger positive rsFC between right amygdala and left angular gyrus (AG), compared to controls (PFDR<0.025). Furthermore, lower pain intensity correlated with stronger negative amygdala-dlPFC rsFC in males (r = 0.67, P = 0.034, n = 10), and with stronger positive amygdala-AG rsFC in females (r = −0.90, P = 0.006, n = 7). These amygdalar rsFC differences may thus be pain inhibitory. Conclusions: Consistent with the considerable affective and cognitive factors reported in a larger cohort, there are rsFC differences in limbic pain modulatory circuits in adolescents with NeuP. Findings also highlight the need for assessing sex-dependent brain mechanisms in future studies, where possible

Mapping habitat indices across river networks using spatial statistical modelling of River Habitat Survey data

Freshwater ecosystems are declining faster than their terrestrial and marine counterparts because of physical pressures on habitats. European legislation requires member states to achieve ecological targets through the effective management of freshwater habitats. Maps of habitats across river networks would help diagnose environmental problems and plan for the delivery of improvement work. Existing habitat mapping methods are generally time consuming, require experts and are expensive to implement. Surveys based on sampling are cheaper but provide patchy representations of habitat distribution. In this study, we present a method for mapping habitat indices across networks using semi-quantitative data and a geostatistical technique called regression kriging. The method consists of the derivation of habitat indices using multivariate statistical techniques that are regressed on map-based covariates such as altitude, slope and geology. Regression kriging combines the Generalised Least Squares (GLS) regression technique with a spatial analysis of model residuals. Predictions from the GLS model are ‘corrected’ using weighted averages of model residuals following an analysis of spatial correlation. The method was applied to channel substrate data from the River Habitat Survey in Great Britain. A Channel Substrate Index (CSI) was derived using Correspondence Analysis and predicted using regression kriging. The model explained 74% of the main sample variability and 64% in a test sample. The model was applied to the English and Welsh river network and a map of CSI was produced. The proposed approach demonstrates how existing national monitoring data and geostatistical techniques can be used to produce continuous maps of habitat indices at the national scale

International approaches to protecting and retaining trees on private urban land

Most studies of urban forest management look at vegetation on public land. Yet, to meet ambitious urban forest targets, cities must attempt to maintain or increase trees and canopy cover on private urban land too. In this study, we review and evaluate international approaches to protecting and retaining trees on private urban land. Our study combines a systematic academic literature review, two empirical social science studies on the views of urban forest professionals, and a global case study review of innovative regulations and incentives aimed at protecting and retaining trees on private urban land. Case studies were evaluated for the extent they exceeded minimum standards or went beyond ?business-as-usual?. We found that the most innovative mechanisms combine many regulations, instead of relying on a single regulation, and use financial incentives to retain or plant trees in newly developed or re-developed sites, as well as private residences. We did not find any cases where appropriate monitoring was in place to determine the efficacy and efficiency of these mechanisms. We also found no single simple solution that could effectively and efficiently protect and retain trees on private land. Only by combining policies, planning schemes, local laws, and financial incentives with community engagement and stewardship will cities protect and retain trees on private land. Useful and innovative ways to protecting and retaining trees on private land involves providing solutions at multiple governments levels, embedding trees in existing strategic policy and management solutions, incentivising positive behavior, creating regulations that require payment up front, and engaging the broader community in private tree stewardship.Peer reviewe

Exile Vol. XVIII

POETRY The Man And His Table by Al Werder 3 Ours by Debra Tucker 6 Running through rows and pile of leaves by Molly O\u27neill 12 Looking Glass by Alice Colthart 13 16 Years Old by Peter Porteous 14-15 a feather by Judy Meloy 28 I kicked summer\u27s shed garments by Bruce P. Andre 29 Tuesday Afternoon by Juliet Lockwood 30 snuggled deep inside by Judi Hasel 31 Star Spangled Pterdactyl by Peter Porteous 44 Billy\u27s by Suzi Harriss 45 Hong Kong by Peter Porteous 46 Ennui by Debra Tucker 47 pathetic collapse by Bruce P. Andre 48 In place of alphabet by Suzi Harriss 51 Encore by Richard Glaser 58 reflections disrupt by Judi Hasel 60 FICTION Eyes by Clark Blaise 7-11 Characters From New Mexico Life by Ardyth Hilts 16-27 Hospital Scene by Dennis Trudell 34-35 A Late Morning by Peter Porteous 36-42 Accident by Richard Glaser 52-57 ART Cover by Gail Lutsch by Jane Demos 5 by Tom Coulter 10 by Maria Ramoki 13 by Vicki Haskell 11, 15 by Alex Hutton 20 by Pat Menster 31, 59 by Scott Kenan 43 by Ann Merrill 46 by James Lautz PHOTOGRAPHY by Kathy Kerschner 1, 2, 62, 36, 64 by Bruce P. Andre 7, 28, 49 by Bruce Marshall 32, 36, 42, 61 to Paul Bennett, founder of Exile, teacher, 25 years. 2 The following previous graduates of Denison University contributed pieces of fiction to this issue of Exile: Clark Blaise \u2761 (Eyes 7-11) and Dennis Trudell \u2760 (Hospital Scene 34-35