Species Selection in Secondary Wood Products: Implications for Product Design and Promotion

This study investigated the perceptions that people have of several commercially important wood species and determined if word-based and specimen-based evaluations differed. Such knowledge can help secondary wood manufacturers better understand their products and develop more effective design concepts and promotional messages. A sample of more than 250 undergraduate students at a major midwestern university was split into two groups and asked to rate six wood species on several semantic-differential items, based either on word association or physical wood samples. The two methods of evaluation often produced different results that were more pronounced for certain species, especially oak. Some gender-based differences were also observed. Respondents generally had difficulty identifying the species that they were observing, particularly mahogany and maple, yet maintained definite perceptual images of these same species. It is suggested that species perception is an important and lasting component of the total product concept for secondary wood products, and can moderate appearance-based evaluations

Species Selection in Secondary Wood Products: Perspectives From Different Consumers

This study investigated adult consumer perceptions of several wood species to determine if word-based and appearance-based evaluations differed. The research replicated a 2001 study by the authors, which used undergraduate college students as a proxy for older and more experienced adult furniture consumers. The literature is somewhat inconclusive concerning the extent to which student samples represent "real" consumers. Using the mall intercept survey procedure at several furniture stores and trade shows in two Midwestern cites, participants were split into two groups and asked to rate six commercially important wood species on several semantic-differential items, based either on word association (word-based perception) or physical wood specimens (appearance-based perception). Results from the replicated adult consumer study were very similar to the student study suggesting that college students provide a reasonable picture of adult consumers' perceptions of wood species. The study confirmed that the word-based and appearance-based methods of evaluation sometimes produce different results. In general, the appearance-based respondents had difficulty identifying the species they were observing; however, the adult consumers were better at species identification than were the college students. This study provides further evidence that preconceived species perceptions play an important role in influencing the consumer's ultimate evaluation of wood. The research results can help secondary wood manufacturers better understand the implications of species on design and communication decisions

EXAMINATION OF WORLDWIDE HARDWOOD LUMBER PRODUCTION, TRADE, AND APPARENT CONSUMPTION: 1995-2013

Worldwide hardwood lumber production fluctuated between 1995 and 2013 and changed considerably with respect to regional market shares. Similarly, worldwide hardwood lumber imports and exports have been constantly changing. Understanding these changes is important because collectively, they define the hardwood lumber consumption of a region or country. In 1995, North America accounted for 25% of worldwide hardwood lumber production whereas East Asia and Oceana (EAO) produced 26%. In the current century, a decline in production in the United States and increased production in China and Vietnam resulted in the EAO region accounting for more than 48% of worldwide hardwood lumber production in 2013. Much of the international trade of hardwood lumber is carried out by EAO and European countries and is intraregional among countries within these regions. Hardwood lumber consumption generally has been moderately to poorly correlated with population at the country level since 1995 and uncorrelated with gross domestic product. However, several other factors also appear to affect current consumption including loss or gain of secondary hardwood industries, age of the population, urbanization, and in recent years, slow economic growth in countries with high per capita grossnational product

Critical role of NKT cells in posttransplant alloantibody production

We previously reported that posttransplant alloantibody production in CD8-deficient hosts is IL-4+ CD4+ T cell-dependent and IgG1 isotype-dominant. The current studies investigated the hypothesis that IL-4-producing natural killer T cells (NKT cells) contribute to maximal alloantibody production. To investigate this, alloantibody levels were examined in CD8-deficient WT, CD1d KO and Jα18 KO transplant recipients. We found that the magnitude of IgG1 alloantibody production was critically dependent on the presence of type I NKT cells, which are activated by day 1 posttransplant. Unexpectedly, type I NKT cell contribution to enhanced IgG1 alloantibody levels was interferon-γ-dependent and IL-4-independent. Cognate interactions between type I NKT and B cells alone do not stimulate alloantibody production. Instead, NKT cells appear to enhance maturation of IL-4+ CD4+ T cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report to substantiate a critical role for type I NKT cells in enhancing in vivo antibody production in response to endogenous antigenic stimuli

Disease recurrence in paediatric renal transplantation

Renal transplantation (Tx) is the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease. The incidence of acute rejection after renal Tx has decreased because of improving early immunosuppression, but the risk of disease recurrence (DR) is becoming relatively high, with a greater prevalence in children than in adults, thereby increasing patient morbidity, graft loss (GL) and, sometimes, mortality rate. The current overall graft loss to DR is 7–8%, mainly due to primary glomerulonephritis (70–80%) and inherited metabolic diseases. The more typical presentation is a recurrence of the full disease, either with a high risk of GL (focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis 14–50% DR, 40–60% GL; atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome 20–80% DR, 10–83% GL; membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis 30–100% DR, 17–61% GL; membranous nephropathy ∼30% DR, ∼50% GL; lipoprotein glomerulopathy ∼100% DR and GL; primary hyperoxaluria type 1 80–100% DR and GL) or with a low risk of GL [immunoglobulin (Ig)A nephropathy 36–60% DR, 7–10% GL; systemic lupus erythematosus 0–30% DR, 0–5% GL; anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated glomerulonephritis]. Recurrence may also occur with a delayed risk of GL, such as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, sickle cell disease, endemic nephropathy, and sarcoidosis. In other primary diseases, the post-Tx course may be complicated by specific events that are different from overt recurrence: proteinuria or cancer in some genetic forms of nephrotic syndrome, anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies-associated glomerulonephritis (Alport syndrome, Goodpasture syndrome), and graft involvement as a consequence of lower urinary tract abnormality or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) nephropathy. Some other post-Tx conditions may mimic recurrence, such as de novo membranous glomerulonephritis, IgA nephropathy, microangiopathy, or isolated specific deposits (cystinosis, Fabry disease). Adequate strategies should therefore be added to kidney Tx, such as donor selection, associated liver Tx, plasmatherapy, specific immunosuppression protocols. In such conditions, very few patients may be excluded from kidney Tx only because of a major risk of DR and repeated GL. In the near future the issue of DR after kidney Tx may benefit from alternatives to organ Tx, such as recombinant proteins, specific monoclonal antibodies, cell/gene therapy, and chaperone molecules

Product Development in Large Furniture Companies: A Descriptive Model with Implications for Character-Marked Products

Previous research has shown that substantial yield improvements are possible when character-marks are not removed from hardwood furniture parts. Attempts to promote increased use of character-marked wood in furniture should be based on an understanding of how design concepts originate and move through the stages of product development. However, very little has been published concerning the product development process in the furniture industry. This study sought to expand knowledge of the activities involved in furniture product development and to explain character-mark decisions in terms of the product development process. Data gathered from in-depth interviews and a follow-up mail survey of large furniture manufacturers were used to develop a 14-stage product development model. While decisions concerning use of character-marks occurred throughout the development process, such decisions were more common as the process proceeded; few companies considered character-marks in the earliest stages of product development. Certain stages in the model emerged as particularly important to character use, such as those involving mock-ups and evaluation of designer sketches. By identifying the activities that take place in these important stages, barriers to acceptance of character-marked furniture can be better understood and addressed

Approaches to, and Perceived Benefits of, Training in the Secondary Wood Industry

Practitioners and researchers alike have noted that a well-trained workforce is an important component of the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers in the global economy. This study compares four secondary wood industry sectors on their approaches to, and perceived benefits of, training production employees. The study was based on an Internet survey in the autumn of 2003 of subscribers to a major wood industry publication. A sample of 197 firms was split into four type categories (cabinets, household furniture, contract furniture, and millwork) and two size categories (fewer than 50 employees and 50 or more employees) and compared on several questions related to training of production employees. Some differences were found among the firm types and between the firm sizes. However, the firms were similar in a number of respects. The majority indicated that the return on training was positive, and firms agreed on average that training was critical to their future competitiveness. Implications for domestic competitiveness are noted based on the findings

TIMBER HARVESTING PATTERNS FOR MAJOR STATES IN THE CENTRAL, NORTHERN, AND MID-ATLANTIC HARDWOOD REGIONS

Timber harvesting is a major disturbance agent influencing the composition and structure of eastern hardwood forests. To better understand timber harvesting practices, we examined roundwood harvesting patterns in 13 eastern states in the Central, Mid-Atlantic, and Northern regions that contained high proportional volumes of hardwood in their forest inventories. Nearly 5400 Forest Inventory and Analysis sample plots in which timber was cut and assumed to be used were examined for the period 2009-2015. Nine patterns based on basal area removed were isolated and defined, of which six were partial removals and three were clear-cuts. Of the patterns observed, four involved primarily hardwoods, three involved primarily softwood, and two were mixed. Large diameter–influenced partial hardwood harvesting practices were found to be predominant in the Central hardwood region, but mixed diameter hardwood and softwood partial harvesting patterns were noted in Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine. Harvesting patterns examined in Pennsylvania and New York appeared to be a transition between the patterns found in the Central and three most Northern states. Large diameter–influenced harvesting also occurred less frequently in the Mid- Atlantic states. Clear-cuts were noted in all states examined but were associated with higher levels of removal in the Mid-Atlantic states. Softwood cuts were more common in the Northern and Mid-Atlantic states and pine thinning cuts were noted in Tennessee, Wisconsin, Michigan, Virginia, and North Carolina. Although this study provides insight into current timber harvesting processes, additional information is needed to determine how timber management practices can be developed to complement the economic considerations associated with harvests