Log Supply and Price Adjustment Mechanisms in Industrialized Economies: Impacts on Small-scale Forest Farmer

Log pricing and supply arrangements vary between countries. Some countries use open markets to determine log prices while others regulate supply and offer medium to long-term contracts to log buyers. A study of four industrialised countries - the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia - is undertaken to compare variations in log pricing methodologies and contract price adjustment mechanisms. Market concentration and market power is found to vary between these countries. Variations also exist in supply arrangements, contract term and price adjustment mechanisms both between countries and across regional jurisdictions within each country. The United States and New Zealand are strongly market oriented while Canada and Australia remain highly regulated. Both Canada and Australia use a weighted wood price index to adjust contract log prices. Policies are required in these regulated markets to encourage entry of small-scale suppliers if seller concentration is to be reduced and competitive market efficiency increased

Locally Efficient Estimation with Bivariate Right Censored Data

Estimation for bivariate right censored data is a problem that has had much study over the past 15 years. In this paper we propose a new class of estimators for the bivariate survivor function based on locally efficient estimation. The locally efficient estimator takes bivariate estimators Fn and Gn of the distributions of the time variables T1,T2 and the censoring variables C1,C2, respectively, and maps them to the resulting estimator. If Fn and Gn are consistent estimators of F and G, respectively, then the resulting estimator will be nonparametrically efficient (thus the term ``locally efficient\u27\u27). However, if either Fn or Gn (but not both) is not a consistent estimator of F or G, respectively, then the estimator will still be consistent and asymptotically normally distributed. We propose a locally efficient estimator which uses a consistent, non-parametric estimator for G and allows the user to supply lower dimensional (semi-parameteric or parametric) model for F. Since the estimator we choose for G will be a consistent estimator of G, the resulting locally efficient estimator will always be consistent and asymptotically normal, and our simulation studies have indicated that using a lower dimensional model for F gives excellent small sample performance. In addition, our algorithm for calculation of the efficient influence curve at true distributions for F and G yields also the efficiency bound which can be used to calculate relative efficiencies for any bivariate estimator. In this paper we will introduce the locally efficient estimator for bivariate right censored data, present an asymptotic theorem, present the results of simulation studies and perform a brief data analysis illustrating the use of the locally efficient estimator

Distributed Sacrificial Cathodic Protection - A New Cost Effective Solution to Prevent Corrosion on Subsea Structures

Over the last 50 years, only minor changes have been made to the cathodic protection (CP) design, whereas optimization has not been considered as a cost saving opportunity to date. For subsea structures, sacrificial anodes combined with organic coatings are the main corrosion protection strategy. Depending on the lifetime of the subsea system, the complexity of the structure to be protected, and the environmental conditions, the total anode mass can be substantial. The anode mass does not only increase fabrication costs, but also affects the total structure weight in a way that puts special requirements on lifting vessels and cranes. Reducing this weight may not only be cost efficient, but also improve the safety during installation due to less complex lifting operations. In this study, the electrochemical properties of a new concept named CP by distributed sacrificial anode (DSA) was investigated, with the main focus on the anodic capabilities in comparison to those of conventional sacrificial Al-Zn-In anodes and thermally sprayed aluminum (TSA-Al99.5). The main principle of CP by DSA is to convert the cathode area to anode area by distributing anode mass on the surface of the equipment to be protected. DSA was achieved by deposition of a dual layer metallic coating, consisting of a TSA layer applied on carbon steel (CS) plates, followed by sacrificial outer Al-Zn-In layer on top. This was done by arc-spraying, a thermal spray technique. Freely exposed specimens as well as galvanic couplings between DSA, TSA, conventional anode and CS with area ratio 1:1, 10:1 and 100:1 were immersed in nearly stagnant flowing seawater at 10 ± 2℃ and 40 ± 5℃. Continuously monitoring of the open circuit potential (OCP) and the current demand for the couplings were conducted as well as periodically obtaining potentiodynamic polarization curves in order to investigate the electrochemical properties with respect to exposure time. After 30 days exposure, surface and cross-section examination was conducted using scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled to an energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results from this study indicate that DSA have similar anodic properties as for those of conventional sacrificial anodes, and can supply sufficient CP to a substantial larger defect compared to TSA coatings. When used as a CP system, protecting a 10% holiday i.e. exposed CS, the coupling potential was not affected and held the same potential as for freely exposed DSA, at −1000 mVAg/AgCl. The effective polarization properties provides initial high current output to the CS area, but decreases rapidly due to a dense calcareous deposition, contributes to an overall lower degradation rate of the coating in comparison to TSA under similar conditions. The cathodic properties for DSA is changed with respect to the bulk material, the sacrificial anode. The reason is either due to reduced content of Zinc and Indium as a result of the thermal spraying process and/or due to increased oxidation properties. This also affected the OCP, contributing to a nobler potential. The cathodic properties are similar to those of TSA at cathodic polarization between −1100 mVAg/AgCl and −1550 mVAg/AgCl, thus when connected to a conventional sacrificial anode, the current drain is similar as for TSA, between 6-10 mA/m2

Developing a laboratory cultivation protocol for local species of Porphyra spp.

The cultivation of Porphyra for use in food has a long tradition in Asian countries, and with recent food trends and nutritional awareness, macroalgae has become a popular ingredient throughout the rest of the world as well. The Norwegian coast has several species of Porphyra suited for use in many ways, but harvesting wild material is time consuming and limited by few occurrences in the wild. Cultivation is thus the preferred option for future exploitation of the genus. This study is aimed at adapting existing cultivation techniques to local species and environmental factors, for indoor cultivation. A field search was performed to map local occurrences of the genus in the Trondheimsfjord, and a laboratory protocol was established for cultivation of collected material. Several variables were applied at different stages of the life cycle; stress for induction of spore release, treatment with germanium dioxide for decontamination, variations in light intensities and application of scallop shell as a substrate for growth. Also a method for quantification of conchochelis (sporophyte stage) growth were developed and applied. The field search found that the genus is scarcely represented in local waters, with few and far between occurrences. The laboratory experiment proved that contaminants like diatoms is a challenge, but manageable with correct treatment. Tolerance levels for germanium dioxide were also established, and the experiment showed that the local species of Porphyra are well suited for indoor cultivation under the given conditions. The experiment was concluded when the life cycle was fulfilled, from wild collected gametophytes, through the conchochelis sporophyte stage, to growing gametophytes in the laboratory

Pursuit of Empowerment: The Evolution of the Romance Novel and Its Readership in Fifty Shades of Grey

This thesis examines the new-adult romance work Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James and the novel\u27s readership to identify the evolution of the romance genre and the ways in which the genre is used as a tool for empowerment. As the genre evolves, subgenres develop with the new empowering characteristics. As new technologies present themselves to readers, readers have more opportunities to participate with one another and affect the genre\u27s evolution. I assert that Fifty Shades of Grey and the romance community are limited by the patriarchal values traditionally portrayed by the genre; however, the nature of the empowering characteristics of Fifty Shades of Grey, bondage, discipline, and sadomasochism (BDSM), and the growing interconnectedness of the romance reading community suggest a growing awareness of this pervasive patriarchal influence

Resilience in the face of coping with a severe physical injury: A study of trajectories of adjustment in a rehabilitation setting

Objective: Despite the popularity of the concept of resilience, little research has been conducted on populations in physical rehabilitation settings. Our purpose was to identify three trajectories of psychological adjustment to an acquired severe physical injury characterized by resilience, recovery, or distress in a longitudinal design. Participants: Eighty inpatients with a severe injury at a rehabilitation hospital. The participants had spinal cord injury or multiple traumas. Design: Classification into the three trajectories was based on symptoms of psychological distress (posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and negative affect) and participants’ level of positive affect at admission to and discharge from the rehabilitation hospital. Results: The most common trajectory was the resilience trajectory (54%), followed by the recovery trajectory (25%) and the distress trajectory (21%). The most interesting differences between the trajectories were the result of optimism, affect, social support, and pain. Trait negative and positive affect predicted classification into the trajectories. Conclusions: An adaptation pattern characterized by resilience was found to be the most common response to an acquired severe injury, and trait affect predicts the outcome pattern. Interventions based on resilience are discussed