What does Brazil know about the origin and uses of tree species employed in the housing sector? Perspectives on available species, origin and current challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 392-404
Author(s):  
V. De Araujo ◽  
J. Vasconcelos ◽  
M. Gava ◽  
A. Christoforo ◽  
F. Lahr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Eucalyptus Species ◽  
Housing Sector ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Foreign Markets ◽  
Product Certification ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Species Origin ◽  
Corporate Websites ◽  
Better Than

Timber consumption is a complex discussion for the industry, in part because the issue has been marked by doubts about lineage and origin. This paper aimed to identify challenges related to species, origins and wood use in the Brazilian construction sector. Searches on corporate websites and face-to-face interviews were used to identify involvement by species and origin in the domestic production of timber for housing. Relevant results were obtained for both methods since their margins of error were low. Forty exotic and nine native species were revealed to contribute significantly to the construction sector. 'Grapia' and 'Angelim pedra' native woods and eight eucalypt and pine species were shown to be the most popular through both methodologies. Pine timber was found to be in greater demand than that of Eucalyptus species. Despite some lack of clarity relating to the origin of certain species, the sector's status was better than expected. However, it still requires assertive actions to increase the use of legalized wood in order to favour product certification and integration into foreign markets.

Achieving structured knowledge management with a novel online group decision support system

2020 ◽  
pp. 026666692096984
Author(s):  
Wesley Shu ◽  
Songquan Pang ◽  
Minder Chen
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Knowledge Acquisition ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Group Decision Support System ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Knowledge Conversion ◽  
Group Problem Solving ◽  
The People ◽  
Mixed Factorial Design ◽  
Better Than

Knowledge management (KM) is a complicated process that involves socialization, externalization, combination, and internalization and requires close collaboration among the people involved. Although Nonaka proposed the SECI (Socialization, Externalization, Combination, Internalization) model and the concept of Ba, which provides a process-oriented view of knowledge creation and transfer, practicing it is rather ad hoc. COVID-19 has provided a chance for practitioners to find a new method for KM. In this study, we adapted a group problem-solving system called TeamSpirit and structured it as a Ba for the SECI model. We then compared TeamSpirit with two other implementations of Ba, email and face-to-face communication, to evaluate their effects on knowledge externalization, knowledge combination, and knowledge internalization. Then, we evaluated whether these knowledge-conversion processes could improve knowledge acquisition and intention to share knowledge. A 3 × 2 mixed factorial design experiment was conducted. The results show that (a) TeamSpirit was better than the others, and face-to-face was better than email for each of the three knowledge conversion processes (externalization, combination, and internalization) and (b) the better the team’s knowledge conversion process lead, the stronger its knowledge acquisition and knowledge-sharing intention.

The Impact of Between-Wave Engagement Strategies on Response to a Longitudinal Survey

2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Cleary ◽  
Nigel Balmer
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Survey ◽  
Longitudinal Surveys ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Participant Engagement ◽  
Engagement Strategies ◽  
Design Attributes ◽  
New Research ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Better Than

Maintaining participant engagement in longitudinal surveys has been a key focus of survey research, and has implications for the quality of response and cost of administration. This paper presents new research measuring the impact of the design of between-wave keeping-in-touch mailings on response to the mailing and subsequent wave of a longitudinal survey. Three design attributes of the mailings were randomly implemented: the form of response request (whether respondents were asked to respond only if their address had changed, or in all cases to confirm or update their address); the newsletter included with the mailing (contrasting a newsletter with content tailored to respondent characteristics with a general newsletter and no newsletter); and the outgoing postage used (stamped or franked). The experiments were fielded on a new longitudinal study, the English and Welsh Civil and Social Justice Panel Survey (CSJPS), and took place between waves one and two. Fieldwork for both waves was conducted by Ipsos MORI face-to-face interviewers. Our main finding was that the tailored newsletter was associated with a significant increase in the wave-two response rate. However, in relation to response to the request, the tailored newsletter, or sending no newsletter at all, were equally effective at inducing response, and significantly better than the general newsletter. We also found that, in relation to the form of request, the ‘change of address’ request was as effective as the more costly ‘confirmation’ request. Findings are discussed with reference to the design of keeping-in-touch mailings for longitudinal surveys.

Cross-Disciplinary Learning in Virtual Teams

2011 ◽  
pp. 78-81
Author(s):  
Scott P. Schaffer ◽  
Therese M. Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Software Development ◽  
Virtual Teams ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
Virtual Team ◽  
Knowledge Bases ◽  
High Performing ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Geographically Dispersed ◽  
New Product Development Teams ◽  
Better Than

The prevalence of global software development and new product development teams is on the increase, and such teams face unique challenges (McDonough, Kahnb, & Barczaka, 2001). First, these teams often are comprised of individuals from different disciplines (software engineering, graphic design, instructional design/educational technology). Second, these teams often are required to communicate and share information virtually, since they are geographically dispersed. These challenges make management of such teams difficult, and very little is known about the conditions and factors that impact virtual team performance. While the task of overcoming these challenges is daunting, the benefits that an effective virtual and cross-disciplinary software development team can have are large. Cohen and Gibson (2003) state, “when organizations compose virtual teams with people from different perspectives and knowledge bases, innovation is more likely to occur” (p.8). In addition, the possibility of creating teams that are virtual allows an organization the opportunity to have the best people for a project actually work on the project, regardless of geographic location. Major questions related to the study of such teams include: Do virtual teams perform better, worse or the same as face-to-face teams? What makes one virtual team better than another? Are group dynamics fundamentally different in a virtual group than in a face-to-face group? Warkenton, Sayeed and Hightower (1997) found that face-to-face teams outperformed virtual teams, and the latter were less satisfied with the experience. Advances in asynchronous communication tools since this study may have improved the situation for virtual teams, but the question of what makes one virtual team better than another is intriguing. Ocker and Fjermestad (2000) investigated factors that distinguish high- vs. low-performing virtual teams. High-performing teams communicated more and more widely related to design decisions than did low-performing teams. Such teams summarized and reflected more often on processes and deliverables, and essentially mirrored face-to-face teams. Similar findings were reported by Baker (2002) in a study of the effects of technology on decision-making in such teams. Another key driver of virtual team development and success is the level of cross-disciplinary learning that occurs during the completion of a project. Fruchter and Emery (1999) define cross-disciplinary learning as the individual’s progression from a state dominated by discipline-centric thought to a state in which the individual understands the terminology and processes of another discipline. It is important to investigate how this learning can be supported and assessed.

Gene flow between introduced and native Eucalyptus species: crossability of native Tasmanian species with exotic E. nitens

2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 465 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Barbour ◽  
B. M. Potts ◽  
R. E. Vaillancourt
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Seed Set ◽  
Pollen Competition ◽  
F1 Hybrids ◽  
Eucalyptus Species ◽  
F1 Hybrid ◽  
Genetic Pollution ◽  
Morphometric Analyses ◽  
Natural Hybridisation

Eucalyptus nitens (Deane & Maiden) Maiden has been extensively introduced to the island of Tasmania for plantation purposes. Natural hybridisation with two native species has already been confirmed and this study aimed to determine which other Tasmanian native species could potentially hybridise with E. nitens. Controlled and supplementary pollinations with E. nitens pollen were undertaken on all Tasmanian native species that are potentially at risk of exotic gene flow and hence genetic pollution. Across the seven species tested by using controlled pollinations, seed set per flower, following E. nitens pollinations, was significantly less than for intraspecific outcross pollinations. No significant differences were evident in the percentage of seed that germinated or the percentage of germinants that grew into healthy seedlings in the glasshouse. Hybridity was verified by morphometric analyses and F1 hybrid seedlings were clearly differentiated from parental species and generally intermediate in morphology. Supplementary E. nitens pollination of open-pollinated native flowers was conducted to simulate natural pollination where pollen competition would occur. Seven of the fifteen species tested produced F1 hybrids in this case; however, further crossing is required to verify failed cross combinations. Although E. nitens can potentially hybridise with many native species, the results from both supplementary and controlled pollinations suggest the presence of post-pollination barriers of varying strength that need to be considered in assessing the risk of exotic gene flow from plantations.

scholarly journals Long-Term Effects of Forest Plantation Species on Chemical Soil Properties in Southern Rwanda

Soil Systems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Peter Rwibasira ◽  
Francois Xavier Naramabuye ◽  
Donat Nsabimana ◽  
Monique Carnol
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Eucalyptus Species ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Soil Functioning ◽  
C And N

Understanding the long-term effects of tree species on soil properties is crucial for the development of forest restoration policies in relation to the choice of species that meet both environmental and local livelihood needs. This study was performed in the Arboretum of Ruhande, Southern Rwanda, where monocultures of 148 deciduous and 56 conifer species have been established in 0.25 ha replicated plots from 1933 onwards. We investigated the effects of six exotic and two native tree species planted in monoculture plots and native species mixed within one self-regenerated plot on soil properties in two layers (0–5 cm and 5–10 cm depth). We measured general soil properties (pH, SOM, exchangeable base cations) and water-soluble C and N as a proxy for soil functioning. Changes in soil properties were observed in the upper soil layer for all tree species. Planting Eucalyptus species caused soil acidification, whereas soil exchangeable cations and pH were higher under native species (Entandrophragma excelsum and Polyschias fulva) and mixed native species. The effects of tree species were more pronounced for hot water-extractable C and N than for other soil properties. Their analyses could be used for detecting changes in soil functioning linked to vegetation types.

scholarly journals Issues in Income Tax Accountability: An Analysis of the Rental Housing Sector

1994 ◽  
pp. 667
Author(s):  
Alex S. MacNevin
Keyword(s):  
Income Tax ◽  
Rental Housing ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Critical Assessment ◽  
Housing Sector ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Integrated Framework ◽  
Tax Expenditure ◽  
Tax Changes

Many of the proponents of improved accountability in taxation support the view that tax changes can be meaningfully classified as either "tax policy" changes or "tax expenditure" changes. While echoing the call for improved accountability, the author questions the validity of maintaining this dichotomy as he undertakes a critical assessment of income tax changes in the rental housing sector between 1972 and 1992. In addition to discussing changes that directly impact the rental housing sector, the author includes measures that target closely related sectors, such as the construction sector. He concludes that the traditional dichotomy is neither feasible nor meaningful and calls for a more integrated framework. Such an integrated approach would ideally ensure that all potential ramifications of tax changes would be taken into account. This would, in turn, lay the groundwork for improved features that would comprise such an integrated framework by reference to analytical welfare economics.

scholarly journals Comparison of online and face-to-face valuation of the EQ-5D-5L using composite time trade-off

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruixuan Jiang ◽  
James Shaw ◽  
Axel Mühlbacher ◽  
Todd A. Lee ◽  
Surrey Walton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Task Engagement ◽  
Health State ◽  
Health States ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Random Intercept ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Trading Patterns ◽  
Value Sets ◽  
Better Than

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to compare online, unsupervised and face-to-face (F2F), supervised valuation of EQ-5D-5L health states using composite time trade-off (cTTO) tasks. Methods The official EuroQol experimental design and valuation protocol for the EQ-5D-5L of 86 health states were implemented in interviewer-assisted, F2F and unsupervised, online studies. Validity of preferences was assessed using prevalence of inconsistent valuations and expected patterns of TTO values. Respondent task engagement was measured using number of trade-offs and time per task. Trading patterns such as better-than-dead only was compared between modes. Value sets were generated using linear regression with a random intercept (RILR). Value set characteristics such as range of scale and dimension ranking were evaluated between modes. Results Five hundred one online and 1,134 F2F respondents completed the surveys. Mean elicited TTO values were higher online than F2F when compared by health state severity. Compared to F2F, a larger proportion of online respondents did not assign the poorest EQ-5D-5L health state (i.e., 55555) the lowest TTO value ([Online] 41.3% [F2F] 12.2%) (p < 0.001). A higher percentage of online cTTO tasks were completed in 3 trade-offs or fewer ([Online] 15.8% [F2F] 3.7%), (p < 0.001). When modeled using the RILR, the F2F range of scale was larger than online ([Online] 0.600 [F2F] 1.307) and the respective dimension rankings differed. Conclusions Compared to F2F data, TTO tasks conducted online had more inconsistencies and decreased engagement, which contributed to compromised data quality. This study illustrates the challenges of conducting online valuation studies using the TTO approach.

scholarly journals Qualitative study of patient views on a ‘telephone-first’ approach in general practice in England: speaking to the GP by telephone before making face-to-face appointments

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. e026197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L Ball ◽  
Jennifer Newbould ◽  
Jennie Corbett ◽  
Josephine Exley ◽  
Emma Pitchforth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
First Language ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Negative Comments ◽  
Open Plan ◽  
General Practices ◽  
To Come ◽  
New System ◽  
Better Than

ObjectiveTo understand patients’ views on a ‘telephone-first’ approach, in which all appointment requests in general practice are followed by a telephone call from the general practitioner (GP).DesignQualitative interviews with patients and carers.SettingTwelve general practices in England.Participants43 patients, including 30 women, nine aged over 75 years, four parents of young children, five carers, five patients with hearing impairment and two whose first language was not English.ResultsPatients expressed varied views, often strongly held, ranging from enthusiasm for to hostility towards the ‘telephone-first’ approach. The new system suited some patients, avoiding the need to come into the surgery but was problematic for others, for example, when it was difficult for someone working in an open plan office to take a call-back. A substantial proportion of negative comments were about the operation of the scheme itself rather than the principles behind it, for example, difficulty getting through on the phone or being unable to schedule when the GP would phone back. Some practices were able to operate the scheme in a way that met their patients’ needs better than others and practices varied significantly in how they had implemented the approach.ConclusionsThe ‘telephone-first’ approach appears to work well for some patients, but others find it much less acceptable. Some of the reported problems related to how the approach had been implemented rather than the ‘telephone-first’ approach in principle and suggests there may be potential for some of the challenges experienced by patients to be overcome.

Challenging growth–survival trade-off: a key for Acer negundo invasion in European floodplains?

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 1879-1886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Saccone ◽  
Jean-Jacques Brun ◽  
Richard Michalet
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
High Survival ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Acer Negundo ◽  
Successional Species ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Succession Theory ◽  
Better Than

We compared the performances of juvenile Acer negundo with those of native species to assess how this species has invaded intermediate habitats along European riparian successional gradients. In the middle Rhône floodplain (France), we measured survival and growth of transplants of the invasive and of three native tree species from contrasted successional status within forests and in experimental gaps and at three positions along a riparian gradient: (i) a highly disturbed Salix – Populus stand, (ii) a moderately disturbed stand dominated by the invasive Acer , and (iii) a mature Fraxinus community. Acer’s growth in the gaps was as high as that of the two native early-successional species, Salix and Populus, and higher than that of the native late-successional Fraxinus. In contrast, Acer survived as well in the shadiest understory conditions of the Fraxinus community as did Fraxinus and better than the two early-successional species. Inconsistent with the resource trade-off of succession theory, Acer showed both a high survival in the shade and a high growth in full light. This particular suite of traits shared with other invasive and native Acer species could be an example of adaptive plasticity that certainly represents an advantage to give it a competitive advantage over native species.

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