Housing as an Object of Consumption: Analysis of Functional, Symbolic and Investment Value

Analysis of housing as an object of consumption rests upon the concept of the value of consumer object. A set of certain features of an object constitute its value and housing is explored by analysing its functional, investment and symbolic value. The results of the empirical study allows us to reasonably state that housing as an object of consumption is recognizable in the population surveyed. The assessment of functional, investment and symbolic value aspects varies with respect to the basic characteristics of housing – location in the city, living area and type of housing. The analysis of housing as an object of consumption revealed growth trends in the relevance of investment value, changes in attitudes towards housing loans and the relevance of owner status in the housing tenure.

Growth-Climate Relationships and Long-Term Growth Trends of the Tropical Forest Tree Choerospondias axillaris (Anacardiaceous) in East-Central Thailand

Tropical forests play important roles in global carbon cycling. Tree-ring analysis can provide important information for understanding long-term trends in carbon-fixation capacity under climate change. However, tree-ring studies in tropical regions are limited. We carried out a tree-ring analysis to investigate the dendrochronological potential of the tropical forest tree Choerospondias axillaris (Anacardiaceae) in east-central Thailand. Our study focused on growth-climate relationships and long-term growth trends. A chronology was constructed covering the period from 1932 to 2019. The tree-ring width index of C.axillaris was positively correlated with precipitation in June, July, and October. Furthermore, growth of C.axillaris was positively correlated with the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) from July to October, indicating that growth of C.axillaris is mainly limited by moisture availability in the late monsoon season. Moving correlation analysis further revealed the consistency and temporal stability of the relationship of tree growth with monsoon season precipitation and SPEI during the period under study. There was a significant increasing trend in long-term growth from 1932 to 2002 (slope = 0.017, p < 0.001); however, long-term growth decreased from 2003 to 2019 (slope = −0.014, p < 0.001). Our study provides important insight into the growth-climate correlations of a broad-leaved tree species in a dry evergreen forest in tropical Asia.

Changes of Tree and Stand Growth: Review and Implications

In this chapter, we review the current long-term growth trends and short-term growth reaction to single or repeated stress events on tree and stand level in Europe. Based on growth trend analyses, the chapter reveals the strong human footprint on forest ecosystems.First, we use long-term experiments and increment cores to show change in growth trends within the last centuries. Growth reactions are caused by deposition and climate change rather than by silvicultural measures. Second, we look closer on regional-specific deviations from the general trend. Climate change, drought events, acid rain and O3 are causing regional-specific growth reaction patterns. Third, we assess stress events and the resilience and resistance of monospecific and mixed stands against biotic and abiotic stress in view of the ongoing growth trends.The revealed tree and stand growth behaviours are highly relevant, as any changes of forest growth and structure have strong impacts on the provision of goods and ecosystem services. The results underline the importance of biomonitoring and suggest counteracting measures by forest planning, adaptation of silvicultural guidelines for existing forest and innovative design of future forests stands.

PRODUCTIVITY OF GRAIN PRODUCTION IN RUSSIA: TRENDS AND PROSPECTS

The purpose of this study is to assess and predict the factors of productivity of Russian grain production in the context of the ongoing territorial and sectoral structural changes. The research methodology includes a retrospective assessment of the production of major grain crops in the key grain-producing zones of the country. The identification of tendencies and trends was carried out using the methods of nonlinear dynamics. The time period of the study covers 1990-2020. Calculations show that, in Russia as a whole, by 2030 there will be a stable growth in the values of the yields of grain and leguminous crops. The maximum growth rate will be demonstrated by rye (1.9 times more than the average), buckwheat (1.5) and corn (1.3). Wheat and barley yields will grow at the average level. A significant part of the structure of grain production with growth trends will be wheat (winter and spring), as well as barley and corn for grain. The following federal districts will be the leading regions of Russia in grain production: Southern, Central, Povolzhsky, Siberian, North Caucasian. Russia has a enough margin of stability in the productivity of grain production. The growth trends of the main indicators of the productivity of grain production in Russia will continue: the gross harvest of grain and leguminous crops due to the factors of intensification of production has a reserve of 10.4 - 25.7 million tons in excess of the officially planned indicators by 2030. The extensive option of grain production (expansion of the sown area while maintaining the global growth rates of yield) is additionally estimated at 24.5 - 42.6 million tons of the planned values of strategic documents. An increase in demand for grain in the world market will lead to the strengthening of wheat in the structure of grain production in Russia, a sharp increase in specialized zones for the production of corn for grain

E-LEARNING MARKET FOR EDTECH STARTUPS AFTER COVID-19 IN INDIA

Classroom teaching at every level viz., schools, higher education, coaching, and certifications saw a major setback due to pandemic COVID-19. Complete shutdown of classrooms was need of the hour to stop the spread of coronavirus. The current paper is an attempt to understand the various opportunities posed by pandemic for Edtech startups. This paper attempts to understand the growth trends and growth drivers of Edtech industry in India. Current and popular Indian Edtech startups were reviewed to understand the market for Edtech companies. A survey was conducted to understand the perception of people towards Edtech startups with reference to their awareness level, satisfaction, customer database and market growth. Results have shown that digital learning has substantial potential to grow post- pandemic as well. The results here confirm the worth of EdTech startups in the current pandemic situation, and even after.