Question: Has the basal area of pine and spruce in a protected forest changed between 1937 and 2022? And has there been a change in size distribution?Location: Säby Västerksog, a pine-dominated coniferous forest protected for 100 years.Method: A part of the reserve was mapped, and diameter at breast height, using the same methods as used in 1937.Results: Basal area had increased for both pine and spruce but mostly for pine. More pine than spruce had survived from 1937. On the other hand, more spruce than pine had become established after 1937. The size distribution of pine had shifted towards larger trees, with few smaller ones. The corresponding distribution among spruce showed a decline towards larger trees (except the largest ones).Conclusion: The reason for the poor regeneration of pine is probably due to a combination of shade intolerance and a lack disturbances needed for this species (e.g. forest fires). Due to these hindrances pine is expected to decrease within a longer time frame, while spruce is expected to increase.

One of the defining trends in international finance over the last two decades has been the unprecedented growth in the levels of international reserves accumulated by emerging nations. In a global financial system characterized by market failures and sudden stops, many developing countries have opted for the protection provided by individual accumulation of reserves as a second-best outcome. However, as suggested by Rodrik (2006), among others, the accumulation of reserves comes at a hefty opportunity cost to the nations that hold them. It is this particular aspect that brings into question--or at least merits a re-examination of--the validity and efficiency of reserve accumulation as a stabilization and development strategy, particularly in the context of some cash-strapped developing nations. This dissertation takes an in-depth look at this trend in Latin America by investigating the extent of protection of these precautionary reserves, the role of contagion risk in the accumulation process, and the outlook of regional arrangements of cooperation, such as regional reserve pooling mechanisms.

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) is a woody perennial crop that can remain productive for decades. Competition for resources between cranberries and weeds can depress cranberry farm yields, resulting in large annual crop losses. Renewed interest in reducing chemical inputs into cranberry systems has provided the motivation to evaluate methods, such as flame cultivation (FC), as potential nonchemical options for weed control. Also known as thermal weeding, FC exposes plants to brief periods of high temperature that causes the water in the plant tissue to expand rapidly, rupturing plant cells and leading to necrosis. Various FC methods have been used successfully in annual crops as both a preemergence and postemergence weed control, but few scientific reports have been published on the use of FC on perennial weeds in a woody perennial crop system. Dewberry (Rubus spp.), sawbrier (Smilax glauca), and common rush (Juncus effusus) are cranberry weeds that are difficult to control, spread quickly and can cause significant crop loss. Flame cultivation may be an effective non-chemical means for controlling these weeds in cranberry systems. FC would ideally be used as a spot treatment for weeds growing in the cranberry canopy, as well as on larger non-production areas where cranberry vines are not as abundant, such as bog edges, ditches, and dikes. Using FC to treat weeds within the cranberry canopy will likely cause localized damage to cranberry plants immediately surrounding the weeds, thus cranberry response to FC is also of interest. The following experiments were designed to examine the response of weeds and cranberry plants to FC. Perennial plants rely on reserves of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) for growth and survival, thus the efficacy of FC treatments to weeds will likely be impacted by the timing and frequency of treatments as they relate to the specific carbohydrate cycles of targeted weeds, such as dewberry. An additional experiment studied the seasonal fluctuations of NSC in dewberry roots. Cranberry growers were also surveyed on their past experiences with FC, as well as their willingness to adopt FC if proven an effective method for controlling weeds.

The objectives of this study were to determine (1) the prevalence of adult ticks of Dermacentor andersoni in national forest recreational sites of Utah, and (2) the incidence of spotted fever rickettsia, Rickettsia rickettsii, in the ticks of these areas. With the use of a white flannel cloth, 358 adult D. andersoni (135 males and 223 females) were collected from 48 recreational sites during the spring and summer of 1964. Ticks from each collection were put in pools, preserved in non-fat skim milk at -30° C, and subsequently tested for the presence of spotted fever rickettsia by guinea pig inoculations. The average collection rate (population density) for all collections was 6.8 per hour, but populations varied between sites. Populations were greater in the middle and southern parts of the state than in the northern. The greatest populations were at elevations between 6,000 and 8,000 feet with the upper limit just under 9,000 feet. The elevational distribution varied with the latitude--greater populations were found at higher elevations in southern than in northern Utah. The season of peak abundance was between the last week of May and the last of June. Populations were greater at lower elevations early in the season and at higher elevations later. Male ticks were more abundant early in the spring whereas females predominated later. The preferred habitat was open, unshaded areas of short, scanty, young grass. Ticks were collected in greater numbers in the afternoon than in the morning. Temperatures between 12° and 38° C apparently had little effect on tick activity. Activity was slightly greater on partly cloudy and cloudy days than on clear days, and increased proportionately relative to an increase in wind velocity. Spotted fever rickettsia were found in 3.6% of the ticks collected. These were from 13 different recreational sites, over half of which are in the northern half of the state near human population centers. Ticks positive for spotted fever were probably infected with avirulent type U or type T strain of R. rickettsii.

Во Введении обоснована актуальность темы исследования, описана методологическая и эмпирическая база исследования, поставлены цель и задачи. В первой главе представлен обзор научной и методологической литературы, выявлена система определений объекта и предмета, отвечающие цели исследования. Систематизированы сложившиеся модели, подходы и методы к оценке стоимости предприятий, выявлены те из них, которые наиболее полно отвечают реалиям настоящего времени. Вторая глава посвящена аналитическому описанию формирования финансовых резервов на малых предприятиях и финансовому анализу трех предприятий малого бизнеса. Здесь же сформулирована проблема недостатка единого подхода к формированию финансовых резервов на малых предприятиях. В третьей главе проведена апробация разработанного подхода на трех исследуемых малых предприятиях. Произведен перерасчет коэффициентов и налоговой нагрузки. Итоговые выводы по работе в целом приведены в Заключении. / The Introduction substantiates the relevance of the research topic, describes the methodological and empirical base of the study, sets the goal and objectives. The First Chapter provides an overview of scientific and methodological literature, identified a system of definitions of the object and subject that meet the objectives of the study. The existing models, approaches and methods for assessing the value of enterprises are systematized, those that most fully meet the realities of the present time are identified. The second chapter is devoted to an analytical description of the formation of financial reserves in small enterprises and the financial analysis of three small businesses. The problem of the lack of a unified approach to the formation of financial reserves in small enterprises is also formulated here. In the third chapter, the approbation of the developed approach was carried out at three small enterprises studied. The coefficients and tax burden were recalculated. The final conclusions on the work as a whole are given in the Conclusion.

Работа состоит из: введения, трех глав, заключения, приложения и библиографического списка. В первой главе "Теоретические аспекты потребительского кредита" рассмотрены основные понятия, виды и сущность кредитования. Вторая глава направлена на регулирование и организация потребительского кредитования в Китае. В третьей главе даны актуальные направления развитие потребительского кредитования в Китае. / The work consists of: introduction, three chapters, conclusion, appendix and bibliographic list. The first chapter "Theoretical aspects of consumer credit" discusses the basic concepts, types and essence of lending. The second chapter is aimed at regulating and organizing consumer lending in China. The third chapter provides current directions for the development of consumer lending in China.

No description available.

User fees for federal Wilderness have been suggested as a way to reduce deficit spending on Wilderness recreation and supplement decreasing management budgets. This study examines the users of Linville Gorge Wilderness, a federal free area, and Grandfather Mountain Backcountry, a nearby private fee area, to determine if fees would exclude any socioeconomic or other user group who presently uses wilderness and determine if fees are acceptable to users. The study compares users' socioeconomic characteristics and travel cost demand functions and analyzes attitudes towards fees to determine the extent to which fees are likely to change use behavior. No difference is found in the socioeconomic characteristics of the users of the fee and the free area, suggesting fees excluding any for federal Wilderness are equitable, not excluding any socioeconomic group currently using Wilderness. The trip demand functions of the travel cost models for the two areas are statistically the same, suggesting users are making the same economic decision when visiting each area. Fees are found to be acceptable to users if Wilderness will deteriorate without fees and fee revenues are spent on Wilderness management. Users suggest about $25 for an annual Wilderness permit and about two dollars for a daily fee as reasonable amounts. Most users say the fee at Grandfather Mountain does not influence their decision to visit, suggesting fees will not greatly affect demand at federal Wilderness. The site demand function for Linville Gorge predicts a large decrease in demand, but this is common to most travel cost models and does not usually prove true. Further research of the travel cost model and the administrative feasibility of suggested fee levels is recommended. / M.S.

Attitude surveys can serve as a basis of public interest and opinion inputs to National Park Service planning and management decision making. The initial objective of this study was to develop a method for scaling attitudes which alleviated problems of interpreting effects of two related components of attitude--beliefs and corresponding evaluations of those beliefs. In conjunction with this objective, visitor knowledge about and attitudes toward resource use and management in Shenandoah National Park were assessed. Finally, guidelines were formulated suggesting how to design an effective interpretive message taking into account relevant user characteristics, level of knowledge, and attitudes toward resource use and management in the national park. Considering summer months and weekend/weekday visitation patterns, a stratified random sample of days was selected to contact park visitors. On designated sampling days visitors were contacted at lodges, backcountry stations or campgrounds. Names and addresses were secured via an information release form. In September, 1978, individuals were mailed an attitude survey. A follow-up post card and two selective follow-up questionnaire mailings ensued. Overall response rate was 81 percent. The survey instrument obtained contributions of belief and affective components of attitude. In order to measure these components in a manner reflecting resource management objectives and allowing easy interpretation of attitude scores, a new modified matrix scaling technique was developed. A matrix of attitude scores was computed using an unipolar belief scale and bipolar affect scale. The computed using an unipolar belief scale and bipolar affect scale. The belief scale was also employed to determine visitor level of knowledge concerning resource use and management in Shenandoah National Park. The over-all matrix system was developed within the framework of Fishbein's (1963) expectancy value attitude theory. The scaling method lessened some of the problems created by using standard bipolar st.nnmative scaling. In addition, final scores derived from this matrix procedure were logically consistent, theoretically appropriate, and may be managerially relevant. Results of analyses of variance in overall belief and attitude scores suggested the utility of developing different interpretive messages about resource use and management for the three camping styleslodge, campground, and backcountry users. Attitude changes predicted via the expectancy value formulation indicated the importance of considering the distribution of visitor attitude scores before attempting development of an interpretive message designed to influence attitudes. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to field test a portion of the recreation quality theory: a conceptual framework which seeks to provide insight into the behavior of outdoor recreationists. Specifically, the inverse relationship of two variables which may affect the quality of outdoor recreation was examined. These were the force of motivation and the psychological distance to the user's destination in a recreation environment. Time spent hiking to the destination was considered a function of force, and physical distance was considered a function of the psychological distance to the destination. It was hypothesized that people who were able to accurately determine the distance remaining to the destination, as they were hiking along the trail, would arrive sooner than those who could not accurately determine the distance remaining to the destination. A map was used to provide users with information about· distances. The hiking times for 109 visitor groups at the Cascades Nature Trail in the Jefferson National Forest, Virginia were unobtrusively recorded between September 26 and November 7, 1976. Differences between the hiking times of groups were analyzed by means of Wilcoxon's Rank Sum Test, the Ansari-Bradley Dispersion Test, and the Moses Dispersion Test. The effects of changing environmental conditions were assessed by means of the Kruskal-Wallis Test for Multiple Comparisons, as well as by Wilcoxon's Rank Sum Test. This study provided evidence that supports the hypothesis proposed in the recreation quality theory, that an inverse relationship exists between the force of motivation and the psychological distance to a goal in a forested recreation environment. / Master of Science