South Carolina forestland owners’ willingness to accept compensations for carbon sequestration

Background: Carbon sequestration through recommended forest management practices is an ecosystem service that helps mitigate climate change and its impacts while generating carbon credits for forestland owners to sell in cap-and-trade programs. The California’s cap-and-trade program (California’s carbon market hereafter) allows forestland owners from any part of the contiguous United States to supply carbon credits to compliance entities. In this study, we estimate South Carolina (SC) private forestland owners’willingness to accept compensations to participate in the California’s carbon market using a contingent valuation method. Results: We estimate forestland owners’mean willingness to accept as$67 per acre per year. Our results reveal higher probability of participation of forestland owners with interests in preserving forest ecosystems than those who do not. Additionally, forestland owners who trust in information about climate change from scientists or government are willing to participate more than those who do not. Conclusions: Various factors hinder landowners’ability to participate in carbon markets. Forestland owners in SC consider legislative uncertainty and long-time commitment as the main barriers to participation in California’s carbon market. From this research, average forestland tenure in SC is 27 years, which is far less than the 100-year time commitment of the California’s carbon market. Of those who agreed to participate, choosing between adopting and not adopting any of the three main forest management practices in the California’s carbon market:28% are likely to adopt improved forest management (IFM) practices, 24% are likely to adopt reforestation due to understocked forestlands, and 14% are likely to adopt avoided conversion. In another development, the concept of aggregation has dominated discussions in the California’s carbon market of late. It is an advocacy to include small-scale forestlands in the California’s carbon market. To aggregate, different forestland owners will combine their forestlands to participate. We find that 79% of SC forestland owners are willing to aggregate to participate. However, this research is unable to determine how much total forestland is available in SC for carbon market. We recommend future research in the State on forestland owners’participation in carbon market should consider evaluating forestland availability.

Family Forest Owners’ Motivation to Control Understory Vegetation: Implications for Consulting Forestry

Forest vegetation management has evolved as a recognized component of intensive forest management practice. It involves the management of competing vegetation necessary to obtain the high yields expected in modern forest plantations via control of interfering plants that influence regeneration outcome, impact timber stand development, and limit native plant and wildlife diversity. It includes cultural control, fire control, mechanical control, biological control, and chemical control. The public perception of forest vegetation management, especially chemical control, is sometimes negative due to health and environmental concerns. It is an important tool in the forest management alternatives available to consulting foresters managing family forest lands (the vast majority of private forest land in the United States). We report on a study that addresses the motivations of family forest owners that implement forest vegetation management practices and the motivation of those who chose not to implement after forester recommendations to do so. For those who do implement forest vegetation management, improvement of wildlife habitat and increased timber growth was the main motivation. For those who did not, cost was the main concern. Size of forest holding plays a major role in determining who will practice intensive forestry.

Legislation,challenges and solutions for the"Dream of the Island Owner"--Review of the application and approval measures on the development and utilization of uninhabited islands in Hainan Province

China's legislation relating to islands categorizes the latter into inhabited and uninhabited ones.Between the two different types,only uninhabited islands can be acquired by those who aspire to be private island owners.In an effort to promote the development and utilization of uninhabited islands in China,a succession of laws and regulations have been formulated,including the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Offshore Islands,and the Application and Approval Measures on the Development and Utilization of Uninhabited Islands,among others.As the only tropical province in China,Hainan province boasts a large number of uninhabited islands,many of which are desired by prospective island owners.In order to promote the development of uninhabited islands,the Application and Approval Measures on the Development and Utilization of Uninhabited Islands in Hainan Province had been promulgated.Based on a detailed introduction on the main contents of the Measures,it is found that the Measures has set an innovative example for its kind in terms of the real estate publicity system,the construction permit and acceptance systems,solutions to using the islands before the issue of Island Protection Law,and verification systems.Nevertheless,the actual implementation of the Measures still brings a host of challenges with it.These relate to aspects of the Measures such as supply regulation premised on regulatory equilibrium,spatial planning with"Multiple-plan Coordination",and coordination between regulations on sea areas and islands.This paper proposes to maximize efforts to refine and coordinate general planning,to innovate systems and procedures regarding the use of islands and to promote the development and utilization of uninhabited islands through protective development in line with international standards.

Serologic Detection of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>in Cat Owners Residing at Dhaka Metropolitan Area of Bangladesh

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan that can infect any warm-blooded mammal. T. gondii infects about one-third of the human population on the planet. Infection with the parasite in human causes toxoplasmosis that may pose a high risk in immunocompromised individuals under certain clinical conditions. Cats are the ultimate hosts of T. gondii where oocysts are formed through mating of male and female gametes. Infected cats can expel T. gondii oocysts in their feces, and thereby capable of pass on a disease to humans and other animals through consumption of foods, vegetables and water that are polluted with cat feces. The study was conducted to detect the presence of anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies in the blood of individuals with or without cat contact to determine if there is any relationship between cat contacts and T. gondii infection in humans. To address this, we enrolled subjects who contacted with the cat as target group and individuals with no cat contact as control group. Following register of different demographic data (including age, sex, education, foods habit, income status, etc.), whole blood from each enrolled subject of both the target group and control group was collected for serum preparation. T. gondii infected subjects were detected by Toxo Rapid test kit through identifying anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies in their serum. We found that only three out of twenty subjects who were in contact with cat showed positive IgG response while IgM antibody response was absent for all subjects. When compared with the data from control group, we did not find any significant association (p = 0.33) of cat contact with the transmission of T. gondii into human. However, with this small number of study subjects, we cannot conclusively say that there is no impact of cat contact on the transmission of T. gondii into human. Whether any association exists or not can be ascertained with a large number of subjects from different areas of Bangladesh in a future study in the population.

BIM-Enabled Estimating through Technology Ontology for Owners and Contractors

There are progressive architects, engineers, contractors and owners that adopt some of the newest technologies for financial benefits. The moving force to integrate BIM （building information modeling） tools may come from owners demanding a BIM deliverable to approve the work on these projects. Ifa contractor can produce this deliverable, then obtaining the project could be done in a more convincing way. Contractors are confronted with problems in selecting proper construction methods and applying their knowledge about specific and well-defined technologies to a project. Their decision-making process and better project outcomes can be improved through a database-oriented library of construction methods and therefore, a consistent methodology to classify construction methods is needed. This goal can be achieved by introducing rigorous construction method descriptors. The technology solution and the trending need of owners to pay software companies to develop software that really works for them and contractors are empirically proved in this paper through a technology ontology and BIM-enabled estimating procedure. An exploratory case study is presented. This way, owners can efficiently demand deliverables that can be utilized by them downstream, allowing contractors and subcontracting trades to work efficiently and to assure the daily flow of operations.

Private Forest Owners Play Key Role in European Forest Derived Fuel Utilization

The AFO （activating private forest owners to increase forest fuel supply） project was set up to discover the best tools for activating an important fraction of the 12 million PFOs （private forest owners） in Europe to supply wood fuel, especially to small and medium-sized heating plants. It aimed to increase the utilization of Europe＇s vast forest fuel reserves. This was expected to benefit both the economy of the forest owners and rural areas and increase the use of renewable energy sources. The project was carried out between 2009 and 2012. The project operated in selected target regions that have a high proportion of private forest ownership （France, Slovenia, Latvia and the UK）. It started by analyzing the potential wood fuel supply and use in relation to current regional markets. After assessing through inquiries the potential wood fuel supply and demand and the parties involved, the next step was to initiate and support the formation of wood fuel supply clusters and organize supply chains. This was followed by the dissemination of best practice examples from Austria and Finland--countries with the most expertise and long traditions of forest fuel production. In the last phase of the project, results and approved activation methods were disseminated to all 27 EU （European Union） countries.

ITMA ASIA+CITME show owners extend cooperation to launch combined exhibition in Singapore

8 June 2023,Milan–The show owners of ITMA ASIA+CITME have extended their collaboration to organise the combined textile machinery exhibition in a second Asian location.The combined exhibition has been held biennially in Shanghai since 2008.

THE ADOPTION OF AN INNOVATION:BARRIERS TO USE OF GREEN ROOFS EXPERIENCED BY MIDWEST ARCHITECTS AND BUILDING OWNERS

While green roof technologies are increasingly employed in Northern European countries,adoption is progressing at amuch slower rate in the US.This manuscript discusses results of a survey that quantified knowledge,barriers,and perceivedcosts and benefits to use of green roof technology among a sample of architects and building owners in the Midwest.The survey also examined conditions that may encourage use of this technology among the respondents.Resultsshow that many respondents do not fully recognize the economic or performance advantages offered by green roof technologies.The payback period for economic advantage is longer than owners are willing to consider.Both owners andarchitects possess a wide range of misconceptions about the performance advantages of green roofs.While green roof technologyoffers clear environmental advantages such as reduced stormwater runoff,increased habitat,and cooler temperaturesthat mitigate heat island effects,many building owner respondents either do not know about or value these advantages.This research quantified potential adopters’perceptions of an innovative technology and the survey results areinterpreted and discussed within the conceptual framework of innovation diffusion literature.Strategies to hasten theadoption of green roof technology are suggested.

Co-Owner与犬的租借

Co-Owner Co-Owner也就是共同拥有!我们都知道,国外有很多知名的犬都是这样有两个共同的主人,当犬舍之间有合作关系或其他互补条件时,一只狗是同时被两个或两个以上犬舍所共同拥有!

Do common owners influence corporate social responsibility? Firm-level evidence from China

Using a sample of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2007 to 2018,this article explores the influence of common owners on corporate social responsibility(CSR).The results show that common owners significantly promote CSR investment,indicating that increased CSR represents a bright side to common owners,in contrast to their anticompetitive effect.Further analysis shows that the nature of state ownership significantly weakens the positive relationship between common owners and CSR investment.Prospector firms strengthen the positive influence of common owners on CSR investment,whereas defender firms weaken the effect.Moreover,common owners benefit from increasing CSR investment,and co-owned firms benefit by easing their financial constraints when they invest or increase their investment in social responsibility.The findings enhance the outstanding of how common owners affect corporate behavior and enrich the literature on common ownership and CSR investment.

Social Origins and Political Participation of Private Business Owners in Beijing

Over the past 30 years, Chinese society has undergone an enormous social transition. Along with the rise of a private economy, private business owners have emerged as a new social stratum, which attracts academic attention domestically and internationally. As for the social origins of the private business owners, some of the private business owners are former cadres and current members of the Chinese Communist Party（CCP）. A question rarely pursued is what effects these ties have on political participation of＂ private business owners. The paper explores this question on the basis of data gathered in a representative survey of private enterprises in 2006. The study shows that the Chinese private business owners have diverse social origins, and their behavior in terms of political participation is also distinct in some ways. When it comes to the patterns of political participation of the private business owners, CCP members and former officials among private business owners indeed have unique characteristics in their access to political resources, but the patterns of political participation vary between these two groups. Furthermore, there are also considerable differences between members of the CCP and democratic parties in China in these respects. These findings cast doubt on the common use of CCP membership and occupational experience as cadre as interchangeable indicators for the ＂political capital＂ of business owners. A more differentiated understanding of the nature of political capital and mechanisms by which it is put to use by private entrepreneurs in China is called for.

Encrypted data sharing with multi-owner based on digital rights management in online social networks

The online social networks（OSNs） offer attractive means for social interactions and data sharing, as well as raise a number of security and privacy issues. Although current solutions propose to encrypt data before sharing, the access control of encrypted data has become a challenging task. Moreover, multiple owners may enforce different access policy to the same data because of their different privacy concerns. A digital rights management（DRM） scheme is proposed for encrypted data in OSNs. In order to protect users＇ sensitive data, the scheme allows users outsource encrypted data to the OSNs service provider for sharing and customize the access policy of their data based on ciphertext-policy attribute-based encryption. Furthermore, the scheme presents a multiparty access control model based on identity-based broadcast encryption and ciphertext-policy attribute-based proxy re-encryption, which enables multiple owners, such as tagged users who appear in a single data, customize the access policy collaboratively, and also allows the disseminators update the access policy if their attributes satisfy the existing access policy. Security analysis and comparison indicate that the proposed scheme is secure and efficient.

Dedicated Services Guarantee Owner Satisfaction-Lexus launches Summer Refreshing vehicle maintenance program

Lexus’After-sales Services upgrade:From July 1 to August 31,Lexus introduces the Summer Refreshing vehicle maintenance program to owners across China.

Dog Owners: Time for Walkies!

国人和国际“接轨”的速度是很快的。“贵夫人手牵哈巴狗在街头漫步”似乎昨日还是三十年代的影片中的镜头,而今已是现实生活中的“实景”!宠物有助养生,然而,事物都有两面性。有人认为,手牵宠物散步,也是锻炼。本文打消了此种误解:Dog owners get less exercise than non-dog owners!本文出现bites一词,此词却不是“咬”的意思(附带说明,上海去年有6万多人被宠物狗咬伤)。另外,本文出现了countrymen一词,它的含义是:同胞;同国人。但是,本文作者却“添足”成:his countrymen and women。请注意语言的变化。作者未必就是女权主义者(feminism)

Guard Dog Chases Medics from Dying Owner

一出悲喜剧!主人将自己的防身犬训练得如此成功,结果,当自己病重时,防身犬居然不让医护人员靠近主人,耽搁了宝贵的抢救时间,主人因此丧命!最可欣赏的是本文的主题句。我跟学生讲,假如能写出如此信息量丰富的短句,你的英语写作便上了一层楼!

A-Kano模型下全过程工程咨询业主需求实证研究

我国全过程工程咨询实践正处于多种模式并存、咨询内容差异较大的探索性阶段。以业主需求为导向,合理确定咨询服务内容,提升全过程工程咨询企业服务能力,是推进全过程工程咨询健康发展的关键。通过梳理相关文献,识别出12种全过程工程咨询业主需求,进而借助A-Kano模型开展正、负向满意度与重要度问卷调查,并计算出各类需求的优先级。实证分析结果表明:工程监理和造价咨询属于基本型需求;项目管理、设计及勘察属于期望型需求;招标代理、前期策划和BIM咨询为兴奋型需求;后期运营、建筑节能与绿色建筑咨询、工程检测服务以及工程保险咨询为无差异需求。基于上述结果为工程咨询企业提出转型建议,使其更好地满足业主集成化、个性化的咨询需求。

“链主”企业提升产业链现代化水平的功能作用与实现路径

产业链现代化是全面建成社会主义现代化强国的重要组成部分。“链主”企业是引领产业链发展的“牛鼻子”,对提升产业链现代化水平具有独特价值。为此,研究基于全球产业链重构背景,分析我国产业链现代化发展面临的现实挑战。进一步提出履行国家使命是驱动“链主”企业提升产业链现代化的源动力,并基于“架构者”角色理论,深入阐述了“链主”企业的主要功能。在此基础上,从加大战略性新兴产业布局、构建产业生态系统、打造原创技术“策源地”、加快数智化绿色化转型、厚植企业发展沃土、加强高水平开放合作等方面入手,探讨“链主”企业推动产业链现代化发展的实现路径。

数字平台生态系统的动态治理机制研究——基于平台所有者与互补者交互影响的视角

有效治理是数字平台生态系统可持续发展的关键,治理机制已经成为当前数字平台生态系统研究中备受关注的议题。已有研究大多从静态视角审视平台治理机制,而没有采用动态视角对平台演化发展过程中治理机制的变化展开详细的分析。将数字平台生态系统的演化发展总结为涌现阶段、震荡阶段、规范阶段、更新阶段,基于平台所有者与互补者交互影响视角分析不同阶段的重要特征和关键挑战,提出基于开放、控制、制度化、变革的治理模式。涌现阶段需采取解耦策略、开放访问权限、资源信息提供、共生推广战略、建立互动机制等措施应对选择关键互补者合作和鼓励吸引互补者加入等挑战;震荡阶段需采取访问权限设置与反馈系统、纠纷解决机制、行为控制、外部关系控制、规范交易过程等措施应对避免互补者竞争加剧和筛选锁定互补者等挑战;规范阶段需采取分配协商程序、限制所有者权力、授予自主权、确保程序公正等措施应对明确各自战略定位、确立价值分配机制等挑战;更新阶段需采取提升平台质量、关注互补者反应、关注前沿数字技术、协作组织设计、促进共同成长等措施应对建立新的价值主张和实施平台变革等挑战。

论被代理人直接取得买卖物的所有权

在显名代理关系中,买卖合同系被代理人和出卖人的合意,被代理人不但承受买卖合同项下的债权债务,而且直接取得买卖物的所有权,代理人对买卖物为占有辅助或媒介占有关系。无论买卖物为动产抑或不动产,这一结论都不改变。隐名代理动产买卖在适用《民法典》第925条时,其法律效果与显名代理动产买卖相同,即由借名人直接取得买卖物的所有权;若适用《民法典》第926条的规定,当出名人披露、借名人行使介入权且出卖人选择借名人承受动产买卖合同项下的法律效果时,则借名人直接取得买卖物的所有权。对于隐名代理不动产买卖,有权处分说认为出名人取得不动产所有权,无权处分说则主张借名人直接取得不动产所有权,其路径有三:第一,把不动产物权登记在出名人名下的现象视作登记错误,在出名人和借名人的内部关系中,将不动产物权归属于借名人;第二,把为借名人的利益承受房屋登记的出名人看成“借名人方面的人”,即“取得媒介人”,出卖人向其办理不动产转移登记等于向借名人转移登记;第三,区分内部与外部关系,在外部关系中,出名人依不动产物权登记成为不动产物权人,而在内部关系中,借名人径直取得不动产物权。由于借名购房处于代理关系的架构中,故借名购房合同应被视为借名人与出卖人之间的合意,由借名人直接承受相应的权利义务。