Crescimento da firma e comércio exterior: revisitando a teoria de Adrian Wood

This paper analyzes the growth of the firm by foreign trade. The theory of Adrian Wood is revisited for the analysis of growth and profit trade-off and improved to cope with growth by exports. The main outcome of this paper is that low domestic demand can be a very important factor to firm choices growth by foreign market. However, the growth of domestic demand does not necessarily reduce exports.

Tuotannon- ja materiaalinsuunnittelu ja sen ennustaminen Metsä Wood:n Suolahden koivuvaneritehtaalla

Tässä diplomityössä tutkitaan Metsä Woodin Suolahden koivuvaneritehtaan toimitustarkkuuteen negatiivisesti vaikuttavia tekijöitä. Tarkoituksena on löytää ne ongelmakohdat, mitkä heijastuvat toimitusten myöhästymisenä sekä muutostekijät, mitkä vaikuttavat toimitusviikon myöntämiseen. Lisäksi työssä kartoitetaan kuinka hyvin tietoa ja informaatiota on tarjolla sitä tarvitseville henkilöstötahoille. Teoriaosuudessa tarkastellaan tuotannonsuunnitteluun liittyviä teorioita sekä tiedon liikkumista organisaation sisällä. Työssä kuvataan Suolahden koivuvaneritehtaan nykyinen vanerin valmistusprosessi ja tuotannonsuunnittelu. Varsinainen tutkimustyö suoritetaan laadullisia tutkimusmenetelmiä hyväksikäyttäen. Tulosten tarkastelussa käsitellään työn aikana tapahtuneita muutoksia ja ongelmakohtia sekä analysoidaan kyselytutkimuksen tuloksia ja tulosten luotettavuutta. Yhteenvedossa esitetään pääongelmakohdat ja niiden ratkaisut ja esitetään uusia mielenkiintoisia jatkotutkimusaiheita.

Wood species identification by visual characterization of fibers

Kandidaatintyö tehtiin osana PulpVision-tutkimusprojektia, jonka tarkoituksena on kehittää kuvapohjaisia laskenta- ja luokittelumetodeja sellun laaduntarkkailuun paperin valmistuksessa. Tämän tutkimusprojektin osana on aiemmin kehitetty metodi, jolla etsittiin kaarevia rakenteita kuvista, ja tätä metodia hyödynnettiin kuitujen etsintään kuvista. Tätä metodia käytettiin lähtökohtana kandidaatintyölle. Työn tarkoituksena oli tutkia, voidaanko erilaisista kuitukuvista laskettujen piirteiden avulla tunnistaa kuvassa olevien kuitujen laji. Näissä kuitukuvissa oli kuituja neljästä eri puulajista ja yhdestä kasvista. Nämä lajit olivat akasia, koivu, mänty, eukalyptus ja vehnä. Jokaisesta lajista valittiin 100 kuitukuvaa ja nämä kuvat jaettiin kahteen ryhmään, joista ensimmäistä käytettiin opetusryhmänä ja toista testausryhmänä. Opetusryhmän avulla jokaiselle kuitulajille laskettiin näitä kuvaavia piirteitä, joiden avulla pyrittiin tunnistamaan testausryhmän kuvissa olevat kuitulajit. Nämä kuvat oli tuottanut CEMIS-Oulu (Center for Measurement and Information Systems), joka on mittaustekniikkaan keskittynyt yksikkö Oulun yliopistossa. Yksittäiselle opetusryhmän kuitukuvalle laskettiin keskiarvot ja keskihajonnat kolmesta eri piirteestä, jotka olivat pituus, leveys ja kaarevuus. Lisäksi laskettiin, kuinka monta kuitua kuvasta löydettiin. Näiden piirteiden eri yhdistelmien avulla testattiin tunnistamisen tarkkuutta käyttämällä k:n lähimmän naapurin menetelmää ja Naiivi Bayes -luokitinta testausryhmän kuville. Testeistä saatiin lupaavia tuloksia muun muassa pituuden ja leveyden keskiarvoja käytettäessä saavutettiin jopa noin 98 %:n tarkkuus molemmilla algoritmeilla. Tunnistuksessa kuitujen keskimäärinen pituus vaikutti olevan kuitukuvia parhaiten kuvaava piirre. Käytettyjen algoritmien välillä ei ollut suurta vaihtelua tarkkuudessa. Testeissä saatujen tulosten perusteella voidaan todeta, että kuitukuvien tunnistaminen on mahdollista. Testien perusteella kuitukuvista tarvitsee laskea vain kaksi piirrettä, joilla kuidut voidaan tunnistaa tarkasti. Käytetyt lajittelualgoritmit olivat hyvin yksinkertaisia, mutta ne toimivat testeissä hyvin.

Research progress in wood-plastic composites: A review

The interest towards wood-plastic composites (WPCs) is growing due to growing interest in materials with novel properties, which can replace more traditional materials, such as wood and plastic. The use of recycled materials in manufacture is also a bonus. However, the application ofWPCs has been limited because of their often poor mechanical and barrier properties, which can be improved by incorporation of the reinforcing fillers. Nanosized fillers, having a large surface area, can significantly increase interfacial interactions in the composite on molecular level, leading to materials with new properties. The review summarizes the development trends in the use on nanofillers for WPC design, which were reported in accessible literature during the last decade. The effect of the nanofillers on the mechanical properties, thermal stability, flammability and wettability ofWPC is discussed.

Reorganising purchasing organisation – Case Metsä Wood

The purpose of this study is to investigate how a global company should organise its purchasing operations. The theoretical framework of this study consists of organisation structures, management and coordination, purchasing organisational design, capabilities and outsourcing. The research is a qualitative case study and the used method was theme interview. Four global large scale companies were interviewed for this research in order to gain knowledge about how other companies have organised their purchasing functions and to gather their best practices. Interview results and theoretical framework were compared in order to test the theoretical framework and to create a detailed framework about how to organise purchasing operations in a global company. As a result a 14 point model about effective purchasing operation organisation for a global company was created. This model includes all the key determinants which should be considered when organising the purchasing operations. The results show that the organising decision should be always in line with company and purchasing strategies. Strategic purchasing operations should be centralized and operative tasks decentralized.

Optimal Recycling Combination of Ash in South-East Finland

The present world energy production is heavily relying on the combustion of solid fuels like coals, peat, biomass, municipal solid waste, whereas the share of renewable fuels is anticipated to increase in the future to mitigate climate change. In Finland, peat and wood are widely used for energy production. In any case, the combustion of solid fuels results in generation of several types of thermal conversion residues, such as bottom ash, fly ash, and boiler slag. The predominant residue type is determined by the incineration technology applied, while its composition is primarily relevant to the composition of fuels combusted. An extensive research has been conducted on technical suitability of ash for multiple recycling methods. Most of attention was drawn to the recycling of the coal combustion residues, as coal is the primary solid fuel consumed globally. The recycling methods of coal residues include utilization in a cement industry, in concrete manufacturing, and mine backfilling, to name few. Biomass combustion residues were also studied to some extent with forest fertilization, road construction, and road stabilization being the predominant utilization options. Lastly, residues form municipal solid waste incineration attracted more attention recently following the growing number of waste incineration plants globally. The recycling methods of waste incineration residues are the most limited due to its hazardous nature and varying composition, and include, among others, landfill construction, road construction, mine backfilling. In the study, environmental and economic aspects of multiple recycling options of thermal conversion residues generated within a case-study area were studied. The case-study area was South-East Finland. The environmental analysis was performed using an internationally recognized methodology — life cycle assessment. Economic assessment was conducted applying a widely used methodology — cost-benefit analysis. Finally, the results of the analyses were combined to enable easier comparison of the recycling methods. The recycling methods included the use of ash in forest fertilization, road construction, road stabilization, and landfill construction. Ash landfilling was set as a baseline scenario. Quantitative data about the amounts of ash generated and its composition was obtained from companies, their environmental reports, technical reports and other previously published literature. Overall, the amount of ash in the case-study area was 101 700 t. However, the data about 58 400 t of fly ash and 35 100 t of bottom ash and boiler slag were included in the study due to lack of data about leaching of heavy metals in some cases. The recycling methods were modelled according to the scientific studies published previously. Overall, the results of the study indicated that ash utilization for fertilization and neutralization of 17 600 ha of forest was the most economically beneficial method, which resulted in the net present value increase by 58% compared to ash landfilling. Regarding the environmental impact, the use of ash in the construction of 11 km of roads was the most attractive method with decreased environmental impact of 13% compared to ash landfilling. The least preferred method was the use of ash for landfill construction since it only enabled 11% increase of net present value, while inducing additional 1% of negative impact on the environment. Therefore, a following recycling route was proposed in the study. Where possible and legally acceptable, recycle fly and bottom ash for forest fertilization, which has strictest requirements out of all studied methods. If the quality of fly ash is not suitable for forest fertilization, then it should be utilized, first, in paved road construction, second, in road stabilization. Bottom ash not suitable for forest fertilization, as well as boiler slag, should be used in landfill construction. Landfilling should only be practiced when recycling by either of the methods is not possible due to legal requirements or there is not enough demand on the market. Current demand on ash and possible changes in the future were assessed in the study. Currently, the area of forest fertilized in the case-study are is only 451 ha, whereas about 17 600 ha of forest could be fertilized with ash generated in the region. Provided that the average forest fertilizing values in Finland are higher and the area treated with fellings is about 40 000 ha, the amount of ash utilized in forest fertilization could be increased. Regarding road construction, no new projects launched by the Center of Economic Development, Transport and the Environment in the case-study area were identified. A potential application can be found in the construction of private roads. However, no centralized data about such projects is available. The use of ash in stabilization of forest roads is not expected to increased in the future with a current downwards trend in the length of forest roads built. Finally, the use of ash in landfill construction is not a promising option due to the reducing number of landfills in operation in Finland.

The efficacy of anti-predator behaviour in the wood fog tadpole (Rana sylvatica) /

Activity has been suggested as an important behaviour that is tightly linked with predator avoidance in tadpoles. In this thesis I examine predator-prey relationships using wood frog tadpoles {Rana sylvaticd) as prey and dragonfly larvae {AnaxJunius) and backswimmers {Notonecta undulatd) as predators. I explore the role of prey activity in predator attack rates, prey response to single and multiple predator introductions, and prey survivorship. The data suggest that Anax is the more successful predator, able to capture both active and inactive tadpoles. In contrast, Notonecta strike at inactive prey less frequently and are seldom successftil when they do. A mesocosm study revealed that the presence of any predator resulted in reduced activity level of tadpoles. Each predator species alone had similar effects on tadpole activity, as did the combined predator treatment. Tadpole survivorship, however, differed significantly among both predator treatments and prey populations. Tadpwles in the combined predator treatment had enhanced risk; survivorship was lower than that expected if the two predators had additive effects. Differences in survivorship among wood frog populations showed that tadpoles from a lake habitat had the lowest survivorship, those from a shallow pond habitat had an intermediate survivorship, and tadpoles from a marsh habitat had the highest survivorship. The frequency of interactions with predators in the native habitat may be driving the population differences observed. In conclusion, results from this study show that complex interactions exist between predators, prey, and the environment, with activity playing a key role in the survival of tadpoles.

Residues in soils : a gas chromatography - mass spectrometry study

Combined gas chromatography and mass spectrometry has been used to identify unknown residues in soils (especially pesticides). The effect of U.V. light on DDT and linuron and quantitative estimation of elemental sulfur in different soils has also been carried out.

Welland Canal Survey of Lands Samuel Wood Esquire, 1828

Survey map and description of Samuel Wood's land created by The Welland Canal Company. Included is a written description of the land along with a drawing of the land. The same description of the land is also in a deed dated Septmeber 16, 1828 (see county registry 739). Noteable features include; the canal, the tow path, the tow path bridge. Surveyor notes are seen in pencil on the map. The original deed for the land is dated May 16, 1828.

Joanna E. Wood short stories, 1898-1900

Joanna Ellen Wood (1867-1927) was an acclaimed Canadian author who wrote several novels and short stories. Wood was born in Scotland, but emigrated to Canada with her family in 1869. In 1874 her father purchased a farm overlooking the Niagara River at Queenston. It is believed she was supported by her brother William, who encouraged her writing. She was based in New York City from 1887-1901, using William’s business address there to receive correspondence while she traveled or spent time in Queenston. Around 1906, Wood moved with her mother to Niagara-on-the-Lake, where she joined the Niagara Historical Society. By 1914, she was living in Buffalo, but later spent time at her sisters’ homes. It was at her sister’s home in Detroit where she suffered a stroke and died in 1927. Wood’s literary career was short-lived. She published her first novel, The Untempered Wind , in 1894, and a second novel, Judith Moore …, in 1898. Both novels received critical acclaim, and a third novel, Farden Ha', followed in 1902. Unfortunately the majority of Wood’s numerous and award-winning writings cannot be found. Her career peaked in 1901, when she was the highest paid Canadian fiction writer. For unknown reasons, her career abruptly ceased in 1902, with no further publications or mention made of her in the Canadian Magazine.

Letter to the Honourable William Dickson at Wood Lawn, Youngstown, New York from W. Bushby

Letter to the Honourable William Dickson at Wood Lawn, Youngstown, New York from W. Bushby. He says that Mary is probably going to marry Mr. Lyon and he asks if there is any chance that Mr. Dickson could come for the wedding. He says he heard about the death of George Hamilton from John Hamilton (3 ½ pages, handwritten), Sept. 29, 1836.

Inventory of goods and chattels belonging to Samuel Wood and delivered to the Honourable William Dickson

Inventory of goods and chattels belonging to Samuel Wood and delivered to the Honourable William Dickson (double-sided, handwritten page), Dec. 10, 1828.

The distribution of k-tuples of reduced residues

En 1940, Paul Erdős énonça une conjecture sur la distribution des classes inversibles modulo un entier. La présente thèse étudie la distribution des k-uplets de classes inversibles propose une preuve de la conjecture d'Erdős étendue au cas des k-uplets.

Rubber Solution Adhesives for Wood-to-Wood Bonding

Rubber solutions were prepared and used for bonding wood pieces. The effect of the variation of chlorinated natural rubber (CNR) and phenolformaldehyde (PF) resin in the adhesive solutions on lap shear strength was determined. Natural rubber and neoprene-based adhesive solutions were compared for their lap shear strength. The storage stability of the adhesive prepared was determined. The change in lap shear strength before and after being placed in cold water, hot water, acid, and alkali was tested. The bonding character of these adhesives was compared with different commercially available solution adhesives. The room-temperature aging resistance of wood joints was also determined. In all the studies, the adhesive prepared in the laboratory was found to be superior compared to the commercial adhesives.