La biomasse forestière peut être une source de molécules d’intérêt dans le but de substituer ou de compléter les molécules pétro-sourcées. Par conséquent, une valorisation innovante des extractibles ...du bois semble être une opportunité économique, sociale et environnementale. L’objectif de notre étude est de mieux cerner les perspectives d’émergence d’une nouvelle valorisation chimique des connexes bois pour la région Grand Est, à partir des avis et ressentis des acteurs de la filière forêt-bois et de la valorisation chimique de cette région ainsi que de territoires voisins. Nos résultats se portent sur trois axes : les stratégies de valorisation des connexes des entreprises de la filière forêt-bois, les perceptions des acteurs sur l’émergence d’une filière forêt-chimie, et les perspectives de mise en place d’une telle filière à moyen terme. Nous conviendrons tout de même que les résultats doivent être approfondis dans le cadre de perspectives de recherche pour préciser les conditions de la mise en œuvre de cette filière.
Oak (Quercus petraea and Quercus robur), an emblematic species in French forests, has a strong patrimonial value and plays a leading role in the forestry and forest-based industry. However, the ...industry appears to be confronted with major problems (e.g. supply to markets). We tried to better understand and analyse those problems by studying the oak chain in north eastern France (Alsace, Franche-Comté, Lorraine) through interviews conducted with public forest managers and players involved in primary processing. In order to survey a broad range of points of view and have a basis for comparison, the study area also included two Landers in south western Germany (Baden-Wurttemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate). A qualitative analysis of 25 interviews conducted on both sides of the Franco-German border enabled us to identify contrasting views and points of consensus about the issues relating to forest resources, the perception of the sector by the players and the entrepreneurial dynamic. Possible future developments could also be distinguished, some of which are already discussed in the literature while others were particular to this survey.
Le Chêne (Quercus petraea et Quercus robur), essence emblématique de la forêt française, a une valeur patrimoniale forte et joue un rôle majeur dans la filière forêt-bois. Néanmoins, cette filière semble être confrontée à des problèmes importants (par exemple au niveau de l’approvisionnement et des marchés) que nous avons cherché à mieux comprendre et à analyser. Notre étude s’intéresse plus particulièrement à la filière Chêne dans le nord-est de la France (Alsace, Franche-Comté, Lorraine) et se base sur des entretiens réalisés auprès de gestionnaires forestiers publics et d’acteurs de la première transformation. Afin d’obtenir une gamme large de points de vue et de disposer d’éléments de comparaison, la zone d’étude intègre également deux Länder du sud-ouest de l’Allemagne (Bade-Wurtemberg, Rhénanie-Palatinat). L’analyse qualitative de 25 entretiens, réalisés de part et d’autre de la frontière franco-allemande, a permis de dégager des avis divergents et des points de consensus au sujet de thématiques relatives à la ressource forestière, à la perception de la filière par les acteurs et aux dynamiques d’entreprise. Des perspectives d’évolution ont aussi pu être distinguées, comprenant des réflexions déjà évoquées dans la littérature et d’autres plus personnelles à cette étude.
Several plywood materials made from spruce wood and, for comparison, solid spruce wood were investigated focusing on the sub-macroscopic damage evolution during tensile loading of the specimens. The ...destructive tests were simultaneously monitored by the acoustic emission (AE) method and strain field deformation measurement using digital image correlation (DIC). The bilinear interpretation of exponential defect growth identified the start of significant nonlinear behavior at 70 % of ultimate strength for all plywood materials. However, already the preceding and more stable damage evolution at lower stress levels has indicated a variation in intensity of the source mechanisms evaluated by AE energy of the detected events. Additional information on the formation of strain field concentration, which correlates with discrete accumulation in AE events and increased spreading in the distribution of AE energy, reveals the complexity of pre-damage due to the variation in cracks’ magnitude and timescales involved. The correlation between ultimate tensile strength and damage accumulation below 70 % of ultimate strength is determined, as well as the influence of layered structures on damage size shown by the percentage distribution of AE energy.
Germany (D), Austria (A) and Switzerland (CH) share a long tradition in monitoring the economic performance of forest enterprises by means of forest accountancy networks. The results generated by ...these networks are a valuable empirical basis for forestry sector statistics in these countries. In the context of international analyses it is common practice to compare results between countries directly, without addressing the issue of compatibility. However, severe biases and even misjudgements may result from such simplistic approaches. These networks have been developed as national solutions, and their results are neither grounded on common methodological standards nor on attuned definitions, so that their compatibility is not guaranteed. The rising interest in international comparisons indicates that existing accountancy networks may well serve additional purposes. At the same time the importance of compatibility, if not standardisation, is highlighted. The institutions in charge of forestry accountancy networks in these countries recently launched an initiative to establish comparable datasets and to provide additional background information allowing a sound interpretation of any differences. This paper reflects the associated challenges, describes the agreements achieved as well as the common approaches adopted, and presents respective forestry financial results. This example illustrates the prospects as well as the limitations of deriving comparable data from heterogeneous sources. Initially, only few ratios are suited for valid comparisons. However, international compatibility could be improved substantially by computing alternative aggregates following a harmonized concept, the individual records of the participating enterprises providing respective details. In respect to some items, harmonization still hinges on specific amendments of the national data-frames. The preliminary findings indicate that the significance of biases varies to a great extent, so that a specific and prudent assessment is suggested. It is recommended that respective interfaces are provided when designing new forest accountancy data networks and amending existing ones in this respect.
This paper examines the current situation and future prospects for community forestry in the south-west of Germany. A classification of functional types of community forests and a unique form of ...forest administration as an appropriate reaction to the intensive mixture of ownership types are explained. In most cases institutional support is more important than direct measure-related subsidies. The results of customer satisfaction analysis and indicators including participation in the state ranger system provide evidence that the model of Public-Public-Partnership (PuPuP) has proved successful. The role of various forest functions in the individual community is highlighted. High productivity in community forests, increasing wood consumption in the housing sector and increasing use for energy production suggest favourable prospects for community forestry in Baden-Wurttemberg. Equally important are efforts to increase technical efficiency of production. Improved stakeholder communication can result in a better perception of the importance of forestry. The paper also identifies relevant threats to community forestry. The increasing cost-price squeeze is one of the crucial risks for communal forest enterprises. Additionally, an anti-trust campaign of the timber industry endangers their market position. A reorganisation of the state forest administration will result in a lower level of financial and institutional support.
Therapy with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, or statins, has proven to be effective in the treatment of lipid disorders. However, statin therapy continues to be ...underused, even though statins are a relatively safe and well-tolerated class of agents. In this study, we assessed trends in lipid control in patients with heart disease who receive most of their health care in primary care clinics. The objective was to determine whether systems of care implemented within a large medical group are associated with improved treatment and control of dyslipidemia in a high-risk group of coronary heart disease patients.
All adults with heart disease in a Minnesota medical group (N = 2947) were identified using diagnosis and procedure codes related to coronary heart disease (sensitivity = 0.85; positive predictive value = 0.89) in 1996. Study subjects were observed from 1995 to 1998. Subjects had a baseline and follow-up test for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Changes between baseline and follow-up measurements and trends in the use of statins and other lipid-active agents among the study subjects were analyzed.
Among 1388 subjects with two or more eligible lipid measurements, mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol improved from 137.6 mg/dL to 111.0 mg/dL (P < .001), and mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol improved from 42.3 mg/dL to 46.3 mg/dL (P < .001). The percentage of patients with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol < or = 100 mg/dL rose from 12.5% to 39.8% (P < .001), and the percentage with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol > or = 40 mg/dL rose from 52.5% to 67.6% (P < .001). In multivariate models, statin use was identified as the main factor that contributed to the improvement in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < .001). Men had greater decreases in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol than women after adjusting for other variables (P < .001). Statin use rose from 24.3% at baseline to 69.6% at follow-up. The statin discontinuation rate was 8.3% for baseline statin users and 12.2% for subjects who used statins at any time during the study period.
Investment in better heart disease care for patients in primary care clinics led to major improvement in lipid control over 30 months, primarily due to increased statin use. Improvements in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were sufficient to substantially reduce risk of subsequent major cardiovascular events.
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