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This study examined the impact of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic on loneliness, wellbeing, and social activity, including social support, in Scottish older adults. A mixed methods online survey was used to examine these factors during social distancing mid-lockdown, July 2020. Participants were asked to state whether loneliness, wellbeing, social activity, and social support had changed since pre-social distancing, and to provide details of strategies used to keep socially active. A total of 1429 adults (84% aged 60+ years) living in Scotland took part. The majority reported that social distancing regulations made them experience more loneliness and less social contact and support. Loneliness during lockdown was higher than reported norms for this age group before the pandemic. A larger social network, more social contact, and better perceived social support seemed to be protective against loneliness and poor wellbeing. Positive coping strategies reported included increasing online social contact with both existing social networks and reconnecting with previous networks, as well as increasing contact with neighbours and people in the community. This underlines the importance of addressing loneliness and social support in older adults but particularly during situations where risk of isolation is high.

Following stand-replacing wildfire, post-fire (salvage) logging of fire-killed trees is a widely implemented management practice in many forest types. A common hypothesis is that removal of fire-killed trees increases surface temperatures due to loss of shade and increased solar radiation, thereby influencing vegetation establishment and possibly stand development. Six years after a wildfire in a Mediterranean-climate mixed-conifer forest in southwest Oregon, USA, we measured the effects of post-fire logging (> 90 per cent dead tree (snag) removal) on growing season surface air temperatures. Compared with unlogged severely burned forest, post-fire logging did not lead to increased maximum daily surface air temperature. However, dead tree removal was associated with lower nightly minimum temperatures (similar to 1 degrees C) and earlier daytime heating, leading to a 1-2 degrees C difference during the warming portion of the day. Effects varied predictably by aspect. The patterns reported here represent a similar but muted pattern as previously reported for microclimatic changes following clear-cutting of green trees. Effects of microsites such as tree bases on fine-scale temperature regimes require further investigation.

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Joint ventures can be general or for particular purposes, such as research and development or marketing and distribution. Advantages include financing and funding, validation of technology, access to technology, access to manufacturing and project management expertise, access to distribution channels, access to regulatory expertise, elimination of duplication, reduction of risk, entry to new markets, economies of scale and pooling of complementary resources. Disadvantages are high administrative costs, long-term commitment, the number of participants and compatability requirements. Structuring issues to be considered when embarking on a joint venture include its scope, purpose and exclusivity, financial structure, funding, governance and management, the transfer of personnel, construction of production facilities, supply of raw materials, marketing, licensing and confidentiality, service agreements, financial policy and accounting, duration and termination, transfer of interests, defaults and remedies, dispute resolution, guarantees and force majeure., Joint ventures can be general or for particular purposes, such as research and development or marketing and distribution. Advantages include financing and funding, validation of technology, access to technology, access to manufacturing and project management expertise, access to distribution channels, access to regulatory expertise, elimination of duplication, reduction of risk, entry to new markets, economies of scale and pooling of complementary resources. Disadvantages are high administrative costs, long-term commitment, the number of participants and compatability requirements. Structuring issues to be considered when embarking on a joint venture include its scope, purpose and exclusivity, financial structure, funding, governance and management, the transfer of personnel, construction of production facilities, supply of raw materials, marketing, licensing and confidentiality, service agreements, financial policy and accounting, duration and termination, transfer of interests, defaults and remedies, dispute resolution, guarantees and force majeure.