title: Principal-principal conflicts: Is it a big problem in ASEAN 4 markets?

authors: Banchit, Azilawati

subjects: principal-principal conflicts

abstract: This paper examines the issue of principal-principal (PP) conflicts in large public listed companies in four ASEAN countries. The PP conflicts are regarded as a major problem in emerging markets and have attracted considerable attention. The percentage of cash dividend of total assets is used to measure the expropriation depicted in PP conflicts. A sample of companies with total assets of US$1 billion are filtered to select those with single/multiple block holders of shareholdings concentration equal to or greater than five percent. A regression model is estimated with PP conflicts as the dependent variable. The findings confirm the existence of PP conflicts, suggesting that large shareholders do expropriate company wealth by paying higher cash dividends. This expropriation occurs through agency perspective and makes it apparent that PP conflicts are a major problem in ASEAN markets.

text: Principal-principal conflicts: Is it a big problem in ASEAN 4 markets? This paper examines the issue of principal-principal (PP) conflicts in large public listed companies in four ASEAN countries. The PP conflicts are regarded as a major problem in emerging markets and have attracted considerable attention. The percentage of cash dividend of total assets is used to measure the expropriation depicted in PP conflicts. A sample of companies with total assets of US$1 billion are filtered to select those with single/multiple block holders of shareholdings concentration equal to or greater than five percent. A regression model is estimated with PP conflicts as the dependent variable. The findings confirm the existence of PP conflicts, suggesting that large shareholders do expropriate company wealth by paying higher cash dividends. This expropriation occurs through agency perspective and makes it apparent that PP conflicts are a major problem in ASEAN markets.

year: 2011-09

title: Characterizing porous microaggregates and soil organic matter sequestered in allophanic paleosols on Holocene tephras using synchrotron-based X-ray microscopy and spectroscopy

authors: Huang, Doreen Yu-Tuan

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Allophanic tephra-derived soils can sequester sizable quantities of soil organic matter (SOM). However, no studies have visualized the fine internal porous structure of allophanic soil microaggregates, nor studied the carbon structure preserved in such soils or paleosols. We used synchrotron radiation-based transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM) to perform 3D-tomography of the internal porous structure of dominantly allophanic soil microaggregates, and carbon near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure (C NEXAFS) spectroscopy to characterize SOM in ≤ 12,000-year-old tephra-derived allophane-rich (with minor ferrihydrite) paleosols. The TXM tomography showed a vast network of internal, tortuous nano-pores within an allophanic microaggregate comprising nanoaggregates. SOM in the allophanic paleosols at four sites was dominated by carboxylic/carbonyl functional groups with subordinate quinonic, aromatic, and aliphatic groups. All samples exhibited similar compositions despite differences between the sites. That the SOM does not comprise specific types of functional groups through time implies that the functional groups are relict. The SOM originated at the land/soil surface: ongoing tephra deposition (intermittently or abruptly) then caused the land-surface to rise so that the once-surface horizons were buried more deeply and hence became increasingly isolated from inputs by the surficial/modern organic cycle. The presence of quinonic carbon, from biological processes but vulnerable to oxygen and light, indicates the exceptional protection of SOM and bio-signals in allophanic paleosols, attributable both to the porous allophane (with ferrihydrite) aggregates that occlude the relict SOM from degradation, and to rapid burial by successive tephra-fallout, as well as strong Al-organic chemical bonding. TXM and C NEXAFS spectroscopy help to unravel the fine structure of soils and SOM and are of great potential for soil science studies.

text: Characterizing porous microaggregates and soil organic matter sequestered in allophanic paleosols on Holocene tephras using synchrotron-based X-ray microscopy and spectroscopy Allophanic tephra-derived soils can sequester sizable quantities of soil organic matter (SOM). However, no studies have visualized the fine internal porous structure of allophanic soil microaggregates, nor studied the carbon structure preserved in such soils or paleosols. We used synchrotron radiation-based transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM) to perform 3D-tomography of the internal porous structure of dominantly allophanic soil microaggregates, and carbon near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure (C NEXAFS) spectroscopy to characterize SOM in ≤ 12,000-year-old tephra-derived allophane-rich (with minor ferrihydrite) paleosols. The TXM tomography showed a vast network of internal, tortuous nano-pores within an allophanic microaggregate comprising nanoaggregates. SOM in the allophanic paleosols at four sites was dominated by carboxylic/carbonyl functional groups with subordinate quinonic, aromatic, and aliphatic groups. All samples exhibited similar compositions despite differences between the sites. That the SOM does not comprise specific types of functional groups through time implies that the functional groups are relict. The SOM originated at the land/soil surface: ongoing tephra deposition (intermittently or abruptly) then caused the land-surface to rise so that the once-surface horizons were buried more deeply and hence became increasingly isolated from inputs by the surficial/modern organic cycle. The presence of quinonic carbon, from biological processes but vulnerable to oxygen and light, indicates the exceptional protection of SOM and bio-signals in allophanic paleosols, attributable both to the porous allophane (with ferrihydrite) aggregates that occlude the relict SOM from degradation, and to rapid burial by successive tephra-fallout, as well as strong Al-organic chemical bonding. TXM and C NEXAFS spectroscopy help to unravel the fine structure of soils and SOM and are of great potential for soil science studies.

year: 2021

title: Māori beekeepers: Reframing New Zealand’s apiculture narratives

authors: Dimitrov, Dara

abstract: New Zealand’s historical apiculture narratives are dominated by the colonial settlers' experiences of beekeeping, which marginalised Māori experiences.  This has perpetuated the notion that historically, Maori had little to do with beekeeping.  However, this article contests this notion and demonstrates that after the introduction of the western honeybee, Māori were active participants in the apiculture industry, both as traders and beekeepers.  Moreover, this article explores the current contributions that Māori beekeepers make to New Zealand’s apiculture industry but continue to be ignored by the apiculture industry.  Despite this, this article shows that Māori beekeepers are making important contributions in the apiculture research space, working with researchers and research institutions to explore climate change impacts, floral honey diversity in the native forests and aspects of honeybee colony health.

text: Māori beekeepers: Reframing New Zealand’s apiculture narratives New Zealand’s historical apiculture narratives are dominated by the colonial settlers' experiences of beekeeping, which marginalised Māori experiences.  This has perpetuated the notion that historically, Maori had little to do with beekeeping.  However, this article contests this notion and demonstrates that after the introduction of the western honeybee, Māori were active participants in the apiculture industry, both as traders and beekeepers.  Moreover, this article explores the current contributions that Māori beekeepers make to New Zealand’s apiculture industry but continue to be ignored by the apiculture industry.  Despite this, this article shows that Māori beekeepers are making important contributions in the apiculture research space, working with researchers and research institutions to explore climate change impacts, floral honey diversity in the native forests and aspects of honeybee colony health.

year: 2024