Do aeolian deposits and sand encroachment intensity shape patterns of vegetation diversity and plant functional traits in desert pavements?

The effects of sand encroachment on composition,diversity,and functional patterns of vegetation in drylands are rarely studied,and yet addressing these aspects is important to deepen our understanding of the biodiversity conservation.This study aimed to investigate the effect of sand encroachment on plant functional biodiversity of desert pavements(gravel deserts)in the Sahara Desert of Algeria.Plants were sampled and analyzed in three desert pavements with different levels of sand encroachment(LSE)and quantity of aeolian deposits(low,LLSE;medium,MLSE;and high,HLSE).Within the sample-plot area(100 m^(2)),density of every plant species was identified and total vegetation cover was determined.Plant taxonomic and functional diversity were analyzed and compared between LSE.Result showed that 19 plant species in desert pavements were classified into 18 genera and 13 families.Asteraceae and Poaceae were the most important families.The species Anabasis articulata(Forssk)Moq.characterized LLSE desert pavements with 11 species,whereas Thymelaea microphylla Coss.&Durieu ex Meisn.and Calobota saharae(C&D)Boatwr.&van Wyk were dominant species of desert pavements with MLSE(14 species)and HLSE(10 species),respectively.The highest values of species richness and biodiversity were recorded in desert pavements with MLSE,while low values of these ecological parameters were obtained in desert pavements with HLSE.Desert pavements with LLSE were characterized with the highest values of species abundances.Plant communities were dominated by chamaephytes,anemochorous,arido-active,and competitive stress-tolerant plants.The increase in LSE along the gradient from LLSE to HLSE induced significant changes in plant community variables including decreases in plant density,plant rarity,lifeform composition,morphological type,and aridity adaptation.Desert pavements with HLSE favor the degradation of vegetation and trigger biodiversity erosion.

Modeling and Mapping Sand Encroachment Risk as an Aid for Urban Planning in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Sand encroachment into urban areas represents a high risk factor for transportation infrastructural and urban development in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is located in one of the world’s largest arid regions with a strong prevalence of sand movement and encroachment into urban areas, particularly in the last few years. The objective of this research is to develop a land surface process platform that models sand movements and further generates an encroachment risk index map of potential encroachment risk areas season-wise in the UAE. To achieve this objective, this research used elevation and land cover maps generated from Lands at 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) data which represent the topography of the study area coupled with meteorological information on wind speed, temperature and precipitation. Furthermore, the study considered the vegetation cover as a major contribution factor to reduce sand encroachment. Using developed sand movement model for this research, sand encroachment risk maps were generated to help urban planners in cities making informed decisions of future urban protection structures and transportation networks that mitigate the effects of sand dunes encroachments in the UAE. A major finding of this research results conclude that during the summer season encroachment risk reaches 30% higher compared to the winter season due to the extremely high temperature which leads to reduced vegetation in the country. Urban planning decision maker may consider the finding of this research for future infrastructural adjustments.

Tree encroachment into savannas alters soil microbiological and chemical properties facilitating forest expansion

Abstract Forests have been expanding over typical savanna sites for the past 3000 years in the Neotropics. Such invasion can produce a series of environmental modifications on typical savanna; however, it remains unclear how modifications in soil properties, caused by the encroachment of woody species, facilitate the expansion of forest ecosystems under dystrophic conditions. Here we examined chemical and microbiological changes associ- ated with tree encroachment in oxisols of a Neotropical Savanna at Assis Ecological Station, Southeastern Brazil. We predicted that tree encroachment caused by typical forest species would cause significant changes in the chemical and microbiological properties of savanna soils. Soils were sampled at Assis Ecological Station, from savanna sites differing in tree encroachment （typical, dense and forested savanna） caused by decades of fire exclusion. We analysed vegetation leaf area index and leaf litter volume deposited in the studied plots and chemical （pH,organic matter, P, K, Ca, Mg, A1, NO3-, NH4＋） and microbiological （microbial C biomass and dehydrogenase activity） properties of soils under distinct encroachment conditions. Most soil chemical properties did not change along the tree encroachment gradient; however, total P, soil organic matter, soil microbial C and dehydrogenase activity increased from typical savanna to forested savanna. The changes in soil organic matter and dehydrogenase activity were correlated with the values of leaf area index and litter volume along the encroachment gradient. Our results demonstrate that forest species can increase carbon and phosphorus supplies in tropical savanna soils.

Encroachment of the Buriganga River in Bangladesh

A survey on different aspects of Buriganga River encroachment was conducted in a 300 meter long encroached part of the river located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 100 respondents were surveyed and three Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were arranged prior to the semi-structured questionnaire survey. It was observed that almost all of the respondents migrated to the study area. The majority of the respondents had better business opportunity (69.23%) as the cause of encroachment. Significant portions of the respondents occupying the encroached area were found to be landless (36.84%), small businessmen (31.58%) and people with political affluence (26.32%). Major portions (23.33%) of the encroached land were used for industrial development as well as housing and developmental projects. Negative health impact (40%) was found to be the main adverse effect of encroachment of the river. Other adverse effects included economic loss through obliteration of fisheries (35.71%), scarcity of clean water (32.14%), reduction of aesthetic value of the surroundings (25%) etc. For the protection of the river, the majority of the respondents opted for relocation of the industries (46.15%) and enforcement of strict rules and regulations (38.46%).

The Impact of Encroachment on the Distribution of Tree Species in Cross River National Park, Oban Division, Nigeria

Increasing human activities around protected area pinpoint to looming degradation and alteration of the component of such areas, especially where adequate measures are not taken to forestall encroachment. The Oban division of the Cross River National Park is one of the oldest rainforests and has been identified as a biodiversity hotspot. However, communities settling around the park have been involved in some economic activities for their livelihood. Resource utilization at the edge of the park may alter the components of the park such as species diversity. Therefore this study is geared towards assessing the impact of human encroachment and the concomitant impact on the distribution of species within the park. The study adopted participatory research methods which included Focus Group Discussion and participatory mapping as well as a plot based survey which involved the laying of sample plots within two zones of the park designated as areas bounded by cultivated land and areas bounded by fallow. Three 40 m × 40 m square plots are laid along a 320 meter transect measured from the boundary of the park at each buffer zone. The plots are separated by 100 m gap. From the result obtained, it is discovered that Musanga cercropoides dominates the outer plots of the cultivated zones and fallow zones comprising 20.2 and 21.5 percent respectively while Terminalia ivorensis dominates the middle and inner areas of the park. Moreover the composition of species decreases inward to the inner part of the park. Diversity index decreases in the order of 2.566 < 2.348 < 2.163 at the cultivated zones and 2.443 < 2.376 < 2.366 at the fallow zones. It is concluded that human activities close to the park alters the species composition of the park. Hence, it’s recommended that adequate alternatives livelihood and incentive be provided to support zone communities to reduce their dependents on the edge of the park.

Minority Protection in Proceedings for the Settlement of Disputes Between Shareholders

“A limited company is more than a mere judicial entity, with a personality in law of its own： Behind it, or amongst it, there are individuals, with rights, expectations and obligations inter se”. The competitive attitude of the member states of the EU （European Union）, to become the most attractive for companies results in law reforms aiming at more flexible conflict between shareholders. Besides, the economic objective of avoiding a company＇s dissolution, the English, Dutch, and Belgian exit proceedings for the settlement of disputes between shareholders set up a social objective： protecting the interests of the minority shareholder of a private limited company. The paper consists of four chapters. The introduction lays out the necessity of buy-outs for shareholders of a private limited company. The first chapter describes the different facts justifying the buy-out of a shareholder on the basis of serious grounds. The second chapter presents the findings of a comparative research of the valuation of the shares transferred in an English, Dutch, and Belgian procedure. Finally, the conclusion summarises in which way the English, Dutch, and Belgian legal system protect the interests of the minority shareholder of a private limited company.

The Shareholders' Responsibility for Contribution of Balance of the Equity Assignee

2005年修订的《公司法》第31条规定:"有限责任公司成立后,作为发现设立公司出资的非货币财产的实际价额显著低于公司章程所定价额的应当由交付该出资的股东补足其差额;公司设立时的其他股东承担连带责任。"从该条规定可知,差额补缴责任的主体为公司成立后发现的特定的瑕疵出资人。

A Research on the Relationship of Charismatic Leadership Behaviors of Agricultural Cooperative Managers With Cooperative Shareholders＇ Performance and Satisfaction

In this study, the cooperative shareholders＇ performance and satisfaction were investigated as antecedent. Charismatic leadership of cooperative managers has been identified as antecedent. In addition, shareholders＇ age, education, land size, and duration of membership in the cooperative were investigated to have effect on the shareholder＇s performance and satisfaction. Charismatic leadership of cooperative managers is the subject of research on the effects of performance and satisfaction of the cooperative shareholders. A field survey was conducted. This study has been applied to Cukobirlik, an agricultural sale cooperative in East Mediterranean of Turkey. The researchers collected data by random questionnaire method. The research data were collected from 155 cooperative shareholders. For the data, exploratory factor, correlation, and regression were analyzed. The results of this analysis show that there is a meaningful relationship between charismatic leaders and the performance and satisfaction of shareholders for these cooperatives. Another result, there is significant relation between land size of cooperative shareholders and the performance and satisfaction of cooperative shareholders.

The Role of Financial Performance as a Moderator on the Relationship Between Financial Leverage and Shareholders Return

The study examines the moderating effects of financial performance on the relationship between financial leverage （FL） and shareholders return （SR）. Panel data of pharmaceutical companies listed in the National Stock Exchange （NSE） were used for 13 years for the period from 2002-03 to 2014-15. Findings indicated that FL is significantly related with SR. However, financial performance has an insignificant relationship with SR and did not moderate the relationship between FL and SR.

Tracing Ultimate Shareholders＇ Double Control Chain in Listed Companies- Using the Theory of Organizational Routine Evolution

Based on the epistemology and methodology of organizational routine evolution, this paper presents a systematic analysis on how ultimate shareholders control listed companies by means of equity control chain in a pyramid structure and social capital control chain hidden in social networks. First, this paper examines the internal logic of ultimate shareholders＇ double control chain and designs an iterative model for dynamic evolution intent proceeding from ultimate shareholders ＇degree of intent for social capital control. Finally, with the case study of Inner Mongolia Caoyuan Xingfa Co., Ltd., this paper reveals the process and mechanism of ultimate shareholders＇ creation of double control chain.

Analysis of the Relationship between Ultimate Controlling Shareholders and Private Enterprises＇ Business Performance

In China, major shareholders of private listed enterprise could control its production and operation by virtue of few resources which makes it possible for ultimate controlling shareholders to expropriate minority shareholders＇ rights and interests.In this paper, we studied the relationship between ultimate controlling shareholders and business performance of private enterprises based on the theory of ultimate controlling shareholders and made relevant conclusions and recommendations.

Expropriation of Big Shareholders——Research Review on the Domestic Literature

It is tangible that big shareholders infringe the interests of small and medium shareholders in China's listed companies,and such behaviors of big shareholders influence not only the normal production and business operation of companies but also the sound development of the capital market. At the same time,the economic order of society is also disturbed. Therefore,expropriation of big shareholders shall be governed effectively in time. This paper tries to analyze related research findings on expropriation and make conclusion from three aspects—the ways of expropriation,economic consequences of expropriation and the management effects of expropriation,pointing out the limitation of present research and the direction for the future.

新《公司法》若干重要问题解读(笔谈)

新《公司法》修订所涉及的内容非常丰富,修订内容包括公司登记制度、股东出资责任、公司治理制度、公司资本制度、控股股东义务、董监高信义义务等方面。赵旭东教授指出,本次《公司法》修订在公司登记与信息公示制度、股东出资责任和法律后果、公司资本制度、公司治理制度、股东权益保护和控股股东义务这五个关键领域实现了重大突破和创新。周林彬教授集中解析了“国家出资公司组织机构的特别规定”一章,认为新《公司法》的亮点之一是通过新设这一章积极回应了我国国有企业治理的“本土实践”与“中国问题”,给出新时期国有企业治理的“中国方案”,推进了中国特色的国有企业治理制度的设计,重塑了国有企业的规范体系。刘凯湘教授对本次《公司法》修订中与公司资本制度相关的若干条文展开解析,包括限期认缴制、新增有限公司股东出资义务加速到期制度、股东违反出资义务的责任承担规则、董事会的催缴出资义务、股东失权制度、董监高对股东抽逃出资的连带责任、类别股的规定、授权资本制等。赵万一教授深入探讨了这次《公司法》修改的主要特点,认为新《公司法》既坚持了其商法属性,同时又充分考虑了《民法典》的既有制度内容,适当兼顾了与《民法典》之间的制度衔接关系,从而既为科学解决民法与商法的关系提供了理念和制度支持,也为中国式法律制度体系的创建提供了完美的立法实践样本。周友苏教授深入解析了新《公司法》在完善股东出资制度方面增加的股东出资缴纳、股东出资“加速到期”、股东失权、股东出资责任这四条新规定,认为新《公司法》在完善股东出资制度方面增加的这些新规定,积极回应了我国自2013年以来公司数量大幅增长所带来的股东盲目认缴、天价认缴、期限过长的现象突出,损害债权人利益的纠纷案件呈明显上升态势等问题,极大地强化了保护债权人的力度。李建伟教授深入解析了《公司法》修订中与法定代表人制度相关的若干条文,认为新《公司法》关于法定代表人的规定较之以往更加体系化,并有望基本解决困扰公司实践许多年的诸多难题,但其中亦存在不完全规范的问题。

机构投资者退出威胁与企业绿色创新

提高企业绿色创新水平是实现高质量发展的重要途径。基于2010—2020年沪深A股上市公司数据,实证检验机构投资者退出威胁对企业绿色创新的影响。研究发现,机构投资者退出威胁能够推动企业绿色创新;而且,以机构投资者持股比例为门槛变量,机构投资者退出威胁对企业绿色创新的影响存在单门槛效应,当机构投资者持股比例超过门槛值后,退出威胁的正向作用得以显现。进一步的路径分析表明,机构投资者退出威胁能够促使企业加大研发投入、积极履行环境责任。此外,在机构投资者为抗压型、企业为非国有性质或重污染行业的情况下,机构投资者退出威胁的绿色创新赋能效应更显著。

机构投资者网络团体如何影响企业ESG表现?

近年来,证券市场中的机构投资者扮演着越来越重要的角色,它们可能通过共同持股关系形成网络团体,采取一致行动。基于中国2010—2020年A股上市公司数据,构建了机构投资者网络团体,结合社会网络理论与代理理论,探究网络团体持股对企业ESG表现的影响。研究结果表明:网络团体持股可以有效提升企业ESG表现;网络团体持股能够缓解2类代理问题,通过提升信息透明度以及抑制大股东私利促进了企业ESG表现;在缓解了内生性问题,并进行了稳健性检验后,网络团体持股提升企业ESG表现的结论仍成立。进一步研究的结果表明,网络团体的特征会影响企业的ESG表现,即团体数量更多、规模越大、背景越丰富,持股越稳定,相对力量越强,企业ESG表现越好。研究结论既丰富了机构投资者网络团体的后果研究和企业ESG表现影响因素的研究,也为上市公司、机构投资者和政府提供了一定的实践启示。

灌丛资源及其管理利用研究进展

灌丛是中国山地和干旱地区的常见植被类型,分布范围广泛、生态功能多样、经济价值可观。然而,自然资源、生态环境、国民经济等相关部门多将灌丛拆分归属于森林或草原,其重要性未能充分体现。学术界有关灌丛资源的概念、内涵未有明确统一共识,基于资源属性特点的灌丛资源分区分类体系尚未建立。草原灌丛化的发生范围、速度及其生态影响不够明确,严重影响灌丛资源的高效保护、科学管理与可持续利用。这已然成为亟需凝聚共识和深入探究的理论技术难点与实践问题。建议在科学界定灌丛资源的概念内涵、建立健全灌丛资源分类体系基础上,深入发展和应用灌丛植被多基遥感和人工智能识别技术,科学掌握不同区域灌丛变化特别是草原灌丛化的过程及原因,全面系统地评估灌丛化的生态经济影响,优化分区分类灌丛管理利用策略,促进灌丛资源可持续管理和利用。

零售商促销努力驱动下供应商入侵决策

引入由单个供应商和单个零售商组成的两级供应链,考虑供应商拥有入侵能力和供应商没有入侵能力两种情形,构建了供应商与零售商之间的价格竞争模型,分析了零售商促销努力驱动下供应商的入侵决策方案.研究发现:供应商形成入侵能力所需的固定成本会对供应商的入侵决策产生影响,有入侵能力的供应商会在一定条件下向零售商承诺不入侵;零售商的促销策略会受供应商入侵能力的影响,选择促销对零售商来说并不总是有利的;零售商促销带来高收益的区域随着促销效率的增加而增加,零售商的促销效率越大,零售商利润也越高.

土地经营权入股公司:股东出资、保本投资与配套制度

土地经营权入股发展农业产业化经营是深化农村土地制度改革的重要举措,也是促进农业适度规模经营、实现小农户和现代农业发展有机衔接的重要途径。土地经营权入股公司应定性为股东出资行为,以公司法为基础,完善股东出资、法人运行与配套措施等方面的法律法规。在股东出资方面,应限定出资标的物范围,完善农村土地价值评估机制。在法人运行方面,为农民股东优先配置可转换的、可累积的及可参与嗣后分配的优先股以基本实现其“保底收益+按股分红”目的;为农民股东配置优先股赎回权、清算优先权与股份回购保险以基本实现“保本退出”目的。在配套措施方面,国家应灵活运用宏观调控措施以改善农业弱质性问题,完善农村社会保障制度以破除农民失地失业困境。

非国有股东参与治理影响国有企业战略激进度吗?

以2008—2020年国有上市制造企业为样本,手工收集非国有股东控制权数据构建非国有股东参与治理指标,分析股权和控制权非对等配置逻辑下非国有股东参与治理对国有企业战略激进度的影响,分析结果显示二者呈倒U型关系。因此,混合所有制改革不仅仅是股权层面的混合,更要考虑非国有股东控制权比例的合理安排,才能更好地发挥不同所有制资本的协同治理效应。进一步的分析结果显示,高金字塔层级组国有企业、地方国有企业及低市场化程度地区国有企业中的上述关系更为明显。该结论对国有企业混合所有制改革中推动非国有资本融入内部治理机制有一定的参考价值。

投服中心行权会影响企业劳动投资效率吗?——来自中国上市公司的经验证据

中证中小投资者服务中心(以下简称“投服中心”)推出的持股行权政策是资本市场的重要制度创新,为解决中小投资者保护难题提供了政策思路。基于2014—2020年中国A股上市公司数据,构建多期双重差分模型检验了投服中心行权对企业劳动投资效率的影响。研究发现,投服中心行权能够显著提升企业劳动投资效率。机制检验结果显示,投服中心行权通过降低信息不对称和缓解代理问题进而提升企业劳动投资效率。异质性分析结果表明,在劳动投资不足、治理水平较低的企业中,以及行权方式为专项行动、股东大会和网上行权时,投服中心行权对企业劳动投资效率的提升效应显著。进一步研究发现,投服中心行权通过提升劳动投资效率,提高了企业业绩和企业价值。因此,应充分发挥投服中心行权对企业劳动投资效率的提升作用,提高公司治理水平,以保护中小投资者合法权益。