• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.4236-4243
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• 2022

An industrial nuclear technique based on the use of an X-ray profiler was implemented to estimate the densities or concentrations of sediments present in an Atlantic maritime zone in the areas subjected to dredging under the governance of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). The sediment profiles show in most areas there is a concentration of between 1.00-1.15 g/cm³ except for one area in particular, the density starts at 1.20 g/cm³ and even reaches values greater than 1.50 g/cm³; therefore, an already consolidated sediment is present, which, depending on the depth found. Values of 1.265 g/cm³, 1.297 g/cm³, 1.185 g/cm³ obtained by ACP previous studies are within the range of 1.20-1.30 g/cm³ measured with the nucleonic gauge. However, it should be noted that during the tests with the X ray profiler, sediment densities values greater than the aforementioned limit were also obtained that varying according at depths close to 12 m and 18 m with values reached up to 1.513 g/cm³ and 1.60 g/cm³, respectively. This demonstrates that sediment accumulation depends on depth. This nucleonic gauge is feasible technique for the study of the sedimentation phenomenon in channel basins and even in other projects nationwide.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.35-43
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• 2017

This paper explores the impact of corporate control, measured by ownership structure, on top-executives' compensation in Japan. According to agency theory, the pay-performance link is expected to be affected by the firm's ownership structure. Using a sample of 4,411 firm-year observations (401 firms for the 11-years period from 2001 to 2011) for Japanese non-financial firms publicly traded on the first section and second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), this study demonstrates that institutional ownership (both financial and corporate) is negatively related to the level of executives' compensation. Such finding is in line with efficient monitoring hypothesis which claims that the presence of institutional shareholders provides direct monitoring over managers, limits managerial self-dealing and curves the increase in top-executives pay. On the other hand, the results also show that managerial ownership is positively related to their compensation which supports managerial power theory hypothesis, i.e. management-controlled firms are more likely to extract more compensation from the business than other firms. Overall, this study confirms that corporate control has significant impact on cash compensation paid to Japanese top-executives after controlling the conventional pay-performance relationship.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.11
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• pp.647-656
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• 2020

This study empirically examines the effect of ownership structure on bank diversification and risk-taking behavior. The population of this study is based on all commercial banks listed in Bangladesh. Thirty-two conventional commercial banks were randomly selected from thirty-three conventional banks for this study. Data was collected from the annual reports of the concerned banks from 2000 to 2017. To analyze the data, we had applied the two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimator. The results of the analysis show that ownership structure i.e. managerial ownership, institutional ownership, general public ownership, and ownership concentration have a significant negative impact on bank diversification. On the other hand, institutional ownership, managerial ownership, and general public ownership have a significant positive impact on Z-score, and ownership concentration has an insignificant but positive impact on the Z-score of banks in Bangladesh. Therefore, the study opposes the benefits of diversification and promotes ownership structure which is capable of ensuring better financial stability by reducing the probability of risk. The policy-makers especially, Bangladesh banks should evaluate the fact of this study to issue guidelines on corporate governance, bank diversification, and risk-taking behavior of commercial banks.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.31-38
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• 2017

Purpose - While microfinance institutions(MFIs) from Bangladesh, such as Grameen Bank, received worldwide recognition and the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, however, there is a paucity of research that provided a comprehensive discussion on the characteristics of the microfinance industry. Hence, the aim of this paper is to discuss some important aspects of the microfinance sector in Bangladesh. Research design, data, and methodology - This study used secondary sources of data, such as annual reports of the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) and the World Bank database in its descriptive analysis. Results - This study found that Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in her socio-economic and economic development in the last few decades. It is also generally perceived that microfinance has placed significant contribution on such socio-economic development. While microfinance observed unprecedented growth domestically, however, the regulatory framework is still rather weak, and a majority of the MFIs are found to be concentrated in the well-off areas (e.g., Dhaka, Chittagong etc.). Conclusions - The findings are significantly important for the parties who are interested to know the microfinance sector in Bangladesh. To some extent, the findings of this study will provide policy implications that may benefit the industry.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.10-26
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• 2018

This paper reviews the soil conservation policies (SCP) in the global community and suggests the improved options in SCP in Korea. Soil Environment Conservation Act in Korea states soil is a valuable natural resource and it's value should be enhanced to provide the benefits that soil ecosystem can offer to people. However, SCP in Korea limits its application to not only the scope of soil environment but also the issues on soil pollution. The SCPs in the advanced countries have shifted their scopes from soil environment to soil ecosystem, put emphasis on the conservation of soil health rather than soil quality, and set the goals to optimize the soil ecosystem services to people while minimizing the soil threats. In this context, the soil security initiative was recently proposed to accomplish this goal while employing the nexus concept to bridge the soil ecosystem services with water, atmosphere, climate and biodiversity. Therefore, the key policies in soil conservation in Korea should expand the scope from soil environment to soil ecosystem, focus on soil health management, and develop the holistic governance among diverse stakeholder to maximize the soil ecosystem services. Soil ecosystem should be secured by national soil policies for human health.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.833-843
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• 2021

This research examines the impact of audit quality on the extent to which firm-specific information is integrated with a firm's share price - which is determined inversely using stock price synchronicity. The study sample consists of non-financial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange i.e., the Jordanian Stock Market, from 2014-2018. After examining 810 firm-year observations from Jordanian industrial companies listed on the ASE, during the study period, we find that the companies using one of the BIG4 audit firms for auditing have less synchronous and more informative stock prices, suggesting high-quality audit improved governance and reduce information asymmetry between firms' insiders and investors which enhances the capitalization of firm's specific information into the stock price, thus less synchronous and more informative stock return. The findings remain consistent over 2 separate measurements of stock price synchronicity (Market and Industry model and Market Model) and show robustness for fixed effect tests. Our multivariate regression results are also robust after controlling for a number of features at the firm level with potential associations with stock price synchronicity. These include the firm size, leverage, return on assets (ROA), and market to book value (MBV).

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.59-71
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• 2022

Purpose - We investigate how firms transfer financial risks to employees in a form of flexible employment contracts and layoffs. Design/methodology/approach - Based on the literature on the prevalence of shareholder value ideology and the associated 'risk shift', we examined how stock price volatility is associated with a firm's use and hiring of nonstandard employees, and the number of employees lay-offed. We test our hypotheses using a longitudinal, multi-source, dataset of Korean firms from 2003 to 2011. Findings - We found support for the relationship between stock price volatility and flexible employment contracts and layoffs after controlling for actual risks such as increased debt or decreased sales. However, we found that the relationship is moderated by the power of professional CEOs relative to that of shareholders, in that powerful CEOs are more likely to transfer the external risks, i.e. stock price volatility, to employees. Research implications or Originality - This study contributes the emerging stream of literature that explore the effect of stock market pressures and governance structures on human resource management.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.179-192
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• 2021

Purpose - This study is aim to stimulate ESG management of SMEs in Korea with SWOT analysis. Presently, ESG is also affecting a company's supply chain and sales. We tried to make the complementary point of Korea SMEs through domestic and foreign cases. Design/methodology/approach - We divide foreign cases into three countries, and in Korea, also divide into three groups of government, major companies, SMEs to conduct SWOT analysis. Findings - We confirmed that ESG activities were delayed in Korea compared to overseas, but the government and major companies were responding quickly. However, SMEs are complaining of difficulties in ESG activities due to cost issues and limited information. Nevertheless, some SMEs companies show the possibility by carrying out ESG activities based on their own strengths. Research implications or Originality - We suggested the need for SMEs' ESG management. The SMEs are inevitably vulnerable to ESG management compared to other groups. Therefore, We suggested the direction of SMEs ESG management expansion, that are R&D and distribution of eco-friendly activities through collaboration with universities(E), social program to improve working places(S), and expansion of governance that guarantees autonomy(G).

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.343-353
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• 2023

Corporate reputation is a widely debated topic among academics and a crucial issue in the business world. However, previous research in this area has been scattered and fragmented, leaving room for further study, particularly in terms of reputation measurement methods. Factors such as sustainability reporting, governance attributes, and company characteristics have been linked to improved company reputation. However, there is limited research on the effects of these variables on the new methods of measuring reputation, especially in developing countries like Malaysia. Therefore, the current study developed a new measurement for reputation and aimed to examine the relationship between these variables and the new proxy of reputation. The current study collected secondary data from the company's annual report for two years period of study (i.e., 2018 and 2019) and employed content analysis. A period of two years was chosen and deemed ample to provide insightful findings of the effect of the variables associated with reputation disclosure. The results indicate that sustainability reporting, outside directors, company size, leverage, and profitability significantly impact corporate reputation. This finding suggests that Malaysian PLCs and other firms in developing countries must recognize sustainability reporting as part of their reputation management strategy that influences the company's reputation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2022.11a
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• pp.219-220
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• 2022

In order to meet the trend, construction public data are already disclosing not only data generated at the construction site but also various data ranging from inspection reports and public construction contracts through multiple portals. However, unlike the excellence of the open performance evaluated by the number of data, it is difficult to evaluate the specific level of disclosure because there is no case of analyzing the quality, ease of use, and possibility of further opening of the public construction data set. On the other hand, performance measurement is already performed using an internationally agreed evaluation method in different fields such as real estate, population, and environment. So it is essential to analyze the current status of public data openings in the construction field and to derive improvement tasks. Therefore, this study conducted a survey of researchers with the highest system utilization targeting representative public data open systems in the construction field, such as E-AIS(세움터) and KISCON. To ensure fairness and increase comparability, the questionnaire was composed using evaluation items on implementing public data conducted annually by the World Wide Web Foundation, an international non-profit organization. With these responses, we investigated the status of public data disclosure and opinions on data quality and derived tasks to improve public data disclosure in construction through the analysis of the results.