Factors influencing the current and historical invasion trends in the Connecticut College Arboretum

Invasive species present a growing risk to native ecosystems. It would be impossible to eliminate them, but by learning where they are more likely to occur it may be possible to concentrate resources on removal and management in the most at risk areas. A number of site characteristics may influence invasive species presence and invasion trends. In order to determine what factors affect species presence and historical invasion trends, I utilized data from decennial surveys conducted in the Bolleswood Natural Area of the Connecticut College Arboretum in New London, Connecticut. In 1952, 4 transects were established across the area, composed of contiguous 3.05 by 3.05 meter plots. Every ten years, presence, height, DBH, and cover of all species in each plot were recorded. Other environmental variables in the plots were recorded as well. I used logistic regression models to determine the factors that explained the distribution of invasive species in 2012. I also determined if the factors that influenced invasion changed over time. Models were formulated to analyze how overall presence of invasives in 2012 and new occurrences in each sample year related to site history in regard to disturbance, soil characteristics, topography, light availability, dispersal, and species richness. For presence data in 2012, topography, light availability, dispersal, and species richness. For presence data in 2012, plots on historically agricultural land with moister and less well-drained soils and higher soil pH were more likely to host invasive species. For historical invasion trends, plots on historically agricultural land with greater total richness and proximately to the fence during initial invasion and later proximity to adult plants were the best indicators. However, age class appears to play a role beyond absolute forest age, as invasion was consistently found inthe youngest, historically agricultural, plots even after 60 years of forest development. These conclusions suggest that there are factors that can be utilized to predict invasion, and confirm the benefit of long term studies within a large area, such as the one at hand

Young Abraham Lincoln on a Boat

Hand-colored print depicting a young Abraham Lincoln in a boat on a river. The print has mounting residue at corners.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/fvw-artifacts/3776/thumbnail.jp

Young Abraham Lincoln

Hand-colored print depicting Abraham Lincoln as a boy, returning home from hunting with rifle and turkey. The print has mounting residue at corners.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/fvw-artifacts/3865/thumbnail.jp

International business: past, present and futures

This article provides the context for futures thinking in the field of international business (IB). The article begins by considering the nature of IB. Its historical development is then elaborated, before its current significance and trends are considered. Building on the review of past and present we speculate briefly on the possible futures of IB. In so doing, we provide a basis from which the contributions to this Special Issue on the Futures of IB can be understood and situated in a broader context

EFEKTIVITAS PENGAWASAN UNIT KERJA ANTI FRAUD PADA BANK MUAMALAT INDONESIA

Perkembangan perbankan syari‟ah di Indonesia demikian pesat yang ditandai dengan berdirinya Bank Muamalat Indonesia. Perkembangan ini berimplikasi pada besarnya tantangan perbankan syari‟ah di Indonesia terutama dalam mempertahankan identitasnya sebagai perusahaan yang bergerak berlandaskan prinsip-prinsip syari‟ah. Sejak berdirinya perbankan syariah,berbagai kontroversi muncul dari masyarakat, masalah yang paling banyak disorot adalah pelekatan label syariah pada institusi keuangan Islam yang masih dianggap belum layak. Keraguan masyarakat tersebut seolah terjawab dengan munculnya kasus yang cukup menggemparkan yakni kasus fraud (tindak kecurangan) yang terjadi di lembaga syariah. Bank Muamalat Indonesia merupakan bank syari‟ah pertama yang muncul dengan gagasan bank murni syari‟ah. Akan tetapi, bank Muamalat Indonesia juga tak luput dari kasus fraud yang dilakukan oleh karyawan bank tersebut. Berdasarkan Laporan Tahunan BMI menyebutkan bahwa telah terjadi peningkatan kasus fraud dari tahun sebelumnya yang berjumlah 18 kasus menjadi 82 kasus pada tahun 2016. Padahal perusahaan yang menggunakan identitas syariah seharusnya dapat lebih meminimalisir bahkan meniadakan resiko terjadinya kasus fraud dengan adanya internal control perusahaan. Dari latar belakang tersebut, peneliti berusaha mendalami peran pengawasan Unit Kerja Anti Fraud dalam fraud preventive pada Bank Muamalat Indonesia. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitin pustaka yang bersifat deskriptif analisis dengan pendekatan kualitatif. Adapun sumber bahan hukum primer yang dipakai yaitu berdasarkan Laporan Tahunan Bank Muamalat Indonesia Tahun 2016. Sedangkan sumber bahan hukum sekunder berupa buku-buku, jurnal,karya ilmiah, artikel, terkait dengan strategi anti fraud perbankan syariah. Dari hasil penelitian dikemukakan bahwa peningkatan kasus fraud yang terjadi pada Bank Muamalat Indonesia disebabkan kurang efektifnya pengawasan Unit Kerja Anti Fraud. Hal ini dikarenakan kegiatan yang dilakukan selama tahun 2016 belum menujukkan adanya usaha preventif terhadap kasus fraud. Sedangkan pencegahan merupakan pilar penting dalam keefektivan sebuah pengawasan. Tujuan perusahaan dalam mencegah fraud dapat tercapai, jika fungsi pengawasan dilakukan sebelum terjadinya penyimpangan-penyimpangan sehingga lebih bersifat mencegah (prefentive control). Oleh karena itu, keefektivan pengawasan Unit Kerja Anti Fraud diharapkan dapat meminimalisir tindak kecurangan demi mewujudkan perusahaan yang patuh terhadap ketentuan syariah sesuai dengan identitas perusahaan. vii Usaha pencegahan terjadinya kasus pada Bank Muamalat Indonesia diharapkan dapat menjadi bukti terlaksananya tatakelola perusahaan (Good Corporate Governance) pada Bank Syari‟ah dengan baik. Hal ini berdasarkan dalam dalam perbankan syariah dikenal adanya prinsip-prinsip syariah yang mendukung bagi terlaksananya prinsip GCG yakni keharusan bagi subjek hukum termasuk bank untuk menerapkan prinsip kejujuran (shiddiq), edukasi kepada masyarakat (tabligh), kepercayaan (amanah), dan pengelolaan secara profesional (fathanah)

THE ROLE OF MULTINATIONAL FIRMS IN ASIAN ECONOMICS

1970-03One of the striking features of the last half of the 20th century is the emergence of the multinational industrial firm as a major element in, the world economy. In the first half of the century, international business largely consisted of trade in manufactured goods and raw materials along with a substantial amount of investment in petroleum and mining. Although these activties have continued on a large scale since World War II, they have been overtaken in magnitude by direct investment in manufacturing facilities by multinational firms and the complex distribution and financial structures supporting their in qustrial operations. While precise current data are not available, it appears that in 1970 the assets of these corporations totaled from S 110 to S 120 billions and they account for around S200 billion of sales per year. This is a tremendous volume of economic output exceeded in magnitude only by the gross national product of two countries the United States and Russia. Furthermore, the growth of the multinational firms seems to be in a general range of 10% per year, significantly greater than the overall growth of the world economy, so that their proportionate role is increasing steadily. According to one prediction 75% of world GNP will be controlled by multinational firms by 1990. I suspect this is an extreme figure but it accurately predicts the future importance of these firms