bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Auditor judgment and decision-making in big data environment: a proposed research framework
Authors: Hamdam Adli , Jusoh Ruzita , Yahya Yazkhiruni , Abdul Jalil Azlina , Zainal Abidin Nor Hafizah
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The role of big data and data analytics in the audit engagement process is evident. Notwithstanding, understanding how big data influences cognitive processes and, consequently, on the auditors’ judgment decision-making process is limited. The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework on the cognitive process that may influence auditors’ judgment decision-making in the big data environment. The proposed framework predicts the relationships among data visualization integration, data processing modes, task complexity and auditors’ judgment decision-making.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology to accomplish the conceptual framework is based on a thorough literature review that consists of theoretical discussions and comparative studies of other authors’ works and thinking. It also involves summarizing and interpreting previous contributions subjectively and narratively and extending the work in some fashion. Based on this approach, this paper formulates four propositions about data visualization integration, data processing modes, task complexity and auditors’ judgment decision-making. The proposed framework was built from cognitive theory addressing how auditors process data into useful information to make judgment decision-making.

Findings

The proposed framework expects that the cognitive process of data visualization integration and intuitive data processing mode will improve auditors’ judgment decision-making. This paper also contends that task complexity may influence the cognitive process of data visualization integration and processing modes because of the voluminous nature of data and the complexity of business processes. Hence, it is also expected that the relationships between data visualization integration and audit judgment decision-making and between processing mode and audit judgment decision-making will be moderated by task complexity.

Research limitations/implications

There is a dearth of studies examining how big data and big data analytics affect auditors’ cognitive processes in making decisions. This paper will help researchers and auditors understand the behavioral consequences of data visualization integration and data processing mode in making judgment decision-making, given a certain level of task complexity.

Originality/value

With the advent of big data and the evolution of innovative audit procedures, the constructed framework can be used as a theoretical foundation for future empirical studies concerning auditors’ judgment decision-making. It highlights the potential of big data to transform the nature and practice of accounting and auditing.
Can compensation committees effectively mitigate the CEO horizon problem? The role of co-opted directors
Authors: Liu Ruonan
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine whether compensation committees dominated by co-opted directors are less effective in mitigating the CEO horizon problem.

Design/methodology/approach

The author uses a sample of 7,280 firm-year observations from 1998 to 2011.

Findings

In this study, the author finds evidence of opportunistic research and development (R&D) reduction and accruals management in firms with retiring CEOs and compensation committees dominated by co-opted directors. Moreover, it is found that R&D reduction and income-increasing accruals are less discouraged when determining the compensation for retiring CEOs by compensation committees that are dominated by co-opted directors. The results suggest that compensation committees dominated by co-opted directors are less effective in adjusting CEO compensation to mitigate the CEO horizon problem.

Originality/value

The study reveals that co-opted directors are weak monitors. Moreover, the study adds empirical evidence to the debate of organizations’ CEO horizon problem. Finally, the study adds to the literature on corporate governance, revealing that compensation committees play an important role in mitigating an organization’s CEO horizon problem by adjusting CEO compensation.
Differences in the impact of AMO bundles of line managers and frontline workers on the performance of manufacturing firms
Authors: Bayo-Moriones Alberto , Bello-Pindado Alejandro
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact on manufacturing performance of human resource management (HRM) practices across two job levels within manufacturing firms in Argentina and Uruguay: that of line managers and frontline workers. HRM practices are categorised into three bundles defined by the AMO theoretical framework: ability, motivation and opportunity.

Design/methodology/approach

The article uses data from a survey to 301 manufacturing plants in Uruguay and Argentina. Given the characteristics of the dependent variable, linear regression models have been estimated in order to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that the ability and opportunity bundles for line managers are positively associated with manufacturing performance. However, only the motivation bundle affects manufacturing performance for frontline workers.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitations are the use of cross-sectional data, the focus on two specific countries and the analysis of two employee categories that are not completely homogenous. The paper extends the contingency perspective in HRM by examining the relevance of job level as a contingent factor in the HRM-performance relationship in the manufacturing industry.

Practical implications

The results suggest that manufacturing companies should target HR investments more towards line managers than to frontline employees. More specifically, they should concentrate efforts on the ability and opportunity bundles.

Originality/value

The article contributes to the very limited empirical evidence on the impact of HRM differentiation on firm performance by analysing sub-dimensions in a context not previously analysed.
How sauce color affects consumer emotional response and purchase intention: a structural equation modeling approach for sensory analysis
Authors: Ketkaew Chavis , Wongthahan Peerapong , Sae-Eaw Amporn
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Here the authors investigate the effects of a visual color cue (brown color) on saltiness expectations, emotional responses and purchase intention of commercial soy sauce products.

Design/methodology/approach

The study enrolled 100 participates, and three sauce colors (light brown, medium brown and dark brown) were used as treatments in this experimental design research. The data analysis was done by a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach with repeated measures.

Findings

The findings indicated that, for the medium and dark brown sauces, the final model revealed a positive effect of sauce color intensity on saltiness expectation, a positive impact of saltiness expectation on emotion and a positive impact of emotion on purchase intention with statistically indifferent factor loadings. Hence, both the medium and dark brown colors soy sauces were the preferred choices for consumers. However, for the light brown color, the test result was unsatisfactory.

Originality/value

Several empirical studies have identified visual cues as useful for sodium reduction. However, from a marketing perspective, a causal relationship between the color intensity and a customer's purchase intention has not been explored in soy sauce products using an experimental design concept and SEM.
Cyber ethics adherence and the use of electronic information resources by undergraduates in public universities in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria
Authors: Ebiefung Raphael , Adetimirin Airen
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the adherence to cyber ethics by undergraduates in public universities in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria when using electronic information resources (EIRs).

Design/methodology/approach

Descriptive survey research design was used for this study. A total of 7,771 undergraduates of University of Uyo (UNIUYO) and Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU), Nigeria constitute the study population. The sampling technique used for the study is the multistage technique. A sampling fraction of 5% was used to arrive at a sample size of 389.

Findings

This study revealed that in UNIUYO, more than four-fifths of the undergraduates – 55 (84.6%) in science, 55 (82.1%) in engineering and 61 (81.3%) in education – noted that they used the internet on a daily basis, and in AKSU, almost all the respondents in science (50, 90.9%) and about four-fifths in engineering (45, 80.4%) observed that they also used the internet on a daily basis for academic work. Adherence to cyber ethics guidelines was high at UNIUYO in education (44.2) and science (43.0) and at AKSU in engineering (42.9) and science (44.7).

Practical implications

The use of EIRs in universities has brought enormous changes, especially on how information are accessed and used by undergraduates. As EIRs have become important component in university libraries and continuously used by undergraduates for academic work, there is the possibility that frequent accessibility and utilization could increase the chances of unethical usage. This study is therefore significant in taming the tide of abuse and misuse of e-information resources in universities.

Originality/value

The correlation between adherence to ethics guidelines and the use of EIRs was positively significant at both UNIUYO (r = 0.139*; df = 206; p < 0.05) and AKSU (r = 0.136*; df = 168; p < 0.05). A high level of adherence to cyber ethics by the undergraduates can be encouraged and maintained through the formulation of cyber ethics policy in the universities by academic librarians.
The cleanliness of restaurants: ATP tests (reality) vs consumers’ perception
Authors: Kim Tony J. , Almanza Barbara , Ma Jing , Park Haeik , Kline Sheryl F.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to empirically assess restaurant surfaces’ cleanliness and compare them to customers’ perceptions about the cleanliness of surfaces when dining in a restaurant.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used two methods to collect data. The first was a survey method to gauge customers’ perceptions and an empirical test to measure cleanliness using an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) meter. Two data sets were collected to compare customers’ perceptions and actual cleanliness measurements. One data set surveyed respondents as to their perceptions of high- and low-touch restaurant surfaces among 19 areas of the dining room and 15 surfaces from the restroom, and their perceived cleanliness or dirtiness of those same surfaces. The second one conducted empirical measurements of the cleanliness of these surfaces using an ATP meter, which were then compared to customers’ perceptions.

Findings

Although all surfaces had higher ATP readings than a 30 relative light units’ threshold, there were significant differences in ATP readings among surfaces. Results showed a fair amount of consistency between the consumers’ perceptions of cleanliness and the actual results of ATP readings for the cleanest areas, but very little consistency in customers’ perceptions and experimental measurements for the dirtiest areas.

Practical implications

This study empirically demonstrated the need for improved cleaning techniques and the importance of proper training for foodservice employees. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, results of this study suggest an additional responsibility on managers and staff to ensure clean environments and the imperative to address the concerns of their customers.

Originality/value

Based on an extensive literature review, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no prior studies have compared consumers’ cleanliness perceptions with empirical measurements of cleanliness in restaurant settings using an ATP meter. The results of this study provide restaurant managers a better understanding of customers’ perceptions of cleanliness. It also provides restaurant managers and staff information to develop more effective cleaning procedures. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, perceptions of cleanliness and measures of actual cleanliness are more important than they have been in the past.
Preparation and optimization of a soft magnetic brake friction material based on permalloy additive
Authors: Wang Xiaoyang , Bao Jiusheng , Liu Jinge , Yin Yan , Liu Tonggang , Zhao Shaodi
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to develop of magnetic field controlled friction braking technology, a novel brake friction material with magnetic was designed and prepared in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

The permalloy, a soft magnetic material, was selected as an additive to design and prepare the magnetic brake material. The friction, wear performance and permeability of each brake pads were investigated by experiments. By choosing the performance of friction coefficient fluctuation, friction coefficient deviation and mean wear rate as optimization parameters, the formulation of the magnetic friction material was optimized based on Fuzzy theory by using analytic hierarchy process methods and SPSS software.

Findings

The results showed that the developed soft magnetic friction material has not only superior friction coefficient, permeability and inferior wear rate but also good physical and mechanical properties.

Originality/value

Permalloy powder was added to the formulation of friction material to achieve a new functional friction material with high magnetic permeability. It is believed that this research will be of great theoretical and practical significance to develop both new brake materials and active control technology of the braking process in the future.
Economic policy uncertainty effect on credit risk, lending decisions and banking performance: evidence from Tunisian listed banks
Authors: Hamdi Khalfaoui , Hassen Guenichi
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper examines the effect of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on credit risk, lending decisions and banking performance of Tunisian listed banks over the period 1999–2019.

Design/methodology/approach

To identify the relationship between EPU, credit risk, lending decisions and banking performance, we have proceeded with a fixed effects panel regression model over the period 1999–2019.

Findings

Our empirical analysis showed a significant positive effect of EPU on credit risk and a significant negative effect on loan size and performance. We have also found that state-owned banks were the most affected by increasing EPU. Their credit risk has increased and their returns have decreased. While highly leveraged private banks have recorded a sharp decline in their results.

Research limitations/implications

Facing increasing credit risks, generated by EPU, Tunisian banks are allowed to revise their lending decisions to ensure consequently their sustainability and performance.

Practical implications

Tunisian resident banks should set up a monitoring system and an early-warning system of credit risk in order to guarantee both, their performance and the sustainability of the economy's financing.

Social implications

A good banking governance and a stable economic and political environment are the key factors that improve the allocation of credit, credit risk diversification and the creation of added value for the different activity sectors.

Originality/value

On the theoretical as well as on the empirical level, the analysis of the Tunisia EPU on credit risk, bank lending strategy and banking performance was not handled previously in the literature. It was noted that state banks are more influenced by the increase of EPU. Their credit risk has increased and their returns have declined. However, private banks with a high leverage effect have recorded a net decrease in their results. Since the 2011 revolution, invisibility and EPU have largely influenced the bank lending decisions and subsequently banking performance.
Tax evasion, corruption and COVID-19 health risk exposure: a cross country analysis
Authors: Yamen Ahmed Emadeldin
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between tax evasion and COVID-19 public health risk exposure in both high-corruption countries and low-corruption countries.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses cross-sectional data from 138 countries. Tax evasion is measured using the shadow economy size (light intensity approach) as calculated by (Medina and Schneider, 2018). The SolAbility COVID-19 public health risk exposure index (CPHRE) is used to measure COVID-19 health risk. Also, the corruption perception index from transparency international is used for measuring the level of corruption.

Findings

This study finds that the level of tax evasion is positively related to CPHRE. Also, the results revealed a positive relationship between corruption and CPHRE. Furthermore, this study examined the moderation effect of corruption. The results indicate that the positive relationship between tax evasion and public health risk exposure is significant in low-corruption countries, but it is insignificant in high-corruption countries. These results imply that the severity of corruption can increase COVID-19 health risk exposure more than tax evasion.

Practical implications

Our findings are alerting the policymakers for the negative noneconomic consequences of tax evasion and corruption. It provides evidence that tax evasion and corruption can increase CPHRE.

Originality/value

According to the author’s knowledge, this is the first study that examines the relationship between tax evasion and COVID-19 risk and that tests the moderation effect of corruption.
Causes and consequences of delayed diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in forensic practice: a case series
Authors: Smith Michael C.F.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the difficulties in identifying adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to illustrate the consequences of late diagnoses in forensic settings.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents an overview of the literature relevant to the topic and presents the details of three clinical cases.

Findings

Delayed diagnosis is not uncommon in forensic services. Cases may remain unidentified for considerable periods despite being under evaluation from clinical teams. Diagnosis in forensic settings is challenged by case complexity. Barriers to prompt diagnosis include time, resources and clinical competency. Timely diagnosis may lessen the risk of future offences, improves clinical risk management and can bring direct benefits to those with the condition.

Originality/value

This is the first case series which explores the issue of late diagnosis in forensic settings. The illustration of the extent to which a diagnosis can be missed may prompt clinicians to review and identify missed cases. The discussion of the issue may also support services to review their approach to screening and diagnosis of ASD.
Social constructions of mental health among Romani in Ukraine
Authors: Gorbunova Viktoriia , Gusak Natalia , Klymchuk Vitalii , Kondur Zemfira , Valeriia Paliy , Popenko Viola , Oates John
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to characterize the social and cultural context of the social construction of mental health (MH) by members of Romani communities in Ukraine.

Design/methodology/approach

The research collected qualitative data to gain a better understanding of how Romani communities in Ukraine view the social and cultural factors influencing mental health. This paper analyzes data from focus groups in Romani communities in Ukraine (from six different oblasts) from February to March 2020. A total of 49 persons 19–75 years of age participated in the research, including 17 men and 32 women.

Findings

This study identifies four clusters of perceived social determinants of Romani mental health, these being employment, financial difficulties, level of education and discrimination. The findings indicate specific cultural characteristics of the Romani community that are seen as helping to support mental health. Family values, mutually supporting and referring to other members of the community are seen as especially important. Such social cohesion is believed to have a positive effect on the mental health of members of the Romani community. This paper discusses the implications of the study and suggests possible avenues for future data-driven policymaking in the area of mental health that take account of the culturally-specific meanings of mental health for these communities.

Originality/value

Given the significant gaps, shortages and, in some cases, complete lack of data on Romani ethnic and cross-cultural psychology, research is urgently needed to fill this gap. Lack of understandings of how Romani construct mental health can lead to badly-matched, misplaced or ineffective actions and distrust. This paper aims to support better understandings of Romani among MH service providers and enhancing the mutual engagement of Romani and MH services, supporting the broader agenda of social inclusion of Romani people.
De-fusing and re-fusing face-to-face encounters involving autistic persons in Hong Kong
Authors: Cockain Alex
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This article documents accounts of the tactics parents and siblings of autistic persons in Hong Kong deploy to manage social encounters. This article aims to consider the impact of such tactics and their enmeshment with factors that combine to limit satisfactory outcomes and outlines a project intent upon contriving dialogue between persons.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative project elicited stories and accounts (or narratives) produced by persons involved in encounters involving autistic persons. This project also intervened in these encounters.

Findings

Persons involved in social encounters are de-fused, in the sense of being disconnected. The emotions persons experience through these encounters (e.g. and especially anxiety) remain hidden. Dialogue has the capacity to re-fuse, not only reconnecting but also rejecting unsatisfactory arrangements.

Originality/value

The dialogue produced in the article may extend beyond the specific circumstances and persons considered, potentially reducing the barriers and distances between autistic persons and others.
Comparative study and analysis of 3D printed wheel hub
Authors: Patil Rutu , Thammana Veera Venkata Sai Narsimha Gupta , Vaishya Awadhesh Kumar , Singh Vivek , Kumar Sanjeev , Singh Shreyansh
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Additive manufacturing (AM) promises to reduce the weight of the component, it is required to be shown that the mechanical performance of AM parts meets stringent industrial design criteria. Very few studies are made on finite element analysis (FEA) of the component produced by AM for real-life workload conditions. This study is supposed to do FEA of the wheel hub, manufactured using metal three-dimensional (3D) printing, under static multi-load conditions and effect of infill pattern on maximum stress, deformation and factor of safety.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted FEA on wheel-hub using Ansys. The approach of Orthotropic properties is used to do static analysis of wheel-hub and compared results of different metal 3D printing material (Ti-6Al-4V and Al-Si10-Mg) with hexagonal and triangular infill patterns.

Findings

Ti-6Al-4V with Honeycomb patterns shows better results in all cases and can be replaced with standard conventional material.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalisability. Therefore, it is required to do an experimental study.

Practical implications

Metal components with applications across the automobile industry can be manufactured using AM technology. With the help of AM, components with high strength to weight ratio can be manufactured.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils the identified need of FEA of the component produced by AM for real-life workload conditions. This study is supposed to do FEA of the wheel hub, manufactured using metal 3D printing, under static multi-load conditions and Effect of infill pattern on maximum stress, deformation and factor of safety.
Do Political Connections Induce More or Less Opportunistic Financial Reporting? Evidence from Close Elections Involving SEC‐Influential Politicians*
Authors: Jennings Ross , Kartapanis Antonis , Yu Yong
Published: February 2021

This study explores close US congressional elections involving politicians who have influence over the SEC to examine the effect of firms' political connections on their financial reporting. This question is important in understanding the overall effect of political connections on financial reporting. Our difference‐in‐differences tests reveal no evidence that firms experiencing a relative increase in political connections report more opportunistically after close elections in anticipation of preferential treatment by the SEC in its enforcement actions. In contrast, we find evidence that these firms report less opportunistically in response to an increase in their connections with SEC‐influential politicians. Further tests show that our findings are unlikely to be driven by capital market pressure, managerial equity incentives, or corporate governance. Overall, our results are consistent with political connections mitigating opportunistic reporting through enhanced scrutiny by the SEC of politically connected firms' financial reporting. Our findings provide new insights into the interactions among political connections, SEC oversight, and financial reporting by showing how politically connected firms alter their financial reporting in anticipation of differential treatment by the SEC.
Prognostic factors in patients with complete response of the tumour (ypT0) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and radical resection of rectal cancer
Authors: Zhang Hang , Sun Ge , Zheng Kuo , Lou Zheng , Gao Xian H. , Meng Rong G. , Furnée Edgar J. B. , Zhang Wei
Published: February 2021

Background

There are only a few studies on the prognosis of patients with complete response of the tumour (ypT0) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) and radical resection of rectal cancer. The aim of the study was to identify prognostic factors with regard to oncological outcome in ypT0 patients after NCRT and radical resection.

Methods

All ypT0 patients with rectal cancer after NCRT and radical resection between January 2010 and June 2019 were included. Cox univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to determine the prognostic factors of these patients.

Results

Seventy‐six patients with ypT0 rectal cancer were included. In nine patients (11.8%), lymph node metastasis was identified. Age, gender, elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and ypN+ were risk factors associated with a worse 5‐year disease‐free survival (DFS) rate in univariate analysis (P = 0.08, 0.14, 0.007 and 0.003, respectively). In multivariate analysis, ypN+ and elevated CEA before NCRT were independent risk factors for worse 5‐year DFS (P = 0.005 and 0.021, respectively). Elevated CEA before NCRT, post‐operative chemotherapy and ypN+ were risk factors associated with worse overall survival in univariate analysis (P = 0.14, 0.002 and 0.17, respectively). However, in multivariate analysis, none of these three factors were independent risk factors for worse overall survival (P = 0.20, 0.34 and 0.06, respectively).

Conclusion

ypN+ and elevated CEA before NCRT were found to be independent risk factors for an unfavourable DFS in ypT0 patients with complete response of the tumour after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer.
Prognostic impact of tumour sidedness in patients with stage II colon cancer: a single‐centre retrospective study
Authors: Iguchi Kenta , Mushiake Hiroyuki , Fukushima Tadao , Rino Yasushi , Masuda Munetaka
Published: February 2021

Background

The search for high‐risk factors in stage II colon cancer (CC) is ongoing and several high‐risk factors for stage II CC have been identified; however, the effects of tumour sidedness on prognosis are not clear. This study aims to determine whether tumour sidedness could be identified as another high‐risk factor for stage II CC.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed 189 patients with stage II CC and compared clinicopathological findings and long‐term outcomes between the patients with right colonic cancer (RCC) and with left colonic cancer (LCC). Prognostic factors for survival were determined using univariate and Cox proportional regression analyses.

Results

A total of 72 patients were diagnosed with RCC and 117 patients were diagnosed with LCC. Patients with RCC were significantly older (P < 0.001), and the number of harvested lymph nodes was greater in the RCC group (RCC: 25 versus LCC: 19; P = 0.003). The overall survival (OS) was worse in the RCC group than the OS in the LCC group (5‐year survival rate – RCC: 81.3% versus LCC: 90.4%; P = 0.025). Cox proportional regression analysis showed that tumour sidedness was an independent prognostic factor for both OS (hazard ratio (HR) 3.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.61–8.85, P = 0.022) and DFS (HR 2.58, 95% CI 1.33–4.99, P = 0.005).

Conclusion

Patients with RCC have more negative prognostic factors and worse long‐term outcomes than those with LCC in stage II CC. Tumour sidedness is a high‐risk factor in stage II CC patients.
Differences in clinical presentation of primary open‐angle glaucoma between African and European populations
Authors: Bonnemaijer Pieter W. M. , Lo Faro Valeria , Sanyiwa Anna J. , Hassan Hassan G. , Cook Colin ,   GIGA study group, Van de Laar Suzanne , Lemij Hans G. , Klaver Caroline C. W. , Jansonius Nomdo M. , Thiadens Alberta A. H. J.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) has been reported to occur more frequently in Africans, and to follow a more severe course compared to Europeans. We aimed to describe characteristics of POAG presentation and treatment across three ethnic groups from Africa and one from Europe.

Methods

We ascertained 151 POAG patients from South African Coloured (SAC) and 94 South African Black (SAB) ethnicity from a university hospital in South Africa. In Tanzania, 310 patients were recruited from a university hospital and a referral hospital. In the Netherlands, 241 patients of European ancestry were included. All patients were over 35 years old and had undergone an extensive ophthalmic examination. Patients were diagnosed according to the ISGEO criteria. A biogeographic ancestry analysis was performed to estimate the proportion of genetic African ancestry (GAA).

Results

The biogeographic ancestry analysis showed that the median proportion of GAA was 97.6% in Tanzanian, 100% in SAB, 34.2% in SAC and 1.5% in Dutch participants. Clinical characteristics at presentation for Tanzanians, SAB, SAC and Dutch participants, respectively: mean age: 63, 57, 66, 70 years (p < 0.001); visual acuity in the worse eye: 1.78, 1.78, 0.3, 0.3 LogMAR (p < 0.001); maximum intraocular pressure of both eyes: 36, 34, 29, 29 mmHg (panova < 0.001); maximum vertical cup to disc ratio (VCDR) of both eyes: 0.90, 0.90, 0.84, 0.83 (p < 0.001); mean central corneal thickness: 506, 487, 511, 528 μm (p < 0.001). Fourteen percent of Tanzanian patients presented with blindness (<3/60 Snellen) in the better eye in contrast to only 1% in the Dutch.

Conclusion

In this multi‐ethnic comparative study, Sub‐Saharan Africans present at a younger age with lower visual acuity, higher IOP, larger VCDR, than SAC and Dutch participants. This indicates the more progressive and destructive course in Sub‐Saharan Africans.
The effect of trabeculectomy and glaucoma drainage device implantation on postural intraocular pressure changes in glaucomatous eyes
Authors: Belkin Avner , Dar Nimrod , Pillar Shani , Tempelhof Ortal F. , Barkana Yaniv , Sheiman Vadim , Naftali Ben Haim Liron , Geffen Noa
Published: February 2021

Purpose

To investigate the effect of trabeculectomy and glaucoma drainage device implantation on posture related intraocular pressure (IOP) changes in glaucomatous eyes.

Methods

Eyes in this prospective study were divided into three groups: those that underwent Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation (Ahmed group), those that underwent trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (trabeculectomy group) and those treated medically (medication group). IOP was measured in the sitting position, and after 15 min in the left lateral decubitus position using a Tonopen XL, and a Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT). For GAT measurements in the left lateral decubitus position, we used a specialized system comprised of a motorized bed attached to a modified slit‐lamp table.

Results

111 eyes of 64 glaucoma patients were included in the analysis: 19 in the Ahmed group, 46 in the trabeculectomy group and 46 in the medication group. The difference in IOP between the sitting and supine positions was significant in the medication (2.23 mmHg) and trabeculectomy (1.48 mmHg) groups, but not in the Ahmed group (0.53 mmHg). This significance was reached with the GAT, but not with the Tonopen. A rise of 5 mmHg or more between the sitting and supine positions was documented in 5.2%, 4.3% and 15.2% of eyes in the Ahmed, trabeculectomy and medication groups, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficient for IOP measurements in the supine position demonstrated good correlation between the two tonometers.

Conclusions

Ahmed valve surgery significantly reduces postural IOP response as compared with medically treated controls. There was no significant difference between Ahmed valve and trabeculectomy in terms of their effect on the postural IOP change.
Longitudinal changes in the ganglion cell‐inner plexiform layer thickness of age‐related macular degeneration
Authors: Kim Ju Mi , Lee Min‐Woo , Lim Hyung Bin , Won Yeo Kyoung , Shin Yong‐il , Lee Woo‐Hyuck , Kim Jung‐Yeul
Published: February 2021

Purpose

To determine longitudinal changes of the ganglion cell‐inner plexiform layer (GC‐IPL) thickness in patients with non‐exudative age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) without other ophthalmic disease.

Methods

Thirty‐three eyes of 33 patients with early and intermediate non‐exudative AMD (non‐exudative AMD group) and 33 normal control eyes were followed for 2 years, and GC‐IPL thickness was measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography at 1‐year intervals. The mean rate of GC‐IPL reduction was estimated using a linear mixed model and compared between two groups.

Results

The mean age of patients in the non‐exudative AMD group and control groups were 68.82 ± 6.81 years and 67.73 ± 5.87 years, respectively (p = 0.488). The mean GC‐IPL thickness at the first visit was 76.61 ± 16.33 μm in the non‐exudative AMD and 81.76 ± 3.69 μm in control group (p = 0.387), and these values significantly decreased over time, with an average reduction rate of average GC‐IPL −0.86 μm/year in the non‐exudative AMD group and −0.32 μm/year in the control group. The difference between two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001), and there was also a significant interaction between group and duration in linear mixed models in mean GC‐IPL thickness (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

The reduction rate of the GC‐IPL thickness was greater in non‐exudative AMD eyes, even at relatively early stages of the disease. Physicians should maintain awareness of the presence of non‐exudative AMD in various cases of ophthalmic diseases where GC‐IPL thickness evaluation is necessary.
Warning signal: Political trust, typhoons and the myth of the ‘Li's field’ in Hong Kong
Authors: Wong Mathew Y.H. , Kwong Ying‐ho
Published: February 2021

This article examines the discourse of ‘Li's Field’ in Hong Kong, named after tycoon Li Ka‐shing and used to satirically denounce the government‐business political nexus. The discourse challenges the apparent reluctance of the weather agency to decide that a typhoon is strong enough to warrant a city‐wide suspension of business activities, which would obviously be detrimental to capitalist interests. In comparison to the earlier period characterised by political trust, institutional and political factors in recent decades have intensified the impression of government‐business collusion and the erosion of political trust. Li's Field is a case illustrating how political distrust can spill over into bureaucracy, challenging the traditions of bureaucratic neutrality and meritocratic and scientific policymaking. This article provides an analysis of the ‘field’ with primary interview data, media discourse analysis and secondary data. This study contributes by exploring political trust in politicians and bureaucrats, and how the former spills over into the latter.
Baring it all for Activism: The 1985 Naked Protest in Mexico
Authors: Mendiola García Sandra C.
Published: February 2021

This article analyses the 1985 naked protest carried out by silver miners of Pachuca, Mexico. This singular form of resistance, the first in Mexican labour history and organised by a dissident group within the miners' union called Liberación Minera (Miners Liberation), forced management to recognise and temporarily solve some of the miners' grievances. The naked protest unveiled the shady practices of the miners' employer, the state‐owned Compañía Real del Monte y Pachuca, which refused to provide work clothes and safety equipment to miners. It also pointed to the miners' union leadership's complicity in the deterioration of labour conditions. Part of the miners' naked protest success had to do with the support that they gained from members of the left‐wing press who used the protest to offer an early critique of Mexico's neoliberal policies. The 1985 naked protest occurred during one of Mexico's most severe economic crises and only four years before the company became privatised. This protest is one of the last examples of organised labour resistance before industries closed down and fired thousands of workers.
Shifting Tides of Informal Worker Resistance in Mexico: A Domestic Work‐Construction Contrast
Authors: Tilly Chris , Rojas‐García Georgina
Published: February 2021

Informal workers in Mexico, the majority of the country's workforce, have organised to demand rights, but with varying results. In this article, we contrast recent organising by Mexico's domestic workers and informal construction workers. Household worker movements have succeeded in institutionalising significant new organisations and raising public awareness. Construction workers, despite earlier militant counterexamples, have remained trapped by corporatist structures, and their organising capacity has atrophied. We place these outcomes in the context of the overall decline of labour, suggesting conclusions for the limits and possibilities of contemporary Mexican labour mobilisation.
Resistance to Chronic Violence in Informal Workplaces: The Strategies of Domestic Workers in Brazil (2003–2018)
Authors: Mayer Jean François
Published: February 2021

This article analyses the repertoire of individual strategies utilised by domestic workers to resist routinised workplace violence in the cities of São Paulo and Ilhéus, Brazil. Findings suggest that domestic workers favour two strategies of resistance: exit (quitting work without prior notice) and voice (negotiating workplace conditions). The latter strategy is divided into two subtypes: voice‐pleading (appealing to decency) and voice‐confrontation (warning and rights‐claiming). Voice strategies appear more effective than exit in ameliorating patterns of chronic workplace violence, particularly when they incorporate labour rights claims and when emotional ties exist between workers and employers.
Some considerations on the terminology applied to dung beetle functional groups
Authors: Tonelli Mattia
Published: February 2021

1. Dung beetles are an important group of insects that use excrement for feeding and reproductive purposes. The interest of the scientific community in dung beetles is highlighted by the increasing number of investigations that use them as the focal group.

2. In the last few years, several studies have used dung beetles as bioindicators and to study ‘biodiversity‐ecosystem functioning relationships’ using functional traits. One of the most widely used functional traits in dung beetle studies is their reproductive behaviour.

3. In order to evaluate the use of relevant terminology regarding dung beetle nesting behaviour I analysed 1143 articles published between 1969 and 2020.

4. The analysis brought to light the following four broad issues regarding dung beetle functional groups: (i) the interchangeable use of terms; (ii) overgeneralizations; (iii) the equating of nesting and trophic behaviour and (iv) misspellings. After reviewing these issues, I propose a solution.
Ending Bretton Woods: evidence from the Nixon tapes†
Authors: Butkiewicz James L. , Ohlmacher Scott
Published: February 2021

Richard Nixon's August 1971 announcement of a set of policies known collectively as the New Economic Policy (NEP), or the ‘Nixon shock’, effectively terminated the Bretton Woods system (BWS) of fixed exchange rates that had governed the international monetary system since 1944. While there are many accounts of Nixon's decision to end the BWS, the secret Nixon White House tapes provide unique insights into the decision‐making process and Nixon's struggle with this decision. Using the tapes as evidence, we find that Nixon resisted ending the BWS for political reasons and did not fully understand the NEP's strategy, particularly the fact that the domestic policies were designed to provide cover for the international policies. The tapes also clarify that the decision to adopt the NEP was made prior to the Camp David Summit of 13–15 August 1971 in response to general speculative pressure. While the US reacted to pressure on the dollar, Nixon and Treasury Secretary John Connally attempted to appear to be driving decisions for the domestic electorate. The temporary float of exchange rates as part of the NEP inevitably became permanent as a result of Nixon's choice of advisors and his preferences for open capital flows and stimulative monetary policy.
Risk‐taking behaviour relates to timing of breeding in a sub‐Antarctic rainforest bird
Authors: Poblete Yanina , Botero‐Delgadillo Esteban , Espíndola‐Hernández Pamela , Vásquez Rodrigo A.
Published: February 2021

Within‐population variation in timing of breeding may be linked to a trade‐off between the risks and benefits of breeding earlier. This trade‐off may be mediated by individual risk‐taking behaviour, but this needs to be assessed in detail in wild populations. Here, we recorded timing of breeding and risk‐taking behaviour during three consecutive breeding seasons in a resident population of Thorn‐tailed Rayadito Aphrastura spinicauda located in Navarino Island (55°S), southern Chile. Navarino is a high‐latitude, highly seasonal continental island in southern Chile where early breeding may be risky for rayaditos, given the presence of low temperatures, storms and relatively low food abundance during early spring. We used novel environment tests to assess exploratory behaviour, which in turn was used as a proxy of risk‐taking behaviour. In addition, we evaluated the potential consequences of timing of breeding and risk‐taking behaviour on three measures of reproductive success: clutch size, number of fledglings produced and body condition of the offspring. We found that risk‐prone individuals started breeding earlier than risk‐averse individuals but we did not find evidence for an effect of timing of breeding on any of the variables of seasonal breeding success. However, we observed that fast‐exploring females tended to lay smaller clutches. Measurements reflecting lifetime reproductive success may better reflect an effect of timing of breeding and risk‐taking behaviour, but this needs to be studied. Our results support the idea that risk‐taking behaviour is linked to early breeding in high‐latitude environments. We suggest that, despite the risks that low temperatures and snowstorms pose to breeding rayaditos during early spring, it is possible that early breeders increase the probability of occupying better nesting cavities and they may adjust the timing of breeding to match brood provisioning with peak resource abundance.
Biases and their impact on opinions of transgender bathroom usage
Authors: Clements Zakary A. , Munro Geoffrey D.
Published: February 2021

The relationship between personality traits and biased assimilation, evaluating arguments, and persuasive messages more favorably if supporting pre‐existing attitudes, lacks adequate research. Research suggests that higher narcissistic traits are associated with biased reactions. Additionally, research suggests that people with greater scientific reasoning abilities have more biased reactions to information that challenges their attitude, as they more easily locate flaws on topics that oppose their beliefs. Participants (N = 260) completed measures to identify their views on trans bathroom use, as well as other personality and attitude measures. They were randomly assigned to read one of the two articles using fake scientific data that either supported trans people using a bathroom reflecting their gender identity or that they should use a bathroom matching their sex‐assigned at birth. Participants rated the quality of the article significantly higher when their opinion on bathroom use was congruent with the article than when it was incongruent. We used regression analyses with participants' perceptions of the quality of the article as the outcome variable and scientific reasoning scores, narcissism personality index scores, open‐mindedness scores as predictor variables. In the mismatch group, the higher the scores on scientific reasoning, the lower the ratings of the quality of the opinion incongruent article. In the match group, the higher the scores on open‐mindedness, the lower the ratings of the quality of the opinion congruent article. This research suggests that bias reduction is necessary to function in a world where scientific facts are called into question on a consistent basis.