bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the predictive values of diagnostic tests subject to a case-control sampling with application to the diagnosis of Human African Trypanosomiasis
Authors: Roldán-Nofuentes José Antonio , Sidaty-Regad Saad Bouh
Published: May 2019

Case-control sampling to compare the accuracy of two binary diagnostic tests is frequent in clinical practice. This type of sampling consists of applying the two diagnostic tests to all of the individuals in a sample of those who have the disease and in another sample of those who do not have the disease. In this sampling, the sensitivities are compared from the case sample applying the McNemar’s test, and the specificities from the control sample. Other parameters of binary tests are the positive and negative predictive values. The predictive values of a diagnostic test represent the clinical accuracy of a binary diagnostic test when it is applied to the individuals in a population with a determined disease prevalence. This article studies the comparison of the predictive values of two diagnostic tests subject to a case-control sampling. A global hypothesis test, based on the chi-square distribution, is proposed to compare the predictive values simultaneously. The comparison of the predictive values is also studied individually. The hypothesis tests studied require knowledge of the disease prevalence. Simulation experiments were carried out to study the type I errors and the powers of the hypothesis tests proposed, as well as to study the effect of a misspecification of the prevalence on the asymptotic behavior of the hypothesis tests and on the estimators of the predictive values. The results obtained were applied to a real example on the diagnosis of the Human African Trypanosomiasis. The model proposed was extended to the situation in which there are more than two diagnostic tests.
Crystal structure of catena-poly[[(μ-6-{[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]methyl}pyridine-2-carboxylato)copper(II)] perchlorate acetonitrile monosolvate]
Authors: Cioncoloni Giacomo , Wilson Claire , Roger Isolda , Symes Mark D.
Published: May 2019

The crystal structure of the title compound, {[Cu(C19H17N4O2)]ClO4·C2H3N}
n
, is reported and compared to similar structures in the literature. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21. The unit cell contains one complex molecule in addition to perchlorate as the counter-ion and solvent (acetonitrile). The crystal packing evinces extended chains whereby the carboxylate moiety on the 6-carboxylato-2-(pyridylmethyl)bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amine ligand bridges between two different copper centers in adjacent molecules. This packing arrangement for the title compound appears to be unique when compared to allied structures in the literature. The perchlorate anion showed signs of disorder and its oxygen atoms were modelled over two sets of partially occupied sites, the occupancy of which was competitively refined to 0.564 (12)/0.436 (12). The crystal studied was refined as a two-component inversion twin.
Refinement of the FCF motive for stock repurchases
Authors: Liu Nan
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors that influence the free cash flow (FCF) motive for stock repurchases. Specifically, it examines whether the positive association between FCF and open-market repurchases is partially driven by abnormal cash flows, and whether external analyst monitor and financial crisis influence the association.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a tobit regression model to test the hypotheses.

Findings

First, the results suggest that the positive association between FCF and stock repurchases is partially driven by abnormal cash flows. Second, the association between pre-managed FCF and stock repurchases is strengthened as more analyst following the firms. Third, firms repurchase less when they report more negative abnormal cash flows, and that tendency is more pronounced during the 2008 financial crisis period. Further analysis shows that during the crisis period, the effect of negative abnormal cash flows on operating performance gets stronger.

Originality/value

The study makes several contributions to the literature. This paper is the first to show that managers use abnormal cash flows to fulfill the share buy-backs. In addition, it shows that analysts provide effective external monitoring by strengthening the association between pre-managed FCF and repurchases. Furthermore, it finds that firms adjust their strategy in times of financial crisis period in response to the increased risk. Finally, it contributes to the earnings management literature by showing the differential effects of accruals management and cash flow management on earnings performance.
Overcoming today’s digital talent gap in organizations worldwide
Authors: Nair Kiran
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to determine why organizations struggle in implementing digital transformation to obtain a faster return on investment and how human resource management can help organizations overcome this challenge.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine recent research and opinions of industry experts on digital transformation by organizations and the major challenges they face, this study applies an inductive qualitative research approach and uses a descriptive statistics method to analyze the responses.

Findings

This paper reveals the various challenges organizations face today in implementing digital transformation because of gaps in digital talent in the current workforce.

Practical implications

This paper provides recommendations to HR practitioners and leadership teams in organizations on how to narrow the gap in current digital talent to successfully implement digital transformation and increase productivity.

Social implications

This study highlights the need for the current workforce to acquire the necessary digital talent sought by organizations and how improving their digital capabilities can improve their productivity in today’s digital scenario.

Originality/value

This study focuses on current problems organizations worldwide face in implementing digital transformation. The digital talent gap is increasing daily with the development of new AI, Big Data and other digital technologies. Hence, it is important for human resource departments and leaders to quickly address and resolve digital talent gaps to realize the advantages of digital transformation and a return on their heavy investment.
Creating a knowledge-sharing culture: six top tips on building and sustaining it
Authors: Bran Livia
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to talk about the importance of building and sustaining an organizational culture that supports knowledge sharing between all members of the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides four tips for managers who want to build such a culture within their company, as well as two further tips on how to sustain one that is already built.

Findings

Building and sustaining a knowledge-sharing culture in a business organization may take a lot of time and effort on the part of management and employees alike, but it is definitely worth it, as companies can experience low employee-turnover rates and increased profits based on it.

Originality/value

This viewpoint is based on the author’s personal experience within various organizations.
Controversial heritage: the Valley of the Fallen
Authors: de-Miguel-Molina María , Barrera-Gabaldón José Luis
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyse the concept of dark tourism and apply it to the Valley of the Fallen in Spain, a controversial monument that is a symbol of the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent dictatorship.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the authors carried out a literature review to get an insight into the concept of “dark tourism”, the types of existing dark tourism and the methods that are applied to the main cases around the world. Then, the authors analysed the case through a content analysis of press articles and interviews.

Findings

The authors propose a way to change the current symbolism and connotations of the Valley of the Fallen towards a new symbolism engaging all the stakeholders involved, from a dark tourism point of view.

Research limitations/implications

Applying this new symbolism requires attaining a difficult consensus that Spain has not yet been able to put into practice.

Originality/value

The dark tourism framework is an opportunity to link both economic and educational objectives, co-working on a model of consensus, but there is a gap in the literature on dark tourism in terms of Spain’s history. This strategy could be also applied to other controversial heritage with similar characteristics, according to different positioning classifications.
Kaizen in university teaching: continuous course improvement
Authors: Kregel Ingo
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The current evaluation standards in German higher education institutions (HEIs) do not often lead to measurable quality improvement. The purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate whether Kaizen can improve the quality of teaching. The presented concept illustrates the evaluation of each course unit to continuously encourage quality feedback from the learners and intensify the exchange with lecturers.

Design/methodology/approach

Action research is used to combine the continuous improvement philosophy of Kaizen with student course evaluations. A pilot study of the concept provides data from four course cycles to analyze learnings and setbacks.

Findings

Learners in the pilot courses welcomed the intense participation and allowed improvements to elements such as course concept, course material, presentation style and content or detail selection. The participation rate declined during each term and was highly influenced by triggers like exam and grade relevance. Kaizen could successfully improve course quality, especially in the first two years of newly developed courses.

Research limitations/implications

The presented results have been collected from one course over four years in one institution. The next stage of research would be the application of the approach in other institutions to validate results and make potential adjustments to the concept, for example, toward continuous learning.

Originality/value

Although course evaluation has become standard in German HEIs, most institutions only implement it once per term or year. This paper discusses a new approach to expedite the evaluation of teaching quality at the point of action (Gemba) to facilitate the short-term reactions of lecturers.
Assessing the essential pre-conditions of an authentic sustainability curriculum
Authors: Lengyel Attila , Szőke Szilvia , Kovács Sándor , Dávid Lóránt Dénes , Bácsné Bába Éva , Müller Anetta
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This study has two aims. It aims to analyse three essential pre-conditions of an authentic sustainability curriculum (ASC). The theoretical analysis involves the definition of authenticity through the learning outcomes (LOs) framework called authentic minimum (AM). This paper also aims to gauge students’ views on economic growth, sustainability and mindfulness.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical aim was accomplished by extensive study of and critical reflections on the relevant literature. The empirical research was qualitative using an online questionnaire as survey instrument consisting of predominantly open-ended questions involving students of two economic faculties. Directed content analysis and nonparametric quantitative methods were used to assess the answers.

Findings

Viable sustainability goals are in stark contrast with the promotion of sustainable economic growth in sustainable development goals 8 and the reigning neoliberal agenda. The empirical findings provide valuable insights into how undergraduate students view mindfulness, economic growth and aspects of sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical research has some obvious limitations that warrant caution in generalizing the results. The authors used a sample of convenience and the base population of the survey consisted only in students of economics in two economic faculties of two Hungarian universities.

Practical implications

Practical implications of the present paper are many all sharing; however, the need for existential courage on the part of teachers, students and leaders of higher education institutions. Existential courage is required for profound personal transformation, for going against mainstream ideology and the possible confrontations with colleagues, leaders of institutions, students, friends or family members.

Originality/value

On the theoretical side, the concept of ASC was introduced with AM as its LOs framework. For the first time, an attempt was made to interpret authenticity in sustainability education as an integration of mindfulness, human and environmental ethics and a firm opposition to economic growth and neoliberal ideals. The analysis of qualitative data supported earlier research and also provided unique findings in the examined areas.
Understanding potential impacts from university-led educational travel
Authors: Hale Brack W.
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential for environmental and social impacts from university-level educational travel programs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzes the sites visited by 17 education travel programs to the Westfjords (Iceland) from 2014 to 2016. It uses a geographic information system (GIS) project to examine the potential for environmental and social impacts from these programs on local communities and environments. It compares them with similar data on general tourism to the region.

Findings

The results reveal that educational travel programs visit sites that are generally in moderately sensitive areas environmentally and socially. They visit different sites from general tourists and sites that are more sensitive environmentally and socially.

Research limitations/implications

The research area was limited to the Westfjords of Iceland, and thus, the results may not apply globally to all educational travel destinations.

Practical implications

These findings suggest that education travel programs carried out by and for universities the potential to have negative effects on the locations they visit. Universities need to design their educational travel programs so as to limit such impacts to host environments and communities and explicitly educate student participants about sustainable travel behaviors.

Originality/value

This is the first study to combine GIS with several environmental and social metrics to assess impacts from educational travel programs. Further, it is the first study to map the frontstage–backstage continuum as a quantitative metric.
What difference does the context of activation make? Challenges and innovations in the Italian and Norwegian local welfare
Authors: Villa Matteo , Johansen Venke Frederike
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of trans-contextual processes of implementation and governance in the transformation of social and labor inclusion policies in Norway and Italy, including research and practical implications.

Design/methodology/approach

It combines qualitative case studies with a framework that makes them comparable, namely, the Logics of Welfare.

Findings

Differences and similarities are related to regimes’ path dependencies as well as interactions between bottom-up and top-down dynamics of implementation. Their shifting logics and patterns enhance or hinder the local actors’ agency and enactment, and the systems’ capability to reduce the risks of exclusion. Results and the ways in which they are achieved are different, although in both cases the inclusion in the labor market remains a contended issue.

Research limitations/implications

The comparison is based on two case studies. A further development of in-depth comparative analysis may improve our understanding of the role of contexts in the implementation of policy reforms.

Practical implications

Reforms have limited capacity to achieve the expected outcomes, including due to a limited understanding of context-based factors. Practitioners and policy makers should take greater account of the latter and their active role in modifying them.

Social implications

This paper provides a deeper comprehension on how policy practices affect citizens’ hard pathways toward inclusion.

Originality/value

Through a comparative context-based analysis, the paper shows important differences, similarities and shifting modes of operation in activation policy as well as the role of socio-organizational contexts and bottom-up mobilizations. It looks forward to the possible added value derived from a wider testing of such approaches.
Sharing economy and the lodging websites
Authors: Nisar Tahir M. , Hajli Nick , Prabhakar Guru , Dwivedi Yogesh
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the main determinants that affect accommodation purchase intentions through lodging websites in sharing economy context. This industry differs from the hotel industry because it is a community marketplace with a growing community of users where renters can monetize their extra space and list their properties to an audience of millions while travelers can find unique accommodation at any price point.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine factors such as perceived lodging value, perceived lodging price, lodging information, online lodging reviews, trust with the host, website usability and perceived privacy/security of the website, and measure their relationships with purchase intentions. Based on an online survey data, the structural model test outcomes explain the direct effect of the exogenous variables on purchase intentions and the mediating effect of perceived lodging value between perceived lodging price and purchase intentions.

Findings

The study demonstrates that the six latent factors and proposed associations have positive effects on purchase intentions. Thus, enterprises operating in the online lodging industry should consider these elements as key antecedents of lodging purchase intentions.

Originality/value

Lodging websites operate in a highly competitive market where they have to compete with hotel operators, hostels, bed and breakfasts and hotel comparison websites in current sharing economy. In addition, consumers usually spend a great deal of time and effort on online pre-purchase evaluation because of the ease of the information gathering process where consumers can find a wide variety of options online. Therefore, understanding the drivers that convert browsers into renters is a topic of great interest among marketing managers in the current sharing economy context.
Corporate social responsibility disclosure and debt financing
Authors: Hamrouni Amal , Boussaada Rim , Ben Farhat Toumi Nadia
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting influences leverage ratios. In particular, this paper aims to determine whether firms with higher CSR disclosure scores have better access to debt financing.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a panel data analysis of non-financial French firms listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange and members of the SBF 120 index from 2010 to 2015. The environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure scores that are collected from the Bloomberg database are used as a proxy for the extent of ESG information disclosures by French companies.

Findings

The empirical results demonstrate that leverage ratios are positively related to CSR disclosure scores. In addition, the results show that the levels of long-term and short-term debt increase with the disclosure of ESG information, thus suggesting that CSR disclosures play a significant role in reducing information asymmetry and improving transparency around companies’ ESG activities. This finding meets the lenders’ expectations in terms of extrafinancial information and attracts debt financing sources.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based only on the quantity of the ESG information disclosed by French companies and does not account for the quality of the CSR disclosures. The empirical model omits some control variables (e.g. the nature of the industry, the external business conditions and the age of the firm). The results should not be generalized, since the sample was based on large French companies for 2010–2015.

Practical implications

France is a highly regulated context that places considerable pressure on French firms in terms of CSR policies. The French Parliament has adopted several laws requiring transparency in the environmental, social, and corporate governance policies of French firms. In this context, firms often regard CSR policies as constraints rather than opportunities. This study highlights the benefits that result from transparent CSR practices. More precisely, it provides evidence that the high disclosure of ESG information is a pull factor for credit providers.

Originality/value

This study extends the scope of previous studies by examining the value and relevance of CSR disclosures in financing decisions. More precisely, it focuses on the relatively little explored relationship between the extent of CSR disclosures and access to debt financing. This paper demonstrates how each category of CSR disclosure information (e.g. social, environmental and governance) affects access to debt financing. Moreover, this study focuses on the rather interesting empirical setting of France, which is characterized by its highly developed legal reforms in terms of CSR. Achieving a better understanding of the effects of ESG information is useful for corporate managers desiring to meet lenders’ expectations and attract debt financing sources.
Accounting information and financial institutions’ credit spreads: the case of Tunisia
Authors: Riahi Youssef , Hammami Yacine
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate two research questions: do accounting reports provide information that helps bondholders assess credit risk of financial institutions? What are the relevant accounting variables related to financial institutions’ credit spreads?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors estimate all models of credit spread by specifying fixed effects with year dummies.

Findings

The authors’ document that financial institutions’ cash flows and loan loss provisions (LLP) are significantly correlated with bond spreads. The authors observe that an increase in nondiscretionary LLP predicts an increase in credit spreads, as the former reflects a higher default risk. Bondholders also react negatively to an increase in discretionary LLP, viewed as evidence that a financial institution is engaged in opportunistic earnings or tax management. Finally, the authors demonstrate that the relationship between accounting data and credit spreads is stronger for high-yield bonds than for low-yield bond.

Research limitations/implications

This study has certain limitations due to the sample size and data frequency.

Practical implications

First, this paper provides strong evidence to all market participants that financial accounting reports are useful in forecasting credit risk in emerging markets. Second, the paper highlights the importance of disclosure policies and accounting transparency of financial institutions in emerging markets. Third, the results are also of practical interest to standard setters and financial regulators. The latter should consider monitoring accruals, especially the discretionary component of LLP, to mitigate the effects of accounting manipulations and managers’ opportunism.

Originality/value

First, the previous literature does not focus on financial institutions despite their key role in the economy. Second, the paper is the first to study the credit relevance of accounting information in emerging markets (Tunisia).
How do smokers respond to pictorial and threatening tobacco warnings? The role of threat level, repeated exposure, type of packs and warning size
Authors: Lacoste-Badie Sophie , Gallopel-Morvan Karine , Lajante Mathieu , Droulers Olivier
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the role of two structural factors – threat level depicted on fear messages and warning size – as well as two contextual factors – repeated exposure and type of packs – on pictorial and threatening tobacco warnings’ effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

A two (warning threat level: moderate vs high) × two (coverage: 40 vs 75 per cent) × two (packaging type: plain vs branded) within-subjects experiment was carried out. Subjects were exposed three times to pictorial and threatening tobacco warnings. Both self-report and psychophysiological measurements of emotion were used.

Findings

Results indicate that threat level is the most effective structural factor to influence smokers’ reactions, while warning size has very low impact. Furthermore, emotional arousal, fear and disgust, as well as attitude toward tobacco brand, decrease after the second exposure to pictorial and threatening tobacco warnings, but stay stable at the third exposure. However, there is no effect of repetition on the emotional valence component, arousal-subjective component, on intention of quitting or of reducing cigarette consumption. Finally, there is a negative effect of plain packs on attitude toward tobacco brand over repeated exposures, but there is no effect of the type of packs on smokers’ emotions and intentions.

Social implications

Useful marketing social guidance, which might help government decision-makers increase the effectiveness of smoking reduction measures, is offered.

Originality/value

For the first time in this context, psychophysiological and self-report measurements were combined to measure smokers’ reactions toward pictorial and threatening tobacco warnings in a repeated exposure study.
Contributing factors on the allocation of funds in the Islamic society
Authors: Ezzati Morteza
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explain and present a theoretical framework for providing people with savings to finance two sectors: profitable investment and Gharz-al-Hassane. To do this first, assumptions and presumptions of the theory and framework are expressed, and then the effect of belief on this behavior is explained. Subsequently, this theoretical framework is evaluated in an empirical research.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical framework is explained by mathematical and logical methods. The experimental study is carried out using real data of 500 households from Zahedan (Center of Sistan and Baluchestan Province of Iran). Data were collected using questionnaire and were analyzed using statistical and econometric methods.

Findings

The result indicates that demands of Iranian people are not met within the framework of official markets. This disparity in supply and demand has led to the actions of people outside the formal framework, and so, banks and financial institutions cannot exploit the supply of people’s savings. On this basis, key factors determining people supply in a variety of markets are religious belief, age, income, education level, religious experience and so on, which should be considered in designing the Islamic banking and financial tools.

Originality/value

Today, economics and marketing have shown that an enterprise needs to meet customer demand to succeed. In the field of Islamic banking and finance, financial firms and banks should know this too. However, there are not many research studies in this area.
Layers of misconceptions about Islamic banking
Authors: Shabbir Malik Shahzad , Rehman Awais
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to identify some important misconceptions about Islamic banks, which impact investor’s portfolio in term of threats, challenges and opportunities. This paper is trying to attempt to present five different layers of misconceptions regarding investor portfolio.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper distributed 132 questionnaires among investors of Islamic financial institutions and multiple regression of least significant difference (LSD) method implied for data analysis.

Findings

The results of this paper show that two variables, such as opportunity and challenge, out of three are positively significant and the remaining one variable, threat, is insignificant regarding investor portfolio.

Originality/value

This paper is the first ever attempt in its nature to identify the different misconceptions about Islamic banking system and its impact on investor portfolio.
Interest free micro credit loans: Pakistani female entrepreneurs
Authors: Rashid Amber Gul , Ejaz Lalarukh
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of interest free micro credit loans on the lives and business of the female borrowers.

Design/methodology/approach

Both primary and secondary data have been used. Case studies of four different female entrepreneurs have been included as part of the research. The observation was conducted over an extended period of time. Subsequently, interviews were conducted with four beneficiaries to know the role played by interest free micro credit loans in improving (or not!) their lives and businesses.

Findings

Interest free micro credit loans played a significant role in bringing a positive change in the lives of the borrowers. Clients mentioned that “zero interest rate” and “flexible repayment schedules” were the main reason for obtaining loans from this source. Further, they suggested that there is a need for training/workshops, feedback/monitoring, networking and online repayment system to make interest free micro credit loans more successful.

Research limitations/implications

The focus of the study is limited to only four female borrowers in Karachi. Future studies can include other cities and cross-gender comparisons for better understating.

Practical implications

This study will help microfinance organizations to assess the problems faced by the borrowers; it will also shed light on the motivations of borrowers.

Originality/value

Interest free micro credit loans were provided to women entrepreneurs in a social experiment and implications were observed.
The effects of trade liberalization on skill acquisition: a systematic review
Authors: Sun Sharon Zhengyang , MacIsaac Samuel , Duclos Buck C. , Lilly Meredith B.
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The benefits of trade liberalization on upskilling and skill-based wage premiums for high-skilled workers have recently been questioned in policy circles, in part because of rising income inequality and populist movements in developed economies such as the USA. The purpose of this paper is to determine the effects of trade liberalization on the relative supply and demand for skills.

Design/methodology/approach

Through the systematic review of the literature on trade and skill acquisition, this paper isolates a total of 25 articles published over the past two decades.

Findings

Key findings demonstrate the importance of the relative development of the trading partner, with more developed countries experiencing higher upskilling, while less developed countries experience deskilling. Technology, geographic level of analysis, sector and gender were also found to be important influences on human capital acquisition associated with international trade.

Originality/value

Overall, the authors find support for the idea that trade with developing countries places pressure on low-skill jobs in developed countries but increases the demand for educated workers. The implications of shifts in skills for public policy-making and in terms of the skill premium on wages are discussed.
Reverberations in the Torrens system: a new Land Transfer Act in New Zealand
Authors: Toomey Elizabeth
Published: May 2019

Purpose

On 12 November 2018, New Zealand's Land Transfer Act 2017 came into force. The purpose of this paper is to pinpoint some of the significant changes in the Act that challenge the fundamental concepts of the Torrens system of registration.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper addresses three significant reforms: a definition of land transfer fraud; the concept of immediate indefeasibility with limited judicial discretion and its impact on volunteers and the Gibbs v. Messer anomaly; and the compensation regime. Case studies illustrate the effect of these changes.

Findings

The limited legislative definition of fraud reflects the common law and allows for any necessary flexibility. The new Act reiterates the principle of immediate indefeasibility but qualifies it with the introduction of some judicial discretion. This is a novel concept for the courts and will undoubtedly be dealt with cautiously. The author voices some disquiet with regard to some of the guidelines set out in s 55(4) of the Act. The compensation provisions introduce an element of an owner's culpability. An owner now runs the risk of reduced compensation if there has been a lack of proper care.

Research limitations/implications

The implications of this research are fundamental for New Zealand's land transfer system.

Practical implications

The limited judicial discretion will challenge the courts of New Zealand. The new compensation provisions will ensure that an owner's carelessness will be accountable.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to analyse the Land Transfer Act 2017 (New Zealand). Its value extends beyond New Zealand shores as it has implications for global land transfer systems.
The effect of gender composition in joint audits on earnings management
Authors: Kung Fan-Hua , Chang Yu-Shan , Zhou Minting
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the association between gender composition of joint auditor pairs and the quality of reported financial information. More specifically, the authors attempt to assess whether and how these gender compositions affect the client firms’ earnings management behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors utilized the unique institutional setting of Taiwan, where joint auditors are required by law. They studied the effect of gender in joint auditor pairs on accrual earnings management and real earnings management to achieve financial reporting objectives.

Findings

Empirical results indicate that engaging a woman as the lead auditor can constrain accrual earnings management, regardless of whether the joint auditor is male or female. The authors also found that all-male signing auditor pairs with industry expertise can significantly reduce accrual earnings management. The authors also documented that all-female signing auditor pairs and auditor industry expertise could drive clients to engage in real earnings management activities as an alternative to accrual earnings management.

Originality/value

The empirical results demonstrate that gender indeed plays a role in the quality of client’s reported financial information. Female auditors in a lead position and male auditors with industry expertise tend to be more successful in delivering better-quality audits.
Internal auditor communications: an experimental investigation of managerial perceptions
Authors: Farkas Maia , Hirsch Rina , Kokina Julia
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine potential determinants of management’s agreement with internal auditor recommendations of an interim assurance engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

The experiment involved a 2 × 2 × 2 design with internal auditor gender, mode of communication and root cause variables randomly assigned to 228 experienced managers.

Findings

When the internal auditor includes a root cause for an identified deficiency in an internal audit report, management perceptions of the quality of that report improve. The gender of the internal auditor who communicates the audit finding with management does not significantly impact management’s perceptions. Additionally, communicating the internal audit report via e-mail instead of videoconference results in improved managerial perceptions of the quality of the internal auditor. While improvements in perceptions of internal auditor quality lead to greater agreement with internal auditor recommendations, improvements in perceptions of report quality lead to greater implementation of internal-auditor-recommended remediation strategies.

Research limitations/implications

The operationalization of the manipulated variables of interest (communication mode, gender and root cause) may limit the generalizability of the study’s results.

Practical implications

The paper includes managerial implications for internal auditors’ choice of communication mode and inclusion of a root cause in interim internal audit reports.

Originality/value

This study provides evidence on the factors that could improve management’s perceptions of internal auditors’ work. The findings can help organizations, such as the Institute of Internal Auditors, to better understand how to address the needs of those who communicate with internal auditors.
Earnings management, audit quality, and cost of debt: evidence from a Central Asian economy
Authors: Orazalin Nurlan , Akhmetzhanov Rassul
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effects of earnings management and audit quality on cost of debt of listed companies in Kazakhstan. The study also investigates the effects of audit quality on earnings management and whether the relationship between earnings management and cost of debt is affected by audit quality in the context of a given emerging economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The study sample consists of public companies listed in the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) from 2011 to 2016, and all data were obtained from audited financial statements and annual reports downloaded from the webpage of KASE. The study uses the cross-sectional ordinary least squares technique to test the impact of audit quality and earnings management on cost of debt.

Findings

The collected empirical evidence shows that earnings management is negatively related to cost of debt. The findings also indicate that higher audit quality leads to a lower cost of debt. However, the results suggest that audit quality has no impact on earnings management and that the effect of earnings management on cost of debt is not different for the companies audited by the Big Four and for the companies audited by other audit firms.

Practical implications

The findings of the study can be of interest to policy-makers, regulators, investors and practitioners in emerging markets with an institutional environment similar to that of Kazakhstan.

Originality/value

The study throws more light on the impact of earnings management and audit quality on cost of debt in Kazakhstan, representing the Central Asian region. This study also extends the current literature by providing empirical evidence that the relationship between earnings management and cost of debt is not affected by audit quality.
Impact of a dementia-specific program of equine-assisted activities: providers’ perspectives
Authors: Fields Beth , Wood Wendy , Lassell Rebecca
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Establishing acceptability of complex interventions to stakeholders is vital in early scientific development. The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the acceptability of a program of equine-assisted activities (EAAP) for people with dementia by elucidating programmatic practices needed to enhance their safety and quality of life (QoL) from the perspectives of service providers.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews with five providers were analyzed using a basic qualitative approach.

Findings

Providers perceived the EAAP as acceptable and revealed potential mechanisms of change supporting well-being, including aspects related to the physical and social environment and person with dementia. Linkages identified among the EAAP and its physical and social context support its complexity. Providers explicated program practices that promoted safety and QoL, such as implementing staff trainings and tailoring activities to each person’s preferences and needs. These practices aligned with best dementia care approaches, underscoring that the EAAP is a promising complex intervention that merits further scientific development.

Originality/value

This work is novel and adds to the literature by illuminating the role of a community-based, animal-assisted program for enhancing the QoL of older adults with dementia residing in institutional care facilities.
The paradox of embedded agency from a strong structuration perspective
Authors: Kholeif Ahmed Othman Rashwan , Jack Lisa
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to use Stones’ strong structuration theory (SST) that combines Giddens’ duality and Archer’s analytical dualism to deal with the paradox of embedded agency, focussing on resistance, in the budgeting literature. It also applies this framework to an illustrative case study that examines a failed attempt to implement performance-based budgeting (PBB) in the Egyptian Sales Tax Department (ESTD).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have used SST as an analytical framework. Longitudinal case study data were collected from interviews, observations, discussions and documentary analysis and from publicly available reports and other media issued by the World Bank.

Findings

The SST framework identifies the circumstances in which middle managers as embedded agency have limited possibilities to change their dispositions to act and identify opportunities for emancipation in the wider social context in which they are embedded. The official explanation for the failure to implement PBB in Egypt was obstruction by middle managers. The findings of this study provide an alternative explanation to that published by the World Bank for the failure to institutionalise PBB in Egypt. It was found that the middle managers were the real supporters of PBB. Other parties and existing laws and regulations contributed to the failure of PBB.

Research limitations/implications

As a practical implication of the study, the analysis presented here offers an alternative interpretation of the failure of the Egyptian project for monitoring and evaluation to that published by the World Bank. This case and similar cases may enhance the understanding of how and when monitoring and evaluation technologies should be introduced at the global level to manage conflicts of interest between agencies and beneficiaries.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the extant management accounting literature on the use of ST in addressing the paradox of embedded agency in making or resisting structural change. It uses SST to integrate Giddens’ ST with critical realist theory, incorporating duality and dualism in a stronger model of structuration. The SST framework offers a means of analysing case studies that result from interactions and conjunctures between different groups of actors at different ontological levels. The paper also examines the issue of embedded agency in budgeting research using an illustrative case study from a developing country, Egypt.
A combined approach based on robust PCA to improve bankruptcy forecasting
Authors: Succurro Marianna , Arcuri Giuseppe , Costanzo Giuseppina Damiana
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Starting from a series of financial ratios analysis, this paper aims to build up two indices which take into account both the firm’s debt level and its sustainability to investigate if and to what extent the proposed indices are able to correctly predict firms’ financial bankruptcy probabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

The research implements a statistical approach (tandem analysis) based on both an original use of principal component analysis (PCA) and logit model.

Findings

The econometric results are compared with those of the popular Altman Z-score for different lengths of the reference period and with more recent classifiers. The empirical evidence would suggest a good performance of the proposed indices which, therefore, could be used as early warning signals of bankruptcy.

Practical implications

The potential application of the model is in the spirit of predicting bankruptcy and aiding companies’ evaluation with respect to going-concern considerations, among others, as the early detection of financial distress facilitates the use of rehabilitation measures.

Originality/value

The construction of the indebtedness indices is based on an original use of Robust PCA for skewed data.
Scrub typhus caused by Shimokoshi type Orientia tsutsugamushi showing variant 56‐kDa type‐specific antigen gene sequence in Tohoku region, Japan
Authors: Seto Junji , Tanaka Shizuka , Murakata Toshihiko , Sato Hiroko , Monma Naota , Arai Reiko , Ikeda Tatsuya , Mizuta Katsumi
Published: May 2019

In 2018, a patient was diagnosed with Shimokoshi type scrub typhus in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. The causative pathogen was likely a variant type because 43 (8.3%) of 521 deduced amino acid sequences of the 56‐kDa type‐specific antigen (TSA) were different from those of the Shimokoshi prototype strain. The patient's paired sera showed low antibody titers against the Shimokoshi prototype strain. Two cases of scrub typhus reported in the Tohoku region during 2011–2012 also involved the same 56‐kDa TSA gene sequence. These findings suggest the presence of diversity in Shimokoshi type Orientia tsutsugamushi, which may impede the laboratory diagnosis of scrub typhus.
Genetic and phenotypic responses to genomic selection for timing of breeding in a wild songbird
Authors: Verhagen Irene , Gienapp Phillip , Laine Veronika N. , van Grevenhof Elizabeth M. , Mateman Andrea C. , van Oers Kees , Visser Marcel E.
Published: May 2019

The physiological mechanisms underlying avian seasonal timing of reproduction, a life‐history trait with major fitness consequences, are not well understood. Comparing individuals that have been selected to differ in their timing of breeding may prove to be a promising in studying these mechanisms, making selection lines a valuable tool.

We created selection lines for early and late timing of breeding in great tits (Parus major) using genomic selection, that is selection based on multi‐marker genotypes rather than on the phenotype. We took in nestlings (F1 generation) from wild broods of which the mother was either an extremely early (“early line”) or extremely late (“late line”) breeder. These chicks were then genotyped and, based on their “genomic breeding values” (GEBVs), we selected individuals for early and late line breeding pairs to produce the F2 generation in captivity. The F2 offspring was hand‐reared, genotyped and selected to produce an F3 generation, which were then again genotyped and selected. This way we obtained laying dates in aviaries for F1, F2 and F3 birds.

We studied the genetic response to the artificial selection and found increased genetic differentiation between the early and late reproducing selection lines over generations (F1–F3), indicated by both diverging GEBVs and increased fixation indices (FST).

We studied the phenotypic response to selection for birds breeding in outdoor breeding aviaries. We found that early line birds laid earlier than late line birds, and this difference increased over the generations (F1–F3), with non‐significant line effects for the F1 and F2, but highly significant line differences for the F3.

We also assessed whether there was correlated selection on two traits that are potentially part of the mechanisms underlying seasonal timing: the endogenous free‐running period of the day/night clock (tau) and basal metabolic rate, but found no correlated selection.

We have successfully created selection lines on seasonal timing in a wild bird species and obtained an instrument for future studies to investigate the physiological mechanisms underlying timing of breeding, and the genetic variation in these mechanisms, an essential component for evolutionary change in timing of reproduction.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.