bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The cost efficiency of Vietnamese banks – the difference between DEA and SFA
Authors: Nguyen Phong Hoang , Pham Duyen Thi Bich 
Published: May 2020

PurposeThe paper aims to enrich previous findings for an emerging banking industry such as Vietnam, reporting the difference between the parametric and nonparametric methods when measuring cost efficiency. The purpose of the study is to assess the consistency in issuing policies to improve the cost efficiency of Vietnamese commercial banks.Design/methodology/approachThe cost efficiency of banks is assessed through the data envelopment analysis (DEA) and the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). Next, five tests are conducted in succession to analyze the differences in cost efficiency measured by these two methods, including the distribution, the rankings, the identification of the best and worst banks, the time consistency and the determinants of efficiency frontier. The data are collected from the annual financial statements of Vietnamese banks during 2005–2017.FindingsThe results show that the cost efficiency obtained under the SFA models is more consistent than under the DEA models. However, the DEA-based efficiency scores are more similar in ranking order and stability over time. The inconsistency in efficiency characteristics under two different methods reminds policy makers and bank administrators to compare and select the appropriate efficiency frontier measure for each stage and specific economic conditions.Originality/valueThis paper shows the need to control for heterogeneity over banking groups and time as well as for random noise and outliers when measuring the cost efficiency.
Military reform, militarily-connected firms and auditor choice
Authors: Harymawan Iman 
Published: May 2020

Purpose
One of the strongest connections in politics in developing countries is through military links. This study aims to examine the auditor choice preference of the militarily-connected firms in Indonesia, an emerging country where there is a strong influence from the military on political decision-making.

Design/methodology/approach
The analysis used 3,473 firms-year observations listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange spanning from 2003 to 2017 using regression and other statistical tests.

Findings
The results reveal that firms with a militarily-connected director are less likely to appoint one of the Big 4 auditors. Using the military reform as a natural experiment, the finding shows that militarily-connected firms did not change their auditor choice preference even after the military reform. Interestingly, I find that connected firms are associated with high earnings management. In addition, the different retirement position level and military affiliations of the connected directors generate different outcomes related to the auditor choice decision. Overall, the results indicate that militarily-connected firms were less likely to appoint one of the Big 4 auditors both before and after the military reforms. These results are robust, even after the author controlled for political connections, year fixed effects and industry fixed effects.

Research limitations/implications
Because of the limitations of the prior literature on military connections, this study is developed based on the assumption that the militarily-connected directors have identical behavior whether they serve in either public or private companies. However, this assumption could be invalid which potentially affects the interpretation of some of the results in this study.

Originality/value
This paper provides direct evidence of the auditor choice preference of firms with a military connection. The evidence builds on the existing literature on the difference in auditor choice preference between politically and militarily-connected firms.
Assessing cross-national differences in police officers' domestic violence attitudes
Authors: Harper Shannon , Gover Angela , McPhedran Samara , Mazerolle Paul 
Published: May 2020

PurposeComparative research provides a mechanism to understand how justice systems throughout the world operate. McPhedran et al. (2017) conducted a comparative examination of police officer attitudes about domestic violence (DV) in the USA and Australia and reported fairly high levels of agreement among male and female officers within each country. The current study builds on these findings by examining officer attitudes toward DV among male and female officers cross-nationally. This was accomplished by examining whether American and Australian male and female officers agree with one another on a number of DV issues.Design/methodology/approachTwo-way ANOVA was used to examine the effect of two factors (gender and country) on law enforcement officer attitudes about DV.FindingsThe results suggest that male and female officers from the USA and Australia significantly differ on 14 of 24 attitudes about DV with the greatest number of attitudinal differences found between American and Australian male officers.Research limitations/implicationsScholars who conduct future research examining police officer attitudes about DV should use the instrument from this study as a springboard to develop an updated survey in terms of content and one that would be applicable to cross-national analyses. Methodological study limitations are described in depth in McPhedran et al. (2017).Originality/valueWhile gender differences in attitudes have received scholarly attention, questions remain regarding the degree to which attitudes align among male and female officers across different countries. The current study seeks to fill these gaps in knowledge by examining attitudes about DV between American and Australian law enforcement officers.
How financially inclusive the Asian’s are – an empirical analysis
Authors: Ghosh Shantanu , Sahu Tarak Nath 
Published: May 2020

PurposeThis study aims to measure and further compare the countries in terms of the achievement in the degree of financial inclusion over the study period and between income groups considering 26 nations from Asia for the period 2013-2017.Design/methodology/approachWhile measuring the degree of financial inclusion, the study prepares an index using weighted arithmetic mean and the inverse of the Euclidean distance method. Further, comparison between the study period and between the income groups has been made using the dependent samplest-test as well as the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and independent samplest-test, respectively.FindingsThe study extends empirical insights by laying out the ranks for the countries considered for each of the study periods individually as well as in terms of mean financial inclusion scores for the study period. Further, comparison in terms of mean financial inclusion scores shows significant differences between the income groups, whereas the differences between the study periods turn out to be non-significant.Research limitations/implicationsLess availability of intended variables over time restricts the predictive capability of sketching the phenomena in a true sense and claims further an exhaustive research to pursue in the future.Practical implicationsWith the declining trend except for 2016-2017 in the achievement of financial inclusion scores over time, the study suggests emphasizing the initiatives targeted to include the excluded within the ambit of the formal financial system, which somehow seems unstable.Originality/valueThe novelty of the study lies in the portrayal of a measure that seems representative of the scale for development with deeper insight.
John Lewis partnership approaching 100 years – what now?
Authors: Shipper Frank , Hoffman Richard C. 
Published: May 2020

Theoretical basis
This case has multiple theoretical linkages at the micro-organizational behavior level (e.g. job enrichment), but it is best analyzed and understood when examined at the organizational level. Students will learn about shared entrepreneurship, high performance work systems, shared leadership and virtuous organizations, and how they can develop a sustainable competitive advantage.

Research methodology
The case was prepared using a qualitative approach. Data were collected via the following ways: literature search; organizational documents and published historical accounts; direct observations by a research team; and on-site audio recorded and transcribed individual and group interviews conducted by a research team (the authors) with organization members at multiple levels of the firm.

Case overview/synopsis
John Lewis Company has been in business since 1864. In 1929, it became the John Lewis Partnership (JLP) when the son of the founder sold a portion of the firm to the employees. In 1955, he sold his remaining interest to the employee/partners. JLP has a constitution and has a representative democracy governance structure. As the firm approaches the 100th anniversary of the trust, it is faced with multiple challenges. The partners are faced with the question – How to respond to the environmental turmoil?

Complexity academic level
This case has environmental issues – How to respond to competition, technological changes and environmental uncertainty and an internal issue – How can high performance work practices provide a sustainable competitive advantage? Both issues can be examined in strategic management courses after the students have studied traditionally managed companies. This case could also be used in human resource management courses.
Commentary on “Factors influencing the quality of care learning disabled patients receive in hospital”
Authors: Handley Tricia 
Published: May 2020

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on Durrant’s paper “Factors influencing the quality of care learning disabled patients receive in hospital”.

Design/methodology/approach
The commentary identifies examples of practice in acute hospital provision consistent with the themes outlined in Durrant’s paper.

Findings
The themes identified in Durrant’s paper are easily recognisable. At the same time, there is a need to more fully understand the complexity of acute hospitals and to involve mainstream health-care staff in development and delivery of training on learning disability. Consideration should be given to the development of new specialist roles.

Originality/value
The commentary provides a practice perspective arising from wide clinical experience.
“Investigating the factors affecting brain drain in Greece: looking beyond the obvious”
Authors: Panagiotakopoulos Antonios 
Published: May 2020

PurposeThe study explores the reasons why talented people leave Greece and go abroad using a qualitative approach to data collection in order to get a deep understanding on the actual reasons of brain drain in Greece, which affects the sustainability of domestic businesses and the overall economic development of the country.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative approach was adopted consisting of 80 interviews with business and IT professionals, healthcare professionals and academics of various disciplines that live and work in the United Kingdom, Germany, United States and Australia. Data were collected over a three-year period (May 2015–May 2018).FindingsThe results showed that the vast majority of respondents decided to leave their home country due to the prevalent cultural mindset of most Greek citizens, government policymakers and employers in Greece. In particular, 65% of respondents decided to live and work abroad due to the deep crisis of social values in the country and the high political corruption, while just 35% pointed to purely financial and other work-related reasons (e.g. low salaries, poor working conditions, no employment prospects, lack of job security) as the key ones for leaving the country. Essentially, the respondents argued that the individualist cultural values that have been predominant in the Greek society for years now have become evident in political action causing several problems such as social injustice and poverty.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings have important implications both for those who hold governmental posts and the remaining citizens of Greece. Both government officials and citizens should re-examine their roles, values and ideals. The blame for the extensive brain drain in the country cannot be put only on the political parties that ruled the country during the last decades; the people who elected them are also responsible. The country seems to remain trapped in a crisis of social values that parents and the formal education system in Greece have cultivated for years now. In that respect, formal education in the country should be transformed radically in order to act as an important agency inculcating the new generations with a sense of duty in shaping a democratic political culture that emphasizes equality and condemns egalitarian practices.Originality/valueThe scant evidence around this topic is based on quantitative research that fails to explore in much depth the reasons of brain drain in the country. Previous studies revealed that the phenomenon of brain drain in Greece has been predominantly caused by the poor financial performance of the country during the last decade. This has been further supported by the claims of several policymakers who argue that the Greek crisis has been a fiscal one. However, the present study sheds new light and unmasks the root cause of brain drain in Greece stressing that the country essentially faces a crisis of values and a corrupted civic culture.
Severe coral loss shifts energetic dynamics on a coral reef
Authors: Morais Renato A. , Depczynski Martial , Fulton Christopher , Marnane Michael , Narvaez Pauline , Huertas Victor , Brandl Simon J. , Bellwood David R. 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

Declining coral cover and loss of structural complexity are widely reported on today's coral reefs. While coral loss frequently triggers changes in coral reef fish assemblage structure, the ecosystem‐scale consequences of these changes are poorly known.

Here we evaluate how four metrics of energy flow and storage that underscore a critical coral reef function, consumer biomass production, respond to severe coral loss on a coral reef in the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

We compared fish and benthic surveys at Lizard Island from 2003 to 2004 with surveys in 2018 using an individual‐level modelling approach that integrates growth and mortality coefficients to estimate community‐level standing biomass, productivity, consumed biomass and turnover.

In the study period, coral cover declined by 72%–83% in forereef zones while turf cover increased by 18%–100% across all zones. Reef fish assemblages, in turn, responded with a 71% increase in standing biomass, 41% in productivity and 37% in consumed biomass, mainly driven by nominally‐herbivorous fishes (Labridae—Scarini, Acanthuridae and Siganidae). By contrast, biomass turnover rates declined by 19%.

Our findings suggest that coral loss can drive energetic shifts on coral reefs, leading to more productive, but slower paced reef fish assemblages. Although the observed build‐up of biomass may appear positive, the decreased turnover rates indicate that the system is unable to maintain biomass replacement levels. This suggests that the enhanced productivity that accompanied coral loss may be driven by storage effects from the somatic growth of individuals already present, questioning the temporal stability of these changes to coral reef ecosystem functioning.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
The effectiveness of monetary policy and output fluctuations: An asymmetric analysis
Authors: Irandoust Manuchehr 
Published: May 2020

AbstractPrevious studies have investigated asymmetries in the effects of monetary policy on the real economic activity by using either vector autoregressive (VAR)‐based regime‐switching models with smooth transition technique or Gaussian functions to parameterise the dynamic effects of structural shocks on the economy. These kinds of VAR models assume asymmetry as a short‐run relationship between the series since the long‐run neutrality hypothesis of money states that monetary policy can only affect productive capacity of the economy in the short run, but not in the long run. The recent theoretical literature shows that this hypothesis is not quite right. Thus, this paper examines the extent to which monetary policy has a long‐run asymmetric effect on output in a number of Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development countries by using a nonlinear hidden cointegration analysis within a likelihood‐based panel framework. The findings indicate that there is a long‐run relationship between the real interest rate as an indicator of monetary policy and the growth rate of real output in five countries out of nine under review. This gives support for the view that output has responded asymmetrically to the real interest rate changes. The economic implication of our results is that monetary policy affects positive and negative output fluctuations differently.
Joint impact of muscle mass and waist circumference on type 2 diabetes in Japanese middle‐aged adults: The Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS)
Authors: Yasuoka Mikako , Muraki Isao , Imano Hironori , Jinnouchi Hiroshige , Kubota Yasuhiko , Hayama‐Terada Mina , Umesawa Mitsumasa , Yamagishi Kazumasa , Ohira Tetsuya , Kitamura Akihiko , Okada Takeo , Kiyama Masahiko , Iso Hiroyasu ,   for the CIRCS Investigators
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundAlthough evidence about skeletal muscle mass loss and type 2 diabetes risk has accumulated, little information is available on the combined effect of skeletal muscle mass and abdominal obesity on type 2 diabetes. We examined whether skeletal muscle mass and abdominal obesity were synergistically associated with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes.MethodsSkeletal muscle mass and waist circumference (WC) were measured in 1515 Japanese aged 40 to 69 years. Relative muscle mass was calculated as percentage of total skeletal muscle mass in body weight (SMM%). Type 2 diabetes was identified as fasting serum glucose ≥7.0 mmol/L (126 mg/dL), nonfasting serum glucose ≥11.1 mmol/L (200 mg/dL), glycosylated hemoglobin ≥ 6.5%, and/or diabetes medication use.ResultsThe multivariable‐adjusted odds ratio (OR) of prevalent diabetes from the lowest to the third quartile of SMM% compared to the highest quartile gradually increased in both sexes. The association between a high WC and prevalent diabetes was similar. The multivariable‐adjusted OR (95% confidence intervals) for the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the low skeletal muscle mass/high WC group was 3.19 (1.78‐5.71) for men and 4.46 (2.09‐9.51) for women compared with the high skeletal muscle mass/low WC group. The relative excess risk due to interaction was 2.2 (0.5‐3.9) in men and 2.8 (0.2‐5.3) in women for an excess burden of type 2 diabetes for low skeletal muscle mass and high WC.ConclusionsLow skeletal muscle mass and abdominal obesity were synergistically associated with presence of type 2 diabetes.
Immune status and the efficacy of radiotherapy on overall survival for patients with localized Merkel cell carcinoma: An analysis of the National Cancer Database
Authors: Yusuf Mehran B , Gaskins Jeremy , Wall Weston , Tennant Paul , Bumpous Jeffrey , Dunlap Neal 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundImmunosuppressed (IS) patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) have worse outcomes compared to immunocompetent (IC) patients, and it is unclear if adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) is beneficial for these patients. We sought to determine the effect of immune status on adjuvant RT efficacy regarding overall survival (OS) for patients with localized MCC.MethodsThis was an observational study of National Cancer Database (NCDB) identifying patients with stage I/II or III MCC with known immune status diagnosed from 2010 to 2014. The median follow‐up time was 29 months. OS was described using Kaplan–Meier methods and compared for subgroups by immune status and adjuvant RT using log‐rank tests, multivariable Cox regression and interaction effect testing.ResultsA total of 2049 IC and 255 IS patients were included. Adjuvant RT was associated with decreased hazard of death for stage I/II MCC (HR 0.65, CI 0.54–0.78) adjusting for factors including immune status. Interaction effect testing did not demonstrate a significant difference in the effect of adjuvant RT on OS between IC and IS status in either stage I/II or III MCC (both P values > 0.05).ConclusionsIn this observational study, adjuvant RT was associated with decreased hazard of death for patients with stage I/II MCC regardless of immune status. Adjuvant RT should be considered for both IS and IC patients with localized MCC.
LncRNA HOTAIR enhances breast cancer radioresistance through facilitating HSPA1A expression via sequestering miR‐449b‐5p
Authors: Zhang Shuqin , Wang Bin , Xiao Huiwen , Dong Jiali , Li Yuan , Zhu Changchun , Jin Yuxiao , Li Hang , Cui Ming , Fan Saijun 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundBreast cancer (BRCA) is the leading cause of cancer‐related death in women worldwide. Pre‐ and postoperative radiotherapy play a pivotal role in BRCA treatment but its efficacy remains limited and plagued by the emergence of radiation resistance, which aggravates patient prognosis. The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)‐implicated mechanisms underlying radiation resistance are rarely reported. The aim of this study was to determine whether lncRNA HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) modulated the radiosensitivity of breast cancer through HSPA1A.MethodsA Gammacell 40 Exactor was used for irradiation treatment. Bioinformatic tools and luciferase reporter assay were adopted to explore gene expression profile and demonstrate the interactions between lncRNA, miRNA and target mRNA 3′‐untranslated region (3′‐UTR). The expression levels of certain genes were determined by real‐time PCR and western‐blot analyses. in vitro and in vivo functional assays were conducted by cell viability and tumorigenicity assays.ResultsThe levels of oncogenic lncRNA HOTAIR were positively correlated with the malignancy of BRCA but reversely correlated with the radiosensitivity of breast cancer cells. Moreover, the expression levels of HOTAIR were positively associated with those of heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 1A (HSPA1A) in clinical BRCA tissues and HOTAIR upregulated HSPA1A at the mRNA and protein levels in irradiated BRCA cells. Mechanistically, miR‐449b‐5p restrained HSPA1A expression through targeting the 3′‐UTR of HSPA1A mRNA, whereas HOTAIR acted as a competing sponge to sequester miR‐449b‐5p and thereby relieved the miR‐449b‐5p‐mediated HSPA1A repression. Functionally, HOTAIR conferred decreased radiosensitivity on BRCA cells, while miR‐449b‐5p overexpression or HSPA1A knockdown abrogated the HOTAIR‐enhanced BRCA growth under the irradiation exposure both in vitro and in vivo.ConclusionsLncRNA HOTAIR facilitates the expression of HSPA1A by sequestering miR‐449b‐5p post‐transcriptionally and thereby endows BRCA with radiation resistance.Key pointsTherapeutically, HOTAIR and HSPA1A may be employed as potential targets for BRCA radiotherapy. Our findings shed new light into the mechanism by which lncRNAs modulate the radiosensitivity of tumors.