bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing earnings management flexibility
Authors: Lam Choy Hiu 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a new measure of earnings management flexibility based on the limits of the allowable set of accruals, prior discretionary accruals used, and the reversal rate of these accruals.Design/methodology/approachQuarterly financial data from Compustat for the period 1990‐2009 were used to construct the flexibility measure. Then the author examined how well this measure captures flexibility by investigating its effect on a firm's probability of meeting analysts' forecasts.FindingsThe results show that this flexibility measure better captures the firm‐specific flexibility than that of Barton and Simko which captures mainly the difference in flexibility across industries. Further, the positive effect of their measure on a firm's probability of meeting/beating analysts' forecasts is not observed in the extended sample period.Practical implicationsThe flexibility measure proposed here can assist investors, analysts, or researchers to compare earnings management flexibility across firms in the same industry, which is useful in evaluating the quality of a firm's financial reports, stock picking or credit granting decisions.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the earnings management literature by incorporating both the variation in flexibility used and that in flexibility limits. Second, evidence in this paper suggests that while financial benefits motivate managers to undertake earnings management, flexibility determines the extent of earnings management they can undertake. Third, this study points out that the unreversed discretionary accruals impose a constraint on the level of discretionary accruals a manager can incur in the current period, and hence have an indirect influence on current reported earnings.
The effect of the type and number of internal control weaknesses and their remediation on audit fees
Authors: Keane Matthew J. , Elder Randal J. , Albring Susan M. 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThe implementation of compliance procedures associated with the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002 came at a great cost to most publicly‐traded firms, largely due to the internal control disclosures required by Section 404 of the Act. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the inquiry on internal control effectiveness by examining the impact of the type (same or different) and number of internal control weaknesses on audit fees. The paper also examines whether firms that remediate continue to incur higher audit fees compared to firms that never disclosed a weakness.Design/methodology/approachThe authors evaluate the impact of internal control weaknesses and their remediation on audit fees using ordinary least squares regression for 9,122 firm year observations (3,096 unique firms) over the time period 2004‐2007.FindingsThe authors find: an incremental impact on audit fees of additional material weakness disclosures; firms that report the same material weakness pay higher fees than firms reporting a different material weakness in consecutive years; and audit fees remain high one, two, and three years following remediation compared to a firm that never disclosed an internal control weakness.Originality/valueIn contrast with prior studies, the sample includes firms that remediated weaknesses, firms that failed to remediate weaknesses, and firms that did not have prior weaknesses. The results suggest that the failure to remediate has greater risk implications than new weaknesses and that material weaknesses are associated with higher audit fees several years after remediation.
Enabling performance measurement in a small professional service firm
Authors: Groen Bianca A.C. , van de Belt Mirthe , Wilderom Celeste P.M. 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show why developing an enabling performance measurement system (PMS) can be useful to small professional service firms (PSFs) and how small PSFs can develop such an enabling PMS.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a process‐consultation type of action research design; they developed an enabling PMS in close cooperation with the employees of a small PSF. The effects of this intervention were assessed by means of document analysis, participant observation, and individual/group interviews.FindingsThe enabling PMS development process helped the firm deal with three challenges common to small PSFs: it increased employees’ understanding about how to apply the firm's strategy; it led to greater knowledge exchange among employees; and it enabled them to create new knowledge.Research implications/limitationsThe research results suggest the type of intervention used for developing an enabling PMS – that has already been shown to be effective in large firms – may also be useful for small PSFs. Similarities and differences with the intervention in large firms are discussed.Practical implicationsSmall PSFs may benefit from the approach described herein: to develop a PMS in a participatory manner. It is especially useful if interested in better alignment of operations with strategy and/or to better explicate tacit and create new firm‐relevant knowledge.Originality/valueThis is the first paper about developing an enabling PMS in a small PSF.
Strategy deployment systems within the UK healthcare sector: a case study
Authors: Zhang Shulian , Bamford David , Moxham Claire , Dehe Benjamin 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine an organisation‐wide restructuring exercise by investigating the effectiveness of strategy development and deployment processes in a National Health Service (NHS) Community Health Services (CHS) organisation.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used an embedded single‐case study approach to gather and analyse rich data in order to understand how an organisation can develop and deploy its strategy, and to appreciate the key tools, techniques and issues related to this process. A range of data collection methods, including archival records, interviews, observations and questionnaires, was employed to permit triangulation of the results.FindingsThe research led to an understanding of how the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) and the Closed‐Loop Management System (CLMS) can be adapted to support the local CHS. In total, 17 key areas for success are presented and used to assess the current capability within the case study organisation.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors’ investigation examined the potential for improved strategic development and deployment through the adaptation of the BSC and a CLMS within a NHS CHS organisation.Practical implicationsA six‐step conceptual model is presented which can be used to guide organisations. The model permits the assessment of capability in order to highlight current strengths and weaknesses.Originality/valueAs a suitably skilled workforce is required for the successful implementation of any management system, the research expanded the scope of the study by including an assessment of the organisation's readiness for adapting formal strategy deployment systems.
Collaboration in supply chain
Authors: Kumar Gopal , Nath Banerjee Ravindra 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to frame collaboration in supply chain as a hierarchical reflective construct.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses data from industries in India to test the hierarchical and structural model. Partial least squares method is used to test the model.FindingsResults show that collaboration is a third‐order, reflective construct. The paper's findings also arrange collaborative activities in terms of its importance for collaboration.Practical implicationsCollaboration is a multi‐facet activity and is a meta‐concept, and therefore this paper improves our understanding on the subject. The performance of supply chain collaboration depends on the execution of various activities, and this paper points out how the various activities are related to the collaboration, the execution of which will drive collaborative ventures towards success.Originality/valueThis paper provides empirical evidence for collaboration as a hierarchical reflective construct. The model is tested by data collected from Industries in India.
Two‐sided supplier‐manufacturer selection in BTO supply chain
Authors: Joshi Kedar , Singh K.N. , Kumar Sushil 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a newly developed integrated multi‐criteria decision method (MCDM) with two‐sided preferences or selection scenario in build‐to‐order supply chains so as to explore the future applications like supplier parks.Design/methodology/approachThe current state of the consolidation scenario of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers is presented and build‐to‐order imperativeness in the case of a supplier park is highlighted. These motivations guided the need for development of a new technique in two‐sided selection scenario. The MCDM technique, like analytical network process (ANP), is integrated with a mutual compatibility index. A hypothetical example is presented to demonstrate the proposed methodology.FindingsThe newly developed integrated methodology helps the decision maker to incorporate both sided preferences in the final supplier‐manufacturer selection.Originality/valueThis paper allows the reader to understand the build‐to‐order supply chain and supplier park situation. The emerging trends in the automobile sector in India are also highlighted. This new integrated technique certainly adds value to the decision maker in today's competitive world.
Linkages between Thai stock and foreign exchange markets under the floating regime
Authors: Jiranyakul Komain 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThe purpose of the present study is to directly examine the relationship between bilateral exchange rate and stock market index in a bivariate framework during the period of the floating exchange rate regime in Thailand.Design/methodology/approachThe monthly data used in this study are the stock market index or stock prices from the Stock Exchange of Thailand, and the nominal bilateral exchange rate in terms of baht per US dollar from the Bank of Thailand. The period covers July 1997 to June 2010 with 156 observations. This is the period that the country switched from fixed to floating exchange rate regime. The stock market return is calculated by the percentage change of stock market index (or stock prices) while the exchange rate return is the percentage change of the nominal bilateral exchange rate. Three estimation methods are used to capture the interaction between stock and foreign exchange markets: bounds testing for cointegration, non‐causality test, and the two‐step approach with a bivariate GARCH model and Granger causality test.FindingsThe results of the present study show that bounds testing for cointegration does not detect the long‐run relationship between stock prices and exchange rate. In addition, the non‐causality test fails the diagnostic test for multivariate normality in the residuals of the estimated VAR model. However, the two‐step approach adequately detects the linkages between the stock and foreign exchange markets. It is found that there exists positive unidirectional causality running from stock market return to exchange rate return. The exchange rate risk causes stock return to fall as expected. Moreover, there are bidirectional causal relations between stock market risk and exchange rate risk, but in different directions.Research limitations/implicationsSince a rising trend in the risk in the foreign exchange market causes stock return to fall, both domestic and foreign investors should be aware of the risk or uncertainty in the foreign exchange market because it can cause their portfolio return to fall. For policymakers, reducing exchange rate risk cannot be done without the associated costs from a rising risk in the stock market.Originality/valueThis study provides an evidence of volatility (or risk) spillovers in stock and foreign exchange markets. In addition, the risk in foreign exchange market that adversely affects return in the stock market is an expected phenomenon under the floating exchange rate regime.
The 2011 Japanese earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis
Authors: Asongu Simplice A. 
Published: October 2012

PurposeNatural disasters may inflict significant damage upon international financial markets. The purpose of this study is to investigate if any contagion effect occurred in the immediate aftermath of the Japanese earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear crisis.Design/methodology/approachUsing 33 international stock indices and exchange rates, this paper uses heteroscedasticity biases based on correlation coefficients to examine if any contagion occurred across financial markets after the March 11, 2011 Japanese earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis. The sample period is partitioned into two sections: the 12‐month pre‐earthquake period (March 11, 2010 to March 10, 2011) and the 2‐month post‐earthquake period (March 11, 2011 to May 10, 2011). While the stability period is defined as the pre‐earthquake period, the turbulent (turmoil) period is defined as the post‐earthquake period. In a bid to ensure robustness of the findings, the turmoil period is further partitioned into two equal sections: the 1‐month (short‐term) post‐earthquake period (March 11, 2011 to April 10, 2011), and the 2‐month (medium‐term) post‐earthquake (March 11, 2011 to May 10, 2011).FindingsFindings reveal that, while no sampled foreign exchange markets suffered from contagion, stock markets of Taiwan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and South Africa witnessed a contagion effect.Practical implicationsThe results have two paramount implications. First, the paper has confirmed existing consensus that in the face of natural crises that could take an international scale, emerging markets are contagiously affected for the most part. Second, the empirical evidence also suggests that international financial market transmissions not only occur during financial crisis; natural disaster effects should not be undermined.Originality/valueThis paper has shown that the correlation structure of international financial markets are also affected by high profile natural disasters.
General grey numbers and their operations
Authors: Liu Sifeng , Fang Zhigeng , Yang Yingjie , Forrest Jeffrey 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to advance new rules about operations of grey numbers.Design/methodology/approachThe paper first puts forward the definitions of basic element of grey number and general grey number. The operation axiom, operation rules of general grey numbers and a new algebraic system for general grey numbers are built based on the “kernel” and the degree of greyness of grey numbers.FindingsUp to now, the operation of general grey numbers has been transformed to operation of real numbers; thus, the difficult problem for set up operation of general grey numbers has been solved to a certain degree.Practical implicationsThe method exposed in the paper can be used to integrate information from a different source. The operation of general grey numbers could be extended to the case of grey algebraic equation, grey differential equation and grey matrix which includes general grey numbers. The operation system of general grey numbers also opened a new passageway for research on grey input‐output and grey programming, etc.Originality/valueThe new conception of a basic element of grey number and general grey number was given for the first time in this paper. The novel operation rules of general grey numbers were also constructed.
The analysis of the overall strength of the world's 2012 110‐meter hurdles of track and field – and the prediction of Liu Xiang's 2012 competitive level
Authors: Jiajin Liu , Zijian Sun 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to research comprehensively into the development pattern of the world's 110‐meter hurdles of the coming two years. It aims to provide a detailed reference to the preparation of the 2012 London Olympics.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses the GM (2, 1) model, GM (1, 1) model, GM (1, 1) residual fixing model, and the method of recursive compensation by grey numbers of identical dimensions.FindingsIn 2012, the strongest athletes of 110‐meter hurdles are predicted to be: USA athlete Oliver, USA athlete Ash and Cuba athlete Robles. Liu Xiang has the possibility of winning the medal in the 2012 London Olympics.Practical implicationsBecause every athlete is an individual that grows up gradually, there are two characteristics in his information: continuity and incompleteness. We can use the grey system methods.Originality/valueThe paper successfully applies the grey prediction to the case study in the field of competitive sports.
Commercial bank credit risk management based on grey incidence analysis
Authors: Jin Jiajia , Yu Ziwen , Mi Chuanmin 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThis paper attempts to analysis the credit risk at the angle of industrial and macroeconomic factor using grey incidence analysis method.Design/methodology/approachCredit asset quality problem is one of the obstacles limiting the further development of commercial banks; the research on credit risk becomes an important part of the implementation of a commercial bank's risk management. Different industries may have different effects on the credit risk of commercial bank. This paper proposes finding out the different incidences between industries and credit risk, as well as macroeconomics. Incidence identification method is established to investigate whether the industry and macroeconomic factor could affect an impaired loan ratio of a bank using the grey incidence analysis method.FindingsThe results indicate that the impaired loan ratio differs with diverse industry's influence and the macroeconomics also affect it. From the angle of the industry, the result can also determine the risk deviation scope in the grey risk control process which offers new content and ideas within the grey risk control.Practical implicationsUnder the guidance of the principle of “differential treatment, differential control”, this research will help to strengthen the implementation of differentiated credit policy, focus on guiding and promoting the optimization of credit structure, so as to maintain a reasonable size of credit facilities and build a steady currency credit system.Originality/valueThe paper succeeds in finding the top five influent industries compared with others by using one of the newest developed theories: grey systems theory.
Urease gene of Trichophyton rubrum var. raubitschekii
Authors: HIRUMA Midori , KANO Rui , SUGITA Takashi , MOCHIZUKI Takashi , HASEGAWA Atsuhiko , HIRUMA Masataro 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThe recent description (in GenBank) of a urease‐encoding gene from Trichophyton rubrum provides an opportunity to compare this species to the highly similar T. rubrum var. raubitschekii. Therefore, the corresponding genomic DNA was recovered from T. rubrum var. raubitschekii, and the sequence and expression were compared for this urease gene in urease‐positive and ‐negative isolates of T. rubrum and T. rubrum var. raubitschekii. The sequence (2371 bp) of the T. rubrum var. raubitschekii urease gene revealed the presence of three exons. Except for a three‐amino acid insertion, the predicted proteins were identical, but demonstrated protein identity of approximately 70% compared to an Arthroderma gypseum homolog. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed the presence of a corresponding transcript in both urease‐positive T. rubrum var. raubitschekii isolates examined; the same analysis did not detect this transcript in urease‐negative isolates of T. rubrum.
Medical Care Price Indexes for Patients with Employer‐Provided Insurance: Nationally Representative Estimates from MarketScan Data
Authors: Dunn Abe , Liebman Eli , Pack Sarah , Shapiro Adam Hale 
Published: October 2012

ObjectiveCommonly observed shifts in the utilization of medical care services to treat diseases may pose problems for official price indexes at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) that do not account for service shifts. We examine how these shifts may lead to different price estimates than those observed in official price statistics at the BLS.Data SourcesWe use a convenience sample of enrollees with employer‐provided insurance from the MarketScan database for the years 2003 to 2007. Population weights that consider the age, sex, and geographic distribution of enrollees are assigned to construct representative estimates.Study DesignWe compare two types of price indexes: (1) a Service Price Index (SPI) that is similar to the BLS index, which holds services fixed and measures the prices of the underlying treatments; (2) a Medical Care Expenditure Index (MCE) that measures the cost of treating diseases and allows for utilization shifts.Principal FindingsOver the entire period of study the CAGR of the SPI grows 0.7 percentage points faster than the preferred MCE index.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the health component of inflation may be overstated by 0.7 percentage points per year, and real GDP growth may be understated by a similar amount. However, more work may be necessary to precisely replicate the indexes of the BLS to obtain a more accurate measure of these price differences.
Expression, localization and clinical application of exogenous Smith proteins D1 in gene transfected HEp‐2 cells
Authors: Wang Su‐li , Wang Fang‐fang , Chen Shun‐le , Shen Nan , Xue Feng , Ye Ping , Bao Chun‐de , Gu Yue‐ying , Yu Chong‐zhao , Wilson Alisa , Wallace Daniel J. , Weisman Michael H. , Lu Liang‐jing 
Published: October 2012

AbstractAimTo establish an improved substrate for an indirect immunofluorescence test (IIF) to detect anti‐Sm antibody.MethodsFull‐length Smith protein D1(Sm‐D1) complementary DNA was obtained from human larynx carcinoma cell line HEp‐2 by reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and cloned into the mammalian expression vector pEGFP‐C1. The recombinant plasmid pEGFP‐Sm‐D1 was transfected into HEp‐2 cells. The expression, localization and antigenicity of fusion proteins of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in transfected cells were confirmed by means of immunoblotting (IBT), confocal fluorescence microscopy and IIF analysis. Transfected HEp‐2 cells were analyzed with reference serum and compared with untransfected HEp‐2 cells by IIF.ResultsStable expression of the Sm‐D1‐GFP was maintained for more than ten generations. This Sm‐D1‐GFP showed the antigenicity of Sm‐D1 with a characteristic phenotype in IIF.Six of 12 serum specimens from systemic lupus erythematosus contained both 29/28 and 13.5 kDa proteins and showed characteristic immunofluorescent patterns. The same phenomenon appeared in 3/6 serum samples which contained 29/28 kDa proteins only. Sera from 10 healthy donors did not react with HEp‐Sm‐D1 or HEp‐2 at 1:80 attenuant degrees. No alteration in expression, localization and morphology was observed when HEp‐Sm‐D1 or HEp‐2 interacted with the reference sera which could react with Ro/SSA, La/SSB, β2GP1, centromere, histone, and Scl‐70 antibodies in routine IIF tests.ConclusionAs a new kind of substrate of IIF, HEp‐Sm‐D1 can be used to detect anti‐Sm antibodies. Transfected HEp‐2 cells keep the immunofluorescent property of HEp‐2 cells in immunofluorescence anti‐nuclear antibody (IFANA) test and could potentially be used as substrate for routine IFANA detection.