bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Negative equity in Ireland: estimates using loan-level data
Authors: Duffy David , O’Hanlon Niall 
Published: November 2014

Purpose
– This paper aims to, using a unique loan-level data set, show the extent to which negative equity in Ireland is concentrated in younger age groups. The sharp decline in house prices since 2007 has led to the emergence of widespread negative equity in Ireland. However, little is known about the type of borrower experiencing negative equity.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper uses a unique data set that, for a large sample of mortgages, provides details on both the characteristics of the borrowers and their mortgages. Using this data set, the paper estimates the incidence of negative equity by analysing loans taken out to purchase a primary residence in the period 2005-2012.

Findings
– The analysis finds the situation in Ireland to be much more severe than that being experienced in other housing market downturns at present, with 64 per cent of borrowers in the period 2005-2012 experiencing negative equity. Analysis by age gives rise to concern, with the majority of those in negative equity aged under 40 years. The paper also points to the large wealth loss experienced by Irish households, in the order of 43 billion, as a result of the fall in property values.

Originality/value
– The paper is one of the first using loan-level time-series data in Ireland. It highlights the growth in negative equity during the crisis and the extent to which it is concentrated in the younger age groups. It also provides an estimate of the loss in wealth suffered by all households due to the fall in Irish house prices.
Effect of the global financial crisis on the financial performance of public listed construction companies in Malaysia
Authors: Ying Lai Hui , Rashid Abdul Aziz Abdul , Khuan Chan Toong 
Published: November 2014

Purpose
– The aim of this case study is to characterize the impact of the 2008 global financial crisis on the financial performance of public listed construction companies.

Design/methodology/approach
– Financial analysis was conducted on 32 public listed construction companies in Malaysia. Twelve financial ratios were examined to determine the profitability, liquidity, activity, leverage and solvency of these companies over the period between 2005 and 2010. This was complemented by a distress analysis using Altman’s Z-index. The study also used a content analysis of the Chairman’s or Managing Director’s statement to shareholders to uncover the responses and strategic initiatives undertaken by the management in response to the financial crisis.

Findings
– The only direct impact of the financial crisis was a reduction in profitability. Total revenues and total assets of these companies continue to grow due to increased demand for construction from year 2007 following two large capital investment programs initiated by the Malaysian Government to mitigate the potential effects of the financial crisis. Net profits rebounded back to 5 per cent by year 2010. These companies immediately responded to the crisis with more prudent financial management; curtailing expenses, cutting dividends, reducing bank borrowings, increasing equity; and to the extent of disposing of assets to mitigate losses.

Research limitations/implications
– The sample of only 32 public listed companies out of a total of more than 60,000 construction companies may be considered small, but these 32 companies represent nearly 20 per cent of the total construction volume for 2010.

Practical implications
– The study documents the effects of increased capital spending by the government to mitigate the loss of investor confidence followed by a slowdown in economic growth during a period of global financial distress. Key findings will inform on prudent financial management to withstand future financial crises.

Originality/value
– The responses and strategies adopted by the management to mitigate the effects and to enhance future performance of these companies have been uncovered. These are important considerations in managing construction companies; the analysis and observations will be invaluable to researchers intending to study how the construction industry responds to a future slump in demand.
An exploratory study of the impact of organisational environments on property development firms
Authors: H.K. Ho Paul 
Published: November 2014

Purpose– This study aims to identify a set of external organisational environments that have different degrees of impact on property development firms in Hong Kong.Design/methodology/approach– Organisational environments were operationalised into 40 independent variables. Data were collected using Web-based questionnaires. Further, 150 senior executives working in property development firms rated the identified variables and successfully completed the questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis was used to simplify the correlations among variables by identifying a smaller number of shared factors that accounted for the observed correlations.Findings– This study identified six major environmental factors, namely, (1) property market environment, (2) property development environment, (3) general political and economic environment, (4) property price environment, (5) general property development industry environment and (6) residual environment. If the property development process is viewed as an input–transformation–output open system, Factor 2 significantly affected the transformation process, Factors 3 and 5 affected both the transformation process and its final output, and Factors 1 and 4 affected the final output. Other factors did not appear to be significant.Research limitations/implications– Because organisational environments may change from place-to-place and time-to-time, the data may vary accordingly.Practical implications– Traditional management systems cannot cope with current environmental changes. The performance of developers depends on their ability to respond to the issues that arise from increasingly unpredictable, novel and turbulent environments. Developers must continuously scan, monitor, forecast and assess their external environments.Originality/value– This study contributes to a better understanding of the environmental sectors that significantly influence property development firms.
The financing behaviour of firms and financial crisis
Authors: Danso Albert , Adomako Samuel 
Published: November 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the capital structure literature by examining the determinants of capital structure from the context of South Africa and to provide evidence of the effects of the 2007/2008 global financial crisis on firm-level determinants of debt-equity choice.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper begins by embarking on an extensive review of literature on extant empirical research on capital structure. The panel econometric technique is further adopted to examine firm-level determinants of capital structure and also the impact of 2007/2008 financial crisis.

Findings
– The findings of the paper suggest that theories of capital structure underpinning debt-equity choice of firms in developed economies are also applicable in the South African context. The authors also find a strong evidence of the effects of the financial crisis on the capital structure of firms in South Africa.

Practical implications
– This paper serves as springboard on which further research can be grounded and also highlights the interaction between the South African economy and the global economy.

Originality/value
– The paper provides a fresh evidence on the determinants of capital structure from the Sub-Saharan African context and to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper that examines the effects of the 2007/2008 financial crisis on capital structure of firms in South Africa.
Debt-equity decision-making with wealth transfers
Authors: M. Hull Robert 
Published: November 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to instruct advanced business students on the debt-equity choice by showing how wealth transfers between security holders influence security values when a levered firm undergoes an incremental debt-to-equity approach.

Design/methodology/approach
– The design involves a pedagogical exercise that applies gain to leverage (GL) formulas for a firm aspiring to increase its value by exchanging debt for equity. The valuation method includes perpetuity formulations including those with growth and wealth transfers. The instructional approach offers an understanding of the debt-equity decision.

Findings
– Unlike studies that provide empirical findings or new theories, this paper provides knowledge and skills for students learning capital structure decision making.

Research limitations/implications
– All GL equations in this paper are limited by derivational assumptions and estimation of values for variables.

Practical implications
– This paper bridges the gap between theory and practice by illustrating the impact of the costs of borrowings, growth rates and risk shifts on debt-equity decision making. Students will learn and apply GL equations. They will get an appreciation for the practical complexities of financial decision making including the agency complication embodied in wealth transfers.

Social implications
– Society can be enhanced to the extent this paper helps future financial managers make optimal capital structure decisions.

Originality/value
– This paper adds to the Capital Structure Model (CSM) pedagogical research by using the new CSM equations that address a levered situation and incremental approach. As such, it is the first CMS instructional paper to incorporate wealth transfers between security holders.
Transactional and transformational leadership
Authors: F. Vito Gennaro , E. Higgins George , S. Denney Andrew 
Published: November 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine three different structural models the Leadership Challenge model to determine if they best capture transactional or transformational leadership. The three models are derived from the literature.Design/methodology/approach– The data for this study come from self-report surveys of middle managers that are attending the Administrative Officers Course at the Southern Police Institute. The managers completed the 30-item 360° leadership challenge measure. Because the leadership challenge measure is a 360° evaluation of leadership, up to five observers provided data about their manager. The authors use the data from the observer in this study. Using structural equation modeling, the authors examine the aims.Findings– The findings show two important advances. First, the leadership challenge model may capture both transformational and transactional leadership. Second, the findings support the view that the really captures transformational leadership.Originality/value– To the authors’ knowledge, no study has performed this type of examination in the policing literature. The value of this type examination is high.
Perceived stress among police officers: an integrative model of stress and coping
Authors: H. Webster Jennifer 
Published: November 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to propose an original model of stress and coping as a complex interactive process between an individual and his or her environment.Design/methodology/approach– A preliminary test of the model is conducted using data from a meta-analysis of perceived occupational stress among police officers. Collapsing correlates into predictor domains that mirror the proposed model of stress and coping allowed for a preliminary analysis of some of the constructs in the proposed model.Findings– The findings suggest that each domain contributes to the perception of stress and that knowledge in this area might best be advanced by recognizing the importance of each in shaping an interactive process of stress and coping rather than attempting to rank individual correlates.Research limitations/implications– The data do not provide definitive conclusions that personal characteristics or job characteristics, for example, are more important than others in shaping stress perception among police officers. Clearly, these findings suggest that questions about what is most important in shaping police stress have remained unanswered because the variables of interest make equally important contributions to a complex process.Originality/value– Adopting the proposed integrative model of stress and coping may help researchers move beyond the flawed conceptualization of perceived stress among police officers as a simple operational/organizational dichotomy, allowing for a more rich understanding of stress and coping as a complex process.
Perspectives on the police profession: an international investigation
Authors: Saskia Bayerl P. , E. Horton Kate , Jacobs Gabriele , Rogiest Sofie , Reguli Zdenko , Gruschinske Mario , Costanzo Pietro , Stojanovski Trpe , Vonas Gabriel , Gascó Mila , Elliott Karen 
Published: November 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to clarify the diversity of professional perspectives on police culture in an international context.

Design/methodology/approach
– In a first step the authors developed a standardized instrument of 45 occupational features for comparative analysis of police professional views. This set was inductively created from 3,441 descriptors of the police profession from a highly diverse sample of 166 police officers across eight European countries. Using this standardized instrument, Q-methodological interviews with another 100 police officers in six European countries were conducted.

Findings
– The authors identified five perspectives on the police profession suggesting disparities in officers’ outlooks and understanding of their occupation. Yet, the findings also outline considerable overlaps in specific features considered important or unimportant across perspectives.

Research limitations/implications
– The study emphasizes that police culture needs to be described beyond the logic of distinct dimensions in well-established typologies. Considering specific features of the police profession determines which aspects police officers agree on across organizational and national contexts and which aspects are unique.

Practical implications
– The feature-based approach provides concrete pointers for the planning and implementation of (inter)national and inter-organizational collaborations as well as organizational change.

Originality/value
– This study suggests an alternative approach to investigate police culture. It further offers a new perspective on police culture that transcends context-specific boundaries.
The value placed upon the facets that contribute to meaningful leisure by Activity Co-ordinators
Authors: Fenech Anne 
Published: November 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to establish the value placed on the facets that contribute to a meaningful leisure occupation for the residents of a residential care facility by the staff that care for them.Design/methodology/approach– This was a service evaluation using a self-reported questionnaire, completed by six Activity Co-ordinators from the home of 158 individuals with a wide range of neuropalliative conditions.Findings– The cultural/historical components, the built and social environment, learning, life satisfaction and goal orientation were reported as the least valued facets, which make up a leisure occupation. The staff did, however; value the sense of health and capability, purpose, the feeling of being fully human and the sense of belonging that comes about through leisure. They also valued preventing boredom, opportunities for self-expression, creativity, achievement, and control. Additionally they valued opportunities to gain a clear sense of the rhythm of life, of self-identity, choice of occupation, and engagement in the occupation.Research limitations/implications– The findings highlight a variance between the perceptions of staff members who deal with the day-to-day leisure opportunities and decisions of the residents, and the literature of occupational science about what makes an occupation meaningful, and therefore is worthy of consideration when planning a leisure occupation.Practical implications– Personalised care requires consideration of the individual's cultural and historical background, the environment surrounding the occupation, opportunities for social interaction, individual learning, life satisfaction, and goal orientation when organising leisure opportunities. These facets are stressed because the participants undervalued them.Originality/value– The context of this paper is a subset of individuals with neurological disabilities who experience profound disabilities, and the attitudes of staff to their leisure lifestyle.
Skills for life – evaluation of a group intervention for brain injury survivors
Authors: Foxhall Mia , Gurr Birgit 
Published: November 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a weekly, group-based occupational therapy (OT) intervention in an inpatient brain injury rehabilitation unit. The evaluation aims to assess whether this intervention incorporates evidence-based recommendations for executive functioning and positive social interactions.Design/methodology/approach– A literature review was carried out to identify those components deemed most effective for improvements of executive functions and group interventions. Systematic observations of the intervention were used to collect data matching the research requirements. The group intervention which was subject to the evaluation was a weekly OT activity called Life Skills Group. Participants were four brain injured patients, aged between 49 and 62 years and on average 4.5 month post injury. The group activities included the preparation, cooking and consuming of a meal.Findings– Some elements of evidence-based procedure for executive functioning training were observed, including repeated practice and errorless learning. The group provided opportunities for social interaction and peer support/modelling. The evaluation indicated opportunities for improving executive functions within the Life Skills Group setting, for instance, the consistent use of errorless practice, repetition and meta-strategy training. Social interventions were mainly initiated by the facilitation therapists and opportunities for social skills training and positive interactions between participants were overlooked. The evaluation concludes in a set of recommendations aimed at optimising the effectiveness of future groups.Originality/value– This paper gives an example how the use of research evidence can influence and optimise cognitive rehabilitation, social training and group interventions. Thus it is an attempt to highlight how occupational interventions and social interactions can be improved by a systematic evaluation. The evaluation provides a framework for how OT and social interventions can be planned, implemented and researched which will hopefully increase systematic outcomes studies in this field in the future.
A robust approach to time‐to‐depth conversion and interval velocity estimation from time migration in the presence of lateral velocity variations
Authors: Li Siwei , Fomel Sergey 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACTThe problem of conversion from time‐migration velocity to an interval velocity in depth in the presence of lateral velocity variations can be reduced to solving a system of partial differential equations. In this paper, we formulate the problem as a non‐linear least‐squares optimization for seismic interval velocity and seek its solution iteratively. The input for the inversion is the Dix velocity, which also serves as an initial guess. The inversion gradually updates the interval velocity in order to account for lateral velocity variations that are neglected in the Dix inversion. The algorithm has a moderate cost thanks to regularization that speeds up convergence while ensuring a smooth output. The proposed method should be numerically robust compared to the previous approaches, which amount to extrapolation in depth monotonically. For a successful time‐to‐depth conversion, image‐ray caustics should be either nonexistent or excluded from the computational domain. The resulting velocity can be used in subsequent depth‐imaging model building. Both synthetic and field data examples demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach.
Diffraction imaging by uniform asymptotic theory and double exponential fitting
Authors: Zhao Jingtao , Wang Yanfei , Yu Caixia 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACTSeismic diffracted waves carry valuable information for identifying geological discontinuities. Unfortunately, the diffraction energy is generally too weak, and standard seismic processing is biased to imaging reflection. In this paper, we present a dynamic diffraction imaging method with the aim of enhancing diffraction and increasing the signal‐to‐noise ratio. The correlation between diffraction amplitudes and their traveltimes generally exists in two forms, with one form based on the Kirchhoff integral formulation, and the other on the uniform asymptotic theory. However, the former will encounter singularities at geometrical shadow boundaries, and the latter requires the computation of a Fresnel integral. Therefore, neither of these methods is appropriate for practical applications. Noting the special form of the Fresnel integral, we propose a least‐squares fitting method based on double exponential functions to study the amplitude function of diffracted waves. The simple form of the fitting function has no singularities and can accelerate the calculation of diffraction amplitude weakening coefficients. By considering both the fitting weakening function and the polarity reversal property of the diffracted waves, we modify the conventional Kirchhoff imaging conditions and formulate a diffraction imaging formula. The mechanism of the proposed diffraction imaging procedure is based on the edge diffractor, instead of the idealized point diffractor. The polarity reversal property can eliminate the background of strong reflection and enhance the diffraction by same‐phase summation. Moreover,the fitting weakening function of diffraction amplitudes behaves like an inherent window to optimize the diffraction imaging aperture by its decaying trend. Synthetic and field data examples reveal that the proposed diffraction imaging method can meet the requirement of high‐resolution imaging, with the edge diffraction fully reinforced and the strong reflection mostly eliminated.
Sex Determination by Discriminant Function Analysis of Lumbar Vertebrae
Authors: Ostrofsky Kelly R. , Churchill Steven E. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractSex determination is critical for developing the biological profile of unidentified skeletal remains. When more commonly used elements (os coxa, cranium) for sexing are not available, methods utilizing other skeletal elements are needed. This study aims to assess the degree of sexual dimorphism of the lumbar vertebrae and develop discriminant functions for sex determination from them, using a sample of South African blacks from the Raymond A. Dart Collection (47 males, 51 females). Eleven variables at each lumbar level were subjected to univariate and multivariate discriminant function analyses. Univariate equations produced classification rates ranging from 57.7% to 83.5%, with the highest accuracies associated with dimensions of the vertebral body. Multivariate stepwise analysis generated classification rates ranging from 75.9% to 88.7%. These results are comparable to other methods for sexing the skeleton and indicate that measures of the lumbar vertebrae can be used as an effective tool for sex determination.