The development and application of text-focused methods for evaluating accounting narratives, with a view to investigating impression management

This study responds to a call in the literature for methodological and empirical studies to advance research into accounting narratives. The primary contribution is methodological, drawing on the literature of applied linguistics and that of managerial business communications, in developing for accounting applications three text-focused methods for evaluating accounting narratives. This expansion in the portfolio of approaches available to the accounting researcher offers the potential for a richer empirical analysis, demonstrated in this study through an illustrative empirical application. The methods are developed in light of acknowledged areas of weakness and gaps in the accounting literature and with a view to investigating impression management. A general line of critique in the accounting literature points to a lack of emphasis on the syntactic dimension, with a particular focus on the weaknesses of readability formulas as the dominant method of syntactic analysis. The particular orientation towards the investigation of impression management recognises the increasing importance in the literature of issues associated with impression management in accounting narratives. The aptitude of the methods developed for investigating impression management is demonstrated through an illustrative empirical application in tests of differentiation between `good performers' and `poor performers'. A texture index and a transitivity index go some way towards redressing the general lack of emphasis on the syntactic dimension, exhibited in the existing portfolio of approaches. The texture index is developed as an alternative to readability formulas, is response to the particular focus of critique. The texture index analyses text across a number of dimensions or indexicals and embodies a number of features, which render it attractive to accounting researchers. The transitivity index measures the number of passive constructions in a text, a textual dimension associated with causation and attribution, with a particular relevance to the investigation of impression management. The third approach outlined in this study is DICTION analysis, a computerised content analysis program, which examines a text for its verbal tone, measured across five variables: `certainty', `optimism', `activity', `realism' and `commonality'. This approach is selected principally because of its relevance and applicability to the investigation of impression management. The texture index is drawn from the applied linguistics literature. It has not previously been used in an accounting related application. The transitivity index and DICTION analysis are developed from the managerial business communications literature where both approaches have been applied, albeit to a limited extent, in accounting applications. Both of these approaches have a sound theoretical basis in linguistics. In developing these approaches from the managerial business communications literature, there are two main areas of contribution. First, the methods developed here have hitherto only been exploited to a limited extent in accounting applications. This study advocates the development of the methods in accounting related applications towards their full potential. Second, the methods are developed and adapted as appropriate with the expressed intention of investigating impression management in accounting narratives. In addition to the methodological contribution, the study also yields an empirical contribution through the empirical application. The study finds mixed results in relation to an investigation of differential reporting patterns in the Chairman's statement and `OFR type' Manager's report of `good performing' and `poor performing' investment trust companies. Extending the analysis beyond the traditional focus on the Chairman's statement to include the Manager's report, recognises the increasing importance of such `OFR type' documents and the relative lack of attention they have received hitherto from accounting researchers. The results are reported in light of a detailed synthesis of the empirical impression management literature that is included in this study. As far as the author is aware, this is the first detailed review of this nature in the literature. The study also finds mixed results in relation to differentiation between the Chairman's statement and Manager's report. Finally, the study fosters an ethos of interdisciplinarity between research communities in accounting and the communities of applied linguistics and managerial business communications. Such interdisciplinarity offers the accounting researcher insights and usable methods of analysis, developed in disciplines whose specialism is the evaluation of narrative

Neuronal networks provide rapid neuroprotection against spreading toxicity

Acute secondary neuronal cell death, as seen in neurodegenerative disease, cerebral ischemia (stroke) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), drives spreading neurotoxicity into surrounding, undamaged, brain areas. This spreading toxicity occurs via two mechanisms, synaptic toxicity through hyperactivity, and excitotoxicity following the accumulation of extracellular glutamate. To date, there are no fast-acting therapeutic tools capable of terminating secondary spreading toxicity within a time frame relevant to the emergency treatment of stroke or TBI patients. Here, using hippocampal neurons (DIV 15-20) cultured in microfluidic devices in order to deliver a localized excitotoxic insult, we replicate secondary spreading toxicity and demonstrate that this process is driven by GluN2B receptors. In addition to the modeling of spreading toxicity, this approach has uncovered a previously unknown, fast acting, GluN2A-dependent neuroprotective signaling mechanism. This mechanism utilizes the innate capacity of surrounding neuronal networks to provide protection against both forms of spreading neuronal toxicity, synaptic hyperactivity and direct glutamate excitotoxicity. Importantly, network neuroprotection against spreading toxicity can be effectively stimulated after an excitotoxic insult has been delivered, and may identify a new therapeutic window to limit brain damage

Moving the financial accounting research front forward: the UK contribution

The purpose of this paper is to review the recent UK contribution to the field of financial accounting research, set against the backdrop of the global (mainly US) research effort. A systematic overview of recent research in the field is presented, based upon an analysis of 261 articles published between 1998 and 2002 in seven general, non-US journals. These are the journals that UK academics publish in most frequently and 115 of the articles are UK-authored. It is found that the research areas of MBAR and disclosure currently dominate conventional financial accounting research. The comparison of findings across institutional settings offers fruitful lines of inquiry for research within these main areas (i.e. studies of value relevance, analysts' forecasts, voluntary disclosure and earnings management). While most research is seen to follow the highly quantitative, economics-based US tradition, a significant amount of UK research adopts a more qualitative approach, and distinctive UK contributions are evident in a number of areas (in particular, the disclosure process and corporate social reporting). There are signs that UK researchers are helping researchers in other countries contribute to the global body of scholarly knowledge

Treating the acute stroke patient as an emergency: current practices and future opportunities

Developments in acute stroke therapy have followed advances in the understanding of the evolving pathophysiology in both ischaemic stroke and intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). In ischaemic stroke, rapid reperfusion of the ischaemic penumbra with thrombolysis within 3 h of symptom onset is of proven benefit, but few patients currently receive therapy, mainly due to the short-time window and lack of stroke expertise. In ICH, a recent study indicated that a haemostatic agent can limit ongoing bleeding and improve outcomes when administered within 4 h of stroke onset. These advances in acute stroke therapy underlie the concept that ‘time is brain’ and that urgent intervention can limit cerebral damage. Neuroprotective therapy could offer the prospect of a greater proportion of stroke patients receiving treatment, potentially before imaging and even in the ambulance setting. Virtually all stroke patients would benefit from receiving multidisciplinary care in acute stroke units

Translational Stroke Research Using a Rabbit Embolic Stroke Model: A Correlative Analysis Hypothesis for Novel Therapy Development

Alteplase (tissue plasminogen activator, tPA) is currently the only FDA-approved treatment that can be given to acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients if patients present within 3 h of an ischemic stroke. After 14 years of alteplase clinical research, evidence now suggests that the therapeutic treatment window can be expanded 4.5 h, but this is not formally approved by the FDA. Even though there remains a significant risk of intracerebral hemorrhage associated with alteplase administration, there is an increased chance of favorable outcome with tPA treatment. Over the last 30 years, the use of preclinical models has assisted with the search for new effective treatments for stroke, but there has been difficulty with the translation of efficacy from animals to humans. Current research focuses on the development of new and potentially useful thrombolytics, neuroprotective agents, and devices which are also being tested for efficacy in preclinical and clinical trials. One model in particular, the rabbit small clot embolic stroke model (RSCEM) which was developed to test tPA for efficacy, remains the only preclinical model used to gain FDA approval of a therapeutic for stroke. Correlative analyses from existing preclinical translational studies and clinical trials indicate that there is a therapeutic window ratio (ARR) of 2.43-3 between the RSCEM and AIS patients. In conclusion, the RSCEM can be used as an effective translational tool to gauge the clinical potential of new treatments

Post-acquisition integration behaviour of nascent African multinational enterprises

This paper explores nascent African MNEs’ approach to integrating intra-regional acquisitions, including the theoretical link between such decisions and the acquirer’s resource position. It contributes by offering rare evidence of these firms’ preference for control-availing absorption-type integration approach and of how their resource profile, acquisition motives and target’s institutional environment affect this preference. The paper counsels newer MNEs to focus on developing mission-critical capabilities ahead of international acquisitions. Amidst concerns about the value-creating credentials of EMNEs’ up-market acquisitions, including their typical hands-off partnering approach, and the uncertain global economic order, our paper proffers absorption-type integration approach and Rugmanian intra-regional acquisitions, respectively, as a credible alternative and probable safer harbour for newer MNEs. A propositional checklist is additionally presented for future research

The use of made-up users

While the existence of fictitious users of financial statements has been confirmed in previous research, our study investigates how this powerful yet ‘made-up’ construct is deployed within the discourses of the main stakeholders as they shape regulatory debates in the international accounting standard-setting arena, including ‘real’ users themselves. Our study draws on Bourdieu’s theorization of dominant discourse as a form of power, and extends it with the phraseological theory of meaning, specifically the linguistic concept of collocation, which focuses on the habitual choices of words in discourse. Using this framework, we conduct a comparative analysis of the recurrent language choices around the term ‘user’ in comment letters submitted on the selected IASB’s regulatory proposals. We provide empirical evidence for the existence of commonalties and subtle differences in the ways in which made-up users are discursively operationalized by the four key accounting constituent groups, the accounting profession, prepares, regulators and ‘real’ users of financial statements. At the theoretical and methodological level, our study showcases the explanatory power of the concept of collocation to identify and interrogate implicit patterns of dominant discourse as set forth by Bourdieu. We also show that the close investigation of how the dominant discourse of the made-up users works generates a series of new why questions regarding the ‘real’ users’ role in accounting standard setting