Annaliese Grant and Rachel Litchman
Despite a wealth of data about the high proportion of disabled families and individuals who live below the poverty line, previous research still knows relatively little about the…
Abstract
Despite a wealth of data about the high proportion of disabled families and individuals who live below the poverty line, previous research still knows relatively little about the ways financial struggle shapes disability care in families. Furthermore, research on disability care in families often focuses either on children or on parents with disabilities, without considering how both versions of family care fit together. Relying on 31 in-depth retrospective interviews with white financially struggling mothers and young adult daughters, we describe how both mothers and daughters perform care work around disability (with perspectives from families with both parent and child disability). Relying on a feminist disability studies understanding of disability, and a holistic view of family processes and care, we articulate the role of interdependence in disability care work in families who live at the intersection of disability and financial struggle.
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Meeok Cho, Jaehee Jo, Taejin Jung and Natalie Kyung Won Kim
The purpose of this study is to examine whether the use of videoconferencing for communication between the audit committee (AC) and auditors affects the quality of client firms’…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine whether the use of videoconferencing for communication between the audit committee (AC) and auditors affects the quality of client firms’ audits.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyzes the mandatory disclosure information on AC–auditors communication using 1,065 Korean listed firm-years for the fiscal years 2020 and 2021. The details of AC–auditor communication (i.e. the extent of firms’ use of videoconferencing) are manually collected from audit reports.
Findings
This study finds that videoconferencing has a negative impact on audit quality, suggesting that it is not an effective communication medium between AC and auditors. The results are robust to alternative research designs (e.g. entropy-balanced sample, propensity score matching analysis and change analysis) that address endogeneity concerns. This study also finds that while the negative effect of videoconferencing is mitigated by holding more frequent AC meetings, neither AC independence nor expertise mitigates this effect.
Research limitations/implications
This paper suggests that videoconferencing may affect audit quality by hurting the discussion between the AC and auditors.
Practical implications
The findings that videoconferencing impairs the effectiveness of ACs and thus lowers audit quality have practical implications as the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed how AC members and auditors interact. This study offers timely and valuable insights into the potential implications of these pandemic-induced changes on audit environments.
Originality/value
This study provides large-sample empirical evidence that directly examines the effect of videoconferencing on audit quality, enhancing the understanding of the communication dynamics between the AC and auditors. This study also contributes to the literature on the role of ACs in emerging markets by highlighting the information processing role of the AC.
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Tai Wai Kwok, SiWei Chang and Heng Li
The unitized curtain wall system (UCWS), a symbol of modern architecture, is gaining popularity among prefabricated components. Previous studies have focused on both construction…
Abstract
Purpose
The unitized curtain wall system (UCWS), a symbol of modern architecture, is gaining popularity among prefabricated components. Previous studies have focused on both construction technology advances and material selection strategies to facilitate the UCWS. However, the topic of client satisfaction, which drives industry development by targeting clients' demands, has gone unnoticed. Therefore, the current study aims to investigate client satisfaction with UCWS products in Hong Kong by finding its influential factors.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic review was employed to first identify the influential factors. A semi-structured interview was employed to validate the reliability of the extracted factors. The machine learning algorithm Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and the Pearson correlation were then employed to rank the importance and correlation of factors based on the 1–5 Likert scale scores obtained through a questionnaire survey.
Findings
The findings revealed that “reduction in construction time” and “reduction in construction waste” are the most important factors and have a strong positive influence on client satisfaction.
Originality/value
Unlike previous studies, the present study focused on a novel research topic and introduces an objective analysis process using machine learning algorithms. The findings contribute to narrowing the knowledge gap regarding client preference for UCWS products from both individual and collaborative perspectives, providing decision-makers with an objective, quantitative and thorough reference before making investments in the curtain wall management development.
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Mingye Li, Alemayehu Molla and Sophia Xiaoxia Duan
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been touted as one of the viable solutions to address urban mobility issues. Despite a growing body of research on AI across various sectors, its…
Abstract
Purpose
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been touted as one of the viable solutions to address urban mobility issues. Despite a growing body of research on AI across various sectors, its use in the mobility sector remains underexplored. This study addresses this limitation by investigating AI applications and identifying the AI material properties and use cases that offer mobility-specific affordances.
Design/methodology/approach
Although AI applications in mobility are growing, academic research on the subject has yet to catch up. Therefore, we follow a systematic review and analysis of practitioner literature. We conducted a comprehensive search for relevant documents through Advanced Google and OECD databases and identified 173 sources. We selected 40 sources published between 2015 and 2022 and analysed the corpus of evidence through abductive qualitative analysis technique.
Findings
The analysis reveals that mobility organisations are implementing various AI technologies and systems such as cameras, sensors, IoT, computer vision, natural language processing, robotic process automation, machine learning, deep learning and neural networks. These technologies offer material properties for sensing mobility objects and events, comprehending mobility data, automating mobility activities and learning from mobility data. By exploiting these material properties, mobility organisations are integrating urban mobility management, personalising and automating urban mobility, enabling the smartification of infrastructure and asset management, developing better urban transport planning and management, and enabling automatic driving.
Originality/value
The study contributes a mid-range theory of the affordances of AI for mobility (AI4M) at the infrastructure, operation and service levels. This contribution extends the existing understanding of AI and offers an interconnected perspective of AI affordances for further research. For practitioners, the study provides insights on how to explore AI in alignment with organisational goals to collectively transform urban mobility to be affordable, efficient and sustainable.
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This study uses a comprehensive literature review and analysis of recent research, policy documents and program evaluations related to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program…
Abstract
Purpose
This study uses a comprehensive literature review and analysis of recent research, policy documents and program evaluations related to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) and policy, systems and environmental (PSE) strategies. Key sources include peer-reviewed articles, the 2025 SNAP-Ed Plan Guidance and case studies of successful PSE interventions. The Social-Ecological Model serves as a framework to organize and analyze the multilevel impacts of PSE interventions. The method involves identifying relevant information, synthesizing key themes and patterns and critically examining the potential impact of PSE strategies on nutrition security and health equity.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper examines the evolution of the SNAP-Ed from direct nutrition education to a comprehensive approach integrating PSE change strategies. It aims to analyze the rationale, implementation and potential impact of PSE approaches in SNAP-Ed on nutrition security and health equity in the USA. The study explores how these strategies address social determinants of health, promote sustainable population-level changes in nutrition environments, and their capacity to reduce health disparities in low-income communities. It seeks to identify challenges, opportunities and future research directions in implementing PSE strategies within SNAP-Ed.
Findings
The review reveals that PSE strategies in SNAP-Ed show promise in creating sustainable, population-level changes in nutrition environments and health outcomes. Successful examples, such as healthy corner store initiatives and workplace wellness programs, demonstrate the potential of PSE approaches to improve access to healthy food options and physical activity opportunities. The integration of PSE strategies has enhanced SNAP-Ed’s capacity to address social determinants of health and promote health equity. However, challenges including resource constraints, political opposition and the need for cross-sector collaboration persist. The effectiveness of PSE interventions relies heavily on community engagement, partnerships and supportive policies.
Practical implications
The findings underscore the importance of adopting comprehensive, multilevel approaches in nutrition education and obesity prevention programs. For SNAP-Ed implementers, this implies a need to develop expertise in PSE strategies, foster cross-sector partnerships and engage communities in intervention design and implementation. Policymakers should consider increasing support and resources for PSE approaches within SNAP-Ed and similar programs. Public health practitioners can use these insights to design more effective, equitable interventions that address root causes of nutrition insecurity. The study also highlights the need for improved evaluation methods to assess the long-term impact of PSE strategies on population health outcomes.
Social implications
This study highlights the importance of addressing social determinants of health, such as poverty and access to healthy food options, to promote equitable health outcomes. It underscores the potential of community-driven, multilevel interventions in building a more just and equitable food system accessible to all.
Originality/value
This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the shift toward PSE strategies in SNAP-Ed, offering valuable insights into the program’s evolution and its potential to address complex public health challenges. By examining both successes and challenges, it contributes to the growing body of evidence on the effectiveness of multilevel interventions in promoting nutrition security and health equity. The study’s emphasis on the role of community engagement and partnerships in PSE implementation offers practical guidance for program planners and policymakers.