Stagnant Stage Research Articles

The Procedure of Alleged Administrative Responsibility in the Internal Control Bodies in Sonora 2017-2022

The objective of this work is to analyze and evaluate the procedure of alleged administrative responsibility carried out by the Internal Control Organs (OIC) in the State of Sonora, specifically in the areas of investigation and substantiation, as the main gear to be able to classify administrative offenses and in a second stage to hold public servants accountable. As part of accountability. What are the factors that affect the completion of an IPRA? The personnel of the OICs present problems in the integration of the reports of alleged responsibility, due to their technical and professional limitations. On April 27, 2022, the new Law of Responsibilities and Sanctions of the State of Sonora comes into force, whose main purpose is the prevention, correction and investigation of administrative responsibilities; which in its article 9, section II, considers the ICOs as the competent authority to apply said Law, being necessary to collect evidence with a higher degree of professionalism. As a result of the above, the work of integrating files for alleged administrative responsibilities (EPRA) in the ICOs is at a stagnant stage, since personnel trained in multidisciplinary functions are needed to prepare the IPRA, formerly known as a complaint, as well as the support of legal experts to rule the misconduct as serious or non-serious. It should be noted that most of the ICOs are made up of public servants with studies in public accounting, and it is essential to complement them with human capital from various branches of knowledge, including finance, computer science, engineering, psychology, law, handwriting experts, among others, which would improve the collection of evidence of the facts under investigation.

Numerical Simulation Analysis of the Hydrogen-Blended Natural Gas Leakage and Ventilation Processes in a Domestic House.

The blending of hydrogen in natural gas may have effects on the safety of its usage in a domestic house. In this work, the leakage accident of hydrogen-blended natural gas (HBNG) in the kitchen of a domestic house is analyzed by CFD with a hydrogen blending ratio (HBR) ≤ 30%. The whole process is divided into the gas accumulation process and the ventilation process. In the initial leakage stage, the influence of heights and the HBR on the gas distribution is analyzed. HBNG concentration increases with increasing height. Based on the exit Froude number, the formation of a gas cloud in the kitchen is significantly influenced by the initial momentum and buoyancy, while it is more driven by the concentration gradient beyond the kitchen. In contrast to height, the variation of HBR on the HBNG distribution is not significant. In the ventilation process, the evolution of the hazardous gas cloud volume is analyzed. With windows and doors closed, the hazardous gas cloud fills the house in approximately 3600 s after the leakage occurs. When windows and doors are open for ventilation, the volume of the hazardous gas cloud first declines rapidly and then slowly. The reasons for the variation rate of hazardous gas cloud volume are analyzed according to ventilation conditions. The difference during the decline stage for different HBRs is analyzed according to the gas layering properties. Under a lack of convection condition, the ventilation process finally reaches a stagnant stage. In addition, another ventilation process has been investigated after extending the gas accumulation time. After extending the gas accumulation time, the effect of different HBRs on the ventilation process remains the same as before. However, it postpones the time point to enter the stagnation stage. As gas accumulation time extends from 3600 to 5400 and 7200 s, the ventilation time into the stagnation stage increases from about 4800 to 5400 and 6000 s, respectively. This study has implications for the establishment of a risk assessment system based on hazardous gas cloud volume.

A sequential dual-passivation strategy for designing stainless steel used above water oxidation

Stainless steel is critical material used in a wide variety of industries. Unfortunately, current development of stainless steel has reached a stagnant stage due to the fundamental limitation of the conventional Cr-based single-passivation mechanism. Here, we show that, by using a sequential dual-passivation mechanism, substantially enhanced anti-corrosion properties can be achieved in Mn-contained stainless steel, with a high breakdown potential of ∼1700 mV (saturated calomel electrode, SCE) in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. Specifically, the conventional Cr-based and counter-intuitive Mn-based passivation is sequentially activated during potentiodynamic polarization. The Cr-based passive layer prevents corrosion at low potentials below ∼720 mV(SCE), while the Mn-based passive layer resists corrosion at high potentials up to ∼1700 mV(SCE). The present “sequential dual-passivation” strategy enlarges the passive region of stainless steel to high potentials above water oxidation, enabling them as potential anodic materials for green hydrogen production via water electrolysis.

Electron Donor, Acceptor, and Concentration-Dependent Quenching of Photoluminescent Carbon Nanodots

Carbon nanodots (CNDs) are 0D-carbon nanomaterials with distinct fluorescence properties. Due to the poor understanding of the fluorescent origin and its connection to the structural complexity of CNDs, the full potential in applications of CNDs is still in a stagnant stage. Herein, we present the photoluminescence properties of two CNDs prepared from di-ammonium citrate and tri-ammonium citrate. Synthesis of CNDs was done by pyrolysis of ammonium citrates at 180 °C and 40 h under ambient conditions. We monitored the pyrolysis process using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) both under air and inert atmospheres, which allowed for the proposal of reaction stoichiometry and structural analyses of CNDs in combination with spectroscopic means. Both CNDs possess strong photoluminescence (PL) emissions at ∼450 nm upon excitation at 365 nm. Concentration-dependent PL emission kinetics were studied to reveal both nanoparticle-like behaviors of CNDs with the enhancement of PL emission upon dilution and aggregation-induced quenching of PL emission that is common for molecular fluorophores. Quenching of CNDs’ emission with the benzophenone as a triplet sensitizer or an acceptor and the dimethoxy benzene as a donor was also studied to present additional PL emission dynamics of CNDs in support of the proposed structure for CNDs. The extensive aggregation and stacking of the proposed CNDs structure were verified using molecular dynamics simulations.

TANGGUNG JAWAB LINGKUNGAN, PERTUMBUHAN DAN SIKLUS HIDUP PERUSAHAAN TERHADAP CASH HOLDING PADA PERUSAHAAN MANUFAKTUR DI INDONESIA

The research examines the effect of environmental responsibility, growth and company life cycle on cash holding - This study uses secondary data in the annual report of manufacturing companies obtained through the official website of the Indonesia Stock Exchange (www.idx.co.id) , a sustainability report that can be obtained through the company's website and GRI-Database during the 2018-2020 period with a total sample of 195 samples. Multiple linear regression analysis can be concluded that environmental responsibility has a negative effect on cash holding, growth has a positive effect on cash holding and the company's life cycle in a stagnant stage has a positive effect on cash holding.

Issues and Challenges Faced by Islamic Financial Institutions in Canada

Despite the fact that Canada is a major and important host for Muslim individuals, that it has a long history welcoming Muslims and that it generally respects minority rights, religions and cultures, Islamic Finance is still at its infancy stage in the country. This paper aims at studying the reasons of this stagnant stage including the issues and challenges behind these reasons. After a thorough study done with managers of Islamic Financial Institutions in Canada, different issues and challenges emerged. These are connected in some cases and independent in others with the major ones being Government inertia towards Islamic Finance, Muslim community inertia towards asking for their rights as well as the failure of some Islamic Financial Institutions.

Selection of profit management strategy

The purpose of this study is to empirically prove that companies in the growth, mature, and stagnant stages use accrual earnings management, real earnings management, and classification shifting. The data used is secondary data obtained from the annual reports of manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in the 2016-2020 period. The data analysis technique used multiple linear regression analysis. The sampling technique used was the purposive sampling technique and obtained a sample of 53 manufacturing companies or the same as 265 observational data. Based on the results of the analysis, it was found that the company is in the growth mature and stagnant stage using the accrual earnings management strategy. The growth stage of the company does not use a real earnings management strategy, the mature and stagnant stage, the company uses a real earnings management strategy. Companies in the growth and mature stages do not use the classification shifting strategy.

Experimental and numerical study of upward flame spread and heat transfer over expanded polystyrene at different altitudes

Experimental and numerical study on upward, vertical flame spread was carried out on expanded polystyrene (EPS) at two different altitudes of 50 m and 3658 m to understand the effect that altitude has on flame spread of melted material. The experiments show that, with the altitude increase, the flame spread rate would decrease. At low altitude, the flame spread rate accelerated at later time, while at high altitude, the stagnant stage of pyrolysis front was formed. The numerical simulation could well give the trend of pyrolysis front evolution and the different flame spread behaviors with altitudes. It was found that, at low altitude, Raxincreased slowly in the turbulent period with relatively large entrainment air flow rate, mainly due to the increased and then decreased mass loss rate in the wall fire zone. While, at high altitude, the simulated increasing entrainment air flow rate, combined with the larger preheating length δf and the smaller flame heat flux qf", resulted in the stagnancy of pyrolysis front easily. It was hypothesized that extinction occurred eventually at high altitude due to competition between flame spread rate νf and preheating length δf.

Does the performance of private investment in public equity firms behave differently in different life cycles?

ABSTRACT Private investment in public equity firms (PIPE) is growing exponentially across the globe, and most of the theoretical and empirical works are accessible for the U.S. and European settings. There is a lack of studies in emerging markets like India. Our empirical research consists of 810 public equity (PE) transactions, out of which 761 are PIPE deals for the period 1998–2016. The study aims to investigate whether PIPE deals show different performance in different life cycles as distinct stages and operating targets. Under the hypothesis of information asymmetry and financial distress, we find that PIPE issuance significantly impacts sales growth, returns on equity, and operating performance. It is evident that the growth stage shows an adverse impact on future sales growth and profitability while it's encouraging for return on equity. Our findings based on the firm's life cycle show that maturity and stagnant stage reveal pronounced effects. Moreover, investor type and investment flow either from Indian-dedicated, foreign, and co-investment show a favourable impact on future profitability. One of the study's essential findings is that a firm in the growth stage needs more investment in the form of PIPE issuance, and it shows a significant impact on profitability and liquidity.

Theory and Evidence on the Relationship between Leadership Style and Organizational Performance: A Case in Small Medium Enterprises in East Malaysia

This research intends to provide the theoretical evidence on the relationship between leadership style and organizational performance of small medium enterprises (SMEs) in East Malaysia.  The growth organizational performances among SMEs in East Malaysia have been at stagnant stage, as they are not able to respond to unforeseen issues due to weak leadership. The SMEs in East Malaysia are losing their competitive advantages as compared to West Malaysia. There is lack of motivation among the followers working in SMEs in East Malaysia as employees do not put extra effort in their tasks. There is absence of creativity in workplace as employees have not been giving any productive output from a long time. Previous research have documented that there are relationships between leadership style and organizational performance in SMEs in East Malaysia. The current study steps forward to contribute to gaps in body of knowledge by looking at the effects that occur due to different leadership style and its influence on the organizational performance in SMEs in East Malaysia. The nature of this study add to the existing literature by integrating the theory and evidence that could enhance organizational performance.

Exploring the Nexus between Financial Flexibility, Managerial Efficiency, Ownership, and Performance: An Interactive Model for Growth, Mature, and Stagnant Companies in Pakistan

After financial crises, regulatory control makes it difficult for firms in acquiring cash flows to sustain financial safety. As a result, many listed companies in Pakistan prone to follow the “new pecking order theory” whereby they prefer equity financing rather than debt financing. Yet, the dynamics between financial constraints, efficiency, and performance are not clear. And whether the firm life cycle affects these dynamics, is still an open question. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to examine whether the managerial efficiency of Pakistani firms with financial flexibility is demonstrated differently across firm life cycles. To measure flexibility, we created a modified Financial Flexibility Index (FFI) based on Chang & Ma (2019) methodology. The study employed a sample of 30 firms listed on Pakistan stock exchange and gathered data from the annual reports during the period 2009 to 2018. The fixed effect regression model is applied by using balanced panel data. The result revealed that financial flexibility has a significant and positive effect on firm performance, however firm performance in the stagnant stage of lifecycle does not have a significant effect with financial flexibility, while in the mature and growth stage there is a significant impact of FFI on firm performance. More importantly, managerial efficiency (ME) turns out to be the key factor in affecting firm performance in all the stages of the lifecycle. It seems to have a negative effect. However, a negative complementarity was observed between FFI and ME, meaning higher FFI would decrease the negative impact of ME in performance. This complementarity turns positive in mature companies, as compared to the other two groups. Tobin's q, Dividends and Ownership, and Tangibility have a significant and positive effect overall, However, Tangibility seems to affect negatively growth and stagnant companies. Variables like control power, block holder ownership, Size, and Age doesn’t seem to affect performance. This study has implications for corporate managers, if they want to reduce the chances of financial distress and enhance the firm performance, then they obtain and maintain financial flexibility by keeping the leverage at a low level.

Enter the Dragon

The paper is a reminiscence of my first meeting with the colleagues from the Institute of Art History of Adam Mickiewicz University, which took place at an annual conference of the Association of Art Historians in 1974, titled “Reflection on Art.” Choosing an unusual title, I wanted to convey the impetus with which a group of young art historians from Poznań entered the decent and somewhat stagnant stage of Polish art history. The critique they presented was directed against Polish academic institutions, the problematic of the conference, the empty rituals of academic life, etc. Even though I did not accept all their objections, the heated debate suddenly turned out for me to be a liberating factor, stimulating continuous critical thinking which is an antidote for spiritual and intellectual captivity.

Wejście smoka

The paper is a reminiscence of my first meeting with the colleagues from the Institute of Art History of Adam Mickiewicz University, which took place at an annual conference of the Association of Art Historians in 1974, titled “Reflection on Art.” Choosing an unusual title, I wanted to convey the impetus with which a group of young art historians from Poznań entered the decent and somewhat stagnant stage of Polish art history. The critique they presented was directed against Polish academic institutions, the problematic of the conference, the empty rituals of academic life, etc. Even though I did not accept all their objections, the heated debate suddenly turned out for me to be a liberating factor, stimulating continuous critical thinking which is an antidote for spiritual and intellectual captivity.

The value relevance of R&D and free cash flow in an efficient investment setup

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the value relevance of Research and development (R&D) and free cash flow (FCF) in an efficient investment setup. Most importantly, this paper examines whether the value relevance of R&D and FCF is associated with life cycle stages. Furthermore, this paper reports whether the market response to R&D and FCF is different in competitive market as compared to the concentrated market. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is based on the Ohlson (1995) model for the determination of value relevance of earnings and book value. Capitalized R&D and FCF data comprising of the Chinese A-listed firms from the year 2008 to 2016 are selected for this study. Following Anthony and Ramesh (1992), the authors divided the firm life cycle into different stages. HHI index is used to measure the product market competition. Findings The main result shows that R&D and FCF are value relevant in Chinese A-listed firms. The impact of R&D and FCF on the value relevance of earnings and book value is also positive and significant. The findings of the effect of R&D and FCF on the value relevance of accounting information signify that the information content (R2=0.46) of the mature stage is higher than that of the growth and stagnant stage. The explanatory power measured by R2 value for competitive industries (0.47) is much higher than the concentrated industries (0.33). Research limitations/implications Despite taking into account all the possible available variables, there are few limitations of the study. This study only studies the effect of EPS, BPS, R&D and FCF on the value relevance of accounting information. Other determinant such as size, growth, leverage and firm age is ignored. Since the R&D expenditure is discretionary, therefore the findings cannot be generalized to all the sectors. A sector wise comparative study can be done in future, to understand the differences in the information contents of R&D and FCF. Also, the tax effect of R&D is ignored in this study. For future call, the value relevance of tax effect on R&D can be explored. Practical implications The investors can now determine the present value of all the future cash flows of investing activities. The results of the study are significant for the Chinese investors who should incorporate the R&D and FCF along with investment efficiency. The investors should keep in mind the life cycle stage while investing in a certain stock. The competitive markets have more information content than the concentrated markets. The corporate managers can benefit from this study while issuing new shares. The market responds positively to the stock having investment efficient R&D and FCF investment. For the policy implication perspective, the security market regulator should devise the effective pro-effective product market regulations. Originality/value The contribution of this study is manifold. First, according to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that incorporates investment efficiency with R&D and FCF and explores its effect on the value relevance of accounting information. Second, the impact of R&D on the value relevance is studied by numerous researchers (Lev and Sougiannis, 1996; Han and Manry, 2004). Similarly, FCF-agency cost effect has also been investigated by (Rahman and Mohd-Saleh, 2008; Chen et al., 2012) but the value relevance of R&D and FCF during different life cycle stages still needs to be answered. Finally, this study also tries to answers the question if the market response to R&D and FCF is different in a competitive market as compared to the concentrated market.

Comparative transcriptome analysis provides key insights into seedling development in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)

BackgroundSwitchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a warm-season perennial C4 plant, can be used as a forage plant, a soil and water conservation plant, a windbreak plant, and as a good source of biofuels and alternative energy with low planting costs. However, switchgrass exhibits low rates of seedling development compared to other crops, which means it is typically out-competed by weeds. There is a large variation in seedling development rates among different plantlets in switchgrass, which limits its usefulness for large-scale cultivation. Little is currently known about the molecular reasons for slow seedling growth.ResultsCharacterization of the seedling development process via growth indices indicated a relatively stagnant growth stage in switchgrass. A total of 678 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from the comparison of transcriptomes from slowly developed (sd) and rapidly developed (rd) switchgrass seedlings. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were enriched in diterpenoid biosynthesis, thiamine metabolism, and circadian rhythm. Transcription factor enrichment and expression analyses showed MYB-related, bHLH and NAC family genes were essential for seedling growth. The transcriptome results were consistent with those of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Then, the expression profiles of maize and switchgrass were compared during seedling leaf development. A total of 128 DEGs that play key roles in seedling growth were aligned to maize genes. Transcriptional information and physiological indices suggested that several genes involved in the circadian rhythm, thiamine metabolism, energy metabolism, gibberellic acid biosynthesis, and signal transduction played important roles in seedling development.ConclusionsThe seedling development process of switchgrass was characterized, and the molecular differences between slowly developed and rapidly developed seedlings were discussed. This study provides new insights into the reasons for slow seedling development in switchgrass and will be useful for the genetic improvement of switchgrass and other crops.

Direct TEM observation of α/γ interface migration during cyclic partial phase transformations at intercritical temperatures in an Fe-0.1C −0.5Mn alloy

The kinetic behaviour of austenite/ferrite interfaces in a low carbon – 0.5 mass% Mn containing steel during Cyclic Partial Phase Transformation (CPPT) experiments has been investigated using hot stage Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Individual interfaces were observed to display behaviour typical of CPPT experiments as recorded in macroscopic dilatometry experiments and demonstrated i) the “normal”, ii) inverse transformations and iii) a stagnant stage in which the interface migrates at a very low velocity as a result of the interface passing through a Mn enriched zone due to the preceding transformation. The length of the stagnant stage determined from the TEM observations shows excellent agreement with that measured from dilatometry and kinetic modelling, whilst the distance migrated from the interface shows some disparities which are primarily attributed to differences in assumptions about grain geometry and nucleation. No special interface features were observed when the interface changed direction and passed through the previously Mn-enriched zones. General observations on the interaction of the transformation interface with microstructural features are also reported.

Interaction of martensite and bainite transformations and its dependence on quenching temperature in intercritical quenching and partitioning steels

A series of quenching temperatures (QT) were applied to investigate the interaction of bainite and martensite transformations in intercritical quenching and partitioning steels with multiple-stage martensite transformation. It reveals that the fractions of initial martensite, bainite, whole retained austenite and austenite respectively retained by bainite or martensite showed obvious three-stage variations, coincided with first stage, stagnant stage and second stage of martensite transformation. In the case of high QT that near Ms., the retained austenite was mainly ascribed to bainite carbon enrichment. As quenched to relatively low QT in stage-1 region or lower, the austenite retained by martensite carbon partitioning occupied the majority and the decrease of RA was mainly ascribed to inter-lath austenite and packet boundary austenite. In addition, an identical partitioning end was achieved with mean austenite carbon contents between T0 line and paraequilibrium condition, irrespective of initial martensite and bainite fractions. The heterogeneous carbon distribution in parent austenite deriving from ferrite formation significantly influenced the subsequent martensite transformation and corresponding martensite structure. The martensite block in high carbon region possessed much smaller size, while the corresponding packet size was still larger. Moreover, the significant martensite variant absence and variant combination were also observed.

A cellular automaton model integrated with CALPHAD-based thermodynamic calculations for ferrite-austenite phase transformations in multicomponent alloys

A cellular automaton (CA) model, which is directly coupled with thermodynamic calculations based on the CALPHAD method, is developed for the simulation of ferrite (α)-austenite (γ) phase transformations involving the partitioning and long-range diffusion of both interstitial and substitutional elements in multicomponent alloys. A data management scheme is proposed, which renders the efficient coupling between the kinetic simulation using the CA approach and thermodynamic calculations. The present CA model is applied to simulate the cyclic phase transformations between the α- and γ-phases for a quaternary Fe-0.02C-0.2Mn-0.1Si (wt%) alloy in both one- and two-dimensions. The simulated curves of α-volume fraction varying with temperature clearly illustrate the different α-γ transformation stages. The transformation kinetics and concentration profiles of Mn and Si obtained by the 1-D CA simulation agree well with DICTRA predictions. The 2-D simulation of a single circular grain is found to have shorter stagnant stages and faster transformation kinetics than that of the 1-D planar case. This can be attributed to the different growth geometries of 1-D planar and 2-D circular, and the effect of substitutional element Mn on the migrating interface. The non-uniform distribution of C and residual spikes of Mn and Si can be clearly delineated in the 2-D multi-grain simulation. It is shown that the data management scheme proposed in the present work significantly reduces the simulation time for the required thermodynamic data by two orders of magnitude approximately, which makes it feasible to perform valid simulations of microstructural evolution and solute distributions during α-γ phase transformations in steels with more than three components.

Evolution of Microstructure and Carbon Distribution During Heat Treatments of a Dual-Phase Steel: Modeling and Atom-Probe Tomography Experiments

The temporal evolution of microstructures and carbon distributions in a Fe-0.323C-1.231Mn-0.849Si (mol pct) dual-phase steel during heat treatments are simulated using a two-dimensional cellular automaton model. The model involves austenite nucleation, phase transformations controlled by ferrite (α)/austenite (γ) interface mobility and the local carbon concentration, and long-range carbon diffusion. It is also coupled with a solute drag model to account for the effect of substitutional elements on the interface migration. The results show that after holding at 800 °C for 300 seconds the transformed γ-volume fraction is lower than the paraequilibrium prediction. During subsequent cooling at 6 °C s−1, the γ → α transformation takes place after a stagnant stage; the carbon concentrations in both the α- and γ-phases increase and become non-uniform. When cooled below 450 °C, the γ-volume fraction is nearly unchanged. A small amount of carbon enriched martensite, transformed from the remaining γ-phase, exists in the room temperature microstructure. The simulated microstructures and carbon concentrations in martensite compare reasonably well with the experimental micrographs and atom-probe tomographic measurements. During tempering at 400 °C, martensite decomposes and the carbon concentration in the α-matrix increases. The simulation results are used to understand the mechanisms of yield strength variations after different heat treatments.

The Impact of Business Life Cycle and Performance Discrepancy on R&D Expenditures-Evidence from Taiwan

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of business life cycle and performance discrepancy on Research and Development (R&D) expenditure. Specifically, we argue that managers of firms in different stages of business life cycle make R&D decisions according to their perception of performance discrepancy. We investigate three stages of business life cycle: growth stage, maturity stage, and stagnant stage. Based on a sample of firms listed in Taiwan Stock Exchange, we find that managers of firms in the growth stage tend to increase R&D expenditure when they experience positive performance discrepancy. This implies that growing firms’ slack-resource-driven behavior is leads to the increase in R&D expenditure. There is some evidence that managers of firms in the mature stage tend to increase R&D spending when they experience negative performance discrepancy, indicate that negative performance discrepancy triggers the problem-driven search behavior of managers of mature firms.