Start-up Rates Research Articles

Study on the redistribution mechanism and secondary purge strategy of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Effective control of membrane water content is essential for increasing the space for ice formation during the cold start stage and enhancing the success rate of start-up. Shutdown purge can effectively lower the membrane water content following fuel cell operation. However, during the cooling and standing process after purge, the rapid change in saturated vapor pressure can result in the redistribution of membrane dissolved water, leading to an increase in its content and a reduction in the success rate of cold start. Therefore, this study establishes a multidimensional, multiphase simulation model to comprehensively and thoroughly analyze the redistribution mechanism after purging and investigates the relationship between membrane water content and cold start. This is achieved by identifying the maximum membrane water content boundary during the cold start process and ultimately improving the success rate of cold start through a secondary purge strategy. The research results indicate that the membrane water content of the fuel cell increases from 2.31 to 8.31 after redistribution. During the cold start stage, the cold start success of the fuel cell under different environmental temperatures exhibits relatively specific boundary conditions, with the cold start process being closely related to the load current density and initial membrane water content. After implementing the secondary purging strategy, the membrane water content of the fuel cell decreases again, displaying favorable cold start characteristics in the cold start stage and successfully starting at −10 °C. This study can provide a reliable basis for the development of purging strategies during shutdown and offer a theoretical foundation for the boundary identification process of cold start.

기회형 창업자와 생계형 창업자의 인식을 반영한 창업생태계 활성화 방안: IPA 및 추세 분석

This study aims to explore activation strategies for the Korean entrepreneurial ecosystem by reflecting the perceptions of both opportunity-driven and necessity-driven entrepreneurs. Using Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) and trend analysis, we evaluate key components of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and analyze the perception differences between the two types of entrepreneurs. The results indicate significant differences in how opportunity-driven and necessity-driven entrepreneurs perceive the importance and performance of startup support policies, providing valuable policy implications. Specifically, opportunity-driven entrepreneurs highly evaluated the performance of funding and government support programs, whereas necessity-driven entrepreneurs emphasized the importance of social safety nets and tax policies. Based on these perception differences, this study proposes improvement strategies for the entrepreneurial ecosystem, aiming to enhance the survival rate of startups and promote sustainable growth. The findings offer critical policy insights to better support the diverse needs of entrepreneurs.

The Power of Proximity: The Impact of Proximity Between Early-Stage Investors and Universities

Early-stage investors and universities are crucial stakeholders in entrepreneurial ecosystems, yet their combined impact remains underexplored. This paper examines how the proximity between early-stage investors and universities affects the founding rate and success of affiliated startups. The analysis utilizes data from the Crunchbase 500 list for Germany. Findings indicate a positive correlation between the proximity of early-stage investors and universities with higher success rates and founding rates of affiliated startups. However, the results show varying dynamics and partial statistical significance, suggesting different implications for small versus large universities. Should these tendencies be confirmed with a more extensive dataset, the findings could have practical implications for early-stage investors and universities, tailored to their size.

Unraveling Pathways to Entrepreneurial Success among Recent Chinese College Graduates: a Qualitative Comparative Analysis

Abstract In the context of burgeoning interest in entrepreneurship among recent Chinese college graduates, the disappointingly low success rate of startups has prompted a critical inquiry. This study endeavors to delve into the factors shaping entrepreneurial success, aiming to illuminate pathways for addressing this pervasive issue. Employing the csQCA method, we analyze 23 cases of successful entrepreneurship, revealing a nuanced and intricate interplay of factors that challenges simplistic narratives in prior research. The analysis unveils five distinct pathways to success: “Environmental Incentive,” “Motivation,” “Platform Assistance,” “Policy Support,” and “Demand.” Notably, the first two pathways significantly shape pre-graduation success, while the latter three become prominent in the post-graduation phase. We also find that entrepreneurship education and self-fulfillment emerge as key elements leading to success before graduation, while social relationships and self-fulfillment play pivotal roles after graduation. Furthermore, technology emerges as the predominant field drawing the interest of startups, followed by culture and academia. These findings not only deepen our understanding of the complex entrepreneurial landscape but also provide valuable insights for future research and policy considerations.

Variety of entrepreneurial skills measured in the entrepreneurship education literature

PurposeHaving a varied set of skills is essential for becoming and succeeding in entrepreneurship, and developing students’ entrepreneurial skills is a key objective of entrepreneurship education programs at universities worldwide. Moreover, measuring the learning outcomes of education is essential for designing effective training. This review provides a framework of the variety of skills measured in the entrepreneurship education literature.Design/methodology/approachWe reviewed the entrepreneurship education literature and identified 79 studies that used skill-related measures. We identified, grouped, and operationalized entrepreneurial skills related to the entrepreneurial tasks of sensing, acting, and mobilizing under uncertain conditions.FindingsWe synthesized the current knowledge related to developing various entrepreneurial skills and provided a framework of ten types of entrepreneurship-related skills measured in prior studies of entrepreneurship education initiatives. We showed that entrepreneurship education develops various skills relevant to entrepreneurship and other concepts, indicating the value of entrepreneurship education for increasing students’ general skill level.Originality/valueOur framework provides a valuable tool for discussing what skills-related training should be included in entrepreneurship education curricula and how the learning outcomes from entrepreneurship education can be measured. Focusing on students’ entrepreneurial skills is closer to entrepreneurial action than intentions or mindsets, and skills are a more realis-tic and inclusive outcome of entrepreneurship education than start-up rates and self-employment. Thus, entrepreneurial skills are a useful concept for clarifying and measuring the specific learning outcomes of entrepreneurship education.

Macroeconomic determinants of enterprise births in European countries: The moderating role of human capital in the unemployment structure

Research background: While micro-level studies evidence that unemployment increases the probability of being self-employed, the findings at the macro-scale are ambiguous. At the macroscale, the unemployment push mechanism is further conditioned by cyclical fluctuations and industry-specific characteristics. Most studies, however, have neglected the heterogeneity of the group of unemployed, which could also be behind the disparate results. Purpose of the article: In filling this gap, the study aims to examine the links between the unemployment rate and enterprise births, while considering the unemployment structure in terms of the human capital of the unemployed and the unemployment duration. Methods: The issue is examined using the example of 20 European countries in the period 2004–2020. The fixed- and random-effects panel models were applied. The sectoral diversity of entrepreneurial activity (manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing, professional and scientific activities, ICT), and the size class of the newly established enterprises (with/without employees) are also considered. Findings & value added: The study reveals that the share of long-term unemployment and the skill structure of the unemployed have an impact on new firm formation, which varies with the knowledge intensity of the start-ups and their size. A higher share of highly qualified unemployed increases the start-up rates, particularly in knowledge-intensive services and manufacturing. A higher share of long-term unemployed has a negative impact on enterprise births, specifically in new businesses with employees. The findings are important for designing effective instruments to address unemployment by entrepreneurship within active labour market policy.

The role of macro institutional factors in determining types of entrepreneurial start-ups: a longitudinal panel study

Purpose What shapes entrepreneurs’ intention to allocate entrepreneurial effort towards different types of entrepreneurial start-ups? Grounded in a “national business systems” approach, the purpose of this paper is to examine the impacts of institutional dimensions on Schumpeterian and Kirznerian entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach Drawing upon a global context comprising 82 countries over the period between 2007 and 2018, this research applies a dynamic panel modelling approach, namely, the dynamic panel generalised method of moments estimator. This estimator allows to account for unobserved country-specific heterogeneity and to address endogeneity constraints that might occur between institutions and entrepreneurship. Findings The findings reveal that there are positive relationships between financial capital and both Schumpeterian and Kirznerian entrepreneurship. Educational capital positively affects the allocation of entrepreneurial efforts towards opportunity-based entrepreneurial activities. Moreover, institutional regulatory conditions could hinder the allocation of entrepreneurs’ resources into a Schumpeterian while facilitating the allocation of resources into a Kirznerian type of venture. Finally, a higher level of corruption promotes innovative entrepreneurial activities (i.e. a Schumpeterian type of venture) and leads to constraints on Kirznerian entrepreneurship. Practical implications The research findings demonstrate the significance of the macro environment for enacting and implementing policies to reap the benefits of different types of start-ups. It suggests different political actions are needed to motivate highly qualified individuals to engage in Schumpeterian and Kirznerian entrepreneurship, rather than focusing purely on enhancing a country’s overall start-up rates. Originality/value By acknowledging the multidimensional nature of entrepreneurship, this research provides greater theoretical exposition and empirical support for the role played by macro-level institutions in determining types of entrepreneurship. It reveals the important role played by macro institutional conditions in influencing choices about different types of start-ups and gives rise to the multidimensional nature of entrepreneurship.

Demographic Origins of the Start-up Deficit

We propose a simple explanation for the long-run decline in the US start-up rate. It originates from a slowdown in labor supply growth since the late 1970s, largely predetermined by demographics. This channel can explain roughly half of the decline and why incumbent firm survival and average growth over the life cycle have changed little. We show these results in a standard model of firm dynamics and test the mechanism using cross-state variation in labor supply growth. Finally, we show that a longer entry rate series imputed using historical establishment tabulations rises over the 1960s–1970s period of accelerating labor force growth. (JEL D22, D25, E24, J11, J22, J23, M11)

Comparative Analysis of Social and University Incubators from The Perspective of Public-Private Partnership

As the concept of corporate sustainability is being advocated, social innovation is also gradually gaining importance. Many startups encounter difficulties in their early stages of development, both in terms of operations and capabilities. Companies with business support can shorten the time to adapt to the market and increase the survival rate of startups. Meanwhile, incubators supporting entrepreneurship have evolved into different forms with the development of various industries. Incubators, which support entrepreneurship, have evolved alongside various industries, with some focusing specifically on social issues. Incubators focusing on social issues have also emerged, yet only a few studies have investigated social incubators. Therefore, this study conducts multiple case studies focusing on startups in the creative industry. weIt examines the processes of participating in both social incubators and university incubators, employing a comparative analysis framework based on the theory of Public-private partnership (PPPs). We selecting potential candidates from the list of supported companies listed on the incubator websites and choosing those within the creative industry domain, inviting them to participate in interviews. The study found that clustering similar types of enterprises helps deepen and enhance their growth. On the other hand, social incubators, due to their goals, resources, and activities, can provide more opportunities for collaboration with private enterprises and access to industry resources. Additionally, participation in university incubators not only provides comprehensive business support but also access to key resources for collaboration with the public sector. The experiential evidence from case studies of creative industry incubators in Asia fills the research gap related to social incubators. Through the comparison of different types of incubators, it enriches the knowledge base of stakeholders (private enterprises, government, universities, and business incubators) regarding PPPs. It aids researchers and practitioners in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the current status and future directions of incubator development, highlighting the distinct roles and contributions of social and university incubators in supporting startup growth and innovation.

Biodegradation of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Sarocladium terricola strain PYR-233 isolated from petrochemical contaminated sediment

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were frequently found in sediment and were primarily treated through microbial degradation. Thus, efficient management of PAH pollution requires exploring the molecular degradation mechanisms of PAHs and expanding the pool of available microbial resources. A fungus (identified as Sarocladium terricola strain RCEF778) with the remarkable ability to degrade pyrene was screened from sediment near a petrochemical plant, and its growth and pyrene degradation characteristics were comprehensively investigated. The results showed that the fungus exhibited great effectiveness in pyrene degradation, with a degradation ratio of 88.97% at 21 days at the conditions: 35 °C, pH 7, 10 mg L−1 initially pyrene concentration, 3% supplementary salt, and glucose supplementation. The generation and concentration variation of the intermediate products were identified, and the results revealed that the fungus degraded pyrene through two pathways: by salicylic acid and by phthalic acid. Three sediments (M1, M2, M3), each exhibiting different levels of PAH pollution, were employed to examine the effectiveness of fungal degradation of PAHs in practical sediment samples. These data showed that with the fungus, the degradation ratios ranged from 13.64% to 23.50% for 2–3 rings PAHs, 40.93%–49.41% for 4 rings PAHs, and 39.59%–48.07% for 5–6 rings PAHs, which were significantly higher than those for the sediment without the fungus and confirmed the excellent performance of the fungal. Moreover, the Gompertz model was employed to analyze the degradation kinetics of 4-rings and 5–6 rings PAHs in these sediments, and the results demonstrated that the addition of the fungus could significantly increase the maximum degradation ratio, degradation start-up rate and maximum degradation rate of 4-rings and 5–6 rings PAHs and shorten the time required to reach the maximum degradation rate. This study not only supplied fungal materials but also established crucial theoretical foundations for the development of bioremediation technologies aimed at high molecular weight PAH-contaminated sediments.

Dynamic effects of path dependence on regional entrepreneurship in transitional China

ABSTRACT Previous studies fall short when explaining the determinants of regional entrepreneurship in an unstable environment from a dynamic perspective. This study investigates the dynamic feedback effects of path dependence on the regional entrepreneurial activities in China. Using a sample of panel data related to 47,515,084 enterprises from 2000 to 2018, we estimate a set of panel models analyzing the effects of dynamic increasing returns and formal and informal institutional hysteresis on the new firm formation in Chinese cities. Our results provide evidence of positive relationships between peer effects from past entrepreneurial activities, past FDI and government intervention as well as the historical environment of the proportion of foreign-funded enterprises and SOEs in 1989 with the start-up rates. This study on regional entrepreneurship in the Chinese context develops a broader understanding of entrepreneurship in transition economies.

Enhanced anaerobic co-digestion of cattle manure with food waste and pig manure: Statistical optimization of pretreatment condition and substrate mixture ratio

This study investigated the optimal pretreatment condition and mixture ratio of cattle manure (CM) for its efficient anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) with food waste (FW) and pig manure (PM). The pretreatment performances of thermal (TM), microwave (MW), and ultrasound (US) technologies and the AcoD performance were statistically and experimentally evaluated at various mixture ratios of CM, FW, and PM. The results revealed that the most effective pretreatment condition with the TM, MW, and US pretreatments was 129.3 °C for 49.6 min, 824.2 W for 7.3 min, and 418.0 W for 36.3 min, respectively. The best AcoD performance of optimally pretreated CM (PCM) was achieved when 30.5 % PCM was mixed with 42.5 % FW and 27.0 % PM. A long-term evaluation showed that the start-up rate for the anaerobic mono-digestion of PCM was 2.3 times faster than that of CM and the amount of methane produced was 4.7 times higher; process stability was thus preferentially maintained under a higher organic loading rate (OLR) (2.0 kg-VS/m3∙d). The start-up rate for the AcoD of PCM with FW and PM was 1.2 times higher than that of the AcoD of CM with FW and PM. Although the performance gap between the AcoD reactors after steady state was not significantly different, the PCM AcoD reactor provided a more stable operation under a higher OLR (5.0 kg-VS/m3∙d). This study demonstrates that the pretreatment and co-digestion of CM could significantly enhance the production of biogas and improve process stability.

Self-employed and stressed out? The impact of stress and stress management on entrepreneurs' mental health and performance.

Entrepreneurs play a central role in economic and social stability, yet the start-up rate in Germany has declined in recent years, possibly due to the stress associated with entrepreneurial endeavors. Stressors such as financial uncertainty and time pressure are prevalent among entrepreneurs and negatively affect their psychological well-being. However, research on stress management strategies among self-employed individuals remains limited. This pilot study conducted a quantitative analysis with 117 self-employed participants in Germany. The study focused on typical entrepreneurial work demands and selected stress coping mechanisms. The analysis revealed a significant correlation between quantitative demands and mental exhaustion. Furthermore, a high positive correlation between presenteeism and workload suggests that presenteeism may partially explain the variance in workload. These findings underscore how high job demands can lead to self-endangering behaviors that are detrimental to mental health. Although no significant moderating effect of proactive coping on the relationship between job demands and mental exhaustion was observed, significant negative correlations between proactive coping and both job demands and mental exhaustion suggest a potential protective role of proactive coping against work-related stress. This study highlights the importance of understanding stress coping strategies among self-employed individuals and their impact on entrepreneurial success and mental well-being. Further research in this area is warranted to develop effective interventions to support the well-being and productivity of self-employed individuals in Germany.

Enhancing the Startup Rate of Microbial Methanogenic Systems through the Synergy of β-lactam Antibiotics and Electrolytic Cells.

The slow startup and suboptimal efficiency of microbial carbon sequestration and methane-production systems have not been fully resolved despite their contribution to sustainable energy production and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. These systems often grapple with persistent hurdles, including interference from miscellaneous bacteria and the slow enrichment of methanogens. To address these issues, this paper examines the synergistic effect of coupling β-lactam antibiotics with an electrolytic cell on the methanogenic process. The results indicated that β-lactam antibiotics exhibited inhibitory effects on Campylobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria (two types of miscellaneous bacteria), reducing their relative abundance by 53.03% and 87.78%, respectively. Nevertheless, it also resulted in a decrease in hydrogenogens and hindered the CO2 reduction pathway. When coupled with an electrolytic cell, sufficient electrons were supplied for CO2 reduction to compensate for the hydrogen deficiency, effectively mitigating the side effects of antibiotics. Consequently, a substantial improvement in methane production was observed, reaching 0.57 mL·L-1·d-1, exemplifying a remarkable 6.3-fold increase over the control group. This discovery reinforces the efficiency of methanogen enrichment and enhances methane-production levels.

Support factors contributing to successful start-up businesses by young entrepreneurs in South Africa.

Unemployment and restricted work opportunities for youth are enduring social challenges that affect health, well-being, and quality of life, especially in low- to middle-income countries. When considering the advantages associated with work as a determinant of health, unemployment is understood to contribute to occupational injustice. However, self-employment, hailed the solution to youth unemployment, is often necessity-driven, precarious in nature and restricted by the low success rate of business start-ups. Research was undertaken to explore factors perceived to contribute to the success of start-up businesses in an informal settlement in the Western Cape of South Africa. The importance of support in the success of business start-ups will be the focus of this article. A collective case study, using narrative interviewing and - analysis, was undertaken in South Africa. Two narrative interviews were conducted with each of the five participants who were youth entrepreneurs and founders of start-up businesses. Data analysis comprised the use of narrative analysis and paradigmatic type narrative analysis. Three themes captured factors deemed to have contributed to the success of start-up businesses. The vital role of support systems and networks in business success was demonstrated. Support systems included family, friends, role models, mentors, team members and business partners. Identification, utilization, and ongoing development of support structures available in the social networks of young entrepreneurs were perceived to have contributed to the success of start-ups.

A Study of Innovative Entrepreneurial Behavior of College Students under Algorithmic Recommendation

Abstract In this paper, for a large amount of text content such as college students’ innovation and entrepreneurship education practice, considering the problem of directionality, based on the idea of a recommendation algorithm, we use word similarity and TextRank algorithm to extract the keywords of innovation and entrepreneurship behaviors as the first-knowledge labels of the textual resources, and introduce complex labeling network based on this. On the premise of semantic-based TextRank keywords and tag network, the fusion-gated graph attention group recommendation algorithm is used to construct college students’ innovation and entrepreneurship practice platform, and the simulation analysis of college students’ innovation and entrepreneurship practice platform is carried out. The results show that the survival rate of virtual startups can be calculated as 5.37% by using the college students’ innovation and entrepreneurship practice platform, which can accurately analyze that college students’ innovation and entrepreneurship behaviors are stronger, but the survival rate of the enterprises founded by college students for the first time needs to be improved. This study can provide theoretical knowledge guidance for the study of college students’ innovative entrepreneurial behavior and has a facilitating effect on the development of innovation and entrepreneurship education in colleges and universities.

Price prediction of polyester yarn based on multiple linear regression model.

China's polyester textile industry is one of the notable contributors to national economy. This paper takes polyester yarn, core raw material in polyester textile industry chain, as research object, and deeply explores its price indicators and risk hedging mechanisms through multiple linear regression models and Holt-Winters approaches. It is worth mentioning that with continuous development of digital technology, digital transformation of production lines and warehouses has become an important development feature in various industries. This study also actively complies with this trend, and innovatively incorporates the upstream and downstream production line start-up rates into price prediction model. Through this initiative, we can more comprehensively consider the impact of supply and demand changes on price of polyester yarn, thus making prediction results more closely reflect the actual market situation. This quantitative analysis method undoubtedly provides new ideas for enterprises to better grasp market dynamics in digital era.

Research on the Application of Intelligent Diagnosis of Major Equipment Failures in Coal Mines

Abstract Currently, the implementation of a coal mine production safety monitoring system, capable of real-time monitoring of the safety condition of large coal mine equipment and timely dispatch management, is crucial for the efficient and safe operation of coal mine enterprises. This paper designs the coal mine major equipment failure process based on the rolling bearing’s vibration mechanism, analyzes the major equipment’s failure signal using both time domain and frequency domain analysis methods, and employs the intelligent fuzzy control method to identify the major equipment failure. We have designed and practically applied a real-time, multi-threaded, and comprehensive fault diagnosis and prediction system for coal mine major equipment, combining information from coal mine safety, production, and operation. The results show that the normal state’s time-domain amplitude approximates (-0.2, 0.2), and the time-domain waveforms all display periodic shock signals when the bearing sustains damage. The faulty vibration amplitude of the inner ring is within 0.08 ms 2 and the faulty vibration amplitude of the outer ring is within 0.44 ms 2, and the diagnostic accuracy using the method of this paper reaches 97.2%. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of remote monitoring and fault analysis of major equipment in coal mines, which effectively improves the equipment start-up rate and ensures coal mine production safety.

Triple Bottom Line, Sustainability, and Regional Development

In a study of 74 Russian regions over the period of 2013–2018, this paper demonstrates that economic, social, and ecological dimensions of the triple bottom line triad positively and significantly affect regional development, thus validating the growing emphasis on sustainable development found in the literature and among policymakers. Investments in research and development, the creation of new firms, reductions in poverty rates, and lowering emission intensity lead to regional development. The study develops four models to analyze the regional resource allocation efficiency in relation to the economic, social, and ecological goals of sustainable development. To assess regional development, this paper calculates the technical efficiency of the regions concerning technological frontiers using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). As one of our variables (the border region dummy) is time-invariant, the study chose to estimate models with the help of a random effects estimator. The effects of startup rates and ecological factors are moderated by the per capita income within the region. The results suggest that the triple bottom line agenda is justified as a regional development paradigm.

Convex Least Angle Regression Based LASSO Feature Selection and Swish Activation Function Model for Startup Survival Rate

Abstract A startup is a recently established business venture led by entrepreneurs, to create and offer new products or services. The discovery of promising startups is a challenging task for creditors, policymakers, and investors. Therefore, the startup survival rate prediction is required to be developed for the success/failure of startup companies. In this paper, the feature selection using the Convex Least Angle Regression Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (CLAR-LASSO) is proposed to improve the classification of startup survival rate prediction. The Swish Activation Function based Long Short-Term Memory (SAFLSTM) is developed for classifying the survival rate of startups. Further, the Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations (LIME) model interprets the predicted classification to the user. Existing research such as Hyper Parameter Tuning (HPT)-Logistic regression, HPT-Support Vector Machine (SVM), HPT-XGBoost, and SAFLSTM are used to compare the CLAR-LASSO. The accuracy of the CLAR-LASSO is 95.67% which is high when compared to the HPT-Logistic regression, HPT-SVM, HPT-XGBoost, and SAFLSTM.