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This research investigates factors influencing corporate social disclosure (CSD) within the context of Saudi Arabia. Specifically, it examines how corporate governance attributes and company characteristics impact the extent of CSD. The study utilizes data from 435 firm-year observations spanning 87 companies listed on Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) during 2015-2019. CSD levels are gauged using an unweighted disclosure index derived from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework. The results reveal a negative effect of board size on CSD, suggesting that smaller boards may encourage more comprehensive disclosures. Conversely, the effects of board independence and audit committee independence are insignificant. In line with theoretical predictions, larger, profitable, manufacturing companies, as well as those involved in international operations, tend to disclose more social information. The current research contributes to the literature, addressing conflicting findings on the effects of board characteristics and profitability, and exploring the underexplored roles of audit committee independence and internationalization.

Graphene nanoribbons show exciting electronic properties related to the exotic nature of the charge carriers and to local confinement as well as atomic-scale structural details. The local work function provides evidence for such structural, electronic, and chemical variations at surfaces. Kelvin prove force microscopy can be used to measure the local contact potential difference (LCPD) between a probe tip and a surface, related to the work function. Here we use this technique to map the LCPD of graphene nanoribbons grown on a Au(111) substrate. The LCPD data shows charge transfer between the graphene nanoribbons and the gold substrate. Our results are corroborated with density functional theory calculations, which verify that the maps reflect the doping of the nanoribbons. Our results help to understand the relation between atomic structure and electronic properties both in high-resolution images and in the distance dependence of the LCPD.

Introduction. Claw pole machines (CPM) are commonly used in the automotive industry. Recently, importance has focused on the use and introduction of permanent magnets (PM) in this type of machine to increase the power density. This paper studies the performance of permanent magnet claw pole machines (PM-CPM) used in hybrid electric vehicle applications. The structure considers that the PMs are placed between the claws of the rotor. Purpose. The influence of the PM magnetization effect on the performance of synchronous PM-CPM is analyzed. Radial and tangential magnetizations are applied to obtain the best possible sinusoidal shape of the electromotive force and an acceptable cogging torque. Then, the electromagnetic performance of the PM-CPM is analyzed and evaluated. Furthermore, due to the complexity of the rotor armature, it seems difficult to give a direct relationship between the PM parameters and the machine torque. This led us to study the effects of magnets geometrical dimensions variations on the torque and its ripple. Method. 3D nonlinear model of the machine is analyzed using the finite element method and comparisons between some electromagnetic performances are processed. Results. It was found that the tangential magnetization of PMs makes it possible to obtain a better distribution of the flux density and a minimum of cogging torque mainly responsible for vibrations and acoustic noise. Also, we observed a non-linear variation between the torque and its ripples depending on the dimensions of the PM. In fact, electromagnetic torque increases linearly with PM size but this is not the case for torque ripples. References 22, tables 2, figures 16.

Abstract Using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy we demonstrate a revival of magnetism in 7-armchair nanoribbon by unpassivated atoms at the termini. Namely, a pair of intense Kondo resonances emerges at the peripheries of zigzag terminus revealing the many-body screening effects of local magnetic moments. Although Kondo resonance originates from a missing local orbital, it extends to a distance of 2.5 nm along the edge of the ribbon. The results are complemented by density functional theory calculations which suggest a possible coupling between Kondo states despite screening effects of substrate electrons. These findings indicate a possibility to restore intrinsic magnetic ordering in graphene nanoribbon without major structural modifications.

This paper investigates the impact of accounting conservatism on income smoothing as a proxy for accounting manipulation. The study used 993 observations for 133 Algerian companies from 2012 to 2020, where income smoothing was measured by the variations in cash flows relative to earnings. However, conservatism was measured through non-operating accounting accruals, accruals-to-earnings ratio before extraordinary items, and allowances. The results showed that total accruals do not impact income smoothing versus positive impacts from non-operating accruals and allowances to income smoothing. Therefore, the study concluded that accounting conservatism facilitates income smoothing in Algerian companies by extending the discretionary room available for managers to manipulate earnings. These results require accounting regulators to consider the role of conservatism in manipulation when setting or amending accounting standards. They also imply that auditors should give more attention to conservative accounting practices to limit the opportunistic behavior of managers and increase the reliability of financial information.

This paper aims to analyze the properties of earnings compared to cash flows based on persistence and predictive ability as fundamental attributes of relevance. Therefore, we collected financial data of 20 Algerian companies from 2011 to 2020, where 200 observations were employed using the model of Sloan (1996) that was adjusted by sales. According to the results, the earnings of Algerian companies are highly persistent, but their predictability is weak. However, cash flows are not persistent and have no predictive ability. Consequently, earnings quality in Algerian companies is better than the quality of cash flows. Based on our results, users of financial reports in Algerian companies should focus on earnings when making decisions and be cautious when using cash flows.

Managers are often employed many alternatives for earnings management following their objectives or the financial reporting objectives; the commonly used are the accrual-based and cash-based earnings management. The literature reveals that managers adopt the two strategies in different ways, suggesting a mixed relationship between them. Hence, this study investigates the relationship between the two strategies of earnings management in Algeria, whether it is a substitute or complementary. The study included 30 Algerian companies during 2011-2019, so a total of 270 firm-year observations were employed. Accrual-based earnings management was measured through the modified-Jones model, while cash-based earnings management was measured through the abnormal cash flows model. According to the results, Algerian companies engage more in accrual-based earnings management and employ the two strategies as substitutes, which explains the strong and negative effect of accrual-based on cash-based earnings management. We argue that companies engage first in accrual-based earnings management, and then they shift towards cash-based earnings management due to auditors’ scrutiny. Furthermore, we found a positive and a medium effect of return on equity on cash-based earnings management, which reflects the managers’ desire to adjust operating cash flows consistent with the reported earnings. Finally, the results indicated that company ownership, company listing, and the nature of financial statements do not affect cash-based earnings management.

This paper attempts to analyze the impact of some Algerian companies’ characteristics (size, activity sector, property, listing, and nature of financial statements) on the level of earnings management. The research employed 117 observations for 26 Algerian companies from 2016 to 2020 and used a multiple linear regression model and discretionary accounting accruals to measure earnings management. According to the findings, earnings management in Algeria is explained by the companies’ sizes, activity sectors, and stock market listing. However, the nature of financial statements and the ownership of the companies do not affect earnings management. These results are beneficial for regulators and auditors since they provide empirical evidence about the characteristics of companies that manipulate earnings. Consequently, they can enable them to take appropriate actions to enhance the quality of financial reports, whether when developing and reviewing accounting standards by regulators or when examining financial information by auditors.

Research background: The literature has argued that accounting for intangible assets and goodwill provides a wide range for managers to manipulate earnings.

This paper aims to explore the effect of the Algiers Stock Exchange listing on real earnings management. The study included 14 non-financial non-listed companies during the period 2015-2019 and six non-financial listed companies during the period 2010-2019. Due to the small number of companies listed on the Algiers Stock Exchange, the period of study was extended in the case of listed companies to provide enough observations. The measurement of real earnings management is based on the model of abnormal cash flows from operations (Roychowdhury, 2006), while the hypothesis testing is based on a model of multiple linear regression. The results indicate that the company size and the nature of financial statement (consolidation) do not have any effect on real earnings management in Algerian companies. The results are not consistent with the author’s hypothesis about the positive effect of stock market listing on real earnings management. The empirical evidence suggests that the Algiers Stock Exchange listing has had a negative effect on real earnings management in Algerian companies. This might be due to the scrutiny of auditors and regulators as the number of companies is easy to control, which decreases the opportunity for Algerian companies to rely on real earnings management in accordance with the opportunistic or informational view.

Introduction. Claw pole machines (CPM) are commonly used in the automotive industry. Recently, importance has focused on the use and introduction of permanent magnets (PM) in this type of machine to increase the power density. This paper studies the performance of permanent magnet claw pole machines (PM-CPM) used in hybrid electric vehicle applications. The structure considers that the PMs are placed between the claws of the rotor. Purpose. The influence of the PM magnetization effect on the performance of synchronous PM-CPM is analyzed. Radial and tangential magnetizations are applied to obtain the best possible sinusoidal shape of the electromotive force and an acceptable cogging torque. Then, the electromagnetic performance of the PM-CPM is analyzed and evaluated. Furthermore, due to the complexity of the rotor armature, it seems difficult to give a direct relationship between the PM parameters and the machine torque. This led us to study the effects of magnets geometrical dimensions variations on the torque and its ripple. Method. 3D nonlinear model of the machine is analyzed using the finite element method and comparisons between some electromagnetic performances are processed. Results. It was found that the tangential magnetization of PMs makes it possible to obtain a better distribution of the flux density and a minimum of cogging torque mainly responsible for vibrations and acoustic noise. Also, we observed a non-linear variation between the torque and its ripples depending on the dimensions of the PM. In fact, electromagnetic torque increases linearly with PM size but this is not the case for torque ripples. References 22, tables 2, figures 16. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The persistence and predictive ability are extensively requested as desirable attributes of earnings quality in the literature. The paper aims at investigating the persistence and predictive ability of earnings in French and UK companies. The study included a panel data of 1035 firm-year observations for 115 French listed companies from the CAC All-Tradable and 900 firm-year observations for 100 UK listed companies from the FTSE All-Share, during the period of 2011–2019. The research design was based on two equations starting from Sloan (1996) that were estimated using Fixed Effects Method. The study showed that earnings were persistent but they had no predictive ability regarding the future cash flows whether in French or UK companies and that earnings of UK companies were more persistent than those of the French companies. We argue that the persistence of earnings and the inability to predict future cash flows can be evidence of earnings management. The study contributes to the literature about earnings quality by studying earnings persistence and earnings predictive ability together in two different environments. The results require that users must take into consideration the illusory persistence of earnings, auditors must be cautious regarding the manipulation of earnings by managers, and accounting standard setters must review the reporting guidelines of cash flows to enhance their predictability by earnings.

In Bibi and Ghazal [2]. we have derived several probabilistic properties for time-varying bilinear models where the coefficients vary according to a Markov chain. In this note, we continue to study certain sufficient conditions in ]L2 for the strict stationarity solution. As a consequence. it can be seen (locally) that when the solution is strictly stationary, it admit also moinents of a certain order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adding functional electronic components to graphene nanoribbons requires precise control over their atomic structure. Here, the authors use a bottom-up approach to build a metal-semiconductor junction and a tunnel barrier directly into a single graphene nanoribbon, an exciting development for graphene-based electronic devices

In this paper, we deal with the frequency domain approach to describe some probabilistic properties of the GARCH (p , q) processes using the associated transfer functions which seem more informative. So, in the first part, we propose an appropriate bilinear representation of GARCH (p , q) model governed by a second-order Hermite polynomial with leading coefficient 1, and we give a necessary and sufficient condition for the causal and second-order stationary solution. In a second part, we establish the autocovariance and the associated spectral density function of such a representation, and for its squared version in terms of transfer functions. As a consequence, it is observed that the second-order properties are similar to an ARMA process with uncorrelated innovations and hence the resort to higher-order properties however becomes inevitable. Therefore, the explicit expressions of bispectral densities of the process and its squared version are given and several illustrative examples are emphasized. Our results are related to the work of Terdik (2000, §3) for the GARCH(1, 1) model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper aims to explore whether intangible items that recognised in financial statements are value-relevant to investors in the French context, and whether these items affect the value relevance of accounting information. Design/methodology/approach: Empirical data were collected from a sample of French listed companies, over the nine-year period of 2005 to 2013. Starting of Ohlson’s (1995) model, the correlation analysis and the linear multiple regressions have been applied. Findings: We find that intangibles and traditional accounting measures as a whole are value relevant. However, the amortization and impairment charges of intangibles and cash flows do not affect the market values of French companies, unlike other variables, which affect positively and substantially the market values. Also goodwill and book values are more associated with market values than intangible assets and earnings respectively. Finally, we find that intangibles have improved the value relevance of accounting information. Practical implications: French legislators must give more interest for intangibles, in order to enrich the financial statements content and increasing the pertinence of accounting information. Auditors must give more attention for intangibles’ examination process, in order to certify the amounts related to intangibles in financial statements, and hence enrich their reliability, what provides adequacy guarantees for investors to use them in decision making. Originality/value: The paper used recently available financial data, and proposed an improvement concerning the measure of incremental value relevance of intangibles items.

This paper defines and analyzes the evolutionary transfer functions for conditional volatility in periodic generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (PGARCH for short ) model in order to describe some probabilistic and statistical properties in both frequency and temporal behavior. So. in the first part. we consider a diagonal periodic bilinear representation of PGARCH (p, q) process with second-order Hermite polynomial with leading coefficient 1, and we give a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of causal and second order periodically stationarity solution (or also periodically correlated (PC)). In a second part, we focus on the probabilistic structure of such a representation, more precisely, we analyze the so-called time-dependent autocovariance and the associated evolutionary spectral density function of such a representation and its squared version. As a consequence, it is shown that the second order properties is similar to a PARMA process with uncorrelated innovations and hence the resort to higher-order properties is seems to be necessary to identify the process. Therefore, the explicit expression of evolutionary bispectral density of the process and its squared version are used as useful property that characterizing the non linear models. Several illustrative examples are emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]