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This study aims to assess the effect of corporate lobbying power on fraud and money laundering in listed firms on the Tehran Stock Exchange. For the study, the information of 173 firms is assessed during 2013–2020, and a total number of 1,384 year-companies are analysed.

In this paper, the Beneish model is used for fraud detection, and the clause of the auditor’s report on money laundering is used for the variable of money laundering. The multivariate regression, Logistic regression, the fixed effects of panel data, additional random effects tests, Hausman, least generalised squares and T + 1 are used by using the Stata Software.

The obtained results indicate a direct and significant relationship between lobbying and fraud and lobbying and money laundering. Suppose the board members of firms are among the parliament members or the government cabinet (politicians) and/or major shareholders affiliated with state-owned and/or quasi-governmental institutions. In that case, the likelihood of corporate lobbying will be increased.

The outcomes of the current study give great insight to developing countries due to the high volume of money laundering to reduce such a financial crime.

This study evaluates the implementation of circular economy (CE) design strategies in mass timber construction to identify knowledge gaps and define crucial future research areas for promoting CE design adoption in this field.

A two-stage systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to, first, identify CE design strategies applicable to the construction industry and then investigate the current state of CE design research in mass timber construction. Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant literature. In total, 52 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2016 and 2023 were shortlisted. Descriptive and thematic analyses were then employed to analyse and synthesise the relevant literature.

Seven CE design strategies were identified in the first stage of the SLR. The second stage of the SLR revealed limited research on CE design strategies in mass timber construction. Several research problems were identified, including a lack of suitable connectors for the deconstruction phase, durability concerns, insufficient knowledge of CE design methods, lack of knowledge and education about mass timber construction, missing actors within the value chain, higher cost, an underdeveloped market and inadequate regulatory requirements. These findings highlighted the future research directions to foster CE design adoption in mass timber construction.

The study systematically identifies existing knowledge on the application of CE design strategies in mass timber construction. Moreover, it presents a conceptual framework that links current research problems to future research directions across technical, social, economic and regulatory categories, thereby advancing CE practice in mass timber construction.

Nowadays, the tourism industry is considered the largest and most diverse industry in the world, which can play a significant role in the economic growth and development of a country as the main source of income and employment. In this regard, the purpose of this study is to focus on evaluating the competitiveness indicators of Shiraz city tourism destination based on a combined model.

For this purpose, a questionnaire with 78 questions was used to evaluate the indicators, in which a total of 1,432 tourists participated, including 927 domestic tourists and 505 international tourists. The collected data were analyzed to determine the hierarchical relationship between the indicators using equation structural modeling.

The research findings indicate that the most effective and influential indicators in the field of tourism competitiveness are natural and handmade resources, and the most influential factors are demand conditions and cultural and natural resources. In this hierarchy, each factor affects its previous level and influences the next level.

This study offers significant potential for uncovering credible and robust approaches to further investigate the contextualization of tourism competitiveness on both national and international scales, thereby generating valuable new insights. By conceptualizing the diverse dimensions of tourism competitiveness and delving into the variations in its impacts across multiple levels, this research not only challenges existing notions but also aids destinations in maintaining and enhancing their market position and share over time. This study offers valuable insights and practical implications for both researchers and practitioners in the field of urban tourism. It enhances the understanding of destination competitiveness, informs policy decisions, facilitates benchmarking and best practices, guides strategic decision-making and promotes sustainable tourism development.

Piperidine side chain-functionalized N, N′-bissalicylidene phenylene di amine di-anion (salphen) consisting of salphen-Zn and salphen-Cu are able to intercalate with nucleic base stacking of DNA and can be applied as an optical DNA hybridization detector. Attaching DNA and salphen to glass surfaces has been done via coating the surface with the silane coupling agents containing 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane that was synthesized for acting as a high-affinity RNA carrier matrix. The Schiff base salphen-zinc (II) and salphen-Cu (II) complexes-labelled probe to target nucleic acid renders a colour change of the DNA biosensor to a green and red background colour for zinc and copper, respectively. This study aims to indicate that the DNA biosensor data with high efficiency is used for detection of dengue virus serotypes 2 (DENV-2) and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) concentration via salphen-Zn (II) and salphen-Cu (II), respectively, in human samples.

¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR have been used via PerkinElmer LAMBDA 35 instrument. The authors also used a double beam spectrophotometer with (CH₃)4Si (TMS) as reference and dimethyl sulfoxide as solvent reference in pH = 7.0. Various DNA concentrations have been used for UV spectrophotometry at 300 nm and 400 nm for zinc and copper complexes, respectively. BRUKER mass spectra with DIONEX Ultimate 3000 LC model were used for all measurements. Mettler Teledo model (DSC882e) of differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was used for measure the melting temperature of metal zinc and copper complexes. The morphology of the silica Nano spheres (SiNs) were scanned by FESEM with Model JSM-6700F from Japan.

The Cu (II) and Zn (II)-salphen-viruses DNA system for CHIKV and DENV-2, respectively, in different concentration have been investigated via various spectroscopies (Figure 3). CHIKV and DENV-2 DNA were selected from human saliva and urine samples as models for conformations of human G4-DNA. By increasing the amounts of DNAs, and G4, the UV–Vis bands of located above 300 nm, experienced a hypochromic effect. The Cu2+ complex exhibits selectivity towards the G4, and there is a similar affinity for Zn²⁺ complex binds to the G4. These results collectively suggest that the Cu²⁺ complex is stronger than the Zn2+ complex. The authors have found copper (II) and zinc (II) compounds and nucleic acid-complexes are strongly fluorescent molecules in the low energy range, from the visible to the near-infrared. Since the fluorescent emission of Zn (II) and Cu (II) complexes are enhanced by the binding to nucleic acids upon visible light exposure when bound to DNA. These complexes are important as selective fluorescent probes for nucleic acids and to highlight their potential application. UV–vis spectroscopy is an accurate for finding the extent of ligand interaction with DNA and metallic complexes–DNA binding. Generally, the binding of intercalative compounds to DNA can be characterized through absorption spectral titrations, where lowering in absorbance (hypochromism) and shift to longer wavelengths (red shift) were observed in this work.

The serum samples have been provided as citrate and collected in tubes after blood is allowed to clot. Then, it has been separated by centrifugation, and the authors have kept serum refrigerated at 4°C or frozen at –20°C. It is notable; specimens have been confirmed by Centres for Disease Control (CDC)-Dengue Branch previously. For the work, these samples have been frozen previously, and the diagnostic practiced tests at the CDC-Dengue Branch have been validated in serum and plasma. Therefore, plasma separated in lavender or heparins are suitable and acceptable for serology testing.

This paper aims to examine diversity management (DM) practices in leading private-sector organizations in Iran.

The study draws on in-depth interviews with 23 human resource management (HRM) executives and supervisors in nine private sector companies in Iran, and presents the analysis conducted using MAXQDA software.

The results categorize DM practices into four subsystems of HRM, i.e. recruitment and selection, training, performance management, and reward management. These practices indicate the inclusion of diversity-sensitive criteria and consideration of equal opportunity in the HRM subsystems.

The findings advance a contextual understanding of DM in a developing country. Considering DM practices in HRM subsystems may provide an effective way to help managers address workforce diversity in organizations.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a four-carbon and nonprotein amino acid, made by various microorganisms, especially lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and probiotics. GABA has various physiological roles, for instance, insomnia, depression, hypotensive activity as well as diuretic effects. The production of GABA-based foods is a favorable result from GABA’s biological and functional properties. The purpose of this study is to investigate different methods of improving GABA production in probiotics and LAB to select the superlative method and bacterial strain.

In this review paper, all articles from five electronic databases containing Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and Science Direct were considered from 2000 to January 11, 2023, with keywords “Optimization” OR “Enhance” OR “Increase” AND “Gamma-aminobutyric acid” OR “GABA” AND “Probiotics” OR “Lactic acid bacteria” and selected according to the purpose of the study.

It seems that among all the investigated methods, an effective fermentation procedure with optimal conditions including fermentation medium, 5 L; glutamic acid, 295 g/L; incubation temperature, 32°C; inoculum, 10% (v/v); and agitation, 100 rpm, after 48 h of fermentation led to producing 205,800 mg/L of GABA from the effective bacterial strain Lactobacillus brevis NCL912.

With a simple but optimized fermentation, L. brevis NCL912 can be used for the efficient GABA production in the pharmacy and food factories.