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In the case of Iran, about 19 years have passed since the announcement of general energy policies. Policies adopted in the past included too many approaches and goals for the energy sector that some of them are in conflict with each other and their simultaneous implementation was impossible. Therefore, many of the expected goals of these policies have not been achieved. It is very important to adopt an appropriate approach that is compatible with the country’s characteristics and can steer energy policies. Therefore, this study aims to adopt an appropriate approach for the country’s energy sector according to the conditions and needs of the country.

A participatory scenario technique is designed and used to develop plausible projections in the case of Iran’s energy futures. Based on the proposed methodology, the research process starts with data gathering through interviews and national plans analysis. Then, findings were used as inputs to a simulation-based scenario development process. Scenarios are developed based on Monte Carlo simulation via cross-impact analysis technique purified based on expert judgments.

In this paper, to recognize Iran’s general approach to energy in the next 20 years, driving forces of change were introduced and used as input for the scenario development phase. Results showed sanctions play a significant role in Iran’s energy future and determine the directions of other driving forces. For renewable energy, it was proposed to increase the renewable share in Iran’s electricity generation mix to 5% of the total installed capacity. In the case of fossil fuel extraction, the maximum efficient rate was proposed for both oil and natural gas national production strategy.

This research is novel both in terms of application and theory. A new participatory scenario development method is used using simulations that are equipped based on experts’ judgments. Also from the practical perspective, this research targeted a future-oriented challenging problem to initialize national policy in a resource-rich developing economy (i.e. Iran).

The main purpose of the present work is to introduce two new Schiff bases as corrosion inhibitors (CIs) for carbon steel (CS). The anti-corrosion performance of these Schiff bases having N and S heteroatoms in their structures was investigated and compared in 2 M HCl electrolyte. The inhibitory activity of these Schiff bases was also assessed.

Common electrochemical assays like potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance measurements were used to evaluate the ability of compounds in reduction of the rate of corrosion. Quantum chemical calculations (QCCs) were also used to examine the corrosion inhibitive and the process related to the electrical and structural characteristics of the molecules acting as CIs.

The electrochemical measurements indicate that both Schiff bases acted as the efficient CIs of CS in 2 M HCl electrolyte. The adsorption of the Schiff base on the surface of the CS caused the corrosion to be inhibited. The change of Gibbs energies indicated that both physical and chemical interactions are involved in the adsorption of NNS and SNS on CS surfaces. The predicted QCCs of the CIs neutral and positively charged versions were well-aligned with those obtained by electrochemical experiments.

Using electrochemical experiments and quantum chemical modelings, two new Schiff bases, N-2-((2-nitrophenyl)thio)phenyl)-1-(pyrrole-2-yl)methanimine (NNS) and N-2-((2-nitrophenyl)thio)phenyl)-1-(thiophen-2-yl)methanimine (SNS), were evaluated as anti-corrosion agents for CS in 2 M HCl electrolyte. The DFT calculations were considered to compute the quantum chemical parameters of the inhibitors.

The purpose of this study is to use the method of lines to solve the two-dimensional nonlinear advection–diffusion–reaction equation with variable coefficients.

The strictly positive definite radial basis functions collocation method together with the decomposition of the interpolation matrix is used to turn the problem into a system of nonlinear first-order differential equations. Then a numerical solution of this system is computed by changing in the classical fourth-order Runge–Kutta method as well.

Several test problems are provided to confirm the validity and efficiently of the proposed method.

For the first time, some famous examples are solved by using the proposed high-order technique.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the roles of government in promoting halal logistics.

This paper applied a systematic literature review (SLR) technique to assess published halal logistics academic literature.

The review identified six roles, namely, regulation, financial incentives, taxation, infrastructure, guidance and encouragement and education and labour supply.

This systematic review paper is considered amongst the first to attempt to consolidate the dispersed halal logistics literature and to systematically accentuate the pivotal role of government in the halal logistics industry.

This paper aims to present the potential of using aligned single-layer graphene sheets to reinforce the methyl methacrylate cantilever beam in low-velocity impact problem.

The Halpin–Tsai law is applied to compute the mechanical properties of isotropic polymer beam reinforced by aligned graphene sheet. Using both longitudinal and lateral displacements in composite beam, all components of the stress and strain fields are written. The equations of motion are derived by applying energy method, generalized Lagrange equations and Ritz method.

The analytical formulation accuracy is corroborated by comparing the present results with those available in the literature. Numerical examples indicate that the contact duration is decreased with increasing of graphene volume fraction, whereas the values of peak contact force, shear strain and shear stress at peak contact force tend to be vice versa. Also, among the results, shear stress at the peak contact force has the most effect with graphene volume fraction changes.

This research fulfils an identified need to investigate how graphene-reinforced beam behavior subjected to low-velocity impact can be enabled.

This study aims to investigate the impact of outside financing (equity and debt financing) on the quality of financial reporting in Iran.

Sample includes the companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange – 152 companies in a period of four years during 2010-2013. Data were analyzed by using multiple linear regressions with the benefits of the combined data.

The results indicates that there is a positive relationship between the quality of financial reporting based on the qualitative characteristics of the theoretical principles of the Iranian Financial Accounting Standards Board and debt financing. Moreover, there is a negative relationship between the quality of financial reporting based on the Dechow and Dichev (2002) model and debt financing. Additionally, there is a negative relationship between the quality of financial reporting (based on the qualitative characteristics of the theoretical principles of the Iranian Financial Accounting Standards Board as well as the Dechow and Dichev models) and equity financing.

Financial statements as the output of the accounting system has always been considered by the investors, the creditors and the government; nonetheless, its dependability in making decisions has always been doubted because of using the accrual principle in the calculation of the reported figure in the statements and, consequently, the possibility of being manipulated by the managers as well as the likelihood of conflict of interest among the managers and the shareholders.

The main objective of this article is to develop a theoretical formulation for predicting the response of CNTs reinforced beam under multiple impactors with general boundary conditions, using first-order shear deformation beam theory.

The rule of mixtures is implemented to derive the material properties of the beam. The nonlinear Hertz contact law is applied for simulation between impactors and the surface of the beam. A combination of approaches includes energy method, Ritz method and generalized Lagrange equations are used to extract the matrix form of equations of motion. The time-domain solution is obtained using implementing the well-known Runge Kutta 4th order method.

After examining the accuracy of the present method, the effects of the number of impactors include one impactor, and three impactors in various CNTs volume fraction are studied for CNTs reinforced beam with clamped-clamped, clamped-free and simply supported boundary conditions under the low-velocity impact. The most important finding of this article is that contact force and beam indentation at the middle of the beam in the case of one impactor are greater than those reported in the case of three impactors.

This article fulfills an identified need to study how CNTs reinforced beam behaviour with general boundary conditions under multiple low-velocity impacts can be enabled.

The purpose of this paper is to help in providing a better understanding on knowledge sharing amongst academics in higher education institutions (HEIs). The aim of this study is realized by profiling existing literature to understand the determinants of knowledge sharing, research trends, theories, and future research opportunities.

After carefully examining the extant literature and by utilizing relevant academic-based research databases, a total of 73 papers published in peer-reviewed journals over the last decade were reviewed and analyzed using well-established systematic literature review methodology.

The adopted systematic review revealed that there are limited contributions in understanding knowledge sharing in HEIs when compared with other sectors. The review provides a number of avenues for future research including technological, cultural, organizational, and behavioral aspects at different levels.

This study helps in offering a focal point to senior management in HEIs for realizing the requirements for developing appropriate strategies and programs to promote knowledge sharing among academics and consequently enhance their institutions’ performance.

This study utilized Jesson et al. (2011) in presenting a comprehensive systematic review of knowledge sharing specifically in the context of HEIs. This paper offers some theoretical and practical insights on what contributes toward understating the determinates affecting knowledge sharing practices among academics.

The purpose of this study is to identify which social and psychological factors better determine intentions to quit smoking to inform public health policy.

Data for this cross-sectional study were collected via face-to-face interaction following the pen-and-paper method. A total of 371 usable responses were received from randomly selected respondents of eight public sector universities located in the South Punjab province of Pakistan. Partial least squares structural equation modeling analysis was performed using SmartPLS program. A supplementary qualitative study, based on 21 in-depth interviews with the smokers, was conducted to augment findings of the quantitative study.

Results showed that protection motivation theory and theory of planned behaviour are supported to predict intentions to quit smoking. Subjective norms have a greater influence on intentions to quit smoking than attitudes towards smoking cessation, while perceived behavioural control fails to predict intentions to quit smoking. Perceived rewards and perceived cost are significant in predicting attitudes towards smoking cessation, while extrinsic rewards predict intentions to quit smoking.

The existing models reported in the literature have sparsely investigated the cognitive (such as motivation and emotions) and social factors (such as social influence and behavioural controls) together as determinants of intentions to quit smoking, leaving room for more studies on an integrated model of these factors. This study takes the opportunity and proposes an integrated model encompassing psycho-social factors to predict tobacco consumption quitting behaviour in an emerging economy context.

Based on the principles of the social capital theory (SCT), this study aimed to generate hypotheses and evaluate a mediated moderated model that examined the impact of social capital on online brand community happiness (OBCH).

Using 215 online questionnaires from users of private online brand communities (OBCs) , researchers examined the hypothesized connections between variables. The SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 26.0 were applied to fulfill the purpose.

For the goodness of model fit, the authors have applied cut off criteria for fit indexes given by Hu and Bentler (1999) and model-fit measures indicators, i.e. CMIN/DF 1.397, CFI 0.958, SRMR 0.045, RMSEA 0.043 and PCLOSE 0.866, which meet the minimum acceptable criteria. Based on the results, social capital significantly affects psychological well-being (PWB), which, consequently, leads toward increased happiness among OBCs. Furthermore, membership duration moderates the relationship between PWB and OBCs.

The authors have utilized a cross-sectional research design, and it limits the researcher’s ability to generalize the findings. These findings imply how social capital leverages PWB and OBCH. Moreover, the presence of membership duration helps to understand that members who spend more time in the community are happier in the OBCs.

In this age of social media, it provides valuable guidance to the administrators of private Facebook groups dedicated to specific brands, enhancing the definition and development of OBC operations and community interactions.

This research takes a broader look at social capital’s impact on happiness among private OBCs. The current research contributes to the existing body of work by emphasizing the role of PWB in generating happiness. The study is novel in examining the mediating moderating model of PWB and membership duration to explore deep insights for social media platforms.