درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Instagram, a widely popular platform, has become an influential tool for teaching and learning English by delivering daily updates of new language content on various Instagram pages and accounts. This study examines the effect of Instagram on learners' motivation to learn English and evaluates its advantages and disadvantages for educational purposes. A mixed-methods approach was utilized, incorporating quantitative data collected through a questionnaire distributed among 100 Iranian EFL learners and qualitative data gathered via semi-structured interviews with five teachers who actively employ Instagram in English instruction. Findings revealed that Instagram significantly boosts learners' motivation, with participants expressing positive views about the platform. Key advantages include its engaging and diverse content, as well as its potential to enhance skills and subskills like speaking and vocabulary. In spite of these benefits, certain drawbacks were identified, such as the presence of distracting non-educational content, limited interaction opportunities, and restrictions in fostering deep learning and comprehensive teaching. The study concludes that Instagram offers notable benefits for English education, particularly in motivating learners and providing varied content. However, to fully benefit from its educational potential, it is important to implement strategies that address the challenges identified. Balancing its strengths and limitations is essential to make Instagram more useful in English language education.

This article investigates whether the United Kingdom experienced a significant identity crisis, both geographically and historically, during the New Labour government (1997-2007); it argues that the United Kingdom, which was traditionally regarded as a dominant global superpower, can no longer sustain such a role in the complex and evolving dynamics of the modern world. In this regard, the key question raised is “To what extent were New Labour's policies under Tony Blair shaped by social factors such as trauma, anxiety, and status?” Using a mixed methodology, the article hypothesizes that the UK government struggled to assert material power, while addressing societal anxieties linked to its waning status as a middle power in the international society. The historical analysis traces the roots of the UK's self-perception, connecting this behaviour to a state of ontological insecurity—a national identity crisis in contemporary times to act as a great power in international society. The article concludes that this sense of ontological insecurity under the New Labour government (1997-2007) originates from the loss of Britain's prodigious power status to the United States after World War II, along with the gradual erosion of British influence over former dominions, colonies, and other territories. 

The intensification of armed conflict in Palestine during the years 2023 and 2024 by the Zionist regime have brought the solutions for the long-standing tension in the Palestinian territories into the focus of international attention. Therefore, in this regard, solutions such as the two-state solution and similar proposals have been presented by various governments and organizations. For nearly two decades, Iran has also proposed the "Palestinian Referendum Proposal" in pursuit of a legal-political resolution to the Palestinian issue. This article investigates the strengths and weaknesses of the “Referendum Proposal” from the perspective of international law, as well as the essential requirements that need to be observed to enhance its effectiveness. Therefore, strengths such as "the centrality of human rights and international law in this plan", "compliance with democratic principles and historical facts" and its “universal acceptability”, as well as weaknesses such as "lack of a comprehensive legal perspective, particularly in the field of humanitarian law", detrimental brevity and ignoring for political realities affecting the law, have been examined. Findings indicate that the actions of various countries against Israel in international courts and international legal organizations have turned Palestine into a target for legal convergence.

The preservation of invaluable cultural heritage assets, including ancient artifacts and historical sites, remains a critical global concern. Existing perimeter protection methods, such as CCTV systems, infrared sensors, and conventional surveillance technologies, often exhibit significant limitations in terms of spatial coverage, sensitivity to subtle intrusions, and adaptability to varying environmental conditions. This paper presents an innovative and highly effective solution utilizing fiber optic sensor (FOS) technology, which offers numerous advantages, including lightweight construction, immunity to electromagnetic interference, ease of installation, high sensitivity, and reliable performance across a broad range of applications. Specifically, the study introduces novel designs for distributed acoustic FOS systems based on Michelson, Mach-Zehnder, and Sagnac interferometric configurations. Through comprehensive theoretical analysis, simulation modeling, and experimental validation, the research explores their practical utility in protecting cultural heritage. Two detailed case studies—focused on the Louvre Museum in France and the ancient archaeological site of Persepolis in Iran—demonstrate the implementation, functionality, and real-world efficacy of the proposed systems. The findings highlight how these FOS networks, particularly when combined with advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, can effectively detect, classify, and localize human-induced acoustic disturbances such as walking or digging, while minimizing false alarms caused by environmental noise. This enhanced discrimination capability not only improves overall security but also significantly reduces the need for extensive human surveillance. Moreover, these systems enable precise, continuous, and real-time 24-hour monitoring over vast indoor and outdoor areas. In conclusion, the integration of FOS technology offers a scalable, intelligent, and transformative approach to addressing the complex and evolving challenges associated with the long-term preservation and protection of cultural heritage sites around the world.