مطالب

Employment is one of the most fundamental forms of human activity, the damages of which can cause job burnout and reduce quality of life. In recent years, dealing with this issue has been the main goal of most organizations. The present study aims to compare job burnout and quality of life among active and inactive clerks in one of Tehran universities. In the present causative comparative study, 100 clerks of the age range (mean and standard deviation 40.93 ±8.63) of the university which was chosen by access sampling. According to Sharkey's physical activity questionnaire, they were then divided into two active and inactive groups. Then, they filled out two Maslach job burnout and quality of life questionnaires. A multivariate variance analysis test was used with SPSS 20 for data analysis. The data and findings indicate that concerning job burnout and its subscales (Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization), physically inactive individuals had higher means; in contrast, people with more activity had higher means; also, physically active individuals showed higher mean scores in quality-of-life variable, in both physical health and mental health total scores and physical function, emotional wellbeing, social function, and general health subscales. Physically inactive individuals showed higher means concerning function disorder owing to physical health and function disorder owing to emotional health and pain. There was no significant difference concerning the subscale of energy/fatigue. Findings indicate that physical activity, as a strategy, improves the capacity of the clerks so they have a better quality of life and deal with job burnout. Thus, it is suggested that physical activity be used as a strategic plan to increase the clerks' efficiency.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of online sports programs became popular. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of online body balance program on anxiety, depression, and aggression of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Body balance is a sport based on yoga, tai chi, and Pilates. The present study was a semi-experimental and applied type of study. The participants of the present study were 30 volunteer children with ADHD who were divided into two experimental (15 people) and control (15 people) groups by random assignment method. Aggression, depression, and anxiety variables were evaluated by Bass and Perry questionnaire, Maria Kvas children's depression questionnaire, and Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale. The experimental group performed online body balance training for 8 weeks (3 sessions per week for 60 minutes) online, and the control group did their current activities. In order to investigate intra-group and inter-group differences, repeated measures ANOVA at the error level of 0.05 was used by SPSS software. The results showed there was significant difference in the average level of symptoms of depression, anxiety and aggression in the pre-test and post-test stages (P≤0.05), between the two control and experimental groups (P≤0.05) and the interaction effect of time and group (P≤0.05). The results of Tukey's test showed that there was a significant reduction of these symptoms between the two experimental and control groups in the variables of depression symptoms (-5.500), anxiety symptoms (-5.133) and aggression symptoms (-13.133). Based on the results of this research, eight weeks of body balance training reduced depression, aggression and anxiety symptoms in 7-9 year old children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Therefore, the improvement of mental disorders caused by this disease in children following the body balance exercise program emphasizes the importance of using this intervention method for children with ADHD.

In recent years, attention to environmental education especially in rural environments has attracted the attention of many educational experts. The aim of the present study was to investigate the experiences of teachers in relation to environmental education in rural schools. To serve that end, a qualitative approach and phenomenological method were used. Consequently, unstructured interviews were conducted with 13 teachers using the purposeful sampling method. To analyze the data, thematic analysis was used. The analysis of the interviews revealed three main themes (regressive approach, progressive approach, and indifference approach), 13 sub-themes, and 31 refined themes. The findings of the research indicated teachers' lack of real involvement in environmental education, lack of trust in the efficiency of environmental education, absence of employing of new methods, superficial knowledge about the environment, and absence of attempts to use new methods in education. It is concluded that teachers play a significant role in environmental education, so training and preparing them can improve environmental education.

In the present study, I have briefly revisited Brown and Levinson’s (1987) universal theory which has attracted the attention of many linguists to the notion of politeness as an essential feature of communication. Although in studies on politeness Brown and Levinson’s model is more or less considered the standard model, it seems that there is not an agreed-upon consensus that the complex concept of politeness can be simply captured through this linear and static model. In addition, there is a paucity of investigations into the applicability of this model in various cultures. Therefore, I analyzed and identified the strategies found in Iranian English speakers’ requests and apologies following this theory. To this end, adopting a qualitative research approach, data was collected through a multiple-choice discourse completion test and think-aloud protocols. The results of the study revealed that Brown and Levinson’s model can account, to a large extent, for people’s choice of politeness strategies in making both requests and apologies. In particular, the findings pointed to the ubiquitous presence of three influential factors in the degree of politeness; that is, power relations, social distance, and rank of imposition in the participants’ choice of politeness strategies. However, the findings of the study indicated that there are a few shortcomings associated with Brown and Levinson’s model. The study suggests that the weight of politeness cannot be simply measured based on a linear, static basis. The findings supported that for the individuals who participated in this study, politeness was a heavily context-bound and highly dynamic concept. On this basis, I hypothesize that a systematic model of politeness can better explain the variations of individuals’ choice of politeness strategies.

This qualitative study aimed to investigate the perceptions of teachers regarding the impact of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) on teaching listening skills. The research was conducted with 20 instructors, comprising 14 males and six females, with an average age of 32 years, who were interviewed using a structured questionnaire that consisted of four fundamental questions. The following results indicated that TBLT significantly impacted teaching listening skills. The findings revealed that TBLT provided a practical framework for teaching listening skills, allowing students to communicate authentically. The instructors reported that TBLT helped students develop their listening skills by providing opportunities to practice listening in different contexts and situations. Moreover, TBLT encouraged students to use their existing knowledge and skills to solve real-life problems, enhancing their motivation and engagement in learning. The instructors also highlighted the importance of task design in TBLT. They reported that well-designed tasks could facilitate the development of listening skills by providing students with clear goals, instructions, and feedback. Additionally, the instructors emphasized the need for appropriate assessment methods in TBLT, which should align with the learning objectives and provide students with opportunities for self-reflection and improvement. Overall, the study revealed that TBLT is a practical approach to teaching listening skills, as instructors acknowledged that TBLT provides students with opportunities to engage in authentic communication and problem-solving. The findings revealed that TBLT significantly and undeniably impacts teaching listening skills.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has a huge potential to transform industry and society. Its benefits are widely recognized, and it has become a tool of strategic importance for the European Union and a major driver of economic development. However, as with any technological development, it also comes with challenges that must be assessed and, if necessary, addressed by policy makers and businesses. Artificial intelligence has been a big challenge for the insurance industry for decades and is creating fundamental changes in the way this industry operates. The application of artificial intelligence to eliminate repetitive tasks and improve efficiency is visible in the market of porter insurance and commercial insurance. On the contrary, personalization of insurance through artificial intelligence is limited to personal lines and SME business. However, its application in commercial insurance including various marine levels will be widely involved in the near future. It is likely that AI will have a broad impact on the insurance value chain, from underwriting and claims management to distribution and customer service to asset management. As a result, insurance executives should be familiar with the new technologies involved in this change and how artificial intelligence can help organizations produce innovative products, gather valuable insights from new sources, streamline processes, and improve customer service. The purpose of this article is to make interested people and people involved in the insurance matter familiar with the potential benefits related to artificial intelligence applications and to motivate academics to study controversial topics in this field. For this purpose, we have only referred to the study of existing articles and research regarding the use of artificial intelligence in the insurance industry, especially marine insurance, and its effects on the compensation of losses caused by it.

Iran as a maritime country, despite having a strategic position in the Middle East, and about 4,900 km of coastline along the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman and the transit communication axis between the Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf, plays a decisive role in regional and international trade, therefore, it must have comprehensive and complete maritime laws so that it can comply with the international community and national and international issues. The importance of maritime rights should be evaluated according to various factors, including the strength of the national fleet, the level of movement and activity of the country's ports, and the country's geographical position in the region. The present study is descriptive and analytical in terms of nature and library method. In this study, the qualitative method of data analysis was used. In collecting sources and data, relevant books and laws were referred to, and the method of recording study slips was used. In the end, suggestions have been made to improve Iran's maritime law conditions.