مطالب

Development and progress as a complex concept based on a process have various dimensions and levels usually studied in economic, political, social, and cultural development. Political development is one of the essential dimensions and indicators critical in theories and approaches to development in schools of thought and political sociology studies. While defining and clarifying the concept of "Political Excellence" and recognising the differences between it and the idea of "Political Development" and introducing the indicators of this exploratory concept, the present article examines them in terms of content from Ayatollah Khamenei's perspective. The main question is about the place of political excellence idea and progress in Ayatollah Khamenei's political thought. In response, it should be said that in his view, political excellence will be achieved by considering local conditions and domestic equipment, which is a new viewpoint and an acceptable model to replace with the concept of Western political development. Explaining the concept of political excellence, while considering the Western models of development unsuccessful, emphasising the indigenous Iranian-Islamic model of progress, he expressed seven signs and indicators for the desired model of political excellence and improvement, some of which, such as struggle, the spirit of risk-taking and discipline, the foundations of Islamic epistemology and attention to the two dimensions of human [body and soul], are the prelude to excellence and progress, and others, such as ensuring the independence of the country, producing the science and realising the social justice, is the result of excellence and improvement. In explaining the manifestations of political excellence and progress, he also expresses characteristics of the people such as awareness and insight, participation and presence in scenes and elections, and public monitoring and unity. 

The present study examined the effect of mobile assisted language learning (MALL) on Iranian EFL learners' idiom learning and perceptions of classroom activities. To do so, this study was carried out in six classes at Imam Reza International University in Mashhad, Iran. The participants included 114 BA students of Teaching English field. The present study was quasi-experimental that utilized a mixed methods research design. It contained a control group with 45 participants and an experimental group with 69 participants. MALL for teaching idioms via Telegram was considered as a treatment in experimental group. In the present study, Telegram app was chosen because the researcher, the teachers, and the participants had similar experience of using this app. Pictures, texts, audio, and video files, were used as the materials in teaching idioms. Students’ Perceptions of Classroom Activities scale designed and validated by Gentry and Gable (2001) and translated into Persian and validated by Ghanizadeh and Jahedizadeh (2015) was used for assessing students’ perceptions of classroom activities (interest, choice, joy, and challenge). Twelve students in experimental group sat for an interview which was audio and video recorded. In the interview sessions, students were asked about the experience of informal learning in this research, the materials used, pros and cons toward the channel and MALL. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of mobile phone usage in enhancing EFL university students’ idiom learning as well as in students’ perceptions of classroom activities with the highest differences observed in challenge and joy perceptions. The results of the qualitative phase were also in line with those of the quantitate phase.

Background: Iliad and Shahnameh are two transnational works which are precious treasures for studying the customs and culture of two ancient nations of Iran and Greece. In this research some of the ethical specifications of the mythological gods and paladins of Iran in Shahnameh and Olympus gods and paladins of Iliad have been studied and the basic differences between two nations which stem from the differences of their culture and beliefs have been shown. The essay plans to show the Iran ancient cultural highlights and a closer look at the immensity of this ancient land. Method: The method of this research is analytical descriptive and based upon comparison of two ancient culture from the views of beliefs and ceremonies. Conclusion: The studies show that there are some differences between the human and divinely behaviors of Iliad and Shahnameh. In Iliad we see that the unethical conducts, discrimination, inclination to the front of oppression and promise breaking towards the devoted people by the Achaeans on the one hand and on the other corruption, lying and rivalries between the Olympus gods terminated to the vast carnage of Achaeans and Trojan tribes. The paladins and the heroes of Iliad in compare with the Olympus gods are more noble and are more promise leal. The Iranian gods are the symbol of ethics and the punisher of promise breakers and those who violates the others’ right. Such ethical solidarity and stability make the heroes of Shahnameh incline to cavalier. The Iranian gods hatred towards war and violation. But seriously believe in revenge and defense of their lands while the Olympus gods support the violators and they themselves are the main factor of war and massacre.

Purpose: Covid-19 pandemic increased the use of e-learning and the ensuing academic stress. This research aims to study the relationship between e-learning induced academic stress and academic self-efficacy in the Yazd branch of Payame Noor University in Iran. Methodology: This is a descriptive-correlational study. The study population was the Yazd branch of Payme Noore University students in the 2020-21 academic year. Cochran’s formula gave us a sample size of 319 people. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the unavailability of some of the sample members, we used voluntary sampling. Our research tools were the academic stress scale (Pooladi Reyshahri, 1995) and the academic self-efficacy scale (Owen and Froman, 1988). We sent the scale to the subjects electronically. The scales’ alpha Cronbach reliabilities were 0.90 and 0.84, respectively. We analyzed the data using the T-test, correlation, and regression in SPSS version 21. Findings: Our findings showed that e-learning induced academic stress, and its subscales (academic conditions and economic environment stresses) were significantly below average in the students. Students’ academic stress and academic self-efficacy were significantly and inversely related. Academic stress could significantly explain self-efficacy (P < .001). Conclusion: Our results showed the negative role of academic stress in explaining students’ academic self-efficacy. Reducing students' academic stressors through academic workshops can significantly increase academic self-efficacy.

This study aims to determine whether the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness can significantly predict the students’ intention to use video conferencing applications in an online classroom. This study utilized a descriptive predictive quantitative research design. This study used the survey questionnaires adopted from the study of Salloum et al. (2019). The researchers conducted an online survey using Google form for over a month. Out of 153 target respondents, 130 responded to the survey questionnaire. Linear regression was initiated using JASP 0.16.0.0. The findings revealed that the two variables perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness can both significantly predict the students’ intention to use video conferencing applications in an online classroom. The results further showed that the perceived ease of use can better predict the students’ intention to use video conferencing applications in an online classroom as compared to perceived usefulness. The findings imply that video conferencing applications used in the teaching and learning process should be user-friendly and pedagogically relevant to support students’ desire to use video conferencing applications.

The core goal of this study was to simulate the share and predict the current and non-current receivables in Shahr Bank using an agent-based approach. To this end, we employed the data related to the examined features in 11 bank branches aimed at determining the degree of importance of each of the factors affecting the repayment behavior of borrowers using the C5.0 algorithm, the decision tree method, and the simulation process in NetLogo software. We utilized the comparison of the repayment status of a sample of 100 customers over the past year (12 months ago) and at present aimed at assessing the simulated model. The estimation results of the simulation model, as well as the real findings, suggested that the number of type 1 customers (with active repayment status) has decreased during the last 12 months and the number of type 2 customers (with past due repayment status) has enhanced. If the economic recession conditions continue the same way, and considering the low effect of the recession conditions on the businesses of the bank''s customers in the next four years, then, the ratio of the bank''s current customers will decrease from about 89% to about 81%, while the ratio of the past-due customers of the bank will increase to more than double to about 13%. In the next step, we tried to simulate the future situation of the ratio and the share of the current bank customers'' claims in the next 4 years.

The aim of the current research is to identify the futures of marketing in the banking industry with a focus on blockchain technology. The current research is applied in terms of direction and has a mixed methodology due to the use of qualitative and quantitative methods together. The theoretical population of the research was experts in banking marketing and digital financial technologies, especially blockchain, and the sampling method was done in a judgmental method. The sample size in this study was equal to 15 people. For data analysis, meta synthesis methods, Binominal's statistical test, developed Copras and root definitions tool were used. The tools of data collection in this research were interviews and questionnaires (expert evaluation and priority evaluation questionnaires). 47 drivers were extracted from meta synthesis and these drivers were classified into nine main drivers. The drivers of the research were screened in two stages using theory-based inference screening and Binominal's test, and 12 drivers were considered for prioritization using the Copras technique. The remaining drivers were evaluated using the Copras technique and three criteria of importance, degree of certainty and experts' expertise. The findings showed that the drivers of marketing researchers' interest in digital financial technologies and blockchain and the development of decentralized banking had the highest priority and were selected for scenario planning. Based on these two drivers, four scenarios of crypto bank, conservative banking, pioneer banking and traditional banking were developed. The research proposals were proposed based on the important drivers and the desired scenario (crypto bank).

Given the seemingly important link between children’s working memory (WM) and their scholastic performance, it would be a worthwhile research enquiry to explore language learning as one potential way to improve WM. To this end, the present study examined the impact of two language teaching paradigms, namely, Presentation-Practice-Production (PPP) and Total Physical Response (TPR), on children’s WM over time. Seventy participants, aged 8 to 9 years, were administered tests of phonological, visuo-spatial sketchpad and central executive components, and made up TPR, PPP and control groups for a period of three months. Then, a posttest and a delayed posttest were administered to identify whether the treatments led to significant improvements. The results of the 3 WM measures indicated that the 2 interventions led to certain improvements. Whereas TPR led to significant improvements in the central executive, PPP produced significantly higher gains in phonological memory over time. Neither treatment induced any positive impact on the visuospatial sketchpad. The results lend evidence to the trainability of WM. It is also suggested that language learning experiences have long-lasting repercussions and that each language learning experience can impact certain components of WM.