COVID-19

The situation generated by the pandemic has caused irreversible changes in society and the educational world, manifesting a necessary change in methodology in the teaching and learning process. The purpose of this study, which is part of a doctoral thesis investigation, was to analyze the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the digital competences of teachers in the Foreign Language classroom, before and during the state of alarm provoked by the pandemic Covid-19, based on sociodemographic factors. A non-experimental, ex post facto, descriptive study was carried out using a single measuring instrument. The final sample consisted of 117 foreign language teachers from bilingual schools of Primary and Secondary Education in Andalusia (Spain), both public and semi-private. The results indicate that teachers improved their digital skills as a result of the increased frequency of ICT use during the pandemic, and men under 30 years of age felt more motivated to use and incorporate new technologies in their classes. Even so, teachers continue to express the need for greater training opportunities in the use of ICTs for both educators and students, which will pose new challenges in the acquisition and development of digital competencies and from which new needs will emerge.

Following World War II, the United States constructed a liberal international order that grew noticeably more influential after the Cold War. Today, this order is in crisis, in a way that certain  International Relations theorists mention the emergence of a post-liberal international order. In this relation COVID-19, as the most severe global public health crisis, has created an unexpected and serious problem in the International order. Taking into account this new international order, this research focuses on the following questions: What kinds of order are possible and whether COVID-19 Can be considered as an opportunity that helps China to build international order as a hegemon? In answer to these questions, this paper uses a conceptual model to predict the future international order according to the factor of Covid-19 and the role of China in this order. According to the existing models and with respect to the most important challenges for China to achieve a hegemonic position, we will conclude that the future order of the international system will remain as security-based international order, with two actors (China and Us) and two different ideologies. 

Background: Children's motor skills are inversely related to sedentary screen time. COVID-19-lockdown during the pandemic has caused a further increasing on screening time. Aim: The current research aims at investigating the impact of Stickygym games on motor development of children. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight eligible subjects (4-6 years old) were chosen and randomly grouped into control group (n=13) and experimental group (n=15). Using TGMD-2 test, gross motor development was measured. The experimental group performed online Stickygym games for 8 weeks. Stickygym kit includes Hook & Loop strips, with two linear polyester strips being easily but firmly attached together. Trained instructors performed online training sessions. In the end, TGMD-2 test was conducted again in person. Data analysis was done using Shapiro-Wilk, Levene and the analysis of covariance tests were with the significance level of 0.05 in SPSS 24. Results : Some locomotion skills were significantly improved by Stickygym games: bound ( P =0.005), galloping ( P =0.012), and running ( P =0.003), as well as object control skills: overhand throw ( P =0.004), underhand roll ( P =0.01), and striking a stationary ball ( P =0.021). Conclusion : This play kit can be utilized by pre-school educators and parents for improving object control and locomotion skills in preschool children.

Background: Since the outbreak of COVID-19 virus and the rise in concerns, researchers have been investigating risk factors of this disease. One of the factors affecting the hospitalization of influenza patients is high BMI. Due to the relation between COVID-19 disease and influenza. Aim : the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of BMI on the infection and severity of COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: BMI of 126 men was calculated and three groups of "appropriate weight", "overweight" and "obese" were identified. Then, the prevalence and severity of their disease were recorded. For data analysis, chi2 test was used in SPSS 26 software at a significance level of P = 0.05. Results: Prevalence of COVID-19 infection in the group with “appropriate weight”, ”overweight” and “fat” were 56%, 61% and 58%, respectively. Mild infection was reported in the three groups, 27%, 27% and 26%, respectively; Moderate infection was 22%, 26% and 26%, respectively; and severe infection was 7%, 8% and 5%, respectively. Therefore, there was no significant difference between their infection and the severity of infection in groups ( P ˃.05). Conclusion: Obesity has negative effect on the body's immune response and lung function. The hospitalization rate for influenza is higher in this group. But in infection of COVID-19 and severity of this disease, no significant difference was observed between men with different BMI. However, due to the relation between obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and the vulnerability of these patients to the COVID-19 virus, serious attention is necessary to prevent these individuals from COVID-19.

The current article examines the trends and performance of research on the types of effects of the COVID-19 epidemic and the different management strategies of perishable goods supply chain disruptions during 2 years (2020-2022) using bibliometric and network analysis based on the data set from the Scopus database using VOSviewer software. The analysis designates that Kumar A. has been the most influential author in perishable goods supply chain research during the COVID-19 pandemic, and India has contributed the most in this field. The most repeated keywords were resilience, food supply, and perishable food supply chain. Citation analysis indicated that resilience and sustainability are the mainstream of research in articles with high citations. The network analysis also disclosed that resilience and sustainability are the key themes in the clusters. Furthermore, strategies for managing disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic were extracted from the highly-cited articles, which are presented in this article.

This study is a structural equation modeling study. It has investigated the effect of literary tourism during the Covid-19 virus pandemic on tourists' behavioral goals through the attitude of mental norms. The present study is a one-section survey. The statistical population of this study includes all tourists who visited the cultural and spiritual sites of Shiraz, like Hafez and Saadi tombs. Literary tourism is a concept that praises the culture and heritage of a destination. The concept is to go to locations worldwide highlighted in some non/fictional novels. They can fascinate new tourists, increase the number of domestic travelers, and promote tourism destinations. Because the sample size is unknown through Cochran's formula with a 95% confidence level, 384 people were selected by the available sampling method. They answered the questionnaire about the effect of literary tourism during the Covid-19 virus pandemic on tourists' behavioral goals. The collected data were analyzed by using Amos software and SPSS. Confirmatory factor analysis, the reliability and validity of the contract measurement model, Cronbach's alpha results (above 0.7), and composite reliability (greater than 0.7) for the reliability and mean of the extracted variance (greater than 0.5) were confirmed. The structural equation model was used to test research hypotheses and the relationships between research variables (spiritual factors, behavioral purpose). The results showed that spiritual variables, in general, have a positive effect on the behavioral goal of tourists through the attitude of tourists' mental norms. This attitude was also recognized as a significant mediator between spiritual perception and behavioral goals. The findings of this study indicate that literary tourism has a positive, significant effect on increasing re-visit tourism destinations through attitude, mental norms, and perceived behavioral control.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in global home confinement and quarantine, leading to the vaccination of societies worldwide. However, some elite athletes have negative views toward vaccination. Aim: This study aimed to compare the lifestyle of vaccinated versus unvaccinated international elite athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: From March to October 2021, an online survey was conducted, including socio-individual information of athletes, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants (REAP-S), and the Petersburg Sleep Quality Questionnaire (PSQI). A total of 581 elite athletes from 4 continents (Europe, Asia, Africa, and America) and different countries, aged 18-35 years, were voluntarily recruited. Data analysis was performed using U-Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, with the level of significance set at alpha P <0.05. Results: The results indicated that there was a significant difference between the level of physical activity and eating behavior of vaccinated versus unvaccinated elite athletes ( P <0.001). However, no significant difference was found between the quality of sleep among vaccinated and unvaccinated elite athletes ( P =0.270). Conclusion: It was shown that, despite the unvaccinated status of some elite athletes (49.9%), their physical activity levels were higher than those of vaccinated elite athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the eating behavior of vaccinated elite athletes was better than that of unvaccinated elite athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there was no significant difference in the quality of sleep between the groups.

The global outbreak of COVID-19 necessitated a swift transition from conventional face-to-face (F2F) teaching to Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) in educational institutions worldwide. This sudden shift posed significant challenges for both teachers and students, particularly those in low-resource rural schools. This study sought to probe into this experience in the context of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instruction, focusing on the perspectives of teachers and students in rural high schools within Iran. The study participants were 13 female EFL teachers and 15 female EFL students teaching and studying in rural high schools in different cities in Iran. Employing a qualitative approach, data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, online observation, and one of the researcher’s reflective journals. Thematic analysis was utilized to analyze the data, identifying several categories encompassing the hurdles encountered by the participants and the achievements they attained. The identified categories pertaining to hurdles encompassed technological, financial, educational, personal, professional, and well-being problems. Similarly, the categories pertaining to achievements comprised technological, educational, and professional progress, as well as enhanced convenience. Exploring the dilemmas and aspirations expressed by these participants can inform and better equip the educational system of Iran to effectively respond to similar crises in the future. Furthermore, this study offers insights to education authorities, aiding in the resolution of barriers to distance online education and facilitating enhanced preparedness for potential future emergencies.

As a result of the advent of the COVID-19 outbreak, online assessments are being implemented in universities and schools worldwide. Nevertheless, regardless of the extensive use of online assessments, many researchers have proposed several barriers to the effective application of this form of examination in different language learning contexts. A combined qualitative and quantitative methodological approach was used to investigate 154 Iranian English language learners’ opinions of the relative benefits of online examinations in terms of pedagogy, validity, reliability, affective factors, practicality, and security during the COVID- 19 pandemic. To this end, an electronic questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were employed. This study identified online assessment as having significant benefits over traditional, paper-based examinations, comprising accessibility, using cutting-edge technology, providing immediate feedback, automated grading, creating a question bank, and long-term efficiency in terms of time, effort, and costs. Nevertheless, many challenges have been identified by students while successfully implementing online exams regarding validity and reliability, emotional and security issues.

Purpose: School closures in Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused a movement wave to hold classes online. Although, there had been some online classes for some courses, online teaching, and learning for students and school teachers have been an unprecedented experience; consequently, most teachers and students have a limited experience with it. This paper examines the Perception of Iranian Teachers on Distance Teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic Methodology: The research method was a descriptive survey. Data was collected through an online questionnaire with 5 questions, involving 214 participants from schools in Iran. Findings: The findings show it has been the first experience with online classes for most teachers and Creating content for online classes and low levels of teacher's pedagogical digital competence are of the most significant challenges for teachers. Conclusion: Along with these alternations, it has been felt the need for instructional strategies, technological readiness to implement online learning, and teacher training courses with regard to modern technologies, as well as changes in national curricula must be made to increase flexibility and technological readiness.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the university libraries’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and determine their services patterns. Method: This study is a qualitative exploration by collecting data through phone and online interviews of selected heads or assistants of thirteen university libraries. The interview recordings were transcribed with the help of callX software. The content of the interviews was analyzed and coded using MaxQDA software and led to the extraction of 220 initial codes. Findings: Almost all the central libraries of the studied universities limited their in-person services during Covid 19 pandemic but engaged with the users and tried to increase digital and remote services. Revamping their web pages, Flexibility in presenting services, development of information dissemination to users were the most important services and activities that central libraries presented in the pandemic era. Two of the most significant services which they have started during this period are librarian booking and online videoconference interviews with the users. Conclusion: although Covid 19 quickly invaded libraries and reduced the opportunity for a quick response, some of the studied central libraries took advantage of the crisis and provided suitable services to students such as setting up digital reference desks, purchase of software to organize electronic resources in the library, online reference interview with users etc.

Background: The rapid growth of COVID-19 disease in recent days has led to the rapid development of mobile health applications. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the quality of applications which provide information related to Coronavirus in Iran. Method: A systematic search has been conducted in Cafebazaar (Iranian app store) between May-October 2020. The Mobile Application Ranking Scale (MARS) is used to evaluate mobile applications and includes 23 items. Result: After limiting Apps to the criteria specified in the systematic search, 13 mobile applications were downloaded from Bazaar Cafe, which have been evaluated in terms of functionality, engagement, aesthetics, information, and subjectivity. In general, the Apps analyzed in this article are in poor condition in terms of quality. The highest rated app is Mask (2.69) and the lowest score is for Corona (Statistics, video, map) (1.47). Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that coronavirus applications designed in Iran are not in a favorable position in terms of MARS indicators. The lowest average was related to the information indicator. This shows that there is no professionalism in designing applications and it is necessary to pay special attention to evidence-based information in designing self-care and prevention programs of COVID-19.

  COVID-19 has shown a high rate of spread and a high death rate. This disease puts the mental health of people in a different social class at risk. The present study was a comparison of meta-worry, rumination and cognitive distortions in COVID-19 pations recovered and normal individuals. Causal-comparative model was hired in the present study. The population of this study included all COVID-19 patients recovered as well as normal people referring to Tonekabon health centers in the period of July and August 2021, of which 120 people were selected according to conveniense sampling. The research instruments were meta-worry Questionnaire (MWQ), the ruminative response scale (RRS) and cognitive distortions scale (CDS). To analyze the collected data, a MANOVA was run using SPSS-24 software. Data analysis reveal that there were differences between meta-worry, mental rumination and cognitive distortions in the two groups of people who recovered from COVID-19 and normal people; those who recovered from COVID-19 indicated more meta-worry, mental rumination and cognitive distortions than normal people. It can be said that based on the results of this research indicating the higher level of rumination, cognitive distortion and meta-worry in people recovered from COVID-19, it is possible to reduce these variables by teaching adaptive strategies to recovered people to deal with meta- worry, rumination and cognitive distortion.

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to design and evaluate the effectiveness of the social responsibility model of companies active in the capital market affected by the epidemic of the Covid-19 disease. Methodology: The current research is a mixed research (qualitative-quantitative) and is practical in terms of purpose. In the qualitative part, nineteen members of the expert panel were determined using the snowball method. At the same time, G_Power software was used to determine the size of the statistical sample in the quantitative section, which determined it to be 120 cases. In order to analyze the data to reach the research objectives, Delphi technique was used in the qualitative part. Also, in the quantitative section, structural equation modeling using SmartPLS software was used to measure the efficiency of the model. In the qualitative section, after reviewing the research literature, 19 primary indicators were identified in the form of three main components, and the opinions of the expert panel members were used to measure their effectiveness using the Delphi technique. Finally, after two rounds, this technique reached the saturation stage. Findings: In the quantitative part, using the PLS technique, it was found that all three main components have a positive and significant effect on social responsibility, and at the same time, in terms of the severity of the order of the factors, it is internal factors, macro factors and company characteristics. Conclusion:The results of this section show the removal of three indicators from the primary indicators and at the same time the addition of four secondary indicators, which led to the identification of three final components and twenty sub-components.

Learning musical instruments has been rapidly popular during the past decades. However, it is faced with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and lockdowns, which limit face-to-face music lectures. This research aims to design and develop an online instructional system named Nuance for learning musical instruments. The system performance is tested and analyzed to study the impact of the proposed system on cognitive and practical learning skills for a Persian musical instrument named Setar. This study uses a "quasi-experimental research" method for a population of 900 Setar elementary students in Sanandaj city during the 2021-2022 academic year. A convenience sampling method is used to form two homogenous groups, including control and experimental, each with 15 learners. The experimental group uses the Nuance system, while the control group receives online videos. The Shapiro-Wilk test is used to test the data normality, while one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests are used to analyze data and study the performance of the proposed system. The results show a significant difference between both the groups and support that the proposed system has a better performance for cognitive and practical music learning skills than the standard online system (P <0.05).

Objective: Capture of attention occurs when a goal-irrelevant salient stimulus appears in the field of attention. The COVID-19 pandemic seems to be salient enough to capture a great proportion of one’s attentional resources. The purpose of this study was to explore how novelty of outbreak news affects attention in everyday life. Methods: 162 participants were recruited using an online invitation and divided into two samples (early and late sections). The variables—salience of news, intrusive thoughts, endogenous attention, and knowledge of COVID-19—were compared between the two measurements using one-way MANOVA. Additionally, a correlational analysis was performed in order to reveal a model of relationships between variables. Results: It was found that despite the increase in infected cases, intrusive thoughts and attentional capture were decreased over time. To describe the relationship between salience of news and attentional capture a conceptual model was presented. Conclusion: In addition to the other physical properties of a stimulus, novelty also contributes to stimulus salience. In everyday life, novel situations can trigger intrusive thoughts and attentional capture. Nonetheless, it cannot be sustained after the novelty has worn off. The proposed model can be useful to understand further similar situations.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 virus is viewed as one of the defining crises of the current era, with various adverse ramifications for sports performance. Aim: The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise and caffeine supplementation on the cognitive performance and balance of college student-athletes recovered from COVID-19. Materials and Methods: Forty male student-athletes aged between 18 to 25 years from the Imam Khomeini International University of Qazvin were randomly assigned to four groups: 1. exercise + caffeine supplementation, 2. aerobic exercise + placebo, 3. aerobic exercise, and 4. control, in a pre-test post-test design. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check the normality of data distribution and covariance analysis was used for inter-group comparison. Results : The ANCOVA analysis showed significant differences in cognitive performance and balance among the four groups ( P <0.05). Pairwise comparisons using the Bonferroni post-hoc test showed statistically significant differences in cognitive performance and balance between the aerobic exercise + caffeine group versus the aerobic exercise + placebo group (P<0.05) and the aerobic exercise versus the control group ( P <0.05). Also, there was significant differences in mean cognitive performance and balance indices between AE+CAF versus CONT ( P <0.005) and AE+CAF versus AE ( P <0.005). Conclusion: The results of this study show that aerobic exercise with caffeine supplementation can improve cognitive performance and balance of student-athletes recovered from COVID-19.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a pulmonary rehabilitation exercise program on post-COVID-19 patients. Method : Three patients (two women and one man) with different severities, from moderate to severe, were selected. Blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen, and body function were measured at the beginning and end of the exercises, which included 12 sessions of arm and leg cycle ergometer and treadmill with adjustable resistance levels. Patients’ functionality was assessed using the Barthel index, and their quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire. Results: Regarding the first patient, oxygen saturation increased from 85 to 95, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) result increased from 0 to 420 meters, and the Barthel index increased from 35 to 85. For the second patient, arterial oxygen saturation increased from 82 to 92, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) result increased from 0 to 390 meters, and the Barthel index increased from 30 to 90. For the third patient, arterial oxygen saturation increased from 87 to 96, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) result increased from 320 to 510 meters, and the Barthel index increased from 60 to 85. All the patients showed improvements in their physical functions, such as walking, personal affairs, and quality of life. This functional improvement was higher in more severe levels of the disease. Conclusion: Based on the results, it seems that pulmonary rehabilitation exercises for post-COVID-19 patients can contribute to the improvement of their status, arterial oxygen level, quality of life, and pulmonary functionality.