Covid-19 pandemic

The study has two main objectives: firstly, to examine the opportunity of the Momentum and Contrarian investment strategy for three different monetary systems to trade currencies in Forex markets using Symlet wavelet decomposition approach. Secondly, to examine the co-movements between the three monetary systems using wavelet coherence analysis. The findings indicate that an investor with momentum strategy can consider investing in Bitcoin and Gold market, while the contrarian investment strategy is more advisable for the fiat money market during crisis period. Furthermore, the wavelet coherence analysis indicates that Bitcoin currency is the most leading monetary system during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, followed by gold. However, US dollar mostly leads Bitcoin during non-crisis periods, while Gold is found to lead the US dollar throughout the sample period of the study. This suggests that the cryptocurrency system or gold standard should be considered as the alternative monetary system for better economic stability specially during the crisis period. Moreover, Bitcoin and gold had an anti-phase correlation before the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, which implies better benefits of hedging in the non-crisis period, while during a crisis they are moving together across different horizons. In contrast, Bitcoin and Fiat Money are strongly correlated during non-crisis periods, while during covide-19 pandemic crisis the correlation is statistically insignificant. Overall, the outcomes offer significant guidance for policymakers in understanding which monetary system leads to better economic stability during the crisis period and provides many implications for market players such hedging and Diversification investments strategy in forex markets.

The present research explores some of the most significant aspects of COVID-19 outbreak from the perspective of criminology and from a comparative viewpoint between Iran’s and world’s Data. Describing the current pandemic as deviance is one aspect of this approach upon which an argument arises for explaining the COVID-19 outbreak as deviance from a criminological approach. The criminal effects of COVID-19 is another part of discussion through which relationships between the pandemic and crime rates, and some of types of crimes, including economic crime and domestic violence are examined. The findings show that overall, crime rates have fluctuated in the advent of COVID-19, and while the current pandemic has caused an increase in some types of crimes, but yet, it entails a reduction in many types of crime. Finally, the article concludes that the current pandemic has different impacts on criminality according to the assumption that ‘disease’ alongside ‘crime’ endanger the human health as a whole. Therefore, the main question is how humanity could preserve their physical health from dangers of COVID, and their mental health from risks and unpleasant effects of criminality, particularly fear of crime and moral panic?

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Over the Platforms (OTT) such as Netflix and Amazon multiplied their streaming and eased access to foreign content in India. The hybridity and transnational nature of the digital spaces allowed the audience to consume foreign content beyond the geographies of language and culture. This article aims to analyze the reception and perception of Iranian films in India during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study posits that the shift in the reception of Iranian film in India during the Covid-19 pandemic constructed a positive perception of Iran among the Indian audience. By applying the reception analysis and qualitative content analysis theories, the paper interrogates the way in which film acts as an agency to produce the perception of Iran as a nation among the Indian Audience. For the collection of data, the existing literature has been used. Furthermore, a purposive sample survey among Iranian film lovers had been conducted. The paper also carries a content analysis of the posts, comments, and reviews about Iranian films on social media pages. Iranian films have influenced the Indian audience to such a level that 80% of the respondents want to visit Iran once in a lifetime.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, universities around the world faced closure because of social distancing and lockdown, therefore, unprecedently, education had to move online and universities in Iran were not exceptional. This sudden and abrupt shift required teachers to rethink their attitudes and beliefs. This study has been conducted to explore English Language Teachers’ attitudes toward their practices concerning the effects of social distancing and the maximized use of technology in the teaching profession. Having adopted a qualitative method to investigate teachers’ experiences, the data of this study were collected through interviews with nine English language university teachers, and their reflective journals. Generally, the results communicate considerable appreciation for integrating technology in English language courses. To be more detailed, this study revealed three main categories for positive attitudes (pedagogical innovation, instructional support, and professional identity formation) each with some subcategories. Also, the analysis highlights three concerns (technology-related challenges, classroom management, and inflexibility in behavior) for online teaching. The implications of the study mainly provide a welcoming environment for utilizing technology in teaching, especially in English language teaching.

The spread of COVID-19 pandemic starting in late 2019 has changed the way we conduct our teaching and learning activities especially in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Since March 2020, classes have been conducted via online platforms. As a consequence, students missed the campus life, teamwork has been given less emphasis, fieldwork, industry visits and community service have been put aside, and most importantly the achievement of the learning outcomes towards a certain extent has been compromised. The implications of these changes need to be highly considered as they might affect the quality of graduates. This paper intends to discuss the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the education system and highlight some potential solutions that can be considered by the academics and the top management of HEIs to address the negative repercussions of the current practices. Some research implications are also highlighted in the paper.

The study aims to investigate and comparatively identify the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on fraudulent reporting motives in three emerging markets, namely Iran, Iraq, and Egypt. The present research method is a descriptive survey. The statistical population consists of independent auditors in three countries, and field methods and questionnaires have been used to collect data. The results indicate that COVID-19 pandemic affects management motives for committing fraud. They include respectively: sudden personal financial needs, need to receive financial resources for firm, pressure from owners in family companies, tax incentives, greed, government pressure in state-owned firms, concealing financial distress, avoidance of exclusion or deterioration in stock market, trust and self-esteem, tendency to increase compensation/payment of the management, pressure due to threats and compulsion, concealment of personal and illegal exploitation of assets, implementation or going beyond analysts’ forecasts, high levels of market competition, revenge, manager’s culture and values, management ideology or beliefs, and comparison of social status. This is the first study to investigate and compare the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fraudulent reporting incentives in emerging markets. Further, this study was conducted in three countries of Iran, Iraq, and Egypt, which have different contextual conditions (political, economic, cultural, etc.), indicating the impact of environmental conditions on the effects of Covid outbreaks. It can help stakeholders, including legislators,  capital market regulators and auditors in other markets, especially emerging markets, to deal with the risk of fraudulent reporting during the COVID -19 and other similar crises.

Purpose- Owramanat County in Kermanshah province with 14 tourism regions, is one of the best tourist destinations of Kermanshah province, in which the tourism activists have faced challenges during the period of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate and analyze the resilience of rural tourism and identify the key drivers affecting it in the face of Covid-19 pandemic in Owramanat County. Design/methodology/approach- the present applied, quantitative study has been conducted with a combined approach (combination of descriptive-analytical and exploratory methods). The questionnaire method was used for data collection and its validity and reliability have been confirmed by observing scientific principles. In order to achieve the purposes of the study, the opinions of 150 people from the local community active in the field of tourism were used to evaluate the resilience, and the opinions of 30 experts were used to identify the primary factors affecting the resilience and also the views of 25 experts were taken into consideration in order to identify the key drivers affecting the resilience of rural tourism. The SPSS and MICMAC software were used to analyze the collected data. Findings- The research findings showed that, the average of four variables including local government budget, environmental knowledge, community welfare, and social support system as the main components of the resilience of rural tourism were 1.757, 2.358, 1.808, and 2.295 respectively and have been significantly lower than the base average. The overall assessment results showed that the calculated average with a value of 2.014 has been significantly lower than the medium level. The results also showed that, among 17 factors affecting the resilience of tourism, 5 factors of government financial support, financial capital, sanitary equipment, infrastructural facilities and disease control are the most effective key drivers on resilience. Originality/ value- Evaluation and analysis of the resilience of rural tourism in the face of Covid-19 pandemic with an approach of presenting the key indicators and variables in this field and also identification of key drivers affecting the resilience of rural tourism have received less attention from researchers and this proves the originality of the present study.

COVID-19 pandemic has been a worldwide grave issue that unfavorably affected people’s life, including education. This study aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ learning in Iran EFL context. A mixed method research design was employed in carrying out the study. The quantitative data were gathered through an online survey questionnaire from 139 students in Islamic Azad university (IAU) selected on convenience sampling method and six semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data. The quantitative data analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) showed that the students were not involved in a continual online teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also revealed that the pandemic unspeakably affected students’ learning in Iran. In addition, the qualitative data coded and analyzed thematically showed that the students had problems with the Internet and technological facilities, and they suggested that the IAU design and introduce a resourceful online platform which will be free for and accessible to poor Internet connection users because some of the students live in areas where the Internet speed is very slow. The finding of the study may help educational managers and higher education leaders to review and adopt policies for teaching and learning in emergency cases. It will also help lecturers to design a proper plan and improve their instruction in these cases.

This study investigates the technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) of Iraqi English teachers in public and private high schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also examines the potential impact of gender and school type on participants’ TPACK perceptions. The results, derived from a TPACK survey (Baser et al., 2015), indicate significant differences between public and private school Iraqi English teachers in terms of overall TPACK scores and perceptions of individual TPACK constructs of technological knowledge, technological content knowledge, technological pedagogical knowledge, and technological pedagogical content knowledge. However, no significant differences were observed in the constructs of content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and pedagogical content knowledge. Additionally, the study found no significant disparities between male and female Iraqi EFL teachers in overall TPACK scores or perceptions of individual TPACK constructs. These findings offer insights into TPACK in Iraqi public and private high schools and shed light on how male and female Iraqi EFL teachers perceive their competencies when utilizing information and communication technology in English language instruction. Considering these findings, it is recommended to implement training and professional development programs to support teachers in effectively integrating technology into language education, especially within their classrooms.

Purpose: The covid-19 pandemic caused many and extensive changes and transformations in educational teaching. Considering the importance of students' academic achievement, the aim of this study was to comparison the effectiveness of Bybee's teaching method as face-to-face and non-face-to-face on the academic achievement of mail students of the first secondary school in the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic. Methodology: This study was a semi-experimental with a pretest and posttest design with a control group. The research population was male students of the first secondary school in Zahedan city in the academic years 2019-2020. The sample size was 45 people (15 people for each group) who were selected by cluster sampling method and each of the clusters randomly by lottery replaced in three groups (two experimental groups and one control group). Each of the experimental groups was trained with Bybee's teaching method as face-to-face and non-face-to-face and during this time the control group was trained with the traditional method. The data were collected with Pham and Taylor's academic achievement questionnaire (1999), which whose validity was confirmed by the opinion of experts and its reliability was calculated by Cronbach's alpha method 0.92 and analyzed by methods of univariate analysis of covariance and Bonferroni post hoc test in SPSS software. Findings: The findings indicated that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of academic achievement. In the other words, Bybee's teaching method as a both face-to-face and non-face-to-face in compared to the control group caused a significant increase in the academic achievement of mail students of the first secondary school (P<0.001), but between the experimental groups means Bybee's teaching method as face-to-face and non-face-to-face there was no significant difference in increasing academic achievement (P>0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of this study mean effectiveness of both Bybee's teaching method as face-to-face and non-face-to-face on students' academic achievement and the lack of significant differences between them, to improve academic achievement can be used both Bybee's teaching method as face-to-face and non-face-to-face along with other effective teaching methods.

Objective:  The goal of this study was to find out, through qualitative research, how high school parents see the pros and cons of online education during the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods: The sample for the present study included several of mothers of male and female Tehran high school students. For data analysis, Braun and Clarke's (2021a) thematic analysis model-based methodology was utilized. Results: The data revealed a comprehensive theme composed of two major themes, one with six sub-themes and the other with two sub-themes: 1) psychological capital with self-others care, self-efficacy beliefs, psychological resilience, hope, coping measures, and self-loving causal attributions sub-themes; and 2) technological capital with technology ethics and cultural literacy of technology sub-themes. Conclusion:  In addition, both practical and theoretical implications for the parental character strengths model were examined.

Technology innovation affects both the public and private non-financial sectors, the zakat institution (Islamic social finance) included. The institution uses an online system to communicate with zakat payers and zakat recipients to ensure its effectiveness in terms of collection and distribution. This research focuses on the adoption of a technique known as AD/AC and ZP/ZR, which is mainly utilized by partially and non-privatized State zakat institutions in Malaysia. To this end, three (3) techniques pertaining to appraising the performance of Malaysia’s Zakat institutions in managing Zakat funds were established. The analysis also includes the adverse impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the performance of zakat collection of the respective zakat institutions in Malaysia. In this relation, a quantitative approach was adopted using the primary and secondary data collected from JAWHAR and various states’ zakat institutions. By utilizing a technique of online data collection and applying the AD/AC as well as ZP/ZR methods, the performance of Malaysia’s zakat institutions is appraised. Furthermore, with the help two (2) ratios and eight (8) scenarios the performance of the innovative technique of AD/AC and ZP/ZR for zakat collection and disbursement, efficiency and sustainability of zakat institutions in Malaysia were evaluated. The results show that most zakat institutions, particularly those that deal with zakat payments, have begun to use the technique AD/AC and ZP/ZR within their organizations. The performance of zakat institutions in all states in terms of zakat distribution and disbursement do not have a consistent trend for the period 2016-2020. However, there is still a dearth of technology being used for zakat disbursements and fund reporting. From the observed data, with 2016 being the exception, for each remaining year, a state in Malaysia is ranked as the best technology performer or the most efficient. Selangor - fully privatized state (2017), Pulau Pinang - fully privatized state (2018), Federal Territory - partially privatized state (2019) and Negeri Sembilan-partially privatized state (2020) are the most efficient for the respective year. The sustainability of each zakat institution in Malaysia in the presence of Covid-19 pandemic was ascertained as well. Interestingly, contrary to the efficiency result, all non-privatized states (Kedah, Sabah and Kelantan) and one partially privatized state (Negeri Sembilan) were sustainable in coping with Covid-19 pandemic, while all fully privatized states (Selangor and Pulau Pinang) were not. Overall, it was conjectured that the technique AD/AC as well as ZP/ZR would help to improve the operations of zakat institutions to become more efficient and successful in distributing zakat fund to the poor. However, as zakat collecting and distribution involved millions of records, its management is still debatable by all parties.

The COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened the hands of authoritarian regimes. Unlike those who have claimed that the outbreak tends to accelerate the movement toward greater geopolitical competition, we argue that the pandemic has necessitated further cooperation between democratic and authoritarian governments, thus enhancing the longevity of the latter. This explains why the global pandemic has caused no fundamental changes in the regional security dynamics of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), in part because it has ironically prolonged the rule of authoritarian in the region in the name of providing public health. Despite the rhetoric of religious pluralism, moderation, as well as constitutional reforms, sentiments echoing narrow and virulent nationalism and right-wing populism have simultaneously prevailed. On balance, the persistent use of repression in liberalized autocracies in the region has manifested itself in the form of repressing protesters during tough economic times.  For example, in protests against unemployment in Oman in 2018 or against tax reform in Jordan in 2019, and during Saudi Arabia’s 2017-20 Qatif unrest or in Algeria’s ongoing political protests, such patterns of behavior have been visible.  Even in those regimes that have introduced constitutional reforms in the aftermath of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, when priority has been given to combating a global pandemic, a floundering economy, and other emerging threats, such as the campaign against terrorism, authoritarian regimes have wound up consolidating their rule, thus exploiting such crises in order to grab further power at home and seek geopolitical advantage in the region.  However, it is short-sighted to underestimate the possibility of the spontaneous eruption of popular uprisings that could pose a destabilizing threat to authoritarian regimes at some point in the future.

Purpose: The Covid-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to higher education institutions, necessitating a robust resilience framework to navigate disruptions and ensure continued educational excellence. This study aimed to design a resilience pattern for higher education institutions based on grounded theory, drawing insights from the experiences of stakeholders in Islamic Azad Universities in Tehran, Iran. Methodology: The present study in terms of purpose was applied and in terms of implementation method was qualitative. The target population was all students, employees, and faculty members of Islamic Azad Universities in Tehran, Iran. The sample size of this study was determined based on the principle of theoretical saturation, resulting in a total of 29 participants who were selected by the purposive and theoretical sampling method and were underwent to a semi-structured interview. Interview validity was established using triangulation, and reliability was assessed using the intercoder agreement coefficient method, yielding a value of 0.72. The data obtained from semi-structured interviews were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding techniques in ATLAS.ti qualitative software version 9. Findings: The analysis showed that the resilience pattern of higher education institutions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic had 189 concepts, 39 subcategories and 10 main categories based on the systematic grounded theory. In this pattern, the central phenomenon was the resilient response of higher education institutions to the Covid-19 pandemic. Causal conditions were categorized into three main categories: individual (6 subcategories, 29 concepts), organizational (7 subcategories, 41 concepts), and social (3 subcategories, 11 concepts). Intervening conditions consisted of national factors (4 subcategories, 18 concepts), while context were represented by global factors (4 subcategories, 16 concepts). Strategies included prediction and prevention (3 subcategories, 17 concepts), response and coping (5 subcategories, 24 concepts), and adaptation and compatibility (3 subcategories, 18 concepts). Consequences were classified into short-term (2 subcategories, 8 concepts) and long-term consequences (2 subcategories, 7 concepts). Finally, the resilience pattern of higher education institutions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic based on grounded theory was designed. Conclusion: The proposed resilience pattern serves as a valuable guide for higher education institutions to proactively address the challenges posed by unforeseen disruptions, fostering adaptability and sustainability in an increasingly volatile world. The framework emphasizes the importance of resilience not only at the organizational level but also among students, staff, and faculty members. By incorporating this pattern into their strategic planning and operational practices, higher education institutions can enhance their capacity to navigate crises such as Covid-19 pandemic and emerge stronger amidst adversity.

The impact of health infrastructure on economic growth in the framework of endogenous growth models has been studied in a few research pieces; however, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on economic growth in the endogenous growth models has not yet been studied. The present article expands the existing pieces of literature in several ways. First, investigating the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on economic growth in a steady-state situation. Second, identifying the threshold level of health infrastructure impact on long-term economic growth by considering the Covid-19 pandemic. Third, modeling of population dynamics and the Covid-19 pandemic. Fourth, modeling the level of following the protocols and public awareness of the Covid-19 pandemic and examining their impact on long-term economic growth. The developed model was calibrated using the information of a transition country, Iran. Results show If the health infrastructure is higher than the threshold level of 0.87, the output level will have an upward trend in the presence of the Covid-19 pandemic. Otherwise, the output trend will be downward. The increasing output could lead to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic even in the long run in the Iranian economy. At a certain level of income, with the improvement of the health infrastructure, the level of Covid-19 pandemic release will decrease.

Television series serve as tools for propaganda and influence, allowing political figures to manipulate public opinion and control how they are perceived. One notable example of this phenomenon can be seen in the representation of Boris Johnson in the TV series ‘This England’. The representation of Johnson in the midst of scandals like Party Gate and the mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic tainted his public image as a reliable leader and a dependable Prime Minister. The resulting backlash against him was so severe that he was called to testify in the official COVID-19 inquiry (2023) following his compelled resignation. The filming of the 'This England' during his time in office and its airing just 22 days after his departure, appeared as an effort to repair his damaged image. Utilizing qualitative content analysis and drawing on Stuart Hall's theory of representation, this paper explores the nuanced depiction of Johnson's leadership and contributes to our understanding of how television series can shape political narratives. The significance of this study resides in its contribution to our comprehension of the multifaceted ways in which television series can shape public perception of political leadership and contribute to broader societal and political discourse.

One of the most important factors that investors pay attention to in stock markets is stock price fluctuations, which is the basis for evaluating the performance of company managers. The performance of the company's stock includes the yield from the resources under the company's control and is considered a suitable criterion for reaching the set goals. In the meantime, one of the things that influenced widely on the world financial markets is the outbreak of the 2019 Covid-19 epidemic. The Covid-19 pandemic is known as a black swan event since it was a rare, unexpected, unknown phenomenon with a high and universal impact. Therefore, the current research purpose is to investigate the fluctuations in the stock prices of petrochemical industry companies affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. For this purpose, 19 petrochemical companies of Tehran stock exchange were studied between 2017 to 2022. The data gathered daily and included 19 petrochemical companies in 220 working days for 5 years. The results showed that the shock caused by the growth of the corona virus initially caused a decrease in price volatility in petrochemical companies, but after two periods, the reaction of price volatility to the shock was positive. Finally, the shock effect disappeared after seven cycles.

Objective: Previous research has shown that health engagement accounts for a substantial variance in positive attitudes about the COVID-19 vaccine in public. However, these studies are hardly able to explain intrapersonal characteristics. Thus, we examined the moderating effect of four character strengths (kindness, critical thinking, fairness, and prudence) in the relation between health engagement and positive attitudes to the COVID-19 vaccine.Method: The population consisted of all university students living in Mashhad. A sample of 600 individuals was recruited through convenience sampling. The participants completed a battery of questionnaires including a health engagement questionnaire, Values in Action-Inventory of Strengths, and attitudes towards vaccination questionnaire during the COVID-19 pandemic. A hierarchical regression model and slope analysis were used to examine the moderation effect.Results: The findings indicated a positive and significant correlation between health engagement and a positive attitude towards vaccination (r=.23; p<.01). The character strengths were significantly and positively associated with health engagement (r=.18; p<.01), and a positive attitude toward vaccination (r=.30; p<.01). Moreover, the moderating effect of character strengths on the relationship between health engagement and a positive attitude towards vaccination was significant (t=-4.08; p<.001).Conclusion: Therefore, the character strengths could moderate the effect of health engagement on a positive attitude towards vaccination. It can be concluded that character strengths have a moderating effect on making health-related decisions in stressful conditions such as the COVID-19 pandemic.