---

Classroom interaction improves the learning process by enhancing opportunities for learning since both instructors and learners are involved in various speech acts. Speech act refers to a functional unit in the form of an act assisting individuals to perceive or promote things with words in interaction. Thus, the current study investigated classroom interaction in terms of types and functions of speech acts performed by Iranian English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers and learners. The data for the study came from audio-recording of twelve 90-minute sessions taught by six experienced Iranian teachers. To analyze the conversational data, Finocchiaro and Brumfit’s (1983) model was used to examine various types of speech acts and Walsh’s (2006) SETT was employed as a framework to explore the functions of speech acts. Following the data analysis, it was unfolded that directives were the most frequent speech acts, including suggestions, requests, warning, and giving instruction, accompanied by interpersonal and personal ones. As to the functions of speech acts, the most frequent mode was the materials mode (42%), followed by skills and systems mode (34%), classroom context mode (16%), and managerial mode (8%). The overall findings indicate the central role of the teacher in teacher-fronted classes in Iran as the most speech acts, i.e. about 79%, were performed by teachers in the form of requestive, suggestive, and advisory to control and promote the learning process. By carrying out the current study, it is hoped that readers gain more insight regarding the pragmatics territory, most notably speech acts.
 

---

Virtual platforms can be an effective tool for evaluating students' performance. However, their success depends on the effective use of digital tools, teacher preparedness, and the adoption of appropriate communication approaches. The current research aimed at scrutinizing the relation between the digital competencies of English Language Teachers (ELT) of three Universities of Misan, Baghdad, and Mustansiriyah with the usage of digital tools for distance teaching during the contingency of COVID-19 in the academic year 2020-2021. The study is a quantitative type accompanied with a correlational scope and a non-experimental cross-sectional design. 98 ELT teachers participated in the study. Two instruments were applied to carry out the gathering of information; these instruments were Likert surveys sent through Google Forms, one had 17 items and was aimed to measure the use of the digital tools, while the other had 20 items and was aimed to measure the digital competencies. The overall conclusions of the study revealed the existence of a strong positive correlation between the level of digital competencies and the use of digital tools in the professors of the University of Misan, University of Baghdad, and University of Mustansiriyah, the professors of these schools mentioned a strong trend to always use the digital tools in their pedagogical tasks. The differences found probably were influenced by other variables that are not part of the target in this study such as age, working experience, among others.

---

The present research study aimed to investigate the pragmatic awareness, attitudes, and practices of nine upper secondary English teachers in EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classrooms, with a focus on the intercultural aspects of the subject. Using a phenomenological methodology, the study conducted nine semi-structured interviews with English teachers of upper secondary students. Teachers demonstrated a high level of awareness of pragmatics, particularly when presented with pragmatic input based on syllabi formulations. The awareness suggested a recognition of the importance of pragmatic competence in language learning. Teachers incorporated pragmatics into their teaching methods. Pragmatics was used as a tool for fostering metacognitive conversations about language, helping students understand the appropriateness of certain phrases or words. Teachers aimed to make students aware of why people communicate in certain ways. The understanding of the reasons behind communication choices was deemed important for both teachers and students. Teachers perceived the intercultural dimensions of the English subject as crucial. Issues such as monocultural teaching groups, filter bubbles, and the rise of difficult conversations were highlighted. Teachers found using students' first languages to be an important tool for understanding and scaffolding their learning of English. The incorporation of pragmatics in the EFL classroom not only benefits language development but also serves as a facilitator in developing an understanding of other people. The study suggested a link between pragmatic awareness and intercultural competence in language teaching.

---

This study aims to investigate the representation of gender and intercultural competence in the images and texts of 15 Iranian secondary school English coursebooks, published over six decades. Gender representation was investigated using the framework proposed by Dahmardeh and Kim (2020), and the scale developed by Solhaug and Kristensen (2020) was used as the criteria for investigating intercultural competence. The data were coded and counted using manifest content analysis. The results showed that Iranian English coursebooks mentioned males and females unequally in their texts across different decades, with one gender being represented more in each decade. Regarding gender representation in the images, males were represented more than females in almost all decades. The representation of males and females in the books published in the 1970s was almost equal, followed by extreme and sudden changes in gender representation in the 1980s. However, the books published in and after the 2000s presented a balanced picture of males and females. The coursebooks dealt with intercultural competence in their texts and images very rarely, limiting this concept to religious issues and neglecting other aspects. In fact, the coursebooks addressed only one category out of the 11 categories. Finally, the study ends with implications for coursebook authors, materials designers, teachers, students, and teacher trainers.

---

---

Learners’ classroom involvement is thought to be highly influential in their academic success in that highly involved learners typically invest more time and energy in acquiring course content. For this reason, the predictors and determinants of learners’ classroom involvement have been highly attended to by educational researchers. Nonetheless, the predicting role of teachers’ emotional competencies like compassion and empathy has rarely been researched. Furthermore, to the best of the researcher’s knowledge, no theoretical review has looked into the concurrent impacts of teachers’ compassion and empathy on EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners’ classroom involvement. To address this lacuna, the current theoretical review aimed to explicate the effects of these two emotional competencies on EFL learners’ classroom involvement. The desirable effects of teachers’ compassion and empathy on EFL learners’ involvement were demonstrated using theoretical and empirical evidence. The implications of the present review’s findings are thoroughly discussed.

---

This study investigates the potential of interactive English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning tools powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance digital competence among higher education students. The primary aim is to detail the learning process in several aspects: Interactive EFL Learning Based on AI, its impact and implications, and Students' Digital Competence. The research employs a qualitative approach, utilizing qualitative interviews and classroom observation. A sample of 80 students from three different universities participated in using AI-powered EFL tools (ChatGPT) over a semester. The study employed intervention assessments to measure changes in digital competence and English writing proficiency. Additionally, student feedback was collected through structured interviews and observation to explore their experiences and perceptions. The collected data were processed and analyzed using manual coding techniques by compiling every response and organizing the summary.The results indicate that AI-based EFL tools significantly improve students' digital competence, including their ability to use technology effectively for writing tasks. Students demonstrated enhanced engagement, better language skills, and increased confidence in using digital tools for academic purposes. However, challenges such as technological anxiety and varying levels of tool effectiveness were also identified. This study highlights AI's efficacy in enhancing digital competence within the EFL environment, adding to the expanding corpus of research on the topic. The results offer important insights for educators and policymakers aiming to improve English language education using innovative AI-based approaches.
 

---

Rural handwoven carpet weavers, particularly in the context of handmade silk carpet production, grapple with significant challenges concerning recognizing all stakeholders and establishing timely connections. These challenges have a substantial impact on the adoption of innovation in carpet production and the overall enhancement of productivity. This research was conducted to scrutinize the communication network of carpet weavers within the Knowledge and Innovation System (KIS) of handmade silk carpet production in rural areas. Data were gathered through interviews with 270 rural households in Zanjan province, specifically in the Tarom, Khodabandeh, and Zanjan counties, utilizing a structured questionnaire. Social Network Analysis (SNA) in UCINET was employed to examine the interactions among these actors, and graphical representations were created using Net Draw. The results revealed that the network's density varied across different levels, showing weakness in some cases, moderate strength in others, and strong connections in select instances. The connections of carpet weaving families with other actors within the KIS were predominantly localized. Among these families, those utilizing the home-based wage production method exhibited the most extensive interactions. The individuals designated as "FMs" (likely referring to family members) and "WNVKRs" (possibly local experts) demonstrated the highest degree of connection and influence within the network of weavers' interactions
 

---

Abstract
Aims: By 1404, Tehran will be a knowledge-based, smart, and global city. Having the proper infrastructure and consequently a metropolis with national and global functions with a modern economy are its other features. The global experience of metropolises management shows that optimal urban management requires comprehensive attention to the city's economic, social, and environmental structures, and this has been measured in recent decades, globally, by the urban competitiveness index. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the urban competitiveness and Tehran’s status among the metropolises of Iran.
Instruments and Methods: The present study is an applied and survey research that was conducted in 2011. Eleven variables were selected as economic indices of urban competitiveness such as unemployment rate, economic participation rate, etc., by the library method and from three official sources of the country: statistical yearbooks of the provinces, results of census of industrial workshops with 10 employees and more, published by the Statistical Center of Iran and statistics of Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare. Standardized score and numerical taxonomy were used.
Findings: Tehran metropolis ranked first in terms of urban competitiveness index and economic aspect. Tehran was the first metropolis of Iran with a score of 3.13 in terms of the urban competitiveness index in standardized score method and 0.72 in numerical taxonomy.
Conclusion: Although Tehran does not have a good status in terms of the urban competitiveness index compared to other metropolises in the world, it ranked first in this index among Iranian metropolises.
 

---

The overarching goal of this research is to use polymeric composites enriched with diatomic soil to improve petroleum-contaminated clayey soil. The effect of petroleum on the geotechnical properties of clayey soil was investigated in the laboratory in the first stage using uniaxial, direct shear, and permeability tests. The polymeric composite material was then created and mixed with the diatomic soil. The geotechnical properties of petroleum-contaminated clayey soil were studied using a polymeric composite material mixed with diatomic soil (PCD). Petroleum reduced the shear resistance, internal friction angle, and uniaxial resistance of the clay for contamination percentages ranging from 0% to 12%. Whereas 12 percent petroleum content causes the greatest changes in soil mechanical resistance. According to the results of the direct shear test, adding 5.5 percent PCD increases the shear resistance of the base material and contaminated base material to average values of 32 and 48 percent, respectively. Furthermore, the results of the petroleum permeability test show that adding 5.5 percent PCD reduces soil permeability. The results show that the improved clay by PCD can be used as a liner for the base of petroleum reservoirs.

---

This article examines the growing relationships between China and North African countries, focusing on the economic, diplomatic, and security aspects of these interactions. The primary research question is how China has managed to expand its presence in North Africa and what impact this expansion will have on these countries' relationships with their traditional Western partners. The research hypothesis is that while the development of China's relations with North Africa creates new economic opportunities for these countries, it may also lead to challenges in their relations with Western countries. The findings indicate that although China's relationships with North Africa provide numerous economic and infrastructural opportunities, they could lead to tensions with these countries' traditional Western partners. Additionally, regional security issues such as the Western Sahara conflict and the Libyan war may require more active Chinese participation. Therefore, the research aims to describe, analyze, and interpret the collected essential information considering the sensitivity and fluidity of the topic, assessing the impact of the variables on each other. The study is applied in nature and adopts a descriptive and analytical approach with a documentary-library collection model and a case study method for the mentioned countries. It aims to provide a thorough examination of the grand strategies to better understand the dynamics of China-North Africa relations and their implications for the global order.

---

In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of both single and hybrid systems, incorporating UV photolysis and a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR), for treating synthetic wastewater contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. Petroleum hydrocarbons pose significant environmental threats due to their high toxicity, stability, accumulation potential, and resistance to biodegradation. In the hybrid system, the wastewater underwent chemical treatment first and then was introduced into the biological reactor. For the photolysis system, we explored the impacts of different concentrations and various radiation powers of UV-C lamps. Optimal conditions were determined to be a Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of 350 mg/L and a radiation power of 80 W. In the MBBR system, various concentrations were introduced into the reactor, achieving a maximum removal efficiency of 85% for an initial COD of 1000 mg/L over 72 hours with a 50% filling capacity. In the hybrid system, we achieved a remarkable hydrocarbon removal efficiency of 99% after 123 hours. Although the operational time of the hybrid system was relatively long, it demonstrated itself as a suitable treatment process compared to other conventional methods for removing these challenging, hard-to-biodegrade compounds.

---

---

Background: L-lysine is essential amino acid for human and animal nutrition. L-lysine is useful as medicament, chemical agent, food material (food industry) and feed additive (animal food). The industrial production of lysine has become an economically important industrial process. Several hundred thousands tones of L-lysine are produced annually worldwide, almost exclusively using Corynebacterium glutamicum. Study methods: To amplify LysA gene from C.glutamicum, two primers with NheI and HindIII restriction sites were designed. PCR was performed and PCR product was ligated with pTZ57R/T. Recombinant plasmid sequence was determined. LysA with sticky end was ligated with digested pET28a vector and ligation mixture was transformed in E.coli BL21(DE3). The recombinant plasmid was isolated with enzymatic digestion and sequencing. Results: LysA gene, a fragment with 1.3 kb, was cloned. PCR products and enzymatic digestion of extracted vectors with HindIII and NheI, sequencing and SDS-PAGE confirmed the authenticity of cloning. Recombinant bacterial colonies were investigated and confirmed by two methods (PCR and enzymatic digestion). Conclusion: In this study for the first time, the expression rate of Meso- diaminopimelate decarboxylase enzyme (EC 4.1.1.20) in this expression vector was investigated and was increased significantly.

---

There are several approaches for increasing the competitive power of an organization. However, in some cases, some of the approaches are contradictory. Improving efficiency and productivity is one of the best approaches to solve these conflicts. In this research, we have measured the efficiency of five active iron mines during 2008 - 2011, using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method and the efficient and inefficient units were determined. Due to the limited number of studied mines compared with the total amount of inputs and outputs, the discrimination could happen. Thus, we have used Anderson-Peterson (AP) approaches as a complementary method for DEA classic models, in order to determine productive units' final ranking. Based on the results obtained, Mishduvan mine has the highest rank and the highest amount of efficiency during 2009 - 2011.

---

Understanding the environment and geopolitical analysis of neighboring border cities are the most important factors that should be taken into account to establish security and expand bilateral relations, which are sought after by countries, especially cities in Southwest Asia. In recent years, some actions of neighboring countries or trans-regional countries have led to insecurity in urban areas. By understanding this concept, the characteristics of the eastern borders of Iran and the relations between Iran and Pakistan, including the cities of Zahedan and Quetta, will be studied in detail by employing a descriptive-analytical research method.

---

Orexis or desire in Aristotle’s point of view is divided into rational and irrational desires. Rational desire includes Boulêsis while irrational desire includes Epithumia (appetite) and Thumos (passion). The study of Aristotle’s ideas shows that rational desire is different from other types of desire from different aspects. Firstly, rational desire as compared to the appetite and passion belongs to the rational part of the soul and thus is exclusively for human being whereas appetite and passion exist in animals too. Secondly, rational desire is concerned with goals which are realized through rational deliberation and such goals are good from the point of view of the agent instead of being merely pleasant and pleasurable. Thirdly, rational desire is engaged with the identification of truth and also contrary to the appetite and passion is a future-oriented desire. Finally, the striking feature of rational desire is its being an origin for moral actions; because the issue of rational desire is a rational goal; something from which the animals are deprived.

---

 
 
Hesampour ,S. ,Ph.D.
Hasanli , K.  ,PH.D
 
Abstract:
 
Omar Khayyām is one of the most well known Iranian thinkers and medieval poets and his work has been internationally acclaimed. The limited number of his poems is counterbalanced by their deep meanings.
Various studies have been devoted to Omar Khayyām.  However, researchers and literary men alike have mostly focused their endeavors on analyzing the depth of his thoughts as to the inner secrets of the self, his rhetorical questions concerning human existence, its origins, ends and ultimate fate while leaving aside a very important constituent of Khayyām’s poetry, its aesthetics.   This lacuna led to the false impression that his poetry is structurally weak and not endowed with aesthetics elements.
 In this study, we showed the interconnectness and harmony of Khayyām’s artistic lexicon and imagery with its form and content.  Khayyām’s poetical aesthetics elements have been analyzed on three levels:
 1.Artistic relation between poetical elements
 2.Imagery
3. Emphasis and repetition.
 
 

---

In this research, the semantic properties of Persian reduplicative constructions were studied in the framworks of “Iconicity Theory”, in general, and the quantity principle in particular. Researches on reduplicative constructions in most languages have reveraled the connection of these constructions to such meanings as augmentation, increased quantity, internsification, continuation, repetition, completion, and distribution. The aim of this research was to show the connection of Persian reduplicative constructions to the aforementioned meanings within the framworks of “Iconicity Theory”, the principle of quantity, and the revised version of Regier's model (1998). The extensive research on form-meaning correlation in Persian causative constructions seminated in the development of a semantic classification of Persian reduplicative constructions (The attached semantic types lists 1-5).

---

This research is conducted on the basis of the relational view of competitive advantage. In this view, competitive advantages are created by not only corporate-level resources but by inimitable capacities and mixed into dynamic relations. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze and quantify the impact of external social capital dimensions on organizational competitive advantage. For this purpose, after an extensive study of literature, the initial conceptual model was designed. The questionnaires were distributed among senior executives and board members of Color and Resin Company and 64 questionnaires were returned and the data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, inferential analysis and Structural Equation Modeling. Results show that the size of a firm impacts innovation and external social capital significantly affects the organizational competitive advantage. Also, structural dimension of external social capital is the most effective among the dimensions of competitive advantage, and strategic flexibility dimension is the most impressible dimension of external social capita. Additionally, the cognitive dimension of external social capital has the minimal impact on competitive advantage. It seems that the warm personal relationships, business relationships and working closely with many diverse groups and work teams in complex industrial organization are the most important tools for achieving the desired organizational results.