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Writing assessment literacy(WAL) for second or foreign language (L2) teachers, which refers to teachers’ knowledge, conceptions, and practice of writing assessment in L2 contexts, has lately received attention from scholars. Although there has been significant debate about the impact of contextual and conceptual factors on teachers’ assessment literacy, studies focusing on how such factors influence teachers’ WAL are lacking. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the way Iranian English writing teachers' conception of assessment, and macro, meso, and micro contextual variables impact their writing assessment practice. It also looked at how writing teachers make assessment decisions in order to negotiate and find a compromise when their assessment views and beliefs diverge from the assessment policies in their local contexts. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews with ten in-service l2 writing teachers in Iran. The findings show that participants had positive conceptions about formative writing assessments but they stated that they mostly used summative assessment in writing classes. Macro level contextual factors turned out to mostly impacted teachers’ writing assessment practices and conceptions. The results underscored the role of school and work experience in shaping and changing writing assessment conceptions. The findings of this study contribute to our current understanding of WAL development and provision of more efficient assessment training for language teachers in teacher education programs.

 

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 Over the past decades, research on language teacher engagement in action research (AR) has received a surge of interest. However, little research is available on how teachers’ experience contribute to their development of agency and professional performances through their participation in an AR program. Accordingly, this study explored the role of experience in five novice and five experienced language teachers’ development of agency and practice before, during, and after their engagement in an action research engagement program (AREP). To this end, we collected data via semi-structured interviews, reflective journals, and classroom observations. The findings revealed that novice and experienced teachers’ development of their agency and professional practice undergo similar trajectories. Moreover, the study argues that although experience affects teacher-researchers’ agentive role and performances, novice and experienced teachers go through similar paths as they engage in AR. However, the novice teachers became more oriented towards reflection-in-action during and after their engagement in AREP. Moreover, the novice teachers chose more AR tools and drew more on their AR experience which, in turn, facilitated their professional growth through tool transformation. We conclude the paper with implications for teacher education to better understand the role of AR in teachers’ agency development and professionalism.

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While sports are often viewed from a health perspective or with an emphasis on economic aspects, in this article, the author tries to examine the ethical function of sports and show its dimensions. The existence of some common patterns and attitudes towards sports and the dominance of medical or commercial attitudes towards them has prevented attention to the fundamental ethical aspects of sports. While sports, especially aerobic and non-competitive, are tied to moral virtues. With this in mind, the author suggests that non-competitive endurance sports have three moral functions in the long run. First, it leads to self-understanding, self-awareness and self-knowledge, second, it leads to domination of the body, emotions and feelings, and third, it cultivates many moral virtues, including courage, order, tolerance of pain and wisdom.
 

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Aim: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. This comparative study was designed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of medical and non-medical female students concerning breast self-examination (BSE) in two different universities in Shiraz, Iran. It also examined the relationship between the students' knowledge, attitude, practice and type of academic education. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Shiraz, Iran. 394 female students were selected using proportionate stratified random sampling (292 non-medical and 102 medical). A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection, and the obtained data were analyzed descriptively. Findings: Medical students were more aware of BSE timing, stages of BSE performance and initiation age of BSE. Medical female students were also more likely to consider BSE as efficient, not difficult and time consuming, and to acknowledge that as a method for decreasing the probability of cancer. Regular BSE performance rate for both groups was very low and unsatisfactory (non-medical 2.1% and medical 2.9%). The results of t-test and Chi-square revealed significant differences across BSE knowledge, attitude and practice with type of academic education (medical or non-medical) (P=001). Conclusion: Based on the findings, the medical students were more knowledgeable and showed a better attitude and responded more positively than the non-medical student, but both groups showed low level of BSE practicing that is of a concern. The supportive role of universities in providing students with necessary information about breast cancer is suggested, and its prevention methods should be highlighted. Additionally, there is a need to a supportive environment which facilitates students’ access to qualified health care services.

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Background: Cardiac Catheterization is a critical health status which requires standardized care policies, as well as it needs qualified and skilled health provider to obtain good outcome of management.This study aimed toassess the knowledge and practice of nurses regarding patient safety after cardiac catheterization.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Punjab Institute of cardiology located in Lahore, Pakistan from 01^st December 2016 to 31^st March, 2017. 171 female nurses through using convenient sampling technique were included in the study. Questionnaire with multiple choice was used to collect data. Likert scale for multiple choose questionnaires regarding knowledge and practice of the nurses were used Collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.
Results: Out of 171 participants, all (N = 171) were female, most nurses had job experience of 2-5 years and 6-10 years, they were represented by 34.5% and 31.0% respectively. Mean of total knowledge was found good, when compared to mean of practice which was poor. This showed that nurses have good knowledge about post cardiac catheterization complication. It was found significant value of P < 0.0001 by applying correlation, that showed there was a good association between knowledge and practice (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: There was positive association between the knowledge and practice about patient’s safety after Cardiac Catheterization among Pakistanis registered nurses. Nurses those have proper knowledge and practice could help in rehabilitation of patients.

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The control of biological, hydrological and geochemical cycles of soil is the key part of the earth system. The objective of this research was to evaluate changes in soil chemical properties due to deforestation occurred in the Gazafolya Village, Merek Watershed, Kermanshah Province, Iran. Toward this attempt, 35 soil samples were collected from top soil layer using auger in early June, 2013. Soil analysis including pH, carbonate content, electrical conductivity (EC) and exchangeable sodium (Na), soil organic carbon (SOC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were made. The results showed that there were no significant differences between soil pH, carbonate content, EC and Na in the forest and rainfed areas while there was significant difference (P> 0.005) between SOC in the forest (2.10%) and rainfed (1.35%) areas. The semi-variance analysis also revealed that the spatial dependence class of SOC in the forest was strong, while it was mainly moderate in the rainfed areas due to improper plowing practices in the rainfed area there was moderate. In addition, the results showed the soil CEC in the forest and rainfed areas were 33.3 and 25.1 cmol_ckg^-1, respectively, indicating significant higher level in the forest area. Semi-variance analysis also revealed a strong spatial variation for CEC in the forest. Finally, there were no significant differences for EC and Na with moderate spatial variation in both areas. It was concluded that SOC and CEC significantly reduced by severe deforestation phenomenon of Zagros Forest.

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Aim: Smoking is one of the most important causes of respiratory, cardiovascular and cancers diseases. This study examined the smoking-related knowledge, attitudes and practices of dormitory students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran. The specific aim is to determine the correlation between the main variables' affect on smoking habits, knowledge and attitudes.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted with descriptive and analytical approach, 340 students were selected through random cluster sampling. The participating students completed an interview measuring demographic characteristics and smoking-related knowledge, attitude and practice. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Pearson's tests in SPSS (ver. 21).
Findings: The mean and SD of the participants was 22.93±4.05 years. Accordingly, 23% (n=78) of the subjects were current smokers and 17.1% (n=58) had experienced smoking. The knowledge of 1.8% (n=6) of the subjects was weak about smoking's health effects, 9.97% (n=332) had average and 0.3% (n=1) had good knowledge. Attitude of 8.6% (n=29) of the participants about smoking was poor, 29.5% (n=100) average and 61.9% (n=210) good. Relationship between knowledge and attitude about the harms of smoking (r=0.35, p<0.001), between knowledge and smoking (r=0.2, p<0.001), and between attitude and smoking (r=0.45, p<0.001) was significant.
Conclusion: There was a moderate level of knowledge and attitude about smoking hazards among the participants. Also the prevalence of smoking was relatively high. With regard to the statistically significant relationship between knowledge and attitude with smoking, declared health educational programs may enrich current knowledge, and promote the attitudes related to smoking risk and effects on the students' health.

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The primary purpose of this study was to assess farmers' Sustainable Agricultural Practice Needs (SAPN) as determined conversely by their level of technical knowledge and understanding of sustainable corn farming practices. The population of this study consisted of all corn growers in Fars, a southern province of Iran. A questionnaire was developed to gather the information required from 159 randomly selected farmers. Farmer’s demographic and professional characteristics, including their level of technical knowledge, access to information sources, and level of mechanization were considered to be independent variables of the study. The SAPN was the dependent variable of the study. The result showed that a considerable numbers of farmers (46%) have a "high" level of needs concerning sustainable agricultural practice. The farmers' level of technical knowledge showed to have a substantial (r= -0.64) and negative association with their SAPNs. Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that 49.3% (R2=0.493) of the variance in SAPNs could be explained by the farmers' age, their access to information sources, and their level of technical knowledge. This implied that a substantial amount of variability (about 51%) in SAPNs are explained by other variables that were not studied in this research. Further study is needed to determine factors affecting SAPNs and ex-tend of the impact.

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Godarz Eftekhar Jahromi Professor of Law, Shahid beheshti University Mohammad Issaei Tafreshi Assistant Professor of Law, Tarbiat Modares University Morteza Shahbazinia Ph.D. Student of Private Law, Tarbiat Modares University This article discusses the developments of legal regime of International Bank Guarantees, according to the Rules published by International Chamber of Commerce. This research shows that the main source of rules, governing this instrument, is usage and practice of international trade and attempts of ICC for applying of traditional legal rules inattention to international practice has been failed. Subsequently the chamber published "Uniform Rules for Demand Guarantees" (Publication No.458) in 1992. This new rules are mainly based on commercial usage and practice, and embraced the basic practical characters of bank guarantees as they are used in international trade; characters such as independence of guarntee and the effects of it. Also, the 458 Rules recognized issuance of simple demand guarantees and provide some practical resolves for other legal issues of bank guarantees such as providing of clear methods of ascertaining the applicable law and resolving disputes, limiting of bank duty to a formal compliance and accepting the documentary of bank guarantees.

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Aim: One of the influential factors in maintaining health is nutritional status. As a meal that is prepared quickly and easily and sold in restaurants and eateries, fast food has been popular in many communities. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of health education on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of fast food consumption among primary students in Tehran.
Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 120 primary school students were selected by simple random sampling method during 2015-2016 academic year in Tehran and they were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. The data were collected from schools in district 6, Tehran, using a valid and reliable questionnaire before and after the intervention in the areas of knowledge, attitude, practice, and demographic variables. The data were analyzed by SPSS 22 software, using descriptive statistics and independent & paired t-tests, Chi-square, and Mann-Whitney tests.
Findings: Regarding the knowledge, attitude, and practice scores, there were no significant differences between the two groups (intervention and control) before the intervention, but during ``3 months after education``, a significant difference in knowledge, attitude, and practice scores was seen (p<0.01). In the intervention group, the mean score for knowledge, attitude, and practice, 3 months after intervention was increased by 7.13, 12.96 and 0.87 scores, respectively (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Increasing the awareness of educational health in terms of knowledge, attitude, and practice is effectivein the reduction of fast food consumption in primary students.

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Discourse resistance is one of the important functions which can provide the required space for the growth and transcendence of discourse. Resistance negates affirmative and stabilized status so that new perspective be provided for the discourse movement. This perspective with the help of discourse practice paves the way for the transcendental presence of the actors. In such circumstances, discourse actions also find the possibility of movement, change, and birth. Resistance re-defines the power of discourse and leads to its modification, stabilization, or intensification. Resistance is the important function of discourse. In this novel, different aspects of resistance are represented and the realms of discourse put various energies to the flow of discourse by influencing on each other. In this paper, various types of resistance are analyzed in The Drowned and their characteristics are examined accordingly. The main question is what are the most important types of resistance in The Drowned and what characteristics and functions do these types? Furthermore, what features and elements do the realms of discourse in this novel in order to create resistance? For this purpose, the present paper aims to analyze the resistive features of discourse from the perspective of semiotics to explain the formation conditions and transcendence of signification. This study shows that, there are many types of resistance such as mythical, transcendental, phenomenological, and resistance related to tension and identity. It shows that the realms of discourse are constantly re-assigned depending on the strength and energy injected into them.

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This study aimed to examine the policies in the Iranian English for Academic Purposes (EAP) education and the extent to which objectives match the policies and are materialized through pedagogical practices implemented. To this end, EAP course descriptions developed by macropolicy-making level were evaluated through document analysis and triangulated with the authorities’ perspectives through interviews to see the degree of conformity between policy and practice. Seven policy areas in Kaplan and Baldauf’s (٢٠٠٥) language-in-education planning (LEP) were chosen as the theoretical framework of the study. Based on EAP document analysis and interviews with the authorities, the similarities and discrepancies in micro and macro levels were clarified. The results showed that EAP course descriptions do not include any comment on some policy areas, and there were discrepancies in policy and practice due to such factors as lack of communication channel between the EAP stakeholders and policy-makers. Finally, the study revealed that due to deficiencies in both policy and practice and in order to reach an acceptable status, EAP programs are in dire need for reconceptualizing policy-making and practice.
 

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This research answers to three main questions:  what, why, and how to develop evidence-based human resource management. A systematic review (SR) is used in literature review and qualitative interpretative meta-synthesis (QIMS) in synthesis and interpretation of data. 25 original articles were selected during the search, synthesis, and interpretation process, which eventually led to uptake of five dominant views about the concept of evidence-based human resource management (EBHR). Also, using this approach we found that it will improve the organization's outcomes and increase its competitiveness. Finally, by referring and exploring the literature on how to develop this approach in medical and health care field, we provide a framework for developing the model that is consist of thee sectors: process of evidence-based practice in human resources, influential factors or organizational determinants, and external factors or determinants. Each of these sectors will improve and develop evidence based practice approach in human resources management.
 

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Aims: A strong association has been documented between diabetes mellitus (DM) and oral diseases. Since dental clinicians are mainly responsible for the oral health of the general population, this study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of dental students in Tehran regarding the oral health of diabetic patients.
Instrument & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a researcher-designed questionnaire with 3 domains and 32 questions (5 demographic, 21 knowledge, and 6 practice questions) was used for data collection. After assessing the validity and reliability of the questionnaire, 130 senior dental students attending Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, Shahed, and Islamic Azad University dental schools were requested to fill it out. Data were analyzed by the linear regression model using SPSS version 20.
Findings: The mean age of the participants was 24.6±2.47 years. The response rate was 94%. Half of the students were females (n=70, 53%). The mean knowledge and practice scores of the students were 15.29±2.32 out of 21, and 4±1.19 out of 6, respectively. The students with a higher grade point average score acquired higher knowledge and attitude scores (p=0.00). A significant inverse correlation was found between the practice and the age of students (p=0.05).
Conclusion: The results indicate the moderate level of knowledge and practice of dental students in Tehran regarding the oral health of diabetic patients. Educational interventions and revision of dental curricula may enhance the knowledge and practice of dental students in this respect.
 

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Aims: The dentists in Iraq usually operate the process of taking dental radiography by themselves. with the more uses of newer ionizing radiation modalities, there is an increased chance that dentists, co-workers, and patients are liable to face the harmful effect and hazards of radiation especially when there was negligence or ignorance. This study aimed to assess dentists' knowledge, attitude, and perception toward dental radiation.
Instrument & Methods: This study was carried out on 322 dentists. The subjects were allocated into 2 groups general dental and dental specialists. Data were collected by a structured questionnaire consisting of 26 items and analyzed using the Chi-square test by SPSS 23 software.
Findings: Out of the 322 dentists who participated in the study, 244 (74.6%) were General Dental Practitioners and 78 (23.9%) were specialist dentists. Specialist dentists showed higher knowledge, attitude, and perception values for radiation hazards protection than general dentists. 
Conclusion: From the results obtained in this study, it was clear that the knowledge, attitude, and perception level concerning radiation protection was higher among specialist dentists compared to general dental practitioners.
 

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Aims: The aim of the study was to identify the levels of attitudes and practices of medical and paramedical staff, and determine the association of different demographic variables of medical and paramedical staff with attitudes and practices regarding occupational hazards in their workplaces.
Instrument & Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in hospitals and health centers, During the period from January 5th, 2022 ending on April 10th, 2022, 485 staff individuals participated in the study, information about Attitudes and practices collected through a structured questionnaire developed by the researcher.
Findings: Regarding the attitudes of the staff, the results observed that all responses regarding the preceding domain had a "Good" evaluation, While the practices of the medical and paramedical staff that were studied, the results that observed the most responses regarding of preceding domain had a "Good" evaluation with some of responses was “Accepted” and “Poor”.
Conclusion: The medical and paramedical staff had "Good" attitudes and practices regarding the occupational hazards in their working environment.

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Aims: Social distancing is one of the most effective methods to control the transmission of Covid-19. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of social distancing in students.
Instrument & Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 342 students of Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences. Sampling was performed electronically using the availability sampling method. Data collection tools were a questionnaire of demographic information and a questionnaire designed for measuring students’ social distancing knowledge, attitude, and practice. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 16 using descriptive and inferential statistical tests.
Findings: The mean age of participants was 21.56±2.11. Out of 342 participants, 222 (64.9%) were female, 84.2% were single, and 84.8% were living in urban areas. The median social distancing knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 6±1, 48±4, and 16±3, respectively. Out of the 342 surveyed students, 85.4% showed a good level of social distancing knowledge, 76% showed a good attitude towards social distancing, 22.8% showed a moderate attitude, and none (0%) showed a poor attitude. However, only 0.6% of the surveyed students earned good social distancing practice scores.
Conclusion: Despite the good social distancing knowledge and attitude scores of the surveyed students, they were doing poorly in practicing social distancing.