ali omidi

Mandala Coloring and Playing are distraction strategies to reduce the anxiety level in children. However, their effects are inconsistent and have received little attention for the management and prevention of anxiety in hospitalized children. The main objective of this study was to compare the effect of distraction strategies of Mandala coloring and playing with Lego on reducing preoperative anxiety in pediatric patients undergoing surgeries.

The study was designed as a randomized, single-blind, tree-arm, parallel-group controlled trial. There were 96 children aged 6 to 18 years who were admitted to the pediatric surgery ward in Mofid Children's Hospital in Tehran-Iran. Simple randomization was used for choosing the participants for dividing them into two intervention groups and one control group. The interventions (Mandala Coloring and Playing with Lego) lasted 15-20 minutes in Mandala and Lego groups. In the control group, they received care according to the ward’s routine procedure. Anxiety as the main outcome variable was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory in two stages (before the intervention and immediately after the intervention) for children. Analysis of variance was used to compare the means in the three groups, and Tukey’s post-hoc test was used to assess the significance of differences between pairs of group means.

Less state anxiety was observed after the intervention in the Lego group compared to the Mandala group (-4.69 ± 7.58, P =0.094). The data also revealed significant differences before and after the intervention in the Lego group in terms of preoperative trait anxiety (35.84 ±10.25 and 34.38 ± 8.89, respectively, P = 0.038).

The results demonstrated that playing with Lego and Mandala coloring, compared to the control group that received care, according to the ward routine procedure, had an effective role in reducing preoperative anxiety in children; however, playing with Lego had the most effect on decreasing anxiety state in children.

In today's management world, some senior and highly experienced managers, instead of innovation and acceptance of changes, stick to old and traditional procedures and refrain from making bold and risky decisions and have little intellectual mobility, which over time reduces their innovation and The overall performance of the organization. Relying on their old experiences, these managers have refused to accept any creativity and innovation from the employees, which has caused the emergence of a phenomenon called experienced managers, the result of which is a decrease in individual and organizational performance. Therefore, the current research was conducted with the aim of knowing and understanding the characteristics of experienced managers in government organizations with the phenomenological method.

The current research is descriptive-exploratory in terms of its practical purpose and in terms of information gathering, and it is of a qualitative research type using the phenomenology method (the lived experience of people involved in the phenomenon) and Dickelman's approach. Since the current research is qualitative, the data collection method is in-depth interviews with the participants. Accordingly, using the purposeful sampling method and based on the principle of theoretical adequacy, 20 government managers and management professors were selected as sample members. In this research, qualitative content analysis method with inductive approach and Maxqda software were used in order to review and analyze the data obtained from the interview.

In addition to recognizing and understanding the mentioned phenomenon, the research findings identified the factors affecting the phenomenon of experienced managers, which included 4 main themes, which include: individual or personality factors, occupational (organizational) factors, administrative-supervisory factors, and legal factors. are political

Immigration has experienced a significant surge in the past few decades as a result of a variety of factors. The proximity of Europe to critical regions, such as the Middle East and North Africa, has resulted in an increase in the immigration of Muslims to Europe since 2015. However, in recent years, extreme right-wing and racist tendencies have gained traction in nearly all European countries. Some extreme right-wing parties and Western media have used immigrants, particularly Muslims, as a convenient scapegoat, characterizing them as threats to their identity, values, culture, and economy. This study analyzed the perception of Europeans toward Muslim immigrants to determine whether the immigration of Muslims to the European Union (EU) is a genuine or fabricated threat. This was a descriptive-analytical study that employed the Copenhagen school as the theoretical framework. The study findings indicated that the immigration of Muslims to European countries is predominantly a threat fabricated by certain politicians.

Tensions and disputes between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia have long plagued the South Caucasus region with constant crises. The Nagorno-Karabakh crisis, one of the most significant international crises since the Cold War, has resulted in two decades of conflict between these two countries. During the 2023 conflict, with Azerbaijan's seizure of the Karabakh region, Armenia was forced to accept the new political conditions. However, the differences have not yet fully resolved and conflicts continue. Other issues, such as the Zangezur Corridor and border disputes, have also strained relations between the two countries. The deep-rooted nature of these differences has made the brief periods of peace between the two countries seem like “fire under the ashes” that can flare up at any moment. Official diplomatic efforts in the past decades have been fruitless, and in this situation, using the capacities of informal diplomacy, especially citizen diplomacy, which has had successful experiences in some regions, is noteworthy.Research question: What is the role of citizen diplomacy in deescalating international tensions and how can citizen diplomacy help reduce tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan?

Research hypothesis: 

Citizen diplomacy can lead to the reduction in Armenian-Azeri tensions and create opportunities for cooperation and lasting peace, provided that sufficient support is provided and the historical obstacles are removed.

Methodology and theoretical framework:

 The research method of this article is qualitative with an exploratory-analytical approach. In other words, the data of the article is non-quantitative and the researcher relies more on historical data. It is exploratory because just a few preliminary works have been done in this field and the present study is considered one of the first comprehensive works in this field. Within a theoretical framework, the article examines identity theory in a constructivist way that examines how collective and individual identities influence the political behavior of societies and countries. The article argues that citizen diplomacy serves as an effective tool for changing negative images and reducing tensions between conflicting identities. This type of diplomacy includes direct people-to-people interaction, cultural and educational exchange programs, community-based dialogues, and the use of media and social networks. These tools help build mutual understanding and respect between different individuals and communities, as well as reduce misunderstandings and increase international cooperation.

The national identity of the Republic of Azerbaijan is based on the territorial integrity and retake of Nagorno-Karabakh, while the national identity of Armenia is based on the defense of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. By promoting hatred and a negative image of the other country, the media and propaganda of both countries have helped to reinforce opposing identities and deepen distrust and hostility between the two nations. The emphasis on the historical crimes and nationalist narratives in the educational and cultural systems of the two countries has increased tension and continued conflict.So far, there have been few attempts to reduce tensions between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia through citizen diplomacy, which includes programs by non-governmental organizations, research institute and universities with the support of international institutions. These programs include the European Partnership for the Peaceful Resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, the Conflict Monitoring Center, and the "Letters for Peace" initiative, work through dialogue, cultural and educational exchanges, and joint projects to reduce tensions with the aim of strengthening informal contacts and mutual understanding between citizens and elites of the two countries. However, these efforts have not been fully successful due to political, security, economic and historical constranits. The complex history of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, mutual distrust, the promotion of nationalist narratives by the media and the lack of coordination between citizen and governmental diplomacy are among the reasons for the failure of these programs. In addition, regional and international factors and the conflicting interests of interested countries have added to the complexity of the crisis and the continuation of the conflict. The limited participation of ordinary people and an emphasis on national interests have also hindered the effectiveness of citizen diplomacy. For these efforts to succeed, new strategies, greater support, and broader international and local cooperation are needed. This includes strengthening cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries, creating common spaces for inter-governmental dialogues, and making optimal use of traditional and social media to promote a culture of peace and mutual understanding. Increasing awareness, reducing misunderstandings, and promoting peaceful ideas can help strengthen communications and reduce tensions between the two countries.

The findings of this study show that various citizen diplomacy programs, such as cultural exchanges, educational cooperation and joint projects can gradually reduce negative perceptions and create a space for dialogue and understanding. By increasing people-to-people interactions and strengthening cultural ties, hostile identities can gradually be transformed and the ground for cooperation and peaceful coexistence can be created. Citizen diplomacy can act as a bridge for peace and understanding between Azerbaijan and Armenia and help create a new and positive atmosphere in the relations between these two countries. This approach uses various tools and increases human and cultural interactions, including cultural and educational exchange programs, economic and trade cooperation, media and information diplomacy, strengthening the role of civil institutions, holding educational workshops and seminars, developing joint environmental projects, encouraging international and regional dialogues and promoting multi-cultural and multi-lingual education which can play a key role in developing relations between the two peoples and open new horizons for peaceful co-existence.

One of the approaches to prevent forests’ destruction is to improve the knowledge and participation of local people. In the present study, the role of indigenous knowledge of stakeholders and the participation of local people in the sustainable conservation of the west of Guilan forests were investigated using the theories of normative levels and planned behavior. The statistical population consisted of the residents and native forest dwellers of Sowme'eh Sara, Fuman, and Shaft cities, as well as the experts from General Department of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Guilan. The sample amount was calculated using the unlimited Cochrane method, and 198 people responded to the questionnaire. The sampling method was simple random and for data analysis, structural equation modeling with SPSS 26 and Smart PLS 3 software were employed. The correlation test showed a significant positive relationship between participation and local knowledge variables with sustainable conservation and these two variables were able to predict sustainable conservation by 0.661 and 0.377, respectively. The structural equation modeling indicated that the experience of forest destruction through the weak participation of local people and indigenous knowledge has an indirect effect on adaptive behavior in sustainable forest conservation. According to the theory of normative levels, the focus of indigenous communities on the promotion of indigenous knowledge as an objective concept along with their focus on abstract concepts such as participation in the conservation of degraded forests can motivate protecting forests. This issue is accordance with the theory of planned behavior which creating a positive attitude among native people in the form of mental norms, lead to the control of behavior based on sustainable conservation. The results of the present research can be used to change the attitude of the general managers of the Natural Resources and Watershed Administration regarding the effectiveness of indigenous knowledge and cultural issues in the sustainable conservation of natural resources.

The fear and hesitancy of managers in making decisions ends up in a phenomenon called decision phobia, which sometimes has dangerous and irreparable consequences for the individual, employees and organization. By identifying this phenomenon, organizations can reduce its consequences. The purpose of this research is to present a model of how the phenomenon of decision-phobia of government agency managers appears and also to identify various solutions to deal with this phenomenon in government organizations.

The current research is descriptive-exploratory in terms of its practical purpose and in terms of the method of data collection, and it is of a qualitative research type that has been used using the foundation data method. Since the current research is qualitative, the data collection method is in-depth interviews with the participants. Based on this, 20 public administrators and management professors were selected as sample members using the purposeful sampling method and based on the principle of theoretical adequacy. In this research, in order to review and analyze the data obtained from the interview, the method of qualitative content analysis with inductive approach has been used.

Based on the textual analysis of the interviews, the understanding and recognition of the phenomenon of decision phobia, causal variables, intervening variables, influencing variables and the consequences of dealing with this phenomenon have been extracted. The results showed that changing organizational culture, creating flexible organizational structures, training and individual development of managers and supporting managers and decision-makers can prevent the phenomenon of decision phobia.

Introduction:             

AI refers to systems that exhibit intelligent behavior by analyzing their environment and taking actions, with some degree of autonomy, to achieve specific goals. In recent years, AI has also made its way into politics. In an increasingly interconnected world, the emergence and rapid development of AI has become a pressing issue in foreign policy decision-making. The exponential growth of data and the emergence of advanced AI technologies have opened new opportunities to enhance human decision-making capabilities. The integration of AI technologies into foreign policy decision-making processes has the potential to transform the way countries shape their strategies and navigate complex geopolitical challenges. The present study aimed to examine the role of AI in foreign policy decision-making, as well as the capacities and challenges lie therein.

Literature Review:

Several studies have dealt with to the use of AI in foreign policy decision-making. For instance, Berkoff (1997) explored the potential of AI to enhance individual and organizational decision-making capabilities, offering suggestions to the AI engineering community on what policymakers need to improve these processes. Putri et al. (2020) used AI to simulate ASEAN negotiations. They clarified how AI decision-making systems can help international relations experts and learners understand the decision-making process and government foreign policy strategies during diplomatic negotiations. Scott et al. (2018) tried to provide a basis for planning a foreign policy strategy that effectively responds to the emerging power of AI in international affairs. In the Iranian context, there is a notable lack of research regarding AI and its impact or application in foreign policy or international relations.

The study employed a mixed methods research design to analyze over 100 sources. Lawshe’s content validity ratio (CVR) method was used to validate the research hypothesis. Moreover, a panel of 12 experts, including academics and AI specialists, evaluated the hypothesis. With a CVR value exceeding 0.56, the hypothesis was confirmed, which showed the reliability of the research findings.

The applications of AI in foreign policy decision-making can be classified under two main types: 1) AI independent decision-making as in the virtual politician or AI politician and 2) AI as a support and supplement to decision-making in foreign policy. Currently, the concept of the AI politician is still at the theoretical level and has not been implemented in practice. Despite the efforts to promote the AI politician, these systems face many challenges and limitations. AI cannot understand complex foreign policy dynamics, cultural nuances, historical context, and diplomatic subtleties. Additionally, AI cannot evaluate and measure moral considerations or take responsibility for decisions. It is also unable to explain unexpected events, sudden policy changes, or emerging trends in world affairs. As a result, until these challenges are resolved, it is unlikely that humans will allow AI systems to make independent decisions.AI tools and methods (e.g., neural networks, expert systems, fuzzy logic, evolutionary computing, natural language processing algorithms, and computational argumentation technology) can be used to support and supplement decision-making in foreign policy. Artificial neural networks can be used to predict conflicts and armed confrontations. A concrete example can be found in Olaide and Ojo (2021) which developed a model to predict conflicts in Nigeria. Expert systems can aid in diplomatic negotiations by creating scenarios. An example is the simulation of foreign policy decision-making in ASEAN negotiations. Fuzzy logic can also be helpful as seen in Sanjian’s attempt to use the fuzzy set theory for modeling the decision-making process in the U.S. arms transfers (Sanjian, 1988). Genetic algorithms are the most widely used evolutionary computing methods in decision-making, which can shorten decision-making time and provide better decision-making plans for foreign policy decision-makers. In addition, natural language processing algorithms can reduce language barriers between countries, allowing diplomats and policymakers to communicate more easily with foreign governments and embassies. Moreover, special systems like the Project Debater can debate complex issues with humans, helping people make persuasive arguments and informed decisions.Using AI in foreign policy decision-making presents both capacities and challenges. AI offers several capacities to support decision-making in foreign policy. By helping decision-makers analyze abundant and diverse foreign policy data, AI enhances the ability to better assess decision risks and reduce errors in decision-making. This leads to more accurate predictions of international events and speeds up the decision-making process. Moreover, AI can reduce the influence of human biases, emotions, and interests, ultimately improving the quality of foreign policy decisions and enhancing the overall diplomacy process. Regarding the challenges, it is important to note that if the data inputted to AI is biased or incomplete, it can replicate and perpetuate human prejudices such as racism and sexism. The improper or unethical use of AI also poses a significant challenge. Additionally, AI systems lack the capacity for innovation and creativity and do not understand the value of human life or the consequences of military operations. Another challenge is verifying the performance of AI systems. The black box problem also presents a challenge, as the decisions made by AI cannot be easily explained by humans. Overall, considering both the capacities and challenges, researchers recommend that AI should support human strategic decision-making, with final decisions always being made by people in positions of authority.

The present study examined various applications of AI in foreign policy decision-making. The discussion concluded that the concept of the AI politician is not yet practical since AI lacks the capability to fully comprehend and navigate the complexities of foreign policy, thus making the emergence of such a phenomenon unlikely. In other words, AI cannot replace humans in making independent decisions within the realm of foreign policy. However, AI is effectively used today as a support and supplementary tool, serving roles in analysis and prediction to aid decision-making in foreign policy.

With the remarkable rise of China's economy in the 21st century and its unparalleled role in commercial and financial exchanges, the internationalization of the Chinese yuan has become one of the primary indicators of China's emergence as a significant political and economic power in the global order. As major challenges confront the dominance of the U.S. dollar on one hand and China’s ascending position in the global power hierarchy on the other, new debates have emerged regarding the potential of the Chinese currency—the yuan or renminbi—to become an international currency in academic and policy-making circles. Regardless of whether this internationalization is feasible, one thing seems certain: the consequences of such a development. The circulation of a currency such as yuan on the international stage, its status as a financial intermediary, and its transformation into a store of value are influenced by both political foundations and power dynamics. This article aims to explore the trends and consequences of the yuan's internationalization, taking into account the uncertainties within China’s political and economic system, and to answer the question of what consequences might arise from the yuan's internationalization in the context of political and economic uncertainty. This article adopts the uncertainty approach as a hypothesis and employs a descriptive-analytical and exploratory method. It posits that the internationalization of any emerging currency, including the yuan, requires a reduction of uncertainty in both political and economic domains. If these uncertainties are understood and managed, the internationalization of the yuan will be facilitated; otherwise, it will face significant challenges. The article assumes the yuan's internationalization as a given trajectory and does not aim at future forecasting. Instead, it focuses its analysis on the potential consequences by drawing on the historical experiences of more established and widely used currencies in the international monetary system, such as the U.S. dollar, within an analytical framework. The present article, assuming the future internationalization of the yuan within the international monetary system, identifies the consequences of political uncertainty in areas such as democratic reforms, China's role as a responsible power, its increasing influence in the Global South, and its portrayal as a major power. Economic uncertainty is discussed in terms of factors such as the adjustment and reform of China’s political-economic structure, changes in government-led price setting, challenges to the U.S. dollar sanctions regime, and the strengthening of Chinese economic institutions. The findings of this research show that the internationalization of a currency primarily depends on the economic capacities of the country that issues it and, secondarily, on the trust it commands from other countries. Despite the fact that, according to available statistics, the Chinese yuan ranks below traditional currencies such as the dollar, pound, euro, and Japanese yen in terms of international exchange, its rising trend indicates increasing internationalization. This process will undoubtedly be influenced by China's economic capacities. To reduce uncertainty and enhance predictability in the domestic environment, democratic reforms and greater economic and institutional transparency are necessary. Additionally, in the international arena, China must assume greater responsibility for global issues and work towards a positive portrayal of itself as a major power in the Global South, particularly in addressing global challenges.

Recently, social health has become significantly important as one of the dimensions of overall health. Additionally,the issue of students› social health is a crucial concern that poses numerous challenges. This study aimed to assess the socialhealth status of students enrolled at Bam University of Medical Sciences and identify the factors that influence it.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2017, involving 260 students from Bam University of MedicalSciences. The participants were selected using the quota sampling method. The data collection tool was the Social HealthStandard Questionnaire developed by Keyes. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test,performed using SPSS version 22.

Among the students studied, women accounted for 67.7% of the participants. In terms of age distribution, 53.6% fellinto the 20- to 24-year-old age group. Regarding social health, 78.4% of the students exhibited an average level. The dimensionwith the highest social health score was social participation (15.21 ± 4.30), while the lowest score was recorded for socialprosperity (11.18 ± 3.10). Female students had slightly higher social health scores (76.51 ± 14.33) compared to male students(76.21 ± 14.33). The research findings indicated that the relationship between social health and variables such as gender, age,marital status, and educational level was not significant. However, significant relationships were observed with interest in thefield of study (P = 0.002), field of study (P = 0.048), and academic year (P = 0.008).

The study results emphasize the significance of implementing educational and health promotion interventions aimedat enhancing social health among students. It is hoped that these interventions will provide a foundation for improving the variousdimensions of social health and fostering the overall well-being of students

Qasem Soleimani, one of the senior commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed on January 3, 2020, near Baghdad airport by an American drone authorized by the US president. US officials justified their actions on the basis of self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and the anticipatory self-defense theory. This paper deconstructs the US legal arguments in accordance with international law, especially the rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and concludes that it is difficult to justify the US's actions based on the theory of self-defense, both in its restrictive and broad interpretations. Considering the fact that at the time, Iran and the United States were not in a state of armed conflict, resorting to the law of war to justify the United States' decision in assassinating General Soleimani would be baseless. Using deductive reasoning, this paper concludes that Soleimani's assassination was more a matter of revenge and deterrence rather than self-defense. The paper is organized into five sections, including an introduction, US domestic legal justification, self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, anticipatory self-defense, and conclusion.

The current study has focused on the design and explanation of the Jihadi management model in the Islamic society based on the divine-political testament of Imam Khomeini. This research was carried out qualitatively. Data and components were obtained by the content analysis method, using MAXQDA software for drawing the network of topics. By deeply studying the divine-political testament of Imam Khomeini, the themes that were representative of Jihadi management in the Islamic society were collected in the form of open, central, and selective coding. Ultimately, the codes were classified by thematic analysis in the form of 81 open codes, 53 basic themes, 10 organizing themes, and 2 sub-themes. They include ethics, religion, selflessness, insight, God-centeredness, effective communication, and revolutionaryness, and the manager’s general characteristics, including manager and thoughtfulness, orderliness, lawfulness, and meritocracy, were identified.

Fear and hesitation of managers in their decision-making may sometimes cause devastating and irreparable consequences for themselves, employees and organizations. The purpose of this research was to discover and understand the phenomenon of decision-making phobia or decidophobia as well as its types among managers of government agencies.

This qualitative research was applied in terms of purpose and was descriptive-exploratory in terms of data gathering technique. Phenomenology method (study of the lived experience of people involved in this phobia) was employed to conduct the research. The data collection method was in-depth interviews with the participants. Therefore, based on the principle of theoretical adequacy and using purposeful sampling method, 20 public administrators and management professors were selected as the sample.

In addition to the recognition and understanding of decision-making phobia, the research findings contain the types of this phobia. There are seven main themes, including: situational decision-making phobia, headquarters-supervisory decision-making phobia, social decision-making phobia, legal decision-making phobia, individual-personality decision-making phobia, Job/organizational decision-making phobia and political decision-making phobia.

Shift handover is one of the critical tasks and major challenges among health care providers in hospitals. Most serious errors are caused by communication problems related to shift handover. Thus, it is essential to implement effective programs to overcome shift handover challenges in hospitals. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the I-PASS (illness severity, patient summary, action list, situation awareness and contingency planning, and synthesis by receiver) program on nursing shift handover in hospital wards in southeastern Iran.

This study used a quasi-experimental design with a before-and-after method (without a control group) and was conducted in Pasteur Hospital in Bam City from January to March 2021. Sampling was performed using the census method. Participants included 47 nurses who work in critical care unit (CCU) and intensive care unit (ICU) wards. All nurses received shift-handover training based on the I-PASS program for 4 weeks (45-minute sessions weekly). The standardized I-PASS assessment tool was used in this study. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, along with the chi-square test, independent t test, and paired t test. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Among the participants, 89.4% were female, and 68.1% worked in the ICU ward. The mean age of the nurses was 33.25 ± 5.00 years old, and the mean year of their work experience was 8.08 ± 5.27 years. There was a significant difference in the mean scores of nursing shift handover before and after the intervention in the CCU ward from 1.88 ± 0.32 to 3.62 ± 0.98 (P = 0.018) and in the ICU ward from 2.37 ± 0.84 to 2.93 ± 0.35 (P = 0.013). Also, the mean scores of the CCU ward were higher than those of the ICU ward after the intervention (P = 0.01).

The I-PASS program can overcome many challenges in nursing shift handover and workflow. Therefore, this method can be a suitable alternative to the common methods of shift handover and patient delivery in hospital wards.

Creative deviance means defiance and disobedience to the orders of managers pursuing creative ideas which can bring positive results. The aim of the current research is to identify and prioritize the antecedents and consequences of creative deviation using the fuzzy Delphi method.

In terms of method, this research is a mixed research, and in terms of the type of use, it is an applied and exploratory research. The statistical population of the research included management professors and experts from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari governorates, 16 of whom were selected based on the principle of adequacy and theoretical saturation and by snowball sampling. A semi-structured interview was used to collect data in the qualitative part, and a Delphi questionnaire was used to collect data in the quantitative part. The validity of the data collection tool was tested using theoretical validity and content validity and its reliability using intra-coder-inter-coder method. To measure the validity of the questionnaire, the content validity method was used, and the inconsistency rate method was used to measure the reliability.

Based on the data analysis, the most important factors among the antecedents of creative deviance include high IQ, risk-taking, creative thinking and vagueness of rules, motivational factors, employees' mastery of rules and management support, and among the consequences, creating creative performance and increasing the ability to innovate, increasing organizational efficiency, accelerating organizational goals and solving some organizational problems are among the most important factors.

Creative deviance has important practical implications for organizations. By giving employees some degree of individualism and psychological independence, managers can encourage creative deviation and creative efforts among employees.

Rare earth elements (REEs) play a crucial role in modern technology, making them essential components of various high-tech products, including electronics, electric vehicles, and military applications. While the quantity of REEs in each device might be small, their unique properties are irreplaceable, and they are vital for the proper functioning of these technologies. The growing use of REEs in advanced applications, combined with the establishment of international trade agreements in this sector, has led to increasing global competition in the rare earth elements market. China has emerged as a leader in the REE industry, a position it has held since the mid-1980s when it began to gradually dominate the world market. As demand for these elements continues to surge, the limited availability of extractable reserves has become a concern. Changes in consumer preferences worldwide, particularly the shift towards high-tech, environmentally-friendly products, have driven this growing demand. The increase in demand has had a profound impact on countries that control the production and market for rare earth elements, as they gain significant influence in the international political and economic arena.The central question explored in this research is the geopolitical consequences of China's near-monopoly in the international rare earth elements market. Given the indispensability of these elements in various industries, including electronics, medical technologies, telecommunications, and defense, their control has far-reaching implications. A country that manages to monopolize the rare earth elements market can wield substantial influence over global politics and the international political economy. This paper aims to investigate the geopolitical outcomes resulting from China's dominance in the international rare earth elements market.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK:

The concept of the geopolitics of natural resources is employed in this research to elucidate China's hegemony and its exclusive position in the international market for rare earth elements. Geopolitics involves examining how a country's unique geographical attributes impact its power dynamics and influence on the global stage. Among these geographical elements, natural and mineral resources are of paramount significance. Governments strive to manipulate and control the supply and demand chains within strategic markets to shape the structure of these markets, including those related to strategic resources, in alignment with their political and economic objectives.

The paper will utilize a descriptive-analytic methodology to address the research question and expound on the influence of rare earth elements on China's political, economic, and military power in global politics. This methodology involves the use of both current and historical data to discern patterns and relationships between the variables associated with the research question or hypotheses. It is a method employed to provide a comprehensive and analytical examination of the subject matter.

The research findings indicate that China's relative monopoly and comparative advantage in the production and supply of rare earth resources have evolved into a geopolitical asset, with implications for its economic, political, and military power in relation to major rivals like the United States. In essence, China's geopolitical control of rare earth elements has translated into advantages across economic, political, and military dimensions vis-a-vis its formidable competitors. Despite efforts by other governments to counter China's monopoly, these endeavors have not yielded substantial success thus far. Given China's long-term strategic plans, it is anticipated that Beijing will likely maintain its monopoly on these resources at least until the year 2050.

 CONCLUSIONS & SUGGESTIONS:

To summarize, the key findings of this research on the political and geopolitical consequences of China's relative monopoly on rare earth elements include:Price Determination: China's control over rare earth elements allows it to influence the prices of these elements, giving it a strategic advantage in the global market.Dependence and Vulnerability: Other countries, particularly the United States, become dependent on China for these critical resources, making them vulnerable to China's policies and potentially subject to supply disruptions.Bargaining Power of Chinese Companies: Chinese companies gain significant bargaining power in industries dependent on rare earth elements, enhancing China's economic influence.Impact on Employment: China's control affects employment rates in Western countries and elsewhere as industries relying on rare earth elements may face challenges due to supply issues.These developments collectively contribute to an increase in China's power position compared to competitors like the United States, Japan, and the European Union. Given Iran's substantial reserves of rare earth elements, there is potential for these resources to serve as a diplomatic tool in foreign policy, bolstering Tehran's bargaining power in the international economic arena and potentially influencing discussions related to U.S. sanctions against Iran.

Stock returns is one of the important factors in making decisions and investing in the stock market, which is of interest to investors and other capital market practitioners. Investors and other people involved in this market, considering the specialization of the subject, need tools that will help them in choosing the right investment option and choosing the right portfolio. In order to increase the efficiency and correct performance, the tools need to be tested in different times and markets. The main purpose of this research is to compare static and dynamic artificial neural network models in estimating stock returns in the Tehran Stock Exchange in the period 1391-1400. In order to obtain the required information, the sources and records available in the libraries as well as the information available in the stock exchange and kodal system have been used. Excel and MATLAB software have been used for storage, processing, variable measurement and statistical analysis. The results of the research showed that the dynamic artificial neural network model has better predictive power than the static artificial neural network model in estimating stock returns in Tehran Stock Exchange.

Nausea and vomiting are among the most common side effects of chemotherapy, and despite using pharmaceutical treatments, no desired outcome has yet been achieved in this regard. Therefore, using non-pharmacological techniques has been recommended.

The present study examined the effect of overshadowing on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in children with leukemia.

In this clinical trial study, participants were 70 children aged 3 - 18 years admitted to the Oncology Department of Mofid hospital in Tehran, Iran, and were randomly assigned to 2 intervention and control groups. A flavored candy was given to each child in the intervention group 10 minutes before the start of chemotherapy. This process was repeated during 3 rounds of chemotherapy. The severity of nausea was measured with the Baxter Animated Retching Faces Scale. The frequency of vomiting was measured using a checklist in both groups 10 minutes before and immediately after chemotherapy. The data were analyzed with SPSS software (version 25).

The data revealed no statistically significant difference in the severity of nausea in the first and second chemotherapy rounds between the intervention and control groups (P > 0.05). However, there was a significant difference in the third chemotherapy round between the 2 groups (P < 0.05). The severity of nausea and frequency of vomiting in 3 chemotherapy rounds was not significant (P > 0.05).

The results indicated that overshadowing was not effective in reducing the severity of nausea and frequency of vomiting. Further studies are needed to determine the potential effects of this technique on gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea and vomiting.

There are always concerns about the environmental and human consequences of the widespread use of pesticides. This study aimed to determine the role of pesticides in the development of autism spectrum disorders in children through meta-analysis. All studies (11 articles) that had the potential to be used in our study were exported in EndNote X8 software and reviewed by authors. We extracted the required data, and we used Stata software (version 12) to analyze the pooled effect. Random and fixed-effect models were used to determine the combined estimation using the “metan” command.The results showed exposure to organochlorine pesticides could increase the risk of autism by 32% (OR=1.32; 95% CI: 1.14-1.53). The first trimester of pregnancy had the highest risk for autism (OR=1.23; 95% CI: 1.15-1.31). The cumulative meta-analysis showed a decreasing trend for crude and adjusted odds ratio over time.This study showed that exposure to pesticides can increase the risk of autism, and the time of exposure to pesticides is associated with the risk of autism. These results came as the cumulative meta-analysis results for crude and adjusted odds ratios showed a decreasing trend over time.

Recognizing and introducing common cultural elements significantly affects convergence and divergence among nations. Cultural commonalities, or awareness of them, facilitate international collaboration and communication. UNESCO's primary mission is to promote international cultural cooperation and mutual understanding across cultures by developing institutional mechanisms. As one of the significant universal cultural spheres, the cultural Iranian civilization sphere has always had an excellent capability for developing cooperation among political units linked to it. In this regard, the question arises as to how UNESCO uses its cultural policies to create political-identity ties among countries within the cultural Iranian civilization sphere. This study employs a descriptive-analytical method within the theoretical framework of cultural diplomacy, drawing on library and statistical sources. It aims to investigate the current state of UNESCO's diplomatic mechanisms and to provide alternatives to their efficiency. According to the findings, UNESCO has taken steps to disseminate cultural convergence in the aforementioned civilization sphere by implementing cultural projects such as World Heritage, Intangible Cultural Heritage, Memory of the World Programme, Unitwin/UNESCO Chairs Programme, and Creative Cities Network. Although this procedure establishes multifaceted cultural relations among nations in this sphere, it has been affected by some executive, political, and social challenges.

Although the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is mostly interpreted based on geopolitical propositions such as NATO’s expansion towards the Eastern Europe, the cultural identity and the inference of the political elites in both countries also play a significant role in escalating this battle. In some cases, the way of interpreting identities, which are defined on the basis of a sense of individual affection to the society or a specific group according to a set of cultural and social features such as religion and language, has been influential in creating friction in human societies. In addition to expansion of “self and the other” in the mental situation of the citizens, this interpretation has a great impact on the perception of politicians about their ego and its function in relation to other countries. Meanwhile, the conceptual dimensions of this research have been based on cultural revanchism and radicalism. In order to answer the main question of the research, a descriptive-analytical method has been used and the data has been gathered through library and statistical resources. The findings of the present research indicate that reactional policies of both parties regarding one another and in ties with past humiliations and present threats have roots in “contradictory and converging” Russian and Ukrainian cultural identities. These roots, within the framework of historical, ethnic, lingual and religious perceptions, pave the way for escalating the current conflict between the two countries.

Different factors in the workplace may create potential health risks for workers. Noise is one of these factors and it is considered as a concern through the world. The aim of this study is to provide information on the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among cement factory workers.

In this descriptive-analytical study, 283 workers were randomly selected from different production units in a cement factory. Equivalent Sound Level (Leq) was measured by using a Casella CEL-320 ‎ dosimeter and Sound Pressure Level (SPL) was measured by using a TES-1358 sound level meter (SLM) (sn: 090717269), with high accuracy. Audiometric tests were conducted by using an AVA C88 audiometer. Hearing Threshold Levels (HTLs) were calculated at different frequencies for both ears. Collected data were analyzed by using SPSS.16 software and statistical tests.

About 55 percent of the participants suffered from some levels of hearing-loss at the frequency range of 4- 8 KHZ. There was a significant difference between the mean HTLs ‎ of left and right ear at most frequencies. The highest mean of sound pressure level (SPL) was measured in crusher unit and the lowest mean occurred in bag-filling unit.

Occupational exposure to noise has the potential to cause hearing loss in cement factory workers. Therefore, it is necessary to perform effective measures to prevent the prevalence of hearing loss in units with high exposure risks.

The main purpose of the study: The present study has been designed to design a model of revolutionary management in an Islamic society based on the statements of the Supreme Leader from 2011 to 1400 AD.Research The method of this research was qualitative; Extraction of data and components by content analysis method is extraction of components, which has been done using MAXQDA software to draw the content network. By deeply studying the statements of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei (as), the topics that were introduced by the revolutionary leaders in the Islamic society were collected in an open, pivotal and selective coding. Finally, the codes extracted by content analysis method were classified from a total of 50 lectures in the form of 66 open codes, 50 basic themes and 5 organizing themes. The work was presented as a model of revolutionary management in the management of the Islamic society. Which includes a comprehensive theme called revolutionary leader and 5 beliefs, political, professional, economic and personality indicators of a revolutionary leader were identified. It should be considered by all political advisors and managers of the country.

To understand climate change adaptation in forest management, it is necessary to be examined the general approach of perception and experience with daily behavior to adapt to climate change and the relationships between them. According to the National Center for Drought and Crisis Management, based on the SPEI index, 62.2 percent of the annual and 84.9 percent of decade of the total area of Guilan, respectively, is affected by drought. This study examines the relationship between people's perceptions and experiences of drought as a climate disaster and their daily behavior in terms of adaptation to climate change. Using the theories of world psychology, a questionnaire based on the Theory of Regular Levels (CLT) and Planned Behavior (TPB) was developed and distributed to the teenager generation at the school level in Rudbar city. Then, by using the structural equation model and path analysis, standard beta coefficients and factor loads were estimated using PLS software. For the research variables, convergent validity of AVE was greater than 0.5 and Cronbach's alpha for reliability was greater than 0.7, indicating the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. SEM results showed that drought experiences had an indirect relationship with adaptive behavior, but the two hidden variables of climate change and water saving perception had a direct relationship with adaptive and saving behavior. Significance of these relationships was confirmed by t-test with 95% confidence. The existence of a stronger relationship between the variable of climate change than the variable of perception of water saving implies that people focus less on abstract concepts (high level of CLT structure), while their focus is on objective concepts , like more daily behaviors. Therefore, considering the impact of climate change on climate disasters in Hyrcanian forests, it is necessary to plan climate change adaptive behavior to deal with climate disasters.

In this study, to determine Trump’s images of himself and Iran, the authors have focused on Trump's verbal behavior on Twitter. In this study, Maxqda 10 software was used. Through three-step coding, open coding, axial coding, and selective coding, the research seeks to answer these questions: what image does Trump represent of America and Iran on Twitter? And what are the reasons for this representation? The findings of the study are in the form of two concepts: the image of the self and the image of the other. In terms of self-image, authors have faced two sub-categories of Republican and Democratic achievements; Two category that Trump is trying to portray as a pro-American image of Republicans (with four categories) and the threatening image of US power by Democrats and Obama (with two categories) against Iran to achieve its intended goals of justifying anti-Iranian measures and extending his presidency. This, in turn, has polarized US foreign policy on Iran. Also in the terms of the image of the other, Iran is represented as the enemy of the United States that consists of three categories of the authoritarian regime, violating democracy and disturbing the international order. This type of Trump illustrations is influenced by anti-Iranian discourse in the US, The influence of Israeli loby and those around Trump, Trump's personality traits and his hate of Obama.

Professional ethics is a set of principles and standards of human behavior that affect individual behavior and leads to improve care that provided by medical staff. The present study examined the knowledge and attitude of medical and nursing students toward professional ethics in Iran.

This descriptive‑analytic study was carried out on 176 medical and nursing students in Bam University of Medical Science, Iran in 2019. In this study, students were selected by census sampling. Data collected using two researcher‑made questionnaires related to knowledge and attitude toward professional ethics. Data were analyzed in SPSS software.

The mean scores of knowledge among nursing and medical students were 86.56 (8.76) and 85.10 (12.19), respectively. The mean score of attitude among nursing and medical students was 127.06 (12.45) and 129.9 (11.88), respectively. Results of the Pearson correlation test showed a positive and significant associated between the score of knowledge and attitude nursing and medical students’ (P < 0.001), (r = 0.76) (r = 0.66). Among the demographics characteristics, student age was associated to their attitude and knowledge significantly (P = 0.03).

Iranian nursing and medical students have a positive attitude and a high level of knowledge about professional ethics. A high level of knowledge was related to the most positive attitude.