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This paper analyzes and reviews the rapid uplifts of the Earth's crust in the Caucasus that occurred over the last century. The uplifts were registered by precise repeated state leveling and reflected on officially published maps of vertical movements of the Earth's crust. This study summarizes information on the region's vertical movements over more than a century. The present study describes the technology for creating maps of recent vertical movements of the Earth's crust using precision leveling data. This paper summarizes cases of recording uplifts of the Earth's surface in other regions of the world in connection with seismic activity. The authors carried out intercomparison of vertical movements with tectonics, seismicity, and geophysical fields, which discovered their apparent mutual correspondence. This indicates the deep tectonic nature of the observed uplifts of the Earth's crust. Spatial and temporal agreement with the distribution of strong earthquakes showed a natural relationship. It has been shown that strong earthquakes are confined to the boundaries of zones of rapid uplift. They occur predominantly in areas of transition between uplifts and subsidence. The results obtained demonstrate the role of the study and observations of vertical movements of the Caucasus in assessing periods and areas of increased seismic hazard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Danzy Senna explores the challenges of racialized intersubjectivity in transracial mothering in her 1998 novel Caucasia. Transracial mothering pertains to mothers who possess a different racial identity from that of their children, most often in mixed-race families. The literature on mixed-race identity and experience is notably limited, particularly concerning motherhood in mixed-race settings. This article addresses this gap and explores racialized intersubjectivity in mother-daughter relationships by analyzing motherhood in Danzy Senna’s novel Caucasia. Racialized intersubjectivity describes how racial differences affect the interchange of thoughts and feelings, both conscious and unconscious, that provide a shared perception of reality between two or more persons. This paper builds upon the literature regarding the effect of race on maternal competence by looking further into racial dynamics in mixed-race families. A careful analysis of the text demonstrates how racial differences between mothers and daughters inherently impact their intersubjectivity, thus complicating their reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variability and evenness (diversity) of the system of red blood cell parameters was assessed for the first time using multivariate and information analysis methods in the synanthropic M. musculus and the hemisynanthropic A. (S.) uralensis in the Central Caucasus Mountains (Elbrus region). This paper introduces the concept of the actual or realized "niche" of the red blood cell parameters system in the multidimensional space of the descriptive model. The niches of A. (S.) uralensis and M. musculus were clearly differentiated, the niche volume of A. (S.) uralensis significantly exceeding that of M. musculus. This paper describes interspecific differences in the seasonal regulation of blood parameters, which was more complex in A. (S.) uralensis and clearly cyclical from "winter" to "autumn." The results allowed us to conclude that, compared to M. musculus, A. (S.) uralensis implements a more flexible adaptation strategy to seasonal changes in the environment. The tested methodology of data analysis allows us to consider the results of particular studies on mammalian hematopoietic regulation in the broader context of problems of biodiversity and the dynamics and self-organization of biological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first assessment of dietary exposure to aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and associated health risks through milk and dairy product consumption in Armenia. Data on AFM1 in raw milk were obtained from an annual residue monitoring program. Additionally, commonly consumed dairy products (pasteurized milk, cheese, sour cream, curd cheese) were sampled, considering the sources of raw milk used by dairy companies. Per capita consumption of raw milk was sourced from national food balance databases, while individual consumption data for dairy products was collected via a 24 h recall survey with 1400 adult respondents. Detectable levels of AFM1 were observed in 7.14% of raw milk samples (up to 0.334 μg/kg) and, albeit at lower amounts (up to 0.009 µg/kg), in 30% and 40% of sour cream and curd cheese, respectively. The AFM1 levels were lower than the national maximum permitted level (0.5 μg/kg); however, levels in raw milk exceeded the EU ML (0.05 μg/kg). The estimated margin of exposure values for dairy products indicated no significant risk, whereas a reasonable worst-case estimate, using the measurable levels of AFM1 in raw milk consumption indicated a potential public health concern. This study provides a scientific basis for evaluating aflatoxin issues in the Caucasus area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global programmes (GPs) are crucial actors in transnational policy transfer but understudied in literature. The paper explores GP policy transfer in terms of instruments, space, and time from a comparative perspective. Employing a thematic analysis of policy/programme files and using the GP to prevent gender-biased sex selection as a case study, the paper compares implementation across diverse countries and regions. It finds similar policies and ideas are transferred, across scales, sectors, and actors throughout the policy cycle. Yet short programme cycles contradict longer timeframes needed to assess sex-selection policies and interventions to change social norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the modelling of suspended sediment yield in a plains region in the European part of Russia (EPR) and its prediction for ungauged catchments. The studied plains area, excluding the Caucasus and Ural Mountains, covers 3.5 × 106 km2 of the total area of about 3.8 × 106 km2. Multiple regression methods, such as a generalized linear model (GLM) and a generalized additive model (GAM), are used to construct the models. The research methodology is based on a catchment approach. There are 49,516 river basins with an average area of about 75 km2 in the plain regions. The suspended sediment yield geodatabase contains data from 385 gauging stations. The linear GLM model of suspended sediment yield explains about 50% and the GAM model about 65% of the data variability (R-squared adjusted). The models include mean slope steepness, percentage of arable land, runoff per unit area, catchment area, soil rank and catchment soil erodibility as significant predictors. They also include a zonal-sectoral gradient (the sum of active temperatures and the standard deviation of air temperature, or directly by geographic coordinates). A GAM model is trained to predict suspended sediment yields for unexplored areas of the area. The paper presents the results of extrapolating suspended sediment yield values to ungauged river basins in a plains region of the EPR. For the first time for such a large area, the models built and the use of the basin approach made it possible to predict runoff values for hydrologically unexplored river basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remittances are an important source of external financing in low‐ and middle‐income countries. This paper uses the gravity model to analyze remittance flows in Russia and Caucasus and Central Asia countries. Standard gravity determinants, such as gross domestic product in sending and receiving countries, bilateral distance, existence of common borders and common official language, and fit remittance, flow well. Remittances also react to inflation and exchange rate movements in recipient countries to sustain their purchasing power. In line with the altruism hypothesis, remittances flow to countries with higher age dependency ratio. Remittances are countercyclical and help stabilize outputs in recipient countries. However, global shocks resulting in sharp output losses of sending countries would lead to large volatility and decline in remittance inflows in recipient countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: While feeding, the larvae of pygmy moths (Nepticulidae) consume part of a leaf's photosynthetic tissue, thus causing damage to the host plant. Although these insects play a natural role in terrestrial ecosystems, they are perceived as pests in horticulture. This study investigates the identity of a potential Nepticulidae pest infesting plum trees in the Caucasus, initially presumed to be the widespread European Stigmella plagicolella (Stainton). Contrary to expectations, our detailed taxonomic analysis revealed a new species of pygmy moth with distinct male genitalia morphology and molecular differences from its European counterpart. This discovery challenges previous records and highlights the need for accurate pest identification. We hypothesize that the proximity of the Caucasus to Europe emphasizes the importance of monitoring and preventing unintentional pest spread, particularly given potential climate change impacts on the distribution and behavior of pests. Our findings contribute to both practical pest management and scientific understanding of evolutionary processes shaping the Caucasian and European biota. In instances of severe infestations, Nepticulidae larvae can inflict damage on cultivated plants. Previously, it was assumed that the Prunus-feeding Nepticulidae have continuous distribution from Europe to the neighboring Caucasus. During recent fieldwork in the Caucasus, leaf mines were found on plum trees that initially resembled those of Stigmella plagicolella (Stainton) in Europe. However, upon rearing the adults, significant differences emerged, leading to the hypothesis that a different Prunus-feeding species exists in the Caucasus; this challenges previous records in Western Asia. This paper presents the outcomes of our morphological, molecular, and statistical investigations, unveiling S. colchica sp. nov., a previously unknown potential plum-tree pest. Distinguished by male genitalia characteristics, the new species differs from S. plagicolella. The inter- and intraspecific divergences between S. colchica sp. nov. and S. plagicolella range from 3.5% to 6.02%. Moreover, the utilized delimitation algorithms reliably clustered two species separately, as does our mitotype network. A statistical analysis also shows a discernible trend between the leaf mines of S. colchica sp. nov. and S. plagicolella. This unexpected discovery not only documents a new potential pest, enhancing our understanding of the Caucasian fauna, but also contributes to the broader biological inventory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper studies and publishes, for the first time, 14 military medals exhibited at the National Museum of Dāgistān Republic in Makhachkala, Caucasus. These medals are of great importance since they recorded historical events with different details. Moreover, they denoted awardees with their roles in public political life, as well as beliefs and religious doctrines. Moreover, they showed the insights of the military strife between the Russians and Mountain peoples and the role of Islamic Jihad leaders under the leadership of Imām Šāmil (Šumwīl) to liberate Caucasus from the Russian occupation. Šāmil awarded his military leaders these medals as a sort of motivation and appreciation for their prominent active role in the war against the Russians. These military medals played a vital role in expressing the geography and administrative divisions of Caucasus. Additionally, some medals referred to the Mountain territory as “The greatest Dāgistān” (العظمي داغستان .)The present paper tackles the religious significance of medals concerning expressing the nature of the Jihad situation in Caucasus in the 13th AH./19th AD. century, as in some Jihad expressions, such as moḥyī as-Sunnah (Sunnah reviver) wa Qāmi’ al-Bid’ah (heresy suppressor); (البدعة وقامع- السنة محيي,) Adām Taʿālā Dawlatuh (May his state live longer); (دولته تعالي أدام .) Medals played the interactive role in combining the records of historical resources and the biographies of the nobles through referring to the names of some Islamic Jihadist leaders in Dāgistān. They played a significant role in illustrating some recorded statements, including titles, names, dates, events, and some poetic lines. They were also important role in highlighting the artistic and decorative aspects. While some of them showed special inscriptions of some weapons, spears and shields, others illustrated the signatures of many craftsmen following various Islamic artistic schools, confirming the super-ego of the Muslim craftsman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Recent Period Turkish Studies / Yakın Dönem Türkiye Araştırmaları is the property of Recent Period Turkish Studies / Yakin Donem Turkiye Arastirmalari and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A taxonomic review of the Nepticulidae of Armenia is provided for the first time. Currently, the previously little-known fauna of the pygmy moths of Armenia consists of eight genera and 31 species, including seven new species described and illustrated in the current paper as follows: Stigmella armi Stonis, Dobrynina & Remeikis, sp. nov.; Stigmella garnica Stonis, Dobrynina & Remeikis, sp. nov.; Stigmella inopinoides Dobrynina, sp. nov.; Stigmella magicis Stonis & Dobrynina, sp. nov.; Stigmella ararati Stonis, Dobrynina & Remeikis, sp. nov.; Trifurcula vardenisi Stonis, Dobrynina & Remeikis, sp. nov.; and Etainia caucasi Remeikis, sp. nov. The most common Nepticulidae species in Armenia, Stigmella muricatella (Klimesch), still remains a taxonomic puzzle. However, the molecular sequences of the Armenian specimens and a specimen of S. muricatella from Greece were found to be similar, though clearly distinct from the widespread S. rolandi van Nieukerken due to numerous hypothetical mutational steps. Mitotype analysis revealed that the Ectoedemia specimens collected in Armenia do not belong to the expected widespread E. spinosella (Joannis) but are more similar to the less-known E. mahalebella (Klimesch). Moreover, some specimens from Armenia identified by us as Simplimorpha promissa (Staudinger) and Ectoedemia (Zimmermannia) longicaudella Klimesch may actually represent possible cryptic taxa, allopatric subspecies or species. However, from a practical point of view, the description of such difficult-to-diagnose taxa is inappropriate. Thus, we have refrained from describing such new taxa based solely on observed molecular differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the frame of the DAMAST (Dams and Seismicity) project, we deployed a dense high-fidelity seismological real-time network to investigate in detail the spatio-temporal seismicity distribution around the Enguri high dam, situated in the greater Caucasus in western Georgia. We aim at recording the weak seismicity in a 10 km distance around the dam structure. To lower the detection threshold by reducing the ambient background noise, we installed four seismic stations in shallow (ca. 20 m) and deep boreholes. From these stations, KIT1 with a depth of ca. 250 m is the deepest seismological station in Georgia. In this paper, we characterize the seismicity recorded by the local seismic network from October 2020 to July 2022. To have a better historical picture of the seismic activity, especially since the dam construction and initial operations, re-processing of the old seismological catalogs was carried out. This required digitizing the paper-only catalog copies prior to relocation. We finally obtain a uniform catalog for the Enguri region to characterize the seismicity and start investigating its possible relationship with the exploitation of the dam reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we determine the location of the hypocenter and the magnitude of the earthquake of September 11/23, 1888 based on macroseismic data published in the Russian periodic in Russian, Armenian, and Georgian languages. Calculations showed that the magnitude of the earthquake was previously significantly underestimated, due to which it was not included in the catalog of strong earthquakes in the Caucasus test region (Shebalin and Tatevossian, 1997). The accuracy of the location of the hypocenter makes it possible to identify the active fault, with which the source of the 1888 earthquake is associated. The earthquake with Mw = 6.6 that occurred almost 100 years later confirms the long-term activity of the Western branch of the East Anatolian fault zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Black Sea / Karadeniz is the property of Black Sea / Karadeniz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper explores disappearing vernacular architecture in the Karachay region (Karachay-Cherkessk Republic, Russian Federation). Recent research at the University of West Bohemia in cooperation with Karachay-Cherkessk University focused on the last preserved examples of block buildings in the mountain villages of Greater Karachay in the central Caucasus. Such buildings mostly disappeared in the late twentieth century due to both the Stalinist deportation of the Karachay people and modern development. Dendrochronological evidence has helped to date the surviving vernacular buildings to the late eighteenth to early twentieth centuries. Interviews with local inhabitants revealed the cultural context of the traditional housing and attitudes towards it. Possibilities for tracing cultural links and elucidating the historical context of this neglected building culture are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The almond seed wasp (Eurytoma amygdali Enderlein) is a wasp from the order Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae family. The almond wasp is an important pest for almonds in the European, the Caucasus and the Middle East almond growing countries. In Romania the almond crop has regained interest among farmers. Recent observations confirm that this insect is present also in Romania, in the Dobrogea region. Almond fruits attacked by Eurytoma amygdali have been collected from the spontaneous flora, kept in laboratory conditions and microscopically observed, before, in time and after pupation. This paper might be of interest for farmers, pest-control products companies, as well for the pheromone traps R & D industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—It is generally recognized that the formation of the fold-and-thrust tectonic structures of mobile belts on continents is associated with crushing and narrowing of the Earth's crust due to collision of lithospheric plates. The deformation of the Caucasian lithosphere in the recent time is generally consistent with these ideas. However, the block differentiation of the Caucasian lithosphere brings specificity into the directionality of recent vertical and horizontal movements. In this paper, we analyze vertical movements of the Caucasus estimated by means of high-precision leveling over a period of more than a century and consider their spatial correlation with the tectonics, seismicity, stress-strain state, and geophysical fields. A clear correlation indicating the deep tectonic nature of the long-term uplifts of the Caucasus crust is revealed. The differentiation of the Arabian plate movement causes partitioning of the Caucasus territory into provinces that differ by the pattern of recent movements, orientation of faults, and stress-strain state of the geomaterial. These provinces also have distinctions in seismicity in terms of the number of seismic events and focal mechanisms of the earthquakes. We propose a model of a deformation mechanism of the Greater Caucasus, which accommodates the long-term trend of the Caucasus uplift in the conditions of general shortening of the Earth's crust. The results of the analysis provide a basis for discussion of a probable mechanism of neotectonic evolution of the Greater Caucasus, which can be used in the seismic hazard assessment of the North Caucasus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the geographical area historically known as "Persia" has never been properly a "fertile land", water shortage did not represent a problem for the diverse and multiple populations that inhabited the Iranian Plateau throughout millennia. The ancient Persian civilization could flourish thanks to sophisticated water knowledge and water management strategies that allowed it to become the dominating culture of the vast Persian Empire, which by the year 500 BC, extended from the borders of India to the western coasts of Minor Asia and the Caucasus. Even after the fall of the empire, the successive populations could live in arid areas thanks to an ancient system of water provision and management called "Qanat". Qanats not only provided water from an underneath water spring to desert lands and remote areas of the region; they also reflected a specific "water cultural system" based on sharing and managing water as a common good. The paper will discuss how water shortage in present day Iran is, on the one hand, related to a progressive abandonment of the Qanats system, substituted by the use of modern irrigation systems, the privatization of water and the progressive abandonment of the common. On the other hand, this abandonment is related with dramatic cultural change and weakening of community identity, impacting the sustainability of human life in the Iranian Plateau's arid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astroclimatic conditions characterize the quality of an astronomical site. The Terskol Observatory was founded over 42 years ago in 1980. The astronomical site (coordinates 43°16′29″ N, 42°30′03″ E) is located about 10 km from Mt. Elbrus in the northern Caucasus Mountains. The paper presents the results of an analysis of long-term variations from 1980 to 2022 of astroclimatic parameters such as total cloud cover, precipitable water vapor, and wind speed at a level of 200 hPa above the Terskol Observatory using atmospheric ERA5 Reanalysis data from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast. The probability distributions and seasonal variations of the astroclimatic parameters are also presented. Long-term trends of the astroclimatic parameters are studied with statistically significant trend analysis methods using the Mann–Kendall test and the Sen's slope test to estimate the magnitude of the changes. The results show non-significant decreases of annual average 200-hPa wind speed and increases in precipitable water vapor, but significant (99 per cent confidence level) long-term decreasing of total cloud cover above the Terskol Observatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Erdkunde is the property of Universitaet Bonn, Geographisches Institut and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper addresses the female costume of the East Germanic tradition which was widespread in the North Caucasus throughout the Great Migration period. It was characterised by one or two big two-plate brooches (measuring more than 10 cm in length) worn on the chest or shoulders. Germanic elements, in female costume in particular, spread through the material culture of the North Caucasus in the early stage of the Great Migration period, in the last third of the 4th c. and the first decades of the 5th c. However, the costume featuring big two-plate brooches appeared in the said region, similarly to Europe in general, a bit later, in the second third of the 5th c. Almost all the archaeologically documented cases of the costume in question appearing in the burial context were in the Black Sea coast of the North Caucasus, primarily in the cemetery of Diurso in the vicinity of the present-day Novorossiysk. The 6th c. written sources documented there the area where the Tetraxitae Goths lived. According to Procopius of Caesarea, the Tetraxitae Goths originated from the eastern Crimea. The 6th c. Anonymous Periplus mentioned in the same area the Eudusiani people who spoke Gothic language. In the 5th c., the Tetraxitae Goths migrated from the eastern Crimea to the North Caucasus: the Utigur Huns took them when leaving the northern Black Sea area for the east. Outside of the coastal area, the big two-plate brooches and their diminished copies occurred on the sites of the type Pashkovskii – Karpovka which belonged to the proto-Adyghe population of the Kuban. The costume featuring two-plate brooches was certainly considered prestigious at least by the Tetraxitae Goths who created the cemetery of Diurso. The graves containing the attire in question usually featured rather rich grave goods. All the researchers agree that the costume featuring big two-plate brooches on the chest or shoulders was of East Germanic origin. Its prototype existed in the Cherniakhov archaeologic culture. In the Hunnic period, the costume with small two-plate brooches, which were especially widespread in the Cherniakhov culture and the northern Black Sea areas, became the background for the shaping of the ‘princely’ costume with big brooches of similar form. In its own turn, this new prestigious costume became the prototype of the East Germanic attire with big two-plate brooches as a ‘folk’ replica of prestigious East Germanic costume of the Hunnic period. From the second half of the fifth to the early sixth century, this costume was imitated by the East Germanic ‘middle class’ to become widely distributed in the Barbaricum from the North Caucasus to the Pyrenees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early or proto-history of the Khazars is still far from being thoroughly investigated, in regard to the world wide popularity of the Khazar studies. There are still many vague points to be discovered, despite the great attempts especially for the last hundred years of modern Khazar studies. We may differentiate between the terms Khazar and Khazarian , the former referring to the ethnie in the core of the process making Khazaria, and thus to the proto stage, and the latter to the well-known imperial formation in Eastern Europe. The scattered but rich sources of Khazarian history are not, on the other hand, very helpful in Khazar history. The debates on the meaning of the ethnonym Khazar are also a part of the proto-history. We are bound, for the early parts of the history, with the eastern, i.e., Chinese and Turkic sources. Previously the Chinese sources were effectively used in that regard, and with the publication of the readings of the two Uyghur inscriptions Tes and Terkhin from the 750s some fifty years ago opened a new chapter for the early history of the Khazars and the etymology of their name. This paper suggests a new frame for the early history of the Khazars in Asia and Europe and slightly revises the etymology of what we may call the French school, supposing that the Khazars came from South Siberia to the Caucasus in the wave of the Suvar union, after being defeated by the Uyghurs during an internal strife likely instigated by the Türks and their overlords Juan-juans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NEW AND DISTINCT CERAMIC TYPES emerged from the cultural centres of the Islamic Caliphate in Western Asia beginning in the eighth century AD. Islamic potters carefully added colour, glaze, and finishes to their vessels, which became luxury items throughout the Caliphate. People within the sphere of influence of the Islamic Caliphate slowly adopted objects, such as unique styles of glazed pottery, which symbolised status and power. The Byzantine Empire and Islamic Caliphate both influenced the material culture of the Southern Caucasus, which ebbed and flowed between them both. In particular, the emerging Caucasian polities in medieval Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan began to produce splashed sgraffito ceramics in the 9th and 10th centuries AD that were very similar to those created by Islamic potters in centres such as Baghdad, Samarra, and Nishapur. Scholars have explained such changes in Caucasian consumption patterns as the result of influence and trade between the Islamic Empire and the Caucasus; however, they have not considered the cultural implications of such a change. My paper discusses how Caucasian elites and eventually even the peasantry used splashed sgraffito to construct their individual and group identities. I examine three sites from the Caucasus where local potters produced and used splashed sgraffito ceramics. I assess Ani in Armenia, Shamkir in Azerbaijan, and Tbilisi in Georgia. My analysis suggests that ceramics played a larger role in the construction of political and individual identity at a time when independent kingdoms were emerging in the Caucasus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neanderthals were widespread during the Middle Palaeolithic (MP) across Europe and Asia, including the Caucasus Mountains. Occupying the border between eastern Europe and West Asia, the Caucasus is important region regarding the Neanderthal occupation of Eurasia. On current radiometric estimates, the MP is represented in the Caucasus between about 260–210 ka and about 40 ka. Archaeological record indicates that several culture diverse MP hominin populations inhabited the Caucasus, but the region complex population history during this period remains poorly understood. In this paper, we identify for the first time the archaeological evidence indicating contacts between two culture diverse MP Neanderthal populations in the North Caucasus and discuss the nature of these contacts. Basing on the lithic assemblages that we excavated at Mezmaiskaya cave in the north-western Caucasus (Kuban River basin) and Saradj-Chuko grotto in the north-central Caucasus (Terek River basin), dating from MIS 5 to MIS 3, and comparative data from other MP sites in the Caucasus, we identify two large cultural regions that existed during the late MP in the North Caucasus. The distinctive toolkits and stone knapping technologies indicate that the MP assemblages from Mezmaiskaya cave and other sites in the west of North Caucasus represent a Caucasian variant of the Eastern Micoquian industry that was wide spread in central and eastern Europe, while the assemblages from Saradj-Chuko Grotto and other sites in the east of North Caucasus closely resemble the Zagros Mousterian industry that was wide spread in the Armenian Highlands, Lesser Caucasus and Zagros Mountains. The archaeological evidence implies that two culture diverse populations of Neanderthals settled the North Caucasus during the Late Pleistocene from two various source regions: from the Armenian Highlands and Lesser Caucasus along the Caspian Sea coast, and from Russian plain along the Sea of Azov coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to fill the knowledge gaps in biodiversity of non-biting moth flies in the Caucasus (especially in Abkhazia) and create a suitable basis for subsequent (not only) ecological studies. In total, records of 65 Psychodidae (Sycoracinae -- one sp., Psychodinae 64 spp., altogether 33 genera) species/subspecies are presented based on specimens collected mainly in Abkhazia, with some additional data from Armenia, Georgia, and Russia (12 new records). The Psychodidae fauna of Abkhazia now comprises 57 species, 31 of which are newly listed here. The Caucasus region (including the territory of Abkhazia presented here) should be considered the most biologically rich and most endangered region in the world, with an exceptional richness of endemic and endangered species also from the point of view of psychodids biodiversity. Sixteen extremely rare species in this family (probably Caucasus or highland endemics) which need to be given increased attention, whether from the point of view of island ecology or biodiversity protection, have been herein confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea for this collection of papers emerged from a desire to showcase queer scholarship in and on the region, following a panel discussion about the visibility of queer communities in the post-Soviet space at the ASEEES virtual convention in December 2021. The panellists' discussions highlighted the ongoing challenges of queer knowledge production and the tendency for scholarship produced by and on queer people in the region to be regarded as either 'anomalous' and/or 'exotic' and therefore treated as marginal. The contributions here challenge the latter argument by demonstrating that there are lessons to be learned from the experiences of queer people in the Caucasus and Central Asia. In this introduction, the guest editors explore the dominant themes that emerged from the articles in this issue. They also reflect on the politics of representation, reflexivity and research, and how they have sought to engage with them in editing this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dracocephalum botryoides Steven and Dracocephalum austriacum L. are unexplored species of the Dracocephalum genus (Lamiaceae family) with a distribution in the Caucasus, where they are used in folk medicine and local cuisine. There are no data on the chemical composition of these Dracocephalum species. In this study, the application of a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technique for the metabolite profiling of methanol extracts from herbs and roots of D. austriacum and D. botryoides resulted in the identification of 50 compounds, including benzoic acid derivatives, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids and lignans. Water-soluble polysaccharides of the herbs and roots of D. austriacum and D. botryoides were isolated and characterized as mostly pectins with additive arabinogalactan-protein complexes and starch-like compounds. The antioxidant potential of the studied extracts of Dracocephalum and selected phenolics and water-soluble polysaccharides were investigated via radical-scavenging and ferrous (II) ion chelating assays. This paper demonstrates that herbs and roots of D. austriacum and D. botryoides are rich sources of metabolites and could be valuable plants for new biologically active products. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of whole plant metabolites and their antioxidant activity in D. austriacum and D. botryoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NW Greater Caucasus and surrounding areas have a long history of petroleum production dating back to the mid‐19th century. However the origin of the oil and gas is still a matter of debate. This paper focusses on a study area to the north of the western Greater Caucasus covering the West and East Kuban Basins and neighbouring structural highs where oil and natural gas occur in reservoir units of Neogene, Paleogene, Cretaceous and Jurassic ages. The study is based on the results of organic geochemical and stable carbon isotope analyses of 21 samples of associated gases from 16 oil fields. The gas samples' compositions were investigated together with the δ13C values of C1 to C5 alkanes. Twenty of the gas samples were of thermogenic origin and one was mixed (thermogenic and secondary microbial). δ13C values for CH4 for all the gas samples varied over a wide range from ‐62.3 to ‐30.0 ‰, indicating major variations in the thermal maturity of the respective source rocks. In a previous study, three genetic types of oil were identified in the study area and are referred to here as Types 1, 2 and 3. Gaseous hydrocarbons associated with Type 1 oils were generated by source rocks in the Middle Eocene Kuma Formation and the Oligocene (lower) part of the Maikop Group which are inferred to have been deposited in anoxic, deep‐marine conditions. C2–C5 alkanes in gases associated with Type 1 oils have the lowest (most negative) δ13C values of the samples studied, and the lowest iso‐butane: n‐butane and iso‐pentane: n‐pentane ratios. These gas samples were recovered from wells in oilfields located in the south and SE of the West Kuban Basin, in the Akhtyrskaya fault zone which extends along the northern flank of the Greater Caucasus foldbelt. Higher δ13C values of C2–C5 alkanes were found in gas samples associated with Type 2 oils which were recovered from wells in the central West Kuban Basin. The associated source rocks are interpreted to have been deposited in weakly oxidizing subaqueous conditions and to contain mainly marine organic matter but with an input of higher land plant material. The precise age and stratigraphic identity of the source rocks is unresolved but they may comprise the Upper Oligocene – Lower Miocene (middle and upper) part of the Maikop Group. In gases associated with Type 3 oils, δ13C values of ethane to pentane are similar to those of gases associated with Type 2 oils. These gases were recovered from wells in oilfields located on the Adygeya Swell which divides the southern East and West Kuban Basins and from the Armavir‐Nevinnomyssk Swell to the north. The precise source of these gases and oils is not known but the oils are probably older than Late Cretaceous on account of the absence of oleanane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives/purpose/research questions: This paper investigates the gender assignment strategies employed when genderless Georgian nouns are inserted into gendered Tsova-Tush utterances. We explore the linguistic and extra-linguistic factors motivating the strategies, and compare how these code-switches behave in relation to loans. Design/methodology/approach: Taking a broadly usage-based approach, we collected three types of data: (a) naturalistic corpus data; (b) semi-naturalistic production data from a forced-switch director–matcher (DM) task; and (c) a three-response forced-choice acceptability judgement task (AJT). Data and analysis: The responses from the DM task (n = 12) and AJT acceptability (n = 12) were analysed using descriptive (Chi-square) and inferential (log-linear) statistics. The corpus data are described qualitatively. Findings/conclusions: Both the gender of the Tsova-Tush translation equivalent (TE) and the Georgian phonology of the code-switched noun were significantly related to the response, with the TE being the stronger determinant of the two. Only marginal evidence for a default strategy was found. Production responses were found to be more consistent than comprehension responses, with more frequent lexemes displaying higher inter-participant consistency in production. Originality: Tsova-Tush, an endangered Nakh–Daghestanian language with five genders marked by prefixes, offers much-needed diversification within the code-switching literature concerning grammatical gender. This complexity also raises new questions regarding the notion of default in mixed nominal constructions. Significance/implications: Our findings support the prediction that first language speakers of a gendered language prefer a TE strategy, but contradict a relationship between default strategy and language dominance. Phonological criteria display a stronger role in gender assignment than previously found. Frequency and entrenchment of gender–noun pairings partially explain inter-speaker and inter-stimulus variation and consistency, providing a plausible pathway from code-switches to borrowings. Limitations: An unavoidable limitation is the sample size, reflecting the small speaker population. We strongly advocate for similar research in other language pairs in the Caucasus where gender systems feature prominently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Applications of subTHz extremely-high-power gyrotrons and low-noise receivers for new antenna projects in astronomy, space radar, and telecommunication have been analyzed. Current progress in the development of new subterahertz instruments discussed in this paper, including antennas, high-power gyrotrons, and low-noise receivers, provides a wide range of possible applications. Atmospheric absorption has now become a major limitation in the application of such high-performance subTHz systems, and the choice of the optimal location of antennas for astronomical, radar, and communication systems is important. The latest results of studying the microwave astroclimate in northern Eurasia are presented. Based on these studies, new perspectives and corrected plans for installing new antennas at the Suffa Plateau and in the Caucasus are formulated, and possible applications of new instruments such as radars for locating space debris and communication hubs for deep space communications, which are based on extremely-high-power gyrotrons and low-noise superconducting receivers, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with new petrological-geochemical, and isotope-geochronological data for the igneous rocks that compose the Khulam volcano-plutonic complex in the central part of the North Caucasus (Kabardino-Balkaria). It is shown that the moderately-alkaline rocks of the Khulam complex are represented by a bimodal association of gabbro + basaltic trachyandesites and trachytes and rhyolites. The fractional crystallization had a leading role in the formation of this bimodal association. Assimilation of the material of host crustal rocks by magmatic melts did not exert any appreciable influence. According to the results of U‒Pb and K‒Ar dating, the Khulam rocks were formed in the Middle Jurassic (Bajocian–Callovian, 167 ± 4 Ma ago). It was found that the Khulam rocks possess geochemical characteristics that are similar to those for intraplate continental rocks, and were erupted in a postcollisional geotectonic setting (when the subduction in the region came to an end) in a local extensional zone that arose in the rear of a former active continental margin. The magma melts that were generated by the mantle source of the Khulam complex had overall geochemical characteristics proper to enriched mid-oceanic ridge basalts (E-MORB). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the velocity field of the Western Caucasus and Ciscaucasia based on GNSS observations. In the ITRF2014 reference frame, this field shows the coordinated movement of the region in the north‒northeast direction at an average rate of 27‒28 mm/year. A number of geodynamic features of the main tectonic structures of the region are identified with respect to fixed (immobile) Eurasia. In the northern part of the region, a fan-shaped pattern of horizontal velocity vectors is observed, reflecting counterclockwise rotation of the northern limb of the North Azov flexural fault zone and, accordingly, modern shear displacements. To detail the geodynamic situation, the velocity field is compared with two geodetic profiles. The first profile crosses in the southwest–northeast direction the mountain belt of the Western Caucasus, the West Kuban Foredeep, and the Scythian Platform, which are the region's main geological structures. The second profile is less extended, but also crosses the entire mountain belt of the Western Caucasus, the West Kuban Foredeep, and part of the monocline of the Central Sector of the North Caucasus. Within the Greater Caucasus and the West Kuban Foredeep, transverse compression of the main morphostructures is observed at a rate of up to 1 mm/year, and shear displacements prevail in the Ciscaucasia. The mountain belt of the Western Caucasus is in conditions of longitudinal compression. East of the Tuapse Fault Zone, the mountain belt is undergoing longitudinal extension. At the same time, the intensity of deformation processes on the southern slope area is higher than in the Ciscaucasia. Currently, the seismic activity level in the Western Caucasus is low and moderate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines a new etymology that has recently been proposed for Arm. gerezman and Caucasian "Albanian" garazman , both meaning 'grave, tomb', and the relationship of the latter to modern Udi gärämzä 'id.'. It shows that the peculiar shape of the Udi word can only be explained on the basis of a morphological restructuring that involved the genitive suffix - in -. Concerning the proposed etymology of gerezman and garazman , which builds upon an Iranian ("Median") phrase * gṛ δ a- zmani - 'house of clay', it refutes the hypothesis of a "mirroring effect" influencing vowels in the neighbourhood of r in Albanian and points out further problems in the assumed developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses the futile attempts of the political elites of the independent Caucasus states created at the end of the First World War (Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus) to create the united Caucasus during their presence in power and then in political emigration in the 1920s and 1930s, and also the attitude of influential European politicians towards this matter. The merits of the 'main dreamers' fighting for the integrity of the Caucasus - Akaki Chkhenkeli, Ali Mardan Bek Topchibashev, and Haidar Bamatov (Bamat) - have been outlined. The article discusses the factors that created fertile ground for the existence of their dream, on the one hand, and examines the real circumstances and objective reasons that hindered the realization of the ideas and actions of the historical figures working in the period under the lens. The work emphasises that, despite separate impediments (especially disagreement over boundaries and the annexationist policy of Turkey and Russia), the idea of Caucasian unity in the 1920s was based on the solid background created by the three main cultures that coexisted harmoniously over the centuries: 1. Religion - Judaism, Christianity, Islam; 2. Caucasian rule of thinking and 3. Caucasian mentality. Based on the research, we conclude that the happy future of the Caucasian people is linked to the unity of the Caucasus as it was in the case of the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the worship of Anāhitā in Western Asia examining some of the ideas put forward by James R. Russel in his volume on Zoroastrianism in Armenia in the light of more recent discussions about the role played by the goddess in Armenian religion before the conversion of the country to Christianity. While the evidence from more ancient periods has also been briefly presented, specific attention is given to Anāhīd's worship in the Sasanian period and to the devotion of Narseh to this divinity. Finally, Middle Persian personal names containing the theonym Anāhīd are briefly introduced and discussed, showing that this important divinity is underrepresented in Sasanian and post-Sasanian onomastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Caucasus region lacks climate-sensitive chronologies that are continuous, high-resolution and covering more than several centuries at the same time. This paper presents the first high-resolution curve reflecting the variations of heat availability in the Western Caucasus over the past 1500 years. The chronology of bottom sediment of Lake Karakel is based on the two precisely overlapped sediment cores, constrained by ten 14C dates with a temporal resolution of around 3 years. Bromine content in the sediment is interpreted as a proxy for variations of heat availability based on its coherence with the broadleaved tree pollen content in the same deposits. Lake Karakel Br curve showed distinct agreement with hemispheric and regional temperature reconstructions starting from 500 CE, as well as with the tree-ring temperature reconstructions available for the Caucasus. It allowed a constraint of the time frames for the main climatic events in the Western Caucasus during the past 1500 years: Medieval Climate Anomaly (ca. 960–1270 CE) and Little Ice Age with its three separate stages (LIA 1 ca. 1270–1310 and 1370–1410; LIA 2 ca. 1500–1630; LIA 3 ca. 1750–1840). Br-derived variations of heat availability are also supported by the recent cosmogenic glacier moraine dates in the Caucasus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper begins with an examination of the phrase /garah dmāna-/, the most common designation for Paradise in the Gathas, for which the traditional translation 'House of Song' is upheld. Its dualistic opposite /drujah dmāna-/ 'House of Wrongness' for Hell leads to the question of why for Paradise one doesn't have the expected opposite *'House of Rightness' instead of 'House of Song'. The answer proceeds from the etymologically unrelated Armenian gerezman 'grave, tomb', whose origin has been hitherto unknown, despite attempts toward its etymology. In view of the Indo-European phrase for the grave (i.e., burial mound) as 'the House of Clay', it is then suggested that the Arm. word is from a Median phrase, which is reconstructed as * gṛda - * zmani - '*clay (* zmani -) house (* gṛda -)'. The phonic similarity of this phrase to /garah dmāna-/ (/garah/ 'song's' and /dmāna-/ 'house'), with referential contrast is then seen as the chief motivation for Zarathushtra's use of /garah dmāna-/ for 'Paradise'. Then there ensues a discussion of the archeological-historical contexts for the latter development. Next, a phonologically systematic account is offered for Arm. gerezman becoming "Caucasian Albanian" garazman 'grave, tomb', in accord with hitherto unnoted aspects of "Caucasian Albanian" historical vocalism. The modern Udi derivative of garazman , i.e. gärämzä , is also accounted for. The loanwords in "Caucasian Albanian" are then divided into two main strata, first the Armenian (Iranian loans and indigenous Arm. words), including some forms from Armenian antedating Armenian literacy, and second a stratum of words, which are here called "Parthic", of a vintage par with Manichean Parthian. These "Parthic" words, with their religious references, point to an Iranian group which (after the Armenian phase of loanwords) influenced the development of Christianity among the "Caucasian Albanians", suggesting the existence of a "Christian Parthian". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L'article présente les résultats des recherches menées dans des sites stratifiés du Caucase du Centre-Nord, qui ont conservé des dépôts de la fin du Pléistocène et du début de l'Holocène. On y trouve une reconstitution des conditions paléogéographiques de l'habitation de l'homme ancien, basée sur de nombreuses dates au radiocarbone. Une analyse technico-typologique détaillée des industries lithiques est ainsi fournie, et qui présente des analogies presque complètes dans le contexte général du Caucase. Actuellement, il est difficile de parler de l'existence de cultures locales. Les complexes épipaléolithiques de la région de l'Elbrouz et du Caucase du Nord-Ouest sont caractérisés, comme les complexes épipaléolithiques du Caucase du Sud et du Moyen-Orient, par l'apparition de microlithes géométriques après le maximum de la Dernière glaciation. Ils se développent jusqu'au début de l'Holocène, lorsqu'un certain nombre d'innovations apparaissent. À l'heure actuelle, il n'y a aucune raison d'attribuer les assemblages datant de 11,8 à 9 ka BP, à une époque différente – le Mésolithique. Selon les données les plus récentes, les chasseurs-cueilleurs ont occupé la région jusqu'à environ 9,5 ka BP. Les nouveaux matériaux permettent de reconstituer les migrations lointaines et les contacts des habitants de la région de l'Elbrouz avec les populations des régions voisines pendant l'Épipaléolithique. This paper reports results of research in stratified sites in the north-central Caucasus, where deposits of the final Pleistocene and early Holocene are preserved. The reconstruction of paleogeographic conditions based on numerous radiocarbon dates is represented. We provide a detailed technical and typological analysis of lithic assemblages, which have almost complete analogies within the general Caucasian context. Currently, it is difficult to suggest the existence of local cultures. Like the Epipalaeolithic assemblages of the South Caucasus and the Near East, the Epipalaeolithic assemblages of the Elbrus region and the north-western Caucasus are characterized by the appearance of geometric microliths after the Last Glacial Maximum. The assemblages show development up to the early Holocene, when a number of innovations appear. At present, there is no reason to assign the assemblages dating from 11.8–9 ka BP to a separate period – the Mesolithic. According to the latest data, hunter-gatherers occupied the region up to c. 9.5 ka BP. New materials provide basis for reconstructing distant migrations and contacts of the inhabitants of the Elbrus region with human populations in neighboring regions during the Epipalaeolithic era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geological mapping provides vital information about the structure, evolution, natural resource potential, and geohazards of a specific area. The role of geological mapping is especially valuable for mountainous countries like Georgia. In this context, we present a geological map of the Mulkhura River Valley in the Georgian Caucasus (43°3′ N, 42°52′ E) with accompanying cross-sections at a scale of 1:30,000, covering approximately 220 km2. The geological information in the map is based on a comprehensive review of previously published geological maps and literature, combined with original analysis of satellite imagery and hitherto unpublished field data. The extensive spatial coverage and accompanying cross-sections provide detailed insights into the structure of the region. This new map will serve as a foundation for future geological research, hazard management, and resource exploration in the area, as well as for geoconservation to develop the national geotourism industry in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents brief information about the development of hail suppression technologies in the USSR and the Russian Federation, the main provisions of the currently used automated rocket technology of hail suppression, the characteristics of the modern antihail system in the North Caucasus, the results of evaluating its efficiency, the main problems of the project and recommendations for its further improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes expressions with the meaning 'other' in East Caucasian (Nakh-Daghestanian) languages. It is shown that four main strategies can be distinguished: i) the 'one'-based strategy: 'other' includes the numeral 'one'; ii) the demonstrative-based strategy: 'other' includes a demonstrative pronoun; iii) the mixed demonstrative-based + 'one'- based strategy: 'other' includes both a demonstrative and the numeral 'one'; and iv) the lexical strategy: 'other' is a dedicated adjective (pronoun), not necessarily derived from any other clearly discernable source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Territorial inventories of geosites remain on the international agenda, and they can help in acquiring information for solving pure geological research tasks. New field investigations in the northern part of Mountainous Adygeya (geoheritage-rich territory in the western Greater Caucasus) permitted us to extend our knowledge of its geosites. Five geosites were described qualitatively and assessed semi-quantitatively, namely the Polkovnitskaya River Valley (ammonite-bearing concretions of Aptian glauconitic sandstones), the Little Khadzhokh River Valley (Aptian glauconitic sandstones with fossils and trace fossils), the Shakhan and Middle Khadzhokh River Valley (Upper Jurassic variegated siliciclastics, Hauterivian fluvial and deltaic sandstones, mixed ancient and modern clastic material), the Big Khadzhoh Waterfall (splendid waterfall and exposures of locally folded Oxfordian–Kimmeridgian limestones), and the Verblyud Mountain (small, camel-shaped cuesta's remnant). They were ranked nationally (one geosite), regionally (three geosites), and locally (one geosite). Close examination of the considered geosites permitted to register pure geological peculiarities (changes in the dip direction between sedimentary packages), which indicate the tectonic activity across the Jurassic–Cretaceous transition. Additionally, complex accessibility patterns were established in some geosites, and these patterns should be addressed in further refinements of the semi-quantitative approaches to geosite assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geomorphosite inventory remains an urgent task for many geographical domains where it can facilitate the exploration of geoheritage resources. The present study reports a new and sufficient portion of information from Mountainous Adygeya in southwestern Russia, which is a geoheritage-rich area in the western part of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. The Cossack, Monk, and Three Teeth mountains were analyzed qualitatively and semi-quantitatively. Their morphology and geological settings were described, their geoheritage properties were scored by several criteria, and their cultural meanings were considered. It was established that the total heritage values of these geomorphosites are comparable. The challenging accessibility of these landforms is offset by the availability of sites for distant observation. Each proposed geomorphosite has its own cultural meaning reflected by its name. The proposed geomorphosites are constituents of the geoheritage resources of Mountainous Adygeya, and they can be exploited via local product branding and georoute functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty hop genotypes were selected for the evaluation of resistance to primary and secondary Pseudoperonospora humuli infection and of alpha acid and hop oil content in the hops. From the wild hop genotypes, two from Canada and one from Belgium showed resistance. Among the registered hop varieties, the Czech varieties Kazbek and Boomerang were the most resistant. Both wild hop genotypes from Canada showed the highest content of alpha acids among the wild hop entries, namely 4% w/w. The lowest variability of the alpha acid content in the wild hop category was found in two wild hop varieties from the Caucasus, one from Austria and one from Lithuania. The highest content of hop oils was determined in two hop genotypes from Canada and two from Belgium. Wild hop genotypes from the Caucasus have the lowest variability of hop oils among the wild hop entries. Two hop genotypes from Canada and one from Belgium were selected for breeding aimed at drought resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social capital was the Achilles' heel of the economic competitiveness of Armenia. In the meantime, the country made significant progress in solidifying it since the Velvet Revolution. In this article, we tried to present and analyze those elements of social capital which demonstrated significant progress in post-revolutionary Armenia, as well as the changes thereof. For that purpose, we have formulated the following research questions: What factors led to this growth, and what factors still lag? What hidden challenges can be observed through factual indicators which probably resulted from the slight decrease in the updated scores? What changes can be expected from the turbulent world and in the post-war society? The applied methodology is quantitative. In particular, to answer the research questions we used index analysis, graphic analysis, and comparison, correlation analysis techniques, pared t-test of the mathematical-statistical significance of changes, and Principal Component Analysis. The results of the analysis showed that a significant increase in the level of social capital was recorded in post-revolutionary Armenia, which was mainly due to the progress in institutional trust. Nevertheless, some revealed anomalies and encountered challenges undermined the archived progress in the growth of trust. Therefore, we put forward several recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Removing legal barriers to HIV services is crucial for the global 2030 goal of ending the HIV and AIDS epidemic, particularly in eastern Europe, the Caucasus and central Asia. Despite state commitments to uphold human rights, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM), along with transgender people (TP) still face stigma and discrimination. This article presents an analysis of rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) and HIV reported in 2022 across six countries, highlighting features and their links to legislation and law enforcement practices. Methods: We examined documented cases of rights violations among gbMSM and TP in Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine in 2022 using the REAct system, a tool for documenting and responding to rights violations against key populations. Initially, we employed directed content analysis based on Yogyakarta Principles to analyse narratives of violations. A codebook was developed through contextual, manifest and latent coding, with themes, categories and codes converted into quantitative variables for statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to identify the characteristics of violations. Results: A total of 456 cases of rights violations related to SOGI and HIV were documented, ranging from 22 cases in Tajikistan to 217 in Ukraine. Most violations concerned gbMSM (76.5%), with one‐fifth involving TP, predominantly transgender women. Complex violations with multiple perpetrators or infringements were documented in Armenia and central Asia. Privacy rights were commonly violated, often through outing. Cases of violations of the right to the highest attainable standard of health (13.6%) and protection from medical abuses (2.6%) were also documented. Other rights violations were sporadic, with each country exhibiting distinct patterns of violated rights and types of violations. In Ukraine, the full‐scale war in 2022 influenced the nature of documented cases, reflecting the challenges faced by gbMSM and TP. Conclusions: Monitoring rights violations proved effective for assessing the situation of gbMSM and TP, particularly in the insufficiently studied and diverse eastern Europe, Caucasus and central Asia regions. As rights violations are linked to both legislation and law enforcement practices, comprehensive interventions to minimize structural and interpersonal stigma are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Located at the crossroads of two continents and at the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean Basin, Anatolia was one of the most important Pleistocene glacial refugia in the Western Palaearctic. As part of the Irano-Anatolian, Caucasus and Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspots, this region is also home to a rich avian community including nearly 400 breeding species. Nevertheless, research addressing the genetic structure and diversity of local bird populations is limited, and information on glacial refugia in this region is still scant, especially when compared to other large Mediterranean peninsulas, namely the Balkan, Italian and Iberian ones. In this study, we contribute to filling this gap by addressing the biogeographic pattern of four common resident songbirds—the Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), the great tit (Parus major), the Eurasian chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) and the Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula)—and one endemic species—the Krüper's nuthatch (Sitta krueperi)—by amplifying two mitochondrial DNA genes in individuals from Anatolia (n = 329) and comparing their sequences to those of conspecifics from the rest of their distribution range across the western Palaearctic (n = 357) deposited in public databases. The overall genetic structure of these species is consistent with a scenario of isolation for multiple populations in different refugia across Anatolia and subsequent secondary contact in the wake of ice retreat, which makes this region a hotspot of genetic diversity for both widespread and endemic avian species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]