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Copyright of Polish Journal of Management Studies is the property of Czestochowa University of Technology, Faculty of Management 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.)

Assessments of the value of nature (e.g., TEEB. The economics of ecosystems and biodiversity: ecological and economic foundations, London, 2010) have tended to focus on the instrumental values of ecosystem services. However, recent academic and policy debate have highlighted a wider range of values (e.g., relational and intrinsic values), valuation methods (e.g., socio-cultural methods), and worldviews [e.g., indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) systems]. To account for these new perspectives, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has developed the concept of 'Nature's contributions to people' (NCP), which aims to be a more inclusive approach to understanding and accounting for the diversity of values held by different stakeholders. In this paper, we aim to critically appraise the merits of the IPBES conceptual framework by reviewing of the findings the IPBES Europe and Central Asia (ECA) assessment. Our objectives are: (1) To review and assess the instrumental and relational values of NCP in Europe and Central Asia? (2) To consider what additional insights into the value of NCP are gained through the inclusion of socio-cultural valuations and ILK? Our analysis demonstrates that the ECA assessment captures a wide range of instrumental and relational values of NCP; however, we acknowledge variation in the availability of this value evidence. We also highlight new insights that can be uncovered through the adoptions of socio-cultural valuation methods and analysis of ILK knowledge. We conclude that the NCP paradigm, with its focus on instrumental and relational values, treats values more holistically than previous assessments such as TEEB (2010). For example, by giving a 'voice' to ILK holders, we demonstrated new types of NCP such as carrion removal, along with evidence of relational values including sense of place, identity, symbolic values and sacredness. While the ECA assessments may be defined as an example of a 'Multiple evidence base' approach to valuation of ecosystem assessments, the ECA assessment fails to demonstrate how to incorporate this wider range of values in decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

The study showcases key themes and objectives of CSR of MNCs in transition economies, and the types of CSR activities reported to the audience. The contribution of the paper is in bringing insights into the goals, motives, and objectives of CSR of MNCs in Central Asia. The findings of the study are based on the content analysis of the companies' CSR activities explicitly reported to the audience. Multiple sources of publicly available data on MNCs (CSR reports, annual reports, websites of the companies, local news outlets reporting about CSR of foreign companies) were collected, coded, and analyzed to generate the findings. The limitation of the study is in the limited number of companies/countries reviewed. This paper contributes to the literature on CSR of MNCs in transition economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to look to new opportunities that may be available to the nations comprising Central Asia. The region has recovered only slowly since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Design/methodology/approach - Based on secondary data from reports by the UN, ADB and other NGOs, academic papers and the press, a quasi-mathematical equation is used to illustrate how infrastructure development is dependant on many factors. From this analysis the importance of the transportation sector for future growth is discerned. Historical detractors are noted and drivers for the future are discussed. Findings - The paper finds that Central Asia's future growth and prosperity would be based on a robust redevelopment of all its infrastructures but primarily on the implementation of Maglev high speed rail systems to move freight quickly internally and for Eurasian transit. Practical implications - Well-integrated transport infrastructures enhance local wellbeing. The interconnectedness and interdependence of globalised economies depend on transport, but other aspects of the total infrastructure local and regional must be integrated to achieve growth. In the case of Central Asia it is seen that an accord between the Presidents is needed to ensure regional cooperation, which will lead to Eurasian cooperation. Originality/value - The region has been forgotten, to some extent, by the global community, yet it has great potential to become again an important transportation hub between Europe and Asia. The value of the paper is in noting the push of many NGOs towards regional integration, which may be best approached, we suggest, from an initial investment in its transportation infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The HIV and AIDS epidemic feeds on, and worsens, unacceptable situations of poverty, gender inequity, social insecurity, limited access to healthcare and education, war, debt and macroeconomic and social instability. The number of people living with HIV and AIDS continues to increase in several regions, most markedly in sub-Saharan Africa, the Pacific, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The persistent nature of the epidemic and its increasing incidence in less powerful, more economically marginalised communities signals a need for a critical review of past policy and practice, particularly where this has left unchanged or worsened the risk environments that lead to new infection. Available evidence suggests that the caring and consumption burdens of AIDS have largely been met by households, limiting the capacities for future caring and mitigation of impact. Social cohesion or the collective networking, action, trust and solidarity of society, plays a positive role in reducing risk and dealing with vulnerability but is itself negatively affected by AIDS. This paper introduces the programme of work reported in this supplement of AIDS Care with an analysis of background evidence of community responses to HIV and AIDS. It explores how interventions from state institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) support and interact with these household, family and community responses. How far is risk prevention reliant on individuals' limited resources and power to act, while risk environments are left unchanged? How far are the impacts of AIDS borne by households and extended families, with weak solidarity support? Where are the examples of wider social responses that challenge the conditions that influence risk and that support household recovery? Through review of literature, this background paper sets out the questions that the studies reported in this supplement have, in various settings, sought to explore more deeply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response of plants to climate change has become a topical issue. However, there is no consensus on the synergistic processes of the canopy and trunk growth within different vegetation types, or on the consistency of the response of the canopy and trunk to climate change. This paper is based on Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), tree-ring width index (TRW) and climate data from the Irtysh River basin, a sensitive area for climate change in Central Asia. Spatial statistical methods and correlation analysis were used to analyze the spatial and temporal trends of plants and climate, and to reveal the differences in the canopy and trunk response mechanisms to climate within different vegetation types. The results show a warming and humidifying trend between 1982 and 2015 in the study area, and NDVI and TRW increases in different vegetation type zones. On an interannual scale, temperature is the main driver of the canopy growth in alpine areas and precipitation is the main limiting factor for the canopy growth in lower altitude valley and desert areas. The degree of response of the trunk to climatic factors decreases with increasing altitude, and TRW is significantly correlated with mean annual temperature, precipitation and SPEI in desert areas. On a monthly scale, the earlier and longer growing season due to the accumulation of temperature and precipitation in the early spring and late autumn periods contributes to two highly significant trends of increase in the canopy from March to May and August to October. Climatic conditions during the growing season are the main limiting factor for the growth of the trunk, but there is considerable variation in the driving of the trunk in different vegetation type zones. The canopy growth is mainly influenced by climatic factors in the current month, while there is a 1–2-month lag effect in the response of the trunk to climatic factors. In addition, the synergy between the canopy and the trunk is gradually weakened with increasing altitude (correlation coefficient is 0.371 in alpine areas, 0.413 in valley areas and 0.583 in desert areas). These findings help to enrich the understanding of the response mechanisms to climate change in different vegetation type zones and provide a scientific basis for the development of climate change response measures in Central Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central Asia is distinguished by its high level of multilingualism. Incorporating both language portrait and ethnographic methods, this paper attempts to uncover how young Uzbeks negotiate their use of language in multilingual Uzbekistan and its connections to education, opportunity, identity, and group membership; furthermore, it examines how they construct and negotiate their identities during this process. Under the lens of a micro and bottom-up approach, this research discovers that the youth of Uzbekistan regard multilingualism as a semiotic source of mobility that allows them to function adequately in a globalized world and that Uzbek, as a mother tongue, plays an important role in their ethnic and cultural identification. Being an Uzbek always occupies the first position among their many identities at the intersection of tradition and modernity, as well as localization and globalization, highlights the relationship between the mother tongue, as a heritage and individual development, which can be an important life anchor left for younger generations as a part of their own history and tradition, especially now, in the historical period we are living in, where relationships are characterized by high mobility and virtualization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of the study reported in this paper is to establish a dependence of the fatty acid composition of the fast-growing annual plant safflower on the agroclimatic cultivating conditions. The growth rate of safflower and the characteristics of the extracted oil are highly dependent on external temperature and moisture. At low temperatures, for example, the growth of safflower is significantly inhibited. With an increase in temperature and the length of daylight, the central stem begins to branch while growing faster. Flowering is mainly affected by the length of daylight. The period from the end of flowering to maturity is typically 28–30 days. However, the total ripening period of the crop depends on the variety, location, sowing time, and agro-climatic cultivating conditions. The need for water increases significantly during the flowering period of safflower, which ultimately affects the indicators of the fatty acid composition and yield. At the same time, safflower is sensitive to moisture in terms of disease. In case of excess water, it is subject to root rot. In addition, frequent rains and high humidity after ripening can provoke the germination of seeds on the head. Hence, it follows that in order to obtain a high yield with the specified characteristics of the fatty acid composition of safflower oil, it is necessary to take into consideration the quantitative indicators of moisture and its seasonality, as well as the temperature regime during the growing season. The study was conducted using arid or semiarid, sharply continental Central Asia with its hot summers and cold winters as an example. The dependence of the physicochemical parameters of plant-derived oils on agroclimatic indicators has been established. The reported results and conclusions will allow farmers to predict the yield of oilseeds with specified characteristics depending on the changing climatic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uranium mining and processing had been widespread in Central Asia since the mid-1940s. However, with the establishment of the newly independent states in the 1990s, many of the former uranium mining and processing facilities and their associated wastes (dumps and tailings) were abandoned and have since posed a threat to the environment. The fact that the sites were left behind without proper remediation for a long time has led to the uncontrolled spread of radioactive and toxic contaminants in the environment due to landslides or flooding. Knowledge of the exact location of some waste facilities was lost as a result of social disruptions during the 1990s. In order to assess radiological risks and plan and implement adequate, sustainable, and environmental remediation measures, the radiological situation at the uranium legacy sites must be repeatedly mapped with the best possible accuracy in terms of both sensitivity and spatial resolution. In this paper, we present the experimental use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with gamma spectrometry systems as a novel tool for mapping, assessing, and monitoring radioactivity at sites affected by uranium mining and processing and other activities related to enhanced natural radioactivity. Special emphasis is put on the practical conditions of using UAV-based gamma spectrometry in an international context focusing on low- and medium-income countries. Challenges and opportunities of this technology are discussed, and its reliability and robustness under field conditions are critically reviewed. The most promising future application of the technology appears to be the radiological monitoring, institutional control, and quality assurance of legacy sites during and after environmental remediation. One-off administrative and logistical challenges of the technology are outweighed by the significant amount of time and cost saved once a UAV-based gamma spectrometry survey system is set up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Varied visuals (paper-based, textiles, ceramics, etc.) targeted men and women to join the struggle for a new happy life in Soviet Central Asia. I designate these visuals as "Soviet material ideology" and I consider them as a powerful tool in spreading new ideas and practices. In this paper I explore posters and carpets created in the 1920s and 1930s that call for the emancipation of women of Central Asia. Studying of graphic and textile iconography helps to understand how the image of a woman of the "Soviet East" was reproduced and which ideas about women's emancipation were promoted. The analysis of Soviet visuals, which were a part of everyday life, explores a multidimensional picture of Soviet history and reveals the links between tradition and modernity, national and supranational, top-down and bottom-up narratives. Finally, textiles and graphics reflect Soviet trends pertaining to gender roles in the 1920–1930s. The paper is based on posters from the collection of the department of the Russian State Library and the Mardjani Foundation. It also relies on the examination of carpets from the Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan, the State Museum of Oriental Art, the Russian Museum of Ethnography, the All-Russian Museum of Decorative and Applied Art and private collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Oriental Studies (Al-Farabi Kazakh National University) / Kazahskij Nacional'nyj Universitet Imeni Al'-Farabi Vestnik Seriâ Vostokovedeniâ is the property of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University 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.)

In the context of global warming, the melting of glaciers in the Tien Shan Mountains as the important "solid reservoir" in the arid area of Central Asia is accelerating in recent decades, leading to profound changes in regional water resources. Based on the simulated glaciological data from the Python Glacier Evolution Model (PyGEM) and the measured glaciological data from the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS), this paper analyzed the applicability of simulated data, the changes in glacier mass balance, and the responses of the glacier to climate change and its impacts on glacier runoff in the Tien Shan Mountains. The results show that (1) the PyGEM simulation dataset is in good agreement with the measurements, which can effectively reproduce the change in the glacier mass balance in the Tien Shan Mountains glaciers and is suitable for studying the regional scale glacier change. (2) From 1980 to 2016, the decadal average mass balance change rate of glaciers in the Tien Shan Mountains was −0.012 m w.e. yr−1. The regional mass balance showed an overall negative increasing trend (the area with increasingly negative accounted for 80.13% of the entire area), with a positive increase that only occurred in the West Tien Shan Mountains and western North Tien Shan Mountains (19.87%). (3) The correlation between the temperature and mass balance is much higher than that between the precipitation and mass balance. Temperature dominates the change and development of regional glaciers. The increase in negative glacier mass balance that was observed in the study area is mainly affected by the rising temperature, the decreasing solid precipitation in the accumulation period, and the rapid melting in the ablation period. (4) The glacier runoff in the six representative rivers showed an increasing trend. The contribution rate of glacier runoff to river runoff changed significantly after 2000 but differed among rivers. Overall, the larger the glacier area in the source region is, the greater the contribution rate of glacier runoff is, and the more the contribution rate continuously increases or fluctuates; otherwise, the contribution rate keeps declining, which means the runoff peak may have passed and future runoff may decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing needs of mankind for minerals predetermine a systematic increase in the scope of mining operations. However, it is known that mineral resources are not evenly distributed in the bowels of the earth; therefore, due to their production, some regions of our planet can significantly outstrip other regions in their technical and, as a result, economic development; hence, the constant need to extract more minerals in order to develop the domestic industry and to strengthen the economy. This paper is devoted to the Central Asian states, their internal structure, economic integration into the world economy, and the mining sector development as the basis of a successful model for the development of the country as a whole. The study summarizes and analyzes the political system and socio-economic conditions in the Central Asian states. It presents a brief overview of the scale of mining operations; provides information about the mining industry structure in each country and the proceeds from its sales. Taking the Central Asian states as an example, we demonstrate the importance of the mining sector as an integral part of a country's domestic economic structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) The ancient Paratethys Sea was a spacious inland salt-water basin, extending from the Alps, over Central Europe, to Central Asia. The southwestern part of its central area, the Croatian part of the Pannonian Basin System (CPBS), is generally known for shallow-water deposition and biota. The main purpose of this paper is to emphasize the significance of its less widespread deeper-water deposits in environmental and applied geology. (2) The authors consulted the previously published data, combined with their own results, obtained from the paleontological and sedimentological research, seismic stratigraphy and well-log analyses. (3) During our research in the CPBS, we noticed the connection between the tectonic structures and deep marine canyons and depressions within the Paratethyan shallows. Such structures can be recognized on well-logs and seismic or surface outcrops. They are situated along the faults, and deposits are characterized by the domination of pelagic over the benthic biota, sometimes with visible selective dissolution of aragonite/calcite tests. (4) Studied sedimentary sequences from these structures proved to be a precious source of data on the transgressive-regressive cycles, ancient migrations, modes of deposition and hydrocarbon formation during the Miocene Epoch in the CPBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article aims to identify the main problems in treating urological pathologies by analyzing scientific literature from this field and developing recommendations. The quantitative excretion of uric acid, urine volume, and pH are essential in the formation of uric acid stones. The most important risk factor for uric acid nephrolithiasis is the acidic reaction of urine, which is a prerequisite for the formation of urinary stones. When urine is alkalized, the pH should be 6-6.5. Drugs alkalize urine, and one should titrate using urine pH indicator paper until the level is stable. This study found that the spread of genitourinary diseases is increasing. This situation can be improved by monitoring and assessing epidemiological processes, preventing urological pathology, and optimizing medical care organization in the context of health care reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The architecture of the pre-modern Islamic world broadly identifies itself with geometric design. In erecting buildings, architects-engineers of the Islamic world utilized distinct modes of geometric projections vital to the spatial conception of the building. These representations identify three modes of design drawings: plans, revetments/vertical surfaces, and reflected ceiling plans. This paper will discuss these modes of drawings and their unique role in relation to the architectural 'design thinking' traditions. Much has been examined regarding two-dimensional Islamic geometric patterns ( girih), but little exists in terms of a comprehensive framework investigating various modes of geometric drawings in relation to formal, spatial, and tectonic conceptions of the architectural space. This paper fills a critical gap in the literature about Islamic architecture and examines this topic through primary resources and original pamphlets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, trade in Central Asia was frequent, and cultures merged. As an alien ethnic group, Sogdian integrated into the Central Plains during the Sui and Tang Dynasties and impacted the dance and vocal culture of the Central Plains. The research on Sogdiana is mainly reflected in the connotation and history, and there is little research on the characteristics of its musical instrument combination and performance methods. This paper analyzes the Sogdian culture in the Sui and Tang dynasties and studies its achievements in dance and its influence on contemporary teaching. The results show that the Sogdian instrument arrangement focuses on percussion, especially drums, flutes and other instruments. However, the frequency of use of different instruments is the same. At the same time, it was found that Sogdian instruments contained rare elements such as lead, tin, and manganese, which also explained the reason why drum and flute percussion were dominant. In terms of performance methods, Sogdian mainly performs Huxuan dance, Huteng dance and Zhezhi dance, focusing on body language and space performances, such as vacating to show the softness and tenacity of the dance, as well as the style of soaring and rotating. Sogdian musical instruments and dances have an enlightening effect on contemporary music education, mainly integrating various dance styles, developing national dances, and rationalizing musical instrument arrangements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Edeb Erkan (EE) is the property of Edeb Erkan 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.)

The distinction between direct and indirect exporting has been increasingly stressed in recent advances in the theory and empirics of international trade. In particular, the prior literature suggests a hierarchy of exporting decisions determined by firm productivity. We use firm-level data from a wide group of post-communist countries to investigate which characteristics of firms can explain their choice of export modes. We find that firm internationalization, firm size, and per worker revenue are linked to exporting decisions in a way consistent with Lu's et al. model, while the relationship with innovation performance is more complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has used its economic power to become one of the most successful countries in the world. It has transformed from an impoverished, agricultural country into the world's second-biggest economy in only a few decades. Beijing exploits its economic might, as other great powers do, to exert influence on the foreign policy of other countries so that they better serve its national interests. Accordingly, this paper aims to study China's economic statecraft in Central Asia through development assistance as a policy instrument. This paper will begin with an overview of China's development assistance policy. The next section evaluates the China-Central Asia Development cooperation and highlights the factors driving Chinese development assistance in the region. The following section critically examines the impact of Chinese development assistance on the receiving nations. The study argues that Chinese foreign is crucial for the infrastructural development of the Central Asian economies. However, due to the implicit conditionalities with the aid and poor management of public finance by the Central Asian elites, Chinese foreign aid is contributing to the mounting sovereign debt in Central Asian economies and threatening the sovereignty of the Republics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at India's Central Asian strategy and the new geopolitical possibilities that have arisen since the Modi regime took over India. The paper draws on the existing literature to analyze the factors like regional geopolitics, economic interests, cultural linkages, and security concerns that have influenced India's policy towards Central Asia. Trade and investment, people-to-people ties, and strategic collaborations are highlighted as increasingly important to India's involvement with the republics of Central Asia. The paper concludes by assessing the prospects for a stronger and more successful Indian involvement in Central Asia and outlining the many obstacles that must be overcome to bring about such an engagement. The article's purpose is to fill in some of the gaps in the current literature on India's Central Asian strategy by providing a more thorough appraisal of the policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The People's Republic of China has been actively promoting its governance styles abroad. In Central Asia, these programs have increased rapidly both in terms of their frequency and scope. This paper documents 59 in-China training programs for Central Asian officials from 2007 to 2020, the majority of which concerned security management and involved Chinese technology and equipment transfers. It is evident that Central Asian governments are adopting surveillance practices that are based on Chinese security ideology. As Central Asian states absorb these governance models, a new set of security and human rights issues is emerging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of the publication activity research of scientists from Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), including health science and medicine in the referenced databases Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCO Publishing and Springer Link. The issue of strategic and regulatory documents on the development of AI in the countries of Central Asia (CA) and measures for developing this area in the region was considered as well. From the scientometric review, it became known that in the aggregate, the Central Asian countries make an insignificant contribution to the development of AI, including the development of AI in medicine, if we consider the number of publications and their citations in databases at the time of the study in May-July 2021. It was recommended to multiply support for scientific research and publication activity of scientists in Central Asia to increase the regional contribution to the development of AI in medicine and healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum Polonorum seria Zootechnica is the property of West Pomeranian University of Technology 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.)

How can Community Managed Water Supply (CMWS) become more sustainable? Recent studies in several countries indicate that the sustainability of many CMWS is poor. As a result, their long term impact on village lives is limited. This paper presents the findings of research on the sustainability and long-term impact of a group of CMWS created by the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project (RWSSP) in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia. This project adopted a Community-Based Approach to maximize the sustainability and long-term impact of its CMWS. The research assessed the sustainability of these CMWS a decade after their completion. It used six measures to assess sustainability and examined four long-term impacts. The results are compared with studies from other countries. The influence of Community-Based Approach (CBA) on the results is discussed. Recommendations are made for changes in policies and strategies to improve the sustainability and long term impact of future CMWS in Central Asia and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central Asian nations have pursued divergent policies regarding bilingualism and language in their education systems. Post-independence, some nations have continued to embrace the Russian language and "retained" the language to promote collaboration and economic ties with the Russian Federation. These nations maintain official status of the Russian language, continue to use Russian in schools, and maintain the Cyrillic alphabet for national languages. Other countries have attempted to "reject" the Russian language as a means of state- and nation-building. These countries have deemphasized the importance of Russian language in schools and official usage and even changed to using the Latin alphabet. This paper reviews the history of bilingual education in Soviet Central Asia and finds that nations' decisions to "retain" or "reject" Russian were made largely due to regional geopolitics, demographic realities, and the history of language in Central Asian nations during the Soviet period rather than reflecting students' pedagogical concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Reforma (1694-5158) is the property of Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University 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.)

In the paper are reported some species of Lepidoptera Tortricidae collected in Central Asia and Russian Far East territories. Distribution of these species are described; for the most interesting taxa photographs of wing adult patterns and genitalia are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on Schumpeterian theoretical considerations, this paper investigates the innovation behavior of firms during the severe economic crisis of the year 2008/2009. It focuses on transition countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which have completely restructured their innovation systems through the course of transition from planned to market economies a relatively short time ago. As a result of the crisis, we observe a strong decline of innovation activity in all transition economies. In line with the literature, there is, however, empirical evidence for both creative destruction as well as creative accumulation. This underlines two key findings: firstly, the universality and durability of Schumpeterian assumptions, and secondly, a call for anti-cyclical innovation policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the ideas about the otherworld in the culture of the Kalmyks from an ethnolinguistic point of view. Such ideas about the otherworld often find parallels and have much in common with other peoples of Central Asia and Siberia. These ideas about the otherworld have a pronounced national and cultural characteristic as they are a reflection of the ethnolinguistic picture of the world. Attention, therefore, is focused on the interaction of language and culture, which makes it possible to reconstruct a linguistic picture of the world. This paper presents the main characteristics of the afterlife as perceived by the Kalmyks, reflecting the most common images represented in the Kalmyk culture. Important symbols of the Kalmyks' worldview are considered, such as a road, a door, a threshold, which are related to the journey to the world of the dead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey's Central Asia policy offers an interesting perspective for analysing political and economic interests of Ankara in the region after the collapse of USSR. The political place of Central Asia in Turkish foreign policy priorities has changed slowly, but constantly from 90s to now. Although all Turkish governments and presidents followed friendly cooperation with Turkic speaking countries, the centrality of the region was lost and geoeconomic interests became dominant. However, among institutional cooperation possibilities TİKA has developed major arguments and increasingly intense activities towards the region. The article seeks to understand the reasons behind the changes of Turkish Foreign Policy and the role of Central Asian countries in Turkey's agenda. Its objective is to underline how the geoeconomic interests may change foreign policy vectors of the countries and show the increasing dependence and involvements of Ankara on bordering countries. Besides enumerating the reasons, we also propose institutional cooperation between Turkey and Central Asian countries which seems to have more positive impact both in bilateral and multilaretal relations. The paper tries to frame the relations from Turkey's perspective and explain the chronology of Ankara's involvement post-Soviet Central Asia. The datas referring to the policies and starategies are primarily taken from the research articles, but also from reports. The literature review shows also that majority of research and papers are focused on early 90s and post 2000 period, indicating Turkey's most active periods towards the region. The papers outcomes are based on qualitative method and try to explore foreign policy priorities and changes occurring based on geoeconomic interests. We try to describe the variations in Ankara's policies and explain the relationships between Turkic capitals and leaders of Turkic states. We used open-ended questions such as followings to conduct our research. What are the main interests and priorities of different Turkish governments within Central Asia? What are the main differences and similarities in bilateral political and economis relations? What kind of changes occurred in institutional coopeartion including TİKA, and its activities within the region? Data format is entirely textual and the study design remained flexible. The article not only shows the achievements and the limit s of Ankara's policies in Central Asia, but also tries to indicate the possible ways for the long-term and constructive policymaking in order to create the conditions for Turkey to remain as a player within the region. In the other case, Ankara may easily lose not only positions, but even presence as it happened in Middle East and North African region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how Kyrgyzstan's two post-communist political regimes used offshore accounts to launder money and broker lucrative deals with international business partners. It argues that easy access to global financial institutions and availability of offshore markets strengthens a corrupt regime's grip on both political and economic matters and gives regime members a feeling of invincibility both domestically and globally. Offshore connections contributed to the emergence of a vast shadow economy inside Kyrgyzstan that includes clandestine hydropower exports, manipulations in the financial sector, and organized crime. The paper particularly focuses on the non-state actors who served as brokers to mediate connections between regime incumbents and international markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term "power projection" is more often than not used to describe the extension (or application) of national power beyond state boundaries for the purpose of exerting influence on other states. In this paper, the term is used not only in this sense but also, primarily, to describe the internal (intra-state) sweep and employment of power. The term "power projection" can be relevant for studying the nature of power in a positivist perspective, through observation of its "traces" and manifestations. In being projected, power displays itself, is revealed. Political power in Uzbekistan, as in other Central Asian countries, is a very sophisticated phenomenon. Its ontology and epistemology are addressed here in a dialectical perspective. The paper analyses pillars of political power in Uzbekistan such as the cult of personality, the omnipotent Presidential Apparatus, the ubiquitous security agency, absenteeism of the demos, and opportunist political parties, all of these taken as variables that help detect nuances of power. The Uzbekistan context also provides evidence of, so to speak, "power by default" - a phenomenon that is less exposed to relational theory of power than to behavioral theory. The above-mentioned "pillars of power" are examined in this perspective. Finally, sacralization as a means of power projection is considered in the context of Uzbekistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to find the dynamism in Afghanistan's relations with Central Asian states. It is explained that prosperity without security is not possible and ongoing imbroglio in Afghanistan is directly affecting Central Asian states. The Central Asian states are surrounded by China, Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran. These states (with significant influence of India and Turkey) are the key regional players and their socioeconomic and political interests are converged on various issues. The political conditions in Afghanistan would directly impact the interests of Central Asian states. Drug trafficking, illegal migration, religious extremism, a ramified corrupt network, porous border and terrorism are subverting peace in Afghanistan and its spillover effects are dangerous for Central Asian states. The military and security situation in Afghanistan has a direct impact on the production and transport of energy from Central Asia to the rest of the world. The response of the regional organizations, particularly the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), with certain commonalities, towards these issues often contrasts with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This paper focuses on the efforts of major powers (Russia, China, and the US) along with neighbouring countries in the peacebuilding in Afghanistan to avoid its spillover effects over Central Asian states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper aims to examine the shift away from the traditional distinction between organised crime and terrorist groups towards their conceptual convergence under the crime-terror nexus narrative in the context of international security and development policy in post-Soviet Central Asia. It assesses the empirical basis for the crime-terror and state-crime nexus in three Central Asian countries – Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – and argues that the exclusion of the state from the analytical framework undermines the relevance of the crime-terror paradigm for policy-making.Design/methodology/approach This paper draws on a literature review of academic research, recent case studies highlighting new empirical evidence in Central Asia and international policy publications.Findings There is a weak empirical connection between organised crime and Islamic extremists, such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and Hizbut Tahrir, in Central Asia. The state-crime paradigm, including concepts of criminal capture, criminal sovereignty and criminal penetration, hold more explanatory power for international policy in Central Asia. The crime-terror paradigm has resulted in a narrow and ineffective security-oriented law enforcement approach to counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism but does not address the underlying weak state governance structures and political grievances that motivate organised crime and terrorist groups respectively.Originality/value International policy and scholarship is currently focussed on the areas of convergence between organised crime and terrorist groups. This paper highlights the continued relevance of the traditional conceptual separation of terrorist and organised crime groups based on their different motives, methods and relationship with the state, for security and democratic governance initiatives in the under-researched Central Asian region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In 2015–2017, the fourth round of the World Health Organization (WHO) European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) was conducted in 36 countries. National representative samples of children aged 6–9 (203,323) were measured by trained staff, with similar equipment and using a standardized protocol. This paper assesses the children's body weight status and compares the burden of childhood overweight, obesity, and thinness in Northern, Eastern, and Southern Europe and Central Asia. The results show great geographic variability in height, weight, and body mass index. On average, the children of Northern Europe were the tallest, those of Southern Europe the heaviest, and the children living in Central Asia the lightest and the shortest. Overall, 28.7% of boys and 26.5% of girls were overweight (including obesity) and 2.5% and 1.9%, respectively, were thin according to the WHO definitions. The prevalence of obesity varied from 1.8% of boys and 1.1% of girls in Tajikistan to 21.5% and 19.2%, respectively, in Cyprus, and tended to be higher for boys than for girls. Levels of thinness, stunting, and underweight were relatively low, except in Eastern Europe (for thinness) and in Central Asia. Despite the efforts to halt it, unhealthy weight status is still an important problem in the WHO European Region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article outlines the ways in which Islamophobia, as a growing transnational phenomenon, embraces and engenders structural violence against Muslims in the context of China. How have expressions of anti-Muslim racism become part and parcel of anti-terror strategies in the context of the Global War on Terror (GWOT)? And in what ways has Islamophobia been increasingly embedded within the context of the everyday, especially with regards to exclusionary policies? This paper examines this contemporary issue with attention to historical processes, while remaining cognizant of broader global trends of increasingly accepted religious persecution and racism. In a post-9/11 hyper-securitized world, the Uyghurs' religious Muslim identity became the target of the government's campaign against terrorism. With antiterror policies so loosely defined, Islam--often synonymous with terrorism and difference--and those who visibly practice it became convenient marks of increased surveillance, suppression, detention, and even torture/death, all officially under the guise of the elusive war on terror and for the purpose of state security. In China, Islamophobia has effectively been state-sanctioned, legislated, and securitized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Climate change has altered global hydrological cycles mainly due to changes in temperature and precipitation, which may exacerbate the global and regional water shortage issues, especially in the countries along the Belt and Road (B&R). Methods: In this paper, we assessed water supply, demand, and stress under three climate change scenarios in the major countries along the Belt and Road. We ensembled ten Global Climate Model (GCM) runoff data and downscaled it to a finer resolution of 0.1 × 0.1 by the random forest model. Results: Our results showed that the GCM runoff was highly correlated with the FAO renewable water resources and thus could be used to estimate water supply. Climate change would increase water supply by 4.85%, 5.18%, 8.16% and water demand by 1.45%, 1.68%, 2.36% under RCP 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 scenarios by 2050s, respectively. As a result, climate change will, in general, have little impact on water stress in the B&R countries as a whole. However, climate change will make future water resources more unevenly distributed among the B&R countries and regions, exacerbating water stress in some countries, especially in Central Asia and West Asia. Our results are informative for water resource managers and policymakers in the B&R countries to make sustainable water management strategies under future climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores India's policy and strategy engagements in Central Asian Republics with the aim of fostering close proximity in the field of economic development, security and political cooperation. It focuses in particular on actions, ways, directions, vision, achievements, methods, which play an important on the bilateral and multilateral cooperation between them. Because the geopolitical competition already has begun for the natural resources and energybetween the major powers (Russia, USA and China) and regional powers (Turkey, Iran, India and Pakistan)in the postcold war period which is known as „New Great Game? in Central Asia. In this dynamic geopolitical environment, India's policy with the regionshould reflect on the economic development, geopolitical engagement including strategic interaction, advantage, political support, mutual cooperation. Whereas India's engagement with Central Asia can provide an opportunity to be a part of a multilateral cooperative system particular, in security and trade ties. In this context, India should strive close to Russia, South Korea and Japan which emphasis close proximity, continue to engage in a resurgence policy to maintain geopolitical space with the proper diplomatic channel. Thus, this article has been divided into two parts, the first part of the paper has examined a comprehensive analysis and used level of analysis for explaining the foreign policy between India and Central Asian Republics. And another part has discussed the policy and strategy engagements of India with the Central Asian region in the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes and assesses the main issues and development factors of innovation processes in Kazakhstan. It is known that in modern conditions of dynamically developing competitive processes and scientific and technological progress, innovations serve as the basis of the national economy and a key factor in ensuring the competitiveness of enterprises. Moreover, today, the economy of the country can successfully compete in the market on the basis of the continuous improvement of goods and services produced as well as the development of new directions. It is also obvious that the development of new products, implementation of innovations and new measures are key performance indicators at both the macro and microeconomic levels. In this sense, an innovative way of socio-economic development of the country is becoming an urgent problem for Kazakhstan. An analysis of the situation shows that in the real sector of the economy, the possibilities of increasing production at the expense of extensive factors are largely exhausted. It is necessary to ensure the modernization of the economy through the introduction of modern technologies and the maximum use of the country's intellectual potential. The realization of the economic strategy determines the implementation of the main directions of social policy in line with the innovative development of Kazakh society as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an abstract of the study `The Health Consequences of Interactions Between Central Asian Pastoralists and Agriculturists' by P.L. Walker and L.T. Yablonsky.