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This research aims to investigate the correlation between the academic performance of migrant students and their cultural integration within the context of international education. Additionally, it seeks to identify an optimal acculturation strategy that enhances the academic outcomes of migrant students and explores the influence of VR technology-based learning on acculturation and academic performance. The study conducted an online survey among 1032 participants from China, Vietnam, Mongolia, Turkmenistan (studying at RUDN University in Moscow, Russian Federation), and Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan (studying at Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University in Yelabuga, Russian Federation), forming the primary sample (N = 400). The research utilized Berry's 2D acculturation model (2005) and Schwartz's questionnaire (1992) to assess acculturation strategies. A virtual reality experiment involved 100 students using Oculus Rift and Rhino-Unity technology. Academic performance, acculturation, and stress levels were measured post-virtual excursions. The SL-ASIA (26-item) and ILS (31-item) surveys assessed acculturation levels and stress. The research identified integration as the most effective acculturation strategy (35%), fostering improved academic performance, expanded cultural boundaries, and the development of global cultural capital. Analyzing the relationship between academic performance and acculturation tendencies revealed that the majority of students with "Excellent" (49%) and "Good" (59%) grades exhibited a high level of integration. Those with "Satisfactory" grades showed a tendency towards marginalization (32%). In the realm of cultural education through virtual reality technology, the study demonstrated that immersive VR learning environments can enhance academic performance, reduce psychological and acculturation stress, and multiply adaptive resources essential for acculturation in a new culture. Although the abstract highlights the research objectives, it requires modification for grammatical correctness. Additionally, the methodology for data collection and analysis needs to be explicitly mentioned for clarity.

Very little is known about the status of autism research in Central Asia. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the scope and focus of the peer-reviewed research studies conducted with autistic people and their families in five Central Asian countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The electronic databases of EBSCO Host and Web of Science were used for systematic search of literature. Eleven articles that met eligibility criteria were included in the review and analyzed for topics and research areas outlined in the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee Strategic Plan. Ten of these studies were conducted in Kazakhstan and one in Uzbekistan using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research designs. Five of the seven research areas - Diagnosis, Biology, Risk Factors, Services, and Treatment and Interventions - were represented in these studies, while there were no studies identified in the areas of Lifespan Issues or Infrastructure and Surveillance, highlighting a gap in research. None of the studies reported co-authorship of scientists from Central Asian countries. The review identified knowledge gaps and research needs to guide future research in autism in Central Asia to address the needs of autistic individuals and their families living in this region.

The underrepresentation of female faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines is a globally acknowledged gender equity concern; however, it remains under-researched in post-Soviet contexts. Using a theoretically informed analysis, this paper explores how female STEM faculty members navigate their gender identities in domestic and academic spheres in post-Soviet Tajikistan. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 female faculty members. The results indicated that parental discourses and family circumstances enabled female faculty members to defy the gendered oppositional inscription of STEM, while the performance of non-hegemonic masculinities by spouses, male mentors, and academic supervisors supported their career advancement. However, the gendered micropolitics of higher education institutions significantly undermined the performance of female STEM faculty members' identity and subjected them to discrimination, marginalisation, and isolation.

This study continued an in-depth investigation of the Plurilingual Creativity paradigm. It examined how Big Five personality traits moderated the relationship between plurilingualism/pluriculturalism and creativity. Data collection included assessments of plurilingual experience (measured by the abridged version of the Multilingual and Multicultural Experience Questionnaire), multicultural experience and desire (measured by the Multicultural Experience Questionnaire), intercultural competence (measured by Integrative Intercultural Competence Survey), and divergent thinking (measured by Unusual Uses test). A series of regression analyses using moderation models obtained evidence that neuroticism interacted with the plurilingual index (composed of the number of languages spoken by participants and their overall language proficiency), contributing to flexibility in divergent thinking. Extraversion interacted with the intercultural competence component, namely the management of intercultural interaction, contributing to fluency, flexibility, and originality in divergent thinking. It also interacted with multicultural experience in contributing to fluency. These findings emphasized the importance of considering personality traits in plurilingual creativity.

With its capture at the outset of the conquest of Iran in the early seventh century, the imperial Sasanian standard, known as the Derafsh-e kaviyan, became a metaphor for imperial corruption, underscoring both the righteousness of the Islamic caliphate and the piety of the Arab-Muslim warriors who founded it. Two centuries later, it served as a potent symbol of pre-Islamic Persian splendor and the continuity of its rich tradition. Later still, modern Iranian nationalists raised the 'banner of Kaveh' as part of their campaign to foster a sense of national consciousness and pride in the country's ancient heritage. Today, the Derafsh-e kaviyan continues to be a powerful symbol for secular Iranian nationalists campaigning against the Islamic Republic of Iran; for Kurdish nationalists seeking political autonomy; and for Tajik state authorities linking their nation to a mythical past. Keywords: Derafsh-e kaviyan; Kaveh the Blacksmith; memory studies; Islamic historiography; nationalist symbols, INTRODUCTION According to a legend from Persian mythology, an evil Arab tyrant named Zahhak usurped the throne of Iran and ruled for centuries, sacrificing each day two men to serpents [...]

Tetrahedrite-(Cd), Cu10Cd2Sb4S13, is a member of the tetrahedrite series of the tetrahedrite group with a predominance of Cd at the C position typically occupied by divalent metals. Cadmium end-members from the tetrahedrite group are rare: they have been described in 15 deposits and ore occurrences. This work reports on a new discovery site of Ag-bearing tetrahedrite-(Cd) at the Kon-Dara mineral deposit (Southwestern Pamirs, Tajikistan) and summarizes the known data on rare Cd-bearing fahlores with a Cd content from 1 to 12.31 wt %. Ag-bearing tetrahedrite-(Cd) at the Kon-Dara deposit occurs as xenomorphic segregations 10–35 μm in size in association with tetrahedrite-(Fe), tetrahedrite-(Zn), galena, polybasite, and chalcopyrite, calculated which replace bournonite. According to the EPMA data, its composition averaged over seven analyses (in wt %) is as follow: Ag 16.17, Cu 25.19, Cd 10.09, Fe 0.38, Zn 0.09, Pb 0.13, Sb 25.55, As 0.18, and S 22.34. The empirical formula calculated based on 29 atoms per unit is (Cu7.40Ag2.80)Σ10.20(Cd1.68Fe0.13Zn0.03Pb0.01)Σ1.84(Sb3.92As0.04)Σ3.96S13.00. The composition of the tetrahedrite-(Cd) from Kon-Dara is similar to those from the Tyndrum Pb–Zn mineralization in Scotland, the Clara baryte–fluorite–(Ag,Cu) mine in Germany, and the Xitieshan Pb–Zn deposit in China. The formation temperature of Ag-bearing tetrahedrite-(Cd) at the Kon-Dara deposit is estimated to have been at about (170–140) ± 20°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, large-scale urban reconstruction has been ongoing in Dushanbe, Tajikistan's capital city. In this process, the city's Soviet architecture is being demolished and replaced by Dubai-inspired high-rises. This transformation of public space is a manifestation of the process of silent de-Sovietization that has taken place in Tajikistan. Unlike what has been seen in other post-Soviet countries, this form of de-Sovietization does not result from rethinking the country's Soviet past and deliberately departing from it. Rather, it is a casual by-product of Tajikistan's capitalist transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Moroccan locust (Dociostaurus maroccanus) has historically been a significant pest, causing substantial agricultural damage across Tajikistan. This study, conducted between 2012 and 2023, provides an overview of the locust's distribution, population dynamics, and management in the country. We observe an increase in locust outbreaks within the period, with southern Tajikistan being the most severely affected. We emphasize the critical need for regional cooperation and sustainable management practices using environmentally friendly control agents. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on the Moroccan locust (Dociostaurus maroccanus) in Tajikistan, exploring its distribution, population dynamics, economic significance, and management. Our research covers the period from 2012 to 2023. Over this period, there has been a documented increase in the size of the infested areas, with southern Tajikistan being the most severely affected. Outbreaks of economic importance happened each year throughout the timeframe. The total area impacted by infestations reached 752,130 hectares in southern Tajikistan alone. The paper places emphasis on the necessity of cross-border and regional collaboration and the adoption of environmentally sustainable control methods, such as the use of biopesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the implementation of Soviet religious policy among the Ismaili Muslim population of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) of Soviet Tajikistan. By means of oral interviews and the analysis of archival sources from the province, this paper reveals the challenges and complexities faced by local commissioners and Communist Party officials when executing centralized Soviet religious policy. In this process, the local commissioners (upolnomochennye) had to stress the religious community's compliance with Soviet legislation and were expected to provide accounts of decreasing religiosity among the Ismailis, and even their having ceased to practise their religious rituals. Meanwhile, the newly appointed Ismaili religious dignitary (khalifas) did not remain passive recipients or agents of Soviet religious policy but tried to modify their actions to conduct religious rituals within the limited but legal space for religious activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has become the greatest public health challenge worldwide. Soon after the appearance of the virus in 2019, intensive efforts to develop vaccines were initiated, and by late 2020, delivery of vaccines for the targeted population as a campaign had started. Aim: Collect information from European Union countries regarding how and to what extent were family physicians (FPs)/general practitioners (GPs) involved in the vaccination campaigns in 2021 and how these were organized at the national level. Method: A short questionnaire was distributed through the secretariats of WONCA (World Organization of Family Doctors) Europe and the European Forum for Primary Care (EFPC). Results: In most of the countries, participation of FPs/GPs was compulsory. The vaccination was usually centrally organized by governmental authorities. In the beginning, registration (web-based) of patients was required, mainly at the national level. By the middle of 2021, vaccination on a walk-in basis became available in almost every country for the first immunization as well as for the booster injections. The remunerations of GPs/FPs differed; in some countries, no extra payments were offered. The Pfizer vaccine was used in all countries, while in nine countries, non-European Medicines Agency (EMA)-approved vaccines were also given in primary care settings and at vaccination centers. In some countries, professional homepages helped the GPs. The involvement of primary health care (PHC) providers did not correlate to the vaccination coverage of the entire population of the respective countries. It was the highest in the more developed countries with higher living standards, where participation of GPs was voluntary and appropriate financial incentives were offered to them. Conclusions: The vaccination campaign was a professional and logistic challenge and an excellent performance of PCH providers. Experiences gained could be used in the future to manage similar pandemic challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food security has been long understudied in the context of Central Asia. We present an analysis examining household-level food demand for Tajikistan and assessing the magnitude of its food security changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on an extensive household survey data set from Tajikistan, we estimate the expenditure, income, and price elasticities for nine food categories using the QUAIDS model. Then, we develop a microsimulation model using the estimated elasticities to assess the dual impact of declining remittance income and rising food prices stemming from the pandemic shock. There are significant differences in demand elasticities across food groups, with high elasticities observed for nutritious foods, such as meat, fruit, eggs, and milk, in rural households. Moreover, our findings show that changes in remittance income and food prices significantly negatively affected food security for rural households during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings have important implications for policymakers concerned about rural livelihoods and food security in remittance-receiving economies during the post-pandemic period.

An annotated list of 26 species of sawfies belonging to four families collected in Tajikistan is presented. Arge scita (Moscáry, 1880), Athalia cornubiae Benson, 1931, Halidamia afnis (Fallén, 1807), Nematus tataricus Zinovjev, 1978, and Tenthredo echo Zhelochovtsev, 1961 are recorded for the fauna of Tajikistan for the frst time. Morphological differences between the superfcially similar species Tenthredo pamyrensis Jakowlew, 1888 and T. variabilis Mocsáry, 1909 are discussed. Diferences between the colour forms of T. grombczewskii (Jakowlew, 1891), T. haberhaueri Kirby, 1881 and T. pamyrensis are considered. For all found species, the features of biotopic confnement and distribution in the studied area are given.

Introduction: The "Migrants' Approached Self‐Learning Intervention in HIV/AIDS for Tajiks" (MASLIHAT) recruits and trains Tajik labour migrants who inject drugs as peer educators (PEs) in delivering HIV prevention information and encouragement to adopt risk‐reduction norms and practices within their diaspora social networks while reducing their own HIV risk. Methods: The MASLIHAT intervention was tested in Moscow in a cluster‐randomized controlled trial with 12 recruitment sites assigned to either the MASLIHAT intervention or an equal‐time peer‐educator training focused on other health conditions (TANSIHAT). From October 2021 to April 2022, 140 male Tajik migrants who inject drugs were recruited as PEs to attend the 5‐session MASLIHAT training or the TANSIHAT non‐HIV comparison condition. Each participant in both groups recruited two network members (NMs) who inject drugs with the intent to share with them the information and positive strategies for change they had learned (n = 280). All PEs and NMs (n = 420) participated in baseline and follow‐up interviews at 3‐month intervals for 1 year. All received HIV counselling and testing. Modified mixed effects Poisson regressions tested for group differences in injection practices, sexual risk behaviours and heavy alcohol use over time. Results: At baseline, across both groups, 75% of participants reported receptive syringe sharing (RSS), 42% reported condomless sex and 20% reported binge drinking at least once a month. In contrast to TANSIHAT where HIV risk behaviours remained the same, significant intervention effects that were sustained over the 12 months were observed for receptive syringe and ancillary equipment sharing among both MASLIHAT PEs and NMs (p < 0.0001). Significant declines in the prevalence of sexual risk behaviours were also associated with the MASLIHAT intervention (p < 0.01), but not the comparison condition. Binge alcohol use was not affected in either condition; the MASLIHAT intervention had a transitory effect on drinking frequency that dissipated after 9 months. Conclusions: The MASLIHAT peer‐education intervention proved highly effective in reducing HIV‐related injection risk behaviour, and moderately effective in reducing sexual risk behaviour among both PEs and NMs. Network‐based peer education is an important tool for HIV prevention among people who inject drugs, especially in environments that are not amenable to community‐based harm reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONPurpose: The world is approaching the sustainable development goals deadline, but many countries still do not produce the data required to track their indicators by disability. Integrating valid and relievable disability measurement tools into existing data platforms is key to ensuring that “no one is left behind.” In this paper, we aim to demonstrate that it is possible to gather valid data on disability for disaggregation using the WHO Functioning and Disability Disaggregation Tool.Materials and methods: Using representative data from India, Lao PDR, and Tajikistan collected through the Gallup World Poll, we estimated the likelihood of a positive sustainable development indicator by disability level. Logit regression was used, adjusted for age, sex, household size, number of children, marital status, urban or rural area, and country-fixed effects.Results: Our estimates showed a consistent disability gradient across all countries and indicators: the higher the level of disability, the lower the probability of having a positive outcome in barely any sustainable development goal.Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that it is not too late to generate sound and precise data about inequalities faced by persons with mild, moderate, or severe disability. This data is essential for reducing inequalities through evidence-based policymaking.The disability gradient observed across all countries and indicators included in this study showed that the higher the level of disability (mild, moderate, or severe), the lower the probability of having a positive outcome in any sustainable development goal.An underestimation of inequalities is observed when people with no, mild and moderate disability are combined into a group called “no severe disability” and used as the comparator to people with “severe disability.”Rehabilitation policy and planning must consider the disability gradient and respond to the different needs of persons with mild, moderate, and severe disability.The disability gradient observed across all countries and indicators included in this study showed that the higher the level of disability (mild, moderate, or severe), the lower the probability of having a positive outcome in any sustainable development goal.An underestimation of inequalities is observed when people with no, mild and moderate disability are combined into a group called “no severe disability” and used as the comparator to people with “severe disability.”Rehabilitation policy and planning must consider the disability gradient and respond to the different needs of persons with mild, moderate, and severe disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the current state of neurosurgical care in Central Asia, identify the challenges and advancements, and propose recommendations to improve neurosurgical capabilities and access in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. A comprehensive review of the neurosurgical infrastructure, availability of neurosurgeons, technological advancements, and healthcare policies in the five Central Asian countries. Analysis included published literature, healthcare reports, and expert opinions to assess the state of neurosurgical care and identify areas for improvement. Significant variation in neurosurgical care was observed across the region. Kazakhstan showed notable advancements, including an increased number of neurosurgeons and progress in specialized fields such as vascular neurosurgery and brain tumor management. Other countries, like Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, made strides in improving neurosurgical care but still faced substantial challenges. Common issues included a shortage of neurosurgeons, limited facilities, and inadequate access to modern technology. The lack of research data further highlighted the need for urgent intervention. To enhance neurosurgical care in Central Asia, a multipronged approach involving targeted investments, policy reforms, international collaborations, and knowledge sharing is recommended. This includes establishing specialized neurosurgical training programs and fellowships, investing in infrastructure and technology, fostering international collaborations for training and research, introducing early neurosurgery education in medical schools, improving access to online education resources, and promoting telemedicine for consultations and follow-up care. These measures are necessary to expand access to essential neurosurgical care and improve outcomes in the regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV early detection (CD4 counts ≥350 cells/μL) is correlated with higher life expectancy among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Several factors, including physical, cultural, structural, and financial barriers, may limit early detection of HIV. This is a first-of-its-kind study on population-level differences in early detection of HIV across time within Tajikistan and any country in the Central Asia region. Utilizing the Tajikistan Ministry of Health's national HIV data (N = 10,700) spanning 2010 to 2023, we developed median regression models with the median CD4 cell count as the outcome and with the following predictors: time (years), region, age, gender, and area (urban/rural status). Individuals younger than 19 years old were detected early for HIV, whereas those older than 39 years were detected late. Females were detected earlier compared to their male counterparts regardless of region of residence. Rural populations were detected earlier in most years compared to their urban counterparts. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated HIV early detection in 2021 but most regions have returned to near pre-pandemic levels of detection in 2022 and 2023. There were differences identified among different demographic and geographic groups which warrant further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of ZodariellumAndreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968 (Araneae: Zodariidae) are described on the basis of male holotypes collected in Central Asia: Z. doroshkinisp. n. from Gorno-Badakhshan in eastern Tajikistan, and Z. kattakumsp. n. from Surxondaryo in southeastern Uzbekistan. Additionally, Z. turanicum Zamani & Marusik, 2022 is recorded from Uzbekistan for the first time, and new distribution records are provided for Z. bactrianum (Kroneberg, 1875) and Z. mongolicumMarusik & Koponen, 2001. Detailed descriptions, figures, diagnoses, distribution maps and photographs of habitats of the studied species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores post-Soviet power hierarchies which constitute a unique system of vertical stratification in world politics. It does so by analysing relations between two former Soviet states, Tajikistan and Russia, in the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991. The article investigates the underlying reasons for power asymmetries between the two countries, the ways hierarchies are sustained and enforced, as well as perceived and navigated at political and social levels. It is argued that Tajikistan's relations with Russia are explicitly postcolonial without clear-cut colonial precedents in Soviet times. Postcolonialism did not automatically result from the Soviet breakdown. Rather, it has gradually emerged because of the two countries' very different paths of integration into the global capitalist economy, which subordinated Tajikistan to Russia. In this way, new economic asymmetries exacerbated Soviet-era legacies and reinvented them in a new, hierarchical manner. Overall, the article contributes to the debate on the nature of post-Soviet legacies and what it means to be post-Soviet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study, conducted in higher education institutions in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, highlights ongoing changes in approaches to education for sustainable development (ESD) in Central Asian countries. This region, exposed to various challenges such as climate change and environmental problems, has recognized the importance and role of education in achieving sustainable development. The study aims to identify the current level of awareness of students and teachers about the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as to understand how universities in the region are integrating ESD principles into their educational programs. The results show that students generally have limited knowledge about the global sustainable development goals, while teachers have a higher level of awareness. Most students receive information about the sustainable development goals (SDGs) through social media and the Internet, while it is less reflected in the curriculum. However, there is a trend towards changing this situation, in particular in Tajikistan, where curricula are becoming more focused on environmental education. Finally, recommendations for universities include integrating ESD principles into teacher development, developing teaching methods and materials, and strengthening collaboration at the regional and international levels to promote sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractScholarly research on the role of digital activism in authoritarian settings has largely centered around debates on “liberation technology” versus “networked authoritarianism”. In this article we aim to extend existing research by linking authoritarian legitimation theories with emerging scholarship on digital activism. We examine Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, two autocracies in post-Soviet Central Asia, and show how non-democratic regimes use digital activism for legitimation purposes. Our study draws on 33 qualitative in-depth interviews with digital activists and state officials in both countries to generate critical comparative insights into how modern autocracies function in the digital age. Our analysis suggests that autocracies use four mutually inclusive and escalating legitimation mechanisms (limited participation, outputs legitimation, regime discourse, and targeted repression) in their interactions with digital activists to become more resilient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2022 invasion of Ukraine has stimulated a debate on Russia’s relations with states which were part of the Soviet Union. Our article contributes to this discussion by focusing on Russia’s two ‘strategic partners’, Belarus and Tajikistan, and exploring these countries’ perspectives. We develop a critical geopolitics framework which accounts for time, multi-level power dynamics and culture. The article provides a new understanding of the dynamics of geopolitical knowledge beyond the West, analysing how Belarusian and Tajik political elites’ decision-making towards Russia has evolved from the late Soviet period until now. While both governments appear to be dependent on Russia and, consequently, generally supportive of its politics in the global arena, the article argues that this alignment has been highly strategic. Throughout the years, Belarusian and Tajik decision makers have skilfully navigated power and economic asymmetries with Russia by using their geographical location and Russia’s neo-imperial mindset to their benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the social and symbolic work of Hisor as a site of Tajikistan’s cultural heritage. Hisor carries with it an array of meanings and represents a convergence of multiple spheres of social life: leisure, education, life-cycle rites and religiosity. Hisor’s flexibility allows it to materialize Tajikistan’s governing ideology as one local project of modernity. This article discusses three contexts in which visitors experience Hisor as heritage: tourist visits to the ‘Old Madrassa’ museum, wedding photographs in front of the fortress walls and pilgrimages to the shrine of Makhdumi Azam. The heritage practices and discourses associated with Hisor offer a complex case study of how the temporal ambivalence of heritage operates on the ground in Central Asia and suggest some of heritage’s utility as a social practice for instantiating cultural memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Using Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) may be an effective public health approach for managing dental caries in children. Parental acceptance of SDF has rarely been investigated in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study was to evaluate parental acceptance of SDF to manage dental caries in children aged 2–12 in Iran and Tajikistan. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Kurdistan province of Iran and Khatlon region of Tajikistan, 2022–2023. Parents watched a video about SDF and its weaknesses and strengths as compared to conventional approaches before completing the questionnaire. We also reported Prevalence Ratios with 95% confidence intervals for the relationship between parental acceptance and associated demographic factors as well as dental attitude and experience. Results: Participants were 245 and 160 parents in Iran and Tajikistan, respectively. In both countries, a majority (Iran: 61.6%, Tajikistan: 77.9%) accepted SDF over conventional treatments for all primary teeth. The majority also accepted SDF only for posterior permanent teeth (Iran: 73.5%, Tajikistan: 78.7%). Black discoloration was the main reason for rejecting SDF. Overall, demographic factors and dental experience and attitude were not significantly associated with SDF acceptance. Conclusions: SDF was widely accepted by Iranian and Tajik parents. Establishing parental acceptance of SDF is an important step toward its application in LMICs where inexpensive solutions are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study examines the development of apparel firms in Tajikistan. Since Tajikistan is the lowest-income country in Central Asia, its innovation system is rather limited. Instead, international donors play a complementary role in the knowledge sourcing of the apparel industry. Moreover, the technological capabilities of individual firms are critically important for industrial upgrading. Based on a survey of 25 apparel firms, this study identifies three trajectories for the upgrading of Tajikistan’s apparel firms and examines the government’s policy dilemma between the creation of export competitiveness and the need for indirect protection for the domestic apparel industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the first comprehensive assessment of PM pollution sources in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. A total of 138 PM2.5 samples were collected during 2015–2016 and 2018–2019 and were analyzed through gravimetric, ED-XRF, and multi-wavelength absorption techniques. The results show that PM2.5 concentrations were substantially higher than the European annual limit value and WHO Air Quality Guidelines annual average value, with an average of 90.9 ± 68.5 μg m−3. The PMF application identified eight sources of pollution that influenced PM2.5 concentration levels in the area. Coal burning (21.3%) and biomass burning (22.3%) were the dominant sources during the winter, while vehicular traffic (7.7%) contributed more during the warm season. Power plant emissions (17.5%) showed enhanced contributions during the warm months, likely due to high energy demand. Cement industry emissions (6.9%) exhibited significant contribution during the cold period of 2018–2019, while soil dust (11.3%) and secondary sulphates (11.5%) displayed increased contribution during the warm and cold months, respectively. Finally, waste burning (1.5%) displayed the lowest contribution, with no significant temporal variation. Our results highlight the significant impact of anthropogenic activities, and especially the use of coal burning for energy production (both in power plants and for residential heating), and the significant contribution of biomass burning during both warm and cold seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus, Turanobiusgen. n. (Araneae: Oecobiidae: Oecobiinae), is described from Iran and Central Asia, comprising the following four species: T. ferdowsii (Mirshamsi, Zamani and Marusik, 2017) comb. n. (♂; Iran, Kazakhstan), T. hissaricussp. n. (♂; Tajikistan), T. leptonychussp. n. (♂♀; Tajikistan), and T. tadzhikus (Andreeva and Tyshchenko, 1969) comb. n. (♂♀; Tajikistan); both new combinations are ex. Oecobius Lucas, 1846. Known distribution records of all four species are mapped. Additionally, a discussion is presented on the taxonomy of Oecobius and the potential revalidation of several genera currently considered synonymous with it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tajikistan is an area characterized by several lakes created after rockfalls and moraine deposits collapsed due to its geographic position on the collisional area of the Euro-Asian and Indian tectonic plates. In 1911, a violent earthquake generated the Usoi dam, which led to the creation of Lake Sarez. The purpose of the article is to provide an overview of the ground deformation of the two landslides that affect and threaten the area of Lake Sarez exploiting the combination of two different techniques, the interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) method with the SqueeSAR approach and optical image analysis through the use of COSI-Corr software. The combination of these two techniques turned out to be useful and provide more information because InSAR method balances lack the optical analysis and vice versa giving the possibility to obtain a complete overview of the displacement of the area. Moreover, InSAR data have been used to reconstruct the geometry and depth of the sliding surface of a potential landslide that could affect the lake, generating a wave that could overtop the dam and affect the villages downstream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afghanistan's reversion to Taliban rule poses severe threats to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran faces a dilemma over how best to respond to these dangers: it could continue to conciliate the Taliban or it could revert to the antagonistic posture it adopted towards Kabul in the 1990s. While each of these strategies can improve Iran's security situation to some extent, they also entail unintended consequences that exacerbate Iranian vulnerabilities. More importantly, whatever policy Tehran pursues has an impact on Iran's nascent alignment with Tajikistan, as well as on Tajikistan's relations with Afghanistan. The fact that Iran's decision to conciliate the new leadership in Kabul did not prompt Dushanbe to scale back its belligerence towards the Taliban poses a puzzle for Glenn Snyder's concept of the alliance security dilemma. Its solution requires a reconsideration of adversary–ally dynamics that highlights the reciprocal interaction between shifts in inter-state alignment and changes in domestic political contestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract With the development of detrital zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope analysis as conventional sedimentological research methods, a large number of studies have been conducted in the Tarim, West Kunlun, Tajik, Pamir and Tianshuihai regions and abundant data have been accumulated. Summarizing these data to characterize sedimentary units and source regions is more important than local studies of specific geological epochs; therefore, we compiled a database of detrital zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope analyses from the Tarim, West Kunlun, Pamir, Tajik and Tianshuihai terranes. The database contains data from 90 papers, including 35,281 individual U–Pb ages and 4,181 Hf isotope analyses. The database records the literature source, petrologic sample information, regional geological information, geographic coordinates and analytical parameters for each data point in as much detail as possible to allow readers to review, process, analyse and use the data. The database relies on the Deep‐time Digital Earth (DDE) platform and uses an open database update system to enable sharing and collaborative building. We encourage other researchers to contribute relevant published data to facilitate wider use.

The article describes the distribution dynamics of the widely spread species Vanessa atalanta (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae), which is for the first time reliably noted for a number of Siberian regions (Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Republic of Khakassia, Kemerovo Territory) and for Tajikistan (Western Pamir, the Bartang river valley).

The article presents the results of a sociological empirical study that was conducted from May to August in 2023. Its purpose was to study the attitudes of labor migrants in Russia towards various international integration processes in the post-Soviet space. The objects of the study were workers from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, working in Moscow and the Moscow region. The choice of these countries is not accidental, as they are the main migration donors to the Russian Federation in Central Asia. The uniqueness of the research results lies in the fact that despite the certain “popularity” of such an empirical object as “labor migrants.” The analyzed subject has not yet been sufficiently developed theoretically and empirically. Particular attention is paid to the political preferences and migration attitudes of labor migrants. The issue of awareness of foreign workers of the activities of international integration and military-political associations, such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), European Union (EU), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and also the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is examined. The paper also presents the respondents’ assessment of the role of these associations in the development of international processes. Separately, the article examines the relationship between Russia and migrant-sending countries. Based on the results of the study, the authors conclude that respondents have a positive attitude towards integration associations in which Russia plays a key role. Moreover, the socio-political attitudes of foreign workers are characterized by a high degree of loyalty to the foreign policy of the Russian Federation. Migrants overwhelmingly support international cooperation between their countries and Russia and share the foreign policy position of the Russian Federation. In conclusion, labor migrants from Central Asia can be considered as a resource and capital of the influence of Russian “soft power.”

Central Asia consists of the former Soviet Republics, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The region's climate is continental, mostly semi-arid to arid. Agriculture is a significant part of the region's economy. By its nature of intensive water use, agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change. Population growth and irrigation development have significantly increased the demand for water in the region. Major climate change issues include melting glaciers and a shrinking snowpack, which are the foundation of the region's water resources, and a changing precipitation regime. Most glaciers are located in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, leading to transboundary water resource issues. Summer already has extremely high temperatures. Analyses indicate that Central Asia has been warming and precipitation might be increasing. The warming is expected to increase, but its spatial and temporal distribution depends upon specific global scenarios. Projections of future precipitation show significant uncertainties in type, amount, and distribution. Regional Hydroclimate Projects (RHPs) are an approach to studying these issues. Initial steps to develop an RHP began in 2021 with a widely distributed online survey about these climate issues. It was followed up with an online workshop and then, in 2023, an in-person workshop, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Priorities for the Global Energy and Water Exchanges (GEWEX) project for the region include both observations and modeling, as well as development of better and additional precipitation observations, all of which are topics for the next workshop. A well-designed RHP should lead to reductions in critical climate uncertainties in policy-relevant timeframes that can influence decisions on necessary investments in climate adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents isotopic U–Pb zircon data (LA-ICP-MS method) for the main types of high-potassic intrusive rocks of the Chorukh-Dairon W–Mo(–Cu–Au) skarn deposit situated in the Kurama segment of the Middle Tien Shan near the largest porphyry Cu–Mo–Au deposits of the Almalyk mineralized cluster. Together with the other Au, W, Mo and Cu deposits, all these deposits are parts of the extended Late Paleozoic metallogenic belt of Tien Shan. The concordant isotopic U–Pb zircon data obtained for the rocks of successive intrusion phases in the Chorukh-Dairon pluton span from about 298 Ma to 290 Ma. This interval included crystallization of monzodiorite (295.1 ± 3.3 Ma), quartz syenite (294.7 ± 2.3 Ma), quartz monzonite (294.1 ± 2.1 Ma), and monzogranite (293.0 ± 3.0 Ma). These dates correspond to the pluton emplacement at the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian boundary and highlight its younger age compared to the productive high-potassic intrusions of the porphyry Cu–Mo–Au deposits in the Almalyk mineralized cluster, the latter assigned to the Late Carboniferous (about 337–313 Ma and partially to 308–297 Ma). By contrast to the latter, which were intruded in the subduction-related environment, the emplacement of the high-potassic rock of the Chorukh-Dairon pluton occurred in the transitional subduction-related to post-collisional environment or even under an actual post-collisional regime. This allows distinguishing two pulses of ore-bearing Carboniferous-Permian high-potassic calc-alkaline to shoshonitic series magmatism in the Middle Tien Shan. Consistently, there is a metallogenic evolution in the region that was expressed in the transition from porphyry Cu–Mo–Au deposits associated with subduction-related potassic magmatism, and likely evolving toward epithermal Au-Ag deposits, to essentially tungsten (W–Mo–Cu–Au) deposits associated with younger potassic magmatism occurring rather in the post-collisional environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: This case highlights the potential for later‐onset Hyper‐IgD syndrome (HIDS) even beyond infancy. Clinicians evaluating children with recurrent fever, skin rash, and arthralgia should consider HIDS in the differential diagnosis, regardless of age. Early suspicion and genetic testing can lead to a timely diagnosis and targeted therapy with Anakinra, significantly improving patient outcomes. Hyper‐IgD syndrome (HIDS) is a rare autosomal recessive autoinflammatory disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of fever, lymphadenopathy, arthralgia, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and skin rash. In this case report, we present a 5‐year‐old girl from Tajikistan with a mutation in the mevalonate kinase (MVK) gene, which is consistent with a diagnosis of HIDS. The clinical symptoms of the patient are described, along with immunological, hematological, and biochemical findings collected from the evaluation in the rheumatology clinic. Additionally, whole‐exome sequencing revealed a heterozygous missense variation in exon 4 of the MVK gene. The diagnosis of HIDS in this case occurred at a later age than typically observed, emphasizing the importance of considering this condition even in older patients. This report highlights the broad clinical phenotype of MVK and the need for increased awareness among healthcare professionals regarding its clinical presentation and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]