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Purpose: This article examines the use of English medium instruction (EMI) for teaching Japanese as a foreign language (JFL) by non-native speakers with a focus on multilingual classrooms. It also explores teachers' positive and negative beliefs about using EMI in classroom settings for JFL instruction. Methods and procedure: 274 non-native Japanese language teachers from around the world (57 countries) voluntarily participated in a survey, answering a questionnaire on Google Forms and Jotform. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed. The research instrument was piloted before the main study and was found to be effective and adequate to elicit the desired data. The research questions aimed to identify whether there were any relationships between the use of EMI and the multilingual classroom. Findings: The results showed a clear correlation between the extensive use of EMI and the multilingual character of JFL classrooms. Translanguaging turned out to be a common practice adopted by non-native Japanese teachers regardless of the primary language of instruction. The article concludes that EMI can be a valuable tool for JFL instruction in multilingual classrooms. Based on the investigation of the teachers' beliefs, the results showed a changing positive attitude towards English employed in JFL classrooms. Implications for research and practice: The findings can be used to further investigate EMI in JFL instructional practices in multilingual classrooms, improve the quality of JFL instruction and facilitate the integration of multilingual education into foreign language teaching. Future research can explore the effectiveness of EMI in different JFL contexts and investigate the impact of EMI on students' language learning outcomes.

In this paper, we, two transnational doctoral students and language educators of color, engage in a reflexive dialogic conversation focusing on the positionality of our identities. Utilizing duoethnography research methodology, we explored our academic and professional journeys in post-secondary education in our home countries and an Anglophone context. A discussion on negotiating our positionalities in our immediate academic, professional, and sociocultural contexts is provided. We argued that unveiling one's positionality requires a prolonged reflexive engagement that assists in establishing quality in qualitative research and exploring fluidity in positionality. We closed with implications and invitations to use duoethnography as a path to self-exploration, solidarity, and allyship.

Local item dependence (LID) refers to the situation where responses to items in a test or questionnaire are influenced by responses to other items in the test. This could be due to shared prompts, item content similarity, and deficiencies in item construction. LID due to a shared prompt is highly probable in cloze tests where items are nested within a passage. The purpose of this research is to examine the occurrence and magnitude of LID in a cloze test. A cloze test was analyzed with the Rasch model and locally dependent items were identified with the residual correlations. Findings showed that three pairs of items were locally dependent. When these items were removed from the analysis, test reliability dropped but item fit and unidimensionality improved. Removing the three locally dependent items did not affect person ability mean and standard deviation, though. The findings are discussed in terms of LID detection and modeling in the context of cloze test and language testing.

This article presents a new design and delivery strategy for teaching a course in higher education. For this purpose, I adapted a framework developed for business strategy success by Wrona and Ladwig (2015) to an educational context. To illustrate how the framework operates in the new context, I implemented video recorded interviews with industry representatives in a course with third-year students at Westminster International University in Tashkent. The attitudes of the students towards the videos were collected via electronic questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions. The students' positive attitudes towards the videos show the success of the strategy. However, the study was limited to one course within one international university in Uzbekistan, thus testing this strategy in larger courses is recommended for future research.

This study examines emotional well-being variations among students (n = 13,398) across 5 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondary analysis is conducted using data from the "Responses to Educational Disruption Survey" (REDS), which focused on the pandemic experiences, including well-being, of 8th-grade students. The study constructs an emotional well-being scale employing bi-factor models and multidimensional item response theory, encompassing students' concerns, loneliness, social isolation, and negative emotions. Cross-analyses with gender and socioeconomic status (SES) reveal significant between-group disparities, measured by Cohen's d effect sizes. It uncovers gender gaps in emotional well-being, with girls consistently scoring lower in most countries. SES effects on emotional well-being vary among countries, with SES group distinctions generally smaller than gender disparities. Thus, gender appears to have played a more significant role than SES in relation to 8th-grade students' emotional well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

Uzbekistan has not adopted robotics education as the school curriculum yet. However, several robotics learning centers have introduced robotics education in an informal setting. This research paper aims to highlight the essence of robotics education in Uzbekistan investigating the perception of parents and children to their full potential and identifying impediments to the process of implementing robotics in Uzbekistan. This research study involves primary and secondary research methods. A systematic literature review was conducted to examine the reflection of robotics education among primary and secondary school children. Official statistical data was gathered to prove the scope of demographics. Primary data was collected through the survey among parents whose children attended robotics classes. Ultimately, the authors have used empirical evidence to provide recommendations and solutions on how to implement robotics education effectively in Uzbekistan. Much emphasis has not been put on robotics education in Uzbekistan, despite reforms in the field of STEM education. Moreover, the condition (including teachers, lesson materials, classrooms, computers, and robotics kits) to implement robotics classes as more developed countries are doing has not been created properly, which hampers the introduction of robotics at schools. In addition, the majority of parents are not fully aware of the authentic value of robotics education in children's lives. Hence, Uzbek schools are lagging in the field of robotics.

Central Asian researchers are underrepresented in the global research production in social sciences, resulting in a limited Central Asian perspective on many social issues. To stimulate the production of local knowledge, it is important to develop strong research cultures, including knowledge of ethical practices in research with human participants. There is currently scarce evidence about research ethics regulations used by social science researchers working in the Central Asian region. This article reports findings from an online survey conducted in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan (n = 296) from October 2021 to January 2022. Focusing on three Central Asian countries, this article addresses the following research questions: What are the attitudes and practices of social science researchers based in Central Asia toward research ethics regulations and research ethics committees (RECs)? Is research ethics training associated with improved attitudes and practices in relation to research ethics among social scientists based in Central Asia? Is research experience associated with improved attitudes and practices in relation to research ethics among social scientists based in Central Asia? Regression analyses results demonstrate that locally based social scientists with prior research ethics training implement ethical procedures in their empirical research practice more often compared to researchers without any prior research ethics training. The preliminary findings indicate that research ethics training is positively associated with Central Asia-based social science researchers' engagement in ethical research, thus potentially increasing the amount and quality of empirical social science research produced in the region.

This research explores how paper and online assessments (OA) can affect EFL learners' personal development variables such as self-esteem, mindfulness, demotivation, and language learning development. Sixty intermediate English as a foreign language (EFL) students participated in the current research and were randomly grouped into the experimental group (EG) and the control group (CG). Before the intervention, the data collection tools assessing language learners' self-esteem, mindfulness, demotivation, and language learning development were administered as pre-tests to all the participants. Subsequently, the EG was taught all lessons of the coursebook, Top Notch 2, by utilizing OA while the CG was taught the identical lessons using a conventional (pen and paper) assessment. In the post-treatment phase, the two groups completed the post-tests on self-esteem mindfulness, demotivation, and language learning progress. The study demonstrated that the EG group outperformed the CG group on the four post-tests. The findings indicate that the intervention of OA significantly enhanced language learning outcomes and psychological well-being regarding the measured personal development variables. The enhanced efficacy in the EG group can be ascribed to the utilization of OA during the treatment phase, which has a beneficial effect on academic and personal development. This study also posits that integrating OA augments psychological engagement and language development among EFL learners. It highlights the implications of the results associating teaching EFL via OA with the observed personal development aspects and attributes them to effects of positive psychology.

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 adoption of English medium instruction (EMI) in higher education has gained popularity in China's tertiary education as a result of globalization. International students in Chinese universities are celebrated as part of soft power projection to extend China's global impact. Informed by Piller and Cho's concept of "Neoliberalism as language policy" (2013) and Collins' "social reproduction theory" (2009, 2012), this study attempts to explore the EMI learning experiences of a cohort of international students at a border university in China. The policy documents, in-depth interviews, classroom observation, reflective journals and online interactions converge to reveal that, international students in EMI programmes experience exclusion and inequality despite the welcoming discourses of diversity. The paper highlights the necessity to pay attention to the ways in which higher education institutions reproduce inequalities of social stratification of international students through explicit and implicit institutional practices. It is argued that EMI policy in China's peripheral regions targeting international students from less-developed countries tends to perpetuate and accentuate educational inequalities. The study sheds light on a more inclusive pedagogical approach to alleviating international students' marginalisation and educating students of diverse linguistic, cultural, socioeconomic backgrounds for global citizenship in the context of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Given the growing movement in support of blurring the divisions between language and literature teaching, it has become increasingly vital to understand what language teachers think of literature as a language resource, the approaches they employ when teaching with it, the extent to which they can appreciate, understand, analyse, and interpret literary texts, that is, their literary competence, and whether certain traits predict such competence. Yet, research into the use of literature in language education has been primarily concerned with learners rather than teachers. This article reports on an online questionnaire-based study that explored the creativity, orientations towards literature, teaching approaches, and beliefs regarding literature of 170 language teachers in Central Asia and how these elements predicted their literary competence. Participants worked at universities in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan and were teaching Chinese, English, French, German, Russian, and Spanish as foreign languages. The findings revealed that their reading habits and creativity statistically significantly predicted their literary competence while their selection of texts was partly at odds with their professed orientations towards literature.

Since Uzbekistan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, nationalist discourses have been overtly masculinized, continuing to inform Uzbek males' daily lives. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in Uzbekistan, this article illustrates how Uzbek boys' domestic relations contribute to the way they learn to (re)produce masculinities, foregrounding a high degree of agency and utility. The analysis uncovered three themes central to the (re)production of Uzbek boyhood in Uzbek families as a site of informal learning: (1) being helpful through domestic labour; (2) being social through showing hospitality; and (3) being tarbiyali through practising national culture. Through scrutinizing the intersections of gender, education and nationalism, this article concludes by connecting Uzbek boyhood in the domestic sphere and nationalist campaigns fostering masculine hegemony in Uzbekistan's nation building process. Through domesticity -- a contentious concept in feminist criticism -- this article expands our understanding of the (re)production of boyhood in a conventionally feminized space.

In this article, we explore the drivers of students' success in a first-year university statistics course. Using a unique sample from Westminster International University in Tashkent, we discover that student engagement with their studies is reflected in their class attendance and in the use of online resources, which continue to play an important role in their academic performance. Moreover, we discovered that socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, marital status, employment, and language of instruction of prior schooling are significant in explaining student academic outcomes. These factors have important policy implications for both the university and the broader national level.

With the large influx of Russian-speaking migrant workers and their children to South Korea, there is a growing need to explore the language and literacy practices of emerging multilingual learners. Specifically, as the Korean language is predominantly used in South Korean contexts, including school, Russian-speaking children face enormous linguistic and academic challenges and demonstrate different language practices in and out of school contexts. Drawing upon the conceptual frameworks of translingualism and agency, this three-year longitudinal case study attempts to investigate how and for what purposes an emergent multilingual youth executes his agency to engage in translingual practices within and across different contexts (in and out of school, and in an after-school program called Translingual Writing Program) and how his participation in translingual practices influences how he exercises his agency as a language learner. This study employs multiple sources of data to build a multifaceted perspective on an emerging multilingual youth's translingual practices and agency across multiple contexts over the course of three years. The findings suggest that the youth's engagement in translingual practices became more agentive and active under circumstances in which his multilingual beliefs and competence were valued, and where a relatively large number of resources were available.

This article reports upon roleplaying simulations used for teaching and learning subjects in the field of international relations. It is based upon five years of experience gained by the author while teaching in RUDN University in Moscow, Russia, and Webster University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The article aims to unravel both the value of roleplaying simulations in teaching international relations subjects, and how this practice correlates with the regional specificity of students in post-Soviet space. The main hypothesis advanced is that due to the peculiarities of traditional higher education processes in the countries of post-Soviet space, and the unique national traits of the students involved, the application of roleplaying simulations has provided additional motivation for the students. It has raised their level of immersion in their education, partially alleviating concerns about under-performance and low interest in the classroom activities among most of the students. The author argues that besides such scenario-based learning being in general a more pro-active way of learning, leading to better performance and overall facilitating competences formation process, it is specifically effective in learning environments that can be characterised as conservative and reactive, which for the most part is the case for post-Soviet space higher education.

A new highly effective sizing reagent based on grafted collagen copolymers has been proposed for cotton yarn. The copolymers were synthesized by reacting an aqueous solution of collagen with acrylic monomers--acrylic, matacrylic acids, and their amides in the presence of potassium persulfate. Based on Scanning electron microscopy--Energy dispersive (SEM-EDS) analysis data, the composition of the copolymers was determined. Unsaturated acids are more actively grafted onto collagen than their amides. When a polymer film is formed from a solution of a collagen copolymer with (meth)acrylic acid, microcracks appear on the surface of the sample; microcracks are absent in films of copolymers with (meth)acrylamide. Films of copolymers, especially methacrylamide, are quite flexible and contribute to a significant improvement in the properties of the yarn. The tensile strength of yarn sized with copolymers increases by 20%-65% compared to unsized yarn, and by 13%--38% compared to yarn sized with a starch solution. At the same time, the relative tensile elongation of the experimental yarn improves by 14%-58%, while this property of starch-size yarn deteriorates by 14%-22% compared to unsized yarn. The complete removal of graft copolymers from the surface of the yarn in the process of biochemical desizing using the enzyme protease is shown. Highlights * Graft copolymerization of (meth)aciylamide with collagen was carried out. * Grafting is initiated by the interaction of collagen with potassium persulfate. * The synthesized copolymers are effective sizing reagents for cotton yarn. * The copolymer with poly(meth)acrylamide forms a flexible and stable film. * The protease enzyme completely removes the size from the surface of the yarn. KEYWORDS acrylic monomer, collagen, cotton yam, graft copolymer, morphology, sizing, 1 | INTRODUCTION The preparation of cotton yarn for weaving is a technological link between the production of yarn and the production of fabric, therefore it plays a significant role [...]

Between 2018 and 2022, 23 foreign higher education institutions established a campus in Uzbekistan, resulting in it becoming the nation with the third largest number of international branch campuses globally, behind China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The purpose of this research is to understand the Uzbek government's and foreign institutions' rationales for engaging with transnational education (TNE) in Uzbekistan, as well as the founding and operational challenges, and the early outcomes. The data used in this study were obtained primarily from a range of expert stakeholders, who have expert and up-to-date knowledge on the development and operation of TNE institutions in Uzbekistan. Guided by our participants' views and the secondary data examined, an optimistic outlook is anticipated for higher education development in Uzbekistan. The paper concludes with sets of recommendations for local policy makers, TNE institutions, and host countries aspiring to elevate their higher education through TNE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do dictators ‘indigenize’ democracy? This article analyses discourses on democracy in a consolidated authoritarian regime to show how it assists in authoritarian regime-building. The article shows that in the case of Uzbekistan, Karimov’s rhetoric selected and essentialised features of an Uzbek nation, such as community, solidarity and fairness. The regime imposed such features on the Indigenous self-governing institutions, known as mahalla, to foster authoritarian control by turning community to guarantee ideological coherence, by imposing state hierarchy in the name of solidarity and by establishing local networks of patron-client relations in the name of fairness. Through quantitative content and critical discourse analyses of Karimov’s speeches from 1995 to 2015 published by the official press in Russian, the authors operationalise Karimov’s rhetoric on Indigenous democracy and through the analysis of legal acts that governed mahalla, they illustrate how such interpretations strengthened the authoritarian regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating demand for water, energy, and food, coupled with the imperative for sustainable development, necessitates innovative solutions to address the complex interdependencies within the water–energy–food nexus. In this context, agriculture and photovoltaics (Agri-PV or Agri–voltaics) systems have emerged as a promising approach to promoting sustainable agricultural practices while enhancing energy efficiency and food production. However, limited research, especially on the technical aspects of Agri-PV, has resulted in a knowledge gap regarding how to model and determine the suitability of Agri-PV for different crops based on local conditions. This study presents a novel approach to modeling and simulating Agri-PV systems for various major crops in developing countries, using Uzbekistan as a case study. It provides a blueprint for selecting suitable Agri-PV systems. The research investigates the technical feasibility of Agri-PV technology tailored to Uzbekistan's agricultural landscape, with broader implications for Central Asia. Employing a systematic methodology, the study begins by selecting appropriate sites and crops for Agri-PV system testing, ensuring the relevance and applicability of the research findings to the local context. Using advanced software tools such as PVSyst, the study accurately calculates photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) values specific to selected crops, bridging a significant knowledge gap and providing empirical data essential for informed decision making. The methodology further incorporates an in-depth analysis of economic and technical considerations in selecting PV modules and inverters, enhancing the scientific accuracy of the study. By strategically modeling Agri-PV systems based on parameters like row density, module distance, and tilt angle, this research aims to optimize the integration of photovoltaic technology with agricultural practices in Uzbekistan. Moreover, this study helps to understand the impact of Agri-PV systems on the water–energy–food nexus, providing valuable insights into the potential benefits and challenges specific to the region. The study identifies the positive impact of Agri-PV on major crops and provides a suitable design and modeling approach for sustainable farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation quantifies the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) in the soils and certain rocks of the Koytash–Ugam Range, Uzbekistan, and assesses their radiological risks. Gamma-spectrometric analysis of soil and rock samples revealed activity concentrations ranging from 456.2 ± 56.0 to 813.9 ± 76.0 Bq kg−1 for 40K, 18.2 ± 6.3 to 70.0 ± 12.0 Bq kg−1 for 226Ra, and 30.1 ± 2.9 to 57.9 ± 10 Bq kg−1 for 232Th. This data indicates a heterogeneous distribution of radionuclides, informing radiation safety and health risk assessments on a global scale. The calculation of radiological hazard indices, including the alpha-index (ranging from 0.09 to 0.35), gamma-index (ranging from 0.40 to 0.73), and both internal (ranging from 0.40 to 0.54) and external (ranging from 0.36 to 0.54) hazard indices, was undertaken to ascertain potential health risks. The radium equivalent activity ranged from 108.4 to 199.3 Bq kg−1, and the absorbed dose rates were 51.0–93.3 nGy h−1 indoors and 96.6–178.2 nGy h−1 outdoors. These metrics underlie the estimated annual effective dose of 536.5–988.5 × 10−3 mSv y−1, highlighting the variability in radiation exposure. Additionally, the potential lifetime cancer risk was projected at 1770.4 to 3262.0 per million, with an annual gonadal dose equivalent of 361.9 to 655.5 μSv y−1, reflecting natural background radiation influence. The results underscore the importance of safe material use in construction and the necessity for routine natural radioactivity monitoring. Radon flux density (RFD) values within acceptable construction limits (26–176 mBq m−2 s−1) suggest the area's suitability for development, considering recommended safety guidelines. This study not only aids local environmental and public health frameworks but also enriches the international knowledge base, facilitating comparative studies for the advancement of global radiation protection standards. Through a detailed examination of radionuclide distribution in an under-researched area, our research highlights the critical need for integrated international approaches to natural radiological hazard assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uzbekistan (Central Asia) is experiencing serious water stress as a consequence of altered climate regime, past over-exploitation, and dependence from neighboring countries for water supply. The Chirchik–Akhangaran drainage basin, in the Tashkent province of Uzbekistan, includes watersheds from the Middle Tien Shan Mountains escarpments and the downstream floodplain of the Chirchik and Akhangaran rivers, major tributaries of the Syrdarya river. Water in the Chirchik–Akhangaran basin is facing potential anthropogenic pressure from different sources at the scale of river reaches, from both industrial and agricultural activities. In this study, the major and trace element chemistry of surface water and groundwater from the Chirchik–Akhangaran basin were investigated, with the aim of addressing the geogenic and anthropogenic contributions to the dissolved load. The results indicate that the geochemistry of water from the upstream catchments reflects the weathering of exposed lithologies. A significant increase in Na+, K+, SO42−, Cl−, and NO3− was observed downstream, indicating loadings from fertilizers used in croplands. However, quality parameters suggest that waters are generally suitable for irrigation purposes, even if the total dissolved solid indicates a possible salinity hazard. The concentration of trace elements (including potentially toxic elements) was lower than the thresholds set for water quality by different regulations. However, an exceedingly high concentration of Zn, Mo, Sb, Pb, Ni, U, As, and B compared with the average river water worldwide was observed. Water in a coal fly-ash large pond related to the Angren coal-fired power plants stands out for the high As, Al, B, Mo, and Sb concentration, having a groundwater contamination potential during infiltration. Spring waters used for drinking purposes meet the World Health Organization and the Republic of Uzbekistan quality standards. However, a surveillance of such drinking-water supplies is suggested. The obtained results are indicators for an improved water resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first study providing an up-to-date account of the alien flora in Uzbekistan and analyzing the relationship between the invasion status (casual, naturalized, invasive) of alien plants in this country and their life histories, regions of origin, and habitat affiliations. The data were collected from literature, herbaria, and field surveys. The checklist includes 252 species, of which 44 are invasive (17.5%), 177 naturalized non-invasive (70.2%, giving 220 naturalized species in total), and 31 casual aliens (12.3%). The family with the highest number of alien species is Asteraceae (53, or 21% of all recorded species), followed by Brassicaceae (21), Poaceae (19), and Solanaceae (15). The most represented genera in the alien flora of Uzbekistan are Amaranthus (8 species), Centaurea, Malva, Solanum, and Vicia (5 each). The majority of the alien flora of Uzbekistan are annuals (138 species, i.e., 57% of the total), followed by perennials (52 species, 21.5%). There are only 13 alien woody species recorded. Invasive species originating from Africa, temperate Asia, and Europe are over-represented, as are naturalized species native to Northern America and Southern America. The majority of species are affiliated with agricultural (204 species) and ruderal habitats (164 species); riparian habitats (68 species) and grasslands (38 species) are also well represented. The pattern of invasions in the country is determined by the interaction of source species pools arriving from native regions, their habitat affiliations, and land use. Our study provides the first step toward science-based management of plant invasions in Uzbekistan. It can support policymakers, authorities, and managers in mitigating the current and future impacts of alien species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary aim is to provide a review of the benefits of agritourism for developing countries, such as the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan. This literature review discusses the importance of agritourism as a sustainable tourism strategy for the government and key stakeholders to support raising the standard of living and poverty levels of farmers and their families who are living in rural areas of Uzbekistan. The research method uses a literature review of the scientific research on agritourism in Uzbekistan. This was achieved through an extensive search of databases through the use of keywords that were collected to analyze and determine whether there were any gaps in the literature. This paper concludes that for less developed countries such as the Republic of Uzbekistan, agritourism is still in its initial stages of development and provides mainly economic benefits. This is because, in Uzbekistan, almost half of its population lives in rural areas and relies on the economic benefits of agriculture as their main source of subsistence and employment. However, in the future, there is a need to further develop new and innovative programs for agritourism businesses that can also promote the environmental and socio-cultural benefits for tourists to increase visitation to rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the potential role of hydrogen in decarbonizing the transport sector in Uzbekistan by examining different aspects of the country's energy system and transport final use. In road transport, Uzbekistan has already gained experience with the use of alternative fuels through the "Compressed Natural Gas—Mobility" initiatives and has achieved a fleet coverage of 59%. These existing frameworks and knowledge can ease the integration of hydrogen into road transport. The rail sector also has the potential for hydrogen uptake, considering that 47% of rail lines are not electrified. The results of this study indicate that powering all CNG vehicles with a 10% hydrogen blend (HCNG) could reduce road transport emissions by 0.62 MtCO2eq per year, while replacing diesel trucks with hydrogen-based vehicles could contribute to an additional reduction of up to 0.32 MtCO2eq per year. In rail transport, hydrogen-powered trains could reduce emissions in non-electrified lines by up to 0.1 kgCO2eq/km of journey. In assessing the potential infrastructure for hydrogen logistics, this study also identifies opportunities for hydrogen export by repurposing the existing natural gas infrastructure. Focusing on Uzbekistan, this study provides a regional perspective on the potential for the integration of hydrogen into the transport sector in Central Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate assessment of soil conditions is crucial for ensuring the seismic safety of buildings and structures. The existing classification of soils in the building code of Uzbekistan has several drawbacks that affect the accuracy of the input parameters of soil properties, the determination of the seismic intensity of the ground, and the underestimation of external environmental factors that affect seismic intensity. In response to these shortcomings, this paper presents the results of long-term engineering geological, macroseismic, and geophysical studies conducted to assess the influence of ground conditions on seismic intensity parameters. Based on the findings, a new classification of soils according to seismic properties is proposed. The classification system considers the unique characteristics of each soil type and provides a more accurate representation of their seismic properties. The proposed classification system is expected to provide valuable insights for seismic hazard assessment and earthquake-resistant design of structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, the cultivated diversity of microalgae in eroded soils in the northern part of the Fergana Valley in Uzbekistan has been studied based on both morphological and molecular genetic analysis. Ten strains of green microalgae (Chlorophyta) and one charophyte strain (Charophyta) were revealed. Only seven strains could be identified at the species level: Chlorella vulgaris, Chromochloris zofingiensis, Deuterostichococcus epilithicus, Pseudomuriella schumacherensis, and Pseudostichococcus monallantoides. Another four strains were identified only at the genus level and require further study: Bracteacoccus sp., Chlorosarcinopsis sp., Klebsormidium sp., and Tetratostichococcus sp. The low species diversity in the microalgae is likely due to both the low fertility of the eroded soils on the slopes, and the limitations of the culture-based approach that only reveals a fraction of the overall microbial diversity. Microalgal colonization of eroded soils in the arid foothill zone can be facilitated by various adaptations, such as small cell size and the production of extracellular polysaccharides, mycosporine-like aminoacids, and secondary carotenoids. The present work may contribute to the further development of highly functional microalgal consortia, which can lead to improvements and sustainable development of low-productivity, arid, and degraded terrestrial ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River ecosystems in Central Asia face significant stress from environmental changes and pollution. This study assesses temporal and spatial variations in water quality parameters within the Zarafshan River Basin using retrospective data and field measurements. Water quality indicators, including electrical conductivity (EC), total suspended solids (TSS), ammonium nitrogen (N‐NH4), nitrite nitrogen (N‐NO2), nitrate nitrogen (N‐NO3), temperature (T), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), and discharge, were analyzed using the Pearson's correlation coefficient and ANOVA, with the Mann–Kendall (MK) test detecting trends over time. Obtained results indicate significant seasonal effects with elevated TSS during summer, increasing sediment load and changing aquatic habitats. The strong inverse correlation (–0.89) between DO and N‐NH4 signifies ecological challenges particularly in low DO concentrations during summer (3.25 mg L–1). Long‐term analysis identifies Navoiazot chemical factory as a major pollution hotspot. Spatial analyses based on extended sampling have revealed the Siab and Dargom canals and Samarkand City as major pollution sources of elevated N‐NO2 and COD, respectively. Trends at various gauging stations (MK‐test) show increasing EC (τ = 0.72) and N‐NH4 (τ = 0.46) levels, with decreasing TSS, N‐NO3, T, and COD levels over time. Recommendations include targeted measures to reduce pollution at the Navoiazot factory and downstream, introducing sustainable agriculture practices, increasing public awareness for environmental conservation, and improving urban wastewater treatment to meet water quality requirements for different users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Islamic finance (IF) holds significant potential for economic development and the enhancement of financial inclusion in Uzbekistan. Sukuk, as a key Islamic capital market instrument and Shari'ah-compliant investment alternative, plays an important role in this context. However, the demand for sukuk and its determinants are not well understood by policymakers and industry practitioners in Uzbekistan. This study aims to address this research gap by utilizing an ordinal logit model on primary data collected through a survey of 196 individuals from diverse demographic and professional backgrounds, with varying levels of IF and capital market knowledge and experience. The regression results indicate that factors such as prior investment experience, knowledge of sukuk, and a strong inclination toward Shari'ah-compliant investments positively influence an individual's intent to buy sukuk. Conversely, we found that residents of Tashkent (the capital city) are less likely to invest in sukuk compared to residents of other regions in Uzbekistan or those residing abroad. Based on this study's findings, several essential policy and practical recommendations are provided to relevant stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recently formed “Gas Union” of Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is at a turning point, symbolizing a major shift in the energy dynamics of Central Asia. The goal of this tripartite alliance, initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, is to transport Russian gas to Uzbekistan through Kazakhstan. This event marks a historic moment, as it is the first time that Russian gas has been imported into Central Asia. Against the backdrop of acute energy problems in the region, this union is aimed at meeting the immediate needs of the member states from Central Asia, but it also leaves many long-term geopolitical and economic issues for the parties involved. This article aims to comprehensively analyze the Central Asia - Center gas pipeline within the framework of the emerging Russia - Central Asia Gas Union. It seeks to identify and discuss the geopolitical, economic, and environmental challenges and opportunities this renewed energy cooperation presents. The scope of this study encompasses an examination of the historical context of the pipeline, the strategic objectives of the involved nations, and the potential implications for the regional and global energy landscape. The research methodology includes a thorough review of existing literature, policy documents, and energy reports. The theoretical foundation of the study is based on neoliberal theory. The authors conclude that the creation of a new energy alliance is a sign of the beginning of a new stage in the transformation of energy cooperation between Russia and the Central Asian countries.

CAITME, which took place from 11 to 14 September in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, saw a strong participation of VDMA member companies. About 25 VDMA members took part in the event. Among [...]

In the first half of 2024, Uzbekistan's textile exports totaled $1.5 billion across 55 countries, reflecting a 5.3% decrease compared to the same period last year, according to official data. [...]