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Despite a burgeoning body of research on teacher identity development, little is known about how incongruities between the ideal and real-life teaching practices create identity tensions. The present study adopted an arts-based approach and examined teachers' ideal and actual teaching practices, and the associated identity tensions and related coping strategies in the context of Afghanistan. Data were collected from six English teachers via drawings and semi-structured interviews. Data analysis indicated that the teachers experienced unattainable ideal praxis in terms of 'time, space and facility', 'ideal teaching methods', 'ideal instructional materials', and 'technology-enhanced classroom', which resulted in various identity tensions. However, thinking reflectively about their imagined community and ideal practices offered affordances for the teachers to be creative to manage the tensions, and build resilience and reflexivity. The study concludes with implications for teachers, teacher educators, and policymakers in developing awareness of ideal-real mismatches to support teacher identity development.

Afghanistan has recently witnessed the redefinition of its educational policies, particularly those related to language teaching. However, little is known about Afghan second language (L2) teachers and the challenges they might face in their professional identity construction. This study investigated the challenges of professional identity construction of Afghan L2 teachers. Scenario prompts and semistructured interviews were used to explore how the teachers responded to challenging situations and narrated their professional challenges. Data analyses indicated that the teachers responded to the scenario prompts in accordance with perspectives mirroring criticality in educational functioning by promoting learners' awareness of sociocultural anomalies, resisting institutional inequalities, and gearing instruction to learners' needs. Additionally, analysis of the teachers' semistructured interviews revealed sociocultural, institutional, and pedagogical challenges, particularly the dominance of institutional barriers in sanctioning the teachers' identity construction. The authors argue that Afghan L2 teachers need more assistance from policymakers and teacher educators to facilitate their professionalism and professional practice.

Despite a burgeoning body of research on teacher identity development, little is known about how incongruities between the ideal and real-life teaching practices create identity tensions. The present study adopted an arts-based approach and examined teachers' ideal and actual teaching practices, and the associated identity tensions and related coping strategies in the context of Afghanistan. Data were collected from six English teachers via drawings and semi-structured interviews. Data analysis indicated that the teachers experienced unattainable ideal praxis in terms of 'time, space and facility', 'ideal teaching methods', 'ideal instructional materials', and 'technology-enhanced classroom', which resulted in various identity tensions. However, thinking reflectively about their imagined community and ideal practices offered affordances for the teachers to be creative to manage the tensions, and build resilience and reflexivity. The study concludes with implications for teachers, teacher educators, and policymakers in developing awareness of ideal-real mismatches to support teacher identity development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan has significantly exacerbated educational challenges for marginalized women and girls, deepening gender disparities and impeding socio-economic development. Addressing these issues, this article introduces the Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence Non-Formal Education System (BANFES), an innovative educational solution specifically designed for Afghan girls deprived of formal schooling. BANFES leverages advanced artificial intelligence technologies, including personalized data analysis, to provide customized learning experiences. Additionally, blockchain technology ensures secure record management and data integrity, facilitating a decentralized educational ecosystem where various nodes offer hybrid learning methodologies without intermediaries. This system not only adapts to individual learning speeds and styles to enhance engagement and outcomes but also employs an independent assessment mechanism to evaluate learners. Such evaluations promote transparency and maintain the quality and reputation of educational contributions within the network. The BANFES initiative also addresses implementation challenges, including local distrust and integration with existing educational structures, providing a robust model to overcome barriers to education. Furthermore, the paper explores the scalability of BANFES, proposing its application as a global strategy for non-formal education systems facing similar geopolitical and infrastructural challenges. By creating a secure, flexible, and learner-focused environment, BANFES aims to empower Afghan women and girls with essential skills for personal and professional growth, thus fostering socioeconomic advancement within their communities and setting a new standard for informal education worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, traffic problems and issues are divided into two functional and safety categories. Functional problems appear in the form of long delays in one or more directions of movement and safety problems, usually in the form of multiple interferences, incorrect maneuvers, non-compliance with traffic control devices, and, ultimately, accidents. Obtaining sufficient and reliable information for making decisions and implementing effective interventions in the field of reducing traffic accidents is of particular importance. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the factors that increase accidents and providing correct solutions. In order to obtain the basic factors of the increase in accidents and to introduce suitable solutions, a questionnaire with the content of the factors of the increase in accidents and reduction of road accidents in Afghanistan was prepared and arranged and given to the people (drivers, passengers, pedestrians, managers). traffic, traffic police, and civil servants) was distributed at different levels (Bac Loria, bachelor, master, and doctorate). After collecting and analyzing the questionnaires, the field data was analyzed by the SPSS program, and according to the output of the program, among the 21 questions of the questionnaire, the questions that need to be answered have received more attention. In this study, excessive use of depreciated cars, non-existence of stops, non-observance of traffic rules (driving), and non-standard transport routes are increasing factors, as installation of traffic signboards in prominent places, the separation of roads based on the nature of light and heavy vehicles, the correct use of public roads, compliance with the speed limit and not overtaking the zigzags of cars. Legal dealings with violators were known to be the factors that reduce accidents, and Eliminating the increasing factors and considering the decreasing factors of this research is offered to the competent authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding groundwater storage dynamic changes and quantifying the trends of groundwater fluctuations in the Helmand River Basin (HRB) aquifers, where the groundwater is the main source for drinking and irrigation applications, is significantly important in order to effectively manage groundwater resources. This case study quantifies the changes in groundwater storage over 18 years (i.e., from 2003 to 2021) in the HRB by employing the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) observations and Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) data due to sparse groundwater monitoring networks and lack of ground-based information. The data of observation wells was applied to validate the results of the GRACE and GLDAS outputs. The results indicate that changes in groundwater storage on average from 2003 to 2021 are equal to (-98.6 ± 226.84 mm or -1.9 ± 4.38 km3/year). On average, during 2003 to 2021 groundwater table decline was -2.6 m in the HRB. The study indicates relatively strong correlation (0.75) between the GRACE derived data and direct in-situ measurements. This study highlights the effectiveness of the GRACE-derived data for the reliable estimation of groundwater storage changes in the HRB and may contribute to sustainable groundwater resources management in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afghanistan has at times faced crises, mostly due to the interference of hostile countries in all affairs of the country. The crises in Afghanistan, at any time, from the interventions of the countries of the region and the rivalry of the great supra-regional and global powers that have caused the crisis in this country to continue, especially in recent decades, which has led to many tensions. Investigating why this country is in crisis requires recognizing its contexts and underlying factors. Global regional and trans-regional factors are the root causes, sustainability and context that need to be examined. The present study seeks to study, analyze and find the root of the crisis of this country from a geopolitical point of view with a descriptiveanalytical method. And the area has been surveyed. Findings show that neighboring countries and the region, especially the above factors, have a role to play in the recent crises in Afghanistan, as well as the competition of powers, both domestically and nationally, as well as regionally, trans regionally and globally. Have played an effective role in the crisis in this country and have caused the crisis in Afghanistan to continue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afghanistan has always been an area of interest for great powers and regional actors in terms of its strategic location. The history of Afghanistan includes processes such as "occupation, civil war and political instability" where periods of conflict and turmoil are frequent. With the "civil war" that started after the Soviet Union's (SSRU) invasion of Afghanistan and the influence of external factors, the Taliban organization emerged in 1994, dominated almost the whole country in a short time and lost power in 2001 with the US intervention in Afghanistan. The Taliban organization, which regained its power in Afghanistan after 2001, started a struggle with the USA and its allies after a short period of "withdrawal". The Taliban organization came to power again in Afghanistan in 2021, after twenty years of struggle between the US and NATO forces. In this study, the power periods of the Taliban organization in Afghanistan after 1996-2001 and 2021 are examined. The aim of this study is to analyze the foreign policy of the Taliban organization. The main hypothesis of this article is the argument that "the main reason for the emergence of the Taliban organization, taking over the country in a short time and not losing its effectiveness in Afghanistan for the last two decades is not only external factors, but also the political instability in the country and the authority vacuum created by the power struggle". In this respect, it will be examined whether the foreign policy approach of the Taliban government has changed compared to the previous period, and it will be questioned whether the policies of the states that did not formally recognize the Taliban organization and remained distant in the new period after 2021 have changed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: HIV and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infections are responsible for a significant burden of mortality and morbidity, particularly in developing countries. This study sought to determine the prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis C among injecting drug users in Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. Methods: This review conforms to the Preferred Reporting Guidelines for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science/Knowledge, SID.ir, and MAGIRAN were searched. Studies that were published from 2003 up to 2018 were considered for analysis. Studies were screened for inclusion in duplicate, and also, that data were narratively synthesized. Results: We report on data from 79 articles. The total number of participants in studies that assessed the prevalence of HIV among injecting drug users included 68,926 participants, while those from studies that assessed HCV prevalence were 23,016 participants. Overall HIV and HCV prevalence among injecting drug users in the three selected countries were 9.1% (95% CI 6.9–12.0%) and 48.3% (95% CI 43.9–52.7%), respectively. Iran had the highest HIV prevalence of 11.0% among injectable drug users (95% CI 8.4–14.2%), while Afghanistan had the lowest HIV prevalence of 3.1% (95% CI 1.5–6.3%) among three selected countries. In Pakistan, the prevalence of HIV was 8.6% (95% CI 4.8–15.0%). Regarding HCV prevalence, Pakistan had the highest while Afghanistan had the lowest, 54.4% (95% CI 33.5–73.9%) and 37.3% (95% CI 35.2–39.4%), respectively. HCV prevalence in Iran was 47.7% (95% CI 43.4–52.0%). Conclusion: Injecting drug users form a special cohort of persons at risk of HIV and Hepatitis C infections. The prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis noted from our findings is significantly high. Awareness of the grave risk of spreading HIV and Hepatitis C associated with sharing needles is recommended among this sub-group of drug users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reza Amirkhani is a prominent Iranian novelist, travel writer, and cultural critic. He has won many literary awards in Iran and some of his works have been bestsellers. In this interview, Amirkhani discusses his journey to Afghanistan, which he undertook after the 2009 Iranian presidential election, and published as Janistan, Kabulistan in 2010. The travelogue begins with an account of the writer's ascent to Iran's Mount Damavand to escape politics, only to find that the political is inescapable, and closes with a discussion of elections in Iraq and Lebanon. Between the book's prelude and epilogue, in his signature style, Amirkhani weaves a narrative of his journey, which is interlaced with social, political, and cultural commentary on different aspects of Afghan (and sometimes Iranian) society. Drawing on a rich culture and history, Amirkhani offers insights into a country that is often represented stereotypically and produces a narrative that challenges much of the conventional wisdom on Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research identified factors influencing wind erosion and remediation strategies in the Hamoon Wetland in the Sistan plain of southeastern Iran. First, a map was prepared to classify erosion levels based on a model by the Iran Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands (IRIFR). Secondly, factors contributing to erosion were identified. Finally, the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) model was employed to identify the most significant strategies for preventing and managing wind erosion impacts in the wetland. In our study area, the low erosion class covered the greatest extent of land at 41.2%. Considering the overall extent of the Hamoon Wetland, this is still a considerable number, and we discuss the numerous threats which contribute to making the Hamoon Wetland the greatest dust producer in the area. Erosion was primarily influenced by wind speed and direction, vegetation density, land shape and elevation. In the SWOT analysis, we propose in detail various effective strategies to combat wind erosion. Watershed pathways need to be conserved in this area to minimize wind erosion. Otherwise, this will have irreversible negative consequences for the region that transcend borders which will likely exacerbate political tensions between Iran and Afghanistan. We conclude that implementing scientific models like the IRIFR and SWOT in this context provides valuable quantitative information for policymakers to safeguard wetland ecosystems for the sake of mitigating wind erosion. • Erosion mapping and key drivers analysis using a national model: IRIFR. • Harnessing SWOT for wind erosion strategies: A comprehensive approach. • Policy shifts and international ties crucial to save 58.8% medium-severe erosion area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landraces are a potential source of genetic diversity and provide useful genetic resources to cope with the current and future challenges in crop breeding. Afghanistan is located close to the centre of origin of hexaploid wheat. Therefore, understanding the population structure and genetic diversity of Afghan wheat landraces is of enormous importance in breeding programmes for the development of high-yielding cultivars as well as broadening the genetic base of bread wheat. Here, a panel of 363 bread wheat landraces collected from seven north and north-eastern provinces of Afghanistan were evaluated for population structure and genetic diversity using single nucleotide polymorphic markers (SNPs). The genotyping-by-sequencing of studied landraces after quality control provided 4897 high-quality SNPs distributed across the genomes A (33.75%), B (38.73%), and D (27.50%). The population structure analysis was carried out by two methods using model-based STRUCTURE analysis and cluster-based discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC). The analysis of molecular variance showed a higher proportion of variation within the sub-populations compared with the variation observed as a whole between sub-populations. STRUCTURE and DAPC analysis grouped the majority of the landraces from Badakhshan and Takhar together in one cluster and the landraces from Baghlan and Kunduz in a second cluster, which is in accordance with the micro-climatic conditions prevalent within the north-eastern agro-ecological zone. Genetic distance analysis was also studied to identify differences among the Afghan regions; the strongest correlation was observed for the Badakhshan and Takhar (0.003), whereas Samangan and Konarha (0.399) showed the highest genetic distance. The population structure and genetic diversity analysis highlighted the complex genetic variation present in the landraces which were highly correlated to the geographic origin and micro-climatic conditions within the agro-climatic zones of the landraces. The higher proportions of admixture could be attributed to historical unsupervised exchanges of seeds between the farmers of the central and north-eastern provinces of Afghanistan. The results of this study will provide useful information for genetic improvement in wheat and is essential for association mapping and genomic prediction studies to identify novel sources for resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat rust diseases, including yellow rust (Yr; also known as stripe rust) caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici, leaf rust (Lr) caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks. and stem rust (Sr) caused by Puccinia graminis Pres f. sp. tritici are major threats to wheat production all around the globe. Durable resistance to wheat rust diseases can be achieved through genomic-assisted prediction of resistant accessions to increase genetic gain per unit time. Genomic prediction (GP) is a promising technology that uses genomic markers to estimate genomic-assisted breeding values (GBEVs) for selecting resistant plant genotypes and accumulating favorable alleles for adult plant resistance (APR) to wheat rust diseases. To evaluate GP we compared the predictive ability of nine different parametric, semi-parametric and Bayesian models including Genomic Unbiased Linear Prediction (GBLUP), Ridge Regression (RR), Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), Elastic Net (EN), Bayesian Ridge Regression (BRR), Bayesian A (BA), Bayesian B (BB), Bayesian C (BC) and Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Spacing model (RKHS) to estimate GEBV's for APR to yellow, leaf and stem rust of wheat in a panel of 363 bread wheat landraces of Afghanistan origin. Based on five-fold cross validation the mean predictive abilities were 0.33, 0.30, 0.38, and 0.33 for Yr (2016), Yr (2017), Lr, and Sr, respectively. No single model outperformed the rest of the models for all traits. LASSO and EN showed the lowest predictive ability in four of the five traits. GBLUP and RR gave similar predictive abilities, whereas Bayesian models were not significantly different from each other as well. We also investigated the effect of the number of genotypes and the markers used in the analysis on the predictive ability of the GP model. The predictive ability was highest with 1000 markers and there was a linear trend in the predictive ability and the size of the training population. The results of the study are encouraging, confirming the feasibility of GP to be effectively applied in breeding programs for resistance to all three wheat rust diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To determine the prevalence, related factors and maternal outcomes of primary PPH in governmental hospitals in Kabul Afghanistan., Methods: An observational study was designed to determine the prevalence, related factors and maternal outcomes of primary PPH in governmental hospitals in Kabul-Afghanistan. The population of this study consisted of all women who gave birth to a child between August and October 2018. The structured checklist was used to collect the data from patients who were suffering from primary PPH., Results: Among the 8652 women who were observed, 215 (2.5%) of them suffered from primary PPH and 2 (0.9%) of them died under caesarean section. The most common related factors of primary PPH were uterine atonia (65.6%), previous PPH (34.9%), prolonged labor (27%), genital tract trauma (26.5%), and induction of labor (20.5%). The most common maternal outcomes of primary PPH were respiratory failure (7%), hysterectomy (6%), and hypovolaemic shock (5.1%)., Conclusions: According to our findings, the major cause of postpartum bleeding was uterine atonia. Therefore, postpartum care of women is essential, especially for those with previous PPH and prolonged labor that require more attention.

Spraying of canvas tents with residual pyrethroid insecticide is an established method of malaria vector control in tented refugee camps. In recent years, plastic sheeting (polythene tarpaulins) has replaced canvas as the utilitarian shelter material for displaced populations in complex emergencies. Advances in technology enable polythene sheeting to be impregnated with pyrethroid during manufacture. The efficacy of such material against mosquitoes when erected as shelters under typical refugee camp conditions is unknown. Tests were undertaken with free-flying mosquitoes on entomological study platforms in an Afghan refugee camp to compare the insecticidal efficacy of plastic tarpaulin sprayed with deltamethrin on its inner surface (target dose 30 mg/m2), tarpaulin impregnated with deltamethrin (initially > or = 30 mg/m2) during manufacture, and a tent made from the factory impregnated tarpaulin material. Preliminary tests done in the laboratory with Anopheles stephensi Liston (Diptera: Culicidae) showed that 1-min exposure to factory-impregnated tarpaulins would give 100% mortality even after outdoor weathering in a temperate climate for 12 weeks. Outdoor platform tests with the erected materials (baited with human subjects) produced mosquito mortality rates between 86-100% for sprayed or factory-impregnated tarpaulins and tents (average approximately 40 anophelines and approximately 200 culicines/per platform/night), whereas control mortality (with untreated tarpaulin) was no more than 5%. Fewer than 20% of mosquitoes blood-fed on human subjects under either insecticide-treated or non-treated shelters. The tarpaulin shelter was a poor barrier to host-seeking mosquitoes and treatment with insecticide did not reduce the proportion blood-feeding. Even so, the deployment of insecticide-impregnated tarpaulins in refugee camps, if used by the majority of refugees, has the potential to control malaria by killing high proportions of mosquitoes and so reducing the average life expectancy of vectors (greatly reducing vectorial capacity), rather than by directly protecting refugees from mosquito bites. Mass coverage with deltamethrin-sprayed or impregnated tarpaulins or tents has strong potential for preventing malaria in displaced populations affected by conflict.