Search

This article explores precious fragments of silk, manufactured in the Byzantine Empire and Central Asia, discovered in archaeological excavations in Dublin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the historical connections between Norwich and Nara, two cities that played significant roles in the Silk Roads. It focuses on the impact of the Silk Roads on the North Sea and Baltic regions, as well as East Asia and Europe. The article highlights the similarities and exchanges between Norwich and Nara, such as the presence of churches and temples. It also discusses the spread of Buddhism and Christianity along the Silk Roads and their influence on local cultures. The article emphasizes the significance of material objects and ideas that emerged from these interactions, particularly in relation to relics and material culture in Japan. It mentions the Shosoin in Nara as an important site housing objects from the Silk Roads, and the cultural value placed on archaeological discoveries in Japan. The author emphasizes the importance of comparative history and archaeology in understanding the Silk Roads. [Extracted from the article]

The question of whether the 'Silk Road/s' is a useful concept for historical analysis, or too vague or too all-encompassing to have interpretative value, is one that scholars have been debating ever since the term moved into the cultural and scholarly mainstream. Although the use of the term in marketing does not often impinge on its scholarly use, its appropriation in the cultural and politico-economic worlds has the potential to be more distorting. Here I offer a definition and discuss its appropriateness, look briefly at the history of the term, and then explore how it is appearing more frequently in historical scholarship of medieval Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The transfer of sericulture into Byzantium is a critical episode in the global dissemination of silk production technology. However, it is now widely accepted that the explanatory model portraying the transfer as a one-off event is at odds with the historical facts. This article seeks to reassess the transfer of this technology through the lens of appropriation, interpreted as a process. Based on a detailed analysis of the limited evidence available, it attempts to reconstruct the process from transregional and diachronic perspectives, embracing, on the one hand, the transmission of sericulture from China to Byzantium and, on the other, its development in Byzantium over time. This reconstruction offers an explanation for unresolved historical problems. It also constitutes a template for modelling the global transfer of technology in the premodern world, potentially of great value for an in-depth understanding of the transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mudurnu County, situated in northwestern Turkey, is a prominent settlement area because it is located on major trade routes (i.e., the Silk Road and the Crimean Road) and has served as a trading town and a military base in the Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods. Mudurnu County is affected by regional complex rock slope instabilities that pose a substantial hazard to the settlement area and generate regional risk to human life, buildings, houses, and industrial facilities. Mudurnu, because of its invaluable historical structures, has been nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage List. Yet, those historical structures are threatened by the rock instabilities. The aim of the paper is to characterize the rock mass on the western slopes of the Mudurnu Valley, through geomechanical evaluation of the rock and empirical assessment of the slope instabilities. The engineering geological and geomechanical properties of the area were acquired via a 3D point cloud together with field scan-line surveys. The western slope of the Mudurnu Valley was divided into 11 geomechanically uniform sectors. Classification of the sectors using the SMR and Q-slope methods demonstrated that the rock mass was prone to complex planar, wedge, and toppling failures. Proper identification of such complex failures was performed using a decision tree methodology. Estimation of the probabilities of the complex failures was accomplished using empirical classifications and field observations. It was found that Sector 8 was the most critical for combined toppling and wedge failures, as well as toppling with a combination of planar and wedge failures. In addition, Sector 6 was the most critical for combined toppling and planar failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines darknet markets through the lens of a business theory on knowledge management. Taking epistemological and ontological dimensions into consideration, this study uses Nonaka's (1991) SECI model as a theoretical framework to identify and describe how tacit and explicit knowledge is created and shared on Silk Road, Pandora and Agora darknet markets, and how people affect this process. By studying this process, insights can be obtained into darknet market criminal organizations and communities of practice and their impact on the continuity and resilience of illicit darknet markets. This project used data from the Internet Archive collection of publicly available darknet market scrapes between 2011 and 2015 from Branwen et al. (2015). We observed instances of the SECI model (socialization, externalization, combination, and internalization) on darknet markets in both criminal organizations and communities of practice. Darknet market leaders and groups facilitated both knowledge creation and sharing. This study is the first to test the SECI model on darknet markets. The study provides an understanding of the complexity and resilience of darknet markets, as well as valuable information to help guide law enforcement agencies efforts to stop the illicit trade of goods and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Carbon peak and carbon neutrality (dual-carbon) are important targets for the international response to climate change. The Silk Road Economic Belt is a strategic resource region and is important for future ecological environment and tourism development. Based on the "dual-carbon" targets, the Single index quantification, Multiple index synthesis, and Poly-criteria integration evaluation model were used in this study to measure the coordinated development index of the ecological environment, public service, and tourism economy along the Silk Road Economic Belt and to analyze its spatial and temporal evolution. Further, it explores the dynamic evolution and development trend of the three systems using the Kernel Density and Grey Markov Prediction Model. The results show that the coordinated development index along this region needs to be improved during the study period. Furthermore, the coordinated development index of the Southwest region is relatively higher than that of the Northwest region. From the development trend of the three systems, all of them develop in a stable manner; however, the tourism economy system is easily affected by external disturbances. The coordinated development index of the three systems changes dynamically and tends to be in a good state of coordination. There is a certain spatial and temporal heterogeneity. The gravity center of the coordinated development index has been in the Southwest region. During the forecast period, the coordinated development index along this region will improve significantly, while insufficient and unbalanced development will continue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practice and Policy-Oriented Abstract Law enforcement bodies have largely responded to the increase in darknet activities through site shutdowns, which involve significant investment of policing resources. Despite these efforts, new darknet sites continue to show up after the site takedowns. We offer a new look at this issue by assessing the viability of selectively targeting large drug vendors operating on darknet sites. We find that the arrest of a major drug vendor reduced subsequent transaction levels by 39% and the number of remaining vendors by 56% on Silk Road 2.0. This deterrent effect also spilled over to drug vendors located in countries beyond the prosecutorial jurisdiction of the arrested vendor. We further find that small darknet drug vendors were most deterred by the arrest and vendors selling dangerous drugs were relatively more deterred. Our study findings hold policy-relevant implications to government agencies and law enforcement. Whereas site shutdowns can disrupt these markets momentarily, the selective targeting of large-scale drug vendors should be given serious consideration and used to a broader extent. The design of future enforcement strategies should also account for the finding that darknet markets are made up of both small-scale drug dealers new to the drug trade and large-scale drug syndicates. Darknet markets have been used increasingly for the transaction of drugs in the last decade. The growth of illicit drug transactions on darknet markets has led enforcement agencies to invest a greater proportion of time and effort to monitor and crack down on criminal activities on darknet websites. Whereas large-scale site-shutdown efforts involving policing agencies across various countries can help in slowing down the growth of these markets, such enforcement strategies may not be sustainable in the long run given the cost and time they require to coordinate. Thus, there is a need for alternative, cost-efficient strategies to police darknet markets on a regular basis. In response, this study attempts to empirically evaluate and quantify the effectiveness of selectively targeting large drug vendors on darknet sites. Using data from the three largest darknet markets, we employ a difference-in-differences procedure to assess the impact of the arrest of a major drug dealer on subsequent darknet activities. Specifically, we contrast various outcomes from the policed site (Silk Road 2) with those from nonpoliced sites (Agora and Evolution) and find that enforcement efforts on the policed site reduced subsequent transaction levels and the number of remaining vendors. The enforcement was not only effective in deterring users in the same country as the arrestees, but also had a spillover effect on darknet participants who were beyond the prosecutorial jurisdictions of the arrestees. Test results on heterogeneous effects further suggest that small darknet drug vendors were most deterred by the arrest event and drug vendors selling dangerous drugs were more deterred relative to those selling less dangerous drugs. Our findings have policy and theoretical implications for law makers, enforcement agencies, and academics. History: Kai-Lung Hui, Senior Editor; Debabrata Dey, Associate Editor. Funding: This study acknowledges the support of the Networks, Electronic Commerce, and Telecommunications Institute grant and the National University of Singapore Academic Research Fund Tier 1 Research Grant [Grant R-253-000-171-114]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2023.1222. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve the ambitious goal of "carbon neutrality", countries around the world are striving to develop clean energy. Against this background, this paper takes China and Italy as representatives of developing and developed countries to summarize the energy structure composition and development overview of the two countries. The paper analyzes the serious challenges facing the future energy development of both countries and investigates the possibilities of energy cooperation between the two countries, taking into account their respective advantages in energy development. By comparing the policies issued by the two governments to encourage clean energy development, this paper analyzes the severe challenges faced by the two countries' energy development in the future and combines their respective energy development advantages to look forward to the possibility of energy cooperation between the two countries in the future. This lays the foundation for China and Italy to build an "Energy Road" after the "Silk Road". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This meta-analysis investigates the effectiveness of mental health interventions tailored for international students in China, with a specific focus on Uzbek students and Silk Road scholarship recipients. The comprehensive literature review synthesizes existing studies, papers, and reports, evaluating the outcomes, limitations, and cultural considerations of these programs. Data selection targets mental health programs for international students, honing in on a subset analysis related to Uzbek students and Silk Road scholarship recipients. The analysis encompasses diverse outcome measures, such as reported stress levels, utilization rates of mental health services, academic performance, and more. Results reveal a consistent and statistically significant reduction in reported stress levels, emphasizing the positive impact of these interventions. Utilization rates of mental health services witness a significant increase, highlighting the accessibility and effectiveness of support. Retention rates show marked improvement, though academic performance yields mixed findings, prompting nuanced exploration. Psychological well-being, quality of life, and overall well-being exhibit substantial enhancements, aligning with the overarching goal of holistic student development. Positive outcomes are observed in increased help-seeking behavior, positive correlations with social support, and significant reductions in anxiety levels. Cultural adaptation and satisfaction with interventions both indicate positive outcomes, underscoring the effectiveness of culturally sensitive mental health support. The findings emphasize the importance of tailored mental health interventions for international students, providing novel insights into the specific needs of Uzbek students and Silk Road scholarship recipients. This research contributes to a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted impact of mental health programs on diverse student populations, offering valuable implications for the design and refinement of future interventions. As educational institutions continue to globalize, addressing the mental health needs of international students remains pivotal for fostering inclusive and supportive learning environments. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 (2) February, 2024; 1-12. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on an overlooked chapter in the history of commercial relations between Iran and China. The article shows how Persian opium was taken to Central Asia before it was distributed across the Han interior for much of the nineteenth century. Historical caravan routes and long-established networks of commercial interests served to facilitate this cross-continental exchange. The article argues that such overland trade was important for unleashing globalizing processes that are often discussed in the context of the history of opium, capitalism, and commercial relations in the Indian Ocean world. This article, in brief, decentres the history of modern trade and economy in Asia by discussing the role of non-European traders, commodities, supply chains, and networks in the development of the globalized commercial and economic order in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article assesses trans-scalar drivers of Belt and Road initiative's (BRI) activities in the Middle East. It engages critically with the concepts of territorial and capitalist logics of power based on the contender state-society complex's concept. The imprints of China's contender state are identifiable in its peculiar mode of mediation of transnational capital both in terms of the state ownership-leadership of BRI projects' and of their effective and potential outcomes. While BRI fixes over-accumulated capital through valorisation in external geographies, it is modulated to respond to a set of multi-scalar political and economic imperatives. Studied activities in the Middle East contribute to China's energy security in terms of direct access to oil, trade routes, and oil invoicing practices. Transports and logistics investments strategically integrate the mainland's underdeveloped regions as central nodes in the BRI's transnational capital flows to dynamise their economies and ensure political stability. Beijing seems to be conducting a territorially embedded strategy to restructure the international monetary system through new oil-related financial and monetary arrangements with Middle East producers. Geopolitically, BRI reduces dependence on US-dominated global connectivity networks, thus increasing Beijing political autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of the mineralogical, petrographic and chemical study of different archaeological samples related to terracruda sculptures and other elements that were part of the architectural decoration of the Buddhist sites of Tepe Narenj and Qol‐e‐tut (Kabul, Afghanistan; fifth to 11th centuries CE). The main objective of the study was to characterize the samples using an archaeometric approach. The study helped to better understand the materials involved in the modeling of Afghan sculptures and their processing, such as the different nature of the clay layers and the finishing 'stucco' coating. The results further indicate that similarities exist among the manufacturing process of the studied samples and that used today by an ancient caste of clay artists in West Bengal (India), suggesting the existence of a continuous technological tradition that deserves to be further explored in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of China's outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) on the export similarity (EXSI) between China and the countries along the Belt and Road by using an unbalanced panel dataset involving 64 Belt and Road countries (BRCs) from 2003 to 2018. The empirical analysis indicates that China's OFDI has a positive impact on the EXSIs of commodities as a whole. Specifically, it finds that Chinese OFDI has a positive impact on the EXSI of primary products but has a negative impact on the EXSIs of resource-based manufactures, low-technology manufactures, and medium-skill/high-skill and technology-intensive manufactures. Furthermore, by classifying the BRCs into resource-rich, low-income, and high-income groups, we find that China's OFDI reduces the EXSIs of resource-intensive manufactures in resource-rich BRCs, low-technology manufacturesin low-income BRCs, and high-skill and technology-intensive manufactures in high-income BRCs. This finding is generally consistent with the resource endowments and comparative advantages of China and the BRCs. In addition, we find that since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative, China's OFDI has not only increasingly fostered the export dissimilarity (specialisation) of resource-intensive manufactures and labour-intensive manufactures between China and BRCs but also promoted the export upgrading of BRCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wall paintings from the site of Akrotiri, Thera, are often considered to be instrumental to understanding elements of life in the Bronze Age. This is partially due to their high degree of preservation. The large-scale detail present in the scenes allows for a more detailed and nuanced understanding of the imagery that survives in glyptic art that, considered together with the surviving wall paintings, helps to better inform one's understanding of Aegean life. Many of the iconographic elements and themes, however, remain at least partially enigmatic. This is particularly the case for Xeste 3, a cultic building at Akortiri, where the wall paintings contribute to a larger, programmatic cultic narrative. The current investigation seeks to better understand the monkeys scene from Room 2 of the first floor by deconstructing and examining each visual element via comparative analyses. They are first contextualized within the Aegean, then considered in light of Mesopotamian comparanda. This method allows for possible parallels between the monkeys from Xeste 3 and at least three priestly classes known from contemporary Mesopotamian tradition: the gala, assinnu, and kurgarrû. Each of these priestly classes belonged to the adaptable and widespread cult of Inanna, one of the most powerful and popular deities in Mesopotamia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using SITC-3 product-level data from the CEPII-BACI database, we find that the share of imports from China by countries in the one-belt region slowed down significantly after the global financial crisis (GFC) in 2008, which predates the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), while there was no slowdown in the one-road region. Analysis using the difference-in-differences (DID) method reveals that the GFC inhibited China's export to countries in the one-belt region and this effect has become stronger over time. This conclusion remains robust for other control groups over various time segment points and different product dimensions. Further analysis shows that the slowdown of China's export expansion in landlocked countries, and in Europe, and the Middle East is the main contributing factor to the post-crisis slowdown in Chinese exports in the one-belt countries. Mechanism analysis shows that shrinkage in the geographical import networks of the one-belt countries, which has been aggravated by countries' concentration of import sources and relative trade proximity with China, explains the slowdown in general. Heterogeneous analyses reveal that after the GFC, the share of imports from China fell least in primary and resource-based products, then in medium-tech and high-tech products, and fell most in low-tech products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] This study screened high-yielding and high-quality screw pepper varieties suitable for substrate bag cultivation in Northern Shaanxi to provide basis for the development of soilless cultivation of pepper. [Method] Twenty screw pepper varieties including Silk Road New Star, Silk Road Star, Lou Lan Star, Extra Early One-foot Long, Zhongnong Qingluo Prince, Longxuan 339, Biosow 019, HP29017, HP29037, HP29047, HP29082, Western Long Dragon, Kubota Conch Pepper King, Golden Pepper No.6, Golden Pepper No.8, Golden Pepper No.9, Golden Pepper No.12, Bolon (37 - 94) > Stem Hair 802 and Vols Tenro were chosen for substrate bag cultivation in this study. The weight of single fruit, pericarp thickness, fruit length, contents of vitamin C, soluble protein, free amino acid, reducing sugar, total soluble sugar, nitrate nitrogen as well as yield were measured and compared. The correlations of indexes were analyzed by Pearson analysis. The yield and quality indexes of each variety were evaluated by principal component analysis, technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution, membership function analysis and grey relational degree analysis. The results of three single comprehensive evaluations by extant consistency test (Kendall-W) were evaluated in combination and the fuzzy Borda evaluation method was used to select varieties suitable for substrate bag culturing in Northern Shaanxi. [Result] The weight of ingle fruit was 25.62 - 52.83 g, with the heaviest in Longxuan 339. The pericarp thickness was 1.58 - 2.17 mm, with Vols Tenro the thickest. The fruit length was 19.42 - 30.55 cm, with the longest in HP29082. The content of vitamin C was 276.37 - 1 058.09 mg/hg, and Golden Pepper No.8 was the highest. The content of soluble protein was 0.97 - 1.61 mg/g, and Golden Pepper No.12 was the highest. The content of free amino acid was 393.78 - 969.69 µg/g, with the highest in Vols Tenro. Contents of reducing ugar and total soluble sugar were 3.82% -6.65% and 9.87% -13.91%, and Biosow 019 had the highest ontents. There was no significant difference in nitrate content among varieties. The yield was 9 625.98 - 84 600.00 kg/hm², and Silk Road New Star had the highest value. The results of single comprehensive evaluation methods were different, and the results of principal component analysis method had weak correlations with those of other methods. The correlations among other single evaluation methods passed the Kendall-W test and they were compatible for combined evaluation. The fuzzy Borda combination evaluation method passed tests with good credibility. The obtained top 5 varieties were Silk Road New Star, HP29047, Silk Road Star, Longxuan 339 and Biosow 01 9. [Conclusion] Silk Road New Star, HP29047, Silk Road Star, Longxuan 339 and Biosow 019 were suitable for substrate cultivation in Northern Shaanxi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deepwater regions have emerged as pivotal domains for global oil and gas exploration and development, serving as strategic alternatives to conventional resources. The Silk Road region is distinguished by its abundant oil and gas reserves and stands as a leading arena for worldwide exploration and development in the oil and gas sector. Since 2012, a series of atmospheric fields have been discovered in the deep sea of the Luwuma Basin and the Tanzania Basin, with cumulative recoverable reserves reaching 4.4 × 1012 and 8.3 × 1011 m3, including multiple oil and gas fields ranking among the top ten global discoveries at that time. Profound advancements have been achieved in the exploration of deepwater oil and gas reserves along the Silk Road. However, deepwater oil and gas exploration presents challenges, such as high development costs and risks, leading to certain areas remaining underexplored and exhibiting a relatively low level of exploration activity, thereby hinting at considerable untapped potential. Deepwater sedimentary basins along the Silk Road predominantly adhere to a distribution pattern characterized as "one horizontal and one vertical". The "horizontal" dimension refers to the deepwater basin grouping within the Neo-Tethys tectonic domain, primarily extending from east to west. Conversely, the "vertical" dimension denotes the deepwater basin grouping along the East African continental margin, predominantly extending from north to south. Recent discoveries of deepwater oil and gas reserves validate the presence of foundational elements within Silk Road basins conducive to the formation of substantial oil and gas reservoirs and the establishment of efficient migration pathways. Despite these achievements, exploration activities in deepwater oil and gas resources along the Silk Road remain relatively limited. Future exploration endeavors in deepwater regions will predominantly focus on identifying structural and lithological traps. In the deepwater areas of the Bay of Bengal, the emphasis is on lithological traps formed by Neogene turbidite sandstone deposits. In the deepwater regions of Pakistan, the focus shifts to lithological traps emerging from Neogene bio-reefs and river-channel sandstone accumulations. Along the deepwater coastline of East Africa, the focus is on lithological traps formed by nearshore Mesozoic–Cenozoic bio-reefs and seafloor turbidite sandstone formations. Within the deepwater regions of Southeast Asia, the primary objective is to locate large structural-type oil and gas fields. Analyzing the characteristics of oil and gas discoveries in deepwater areas aims to enhance the theory of the control of the formation of deepwater oil and gas, providing valuable insights for predicting future exploration directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper explores how the ancient Silk Road facilitated cultivating a culture of accommodation, tolerance, and peaceful co-existence in Sri Lanka via the foreign medical practice of Unani, which was introduced by the Arab merchants, in the first century B.C. Since the 1960s, Unani has been integrated as one of the four pillars of Sri Lanka's traditional medicine. This indigenization process of a foreign medicinal practice in a nation where its political history is marred by violence against the perceived 'outsiders' presents an intriguing phenomenon. While the dominant discourse on migration and mobilities often evokes discord and conflict, we aim to interject this dominant narrative by tracing Unani's global and local roots and extrapolate its material agency in reviving a new discourse on peacebuilding in post-civil war Sri Lanka. By examining historical and archaeological material data and narratives collected from current and ancestral Unani practitioners on the island, our study concludes the role of mobilities of people, ideas and things via the ancient Silk Road has been facilitating a culture of acceptance, accommodation, and peaceful co-existence between native population and their 'non-native other' in late antiquity in Sri Lanka. We hope our study can inspire new visions of a peaceful future in postwar Sri Lanka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate Buddhism's role in the development of Manichaeism. To determine its absence of clear Buddhist ideas, the main features of Bardaisan of Edessa's Report on Indian Religions, which was an important document for Mani's knowledge of India prior to his travels to the Indo-Iranian milieu of Central Asia, will be analyzed. Thereafter, the investigation will focus on Buddha's role in Mani's system, which provides better evidence of the Buddhist impact in early Manichaeism. It will be argued that Mani and his followers developed a "Manichaean Buddhology" by transferring and assimilating elements of Buddha's life into Mani's prophetology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study contains information about a small number of spiders collected between 2018 and 2023. The spiders were determined to species level and partially assisted by genetic barcoding of the COI gene. Among the resulting 33 species, 23 species and three genera, are recorded from Georgia for the first time, of which 11 are new records for the entire Caucasus. Of the 26 barcoded specimens representing 18 species, six species (Agroeca maculata L. Koch, 1879; Aituaria eriashvilii (Marusik, 1987); Evippa sjostedti Schenkel, 1936; Lathys cf. lehtineni Kovblyuk, Kastrygina & Omelko, 2014; Zelotes segrex (Simon, 1878); Lathys lehtineni Kovblyuk, Kastrygina & Omelko, 2014; Maculoncus obscurus Tanasevitch, Ponomarev & Chumachenko, 2016) are barcoded for the first time. In addition, 12 new regional records for 10 species are provided. The collecting information for each record is provided in detail, together with a discussion of the barcoding results and remarks, supported by 48 diagnostic drawings of 22 first-recorded species. A potential synonymy of Pelecopsis odontophora (Kulczyński, 1895) with P. parallela (Wider, 1834) and Bassaniodes loeffleri (Roewer, 1955) with B. pseudorectilineus (Wunderlich, 1995) is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to demonstrate the validity of the analysis of the presence of the senses in travelogues as a possible research perspective of the genre. It will be discussed how such a perspective provides with clues both for the form of the text and for its meaning and relationship with the epoch where it is inserted. For this purpose, descriptions of sensory experiences present in contemporary Hispanic and European travelogues of the Silk Road will be examined. The analysis carried out will show not only the relationship between the appearance of the senses and the maturity of the descriptive technique, but also the clear link between the use of the sensory and the worldview of the epoch. The hegemony of the sight, characteristic of mass tourism, will contrast with the great importance of other senses in the analyzed texts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article tells about the study history of the medieval Talgar settlement and settlements in the locality. If we pay attention to the sources the first researchers and travelers of the city of Talkhiz report that the territory of the city was large. We are also talking about settlements that are part of the territory of this settlement, but have not yet been explored. Nevertheless, the Talgar settlement, which has been studied for more than one hundred and fifty years, undoubtedly has a special significance as a historical monument. Until now, valuable objects found during excavations are stored in many museums and museums-reserves of the country. Among the finds you can see some imported products. This suggests that the medieval settlement of Talgar was a center of artisans and jewelers, where international trade was well developed. One can see how much influence external relations had on the development of this settlement located along the Great Silk Road.Talgar is one of the most important monuments among the historical and cultural sites of Semirechye. However, the article says that some localities still need to be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By employing panel data estimation for the period 2010–2019 we test the economic effects of China's education and cultural diplomacy in 56 Belt and Road countries. For empirical analysis, we used pooled ordinary least squares (POLS). Our empirical finding shows that China's education and cultural diplomacy has a positive and significant impact on trade and economic growth and these findings are robust to the estimation approaches. It is suggested that developing countries from the Belt and Road Initiative should establish collaborations with China to establish "University-Industry Linkages" to capture the knowledge economy and to boost trade, economic and social development. Moreover, the Government of China should also pay more attention to the economic effects of China's education and cultural factors like Confucius Institutes and Universities in policy design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presentations with distinctive national features in the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics have worked together to render to the world a unique and splendorous visual show. Notably, every part of the performance involved in this discussion is characterized by the extensive employment of traditional Chinese cultural elements. To be specific, the performance of the body art is connected to the making of a Chinese landscape painting, which overtly gives prominence to the mediality of the human body in the creation of the traditional national cultural images such as sun, mountain, river, cloud and the like -- the very representative cultural symbols of Chinese nation. The famous Dunhuang dance in the section of the Silk Road is presented with a long green satin which is heavily vested with national cultural connotations. The pillars used as stage props are engraved with the images of loong -- a symbol of auspiciousness in Chinese culture, for the loong embodies courage. The invention of the movable-type printing significantly involves the wisdom of the Chinese people, and Tai Chi performance evokes the harmonious spirit that the Chinese nation and people greatly value. The rendering of these images through creative ways has casted the opening ceremony into a unique cultural text -- as narrated in well-designed artistic forms, it has presented the world with an extraordinary visual feast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great Silk Road is a historical place for Kazakhstan, promoting mutual understanding and peace between peoples, connecting cultures, developing tourism, trade and business. Therefore, a comprehensive study of the tourism and recreational potential of the sites of the Kazakhstan section of the Great Silk Road, the socio-economic significance of tourism development and tourism attractiveness is very important. The purpose of this study was to determine the socio - economic significance of tourism development in the Kazakhstan section of the Great Silk Road. In the study of tourism and recreational resources of the Great Silk Road, the methods of analysing the theoretical basis, studying statistical data and questionnaires were used comprehensively. As a result, the socio-economic significance of tourism development in Kazakhstan, favourable socio-cultural impact of the Great Silk Road in connection with improving the welfare of the population of the territory, increasing the flow of tourists, income from the tourism industry and improving infrastructure was revealed. The survey showed that 40.9 % of respondents rated the level of satisfaction with transport infrastructure from 5 points to 3 points. 34.1 % of respondents rated the quality of roads as 4 points and 13.6 % as 5 points. It was also found that the most visited tourist sites on the Kazakh part of the Great Silk Road in recent times are the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Otrar State Archaeological Museum-Reserve, mausoleum of Aisha Bibi and Karakhan. Thus, it was proposed to form an information base of tourist sites of the Kazakhstan part of the Great Silk Road, to attract qualified personnel in the ser vice sector, to popularise tourist sites by improving Internet resources, advertising and shooting feature films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve the goals of the Polar Silk Road strategy and boost Northeast China's economy, China should focus on economic and trade cooperation in the Japanese Sea. Despite not being a coastal State, China can still expand its navigation rights and interests within the region. The Japanese Sea has not been fully utilized by China due to its lack of direct access, and the surrounding States' unstable political conditions have hindered long-term economic development arrangements. This paper proposes that China should develop its right of access to the Japanese Sea through the Tumen Region and assert the navigation rights and interests of third States. China can use current agreements and international law principles to uphold its right of access to the Japanese Sea through the Tumen River. It can also invest in overseas ports and improve transportation networks to implement the strategy of "accessing the sea through harbors of other States." Furthermore, China can strengthen its presence and use of shipping routes in the Japanese Sea by strengthening regional trade routes, connecting shipping routes with the Arctic, and expanding the abroad shipping of domestic goods. Moreover, this paper suggests that China should analyze the navigation rights and interests of third States in the territorial sea, exclusive economic zones, and straits surrounding the Japanese Sea to develop its sea routes. By doing so, China can realize its goals of the Polar Silk Road strategy and revitalize Northeast China's economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Accounting & Financial History Research Journal / Muhasebe ve Finans Tarihi Araştırmaları Dergisi. is the property of Association of Accounting & Financial History Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has emerged as a linchpin (Chinese Word for Fundamental), in the global landscape, symbolizing a transformative approach to international collaboration through comprehensive infrastructural development. This research delves into the multifaceted dimensions of the CPEC construction, unravelling its profound impact on regional dynamics and its pivotal role in nurturing economic growth for both China and Pakistan. In the wake of evolving Sino-Pak relations, the genesis of CPEC can be traced back to a shared vision of economic prosperity. This paper unfolds against the backdrop of historical context, exploring the imperative need for economic cooperation that spurred the initiation of discussions leading to the ambitious corridor. The construction phase of CPEC, outlined in this research, stands as a testament to the strategic foresight that envisions a modern Silk Road, intertwining the destinies of nations through an intricate network of roads, railways, and energy projects. At the heart of the study lies a detailed examination of the objectives and scope of CPEC construction. The goals and aims of this colossal initiative are dissected, with a specific focus on key sectors such as transportation and energy. By scrutinizing major infrastructure projects, including the Gwadar Port and various transportation networks, the research aims to illuminate the technological advancements and innovations that have propelled the construction phase forward. Simultaneously, challenges encountered during this complex process are identified, providing a nuanced understanding of the hurdles faced in reshaping the regional landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this contribution was to evaluate and analyse the impact of the Belt and Road initiative on the growth of the competitiveness of the countries involved in the project. To achieve this goal, an econometric analysis of fixed panel data was used. The results of our analysis show that there is a demonstrable relationship between countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and competitiveness. Based on our research, we can conclude that joining the Belt and Road initiative increases the competitiveness of countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the challenges and responses to regional connectivity between Pakistan and Central Asia. The historical and geographical proximity of Pakistan and Central Asia highlights the importance of reviving the old Silk Route. Pakistan is often called the gateway to the Central Asian states due to its geostrategic location; its significance has further increased with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which holds a pivotal role in the region. However, regional connectivity faces numerous challenges. These include political, geographical, economic and infrastructural problems. Geopolitical factors, such as the involvement of external powers and competition for energy supplies, further complicate the situation. The paper in this regard discusses Pakistan's specific infrastructural and domestic challenges and the roles of regional and global states including neighboring Afghanistan, Iran, India, the major global players such as USA, Russia, China, and the European Union, and Turkiyey,in shaping the connectivity landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the Silk Road known as one of the world's most valuable international tourism destinations, which is a bridge between great civilizations in the East and West. This study focuses on the Silk Road in Iran as a case study and tries to identify tourism strategies for promoting Silk Road tourism in Iran. The data was gathered through an interview form. A qualitative method (content analysis) through MAXQDA software was used to analyse the data. The results illustrate that product development, conglomerate diversification, concentric diversification, joint venture, and market penetration are five strategies that can promote Silk Road tourism in Iran. Further investigation revealed seven operational solutions for product development and conglomerate diversification, divided into four categories. In addition, concentric diversification and joint venture strategies include ten and five operational solutions respectively. Lastly, the market penetration strategy is classified into six categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient Yunnan was one of the most significant regions along China's ancient "Southern Silk Road." During the Nanzhao period (738-902) of the late Tang Dynasty, Yunnan's silk-weaving industry underwent a qualitative leap as skilled silk craftsmen from the Bashu area migrated to Yunnan and introduced mulberry planting, silkworm breeding, and advanced silk-weaving techniques from Sichuan to the region. Consequently, people in Yunnan gradually acquired expertise in brocade weaving and embroidery. Many even mastered complex silk-weaving techniques. The development and progress of the silk-weaving industry in the ancient Yunnan region were intricately linked to the economic function and value of silk as both a commodity and currency along the "Southern Silk Road." The local government in ancient Yunnan was greatly motivated by the economic interests brought by the development of silk-related industries and recognized the significance of developing the local silk industry. They even initiated a campaign to capture skilled silk craftsmen from Sichuan, aiming to foster the growth of the silk-weaving industry in Yunnan. After years of dedicated efforts from the local government in ancient Yunnan, the region emerged as a significant hub for silk production along China's ancient "Southern Silk Road." Despite the devastation caused by the wars in other parts of the country, Yunnan's silk industry continued to thrive and provide ample silk products to sustain trade along this renowned route. In the contemporary era, amidst the decline of the silk-weaving industry in eastern China, Yunnan has proposed an industrial development strategy known as "relocating the silk-weaving industry from east to west." This involves introducing advanced silk production techniques from the eastern regions into Yunnan to enhance and enrich its local silk industry, thereby establishing it as a traditional national sector and securing a competitive position within the global silk market. The historical experience of Yunnan's silk industry demonstrated that economic development opportunities can only be seized through proactive endeavors rather than passive anticipation. The modern Yunnan silk industry, which upholds its historical traditions, continues to actively engage in international high-end technical cooperation, thus ensuring the enduring vitality of the ancient "Southern Silk Road". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional or international trade has always played a central role in the history of Georgia. Trade routes made it possible to establish close political, cultural and economic relations with neighboring as well as distant countries. The kingdom of Georgia’s territorial expansion towards Arran, Shirvan, and Armenia in the 11th-13th centuries was largely driven by economic and trade reasons, namely the desire to control the regional trade routes which criss-crossed Dvin, Barda, Ganja, Tbilisi, Ani, Trebizond, Ahlat, Tabriz and many other major cities along Georgia’s southern borders. The present article will also pay attention to the changes to the trade routes in the Caucasus region caused by the Mongols and how their invasions changed the kingdom of Georgia’s position in the regional commerce. By mid-13th century new major trade corridors connecting Asia with the Middle East and the Black Sea were geographically distanced from Georgia harming the latter’s geopolitical position in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to analyze the importance of critical success factors in effectively implementing Six Sigma. It delves into the determination of key factors and attributes that contribute to successful adoption, considering that not all Six Sigma endeavors have achieved the desired outcomes. According to the research, a significant portion of corporate Six Sigma initiatives (approximately 60%) fail due to incorrect integration of vital factors and misguided assumptions. To conduct the study, a research survey incorporating a Likert scale questionnaire with a simple random sampling method was distributed among 2,325 potential participants, resulting in 573 responses, primarily from Germany, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. Through various structural equation modeling (SEM) approaches, such as exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the study revealed four essential elements for success: (1) the competency of belt system employees; (2) project management skills; (3) organizational economic capability; and (4) leadership commitment and involvement. These findings hold significant implications for institutions, practitioners, and researchers seeking to incorporate these elements into their Six Sigma deployment strategies for long-term success. The study's originality lies in its contribution to assessing critical success factors in Six Sigma deployment within the European automobile industry, utilizing a mixed-methods research design supplemented by descriptive statistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text discusses the historical significance of the Silk Road, focusing on the interactions between Islam, Confucianism, and other civilizations along the route. It highlights the role of Islam as a civilizational bridge between the East and the West, particularly in the transmission of knowledge. The author suggests that the New Silk Road initiative, known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), should also have a cultural or civilizational dimension, including an inter-civilizational dialogue between Islam and Confucianism. The text concludes by emphasizing the importance of revisiting the history of the Silk Road for Muslims and promoting a dialogue based on shared values and a common global ethic. [Extracted from the article]

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) intends to enhance China's international integration, strikingly by enhancing infrastructure and bolstering trade and investment links among the economies involved. Poor transport infrastructure and border restrictions are significant deterrents to trade expansion, economic growth, and bilateral trade. Using panel structural gravity model estimations, this study investigates the impact of Transportation infrastructure inheritances on bilateral trade across the Belt and Road member countries, particularly in Eastern Africa. The study considers the potential effect of the BRI roads, railways, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure network on the bilateral trade and economies of the Eastern African countries. The empirical analysis offers robust evidence that transport infrastructure promotes trade. The study found that transport infrastructure has a significant and positive effect on trade. These results imply that transport infrastructure exerts a strong effect on trade and growth in Eastern Africa. Policies for increasing access and affordability of transport infrastructure are highly recommended to promote trade and economic growth in the Eastern Africa sub‐region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]