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The Grand Canal and the Maritime Silk Road in China are globally significant cultural routes, which have contributed a wealth of cultural heritage through their historical development. The study on the cultural heritage of the Grand Canal (East Zhejiang section)-Maritime Silk Road is of great significance for constructing the Grand Canal Cultural Belt and advancing the Belt and Road Initiative. Focusing on the Ningbo area, this study analyzes the spatial and temporal distribution of 1,755 cultural heritage sites over five historical periods and explores the influencing factors through spatial and statistical analysis. The results show that: (1) Ancient buildings, along with modern important historical sites and representative buildings, are the most numerous. The total number of cultural heritages shows an upward trend before the modern period, peaking in the Ming to Qing period. (2) The cultural heritage exhibits an overall aggregated spatial distribution, with varying patterns across different types. The Three-River Estuary is the high-density core area, with the number and density of cultural heritage decreasing as its distance increases. (3) Distribution characteristics of cultural heritage vary across different periods. More recent cultural heritage is increasingly concentrated around the Three-River Estuary. Over time, the center of gravity of cultural heritage has shifted sequentially to the south, southeast, west, and north. (4) The cultural heritage tends to be distributed in plain with low altitude and small slope, and shows strong hydrophilicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper undertakes a multi-dimensional exploration of the glass imitation jade culture under the context of the ancient Silk Road, tracing the historical trajectory of glass manufacturing technology from West Asia to China, especially after the Han Dynasty, when the flourishing trade along the Silk Road facilitated the integration of foreign glass craftsmanship with China's indigenous imitation jade tradition. This integration prompted Chinese glass artifacts to not only incorporate foreign techniques but also emphasize the texture and cultural symbolism of jade. Through systematic archaeological excavations and historical text analysis, this study delves into the unique phenomenon of glass imitation jade on the ancient Silk Road in China, providing detailed exposition on the formation, characteristics, and profound impact of this cultural practice. Imitation jade culture extends beyond physical forms, permeating material selection, technological innovation, and cultural symbol inheritance. As a gem of ancient Chinese craft art, the glass imitation jade culture offers valuable insights into understanding the aesthetic features of ancient cultures, cultural exchange patterns, and the evolution of craft technologies. This paper innovatively proposes that ancient glass-making practices imitation jade can serve as a new means to actively protect natural jade resources in modern times, offering a fresh perspective for the exploration and study of the Silk Road cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the origins and symbolic meanings of the iconography of Vaiśravaṇa, which gained prominence in East Asia during the 200 years after the 8th century, through the lens of royal imagery as both a devotee and protector. As Vaiśravaṇa's iconography spread along the Silk Road, it integrated diverse cultural traditions from the ancient Near East and the Indo-Iranian world, with Gandhāra and Khotan as central hubs. The iconography evolved into a distinctive form, featuring a cylindrical crown adorned with bird motifs, shoulder flames, a cross belt, a Stūpa, a spear, and celestial maidens. Previous studies often limited its origin to either Gandhāra or Khotan; however, this research highlights contributions from both regions, emphasizing their roles in shaping iconography. By focusing on Gandhāra and the Kushan Empire, this study explores how these elements reflect the diversity of regional cultures, political ideals, and religious values. It contextualizes these developments within historical and cultural exchanges between regions, offering a broader understanding of Vaiśravaṇa's formation. The findings reveal that Vaiśravaṇa's iconography reflects cultural exchange and symbolizes the sacred earthly ruler. This perspective highlights how regional diversity and intercultural interactions shaped its development, enriching the study of Buddhist iconography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mudurnu is a county of Bolu Province, in Turkey, that was historically located on major trade routes (i.e., the Silk Road and the Crimean Road) and served as a trading town and military base in the Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods. Mudurnu County is affected by regional rock slope instabilities that create an important hazard and pose significant risk to human life, houses, buildings, and industrial facilities because of their high exposure. Slope instabilities also pose a danger to historically valuable structures that have made Mudurnu a candidate for the UNESCO World Heritage List. The purpose of this study is to assess the stability of rock slopes under static and dynamic conditions employing a probabilistic approach, with a focus on the western side of the valley. The engineering geological and geomechanical properties of the region were obtained through a 3D point cloud generated by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and scan-line surveys. The western side of the Mudurnu Valley was divided into 11 geomechanically uniform sectors, all prone to planar, wedge, and toppling failures. Considering the proximity of Mudurnu County to the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ), dynamic analyses performed using the Newmark sliding block method based on the Mw 7.2 Düzce earthquake records concluded that large earthquakes with high spectral acceleration values are expected to pose a significant risk of rock slope failure in Mudurnu. Stability analyses showed that Sector 8 is the most critical in terms of complex failures. Highlights: The stability of rock slopes in Mudurnu County, a UNESCO World Heritage candidate, was investigated through kinematic and limit equilibrium analyses. Rock mass shear strength parameters were estimated by back analysis based on the Barton-Bandis failure criterion including scale effects. Limit equilibrium analyses were performed with static and dynamic analysis considering proximity to the NAFZ using the Newmark Sliding Block Method. The probability of failure for different modes of failure was calculated using statistical distributions of the geomechanical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about human mobility in the Iranian Central Plateau during the Parthian and Sasanian periods. To fill this gap, we measured 87Sr/86Sr values in 22 human enamel samples from Shahr-i Qumis, Semnan Province, retrieved from collective burials in the ruined buildings of an abandoned capital city of the Parthian state. The skeletons were radiocarbon dated to the Late Parthian and Sasanian periods. The results were compared to 87Sr/86Sr values measured in 41 plant samples and 3 snail shells collected from spots along the southern slopes of the Alborz Mountains between Qazvin Plain in the west and the Jajarm Plain in the east. All but one of the 87Sr/86Sr values in human teeth are consistent with local strontium isotope values, and therefore the skeletons likely represent people who did not change their location between infancy and death. This suggests that the cemetery was used by a relatively immobile population of farmers who took advantage of the favourable conditions at the alluvial fan for crop cultivation or stationary animal husbandry, rather than transhumant/nomadic pastoralists who would have used larger and more distant areas as pastures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Silk Road Economic Belt has played a key role in shaping international trade relations since ancient times until today. In recent years, the particularities of the country's involvement in the Silk Road Initiative have been exacerbated by environmental concerns and the emergence of legislative disagreements in the aspect of environmental risk management. It is for this reason that the issue of the legal assessment of the integrated environmental risks of the Silk Road Economic Belt remains relevant. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate and establish the problems of legal assessment of the integrated environmental risks of the Silk Road Economic Belt, using Kazakhstan as an example, and to identify measures to address them. It has been determined that environmental protection in the Silk Road Economic Belt dimension is not legally backed up, and that all provisions, conventions and so on are voluntary in nature. Using the integrative method, it is the compliance with all national environmental legislation, the implementation of the Aarhus Convention provisions, the construction of a specialised information resource in Kazakhstan with current information on Silk Road projects, the development and introduction of legislative changes towards increasing the rates of environmental risk insurance in the country, have been established as the main measures to address the legal assessment of the integrated environmental risks of the Silk Road Economic Belt in Kazakhstan. Thus, the practical significance of the study is that the measures identified to address the problems of legal assessment of the integrated environmental risks of the Silk Road Economic Belt can be used by the Kazakh authorities in the aspect of the 'One Belt, One Road' initiative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to analyse existing and future alternative transport and transit routes, including through the Silk Road Economic Belt project of the People’s Republic of China. In the course of the study, it was noted that infrastructure initiatives under the Silk Road Economic Belt project could have a positive impact on the development of the economies of the closed, landlocked countries of Central Asia. It was found that if the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is extensively upgraded and border downtime is reduced, the freight transport potential will increase from 18,000 to 1,335,000 twenty-foot equivalent units. Actions are being taken by the states involved in the operation of the route to modernize and increase cargo traffic, and the cargo plan for 2024 is about 4 million tonnes compared to 2.8 million tonnes in 2023. Export opportunities for a number of countries have not changed significantly, with Uzbekistan’s figures rising sharply to a record $24.4 billion. The governments of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan intend to implement the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project as soon as possible. The results obtained indicate the intention of further cooperation in the field of transport infrastructure development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides an overview of research trends in Early Modern Central Asia, spanning the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries. Scholars have delved into political, economic, and cultural aspects of the region, with a focus on interdisciplinary perspectives and primary sources. Recent works have explored Uyghur identity, manuscript traditions, and historical narratives, shedding light on topics such as the Qarakhanid rulers, Qing influence on Xinjiang, and trans-Eurasian networks. Challenges include integrating Russian and Chinese Central Asian histories and ensuring access to archives, but the field shows promise for future growth and scholarship. [Extracted from the article]

A new private port and logistics complex is under construction in the city of Chancay, located north of Lima, Peru, as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) promising to change life in the city while expanding a Sino-centric globalized economy and Peru's reach within it. Through a series of interviews conducted between 2020 and 2022 and document analysis, we seek to offer a grounded theorization of how the BRI, as an exemplar of infrastructure-led urbanization, interweaves with broader sociospatial and socionatural transformations, affecting the present and future of the places where it materializes. By using the concept of the infrastructural city we show how the combination of port and logistics infrastructures with spatial interventions in periurban space is guiding contemporary urbanization, resulting in the formation of a new, amorphous city that has as its defining characteristic the domination of infrastructure over urban life, eradicating prior functions and marginalizing local grievances to facilitate the creation of a privatized enclave for international trade. Our analysis provides insights into the intricate and multifaceted geographies of emerging Chinese-sponsored infrastructural strategies, the hopes and struggles that contextually shape them, and the potentially distinctive and contested urban features of the anticipated infrastructural cities yet to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: This study aims to explore the traditional plant dyeing of Xinjiang Atlas silk fabrics, providing references for the comprehensive utilization of plant dyes in intangible cultural heritage. Design/methodology/approach: The focus of this study is on dyeing experiments of Atlas silk fabrics using safflower extracts, constrained by regional resources. Safflower dry flowers grown in Xinjiang were selected, rinsed with pure water and rubbed. Yellow pigments were removed by adding edible white vinegar. Red pigments from safflower were extracted using an alkaline solution prepared with Populus euphratica ash, a special product of Xinjiang. The extraction rate was analyzed under varying material-to-liquor ratios, pH values, times and temperatures. Direct dyeing process experiments were conducted to obtain different colorimetric L, a, b and K/S values for comparison. Samples with good color development were selected to test the impact of dyeing immersions on color development, and their color fastness, UV protection and antibacterial effects were verified. Findings: The dyeing experiments on silk fabrics confirmed their UV protection capabilities and antibacterial properties, demonstrating effectiveness against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. As a major producer of safflower, Xinjiang underscores the significance of safflower as an essential plant dyes on the Silk Road. This study reveals its market potential and suitability for use in the plant dyeing process of Atlas silk, producing vibrant red and pink colors. Originality/value: The experiments indicated that after removing yellow pigments, the highest extraction rate of red pigment from safflower was achieved at a pH value of 10–11, a temperature of 30°C and an extraction time of 40 min. The best bright red color effect with strong color fastness was obtained with a material-to-liquor ratio of 1:20, a temperature of 40°C and three immersions. The best light pink color effect with strong color fastness was a material-to-liquor ratio of 1:80, a temperature of 30°C and two immersions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the changing international political and economic order, focusing on the US-China rivalry and the emergence of rival camps. It highlights the efforts of the US to strengthen alliances with countries like Japan to counter China's aggressive foreign policy. The text also mentions the impact of the US-China confrontation on global supply chains and the potential for a New Cold War. Additionally, it explores the role of the Global South in the evolving global governance framework and the implications for Japan's foreign economic policy strategy. [Extracted from the article]

While historians extensively research narrative and use a significant number of concepts that linguists traditionally see as their own, the properties of historical narrative have not received sufficient coverage in linguistics yet. This article analyses the similarities and differences in the approach to narrative by historians and linguists, formulates the linguistic criteria of narrativity and discusses the relationship between factuality and fictionality. The constitutive features of historical narrative identified and described in the present study include temporality, spatiality, eventfulness, informativeness, interpretability, ideologization and semioticity. Language is treated as a tool of verbalising historical narrative, structuring its chronology and logic, shaping the perception of events through a system of presuppositions, connotations, and allusions, creating historical ambiance and constructing mythologised designations. The linguistic means used in the construction of historical narrative comprise: 1) the language of the historical source; 2) the narrator’s language; 3) historical terminology; 4) historicisms and archaisms; 5) precedent names; 6) obsolete and modern toponyms. The study emphasises the importance of perceiving history as a hypertext – multiple narratives united by a network of intertextual connections. The study is illustrated by examples from narratives about the Silk Road in Chinese, Russian and English. The Silk Road symbolises the crossroads of civilisations, the interaction between East and West, the economic and cultural exchanges between Asia and Europe, peaceful cooperation, good neighbourliness, and shared cultural experience.

In the new international context of the conflicts that have broken out in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, we can speak of a very sensitive economic environment in which analysts have described the threats of the disrupting global trade. This risk is made possible by the potential economic opportunities and supremacy of China, whose influence in the Middle East has grown considerably over the past 15 years. The reconfiguration of the American policy and the shift of the center of gravity of the United States from the Indo-Pacific area, due to the war generated by the Russian invasion, has left uncovered an extremely important area in the trade flows that ensure global trade. The article presents the main vulnerabilities that the two conflicts create in the global economy and how the disruption of trade flows would generate major crises globally.

Abstract Background Ancient Chang’an in the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) was one of the world’s largest and most populated cities and acted as the eastern end of the world-famous Silk Road. However, little is known about the genetics of Chang’an people and whether the Western Regions-related gene flows have been prevalent in this cosmopolitan city. Results Here, we present seven genomes from Xingfulindai (XFLD) sites dating to the Tang Dynasty in Chang’an. We observed that four of seven XFLD individuals (XFLD_1) were genetically homogenous with the Late Neolithic Wadian, Pingliangtai, and Haojiatai populations from the middle reaches of the Yellow River Basin (YR_LN), with no genetic influence from the Western Eurasian or other non-Yellow River-related lineages. The remaining three XFLD individuals were a mixture of YR_LN-related ancestry and ~ 3–15% Western Eurasian-related ancestry. Mixtures of XFLD_1 and Western Eurasian-related ancestry drove the main gradient of genetic variation in northern and central Shaanxi Province today. Conclusions Our study underlined the widespread distribution of the YR_LN-related ancestry alongside the Silk Road within the territory of China during the historical era and provided direct evidence of trans-Eurasian communication in Chang’an from a genetic perspective.

When the Western press and media report on Xinjiang, they tend to focus on the situation of the Uyghurs in this autonomous region of China. The fact that Xinjiang is of the highest strategic importance for China as a raw materials base, gateway to Central Asia and starting point of the New Silk Road, which is orientated towards Europe, and that real geopolitics is all about precisely these things, is often neglected. Of course, the starting point of the New Silk Road is in the strategists' crosshairs and it goes without saying that Central Asia and the South Caucasus are also targeted. After all, the shortest transport corridors to Europe run through these areas, now that the transport routes via Russia have been cancelled by Russia's war in Ukraine. This is where the Chinese New Silk Road and the European Global Gateway meet. What is the situation in Central Asia? What role does the International Trans-Caspian Transport Route play? How are China, the USA and Europe acting where the future of the New Silk Road is ultimately at stake? This article aims to provide a few answers to these questions, which should therefore only be understood as an approach to the topic of "Central Asia as a continental bridge or Thucydides' trap?".

Despite the considerable scholarly attention given to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), much less has been said about how a BRI project proposal is softened and reified. This study attempts to fill this knowledge gap by analyzing the China—Kyrgyzstan—Uzbekistan railway, a project with massive influence yet has garnered scant scholarly attention. Inspired by the multiple streams framework (MSF), this article reveals that it is the sequence of events within the problem and politics streams that has softened this proposal and made it more amenable to implementation. During this process, political entrepreneurs played a crucial part in tying the project to their domestic agendas. A dialog with MSF contributes to the theorization of studies on China’s overseas infrastructure investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The summer precipitation over northern China generally presents an obvious dipole pattern, but the relationship between western northern China (WNC) and eastern northern China (ENC) has experienced a significant interdecadal change, with a significant positive correlation for the periods of 1920s–1940s (P1) and 1980s–2000s (P3), while a negative correlation for 1950s–1970s (P2). Further analyses reveal that the atmospheric circulation and water vapour transport anomalies triggered by the negative phase of Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), coupling with an eastward‐propagating Silk Road Pattern‐like teleconnection stimulated by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), can jointly produce the favourable conditions for summer precipitation in ENC but unfavourable for WNC during P2, comparing with P1 and P3. This results in a dipole pattern of summer precipitation over northern China, leading to a negative correlation between precipitation in these two regions. During P1 and P3, precipitation anomalies in northern China mainly exhibit strong regional consistency, with primarily positive anomalies during P1 and negative anomalies during P3. However, the instability of the precipitation relationship during P3 is greater than those of P1 and P2, which may be attributed to the enhanced impact of the interdecadal variation of ENSO at the same period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine whether China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative assisted its export performance in the final automobile sector, a market that has been challenging for the Chinese economy. We use the recent econometric technique of heterogeneity robust difference-in-difference estimators for staggered timing. We also control anticipation effects and potential BRI selection endogeneity using IVs and matching estimation. Using data from 2005 to 2019, our estimates find that China's final automobile exports to the BRI partner destination countries after these countries became signatories almost doubled relative to that of the export to non-BRI partner destinations, and the effect for net-exports is an increase of about 59%. Sub-sample analyses indicate that the positive effect is stronger for China's export to lower-income partners compared to its exports to relatively higher-income destinations, though the effects in the automobile industry is more balanced between high-income and low-income destinations, compared to overall exports where BRI's impact. The results are robust across alternate methods and specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the typology of ceramic wares and analysis of the spatial distribution, origin, and dispersal of other categories of archaeological remains, it can be determined that three grand cultural spheres existed on the Holocene Eurasian Continent prior to the rise of the Silk Road. These were the Early Eastern Cultural Sphere, centered around the Yellow River valley and the Yangtze River valley; the Early Western Cultural Sphere, centered around the Tigris-Euphrates River valley (Mesopotamia); the Early Northern Cultural Sphere, located to the north of the Eastern and Western Cultural Spheres. Due to cultural interactions, collisions, and exchanges, there were large intersection zones between the three grand cultural spheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neolithic remains at the Sitai site, uncovered from 2020 to 2022, are categorized into five groups. Notable findings include over 40 houses and a variety of artifacts made from pottery, stone, bone, and shell. Groups I and II's remains reveal distinct cultural characteristics, identifying the early Neolithic Sitai culture. Group III provides evidence of domesticated agriculture dating back to around 7600 years ago, marking the inception of dryland farming in northern China. Group IV's cultural elements align with the later stage of Phase II of the Yumin culture (Xinglong culture Phase II), restricting the Yumin culture's southern extent. Lastly, Group V's remains highlight significant exchanges with distant northern cultures, which is crucial for understanding the early Steppe Silk Road's development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the current state of the China's "Digital Silk Road" in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states. It argues that the framework of the Digital Silk Road can allow China and these states to strengthen their cooperation in the technology sphere. China needs the EAEU for its geostrategy to stand the centre of production of high-tech and innovations in Eurasia. The EAEU member states need Chinese technologies for digitalisation and maintaining economic growth. The article outlines the challenges and prospects of China's advanced technological cooperation with Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia, in particular. It analyses potential opportunities arising from the 2018 EAEU-China Agreement for developing cooperation in digitalisation and technology. In conclusion, it demonstrates that following the eruption of the Ukrainian crisis in 2022, China's technology companies have conquered the EAEU high technology markets with the notable exception of Armenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a linguistic shift for scholars of trans-Atlantic slavery regarding the quintessential term 'the Middle Passage' to the plural 'Middle Passages'. As a singular noun, 'the Middle Passage' conforms with the 'triangular trade' which represented the three-way relationship between Europe, Africa and the Americas. The term almost exclusively encompasses the North Atlantic, failing to explore South Atlantic trading routes. By changing our language, we can look deeper into the multiple forced journeys of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic world. Through application of plurality, we can better study people's multiple 'Middle Passages' from the ancient silk roads to the slave castles and forts along the African littoral in a system of movement that does not belittle the horrors of the Atlantic oceanic passages. Indeed, multiple 'Middle Passages' as a concept exacerbates the experiences of enslaved persons through continual uprooting and journeys. 'The Middle Passage' is evocative of a peregrination preceded with a beginning and succeeded with an ending; while the pluralistic 'Middle Passages' forces us to recognize the multiple complex facets of journeys. For many enslaved persons, there existed no end to continual relocations on arrival in the Americas and people were in a constant state of flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As China attempts to fulfil the cooperation priorities of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), criticism has mostly focused on developing people-to-people connectivity. Through Silk Road strategic narratives, China seeks to contend with public perceptions that do not always see the benefit of Chinese investment. By strategically dubbing the BRI the 'New Silk Road' in Chinese foreign propaganda, has China been able to operationalise geopolitical imaginaries to affect local perceptions? Based on a representative survey sample of 965 Kazakhstani citizens, this study assesses whether the citizens' historic beliefs linked to identity influence their current perceptions of the BRI and China's economic, political, and technological influence in the region. Findings suggest that geopolitical discourse is most successful when it evokes local identities through historical narratives and discourses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic policy and strategy of the Russian Federation (RF) has chronologically emerged in four phases. The first phase was realized within the framework of the post-Cold War conditions. During this period, the RF tried to conduct its Arctic policy through regional and international cooperation mechanisms. The second phase covered the coordination process of the RF's policies towards the Arctic region, which initiated in the 2000s. At this phase, the RF elevated its socio-economic interests in the Arctic region into a national security matter. The third phase started to manifest itself with the geopolitical transformation that emerged after the annexation of Crimea. Due to its problems with the West, the RF started to prioritize the Eastern hemisphere in its foreign policy. In this period, it is possible to say that the Arctic strategy of the RF matured gradually and became complementary and constant. The fourth phase developed in response to the new international conditions emerged after 2020. In this process, the RF consolidated its geoeconomic and geostrategic interests in the Arctic region. New cooperation mechanisms were established with China, particularly in the transportation and energy fields. Initiatives such as the Arctic Silk Road reveal the geoeconomic and geostrategic scope of these mechanisms. In this article, RF's Arctic strategy is analyzed on the basis of this chronological progress. The question of the dimensions and priorities within which the RF's Arctic strategy emerged constitutes the basic construct of the article. In this context, the article emphasizes the importance of the periodic conditions that paved the way for the formulation of RF's Arctic strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ancient oasis of Turfan, located on the Northern Silk Road, was a centre for interactions between the East and the West and witnessed numerous cultural, religious, and linguistic changes throughout history. A large number of texts were composed, translated, copied, and published there. One of the outcomes of these efforts is the Old Uyghur Buddhist narrative literature, parts of which have remained almost completely preserved, while a significant portion has survived as single fragments or small pieces of a fragment. For some of these texts, definitive conclusions about their original content or which work they belong to have yet to be reached. The Old Uyghur Bāvari narrative discussed in this study bears parallels, particularly in terms of themes, settings, and characters, with sections of the Pārāyaṇasūtra—known for its resemblance to the final chapter of the Sutta Nipāta, i.e., the Pārāyanavagga—as well as parts of the Maitreyasamitināṭaka and Xianyujing. This study first introduces this narrative formed by the Old Uyghur fragments preserved in the Turfan Collection of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences. Then, the text is transcribed and translated. Finally, the similarities and differences with other parallel narratives are analysed and presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pratītyasamutpāda, the doctrine of dependent origination, has a long history in Old Uyghur Buddhism. It was first articulated in the Early Old Uyghur Buddhist texts and is evident in the terminology of Maitrisimit and the Daśakarmapathāvadāna-mālā. The dependent origination is systematically illustrated in at least three Pratītyasamutpāda texts, one text with Brāhmī elements, and the other two in Dunhuang and Turfan prints. The latter two are discussed in detail in this paper. The Dunhuang print provides the most comprehensive demonstration of the Old Uyghur understanding of dependent origination. The structure of the text is largely consistent with the corresponding passages in the Abhidharmamahāvibhāṣaśāstra and other Abhidharma texts. The text offers a more comprehensive account than the Chinese text. The Turfan prints, which consist of four fragments, are derived from two distinct prints. Print U 4170 is an Abhidharma text, and it has parallels in the Abhidharmakośabhāṣya. It seems plausible to suggest that the print bearing the abbreviated titles Pratyitasamutpad in Old Uyghur and Buladi 布剌帝 in Chinese may have been translated from a Chinese text sharing the same or a similar Chinese name. However, as with the Dunhuang print, the Turfan prints may have been produced by the Old Uyghurs from some Abhidharma texts. The Dunhuang print and the Tufan prints are unique within the corpus of known Old Uyghur prints. These texts represent the first known printed examples of the Abhidharma tradition. Moreover, the illustration employed in the Dunhuang print is not known in other printed texts discovered in Dunhuang and Turfan, representing the first instance of such an illustration in printed form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Culture & Haci Bektas Veli Research Quarterly is the property of Turkish Cultur & Haci Bektas Veli Research Quarterly 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.)

This investigation explores the extensive influence of Tang Sancai, a seminal element of China's Tang Dynasty, on the cultural landscapes of Persia and Japan, propelled by the intercultural exchanges along the historic Silk Road. It examines how Tang Sancai's vivid colors, intricate motifs, and distinctive techniques transcended geographical confines, catalyzing significant evolutions in Persian and Japanese cultural expressions. The study acknowledges Tang Sancai's substantial impact while concurrently highlighting the distinctive paths of cultural development in Persia and Japan. In these regions, local traditions and aesthetic sensibilities assimilated Chinese elements, fostering unique, regionally tailored cultural syntheses. This research not only sheds light on the dynamic process of cultural interchange but also emphasizes the significance of such exchanges in driving creative adaptations and innovations. Through comparative and historical analyses, the research articulates the diverse legacy of Tang Sancai, showcasing its role as a pivotal agent in the progression of cultural forms, thereby contributing richly to the global tapestry of human cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Behçet disease (BD) is an inflammatory multisystem disorder of unknown etiology, believed to be triggered by infection and environmental factors in genetically predisposed individuals. The significance of understanding BD lies in its impact on global health due to its diverse clinical manifestations and geographical distribution. Areas covered: This review discusses the epidemiology of BD, emphasizing its prevalence estimated at 10.3 (95% CI, 6.1, 17.7) per 100,000 population, with higher rates observed in regions historically linked to the Silk Route. The criteria for diagnosis are explored, focusing on clinical manifestations that guide healthcare professionals in identifying and managing BD. Additionally, the review encompasses treatment strategies, highlighting TNF-alpha inhibitors as pivotal biologics and newer agents like IL-1 inhibitors and Ustekinumab that broaden the therapeutic options for BD. Expert opinion: Our work provides insights into the evolving landscape of treatments for BD, emphasizing the expanding role of newer agents alongside established therapies like TNF-alpha inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of SINERGI: Journal of Strategic Studies & International Affairs is the property of SINERGI: Journal of Strategic Studies & International Affairs 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.)

Copyright of History & Historian / Tarih ve Tarihçi 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.)

This paper empirically investigates the impact of China's OFDI on the industrial structure upgrading of countries along the Belt and Road (B&R) and examines the threshold effect of the infrastructure levels on that impact based on the panel data of 52 B&R countries from 2006 to 2017. The results show that China's OFDI can significantly promote the industrial structure upgrading of B&R countries and that the Belt and Road initiative implementation can help to strengthen the promoting effects of China's OFDI in the comprehensive FGLS, the Diff-GMM and the System GMM estimation. Moreover, China's technology transfer OFDI has the greatest promotion effect, followed by capital transfer OFDI; labor transfer OFDI has the least promotion effect. China's OFDI plays a larger role in promoting the industrial structure upgrading of Central Asia and South Asia countries, followed by ASEAN and CIS countries and it plays a smaller role in West Asia and Central-Eastern Europe countries. There is a threshold effect of the B&R countries' infrastructure level. When the transportation infrastructure, energy infrastructure, communication infrastructure and overall infrastructure levels exceed the corresponding thresholds, the promoting effect of China's OFDI will be further enhanced in the comprehensive FGLS estimation. Our study proposes that under the Belt and Road initiative, to improve the infrastructure level of the B&R countries, and to increase the effectiveness of China's OFDI in promoting the industrial structure upgrading of the B&R countries, China should further strengthen international cooperation, expand outward investment, and strengthen the infrastructure connectivity construction with B&R countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past, the Silk Road was a vital trade route that spanned Eurasia, connecting East Asia to the Mediterranean Sea. The genus Prunus, belonging to the Rosaceae family and encompassing plums, peaches, apricots, cherries, and almonds, thrived as human travel along the Silk Road increased. The majority of fruits within this genus, whether wild or cultivated, are naturally sweet and easily preserved by drying for storage and transport. The interaction along the Silk Road between wild populations and diverse varieties of Prunus fruits led to the development of various hybrids. This article provides a summary of archaeological findings related to prominent Prunus fruits such as peaches, apricots, plums, cherries, and almonds, shedding light on their evolutionary history, genetic diversity, population structure, and historical dynamics crucial for species conservation. The origins of biodiversity may involve factors like migration of pre-adapted lineages, in situ variation, or the persistence of ancestral lineages. Furthermore, climate change is affecting spatial genetic patterns and potentially further threatening rare Prunus species. Evaluating the scope and composition of genetic diversity within germplasm collections is essential for enhancing plant breeding initiatives and preserving genetic resources in this changing context. From a molecular point of view, techniques such as genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and genes responsible for phenotypic changes in cultivars and germplasm collections should be of great interest in these breeding programs, while genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) derived from genome-wide DNA polymorphism information can facilitate the selection of superior genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Anbar University for Law & Political Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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.)

Background: Ancient Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) was one of the world's largest and most populated cities and acted as the eastern end of the world-famous Silk Road. However, little is known about the genetics of Chang'an people and whether the Western Regions-related gene flows have been prevalent in this cosmopolitan city. Results: Here, we present seven genomes from Xingfulindai (XFLD) sites dating to the Tang Dynasty in Chang'an. We observed that four of seven XFLD individuals (XFLD_1) were genetically homogenous with the Late Neolithic Wadian, Pingliangtai, and Haojiatai populations from the middle reaches of the Yellow River Basin (YR_LN), with no genetic influence from the Western Eurasian or other non-Yellow River-related lineages. The remaining three XFLD individuals were a mixture of YR_LN-related ancestry and ~ 3–15% Western Eurasian-related ancestry. Mixtures of XFLD_1 and Western Eurasian-related ancestry drove the main gradient of genetic variation in northern and central Shaanxi Province today. Conclusions: Our study underlined the widespread distribution of the YR_LN-related ancestry alongside the Silk Road within the territory of China during the historical era and provided direct evidence of trans-Eurasian communication in Chang'an from a genetic perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pomegranates originated in western Asia and were later introduced eastwards to China. As the area of cultivation expanded pomegranate patterns became widely used on a variety of decorative supports. The pomegranate patterns on embroideries first appeared in the Eastern Han Dynasty but it was not until the Tang Dynasty that they began to flourish and had an important influence on the creation of auspicious designs in later generations. At present the studies of the pomegranate patterns mainly focus on the porcelain support and pay little attention to embroideries. The study of pomegranate patterns in the Tang Dynasty embroideries is helpful in further understanding the dynamics of cultural exchange and the humanistic and historical background of the period and in enriching the theoretical support for the study of auspicious patterns on the Tang Dynasty embroideries. The article takes the pomegranate patterns on the Tang Dynasty embroideries as a research object collects and combs the pomegranate patterns unearthed by archaeology and makes an in-depth study based on historical documents. First it traces the origin of the pomegranate patterns to clarify the context of their introduction into China. Second it analyzes and summarizes the artistic characteristics of pomegranate patterns on the Tang Dynasty embroideries from three aspects theme combination form expression and compositional form. Finally it analyzes the cultural implication of the pomegranate patterns on the embroideries from the perspective of cultural exchange along the Silk Road in the Tang Dynasty combined with the background of the times and humanistic thought. Three major conclusions are drawn. First the pomegranate patterns of the Tang Dynasty showed more diversified forms of expression than those of the previous dynasties and were endowed with profound cultural implications against the background of the prosperity of the Silk Road culture which promoted the development of auspicious patterns in the Tang Dynasty and influenced later generations. Second pomegranate patterns on embroideries are rarely drawn alone but are often combined with other plant patterns. Under the influence of the pursuit of perfect and complete decorative aesthetics the shape of the pomegranate patterns developed into a rounded compound pattern that expressed the sense of beauty with a uniform compositional form reflecting the high maturity of embroidery pattern art on the Tang Dynasty. Third the Tang Dynasty with its strong national power and self-confident culture adopted an inclusive and open attitude towards Western art. The pomegranate pattern's original meaning of royal power and religion gradually evolved into a secular auspicious meaning expressing the Tang people' s wish for many children and showing the Tang Dynasty's absorption and re-creation of foreign patterns. The analysis of the artistic characteristics and cultural connotation of pomegranate patterns on the Tang Dynasty embroideries provides multiple perspectives for perfecting the knowledge pedigree of the Tang Dynasty auspicious patterns and material accumulation and broadening ideas for the development of traditional pattern design. In the future further research in this field can systematically summarize the law of the evolution of pomegranate patterns and explore its causes from the perspective of the change of times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Silk Road connected the east of Iran to the western world. Roue city is close to the Road. Six glass samples from Roue were classified on the basis of morphology, archaeological context and compositions. The samples were analysed by means of XRF and Raman spectroscopy and two specific groups, namely Roue type 1 and Roue type 2, with close composition to high alumina plant-ash glass in circulation from the 6th to 10th centuries CE in Mesopotamia, Iran and Syria, were identified. The simultaneous occurrence of two types of glass in the excavated layers shows that the house was inhabited in the early Islamic period. Colours (black, amber-green, light and aqua blue) were produced mainly by the amount of iron and sulphur ions required for the amber chromophore and copper ions for the blue colour and the controlling of reducing conditions in the furnace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behcet's disease (BD) is a multisystem disorder prevalent along the historic Silk Road, with Behcet's uveitis (BU) representing a significant complication contributing to disability. Various studies have linked different HLA alleles with BD across diverse populations. In this study, we investigated the association between HLA-B51:01/x and HLA-B27/x genotypes with Behcet's uveitis in 50 unrelated Iranian patients diagnosed with Behcet's uveitis, comparing them to a control group of 70 healthy individuals. Our analysis aimed to determine the susceptibility conferred by these alleles and assess their clinical relevance. Our findings indicate a notable susceptibility conferred by the HLA-B51:01/x genotype for Behcet's uveitis (P = 0.0001). Conversely, the B27/x genotype did not demonstrate significant associations with Behcet's uveitis. Furthermore, we employed prevalence-corrected positive predictive value (PcPPV) calculations to gauge the clinical utility of testing for these alleles within the Iranian Behcet's uveitis patient population. The PcPPV for B27/x genotype testing was determined to be 0.05%, while the PcPPV for B51:01/x genotype testing in the same population was 0.065%. These results suggest that carriers of the B*51:01 allele, when presenting with clinical symptoms, exhibit a heightened risk for Behcet's uveitis compared to the general population. Individuals carrying the B51:01 allele, when symptomatic, face an elevated Behcet's uveitis risk. This insight aids in targeted clinical assessments for at-risk populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient Chinese beads provide important evidence of cultural exchanges. This study used a scanning electron microscope with an energy‐dispersive spectrometer to analyse the microstructure and chemical composition of faience beads excavated from Laolongtou cemetery in Yanyuan county, China. Based on the analysis results, two glazing methods (efflorescence and cementation) and two bead types (high‐Pb and high‐K beads) were identified. A comparison of the chemical compositions of samples unearthed at the Laolongtou cemetery and samples from north‐western China indicated close regional contact. Bronze wares and burial customs in Laolongtou cemetery also revealed that the Yanyuan region might be a significant node in the Southern Silk Road between the south‐western and north‐western parts of China and even in Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the XIXth century, the Iranian lands under the rule of the Qajar State, and thus the Azerbaijan Province, attracted the attention of Russia and Europe due to political, military and economic developments. The city of Tabriz, which was located on the route of the historical Silk Road and was a stop on the road that carried commercial goods between Asia, Ottoman lands and Europe, was also a political center due to its position as the office of the crown prince. In this century, many foreigners traveled to Iranian lands for political, economic, military, commercial, etc. reasons and conveyed the impressions they gained as a result. In our study, it is aimed to draw the profile of Tabriz, one of the metropolises of Iran, in the narratives of some foreign travelers who visited Iran and Azerbaijan for various reasons in the XIXth century and wrote about what they saw and experienced during these trips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores China's robust response to the Coronavirus Disease-2019 pandemic, employing health diplomacy and soft power strategies to boost international relations and global health outcomes. China's contributions to international organisations, investments in biotechnology and provision of medical aid underline its pivotal role in health diplomacy. The country's approach, encompassing the Health Silk Road and vaccine diplomacy, is viewed through the lens of soft power theory and health diplomacy theory. It is revealed that China's initiatives, while offering valuable global health benefits, also strategically enhance its global influence and international relations. This article offers policy recommendations and underscores the importance of international cooperation, equitable access to health interventions, and the embrace of digital health technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]