Mt. Dushak-Erekdag Observatory: A Chance to Close the Asian Gaps in WET Coverage

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. N. Dorokhova ◽  
N. I. Dorokhov
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Astronomical Observatory ◽  
Light Pollution ◽  
Wide Angle ◽  
International Programs ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Stable Economy

AbstractThe Mt. Dushak-Erekdag Observatory (Central Asia, Turkmenistan, 58° E longitude) is located just in the longitudes gap of asteroseismological networks. It is the southernmost observatory of the former Soviet Union, its latitude is +38°. The sky seeing at the site is one of the best in Central Asia: a low light pollution, high and stable sky transparency, over 200 usable nights per year. The altitude is above 2000 m.Odessa Astronomical Observatory has its 0.8 m telescope with a two-star high-speed photometer there, which frequently participates in international programs and multi-site campaigns. An accuracy of the photometry amounts to 1 mmag. Besides, a 1 m wide-angle telescope and a dual-tube telescope with 0.5m mirrors are installed at the observatory.The developed infrastructure at the site and the stable economy in Turkmenistan make the Mt. Dushak-Erekdag Observatory very interesting for the WET observations.

scholarly journals China’s “One Belt, One Road Initiative”: challenges and requirements for its successful implementation in Central Asia

2017 ◽  
pp. 127-138
Author(s):  
Francisco Gómez Martos
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Trade Integration ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Intergovernmental Cooperation

Twenty five years after the dissolution of the former Soviet Union and the reemergence of the Central Asian Republics as independent States, this region continues to be the scene of rivalries amongst the big powers (Russia, China, the European Union, USA, India, Japan, Turkey and Iran) competing in a sort of a “new Grand Game” to increase their geopolitical and economic influence in the region. Its geography, diverse and rich natural resources, like oil and gas, explain the ongoing hidden rivalries. Despite its common historical and cultural past, Central Asia constitutes a heterogeneous region with a multiethnic and multi-linguistic composition and a low degree of physical, economic and trade integration. The lack of mutual trust, the persisting tension over borders and the use and sharing of natural resources, as well as different levels of economic performance have so far jeopardized the development of genuine regional cooperation. Against this background, the idea behind the Chinese OBOR Initiative to develop rapid transportation, if well implemented, could theoretically, by improving interregional connectivity, develop the Central Asia regional market and foster intergovernmental cooperation and people-to-people contacts within the region. In this context, could we expect that the ambitious Chinese OBOR Initiative will boost geopolitical stability and promote shared economic and trade benefits in Central Asia? What are the conditions for that need to be fulfilled?The author analyzes in depth certain crucial political, economic and institutional requirements for the successful implementation of the OBOR Strategy and concludes, however, that three years after the launching of this crucial instrument of the Chinese “globalization without democracy” model, its implementation faces major problems and thus raises more doubts than certainties.

scholarly journals Simple Assay for Detection of the Central Asia Outbreak Clade of theMycobacterium tuberculosisBeijing Genotype

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Egor Shitikov ◽  
Anna Vyazovaya ◽  
Maja Malakhova ◽  
Andrei Guliaev ◽  
Julia Bespyatykh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Molecular Marker ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Rapid Screening ◽  
Beijing Genotype ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mdr Tb

ABSTRACTThe Central Asia outbreak (CAO) clade is a branch of theMycobacterium tuberculosisBeijing genotype that is associated with multidrug resistance, increased transmissibility, and epidemic spread in parts of the former Soviet Union. Furthermore, migration flows bring these strains far beyond their areas of origin. We aimed to find a specific molecular marker of the Beijing CAO clade and develop a simple and affordable method for its detection. Based on the bioinformatics analysis of the largeM. tuberculosiswhole-genome sequencing (WGS) data set (n = 1,398), we identified an IS6110insertion in theRv1359-Rv1360intergenic region as a specific molecular marker of the CAO clade. We further designed and optimized a multiplex PCR method to detect this insertion. The method was validatedin silicowith the recently published WGS data set from Central Asia (n = 277) and experimentally withM. tuberculosisisolates from European and Asian parts of Russia, the former Soviet Union, and East Asia (n = 319). The developed molecular assay may be recommended for rapid screening of retrospective collections and for prospective surveillance when comprehensive but expensive WGS is not available or practical. The assay may be especially useful in high multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) burden countries of the former Soviet Union and in countries with respective immigrant communities.

The Archaeology and Art of Central Asia: Studies from the Former Soviet Union

1997 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 594
Author(s):  
Antonio Invernizzi ◽  
B. A. Litvinskii ◽  
Carol Altman Bromberg
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Former Soviet Union

scholarly journals A Great Game in Greater Central Asia

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-243
Author(s):  
M. H. Glantz
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Aral Sea ◽  
Aral Sea Basin ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Soviet Central Asia ◽  
Great Game ◽  
Central Asian Republics

The region historically referred to as Soviet Central Asia includes the 5 Central Asian Republics (CARs) of the Former Soviet Union (FSU): Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Their political status changed drastically when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and they became independent republics. Since the early 1990s, Central Asian leaders have referred on occasion to neighboring Afghanistan as the sixth CAR. In fact, it does occupy 14% of the Aral Sea Basin and its mountains supply about 15% of streamflow to the region’s mighty Amu Darya River that used to flow into Central Asia’s Aral Sea.

Freshwater, Fish and the Future: Proceedings of the Global Cross-Sectoral Conference

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Military Conflict ◽  
Small Scale Fisheries ◽  
Eurasian Economic Union ◽  
Generation Capacity

<em>Abstract</em> .—The successor states to the former Soviet Union located in Central Asia and the Caucasus have substantial challenges in promoting sustainable inland and small-scale fisheries. This is particularly true due to the impact of the energy–water nexus that characterizes the domestic development challenges of the eight countries. Soviet policies on water usage for misguided agricultural development, including the cotton monoculture effort in Central Asia, depleted important water flows to traditional fisheries while more recent pressure for increased hydroelectric generation capacity within new national borders threatens to disrupt traditional fisheries and wildlife habitat. International tensions deriving from competing claims to river flows constrain regional cooperation and portend political and perhaps military conflict. There has been progress in regional economic integration among the Caspian basin littoral states, and in the context of the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the emerging Eurasian Economic Union, but suspicions as to motives held by key sponsoring states remain, as do perceived national interest conflicts. This paper explores the constraints and prospects for regional cooperation and governance, taking into account regional and bilateral tensions and drivers. Recommendations for future progress are proposed.

scholarly journals Hope versus Reality: 20 Years of Economic Transition at the Turkish States of the Central Asia

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet Balcılar
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Economic Transition ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Washington Consensus ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
East Europe ◽  
Development Patterns

Twenty years passed now since the countries of the Central and East Europe (СEE) and the former Soviet Union (FSU) have begun the process of transformation from command to market economy and from one-party to a democratic rule. The transition process, at the beginning at least, started with very optimistic expectations in all countries. Transition is expected, as stated in the so-called ‘Washington Consensus’, create unprecedented growth and development. No one could envision failure and traps stuck the development and democracy. After 20 years, the transition economies clustered into different clusters and several development patterns have arisen along with countries that are trapped into almost no development. Among the clusters Turkic states of the Central Asia forms a unique cluster. This study makes a comprehensive attempt to analyze the development patters that have arisen along the way 20-year long. Experiences of 20 years are placed under the microscope to identify successes and failures with regards to both, theory and policy. We set a benchmark for success and successful transition and determine the key factors that have led to success or failure. In the light of the global crises, it easier to identify shortcomings of transition. Major conclusion arising from the study is that the original concept of the ‘Washington Consensus’ has failed to fulfill expectations of growth and development, the state of the art seems to be confusion.

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