West Asian Region Research Articles

Value Driven Foreign Policy in South Asia, and its Lessons for the West Asian Region

India during the long rule of the Nehru-Gandhi ‘dynasty’ aptly practiced realist foreign policy in the regional theatre and globally, but fell short of representing specifically Indian cultural values. Since the early 1990s, India’s foreign policy has regained its identity. Today, under Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi, India assertively stands for its heritage in foreign policy. This is a practice that has relevance for the entire West Asian region, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Characterization of collagen and its hydrolysate from yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares skin and their potencies as antioxidant and antiglycation agents

Collagen is one of the biopolymer proteins that may be useful for food and non-food purposes. Recently, even for collagen, it is becoming necessary to meet the requirements of “halal” for Muslim societies, and thus fish-derived collagen is regarded as ideal. Utilization of tuna skin as an alternative source of collagen would increase its market value, and there is an abundant catch in south west Asian regions. Thus, the purpose of this study was to prepare and characterize collagen from the skin of yellowfin tuna using a plant-derived protease, papain. The obtained collagen was further hydrolyzed with Alcalase, and the peptides fractionated by gel filtration chromatography were subjected to antioxidant and antiglycation activity assays. The results showed high activities of hydrolysate in these parameters.

Indo-Israeli relations in the Modi era: a transformative shift

ABSTRACTIndia’s West Asia policy is being constantly reshaped under the tutelage of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose Israel visit in July 2017 represents a momentous milestone in the Indo-Israeli relationship. The first ever visit of an Indian prime minister to the Jewish state unambiguously underscores that New Delhi under Modi is confident enough to deal with Israel as it deals with any other state in the volatile West Asian region without being concerned about third parties. Modi has been unequivocal in showing the importance India accords to its ties with Israel.

Impacts of bracteole removal and seeding rate on seedling emergence of halophyte shrubs: implications for rangeland rehabilitation in arid environments

Direct seeding techniques often result in unsatisfactory outcomes in rangeland rehabilitation, primarily because of low seedling emergence and poor establishment. Seed processing techniques aimed at improving seedling emergence have gained interest by pasture managers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined effects of bracteole removal and seeding rate on seedling emergence in seven halophytic species: Atriplex halimus, A. canescens, A. leucoclada, A. nummularia, A. lentiformis, Salsola vermiculata and Haloxylon aphyllum under semi-arid conditions in Tel Hadya (Syria). Each of these species was evaluated for seedling emergence under two seed treatments (bracteoles removed and non-removed bracteoles) with three seeding rates (10, 30 and 60 seeds per pot), in a completely randomised block design. The results showed a positive effect of seed treatment on seedling emergence for all studied species. The native A. halimus had the highest emergence percentages whereas the introduced A. mummularia, had the lowest. However, there were no significant effects of seeding rates on seedling emergence. These results showed that bracteole removal could improve germination and seedling emergence, and potentially increase the rate of establishment of the species studied. Therefore, when implementing rangeland rehabilitation projects, bracteole removal needs to be considered. The native S. vermiculata should be recommended for direct seeding in the West Asia and North Africa region given its high seedling emergence, known high palatability, nutritive value, and high auto-regeneration performance.

Strong Motion and Tsunami Related to the AD 365 Crete Earthquake

The West Asian region is a tectonically active area due to crustal deformation; the associated earthquakes occur on a large scale and have been recorded from the historical period to the present. Investigating the most suitable solution for this crustal movement will contribute to this region’s earthquake and tsunami disaster mitigation. The most reliable parameters were defined by researchers and applied with a non-uniform distribution in the fault plane based on Papadimitriou et al [1]. The calculated AD 365 earthquake waveform provides an indication of maximum acceleration using the stochastic Green’s function method with the selected parameters. Using this estimation, damage to masonry structures can be calculated. The ancient Crete cities of Aptra and Chania were both hit by the AD 365 earthquake. Aptera, built on out-cropping rock, would have been 80% destroyed. In comparison, Chania, in northwest Crete, would have been completely destroyed because it was built on thick sedimentary layers. The subsurface composition at Chania would have made it a high seismic intensity area. This earthquake was followed by a tsunami that devastated the southern and eastern coasts of the Mediterranean. Based on these results, risk mitigation from seismic and tsunami events should focus on high densely populated areas with thick sedimentary layers in the Mediterranean.

Dialectics of Post-1979 Iranian Foreign Policy in West Asia

The article focuses on Iran’s foreign relations with the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region since the Islamic Revolution. It looks at interplay of domestic and transnational variables. The domestic factors include the beliefs system of the policymakers, interest of political survival, political economy, the geopolitics of Persia and also geographical realm. The transnational variables consist of the global order, symmetrical and asymmetrical interdependence as well as the regional systemic status. These major components are vital in Persia’s relationships with the regional and trans-regional players in the WANA region. Unlike the Iranian negative or conflictual dialectics, the Iranian positive or cooperative dialectics is the main consequence of the agent–structure’s interactions in this region.

NEW INDIA INITIATIVE: ADVANCEMENT OF INDIA’S LOOK WEST POLICY

During the Cold War era, after the independence of India, India went ahead with a two-point program irst, India politically backed Arab; Second amplified the relations with their leaders who committed with secularism and socialism. India backed the NAM movement for a peaceful resolution between Arab and Isreal clash. Later on, after the Nasser‟s idea of Pan-Arabism failed and it provided cushion for religious extremism in the West Asian region. India realised the significance of the Islamic world. Due to the oil-based relationship between India and Iraq, India wanted to support Iraq during the Iraq-Iran war in 1980. Somehow India adopted the keep-distance approach with Israel during that period. So, during Cold War India espoused heedful approach. After the end of the Cold War, the balance was started to shift from normative flux to realistic flux, and India acknowledged the importance of remittance from its Indian diaspora in the Gulf. Indian commenced providing consultancy in advanced fields like the management, information technology and pharmaceutical sectors rather than old unskilled labour engagement. In 2005 India‟s Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh asserted the West Asia as their xtended neighbourhood. He sought an advanced economic relationship with the West Asain region. After 2014, With a new government at the centre, India extends the previous government Look West Policy and ventured to add more substantial dimensions to the former one. Newly elected Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi acknowledged the importance of engagement with West Asia with more considerable interest. At one hand in India de hyphenated its foreign policy from Israel and Palestine never-ending geopolitical flux, Government showcased a sheer amount of courage by establishing an open relationship with Israel. If one could make an attempt to understand this step through a glass of national interest, it could be considered as a significant step towards India strategic autonomy, while in another hand India grabbed the opportunity to engage more with West Asian countries especially after the turmoil of Shale revolution and oil price crisis. Additionally, he recognised the importance of Indian diaspora as a strategic tool. The Indian policymakers have striven for a delicate balance between Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel while supporting Palestinians. Such strategic autonomy has provided India with ample space to exercise in the region with ease. Indian policymakers assert that India‟s interests in the Gulf Cooperation

POPULATION STRUCTURE OF LEAF PATHOGENS OF COMMON SPRING WHEAT IN THE WEST ASIAN REGIONS OF RUSSIA AND NORTH KAZAKHSTAN IN 2017

Wheat diseases affecting leaves like leaf rust (Puccinia triticina), tan spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis) and spot blotch (Сochliobolus sativus = Bipolaris sorokiniana) are widely spread and potentially dangerous in the West-Asian region of Russia and North Kazakhstan. The study of these pathogens’ populations is very important for genetic protection of wheat. The objective of this study was to explore the population structure of the causative agents of leaf rust and tan spot on spring wheat based on virulence traits and assessing the distribution of the causative agent of spot blotch in the West-Asian region of Russia and North Kazakhstan. The source of inoculum were wheat leaves affected by leaf rust and spot diseases collected in the Chelyabinsk and the Omsk region of Russia and in North Kazakhstan. Virulence analysis of P. triticina using 20 lines with known Lr genes demonstrated that all 109 monopustule isolates were avirulent on ТсLr24. The isolates virulent on ТсLr19 were identified only in the Chelyabinsk population. The prevalence of isolates virulent on ТсLr2a, ТсLr2b, ТсLr2c, ТсLr11, ТсLr15, ТсLr16, ТсLr20 and ТсLr26 was higher in the Omsk and the North Kazakhstani population, while virulence to ТсLr9 was higher in Chelyabinsk. Using 20 TcLr-lines, we identified 27 virulent phenotypes of P. triticina: 12 in the Omsk, 19 in the Chelyabinsk and 8 in the Kazakhstani population. The phenotypes TLTTR (avirulent to TcLr16, TcLr19, TcLr24, TcLr26), TCTTR (avirulent to TcLr9, TcLr16, TcLr19, TcLr24), and TBTTR (avirulent to TcLr9, TcLr16, TcLr19, TcLr24, TcLr26) were observed in all the populations. The phenotypes TQTTR (avirulent to TcLr19, TcLr24, TcLr26) and TGTTR (avirulent to TcLr9, TcLr19, TcLr24, TcLr26, TcLr9, TcLr19, TcLr24, TcLr26) were common in the Omsk and the North Kazakhstani population, while THPTR (avirulent to avTcLr9, TcLr11, TcLr19, TcLr24) and TCTTQ (avirulent to TcLr9, TcLr16, TcLr19, TcLr20, TcLr24) were common in the Omsk and the Chelyabinsk population. There was a high genetic similarity in virulence and phenotypic composition between the Omsk and the North Kazakhstani population as well as between the Omsk and the Chelyabinsk population and a moderate similarity between the Chelyabinsk and the North Kazakhstani population. The prevalence of the spot blotch pathogen was higher in the material collected from the Omsk region, while none of this pathogen was identified in the North Kazakhstani material. The isolates of tan spot were identified in all the regions. Five races of P. tritici-repentis were identified among Chelyabinsk isolates based on the toxins produced by the following pathogens: race 1 (PtrToxA PtrToxС); race 2 (PtrToxA); race 7 (PtrToxA, PtrToxВ), race 8 (PtrToxA, PtrToxВ, PtrToxС), and race 4 (does not produce toxins). Three races were identified in the Omsk region (1 – 3) and four, in North Kazakhstan (1 – 4). A total of 26 P. tritici-repentis phenotypes were identified by virulence analysis using 11 differential lines: two were present in all the populations; two. in Chelyabinsk and North Kazakhstan; one, in Omsk and Chelyabinsk; and all the others were original. A high degree of similarity between the obligate pathogen P. triticina and the saprophytic pathogen P. tritici-repentis in the West-Asian region of Russia and in North Kazakhstan demonstrates that this is one epidemiological region across this wheat production area. The presence of common phenotypes suggests there is a the possibility of gene exchange between the populations and this shall be considered while releasing genetically protected wheat varieties.

Economic and food security benefits associated with raised-bed wheat production in Egypt

Countries in the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region are dependent on imports of wheat to meet their food security needs. Mechanized raised-bed wheat production is an effective means of increasing productivity and saving scarce water, but the technology needs substantial adaptation to local conditions. This paper estimates the economic benefits from a long-term adaptive research project designed to adapt and promote mechanical raised-bed wheat production in Egypt. The technology itself is associated with a 25% increase in productivity due to higher yields, 50% lower seed costs, a 25% reduction in water use, and lower labor costs. The mechanical raised-bed program is now a component of Egypt’s national wheat campaign and it is estimated that by 2023 approximately 800,000 ha of wheat will be planted with the technology. This paper estimates that over a 15 year project horizon, the benefits will exceed US$ 4 billion, with most of the benefits accruing to more than one million Egyptian wheat producers. Other benefits include reduced wheat imports (by more than 50% by 2025), reduced dependence on international commodity markets and increased productivity on more than 200,000 ha of water-starved lands.

Projected changes in temperature and precipitation extremes over the Silk Road Economic Belt regions by the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 multi‐model ensembles

The Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st‐century Maritime Silk Road is a development initiative proposed by the Chinese government. However, the Belt and Road regions involve a large population, and regional economic development is sensitive to climate change, particularly climate extreme events. Hence, it is of vital relevance to pay more attention to the climate extreme change over this region. In this study, changes in the temperature‐ and precipitation‐related extremes over the Belt and Road regions are evaluated during the middle and the end of this century using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) simulations. Results present obvious changes in extreme temperature and precipitation indices under both RCP4.5 (representative concentration pathways) and RCP8.5 scenarios against the current climate state (1986–2005). Changes generally present relatively larger magnitudes under RCP8.5 than RCP4.5. Projected multi‐model ensemble results show a significant increase in warm events over Moscow and Nairobi. Additionally, cold events will decrease over central Europe, Moscow and central Asia, along with longer growing season length over these regions. The annual mean precipitation is reported to significantly increase over the region of Nairobi and the flooding events will be exacerbated across the Belt regions under a future warmer world, particularly over Moscow, Southeast Asia and Nairobi. Meanwhile, the region of West Asia will be likely to experience more drought and flooding events with the warming. However, we should also note that the inter‐model uncertainty of these results is reported to increase with time and a relatively large model spread can be seen in precipitation‐related indices when comparing with the temperature.

Water, migration and environment in a Mediterranean perspective

The objective of this paper is to assess if environmental changes in the Mediterranean influence human mobility in the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region. Human mobility has always been a prominent feature of this geographic area, this, combined with the impact that climate change could have on migration, may pose broader security and geopolitical challenges in the Mediterranean area. Water scarcity has been considered holistically as one of the many environmental changes, which can influence migration and consequently the nexus environment-migration has been examined. The idea that climate changes will result in massive migration has been examined, arguing that the equation climate changes = mass migration outside the region does not consider the migration history of the area, while underestimating the adaptation of the population groups and countries affected by them, and the actions the institutions can put in place to prevent or respond to the events.

Water, migration and environment in a Mediterranean perspective

The objective of this paper is to assess if environmental changes in the Mediterranean influence human mobility in the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region. Human mobility has always been a prominent feature of this geographic area, this, combined with the impact that climate change could have on migration, may pose broader security and geopolitical challenges in the Mediterranean area. Water scarcity has been considered holistically as one of the many environmental changes, which can influence migration and consequently the nexus environment-migration has been examined. The idea that climate changes will result in massive migration has been examined, arguing that the equation climate changes = mass migration outside the region does not consider the migration history of the area, while underestimating the adaptation of the population groups and countries affected by them, and the actions the institutions can put in place to prevent or respond to the events.

SAUDI-IRAN RIVALRY AND ITS IMPACT ON REGIONAL POLITICS

Historically, Iran has dominated the regional politics in several aspects, but after the Second World War, Saudi Arabia emerged as a significant player in regional politics. Both states have several differences; Saudi Arabia is Sunni dominated state with monarchical system of governance while Iran has a Shia dominated population and Islamic republic nature of governance. Saudi Arabia and Iran have been in a conflict with each other for several decades and there have been a number of issues that have intensified the Saudi-Iran rivalry for the several decades and created instability in the region. Iranian nuclear programme and capital punishment of Shia cleric by Saudi government have also further increased their rivalry. But, their recent enmity has had a drastic impact on the West Asian region. Therefore, regional conflicts have been becoming very complex and affecting the regional politics as well as international politics. The main aim of this paper is to examine the causes of Saudi-Iran rivalry and how does it impact on regional politics. Article visualizations:

Global population pharmacokinetics of the investigational Aurora A kinase inhibitor alisertib in cancer patients: rationale for lower dosage in Asia.

AimsThis population pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted to describe quantitatively the regional differences and sources of interpatient variability on the apparent oral clearance of alisertib.MethodsA population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed on data from 671 cancer patients in Western countries and in Japan/East Asia to whom alisertib 5–150 mg once or twice daily (b.i.d.) was administered in multiple dosing schedules. The final model was used to simulate alisertib pharmacokinetics in patients in the West and East Asian regions in the single‐agent schedule of 7 days of dosing in a 21‐day cycle. Exposure–safety relationships for mechanism‐related antiproliferative toxicities (neutropenia, mucositis and diarrhoea) were estimated by logistic regression.ResultsAlisertib pharmacokinetics were described by a two‐compartment model with four‐transit compartment absorption and linear elimination. The final model included a covariate effect of region on relative bioavailability, with patients in the East Asian region estimated to have a 52% higher bioavailability compared with Western patients. Population simulated exposure at 30 mg b.i.d. in patients in Asia was similar to that at 50 mg b.i.d. in Western patients [geometric mean (coefficient of variation) steady state area under the concentration‐time curve over the dosing interval (AUC(0–τ)): 21.4 μM.h (52.3%) and 24.1 μM.h (53.6%), respectively]. Exposure–AE relationships could be described for neutropenia, stomatitis and diarrhoea, supporting the lower dosage of alisertib in Asia for global clinical development.ConclusionsModel‐based simulations support the achievement of similar alisertib exposures in patients in Asia who are administered a 40% lower dose compared with the Western population, thereby providing a quantitative clinical pharmacology bridging and regional dosing rationale for global drug development.

Allelic variation at high-molecular weight and low-molecular weight glutenin subunit genes in Moroccan bread wheat and durum wheat cultivars

Glutenin is a major protein fraction contributing to the functional properties of gluten and dough. The glutenin constitutes 30–40% of the protein in wheat flour and about half of that in gluten. It is essential to identify correct glutenin alleles and to improve wheat quality by selecting alleles that exert favorable effects. Moroccan wheat cultivars are unique in West Asia and North Africa region, since many of them possess resistance to Hessian fly, a pest, which is becoming important in other countries in the region. Hence, these cultivars are being used as donor for the resistance in the breeding program. Here, we determine the allelic variation in high-molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) and low-molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS) in Moroccan cultivars of bread and durum wheat using the gene-specific PCR markers. In 20 cultivars of bread wheat, 9 different allele variants were detected at HMW-GS and 13 different allele variants were detected at LMW-GS, in which the alleles Glu-A1b (2*), Glu-B1i (17 + 18), Glu-B1c (7*/7 + 9), Glu-D1d (5 + 10), Glu-A3c, Glu-B3 h, and Glu-D3b were the most frequents. In 26 cultivars of durum wheat, less allelic variation was found: seven different allele variants at HMW-GS and six different allele variants at LMW-GS were identified, in which the major alleles were Glu-A1c (null), Glu-B1b (7 + 8), Glu-B1e (20), Glu-A3c, and Glu-B3d. The mean value of the genetic diversity for the glutenin loci was 0.502 in bread wheat and 0.449 in durum wheat. Most of the glutenin alleles carried by Moroccan bread wheat cultivars impart good bread-making quality. Most of the durum wheat glutenin alleles were related to low strength dough or poor quality and need to be improved. To improve quality of Moroccan durum wheat, essentially, Glu-A1c and Glu-B3d alleles of the genes should be replaced with the better alleles through breeding.

『세계사』 교과서 속의 오스만 제국과 2015 개정 교육과정

This paper investigates how the Ottoman Empire is treated in the world history curriculum and textbooks of Korean high school. Generally, the history of the Ottoman Empire as well as the West Asian region or Islam world in the world history textbooks has been described to be too succinct and superficial, and sometimes erroneous and stereotyped from the Eurocentric and Orientalist viewpoint. So the world history curriculums for 2007 and for 2011 mirrored the ‘Global History’ perspective which raises doubt on Eurocentrism and bases on understanding the development process of history through vigorous regional interactions to overcome this Eurocentric approach. The consequences of analysis of world history textbooks show that contents and descriptive ways about the history and culture of the Ottoman Empire are significantly improved. However, the 2015 revised curriculum abandoned the global historical viewpoint because the former is too unfocused and enormous in volume for the students and teachers to adapt to. Moreover, by excluding Africa and Southeast Asia from the curriculum and making the history of India-West Asian region described from a religious standpoint, the 2015 revised curriculum causes concerns.

Israel–China Ties at 25: The Limited Partnership

Israel–China bilateral ties have witnessed significant growth since the establishment of full diplomatic relations in January, 1992. Both countries are currently investing their energies in realising the full potential of their on-going partnership in the innovation economy. Growing tourist linkages are another facet of the burgeoning relationship. While China has ‘comprehensive strategic partnerships’ with more than 30 countries, including with those in Israel’s neighbourhood, like Egypt and Iran, the term ‘strategic’ is conspicuously absent in describing the nature of the bilateral ties by either Israel or China. The relationship is instead described as a ‘comprehensive innovation partnership’. This article shows that three limiting factors continue to cast a shadow on the China–Israel partnership. These are: the conundrum of defence trade and security ties; China’s long-standing support of the Palestinian cause in international forums, like the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)—multilateral bodies whose work is routinely described as a ‘joke’ and a ‘circus’ by Israel’s top leadership; and China’s growing stakes with the wider West Asia region, animated by arms, energy and infrastructure deals.

Revision and Issues of the High School World History Curriculum - From the 6th to 2015 Curriculums -

This paper is a comparative study of the major characteristics of world history revised curriculum of the high school that has been revised over the past decade. The world history curriculums for 2007/2009 and for 2011 mirrored the Global History perspective. And the major issues are overcoming European centrism, Sinocentrism and how diverse cultures have shaped themselves through the interaction and exchange among diverse cultures and regions. The problem is that it was influenced by the instructional course of study for world history B in Japan’s high school 1999th edition.BR In the case of Japan, there are much a systematic study of the world of the region, but we have not done enough research on that subject. The merit of the curriculum for 2015 is to classify the sections of world history into the East Asian region, India-the West Asian region, Europe-America region, and to understand how the culture has shaped its contents and features from ancient times to the 19th century. It is evident that this approach has also the defects of not showing the mutual exchanges and influence between the respective regions in the same period. This is expected to be resolved through fundamental and detailed research on various regions.

Contribution of soil moisture variability to summer precipitation in the Northern Hemisphere

AbstractThe variability and impacts of spring soil moisture (SSM) over the Northern Hemisphere (NH) in the recent 30 years are investigated. The results show that there are two maximum regions of interannual variability of SSM, which are located in the central region of North America (Region 1), and Europe and West Asia (Region 2). These two regions are crucial areas of land‐atmosphere interaction; SSM in these two regions is closely connected with subsequent summer precipitation in NH. Four simulation experiments show that compared to the oceanic effect, the SSM has a positive contribution to summer precipitation over northern Europe, central Asia, and the southern region of North America but a negative contribution to the central region of North America, Arabia, and India, which accounts for 5%–10% of the summer precipitation based on the regional average. The SSM has significant impacts on subsequent summer precipitation in the midlatitudes, while the oceanic impact is dominant over tropical continents. The regions with remarkable variability of SSM are the areas where the coupling between SSM and summer precipitation is relatively strong. The anomalous SSM over NH primarily influences the general circulation through diabatic heating anomalies and changes the low‐level moisture condition, leading to the anomalies of summer precipitation.

Spring-Time Enhancement in Aerosol Burden over a High-Altitude Location in Western Trans-Himalaya:Results from Long-Term Observations

Long-term measurements (from August 2009 to December 2014) of aerosol black carbon mass concentration (MBC) and spectral aerosol optical depth (AOD) were carried out from a high-altitude location, Hanle in western trans-Himalaya as part of the Regional Aerosol Warming Experiment. Both MBC and AOD showed distinct annual pattern with a clear spring-time enhancement (April-June) with significant inter-annual variability associated with the changes in source processes. The potential source regions contributing to the spring-time enhancement in aerosol loading are the dust-dominated west Asian region as well as biomass burning from NW India. The overall annual mean value of MBC over Hanle is extremely low compared to many other Himalayan locations, including the Ganges Valley Aerosol Experiment campaign site at Nainital, which also showed spring-time (pre-monsoon) enhancement. The vertical extents of elevated aerosol layers, which contribute to the spring-time enhancement, are found to be in the range 5-7 km amsl from the analysis of vertical profiles of extinction coefficients from CALIPSO data.