Role Of Different Groups Research Articles

THE ROLE OF SELF-MARKETING IN CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ROMA EMPLOYMENT

The role of different groups in society in the labour market is of vital importance for the functioning of a nation's economy. Equal access to employment is a fundamental condition for tackling social exclusion and is closely linked to reducing and combating poverty. Research on discrimination in the labour market goes back several decades and is primarily based on perceptions of discrimination. The Roma population is one of the most disadvantaged groups in Hungary, with the most severe labour market tensions and the largest number of underprivileged groups. Roma are considered a social group with below average labour market opportunities. The unfavourable social and economic situation of the Roma population in Hungary and their resulting marginalisation has become a platitude in public discourse and academic work. The importance of the issue is undoubtful, as it is estimated that the Roma population, which constitutes a significant proportion of the population, is the poorest, most excluded and, overall, the most vulnerable group in society. The gap between the Roma population and the majority society has been steadily increasing for decades, mainly due to the residential segregation and economic decline of the Roma. Negative discrimination in the labour market plays a crucial role in shaping the employment prospects of Roma people. On the one hand, this is due to the negative discrimination they face, and on the other hand, to the low level of knowledge acquired by these people compared to the average in society. In our study, we examine the factors determining selfmarketing and the labour market chances of Roma in the context of the background factors, economic and social effects of unemployment, which particularly affect this precariat group. We make an attempt to prove that self-marketing has a right to exist among the Roma working population. In researching this topic, it is essential to address the issue of the conscious career management competences of members of the emerging generation and the crucial role of inclusive workplaces.

Multi-agent-based human cognition simulation of Situation-aware earthquake emergency evacuation

The salvation of at-risk people from urban areas with earthquake prognosis or evacuation is one of the important activities of rescue teams. Due to the roles of different groups of individuals (crisis managers, pedestrians, and vehicles) with their special spatial cognition, as well as the various characteristics of transportation infrastructure, multi-agent-based modeling is an effective way of situation-aware simulation. The complexity and dynamic nature of emergencies are owing to the interactions between agents, evacuation environment, and multiple risk levels. This paper aims to develop a new approach to infer different situations before the occurrence of an earthquake based on human spatial cognition with an emphasis on the routing process. This study proposed a situation-aware evacuation framework using multi-agent modeling to examine the agents (pedestrians, vehicles, and controlling agents), their behaviors, and agent-agent and agent-environment interactions. The initial routing was performed using the A* search algorithm, then route correction towards safe zones as action and decision-making on the part of the agent was done using the Bayesian inference method. The study area was District 6 of the Tehran metropolis, which is located very near active faults. The results were assessed under four different scenarios according to levels of agent cognition and access to environmental situation information. The research findings indicated that evacuation time in a state where agents are aware of the environmental situation and have sufficient knowledge was significantly less compared to other scenarios, which can contribute immensely to saving people's lives and reducing human casualties in emergencies and crises.

Modern prospects of targeted hypolipidemic therapy

This article analyzes new approaches to reducing atherogenic lipoproteins using lipid-lowering drugs with innovative mechanisms of action. It examines the role of different groups of lipid-lowering drugs in the overall range of modern methods for correcting lipid metabolism disorders. The significance of statins as a foundational therapy in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases with atherosclerotic origins is emphasized. The article presents research findings on a new target in lipid-lowering therapy, namely the proprotein convertase of subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), and the use of a new class of drugs known as PCSK9 inhibitors, whose which have proven to be a powerful tool in reducing low-density lipoproteins. Moreover, advancements in this field have led to the development of molecules capable of genetically blocking the genes responsible for PCSK9 proprotein convertase synthesis, offering an exceptional effectiveness with dosing intervals of once every six months. The article also explores potential new drugs such as bempedoic acid, which lowers low-density lipoprotein levels, and cholesterol ester transporter protein inhibitors, which raise high-density lipoproteins levels. Additionally, it delves into more extensively studied drug groups like оmega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and fibrates. Consequently, lipid-lowering therapy provides an additional risk reduction for cardiovascular complications. The article highlights efforts to personalize cholesterol-lowering therapy, including improved risk stratification tools, the utilization of a genetic risk scale, and the integration of studies on lipid-lowering drugs with innovative mechanisms of action. Statins remain the first-line drugs for lipid level reduction; however, the emergence of alternative methods of treatment, provided their positive effect on the cardiovascular prognosis, enables an individualized approach based on the specific lipid profile of each patient. Implementing such a strategy requires training for both healthcare professionals and patients, as well as specialized programs.

Chemokine-targeted nanoparticles: stimulation of the immune system in cancer immunotherapy

Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy are potential therapeutic choices for many malignant and metastatic cancers. Despite adverse side effects and pain, surgery and chemotherapy continue to be the most common cancer treatments. However, patients treated with immunotherapy had better cancer control than those who got other treatments. There are two methods to activate immunological pathways: systemically and locally. To modify the tumor microenvironment (TME), the former uses systemic cytokine/chemokine (CK) delivery, whilst the latter uses immunological checkpoints or small molecule inhibitors. Organic and inorganic nanomaterials (NMs) enhanced the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. NMs can transmit drugs, peptides, antigens, antibodies, whole cell membranes, etc. Surface-modified NMs precisely target and enter the tissues. The inner core of surface-modified NMs is composed of chemicals with limited bioavailability and biocompatibility, resulting in prolonged blood retention and decreased renal clearance. These platforms hinder or prevent many immune cell activities and modify the TME, enhancing the efficiency of cancer immunotherapy. By inhibiting CK/CK receptor signaling, cell migration and other immune responses could be controlled. Developing CK-targeted nanoparticles (NPs) that inhibit CK signaling or take advantage of the ligand-receptor connection is possible. Surface chemical modification of NMs with CKs or specific peptides has several medicinal applications, including tissue-specific drug delivery and limited cell migration in cancer-afflicted conditions. This review covers current developments in the role of different groups of CK-loaded NP in tumor therapy targeting immune cells and cancer. It also covers the role of NP targeting CK signaling which aids in immunogenic cell death (ICD) and induction of antitumor immunity. In addition, CK gene silencing and its capacity to prevent cancer metastasis as well as inhibition of immune cell migration to modulate the TME are discussed.

The Efficacy of Biological Control for the Suppression of the Pea Aphid (Acyrthosiphon Pisum): Does the Resistance of Alfalfa Cultivars Matter?

The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris, is a major pest of alfalfa in northwestern China. However, the roles of different groups of natural enemies in combination with aphid-resistant cultivars in the suppression of the pea aphid have not been clarified under field conditions. In this study, we used experimental cages to better understand the top-down (natural enemies) and bottom-up (nine alfalfa cultivars) biological processes, as well as the individual roles of the two processes, in the control of the pea aphid. There was a significant difference in resistance among cultivar classes revealed when natural enemies were excluded. The functional contribution of top-down suppression was higher than the bottom-up process, with natural enemies significantly suppressing aphid populations, regardless of the resistance level of different alfalfa cultivars. The mean biological efficacies of predators, parasitoids, and mixed populations of natural enemies were 85%, 42%, and 88%, respectively. Overall, our study indicated that natural enemies play a critical role in suppressing aphid populations, especially in the summer, whereas cultivar resistance did not combine effectively with natural enemies to inhibit the growth of aphids. Conservation biological control (CBC) can be implemented in the alfalfa production regions in northwestern China to reduce the overreliance on insecticides for the control of pests and mitigate their harmful effects on humans, ecosystems, and biodiversity.

Nutrients and Dietary Approaches in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Disease: A Narrative Review.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. The prevalence of CVD is much higher in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), who may benefit from lifestyle changes, which include adapted diets. In this review, we provide the role of different groups of nutrients in patients with T2DM and CVD, as well as dietary approaches that have been associated with better and worse outcomes in those patients. Many different diets and supplements have proved to be beneficial in T2DM and CVD, but further studies, guidelines, and dietary recommendations are particularly required for patients with both diseases.

DFT and Experimental Studies on the Mechanism of Mercury Adsorption on O2-/NO-Codoped Porous Carbon.

The utilization of O2 and NO in flue gas to activate the raw porous carbon with auxiliary plasma contributes to an effective mercury (Hg)-removal strategy. The lack of in-depth knowledge on the Hg adsorption mechanism over the O2-/NO-codoped porous carbon severely limits the development of a more effective Hg removal method and the potential application. Therefore, the generation processes of functional groups on the surface during plasma treatment were investigated and the detailed roles of different groups in Hg adsorption were clarified. The theoretical results suggest that the formation of functional groups is highly exothermic and they preferentially form on a carbon surface, and then affect Hg adsorption. The active groups affect Hg adsorption in a different manner, which depends on their nature. All of these active groups can improve Hg adsorption by enhancing the interaction of Hg with a surface carbon atom. Particularly, the preadsorbed NO2 and O3 groups can react directly with Hg by forming HgO. The experimental results confirm that the active groups cocontribute to the high Hg removal efficiency of O2-/NO-codoped porous carbon. In addition, the mercury temperature-programmed desorption results suggest that there are two forms of mercury present on O2-/NO-codoped porous carbon, including a carbon-bonded Hg atom and HgO.

Hyperheavy spherical and toroidal nuclei: The role of shell structure

The properties of toroidal hyperheavy even-even nuclei and the role of toroidal shell structure are extensively studied within covariant density functional theory. The general trends in the evolution of toroidal shapes in the $Z\approx 130-180$ region of nuclear chart are established for the first time. These nuclei are stable with respect of breathing deformations. The most compact fat toroidal nuclei are located in the $Z\approx 136, N\approx 206$ region of nuclear chart, but thin toroidal nuclei become dominant with increasing proton number and on moving towards proton and neutron drip lines. The role of toroidal shell structure, its regularity, supershell structure, shell gaps as well as the role of different groups of the pairs of the orbitals in its formation are investigated in detail. The lowest in energy solutions at axial symmetry are characterized either by large shell gaps or low density of the single-particle states in the vicinity of the Fermi level in at least one of the subsystems (proton or neutron). Related quantum shell effects are expected to act against the instabilities in breathing and sausage deformations for these subsystems. The investigation with large set of covariant energy density functionals reveals that substantial proton $Z=154$ and 186 and neutron $N=228$, 308 and 406 spherical shell gaps exist in all functionals. The nuclei in the vicinity of the combination of these particle numbers form the islands of stability of spherical hyperheavy nuclei. The study suggests that the $N=210$ toroidal shell gap plays a substantial role in the stabilization of fat toroidal nuclei.

Stakeholder Mapping Analysis on the Scaling-Up Nutrition Movement during the 1000 Days of Life between the Urban and Rural Government Areas

The Scaling-Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement was an intervention to overcome chronic malnutrition through integrated stakeholder collaboration. Furthermore, the roles of stakeholders' in the SUN-Movement were not optimal and their characteristics were not yet known based on the groups and government areas (cities and regency). This study aims to map the SUN-Movement stakeholders' roles in different groups and government areas based on their attitudes, powers, and interests. This is an observational descriptive research with a qualitative approach. Totally of 30 institutions as stakeholders were involved in this study and divided into 3 different groups, namely Decision Maker (DM), Provider (P), and Clients & Representatives (CR). The DM group have the power to influence programs. Also, the P group was better at handling technical issues, however, it cannot build collaboration with other stakeholders. The CR tend to build this collaboration passively, nevertheless, it does not consider the SUN-Movement to be important. Consequently, each stakeholder views their roles differently. Different perceptions about stakeholders' roles in various indicators and government areas reveals an implementation gap in the SUN-Movement. Therefore, in conclusion, strengthening advocacy, coordination, routine socialization, and communication between stakeholders could bridge the needs, constraints and challenges that cause malnutrition and stunting.

Fruit bat diversity patterns for assessing restoration success in reforestation areas in the Philippines

In response to extensive deforestation in the Philippines in the last century, reforestation initiatives have been developed, setting area- or seedling count-based success criteria. However, to sufficiently assess reforestation as an approach to conserving biodiversity and protecting habitats, restoration of ecosystem integrity must be evaluated. Increased recognition of the role of fauna in ecological restoration has led to the evaluation of the role of different groups in assisting recovery and as potential metrics of success. In this study, we used mist netting data to evaluate how richness, abundance, diversity, and composition of fruit bats differ between reforestation areas and nearby secondary forest, and their potential as measures of restoration success. We captured 6564 fruit bats representing 15 species from a sampling effort of 1,994,366 m2·h. Estimated species richness and Simpson indices did not differ significantly between habitat types. Overall abundance was only significantly different in Palinpinon, with more individuals in the reforestation area, while Shannon indices only differed significantly in BacMan. Differences in composition were all found to be statistically significant, based on non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination biplots and permutational MANOVA. Of the three most abundant species captured across all reservations, the generalists Cynopterus luzoniensis and Macroglossus minimus were more abundant in reforestation areas. On the other hand, the forest specialists Haplonycteris fischeri, Harpyionycteris whiteheadi, and Ptenochirus minor showed lower abundances in reforestation areas. While univariate biodiversity metrics did not differ between secondary forests and reforestation areas, the abundance of particular species and the species composition of fruit bats remained distinct between these habitats. We identified specific aspects of the fruit bat assemblage with the potential as metrics of restoration success. To facilitate evaluation of restoration success using changes in faunal assemblage, we recommend the development of sampling protocols and metrics that would standardize this process.

Climate is the main driver of clonal and bud bank traits in Italian forest understories

The study of plant trait-environment links is rarely focused on traits that inform on space occupancy and resprouting (both affecting plant persistence), especially in forest understories. Traits that can effectively capture such key functions are associated with clonality and bud banks. We hypothesized that: 1) climate is the main driver of clonal and bud bank traits, 2) traits related to space occupancy (e.g., greater lateral spread) are more important in more mesic, richer soils forests, and 3) traits related to resprouting ability (e.g., larger bud bank) are more important in more intensively and recently managed forests. We addressed these hypotheses by analysing a unique dataset that is statistically representative of Italian forests heterogeneity and includes three biogeographic regions (Alpine, Continental, Mediterranean). We recorded data for sixteen climatic, soil and management variables. We calculated community weighted mean (CWM) values of seven clonal and bud bank traits for the forest understory vegetation. We used i) redundancy analysis to assess trait-environment relations, and ii) variance partitioning analyses to identifying the relative role of different groups of abiotic variables on CWM variation of all traits combined together, as well as clonal and bud bank traits taken separately. Climate alone had a pervasive effect in determining patterns of clonal and bud bank traits in Italian forest understories, mainly related to the effects of temperature extremes and seasonality. Unexpectedly, soil and management factors alone showed marginal effects on clonal and bud bank traits. However, soil features influenced trait patterns when joined with climate. Our results confirmed that, at the biogeographic scale, climate played a lion-share role in determining persistence-related traits of forest-floor plants. At the local-scale, other interplaying factors (e.g., management, soil variables) may come into play in shaping patterns of the studied plant traits. This study stressed the importance of examining functional trait patterns along complex environmental gradients.

Enhanced luminescence efficiency of structurally tailored new coumarin-based heterocyclic organic materials: a DFT/TD-DFT study

Recently reported coumarin-biphenyl derivatives by Zhang et al. for luminescent materials have paved the road to tune new structurally tailored coumarin-heterocyclic π-linker-based derivatives (COB) with enhanced luminescence efficiency. Herein, a series of heterocyclic π-linkers (bi-furan, bi-thiophene and bi-pyrrole) have been used to design nine new Donor–π-linker–Donor molecules, and their luminescence efficiency has been evaluated using density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory calculations and compared with their biphenyl derivatives. Frontier molecular orbital analysis has been carried out to gain insights into the role of different groups towards the HOMO and LUMO of the molecule. The calculated excited-state properties such as absorption and emission spectra have proved their pronounced luminescence efficiency. The lowest singlet–triplet energy gap (ΔEST) confirms their thermally activated delayed fluorescence property. All the newly designed COB compounds have been studied for their charge injection/transport properties such as ionization potential, electron affinity, reorganization energy, hole/electron mobility and their light harvesting efficiency. Overall, the study highlights a fine correlation between the computed luminescence properties and HOMO–LUMO energy gap, which portrays the prominent role of hetero cyclic π-linkers on the photophysical properties of COB derivatives.

DFT-TDDFT framework of diphenylamine based mixed valence compounds for optoelectronic applications – Structural modification of π-acceptors

Recently reported diphenylamine (DPA) in conjugation with biphenyl based D-π acceptor-D type mixed valence compounds (MV) have paved the way to design and development of new set of mixed valence compounds. In the present work, heteroaromatic π-acceptors (bi-furan, bi-thiophene and bi-pyrrole) have been used to design eight new molecules and their optoelectronic properties have been evaluated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations and compared with their biphenyl derivatives. Frontier molecular orbital analysis has been carried out to gain insights into role of different groups towards the HOMO and LUMO of the molecule. Optoelectronic properties such as absorption and emission spectra of DPA (neutral) molecules, mono- and di- cation spectra of all the DPA derivatives have been probed through time dependant density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations. All the newly studied MV compounds have a good electron delocalization, electron coupling constant and high redox potentials than their reported biphenyl derivatives. Furthermore, the study highlights a fine correlation between the computed optoelectronic properties and HOMO-LUMO energy gap, which portrays the role of hetero aromatic π-acceptors on the photo-physical properties of DPA derivatives.

An Exploration of the Impacts of Compulsory Source-Separated Policy in Improving Household Solid Waste-Sorting in Pilot Megacities, China: A Case Study of Nanjing

Source-separated policy is very important for household solid waste (HSW) management in global megacities. The low proportion of source-separated collection has led to a low comprehensive utilization rate of municipal solid waste (MSW) in China. In March 2017, the Chinese government required major cities to fully implement compulsory source-separated systems by 2020. To determine policy impacts and efficiency in improving HSW sorting, the government launched a mandatory MSW source-separated program in Nanjing in November 2016. A household survey was implemented in three types of 11 communities over a period of 10 weeks. The results showed that approximately 52% of the respondents supported the mandatory policy and that household size was the most important sociodemographic factor influencing the support of the source separation policy. Income, gender, age, and knowledge play significant roles in different groups of respondents. This mandatory policy effectively improved the source-separated rate of HSW by 49.7%. Source-separated facilities investment, publicity investment, and special supervision coverage in these communities had significant positive effects on source-separated HSW. Every 1 million CNY investment in source-separated facilities and publicity will increase the source-separated rate of HSW by 1.1%. A 1.0% increase of special supervision coverage in communities can increase the source-separated rate by 3.6%. The findings from this study may help improve source-separated management of HSW for other cities in the future.

Effects of detritivorous invertebrates on the decomposition of rice straw: evidence from a microcosm experiment

Decomposition of crop residues is a key process in agricultural systems that influences nutrient cycling and productivity. To clarify the roles of different groups of invertebrates in decomposition in paddy fields, we conducted a microcosm experiment, testing the effects of soil eluate filtered through a 21 μm mesh (control treatment) against the effects of microfauna (< 0.1 mm) and small gastropods (juvenile golden apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata), ca. 2 mm shell diameter), both separately and in combination, on rice straw decomposition. Rice straw in litterbags was incubated at the soil surface and in the soil together with standardized amounts of the respective detritivores for 10 and 21 days. Compared to the control treatment, snails and microfauna enhanced the reduction in straw mass on the soil surface by 19 and 22%, respectively. Both groups combined increased the reduction in straw biomass by 30%. Below the soil surface, the contribution of detritivores to decomposition was smaller, reducing straw biomass by just 1% (snails), 11% (microfauna) and 14% (snails + microfauna) compared to the control. The effects of microfauna and snails on decomposition were not fully additive, a pattern that could be due to competition or trophic interactions. Model selection using Akaike’s information criterion on nested linear mixed effects models led to a model including the main effects (snails, microfauna, position and time), several two-way interactions and the three-way interaction snails * microfauna * litterbag_position as the most parsimonious description of the data. Keeping straw accessible to aquatic invertebrate detritivores should be a suitable management strategy to enhance decomposition in paddy fields, although trade-offs with other management issues such as pest control need to be considered.

Абсорбция кислорода донными осадками прибрежных районов Севастополя (Чёрное море) в процессе утилизации органического вещества

Формирование кислородного режима водоёмов тесно связано с интенсивностью биологических процессов в донных отложениях. Целью нашей работы являлось определение, в том числе с использованием оригинальных методических подходов, роли различных групп бактерий в утилизации кислорода при окислении органических веществ в донных отложениях прибрежных вод Севастополя. Суммарное потребление кислорода (СПК) бактериальным сообществом рассматривается как совокупность процессов аэробного потребления кислорода (АПК) и кислородной нейтрализации восстановленных продуктов анаэробио-за (КНВС). В поверхностном 0.01-см слое связывалось в среднем порядка 40 % кислорода. Значения АПК изменялись в направлении от устья к кутовой части Севастопольской бухты, снижаясь с 2.69 до 1.82 мкгО2·см-2·ч-1. Сопоставимые величины его потока через единицу поверхности различных по механическому составу донных осадков являются следствием соотношения разной глубины проникновения в их толщу кислорода и плотности бактериального населения. Возможные темпы утилизации органического углерода в поверхностном слое грунтов колебались в пределах 1.57–2.76, а в палеоруслах рек Чёрная и Бельбек они достигали соответственно 1.13 и 0.34 мкгС·г-1·ч-1. Скорость продуцирования восстановленных соединений в пересчёте на сероводород колебалась от 0.10 до 0.65 мкг·г-1·ч-1. В условиях реальных температур доля активной анаэробной микрофлоры составляла 7.5–87.5 % от возможного при этом максимума, а оксифильной – 0.2–31.0 %. Таким образом, при избытке кислорода соотношение его потребления аэробной и, через окисление продуктов метаболизма, анаэробной микрофлорой определяет их потенциальный вклад в процессы редукции органики. Однако реализация этой возможности лимитирована реальным содержанием кислорода и температурным фактором.

Tetrapeptide Endomorphin Analogs Require Both Full Length and Truncated Splice Variants of the Mu Opioid Receptor Gene Oprm1 for Analgesia

The mu opioid receptor gene undergoes extensive alternative splicing. Mu opioids can be divided into three classes based on the role of different groups of splice variants. Morphine and methadone require only full length seven transmembrane (7TM) variants for analgesia, whereas IBNtxA (3'-iodobenzyol-6β-naltrexamide) needs only truncated 6TM variants. A set of endomorphin analogs fall into a third group that requires both 6TM and 7TM splice variants. Unlike morphine, endomorphin 1 and 2, DAPP (Dmt,d-Ala-Phe-Phe-NH2), and IDAPP (3'-iodo-Dmt-d-Ala-Phe-Phe-NH2) analgesia was lost in an exon 11 knockout mouse lacking 6TM variants. Restoring 6TM variant expression in a knockout mouse lacking both 6TM and 7TM variants failed to rescue DAPP or IDAPP analgesia. However, re-establishing 6TM expression in an exon 11 knockout mouse that still expressed 7TM variants did rescue the response, consistent with the need for both 6TM and 7TM variants. In receptor binding assays, 125I-IDAPP labeled more sites (Bmax) than 3H-DAMGO ([d-Ala2,N-MePhe4,Gly(ol)5]-enkephalin) in wild-type mice. In exon 11 knockout mice, 125I-IDAPP binding was lowered to levels similar to 3H-DAMGO, which remained relatively unchanged compared to wild-type mice. 125I-IDAPP binding was totally lost in an exon 1/exon 11 knockout model lacking all Oprm1 variant expression, confirming that the drug was not cross labeling non-mu opioid receptors. These findings suggested that 125I-IDAPP labeled two populations of mu binding sites in wild-type mice, one corresponding to 7TM variants and the second dependent upon 6TM variants. Together, these data indicate that endomorphin analogs represent a unique, genetically defined, and distinct class of mu opioid analgesic.

Women’s Sport as a Symbol of Modernity: A Case Study in Turkey

Turkey has a distinctive position with regard to its geography and history among Muslim countries. Particular features are its secular system and far reaching modernization processes particularly with respect to the ‘emancipation’ of women. The aim of this paper is to describe and analyze sport and body politics as part of the modernization processes in Turkey and to explore in particular the multiple roles of different groups of women in the reforms initiated by the Turkish Governments. A focus will be on the intersecting influences of gender and social class. The famous archaeologist Halet Çambel will be used as an example of the ‘modern’ woman who embodied reformist ideologies. Çambel was the daughter of an elite family; she was born in Berlin where her father was an attaché at the Turkey embassy. She studied in France and participated in the Olympic Games in 1936. She and another Turkish fencer were the first women from a Muslim country to participate in the Olympic Games. Later she became the most famous archaeologist in Turkey and she stayed physically active all her life. In particular, horse riding became a favourite activity as she travelled to archaeological sites on horseback.

Diurnal versus nocturnal pollination success in Billbergia horrida Regel (Bromeliaceae) and the first record of chiropterophily for the genus.

Billbergia horrida is endemic of the Atlantic Forest fragments in southeastern Brazil and characterized by flowers with typical traits for pollination by nocturnal animals. Although the majority of Billbergia species rely on diurnal pollination by hummingbirds, B. horrida is also visited by bats and this study evidences for the first time the occurrence of chiropterophily within the genus. The role of different groups of pollinators on the reproductive success of B. horrida was evaluated, as well as the correlation of nectar features in sustaining these animals during different periods of the day. Bats contributed to 82.1% of fruit set of B. horrida. Hummingbirds, in turn, contributed to only 10% of fruit set, and were poorly related to the reproductive success of this species. Amounts of nectar production and sugar concentration were similar to those of other chiropterophilous bromeliads and only the nectar volume changed significantly throughout the period of flower availability. Recurring visits by hummingbirds were probably because the flowers of B. horrida were open for 24h, offering energetic rewards for daytime visitors and due to the presence of other attractive bromeliad species growing at the same phorophyte and flowering at the same time.

Towards a More Empirical Debate on Middle Classes in the Global South

__Abstract__ The discussions at and around the EADI General Conference have been very useful in starting to unpack the possible roles of middle classes in development studies. Alejandro Guarin and I wrote the background note for the General Conference, and this contribution aims to reflect on the General Conference and the other contributions to this special debate section, and suggest a way forward.1 My main point is that we can only make progress on this important issue through a more empirical research agenda in which the ascribed roles of different groups are actually examined in some detail. The other point is that we need to be more careful with generalisations, in that all of us can find examples of a particular attitude or role played by specific groups in society that one might call ‘middle class’, but this does not mean that the middle classes operate exclusively or mainly in that way.