The Caribbean Diaspora: Some introductory remarks

The Caribbean remains an important point of reference in contemporary debates about diaspora, postcolonialism, and much else. In this introductory essay to this Special Issue we argue that the Caribbean is more than any other part of the contemporary world – both at its core and in its outward dimensions – a precursor of several themes in the energetic pursuit of modernity: capitalism/industrialism, de-tribalization/individualization, plural identities, transnationality, the disruption and transformation of cultural and political domains and boundaries. We situate key aspects of the changing meanings of diaspora in the Caribbean context and we explore the main themes that formed the core concerns of contemporary debates about this phenomenon as well as some issues that need further exploration in future research.     

Online mediations in transnational spaces: cosmopolitan (re)formations of belonging and identity in the Turkish diaspora

Abstract

The lives of transnational groups and individuals are marked by a spatial and imaginary split: a phenomenon wherein identity, belonging and representation have become increasingly elusive concepts, and the realm of the ‘cultural’ vastly important. And, the theoretical compasses of cosmopolitanism and transnationalism are particularly relevant and illuminating in considering social space, mediated communication and belonging in relation to urban diasporic communities and gendered subjectivities. The aim of this paper is to address expressions of identity and belonging at the intersection of online communicative practice and offline spatial formations, with a focus on the specificities of gendered constructions of sociality and subjectivity in the diaspora.     

Identities in-between: the impact of satellite broadcasting on Greek Orthodox minority (Rum Polites) women's perception of their identities in Turkey

Abstract

This study aims to shed a light on women belonging to the Greek Orthodox Christian (Rum Polites) community in Istanbul, Turkey and their perception of their identity with the help of satellite broadcasting (ERT World). This research is the first attempt to analyse Rum women's viewing attitudes and their correlations with a number of variables such as education, age, family structure, religion, occupation, and their perceptions of themselves as part of a distinctive religious and cultural entity. Since the female members of the community are heavy television viewers, television is a powerful tool to construct a social reality and a sense of self. By conducting in-depth interviews and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), this study aims to reveal how this unique community makes sense of their identities and social worlds through television.     

‘No caps,no coconuts,no all-male groups’ … the regulation of Asians in London clubs

Abstract

Until now, British Asian popular music culture and leisure spaces have attracted little sociological investigation. This article redresses the lack of attention paid to this area by focusing on an ethnographic study of the ‘desi’ South Asian club scene in London. It explores the relationship between contemporary discourses of Asianness as they are constructed within an East London desi club space and made to matter through embodied social practices. Asian bodies are disciplined in the making of normative ethnic, gendered and sexual subjectivities, which demonstrates how discourses of difference create complex subjectivities and practices that theories of diaspora and cultural studies have not fully explored. It offers a rethinking of diasporic identities as lived and embodied experiences that are ambivalently constructed and performative projects, neither entirely resistant to white, dominant discourses nor wholly complicit with its existing norms.     

Re-imagining the Diaspora: History, Responsibility, and Commitment in an Age of Globalization

The past two decades have witnessed the intensification of globalization and the unprecedented exodus of Africans to developed countries. The two trends have profound implications for the North and South and also for Africans and their relationship to their homeland. This paper examines the relationship and explores the challenges of engaging, interrogating and re-imaging the notion of Diaspora. This paper is dedicated to the memory of Professor Michael C. Mbabuike, “Ugonabo” – an accomplished poet, a distinguished scholar, a most valued colleague, a brother in the truest sense of the word, a decent man – with whom I shared an immense love for our homeland, Igboland.     

Diffuse, short and slow migration among Blue Tits

The knowledge of migration systems in long-distance regular migrants is in many cases extensive. Our understanding of the migratory characteristics of partial migrants, on the other hand, is far more rudimentary. We investigated migratory characteristics of partially migratory Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus using ringing recoveries of Swedish birds, to answer questions about geographic migration patterns, age-specific migrations, migration speeds and synchrony of movements. Median migration distance of Swedish Blue Tits was 82 km, with a main autumn direction in the sector between S and W (large directional scatter). Northerly and southerly populations did not differ in migration directions or distances, suggesting chain migration to be the general pattern. A larger proportion of adult Blue Tits remained near the breeding grounds during winter than was the case for juveniles. Some of the migrating birds (17%) seemed not to return in spring but stayed to breed closer to the winter area. Swedish Blue Tits show an exceptionally slow migration speed (median 13 km/day), among the slowest speeds recorded for any migrant bird. The Blue Tit represents an extreme case of diffuse, short and slow bird migration.     

Migration,clogging, and carbon source release of nano emulsified vegetable oil in porous media,evaluated by column experiments

To effectively solve the problem of aquifer clogging in the process of in situ bioremediation of groundwater pollution by micron emulsified vegetable oil (Micron EVO), Nano emulsified vegetable oil (Nano EVO) was prepared to replace conventional micron EVO, and three one-dimensional laboratory columns packed with medium or fine sands were conducted to simulate migration, clogging, and carbon source release of EVO in porous media. Column experiment results show that micron and nano EVO resulted in a 20.40% and 3.20% reduction in permeability of medium sand, respectively. Correspondingly, the interception of micron and nano EVO in medium sand were 28.51% and 20.15%, respectively. Obviously, EVO interception is an important reason for permeability loss, and reducing EVO droplet size can effectively alleviate permeability loss in porous media. The COD ratios (dissolved COD/total COD) of micron and nano EVO in medium sand were 87.61% and 61.95%, respectively. The release effect of nano EVO was better than that of micron EVO. Effective longevity of micron and nano EVO were 243.17 d and 98.80 d, respectively. The effect of fine sand media on EVO indicated nano EVO can be used in a finer granular media, and its longevity can also be extended in this media.     

Livestock production,age, and gender among the Keiyo of Kenya

This article is based on a study of time allocation and decision making patterns among the Keiyo in three ecological zones of Elgeyo-Marakvet District, Kenya. It finds that age and gender are important factors to consider when examining livestock production among African smallholder farmers. This is especially true where males are absent from home for wage labor. In these situations women, young males between the ages of 6–15, and persons of both sexes aged 65 and over spend considerable amounts of time engaged in livestock-related activities. These women are also more actively involved in decision making concerning the marketing of milk. The results indicate that there is a definite need to consider the contributions of these other persons when efforts are being made to improve elements of the livestock sector.     

Intersectionality and mediated cultural production in a globalized post-colonial world

Abstract

This paper aims to demonstrate how intersectionality provides an important conceptual tool to analyse practices of cultural production in ethnic minority media. In the context of the digital age, media are increasingly central as systems of representation of identity, culture and community. However, research examining how ethnic minority media become engaged in struggles of power is rare. Few works have paid attention to the ways in which race and gender operate in tandem to produce and maintain the unequal distribution of power in the mediascape of countries of post-colonial immigration. This paper juxtaposes gender studies and ethnic studies in order to analyse the representation of gender in ethnic media, with a particular focus on journalistic practices.     

Nuclear migration, nucleokinesis and lissencephaly

During the past 20 years, biologists have become used to finding that proteins first identified in simple, genetically manipulable eukaryotic organisms are conserved in higher eukaryotes. This article draws attention to the similarity between NUDF protein, which is required for nuclear migration in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, and a mammalian homologue, LIS1, whose malfunction causes lissencephaly, a neuronal migration disease. The authors suggest that there might be an underlying similarity of mechanism between nuclear migration in the fungus and neuronal migration in the brain.     

Gender Identity and Autism Spectrum Disorders

In this review, we briefly summarize much of the existing literature on gender-related concerns and autism spectrum disorders (ASD), drawing attention to critical shortcomings in our current understanding and potential clinical implications. Some authors have concluded that gender identity disorder (GID), or gender dysphoria (GD), is more common in individuals with ASD, providing a range of potential explanations. However, existing literature is quantitatively limited, and our capacity to draw conclusions is further complicated by conceptual challenges regarding how gender identity is best understood. Discourses that emphasize gender as a component of identity formation are gaining prominence and seem particularly salient when applied to ASD. Individuals with ASD should enjoy equal rights with regard to treatment for gender dysphoria. Clinicians may be able to assist individuals in understanding this aspect of their identity by broadening the social frame and facilitating an exploration of gender roles.     

Gender assignment and gender agreement: Evidence from pronominal gender languages

In research on grammatical gender, assignment and agreement are the two central notions. Genders are defined as systems of agreement classes, and the assignment of nouns to genders is reflected in the agreement they consistently trigger on associated elements. Yet, gender assignment and gender agreement are often discussed quite separately. This paper investigates the possibility that gender agreement is not only an overt manifestation of gender assignment, but that properties of agreement systems can themselves constrain the assignment systems they express. The paper discusses typological and diachronic evidence for the fact that not every type of assignment system can be expressed in every type of agreement system.     

Neutrophil integrin affinity regulation in adhesion,migration, and bacterial clearance

During an infection, neutrophils are the first immune cells to arrive armed to clear the invading pathogen. In order to do so, neutrophils need to transmigrate from the peripheral blood through the endothelial layer toward the site of inflammation. This process is in most cases dependent on integrins, adhesion molecules present on all immune cells. These molecules are functionally regulated by “inside-out” signaling, where stimulus-induced signaling pathways act on the intracellular integrin tail to regulate the activity of the receptor on the outside. Both a change in conformation (affinity) and clustering (avidity/valency) of the receptors occurs and many factors have been linked to regulation of integrins on neutrophils. Control of integrin conformation and clustering is of pivotal importance for proper cell adhesion, migration, and bacterial clearance. Recently, gelsolin was found to be involved in β₁-integrin affinity regulation and cell adhesion. Here, I summarize the role of neutrophil integrin regulation in the essential steps to reach the site of inflammation and clearance of bacterial pathogens.     

The Antillese in France: Trends and prospects

The cultural drives in the Antillese population in continental France have switched, in step with migration dynamics, in direction and target: they focus less than in the past on the future of the ‘native lands’ and more on improved integration in the host country. But in such a situation, facing racism, Antillese peoples in France are paradoxically reduced to emphasizing their collective identity, notably through associations, to obtain recognition from the host society’s institutions and achieve social advancement within that society. A recognition of the diversity and complexity of the cultural dynamics in question should lead to break with any essentialist thinking and, then, to reappraise many of the ideas that are at the heart of the discussions inspired by those dynamics, notably the idea of diaspora.     

From Casta to Californio: Social Identity and the Archaeology of Culture Contact

In culture contact archaeology, studies of social identities generally focus on the colonized–colonizer dichotomy as the fundamental axis of identification. This emphasis can, however, mask social diversity within colonial or indigenous populations, and it also fails to account for the ways that the division between colonizer and colonized is constructed through the practices of colonization. Through the archaeology of material culture, foodways, and architecture, I examine changing ethnic, racial, and gendered identities among colonists at El Presidio de San Francisco, a Spanish-colonial military settlement. Archaeological data suggest that military settlers were engaged in a double material strategy to consolidate a shared colonial identity, one that minimized differences among colonists and simultaneously heightened distinctions between colonists and local indigenous peoples.     

Songbird migration across the Sahara: the non-stop hypothesis rejected!

Billions of songbirds breeding in the Western Palaearctic cross the largest desert of the world, the Sahara, twice a year. While crossing Europe, the vast majority use an intermittent flight strategy, i.e. fly at night and rest or feed during the day. However, it was long assumed that they overcome the Sahara in a 40 h non-stop flight. In this study, we observed bird migration with radar in the plain sand desert of the Western Sahara (Mauritania) during autumn and spring migration and revealed a clear prevalence of intermittent migration. Massive departures of songbirds just after sunset independent of site and season suggests strongly that songbirds spent the day in the plain desert. Thus, most songbirds cross the Sahara predominantely by the intermittent flight strategy. Autumn migration took place mainly at low altitudes with high temperatures, its density decreased abruptly before sunrise, followed by very little daytime migration. Migration was highly restricted to night-time and matched perfectly the intermittent flight strategy. However, in spring, when migratory flights occurred at much higher altitudes than in autumn, in cool air, about 17% of the songbird migration occurred during the day. This suggests that flying in high temperatures and turbulent air, as is the case in autumn, may lead to an increase in water and/or energy loss and may prevent songbirds from prolonged flights into the day.     

Insect migration: Variability and success in a capricious environment

Stochastic effects of climate and weather have a pervasive influence on the induction, performance and evolution of migration. In wing-dimorphic species, their influence on habitat quality, and on rates of development of the migrant itself, maintains variation in responses to environmental cues determining wing-form and migratory behaviour. Migrants flying above their flight boundary layer rely on winds to disperse them across landscapes in which their habitats are distributed. Patterns of distribution of habitat patches, and the influence of changing windspeeds and direction on the displacements of migrants, result in selection for variation in migratory potential at each migration. In subsequent migrations, this variation and stochastic effects of the winds on groundtracks of individual migrants ensure that their destinations ‘sample’ the landscapes they travel over. The extent and resolution of this sampling, by which migrants reach favourable habitats, depend on the components of migratory potential, their mode of inheritance, and genetic correlations between them, as well as on the characteristics of the winds on which they travel.