The Impact of Monetary Union and the Euro on European Capital Markets: What May Be Achieved in Capital Market Integration

Up to now, the Euro has been successful in replacing the traditional European currencies and in altering the landscape of European Capital Markets. Domestic users of the Euro are almost the same in number as the population of the United STates, although the Gross Domestic Products of the two economies are clearly not comparable. Still, if the Member States within the Euro-area truly want to be recognized as an integrated capital market, some work must be done. This Article will estimate, from current economic thought, what remains to be done and what can be achieved in the short term. Some historical analysis will help in identifying the players and the main trends at work. Moreover, some of the international issues that have been raised by the new role of the European Monetary Union (“EMU”) will be presented

Cold-active molecules for a sustainable preservation and restoration of historic-artistic manufacts

In the last decades biotechnology research provides sustainable alternatives to traditional procedures for preventive preservation of cultural assets. Recently, bioactive molecules (BMs) isolated from marine invertebrate organisms have been isolated and tested for bioremoval of protein layers (BMP) or to controlling microbial colonization (BMA), acting at temperature lower than 30°C. The Protease or Antimicrobial activity was tested on ad hoc assembled specimens and on different historic-artistic manufacts. In bio-removing protocol BMP molecules were applied as gelled solutions, in order to guarantees a selective action, respectful of constitutive materials and manufact integrity. Peculiarity of Protease bioactive molecules is the temperature of action, lower than 30°C. Instead, BMAs molecules have been tested to control bacteria and fungi colonization in laboratory specimens. In our hypothesis these novel molecules provide an important contribution to the development of innovative protocols safe both for the environment and conservator health, representing a valid alternative to traditional methods according to the preventive conservation and "Minimal Intervention" concept in restoration procedures

Fungi and Bacteria in Indoor Cultural Heritage Environments: Microbial-related Risks for Artworks and Human Health

Abstract Cultural heritage constitutive materials can provide excellent substrates for microbial colonization, highly influenced by thermo-hygrometric parameters. In cultural heritage-related environments, a detrimental microbial load may be present both on manufacts surface and in the aerosol. In this study, bacterial and fungal colonisation has been investigated in three Sicilian confined environments (archive, cave and hypogea), each with peculiar structures and different thermo-hygrometric parameters. Particular attention has been paid to microorganisms able to induce artifacts biodeterioration and to release biological particles in the aerosol (spores, cellular debrides, toxins and allergens) potentially dangerous for the human health (visitors/users). Results provided information on the composition of the biological consortia, highlighting also the symbiotic relationships between micro (cyanobacteria, bacteria and fungi) and macro-organisms (plants, bryophyte and insects). The results of this integrated approach, including molecular biology techniques, are essential for a complete understanding of both microbial colonization of the cultural objects and the potential relationship with illness to human

Blue Biotechnology and Cultural Heritage: case studies

In order to promote innovative methodologies for conservation and restoration of historic-artistic manufacts, the efforts are focalized on the development of “sustainable” applications as alternatives to traditional restoration procedures, which can sometimes be detrimental for the artworks, humans and environment [1]. The role of Biotechnology in this field showed very useful applications for diagnosis of bio-deterioration of cultural assets, by an integrated methodology based on molecular and microbiological skills, and in bio-cleaning / bio-removing of organic/inorganic layers from artwork surfaces by enzymes or viable bacteria cells [2, 3]. In this work, bioactive molecules isolated from marine organisms were utilized for enzymatic removal of aged/degraded layers (waxes, re-paintings, glued paper, protective layers, consolidating products) both from laboratory specimens or artworks surfaces (paintings, mosaics, wax statues). Particularly, biocleaning protocols were carried out using bioactive molecules with Protease and Esterase activity. The enzymes were utilized in water solutions gelled by Klucel-G or Carboxymethyl-cellulose gelling–agents, guaranteeing a controlled and selective action. These novel enzymes showed important advantages: they are active at temperature lower than 30°C, they need a reduced time of application (10-20 minutes), are safety for both operators and environment [4]. In our hypothesis, these molecules provide an important contribution to the development of sustainable innovative protocols

Innovative and integrated strategies: Case studies

In this chapter, case studies related to biodeterioration, bioaerosol, biocide and biocleaning are reported. The aim is highlighting the role of biology and biotechnology tools for the preventive conservation of organic and inorganic artifacts, understanding how traditional as well as innovative methods can help the conservationists to develop integrated strategies considering works of art/environment/ humans as a dynamic system. Particularly, based on the experience acquired during the researches of Laboratory of Biology and Biotechnology for Cultural Heritage (LaBBCH), the authors suggest several approaches to reveal and identify biological systems able to induce biodeterioration of cultural assets, also focusing on bioaerosols in indoor environment to assess the risk for historical-artistic collections. Finally, novel bioactive molecules have been applied to perform biocleaning protocols or to control of microbial colonisation, in accordance to conservative restoration procedures and safety for both the environment and operators

From Cnidarian immunobiology to cultural heritage applications

The study of cnidarians immunity, as model systems of metazoans, lead additional informations on the first steps of the immunity evolution. The functions of the genes and cellular pathways in higher vertebrates are conserved during the evolution of metazoans, as shown by the discovery of homologues in cnidarians. These basal metazoans in fact, are far from "simples" in the range of methods at their disposal to deal with potential prey but also invading microbes and pathogens. They can give informations about the invertebrates innate immune repertoire. We investigated the immunobiology starting from the inflammatory response in Anemonia sulcata (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) following injection of substances different in type and dimension, to understand the effector mechanisms involved in this process. We observed clear, strong and specific reactions especially after injection of bacteria and the alteration of the expression of enzymes (protease, phosphatase and esterase), showing a correlation between the appearance of the inflammatory reaction and the modification of enzymatic activities. From cnidarian phylum a large number of toxic compounds have been isolated. Tissues and mucus produced by cnidarians may have a role in immune defense and contain a variety of toxins as neurotoxins, cytolysins and antimicrobial peptides, which can have multifunctional role. The bioactive molecules were purified by acid extraction and HPLC purifications and characterized through biological assays, mass spectroscopy and peptide synthesis. Here, we show the cnidarian bioactive molecules as antimicrobial peptides and enzymes in order to draw applications in fields ranging from pharmacology to cultural heritage. Particularly, in the control of the microbic growth and especially in the tuning of biocleaning protocols, bioactive molecules with proteasic and esterasic activity have been used. These novel enzymes are active at temperature lower than 30°C, they need a reduced time of application and are safety for both operators and environment. Thus they could provide an important contribution to the development of sustainable innovative protocols