Mobility and Legal Migration in the Context of the European Neighbourbood Policy: What Role for the European Union?

The paper examines the evolution of the external dimension of EU immigration policy mainly in the context of European Neighbourhood policy (ENP). The EU is interested in countering irregular migration from Southern neighbours rather than in facilitating legal migration for third country nationals. The latter field falls within the competence of the EU Member States and they are reluctant to open legal migration channels. Only recently Mobility Partnerships (MPs) have been concluded with Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan. Most recently, the EU has decided to financially support countries of origin/transit in order to strengthen their capacity to tackle migration pressure; migration compacts will be negotiated not only with Southern neighbours but also with other African countries. In contrast to Southern neighbours, MPs were agreed with all Eastern neighbours, except Belarus; readmission agreements and visa-free agreements were concluded with three Eastern neighbour countries: Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. The EU has fostered mobility and people-to-people movements in its relations with Eastern neighbours but the added value of EU legislation designed to favour legal migration and integration of third country nationals remain limited. The conclusion is that the EU continues to be a «fortress», especially for low-skilled migrants seeking an employment

A framework for designing medical devices resilient to low-resource settings

Background: To date (April 2021), medical device (MD) design approaches have failed to consider the contexts where MDs can be operationalised. Although most of the global population lives and is treated in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMCIs), over 80% of the MD market share is in high-resource settings, which set de facto standards that cannot be taken for granted in lower resource settings. Using a MD designed for high-resource settings in LMICs may hinder its safe and efficient operationalisation. In the literature, many criteria for frameworks to support resilient MD design were presented. However, since the available criteria (as of 2021) are far from being consensual and comprehensive, the aim of this study is to raise awareness about such challenges and to scope experts’ consensus regarding the essentiality of MD design criteria. Results: This paper presents a novel application of Delphi study and Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to develop a framework comprising 26 essential criteria, which were evaluated and chosen by international experts coming from different parts of the world. This framework was validated by analysing some MDs presented in the WHO Compendium of innovative health technologies for low-resource settings. Conclusions: This novel holistic framework takes into account some domains that are usually underestimated by MDs designers. For this reason, it can be used by experts designing MDs resilient to low-resource settings and it can also assist policymakers and non-governmental organisations in shaping the future of global healthcare

The relationship between foot arch measurements and walking parameters in children

BACKGROUND: Walking mechanics are influenced by body morphology. Foot arch height is one aspect of body morphology central to walking. However, generalizations about the relationship between arch height and walking are limited due to previous methodologies used for measuring the arch and the populations that have been studied. To gain the knowledge needed to support healthy gait in children and adults, we need to understand this relationship in unimpaired, typically developing children and adults using dynamic measures. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between arch height and gait in a sample of healthy children and adults using dynamic measures. METHODS: Data were collected from 638 participants (n = 254 children and n = 384 adults) at the Museum of Science, Boston (MOS) and from 18 4- to 8-year-olds at the Motor Development and Motor Control Laboratories. Digital footprints were used to calculate two arch indices: the Chippaux-Smirak (CSI) and the Keimig Indices (KI). The height of the navicular bone was measured. Gait parameters were captured with a mechanized gait carpet at the MOS and three-dimensional motion analyses and in-ground force plates in the Motor Development and Motor Control Laboratories. RESULTS: Linear regression analyses on data from the MOS confirmed that as age increases, step length increases. With a linear mixed effect regression model, we found that individuals who took longer steps had higher arches as measured by the KI. However, this relationship was no longer significant when only adults were included in the model. A model restricted to children found that amongst this sample, those with higher CSI and higher KI values take longer relative step lengths. Data from the Motor Development and Motor Control Laboratories showed that both CSI and KI added to the prediction; children with lower anterior ground reaction forces had higher CSI and higher KI values. Arch height indices were correlated with navicular height. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that more than one measure of the arch may be needed elucidate the relationship between arch height and gait.K12 HD055931 - NICHD NIH HHS; K12HD055931 - NICHD NIH HH

Mobility and legal migration in the context of the European Neighbourhood Policy: what role for the European Union?

The paper examines the evolution of the external dimension of EU immigration policy mainly in the context of European Neighbourhood policy (ENP). The EU is interested in countering irregular migration from Southern neighbours rather than in facilitating legal migration for third country nationals. The latter field falls within the competence of the EU Member States and they are reluctant to open legal migration channels. Only recently Mobility Partnerships (MPs) have been concluded with Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan. Most recently, the EU has decided to financially support countries of origin/transit in order to strengthen their capacity to tackle migration pressure; migration compacts will be negotiated not only with Southern neighbours but also with other African countries. In contrast to Southern neighbours, MPs were agreed with all Eastern neighbours, except Belarus; readmission agreements and visa-free agreements were concluded with three Eastern neighbour countries: Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. The EU has fostered mobility and people-to-people movements in its relations with Eastern neighbours but the added value of EU legislation designed to favour legal migration and integration of third country nationals remain limited. The conclusion is that the EU continues to be a «fortress», especially for low-skilled migrants seeking an employment.El presente trabajo abarca la evolución de la dimensión exterior de la política de inmigración de la UE en el marco de la Política Europea de Vecindad (PEV). La UE está más interesada en luchar contra la migración irregular de los países vecinos del sur que en facilitar la migración legal de los nacionales de terceros países. Este último ámbito es competencia de los Estados miembros de la UE, que se muestran reacios a abrir canales de migración legal. Solo recientemente se han concluido acuerdos de movilidad con Marruecos, Túnez y Jordania, pero en la actualidad no hay acuerdos para facilitar visados entre la UE y los países del norte de África. Más recientemente, la UE ha decidido apoyar financieramente a los países de origen/tránsito con el fin de reforzar su capacidad para hacer frente a la presión migratoria. En este sentido, los pactos de migración se negociaron no solo con los Vecinos del Sur, sino también con otros países africanos. A diferencia de los vecinos del sur, se concluyeron acuerdos de movilidad con todos los vecinos orientales, a excepción de Bielorrusia; acuerdos de readmisión y acuerdos de acceso sin visados (visa-free) con tres países vecinos orientales: Ucrania, Georgia y Moldavia. La UE ha fomentado la movilidad en sus relaciones con los vecinos orientales, pero el valor añadido de la legislación de la UE en el marco de la migración legal y la integración de nacionales de terceros países sigue siendo limitado. La conclusión es que la UE sigue siendo una «fortaleza», especialmente para los inmigrantes poco cualificados que buscan un empleo

Extraction of Polyhydroxyalkanoates from Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria by Non-Chlorinated Solvents

In this study, non-chlorinated solvents such as cyclohexanone (CYC) and three ionic liquids, (ILs) (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dimethylphosphate, [EMIM][DMP], 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium diethylphosphate, [EMIM][DEP] and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methylphosphite, [EMIM][MP]) were tested to extract polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from the purple non-sulfur photosynthetic bacterium (PNSB) Rhodovulumsulfidophilum DSM-1374. The photosynthetic bacterium was cultured in a new generation photobioreactor with 4 L of working volume using a lactate-rich medium. The extracted PHAs were characterized using a thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance and gel permeation chromatography. The most promising results were obtained with CYC at 125 °C with an extraction time of above 10 min, obtaining extraction yields higher than 95% and a highly pure poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB-HV) with around 2.7 mol% of hydroxylvalerate (HV). A similar yield and purity were obtained with chloroform (CHL) at 10 °C for 24 h, which was used as the referent solvent Although the three investigated ILs at 60 °C for 4 and 24 h with biomass/IL up to 1/30 (w/w) obtained PHAs strongly contaminated by cellular membrane residues, they were not completely solubilized by the investigated ILs

Wood Residue-Derived Biochar as a Low-Cost, Lubricating Filler in Poly(butylene succinate-<i>co</i>-adipate) Biocomposites

This study focused on the development of a novel biocomposite material formed by a thermoplastic biodegradable polyester, poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA), and a carbonaceous filler as biochar (BC) derived by the pyrolysis of woody biomass waste. Composites with various BC contents (5, 10, 15, and 20 wt.%) were obtained by melt extrusion and investigated in terms of their processability, thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties. In all the composites, BC lowered melt viscosity, behaving as a lubricant, and enhancing composite extrudability and injection moulding at high temperatures up to 20 wt.% of biochar. While the use of biochar did not significantly change composite thermal stability, it increased its stiffness (Young modulus). Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) revealed the presence of a second crystal phase induced by the filler addition. Furthermore, results suggest that biochar may form a particle network that hinders polymer chain disentanglement, reducing polymer flexibility. A biochar content of 10 wt.% was selected as the best trade-off concentration to improve the composite processability and cost competitiveness without compromising excessively the tensile properties. The findings support the use of biochar as a sustainable renewable filler and pigment for PBSA. Biochar is a suitable candidate to replace more traditional carbon black pigments for the production of biodegradable and inexpensive innovative PBSA composites with potential fertilizing properties to be used in agricultural applications

COMPOSITI A BASE DI BIOPOLIESTERI E NANO-CHITINA NELL’IMBALLAGGIO RIGIDO E FLESSIBILE

Nell’industria di lavorazione ittica vengono prodotti grossi quantitativi di scarti. Nella lavorazione del gambero, ad esempio, per ogni chilogrammo vengono scartati 750 g di materiale1 L’esoscheletro di gamberi, scampi, aragoste, granchi e insetti è costituito principalmente da chitina, un polisaccaride, costituito da più unità di N-acetilglucosamina legate tra di loro. La disponibilità di chitina è estremamente ampia e, solo per quello che riguarda l’industria ittica, supera i 25 miliardi di tonnellate annue 2. Essa può essere recuperata dagli scarti effettuando una demineralizzazione ed una deproteinizzazione rispettivamente con trattamenti acidi e basici. Successivamente è possibile ricavare dalla chitina le fibrille di nano-chitina, che ne rappresentano la porzione cristallina3. Queste nano-fibre sono lunghe 300 nm e larghe 10 nm. La possibilità di impiegarle nel settore del packaging biodegradabile sia quali agenti di rinforzo che come agenti anti-microbici, presuppone di riuscire a preparare dei nano-compositi, in cui cioè le fibrille di nano-chitina siano efficacemente nano-disperse. Dal momento che le fibre essiccate tendono ad agglomerarsi durante l’estrusione del biopoliestere, si ottengono micro-compositi con scarse proprietà tensili ed antiurto. Nel presente lavoro sono stati preparati dei master-batch concentrati di nano-chitina e di plastificanti ammessi nel settore dell’ imballaggio. Tale strategia si è rivelata interessante per ottenere per semplice estrusione nano-compositi a base di poli(acido lattico) (PLA), plastificante e nano-chitina. Le proprietà sono inoltre risultate modulabili in un ampio intervallo che può ammettere sia l’impiego nel settore del packaging rigido che flessibil

Structure and properties of extruded composites based on bio-polyesters and nano-chitin

A renewable feedstock on a worldwide scale is chitin waste material from the seafood industry, exceeding 25 billion tons/year. Recently, it has become possible to produce pure chitin crystals, named “chitin nanofibrils” (CN) for their needle-like shape and nanostructured average size 1. The CN are thus available on an industrial scale in water suspension. Biodegradable polyesters, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) are widely investigated for their potential applications in many sectors. The preparation of CN composites can result in improved mechanical and antimicrobial properties. These composites were melt extruded to achieve a good level of dispersion by employing suitable plasticizers to pre-disperse NC. The complete removal of water from the plasticizer/NC pre-composite was essential to avoid chain scission2 in the successive extrusion step. The electron microscopy investigation of materials showed the absence of micrometric agglomerates thanks to the adopted preparation method. The effect of plasticization, crystallinity evolution and reinforcement were kept into account to rationalize the results of tensile and DSC tests. (1) P. Morganti, G. Morganti, A. Morganti, Nanotechnology, Science and Applications, 2011:4 123–129 (2) F. Signori, M. B. Coltelli, S. Bronco, Polymer Degradation and Stability 2009: 94 74–82 Aknowledgements: Authors acknowledge the financial support of EC Seventh Framework Programme, SME-2012-1, grant agreement n° 315233, n-Chitopack project