Immigration in Italy: An overview

The expansion and the rooting of non European immigrants which is taking place in the more advanced European countries, mirror a world context which is marked by imbalances both in terms of growth and welfare. A correct analysis of migration, of its structural characteristics and of the new dynamics of migration flows must consider the globalisation process as well as the effect that this is having with regard to the movement of people, in this context the pull and push factors mutually reinforce a phenomenon which can influence either in a positive or in a negative way the international relationships among countries. In the last quarter of the century, a steady increase of migrants have crossed Europe; this has generated a complex relationship made of integration and rejection, adaptation and conflicts, which has influenced all aspect of both economic and social life, producing new phenomenon, giving birth to new problems which require new approaches and solutions. Italy is part of such depiction since has witnessed in the last decades, a solid influx of immigrants which have increased with a high rate of growth. In fact in 2006 Italy with 2,938,922 legal immigrants, appears to be among the major destination of migrants in Europe, following Germany, Spain and France with 7,287,980, 3,371,394 and 3,263,186 immigrants respectively and just before Great Britain with 2,857,000 immigrants. Using the available statistical data, disaggregated at national, regional and provincial level, it will be possible to have an overall picture of the phenomenon described above and to compare the Italian case with the events in the other European countries. In this way we can have a better understanding of the process underlying migration in order to identify future scenariosInternational Migration, Europe, Italy

Environmental migration in the Mediterranean area: the case of the MENA countries

The study offer a contribution to the analysis of the problems linked to the environmental migration focusing on a specific Mediterranean area, that of the Middle East and Northern Africa. After a brief analysis of the socio-economic and environmental context, used to describe the vulnerability features of the area, the studies will assess the regional migration system particularly the so called "forced migrants". Due to the lack of an accepted common international definition of environmental refugees, following the most recent literature in this study we have used the definition of forded migration to assess the environmental migration. This in fact, among the causes of migration considers not only the "physical environment" but a plethora of socio economic factors which interact among themselves and force people to migrate. In this definitions we include: Internal Displaced Persons, forced to move for the modification of the habitat where they live caused by natural or human disasters but also Migrants and IDPs forced to move due to the implementation of developmental project such as the construction of mega infrastructure such as dams, or the mining and deforestation activities, as well as the the migrants who sick asylum due to conflicts, civil wars or internal persecutionMigration, Environment, DEvelopment

Structure and Function of novel Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZymes) and Carbohydrate-Binding Modules (CBMs) involved in Plant Cell Wall degradation

Tese de doutoramento em Ciências Veterinárias. Especialidade de Ciências Biológicas e BiomédicasABSTRACT - Plant cell wall polysaccharides offer an abundant energy source efficiently utilized by a large repertoire of micro-organisms, which thus play a central role in carbon re-cycling. Aerobic micro-organisms secrete Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZymes) as free-standing proteins, whereas anaerobic bacteria organize a diverse enzyme consortium in a multi-component complex, the cellulosome, which performs a more efficient deconstruction of this composite structure. CAZymes are modular enzymes containing, in addition to catalytic domains, non-catalytic Carbohydrate-Binding Modules (CBMs). CBMs direct the appended enzymes to their target substrates thus potentiating catalysis. Here we show that the CBMs of Eubacterium cellulosolvens endoglucanase 5A (EcCel5A), designated as CBM65A and CBM65B, display a significant preference for xyloglucan. The crystal structure of CBM65B in complex with a xyloglucan-derived oligosaccharide, in combination with mutagenesis studies on CBM65A, revealed the mechanism by which these proteins display a preference for xyloglucan by establishing hydrophobic interactions with xyloglucan xylose side chains (Chapter 2). The genome of the ruminal cellulolytic bacterium Ruminococcus flavefaciens strain FD-1 encodes a large number of putative novel cellulosomal proteins. Here, genes encoding cellulosomal modules of unknown function were cloned and their corresponding proteins expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli. Complementary techniques combining affinity gel electrophoresis, a microarray platform and isothermal titration calorimetry were used to identify novel CBMs in cellulosomal-modules of unknown function. This strategy allowed the identification of 8 novel CBM families. The structures of representative members of two of these families (CBM-A and CBM-B1) have been solved and detailed functional characterization of these CBMs was performed. CBM-A and CBM-B1 comprise β-sandwich folds. CBM-A binds decorated β-1,4-glucans at a shallow binding cleft and displays preference for xyloglucan. In contrast, CBM-B1 displays a flat surface complementary to an open cleft that allows binding to a range of β-glucans including insoluble cellulose recognition (Chapter 3). Finally, the structure of CBM46 derived from BhCel5B, a Bacillus halodurans endoglucanase, was solved. BhCel5B is a multi-modular enzyme composed of a GH5_4 N-terminal catalytic domain, followed by an internal immunoglobulin-like module (Ig) and a C-terminal CBM46. BhCBM46 does not bind soluble or insoluble polysaccharides. However, the crystal structure of BhCel5B revealed that CBM46 is integral to the GH5_4 enzyme catalytic cleft and thus plays an important role in substrate recognition (Chapter 4).RESUMO - Estrutura e Função de novas glucosil hidrolases (CAZymes) e de Módulos de Ligação a Hidratos de Carbono (CMBs) envolvidos na degradação da Parede Celular Vegetal - Os polissacarídeos da parede celular vegetal são uma fonte de energia abundante, eficientemente utilizada por um vasto número de microrganismos, os quais desempenham um papel central na recilagem do carbono. As enzimas secretadas pelos microrganismos aeróbicos, que promovem a hidrólise de hidratos de Carbono (CAZymes), funcionam de froma individualizada, ao passo que as bactérias anaeróbicas organizam essas enzimas num complexo multi-enzimático designado por Celulossoma, o qual efetua uma degradação mais eficiente da parede celular vegetal. As CAZymes são enzimas modulares que contêm, além de domínios catalíticos, módulos de ligação a hidratos de Carbono (CBMs) com função não catalítica. Os CBMs direcionam as enzimas a eles ligadas para os substratos-alvo, potenciando assim a catálise. Neste trabalho mostra-se que os CBMs associado à endoglucanase 5A (EcCel5A) da Eubacterium cellulosolvens designados por CBM65A e CBM65B, possuem uma significativa preferência por xiloglucano. A estrutura tridimensional do CBM65B, em complexo com um derivado oligossacárido do xiloglucano e os estudos de mutagenese realizados no CBM65A, revelaram que o mecanismo de preferência destas proteínas pelo xiloglucano se deve ao estabelecimento de interações hidrofóbicas com as cadeias laterais (xilose) deste substrato (capítulo 2). O genoma da bactéria celulolítica do rúmen Ruminococcus flavifaciens, estirpe FD1, codifica um vasto número de putativas proteínas celulosomais, ainda não estudadas. Neste estudo, os genes que codificam os módulos celulosomais de funções desconhecidas foram clonados e as proteínas por eles codificadas foram expressas em níveis elevados em Escherichia coli. Técnicas complementares, combinando eletroforese em gel nativo, uma plataforma de matriz de alta densidade (microarray) e calorimetria de titulação isotérmica, foram usados para identificar novos CBMs em módulos celulosomais de função desconhecida. Esta estratégia permitiu a identificação de 8 novas famílias de CBMs. Foram determinadas as estruturas tridimensionais representativas de duas destas famílias (CBM-A e CBM-B1), e efectuada a sua caracterização funcional detalhada. O CBM-A e o CBM-B1 apresentam um enrolamento em sanduiche β. O CBM-A liga-se ao β-1,4-glucano ramificado através de uma fenda superficial, revelando preferência por xiloglucano. Em contraste, o CBM-B1 revela uma superfície plana complementar a uma fenda aberta que permite a ligação a uma série de glucanos de tipo β, incluindo o reconhecimento de celulose insolúvel (capítulo 3). Por último, a estrutura do CBM46 derivado de uma endoglucanase do Bacillus halodurans designada por BhCel5B, foi determinada. A BhCel5B é uma enzima multi-modular composta por um domínio catalítico da família GH5_4 no terminal N, seguida por um módulo interno do tipo da imunoglobulina (lg) e o CBM46 no terminal C. O BhCBM46 não se liga a polissacarídeos solúveis ou insolúveis. Porém, a estrutura tridimensional da BhCel5B revelou que o CBM46 é parte integrante da fenda onde se alojam os resíduos responsáveis pela catálise da enzima GH5_4 e, por conseguinte, desempenha um papel importante no reconhecimento do substrato (capítulo 4

I flussi migratori Le migrazioni di transito nel Mediterraneo

This paper considers the new concept of transit Migration using the migration movements which occur in the Mediterranean basin as a case to analyse the phenomenon. The viewpoints of both the countries where the transit migrants first arrive and sojourn and that of the countries of final destination are considered her

I flussi migratori Le migrazioni di transito nel Mediterraneo

This paper considers the new concept of transit Migration using the migration movements which occur in the Mediterranean basin as a case to analyse the phenomenon. The viewpoints of both the countries where the transit migrants first arrive and sojourn and that of the countries of final destination are considered her

Le migrazioni ambientali nel Mediterraneo: il caso studio dei paesi del Medio Oriente e del Nord Africa

The study offer a contribution to the analysis of the problems linked to the environmental migration focusing on a specific Mediterranean area, that of the Middle East and Northern Africa. After a brief analysis of the socio-economic and environmental context, used to describe the vulnerability features of the area, the studies will assess the regional migration system particularly the so called "forced migrants". Due to the lack of an accepted common international definition of environmental refugees, following the most recent literature in this study we have used the definition of forded migration to assess the environmental migration. This in fact, among the causes of migration considers not only the "physical environment" but a plethora of socio economic factors which interact among themselves and force people to migrate. In this definitions we include: Internal Displaced Persons, forced to move for the modification of the habitat where they live caused by natural or human disasters but also Migrants and IDPs forced to move due to the implementation of developmental project such as the construction of mega infrastructure such as dams, or the mining and deforestation activities, as well as the the migrants who sick asylum due to conflicts, civil wars or internal persecutio

Le migrazioni ambientali nel Mediterraneo: il caso studio dei paesi del Medio Oriente e del Nord Africa

The study offer a contribution to the analysis of the problems linked to the environmental migration focusing on a specific Mediterranean area, that of the Middle East and Northern Africa. After a brief analysis of the socio-economic and environmental context, used to describe the vulnerability features of the area, the studies will assess the regional migration system particularly the so called "forced migrants". Due to the lack of an accepted common international definition of environmental refugees, following the most recent literature in this study we have used the definition of forded migration to assess the environmental migration. This in fact, among the causes of migration considers not only the "physical environment" but a plethora of socio economic factors which interact among themselves and force people to migrate. In this definitions we include: Internal Displaced Persons, forced to move for the modification of the habitat where they live caused by natural or human disasters but also Migrants and IDPs forced to move due to the implementation of developmental project such as the construction of mega infrastructure such as dams, or the mining and deforestation activities, as well as the the migrants who sick asylum due to conflicts, civil wars or internal persecutio

I flussi migratori: Rifugio e asilo nei paesi euro-mediterranei

The current economic crisis does and will have in future effects both on the life of the migrants and more in general on the migration flows. It is clear that the redefinition of the rules of governance will not only regard the financial markets but will also have an impact on the system of control of migration. In the past all economic crisis have had a strong negative impact on the migrants movements. After the 1929 crisis, together with the "New Deal" about half a million of Mexicans were expelled from the US often with their children who were born there. The economic crisis of the early seventy was instead tackled by the German government with so-called "Anwerbestoppthe" by stopping the recruitment of migrant workers and the development of programs for the repatriation of the workers in excess. Similar patterns can now be found in many other European countries; in the efforts to revisit the legislation on migration many norms regulate migration in a restrictive sense. On the other hand despite that migration flows have not diminished of intensity. There is, in fact profound differences in the current economic system compared with the New Deal, hence it is sensibly to assume that even in a period of economic turmoil the demand for migrants workers remains stable. For this reason the legislation pertaining migration will continue to be dominated by the needs of ensuring economic growth, the demand of the labor market and the control of the illegal immigrants. There is however the risk that in the net of the control of illegal migration will also fall that part of migrants representing the category of the refugees and asylum seekers. Those are in fact are assimilated to the illegal immigrants and are deprived from the protection of the international law. Based on that we are going to analyse the situation of the refugees and asylum seekers in the different Europe countries in order to better define the dimension of such category often underestimated or neglected by the scholar

I flussi migratori: Immigrazione in Europa: analisi della legislazione

Migration movements registered in Europe since post World War II have resulted to be, as in the previous period of structural and permanent nature even in presence of diminishing demand of labor such as during the seventies. Following this period, the increase number influx of migrants has determined the development of new migration policies and concurrently the redefinition of the accompanying laws. The interest of the European government has progressively moved to pay more attention to issues such as family movements, returnee migration, the integration of the migrants and the problems of the refugees and the asylum seekers. Illegal immigration particularly in countries such as Italy and Spain has pushed the national governments to focus on actions to strengthen the controls at the borders and to fight illegal entries. More in general it has emerged among the European countries the needs for concerted actions to deal with migration movement increasing the cooperation and adjusting the legislation in order to adhere to the requirements of the European Councils, in the area of security and immigration,while at the same time developing a new coherent policy accordingly to the European Neighboring Policy. In this chapter we are going to consider the current legislation in use in France, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain and Italy in the areas of entry and residence of the non European citizens aiming at highlighting, where possible, the differences and the common elements in the different national legislation

The Challenge of Food Security and Mediterranean Diet in the Euro-Mediterranean Area

The Mediterranean Diet (MD) derived from the Greek word “díaita” according to nutritionists is a “traditional diet” which is adapted to all people living in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea whose ancestors moved to the “cultivated food”. In recent years the MD has received worldwide attention particularly for its health impact. As indicated in the pioneer work of Ancel Keys and subsequently on that of many recent scholars. The lifestyle attached to the MD is the best medicine to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD). The MD however, cannot be simply identified with the “food” but must be seen as a holistic concept which promotes first of all social integration among the principal actors, which is derived by the practice of eating together, but also by the common practices of cultivation and harvesting linked to a seasonal calendar marked by nature and religious or ritual meanings attached to the rural life. For this reason in 2010 the MD received inscription on the UNESCO Representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. This paper highlights how focusing on the protection and promotion of the MD could be made possible to strengthen the Mediterranean countries from both economic and socio-cultural point of view. In this perspective the Mediterranean basin could emerge as an area of convergence between countries and regions in North and South of its shores. This would be possible through the creation of a partnership that aims at the production of goods of “Mediterranean quality”. The role of women in this context has been particularly considered essential in the transmission of expertise well as knowledge of rituals, traditional gestures, celebrations and safeguarding of techniques at the base of the protection of the MD