Valori del diritto del lavoro ed economia di mercato = Values of labor law and market economy. WP C.S.D.L.E. “Massimo D’Antona”.IT – 395/2019

The author deals with the topic of labour law’s inspiring values, which are discussed in their connection and co-evolution with the processes of transformation of the economic and social reality. Under this perspective of analysis, the author firstly takes a stand on the controversial relationship between labour law and the economic rationality in a broad sense. The presence of two basic approaches within the labour law culture, which are characterised by divergent views and attitudes on the market economy, is maintained (§ 2). The ways in which the discipline has responded to the neoliberal attack is then discussed (§ 3). Against this background, some arguments in favour of an “economically sustainable” labour law, which is aimed at reaching the best possible compromise between social and economic instances, along the thread of the enhancement of human labour, are put forward (§ 4). On the basis of the described context, the author comes back to the topic of labour law’s values, in order to suggest a constructive reinterpretation of the latter, which makes them more fit to the current processes of transformation, in particular as regards the non-paternalistic promotion of the worker’s autonomy and role. The Capabilities Approach is proposed as an ideal guide in view of such a revisiting (§ 5). The article is concluded by basic remarks about the implications of the suggested approach as regards the selection of the regulation techniques and the impact evaluations (§ 6)

I diritti fondamentali e la trasformazione del diritto del lavoro = Fundamental rights and the transformation of labor law. WP C.S.D.L.E. “Massimo D’Antona”.IT – 333/2017

The author deals with the role of fundamental rights in the complex process of transformation of labour law. The peculiar way in which the topic of fundamental rights has entered into the labour law discourse is firstly examined: while private law has recently “discovered” the fundamental rights mainly in connection with the adoption of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, this cannot be said of labour law, whose encounter with fundamental rights is much earlier, as it dates back to the process of interpretation and implementation of the Italian Constitution. In a sense, labour law didn’t need to theorize the fundamental rights as it was used to conceive itself as fundamental as a whole. Labour lawyers have later addressed the issue in a different perspective when that represented by fundamental rights has become a frontline in the battle to defend labour law from the challenges issued by global economy, mainly in terms of flexibility. In any case, the author doubts that the Constitution can represent a decisive obstacle to the adoption of liberalization labour policies, at least as soon as certain limits won’t overcome (but many labour lawyers think that they have been). Afterwards the article focuses on the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, arguing that despite its great importance for the edification of a socially-oriented European Union, it has not added very much, up to now and with the albeit relevant exception of dismissal, to the number and extension of fundamental rights as resulting from the Italian Constitutional order. In any case, the permanent relevance of the topic, also in view of further advancements, is finally underlined

Structure and sequence analyses of Bacteroides proteins BVU_4064 and BF1687 reveal presence of two novel predominantly-beta domains, predicted to be involved in lipid and cell surface interactions.

BackgroundN-terminal domains of BVU_4064 and BF1687 proteins from Bacteroides vulgatus and Bacteroides fragilis respectively are members of the Pfam family PF12985 (DUF3869). Proteins containing a domain from this family can be found in most Bacteroides species and, in large numbers, in all human gut microbiome samples. Both BVU_4064 and BF1687 proteins have a consensus lipobox motif implying they are anchored to the membrane, but their functions are otherwise unknown. The C-terminal half of BVU_4064 is assigned to protein family PF12986 (DUF3870); the equivalent part of BF1687 was unclassified.ResultsCrystal structures of both BVU_4064 and BF1687 proteins, solved at the JCSG center, show strikingly similar three-dimensional structures. The main difference between the two is that the two domains in the BVU_4064 protein are connected by a short linker, as opposed to a longer insertion made of 4 helices placed linearly along with a strand that is added to the C-terminal domain in the BF1687 protein. The N-terminal domain in both proteins, corresponding to the PF12985 (DUF3869) domain is a β-sandwich with pre-albumin-like fold, found in many proteins belonging to the Transthyretin clan of Pfam. The structures of C-terminal domains of both proteins, corresponding to the PF12986 (DUF3870) domain in BVU_4064 protein and an unclassified domain in the BF1687 protein, show significant structural similarity to bacterial pore-forming toxins. A helix in this domain is in an analogous position to a loop connecting the second and third strands in the toxin structures, where this loop is implicated to play a role in the toxin insertion into the host cell membrane. The same helix also points to the groove between the N- and C-terminal domains that are loosely held together by hydrophobic and hydrogen bond interactions. The presence of several conserved residues in this region together with these structural determinants could make it a functionally important region in these proteins.ConclusionsStructural analysis of BVU_4064 and BF1687 points to possible roles in mediating multiple interactions on the cell-surface/extracellular matrix. In particular the N-terminal domain could be involved in adhesive interactions, the C-terminal domain and the inter-domain groove in lipid or carbohydrate interactions

Temporal patterns in the diet and food partitioning in Imperial Cormorants (Phalacrocorax atriceps) and Rock Shags (P. magellanicus) breeding at Bahía Bustamante, Argentina

We studied the diet of Imperial Cormorants (Phalacrocorax atriceps) and Rock Shags (P.magellanicus) at Bahý´a Bustamante, Argentina, between 1992 and 1994. We analyzed pellet casts (1887 from Imperial Cormorants and 799 from Rock Shags) and regurgitations of stomach contents (260 from Imperial Cormorants and 24 from Rock Shags). Imperial Cormorants and Rock Shags fed on at least 22 and 21 different types of prey, respectively. The main prey species during all study years were fish: Engraulis anchoita for Imperial Cormorants and Patagonothen sp. for Rock Shags. For both species, the consumption of the main food categories as estimated by pellet analysis was similar among years. A significant relationship was found between Imperial Cormorant and Rock Shag diets during the three years, while the diet overlap index was relatively high. During all years, Imperial Cormorants consumed a significantly larger proportion of pelagic or demersal fish than did Rock Shags, while Rock Shags consumed benthic fish in a greater proportion than did Imperial Cormorants. Mean maximum diving depth, determined using capillary tube depth gauges, of Imperial Cormorants (24.4 m 6 18.8 SD) was significantly greater but more variable than that of Rock Shags (9.3 m 6 4.1 SD).Fil: Punta, Gabriel. Dirección General de Intereses Marítimos y Pesca Continental, Chubut; ArgentinaFil: Yorio, Pablo Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados UnidosFil: Herrera, Gonzalo. Dirección General de Intereses Marítimos y Pesca Continental, Chubut; Argentin