Skilled Foreign Workers in Italy: an Alternative Measurement Method

The issue of high skilled migration is of increasing importance in the policy debates in a diverse set of countries, however, very little is know about the effects and the magnitude of high skill migration also because data on this topic are very scarce. The debate about the effect of immigration in Italy has been exclusively focused on the unskilled immigrants and their effect on the labour market, almost nothing is known about the skilled foreign workers. The phenomenon is not so important as in other countries (i.e. U.S., UK and Germany), however, the share of foreign workers among white collars and managers is constantly increasing in the last years; moreover, it is often declared by employers a shortage of skilled manual workers that can only be satisfied by foreign workers. As the Eurostat Labour Force Survey, one of the few dataset available to study this issue, cannot be used because foreign workers are underrepresented for southern European countries like Italy, we propose here an alternative method based to the salary paid to the worker. We use the distribution of individual wages, after controlling for observable individual and firm characteristics, to measure skill that is defined as unobservable "ability" for which the worker receives a wage premium over the main wage paid to workers with similar observable characteristics. Descriptive statistics on the characteristics of skilled immigrants confirm the shared knowledge that there is a demand for highly specialised manual workers which is satisfied by experienced male workers coming from non European countries. Moreover a simple test is carried out to investigate which are the motivation of mobility inside Europe, and the effect of European integration policy and international trade.Migration, skilled labour.

Skilled and Unskilled Wage Dynamics in Italy in the ‘90s: Changes in the individual characteristics, institutions, trade and technology.

In this paper we use individual micro data on workers combined with industry and regional data to study the wage dynamics of skilled and unskilled workers in Italy in the period 1991-1998. Being different to previous empirical studies, our data allow us to explore in a unique framework the role of many of the factors indicated in the literature as possible causes of the widening of the wage gap between skilled and unskilled workers: changes in the individual characteristics of workers, changes in the institutions of the labour market, increasing international integration and skill-biased technological progress. Our results show that international integration, both in terms of trade in goods and in terms of international labour mobility, plays a role in determining the wage dynamics of skilled (white collar) and of unskilled (blue collar) workers. In addition, in line with the research in labour economics, our findings show that the individual characteristics of workers, and the institutional variables matter more in explaining skilled and unskilled wage dynamics than differential wage one.Skilled and unskilled wages, individual characteristics, labour market institutions, international trade.

Are Foreign Migrants more Assimilated than Native Ones?

The paper compares the pattern of wage assimilation of foreigners with both native immigrants and local natives in Italy, a country with large internal and international migration. This comparison, not yet exploited, yields understanding of the role played by language and knowledge of social capital. We use the administrative dataset on dependent employment (WHIP), to estimate a fixed effect model of the weekly wages of males aged 18-45 with controls for selection in return migration and unobserved heterogeneity. The three groups of workers start their careers at the same wage level but, as experience increases, the wage profiles of foreigners and natives, both immigrants and locals, diverge. A positive selection in the returns prevails, so that the foreign workers with lower wages are the most likely to stay in Italy. Also an “ethnic” skill differential emerges and a negative status dependence for those entering at low wage level.Migration, Assimilation, Wage differential.

VI Congreso Nacional de Criminalística y Accidentología Vial

Siendo su sexto año consecutivo, tiene lugar en la ciudad de Paraná el Congreso Nacional de Criminalística y Accidentología Vial, organizado por la Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos, en colaboración con la Policía de dicha provincia y auspiciado por la Universidad Católica Argentina. El evento convoca a profesionales afines a estas ciencias de todo el territorio Nacional y el extranjero. El objetivo es dardifusión a las investigaciones y trabajos desarrollados actualmente y generar un lugar de intercambio de conocimientos

Estudo da associação entre dor patelofemoral e retropé varo

A dor patelofemoral, também denominada dor anterior do joelho está presente em 25% da população, onde 36% são adolescentes e com maior prevalência no sexo feminino e atletas. Objetivo: Verificar a associação entre a presença de retropé varo a partir da posição neutra da subtalar e a dor patelofemoral. Métodos: Foram recrutados 10 voluntários com dor patelofemoral unilateral ou bilateral. Os voluntários foram submetidos à avaliação do alinhamento do retropé a partir da posição neutra da subtalar. Para isso, os voluntários foram posicionados em decúbito ventral, com o pé pendente para fora da mesa. Os ângulos formado pelas retas que dividem as pernas e os calcâneos ao meio foram medidas através de um goniômetro universal. O teste de Fisher foi utilizado para verificar a associação entre dor patelofemoral e varismo de retropé maior ou igual ou menor que 8 graus. Resultados: Os resultados do presente estudo demonstraram que todos os membros com grau de retropé maior que 8 (75%) apresentavam dor, totalizando 15 joelhos. Já os joelhos avaliados com retropé menor ou igual a 8; 2 (10%) apresentavam dor e 3 (15%) não apresentaram dor. Associação estatisticamente significativa entre o grau de retropé e a presença de dor foram encontrados (p= 0,009). Discussão: O varismo de retropé leva a pronação excessiva da subtalar associada à rotação interna da tíbia com conseqüente alteração do alinhamento do membro inferior e dor patelofemoral, Conclusão: Os resultados desse estudo sugerem que existe a associação entre o retropé varo e a dor patelofemoral.Patellofemoral pain, also called anterior knee pain, is present in 25% of the population with 36% of them being adolescents, and with a higher prevalence among females and athletes. Objective: To assess the association between the presence of rear-foot varus, from the subtalar neutral position, and patellofemoral pain. Methods: Ten volunteers with unilateral or bilateral patellofemoral pain were assessed. The volunteers were submitted to the evaluation of rear-foot alignment from the subtalar neutral position. In order to do so, the volunteers were positioned in the ventral decubitus position, with the foot hanging parallel to the table. The angles formed by the straight lines that divide the legs and the calcanei were measured through a universal goniometer. Fisher test was used to assess the association between patellofemoral pain and rear-foot varus ≥ or < 8o. Results: The results of this study showed that all limbs with rear-foot varus > 8o (75%) presented pain, totaling 15 knees. Of the knees that presented rear-foot varus ≤ 8,2 (10%) presented pain and 3 (15%) did not. A statistically significant association between the degree of rear-foot varus and pain was demonstrated (p= 0.009). Discussion: Rear-foot varus causes an excessive pronation of the subtalar joint associated to the internal rotation of the tibia, with a consequent alignment alteration of the lower limb and patellofemoral pain. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that there is an association between the presence of rear-foot varus and patellofemoral pain

Language re-discovered: A death education intervention in the net between kindergarten, family and territory

The article presents the positive results of a death education experience, realized owing to a collaboration between school, family and territory. The project, with the scope of reflecting on topics of death and spirituality, included 46 children of 5 from kindergarten and 50 parents, and then mobilizing the entire community. Social services and public administration had a special role in this, aiming to guarantee the necessary support for the families in the existential reflections. The experience was monitored with participatory observation, via interviews and questionnaires. The children answered questions regarding death and spirituality during an open and sincere conversation with the teachers. The parents, who at home talked about certain pre-defined teams with the children, were asked to give their informed consent and were given a questionnaire with open questions ex-ante/ ex-post. All data were processed via qualitative analysis of the texts. The results are truly positive, showing that children are capable of facing the problem of death and are able to acquire a certain representation of the spiritual dimension. The parents, who in the beginning demonstrated some anxiety, eventually were greatly satisfied and expressed their willingness to continue to search for the connection between death and transcendence

Resveratrol and Red Wine Function as Antioxidants in the Nervous System without Cellular Proliferative Effects during Experimental Diabetes

Chronic hyperglycemia increases oxidative stress status and has been associated with neurological complications in diabetic individuals. This study compared the antioxidant properties of red wine or resveratrol in different brain areas of diabetic and non-diabetic rats, and investigated the effect of them on hippocampal cell proliferation in hippocampal dentate gyrus of diabetic rats. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic and control rats were treated with red wine (4 mL/kg), resveratrol (20 mg/kg) or saline, by oral gavage, for 21 days. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS), catalase and superoxide dismutase were measured to evaluate the oxidative stress and the BrdU-positive cells were assessed to measure changes in cellular proliferation. In diabetic animals, resveratrol showed antioxidant property in the hippocampus and in the striatum, while red wine had an antioxidant effect only in the hippocampus. Neither red wine nor resveratrol reversed the lower hippocampal cell proliferation in diabetic rats. Daily doses of red wine or resveratrol have an antioxidant effect in rats depending on the brain area and the glycemic status

Reliability of two evaluation methods of active range of motion in the ankle of healthy individuals

The measurement of the range of motion is an important parameter used in physical therapy evaluation and follow up. Thus, the reliability this measurements as well as instruments utilized to this purpose to need be evaluated. Objective: to evaluate and compare the intra-tester and inter-tester reliability of the range of motion measure (ROM) of active ankle dorsiflexion utilizing a universal goniometer and a digital inclinometer. Methods: Two students evaluated the range of dorsiflexion of the 28 volunteers with aged between 18 and 30 years utilized a digital inclinometer and a universal goniometer. Results: The results displayed mean and standard deviation the range of motion the 18.1±3.1 e 18.6±3.8 degrees to the measures obtained for the goniometry and inclinometer, respectability. The intraclass coefficient (ICC) obtained to the intra-session condition to the measures with the inclinometer was the 0.91 to 0.97 for the examiners A and B, respectively. ICC for the goniometry was the 0.91 and 0.97 to the examiners A and B, respectively. The inter-session condition demonstrated moderate reliability to the measures of the goniometry and adequate reliability to the inclinometer measurements. However, the interexaminers reliability was moderate to the measures of the goniometry and high for measures with the inclinometer. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated the big reliability to the measures of the digital inclinometer when compared with universal goniometry, principle when the inter-examiner was evaluated.A medida da amplitude do movimento é um importante parâmetro utilizado na avaliação e no acompanhamento fisioterápico. Portanto, a confiabilidade destas medidas e dos instrumentos utilizados para esta finalidade deve ser avaliada. Objetivo: Avaliar e comparar a confiabilidade intra-examinador e interexaminador da medida de amplitude do movimento (ADM) de dorsiflexão ativa do tornozelo utilizando um goniômetro universal e um inclinômetro digital. Métodos: Dois estudantes avaliaram a amplitude de dorsiflexão de 28 voluntários com idade entre 18 e 30 anos utilizando um inclinômetro digital e um goniômetro universal. Resultados: Os resultados demonstram média e desvio padrão da amplitude do movimento de 18,1±3,1 e 18,6±3,8 graus para as medidas obtidas pelo goniômetro e inclinômetro, respectivamente. O coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (CCI) encontrado para a condição na mesma sessão para as medidas obtidas com o inclinômetro foi de 0.91 e 0.83, para os examinadores A e B, respectivamente. Já o CCI obtido pelo goniômetro foi de 0.91 e 0.97 para os examinadores A e B, respectivamente. Os resultados da confiabilidade entre as sessões de teste demonstraram confiabilidade moderada para as medidas de goniometria e alta confiabilidade para a inclinometria. Já a confiabilidade interexaminador foi moderada para as medidas obtidas pelo goniômetro e alta para as medidas obtidas pelo inclinômetro. Conclusão: Os resultados do presente estudo demonstraram uma maior confiabilidade para as medidas de amplitude de movimento obtidas pelo inclinômetro digital quando comparado com o goniômetro universal, principalmente quando a confiabilidade interexaminador foi avaliada

IgE-mediated Anisakis allergy in children

Anisakids are nematodes responsible for different clinical patterns in humans. The well-known human-infecting Anisakis species include members of the Anisakis simplex (AS) complex. Humans usually contract anisakiasis through ingestion of raw or undercooked seafood containing Anisakis larvae. Once Anisakis has been ingested, patients may develop disease driven directly by Anisakis larvae and/or by allergic reaction due to this nematode. The capability of inducing allergic reactions depends on the expression of specific antigens by nematodes and host factors. This study aims to resume actual knowledge about AS and Anisakiasis with regard to epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment. Particular attention is paid to Anisakis allergens and their cross-reactivity on available diagnostic methods, and defining a diagnostic pathway for Anisakis allergy. Because only a few data are available in the literature about pediatric population, we focus on this group of patients specifically