The Mediterranean model of immigration

The countries of Southern Europe – Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain – have become in the last decades countries of immigration, while they are still areas of emigration even thug with a substant reduction of the emigration flows. The patterns of immigration in these countries have several common features. First af all immigration started in all countries in the same period (the 1970ties). Secondly they receive immigratns from many, also very distant, places. Thirdly there is a high presence of female immigrants, that is often above 59% of the total immigrant flow. Fourtly in all these countries – contray to the intraeuropean migrations of the ‘fifties and of the ‘sixties - immigrants have found occupation in the service sector, in agricolture and not so often in industry. Female employment in the services is the most important feature of this immigration: female immigrants work mostly as cleaners and in general in domestic work and now, more and more frequently, in the area of care for the elderly. Also the immigration policies in these countries are similar with closed borders and consequent illegal immigration and the practice of amnesty laws. Because of all these common characterics the article puts forward the hipothesis of the existence of a mediterranean model of immigration

Cambios en la estructura social del Mezzogiorno

En este trabajo sobre los cambios en la estructura social en la Italia meridional se tratan tres categorías de problemas. La primera es relativa a la evolución del bloque social dominante y de su estructura interna; la segunda, a la evolución de la relación ciudad-campo en el Sur y el papel que desempeña la realidad urbana en relación a los procesos de industrialización del territorio y de intervención del sector público en la economía meridional; la tercera, en cambio, se refiere sobre todo a la composición de las clases subalternas tomando en cuenta el origen y los aspectos de la estructura socio-profesional, fundamentalmente en lo concerniente a los estratos que se pueden agregar al bloque dominante, y en particular sectores de la pequeña burguesía. Se trata de tres aspectos estrechamente interrelacionados. La nueva relación ciudad-campo se expresa también en la progresiva concentración del poder económico y político en la ciudad, en que las clases –o, para ser más precisos, las fracciones de clase– que constituyen el bloque dominante son esencialmente urbanas, y en que la nueva estructura socio-profesional asiste a la consolidación de figuras sociales típicamente urbanas, con el drástico redimensionamiento de figuras sociales ligadas a la agricultura

Contact Force Measurements in Cam and Follower Lubricated Contacts

Cam-follower contacts are characterized by continuous changes of operating parameters such as speed, load and geometry, so that both numerical simulations and experimental measurements are very complex. An experimental apparatus has been specifically designed and realized to perform tests with cam–follower pairs. The apparatus allows measurements of contact forces with a custom-made dynamometer and of lubricant film thickness and shape with optical interferometry. After an introductory review of experimental works on cam-follower pairs mainly related to force measurements, the test rig used for the experimental work reported in the paper is briefly described. Some trends of all components of the contact forces measured during the rotation of a circular eccentric cam and an engine spline cam are presented. Tests have been performed at different rotational speeds and preloads. The friction trends can be associated to mixed and boundary lubrication regimes. Some unattended friction peaks are found in tests with the spline cam and possible explanations are given

Nazionale e globale nella rinascita dell’Internazionale socialista (1945-1951)

Questo articolo si concentra sulle conferenze socialiste che tra il 1945 e il 1951 precedettero la rifondazione dell’Internazionale. Esso, attraverso l’archivio conservato presso l’Istituto di storia sociale di Amsterdam, affronta tre elementi di quella vicenda: la ricostruzione di una vera e propria organizzazione internazionalista, l’affermazione di nuove idee e pratiche politiche nel socialismo europeo, il sostegno dei socialisti alla governance transnazionale. Così facendo il testo evidenzia alcuni nodi cruciali per comprendere il primo decennio socialista dopo il secondo conflitto mondiale, questioni dirimenti come il rapporto con lo Stato nazione democratico e la scelta dell’integrazione europea.This article focuses on the refoundation of Socialist International after the Second World War (1945-1951). It tackles three elements of socialist history through the archives preserved at the Institute of Social History in Amsterdam: the socialist building of an International organization, the new ideas and political issues in the socialist political culture, the socialist support to European technical governance. In this way, the paper underlines some crucial points as the relation between socialism and Nation State, and introduces the European integration question

Kinematics of the Maierato Landslide (Calabria, Southern Italy)

Abstract On 15 February 2010, a landslide of great dimensions occurred at Maierato (Southern Italy) after a long rainy period. Although the zone was continuously affected by movements, no monitoring system was installed before the landslide. However, many photos were taken to document the occurrence of deformations and two videos were filmed during the paroxysmal phase of the event. Photos and videos are used in the present study to reconstruct the kinematics of the landslide. A geotechnical model of the slope is also defined on the basis of the results from field and laboratory tests

Valproic Acid, a Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor, in Combination with Paclitaxel for Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: Results of a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Phase II/III Trial

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) has a median survival less than 5 months and, to date, no effective therapy exists. Taxanes have recently been stated as the main drug treatment for ATC, and the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid efficiently potentiates the effects of paclitaxel in vitro. Based on these data, this trial assessed the efficacy and safety of the combination of paclitaxel and valproic acid for the treatment of ATC. This was a randomized, controlled phase II/III trial, performed on 25 ATC patients across 5 centers in northwest Italy. The experimental arm received the combination of paclitaxel (80 mg/m2/weekly) and valproic acid (1,000 mg/day); the control arm received paclitaxel alone. Overall survival and disease progression, evaluated in terms of progression-free survival, were the primary outcomes. The secondary outcome was the pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel. The coadministration of valproic acid did not influence the pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel. Neither median survival nor median time to progression was statistically different in the two arms. Median survival of operated-on patients was significantly better than that of patients who were not operated on. The present trial demonstrates that the addition of valproic acid to paclitaxel has no effect on overall survival and disease progression of ATC patients. This trial is registered with EudraCT 2008-005221-11

MicroRNAs distribution in different phenotypes of Aortic Stenosis

Aortic valve stenosis (AVS) represents a cluster of different phenotypes, considering gradient and flow pattern. Circulating micro RNAs may reflect specific pathophysiological processes and could be useful biomarkers to identify disease. We assessed 80 patients (81, 76.7-84 years; 46, 57.5%females) with severe AVS. We performed bio-humoral evaluation (including circulating miRNA-1, 21, 29, 133) and 2D-echocardiography. Patients were classified according to ACC/AHA groups (D1-D3) and flow-gradient classification, considering normal/low flow, (NF/LF) and normal/high gradient, (NG/HG). Patients with reduced ejection fractionwere characterized by higher levels of miRNA1 (p = 0.003) and miRNA 133 (p = 0.03). LF condition was associated with higher levels of miRNA1 (p = 0.02) and miRNA21 (p = 0.02). Levels of miRNA21 were increased in patients with reduced Global longitudinal strain (p = 0.03). LF-HG and LF-LG showed higher levels of miRNA1 expression (p = 0.005). At one-year follow-up miRNA21 and miRNA29 levels resulted significant independent predictors of reverse remodeling and systolic function increase, respectively. Different phenotypes of AVS may express differential levels and types of miRNAs, which may retain a pathophysiological role in pro-hypertrophic and pro-fibrotic processes

A pilot study on the application of the current European guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndrome without elevation of ST segment (NSTEMI) in the Emergency Department setting in the Italian region Lazio.

Background: In 2011 the European Society of Cardiology published the new guidelines for the treatment and management of acute coronary syndrome without elevation of the ST segment (NSTEMI). For the treatment of the syndrome, the use of P2Y12 inhibitors in addition to aspirin was strongly recommended (evidence IA). We studied the application of this recommendation in the setting of the emergency department in the vast and uneven area of the Italian region Lazio, three years after the release of these drugs in Italy. Methods: 121 consecutive patients (65% older than 65 years) affected by NSTEMI were recruited between May and July 2013. During the transition in the emergency department data was collected on patient's symptoms, syndrome severity and type & timing of treatments chosen. Adherence to the guidelines was evaluated considering the number of "good treated" patients: these being the patients that received at least 80% of the main five recommendations on percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) timing, antiplatelet and anti-coagulant therapy suggested by the European Cardiology Task Force (ESC guidelines, 2011) for the very acute phase of NSTEMI. Results: Patients were treated with: 1) 35% of cases with double antiplatelet therapy and anticoagulation (DAPT+AC), 2) 22% of cases with single antiplatelet and anticoagulation (SAPT+AC), 3) 6% of cases with a single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT), 4) 6% of cases with a double antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) and 5) 24% of cases did not receive any therapy. Data on PCI was available for 95 patients and, of these, only 82% of the patients underwent the procedure. The percentage of "good treated" patients were among of 20-40%, depending on PCI timing – as guidelines suggested – was considered as mandatory (20,5%) or as the extreme time limit (40%). Significant differences were found between patients treated in a central hospital with a hemodynamic laboratory active 24/24hr (HUB) and patients treated in the other hospital (SPOKE). HUBs showed a higher percent of "good treated" patients, a higher percentage of early invasive treated and a better adherence to recommended pharmacological therapy. Conclusions: A significant number of patients did not receive adequate treatment during the emergency department stay. The absence of hemodynamic services increases the risk of inadequate treatment

Association between PaO2/FiO2 ratio and thrombotic events in COVID-19 patients

PaO2/FiO(2) (P/F ratio) is considered a marker of hypoxia/hypoxemia and mortality. Several prothrombotic changes are associated with the decrease of P/F ratio. The role of P/F ratio in patients with arterial and venous thrombosis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the association between P/F ratio and arterial/venous thrombosis. One thousand and four hundred and six COVID-19 patients were recruited; 289 (21%) patients had P/F ratio < 200 and 1117 (79%) >= 200. Compared to the patients with P/F ratio >= 200, those with P/F ratio < 200 were older and with higher levels of glycemia, D-dimer and lower levels of albumin. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that albumin (standardized coefficient beta: 0.156; SE: 0.001; p = 0.0001) and D-dimer (standardized coefficient beta: -0.135; SE: 0.0001; p = 0.0001) were associated with P/F ratio. During the hospitalization 159 patients were transferred in intensive care unit (ICU), 253 patients died, 156 patients had arterial or venous thrombotic events. A bivariate logistic analysis was performed to analyze the predictors of thrombosis in COVID-19 patients; P/F ratio < 200 (Odds Ratio: [OR] 1.718, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.085-2.718, p = 0.021), albumin (OR 1.693, 95% CI 1.055-2.716, p = 0.029), D-dimer (OR 3.469, 95% CI 2.110-5.703, p < 0.0001), coronary artery disease (CAD) (OR 1.800, 95% CI 1.086-2.984, p = 0.023) and heart failure (OR 2.410 95% CI 1.385-4.193, p = 0.002) independently predicted thrombotic events in this population. This study suggests that the P/F ratio is associated with thrombotic events by promoting a hypercoagulation state in patients hospitalized for COVID-19