University of Messina

This chapter aims to explore the “European” nature of refugee protection when provided by the EU. Since it is provided by the EU and offers non-rival and non-excludable benefits, it can be considered European. However, for refugee protection to become a European public good, national governments must include all necessary legislation in their national legal systems to ensure effective protection at the EU level. Since solidarity (unanimity in voting) is one of the cornerstones of EU migration and asylum policy, there is often no need for Member States to incorporate such provisions into national law. The lack of solidarity among European government contributes to a deficiency in effective refugee protection provision. Divergent opinions regarding the merits and drawbacks of granting asylum to refugees hinder collective action, resulting in the ineffective integration of this policy area.

The public goods framework explains the dynamics of international migration governance and the various challenges states face in addressing this phenomenon. International migration governance is fragmented, and its policy implications result in different benefits and costs accruing to states. The fragmented migration regimes imply different spillovers for different actors, playing a significant role in the international policymaking process. This book provides insights how the public goods framework can be applied to understand international migration governance, by expanding the literature through a comparative analysis across different continents. International migration governance can be perceived by nation-states as an asset or a liability—a “good” or a “bad.” The factors that determine whether a something is a good or a bad are the individual’s preferences for different quantities of the product or service. The public goods approach allows the authors of this volume to explore the dynamics of collective action; problems of goods and bads; the aggregation effects of public goods; burden sharing; regional goods; and club goods. The public goods approach to international migration governance opens new avenues of analysis that can help explain the success and failure of migration policies.

The paper describes the birth of a movement, The last 20, that is an attempt to look at the world and address the great issues that affect it, reading them with the eyes, suffering, emotions, fears and hopes of the least. From this observatory, paths, processes and visions are proposed capable of opening glimmers of light and hope on the condition of hundreds of millions of impoverished men and women, forced to suffer wars, famine, hunger, thirst, land grabbing, violence all sorts, desertification and pollution of their habitat, by those who have enriched themselves at their expense and to the detriment of the entire planet. In this scenario, the challenge of “another economy” is based on the valorization and promotion of human rights.

Academic life satisfaction is an important indicator of students' contentment with both their academic and personal environments. Therefore, determining the factors that promote academic life satisfaction is of great importance. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of flow experiences in the association between academic procrastination and personal satisfaction and satisfaction with the academic environment. A total of 581 undergraduate students (65.4% women) participated in the study. The students' ages ranged from 18 to 25 years, with an average age of 20.44 years (SD = 2.02). This study found that academic procrastination was negatively associated with flow experiences, personal satisfaction and satisfaction with the academic environment. Flow experiences were positively associated with personal satisfaction and satisfaction with the academic environment. Flow experiences acted as a mediator in the association between academic procrastination and personal satisfaction and satisfaction with the academic environment. The study findings show that academic procrastinators may have difficulty in experiencing flow, which in turn leads to poor academic life satisfaction. This study addresses the need for practices aimed at reducing academic procrastination and experiencing flow in interventions to enhance academic life satisfaction among university students.

Confirmation bias, whereby individuals hold unwarranted confidence in a focal hypothesis, might emerge from a combination of errors at the testing and evaluation stages of hypothesis development. We focused on one such combination: Positive testing, whereby questions are asked about features that are expected to be present and the feature positive effect, whereby the presence of features outweighs the absence of features when evaluating the available evidence. Participants were presented with two criminal scenarios and asked to evaluate the utility of four possible queries and the answers to the one they deemed as the most useful. We found evidence for positive testing and a secondary sensitivity to the Bayesian expected utility of questions. We also found evidence for the feature-positive effect. However, the present evidence elicited more accurate judgements, whereas the insufficient weighing of the absent evidence led to confirmation bias. We discussed theoretical and practical implications for legal judgements. https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/HUGAAYCECKJVZYJKW6KI/full?target=10.1080/20445911.2025.2451047

Background and Purpose The global burden of neurological diseases exceeds 43.1%, imposing a significant burden on patients, caregivers and society. This paper presents a roadmap to reduce this burden and improve brain health (BH) in Europe. Methods The roadmap is based on the European Academy of Neurology's (EAN) five‐pillar BH strategy: advancing a global BH approach (P1), supporting policymaking (P2), fostering research (P3), promoting education (P4), and raising awareness of prevention and treatment (P5). It reviews current efforts, collaborations and future directions aligned with the WHO Intersectoral Global Action Plan (iGAP) for Neurological Disorders and suggests future initiatives and call for action. Results P1: Support WHO‐iGAP through defined action points, international collaborations, in particular, the WHO BH Unit, and the EAN Brain Health Mission. P2: Collaborate with 48 national neurological societies to promote National Brain Plans (NBPs), addressing local needs, and improving access to care. P3: Advocate for more research funding; identify determinants of BH; develop preventive measures. P4: Provide educational opportunities for neurologists, public education programs, and advocacy training, including tools to educate the public. P5: Spearhead global awareness campaigns, organize public educational activities, and train BH advocates to contribute toward sustainable and long‐term public health campaigns and policy engagement. Conclusions The paper highlights the importance of a unified approach, integrating international collaborations and local initiatives, to improve BH outcomes based on the WHO‐iGAP, and support sustainable development goals, in particular SDG 3: Good Health and Well‐being and SDG 4: Quality Education.

Translational network neuroscience aims to integrate advanced neuroimaging and data analysis techniques into clinical practice to better understand and treat neurological disorders. Despite the promise of technologies such as functional MRI and diffusion MRI combined with network analysis tools, the field faces several challenges that hinder its swift clinical translation. We have identified 9 key roadblocks that impede this process: (1) Theoretical and basic science foundations; (2) Network construction, data interpretation, and validation; (3) MRI access, data variability, and protocol standardization; (4) Data sharing; (5) Computational resources and expertise; (6) Interdisciplinary collaboration; (7) Industry collaboration and commercialization; (8) Operational efficiency, integration and training; and (9) Ethical and legal considerations. To address these challenges, we propose several possible solution strategies. By aligning scientific goals with clinical realities and establishing a sound ethical framework, translational network neuroscience can achieve meaningful advances in personalized medicine and ultimately improve patient care. We advocate for an interdisciplinary commitment to overcoming translational hurdles in network neuroscience and integrating advanced technologies into routine clinical practice.

Patients with ischemic stroke (IS) or TIA face an elevated cardiovascular risk, warranting intensive lipid-lowering therapy. Despite recommendations, adherence to guidelines is suboptimal, leading to frequent undertreatment. This study aims to evaluate the statin use after IS and TIA. LIPYDS is a multicenter, observational, retrospective study including ≥ 18-year-old patients discharged after IS/TIA from 19 Italian centers in 2021. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine (1) the association between statin prescription (Any-statin versus No-statin), type (High-Intensity-statin versus Other-statin [Moderate/Low-Intensity]) with stroke etiology (TOAST), (2) clinical variables independently associated with statin prescription in the entire cohort and within TOAST categories. We included 3,740 patients (median age 75 [IQR 64–82]; median LDL-C 104 [IQR 79–131]). At discharge, 1,971 (52.7%) received a High-intensity-statin, 800 (21.4%) Other-statin, 969 (25.9%) No-statin therapy. Among patients not on statin therapy before the event (N = 2686 [71.8%]), 50.1% initiated High-intensity-statin (78.2% of those with Large-Artery-Atherosclerosis, 60.8% Small-Vessel-Disease, 34.7% Cardioembolic, 47.4% Undetermined etiology); in 33% the decision to abstain from initiating statin therapy persisted. Large-Artery-Atherosclerosis showed the strongest association with Any-statin (aOR 3.07 [95%CI 2.39−3.95], p < 0.001) and High-intensity-statin (aOR 4.51 [95%CI 3.39−6.00], p < 0.001), while Cardioembolic stroke showed an inverse association (respectively, aOR 0.36 [95%CI 0.31−0.43], p < 0.001 and aOR 0.52 [95%CI 0.44−0.62], p < 0.001). Stepwise regression highlighted LDL-C and previous statin therapy as consistent predictors of statin at discharge. Older patients and women were less likely to be on a high-intensity formulation. Statins, especially at high-intensity, are under-prescribed after IS and TIA, with older patients, women and those with non-atherosclerotic strokes being the most affected.

The European Clozapine Task Force is a group of psychiatrists and pharmacologists practicing in 18 countries under European Medicines Agency (EMA) regulation, who are deeply concerned about the underuse of clozapine in European countries. Although clozapine is the most effective antipsychotic for people with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, a large proportion of them do not have access to this treatment. Concerns about clozapine-induced agranulocytosis and stringent blood monitoring rules are major barriers to clozapine prescribing and use. There is a growing body of evidence that the incidence of clozapine-induced agranulocytosis is very low after the first year of treatment. Maintaining lifelong monthly blood monitoring after this period contributes to unjustified discontinuation of clozapine. We leverage recent and replicated evidence on the long-term safety of clozapine to call for the revision and updating of the EMA's blood monitoring rules, thus aiming to overcome this major barrier to clozapine prescribing and use. We believe the time has come for relaxing the rules without increasing the risks for people using clozapine in Europe.

Background: Several epidemiological studies and intervention trials have demonstrated that grapes and blueberries, which are rich in flavanols, can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanisms of action of these compounds remain unclear due to their low bioavailability. Objective: This study aimed to characterize the sensory properties, blood flow velocity, and oxidative stress of a polyphenol rich grape and blueberry extract (PEGB) containing approximately 16% flavanols (11% monomers and 4% dimers). Method: A sensory property of PEGB was compared with quercetin at uniform concentration using healthy young subjects. In addition, the reactivity of PEGB with O2•- was also compared with quercetin utilizing a luminescence method. Furthermore, the effect of a single administration of PEGB on the blood flow velocity of skeletal muscle arterioles was investigated using a laser Doppler method in rats. Results: At a concentration where quercetin was barely tasteful, flavanol in PEGB exhibited a robust astringent taste. Furthermore, under pH conditions mimicking the oral cavity and intestinal tract, PEGB promoted O2•- production at low concentrations and scavenging O2•- at high concentrations. In contrast, quercetin demonstrated antioxidant activity. A single oral administration of PEGB significantly increased the blood flow velocity of skeletal muscle arterioles. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that PEGB exhibited a pronounced astringent taste, O2•- production at low concentrations in neutral pH environments, and significantly enhanced blood flow to skeletal muscle following a single administration to rats. These findings highlight the necessity for further investigation into the causal relationships between oral perception, redox properties, and bioactivity of polyphenols.

This study investigates the relationship between European utility companies' compliance with the EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities and their overall performance. The EU Taxonomy is a new regulation proposed by the European Commission to promote sustainable finance by 2050. The literature shows that nonfinancial disclosures have a favorable impact on financial performance. However, no research has been conducted to assess the implementation of the EU Taxonomy and its effect on firm performance. Using a sample of European utilities from 2012 to 2022, a difference‐in‐differences (DiD) model was applied to analyze the causal relationship between compliance and performance. Based on institutional and signaling theories, the results show that companies reporting alignment with the Taxonomy exhibit higher market value, profitability, and efficiency than those that do not. This study contributes to firms' transparency and enriches academic discussions by offering insights for policymakers and by improving industry practices.

Background Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) declines and pain responses can occur during radium-223 ( ²²³ Ra) treatment, but their association with treatment outcomes is unclear. Methods For patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with ²²³ Ra in the REASSURE study, we investigated whether ALP decline (Week 12) and/or pain response (during treatment) are associated with improved overall survival (OS). The Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF) was used to assess pain at baseline and pain response (in patients with baseline BPI-SF score ≥2). Results Of 785 patients with baseline and Week 12 ALP measurements, 779 were eligible for the OS analyses. Overall, 80% of patients had an ALP decline. Median OS was longer in patients with than without an ALP decline (18.1 versus 14.2 months; HR 0.74; 95% CI 0.60–0.92). In patients with an ALP decline, there was no clear OS difference between those with versus without a pain response. For patients without ALP decline, median OS was longer in those with versus without a pain response (16.2 versus 10.9 months; HR 0.50; 95% CI 0.32–0.77). Conclusions Decreases in ALP and/or pain during ²²³ Ra treatment are associated with improved OS. This may help support clinical decisions. Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02141438.

The transmembrane glycoproteins Trop-1/EpCAM and Trop-2 independently trigger Ca ²⁺ and kinase signals for cell growth and tumor progression. Our findings indicated that Trop-1 and Trop-2 tightly colocalize at macroscopic, ruffle-like protrusions (RLP), that elevate from the cell perimeter, and locally recur over hundreds of seconds. These previously unrecognized elevated membrane regions ≥20 µm-long, up to 1.5 µm high were revealed by Z-stack analysis and three-dimensional reconstruction of signal transducer-hosting plasma membrane regions. Trop-2 stimulates cell growth through a membrane super-complex that comprises CD9, PKCα, ion pumps and cytoskeletal components. Our findings indicated that the growth-driving Trop-2 super-complex assembles at RLP. RLP behaved as sites of clustering of signal transducers, of phosphorylation/activation of growth-driving kinases, as recruitment sites of PKCα and as origin of Ca ²⁺ signaling waves, suggesting RLP to be novel signaling platforms in living cells. RLP were induced by growth factors and disappeared upon growth factor deprivation and β-actin depolymerization, candidating RLP to be functional platforms for high-dimensional signaling for cell growth. [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text]

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process by which epithelial cells increase their motility and acquire invasive capacity. It represents a crucial driver of cancer metastasis and peritoneal dissemination. EMT plasticity, with cells exhibiting hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal states, and its reverse process, mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET), allows them to adapt to different microenvironments and evade therapeutic intervention. Resistance to conventional treatments, including chemotherapy, is a major problem. Therapies targeting EMT may inhibit tumour cell migration and invasion, while affecting normal cells and repair mechanisms, resulting in potential side effects. This paper addresses the question of the impact of EMT status on cancers with potential spread to the peritoneum, which has remained unclear in literature. Relevant studies were selected from 2000 to 2024. Three macrosections were analysed: (i) pathological characteristics, (ii) surgical implications and (iii) oncological therapies. The focus was on survival and peritoneal recurrence time in patients who underwent surgical treatment.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease characterized by obstructed airflow, airway remodeling, and inflammation, with cigarette smoke (CS) exposure being the main risk factor. While CS extract (CSE) has been shown to activate caspases in various cell types, the role of caspases in human lung fibroblasts (hLFs), in COPD remains poorly understood. Recent studies have linked caspases to extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in skin and kidney fibrosis. Caspase activation can be triggered by oxidative stress, with active caspase-3 executing the pore-forming protein gasdermin E (GSDME) in the cleaved N-terminal form GSDME-NT. We investigated whether CSE activates caspases and GSDME in hLFs, and their role in ECM remodeling. MRC-5 lung fibroblasts were treated with CSE with or without the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), and the caspase-8 inhibitor z-IETD-fmk. We measured the effects on caspase-1-8-3/7 activation, GSDME cleavage, ECM remodeling (procollagen Iα1, COLIα1, and fibronectin, FN), and mitochondrial superoxide (mSOX) generation. Key findings were validated in patient-derived hLFs (phLFs). Our results showed that CSE induced caspase-1-8-3/7 activation, mSOX generation, and decreased COLIα1 and FN levels in MRC-5. CSE caused caspase-8-dependent activation of caspase-3, leading to the GSDME cleavage. Treatment with NAC inhibited mSOX and caspase activation. Inhibition of caspase-8 and mSOX restored FN and COLIα1 levels. In phLFs, we confirmed caspase-1 and -8 activation, mSOX increase, COLIα1/FN decrease, and the effects of NAC. Our findings highlight the role of the axis caspase-8-3/7-GSDME and mSOX in regulating ECM protein, suggesting that these pathways may contribute to remodeling in COPD.

Background and Aims Presence of active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may influence the outcome of patients treated for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), although this issue has never been adequately assessed in a large series of patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the presence of active HCV affects the survival of patients treated for HCC. Methods This study assessed the outcome of 3123 anti‐HCV‐positive patients with HCC, subdivided according to the presence of active HCV infection or previous sustained virological response (SVR). Comparisons were also carried out after propensity score matching (PSM) considering demographic, clinical and oncological characteristics. Results The median overall survival from HCC treatment was longer in patients with SVR than in those with active HCV infection both before ( n = 2118: 61.0 months [95% confidence internal (CI): 56.5–65.5] vs. n = 1005: 51.0 months [95% CI: 43.4–58.6]; p = 0.003) and after PSM ( n = 1285: 60.0 months [95% CI: 55.3–64.7] vs. n = 926: 54.0 months [95% CI: 46.7–61.3]; p = 0.030). Active HCV infection was associated with a greater risk of mortality (hazard ratio: 1.22–1.27, p = 0.001) independently of liver‐ and tumour‐related variables, and modality of HCC treatment. Death due to liver failure was more common in patients with active HCV infection (24.5% vs. 17.1%; p = 0.001), while non‐liver‐related causes of death were more common in patients with SVR (25.0% vs. 17.0%; p = 0.001). Conclusions SVR is associated with a better outcome in patients undergoing HCC treatment, thus suggesting that these patients may benefit from antiviral therapy for HCV independently of cure of HCC.

This paper investigates the connection between economic freedom and poverty, with a particular attention devoted to the size of government. We focus on 12 eurozone countries in the period between 2000 and 2019. The common framework of these countries is the adherence to a policy model relying on competition, flexibility, and a non-active role of government intervention in the belief that through economic freedom, the common currency is able to achieve prosperity and growth. We connect monetary poverty with liberalization indexes released by the Fraser institute through a long-run dynamic cointegration technique. The general results tell us that the higher the freedom index the higher the number of people living below the median income. When considering the components of the economic freedom index related to the size of government, we find that the higher the sub-indexes—meaning lower public investments, consumption and top-marginal tax rates—the higher the percentage of people living below the poverty threshold. The results—verified through several robustness checks related to the alternative indicator and the sample—support the conclusion that wider liberalizations worsened the general living conditions and that government intervention is an important tool to redistribute resources and reduce the income gap among individuals.