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Study and achievement of organic-inorganic innovative materials through electrochemical techniques
Full text linkThe functionalization of conductors and semiconductors using organic molecules is a very important issue in the development of novel organic/inorganic heterostructures suitable as materials in sensors, biosensors, clinical diagnostics, biological sensing and energy storage and conversion. In this context, to obtain a stable, durable bond with the surface and controllable process, the electroreduction of aryldiazonium salts is a promising alternative to conventional techniques (as Self Assembled Monolayer), also to ensure conductivity and homogeneity of the organic coating. This work, focused on the achievement of innovative materials developed for a wide range of applications that include biosensors, energy storage and metal-free sensors, is divided in four main topics:
1. Polyaniline electropolimerization on gold surface 2. Polyaniline electropolimerization on nanoporous silicon surface 3. DNA immobilization on gold 4. Polyaniline electropolimerization on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate The common theme about the achievement of these devices is the functionalization of the metal or polymeric electrode base by means diazonium salt (4-nitrobenzenediazonium) electrochemical reduction, prior to further modification with polyaniline or DNA. All these functionalization are realized using electrochemical techniques: organic molecules are grafted on the electrode surface using cyclic voltammetry, as well as aniline electropolimerization. Furthermore, all electrode functionalization step are characterized by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), which can give fast and useful information about the surface state. In this thesis results of sensor functionalization and performance varying electrochemical parameter and preparation conditions are presented and discussed, giving a well-developed starting point for following applications
An integrated top-down and bottom-up proteomic platform to reveal potential salivary biomarkers of the rare disorders SAPHO syndrome, Wilson’s disease and Hereditary angioedema
Full text linkWilson’s disease, SAPHO syndrome and Hereditary angioedema are three rare
disorders characterized by a wide spectrum of different clinical manifestations,
which involve several organs and apparatus, making the diagnosis extremely
difficult. In this study, the salivary proteome and peptidome of subjects affected
by these pathologies has been investigated using mass spectrometry, through
an integrated top-down and bottom-up platform, and compared with groups of
healthy controls, with the aim to assess whether qualitative and quantitative
variations of salivary proteins and peptides could be associated to the immune
derangement distinctive of each disease and in order to have suggestions on
potential specific salivary biomarkers.
The analysis of the salivary proteome from patients affected by Wilson’s disease
allowed to characterize new oxidized proteoforms of S100A8 and S100A9 and
two fragments of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor named ASVD and
AVAD. Higher levels of these proteins and peptides observed in the patients
are most likely connected to the oxidative stress, the activation of the
inflammatory processes, and the hepatic damage caused by the altered copper
transport and its subsequent accumulation in the organism, which is at the
origin of the pathology. The observed increase of the level of α-defensins 2 and
4 may give a contribution to the development of the disease by the
improvement of the free copper.
The proteome of patients affected by SAPHO syndrome revealed a significant
decrease of cystatins, histatins, and aPRPs, which are involved in the protection
against infections, suggesting a reduced ability of these subjects to contrast
bacteria colonization, in particular P. acnes which is a possible trigger of this
disease. In particular, the lower levels of histatins and the higher frequency of
S100A12 observed in patients with respect to controls, may be connected with
the dysregulation of the innate immunity and the neutrophil response typical of
SAPHO syndrome. Cystatin SN abundance decrease correlated with the disease
duration, suggesting its reduced production during the chronic phase of the
~ 5 ~
disease, while histatins showed positive correlation with serum levels of the C
reactive protein.
In saliva of Hereditary angioedema patients, the increased percentage of
peptides generated by the proteolytic cleavage by metalloproteinases indicates
the intense metalloproteinase activity possibly connected to the activation of
inflammatory pathways. Interestingly, in consideration of the possible role of
cystatin B in enhancing the production of nitric oxide, and the higher salivary
levels measured in the patients, we suggest that cystatin B may give a
contribution to the vasodilatation and the vasopermeability responsible for the
oedema formation, which is the main feature of this pathology.
In conclusion, the results obtained in these studies clearly highlighted that the
salivary proteome showed some features specific of the three pathologies. Even
though these results have been obtained in a small cohort of patients, due to the
difficult recruitment of subjects affected by rare disorders, and need further
validation by using orthogonal techniques, they strongly suggest that saliva,
with easy and non-invasive collection characteristics, could be a biofluid suitable for diagnostic applications
Determinanti genetici dell’espressione dell’emoglobina HbF
Full text linkBackground: Increased levels of fetal hemoglobin (HbF, α2γ2) may reduce beta thalassemia
severity. We have investigated the influence of three known major loci on the HbF trait (HBG2,
rs7482144; BCL11A, rs1427407; HBS1L-MYB, rs9399137), prevalent Sardinian mutations in
human Kruppel-like factor 1 (KLF1) recently reported to be responsible for persistence of high levels
of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) and two new predicted polymorphisms (HBE1 rs67385638; HBG2
rs2855122) involved in the increased HbF and HbA2 levels.
Methods: We selected 4 cohorts of samples with different phenotypes: 87 HPFH, 41 subjects with
normal HbF levels, 395 patients with beta thalassemia major and 59 beta thalassemia intermedia
patients. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were genotyped by TaqMan procedure and
one by restriction enzyme, KLF1 mutation was studied by Sanger sequencing. Fetal hemoglobin
(HbF) from HPFH subjects was determined using the High Performance Liquid Chromatography
(HPLC). Genotype frequencies were compared with frequencies reported in a global reference
populations and in the Sardinian Population (PROGENIA).
Results: We defined the genetic variants at five SNPs, reported to be associated with higher HbF
levels. Although the distribution of the different SNP genotypes was significantly different in the all
cohortes analysed, in the HPFH cohort as a whole, our data showed statistical significance only in
the genetic association between BCL11A and HbF levels. However, splitting the HPFH samples in
two categories based on the presence of the KLF1 mutation, the correlation of hemoglobin variations
with some SNPs reached statistical significance in the KLF1 positive population with a trend toward
the statistical significance in the KLF negative population exclusively for the rs67385638 SNP,
suggesting that different pathways of globin regulation might be acting through the different SNPs
Studio citogenetico della famiglia Muraenidae (Anguilliformes: Actinopterygii) mediante tecniche di citogenetica classica e molecolare
No full textMoray eels (Actinopterygii, Anguilliformes, Muraenidae) are teleosts widespread in tropical and temperate seas and among the most common predators of the coral reef. Nevetherless, they are too little studied due to their hidden and nocturnal habits; furthermore, they are not important commercially, and in Asian countries are involved in ciguatera poisoning in humans. Beside the ciguatera fish poisoning, most studies concern the taxonomy, mainly based on morphology and body colour pattern; however the classification of species and genera is still controversial.
Comparative cytogenetic, allowing the study of karyotype evolution among species and genera, could contribute to shed light on taxomomic and phylogenetic incertainties on Muraenidae family. Till now, less of 10% have been karyologically analysed and a very few number of species have been studied by molecular and comparative cytogenetics.
Whitin a karyological study on anguillifom teleosts, and in particular on morays, in this PhD reseach, a comparative cytogenetic analysis of six Indo-Pacific moray eels from three different genera (Gymnothorax fimbriatus, Gymnothorax flavimarginatus, Gymnothorax javanicus, Gymnothorax undulatus, Echidna nebulosa and Gymnomuraena zebra), was carried out, using Wright’s staining and C-banding in order to investigate the chromosomal differentiation in the family Muraenidae.
Four species displayed a diploid chromosome number 2n=42, which is common among the Muraenidae. Two other species were characterized by different chromosome numbers (2n=40 and 2n=36). For most species, a large amount of constitutive heterochromatin was detected in the chromosomes, with species-specific C-banding patterns that enabled pairing of the homologous chromosomes.
In all species, the major ribosomal genes were localized in the guanine-cytosine-rich region of one chromosome pair, with different chromosomal locations. The (TTAGGG)n telomeric sequences were mapped onto chromosomal ends in all the muraenids studied.
Since the minor ribosomal family have been never studied in any moray species, in this study the 5S rDNA have been mapped, beside three Indopacific moray, in the Mediterranean species G. unicolor e Muraena helena. Almost all species displayed multiple cluster of 5S genes with both different as well as conserved localizations among species.
The comparison of the results derived from this study with those available in the literature confirms a substantial conservation of the diploid chromosome number in the Muraenidae and supports the hypothesis that rearrangements have occurred that have diversified their karyotypes. Furthermore, the finding of two species with different diploid chromosome numbers suggests that additional chromosomal rearrangements, such as Robertsonian fusions, have occurred in the karyotype evolution of the Muraenidae
Incidentalità in ambito urbano: studio del comportamento di guida in relazione alle caratteristiche geometriche dell’infrastruttura stradale
Full text linkThe aim of research is the study of driving behavior in relation to the geometric characteristics of the urban road infrastructure. This study allows the identification of factors which influence driving speed. The purpose is realizing mathematical models which link the driving behavior with the geometric characteristics of the infrastructure.
Up to now, the research has focused mostly on suburban roads but the models about the suburban roads are not applicable to Italian urban roads because you must consider many factors. For example, in urban roads there are several factors that affect speed such as road characteristics, car parks on the edge of the road, weather conditions, pedestrians, bicycles, vehicles and their category.
The parameter used to describe driving behavior is space mean speed. This is very important because it considers the speed of vehicles traveling a given segment of roadway during a specified period of time and it is calculated using the average travel time and length for the roadway segment. Furthermore, this speed is used to understand the behavior of driving in two scenarios: normal traffic and under free flow conditions when vehicles are isolated. Particular attention was given to define the isolated vehicle. In the literature the definition of isolated vehicle does not exist for urban roads. For this reason, the time intervals were defined. The application of statistical techniques has shown that a vehicle is isolated when the vehicle ahead is at a temporal distance greater than or equal to six seconds and the vehicle following it is at a temporal distance greater than or equal to four seconds. Therefore the mathematical model construction includes the following phases. First of all, accidents analysis was carried out in order to identify the roads of interest. This analysis performed for Cagliari’s city has revealed that the streets most affected by this phenomenon are urban roads with two lanes in each direction. In particular for these urban roads, the portion of the studied tangent. Then, surveys campaign was conducted in daylight and with two instruments: radar EasyData, used to detect vehicular traffic variables, and digital cameras, useful to analyze the driver behaviors and to identify any external or internal traffic factors able to affect driver behavior. Afterwards data were processed and analyzed. Finally predictive models were constructed and validated in two traffic conditions.
In both cases we used a multiple linear regression. In the normal traffic condition, two models were developed and validated to predict speed, statistically significant variables include traffic characteristics (flow, number of vehicles entering and leaving traffic stream) and geometric design attributes (width of lines, type of median, length of tangent, presence of sidewalk, type of obstacle
left-lateral). Under free flow conditions, three models were developed but only two were validated. The statistically significant variables include presence of sidewalk, length of tangent, presence and type of median, width of obstacle right-lateral
Neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties of the new PPARγ agonist MDG548: an in vitro and in vivo study in PD models
Full text linkNeuroinflammation is a key component of Parkinson’s disease (PD) neuropathology. Skewed
microglia activation with pro-inflammatory prevailing over anti-inflammatory phenotypes may
contribute to neurotoxicity via the production of cytokines and neurotoxic species. Therefore,
microglia polarization has been proposed as a target for neuroprotection. The peroxisome
proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is expressed in microglia and peripheral immune
cells, where it is involved in macrophages polarization and in the control of inflammatory
responses, by modulating gene transcription. Several studies have shown that PPARγ agonists are
neuroprotective in experimental PD models in rodents and primates. however safety concerns have
been raised about PPARγ agonists thiazolidinediones (TZD) currently available, prompting for the
development of non-TZD compounds.
Aim of this study was to characterize a novel PPARγ agonist non TZD, MDG548, for its potential
neuroprotective effect in PD models and its immunomodulatory activity as the underlying
mechanism of neuroprotection. The neuroprotective activity of MDG548 was assessed in vivo in the
subacute MPTP model and in the chronic MPTP/probenecid (MPTPp) model of PD. MDG548
activity on microglia activation and phenotype was investigated in the substantia nigra pars
compacta (SNc) via the evaluation of pro- (TNF-α and iNOS) and anti-inflammatory (CD206)
molecules, with fluorescent immunohistochemistry. Moreover, cultured murine microglia MMGT12
were treated with MDG548 in association with the inflammagen LPS, pro- and anti-inflammatory
molecules were measured in the medium by ELISA assay and phagocytosis was evaluated by
fluorescent immunohistochemistry for CD68.
MDG548 arrested dopaminergic cells degeneration in the SNc in both the subacute MPTP and the
chronic MPTPp models of PD, and reverted MPTPp-induced motor impairment. Moreover,
MDG548 reduced microglia activation, iNOS and TNF-α production, while induced CD206 in
microglia. In cultured unstimulated microglia, LPS increased TNF-α production and CD68
expression, while decreased CD206 expression. MDG548 reverted LPS effect on TNF-α and
CD206 restoring physiological levels, while strongly increased CD68 expression.
Results suggest that the PPARγ agonist MDG548 is neuroprotective in experimental models of PD.
MDG548 targets microglia polarization by correcting the imbalance between pro- over antiinflammatory
molecules, offering a novel immunomodulatory approach to neuroprotection
Studio delle caratteristiche nutraceutiche e salutistiche degli oli di oliva extravergine e delle olive da tavola CV Tonda di Cagliari, possibile utilizzo di comuni cibi da tavola nella modulazione del microbioma orale umano
Full text linkIn recent years it has increased the interest in the role that certain foods have on some chronic diseases in particular
against free radicals. Furthermore, certain foods show positive effects on one or more specific functions of the body, in
addition to the normal nutritional role, so as to improve the health and well-being and/or reduce the risk of diseases. In
the olives and its derivatives it has been recognized antioxidant capacity and beneficial properties against degenerative
diseases induced by oxidative stress, due to the particular fatty acid composition, the important concentration of
phenolic compounds and the Vitamin E content. The phenolic content of olives and their transformation products may
be influenced by several factors: variety (type of cultivar), processing methods, soil conditions, climatic and
technological processes. In table olives functional characteristics and antioxidants are strongly influenced by the
fermentation process mediated by microbial starters. The type of inoculum may conditioning the final characteristics of
the product.
This work is divided in two part. In the first part it were evaluated the nutraceutical characteristics of some
monocultivar extravirgin olive oils from Italy by means of their phenolic and Vitamin E composition, and antioxidant
capacity. Furthermore the technological performances, during the processing of table olives, of two starters were
evaluated: a Single Strain LAB (SSL) starter culture and a Selected Inoculum Enrichment (SIE), made up of an
undefined number of strains, taking natural fermentation (NF) as control. Fermentation profile has been traced
monitoring microbial counts, pH, titratable acidity and volatile acidity development. Phenolic profile, antioxidant
capacity, along with instrumental texture analyses and sensory evaluations have been carried out to define the impact of
the technologies employed on the quality features during the processing and in the final products.
In the second part of this thesis it were evaluated the antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects of some common foods typical of the Mediterranean diet (Allium sativum L .; Allium cepa L .; Ocimum basilicum, L .; Petroselinum crispum) and shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) extracts. Actually this is an important topic of study within the renewed philosophy of “more natural life” and environmentally friendly.
The Olive oils tested showed excellent quality characteristics. SIE resulted more efficient in supplanting the spoilage microbiota (Enterobacteriaceae) compared to SSL and NF. Both starters were able to lower the pH at security levels in a shorter time compared to NF driven fermentation that resulted in higher final pH levels and lower titratable acidity. Texture analyses showed that NF samples retained more cohesiveness and elasticity than inoculated samples. However, SIE samples texture resulted more firm and elastic, compared to SSL texture. Microbial starters efficiently debittered the olives in 5 months, while NF samples resulted not yet debittered at the end of the sampling period.
The results obtained in the second part of the thesis shown an activity profile of the extract of garlic for most of the tested strains.
The results obtained from the experiments on the biofilm showed the oppositive trend to expected, in contrast to the antimicrobial action of the extract. The foods we studied could produce increased activity in the commensal (greater biofilm physiological) reducing pathogenicity. The most important fact, concerning the extract of Lentinula edoses, is the increase of the biofilm of the probiotic compared to the pathogen (inhibited). This could allow the use of the shiitake mushroom in the treatment of periodontal disease
Associazione tra i polimorfismi dei geni NOD2/CARD15, TLR-4, IL23R e GVHD, infezioni e mortalità precoce nel trapianto allogenico di cellule staminali ematopoietiche nella popolazione pediatrica sarda talassemica, ampliamento del progetto con lo studio molecolare di altri geni candidati
Full text linkRecently single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the genes NOD2-CARD15, IL23-R and TLR-4 have been showed to influence the risk for acute GvHD in patients who underwent to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) transplantation.
To investigate whether these genes play a role in the pathogenesis of GvHD also in the Sardinian population, 8 SNPs four for NOD2, two for TLR4 and two for IL23R in 86 recipients, their coupled donors and in 150 healthy Sardinians individualswere genotyped and the SNPs frequencies compared.
The SNP rs2066842 of NOD2 gene was significantly increased in the group of patients who did not develop acute GvHD(p = 0.002).
Our data, if confirmed in GvHD patients from other population, could suggest the inclusion of the non-HLA NOD2/CARD15 genes genotyping in the attribution of the immunological donor/recipient pre-transplant score
Responsabilizzazione della dirigenza pubblica e nuove logiche sanzionatorie nell’amministrazione di risultato
Full text linkWithin the new polycentric organization structured on the separation between politics
and administration, the real responsibility of the public management constitutes a
fundamental passage for the full realization of the ‘result administration’ model.
In front of the lack of effectiveness of the principles such as valuation and
responsibility, the system has recently registered the emersion of a new approach which
‘penalizes’ the public management, inspired not by logics of correction but, on the
contrary, by ones based on sanctions. The objective of the dissertation is to comprehend
if the new punitive approach is effectively able to offer a real contribution to the
problem of the lack of effectiveness of accountability, to then evaluate if its function
within the system has changed.
To do this the starting point is the analysis of the evolution of the relationship between
politics and administration, in order to understand which is the current role of public
management inside the system. On the basis of this premise, the theme of the forms
adopted from the accountability of the ‘result administration’ model has been
confronted: first through the observation of what should have been its contribution, and
then, with the highlight of the critiques emerged on the grounds of the concrete
implementation and the responses elaborated by the system. Furthermore, an in-depth
study has been carried out on the computerization process of the public administrations:
in this area of interest, in fact, an important example of acceptance of the new sanctionbased
logic has been registered, used as leverage to force the public management into
implementing the law provisions contained in the CAD (the italian ‘Digital
Administration Code’).
The analysis carried out has, on one side, brought out the tough operational issues in the
utilization of the new sanction mechanisms, on the other, has revealed certain intrinsic
and extrinsic limits. This has therefore prevented the achievement of the scope of
covering the lack of effectiveness of accountability, and has contributed to generate an
alteration of its structure that seems to be capable to affect its peculiar function, to them
traditionally attributed within the scope of the ‘result administration’ model
Programmazione mineraria sarda dall'intervento del Piano di Rinascita alla crisi degli anni novanta
No full textThis doctoral thesis aims to reconstruct the political, economic and social of the
events linked to the Sardinian industrial planning, with specific attention to the
mining sector, in a period of time that fits the end of World War II until the
nineties of the twentieth century.
The multiplicity of public and private archival sources and press gave rise to a
complex research of different archives and libraries present time on the territory
of Sardinia and Rome. In particular, we analyzed the cards of these archives: the
Sardinian Regional Council Historic Archive (Cagliari), the Archive of Filcem
(Iglesias), Historical Archive Mining Igea Spa (Iglesias), Historical Archive Eni
(Rome-Pomezia ), Central State Archive (Rome), Historical Archive of the CISL
Sarda (Cagliari), on the basis of the parliamentary records produced by the
Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
The method of comparison among political extracting documents, economic and
trade union allowed to have a bigger picture and capable of restoring the complex
historical issues that have given rise to the story of mining in Sardinia in the late
twentieth century. My research, through an analysis of the bibliographic and
archival materials, has focused on industrial policy, due to the experience of the
"Revival Plan" and the subsequent intervention of the national and regional level
public sector in favor of the Sardinian mining.
The first chapter of the thesis provides an overview of the role played by the
mining policies provided by Revival Plan in the processes of development after
World War II up to the dynamic processes that led to the advent of the initiative
public during the period between the late sixties and early seventies. The history
of the Sardinian economic development and policies aimed at relaunching the
mining sector, as is clear from the analysis of archival documents and works of
contemporary historiography, is fully part of economic planning in the actions
taken by the central and regional institutions to allow the re-launch economically
depressed structures in the South. The issues socio-economic backwardness of the
island and the stagnation of regional industrial structures, as in the case of the
mining sector, had raised public awareness on the problems of the island's
economic structure, highlighting the need for economic planning that basasse on
the industrial development of the territory.
Faced with this scenario, the political and trade union circles islanders after World
War II supported a platform of demands for "economic and social revival of
Sardinia" that, based on the treatises of Article 13 of the special statute of Sardinia
(26 February 1948), It was to contribute to the development of economic
structures of Sardinia across the planner action of central and regional institutions.
The reports provided by the trade unions and the documentation kept at the
Historical Archives of the Regional Council of the rest to highlight ways in the
mining sector vigesse a very precarious socio-economic situation, which could
conflict with the preparation of a program of development based on the
intervention of the initiative public.
Within this scenario, the action of the Sardinian politicians and trade unions, in
the second half of the forties and until the approval of Law No. 588, contributed
to the involvement of mining activities in the area planning phases of the Plan
rebirth, since in their view represented the premise for achieving socio-economic
development under Article 13, and the subsequent Sardinian mining industry
growth in the economic scenario of the national / local level.
The timing and modalities of implementation of the Revival Plan, nevertheless,
negatively engraved on expectations of mining areas fulfilling commitments
under Article 13 of the Special Statute. An analysis of labor relations and in the
acts of the Regional Council of Sardinia emerges as trade unions and political
leaders of the opposition parties stigmatizzassero delays of regional and national
institutions, which in their judgment penalizing the industrial policies designed to
raise industry regional mining.
The sixties, though they were marked by the approval of Law No. 588 and the
preparation of a series of measures for the expansion and the consequent
restructuring of the sector Metal (as in the case of the regional decision of March
1968 which established the Ente mining Sardo), were instead characterized by a
deepening crisis of the mining areas and the failure of the objectives of the
"Revival Plan" ,. Despite the establishment of development programs for metallic
mineral products, the analysis of the bibliographic and archival complex revealed
that the absence of an adequate industrial policy by national Governments and
Regional had penalized the nature objectives socio- provided for by the economic
Revival Plan and aggravated the precarious conditions of the mining sector, which
at the end of the sixties will be marked by a progressive advertising.
In this regard, the contributions produced by contemporary historiography and
archival sources made it possible to provide an overview on the guidelines of
mining policies in the season of the "Revival Plan" and placed in evidence the
limits of economic planning pursued in the course of the sixties and the criticality
of the relationship between national and regional bodies. The system of relations
between the State and the Region, in this scenario, will be a key element in the
interventions in support of the mining industry, whose consequences (political,
economic and social) they recorded substantially in the economic dynamics of the seventies.In the second chapter, after providing an in-depth analysis on the mining policies
of the local area / national aftermath of the publicity of the mining sector, I tried
to reconstruct the process that would have marked the phases of the public
initiative, pausing on policies industrial assumed by national and regional
institutions during the seventies. During the conference of Grosseto (1970),
Florence (1972) and Cagliari, political and trade union circles of national and
regional level had argued that the public sector action could represent a growth
factor for the development of the mining sector of the island.
Industrial processes put in place by EMSA dall'Egam and constituted in this
regard an important milestone for the relaunch of the mining industry and
occupational island, even though the policy measures of the national / regional
level could not provide solutions to the crisis mining industry.
Regional and state authorities, as the analysis of archival documents and literature
produced during the decade between the end of the seventies and the eighties, did
not intervene in a unified manner, a circumstance that caused numerous conflicts
of competence which caused a expenditure of financial resources and that there
was a reorganization of the productive activity and a resolution of social and
business problems.
The industrial policy decisions taken at the end of the seventies, in relation to the
acts produced by the Regional Council and the trade unions belonging to the
CGIL and CISL, were marked by the rescue and by the advance of the mining
activities of the Eni group, which in fact accentuated the dependence of the
regional industrial system from the system of State holdings,
Following the approval of Law 279/1978, Eni took over the liquidator Committee
of Ex Egam society and strove to the restructuring of the mining sector, with the
establishment of the Equity Mining and Metallurgical Company (Samim), where
the confluence of part of Mining companies belonging to the Ente Sardo
(PiomboZincifera Sarda) and all'Egam (Ammi Sarda and Sogersa). The late
seventies and early Eighties marked a stage where the doubts and uncertainties
continued to demand payment in the sector Metal Sulcis-Iglesias and the
consequent challenge to the system of companies with public participation, taking
a function of rescue of marginal businesses and financially distressed.
In the third and final chapter I finally analyzed the public final stages of the
intervention of State Holdings through the Eni group initiative until disposal of
the mining sector and the consequent industrial conversion of mining areas.
Through the study of the testimonies contained in the local newspapers and the
memories of the major trade union leaders of the period, I was able to rebuild the
profile of the mining disputes within the mining companies and Samim and Sim
up to the progressive abandonment of the metalliferous resources from public groups they had to provide for the restructuring of the metal mines of Sulcis-
Iglesiente and Guspini.
Examination of Historical Archive documentation of the CISL Sarda and Central
State Archives and newspaper it was possible to detect a new heightened interest
of national, regional and trade unions on the problems of the mining area, aimed
at a revival of the mining sector local through the allocation of substantial funding
and the provision of a series of legislative measures, such as the national mining
law 752/1982, aimed at the exploitation of mineral resources in respect of the
supply of domestic raw materials. Within this context, the restructuring of the
mining sector and the consequent downsizing of the workforce employed in the
Sulcis, following the industrial policies adopted by Eni, caused the resumption of
the platform of demands on the political and regional trade union front, with the
aim of respond to the dismantling of the mining and non-compliance of the
national government and the State holdings. Within this dramatic scenario, the
financial situation of the Samim brought to light the public failure of the initiative
in the development policies of the Metal area of Sulcis-Iglesiente.
Facing the collapse of the mining sector they isolate the provident Eni Group
demerged Samim in 1986, dividing it into two parts and forming the Italian Mines
Company (Sim) for the mining sector and New Samim for the metallurgical
industry, with the aim to separate the "losing" sectors from the sectors in which
Eni active prospects could return from an industrial point of view.
Despite measures taken by Eni, the state and regional intervention experience in
the mining sector had its epilogue in the nineties, when it began the gradual
disposal of mining and started the process of environmental rehabilitation of
mining areas characterized from disused mining activities or undergoing
decommissioning. In the second half of the nineties ended the programmatic
experience Mining Ente Sardo, a factor that gave way to the launching of regional
and national legislative measures aimed at revitalizing, remediation, and historical
and cultural development of the regional mining heritage by Igea Company SpA and of the Geo-mining Park