Migration Research Research Articles

Migrating a Legacy System to a Microservice Architecture

Background: In software engineering, each software product has a life cycle that at some point results in a decision being made with regard to extending its maintenance or upgrading the system to a new platform and architecture via a re-engineering or migration process. However, sometimes this decision is a non-starter; the technical dept accumulates, and platforms cease to exist, meaning that there will always be a time when extending the life support of a legacy system is no longer simply an option, and the service must be modernized. Aim: In this paper, we focus on the migration processes, where a legacy system is updated to a microservice architecture, to understand the current state-of-the-art, applied industry practices and potential pitfalls or research gaps in the topic domain. The study aims to explore previous research to find related trends and expose gaps in the literature. Method: We conducted a systematic mapping study on the research trends within the topic of redesign and re-engineering projects related to microservice architectures to understand what we know about microservices, what the current research trends in the area are, and if possible, what the common nominators for successful migration processes are. Results: Our observations reveal that most microservice migration research is confined to journal articles and conference proceedings. However, a severe fragmentation in publication venues exists within the field. Furthermore, the focus of the research field is primarily on the transformation phase of the re-engineering process, with the majority of the contributions being managerial in nature, particularly of the process type. Additionally, over 50 % of the research conducted is empirical in nature. Conclusion: Based on the results, microservice migration research is maturing well; most of the research is empirical. The research field is scattered. There are notable technical, managerial, and organizational challenges and differing motivations. To better understand the motivations and challenges of the practitioners, we are going to conduct survey and interview studies within this field.

S. Stauffer’s theory of the interdependence of mobility and distance as a basis for modern migration studies

This article analyzes the scientific legacy of S. Stouffer, one of the founders of migration studies. The main value of his work lies not so much in the data he received, but in questions he formulated about migration, which still remain relevant. The article substantiates the need for modern researchers to refer to the works of the classics of migration studies, and consistently examines the questions that S. Stouffer tried to answer in his works. Particular attention is paid to data sources for the analysis of migration processes, S. Stouffer’s arguments about the subjectivity of migrants and the existence of various strategies of migration behavior, as well as the concepts of “assumed” and “real” migration opportunities are analyzed. In conclusion, the article formulates the main theses that seem relevant to migration researchers today, and also describes a theoretical framework that suggests a connection between mobility and distance. Basing on the key thesis of this article that: “the lost value of research with Stouffer’s today is the devaluation of answers to fundamental and applied questions of migration, but the acquired value is the revaluation of the very questions posed by him”, the authors of the text demonstrate the continuity and evolution of scientific thought about migration processes from the middle of the 20th century up to the present day.

Predicting mobility aspirations in Lebanon and Turkey: a data-driven exploration using machine learning

Abstract The aspirations-ability framework proposed by Carling has begun to place the question of who aspires to migrate at the center of migration research. In this article, building on key determinants assumed to impact individual migration decisions, we investigate their prediction accuracy when observed in the same dataset and in different mixed-migration contexts. In particular, we use a rigorous model selection approach and develop a machine learning algorithm to analyze two original cross-sectional face-to-face surveys conducted in Turkey and Lebanon among Syrian migrants and their respective host populations in early 2021. Studying similar nationalities in two hosting contexts with a distinct history of both immigration and emigration and large shares of assumed-to-be mobile populations, we illustrate that a) (im)mobility aspirations are hard to predict even under ‘ideal’ methodological circumstances, b) commonly referenced “migration drivers” fail to perform well in predicting migration aspirations in our study contexts, while c) aspects relating to social cohesion, political representation and hope play an important role that warrants more emphasis in future research and policymaking. Methodologically, we identify key challenges in quantitative research on predicting migration aspirations and propose a novel modeling approach to address these challenges.

Working Environment and Benefit Differences in Indo-Nepal Labour Migration

The open border between Nepal and India has encouraged people to migrate across the border for better livelihood. People from Sudurpaschim Province are disproportionately attracted to India for four important reasons: close distance, low travel cost, access to jobs and network. Likewise, Indian people from particularly from the border towns of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal States usually come to Nepal searching for employment or better opportunities. The burgeoning migration research in Nepal often ignores migration to India, and there has hardly been any research on Indian migration to Nepal. This paper attempts to make a comparative study of Indo-Nepal migration, focusing on working environment, i.e., work natures, working conditions, and their benefits such as income, and welfare benefits of both migrants’ groups. Bhimdatt Municipality of Kanchanpur District was selected as the study area. A mixed methodology has been adopted for this study. For Quantitative data collection, sample survey was conducted with 650 respondents (370 for Nepali-labour migrants to India and 270 Indian labour-migrants to Nepal). Using ISCO/08, ILO (2012), skills classification framework, this paper shows Nepali migrants works lack technical skills (91% being at basic level, as menial workers) as opposed to the Indian migrants, majority of whom have some technical skills, such as operating machines (54.3% vs. 7.3%). This has reflection on their earning and welfare benefits and condition of work and living. Indian migrants earn an average of NRs. 40635.5 per month, compared to NRs. 19061.6 earned by Nepali migrants. In case of Nepali labour-migrants who work in registered companies, business houses along with mutual agreement for job get allowances, overtime facility, medical insurance however, it is not found in case of Indian labour-migrants working in different technical sectors in Nepal. Policy makers need to work on promoting skills of the migrant workers enabling them to take up better paid jobs at home and migration destinations.

Re-Conceptualizing Insider/Outsider Positionalities in Migration Research as ‘Liquid Positionalities’: An Analytical Tool for Migration Scholars

Dominant theoretical discussions on insider/outsider, co-ethnic/co-national migrant researcher positionalities have focused on the ideas of group identities such as nationality and ethnicity and how they shape and inform insider/outsider researchers’ positionalities. While some migration researchers argue that shared nationality and ethnicity make co-national or co-ethnic researchers insiders, others contend that the insiderness/outsiderness of co-national or co-ethnic researchers tends to be shaped and informed by multiple, fluid and changing situational factors. This paper draws on ‘fluid identity theory’ and secondary literature to argue that in migration research, insider/outsider positionalities tend to be fluid formations that change, shift and become unstable during research encounters with study participants. I develop an analytical concept that I term ‘liquid insider/outsider positionalities’ to contribute to the literature on insider/outsider researcher positionalities in migration research. By way of introducing this analytical concept, I critique presuppositions, conceptualizations and categorizations of migrant/migration researchers as either insiders or outsiders based on predetermined and rigid social identity markers such as ethnicity or nationality. Migration scholars and researchers may employ the concept of ‘liquid insider/outsider positionalities’ as a tool to frame the dynamic, changing and situational character of researcher positionalities in migration research during field research encounters.

Reimagining “Integration” in the Light of the New Forms of Mobility

There is a growing awareness in migration research that traditional interpretations and approaches to measuring and evaluating integration do not adequately fit the increasingly fluid and unpredictable patterns of migration observed today. Focusing on the transnational and liquid migration characteristic of Eastern European migrants, we propose a new conceptual framework that explains contemporary processes of migrant incorporation from the perspective of migrants themselves. Our model accounts for the “breadth and depth” of integration and contrasts deep integration and assimilation with functional adaptation, and integration into a certain group or network with integration into society as a whole. The analysis is based on comprehensive mixed-design research of Latvian migrants which includes a survey of 6,242 Latvian emigrants, as well as 15 in-depth interviews with internationally-mobile global talents. The bottom-up perspective that we employ sheds new light on how migrants themselves think about, and experience integration in their everyday lives.

Migracije – kritike klasičnih teorija i feministički doprinosi / Migrations – Criticisms of Classical Theories and Feminist Contributions

The fast way of life, the intensive flow of information and the comprehensive connection of people and capital with the global market and modern technologies lead to the questioning of the traditional definitions of the concepts of space, place and time in the social sciences, which at the same time makes the classical theories of migration questionable. The issue of “methodological nationalism” has long been discussed and criticized in the literature, as well as Eurocentrism, the dominance of the economic perspective and gender imbalance, recognized as stumbling points in migration research. The main criticisms of classical theories of migration are presented in the paper, as well as new approaches that are born from the attempt to understand the changes brought about by modern society and to overcome the set stumbling points.

Bird migration research today: some achievements and new challenges

This review deals with the topics of bird migration research that have seen significant progress in the recent years. In these fields, earlier views have been significantly re-considered. They include the manifestation of migration, i.e. length of migratory flights, their speed, duration of stopovers, flight altitude, which taken together form the spatio-temporal realization of migration. New data on this array of research questions make it possible to ask new questions about physiological adaptations that make such flights possible, and factors that govern these processes. Significant progress is also evident in the study of long-distance orientation and navigation of migrating birds. However, it mainly concerns the mechanisms of magnetoreception and use of magnetic cues for orientation. Besides, students of bird migration could not ignore the ‘-omics’ revolution, which, like the studies of the manifestation of migration, was mainly caused by technological advances, mainly by the advent of next generation sequencing techniques. The new data obtained by these methods raised the hope to sort out the genetic basis of endogenous control of bird migration. However, the gap between the expectations and the actual results remains. To close this gap, new research into the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie migratory behavior is necessary. The results available now mainly refer to the processes that are relatively well understood, mainly the mechanisms of energy turnover and stress response.

Translocal resource governance, social relations and aspirations: Linking translocality and Feminist Political Ecology to explore farmer-managed irrigation systems and migration in Nepal

Widespread male out-migration presents major challenges to the sustainability of existing collective irrigation systems. However, the effects of socio-spatial changes on collective resource governance systems remain unknown.This paper addresses this gap by building a synthesis of translocality and Feminist Political Ecology (FPE). Translocality examines the socio-spatial interconnectedness of rural societies in the context of out-migration. FPE explores how changing gender and social relations shape resource governance. A translocal Feminist Political Ecology framework (tFPE) contextualizes resource governance within translocal social flows, and captures (i) translocal resource governance, (ii) translocal social relations, and (iii) translocal aspirations.Drawing from qualitative interviews and participatory methods on two farmer-managed irrigation systems in Far Western Nepal, I illustrate the complexity, intersectionality and ambiguity of translocal social relations in collective resource governance. Translocal resource governance is shaped by changing household and labor relations marked by remittances, and translocal flows of social and human resources, ideas and knowledge, e.g. migrants’ advice via phone on when and how to irrigate. Translocal social relations entail marginalized groups, i.e., women and elderly people, providing increased labor contributions and possibly receiving migrants’ support in the form of advice and networks. However, authority and power relations are sustained in resource governance by mostly upper caste men. Translocal aspirations to the home village by both migrants and non-migrants is ambivalent and leads them to hope for frequent visits home, while aspirations and shame turn them away from agriculture towards earning higher incomes through migration.The tFPE framework emphasizes important but understudied translocal social relations and aspirations in collective resource governance, water, irrigation and migration research. By linking translocality and FPE, I show how translocal resource governance, social relations and aspirations change everyday practices and gender, caste and labor relations in irrigation, and how we may understand the water-migration nexus.

A new method of the hydrocarbon secondary migration research: Numerical simulation

A three-dimensional invasion percolation simulation model is introduced and integrated into a novel three-dimensional geological modeling framework based on the “unit element” theory to study secondary hydrocarbon migration. Leveraging the computational efficiency inherent in the invasion percolation theory, the simulation method is effectively applied to basin-scale hydrocarbon migration using finely discretized grids. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates the substantial influence of geological parameters including structural configuration, sedimentary facies, and pressure, on simulation results. Noteworthy observations from this study encompass: (1) The intricate influence of sedimentary facies and petrophysical properties characteristics on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation patterns within structural and lithological traps. Favorable petrophysical attributes in the carrier beds enhance the likelihood of accumulation in the structural traps, while lithological traps are prevalent in less conducive carrier beds. (2) The significant impact of sand bodies exhibiting favorable petrophysical attributes, such as channels, on migration and accumulation profiles. This underscores the necessity of incorporating sedimentary facies and rock attributes into oil and gas resource exploration. (3) The pronounced effects of overpressure magnitude and direction on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation dynamics. (4) Optimal strategies for oil and gas resource exploration necessitate a comprehensive assessment of rock attributes, overpressure considerations, and sedimentary facies. The practical implementation of this methodology is demonstrated in an actual exploration project within China's Junggar Basin. The simulation results closely align with established oil recovery data and facilitate predictive identification of promising exploration areas. This indicates the methodology is applicable to all petroleum systems similar to Junggar Basin. Through practical applications, the development of a scientifically rigorous three-dimensional geological model for the study area, coupled with numerical simulations of oil and gas migration, facilitates the elucidation of accumulation patterns. This approach aids in identifying pivotal factors such as sand body distribution, internal structural composition, permeability attributes, and fracture behavior, which collectively influence oil and gas migration. Furthermore, by correlating insights obtained from oil and gas discoveries in wells, a deeper understanding of carrier bed properties and their geological evolution is attained.

A longitudinal analysis of arrival infrastructures: The geographic pathways of EU labour migrants in the Netherlands

AbstractAlthough traditional migration research focuses predominantly on large cities as ports of entry for migrants, increasingly more migrants start in smaller cities and rural areas. These mobility patterns give access to specific arrival infrastructures with differentiated and often unequal opportunities. Current research has addressed the multiplicity and political nature of arrival infrastructures, but what happens after arrival remains a black box. By building on micro register data, this study employs a longitudinal approach to trace the trajectories of EU labour migrants in the Netherlands across time and space. Our findings indicate that among those who choose to remain in the Netherlands, internal migration is largely characterized by geographical immobility. When people did move to a different type of residential location, it was often to more urbanized places. As mostly migrants with a higher income made these moves, this strengthened the dualization of more precarious migrants in rural areas and more well‐off migrants in larger cities.

The Legal Formation of Class in Migrant Care and Domestic Work

This article analyses the relationship between law and class formation through the case of migrant care and domestic work, and puts sociological class theory into conversation with critical migration research. It contributes to class theory by analysing how law helps produce class relations in the Finnish context. The Finnish state channels migrants into cleaning and domestic work through policy measures, and migration law ties them to the reproductive sector, making law a central social relation that defines migrants’ relation to production. The analysis draws on interviews with migrant care and domestic workers (N = 30) holding temporary work permits and examines their structural and affective descriptions of a position restricted by law. The article argues that the way migrant domestic work is formalised in the legislation produces a class relation for migrants, in which they lack full ownership over their labour power. The findings demonstrate how migrant domestic workers express gratitude for their employment despite experiencing it as devalued, indicating labour as repayment of the ‘gift’ of the residence permit.

Migration and migrants in Chinese cities: New trends, challenges and opportunities to theorise with urban China

This introductory article to the special issue discusses some of the latest trends in migration research in urban China and focuses on three areas which have generated new understandings on migration and migrants in Chinese cities. Firstly, it identifies the various similarities and intersections between urban resettlement and migration studies by drawing on the case of China where the livelihoods and experience of migrants and resettled residents have been affected by China’s rapid urbanisation. Secondly, the paper discusses the enduring significance of the residential neighbourhood in influencing the place attachment, social relationships and career development of migrant residents. Finally, it delves deeper into the various ways studies have sought to categorise and differentiate between different migrant sub-groups in urban China and reveals that more fine-grained migration studies have helped better understand China’s large and ever more diverse migrant population and their variegated living experiences and challenges.

Research of Migration of Heavy Metals from Crystal Dishes to Model Environments

Research of Migration of Heavy Metals from Crystal Dishes to Model Environments

Research of restricted migration evaluation of MDA-MB-231 cells in 2D and 3D co-culture models.

The restricted migration evaluation is conducive to more complex tumor migration research because of the conformity with in vivo tumors. However, the differences between restricted and unrestricted cell migration and the distinction between different evaluation methods have not been systematically studied, hindering related research. In this study, by constructing the restricted environments on chips, the influence of co-culture conditions on the cancer cell migration capacity was studied. The results showed that the restricted channels can discriminate the influence of weak tumor environmental factors on complex tumor migration behaviors by limiting the free growth instinct of tumor cells. Through the comparison of 2D and 3D restricted migration methods, the extracellular matrix (ECM) restriction was also helpful in distinguishing the influence of the weak tumor environmental factor. However, the 3D ECM can better reflect the tortuosity of the cell migration process and the cooperative behavior among cancer cells. In the anticancer drug evaluation, 3D ECM can more accurately reflect the cytotoxicity of drugs and is more consistent with the drug resistance in the human body. In conclusion, the research will help to distinguish different evaluation methods of cancer cell migration, help researchers select appropriate evaluation models, and promote the research of tumor metastasis.

The migrant perspective: Measuring migrants' movements and interests using geolocated tweets

AbstractGeolocated social media data hold a hitherto untapped potential for exploring the relationship between user mobility and their interests at a large scale. Using geolocated Twitter data from Nigeria, we provide a feasibility study that demonstrates how the linkage of (1) a trajectory analysis of Twitter users' geolocation and (2) natural language processing of Twitter users' text content can reveal information about the interests of migrants. After identifying migrants via a trajectory analysis, we train a language model to automatically detect the topics of the migrants' tweets. Biases of manual labelling are circumvented by learning community‐defined topics from a Nigerian web forum. Results suggest that differences in users' mobility correlate with varying interests in several topics, most notably religion. We find that Twitter data can be a flexible source for exploring the link between users' mobility and interests in large‐scale analyses of urban populations. The joint use of spatial techniques and text analysis enables migration researchers to (a) study migrant perspectives in greater detail than is possible with census data and (b) at a larger scale than is feasible with interviews. Thereby, it provides a valuable complement to interviews, surveys and censuses, and holds a large potential for further research.

Young people’s involvement in migration research – opportunities for (re)shaping research priorities and practices

Young people are frequently involved in research about their own lives and their contributions to the shaping of research priorities increasingly valued. Recently, young people’s participation in research has been extended to advisory group roles including supporting the planning, design and delivery of projects. Such involvement marks an important shift towards valuing young people’s views on how research should be conducted and is often required as part of research funding processes. In this article, we explore the value and contribution of young people’s involvement in a research project focusing on the livelihoods of young migrants in Ghana and the related possibilities for empowerment. Our collaborations remind us of the pitfalls of working from an adult centric lens, and how this may inadvertently contribute to the reproduction of adult ways of understanding young lives. Here, our project Young Person Advisory Group members share their experiences of being youth advisors – highlighting both challenges and opportunities for young people’s meaningful involvement in research.

Parenting by mothers in immigrant families from Poland, Russia and Turkey in Germany: Migration-related similarities or origin-related differences?

Even if families in migration contexts have been the subject of an increasing amount of attention in migration research in the recent years, there is a noticeable knowledge deficit with regard to current parenting practices and socialization goals of immigrant families living in Germany. This is particularly striking since child-rearing is of central importance for children’s development and their educational pathways. This paper seeks to fill this gap, drawing on the survey “Growing up in Germany: Everyday Life” (AID:A) provided by the German Youth Institute (DJI). Similarities and differences in attitudes towards parenting among immigrant mothers compared to mothers without migration backgrounds were analyzed with regard to parenting practices (emotional warmth, punishment and child’s active participation) and socialization goals (performance/self-control and positive social behavior). In a sample of 5870 mothers reporting on a child under the age of nine, mothers in families where both they and the father had Turkey, Russia or Poland as their country of origin were included and compared to autochthonic families. The results revealed significant differences in parenting practices and socialization goals between mothers with and without migration backgrounds. Concerning parenting practices, Turkish and Russian mothers differed significantly from German mothers with regard to emotional warmth and punishment. In terms of socialization goals, all immigrant mothers placed more emphasis on both performance/self-control, as well as positive social behavior for their children than mothers without migration backgrounds in Germany.

1.Q. Workshop: Work, health, and migration: understanding the health impacts of precarious and exploitative work

Abstract The ILO estimates that of the 169 international migrant workers globally, the largest share resides in Europe, where increasing numbers are at substantial risk of precarious, exploitative, and hazardous work conditions. While the right to health and decent work of migrants is recognised by European member states, COVID-19 has exposed how some low-wage migrant workers are compelled to accept exploitative and precarious employment terms and conditions, with implications for their health. The vulnerability of migrants to labour exploitation is influenced by both personal factors (such as age and gender) as well as situational factors (such as risk environments across the migration journey and national legislation). Hazardous, precarious, and exploitative work is an entrenched driver of poor health. Data show that low-wage migrant workers have higher injury and mortality rates compared to host workers and face barriers to occupational and mainstream health and vaccination systems. In this workshop, we will discuss the patterns of precarious work and labour exploitation in migrants residing in Europe, physical and mental health effects of labour exploitation, research and policy gaps, and models of good practice to ensure that the health and rights of migrant workers are protected. Workshop plan The workshop will start with 10-minute presentations by each of the 4 speakers (including a short Q&A after each talk). This will then move into a 20-minute audience discussion centred around exploring how to foster intersectoral collaboration across the work, migration, and health research communities to begin addressing some of the evidence and policy gaps in the European region. Key messages • Migrant workers have worse health outcomes than native workers, including higher rates of occupational injury and deaths. • Labour exploitation is an important social determinant of health among migrants which requires greater recognition in research and practice.

Akle Tayyibe [Tasty Dish]—Cooking Up Belonging in the Syrian Refugee Foodscape in Turkey

This article is a study of Syrian women’s food practices in Turkey. Researchers have shown that food matters for belonging, but we need more research examining how migrants use food in memory-work; how they cook to create a “happy home”; and how shared meals are tied to inclusion in communities. Drawing from ethnographic fieldwork, this research examines five food practices of belonging that can inform migration researchers about how refugees relate to their heritage and collective memories. The article sheds light women’s agency within struggles over belonging and the role of food in the home-making processes of refugee families.