Bioindication of troposheric ozone by native vegetation: the potential of Viburnum lantana for large-scale surveys

Tropospheric ozone is one of the most important phytotoxic air pollutant. Biomonitoring by native plants is an option when the assessment of its impact on vegetation in large-scale surveys and in remote areas is of concern. The shrub species Viburnum lantana L. (wayfaring tree) is known to be sensitive to ozone, develops specific symptoms consisting in red stipples on the upper surface, and has a wide spatial distribution. However it is not fully known if it meets all the requirements to be used as an in situ bioindicator (Doley, 2010). In particular, the actual responsiveness to ozone of native plants and the relationship between the intensity of responses and the levels of exposure to the pollutant under field conditions remain to be evaluated. For these purposes, two field studies were carried out in Trentino (North Italy) at local (1) and large scale (2). (1) Firstly, at local level, we considered two 1x1 km quadrates characterized by different ozone levels. A fully randomized design was adopted to ensure within-quadrate replications and to select V. lantana plants for the monitoring of ozone-specific foliar symptoms development, the chlorophyll (Chl) content and the fluorescence of Chl a during the entire growing season. (2) Secondly, a stratified (elevation x ozone) random design was used to test the response of V. lantana in terms of symptomatic plant percentage at larger scale (6200 km2). Overall, the results of the two field studies allowed to verify a temporal development of the responses of V. lantana consistent with the trend of ozone exposure (Gottardini et al., 2010), and an higher frequency of symptomatic plants where ozone levels were also higher. However, the frequency of symptoms was not always proportionate to the level of ozone exposure. At the same time of the onset and spread of foliar symptoms, a decrease in the foliar Chl content and in photosynthetic performance occurred. V. lantana seems suitable as a bioindicator in situ to qualitatively assess the potential impact of ozone

Rilevamento di ozono presso i siti forestali UN/ECE Level I nella Provincia di Trento nel 2007

A causa del suo alto potere ossidante, dei suoi elevati livelli e della sua ampia diffusione in aree rurali e forestali, l’ozono troposferico (O3) è ritenuto il contaminante gassoso di potenziale maggiore pericolosità per la vegetazione agraria, semi-naturale e forestale. L’obiettivo del presente studio è ottenere stime realistiche dell’esposizione ad O3 della vegetazione forestale della provincia di Trento, essenziali per poter valutare se siano ipotizzabili effetti di questo inquinante sulla vegetazione. A tale scopo sono stati installati 15 siti di misura delle concentrazioni di O3, riferendosi ai punti della rete UE e UN/ECE di monitoraggio delle foreste di Livello I della provincia di Trento; l’ozono è stato misurato utilizzando campionatori passivi, che forniscono un dato settimanale, successivamente convertito in valori di concentrazione media oraria. L’affidabilità dei dati ottenuti è stata verificata per confronto con i dati forniti in parallelo da centraline automatiche. Le concentrazioni medie settimanali di O3 rilevate nel periodo 6 giugno - 19 settembre 2007 sono risultate comprese tra 62.4±12.4 e 130.6±22.3 μg*m-3. In termini di AOT40, l’indicatore di rischio utilizzato dalla normativa UE e dall’UN/ECE, i valori sono tali da prefigurare frequenti superamenti dei livelli critici nel corso della stagione estiva 2007. Si discutono nel dettaglio andamenti spaziali e temporali dei dati raccolti e si ipotizza una linea futura per la prosecuzione del lavoro nell’ottica di una maggiore comprensione del fenomeno

Development and implementation of a framework for Model Predictive Control of discrete-events manufacturing systems

LAUREA MAGISTRALEIl Model Predictive Control (MPC) è ampiamente riconosciuto per la sua capacità di ottimizzare sistemi complessi, ma la sua applicazione ai sistemi di produzione a eventi discreti richiede spesso una modellazione dettagliata basata su equazioni, limitando flessibilità e adattabilità. Questa tesi introduce un framework software open-source che automatizza la sintesi dei controllori MPC basandosi esclusivamente sulla topologia dell'impianto, consentendo un approccio naturale e guidato dalla topologia che evita le formulazioni matematiche tradizionali. Questo framework rende l'MPC più accessibile per ambienti di produzione dinamici, automatizzando la sintesi del controllore senza necessità di configurazioni manuali complesse. Basato sui principi del software libero, il framework è sviluppato in Python e utilizza il solver CP-SAT di Google per gestire le complessità dell'ottimizzazione discreta. Sfruttando le capacità constraint programming di CP-SAT, il framework gestisce in modo efficiente le dinamiche discrete e non lineari, permettendo controllo e adattabilità in tempo reale. Il design orientato agli oggetti fornisce modularità, rendendo semplice per l'utente definire ed estendere i componenti del sistema, mentre la versatilità di Python assicura la compatibilità con altri strumenti open-source. I risultati delle simulazioni dimostrano che i controllori MPC sintetizzati ottimizzano efficacemente la produzione, l'utilizzo delle risorse e il rispetto dei vincoli in diversi scenari di produzione, richiedendo un intervento minimo da parte dell'utente. Le prestazioni del framework mostrano che è adatto per le industrie che necessitano di riconfigurare rapidamente le linee di produzione per rispondere alle mutevoli esigenze produttive. Questa tesi dimostra che un framework MPC open-source, guidato dalla topologia, può ridurre significativamente la complessità della progettazione del controllore per i sistemi a eventi discreti. Questo framework contribuisce all'avanzamento dell'automazione nella produzione, fornendo una soluzione scalabile e gratuita per migliorare le prestazioni di controllo mantenendo l'adattabilità in ambienti complessi a eventi discreti.Model Predictive Control (MPC) is widely recognized for its ability to optimize complex systems, but its application to discrete-event manufacturing systems often demands detailed equation-based modelling, limiting flexibility and adaptability. This thesis introduces an open-source software framework that automates the synthesis of MPC controllers based solely on plant topology, enabling a natural, topology-driven approach that bypasses traditional mathematical formulations. This framework makes MPC more accessible for dynamic manufacturing environments by automating controller design without extensive manual setup. Built on free software principles, the framework is developed in Python and employs Google’s CP-SAT solver to handle the discrete optimization challenges. By leveraging CP-SAT’s constraint programming capabilities, the framework efficiently manages the discrete and nonlinear dynamics, allowing for real-time adaptability and control. Its object-oriented design provides modularity, making it easy for users to define and extend system components, while Python's versatility ensures compatibility with other open-source tools. Simulation results demonstrate that the synthesized MPC controllers effectively optimize production speed, resource utilization, and constraint adherence across various manufacturing scenarios, requiring minimal user intervention. The framework's performance shows it's well-suited for industries that need to quickly reconfigure manufacturing lines to keep up with shifting production demands. This thesis shows that a topology-driven, open-source MPC framework can significantly reduce the complexity of controller design for discrete-event systems. This framework contributes to advancing automation in manufacturing, providing a scalable and free solution to enhance control performance while maintaining adaptability in complex, discrete-event environments

Increase in airborne allergenic pollen in Trentino (North Italy) over a 30-year period (1989-2018) is connected to temperature rise

The aim of this study is to verify if changes occurred in the seasonality and yearly amounts of airborne pollen in San Michele all’Adige - Northern Italy, and to evaluate their relation with climate change-related variables, such as air temperatures and frost days in the period 1989 - 2018. The study of airborne pollen and its spatio-temporal changes is highly important due to the allergenicity of many pollen taxa. The pollen allergy, in fact, interests 25-40% of population, globally, and displays an increasing trend. Climate change may impact pollen allergenicity and production, as well as plant distribution, with the potential spread of neophytes that produce allergenic pollen. The main hypothesis of our research is that climate change impacting our study area influences pollen dispersal in the atmosphere, and therefore on human-health related issues. Airborne pollen was collected using a volumetric Hirst-type aerobiological sampler (Lanzoni VPPS 2000), and the daily concentration of airborne pollen (P*m-3 ) was calculated for a total of 24 arboreal (AP; trees and shrubs) and non-arboreal pollen taxa (NAP; herbaceous) over a 30- year period. The sampling and analysis of airborne pollen have been performed in accordance with the UNI EN 16868:2019 European standard procedure. The main pollen season (MPS) descriptors were calculated for each taxon. The presence of a monotonic upward or downward temporal trend in pollen season descriptors was verified (non-parametric Mann-Kendall test) and changes were analyzed in relation to air temperature, precipitation, and land use; in addition, pollen data were analyzed clustered into three decadic blocks (non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA) to minimize interannual fluctuations and maximize relevant change signals. The major change observed during the study period was the significant increase in annual pollen integral (APIn). This change is strongly emphasized when analyzing the pollen data in three decadic blocks, both for all the considered taxa (+58%) and for Arboreal Pollen (AP; +155%). When considering single taxa, APIn shows a significant positive trend for Cupressaceae/Taxaceae, Ulmus, Populus, Salix, Ostrya, Quercus, Olea, Plantago, Cannabaceae, and Ambrosia; a significantly earlier start of the MPS is proved for Rumex and Poaceae. Cumulated APIn shows a significant positive correlation with annual T min (<0.005) and T mean (<0.001), both of which showing a significant increase, and a negative correlation (<0.025) with the number of frost days. The research demonstrates an increasingly larger amount of airborne pollen connected to climate change, such as rising temperatures and milder winter conditions in the study area, leading to a major threat to people suffering of pollen allergies

Climate and land-use change during the late Holocene at Lake Ledro (southern Alps, Italy)

International audienceThis paper investigates the relative influences of climatic and anthropogenic factors in explaining environmental and societal changes in the southern Alps, Italy. We investigate a deep sediment core (LL081) from Lake Ledro (652 m a.s.l.). Environmental changes are reconstructed through multiproxy analysis, that is, pollen-based vegetation and climate reconstruction, magnetic susceptibility (MS), lake level, and flood frequency, and the paper focuses on the climate and land-use changes which occurred during the late Holocene. For this time interval, Lake Ledro records high mean water table, increasing amount of pollen-based precipitation, and more erosive conditions. Therefore, while a more humid late Holocene in the southern Alps has the potential to reinforce the forest presence, pollen evidence suggests that anthropogenic activities changed the impact of this regional scenario. Land-use activity (forest clearance for pastoralism, farming, and arboriculture) opened up the large vegetated slopes in the catchment of Lake Ledro, which in turn magnified the erosion related to the change in the precipitation pattern. The record of an almost continuous human occupation for the last 4100 cal. BP is divided into several land-use phases. On the one hand, forest redevelopments on abandoned or less cultivated areas appear to be climatically induced as they occurred in relation with well-known events such as the 2.8-kyr cold event and the ‘Little Ice Age’. On the other hand, climatically independent changes in land use or habitat modes are observed, such as the late-Bronze-Age lake-dwellings abandonment, the human population migration at c. 1600 cal. BP, and the period of the Black Death and famines at 600 cal. BP

Aerobiology in alpine environments: exploring pollen biodiversity and its impacts on human health

This review summarizes methods and relevant outcomes of aerobiological studies carried out in the alpine biome worldwide impacting the knowledge on the occurrence of airborne pollen and their origin, for biodiversity studies, models of transport, forecasts, and climate change scenarios, for the reconstruction of past vegetation, and the potential impacts on human health. Deposition sampling is the method of choice, while volumetric sampling is mostly performed in densely populated mountain ranges. Conventional microscopic identification of pollen of alpine environments is rarely complemented or replaced by molecular methods. The pollen bioaerosol mirrors the surrounding vegetation but includes components from medium and distant source locations. However, there is no uniform understanding on the definition of source-scales – crucial for the interpretation of the bioaerosol constituents – to which we propose an answer. Alpine habitats, with their cold-adapted plant communities, may react to increasing temperatures with shifts in their range. The potential of using pollen as a proxy to monitor such changes in alpine biomes has been exploited in paleoecology but rarely in aerobiology. Health impacts are linked to the low allergen load in the bioaerosol and the overall effect of the alpine climate in a highly natural environment. Generally, the soothing effect is reported for respiratory allergy patients, which may be jeopardized by seasonality and allergens transported from outside. The complex topography of mountain ranges does not allow for general assumptions on the quality and quantity of bioaerosol in alpine environments. We emphasize the importance of monitoring the bioaerosol in alpine environments to evaluate the effects of global change, and to optimize the management of respiratory health issue

Forests attenuate temperature and air pollution discomfort in montane tourist areas

Forests deliver many ecosystem services, from provisioning to regulating and cultural services. We aimed at demonstrating microclimatic regulation and pollutant removal as especially relevant ecosystem services when considering the tourism vocation of the Alpine regions. A study was realized along an altitudinal gradient (900–1600 m a.s.l.) in Trentino, northern Italy, an area with high touristic presence (ca. 9.3 million overnight stays in summer 2021). Nitrogen dioxide (NO2 , µg m−3 ), ozone (O3 , µg m−3 ) concentrations, air temperature (T, ◦C), and relative humidity (RH, %) were simultaneously measured in three open-field sites (OF) and below-canopy Norway spruce forest stands (FO) during the period 23 May–7 August 2013. The temperature–humidity index (THI) was calculated. We found a distinct mitigating effect of forest on T, with lower maximum (−30.6%) and higher minimum values (+6.3%) in FO than in OF. THI supported a higher comfort sensation in FO than in OF, especially in the central part of the day. NO2 concentrations did not differ between OF and FO; ozone concentrations were lower in FO than OF. This study confirms the role of forests in providing several ecosystem services beneficial for forest users, especially relevant for promoting nature-based tourism in the Alpine regio

The impact of temperature on increased airborne pollen and earlier onset of the pollen season in Trentino, Northern Italy

The impact of climate change on ecosystems can be assessed through pollen dispersion data, which acts as a proxy for the plant flowering stage. The aim of this study is to verify if changes occurred in the season and concentration of airborne pollen in Trentino (Northern Italy), and to evaluate if temperature (T), precipitation (P), and/or land use influenced such changes in the period 1989–2018. Airborne pollen, sampled by a Hirst-type trap, was analyzed by light microscopy, and pollen concentrations were obtained. Twenty-four taxa, covering 95% of the local pollen spectrum, were considered for this study. A significant upward trend in annual pollen integral (APIn) is the main outcome over the study period. The increase in APIn is more evident when analyzing the data in three decadic blocks, both for all the considered taxa (+ 58%) and for Arboreal Pollen (AP; + 155%). Considering both the annual data and the decadic blocks, APIn shows a significant positive trend for Cupressaceae/Taxaceae, Ulmus, Populus, Salix, Ostrya, Quercus, Olea (AP), and Plantago, Cannabaceae, Ambrosia (non-arboreal pollen, NAP); a significantly earlier start of the Main Pollen Season (MPS) is proved for Rumex and Poaceae. APIn for 24 taxa shows a significant positive correlation with annual T min (< 0.005) and T mean (< 0.001), both of which showing a significant increase, and a negative correlation (< 0.025) with the number of frost days. From a human health perspective, higher temperatures, driven by climate changes, lead to higher concentrations of allergenic airborne pollen, turning into a higher risk for allergy sufferer

Increase in airborne allergenic pollen in Trentino (North Italy): knowledge to adapt to climate change

Pollen allergy affects approximately 25% of adult and 40% of children globally (Nur Husna et al. 2022). Climate change is impacting allergenicity and pollen production, as well as the spread of neophytes that produce allergenic pollen, due to the combined effects of milder weather, air pollution, and elevated CO2 levels (Luschkova et al. 2022). As a result, there is an upward trend in allergic diseases (D’Amato et al. 2015). The study of pollen and its spatio-temporal changes is highly important due to the allergenicity of many airborne pollen taxa. Earlier-onset of pollen, the lengthening of the pollen season, and/or the increase in pollen quantities, can diminish the quality of life of allergic patients. In the "one health" perspective, we examine how climate change impact the ecosystem, affecting human well-being and health. Phenology, the science of natural recurring events, is one of the preferred indicators for observing the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and biological processes (Parmesan 2006). The shift in phenology is a high-temporal resolution signal of this impact and pollen dispersal is often used as a reliable proxy of flowering. This study describes the significant changes that have occurred to the airborne pollen component recorded in San Michele all’Adige, Northern Italy, from 1989 to 2018, analyzing a total of 24 arboreal (AP; trees and shrubs) and non-arboreal pollen taxa (NAP; herbaceous). Airborne pollen was collected using a volumetric Hirst-type aerobiological sampler (Lanzoni VPPS 2000), and the daily concentration of airborne pollen (P*m-3) was calculated for each taxon over a 30-year period from 1989 to 2018. The sampling and analysis of airborne pollen have been performed in accordance with the UNI EN 16868:2019 European standard procedure. The following pollen season descriptors were calculated for each taxon: (i) annual pollen integral (APIn; pollen*day*m-3); (ii) the start and end dates of the main pollen season (MPS), as the day of the year (DOY) when 2.5% and 97.5% of the APIn was reached, respectively; (iii) the length of the MPS, as the difference between the end and start DOY (+1); (iv) peak concentration; and (v) peak date, as the DOY when the maximum concentration was registered. The presence of a monotonic upward or downward temporal trend in pollen season descriptors was verified and changes were analyzed in relation to temperature, precipitation, and land use; in addition, pollen data were analyzed clustered into blocks of one decade each to minimize interannual fluctuations and maximize relevant change signals. The major result is an increase in pollen load (Fig. 1). All arboreal and shrub species (AP) and the majority of herbaceous (NAP) species had an impressive increase in pollen quantities. The extent of the increase in pollen load is evident when analyzing decadic blocks, with a relevant increase in the APIn for the total pollen spectrum, mostly due to AP taxa, with hop hornbeam and cypress family accounting for 49% of the increase (average on the 30-year period). Accordingly, AP shows a significant increase (+31 days) in the number of days with high pollen concentrations (i.e., > 100 pollen grains/m3). Such an increase in pollen quantity is unlikely to be related to changes in land use, given that the increase in forests and semi-natural areas is limited. The finding of an increase in APIn, especially marked for AP taxa, is consistent with previous studies and on a broader scale, from Europe (Ziello et al. 2012) to the entire Northern Hemisphere (Ziska et al. 2019). Moreover, some evidence of early start date for some taxa has been observed (e.g. Poaceae), at the same time as a longer pollen seasons for other taxa (e.g. Cupressaceae). A larger amount of pollen, an increase in the number of days with high pollen concentration, and an early start to the pollen season, which have been occurring since 1990 in the study area, all constitute a worsening situation and a major threat to people with pollen allergies. Thanks to these achievements it is possible to develop proposals for adaptation strategies that include as early stages: (i) development and implementation of risk communication strategies, (ii) implementation of good practices for green management. These proposals will be included in the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy of the Autonomous Province of Trento, which is currently being defined. Figures Fig 1: Increase of total arboreal pollen integral in the 30 years; detail for Ostrya (hop hornbeam) pollen taxonom

Airborne pollen in Alpine sites

Airborne pollen is usually monitored at urban centers, where most people live, to provide information on types and amount of allergenic pollen. Thus, very few aerobiological data are available for remote, mountainous sites. This study aims to characterize the biological quality of the air in an alpine valley in Trentino (North Italy), a region highly interested by the presence of tourists (e.g., 9.3 million overnight stays registered during June - September 2021). Materials and Methods An aerobiological study was carried out during late spring and summer in 2020 and 2021 in Val di Rabbi, an alpine valley located in the Trentino sector of Stelvio National Park. Gravitational Sigma2 samplers were selected for the survey, for their reliability and efficiency (VDI_2119 2013) and easy handling at remote sites (Gottardini et al. 2021), and installed at 2 m above ground level in 5 sites located at altitudes ranging from 700 to 2000 m a.s.l. Sampling surfaces, treated with an adhesive medium, were analyzed by optical microscopy (OM; 400×; Leitz Diaplan) for pollen identification and count (weekly samples); the average daily sedimentation rate (P cm–2 d–1 ) was calculated for the June-August period. In 2021, an active Hirst-type sampler was concurrently installed in one of the five sites (daily samples). Samples were processed and analyzed following conventional techniques and standardized protocols (UNI EN 16868:2019). Results and Discussion In the two study periods, the number of identified pollen taxa ranged from 25 at the highest elevation site (2000 m a.s.l.) to 39 at the lowest elevation (700 m a.s.l.). The proportion of arboreal pollen slightly decreased with the altitude, from 51% to 42%. The three most abundant pollen taxa were pine (Pinus), grasses (Poaceae) and neetle (Urticaceae), even if in different proportion at each site. The only grass and nettle allergenic pollen represented on average the 52% of the total pollen. The pollen season peak for grasses showed a delay of about 4 days every 100 m of elevation (Figure 1). 47 pollen taxa were identified, by active sampling, 10 more than by the passive one. The most abundant pollen taxa detected by active sampling were pine, grasses, and nettle, as for passive sampling, with the last two representing even the 71% of the total. The pollen season peak for grasses was on 22nd June, coherently with the passive sampling results at the same site. Conclusions Our mountain aerobiological study reveals the presence of allergenic pollen even at high altitude, with noteworthy shifts in the pollen season. The surveyed data can be further exploited for studying the plant biodiversity in remote areas, as well as to provide useful information for allergic tourist and hikers. Moreover, passive sampling proved to be a feasible solution for aerobiological studies in remote or orographically complex areas, typically excluded in routine air quality monitoring. References Gottardini et al. (2021). AAQR, Vol. 21, https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210010 VDI_2119 (2013). Ambient air measurements. Sampling of atmospheric particles > 2.5 μm on an acceptor surface using the Sigma-2 passive sampler. Characterization by optical microscopy and calculation of number settling rate and mass concentration. ICS: 13.040.01. Beuth Verlag, Berlin. Germany. Acknowledgements The study was partially financed by Provincia Autonoma di Trento (IT). We are grateful to Mattia Precazzini and Gabriele Canella for the support in field work, and to Maria Cristina Viola for the microscope pollen analysis