Innovation in farming: An engaging and rewarding business model to foster digitalization

Over the last few years, innovation has been heavily driven by digitalization. This is due to the huge developments in the field of data analysis, enabled by the introduction of new technologies. Several fields have witnessed a smooth integration of digital tools along the whole value chain, unlike legacy sectors, which still face a spread mistrust towards innovative digital solutions. This paper proposes an engaging and rewarding model, taking into account the causes hindering innovation in the animal farming sector, complemented by the validation of the motivations behind its features and the obtained results

Assessing genotoxic effects of plastic leachates in Drosophila melanogaster

Plastic polymers were largely added with chemical substances to be utilized in the items and product manufacturing. The leachability of these substances is a matter of concern given the wide amount of plastic waste, particularly in terrestrial environments, where soil represents a sink for these novel contaminants and a possible pathway of human health risk. In this study, we integrated genetic, molecular, and behavioral approaches to comparatively evaluate toxicological effects of plastic leachates, virgin and oxodegradable polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), in Drosophila melanogaster, a novel in vivo model organism for environmental monitoring studies and (eco)toxicological research. The results of this study revealed that while conventional toxicological endpoints such as developmental times and longevity remain largely unaffected, exposure to plastic leachates induces chromosomal abnormalities and transposable element (TE) activation in neural tissues. The combined effects of DNA damage and TE mobilization contribute to genome instability and increase the likelihood of LOH events, thus potentiating tumor growth and metastatic behavior ofRasV12 clones. Collectively, these findings indicate that plastic leachates exert genotoxic effects in Drosophila thus highlighting potential risks associated with leachate-related plastic pollution and their implications for ecosystems and human health

Chemical characterization and surface properties of a new bioemulsifier produced by Pedobacter sp. strain MCC-Z

A novel biopolymer was described in the form of an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) by Pedobacter sp.strain MCC-Z, a member of a bacterial genus not previously described as an emulsifier producer. Thenew biomolecule was extracted, purified and characterized, and its surface and emulsifying propertieswere evaluated. The purified bioemulsifier, named Pdb-Z, showed high emulsifying activity (E24% = 64%)and reduced the surface tension of water up to 41 mN/m with a critical micelle concentration value of2.6 mg/mL. The chemical characterization of Pdb-Z was performed using1H NMR, FT-IR, HPLC/MS/MS andGC/MS. Pdb-Z was found to contain 67% of carbohydrates, consisting mainly of galactose and minor quan-tities of talose, 30% of lipids, being pentadecanoic acid the major lipidic constituent, and 3% of proteins. Thebioemulsifier was a glycolipids-protein complex with an estimated molecular mass of 106Da. Further-more, Pdb-Z emulsified pure aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons as well as diesel more efficiently thancommercial synthetic surfactants, used for comparison. Our results suggest Pdb-Z has interesting prop-erties for applications in remediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated environments and bioremediation processes

Pollutant Emissions From Wood-Fired Pizza Ovens

Recent studies estimate that a non-negligible percentage of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) collected (sampled) in urban areas can be attributed to emissions deriving from the combustion of solid biomass for uses other than heating [1]. One of the activities that could be responsible for these emissions are pizzerias with wood-burning ovens, which are active all the year and are highly concentrated in Italian large cities. However, measurements of the emission factors of these devices have never been performed in practice. In this study, experimental tests were carried out on a traditional wood-fired oven using two different fuels (beechwood logs and briquettes) in order to determine the pollutant emissions of the device. The sampling system employed (Fig. 1) was constructed by referring to the UNI EN 16510-1:2019 technical standard, and enabled the simultaneous measurement of pollutants and other substances on the hot and cold flue gases. The pollutants measured during the tests were: carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), organic gaseous carbon (OGC), PM, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs). A sampling protocol and appropriate combustion cycles were established in order to simulate, as far as possible, the real-life operating conditions of an oven within a public establishment. The results show that the pollutant emissions of the wood-fired oven fall within the wide range of values observed in literature for other wood-burning appliances, such as stoves and fireplaces [2], indicating these devices as relevant air pollution sources in urban areas

Nested interactions between chemosynthetic lucinid bivalves and seagrass promote ecosystem functioning in contaminated sediments

In seagrass sediments, lucinid bivalves and their chemoautotrophic bacterial symbionts consume H2S, relying indirectly on the plant productivity for the presence of the reduced chemical. Additionally, the role of lucinid bivalves in N provisioning to the plant (through N2 fixation by the symbionts) was hypothesized. Thus, lucinids may contribute to sediment detoxification and plant fitness. Seagrasses are subject to ever-increasing human pressure in coastal environments. Here, disentangling nested interactions between chemosynthetic lucinid bivalves and seagrass exposed to pollution may help to understand seagrass ecosystem dynamics and to develop successful seagrass restoration programs that consider the roles of animal-microbe symbioses. We evaluated the capacity of lucinid bivalves (Loripes orbiculatus) to promote nutrient cycling and seagrass (Cymodocea nodosa) growth during a 6-week mesocosm experiment. A fully crossed design was used to test for the effect of sediment contamination (metals, nutrients, and hydrocarbons) on plant and bivalve (alone or interacting) fitness, assessed by mortality, growth, and photosynthetic efficiency, and for the effect of their nested interaction on sediment biogeochemistry. Plants performed better in the contaminated sediment, where a larger pool of dissolved nitrogen combined with the presence of other trace elements allowed for an improved photosynthetic efficiency. In fact, pore water nitrogen accumulated during the experiment in the controls, while it was consumed in the contaminated sediment. This trend was accentuated when lucinids were present. Concurrently, the interaction between clams and plants benefitted both organisms and promoted plant growth irrespective of the sediment type. In particular, the interaction with lucinid clams resulted in higher aboveground biomass of C. nodosa in terms of leaf growth, leaf surface, and leaf biomass. Our results consolidate the notion that nested interactions involving animal-microbe associations promote ecosystem functioning, and potentially help designing unconventional seagrass restoration strategies that exploit chemosynthetic symbioses.Versión del edito

Biomarker Preservation and Survivability under extreme Dryness and Mars-like UV flux of a desert Cyanobacterium capable of Trehalose and Sucrose accumulation

Unraveling how long life can persist under extreme dryness and what kind of environmental extremes can be faced by dried microorganisms is relevant to understand Mars habitability and to search for life on planets with transient liquid water availability. Because trehalose and sucrose stabilize dried anhydrobiotes, an in silico survey of the genome of the desert cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis sp. CCMEE 029 was performed to identify pathways for trehalose and sucrose biosynthesis. The expression of the identified genes was induced in response to desiccation, and trehalose and sucrose accumulation was detected in dried cells. This adaptation strategy enabled viability and biomarker permanence under extreme dryness and Mars-like UV flux. Chroococcidiopsis survivors were scored in 7-year dried biofilms mixed with phyllosilicatic Mars regolith simulant and exposed to 5.5 × 103 kJ/m2 of a Mars-like UV flux. No survivors occurred after exposure to 5.5 × 105 kJ/m2 although, in dead cells, photosynthetic pigments, and nucleic acids, both DNA and RNA, were still detectable. This suggests that dried biofilms mixed with phyllosilicatic Martian regolith simulant are suitable candidates to identify biosignatures embedded in planetary analog minerals as planned in the future BioSignatures and habitable Niches (BioSigN) space mission to be performed outside the International Space Station

Biomarker preservation and survivability under extreme dryness and Mars-like UV flux of a desert cyanobacterium capable of trehalose and sucrose accumulation.

Unraveling how long life can persist under extreme dryness and what kind of environmental extremes can be faced by dried microorganisms is relevant to understand Mars habitability and to search for life on planets with transient liquid water availability. Because trehalose and sucrose stabilize dried anhydrobiotes, an in silico survey of the genome of the desert cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis sp. CCMEE 029 was performed to identify pathways for trehalose and sucrose biosynthesis. The expression of the identified genes was induced in response to desiccation, and trehalose and sucrose accumulation was detected in dried cells. This adaptation strategy enabled viability and biomarker permanence under extreme dryness and Mars-like UV flux. Chroococcidiopsis survivors were scored in 7-year dried biofilms mixed with phyllosilicatic Mars regolith simulant and exposed to 5.5 × 103 kJ/m2 of a Mars-like UV flux. No survivors occurred after exposure to 5.5 × 105 kJ/m2 although, in dead cells, photosynthetic pigments, and nucleic acids, both DNA and RNA, were still detectable. This suggests that dried biofilms mixed with phyllosilicatic Martian regolith simulant are suitable candidates to identify biosignatures embedded in planetary analog minerals as planned in the future BioSignatures and habitable Niches (BioSigN) space mission to be performed outside the International Space Station

Monitoraggio e caratterizzazione geochimica delle acque superficiali, sotterranee e dei sedimenti fluviali dell'area di San Giuliano di Puglia (CB)

Nel presente Rapporto sono riportati i risultati delle attività di “Monitoraggio e caratterizzazione geochimica delle acque superficiali, sotterranee e dei sedimenti”, svolte dal laboratorio di Biogeochimica Ambientale (già UTPRA-GEOC ora SSPT-PROTER-BIOGEOC, C.R. ENEA-Casaccia) tra il 2012 e il 2014 nel territorio del Comune di San Giuliano di Puglia, in seguito alla Convenzione siglata tra ENEA e il Soggetto Attuatore per il completamento degli interventi di ricostruzione post-sisma. Le attività hanno riguardato 4 campagne di campionamento e misura, da parte di personale ENEA, con cadenza circa semestrale in corrispondenza del periodo di massimo e minimo stagionale di precipitazione. Come primo elemento emerso da questo studio, le campagne di campionamento e misura delle acque sotterranee effettuate nel territorio di San Giuliano di Puglia hanno evidenziato la presenza di un sistema di piccole falde all’interno di coperture detritiche caratterizzate da elevata capacità di rilascio in acqua per alcuni elementi. Le analisi chimiche indicano inoltre che queste acque sono di scarsa qualità essendo inadatte sia per un utilizzo potabile sia, in alcuni casi, a scopo irriguo. Queste considerazioni non si applicano, ovviamente, a eventuali falde più profonde, che non sono state interessate dal campionamento. Le differenti ncentrazioni dei parametri analizzati nelle acque di uno stesso sito, in relazione al periodo in cui è stato effettuato il campionamento, sono ascrivibili sia a una diluizione delle acque dovuta all’infiltrazione di acqua piovana durante la stagione invernale sia agli effetti di prolungati periodi di scarsità di precipitazioni sul chimismo delle acque di falda. I livelli di concentrazione degli elementi maggiori e degli anioni analizzati nei campioni di acqua dei pozzi ricadono entro i valori ritenuti tipici per le acque circolanti nei substrati geologici dell’area di studio. Relativamente agli elementi in traccia, i parametri misurati mostrano concentrazioni quasi sempre inferiori ai limiti di legge: eccezioni sono rappresentate da Selenio, Ferro e Manganese in alcuni pozzi e in alcune campagne di campionamento: in ogni caso, i superamenti dei limiti sono sempre molto contenuti e sporadici. La qualità delle acque superficiali e i dati emersi dalle analisi dei sedimenti fluviali non evidenziano fenomeni di contaminazione delle acque, nel territorio indagato, dovuti all’attività antropica in quanto i livelli di concentrazione rilevati sono del tutto coerenti con le caratteristiche geolitogiche dell’area. Infine, l’attività di screening per i composti organici non ha evidenziato alcun tipo di apporto derivante da attività antropiche né nelle acque né nei sedimenti fluviali. Lo studio in oggetto porta a concludere che nell’area investigata non risultano evidenze significative di anomalie geochimiche né di fenomeni di contaminazione delle acque dovute all’attività antropica.The present work reports the results of the investigation carried out in the framework of a Technical Agreement between the ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) and the local Authorities aimed to the geochemical characterization and monitoring of waters and stream sediments in the area of San Giuliano di Puglia municipality (central-southern Italy). Four sampling and measurement campaigns were performed by ENEA personnel with approximately semi-annual frequency, in correspondence of the maximum and minimum period of seasonal precipitations. The “in field” sampling of groundwater in the territory of San Giuliano di Puglia has pointed out the occurrence of a system of poor and locally overlapped aquifers into the shallow clayey deposits characterized by high capacity for releasing some chemical elements into the water. Chemical analyses have evidenced the poor quality of these groundwaters being unsuitable both for drinking use and, in some cases, for irrigation purposes. These considerations do not apply to deeper and regional aquifer, which was not investigated in this study. The different concentrations of the parameters measured in the waters of a same site can be explained considering both a probable dilution, due to the infiltration of rain during the winter season, and t he effects of prolonged periods of scanty rainfalls. The concentration range of the major elements and of the anions in the analyzed groundwater samples fall within the values considered typical for the waters circulating in to geological substrates of the study area. With regard to the trace elements, the measured parameters show concentrations almost always below the limits of law, with the exceptions of selen ium, iron and manganese in a few wells and in some sampling campaigns, though, the exceeding of limits is moderate and sporadic. The quality of surface water and the data resulting from the analysis of the stream sediments show no evidence of water contamination due to human activities, as the concentration levels found are consistent with the geolitogical characteristics of the investigated area. Finally, the screening analysis of the organic compounds did not show any kind of contribution from human activities neither in the waters nor in the river sediments. This study leads to the conclusions that in the considered area there is no significant evidence of geochemical anomalies or phenomena of water contamination due to human activities

The Italian open data meteorological portal: MISTRAL

At the national level, in Italy, observational and forecast data are collected by various public bodies and are often kept in various small, heterogeneous and non-interoperable repositories, released under different licenses, thus limiting the usability for external users. In this context, MISTRAL (the Meteo Italian SupercompuTing PoRtAL) was launched as the first Italian meteorological open data portal, with the aim of promoting the reuse of meteorological data sets available at national level coverage. The MISTRAL portal provides (and archives) meteorological data from various observation networks, both public and private, and forecast data that are generated and post-processed within the Consortium for Small-scale Modeling-Limited Area Model Italia (COSMO-LAMI) agreement using high performance computing (HPC) facilities. Also incorporated is the Italy Flash Flood use case, implemented with the collaboration of European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), which exploits cutting edge advances in HPC-based post-processing of ensemble precipitation forecasts, for different model resolutions, and applies those to deliver novel blended-resolution forecasts specifically for Italy. Finally, in addition to providing architectures for the acquisition and display of observational data, MISTRAL also delivers an interactive system for visualizing forecast data of different resolutions as superimposed multi-layer maps