Challenges in UV camera-based real-time SO2 flux monitoring: insights from 5 years of continuous observations at Etna ad Stromboli

The advent of UV cameras has recently paved the way to volcanic SO2 flux observations of much improved temporal and spatial resolution, and has thus contributed to expanding use and utility of SO2 fluxes in volcano monitoring. Recently, the first examples of permanent UV camera systems have appeared that are now opening the way to routine fully automated monitoring of the volcanic SO2 flux at high-rate, and continuously (daily hours only). In 2014, using funding from the FP7-ERC project “Bridge” (http://www.bridge.unipa.it/), we deployed a network of 4 permanent UV cameras at Etna and Stromboli volcanoes (Sicily) that has been operating regularly since then. Using a suite of custom-built codes, data streamed by the UV camera are automatically processed and telemetered, allowing nearly real-time visualization and analysis of SO2 fluxes. Here, we summarise the key results obtained during the last 5 years of continuous observations (2014-2018) to demonstrate potentials and challenges in real-time continuous SO2 flux monitoring with UV cameras. We show that the spatially resolved SO2 flux time-series delivered by the UV camera allow effectively tracking migration in volcanic activity from the Central to New South-East Crater (Etna), and shifts in degassing activity along the crater terrace (Stromboli). At both volcanoes, the high temporal of UV cameras allows capturing the escalation in active (strombolian) SO2 degassing that typically precedes onset of paroxysmal (Etna in 2014-2016) or effusive (Stromboli in 2014) activity, and to quantify for the first time the syn- explosive SO2 budget for larger-scale explosions, including 2 paroxysmal lava fountains (Etna) and 1 major explosion (Stromboli). We finally demonstrate the ability of our automatic camera systems to capture temporal changes in SO2 flux regime, and thus to “live” monitoring degassing and eruptive behaviors at active volcanoes.PublishedNapoli6V. Pericolosità vulcanica e contributi alla stima del rischi

Iron-mediated oxidative stress induces PD-L1 expression via activation of c-Myc in lung adenocarcinoma

Introduction: The PD-1/PD-L1 axis is hijacked by lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells to escape immune surveillance. PD-L1 expression in LUAD is affected, among others, by the metabolic trafficking between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Methods: Correlation between PD-L1 expression and iron content within the TME was established on FFPE LUAD tissue samples. The effects of an iron rich microenvironment on PD-L1 mRNA and protein levels were assessed in vitro in H460 and A549 LUAD by using qPCR, western blot and flow citometry. c-Myc knockdown was performed to validate the role of this transcription factor on PD-L1 expression. The effects of iron-induced PD-L1 on T cell immune function was assessed by quantifying IFN-γ release in a co-colture system. TCGA dataset was used to analyse the correlation between PD-L1 and CD71 mRNA expression in LUAD patients. Results: In this study, we highlight a significant correlation between iron density within the TME and PD-L1 expression in 16 LUAD tissue specimens. In agreement, we show that a more pronounced innate iron-addicted phenotype, indicated by a higher transferrin receptor CD71 levels, significantly correlates with higher PD-L1 mRNA expression levels in LUAD dataset obtained from TCGA database. In vitro, we demonstrate that the addition of Fe3+ within the culture media promotes the significant overexpression of PD-L1 in A549 and H460 LUAD cells, through the modulation of its gene transcription mediated by c-Myc. The effects of iron lean on its redox activity since PD-L1 up-regulation is counteracted by treatment with the antioxidant compound trolox. When LUAD cells are co-cultured with CD3/CD28-stimulated T cells in an iron-rich culture condition, PD-L1 up-regulation causes the inhibition of T-lymphocytes activity, as demonstrated by the significant reduction of IFN-γ release. Discussion: Overall, in this study we demonstrate that iron abundance within the TME may enhance PD-L1 expression in LUAD and, thus, open the way for the identification of possible combinatorial strategies that take into account the iron levels within the TME to improve the outcomes of LUAD patients treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1-based therapies

Volcanic CO2 tracks the incubation period of basaltic paroxysms

The ordinarily benign activity of basaltic volcanoes is periodically interrupted by violent paroxysmal explosions ranging in size from Hawaiian to Plinian in the most extreme examples. These paroxysms often occur suddenly and with limited or no precursors, leaving their causal mechanisms still incompletely understood. Two such events took place in summer 2019 at Stromboli, a volcano otherwise known for its persistent mild open-vent activity, resulting in one fatality and damage to infrastructure. Here, we use a post hoc analysis and reinterpretation of volcanic gas compositions and fluxes acquired at Stromboli to show that the two paroxysms were preceded by detectable escalations in volcanic plume CO(2) degassing weeks to months beforehand. Our results demonstrate that volcanic gas CO(2) is a key driver of explosions and that the preparatory periods ahead of explosions in basaltic systems can be captured by precursory CO(2) leakage from deeply stored mafic magma

Francesco Bitetto

Video interview with Francesco Bitetto as part of the Italian Cinema Audiences projec

Changes in SO2 Flux Regime at Mt. Etna Captured by Automatically Processed Ultraviolet Camera Data

We used a one-year long SO2 flux record, which was obtained using a novel algorithm for real-time automatic processing of ultraviolet (UV) camera data, to characterize changes in degassing dynamics at the Mt. Etna volcano in 2016. These SO2 flux records, when combined with independent thermal and seismic evidence, allowed for capturing switches in activity from paroxysmal explosive eruptions to quiescent degassing. We found SO2 fluxes 1.5–2 times higher than the 2016 average (1588 tons/day) during the Etna’s May 16–25 eruptive paroxysmal activity, and mild but detectable SO2 flux increases more than one month before its onset. The SO2 flux typically peaked during a lava fountain. Here, the average SO2 degassing rate was ~158 kg/s, the peak emission was ~260 kg/s, and the total released SO2 mass was ~1700 tons (in 3 hours on 18 May, 2016). Comparison between our data and prior (2014–2015) results revealed systematic SO2 emission patterns prior to, during, and after an Etna’s paroxysmal phases, which allows us to tentatively identify thresholds between pre-eruptive, syn-eruptive, and post-eruptive degassing regimes.Publishedid 12015V. Processi eruttivi e post-eruttiviJCR Journa

Biliary strictures after liver transplantation: Role of interleukin 28B genotypes in cyclosporine treated

AbstractIntroduction: The role of Interleukin 28B (IL-28B) genetic polymorphisms in influencing the occurrence of biliary complications after liver transplantation has never been evaluated. This study aimed to investigate whether IL-28B rs12979860C/T polymorphisms associate with the occurrence of biliary complications after liver transplantation and if these complications may influence survival. Methods: One hundred seventy one recipients (133 males) who underwent liver transplantation were recruited. To confirm the mechanical etiology of cholestasis, endoscopic cholangio pancreatography, percutaneous and/or trans-Kehr cholangiography or cholangio magnetic resonance were performed. Two main clinical pictures were identified: biliary strictures and biliary leakage. Immunosuppressive therapy was based on cyclosporine (N = 54) or tacrolimus (N = 117), in association with steroids during the first month after operation. IL-28B rs12979860C/T genotypes were detected by means of polymerase chain reaction. Results: Forty patients (23.4%) presented anastomotic strictures, 7 (4.1%) non-anastomotic strictures, 10 (5.8%) leakage, 8 (4.7%) leakage plus anastomotic strictures. IL-28B rs12979860C/C genotype in association with cyclosporin was found to be an independent predictor of anastomotic strictures occurrence (p = 0.008). A significant difference in 5 years survival was observed between patients with viral etiology of liver disease experiencing either anastomotic or non-anastomotic strictures (16/23) and the remaining patients (104/112, p = 0.001). Conclusions: In recipients carrying rs12979860 IL-28B C/C genotype the use of cyclosporine seems to contribute to enhance the probability of developing biliary complications which in hepatitis B and C positives appear to reduce patient survival. If confirmed in larger studies the use of cyclosporine in these patients could be revised

Understanding the SO₂ degassing budget of Mt Etna’s paroxysms:First clues from the december 2015 sequence

The persistent open-vent activity of basaltic volcanoes is periodically interrupted by spectacular but hazardous paroxysmal explosions. The rapid transition from quiescence to explosive eruption poses a significant challenge for volcanic hazard assessment and mitigation, and improving our understanding of the processes that trigger these paroxysmal events is critical. Although magmatic gas is unquestionably the driver, direct measurements of a paroxysm's gas flux budget have remained challenging, to date. A particularly violent paroxysmal sequence took place on Etna on December 2015, intermittently involving all summit craters, especially the Voragine (VOR) that had previously displayed no activity for several years. Here, we characterize the volcano's SO2 degassing budget prior to, during and after this paroxysmal sequence, using ground-based (UV-Camera) and satellite (OMI) observations, complemented with ground- and space-borne thermal measurements. We make use of the high spatial resolution of UV-cameras to resolve SO2 emissions from the erupting VOR crater for the first time, and to characterize temporal switches in degassing activity from VOR to the nearby New Southeast Crater (NSEC). Our data show that onset of paroxysmal activity on December 3–5 was marked by visible escalation in VOR SO2 fluxes (4,700–8,900 tons/day), in satellite-derived thermal emissions (2,000 MW vs. ~2–11 MW in July-November 2015), and in OMI-derived daily SO2 masses (5.4 ± 0.7 to 10.0 ± 1.3 kilotonnes, kt; 0.5 kt was the average in the pre-eruptive period). Switch in volcanic activity from VOR to NSEC on December 6 was detected by increasing SO2 fluxes at the NSEC crater, and by decaying SO2 emissions at VOR, until activity termination on December 19. Taken together, our observations infer the total degassed SO2 mass for the entire VOR paroxysmal sequence at 21,000 ± 2,730 t, corresponding to complete degassing of ~1.9 ± 0.3 Mm3 of magma, or significantly less than the measured erupted magma volumes (5.1–12 Mm3). From this mismatch we propose that only a small fraction of the erupted magma was actually emplaced in the shallow plumbing system during (or shortly prior) the paroxysmal sequence. Rather, the majority of the erupted magma was likely stored conduit magma, having gone through extensive degassing for days to weeks prior to the paroxysm

Pegylated interferon α plus ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: A multicentre independent study supported by the Italian Drug Agency

Background: Data on the efficacy of Peg-interferon/ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C are mostly derived from treatment of selected patients enrolled in clinical trials. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Peg-interferon/ribavirin therapy in "real world" chronic hepatitis C patients in Italy. Methods: Independent observational multicentre study including consecutive patients receiving Peg-interferon/ribavirin in the 18 months before (retrospective phase) and after (prospective phase) the start of the study. Results: 4176 patients were eligible. The final study population consisted of 2051 patients in the retrospective and 2073 in the prospective phase.Sustained virological response was achieved by 1036 patients (50.5%) during the retrospective phase: 325 were genotypes 1/4 (34.1%) and 684 were genotypes 2/3 (67.2%) and by 800 patients (38.6%) during the prospective phase: 300 were genotypes 1/4 (28.4%) and 473 were genotypes 2/3 (51.5%).During multivariate analysis genotypes 2/3 were significantly associated with higher sustained virological response rates; cirrhosis and γ-glutamil-transpeptidase >2 times the normal limit were associated with poorer response. Conclusions: The response to Peg-interferon/ribavirin therapy in "real world" clinical practice is distinctly lower than in registration trials. The difference in response rates was more pronounced among easy-to-treat than among difficult-to-treat hepatitis C virus genotypes. © 2014 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l