Aerosol Optical Depth of the Main Aerosol Species over Italian Cities Based on the NASA/MERRA-2 Model Reanalysis

The Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2) provides data at 0.5° × 0.625° resolution covering a period from 1 January 1980 to the present. Natural and anthropogenic aerosols are simulated in MERRA-2, considering the Goddard chemistry, aerosol, radiation, and transport model. This model simulates the sources, sinks, and chemistry of mixed aerosol tracers: dust, sea salt, hydrophobic and hydrophilic black carbon and organic carbon, and sulfate. MERRA-2 aerosol reanalysis is a pioneering tool for investigating air quality issues, noteworthy for its global coverage and its distinction of aerosol speciation expressed in the form of aerosol optical depth (AOD). The aim of this work was to use the MERRA-2 reanalysis to study urban air pollution at a national scale by analyzing the AOD. AOD trends were evaluated for a 30-year period (1987–2017) over five Italian cities (Milan, Rome, Cagliari, Taranto, and Palermo) in order to investigate the impacts of urbanization, industrialization, air quality regulations, and regional transport on urban aerosol load. AOD evolution predicted by the MERRA-2 model in the period 2002–2017 showed a generalized decreasing trend over the selected cities. The anthropogenic signature on total AOD was between 50% and 80%, with the largest contribution deriving from sulfate

Dissolved organic carbon content and leachability of biomass waste biochar for trace metal (Cd, Cu and Pb) speciation modelling

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) interacts with dissolved trace metal affecting their mobility and bioavailability through the formation of DOC–metal complexes. Several types of biochar (BC) produced from slow pyrolysis of wood chips (WC), lignin (LG), and digested sewage sludge at 450 and 700 °C were tested for DOC leaching via batch and up-flow percolation test methods. Trace metal (Cd, Cu, and Pb) speciation modelling in BC eluates was carried out combining measured data (i.e., DOC, ph, temperature, and dissolved trace metal concentrations) with data reported in the literature regarding fractions of DOC that are inert or active (i.e., fulvic acids (FA) and humic acids (HA)) in metal binding. BC from LG (BCLG) and WC (BCWC) at 700 °C released lower cumulative amounts of DOC compared with BC at 450 °C in the range 0.02–0.07% and 0.06–0.09% of total carbon content, respectively. For both pyrolysis temperatures, BCWC exhibited a higher tendency to release DOC compared to BCLG. Speciation modelling results showed the predominance of FA and HA complexes of Cd, Cu, and Pb in all the eluates from BCWC and BCLG irrespective of the inert fractions of DOC or the different fractions of active FA and HA considered

WRF Sensitivity Analysis in Wind and Temperature Fields Simulation for the Northern Sahara and the Mediterranean Basin

Different configurations for the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model were evaluated to improve wind and temperature fields predictions in the Northern Sahara and the Mediterranean basin. Eight setups, associated with different combinations of the surface layer physical parameters, the land surface model, and the grid nudging parameters, were considered. Numerical simulations covered the entire month of November 2017. Model results were compared with surface data from meteorological stations. The introduction of the grid nudging parameters leads to a general improvement of the modeled 10 m wind speed and 2 m temperature. In particular, nudging of wind speed parameter inside the planetary boundary layer (PBL) provides the most remarkable differences. In contrast, the nudging of temperature and relative humidity parameters inside the PBL may be switched off to reduce computational time and data storage. Furthermore, it was shown that the prediction of the 10 m wind speed and 2 m temperature is quite sensitive to the choice of the surface layer scheme and the land surface model. This paper provides useful suggestions to improve the setup of the WRF model in the Northern Sahara and the Mediterranean basin. These results are also relevant for topics related with the emission of mineral dust and sea spray within the Mediterranean region

Differential redox state contributes to sex disparities in the response to influenza virus infection in male and female mice

Influenza virus replicates intracellularly exploiting several pathways involved in the regulation of host responses. The outcome and the severity of the infection are thus strongly conditioned by multiple host factors, including age, sex, metabolic, and redox conditions of the target cells. Hormones are also important determinants of host immune responses to influenza and are recently proposed in the prophylaxis and treatment. This study shows that female mice are less susceptible than males to mouse-adapted influenza virus (A/PR8/H1N1). Compared with males, PR8-infected females display higher survival rate (+36%), milder clinical disease, and less weight loss. They also have milder histopathological signs, especially free alveolar area is higher than that in males, even if pro-inflammatory cytokine production shows slight differences between sexes; hormone levels, moreover, do not vary significantly with infection in our model. Importantly, viral loads (both in terms of viral M1 RNA copies and tissue culture infectious dose 50%) are lower in PR8-infected females. An analysis of the mechanisms contributing to sex disparities observed during infection reveals that the female animals have higher total antioxidant power in serum and their lungs are characterized by increase in (i) the content and biosynthesis of glutathione, (ii) the expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes (peroxiredoxin 1, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase), and (iii) the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. By contrast, infected males are characterized by high expression of NADPH oxidase 4 oxidase and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, both enzymes promoting viral replication. All these factors are critical for cell homeostasis and susceptibility to infection. Reappraisal of the importance of the host cell redox state and sex-related effects may be useful in the attempt to develop more tailored therapeutic interventions in the fight against influenza

Geological tourist mapping of the Mount Serrone fault Geosite (Gioia dei Marsi, Central Apennines, Italy)

© 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of Journal of MapsThe Geological tourist map of the Mount Serrone fault Geosite (Gioia dei Marsi, Italy) has been realized for describing, in an educational perspective, the surface expression of one of the main active faults of the Central Apennines, connected with the 1915 Fucino earthquake (magnitude 7, historically, one of the strongest in Italy). The Central Apennines are a mountain range whose landscape is deeply connected to active tectonics and seismicity, as documented by recent earthquakes. In this framework, the map is a useful tool for the dissemination of the geological knowledge of the Fucino area and faults in general and for the promotion of a geological landscape through a modern, sustainable and environmentally aware tourism. The map is double-sided with simple texts and cartoons on the front outlining general info about the geosite, faults and earthquakes, how to behave in seismic areas and historical notes. The back shows the Main Map with its visual legend featuring the main geological and tectonic elements of the Mount Serrone fault Geosite and the long term history of the landscape. Through simple keywords and concepts, tectonics, faults and earthquakes are shown to be natural features that have contributed to shape the landscape of the Apennines over geological time, as well as something to be afraid and worried of, as they are connected to natural hazard and disasters. This approach is aimed at increasing people’s awareness of geological processes and hazards (i.e. seismic), which with adequate knowledge and proper land management, can be lived with.Published298–3092TM. Divulgazione ScientificaJCR Journa

TRACE METAL CONCENTRATION AND SPECIATION IN STORM WATER RUNOFF ON IMPERVIOUS SURFACES

Urban storm water runoff (USWR) often transports various trace metals, affecting the quality of receiving waters. Metal concentration and speciation in USWR were investigated by analysing data collected during a storm event on 19 July 2012. USWR samples were taken from a low–traffic intensity road, a pathway in a car–free pedestrian zone, and a galvanized metal roof located in the area of Vingio Park in the city of Vilnius, Lithuania. The metals were mostly in the insoluble form at all three sites, being more than 80% the total amount measured, irrespective of the water quality characteristics and types of surface area. The partitioning coefficient (log Kd) of trace metals decreases in the order Zn > Cu ≈ Mn ≈ Pb >> Cd. The USWR types characterized by a higher pH or dissolved organic carbon(DOC) concentration produced a higher fraction of Cd, Mn, Pb, and Zn bound to fulvic acids (FA)

Trace metals and dissolved organic carbon in biochar varying with feedstock type and pyrolysis temperature

La presenza nel biochar di carbonio labile (e.g. carbonio organico disciolto (DOC)) e di sostanze inorganiche (e.g. metalli pesanti) potenzialmente dannosi può limitare o impedire l’utilizzo del biochar per interventi di risanamento ambientale. Sono stati prodotti biochar da pirolisi lenta a diverse temperature (i.e. 300, 450 e 700 °C) da diversi tipi di feedstock (i.e. cippato da residui di lavorazione del legno (WC), lignina (LG), digestato da fanghi di depurazione (DSS), corteccia di pino (PB)). Il contenuto totale, la lisciviazione e la biodisponibilità di metalli, quali Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb e Zn, sono stati analizzati nei biochar da WC (BCWC), LG (BCLG) e DSS (BCDSS). Sono stati condotti test in colonna con flusso ascendente per valutare il rilascio di DOC da BCLG, BCWC e BCPB. La temperatura (450 oppure 700 °C) di pirolisi più efficace per ridurre la lisciviazione e la biodisponibilità dei metalli dipende dal metallo considerato. La temperatura di 450 °C si è dimostrata adatta a stabilizzare Cr e Ni nei biochar analizzati, in quanto questi metalli non hanno dimostrato alcuna tendenza alla lisciviazione né biodisponibilità. Un incremento di temperatura di pirolisi ha reso Zn e Cu più stabili nella matrice carboniosa, diminuendone la frazione biodisponibile, impedendo il rilascio di Zn e riducendo la lisciviazione di Cu a valori <1 % del contenuto totale di Cu. Un chiaro trend non è stato osservato per metalli quali Cd e Pb, diminuendo o incrementando nella frazione soggetta a lisciviazione o biodisponibilità con la temperatura di pirolisi a seconda del tipo di feedstock considerato. Il rilascio di DOC da BCWC e BCLG, valutato per mezzo di test in colonna, ha mostrato un andamento influenzato dalla temperatura adottata nella produzione dei suddetti biochar. BCWC e BCLG, prodotti a 700 °C, hanno rilasciato quantità cumulate di DOC (0.02–0.07 % di contenuto di carbonio totale (TC)) più basse dei rispettivi biochar prodotti a 450 °C (0.06–0.09 % di contenuto di TC). Sono state osservate variazioni nella lisciviazione di DOC da biochar prodotto da corteccia di pino (BCPB) in funzione della temperatura di pirolisi e del tipo di percolante (i.e. acque meteoriche di dilavamento in ambiente urbano (USWR)). BCPB, prodotto a diverse temperature, ha rilasciato simili quantità cumulate di DOC (0.01 % del contenuto di TC) con le acque meteoriche di dilavamento prelevate da un’area pedonale. BCPB, prodotto a 700 °C, ha rilasciato più basse quantità cumulate di DOC (0.02 % contenuto di TC) con le acque meteoriche di dilavamento prelevate da un tetto.The content of carbon in labile forms (e.g. dissolved organic carbon (DOC)) and potentially hazardous inorganic substances (e.g. trace metals) in biochar (BC) may limit or prevent the utilization of BC for environmental remediation purposes. BCs were produced from slow pyrolysis at different temperatures (i.e. 300, 450 and 700 °C) from different types of feedstock (i.e. wood chips (WC), lignin (LG), digested sewage sludge (DSS), and pine bark (PB)). Total trace metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) concentration, leachability, and bioavailability were investigated for BCs from WC (BCWC), LG (BCLG), and DSS (BCDSS). DOC leachability from BCs was investigated via up-flow percolation test method. The most suitable pyrolysis temperature (450 or 700 °C) for reducing trace metal leachability and bioavailability depends on the trace metal considered. The temperature of 450 °C was effective in stabilizing Cr and Ni in the analyzed BCs as these trace metals were not prone to leaching or present in bioavailable forms. In the tested BCs, an increase in pyrolysis temperature made trace metals such as Zn and Cu more stable in the char matrix, decreasing in the bioavailable fractions, hindering leachability of Zn, and decreasing leachability of Cu to <1 % of the total Cu concentration. Trace metals such as Cd and Pb did not show a clear temperature trend, increasing or decreasing in the bioavailable or leachable fractions depending on the feedstock. Analysis of the up-flow percolation test showed the same temperature related trend in DOC leachability from BCWC and BCLG, with high temperature (700 C) BCs releasing lower cumulative amounts of DOC compared with low temperature (450 C) BCs, which were in the range 0.02–0.07 % and 0.06–0.09 % of total carbon (TC) content, respectively. DOC leaching from BCPB varied with pyrolysis temperatures and types of leachant (i.e. urban storm-water runoff (USWR)). Irrespective of the pyrolysis temperature, BCPB released cumulative amount of DOC up to 0.01 % of the TC content with pathway USWR. High temperature (i.e. 700 °C) BCPB released lower cumulative amount of DOC (up to 0.02 % of the TC content) with roof USWR. It is likely that the leachant (i.e. pathway USWR) with relatively higher pH and DOC concentration limited the release of DOC from the BC matrix, whereas the types of leachant (i.e. deionized water, and roof USWR) with relatively lower pH and DOC concentrations enhanced the release of DOC from the BC matrix