WOOD-UP

The fundamental vision of the WOOD-UP project was to develop existing wood gasification plants in South Tyrol towards a polygenerative use in order to be able to produce not only energy but also high-quality charcoal (biochar) for the improvement of soil fertility and for climate protection. The project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund ERDF 2014–2020, was implemented by the Free University of Bolzano together with the Laimburg Research Centre. Based on the life cycle analysis (LCA) or scenario analysis of the entire production chain of wood gasification, strengths and weaknesses of the existing systems were identified with regard to their impact on the environment. Thanks to the results obtained, a number of suggestions for improvement could be formulated.; Il miglioramento verso un assetto poligenerativo degli attuali impianti altoatesini di gassificazione della biomassa legnosa, dove oltre all’energia si possa produrre biochar di qualità da impiegare in agricoltura come ammendante con effetti positivi sulla fertilità dei suoli e sulla mitigazione dei cambiamenti climatici è la visione che ha sostenuto il progetto WOOD-UP. Il progetto, finanziato con fondi FESR 2014-2020, ha visto la collaborazione tra la Libera Università di Bolzano e il Centro di Sperimentazione Laimburg. L’analisi del ciclo di vita e di scenario dell’intera filiera di gassificazione ha evidenziato elementi di forza e di debolezza dell’attuale filiera in termini di impatti ambientali e ha permesso di avanzare proposte di miglioramento sulla base dei risultati ottenuti dalla sperimentazione. ; Grundlegende Vision des Projektes WOOD-UP war die Entwicklung der bestehenden Holzvergasungsanlagen in Südtirol hin zu einer polygenerativen Nutzung, um neben Energie auch hochwertige Holzkohle (Biochar) zur Verbesserung der Bodenfruchtbarkeit und zum Klimaschutz erzeugen zu können. Das mit Mitteln aus dem Europäischen Fonds für regionale Entwicklung EFRE 2014–2020 finanzierte Projekt wurde von der Freien Universität Bozen gemeinsam mit dem Versuchszentrum Laimburg umgesetzt. Anhand der Lebenszyklusanalyse (LCA) bzw. der Szenarioanalyse der gesamten Produktionskette der Holzvergasung wurden Stärken und Schwächen der bestehenden Systeme hinsichtlich ihrer Auswirkungen auf die Umwelt aufgezeigt. Dank der erzielten Versuchsergebnisse konnte eine Reihe von Verbesserungsvorschlägen formuliert werden

Charcoal (biochar) impact on soil carbon stocks, productivity and nutrient cycles of alpine grasslands

Le charbon de bois (biochar), est un amendement qui améliore les propriétés physico-chimiques du sol, augmente le stockage du carbone et les productions agricoles. Les anciens sites de production de charbon permettent d'évaluer son impact directement sur le terrain et sur le long terme. Dans les Alpes italiennes on a échantillonné une série de charbonnières daté de 1858 ainsi que les sols de prairies adjacents, ne contenant pas de charbon. 80±21% du carbone provenant de la production du charbon est toujours présent dans le sol et a un temps de résidence moyen de 650±139 ans. Le contenu des nutriments et leur biodisponibilité sont plus élevés dans les charbonnières par rapport à la prairie alentour et, sont plus élevés aujourd'hui qu'en 1858. L'ajout de charbon apporte des nutriments au sol, mais à court terme les ions Ca2+, K+, SO42- et Mg2+ sont lixiviés sous forme de cendres. Le charbon s'avère capable de retenir les dépositions atmosphériques de PO43-, NH4+, NO3- et, sur le long terme, de K+. L'augmentation du contenu en nutriments, la diminution de l'hydrophobie et de la densité apparente du sol augmentent la productivité et la valeur nutritionnelle des espèces alpines fourragères (Festuca nugrescens Lam. et Trifolium pratense L.). La croissance des plantes est limitée par l'azote sur les charbonnière et par le phosphore dans les prairies non-amendés ou amendés récemment. Nous concluons que le charbon/biochar peut être une stratégie pour stocker le carbone dans les sols, augmenter la production de biomasse et la qualité du fourrage des prairies Alpines à long terme. Toutefois les opérations d'enfouissement peuvent être complexes à cause de la géomorphologie des Alpes.Charcoal or biochar is proposed as a soil amendment to improve physio-chemical soil properties, increase soil carbon (C) stocks and agricultural yields. Ancient charcoal hearths provide an opportunity to investigate its impact under field conditions and in the long term. A series of charcoal hearths and adjacent charcoal-free soils under grassland in the Italian Alps abandoned in 1858 was sampled.80±21% of the C originating from ancient charcoal is still present in the soil today and has a Mean Residence Time of 650±139 years. The content of total and available nutrients is higher in the hearths soils compared to the surrounding grasslands and it is higher today compared to 1858. The input of charcoal directly adds nutrients to soils but Ca2+, K+, SO42- and Mg2+ are leached in the short term after application, as they are lost in the form of ashes. Charcoal is able to retain atmospheric depositions of PO43-, NH4+, NO3- and in the long term K+.The increase in soil nutrient content and decreases in hydrophobicity and bulk density translated into higher plant growth and nutritional values of two alpine fodder species (Festuca nigrescens Lam. and Trifolium pratense L.). Plant growth was N-limited in the charcoal hearths soils and P-limited in the surrounding grasslands not amended or recently amended with charcoal/biochar.We can conclude that charcoal/biochar is a long term strategy to store carbon in soils, improve biomass productivity and fodder quality in alpine grasslands. However charcoal/biochar incorporation into soil can be complex because of the geomorphology of the Alps

Stabilité du charbon végétal (biochar) dans le sol et impact sur la productivité et les cycles des nutriments des prairies alpines

Charcoal or biochar is proposed as a soil amendment to improve physio-chemical soil properties, increase soil carbon (C) stocks and agricultural yields. Ancient charcoal hearths provide an opportunity to investigate its impact under field conditions and in the long term. A series of charcoal hearths and adjacent charcoal-free soils under grassland in the Italian Alps abandoned in 1858 was sampled.80±21% of the C originating from ancient charcoal is still present in the soil today and has a Mean Residence Time of 650±139 years. The content of total and available nutrients is higher in the hearths soils compared to the surrounding grasslands and it is higher today compared to 1858. The input of charcoal directly adds nutrients to soils but Ca2+, K+, SO42- and Mg2+ are leached in the short term after application, as they are lost in the form of ashes. Charcoal is able to retain atmospheric depositions of PO43-, NH4+, NO3- and in the long term K+.The increase in soil nutrient content and decreases in hydrophobicity and bulk density translated into higher plant growth and nutritional values of two alpine fodder species (Festuca nigrescens Lam. and Trifolium pratense L.). Plant growth was N-limited in the charcoal hearths soils and P-limited in the surrounding grasslands not amended or recently amended with charcoal/biochar.We can conclude that charcoal/biochar is a long term strategy to store carbon in soils, improve biomass productivity and fodder quality in alpine grasslands. However charcoal/biochar incorporation into soil can be complex because of the geomorphology of the Alps.Le charbon de bois (biochar), est un amendement qui améliore les propriétés physico-chimiques du sol, augmente le stockage du carbone et les productions agricoles. Les anciens sites de production de charbon permettent d'évaluer son impact directement sur le terrain et sur le long terme. Dans les Alpes italiennes on a échantillonné une série de charbonnières daté de 1858 ainsi que les sols de prairies adjacents, ne contenant pas de charbon. 80±21% du carbone provenant de la production du charbon est toujours présent dans le sol et a un temps de résidence moyen de 650±139 ans. Le contenu des nutriments et leur biodisponibilité sont plus élevés dans les charbonnières par rapport à la prairie alentour et, sont plus élevés aujourd'hui qu'en 1858. L'ajout de charbon apporte des nutriments au sol, mais à court terme les ions Ca2+, K+, SO42- et Mg2+ sont lixiviés sous forme de cendres. Le charbon s'avère capable de retenir les dépositions atmosphériques de PO43-, NH4+, NO3- et, sur le long terme, de K+. L'augmentation du contenu en nutriments, la diminution de l'hydrophobie et de la densité apparente du sol augmentent la productivité et la valeur nutritionnelle des espèces alpines fourragères (Festuca nugrescens Lam. et Trifolium pratense L.). La croissance des plantes est limitée par l'azote sur les charbonnière et par le phosphore dans les prairies non-amendés ou amendés récemment. Nous concluons que le charbon/biochar peut être une stratégie pour stocker le carbone dans les sols, augmenter la production de biomasse et la qualité du fourrage des prairies Alpines à long terme. Toutefois les opérations d'enfouissement peuvent être complexes à cause de la géomorphologie des Alpes

Stabilité du charbon végétal (biochar) dans le sol et impact sur la productivité et les cycles des nutriments des prairies alpines

Charcoal or biochar is proposed as a soil amendment to improve physio-chemical soil properties, increase soil carbon (C) stocks and agricultural yields. Ancient charcoal hearths provide an opportunity to investigate its impact under field conditions and in the long term. A series of charcoal hearths and adjacent charcoal-free soils under grassland in the Italian Alps abandoned in 1858 was sampled.80±21% of the C originating from ancient charcoal is still present in the soil today and has a Mean Residence Time of 650±139 years. The content of total and available nutrients is higher in the hearths soils compared to the surrounding grasslands and it is higher today compared to 1858. The input of charcoal directly adds nutrients to soils but Ca2+, K+, SO42- and Mg2+ are leached in the short term after application, as they are lost in the form of ashes. Charcoal is able to retain atmospheric depositions of PO43-, NH4+, NO3- and in the long term K+.The increase in soil nutrient content and decreases in hydrophobicity and bulk density translated into higher plant growth and nutritional values of two alpine fodder species (Festuca nigrescens Lam. and Trifolium pratense L.). Plant growth was N-limited in the charcoal hearths soils and P-limited in the surrounding grasslands not amended or recently amended with charcoal/biochar.We can conclude that charcoal/biochar is a long term strategy to store carbon in soils, improve biomass productivity and fodder quality in alpine grasslands. However charcoal/biochar incorporation into soil can be complex because of the geomorphology of the Alps.Le charbon de bois (biochar), est un amendement qui améliore les propriétés physico-chimiques du sol, augmente le stockage du carbone et les productions agricoles. Les anciens sites de production de charbon permettent d'évaluer son impact directement sur le terrain et sur le long terme. Dans les Alpes italiennes on a échantillonné une série de charbonnières daté de 1858 ainsi que les sols de prairies adjacents, ne contenant pas de charbon. 80±21% du carbone provenant de la production du charbon est toujours présent dans le sol et a un temps de résidence moyen de 650±139 ans. Le contenu des nutriments et leur biodisponibilité sont plus élevés dans les charbonnières par rapport à la prairie alentour et, sont plus élevés aujourd'hui qu'en 1858. L'ajout de charbon apporte des nutriments au sol, mais à court terme les ions Ca2+, K+, SO42- et Mg2+ sont lixiviés sous forme de cendres. Le charbon s'avère capable de retenir les dépositions atmosphériques de PO43-, NH4+, NO3- et, sur le long terme, de K+. L'augmentation du contenu en nutriments, la diminution de l'hydrophobie et de la densité apparente du sol augmentent la productivité et la valeur nutritionnelle des espèces alpines fourragères (Festuca nugrescens Lam. et Trifolium pratense L.). La croissance des plantes est limitée par l'azote sur les charbonnière et par le phosphore dans les prairies non-amendés ou amendés récemment. Nous concluons que le charbon/biochar peut être une stratégie pour stocker le carbone dans les sols, augmenter la production de biomasse et la qualité du fourrage des prairies Alpines à long terme. Toutefois les opérations d'enfouissement peuvent être complexes à cause de la géomorphologie des Alpes

Inhibition of smoothened in breast cancer cells reduces CAXII expression and cell migration

Breast cancer (BC) relapse and metastasis are the leading cause of death and, together with drug resistance, keep mortality still high. The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is expressed during embryogenesis, organogenesis and in adult tissue homeostasis and its aberrant activation is often associated with cancer. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzymes are important during development; they play a key role in controlling several cellular mechanisms, such as pH regulation, survival, and migration, and they are aberrantly expressed in cancer. The goal of this study was to investigate the interplay between the Hh pathway and CAXII in terms of BC cell migration. We here demonstrated that smoothened (SMO) silencing resulted in a reduction of CAXII expression at mRNA and protein level. This led to a decrease in cell migration, which was restored when cells were treated with an SMO agonist, Sag dihydrochloride (SAG), but not when cells were cotreated with SAG and the CAs inhibitor Acetazolamide. This suggested that the ability of SAG to promote cell migration was impaired when CAXII was inhibited. The reduction was also confirmed within hypoxic and inflammatory microenvironment, typical of BC, indicating a key role of the Hh pathway in controlling CAXII expression. Our results may contribute to further understand the physiology of BC cells and indicate that the Hh pathway controls BC cell migration and cell invasion also through CAXII, with important implications in identifying novel therapeutic targets

The Shc protein RAI promotes an adaptive cell survival program in hypoxic neuroblastoma cells

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a highly malignant pediatric solid tumor where a hypoxic signature correlates with unfavorable patient outcome. The hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1\u3b1 plays an important role in NB progression, contributing to cell proliferation and invasiveness. RAI belongs to the Shc family proteins, it is mainly neuron specific and protects against cerebral ischemia. RAI is also expressed in several NB cell lines, where it promotes cell survival. In this work, hypoxia differently affected cell survival and pro-apoptotic program in two NB cell lines, either expressing RAI (SKNBE) or not (SKNMC). RAI expression appeared to promote NB cell survival and to reduce some pro-apoptotic markers under hypoxia. Accordingly, the RAI silencing in SKNBE cells resulted in a reduction of cell survival and HIF-1\u3b1 expression. Furthermore, using SKNMC cells stably expressing RAI, we defined a role of RAI in NB cell responses to hypoxia. Of interest, in hypoxic SKNMC cells expressing RAI HIF-1\u3b1 protein levels were higher than in control cells. This was associated with a) an increased cell survival; b) an increased expression of anti-apoptotic markers; c) a pro-autophagic and not pro-apoptotic phenotype; and d) an increased metabolic activity. We may conclude that RAI plays an important role in hypoxic signaling in NB cells and the interplay between RAI and HIF-1\u3b1 may be relevant in the protection of NB cells against hypoxia. Our results may contribute to a further understanding the physiology of NB cells and the molecular mechanisms involved in their survival, with important implications in NB progression

Adding Biochar to a Fertile Temperate Soil Has No Impact on the Growth and Very Little on the Quality of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and Ancient and Modern Wheat Varieties (Triticum spp.)

We checked the effect of biochar addition to a fertile temperate soil on plant growth and the quantity and quality of seeds of four varieties of wheat (Triticum spp., two “ancient” varieties, Verna and Senatore Cappelli, and two “modern” varieties, Bologna and Claudio) and a high oleic hybrid of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Relatively novel is the qualitative investigation of the marketable product, as few are the works on this topic. We tested three different doses of biochar—1, 4, and 20 t ha−1—versus an untreated soil (“control”) in a 2-year open field trial in Central Italy, where wheat was grown the first year and sunflower the second year. Biochar addition did not change the soil characteristics save for the carbon content, which increased significantly with the highest dose of biochar. Also, we did not find any significant biochar-induced effect on plant growth and yields of both wheat and sunflower. Regarding the qualitative aspects, adding biochar to the soil implied an increase in total polyphenols in the middlings and bran of wheat and, with the highest dose of biochar, also in total proteins and in flavonoids and caffeic acid derivatives. Instead, no difference in carotenoids concentration and antiradical activity was observed in middlings or bran. As for the sunflower, no significant difference in seeds’ composition was detected at any of the biochar doses. The addition of biochar to a fertile, well-drained soil as the one we investigated is not detrimental to the quantity and quality of wheat and sunflower seeds. Rather, the concentration of some polyphenols in wheat appears to be positively affected by biochar addition.The work benefited of a doctoral fellowship (XXXIII cycle) by the University of Firenze. Marco Panettieri acknowledges the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities for his post-doctoral fellowship number IJCI-2016-27693. The formerly Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINEICO) and AEI/FEDER are thanked for funding the project CGL2015-64811-P.Peer reviewe

Congenital abnormalities and multiple sclerosis

Background: There is a strong maternal parent-of-origin effect in determining susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS). One hypothesis is that an abnormal intrauterine milieu leading to impaired fetal development could plausibly also result in increased susceptibility to MS. A possible marker for this intrauterine insult is the presence of a non-fatal congenital anomaly. Methods: We investigated whether or not congenital anomalies are associated with MS in a population-based cohort. We identified 7063 MS index cases and 2655 spousal controls with congenital anomaly information from the Canadian Collaborative Project on Genetic Susceptibility to MS (CCPGSMS). Results: The frequency of congenital anomalies were compared between index cases and controls. No significant differences were found. Conclusions: Congenital anomalies thus do not appear to be associated with MS. However, we did not have complete data on types and severity of congenital anomalies or on maternal birth history and thus this study should be regarded as preliminary