The BlueBio project’s database: web-mapping cooperation to create value for the Blue Bioeconomy

Funding innovation requires knowledge on previous/on-going research and identification of gaps and synergies among actors, networks and projects, but targeted databases remain scattered, incomplete and scarcely searchable. Here we present the BlueBio database: a first comprehensive and robust compilation of internationally and nationally funded research projects active in the years 2003–2019 in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Seafood Processing and Marine Biotechnology. Based on the previous research projects’ database realized in the framework of the COFASP ERA-NET, it was implemented within the ERA-NET Cofund BlueBio project through a 4-years data collection including 4 surveys and a wide data retrieval. After being integrated, data were harmonised, shared as open and disseminated through a WebGIS that was key for data entry, update and validation. The database consists of 3,254 “georeferenced” projects, described by 22 parameters that are clustered into textual and spatial, some directly collected while others deduced. The database is a living archive to inform actors of the Blue Bioeconomy sector in a period of rapid transformations and research needs and is freely available at: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.21507837.v3

Ascorbate assay as a measure of oxidative potential for ambient particles: Evidence for the importance of cell-free surrogate lung fluid composition

In this study, we investigated the cell-free ascorbic acid assay (OPAA response)to quantify the oxidative potential (OP)of particle matter (PM), as a promising metric for studying the association between the chemical properties and toxicological effects of PM. With the purpose of designing an experimental set-up mostly representative of the intracellular oxidation, the assay was performed in different media, representing an artificial respiratory tract lining fluid (RTLF), i.e., simple ascorbate (Asc)or mixtures of reduced glutathione (GSH), urate (UA)and citrate (Cit). The study was performed on real PM2.5 samples collected at an urban and rural site in the Po Valley (northern Italy). For comparison, standard solutions of redox-active species were investigated, i.e., Cu2+, Fe2+, 1,2-naphthoquinone, 1,4-naphthoquinone and 9,10-phenantrenequinone, that are known to give positive response to the AA assay. The composition of the synthetic RTLF strongly effected the OPAA responses, as they decreased with increasing the mixture complexity, following the order: Asc > Asc + Cit > Asc + UA > Asc + GSH > Asc + Cit + GSH ∼ Asc + Cit + GSH + UA. Based on comparison of the dependence of OPAA on RTLF composition, we could infer that Cu2+ and quinones were the redox active species most responsible of the OPAA response of the analysed PM2.5 samples

Tribological properties of PA66 nanocomposites

Nano- and micro- composites were prepared from a PA66 matrix with the addition of varying content of nanoclay, fullerene, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) and glass spheres. The composites’ scratch hardness was evaluated by using Pelletier’s model and results were correlated with their bulk mechanical properties. Results were compared with measurements of other tribological properties such as friction coefficient and wear resistance

Proinflammatory and oxidative effects of some PM components on human keratinocytes

The skin is the main organs exposed to airborne particulate matter (PM).In this work, we analyzed the proinflammatory and oxidative effects ofPM components on inflammatory responses. We investigated four redox-active chemicals, such Cu (II) metal and quinones generated by atmo-spheric oxidation or cellular metabolic processes from polycyclic aro-matic hydrocarbons (PAHs); 9,10 phenanthrenequinone andnaphthoquinone 1,2-NQN and 1,4- NQN. We performed in vitro tests onhuman keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells and also acellular assays based on theoxidation of dithiothreitol and ascorbic acid antioxidants to assess theoxidative potential (OP). We found that the treated keratinocytes showedincreased activation of NFκB and increased levels of IL8 gene expression.Moreover, the treatment with Cu (II) and quinones increased the activ-ities and expression of specific redox response genes, SOD1 and GPX.Finally, we found an induced alteration of the mitochondrial ultrastruc-ture and apoptosis after 24 h. Our results suggest that the pollutantcomponents are able to modulate signal transduction pathways, theactivation of inflammatory and oxidative damage in the skin. Altogetherthese observations indicate that exposure of skin to air pollutants mod-ifies the redox equilibrium of keratinocytes, which could explain theincreased skin damage observed in populations that live in high-pollutioncities

Scratch properties of PA66 nanocomposites

Nano- and micro- composites were prepared from a PA66 matrix with the addition of varying content of nanoclay, fullerene, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) and glass spheres. The composites’ scratch hardness was evaluated by using Pelletier’s model and results were correlated with their bulk mechanical properties

Proprietà tribologiche di nanocompositi in poliammide

Si sono preparati nano- e micro- compositi a partire da una matrice PA66 con l’aggiunta di un contenuto variabile di nanoargille, fullerene, silsesquiossani oligomerici poliedrici (POSS) e microsfere di vetro (piene e cave). La resistenza al graffio dei materiali ottenuti è stata valutata in termini di durezza utilizzando il modello di Pelletier e i risultati sono stati correlati con proprietà meccaniche “di volume”, in particolare lo sforzo di snervamento. Inoltre si è effettuata una caratterizzazione tribologica volta a rilevare le proprietà di attrito e usura

Oxidative Potential Dependence on the Chemical Composition of PM2.5 and PM10 Samples

Epidemiological and toxicological studies have shown that the exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) leads to adverse health effects in humans. The most accredited pathophysiological mechanisms involve several oxidative mechanisms leading to high concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vivo. Such an imbalance toward a ROS excess translates into numerous health outcomes. Two common acellular techniques based on low-cost spectrophotometric UV-Vis measurements were used in this study to assess the oxidative potential (OP) of PM10 and PM2.5 samples. One is the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay, where DTT acts as a surrogate for biological reducing agents owing to its two sulfhydryl groups. The other assay is based on the ascorbic acid (AA), that is a physiologically antioxidant found in lung fluid. In order to investigate the association of the measured oxidative responses with the PM chemical composition, inorganic and organic ions, metals, organic and elemental carbon were quantified in simultaneously collected PM2.5 and PM10 samples. The DTT and AA assays provided DTT-OP and AA-OP responses very similar in mean values and variability range, but different in association with chemical species and seasonal variation. More specifically, the AA-OP was strongly positively correlated with the main tracers of traffic and/or combustion emissions in Autumn-Winter (AW). In Sprin-Summer (SS) AA-OP was mainly correlated with species related with secondary aerosol and resuspended soil from vehicular traffic and/or long-range transport of Sahara dust. The DTT-OP of AW samples was well correlated with tracers of the resuspended reacted dust source, vehicle-related metals, and EC and OC associated with combustion sources. Conversely, in SS the DTT-OP of SS was correlated only with NH4+,Cu, EC and POC. In conclusion, our study has highlighted the differences between the responses of the two commonly utilized DTT and AA assays to assess aerosol OP in both PM10 and PM2.5. Moreover, paper’s results have confirmed that the toxicity of ambient PM is a multifaceted phenomenon caused by a multiplicity of redox-active species and depending on the activity and concentration level of the individual components as well as on possible interaction/synergic effects

Characterisation of atmospheric pollution near an industrial site with a biogas production and combustion plant in southern Italy

Although biogas production can have some benefits, there is a research gap on potential influence of biogas plant emissions on local air quality, thus an accurate and comprehensive evaluation of impacts of this technology is needed. This study deals with this issue by means of a characterisation of air pollution near an industrial area including a biogas production (from biomass) and combustion plant located in South Italy. The methodology consists in advanced statistical analysis on concentration of gaseous pollutants, particles concentration and size distribution in number and mass, and PM2.5 chemical composition. High-temporal resolution measurements, supported by ancillary meteorological parameters, and source apportionment of PM2.5 using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) receptor model, are performed. The integrated approach provides the emissive picture consisting in different anthropogenic sources (i.e. traffic, biomass burning, and industrial facilities) with particular focus on biogas plant emissions. Results showed that CO and nitrogen oxides were influenced by vehicular traffic and biomass combustion, however, a contribution of the plant to NO was observed. SO2 was influenced mainly by transport from the industrial zone, but a second local contribution compatible with the emissions of the biogas plant was detected. Number particle concentrations were analysed in four size ranges: nanoparticles (D < 0.05 μm), ultrafine particles (D < 0.3 μm), accumulation (0.3 < D < 1 μm) and coarse particles (D > 1 μm). Nanoparticles and ultrafine particles were mainly influenced by vehicular traffic and biomass burning, instead, a contribution of the plant was individuated in the accumulation mode. PMF5 identified the contribution of six sources: crustal (14.7% ± 2.1% of measured PM2.5); marine aerosol (aged) (12.9% ± 2.3%); biomass burning (32.8% ± 1.4%); secondary sulphate (19.7% ± 2.4%); primary industrial emissions (5.4% ± 2.3%); traffic and secondary nitrate (17.0% ± 3.9%). The plant is likely to contribute to both sources, the industrial and the traffic plus secondary nitrate

Source apportionment of PM2.5 and of its oxidative potential in an industrial suburban site in South Italy

Some studies suggested a role of the atmospheric particulate matter (PM) and of its oxidative potential (OP) in determining adverse health effects. Several works have focused on characterisation of source contributions to PM OP, mainly using three approaches: correlation between OP and chemical markers of specific sources; use of OP as input variable in source apportionment with receptor models; and multi-linear regression (MLR) between OP and source contributions to PM obtained from receptor models. Up to now, comparison of results obtained with different approaches on the same dataset is scarce. This work aims to perform a OP study of PM2.5 collected in an industrial site, located near a biogas production and combustion plant (in southern Italy), comparing different approaches to investigate the contributions of the different sources to OP. The PM2.5 samples were analysed for determining ions, metals, carbonaceous components, and OP activity with the DTT (dithiotreitol) assay. Results showed that OP normalised in volume (DTTV) is correlated with carbonaceous components and some ions (NO3−, and Ca2+) indicating that PM of combustion, secondary, and crustal origin could contribute to the OP activity. The source apportionment, done with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF5.0) model, identified six sources: secondary sulphate; biomass burning; industrial emissions; crustal; vehicle traffic and secondary nitrate; and sea spray. A MLR analysis between the source’s daily contributions and the daily DTTV values showed a reasonable agreement of the two approaches (PMF and MLR), identifying the biomass burning and the vehicle traffic and secondary nitrate as the main sources contributing to DTTV activity