Eruzione di Codola: dati geochimici preliminari

Il Somma-Vesuvio è uno stratovulcano situato al margine meridionale della Piana Campana. Nonostante, esso sia uno dei vulcani più studiati al mondo vi sono ancora diverse problematiche rimaste aperte riguardanti la data d'inizio dell’attività, il numero e il tipo di eruzioni, la genesi dei magmi e l’evoluzione della camera magmatica. Alcuni autori, considerano l'inizio dell’attività del Somma-Vesuvio intorno a 22ka con l'eruzione delle Pomici di Base, mentre altri autori la fanno risalire a circa 25ka con l'eruzione di Codola. Allo stato attuale, l'attribuzione dell'eruzione Codola ad una sorgente Campana specifica è ancora dibattuta. I prodotti dell’ attività più antica del Somma-Vesuvio sono saturi o leggermente sotto saturi in silice in silice (K-trachite a k-latite), mentre i prodotti dell’attività più recente mostrano una forte sottosaturazione in silice (fonolite-fono-tephrite tephrite). Dai dati che sono stati studiati fino ad oggi, il sistema vulcanico vesuviano è caratterizzato dalla presenza costante di serbatoi magmatici, la cui profondità varia nel tempo, alimentati da masse discrete di magma mafico di provenienza profonda. Quello che finora si è osservato è che all’aumentare del volume e dell’età le camere magmatiche vesuviane potrebbero evolvere cambiando forma e tipo di stratificazione composizionale partendo da uno stadio iniziale, con camere ad alto rapporto d’aspetto, fino ad uno stadio finale, aventi camere a rapporto d’aspetto medio-basso, a “due falde”, con un gradiente composizionale separate da un sottile “boundary layer”. Lo scopo di questo lavoro di tesi è quello di fornire un contributo alla conoscenza dell’eruzione di Codola e dell’evoluzione della camera magmatica. Con lo scopo di proseguire queste finalità ci siamo posti due obbiettivi:1) La raccolta e l’elaborazione dei dati dell’eruzione di Codola; e 2) La ricostruzione della camera magmatica del Somma – Vesuvio. I campioni analizzati sono stati prelevati dalla sezione stratigrafica localizzata nella zona di Castel S. Giorgio; le analisi effettuate consistono nella separazione e polverizzazione delle pomici e delle scorie per le analisi per fluorescenza a raggi X (XRF), diffrattometria a raggi x(XRD) e Inductively Coupled Plasma mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS);Separazione dei cristalli per le Melt inclusion (MI); Preparazione campioni per l’analisi dello Sr e del Nd per il thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry(TIMS); infine, i calsti pomicei e scoriacei di interesse sono stati inglobati per la realizzazione di sezioni sottili adatte per analisi alla microsonda elettronica (SEM). I dati geochimici e isotopici ottenuti dai campioni prelevati e dai dati di letteratura indicano una probabile origine vesuviana. Si è tentato di stimare il volume dell’eruzione e l’altezza della colonna per definirne lo stile eruttivo. Dai nostri dati risulta un volume stimato compreso fra 0.20 e 0.70 km3; e un’altezza stimata compresa fra 21 e 24km e con una portata compreso tra 107 e 108 kg/s. Questi dati ci suggeriscono che Codola sia una sub-pliniana con colonna oscillante in un regime transizionale. I nostri dati, inoltre, hanno messo in evidenza come la camera magmatica del Somma-Vesuvio, che ha dato l’eruzione di Codola, sia una camera ad alto-medio rapporto d’aspetto, i cui prodotti trachitici sono il risultato della cristallizzazione frazionata di un magma latitico (Taurano)

Regulation of Stearoyl Coenzyme A Desaturase 1 Gene Promoter in Bovine Mammary Cells

Stearoyl-Coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1) belongs to the fatty acid family of desaturases. In lactating ruminants, the SCD1 protein is highly expressed in the mammary gland and is relevant for the fatty acid composition of milk and dairy products. Bovine mammary epithelial cells (BME-UV1), cultured in vitro, have been proposed as a model to reproduce the biology of the mammary gland. The present study was designed to investigate the responsiveness of bovine SCD1 promoter to serum, insulin, oleic acid, and NFY transcription factor in BME-UV1 cells. A luciferase-based reporter assay was used to monitor the transcriptional activity of the SCD1 promoter region in BME-UV1 cells treated or not with insulin and/or oleic acid. The level of endogenous SCD1 mRNA was evaluated by Real time PCR. Insulin (20 ng/mL) induced a 2.0 to 2.5-fold increase of SCD1 promoter activity. Additionally, the effect of insulin was inhibited by oleic acid, serum components, and NFY enforced expression. Serum and NFY showed no synergistic or additive effect on SCD1 promoter activity suggesting that they repress SCD1 transcription through the same responsive element

Aloe arborescens supplementation in cat diet: Evaluation of effects by in vitro gas production technique

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Aloe arborescens on organic matter digestibility (OMD), cumulative gas (OMCV) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) production, using the in vitro gas production technique (IVGPT). Three adult cats were fed with a commercial diet (CP 31.21; EE 16.64% as fed) for 20 days before the collection of their faeces used as inoculum. The same diet, used as substrate, was incubated in vitro supplemented with different amounts (0, 0.7, 1.6 and 3.2%) of lyophilised Aloe arborescens. OMD, OMCV and SCFA significantly decreased with the increase of Aloe addition; an increase of L-lactic acid production was detected, even if pH was within physiological range. A potential prebiotic role of the Aloe arborescens car- bohydrates was hypothesised in cats, but it needs further investigations. As a whole, our results show that IVGPT can represent a useful tool for nutritional evaluation of novel ingredient and/or additive also in cats

In vitro fermentation of structural carbohydrate-rich feeds using faecal inoculum from pigs

Seven feeds were tested in vitro using faecal inoculum from pigs. Sugar beet pulp, wheat bran, soybean hulls, grapecake, glutamic beet pulp, citrus by-product and fructo-oligo- saccharides (FOS) were fermented for 96 h. Cumulative gas production was measured as indicator of the fermentation kinetics. At the end of incubation organic matter disappearance and fermentation end-products (short-chain fatty acids and NH3) were also measured. The gas production profiles were fitted with a multi- phasic model. Significant differences were detected between grapecake and FOS: the very low gas production for the first one was probably due to the high lignin and tannins contents of this by-product, while the higher organic matter cumulative gas volume (OMCV) and organic matter disappearance (OMD) values for FOS were due to the high soluble fibre proportion. Soybean hulls and citrus by-product, showed similar values of degradability and gas production and were characterised by different fermentation profiles. Grapecake showed the lower fermentation, while citrus by-product was characterized high gas and short-chain fatty acids production. These characteristics could be particularly useful to optimize the caecum-colon fermentation in order to obtain a high butyrate acid production

Chemical, Textural and Thermal Analyses of Local Interactions Between Lava Flow and a Tree – Case Study From Pāhoa, Hawai’i

Because many volcanoes are densely vegetated, understanding of the interactions between active lava flows and trees is essential for robust hazard modeling. Tree molds − lava flow features generated when advancing lava engulfs and combusts trees − are widely documented but have, to date, only been described qualitatively. Detailed, quantitative studies of molds can, however, provide insights into the nature of lava-forest interactions. Here, we present a unique characterization of the chemical, textural and thermal interactions between lava and a tree (an Albizia), taking as a case type a basaltic pāhoehoe lava flow that traveled 20 km through Hawaiian rainforest on Kilauea’s East Rift Zone between June and December 2014. The dataset includes chemical analyses of lava (major, trace and volatile species) at the lava-tree contact, quantitative descriptions of lava texture (density, vesicle and crystal populations), and thermal analysis to fingerprint the devolatilization and combustion of wood as well as with cooling and crystallization of lava around the tree. We use these results to construct a three-stage thermal model to describe heat transfer between the lava and the tree, showing how the interaction facilitates combustion of wood and release of its volatile species (CO2 and H2O) into the lava, whilst triggering enhanced cooling and crystallization of lava surrounding the tree. Chemical analyses reveal that the inflating pāhoehoe at the lava-tree contact was strongly CO2-enriched (up to 1200 ppm), and textural data show that lava is denser at the contact. Moreover, lava crystallinity indicates a cooling rate of ∼70°C min–1 at the lava-tree contact, a rate well above the expected cooling rates (30°C min–1) for pāhoehoe more distant (40 m away) from the tree. We conclude that the tree had a local cooling effect on the lava that could potentially influence lava properties at larger scale if tree density, trunk diameter and moisture content are sufficiently hig

Effects of a nutritional supplement in dogs affected by osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a form of chronic joint inflammation caused by the deterioration of the joint cartilage, accompanied by chronic pain, lameness and stiffness, particularly after prolonged activity. Alternative treatments of canine osteoarthritis would be desirable and, recently nutraceuticals, have been proposed for this purpose. Twenty cross breed adult dogs affected by osteoarthritis were enrolled and equally divided into two groups (control vs. experimental). The nutritional supplement (Dynamopet srl, Verone, Italy) was administered for 90 days to the dogs of the experimental group in order to evaluate its metabolic and locomotor effects. All the clinical signs (lameness, pain on manipulation and palpation, range of motion and joint swelling) significantly (p < 0.01) improved during the trial as regards the experimental group. This group showed a significantly lower joint score than the control group (mean value 7.40 vs. 3.80). With regard to haematology, the mean corpuscular volume resulted significantly (p < 0.01) higher in the experimental group, i.e. alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol and triglycerides values decreased and were significantly (p < 0.01) lower than the control one, thus suggesting an improvement in bone remodelling and lipid metabolism. A decrease in the reactive oxygen metabolites and an increase in the biological antioxidant potential demonstrated an improvement in oxidative stress during the trial in the experimental group compare to the control group. Interleukins 6 decreased in the experimental group, while interleukins 10 resulted in the opposite trend. Moreover, the administration of up to 3 months of the studied supplement was well tolerated in the dogs and caused no adverse effects

Análisis de algunas características de las pómez de la caída pliniana de la erupción de 1600 d.C. del volcán Huaynaputina

Entre las características de los depósitos volcánicos y sobre todo piroclásticos, la densidad y la porosidad de los clastos juveniles son los parámetros más usados para reconstruir la dinámica eruptiva de una erupción volcánica a través del tipo de magma, comenzando con el cálculo de la densidad volumétrica y la densidad específica del depósito Pliniano, para que posteriormente se junte con otros parámetros físicos y texturales se infieren la dinámica eruptiva a través del tipo de magma. En el año de 1600 CE se registró la erupción del volcán Huaynaputina (Moquegua), con un Índice de Explosividad Volcánica de 6, considerándose la mayor erupción volcánica del tipo pliniana ocurrida en Sudamérica en tiempos históricos (Thouret et al., 1997, 1999, 2002; Adams et al. 2001). La caída Pliniana de pómez fue el primer depósito en emplazarse de los 5 tipos de depósitos que se produjo en la erupción del volcán Huaynaputina. La pómez de composición dacítica constituye el componente principal (hasta 80%) del depósito de caída pliniana de la erupción de 1600. Se han analizado 528 muestras localizadas desde zonas ultra proximales (1-5 km), proximales (5-15 km), mediales (19-25 km) y upwind – en contra del viento y eje de dispersión (8 km) con respecto al cráter, con tamaños entre 1 cm y 2.5 cm. La medida de la densidad de las pómez se realizó en el Laboratorio de Magmas y Volcanes de la Universidad de Clermont-Auvergne (Francia), utilizando el Analizador GeoPyc 1360, cuyos resultados se representaron en gráficas estadísticas de distribución de densidad, similares a los utilizados para el análisis de tamaño de grano. Los datos obtenidos muestran valores de densidad comprendidos entre de 0.4 y 1.1 g/cm3, cuyo valor aumenta linealmente con la distancia al cráter. También se puede apreciar un aumento vertical en cada sección tomada, desde la base al techo del depósito

NADPH oxidase and mitochondria are relevant sources of superoxide anion in the oxinflammatory response of macrophages exposed to airborne particulate matter

Exposure to ambient air particulate matter (PM) is associated with increased cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality. In this context, alveolar macrophages exhibit proinflammatory and oxidative responses as a result of the clearance of particles, thus contributing to lung injury. However, the mechanisms linking these pathways are not completely clarified. Therefore, the oxinflammation phenomenon was studied in RAW 264.7 macrophages exposed to Residual Oil Fly Ash (ROFA), a PM surrogate rich in transition metals. While cell viability was not compromised under the experimental conditions, a proinflammatory phenotype was observed in cells incubated with ROFA 100 μg/mL, characterized by increased levels of TNF-α and NO production, together with PM uptake. This inflammatory response seems to precede alterations in redox metabolism, characterized by augmented levels of H2O2, diminished GSH/GSSG ratio, and increased SOD activity. This scenario resulted in increased oxidative damage to phospholipids. Moreover, alterations in mitochondrial respiration were observed following ROFA incubation, such as diminished coupling efficiency and spare respiratory capacity, together with augmented proton leak. These findings were accompanied by a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. Finally, NADPH oxidase (NOX) and mitochondria were identified as the main sources of superoxide anion ([Formula presented]) in our model. These results indicate that PM exposure induces direct activation of macrophages, leading to inflammation and increased reactive oxygen species production through NOX and mitochondria, which impairs antioxidant defense and may cause mitochondrial dysfunction

The emerging role of cancer nanotechnology in the panorama of sarcoma

In the field of nanomedicine a multitude of nanovectors have been developed for cancer application. In this regard, a less exploited target is represented by connective tissue. Sarcoma lesions encompass a wide range of rare entities of mesenchymal origin affecting connective tissues. The extraordinary diversity and rarity of these mesenchymal tumors is reflected in their classification, grading and management which are still challenging. Although they include more than 70 histologic subtypes, the first line-treatment for advanced and metastatic sarcoma has remained unchanged in the last fifty years, excluding specific histotypes in which targeted therapy has emerged. The role of chemotherapy has not been completely elucidated and the outcomes are still very limited. At the beginning of the century, nano-sized particles clinically approved for other solid lesions were tested in these neoplasms but the results were anecdotal and the clinical benefit was not substantial. Recently, a new nanosystem formulation NBTXR3 for the treatment of sarcoma has landed in a phase 2-3 trial. The preliminary results are encouraging and could open new avenues for research in nanotechnology. This review provides an update on the recent advancements in the field of nanomedicine for sarcoma. In this regard, preclinical evidence especially focusing on the development of smart materials and drug delivery systems will be summarized. Moreover, the sarcoma patient management exploiting nanotechnology products will be summed up. Finally, an overlook on future perspectives will be provided

Prognostic and Predictive Role of Body Composition in Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Patients Treated with Everolimus: A Real-World Data Analysis

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare neoplasms frequently characterized by an up- regulation of the mammalian rapamycin targeting (mTOR) pathway resulting in uncontrolled cell proliferation. The mTOR pathway is also involved in skeletal muscle protein synthesis and in adipose tissue metabolism. Everolimus inhibits the mTOR pathway, resulting in blockade of cell growth and tumor progression. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of body composition in- dexes in patients with metastatic NETs treated with everolimus. The study population included 30 patients with well-differentiated (G1-G2), metastatic NETs treated with everolimus at the IRCCS Romagnolo Institute for the Study of Tumors (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, Meldola (FC), Italy. The body composition indexes (skeletal muscle index [SMI] and adipose tissue indexes) were assessed by measuring on a computed tomography (CT) scan the cross-sectional area at L3 at baseline and at the first radiological assessment after the start of treatment. The body mass index (BMI) was assessed at baseline. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.9 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.4–13.7 months). The PFS stratified by tertiles was 3.2 months (95% CI: 0.9–10.1 months) in patients with low SMI (tertile 1), 14.2 months (95% CI: 2.3 months-not estimable [NE]) in patients with intermediate SMI (tertile 2), and 9.1 months (95% CI: 2.7 months-NE) in patients with high SMI (tertile 3) (p = 0.039). Similarly, the other body composition indexes also showed a statistically significant difference in the three groups on the basis of tertiles. The median PFS was 3.2 months (95% CI: 0.9–6.7 months) in underweight patients (BMI 18.49 kg/m2) and 10.1 months (95% CI: 3.7–28.4 months) in normal-weight patients (p = 0.011). There were no significant differences in terms of overall survival. The study showed a correlation between PFS and the body composition indexes in patients with NETs treated with everolimus, underlining the role of adipose and muscle tissue in these patients