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Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) can disrupt the host microbiota and influence human health. In this study, we explored the potential effects of GBHs on urinary metabolites and their interactions with gut microbiome using a rodent model. Glyphosate and Roundup (equal molar for glyphosate) were administered at the USA glyphosate ADI guideline (1.75 mg/kg bw/day) to the dams and their pups. The urine metabolites were profiled using non-targeted liquid chromatography—high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Our results found that overall urine metabolite profiles significantly differed between dams and pups and between female and male pups. Specifically, we identified a significant increase of homocysteine, a known risk factor of cardiovascular disease in both Roundup and glyphosate exposed pups, but in males only. Correlation network analysis between gut microbiome and urine metabolome pointed to Prevotella to be negatively correlated with the level of homocysteine. Our study provides initial evidence that exposures to commonly used GBH, at a currently acceptable human exposure dose, is capable of modifying urine metabolites in both rat adults and pups. The link between Prevotella-homocysteine suggests the potential role of GBHs in modifying the susceptibility of homocysteine, which is a metabolite that has been dysregulated in related diseases like cardiovascular disease or inflammation, through commensal microbiome.

Phthalates are commonly included as ingredients in personal care products such as cosmetics, shampoos and perfumes. Diethyl phthalate (DEP) has been found to be anti-androgenic and linked with adverse reproductive effects on males, but effects on females are poorly understood. We designed an integrative and translational study to experimentally examine the effects of DEP exposure at a human-equivalent dose on the mammary transcriptome in rats and to subsequently examine the DEP gene signature in breast tissues (both pre-malignant and tumor) from a population study. In Sprague-Dawley rats treated orally with DEP from birth to adulthood, we identified a signature panel of 107 genes predominantly down-regulated by DEP exposure. Univariate analysis of this 107 DEP gene signature in pre-malignant breast tissues revealed that six genes (P4HA1, MPZL3, TMC4, PLEKHA6, CA8, AREG) were inversely associated with monoethyl phthalate (MEP; the urinary metabolite of DEP) concentration (p

Gundersen, V., van Moorter, B. Panzacchi, M., Rauset, G.R. & Strand, O. 2021. Villrein-ferdselsanalyser på Hardangervidda - Anbefalinger og tiltak. NINA Rapport 1903. Norsk institutt for naturforskning. Denne rapporten oppsummerer resultatene fra villrein-ferdselsanalyser på Hardangervidda. Data på ferdsel danner et viktig materiale for analysene og for anbefalingene, og er oppsummert i fire separerte rapporter (Selvaag m.fl. 2018, 2019, 2020, Gundersen m.fl. 2021). Bruken av fjellområdene følger samfunnstrender og har stor betydning for villreinen. Hardanger-vidda er mye brukt til turisme og friluftsliv, og det har skjedd og skjer en massiv utbygging av hytter og annen infrastruktur i randsonene. På nasjonalt nivå har turismen blomstret opp som viktig næring i distriktene. Merkevare og besøksstrategier for nasjonalparkene skal forvalte attraktive områder og gi brukerne gode naturopplevelser samtidig som man skal ta vare på verneverdiene. Forvaltningsplanen for nasjonalparken, regional plan for villreinområdet og kvalitetsnorm for villrein, skal håndtere den menneskelige bruken innenfor det som er akseptabelt nivå for å ta vare på villreinen og andre verneverdier. Forvaltningen trenger derfor mer kunnskap om hvilke konsekvenser den menneskelige bruken har for villreinen. For å svare på dette bruker vi flere typer data og analyser. Det er gjennomført analyser som beregner villreinens sannsynlighet for å krysse stier og løyper med et gitt volum av trafikk fra automatiske tellere og stiindekser. Vi har også gjennomført storskala romlige analyser av villreinens arealbruk og trekk og som kvantifiserer betydningen av en lang rekke faktorer av naturgitte og menneskeskapte forhold. Analysene som er en del av analyseverktøyet OneImpact som NINA har utviklet, beskriver den samlede effekten av menneskelig aktivitet, og kvantifiserer bidraget fra de ulike komponentene i denne forstyrrelsen. Produktene i denne helhetlige analysen viser landskapets habitatkvalitet og permeabilitet (motstand), og disse er videreutviklet til analy-ser som beskriver villreinens kjerneområder og forflytningsruter. Bidraget, positivt eller negativt, fra de ulike naturgitte og menneskeskapte faktorene er tallfestet. Det er også gjennomført en scenario-analyse, der fravær av eksisterende infrastruktur er manipulert i analysene for villrei-nens kjerneområder og forflytningsruter, og der analysene viser resultater før og etter manipule-ringen. Differansen før og etter for villreinens kjerneområder og forflytningsruter er da gitt som et prosenttall (+/-), avhengig av om tiltaket er beregnet å virke positivt eller negativt for villreinen. Analysene viser at menneskelig aktivitet samlet sett gir det største bidraget til å forklare villreinens bruk av Hardangervidda, og denne effekten er sterkere om sommeren enn om vinteren. Det er den «tunge» utbyggingen av infrastruktur i randsonen som har medført sterkt redusert habitatkvalitet og mulighet for trekk. Analysene identifiserer store arealer i randsonen med dårlig habitatkvalitet, og der også GPS dataene som er samlet inn siden 2001 viser at villreinen helt eller delvis unnviker disse arealene. Eksempler her er store arealer med hyttefelt, turistdestinasjoner, vannkraftutbygginger og med tilhørende infrastruktur av veger, oppkjørte skispor, merka stier og annen tilrettelegging for fritidsaktiviteter. Denne utbyggingen har «presset» villreinen inn kjerneområdene. Likeledes har utbyggingen av «tung» nasjonal viktig infrastruktur som hoved-veger (Rv7 og E134), mindre veger (Imingfjell, Dagali) og jernbane (mot Nordfjella) medført at viktige sesongtrekk mellom viktige funksjonsområder er sterkt redusert eller opphørt. Dette har medført ytterligere fragmentering av villreinbestandene i Langfjella. Analysene viser at det er den samlede effekten av disse inngrepene i randsonen som gir arealunnvikelse og brudd i trekk, og at fjerning av en type infrastruktur, f. eks. en veg, kan gi redusert effekt fordi det fortsatt er mye annen type infrastruktur (private hytter, turisthytter, reguleringsmagasin) som gir dårlig habitat-kvalitet for villreinen. Modellene identifiserer de beste habitatene for villreinen i de sentrale delene av Hardangervidda. Dette er områder som har infrastruktur av spredte private hytter og buer, private turisthytter, DNT turisthytter, bruer og «myk» infrastruktur av merka stier og stikka løyper. Modellene viser at merka stier og turisthytter gir negative bidrag til å forklare habitatkvalitet og forflytningsruter for villreinen i kjerneområdene. De mer detaljerte analysene av den dynamiske bruken av merka stier viser at det er en negativ sammenheng mellom reinens sannsynlighet for å krysse stier på ulike dager og det volumet av mennesker som bruker stien de respektive dagene. Hvis antall passeringer (teller, stiindeks) på en sti er mer enn 25-30 personer per dag, viser reinen sterk unngåelse av disse stiene og krysser i mange tilfeller ikke over stien. Vi fant derimot ingen sammenheng mellom krysningsfrekvens til villrein og telledata fra de stikka løy-pene vinterstid, og reinen krysser over de stikka løypene som forventet ut fra tilgjengelighet. Vi har redegjort for usikkerhet knyttet til analysene. Hardangervidda villreinområde har nå et kunnskapsgrunnlag som evner å se de kumulative ef-fektene for hele arealet i sammenheng, samtidig med at det er gitt beskrivelser av lokale problemstillinger. Det er også gitt detaljert kunnskap om hvordan forvaltningen kan jobbe videre med å bedre situasjonen for villreinbestanden. En bærekraftig utvikling av villreinbestanden er betinget at den kan vandre mer fritt og bruke mer av de gode habitatene. Tiltakene må rette seg mot å begrense den menneskelige aktiviteten i de mest kritiske områdene. Rapporten gir forslag til endringer i infrastruktur av merka stier og turisthytter sentralt på vidda. Det gjelder spesielt for å øke bruken av og tilgjengeligheten til de gode sommerhabitatene i vest. Forvaltningen må videre ta høyde for at den menneskelige bruken kan øke ytterligere i årene fremover, og den må være fleksibel i forhold til både økt bruk og nye former for bruk. Derfor haster det med å gjennomføre noen store endringer i infrastruktur for friluftsliv og turisme på Hardangervidda. Gundersen, V., van Moorter, B. Panzacchi, M., Rauset, G.R. & Strand, O. 2021. Integrated x wild reindeer and human prescence analyses at Hardangervidda range – Recommandations and measurements. NINA Report 1903. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. This report summarizes the results from wild reindeer – human impact analyzes in the Hardangervidda wild reindeer range. The descriptions of data on human activity and presence form an important basis for the analyzes and for the recommendations, and are summarized in four separate reports (Selvaag m.fl. 2018, 2019, 2020, Gundersen m.fl. 2020). The Hardangervidda wild reindeer range is in a time when there are a lot of comprehensive changes in the society that are important for the wild reindeer habitat. The mountain areas have once again received great focus as a recreational landscape, and there is a massive develop-ment of second-home areas and recreational infrastructure in the peripheral zones. Tourism has flourished, and the management of protected areas has opened up from "pure protection" to "wise use". Branding and visiting strategies in protection areas had the aim to pull visitors to attractions and good experiences and to handle the use by pushing away people from vulnerable areas to preserve the conservation values. The management plan, regional plan and recent implementation of quality standard for wild reindeer shall, on the basis of knowledge, define accepted level of human activity within the main goal to protect the wild reindeer. The management authorities therefore needs more knowledge about impact of human activity on wild reindeer. To answer the questions related to how human activity affects the wild reindeer on the Hardangervidda, we use several types of analyzes. Analyzes that look at the wild reindeer's trail and track crossing at trails with a given traffic volume that day. To do this we use GPS data in relation to two types of independent trail data; automatic counters and Trail Use index (TUI) derived from users that draw down their trip. Analyzes of the wild reindeer's habitat selection quantify the contribution from natural properties and human influence. Analyzes of the landscape's permea-bility or landscape friction identify variables that explain the resistance the reindeer encounters when it is on the move, also here in relation to both natural properties and human influence. Finally, we carry out scenario analyzes, in which we quantify the effects of infrastructure removal on the reindeer's habitat selection and landscape permeability. The analyzes have identified large areas with suitable habitat on the Hardangervidda, but the reindeer do not use this habitat optimally. Both regional cumulative effects and ceased migration routes, as well as regional area avoidance and also local responses to human presence have been identified. The results show that it is "heavy" infrastructure in the peripheral zone of the wild reindeer range that has had the greatest negative impact on the reindeer's area use and migration. This applies to hydropower dams, houses, main roads, gravel roads, second-home areas, while power lines and railways (less presented) have had less effect. Great pressure from the peripheral zone has the consequence that the more remote areas have been given increased value, and here much-used trails and tourist cabins have a negative effect. The analyzes identified a correlation between the reindeer's trail crossing and the volume of people who use the trail that particular day. If the number of people on a trail increases beyond 25-30 people per day, there is a descending curve for frequency of trail crossing. The management authorities can use these results to create strategies to identify both robust areas for people visitation and particularly vulnerable areas for wild reindeer, and implement management measures that either reduce human use or increase it. We have proposed a zoning tool on the Hardanger plateau that can be used as a basis for a long list of different concrete measures. Based on the scenario analysis, we propose some overall measures that can improve the situation for the wild reindeer in a longterm perspective.

Additional file 1. Additional figures and tables.

International audience; Climate-smart forestry (CSF) is an emerging branch of sustainable adaptive forest management aimed at enhancing the potential of forests to adapt to and mitigate climate change. It relies on much higher data requirements than traditional forestry. These data requirements can be met by new devices that support continuous, in situ monitoring of forest conditions in real time. We propose a comprehensive network of sensors, i.e., a wireless sensor network (WSN), that can be part of a worldwide network of interconnected uniquely addressable objects, an Internet of Things (IoT), which can make data available in near real time to multiple stakeholders, including scientists, foresters, and forest managers, and may partially motivate citizens to participate in big data collection. The use of in situ sources of monitoring data as ground-truthed training data for remotely sensed data can boost forest monitoring by increasing the spatial and temporal scales of the monitoring, leading to a better understanding of forest processes and potential threats. Here, some of the key developments and applications of these sensors are outlined, together with guidelines for data management. Examples are given of their deployment to detect early warning signals (EWS) of ecosystem regime shifts in terms of forest productivity, health, and biodiversity. Analysis of the strategic use of these tools highlights the opportunities for engaging citizens and forest managers in this new generation of forest monitoring.

The amount of nitrogen (N) deposition onto forests has globally increased and is expected to double by 2050, mostly because of fertilizer production and fossil fuel burning. Several studies have already investigated the effects of N depositions in forest soils, highlighting negative consequences on plant biodiversity and the associated biota. Nevertheless, the impact of N aerial inputs deposited directly on the tree canopy is still unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the influence of increased N deposition on the leaf-associated fungal and bacterial communities in a temperate forest dominated by Sessile oak [Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.]. The study area was located in the Monticolo forest (South Tyrol, Italy), where an ecosystem experiment simulating an increased N deposition has been established. The results highlighted that N deposition affected the fungal beta-diversity and bacterial alpha-diversity without affecting leaf total N and C contents. We found several indicator genera of both fertilized and natural conditions within bacteria and fungi, suggesting a highly specific response to altered N inputs. Moreover, we found an increase of symbiotrophic fungi in N-treated, samples which are commonly represented by lichen-forming mycobionts. Overall, our results indicated that N-deposition, by increasing the level of bioavailable nutrients in leaves, could directly influence the bacterial and fungal community diversity.

Background: Double pituitary adenomas (DA) are two morphologically and immunohystochemically different tumours in the same gland. They are rare, generally small adenomas and divided in: separated, when clearly recognizable before or during surgery, and contiguous, when diagnosed only in the following histopathological examination. Acromegaly and Cushing’s disease are the main prevalent clinical presentation. Objective: We described two cases of DA in a surgical series over 16 years in a single center. Methods: In September 2018, we diagnosed a DA in a man with acromegaly (case 1). In order to assess the presence of other cases of DA, we performed a retrospective analysis of the endonasal endoscopically operated sellar adenomas from January 2004 to December 2019. Results : 468 pituitary adenomas were found. A DA with a Pit-1 positive macroadenoma (GH-TSH- PRL positive) and an ACTH microadenoma clinically silent in an acromegalic woman was retrospectively found (case 2). Conclusion : Our analysis confirms that DA are rare (0.4% of the pituitary adenomas) and often associated with acromegaly. Their pre-operatively diagnosis is difficult but clinician’s awareness of DA can improve the diagnosis. The use of pituitary transcription factors could be useful in detecting DA.

Climate-Smart Forestry (CSF) is an emerging branch of sustainable forest management that aims to manage forests in response to climate change. Specific CSF strategies are viewed as a way forward for developing suitable management responses and enhancing the provision of ecosystem services. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive and cohesive assessment to implement CSF. This paper describes the step-by-step process that developed a comprehensive and shared definition of CSF, and the process for selecting indicators that assess the “climate-smartness” of forest management. Adaptation, mitigation and social dimensions are the core focus of the CSF definition, which recognises the need to integrate and avoid development of these aspects in isolation. An iterative participatory process was used with a range of experts in forest-related fields from the CLIMO project, this was subsequently supported by a network analysis to identify sustainable forest management indicators important to CSF. The definition developed here, is an important first step in to promote CSF that will aid practice in the forestry sector. It can be used as a template across Europe, tailored to local contexts. Further work communicating CSF to practitioners and policy-makers will create a CSF practice and culture that will help to safeguard future forest economies and communities.

In the last decades, the effects of nitrogen (N) deposition on temperate forests have received much interest. Studies recorded several changes in soil carbon (C) and N cycles due to extra reactive N available. For instance, past studies reported that N deposition, may influence CO2 emission, lower CH4 consumption by the soil and increase the emission of N2O. Nevertheless, the mechanistic understanding of these ecological responses is still far to be reached. However, most of the studies neglected to include the canopy interception in the experiments simulating N addition, notwithstanding tree canopy have shown to change both the amount and the chemical composition of the N deposition. Hence, experiments simulating this process by applying fertilization above the canopy are needed.The aim of this study is to explore how N deposition influences greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a temperate oak forest (Quercus petraea Liebl.) located in Monticolo (Bolzano, Italy). In this site, a set of three plots was created and replicated three times. Each set includes a control plot, a plot with below-canopy fertilization (NBL) and a plot with above-canopy fertilization (NAB). The fertilization is applied, since 2015, from May to September, for a total annual N addition of 20 kg N ha-1.Since April 2018, CO2 emission has been monthly measured with a portable infrared gas analyzer. Measurements were performed on three points per plot, for a total of 27 measurement points. During measurements, soil moisture and soil temperature at 10 cm depth were measured as well.The measurements of CH4 and N2O started during the growing season in 2019 and are performed on a monthly basis by a static chamber method. Three chambers were installed per plots, for a total of 27 chambers.We will present the preliminary results of this study. The results showed that the 5-year N fertilization did not lead to significant differences between plots in terms of GHG fluxes. The sensitivity of CO2 emission to temperature was not influenced by extra N. The differences were not significant between fertilized and unfertilized plots, nor between the two fertilization methods.

Biochar is a carbonaceous material produced through the pyro-gasification of biomass. In the last decade, biochar has been proposed as a soil amendment because it can improve soil physico-chemical properties and carbon stocks, contributing to climate change mitigation.In the framework of the Wood-Up project (Optimization of WOOD gasification chain in South Tyrol to prodUce bioenergy and other high-value green Products to enhance soil fertility and mitigate climate change, FESR1028), we studied the impact of conifer wood biochar on the emissions of the main greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the soil: carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4), as well as on the soil carbon stock of agricultural fields in South Tyrol.In May 2017, 25 and 50 t ha-1 of pure biochar and biochar mixed with compost (45 t ha-1), were applied to the soil of a vineyard near Merano (South-Tyrol, northern Italy) following a randomized block experimental design with four replicates per treatment.Soil GHGs fluxes were monitored from June 2017 until December 2019. Fluxes were measured, in real time, with a high-resolution portable multi-gas analyzer based on cavity ring-down spectroscopy technology (Picarro inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA) connected to an automated dynamic chambers system (Eosense Inc., Dartmouth, NS, Canada). Gas emissions were measured monthly and were related to soil temperature and moisture to evaluate the impact of treatments on the sensitivity of GHGs fluxes to environmental parameters. The stability of conifer wood biochar in soil was assessed through the quantification of the Benzene PolyCarboxylic Acids (BPCA), specific biomarkers of black carbon, over time. The BPCA content in the soil was measured before the application of biochar and compost, three weeks after the application and two years later.During the first year of experiment, in biochar-amended soils, we observed a reduction of the temperature sensitivity of all GHGs fluxes in comparison to treatments without biochar (control and compost alone). In the second and third year an opposite trend was observed, with an increase of temperature sensitivity of GHGs fluxes in biochar-treated soil. The change of biochar effect over time might be linked to biochar ageing in soil. However, a role of soil moisture cannot be excluded, as it was higher in the first year of experiment. The experimental results will be presented in the broader context of the Wood-Up project.

BackgroundGlyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) have previously been considered safe to humans. However, emerging evidence indicates that GBHs can disrupt the host microbiota and influence human health. To build upon our previous findings of gut dysbiosis and other adverse health effects resulting from low-dose exposure of GBHs (glyphosate and Roundup) in Sprague-Dawley rats, in particular pups during early development, we explore potential effects of GBHs on urinary metabolites and their interactions with gut microbiome in the same animal model.MethodsGlyphosate and Roundup (equal molar for glyphosate) were administered in drinking water at the USA glyphosate ADI guideline (1.75mg/kg bw/day) to the dams (F0) starting from the gestational day (GD) 6 through the life-course of both dams and their pups (F1) (males and females). Urine samples were collected from F0 dams after pups’ weaning and F1 pups at PND 70 and 125. The urine metabolites of 61 urine samples (14 from F0 dams and 30 from F1 pups) were profiled using non-targeted liquid chromatography – high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). We further used supervised clustering analyses combined with random forest feature selection to evaluate differences in urine metabolome profiles between experimental groups.ResultsOverall urine metabolite profiles significantly differed between dams and pups and between female and male pups. When pups were stratified by sexes, Roundup and glyphosate exposure resulted in significant and distinctive changes in metabolite profiles. Specifically, both supervised clustering analysis and random forest feature selection methods identified a significant increase of homocysteine, a known risk factor of cardiovascular disease in both Roundup and glyphosate exposed pups, but in males only. Correlation network analysis between gut microbiome and urine metabolome pointed to Prevotella, a commensal genus with higher loading in male pups, to be negatively correlated with the level of homocysteine.ConclusionsThis study provides initial evidence that exposures to commonly used GBH, at a currently acceptable human exposure dose, is capable of modifying the urine metabolites in both rat adults and pups. The strong link between Prevotella-Homocysteine suggests the potential role of GBHs in modifying the susceptibility of homocysteine related diseases like cardiovascular disease or inflammation through commensal microbiome.

// Sandra Durante 1, * , Silvia Vecchiarelli 2, * , Annalisa Astolfi 1 , Elisa Grassi 2 , Riccardo Casadei 3 , Donatella Santini 4 , Riccardo Panzacchi 4 , Claudio Ricci 3 , Salvatore Serravalle 5 , Giuseppe Tarantino 1 , Mirella Falconi 6 , Gabriella Teti 6 , Valentina Indio 1 , Andrea Pession 5 , Francesco Minni 3 , Guido Biasco 1, 2 , Mariacristina Di Marco 2 1 Giorgio Prodi Cancer Research Centre, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy 2 Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine University of Bologna, Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy 3 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy 4 Pathology Unit, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy 5 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, “Lalla Seragnoli” Hematology-Oncology Unit, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy 6 DIBINEM—Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy * These authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Annalisa Astolfi, email: annalisa.astolfi@unibo.it Keywords: PDA, IPMN, chromosome 3, NGS, PIK3CA Received: April 11, 2016 Accepted: August 10, 2016 Published: August 22, 2016 ABSTRACT Background: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) is the most common cystic preneoplastic lesion of pancreatic cancer. We used an approach coupling high resolution cytogenetic analysis (Affymetrix Oncoscan FFPE Array) with clinically-oriented bioinformatic interpretation of data to understand the most relevant alterations of precursor lesions at different stages to identify new diagnostic markers. Results: We identified multiple copy number alterations, particularly in lesions with severe dysplasia, with 7 IPMN with low-intermediate dysplasia carrying a nearly normal karyotype and 13 IPMN with complex Karyotype (> 4 alterations), showing high grade dysplasia. A specific gain of chromosome arm 3q was found in IPMN with complex Karyotype (92%). This gain of 3q is particularly interesting for the presence of oncogenes such as PIK3CA, GATA2 and TERC that are part of pathways that deregulate cell growth and promote disease progression. Quantitative PCR and FISH analysis confirmed the data . Further demonstration of the overexpression of the PIK3CA gene supports the identification of this alteration as a possible biomarker in the early identification of patients with IPMN at higher risk for disease progression. Materials and methods: High resolution cytogenetic analysis was performed in 20 formalin fixed paraffin embedded samples of IPMN by Oncoscan FFPE assay. Results were validated by qPCR and FISH analysis. Conclusions: The identification of these markers at an early stage of disease onset could help to identify patients at risk for cancer progression and new candidates for a more specific targeted therapy.

The increasing importance of short rotation coppice (SRC) plantations for bioenergy production makes it crucial to evaluate their carbon (C) sink potential and to understand which sustainable practices could increase productivity and C sequestration. This study examined the combined effect of woody ash and nitrogen (N) fertilization on the productivity, net C balance (NECB) and soil C sink capacity of a poplar SRC plantation established on a former arable land in northern Italy. Above- (ANPP) and below-ground (BNPP) primary productivity, including both root litter and rhizodeposition (Croot litter), were estimated by a combination of inventory methods, soil respiration measurements and C budgeting approaches. NECB was estimated as changes in both plant and soil C pools, and the portion of soil organic carbon (SOC) derived from poplar leaf and root litter was estimated using a combination of in-growth cores and isotopic measurements. Nitrogen application at 100kgha−1 increased ANPP in terms of C accumulation only in the first year, while NECB was not affected by treatments and was 9.96MgCha−1year−1 on average. Irrespective of the treatment, the plantation accumulated on average 0.7MgCha−1year−1 of SOC and the poplar-derived soil C input was 3.0Mgha−1year−1. Positive NECB shows that the studied SRC resulted in an important C sink even in the first years after the establishment. However, long-term studies are needed to better assess the effect of N and ash application on C and nutrient cycles over more than one rotation period.

Breast development occurs through well-defined stages representing 'windows of susceptibility' to adverse environmental exposures that potentially modify breast cancer risk. Systematic characterization of morphology and transcriptome during normal breast development lays the foundation of our understanding of cancer etiology. We examined mammary glands in female Sprague Dawley rats across six developmental stages - pre-pubertal, peri-pubertal, pubertal, lactation, adult parous and adult nulliparous. We investigated histology by Hematoxylin and Eosin and Mallory's Trichrome stain, proliferative and apoptotic rate by immunohistochemistry and whole-transcriptome by microarrays. We identified differentially expressed genes between adjacent developmental stages by linear models, underlying pathways by gene ontology analysis and gene networks and hubs active across developmental stages by coexpression network analysis. Mammary gland development was associated with large-scale changes in the transcriptome; particularly from pre-pubertal to peri-pubertal period and the lactation period were characterized by distinct patterns of gene expression with unique biological functions such as immune processes during pre-pubertal development and cholesterol biosynthesis during lactation. These changes were reflective of the shift in mammary gland histology, from a rudimentary organ during early stages to a secretory organ during lactation followed by regression with age. Hub genes within mammary gene networks included metabolic genes such as Pparg during the pre-pubertal stage and tight junction-related genes claudins and occludins in lactating mammary glands. Transcriptome profile paired with histology enhanced our understanding of mammary development, which is fundamental in understanding the etiologic mechanism of breast cancer, especially pertaining to windows of susceptibility to environmental exposures that may alter breast cancer risk.

Biochar has been shown to improve soil quality and crop yields. Furthermore, thanks to its high carbon content (C) and stable chemical structure, biochar can sequester C in the soil for a long time, mitigating climate change. However, the variability in published biochar stability in the soil makes verifying this trait under different environmental and agricultural conditions necessary. Moreover, most of the published literature refers to short-term incubation experiments, which are considered to not adequately represent long-term dynamics under field conditions. This article reports the results of a field experiment carried out in a vineyard near Merano, northern Italy, where the stability of woodchips biochar in soil, its impact on the total soil C stocks as well as on the original soil organic C (priming effect) were studied over two years. Vineyard soil (Dystric Eutrochrept) was amended with biochar (25 and 50 t ha−1) alone or together with compost (45 t ha−1) and compared with unamended control soil. Two methods assessed the stability of biochar in soil: the isotopic mass balance approach and the quantification of Benzene PolyCarboxylic Acids (BPCAs), molecular markers of biochar. The amount of C in the soil organic matter (SOM-C) was determined in the amended plots by subtracting the amount of biochar-C from the total soil organic C stock, and the occurrence of priming effect was verified by comparing SOM-C values at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. Results did not show any significant biochar degradation for both application rates, but results were characterized by a high variation. The application of 50 t ha−1 of biochar significantly increased soil C stock while no effect of biochar on the degradation of SOM-C was observed. Results were confirmed in the case of biochar application together with compost. It can be concluded that the use of woodchips biochar as a soil amendment can increase soil C content in the medium term. However, further analyses are recommended to evaluate the impact of biochar on climate change mitigation in the long term.

Lymphomas and leukaemias involving the lung have in some cases been hard to distinguish from respiratory tract infection in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats from long-term bioassays. In order to differentiate between tumours and immune cell infiltrates, updated pathological criteria and nomenclature were used and immunohistochemistry (IHC) was applied to haematopoietic and lymphoid tissue tumours (HLTs) in the original prenatal long-term Aspartame (APM) study performed by the Ramazzini Institute (RI). All 78 cases of HLTs from treated and control groups were re-examined based on light microscopic morphological characteristics and subjected to a panel of IHC markers including Ki67, CD3, PAX5, CD20, CD68, TdT, CD45, CD14 and CD33. The analysis confirmed the diagnoses of HLTs in 72 cases, identified 3 cases of preneoplastic lesions (lymphoid hyperplasia), and categorized 3 cases as inflammatory lesions. A statistically significant increase in total HLTs (p = 0.006), total lymphomas (p = 0.032) and total leukaemias (p = 0.031) in treated female rats was confirmed (high dose vs control), and a statistically significant linear trend for each HLT type was also observed. After the HLT cases re-evaluation, the results obtained are consistent with those reported in the previous RI publication and reinforce the hypothesis that APM has a leukaemogenic and lymphomatogenic effect.

Tonon, G. (a cura di). (2020). WOOD-UP ‒ Valorizzazione della filiera di gassificazione di biomasse legnose per l’energia, la fertilità del suolo e la mitigazione dei cambiamenti climatici (pp. 199–237).