Abstract.Distributions of V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Cd, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Eu, Pb were determin... more Abstract.Distributions of V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Cd, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Eu, Pb were determined in seawater samples collected at different depths in the Strait of Sicily (Central Mediterranean) during the océanographie cruise BANSIC 98. Sampling sites were ...
... 1979/1980; McKenzie 1985; Bellanca et al. 1986; Bel-lanca and Neri 1986). ... Staining method... more ... 1979/1980; McKenzie 1985; Bellanca et al. 1986; Bel-lanca and Neri 1986). ... Staining methods were those of Friedman (1959). Procedures described by Murata and Larson (1975) were used for detailed measurements of the d( 101)-spacing of opal-CT. ...
Punturo, R., Censi, P., Zuddas, P., Randazzo, LA, & Tamburo, E. (2010). Solid-liquid interactions... more Punturo, R., Censi, P., Zuddas, P., Randazzo, LA, & Tamburo, E. (2010). Solid-liquid interactions in human lung system enhanced by yttrium and REE distributions in broncho-alveolar lavages. In 89th SIMP Meeting L'evoluzione del sistema Terra dagli atomi ai vulcani. ...
Fluorescent proteins from marine organisms represent potential candidates for biosensor developme... more Fluorescent proteins from marine organisms represent potential candidates for biosensor development. In this paper, we described the isolation of a native green fluorescent protein from Anemonia sulcata and the cloning and purification of its equivalent as a recombinant protein in Escherichia coli. Furthermore, the spectroscopic behaviours of the native and recombinant GFPs were investigated as a function of Cu(2+), Cd(2+), Pb(2+) and Ni(2+) concentration. Our results suggest the high selectivity of both proteins at copper than the other metals and, for the recombinant protein, a great sensitivity at a very low concentration (0.1-1 μM). Moreover, starting from these data, using the combination of molecular biology techniques and optical setup, we developed a device for the detection of Cu(2+) in water solutions. The quenching effect detected with the device showed that the relative attenuation of the signal (0.46 ± 0.02 AU) was slightly larger than the data measured by fluorescence spectra (0.65 ± 0.03 AU). The good sensitivity in the span of two orders of the magnitude of Cu(2+) concentration, the fact that the instrument is made up of low-cost and sturdy parts and the selective quenching of rAsGFP to copper ions make this setup suited as a low cost, on-the-field, copper ion-specific biosensor.
Chemical Geology: Isotope Geoscience section, 1986
Schifano, G. and Censi, P., 1986. Oxygen and carbon isotope composition, magnesium and strontium ... more Schifano, G. and Censi, P., 1986. Oxygen and carbon isotope composition, magnesium and strontium contents of calcite from a subtidal Patella coerulea shell. Chem. Geol. (Isot. Geosci. Sect.), 58: 325-331.
The Mediterranean Sea acts as a miniature ocean with the development of its own conveyor belt. It... more The Mediterranean Sea acts as a miniature ocean with the development of its own conveyor belt. It constitutes an ideal location to study and forecast how the marine environment responds to rapid climatic change. Here we present a palaeoenvironmental study carried out on the sediments of ODP Site 963, recovered in the Sicily Channel, the sill which divides the western from the eastern Mediterranean basin. We focused on the transition between the penultimate glacial (MIS 6) and the last interglacial (MIS 5), between approximately 130 and 115 kyr BP. A novel approach is proposed, taking into account centennial-scale geochemical data on major elements, selected trace elements, and yttrium and REE (YREE). This approach was demonstrated to be suitable to recognize both environmental conditions existing during deposition of the studied sequences and to establish whether diagenetic modifications of the original geochemical signature occurred. Our results highlight the delivery of Fe-rich material to the basin, probably from the arid continental environment of southern Sicily. This phenomenon seems to be interrupted in coincidence with the development of Eemian forests at about 126-127 kyr BP in southern Europe. The deposition of weathered products suggests increate humidity in Sicily between 127 and 124 kyr BP. Less oxidizing/more productive conditions characterized the Sicily Channel sea floor between 124 and 119 kyr BP, while sapropel S5 was depositing in the eastern Mediterranean. They are evidenced by the enrichment of heavy REE, the decrease in positive Ce anomaly, and a slight increase in excess barium. This implies that oceanographic processes which led to bottom anoxia in the eastern Mediterranean might have had an impact even on the Sicily Channel environment.
Distribution and behaviour of the whole lanthanide series and yttrium in both seawater column and... more Distribution and behaviour of the whole lanthanide series and yttrium in both seawater column and suspended particulate matter were investigated in coastal water located in the Central Mediterranean Sea. An area characterized by high anthropic pressure, atmospheric fallout and river input due to drainage of little local watersheds was selected. Water masses were discriminated with respect to both surrounding and
Potassic dyke swarm in the Sapucai Graben, eastern. Paragaay: petrographical, mineralogical and g... more Potassic dyke swarm in the Sapucai Graben, eastern. Paragaay: petrographical, mineralogical and geochemical outlines. In: A. Peccerillo and S. Foley (Editors), Potassic and Ultrapotassic Magmas and their Origin. Lithos, 28: 283-301.
This work analyzes REE behavior during the delivery of volcanic ash into a marine system and high... more This work analyzes REE behavior during the delivery of volcanic ash into a marine system and highlights the effects induced by dissolved carbonate and humate complexes on REE release. Kinetic experiments were carried out during a 6-month period using a batch method approach. Results show that the highest degree of REE leaching occurs during the early stage. Altered phases that crystallize induce REE sorption and dissolved complexation towards surface complexation, concurrent processes that are enhanced by Y/Ho, La/Yb, and Ce/Ce* changes, whereas dissolved humates and carbonates influence the dissolution rate of ash and the dissolved REE behavior.
Distributions and concentrations of many minor and trace elements in epicontinental basins, as Me... more Distributions and concentrations of many minor and trace elements in epicontinental basins, as Mediterranean Sea, are mainly driven to atmospheric fallout from surroundings. This mechanism supplies an estimated yearly flux of about 1000 kg km-2 of terrigenous matter of different nature on the whole Mediterranean basin. Dissolution of these materials and processes occurring at solid-liquid interface along the water column drive the distributions of many trace elements as V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, and Pb with contents ranging from pmol l-1 (Co, Cd, Pb) to nmol l-1 scale in Mediterranean seawater, with some local differences in the basin. The unwinding of an oceanographic cruise in the coastal waters of Ionian Sea during the Etna's eruptive activity in summer 2001 led to the almost unique chance to test the effects of large delivery of volcanic ash to a coastal sea water system through the analyses of distribution of selected trace elements along several seawater columns. The collection of these waters and their analyses about V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, and Pb contents evidenced trace element concentrations were always higher (about 1 order of magnitude at least) than those measured concentrations in the recent past in Mediterranean seawater, apart from Pb. Progressive increase of concentrations of some elements with depth, sometimes changing in a "conservative" behaviour without any clear reason and the observed higher concentrations required an investigation about interaction processes occurring at solid-liquid interface between volcanic ash and seawater along water columns. This investigation involving kinetic evaluation of trace element leaching to seawater, was carried out during a 6 months time period under laboratory conditions. X-ray investigations, SEM-EDS observations and analyses on freshly-erupted volcanic ash evidenced formation of alteration clay minerals onto glass fraction surfaces. Chemical analyses carried out on coexisting liquid phase demonstrated that trace element leaching occurs through a first quick followed by a slow second step that attaints to an apparent equilibrium after 6 months. Amplitude of kinetic rate constant measured for SiO2 release during the first step and behaviour of Ti/Si and Cr/Si rations in primary volcanic minerals, glass fraction and leaching solutions during the first 1 month stage of the experimental interaction allowed to demonstrate that trace element release mainly occurs from glassy materials and Ti-rich magnetite.
. Oxygen isotope composition and rate of growth of Patella coerulea, Monodonta turbinata and M. a... more . Oxygen isotope composition and rate of growth of Patella coerulea, Monodonta turbinata and M. articulata shells from the western coast of Sicily. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol., 42: 305--311. The oxygen-isotope composition of carbonate from the outermost portions of Patella coerulea, Monodonta turbinata and M. articulata shells has been measured from April 1979 to July 1981, with an interval during the summer of 1980, and correlated with the ambient temperature. Carbonate from M. turbinata has yielded values that, on the whole, reproduce the environmental temperature range acceptably; P. coerulea and M. articulata ir, dicate precipitation taking place at temperatures lower than those measured in seawater; this is particularly accentuated in summer. This pattern does not necessarily exclude shell carbonate from precipitating under equilibrium conditions with seawater; rather it indicates a higher calcification rate in medium--warm periods for M. turbinata (with slower precipitation in winter), and in medium--cold periods for P. coerulea and M. articulata (with slow calcification, and even short interruptions during the warmest spells in summer).
The waters of 64 springs from western Sicily have been examined for the main chemical-physical pa... more The waters of 64 springs from western Sicily have been examined for the main chemical-physical parameters and major chemical constituents. According to the delta 13 C values of dissolved carbonate species, CO 2 arises from decomposition of organic matter ...
... 22 Page 4. vavelmente, com idade compreendida entre 70 e 30 Ma (Bitschene, 1987; Cornin~Chia-... more ... 22 Page 4. vavelmente, com idade compreendida entre 70 e 30 Ma (Bitschene, 1987; Cornin~Chia-ramonti et a1., 1991; Velazquez et a1., 1992). ... Ta,'Yb empre-gado como meio do avaliar 0 envolvimento do rochas crustais na magmatogénese (cf. Menzies & Kyle, 1990). ...
Abstract.Distributions of V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Cd, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Eu, Pb were determin... more Abstract.Distributions of V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Cd, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Eu, Pb were determined in seawater samples collected at different depths in the Strait of Sicily (Central Mediterranean) during the océanographie cruise BANSIC 98. Sampling sites were ...
... 1979/1980; McKenzie 1985; Bellanca et al. 1986; Bel-lanca and Neri 1986). ... Staining method... more ... 1979/1980; McKenzie 1985; Bellanca et al. 1986; Bel-lanca and Neri 1986). ... Staining methods were those of Friedman (1959). Procedures described by Murata and Larson (1975) were used for detailed measurements of the d( 101)-spacing of opal-CT. ...
Punturo, R., Censi, P., Zuddas, P., Randazzo, LA, & Tamburo, E. (2010). Solid-liquid interactions... more Punturo, R., Censi, P., Zuddas, P., Randazzo, LA, & Tamburo, E. (2010). Solid-liquid interactions in human lung system enhanced by yttrium and REE distributions in broncho-alveolar lavages. In 89th SIMP Meeting L'evoluzione del sistema Terra dagli atomi ai vulcani. ...
Fluorescent proteins from marine organisms represent potential candidates for biosensor developme... more Fluorescent proteins from marine organisms represent potential candidates for biosensor development. In this paper, we described the isolation of a native green fluorescent protein from Anemonia sulcata and the cloning and purification of its equivalent as a recombinant protein in Escherichia coli. Furthermore, the spectroscopic behaviours of the native and recombinant GFPs were investigated as a function of Cu(2+), Cd(2+), Pb(2+) and Ni(2+) concentration. Our results suggest the high selectivity of both proteins at copper than the other metals and, for the recombinant protein, a great sensitivity at a very low concentration (0.1-1 μM). Moreover, starting from these data, using the combination of molecular biology techniques and optical setup, we developed a device for the detection of Cu(2+) in water solutions. The quenching effect detected with the device showed that the relative attenuation of the signal (0.46 ± 0.02 AU) was slightly larger than the data measured by fluorescence spectra (0.65 ± 0.03 AU). The good sensitivity in the span of two orders of the magnitude of Cu(2+) concentration, the fact that the instrument is made up of low-cost and sturdy parts and the selective quenching of rAsGFP to copper ions make this setup suited as a low cost, on-the-field, copper ion-specific biosensor.
Chemical Geology: Isotope Geoscience section, 1986
Schifano, G. and Censi, P., 1986. Oxygen and carbon isotope composition, magnesium and strontium ... more Schifano, G. and Censi, P., 1986. Oxygen and carbon isotope composition, magnesium and strontium contents of calcite from a subtidal Patella coerulea shell. Chem. Geol. (Isot. Geosci. Sect.), 58: 325-331.
The Mediterranean Sea acts as a miniature ocean with the development of its own conveyor belt. It... more The Mediterranean Sea acts as a miniature ocean with the development of its own conveyor belt. It constitutes an ideal location to study and forecast how the marine environment responds to rapid climatic change. Here we present a palaeoenvironmental study carried out on the sediments of ODP Site 963, recovered in the Sicily Channel, the sill which divides the western from the eastern Mediterranean basin. We focused on the transition between the penultimate glacial (MIS 6) and the last interglacial (MIS 5), between approximately 130 and 115 kyr BP. A novel approach is proposed, taking into account centennial-scale geochemical data on major elements, selected trace elements, and yttrium and REE (YREE). This approach was demonstrated to be suitable to recognize both environmental conditions existing during deposition of the studied sequences and to establish whether diagenetic modifications of the original geochemical signature occurred. Our results highlight the delivery of Fe-rich material to the basin, probably from the arid continental environment of southern Sicily. This phenomenon seems to be interrupted in coincidence with the development of Eemian forests at about 126-127 kyr BP in southern Europe. The deposition of weathered products suggests increate humidity in Sicily between 127 and 124 kyr BP. Less oxidizing/more productive conditions characterized the Sicily Channel sea floor between 124 and 119 kyr BP, while sapropel S5 was depositing in the eastern Mediterranean. They are evidenced by the enrichment of heavy REE, the decrease in positive Ce anomaly, and a slight increase in excess barium. This implies that oceanographic processes which led to bottom anoxia in the eastern Mediterranean might have had an impact even on the Sicily Channel environment.
Distribution and behaviour of the whole lanthanide series and yttrium in both seawater column and... more Distribution and behaviour of the whole lanthanide series and yttrium in both seawater column and suspended particulate matter were investigated in coastal water located in the Central Mediterranean Sea. An area characterized by high anthropic pressure, atmospheric fallout and river input due to drainage of little local watersheds was selected. Water masses were discriminated with respect to both surrounding and
Potassic dyke swarm in the Sapucai Graben, eastern. Paragaay: petrographical, mineralogical and g... more Potassic dyke swarm in the Sapucai Graben, eastern. Paragaay: petrographical, mineralogical and geochemical outlines. In: A. Peccerillo and S. Foley (Editors), Potassic and Ultrapotassic Magmas and their Origin. Lithos, 28: 283-301.
This work analyzes REE behavior during the delivery of volcanic ash into a marine system and high... more This work analyzes REE behavior during the delivery of volcanic ash into a marine system and highlights the effects induced by dissolved carbonate and humate complexes on REE release. Kinetic experiments were carried out during a 6-month period using a batch method approach. Results show that the highest degree of REE leaching occurs during the early stage. Altered phases that crystallize induce REE sorption and dissolved complexation towards surface complexation, concurrent processes that are enhanced by Y/Ho, La/Yb, and Ce/Ce* changes, whereas dissolved humates and carbonates influence the dissolution rate of ash and the dissolved REE behavior.
Distributions and concentrations of many minor and trace elements in epicontinental basins, as Me... more Distributions and concentrations of many minor and trace elements in epicontinental basins, as Mediterranean Sea, are mainly driven to atmospheric fallout from surroundings. This mechanism supplies an estimated yearly flux of about 1000 kg km-2 of terrigenous matter of different nature on the whole Mediterranean basin. Dissolution of these materials and processes occurring at solid-liquid interface along the water column drive the distributions of many trace elements as V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, and Pb with contents ranging from pmol l-1 (Co, Cd, Pb) to nmol l-1 scale in Mediterranean seawater, with some local differences in the basin. The unwinding of an oceanographic cruise in the coastal waters of Ionian Sea during the Etna's eruptive activity in summer 2001 led to the almost unique chance to test the effects of large delivery of volcanic ash to a coastal sea water system through the analyses of distribution of selected trace elements along several seawater columns. The collection of these waters and their analyses about V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, and Pb contents evidenced trace element concentrations were always higher (about 1 order of magnitude at least) than those measured concentrations in the recent past in Mediterranean seawater, apart from Pb. Progressive increase of concentrations of some elements with depth, sometimes changing in a "conservative" behaviour without any clear reason and the observed higher concentrations required an investigation about interaction processes occurring at solid-liquid interface between volcanic ash and seawater along water columns. This investigation involving kinetic evaluation of trace element leaching to seawater, was carried out during a 6 months time period under laboratory conditions. X-ray investigations, SEM-EDS observations and analyses on freshly-erupted volcanic ash evidenced formation of alteration clay minerals onto glass fraction surfaces. Chemical analyses carried out on coexisting liquid phase demonstrated that trace element leaching occurs through a first quick followed by a slow second step that attaints to an apparent equilibrium after 6 months. Amplitude of kinetic rate constant measured for SiO2 release during the first step and behaviour of Ti/Si and Cr/Si rations in primary volcanic minerals, glass fraction and leaching solutions during the first 1 month stage of the experimental interaction allowed to demonstrate that trace element release mainly occurs from glassy materials and Ti-rich magnetite.
. Oxygen isotope composition and rate of growth of Patella coerulea, Monodonta turbinata and M. a... more . Oxygen isotope composition and rate of growth of Patella coerulea, Monodonta turbinata and M. articulata shells from the western coast of Sicily. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol., 42: 305--311. The oxygen-isotope composition of carbonate from the outermost portions of Patella coerulea, Monodonta turbinata and M. articulata shells has been measured from April 1979 to July 1981, with an interval during the summer of 1980, and correlated with the ambient temperature. Carbonate from M. turbinata has yielded values that, on the whole, reproduce the environmental temperature range acceptably; P. coerulea and M. articulata ir, dicate precipitation taking place at temperatures lower than those measured in seawater; this is particularly accentuated in summer. This pattern does not necessarily exclude shell carbonate from precipitating under equilibrium conditions with seawater; rather it indicates a higher calcification rate in medium--warm periods for M. turbinata (with slower precipitation in winter), and in medium--cold periods for P. coerulea and M. articulata (with slow calcification, and even short interruptions during the warmest spells in summer).
The waters of 64 springs from western Sicily have been examined for the main chemical-physical pa... more The waters of 64 springs from western Sicily have been examined for the main chemical-physical parameters and major chemical constituents. According to the delta 13 C values of dissolved carbonate species, CO 2 arises from decomposition of organic matter ...
... 22 Page 4. vavelmente, com idade compreendida entre 70 e 30 Ma (Bitschene, 1987; Cornin~Chia-... more ... 22 Page 4. vavelmente, com idade compreendida entre 70 e 30 Ma (Bitschene, 1987; Cornin~Chia-ramonti et a1., 1991; Velazquez et a1., 1992). ... Ta,'Yb empre-gado como meio do avaliar 0 envolvimento do rochas crustais na magmatogénese (cf. Menzies & Kyle, 1990). ...
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