Search results for " sulphur"

Carbonate deposition and diagenesis in evaporitic environments: The evaporative and sulphur-bearing limestones during the settlement of the Messinian…

2015

The depositional and diagenetic processes involved in the formation of carbonates in the evaporitic environment of the Messinian Salinity Crisis are investigated in Southern Italy (Sicily and Calabria). Strong differences are observed between the studied sections that reflect specific depositional and diagenetic evolution in the interconnected sub-basins resulting from the syn-sedimentary tectonic fragmentation of the Central Sicilian and Calabrian domains. These carbonates formed diachronously in restricted perched sub-basins between the Tripoli Formation and the hypersaline settings of the MSC. The Calcare di Base (CdB) that can be interbedded with gypsum layers occurs rhythmically at the…

Microbial-mediated pre-salt carbonate deposition during the Messinian salinity crisis (Calcare di Base fm., Southern Italy)

2017

Abstract A multi-scale analysis of sedimentary carbonate facies and post-sedimentary diagenetic features of the Calcare di Base Formation, the precursor to evaporites in Upper Messinian successions of Northern Calabria and Central Sicily, has revealed their microbial bio-mediated origin. Massive to laminated microbial boundstones represent the most common sedimentary facies forming flat to low relief cm to m scale stromatolitic and thrombolitic bodies. The fabric of the micrite varies from peloidal to aphanitic, and almost always preserves filamentous bacteria which characterized the original microbial mat. The mat was dominated by sulphur-oxidizing bacteria belonging to the Thiotrichaceae,…

Lanostanoids from fungi: a group of potential anticancer compounds.

2012

Lanostanes are a group of tetracyclic triterpenoids derived from lanosterol. They have relevant biological and pharmacological properties, such as their cytotoxic effects via induction of apoptosis. This review compiles the most relevant lanostanoids studied from 2000 to 2011, principally those isolated from Ganoderma lucidum and other related fungi, such as Poria cocos, Laetiporus sulphureus, Inonotus obliquus, Antrodia camphorata, Daedalea dickinsii, and Elfvingia applanata, which have great potential as anticancer agents because of their cytotoxic or apoptotic effects. The compounds were selected on the basis of their proapoptotic mechanisms, through their ability to modify transcription…

Changes of Photosynthesis-Related Parameters and Productivity of Spring Oilseed Rape under Different Nitrogen and Sulphur Fertilizers Supply

2015

Fertilization with essential mineral elements is important to get high quality yield results. The lack of necessary mineral elements in soil can affect oilseed rape plant physiological functions, photosynthesis and plant productivity. Oilseed rape plants have high requirements for nitrogen and as oil crop – for sulphur. The aim of the investigation was to explain changes of chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters in spring oilseed rape leaves and yield changes under nitrogen and sulphur supply. During laboratory experiments changes of chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters and during field experiments changes of yield parameters under different nitrogen and sulphur supply were observed. Labora…

Formation of secondary carbonates and native sulphur in sulphate-rich Messinian strata, Sicily

2010

Abstract Microbially formed authigenic carbonates accompanied by native sulphur are present in the ‘Calcare Solfifero’ below a thick succession of gypsum deposited during the Messinian salinity crisis in Sicily. We sampled these carbonates and associated sulphur in five former sulphur mines to subject them to a detailed petrographic and geochemical study in order to explore their different modes of formation. Native sulphur formed in conjunction with microbial sulphate reduction, which is reflected in its depletion in 34S (δ34S values as low as − 2‰ vs. V-CDT) and an enrichment of 34S in the residual sulphate (δ34S values as high as + 61‰). The oxidation of organic matter by sulphate reduct…

Acqua Fitusa cave: An example of inactive water-table sulphuric acid cave in Central Sicily

2012

Description of the sulphuric acid cave in Sicily (see pdf attached)

Green sulphur bacteria as a component of the photosynthetic plankton community in small dimictic humic lakes with an anoxic hypolimnion

2013

High bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) concentrations in the anoxic water layers of some humic lakes have indicated that green sulphur bacteria (GSB) may be ecologically significant. The abundance and spatial distribution of GSB were therefore addressed in 13 small humic lakes using fragment analysis and sequencing of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes. GSB were detected from lakes where the photosynthetically active radiation was at least 1.1 µE m-2 s-1 at the oxic-anoxic boundary layer. In these lakes, 13 to 42% of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the anoxic water column were assigned to GSB. The spatial distribution of GSB was tightly correlated with the spectrophotometrically measured BChl concentrati…

Brancati su Pirandello e il pirandellismo

2019

Nel romanzo breve "Sogno di un valzer" uscito a puntate su “Quadrivio”, dal 5 giugno al 14 agosto 1938, Vitaliano Brancati mette in scena, tra osservazione dei luoghi e rilevamento di costume, un’umanità fuori misura, continuamente in bilico tra realtà e sogno. A Caltanissetta (Nissa) la città nel cui Istituto magistrale lo scrittore, voltate le spalle alla Roma fascista, è venuto a insegnare, personaggi non appariscenti, insignificanti, che tuttavia covano desideri, si arrovellano in domande metafisiche. Prende così forma il leitmotiv delle critica al pirandellismo che più volte con ironia sottile affiora negli scritti brancatiani. Il saggio mostra come esso si intrecci con la comicità sul…

Treatment of electroplating wastewater by combining membrane technologies and reactive precipitation process at pilot scale

2022

The growth of “black crusts” on calcareous building stones in Palermo (Sicily): a first appraisal of anthropogenic and natural sulphur sources

2008

Chemical, mineralogical and isotopic composition (34S/32S) analyses were carried out on “black crusts” developed on the old buildings of Palermo (Sicily) with the aim to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic sulphur sources. Furthermore individual samples of total suspended particulate (TSP) were collected and analysed in order to estimate the influence of air pollution on the decay process of calcareous stones in a typical southern Mediterranean coastal environment. SEM/EDS analysis, X-ray diffractometry, IR spectroscopy and liquid chromatography led to the compositional characterization of “black crusts” and airborne particulate matter in the city. Sulphur isotopic compositions of…