Cloning of a chub metallothionein cDNA and development of competitive RT-PCR of chub metallothionein mRNA as a potential biomarker of heavy metal exposure   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

Hayes RA  Regondi S  Winter MJ  Butler PJ  Agradi E  Taylor EW  Kevin Chipman J 《Marine environmental research》2004,58(2-5):665-669

Metallothionein has been assayed in a range of aquatic animal tissues as an indicator of metal exposure. We sequenced chub (Leuciscus cephalus) metallothionein cDNA which showed over 90% homology to common carp, goldfish and stone loach and 77% homology to rainbow trout sequences for metallothionein. We then used the extended primer method to develop an accurate quantitative competitive RT-PCR assay for metallothionein mRNA. RT-PCR was used to measure metallothionein mRNA in feral chub from a range of field sites, with different levels of heavy metal pollution, in the West Midlands, UK. Measurements were complemented by analysis of liver and gill metallothionein protein by capillary electrophoresis. There was no significant difference in the metallothionein protein levels between fish of different rivers and there was no evidence of elevation of mRNA at the sites of highest metal exposure. The level of metal exposure (e.g. zinc, nickel and cadmium each ranging between 15 and 28 microg/l ) at the pH (7.5-8.5) of these rivers appears insufficient to elevate hepatic or gill metallothionein in chub. A lack of elevation of hepatic metallothionein mRNA in chub exposed to zinc, copper and manganese for 24 h and 10 days in the laboratory also suggests a non-responsiveness of this species.  相似文献   

A Block-Based Theoretical Model Suited to Gravitational Sliding     

Tinti  Stefano  Bortolucci  Elisabetta  Vannini  Cesare 《Natural Hazards》1997,16(1):1-28

An original theoretical model has been devised to simulate mass flow over hill slopes due to gravitational sliding. The sliding mass is discretized into a sequence of contiguous blocks which are subjected to gravitational forces, to bottom friction and to surface resistance stresses that are generally negligible for subaerial flows, but are relevant for submarine slides. The blocks interact with each other while sliding down the hill flanks because of internal forces that dissipate mechanical energy and produce a momentum exchange between the individual blocks, yet conserving the total momentum of the mass. Internal forces are expressed in terms of interaction coefficients depending on the instantaneous distance between the block centers of mass, which is a measure of the deformation experienced by the blocks: the functional dependence includes three parameters, namely the interaction intensity ¯, the deformability parameter and the shape parameter , by means of which a wide range of interaction types can be fully accounted for. The time integration is performed numerically by solving the equations for the block velocities and positions at any time ti by means of the block accelerations at the previous time t_i-1, and by subsequently updating the block accelerations, which allows to proceed iteratively to the following times. The model has been tested against laboratory results available from literature and by means of several numerical experiments involving a simplified geometry both for the sliding body and the basal surface, with the purpose of clarifying the influence of the model parameters on the slide dynamics. The model improves the performance of the existing kinematic models for slides, moreover preserving an equivalent numerical simplicity. Future applications and possible improvements of this model are suggested.  相似文献   

Atmospheric nitrogen inputs into the North Sea: effect on productivity     

Gerrit de Leeuw  Lucinda Spokes  Tim Jickells  Carsten Ambelas Skjth  Ole Hertel  Elisabetta Vignati  Susanne Tamm  Michael Schulz  Lise-Lotte Srensen  Britta Pedersen  Laura Klein  K. Heinke Schlünzen 《Continental Shelf Research》2003,23(17-19):1743

The ANICE (Atmospheric Nitrogen Inputs into the Coastal Ecosystem) project addressed the atmospheric deposition of nitrogen to the North Sea, with emphasis on coastal effects. ANICE focused on quantifying the deposition of inorganic nitrogen compounds to the North Sea and the governing processes. An overview of the results from modelling and experimental efforts is presented. They serve to identify the role of the atmosphere as a source of biologically essential chemical species to the marine biota. Data from the Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory (UK) are used to evaluate the effect of short episodes with very high atmospheric nitrogen concentrations. One such episode resulted in an average deposition of 0.8 mmol N m⁻² day⁻¹, which has the potential to promote primary productivity of 5.3 mmol C m⁻² day⁻¹. This value is compared to long-term effects determined from model results. The total calculated atmospheric deposition to the North Sea in 1999 is 948 kg N km⁻¹, i.e. 0.19 mmol N m⁻² day⁻¹ which has the potential to promote primary productivity of 1.2 mmol C m⁻² day⁻¹. Detailed results for August 1999 show strong gradients across the North Sea due to adjacent areas where emissions of NO_x and NH₃ are among the highest in Europe. The average atmospheric deposition to the southern part of the North Sea in August 1999 could potentially promote primary production of 2.0 mmol C m⁻² day⁻¹, i.e. 5.5% of the total production at this time of the year in this area of the North Sea. For the entire study area the atmospheric contribution to the primary production per m² is about two-third of this value. Most of the deposition occurs during short periods with high atmospheric concentrations. This atmospheric nitrogen is almost entirely anthropogenic in origin and thus represents a human-induced perturbation of the ecosystem.  相似文献   

Large wood transport modelling by a coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian approach     

Elisabetta Persi  Gabriella Petaccia  Stefano Sibilla 《Natural Hazards》2018,91(1):59-74

The paper discusses a model which predicts the trajectory of floating rigid bodies and may be applied to compute the motion of woody “debris” mobilized during floods. The model couples a Discrete Element (DE) Lagrangian approach for the calculation of motion of rigid bodies with the Eulerian solution of the shallow water equations (SWE), in order to simulate the transport of a cylinder in a two-dimensional stream. It differs from existing models since it is based on a dynamic approach, adapting the Basset–Boussinesq–Oseen equation. In a first step, forces are computed from flow and log velocities; then, the equations of dynamics are solved to model the planar roto-translation of the body. Model results and physical reliability are clearly affected by the values of the drag and side coefficients, especially since logs, modelled as cylinders, are able to change their orientation towards the flow. Experimental studies to evaluate drag and side coefficients can be found in the literature for a submerged cylinder, with various orientations. To extend such results to the case of a floating log, the authors performed a series of laboratory tests on partially submerged cylinders, implementing the outcomes in the proposed DE-SWE model. The coupled model is validated against existing laboratory data concerning spheres and wooden cylinder transport.  相似文献   

Clinopyroxenes from mantle-related xenocrysts in alkaline basalts from Hannuoba (China): augite–pigeonite exsolutions and their thermal significance     

Elisabetta?Brizi  Sabrina?NazzareniEmail author  Francesco?Princivalle  Pier?Francesco?Zanazzi 《Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology》2003,145(5):578-584

Optically homogeneous augite xenocrysts, closely associated with spinel–peridotite nodules, occur in alkali basalts from Hannuoba (Hebei province, China). They were studied by electron and X-ray diffraction to define the occurrence and significance of pigeonite exsolution microtextures. Sub-calcic augite (Wo₃₄) exsolved into En_62–62Fs_25–21Wo_13–17 pigeonite and En_46–45Fs_14–14Wo_40–42 augite, as revealed by TEM through diffuse coarser (001) lamellae (100–300 Å) and only incipient (100) thinner ones (<70 Å). C2/c augite and P2₁/c pigeonite lattices, measured by CCD-XRD, relate through a(Aug)?a(Pgt), b(Aug)?b(Pgt), c(Aug)≠c(Pgt) [5.278(1) vs 5.189(1)Å] and β(Aug)≠β(Pgt) [106.55(1) vs 108.55(2)°]. Cell and site volumes strongly support the hypothesis that the augite xenocrysts crystallised at mantle depth from alkaline melts. After the augite xenocrysts entered the magma, (001) lamellae first formed by spinodal decomposition at a T_min of about 1,100 °C, and coarsened during very rapid transport to the surface; in a later phase, possibly on cooling, incipient (100) lamellae then formed.  相似文献   

Natural background levels and threshold values derivation for naturally As, V and F rich groundwater bodies: a methodological case study in Central Italy     

Elisabetta Preziosi  Giuseppe Giuliano  Raffaella Vivona 《Environmental Earth Sciences》2010,61(5):885-897

Natural background levels (NBL) and threshold values (TV) derivation is an important task for EU Member States to correctly assess the chemical status of groundwater bodies within the context of the recently adopted Groundwater Directive. Attempts are being made both by water authorities and scientific community to test application viability of proposed methods to different real situations and to develop tailored adjustments and refinements. The aim of this paper is to describe a methodological case study of NBL and TV determination in a large area (5,500 km²) located in Central Italy where both natural and anthropogenic contamination occurs, resulting in several substances be detected in ground waters with concentration frequently exceeding drinking water standards. This paper shows the key role played in the determination process by knowledge on the hydrogeological setting and hydrogeochemical features. The adoption of appropriate pre-selection criteria of samples, the establishment of TV at the groundwater body scale for natural origin substances, and the evaluation of TVs exceedances in a multiparameter context are experimentally discussed. Beyond the critical evaluation of NBL and TV determination method, this research aims at increasing consciousness in the water management agencies that groundwater status assessment should be conceived as a scientific evaluation procedure and not as a mere technical/administrative exercise to be performed using any set of available data. As such, it should be supported by adequate knowledge of hydrogeological setting, hydrochemical processes occurring in groundwater bodies, and human activities acting overland to be progressively verified.  相似文献   

Chemical characterization of fine particulate matter during peak PM10 episodes in Apulia (South Italy)     

Martino Amodio  Paolo Bruno  Maurizio Caselli  Gianluigi de Gennaro  Paolo Rosario Dambruoso  Barbara Elisabetta Daresta  Pieirna Ielpo  Francesco Gungolo  Claudia Marcella Placentino  Vincenzo Paolillo  Maria Tutino 《Atmospheric Research》2008,90(2-4):313-ICNAA07

Some peak PM10 episodes, occurred during PM monitoring campaigns performed on October 2005 and February and June 2006 in Bari town, have been characterized. Moreover back trajectories of air masses and Principal Component Analyses were applied. Three of the peak PM10 episodes investigated were related to local emissions of primary pollutants during poor atmospheric dispersion conditions. The other two peak PM10 episodes considered are related with long range transport air masses toward Apulia region: in one case the chemical characterization and the back trajectories analysis indicate that high PM10 value detected is due to the Saharan dust advection in the Apulia region; in the other case air masses with different origin give rise to high PM10 value.Moreover PM10 daily mean concentrations, presented in this paper collected from January 2005 to August 2007 and obtained by automatic device in six stations of air quality monitoring networks in Bari territory, do not show a seasonal trend for PM10 concentrations, contrary to the PM10 trend shown in the towns of North Italy. This can be explained mostly considering that our region presents generally meteo-climatic conditions that favour pollutants dispersion.  相似文献   

TNOs are Cool: A Survey of the Transneptunian Region     

Thomas G. Müller  Emmanuel Lellouch  Hermann Böhnhardt  John Stansberry  Antonella Barucci  Jacques Crovisier  Audrey Delsanti  Alain Doressoundiram  Elisabetta Dotto  René Duffard  Sonia Fornasier  Olivier Groussin  Pedro J. Gutiérrez  Olivier Hainaut  Alan W. Harris  Paul Hartogh  Daniel Hestroffer  Jonathan Horner  Dave Jewitt  Mark Kidger  Csaba Kiss  Pedro Lacerda  Luisa Lara  Tanya Lim  Michael Mueller  Raphael Moreno  Jose-Luis Ortiz  Miriam Rengel  Pablo Santos-Sanz  Bruce Swinyard  Nicolas Thomas  Audrey Thirouin  David Trilling 《Earth, Moon, and Planets》2009,105(2-4):209-219

Over one thousand objects have so far been discovered orbiting beyond Neptune. These trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) represent the primitive remnants of the planetesimal disk from which the planets formed and are perhaps analogous to the unseen dust parent-bodies in debris disks observed around other main-sequence stars. The dynamical and physical properties of these bodies provide unique and important constraints on formation and evolution models of the Solar System. While the dynamical architecture in this region (also known as the Kuiper Belt) is becoming relatively clear, the physical properties of the objects are still largely unexplored. In particular, fundamental parameters such as size, albedo, density and thermal properties are difficult to measure. Measurements of thermal emission, which peaks at far-IR wavelengths, offer the best means available to determine the physical properties. While Spitzer has provided some results, notably revealing a large albedo diversity in this population, the increased sensitivity of Herschel and its superior wavelength coverage should permit profound advances in the field. Within our accepted project we propose to perform radiometric measurements of 139 objects, including 25 known multiple systems. When combined with measurements of the dust population beyond Neptune (e.g. from the New Horizons mission to Pluto), our results will provide a benchmark for understanding the Solar debris disk, and extra-solar ones as well.  相似文献   

Lattice distortion in a zircon population and its effects on trace element mobility and U–Th–Pb isotope systematics: examples from the Lewisian Gneiss Complex, northwest Scotland     

John M. MacDonald  John Wheeler  Simon L. Harley  Elisabetta Mariani  Kathryn M. Goodenough  Quentin Crowley  Daniel Tatham 《Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology》2013,166(1):21-41

Zircon is a key mineral in geochemical and geochronological studies in a range of geological settings as it is mechanically and chemically robust. However, distortion of its crystal lattice can facilitate enhanced diffusion of key elements such as U and Pb. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis of ninety-nine zircons from the Lewisian Gneiss Complex (LGC) of northwest Scotland has revealed five zircons with lattice distortion. The distortion can take the form of gradual bending of the lattice or division of the crystal into subgrains. Zircon lattices are distorted because of either post-crystallisation plastic distortion or growth defects. Three of the five distorted zircons, along with many of the undistorted zircons in the population, were analysed by ion microprobe to measure U and Pb isotopes, Ti and REEs. Comparison of Th/U ratio, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb age, REE profile and Ti concentration between zircons with and without lattice distortion suggests that the distortion is variably affecting the concentration of these trace elements and isotopes within single crystals, within samples and between localities. REE patterns vary heterogeneously, sometimes relatively depleted in heavy REEs or lacking a Eu anomaly. Ti-in-zircon thermometry records temperatures that were either low (~700 °C) or high (>900 °C) relative to undistorted zircons. One distorted zircon records apparent ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb isotopic ages (?3.0 to +0.3 % discordance) in the range of ~2,420–2,450 Ma but this does not correlate with any previously dated tectonothermal event in the LGC. Two other distorted zircons give discordant ages of 2,331 ± 22 and 2,266 ± 40 Ma, defining a discordia lower intercept within error of a late amphibolite-facies tectonothermal event. This illustrates that Pb may be mobilised in distorted zircons at lower metamorphic grade than in undistorted zircons. These differences in trace element abundances and isotope systematics in distorted zircons relative to undistorted zircons are generally interpreted to have been facilitated by subgrain walls. Trace elements and isotopes would have moved from undistorted lattice into these subgrain walls as their chemical potential is modified due to the presence of the dislocations which make up the subgrain wall. Subgrain walls provided pathways for chemical exchange between crystal and surroundings. Only five per cent of zircons in this population have lattice distortion suggesting it will not have a major impact on zircon geochronology studies, particularly as three of the five distorted zircons are from strongly deformed rocks not normally sampled in such studies. However, this does suggest there may be a case for EBSD analysis of zircons prior to geochemical analysis when zircons from highly deformed rocks are to be investigated.  相似文献   

Mg-metasomatism of oceanic gabbros and its control on Ti-clinohumite formation during eclogitization   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Marco Scambelluri  Elisabetta Rampone 《Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology》1999,135(1):1-17

In the high-pressure meta-ophiolites of Western Liguria (Italy), serpentinized ultramafites host bodies of eclogite, metarodingite and Ti-clinohumite ± Ti-chondrodite-bearing rocks. The latter contain relics of augite, ilmenite and apatite, which suggest derivation from pristine Fe-Ti-rich gabbros. The composition of relict mantle clinopyroxene in the host serpentinites indicates primary depleted peridotite compositions. Compared with their inferred protoliths, the Ti-clinohumite dikelets and the host serpentinites display significant changes in their major and trace element concentrations, indicating element exchange between the two rock systems. In particular, the Fe-Ti-rich gabbros were depleted in CaO and FeO and were strongly enriched in MgO. Analogous compositional variations are shown by altered gabbros enclosed in serpentinized peridotites from the obducted ophiolite sequences of the Northern Apennine. This evidence suggests that the observed Mg-enrichment recorded by the Ti-clinohumite metagabbros occurred in oceanic environments as the result of diffusive exchange between ultramafites and gabbros in presence of fluids related to serpentinization of the ultramafic country rocks. Alteration of the gabbro and concomitant Mg-uptake mostly caused extensive chloritization of the igneous plagioclase. Survival of igneous ilmenite and augite and their reaction with the hydrothermal chlorite during high-pressure metamorphism produced the observed Ti-clinohumite and Ti-chondrodite assemblages. The data presented thus indicate that crystallization of Ti-clinohumite assemblages was facilitated by a stage of oceanic alteration leading to Mg-enrichment of original Fe-Ti-rich gabbros. We suggest that during alteration, Mg-metasomatism occurred prior to rodingitization and was related to the earlier stages of peridotite serpentinization. Survival of oceanic chemical heterogeneities in the Ti-clinohumite rocks, indicates that element mobility during high-pressure recrystallization of these rocks was on a limited scale. This allowed preservation of their pre-subduction alteration features. Received: 13 July 1998 / Accepted: 3 November 1998  相似文献