First results of the two square meters multilayer glass composite mirror design proposed for the Cherenkov Telescope Array developed at INFN

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a future ground-based gamma-ray astronomy detector that will consist of more than 100 Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes of different sizes. The total reflective surface of roughly 10 000 m$^2$ requires unprecedented technological efforts towards a cost-efficient production of light-weight and reliable mirror substrates at high production rate. We report on a new mirror concept proposed for CTA developed by INFN, which is based on the replication from a spherical convex mold under low pressure. The mirror substrate is an open structure design made by thin glass layers at the mirror's front and rear interspaced by steel cylinders. A first series of nominal size mirrors has been produced, for which we discuss the optical properties in terms of radius of curvature and focusing power

The mosaic leafhopper Orientus ishidae: host plants, spatial distribution, infectivity, and transmission of 16SrV phytoplasmas to vines

Orientus ishidae (Matsumura) is an Asian species introduced into Europe and recently associated with 16SrV phytoplasmas, related to grapevine “flavescence dorée”. Its life cycle, host plants, spatial distribution, infection and vector capability have been investigated in vine-growing areas of Piedmont, NW Italy. The spatial distribution of adults in vineyards was studied by applying interpolation methods to trap capture data. Insects were subject to molecular analyses to verify phytoplasma presence and identity. DNA extraction and PCR were made to detect 16SrV phytoplasmas. Transmission experiments were set up, using different sources for phytoplasma acquisition, and two plant species and an artificial diet for inoculation. Whole mount in situ hybridization was made to detect phytoplasmas in the salivary glands of adults. In the vineyard agro-ecosystem, 19 plant species (11 families), mainly broadleaf trees and shrubs, were recognized as host plants of the insect. Adults were more abundant on putative host plants than on grapevines, with a clear clustering at the edges of vineyards, and without a massive intrusion into the vineyard from outside. 16SrV phytoplasmas were detected only in adults captured with yellow sticky traps (20 out of 188 tested). The transmission of 16SrV phytoplasmas was successful after phytoplasma acquisition from infected broad bean and inoculation on grapevine

Remote LED lighting technology for producing and processing food

Food producing and processing industries face with several challenges regarding food illumination (e.g., providing a high quality light experience and color rendering while facilitating inspections) and using Ultraviolet (UV) light for sanitizing, disinfection or germicidal treatments both in food production lines and for the food itself directly or through tools (i.e., used in packaging and processing). The paper describes the development of an innovative product, called RLTProFood (remote LED light technology for processing and producing food), that was designed for giving a customized LED-based lighting system able to deliver different source light from visible to UV according the benefits required by customers. Currently developed in two main configurations (e.g., LED visible light and UV LED light), the product has its main application in the context of processing and producing fresh and possibly organic food especially fruits and vegetables

Video-based biomechanical analysis of an unexpected Achilles tendon rupture in an Olympic sprinter

We used image-processing techniques to determine the moment (i.e., image frame) of the Achilles tendon (AT) rupture in an Olympic sprinter. This report may be unique due to the difficulty in conducting motion capture analyses during injury events. Our report includes one female Olympic sprinter, 29 years old (body mass: 56 kg, height: 1.68 m, and body mass index: 19.8 kg/m2) with a high-competitive profile history (2008 and 2012 Olympic Games participation; South American record holder in 100- and 200-m; Pan-American gold medalist in 200-m and 4 x 100-m relay) who suffered a complete AT rupture in the left leg while exercising in the final phase of rehabilitation following an Achilles tendinopathy in the contralateral limb. The greater dorsiflexion found at the moment of the injury and the delayed control of heel position indicated the presence of uncontrolled dorsiflexion, which potentially generated excessive eccentric stress over the tendon and, thus, the AT rupture. Here we discuss the relevance of lower leg alignment, the movements’ characteristics, and the history of Achilles tendinopathy in the contralateral leg on the occurrence of the AT rupture

(Very) Fast astronomical photometry for meter-class telescopes

Our team at the INAF-Astronomical Observatory of Padova and the University of Padova is engaged in the design, construction and operations of instruments with very high time accuracy in the optical band for applications to High Time Resolution Astrophysics and Quantum Astronomy. Two instruments were built to perform photon counting with sub-nanosecond temporal accuracy, Aqueye+ and Iqueye. Aqueye+ is regularly mounted at the 1.8m Copernicus telescope in Asiago, while Iqueye was mounted at several 4m class telescopes around the world and is now attached through the Iqueye Fiber Interface to the 1.2m Galileo telescope in Asiago. They are used to perform coordinated high time resolution optical observations and, for the first time ever, experiments of optical intensity interferometry on a baseline of a few kilometers. We report on recent technological developments and scientific results obtained within the framework of this project...