EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NATURAL ALTERNATIVE COPPER PRODUCTS AND LOW RATE COPPER FORMULATIONS AGAINST GRAPE DOWNY MILDEW IN ORGANIC VITICULTURE

The control of pathogenic fungi, especially downy mildew, represents the main problem in organic viticulture as only few fungicides, above all copper salts, can be used. As the copper causes problems of environmental impact, the Regulation EC n. 473/2002 fixed a ceiling on the use of copper compounds. Two years field trials were carried out in organic vineyeards to test the effectiveness, against Plasmopara viticola (Berk. et Curt.) Berl. et De Toni, of alternative copper products and low rate copper formulations, able to take place or to reduce copper quantities used. Amoung the alternative substances, in the first year of activity we examinated phito-stimulant and cuprics, while in the second year we examinated natural extracts, both vegetables and animals, and natural compound associates to the copper. The achieved results have underlined that, using the low rate copper formulations examinated, the total copper quantities were always less than 6 Kg copper per hectare, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation EC. The alternative products investigated have not guaranteed, instead, an adequate protection with high pressure od downy mildew. The trials confirm that the copper is indispensable for plant protection in organic farming, as it is not possible to replace it. We can only reduce the copper quantities used, at this point of time, but further studies are necessary to find appropriate alternative solutions able to control pathogenic agents in organic farming

New understanding of the shape-memory response in thiol-epoxy click systems: towards controlling the recovery process

Our research group has recently found excellent shape-memory response in “thiol-epoxy” thermosets obtained with click-chemistry. In this study, we use their well-designed, homogeneous and tailorable network structures to investigate parameters for better control of the shape-recovery process. We present a new methodology to analyse the shape-recovery process, enabling easy and efficient comparison of shape-memory experiments on the programming conditions. Shape-memory experiments at different programming conditions have been carried out to that end. Additionally, the programming process has been extensively analysed in uniaxial tensile experiments at different shape-memory testing temperatures. The results showed that the shape-memory response for a specific operational design can be optimized by choosing the correct programming conditions and accurately designing the network structure. When programming at a high temperature (T » Tg), under high network mobility conditions, high shape-recovery ratios and homogeneous shape-recovery processes are obtained for the network structure and the programmed strain level (eD). However, considerably lower stress and strain levels can be achieved. Meanwhile, when programming at temperatures lower than Tg, considerably higher stress and strain levels are attained but under low network mobility conditions. The shape-recovery process heavily depends on both the network structure and eD. Network relaxation occurs during the loading stage, resulting in a noticeable decrease in the shape-recovery rate as eD increases. Moreover, at a certain level of strain, permanent and non-recoverable deformations may occur, impeding the completion and modifying the whole path of the shape-recovery process.Postprint (author's final draft

Towards the energy transition: strong HV orders intake driving prysmian’s destiny

This report is part of the Prysmian SpA Report and has the aim of valuing our company at 31/12/2022. Our forecast approach is based on the analysis of the single Business Units –Energy, Projects and Telecom –and our findings carried by a Discounted Cash-Flow model led our estimations to a target share price of € 48.12. Hence, it would make the shareholders to benefit of a premium of50.6% as we are confident that the company will exploit growth opportunities from the Energy Transition and the5GandFiberOpticDeployments.Therefore,ourrecommendation is to BUY Prysmian SpA

The development of air traffic in Sicily

The aim of this work is to analyse the air traffic development that interested the airport system in Sicily, consisting of the airport of Palermo “Falcone –Borsellino”, the airport of Catania “Fontanarossa” and that one of Trapani-Birgi “Vincenzo Florio”. The analysis of the possible growth of air traffic volume and performance in Sicily was mainly suggested by the growing importance of the Mediterranean region like a new crossroad of the worldwide traffic on the East-West line. It gives a new chance for the development of this area that mustn’t be loosed. Globalization and the migrant flows from South and East towards the Western Europe, makes of the southern Italy a strategic knot for passengers and goods movements. So, new investments and infrastructures improvements that will be realized in this area are a value added not only for the southern Italy but also for the whole country. We have examined the potential demand attraction for passengers and goods movements in the Sicilian airports considered. For a more careful evaluation of the changes occurred into Sicilian air transport system, the research aimed to: § determine their "catchment area" through the evaluation of accessibility (isochrones); § analyse the air traffic data and the existing degree of integration, not only between the airports and the area, but also in terms of demand in the short and in the long period. Finally, we have evaluated the possibility of integration of traffic flows management among the two airports of Palermo and Trapani, in order to analyse if this two airports are complementary rather than competitors.

Genetic and morphological studies of Trichosirocalus species introduced to North America, Australia and New Zealand for the biological control of thistles

Trichosirocalus horridus sensu lato has been used as a biological control agent of several invasive thistles (Carduus spp., Cirsium spp. and Onopordum spp.) since 1974. It has been recognized as a single species until 2002, when it was split into three species based on morphological characters: T. horridus, Trichosirocalus briesei and Trichosirocalus mortadelo, each purported to have different host plants. Because of this taxonomic change, uncertainty exists as to which species were released in various countries; furthermore, there appears to be some exceptions to the purported host plants of some of these species. To resolve these questions, we conducted an integrative taxonomic study of the T. horridus species complex using molecular genetic and morphological analyses of specimens from three continents. Both mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and nuclear elongation factor 1α markers clearly indicate that there are only two distinct species, T. horridus and T. briesei. Molecular evidence, morphological analysis and host plant associations support the synonymy of T. horridus (Panzer, 1801) and T. mortadelo Alonso-Zarazaga & Sánchez-Ruiz, 2002. We determine that T. horridus has been established in Canada, USA, New Zealand and Australia and that T. briesei is established in Australia. The former species was collected from Carduus, Cirsium and Onopordum spp. in the field, whereas the latter appears to be specific to Onopordum

The compositional model of Santo Domingo and Cartagena fortifications between old and new world

The work of the Antonelli family has determined the constructive characteristics of Spanish forti- fications in the new world. Their fame is due to Giovanni Battista, the military and hydraulic engineer of Italian origin, and training in the Spanish Crown service. During the second half of the sixteenth century, he designed and built the defense of the Iberian Peninsula’s borders, taking care of Cartagena’s port city, the coast of the Kingdom of Valencia, and the African ports of Oran and Mazalquivir. An extensive work, whose characters are taken from the younger brother, Battista Antonelli, planned the defensive system of fortresses and walls in the Caribbean and, more generally, in the Spanish colonies of Central America. In the first decades of the seventeenth century, the New World was a destination for explorations and observations by the great monarchies of the old continent: the English, French, Dutch, and Spanish fought over lands and businesses on a Caribbean sea that became international. In 1586 Philip II of Spain nominated Battista Antonelli as his engineer, with the specific aim of structuring the defense of the lands of the Corona overseas. Over the years, Antonelli inspects and presents design proposals for many cities in Central America, working from Colombia, Panama, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Cuba. The text addresses, in particular, the description of Cartagena de Indi- as and Santo Domingo, comparing them through the narration of two analysis, training, and docu- mentation projects conducted here by the DAda LAB Research Laboratory

Chapter Strategie per la rappresentazione dei segni e degli iconemi del paesaggio irriguo pavese

The 43rd UID conference, held in Genova, takes up the theme of ‘Dialogues’ as practice and debate on many fundamental topics in our social life, especially in these complex and not yet resolved times. The city of Genova offers the opportunity to ponder on the value of comparison and on the possibilities for the community, naturally focused on the aspects that concern us, as professors, researchers, disseminators of knowledge, or on all the possibile meanings of the discipline of representation and its dialogue with ‘others’, which we have broadly catalogued in three macro areas: History, Semiotics, Science / Technology. Therefore, “dialogue” as a profitable exchange based on a common language, without which it is impossible to comprehend and understand one another; and the graphic sign that connotes the conference is the precise transcription of this concept: the title ‘translated’ into signs, derived from the visual alphabet designed for the visual identity of the UID since 2017. There are many topics which refer to three macro sessions: - Witnessing (signs and history) - Communicating (signs and semiotics) - Experimenting (signs and sciences) Thanks to the different points of view, an exceptional resource of our disciplinary area, we want to try to outline the prevailing theoretical-operational synergies, the collaborative lines of an instrumental nature, the recent updates of the repertoires of images that attest and nourish the relations among representation, history, semiotics, sciences

Multi-scale theoretical approach to X-ray absorption spectra in disordered systems: an application to the study of Zn(II) in water

We develop a multi-scale theoretical approach aimed at calculating from first principles X-ray absorption spectra of liquid solutions and disordered systems. We test the method by considering the paradigmatic case of Zn(II) in water which, besides being relevant in itself, is also of interest for biology. With the help of classical molecular dynamics simulations we start by producing bunches of configurations differing for the Zn(II)-water coordination mode. Different coordination modes are obtained by making use of the so-called dummy atoms method. From the collected molecular dynamics trajectories, snapshots of a more manageable subsystem encompassing the metal site and two solvation layers are cut out. Density functional theory is used to optimize and relax these reduced system configurations employing a uniform dielectric to mimic the surrounding bulk liquid water. On the resulting structures, fully quantum mechanical X-ray absorption spectra calculations are performed by including core-hole effects and core-level shifts. The proposed approach does not rely on any guessing or fitting of the force field or of the atomic positions of the system. The comparison of the theoretically computed spectrum with the experimental Zn K-edge XANES data unambiguously demonstrates that among the different a priori possible geometries, Zn(II) in water lives in an octahedral coordination mode.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

Analisis Kandungan Total Padatan Terlarut dan Sensori Sari Buah Lemon Cina (Citrus microcarpa)

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal fruit juice-to-water ratio for producing lemon cina with best chemical and organoleptic properties. This study utilised a completely randomized design with one factor, the ratio of fruit juice to water, and five treatment levels, namely 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6, and 1:7. Total dissolver solids and sensory including color, aroma, and taste were analysed as parameters. Lemon cina juice with a fruit juice-to-water ratio of 1:4 was the optimal treatment with a TPT of 42oBrix, whereas for hedonic quality, the juice had a colour of 2.32 (slightly yellow), an aroma of 2.72 (close to citrus lemon cina), and a taste of 3.04 (lemon cina taste)