Study for the development of a rapid and non-destructive method for copper analysis in vineyards towards a precision fungal defense strategy

In the defense against downy mildew, copper is still widely used, particularly in organic management. At any rate, specific investigations are needed to significantly reduce the use of copper and minimize its environmental impact. This study, conducted in several farms in Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Northeast Italy), aimed to evaluate the concentration of copper on leaves in various climatic conditions, in order to create an important database for the development of a rapid control system through image analysis. The tests involved sampling leaves and grapes from bud break until the last treatment with copper-based products. After copper recovery using a nitric acid solution, the copper values were analyzed via ICP-AES analysis. Cuprotesmo imprints were also made on the same leaves to develop an application (APP) capable of quickly and non-destructively detecting copper on the leaf surface through image analysis. The analytical data revealed significant correlations between image analysis and copper values only in certain situations involving adult leaves. However, due to the variability in treatment situations, the use of the APP with image analysis for all copper defense scenarios is not yet feasible. Nevertheless, the results are encouraging and will serve for further extensive investigations to develop an image analysis system capable of detecting truly active copper and optimizing pesticide treatments for a precision defense strategy. This strategy aims to ensure low environmental impact, production sustainability, and grape quality

Extreme Energy Cosmic Rays (EECR) Observation Capabilities of an "Airwatch from Space'' Mission

The longitudinal development and other characteristics of the EECR induced atmospheric showers can be studied from space by detecting the fluorescence light induced in the atmospheric nitrogen. According to the Airwatch concept a single fast detector can be used for measuring both intensity and time development of the streak of fluorescence light produced by the atmospheric shower induced by an EECR. In the present communication the detection capabilities for the EECR observation from space are discussed.Comment: 3 pages (LaTeX). To appear in the Proceedings of TAUP'9

Therapeutic immunization with HIV-1 Tat reduces immune activation and loss of regulatory T-cells and improves immune function in subjects on HAART.

Although HAART suppresses HIV replication, it is often unable to restore immune homeostasis. Consequently, non-AIDS-defining diseases are increasingly seen in treated individuals. This is attributed to persistent virus expression in reservoirs and to cell activation. Of note, in CD4(+) T cells and monocyte-macrophages of virologically-suppressed individuals, there is continued expression of multi-spliced transcripts encoding HIV regulatory proteins. Among them, Tat is essential for virus gene expression and replication, either in primary infection or for virus reactivation during HAART, when Tat is expressed, released extracellularly and exerts, on both the virus and the immune system, effects that contribute to disease maintenance. Here we report results of an ad hoc exploratory interim analysis (up to 48 weeks) on 87 virologically-suppressed HAART-treated individuals enrolled in a phase II randomized open-label multicentric clinical trial of therapeutic immunization with Tat (ISS T-002). Eighty-eight virologically-suppressed HAART-treated individuals, enrolled in a parallel prospective observational study at the same sites (ISS OBS T-002), served for intergroup comparison. Immunization with Tat was safe, induced durable immune responses, and modified the pattern of CD4(+) and CD8(+) cellular activation (CD38 and HLA-DR) together with reduction of biochemical activation markers and persistent increases of regulatory T cells. This was accompanied by a progressive increment of CD4(+) T cells and B cells with reduction of CD8(+) T cells and NK cells, which were independent from the type of antiretroviral regimen. Increase in central and effector memory and reduction in terminally-differentiated effector memory CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were accompanied by increases of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses against Env and recall antigens. Of note, more immune-compromised individuals experienced greater therapeutic effects. In contrast, these changes were opposite, absent or partial in the OBS population. These findings support the use of Tat immunization to intensify HAART efficacy and to restore immune homeostasis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00751595