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Background Mastitis is one of the most costly diseases in Mediterranean buffalo (MB). At present, just a few specific antibiotics registered for this dairy specie have been synthetized. Efficacy of an antibiotic dry buffalo therapy (aDBT) against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) mastitis, based on intra-quarter administration of 600 mg of benzathine cloxacillin, have been evaluated for the first time. Eighty MB’s quarters received a drying-off therapy (aDBT-group) and 80 were left untreated (no-aDBT-group). They were sampled at drying-off (pre-treatment) and at the resumption of milking [Fresh calver mastitis rate, dry period new mastitis rate, dry period cure rate, and persistent mastitis rate were calculated for clinical monitoring. Overall proportion of positive quarters/animals, quarters affected by mastitis or intramammary infections (IMI), effects on somatic cell count (SCC) and milk yield were also assessed. Results An inter-group difference (aDBT vs. no-aDBT) was recorded for all the indexes considered. An intra-group (drying-off vs. S. aureus was observed. Regarding the subclinical ones, a higher intra-group difference was observed in aDBT than no-aDBT group, while an inter-group difference was recorded at second sampling. No protective effect was observed against IMI. SCC showed an inter-group difference at second sampling, while none difference was instead detected for milk yield. Conclusions The effects against S. aureus mastitis of benzathine cloxacillin administration at drying-off were assessed for the first time in MB. Its use shows encouraging results in reducing the proportion of mastitis and positive animals at the resumption of the lactation.

One hundred twenty-four water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) originating from 9 farms locatedin southern Italy were tested to investigate simultaneously, for the first time, the seroprevalence ofthe protozoaNeospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondiiandBesnoitia besnoitiby ELISA tests and to evaluatethe clinical findings potentially associated to the presence of these aborting parasitic pathogens.Twenty-five of 124 buffaloes (20.2%) were positive forN. caninum, while 17/124 (13.7%) forT. gondii.No buffalo showed specific antibodies forB. besnoiti.Nineteen of 124 animals (15.3%) were foundseropositive for bothT. gondiiandN. caninum. The univariate statistical analysis showed that theseroprevalence ofN. caninumis significantly associated with abortion and presence of retained foetalmembranes, while the seroprevalence ofT. gondiiis significantly associated with an increase ofdays open. The logistic regression models showed that the co-infection byN. caninumandT. gondiistrengthened the abortive effects (OR=7.330) and showed further negative effects on the parameterembryonic death (OR=2.607). The outcome revealed herein represents a high exposure ofN. caninumandT. gondiiin water buffaloes with reproduction disorders that deserves attention for both economicreasons, animal health and welfare (PDF) Seroprevalence and Clinical Outcomes of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii and Besnoitia besnoiti Infections in Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340129008_Seroprevalence_and_Clinical_Outcomes_of_Neospora_caninum_Toxoplasma_gondii_and_Besnoitia_besnoiti_Infections_in_Water_Buffaloes_Bubalus_bubalis [accessed Mar 24 2020].

The presentation will illustrate the new REST API introduced in DSpace 7 to support the development of the new Angular UI and provide a strong integration layer. A full fledged REST API open unlimited interoperability opportunities with other systems (both locally and globally). The presentation will illustrate the adopted architecture, standards and approach showing how to interact with the new REST API to get and manipulate information. Concrete integration scenario will be discussed explaining how they can be now supported.

In recent years there has been an increasing need to position institutional repositories in a broader context that enhances research opportunities and facilitates the discovery of resources. This presentation is about DSpace-CRIS and DSpace-GLAM, in their new version compatible with DSpace 7, with renewed features built with the updated technology stack of DSpace 7: Angular and REST API, their characteristics and novelties, and how their adoption can empower the role of repositories within academic, research, and cultural heritage institutions. The migration process for both DSpace-CRIS/GLAM and DSpace users that want to enhance their repository with the additional features and capabilities provided by version 7 will be presented. DSpace-CRIS and GLAM are continuously being aligned with DSpace versions and support is provided through the same community channels. Finally, the future roadmap of the project will be discussed, in the same way as in the last ten years when ideas and features blossomed in DSpace-CRIS were later adopted by the standard DSpace distribution. The community is numerous and growing and the exchange of experiences is beneficial for all organizations.

This research communication addresses the goal of validating an algorithm to monitor natural occurrence of feeding behaviours in dairy Mediterranean buffalo based on the output of a noseband pressure sensor (RumiWatch®, halter). Several characteristics of the feeding behaviour were detected with a very high (ruminating boluses), high (chews per bolus) and moderate degree of correlation (chews per minute) with video analyses (gold standard). All of them were associated with a low mean difference with the gold standard, and the mean relative measurement error ranged between low (ruminating boluses) and moderate (chews per bolus and chews per minute). The proportion of correctly detected events for the variables rumination and eating time was 98 and 99%, respectively. The collection of data and subsequent evaluation of the parameters investigated may provide objective information on Mediterranean Buffalo behaviours allowing for reliable studies of the animal welfare in this ruminant in the future.

Venice's geographic position firmly places it in Western Europe, yet its history demonstrates that Venice had many ties and interests in the eastern Mediterranean. Initially on the Byzantine periphery, Venice became an autonomous duchy during the eighth century, but continued to nurture close relations with the Byzantines and intensified those with the rest of Europe. Moreover, the economic and other activities of its inhabitants enabled a widespread Venetian presence in the Mediterranean world and some parts of Europe. At the same time, foreigners were drawn to this network of lagoons and islands. Taking advantage of these factors, this article aims to examine the circulation of news and descriptions of events concerning “others” in early Medieval Venice.

The ninth century was a fundamental period for the history of Naples. Newly untethered from Constantinople and trying to forge a stable state, the Campanian city faced a complex political landscape in Southern Italy. The Frankish conquest of the Lombard kingdom and the weakening of the Byzantine Empire, which allowed the Saracens to seize Sicily, reshaped the South into a region dominated by several competing protagonists. Naples resisted conquest at the hands of the neighbouring Lombards of Benevento while simultaneously maintaining peaceful relationships with the two empires and the Saracens. The goal of this article is to examine how Neapolitan authors portrayed Byzantines, Franks, Lombards and Saracens, and what they knew about them. In particular, it will focus on the Gesta Episcoporum Neapolitanorum ( Deeds of the Neapolitan Bishops) by John the Deacon—the main Neapolitan source for that epoch.