A Bayesian multi-proxy contribution to the socioeconomic, political, and cultural history of late medieval Capitanata (southern Italy).

Medieval southern Italy is typically viewed as a region where political, religious, and cultural systems coexisted and clashed. Written sources often focus on elites and give an image of a hierarchical feudal society supported by a farming economy. We undertook an interdisciplinary study combining historical and archaeological evidence with Bayesian modelling of multi-isotope data from human (n = 134) and faunal (n = 21) skeletal remains to inform on the socioeconomic organisation, cultural practices, and demographics of medieval communities in Capitanata (southern Italy). Isotopic results show significant dietary differences within local populations supportive of marked socioeconomic hierarchies. Bayesian dietary modelling suggested that cereal production, followed by animal management practices, was the economic basis of the region. However, minor consumption of marine fish, potentially associated with Christian practices, revealed intra-regional trade. At the site of Tertiveri, isotope-based clustering and Bayesian spatial modelling identified migrant individuals likely from the Alpine region plus one Muslim individual from the Mediterranean coastline. Our results align with the prevailing image of Medieval southern Italy but they also showcase how Bayesian methods and multi-isotope data can be used to directly inform on the history of local communities and of the legacy that these left.

Presenting the Compendium Isotoporum Medii Aevi, a Multi-Isotope Database for Medieval Europe.

Here we present the Compendium Isotoporum Medii Aevi (CIMA), an open-access database gathering more than 50,000 isotopic measurements for bioarchaeological samples located within Europe and its margins, and dating between 500 and 1500 CE. This multi-isotope (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S, δ18O, and 87Sr/86Sr) archive of measurements on human, animal, and plant archaeological remains also includes a variety of supporting information that offer, for instance, a taxonomic characterization of the samples, their location, and chronology, in addition to data on social, religious, and political contexts. Such a dataset can be used to identify data gaps for future research and to address multiple research questions, including those related with studies on medieval human lifeways (i.e. human subsistence, spatial mobility), characterization of paleo-environmental and -climatic conditions, and on plant and animal agricultural management practices. Brief examples of such applications are given here and we also discuss how the integration of large volumes of isotopic data with other types of archaeological and historical data can improve our knowledge of medieval Europe.

Pathogens in ticks collected from dogs in Berlin/Brandenburg, Germany.

BACKGROUND: Tick-borne diseases are a major health risk for humans and dogs. In addition to collection and analysis of questing ticks, analysis of host-associated ticks for the presence of pathogens is a valuable method to gain insight into transmission patterns of tick-borne diseases. METHODS: Ticks were collected from dogs living in the Berlin/Brandenburg area. The three tick species Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes hexagonus and Dermacentor reticulatus were examined for the presence of Babesia spp., Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasmataceae. Conventional PCR followed by sequencing was used for pathogen detection and characterization. RESULTS: Babesia spp. were found in 2.5% and 3% of I. ricinus and I. hexagonus, respectively. Sequencing revealed the presence of Babesia microti, Babesia capreoli and Babesia venatorum. D. reticulatus were free of Babesia canis. Rickettsia spp. were detected in 61% of I. ricinus, 44% of I. hexagonus and 39% of D. reticulatus. Specifically detected were Rickettsia raoulti in D. reticulatus and I. hexagonus, Rickettsia helvetica in I. ricinus and I. hexagonus and Rickettsia monacensis in I. hexagonus. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis have been reported previously in I. ricinus (6.5% and 4.3%, respectively) and I. hexagonus (3.9% and 5.9%). Borrelia spp. were found in 11.6% of I. ricinus and 11.2% of I. hexagonus. Subsequent genospecies analysis revealed Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia miyamotoi. Simultanous presence of more than one pathogen was found in 20% of I. ricinus and in 59% of I. hexagonus whereas the total frequency of any pathogen was 65% in I. ricinus, 59% in I. hexagonus and 64% in D. reticulatus. Ticks in which A. phagocytophilum was detected had a significantly increased risk of also containing Rickettsia. Ticks harbouring a pathogen had significantly higher scutal indices than ticks without presence of any pathogen. CONCLUSIONS: Frequencies of potential human or canine pathogens in ticks were considerable and DNA of all four groups of pathogens was detected. Differences in scutal indices might suggest that pathogens are frequently taken up by ticks when feeding on dogs in Berlin/Brandenburg.

Evaluation of a method to correct the contractility index LVdP/dt(max) for changes in heart rate.

INTRODUCTION: In order to differentiate heart rate (HR)-induced changes from drug-induced positive or negative inotropic effects, HR-dependent effects need to be taken into account. Left ventricular (LV)dP/dt(max), the maximal value of the first derivative of a left ventricular pressure signal, is a convenient index for LV contractile state. The objective of this study was to define the normal relationship between left ventricular LVdP/dt(max) and HR in chronically instrumented, conscious dogs, primates and minipigs in our laboratory and then to use these data as the basis for developing a LVdP/dt(max)-HR-correction formula for each species. METHODS: Trained Labrador-mix dogs, cynomolgus monkeys and minipigs (Goettinger) were equipped with a fully implantable radiotelemetry-based system (ITS, Maryland, USA) for the measurement of aortic pressure (AP), left ventricular pressure (LVP), ECG (lead II) and body temperature. The contractility index LVdP/dt(max) was derived from the LV pressure signal. Notocord HEM 4.2 software was used for data acquisition. For each species the relationship between LVdP/dt(max) and HR was evaluated using spontaneous HRs throughout the observation period (8-24 h) without pharmacological intervention. The formulae for the LVdP/dt(max)-HR relationships were generated using the R-script software for statistical evaluations and then used as the basis for an automated software for data analysis. Additionally, two different validation compounds (1 negative inotrope and 1 positive inotrope) were then used to investigate the impact of these compounds on the LVdP/dt(max)-HR relationship. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: There was a direct and reproducible LVdP/dt(max)-HR relationship in all animals tested and formulae were derived to describe this relationship in each species. Inotropic agents (both positive and negative) demonstrated the expected shifts of this relationship. Using the formulae found for each species describing the LVdP/dt(max)-HR dependency, one can assess the inotropic effects of drugs independently from simultaneous changes in HR.