A method to rescale experimental data with dependence on Q2Q^2 for DVCS process

We investigate the procedure for rescaling the DVCS cross section data collected with different invariant mass, $W$, of the virtual photon - proton system. We suggest a method which makes the rescaling more functional to conduct statistical analysis on overall data. The study can be applied to rescale data collected with different photon virtuality $Q^2$. Also we show a dependence on $Q^2$ for the $\delta$ parameter, that is used to describe the cross section as a function of $W$

A phenomenological model for the DVCS process

Dottorato di Ricerca in Fisica e Tecnologie Quantistiche, Ciclo XXV, a.a. 2014Università della Calabri

Small ruminant lentiviruses in goats in southern Italy: Serological evidence, risk factors and implementation of control programs

Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) can drastically affect milk production in goat flocks and only an early detection can control and prevent their spread. Since SRLVs are responsible for persistent infections, antibody screening is the most valuable tool to identify infected animals. ELISA is recommended as the election test both for its sensitivity and for its ability to detect low antibody titers, thus identifying infected animals earlier than agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID). In the present study, an investigation was conducted to assess the SRLV seroprevalence in goat flocks in southern Italy and a transversal comparative study was carried out through the analysis of the possible risk factors influencing SRLV spread. A total of 4800 sera from 1060 flocks were analyzed and overall seroprevalences of 18,64% and 51,69% at animal and herd levels, respectively, were observed. Both the region and the herd production systems were able to affect seroprevalence, differently from the herd size, probably because the mean number of goats per herd is low and the semi-intensive management is similar regardless of the dimensional class of each herd. In particular, meat producing herds showed the higher seroprevalence, as a result of the poor sanitation and low animal monitoring in comparison to milk producing herds, where animals are managed twice daily and the relationship between dams and kids is checked to guarantee an adequate quantitative/qualitative milk yield. In the absence of vaccines or effective treatments, health preventive management and seroepidemiological investigations are the only successful approach to restrict SRLV spread as observed in countries were official/voluntary control programs are carried out

Cross sectional study for pestivirus infection in goats in southern Italy

Pestiviruses have a worldwide distribution where ruminants farming is extensive and infection in their hosts can vary from subclinical manifestations to severe clinical signs. Although biomolecular methods are successfully employed for pestiviruses identification, they require the presence of the virus at the time of sampling. Because persistent infection is unusual in goats and acute infection is transient, for a retrospective assessment serology is the most useful approach to evaluate pestiviruses spread among ruminants. The prevalence of pestiviruses in the Italian goat population was the main target of the study and the possible influence of the co-habitation with cattle on the seropositivity of goats was taken into account. A total of 7096 sera from healthy goats were tested using an indirect ELISA. The positive samples were confirmed with a virus neutralization (VN) test and were screened for BDV too. The ELISA assay identified 57 farms (33.13%) with positive goats and an overall seropositivity of 1.63%, higher in Calabria (1.74%, 95% CI 1.68% to 1.79%) than in Apulia (1.59%, 95% CI 1.52% to 1.66%). A higher variability among farms was observed, with a significant influence of multi-species (goat and cow) grazing. Despite the huge economic losses, the impact on small ruminant productions in Italy has not yet been assessed and pestivirus infection is largely underestimated and scarcely considered. Nevertheless, the focus on pestiviruses of small ruminants should be strengthened. Considering that pestivirus infections are often subclinical, serological surveillance, the prerequisite for the implementation of control programmes, should be strongly recommended and should be considered in any pestivirus eradication programme, especially in areas such as the Southern Italy, where small ruminants farming is predominant