Energy and emergy evaluation of potentials for energy self-sufficiency in Danish organic dairy farms by production of biogas and bioethanol

One obvious way to enhance agricultural resilience is for farms to increase self-sufficiency with necessities such as fuel, fodder and fertilizer. Our research seeks to uncover these potentials for Danish organic dairy farming. The setting is a theoretical model of a farm-cooperation of 10 farms of 100 ha each producing only milk and animals for slaughtering and being self-sufficient with fodder and fertilizer. The question is if they can be self-sufficient with energy by means of shared biogas and/ or bioethanol production facilities. The method is mapping of energy, emergy (embodied energy measured in solar energy joules) and mass flows in different scenarios, that are based on empirical data from Danish dairy farms concerning mix of crops, crop yields, livestock input/output and fuel and electricity consumption. In various scenarios different utilization of the produced crop is tested. Biogas is produced from manure and either clover grass or maize, and the effluent is fed back to the fields as fertilizer. In another scenario bioethanol is produced from grain and whey originating from the dairy cheese production, and the effluent is fed back to the livestock as a protein-rich fodder. Results compare the different scenarios in terms of mass, energy and emergy flows, thus including direct and indirect energy. Overall resource and energy efficiency are evaluated

Net-Energy Analysis of Integrated Food and Bioenergy Systems Exemplified by a Model of a Self-Sufficient System of Dairy Farms

Agriculture is expected to contribute in substituting of fossil fuels in the future. This constitutes a paradox as agriculture depends heavily on fossil energy for providing fuel, fodder, nutrients and machinery. The aim of this paper is to investigate whether organic agriculture is capable of providing both food and surplus energy to the society as evaluated from a model study. We evaluated bioenergy technologies in a Danish dairy farming context in four different scenarios: 1) vegetable oil based on oilseed rape, 2) biogas based on cattle manure and grass-clover lays, 3) bioethanol from rye grain and whey, and 4) a combination of 1) and 2). When assessing the energetic net-contribution to society from bioenergy systems, two types of problems arise: How to aggregate non-equivalent types of energy services, and how to account for non-equivalent types of inputs and co-products from the farming? To avoid the first type, the net output of liquid fuels, electricity, useful heat and food were calculated separately. Further, to avoid the second type, all scenarios were designed to provide self-sufficiency with fodder and fertilizer and to utilize co-products within the system. This approach resulted in a transparent assessment of the net-contribution to society, which is easy to interpret. We conclude that if 20% of land is used for energy crops, farm-gate energy self-sufficiency can be achieved at the cost of 17% reduction in amount of food produced. These results demonstrate the strong limitations for (organic) agriculture in providing both food and surplus energy

Hsp90 inhibition sensitizes DLBCL cells to cisplatin

PURPOSE: Platinum-containing therapy is standard treatment for relapsed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). However, the efficacy of treatment is limited by drug resistance leading to relapse. Cisplatin resistance has been linked to impairments of the DNA damage response, and several DNA repair proteins have been identified as clients of the molecular chaperone Hsp90. Here, we investigated the combinatory treatment of cisplatin and the Hsp90 inhibitor, 17AAG, in DLBCL cells to evaluate if inhibition of Hsp90 could sensitize DLBCL cells to cisplatin treatment. METHODS: Cell viability was assessed for cisplatin and 17AAG as monotherapies and for 25 different combinations in 7 DLBCL cell lines, where the Bliss Independence Model and the Combination Index were applied to assess their interaction. Induction of apoptosis and DNA damage response were evaluated by measuring Annexin V and γH2AX levels after 48 h of exposure. RESULTS: 17AAG synergized with cisplatin in DLBCL cells as detected in both interaction assessment models, resulting in a lower viability after 48 h for the combination-treated cells compared to both vehicle and single drug-treated cells. The combination also induced a stronger apoptotic response and an increase in DNA damage in 17AAG, cisplatin- and combination-treated cells compared to vehicle-treated cells, with the effect of the combination generally being higher than compared to both single drugs. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that 17AAG sensitizes DLBCL cells to cisplatin treatment. This effect is correlated with increased apoptotic and DNA damage response, potentially mediated by downregulation of Hsp90 clients in DNA repair pathways. Thus, cisplatin resistance could plausibly be overcome by combining the treatment with an Hsp90 inhibiting drug. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00280-022-04407-5

Metabolomic phenotyping of a cloned pig model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pigs are widely used as models for human physiological changes in intervention studies, because of the close resemblance between human and porcine physiology and the high degree of experimental control when using an animal model. Cloned animals have, in principle, identical genotypes and possibly also phenotypes and this offer an extra level of experimental control which could possibly make them a desirable tool for intervention studies. Therefore, in the present study, we address how phenotype and phenotypic variation is affected by cloning, through comparison of cloned pigs and normal outbred pigs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The metabolic phenotype of cloned pigs (n = 5) was for the first time elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomic analysis of multiple bio-fluids including plasma, bile and urine. The metabolic phenotype of the cloned pigs was compared with normal outbred pigs (n = 6) by multivariate data analysis, which revealed differences in the metabolic phenotypes. Plasma lactate was higher for cloned vs control pigs, while multiple metabolites were altered in the bile. However a lower inter-individual variability for cloned pigs compared with control pigs could not be established.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>From the present study we conclude that cloned and normal outbred pigs are phenotypically different. However, it cannot be concluded that the use of cloned animals will reduce the inter-individual variation in intervention studies, though this is based on a limited number of animals.</p

Participation, challenges and needs in children with down syndrome during cancer treatment at hospital: a qualitative study of parents' experiences

BackgroundStudies report that it can be challenging to assess and treat side-effects and symptoms among children who have impairments and difficulties in expressing their needs. Children with Down syndrome have an increased vulnerability and an increased risk for contracting leukaemia. There is sparse knowledge about the parental experience of how treatment and side-effects affect children with Down syndrome with leukaemia, as well as the role of participation during treatment.PurposeThis study aimed to explore the perceptions of parents of children with Down syndrome and leukaemia regarding their child's treatment, side effects and participation during hospital care.MethodsA qualitative study design was used, and interviews were conducted with a semi-structured interview-guide. Fourteen parents of 10 children with Down syndrome and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia from Sweden and Denmark, 1–18 years of age, participated. All children had completed therapy or had a few months left before the end of treatment. Data was analysed according to qualitative content analysis.ResultsFour sub-themes were identified: (1) Continuously dealing with the child's potential susceptibility; (2) Confidence and worries regarding decisions related to treatment regulation; (3) Challenges in communication, interpretation, and participation; and (4) Facilitating participation by adapting to the child's behavioural and cognitive needs. The sub-themes were bound together in an overarching theme, which expressed the core perception “Being the child's spokesperson to facilitate the child's participation during treatment”. The parents expressed this role as self-evident to facilitate communication regarding the needs of the child, but also regarding how the cytotoxic treatment affected the vulnerable child. Parents conveyed the struggle to ensure the child's right to receive optimal treatment.ConclusionThe study results highlight parental challenges regarding childhood disabilities and severe health conditions, as well as communication and ethical aspects regarding to act in the best interests of the child. Parents played a vital role in interpreting their child with Down syndrome. Involving parents during treatment enables a more accurate interpretation of symptoms and eases communication and participation. Still, the results raise questions regarding issues related to building trust in healthcare professionals in a context where medical, psychosocial and ethical dilemmas are present