Predicción de la calidad fermentativa de ensilados de girasol mediante espectroscopía de reflectancia en el infrarrojo cercano (NIRS) sobre muestras secas

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the predictive ability of calibration equations developed by NIRS (near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy) on dry and ground samples for estimating the fermentative quality of sunflower silage. NIRS spectra of a total of 52 oven-dried and ground silage samples from different laboratory silo tests carried out at the Mabegondo Agricultural Research Center (Centro de Investigacións Agrarias de Mabegondo, CIAM) were registered. The fresh samples were analyzed using reference methods. The pH, lactic acid, acetic acid, ethanol, ammonia nitrogen and soluble nitrogen levels were determined. NIRS calibrations were developed by modified partial least squares regression, performing a regression between spectral and reference data. The predictive capacity of the equations obtained ranged from excellent to good, with cross-validation coefficients of determination (r2cv) equal to or above 0.88. The RPD index values for all the parameters studied were equal to or above 3.0; therefore, the calibration equations obtained on dry and ground samples can be used satisfactorily to predict the fermentative quality of sunflower silages in routine analyses.El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la capacidad de predicción de las ecuaciones de calibración desarrolladas mediante NIRS (espectroscopía de reflectancia en el infrarrojo cercano) sobre muestras secas y molidas, para estimar la calidad fermentativa de ensilados de girasol. Un total de 52 muestras de ensilados procedentes de diferentes ensayos de silos de laboratorio realizados en el CIAM (Centro de Investigacións Agrarias de Mabegondo), cuyo espectro NIRS se registró sobre muestras secas en estufa y molidas. Las muestras en estado fresco fueron analizadas por métodos de referencia. Se determinó el pH, ácido láctico, ácido acético, etanol, nitrógeno amoniacal y nitrógeno soluble. Las calibraciones NIRS fueron desarrolladas utilizando regresión por mínimos cuadrados parciales modificada, realizando la regresión entre los datos espectrales y los de referencia. La capacidad predictiva de las ecuaciones obtenidas osciló entre excelente y buena, mostrando coeficientes de determinación de validación cruzada (r2vc) iguales o superiores a 0.88. Los valores del índice RPD para todos los parámetros estudiados fueron iguales o superiores a 3.0, por lo tanto, las ecuaciones de calibración obtenidas sobre muestras secas y molidas pueden utilizarse satisfactoriamente para predecir la calidad fermentativa de ensilados de girasol en análisis de rutina

Effects of denosumab on bone turnover markers in postmenopausal osteoporosis

Denosumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody to RANKL, decreases bone remodeling, increases bone density, and reduces fracture risk. This study evaluates the time course and determinants of bone turnover marker (BTM) response during denosumab treatment, the percentage of denosumab-treated women with BTMs below the premenopausal reference interval, and the correlations between changes in BTMs and bone mineral density (BMD). The BTM substudy of the Fracture REduction Evaulation of Denosumab in Osteoporosis every 6 Months (FREEDOM) Trial included 160 women randomized to subcutaneous denosumab (60 mg) or placebo injections every 6 months for 3 years. Biochemical markers of bone resorption (serum C-telopeptide of type I collagen [CTX] and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatise [TRACP-5b]) and bone formation (serum procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide [PINP] and bone alkaline phosphatase [BALP]) were measured at baseline and at 1, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. Decreases in CTX were more rapid and greater than decreases in PINP and BALP. One month after injection, CTX levels in all denosumab-treated subjects decreased to levels below the premenopausal reference interval. CTX values at the end of the dosing period were influenced by baseline CTX values and the dosing interval. The percentage of subjects with CTX below the premenopausal reference interval before each subsequent injection decreased from 79% to 51% during the study. CTX and PINP remained below the premenopausal reference interval at all time points in 46% and 31% denosumab-treated subjects, respectively. With denosumab, but not placebo, there were significant correlations between CTX reduction and BMD increase (r = −0.24 to −0.44). The BTM response pattern with denosumab is unique and should be appreciated by physicians to monitor this treatment effectively

Factors influencing the carbon footprint of milk production on dairy farms with different feeding strategies in western Europe

Greenhouse gas emissions from dairy production represent a major source of emissions especially in Western Europe where the sector has grown over the past decade. Different feeding strategies have evolved and there is a need to identify effective mitigation measures. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to examine carbon foot-prints (CFs) of milk production across 71 commercial dairy farms in Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Spain (Galicia and Basque regions), Portugal and France based on monthly data collection over two years. Emissions up to the farm gate were calculated within a global boundary with both higher tier emission factors (HTEF) applicable in respective countries, and default emission factors (DEF). The global warming potential (GWP) used was the GWP100 metric, however results were also calculated using GWP20 for comparison. Functional units were: (i) one tonne fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM); (ii) 1 ha of on-farm agricultural area (FAA); (iii) 1 ha of global agricultural area (GAA). Farms were categorised based on the proportion of time that cows spent grazing. Mean CF per tonne FPCM (FPCM-CF) were 1,129, 1237 and 1519 kg CO2e for GRAZING (>220d grazing; n = 16), MIXED (up to 219d grazing; n = 17) and HOUSED farms (0d grazing; n = 38), respectively. HOUSED had the widest range, from 884 to 2494 kg CO2e/tonne FPCM, and included the farm with the overall lowest FPCM-CF. HOUSED also had the highest mean CF per ha FAA: 44.1 tonne CO2e, followed by MIXED (15.2 tonne) and GRAZING (11.6 tonne). CF (tonne CO2e) per ha GAA followed the same ranking: HOUSED (15.1), MIXED (9.8) and GRAZING (9.2). There was no difference in ranking of the feeding strategies using DEF in comparison with HTEF. A stepwise regression analysis identified feed efficiency and age at first calving as important factors in determining FPCM-CF for all farms. Furthermore, N surplus was important for GRAZING & MIXED farms. The proportion of uncovered slurry storage, milk yield per cow and the amount of bought in concentrate per cow were important for HOUSED farms. Wide variation in CFs implies considerable potential for lowering emissions per tonne FPCM and per ha FAA and GAA, but it is imperative that mitigation measures are tailored to feeding strategy.</p

Denosumab treatment in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis does not interfere with fracture-healing: results from the FREEDOM trial

Fracture is the major complication of osteoporosis, and it allows the identification of individuals needing medical intervention for osteoporosis. After nonvertebral fracture, patients often do not receive osteoporosis medical treatment despite evidence that this treatment reduces the risk of subsequent fracture. In this pre planned analysis of the results of the three-year, placebo-controlled FREEDOM trial, we evaluated the effect of denosumab administration on fracture-healing to address theoretical concerns related to initiating or continuing denosumab therapy in patients presenting with a nonvertebral fracture