Long term farm study of organic milk production — moderate concentrate inputs and high milk yields on Tingvoll farm

Long term studies of organic milk production on a Norwegian organic farm (Tingvoll farm) show that it is possible to achieve high milk yields with moderate concentrate inputs in organic milk production with Norwegian Red Cattle. The milk yields at Tingvoll farm were generally higher, and the concentrate input lower than the average of all Norwegian dairy farms. Average annual milk yields, as well as annual concentrate consumption per cow increased during the study period both for organic and conventional dairy production in Norway. The results from Tingvoll farm may inspire conventional dairy farmers to convert, since the differences to organic production are not necessarily too large. Alternatively, they may be inspired to reduce their concentrate inputs

Unpredictable shoe midsole perturbations provide an instability stimulus to train ankle posture and motion during forward and lateral gym lunges

Unstable footwear may enhance training effects to the lower-limb musculature and sensorimotor system during dynamic gym movements. This study compared the instability of an unstable shoe with irregular midsole deformations (IM) and a control shoe (CS) during forward and lateral lunges. Seventeen female gym class participants completed two sets of ten forward and lateral lunges in CS and IM. Ground reaction forces, lower-limb kinematics and ankle muscle activations were recorded. Variables around initial ground contact, toe-off, descending and ascending lunge phases were compared statistically (p < .05). Responses to IM compared to CS were similar across lunge directions. The IM induced instability by increasing the vertical loading rate (p < .001, p = .009) and variability of frontal ankle motion during descending (p = .001, p < .001) and ascending phases (p = .150, p = .003), in forward and lateral lunges, respectively. At initial ground contact, ankle adjustments enhanced postural stability in IM. Across muscles, there were no activation increases, although results indicate peroneus longus activations increased in IM during the ascending phase. As expected, IM provided a more demanding training stimulus during lunge exercises and has potential to reduce ankle injuries by training ankle positioning for unpredictable instability

The Effect of Telemedicine Follow-Up Care on Diabetes-Related Foot Ulcers: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Non- Inferiority Trial

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether telemedicine (TM) follow-up of patients with diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFUs) in primary health care in collaboration with specialist health care was noninferior to standard outpatient care (SOC) for ulcer healing time. Further, we sought to evaluate whether the proportion of amputations, deaths, number of consultations per month, and patient satisfaction differed between the two groups. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Patients with DFUs were recruited from three clinical sites in western Norway (2012–2016). The cluster-randomized controlled noninferiority trial included 182 adults (94/88 in the TM/SOC groups) in 42 municipalities/districts. The intervention group received TM follow-up care in the community; the control group received SOC. The primary end point was healing time. Secondary end points were amputation, death, number of consultations per month, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS Using mixed-effects regression analysis, we found that TM was noninferior to SOC regarding healing time (mean difference –0.43 months, 95% CI −1.50, 0.65). When competing risk from death and amputation were taken into account, there was no significant difference in healing time between the groups (subhazard ratio 1.16, 95% CI 0.85, 1.59). The TM group had a significantly lower proportion of amputations (mean difference –8.3%, 95% CI –16.3%, –0.5%), and there were no significant differences in the proportion of deaths, number of consultations, or patient satisfaction between groups, although the direction of the effect estimates for these clinical outcomes favored the TM group. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that use of TM technology can be a relevant alternative and supplement to usual care, at least for patients with more superficial ulcers.måsjekke

Senicapoc treatment in COVID-19 Patients with Severe Respiratory Insufficiency - A Randomized, Open-Label, Phase II Trial

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to determine if treatment with senicapoc, improves the PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio in patients with COVID‐19 and severe respiratory insufficiency. METHODS: Investigator‐initiated, randomized, open‐label, phase II trial in four intensive care units (ICU) in Denmark. We included patients aged ≥18 years and admitted to an ICU with severe respiratory insufficiency due to COVID‐19. The intervention consisted of 50 mg enteral senicapoc administered as soon as possible after randomization and again after 24 h. Patients in the control group received standard care only. The primary outcome was the PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio at 72 h. RESULTS: Twenty patients were randomized to senicapoc and 26 patients to standard care. Important differences existed in patient characteristics at baseline, including more patients being on non‐invasive/invasive ventilation in the control group (54% vs. 35%). The median senicapoc concentration at 72 h was 62.1 ng/ml (IQR 46.7–71.2). The primary outcome, PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio at 72 h, was significantly lower in the senicapoc group (mean 19.5 kPa, SD 6.6) than in the control group (mean 24.4 kPa, SD 9.2) (mean difference −5.1 kPa [95% CI −10.2, −0.04] p = .05). The 28‐day mortality in the senicapoc group was 2/20 (10%) compared with 6/26 (23%) in the control group (OR 0.36 95% CI 0.06–2.07, p = .26). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with senicapoc resulted in a significantly lower PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio at 72 h with no differences for other outcomes

Organic selenium supplementation increased selenium concentrations in ewe and newborn lamb blood and in slaughter lamb meat compared to inorganic selenium supplementation

Background Selenium is part of the antioxidant defence system in animals and humans. The available selenium concentration in soil is low in many regions of the world. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of organic versus inorganic selenium supplementation on selenium status of ewes, their lambs, and slaughter lambs. Methods Ewes on four organic farms were allocated five or six to 18 pens. The ewes were given either 20 mg/kg inorganic selenium as sodium selenite or organic selenium as selenized nonviable yeast supplementation for the two last months of pregnancy. Stipulated selenium concentrations in the rations were below 0.40 mg/kg dry matter. In addition 20 male lambs were given supplements from November until they were slaughtered in March. Silage, hay, concentrates, and individual ewe blood samples were taken before and after the mineral supplementation period, and blood samples were taken from the newborn lambs. Blood samples from ewes and lambs in the same pens were pooled. Muscle samples were taken from slaughter lambs in March. Selenium concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry with a hydride generator system. In the ANOVA model, selenium concentration was the continuous response variable, and selenium source and farm were the nominal effect variables. Two-sample t-test was used to compare selenium concentrations in muscle samples from the slaughtered lambs that received either organic or inorganic selenium supplements. Results In all ewe pens the whole blood selenium concentrations increased during the experimental period. In addition, ewe pens that received organic selenium had significantly higher whole blood selenium concentrations (mean 0.28 μg/g) than ewe pens that received inorganic selenium (mean 0.24 μg/g). Most prominent, however, was the difference in their lambs; whole blood mean selenium concentration in lambs from mothers that received organic selenium (mean 0.27 μg/g) was 30% higher than in lambs from mothers that received inorganic selenium (mean 0.21 μg/g). Slaughter lambs that received organic selenium had 50% higher meat selenium concentrations (mean 0.12 mg/kg wet weight) than lambs that received inorganic selenium (mean 0.08 mg/kg wet weight). Conclusion Organic selenium supplementation gave higher selenium concentration in ewe and newborn lamb blood and slaughter lamb meat than inorganic selenium supplementation

Six pelagic seabird species of the North Atlantic engage in a fly-and-forage strategy during their migratory movements

Funding Information: We thank all the fieldworkers for their hard work collecting data. Funding for this study was provided by the Norwegian Ministry for Climate and the Environment, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association along with 8 oil companies through the SEATRACK project (www. seapop. no/ en/ seatrack). Fieldwork in Norwegian colonies (incl. Svalbard and Jan Mayen) was supported by the SEAPOP program (www.seapop.no, grant no. 192141). The French Polar Institute (IPEV project 330 to O.C.) supported field operation for Kongsfjord kittiwakes. The work on the Isle of May was also supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (Award NE/R016429/1 as part of the UK-SCaPE programme delivering National Capability). We thank Maria Bogdanova for field support and data processing. Finally, we thank 3 anonymous reviewers for their help improving the first version of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

K2-370 b:a strongly irradiated sub-Neptune transiting a very active solar-type star

We report on the detailed characterisation of K2-370 b, a transiting sub-Neptune on a 2.14-d orbit around the chromospherically active G-type dwarf HD 284521 (eff = 5662 ± 44 K, &lt; log ′ &gt;= −4.49). The system parameters are derived based on a global fit to K2, TESS and CHEOPS photometry, and HARPS-N and HARPS radial velocities (RV). A Gaussian process regression analysis is performed simultaneously to the orbital fit of the RVs of K2-370 to effectively model the strong stellar rotation signal with a period of 13.5 ± 0.05 d and measure the planetary RV signal with semi-amplitude = 5.6 ± 0.7 m s−1. We find that K2-370 b has a radius of 2.67 ± 0.05 ⊕ and a mass of 11.1 ± 1.4 ⊕. With an estimated equilibrium temperature eq ∼ 1480 K, K2-370 b is the second-hottest sub-Neptune with a highly precise mass determination around primaries with eff &gt; 5500 K. The resulting density of 3.2±0.4 g cm−3 implies that K2-370 b either retains a significant (∼ 2% by mass) H-rich atmosphere or its interior contains a high (∼ 40%) water-mass fraction

K2-370 b: a strongly irradiated sub-Neptune transiting a very active solar-type star

Funding: The authors acknowledge financial contribution from the agreement ASIINAF n.2018-16-HH.0. They gratefully acknowledge support from the Italian Space Agency (ASI) under contract 2018-24-HH.0 "The Italian participation to the Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC)" in collaboration with the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics. AVF acknowledges the support of the IOP through the Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund. ACC acknowledges support from STFC consolidated grant number ST/V000861/1, and UKSA grant number ST/X002217/1. XD acknowledges the support from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement SCORE No 851555) and from the Swiss National Science Foundation under the grant SPECTRE (No 200021_215200). FPE would like to acknowledge the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) for supporting research with HARPS-N through the SNSF grants nr. 140649, 152721, 166227, 184618 and 215190. This research was funded in part by the UKRI, (Grants ST/X001121/1, EP/X027562/1).We report on the detailed characterisation of K2-370 b, a transiting sub-Neptune on a 2.14-d orbit around the chromospherically active G-type dwarf HD 284521 (Teff = 5662 ± 44 K, =-4.49). The system parameters are derived based on a global fit to K2, TESS and CHEOPS photometry, and HARPS-N and HARPS radial velocities (RVs). A Gaussian process regression analysis is performed simultaneously to the orbital fit of the RVs of K2-370 to effectively model the strong stellar rotation signal with a period of 13.5 ± 0.05 d and measure the planetary RV signal with semi-amplitude Kb = 5.6 ± 0.7 m s−1. We find that K2-370 b has a radius of 2.67 ± 0.05 R⊕ and a mass of 11.1 ± 1.4 M⊕. With an estimated equilibrium temperature Teq ∼ 1480 K, K2-370 b is the second-hottest sub-Neptune with a highly precise mass determination around primaries with Teff > 5500 K. The resulting density of 3.2 ± 0.4 g cm−3 implies that K2-370 b either retains a significant (∼2 per cent by mass) H-rich atmosphere or its interior contains a high (∼ 40 per cent) water-mass fraction.Peer reviewe

PCR Targeting Plasmodium Mitochondrial Genome of DNA Extracted from Dried Blood on Filter Paper Compared to Whole Blood.

Monitoring mortality and morbidity attributable to malaria is paramount to achieve elimination of malaria. Diagnosis of malaria is challenging and PCR is a reliable method for identifying malaria with high sensitivity. However, blood specimen collection and transport can be challenging and obtaining dried blood spots (DBS) on filter paper by finger-prick may have advantages over collecting whole blood by venepuncture. DBS and whole blood were collected from febrile children admitted at the general paediatric wards at a referral hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. DNA extracted from whole blood and from DBS was tested with a genus-specific PCR targeting the mitochondrial Plasmodium genome. Positive samples by PCR of DNA from whole blood were tested with species-specific PCR targeting the 18S rRNA locus, or sequencing if species-specific PCR was negative. Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and thin blood smear microscopy was carried out on all patients where remnant whole blood and a blood slide, respectively, were available. Positivity of PCR was 24.5 (78/319) and 11.2% (52/442) by whole blood and DBS, respectively. All samples positive on DBS were also positive on Plasmodium falciparum species-specific PCR. All RDT positive cases were also positive by DBS PCR. All but three cases with positive blood slides were also positive by DBS. In this study, PCR for malaria mitochondrial DNA extracted from whole blood was more sensitive than from DBS. However, DBS are a practical alternative to whole blood and detected approximately the same number of cases as RDTs and, therefore, remain relevant for research purposes

Reproductive Performance, Udder Health, and Antibiotic Resistance in Mastitis Bacteria isolated from Norwegian Red cows in Conventional and Organic Farming

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The objectives of this study were to investigate whether there were differences between Norwegian Red cows in conventional and organic farming with respect to reproductive performance, udder health, and antibiotic resistance in udder pathogens.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty-five conventional and 24 organic herds from south-east and middle Norway participated in the study. Herds were matched such that geographical location, herd size, and barn types were similar across the cohorts. All organic herds were certified as organic between 1997 and 2003. All herds were members of the Norwegian Dairy Herd Recording System. The herds were visited once during the study. The relationship between the outcomes and explanatory variables were assessed using mixed linear models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were less > 2nd parity cows in conventional farming. The conventional cows had higher milk yields and received more concentrates than organic cows. Although after adjustment for milk yield and parity, somatic cell count was lower in organic cows than conventional cows. There was a higher proportion of quarters that were dried off at the herd visit in organic herds. No differences in the interval to first AI, interval to last AI or calving interval was revealed between organic and conventional cows. There was no difference between conventional and organic cows in quarter samples positive for mastitis bacteria from the herd visit. Milk yield and parity were associated with the likelihood of at least one quarter positive for mastitis bacteria. There was few <it>S. aureus </it>isolates resistance to penicillin in both management systems. Penicillin resistance against Coagulase negative staphylococci isolated from subclinically infected quarters was 48.5% in conventional herds and 46.5% in organic herds.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There were no large differences between reproductive performance and udder health between conventional and organic farming for Norwegian Red cows.</p