Low dietary protein resilience is an indicator of the relative protein efficiency of individual dairy cows

Our objectives were to determine (1) the sources of variation in cow responses to dietary protein reduction, and (2) the association of low dietary protein resilience (LPR) with protein efficiency. Lactating Holstein cows in peak lactation (n = 166; 92 primiparous, 77 multiparous) with initial milk yield 41 ± 9.8 kg/d were fed high-protein (HP) or low-protein (LP) diets in 4-wk periods in a crossover design with half the cows fed LP first and half fed HP first. The study was repeated for 69 of these cows (42 primiparous, 27 multiparous) in late lactation. Low-protein diets were 14% crude protein (CP) in peak lactation and 13% CP in late lactation and were formulated to contain adequate rumen-degradable protein to maintain rumen function but inadequate rumen-undegradable protein for cows with average production in this study to maintain their production. High-protein diets were 18% CP in peak lactation and 16% CP in late lactation and contained extra expeller soybean meal to meet metabolizable protein requirements. Protein efficiency was defined as the protein captured in milk or in both milk and body tissues per unit of consumed protein. Low dietary protein resilience was calculated for each cow in peak and late lactation based on actual intake, production, and body weight measures. The ability of a cow to maintain total protein captured in milk and body gain when fed less protein varied considerably and the variation was mostly explained by a cow's captured protein per kilogram of metabolic body weight when fed HP, her parity, treatment sequence, and experiment. Protein efficiency was moderately repeatable across diets within lactation stage. Milk urea nitrogen was not associated with protein efficiency in individual cows within a diet and lactation stage. Cows with greater dietary protein resiliency (higher LPR) had similar protein efficiency on the HP diet as cows with lower LPR, but higher protein efficiency on the LP diet. In conclusion, cows generally maintained their protein efficiency rankings when switching diets between sufficient or insufficient protein; however, some high-producing cows are better able to maintain high production when fed less protein. We define this ability as LPR and suggest it might be useful for identifying cows that use protein more efficiently to enhance dairy sustainability.

Examining the effect of land transfer on landlords' income in China: An application of the endogenous switching model

The paper looks at factors that influence landlords' decision to transfer their farmlands and how farmland transfer has impacted on landlords' income. The essence of farmland transfer policy is to promote efficiency in agricultural land use. Endogenous regression model was adopted for the study because of its ability to handle the transfer decisions and impact of transfer decision on outcome simultaneously. The data were obtained from selected communities in Yunnan province, China. A total of 260 landlords were randomly selected for the study. The result shows that out-migration, off-farm income, agesq, public infrastructure and skill training influence transfer decision positively. The results further show that famine experience, access to credit, education and age negatively influence farmland transfer decision. The results show that farmland transfer leads to a significant increase in landlords' income.

Adjusting conventional FRAX estimates of fracture probability according to the recency of sentinel fractures

The risk of a recurrent fragility fracture is particularly high immediately following the fracture. This study provides adjustments to FRAX-based fracture probabilities accounting for the site of a recent fracture.

INTRODUCTION

The recency of prior fractures affects subsequent fracture risk. The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of a recent sentinel fracture, by site, on the 10-year probability of fracture determined with FRAX.

METHODS

The study used data from the Reykjavik Study fracture register that documented prospectively all fractures at all skeletal sites in a large sample of the population of Iceland. Fracture probabilities were determined after a sentinel fracture (humeral, clinical vertebral, forearm and hip fracture) from the hazards of death and fracture. Fracture probabilities were computed on the one hand for sentinel fractures occurring within the previous 2 years and on the other hand, probabilities for a prior osteoporotic fracture irrespective of recency. The probability ratios provided adjustments to conventional FRAX estimates of fracture probability for recent sentinel fractures.

RESULTS

Probability ratios to adjust 10-year FRAX probabilities of a major osteoporotic fracture for recent sentinel fractures were age dependent, decreasing with age in both men and women. Probability ratios varied according to the site of sentinel fracture with higher ratios for hip and vertebral fracture than for humerus or forearm fracture. Probability ratios to adjust 10-year FRAX probabilities of a hip fracture for recent sentinel fractures were also age dependent, decreasing with age in both men and women with the exception of forearm fractures.

CONCLUSION

The probability ratios provide adjustments to conventional FRAX estimates of fracture probability for recent sentinel fractures.

Predicting 3D body shape and body composition from conventional 2D photography

PURPOSE

Total and regional body composition are important indicators of health and mortality risk, but their measurement is usually restricted to controlled environments in clinical settings with expensive and specialized equipment. A method that approaches the accuracy of the current gold standard method, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), while only requiring input from widely available consumer grade equipment, would enable the measurement of these important biometrics in the wild, enabling data collection at a scale that would have previously been prohibitive in time and expense. We describe an algorithm for predicting three-dimensional (3D) body shape and composition from a single frontal 2-dimensional image acquired with a digital consumer camera.

METHODS

Duplicate 3D optical scans, two-dimensional (2D) optical images, and DXA whole-body scans were available for 183 men and 233 women from the Shape Up! Adults Study. A principal component analysis vector basis was fit to 3D point clouds of a training subset of 152 men and 194 women. The relationship between this vector space and DXA-derived body composition was modeled with linear regression. The principal component 3D shape was then fitted to match a silhouette extracted from a 2D photograph of a novel body. Body composition was predicted from the resulting 3D shape match using the linear mapping between the principal component parameters and the DXA metrics. Accuracy of body composition estimates from the silhouette method was evaluated against a simple model using height and weight as a baseline, and against DXA measurements as ground truth. Test-retest precision of the silhouette method was evaluated using the duplicate 2D optical images and compared against precision of the duplicate DXA scans. Paired t-tests were performed to detect significant differences between the sets.

RESULTS

Results were reported on a held-out set. Body composition prediction achieved R² s of 0.81 and 0.74 for percent fat prediction of males and females, respectively, on a held-out test set consisting of 31 males and 39 females. Precision estimates for fat mass were 2.31% and 2.06% for males and females, respectively, compared to 1.26% and 0.68% for DXA scans. The t-tests revealed no statistically significant differences between the silhouette method measurements and DXA measurements, or between retests.

CONCLUSION

Total and regional body composition measures can be estimated from a single frontal photograph of a human body. Body composition prediction using consumer level photography can enable early screening and monitoring of possible physiological indicators of metabolic disease in regions where medical imagery or clinical assessment is inaccessible.

How has formal institutions influenced opportunity and necessity entrepreneurship? The case of brics economies

Using a panel data of BRICS economies, this study looks at how formal institutions have influenced various types of entrepreneurship. The study concentrated mainly on the following formal institutional factors: fiscal freedom, business freedom, property rights, financial freedom, labour freedom, and investment freedom. For the opportunity entrepreneurship, the result is not statistically significant. With the exception of business freedom, the remaining institutional factors have negative relationship with opportunity entrepreneurship. Fiscal freedom and business freedom show negative significant relationship with necessity entrepreneurship. The result also shows that business freedom has a negative significant effect on female opportunity entrepreneurship. The study further reveals that fiscal freedom, business freedom and financial freedom have a negative significant effect on men necessity entrepreneurship. Population growth has a positive effect on all categories of entrepreneurship whiles unemployment contributes negatively to all categories of entrepreneurship.

Complex biological patterns of hematology parameters in childhood necessitating age- and sex-specific reference intervals for evidence-based clinical interpretation

INTRODUCTION

Hematology laboratory parameters are among the most routinely ordered tests in support of adult and pediatric care. However, appropriate interpretation of test results has been a challenge in pediatrics since accurate and up-to-date reference intervals that reflect the dynamic physiological changes associated with growth and development have not been available. Critical gaps continue to exist in pediatric hematology reference intervals for modern laboratory platforms. To address this gap, this study establishes age- and sex-specific reference intervals for 25 hematology parameters in the CALIPER cohort of healthy children and adolescents using a common platform, the Sysmex XN-3000 analytical system.

METHODS

Fresh whole blood samples collected from a total of 641 healthy children and adolescents (birth to <21 years) with informed consent were analyzed for 25 hematological parameters on the Sysmex XN-3000 Hematology Analyzer. Age- and sex-specific reference standards were calculated based on Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines.

RESULTS

Of the 25 analytes assessed, 19 required age-partitioning and seven required sex-partitioning (ie, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, red blood cell distribution width-SD, red blood cell distribution width-CV, and monocyte percentage). Age- and sex-specific differences mostly coincided with the onset of puberty.

CONCLUSION

This study establishes a comprehensive database of pediatric reference intervals for hematology parameters in the CALIPER cohort using the widely used Sysmex XN-3000 analytical platform. These data highlight the dynamic hematological profile observed in healthy children and adolescents and the need for reference interval stratification by age and sex.

Effects of supplementing Holstein cows with soybean oil compared with palmitic acid-enriched triglycerides on milk production and nutrient partitioning

Both insulin and trans-10,cis-12 C18:2 (t10c12CLA) can be increased by high-starch diets; thus, it is difficult to determine whether insulin or t10c12CLA mediates nutrient partitioning toward body tissues during milk fat depression. To minimize insulin secretion while manipulating t10c12CLA levels, diets supplemented with palmitic acid-enriched triglycerides and soybean oil were fed to cows. Thirty-two Holstein cows (93 ± 35 d in milk) were included in the crossover experiment with each treatment period being 28 d. Treatment diets contained 25% neutral detergent fiber, 32% starch, 18% crude protein, and 4.6% fatty acids (dry matter basis). Treatment diets contained either palmitic acid-enriched triglycerides (2.5% dry matter, BergaFat T-300, Berg + Schmidt America LLC, Libertyville, IL; PAT) or soybean oil (2.5% dry matter; SBO). Cows were blocked by milk yield, body weight, and parity, and then randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment sequences (PAT-SBO or SBO-PAT). Cows fed PAT produced milk with only 3.1% fat, indicating milk fat depression; SBO decreased fat content further to only 2.4%. No effect of treatment was observed on dry matter intake, apparent net energy intake, milk yield, body condition score, or fat thickness over the rump and rib. However, compared with PAT, SBO decreased fat-corrected milk yield, energy-corrected milk yield, milk fat yield, de novo fatty acids, and 16-carbon fatty acid yield, whereas SBO increased body weight gain. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility tended to be lower in SBO, whereas fatty acid digestibility was higher. Additionally, the concentration of plasma insulin, nonesterified fatty acids, and triglycerides, and milk metabolites (trans-10 C18:1 and t10c12CLA) were all higher in SBO. In conclusion, with similar dietary starch content, the diet containing palmitic acid-enriched triglycerides partitioned more energy toward milk synthesis, whereas the diet containing soybean oil partitioned more energy toward body tissue gain.

Acetic Acid Promoted Direct Iodination of Terminal Alkynes with N-Iodosuccinimide: Efficient Preparation of 1-Iodoalkynes

An efficient and highly chemoselective approach for the direct iodination of terminal alkynes using acetic acid as N-iodosuccinimide activated reagent under metal-free conditions has been developed. This facile process tolerates a variety of terminal alkynes and provides the desired products in good to excellent yields (up to 99%).

Crystal structure of 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene-(1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene-κ2 P,P′)-(O-isobutyl sulfurodithioito-κ2 S,S′)copper(I), C39H37CuFeOP2S2

C39H37CuFeOP2S2, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 9.6132(10) Å, b = 11.5667(12) Å, c = 16.8739(18) Å, α = 99.732(2)°, β = 96.342(2)°, γ = 93.446(2)°, V = 1832.0(3) Å3, Z = 2, R gt(F) = 0.0455, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1212, T = 293.0 K.

Crystal structure of bis(2,3-diphenyltetrazolidine-5-thione-κ1 S)-(nitrato-κ1 O)-(nitrato-κ2 O,O′)lead(II), C26H20N10O6S2Pb

C26H20N10O6S2Pb, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 9.3480(19) Å, b = 12.985(3) Å, c = 14.278(3) Å, α = 113.14(3)°, β = 92.05(3)°, γ = 102.75(3)°, V = 1539.8(7) Å3, Z = 2, R gt(F) = 0.0336, wR ref(F 2) = 0.0874, T = 293.0 K.

Crystal structure of dichloro-bis-(1-butyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole)-nickel(II), C22H28Cl2N4Ni

C22H28Cl2N4Ni, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 9.7332(19) Å, b = 14.886(3) Å, c = 18.623(5) Å, β = 117.45(2)°, V = 2394.5(10) Å3, Z = 4, R gt(F) = 0.0450, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1466, T = 293.0 K.

Crystal structure of bis(N,2-bis(4-ethoxybenzylidene)hydrazine-1-carbohydrazonothioato-κ2 N,S)nickel(II) — N,N-dimethylformamide (1/2), C44H56N10S2O6Ni

C44H56N10S2O6Ni, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 9.3077(14) Å, b = 9.9624(14) Å, c = 14.0449(19) Å, α = 70.889(3)°, β = 75.532(2)°, γ = 87.544(3)°, V = 1190.5(3) Å3, Z = 1, R gt(F) = 0.0528, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1279, T = 293 K.

Crystal structure of diisopropyl 2,5-dihydroxycyclohexa-1,4-diene-1,4-dicarboxylate, C14H20O6

C14H20O6, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 6.4270(13) Å, b = 8.3458(17) Å, c = 8.4120(17) Å, α = 107.08(3)°, β = 106.43(3)°, γ = 107.37(3)°, V = 376.2(2) Å3, Z = 1, R gt(F) = 0.0521, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1541, T = 294.0 K.

Crystal structure of diisobutyl 2,5-dihydroxycyclohexa-1,4-diene-1,4-dicarboxylate, C16H24O6

C16H24O6, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 6.3410(13) Å, b = 7.3430(15) Å, c = 10.241(2) Å, α = 94.06(3)°, β = 103.89(3)°, γ = 113.13(3)°, V = 418.3(8) Å3, Z = 1, R gt(F) = 0.0546, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1691, T = 295(3) K.

Relationship of residual feed intake and protein efficiency in lactating cows fed high- or low-protein diets

Our objectives were to determine the repeatability of residual feed intake (RFI) across dietary protein levels and to determine the association between RFI and protein efficiency in lactating cows. Holstein cows (n = 166; 92 primiparous, 74 multiparous) with initial milk yield 41.3 ± 9.8 kg/d were fed diets with high or low protein in peak lactation. Experiments were conducted as crossovers with 2 treatment periods of 28 to 35 d. Production of 69 of the 166 cows (42 primiparous, 27 multiparous) was also measured in late lactation. Low-protein diets were 14% crude protein (CP) in peak lactation and 13% CP in late lactation and were formulated to contain adequate rumen-degradable protein to maintain rumen function. High-protein diets were 18% CP in peak lactation and 16% CP in late lactation and contained extra expeller soybean meal to increase absorbed protein. Cows were milked twice daily; DMI and milk yield were recorded daily. Milk composition was measured over 4 consecutive milkings weekly, and body weight (BW) was measured 3 times weekly. Fixed effects of diet, parity, and treatment period, interaction of parity and diet, and random effects of experiment and cow nested within experiment were included in the model to compare intake and production performance between cows fed different levels of CP. The RFI value was calculated for each cow on each treatment based on the actual intake, milk energy output, metabolic BW, and body energy (calculated from BW change and body condition score over the treatment period) change. Ranking of cows for RFI was moderately repeatable across dietary protein in peak lactation (r = 0.59) but less repeatable in late lactation (r = 0.41). Negative correlation was observed between RFI and protein efficiency values (dietary protein captured in milk) for cows in both peak lactation (r = -0.42) and late lactation (r = -0.24), which suggested that cows with higher energy efficiency had greater protein efficiency. In conclusion, RFI was repeatable across dietary protein levels within lactation stage, and cows with lower RFI values utilized protein more efficiently.

Correction to: Algorithm for the management of patients at low, high and very high risk of osteoporotic fractures

The article 'Algorithm for the management of patients at low, high and very high risk of osteoporotic fractures',written by J. A. Kanis, was originally published Online First without Open Access. After publication in volume [#], issue [#] and page [#-#], the author decided to opt for Open Choice and to make the article an Open Access publication.

Crystal structure of dipentyl 2,5-dihydroxycyclohexa-1,4-diene-1,4-dicarboxylate, C18H28O6

C18H28O6, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 15.061(3) Å, b = 13.791(3) Å, c = 10.106(2) Å, β = 118.60(3)°, V = 1843.0(8) Å3, Z = 4, R gt(F) = 0.0462, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1315, T = 294.3 K.

Efficient synthesis of 1-iodoalkynes via Al2O3 mediated reaction of terminal alkynes and N-iodosuccinimide

Iodination of terminal alkynes using N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) in the presence of γ-Al₂O₃ was developed to afford 1-iodoalkynes with good to excellent yields (up to 99%). This described approach featured excellent chemoselectivity, good functional group tolerance, and utilization of an inexpensive catalyst.

An efficient Al₂O₃-mediated direct iodination of terminal alkynes was developed to afford 1-iodoalkynes.

A surrogate FRAX model for the Kyrgyz Republic

The hip fracture rates from Kazakhstan were used to create a surrogate FRAX® model for the Kyrgyz Republic.

INTRODUCTION

The International Society for Clinical Densitometry and International Osteoporosis Foundation recommend utilizing a surrogate FRAX model, based on the country-specific risk of death, and fracture data based on a country where fracture rates are considered to be representative of the index country.

OBJECTIVE

This paper describes a surrogate FRAX model for the Kyrgyz Republic.

METHODS

The FRAX model used the incidence of hip fracture from the neighbouring country of Kazakhstan and the death risk for the Kyrgyz Republic.

RESULTS

Compared with the model for Kazakhstan, the surrogate model gave somewhat higher 10-year fracture probabilities for men between 60 and 80 years of age and lower probabilities for men above the age of 80. For women the probabilities were similar up to the age of 75-80 years and then lower. There were very close correlations in fracture probabilities between the surrogate and authentic models (1.00) so that the use of the Kyrgyz model had little impact on the rank order of risk. It was estimated that 2752 hip fractures arose in 2015 in individuals over the age of 50 years in the Kyrgyz Republic, with a predicted increase by 207% to 8435 in 2050.

CONCLUSION

The surrogate FRAX model for the Kyrgyz Republic provides the opportunity to determine fracture probability among the Kyrgyz population and help guide decisions about treatment.

Algorithm for the management of patients at low, high and very high risk of osteoporotic fractures

Guidance is provided in an international setting on the assessment and specific treatment of postmenopausal women at low, high and very high risk of fragility fractures.

INTRODUCTION

The International Osteoporosis Foundation and European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis published guidance for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in 2019. This manuscript seeks to apply this in an international setting, taking additional account of further categorisation of increased risk of fracture, which may inform choice of therapeutic approach.

METHODS

Clinical perspective and updated literature search.

RESULTS

The following areas are reviewed: categorisation of fracture risk and general pharmacological management of osteoporosis.

CONCLUSIONS

A platform is provided on which specific guidelines can be developed for national use to characterise fracture risk and direct interventions.

Epidemiology of osteoporotic fracture in Kazakhstan and development of a country specific FRAX model

Retrospective and prospective population-based survey in a region of the Republic of Kazakhstan determined the incidence of fractures at the hip, proximal humerus and distal forearm. The hip fracture rates were used to create a FRAX® model to enhance fracture risk assessment in Kazakhstan.

OBJECTIVE

This paper describes the epidemiology of osteoporotic fractures in the Republic of Kazakhstan that was used to develop a country specific FRAX® tool for fracture prediction.

METHODS

We carried out a retrospective population-based survey in Taldykorgan in the Republic of Kazakhstan representing approximately 1% of the country's population. Hip, forearm and humerus fractures were identified retrospectively in 2015 and 2016 from hospital registers and the trauma centre. Hip fractures were prospectively identified in 2017 from the same sources and additionally from primary care data. Age- and sex-specific incidence of hip fracture and national mortality rates were incorporated into a FRAX model for Kazakhstan. Fracture probabilities were compared with those from neighbouring countries having FRAX models.

RESULTS

The difference in hip fracture incidence between the retrospective and prospective survey indicated that approximately 25% of hip fracture cases did not come to hospital attention. The incidence of hip fracture applied nationally suggested that the estimated number of hip fractures nationwide in persons over the age of 50 years for 2015 was 11,690 and is predicted to increase by 140% to 28,000 in 2050. Hip fracture incidence was a good predictor of forearm and humeral fractures in men but not in women.

CONCLUSION

The FRAX model should enhance accuracy of determining fracture probability among the Kazakh population and help guide decisions about treatment.

Aquaporin4 Knockout Aggravates Early Brain Injury Following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Through Impairment of the Glymphatic System in Rat Brain

BACKGROUND

It is reported that the expression of aquaporin4 (AQP4) in the brain is increased and leads to the brain edema after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In this study, by using AQP4 knockout rat model, the opposite role of AQP4 in early brain injury following SAH through modulation of interstitial fluid (ISF) transportation in the brain glymphatic system had been explored.

METHODS

The SAH model was established using endovascular perforation method, the AQP4 knockout rat model was generated using TALENs (transcription activator-like (TAL) effector nucleases) technique. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: sham (n = 16), AQP4^-/-sham (n = 16), SAH (n = 24), and AQP4^-/-SAH groups (n = 27). The roles of AQP4 in the brain water content and neurological function were detected. In addition, immunohistochemistry and Nissl staining were applied to observe the effects of AQP4 on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and the loss of neurons in the hippocampus. To explore the potential mechanism of these effects, the distribution of Gd-DTPA (interstitial fluid indicator) injected from cisterna magna was evaluated with MRI.

RESULTS

Following SAH, AQP4 knockout could significantly increase the water content in the whole brain and aggravate the neurological deficits. Furthermore, the loss of neuron and BBB disruption in hippocampus were also exacerbated. The MRI results indicated that the ISF transportation in the glymphatic system of AQP4 deficit rat was significantly injured.

CONCLUSION

AQP4 facilitates the ISF transportation in the brain to eliminate the toxic factors; AQP4 knockout will aggravate the early brain injury following SAH through impairment of the glymphatic system.