Carlsberg Group (Denmark)

Abstract BackgroundIn breeding the aim is to identify and accumulate beneficial variants. However, detection of these variants may be challenging in the presence of extensive genotype x environment interactions (GxE), as variant effects will be conditional on environment.MethodsThe study assesses the performance of264diploid perennial ryegrass accessions in a multi-environment field trial. We investigate the extent of GxE, for yield (total dry matter) and persistence traits, i.e. winter kill and spring cover, under environmental conditions experienced in Nordic and Baltic regions at the limit of the species distribution. Two different approaches to modelling GxE were tested: reaction norm and envirotyping, and the models were validated under three different breeding scenarios.ResultsOur analysis documented the presence of significant GxE interaction for all traits investigated in the study. Validation showed improvements in prediction accuracy when accounting for GxE: up to 4% for yield when predicting in unobserved environments, and up to 22% and 9% for spring cover and winter kill, respectively when predicting unobserved germplasm. Genome-wide-association-studies (GWAS) were utilized to detect genetic variants with marginal effects (environment-independent effect) and conditional effects (environment-dependent effects). Results showed the presence of large-effect genetic variants with marginal effects, in addition to few QTL whose effects were adaptive under specific environmental conditions while neutral or deleterious under different environmental conditions.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the usefulness and limitations of genomic prediction models for predicting GxE in highly diverse samples, and describes the extent of GxE interactions at the limit of species distribution for perennial ryegrass. Finally, our study points toward adaptive variation, which may enhance persistence of perennial ryegrass populations in Nordic and Baltic growing conditions.

The central function of frustules—transparent glass shells surrounding the diatoms—is still enigmatic. This chapter summarizes some of the most common hypotheses related to frustule functionalities. They span a large variety of scientific domains, from protective functions and pore filtration to implications for photosynthesis via optical properties. We conclude that generalizations for the entire class can be hampered by the large biodiversity of diatoms; however, at the current state of this research, some general rules can be proposed: 1) Proposed functionalities related to the physicochemical material properties of silicon dioxide as the main chemical component of the frustules are more likely to affect all diatoms. 2) Some obvious frustule characteristics, such as those related to locomotion or excretion, bear secondary derived functionalities—these do not explain the existence of the frustule per se. Such traits are clearly restricted to particular taxonomic groups, such as motility via raphe slits in the evolutionary younger Bacillariophyceae. We discuss how the current approaches to investigating frustule functionality is limited by constraining experiments to only a few selected (model) species. A more systematic approach across the total biodiversity, guided by phylogeny and systematics and including the frustules of extinct species are required to better understand the role of the frustule, and its evolutionary origin.

Abstract The sense of smell plays an essential role in the sensory evaluation of coffee. However, a precise sensory evaluation also requires good memory and the ability to stay focused and concentrated. This study aimed to investigate the effect of an online sensory and cognitive training program on the odor recognition of 36 coffee aromas. A total of 44 coffee professionals participated in a randomized crossover trial. It consisted of an online training program with different sensory and cognitive tasks over two periods of 6 weeks. The participants were divided into three study groups for data analysis purposes: a Control‐first group (n = 16), a matching Intervention‐first group (n = 16), and a second Intervention‐first‐residual group (n = 12) to check for repeatability of the test results. On average, the participants improved their odor recognition score by 15% after 6 weeks of training (p < .01) and maintained a high‐performance level after the control period. A positive correlation between completed training and improvement was observed (p < .001). The participants significantly improved their ability to detect the 36 Le Nez du Café aromas commonly used in the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) and the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) exam systems.Practical ApplicationsThe new online training program is a promising tool for improving the odor recognition of coffee professionals. The sensory training can easily be accomplished as it is executable off‐site, is self‐instructive, and does not require any supervision. A further generalization of this new odor‐training program for noncoffee professionals may potentially train people with prolonged loss in olfactory function, such as observed in coronavirus disease 2019 patients.

Today’s marine calcifiers (coccolithophore algae, Foraminifera [protists], Mollusca, Crustacea, Anthozoa [corals], Echinodermata) remove carbon dioxide (CO 2) from the atmosphere, converting it into solid calcium carbonate (CaCO 3) which is stable for geological periods of time. These organisms could serve as a biotechnological carbon capture and storage mechanism to control climate change. Two criticisms made about this are: (i) ocean acidification has allegedly been shown to cause reduced shell formation in calcifiers; (ii) the calcification reaction that precipitates CaCO 3 crystals into the shells is alleged to return CO 2 to the atmosphere. In this review we assess the evidence concerning such criticisms and find reasons to doubt both. Experiments showing that ocean acidification is damaging to calcifiers have all used experimental pH levels that are not projected to be reached in the oceans until the next century or later; today’s oceans, despite recent changes, are alkaline in pH. Claiming precipitation of CaCO 3 during calcification as a net source of CO 2 to the atmosphere is an oversimplification of ocean chemistry that is true only in open water environments. Living calcifiers do not carry out the calcification reaction in an open water environment in equilibrium with the atmosphere. The chemistry that we know as life takes place on the surfaces of enzymatic polypeptides, within organelles that have phospholipid membranes, contained in a cell enclosed within another phospholipid bilayer membrane specifically to isolate the chemistry of life from the open water environment. Ignoring what is known about the biology, physiology, and molecular cell biology of living organisms, calcifiers of all types especially, leads to erroneous conclusions and deficient advice about the potential for calcifier biotechnology to contribute to atmosphere remediation. Net removal of CO 2 from the atmosphere by calcifiers is only achieved by the CaCO 3 stored in the shell, coccoliths, or foram tests that are left when they die. To capitalise on this requires a change in paradigm towards cultivating calcifiers for their CaCO 3 rather than their meat or other products. We conclude that the world’s aquaculture industries already operate the biotechnology that, with massive and immediate global expansion, can contribute to sustainably controlling atmospheric CO 2 levels at reasonable cost and with several positive benefits in addition to carbon sequestration.

BackgroundEvidence on heterogeneity in outcomes of surgical quality interventions in low-income and middle-income countries is limited. We explored factors driving performance in the Safe Surgery 2020 intervention in Tanzania’s Lake Zone to distil implementation lessons for low-resource settings.MethodsWe identified higher (n=3) and lower (n=3) performers from quantitative data on improvement from 14 safety and teamwork and communication indicators at 0 and 12 months from 10 intervention facilities, using a positive deviance framework. From 72 key informant interviews with surgical providers across facilities at 1, 6 and 12 months, we used a grounded theory approach to identify practices of higher and lower performers.ResultsPerformance experiences of higher and lower performers differed on the following themes: (1) preintervention context, (2) engagement with Safe Surgery 2020 interventions, (3) teamwork and communication orientation, (4) collective learning orientation, (5) role of leadership, and (6) perceived impact of Safe Surgery 2020 and beyond. Higher performers had a culture of teamwork which helped them capitalise on Safe Surgery 2020 to improve surgical ecosystems holistically on safety practices, teamwork and communication. Lower performers prioritised overhauling safety practices and began considering organisational cultural changes much later. Thus, while also improving, lower performers prioritised different goals and trailed higher performers on the change continuum.ConclusionFuture interventions should be tailored to facility context and invest in strengthening teamwork, communication and collective learning and facilitate leadership engagement to build a receptive climate for successful implementation of safe surgery interventions.

Cellulose is very valual]le bio-resources produced by plant in huge amount all over the world, However, due to the short of the technique, those huge amount of biorresources are nearly all wasted and causing serious environment pollution. In order to develop a bio-tech for cellulose utilization and ethanol procluction to provide new energy resource, the genetic engineering methods were errrployed in this study.

Colonies of the fungus Penicillium brevicompactum Dierckx contain exudate droplets on the surface of the mycelia when grown on Murashige and Skoog medium. It was previously shown that the exudate is enriched in the bubble protein. Here, we show that the exudate bubbles are also enriched in a fluorescent non-protein molecule, which upon isolation and characterisation was determined as mycophenolic acid. Based on this discovery, mycophenolic acid from exudate bubbles may constitute an alternative source for purification of the metabolite for clinical use. .

Each year from 1976 to 1985 a part of the freshwater resident whitefish,Coregonus lavaretus, in Liavatn, south-western Norway, was displaced downstreams into the sea. In the sea, they seemed to die within a short period of time. The fish appeared to be flushed downstream by autumn freshets. In age and size, but not sex, the descenders seem representative of the fish in the lake. Females were the predominant sex in the river, whereas the sex ratio did not differ from unity in the lake. Young fish were fast-growing, but the growth rate levelled off at an age of 2 years and an asymptotic length of ∼30 cm. Males matured mainly at age 1+ and females at age 2+. The gonadosomatic index decreased with age, whereas the amount of energy allocated to gonadal tissue relative to somatic tissue increased with age

The fate of ochratoxin A and citrinin during malting and brewing processes was studied by the use of naturally contaminated lots of barley, as well as by the addition of crystalline toxins to the mash. Complete degradation was observed for ochratoxin A from moderately contaminated barley lots and for citrinin added to mash. The use of highly contaminated barley resulted in transmission of ochratoxin A into the beer, but only 2 to 7% of the initial content was detected, corresponding to levels of 6 to 20 mug of ochratoxin A per liter of beer. Barley lots with this high ochratoxin contamination (1,000 to 5,000 mug/kg) will be easily detected and, therefore, because of pronounced deterioration, should be rejected during inspection upon admittance to the breweries.