A trait–environment relationship approach to participatory plant breeding for organic agriculture

The extent of intraspecific variation in trait–environment relationships is an open question with limited empirical support in crops. In organic agriculture, with high environmental heterogeneity, this knowledge could guide breeding programs to optimize crop attributes. We propose a three-dimensional framework involving crop performance, crop traits, and environmental axes to uncover the multidimensionality of trait–environment relationships within a crop. We modeled instantaneous photosynthesis (Asat) and water-use efficiency (WUE) as functions of four phenotypic traits, three soil variables, five carrot (Daucus carota) varieties, and their interactions in a national participatory plant breeding program involving a suite of farms across Canada. We used these interactions to describe the resulting 12 trait–environment relationships across varieties. We found one significant trait–environment relationship for Asat (taproot tissue density–soil phosphorus), which was consistent across varieties. For WUE, we found that three relationships (petiole diameter–soil nitrogen, petiole diameter–soil phosphorus, and leaf area–soil phosphorus) varied significantly across varieties. As a result, WUE was maximized by different combinations of trait values and soil conditions depending on the variety. Our three-dimensional framework supports the identification of functional traits behind the differential responses of crop varieties to environmental variation and thus guides breeding programs to optimize crop attributes from an eco-evolutionary perspective.Fil: Rolhauser, Andrés Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Métodos Cuantitativos y Sistemas de Información; Argentina. University of Toronto; CanadáFil: Windfeld, Emma. University of Toronto; Canadá. University of Calgary; CanadáFil: Hanson, Solveig. University of British Columbia; CanadáFil: Wittman, Hannah. University of British Columbia; CanadáFil: Thoreau, Chris. University of British Columbia; CanadáFil: Lyon, Alexandra. Kwantlen Polytechnic University; Canadá. University of British Columbia; CanadáFil: Isaac, Marney E.. University of Toronto; Canad

Direct and indirect effects of reducing so 2 emissions: experimental calculations on the msg 4e model

Preliminery estimates of impacts of regulating SO emissions from manufacturing sectors are made. Only emissions pertaining 2 to fuel use are included in the regulation. Direct and indirect effects are considered and it is shown that indirect (general equilibrium) effects on the reduction of emissions are neglectible. Indirect costs of the control policy are, however, not neglectible

Direct and indirect effects of reducing so 2 emissions: experimental calculations on the msg 4e model

Preliminery estimates of impacts of regulating SO emissions from manufacturing sectors are made. Only emissions pertaining 2 to fuel use are included in the regulation. Direct and indirect effects are considered and it is shown that indirect (general equilibrium) effects on the reduction of emissions are neglectible. Indirect costs of the control policy are, however, not neglectible

Direct and indirect effects of reducing so 2 emissions: experimental calculations on the msg 4e model

Preliminery estimates of impacts of regulating SO emissions from manufacturing sectors are made. Only emissions pertaining 2 to fuel use are included in the regulation. Direct and indirect effects are considered and it is shown that indirect (general equilibrium) effects on the reduction of emissions are neglectible. Indirect costs of the control policy are, however, not neglectible

Unemployment and initiation of psychotropic medication: a case-crossover study of 2 348 552 Norwegian employees

Objectives: The study investigated initiation of psychotropic medication in relation to unemployment in the months before, during and after job loss to detect the period of greatest risk.Methods: The Norwegian working population in 2004 (N=2 348 552) was observed from 2005 to 2010 through administrative registries linked to the Norwegian Prescription Database. A casecrossover design was used to analyse within-person relative risk of incident purchases of prescribed psychotropic drugs in relation to timing of unemployment. Control periods were defined 12, 24 and 36 months before the drug purchase. Supplementary analyses were performed on medication for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, thyroid disorder, pain and musculoskeletal conditions.Results: Purchases of all psychotropic drugs increased 1-3 months before job loss. Antidepressants had the highest estimate in the month before job loss (odds ratio (OR) 2.68, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.39 to 3.01), followed by hypnotics/sedatives (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.97 to 2.48), anxiolytics (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.91 to 2.48) and antipsychotics (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.76 to 2.48). Rises were greatest in males. Risk of starting psychotropic medication remained raised during a spell of unemployment, but returned to close to baseline levels following re-employment. Drugs used to treat somatic and pain conditions showed similar trends but with weaker associations.Conclusions: Concerns about impending unemployment may influence mental health several months prior to job loss, especially around the time of notification. The clinical implications of this might be a strengthening of preventive health initiatives early in the unemployment proces