Newest publications
Weaving knowledge, innovation, and learning: a transdisciplinary pathway to circular bioeconomy through BioBeo
(2025) Buruleanu, Claudia Lavinia; Chléirigh, Laoise Ní; Nic an Bhaird, Máire; Curran, Thomas P.; Reinmuth, Evelyn; Bîzoi, Mihai; Kyriakopoulos, Grigorios L.
The bioeconomy represents a new way of life for people, but also a responsibility towards the future of the planet. Generating a significant socio-economic impact, it could be viewed as a key element of sustainable development, as the current and future solution for economic processes, based on new development models compelled by climate changes and the economy’s resilience to potential crises. In this context, the paper presents in its first part the Circular Economy description and the Circular Bioeconomy discussion from an interdisciplinary perspective. The second part of the paper aims to explore education as a tool for facilitating systemic changes supporting a real transition to a sustainable bioeconomy. The key aspects discussed refer to the following: (1) European policies, strategies, and action plans for bioeconomy; (2) Circular Economy as a solution for sustainable food systems; (3) main requirements and challenges for developing a (Circular) Bioeconomy, including indicators of sustainability; (4) the links between Circular Bioeconomy and the Sustainable Development Goals; (5) possibilities for integrating the agri-food industry’s needs into bioeconomy education; and (6) pathways for teach bioeconomy concepts effectively.
Time-delayed cold gelation of low-ester pectin and gluten with CaCO3 to facilitate manufacture of raw-fermented vegan sausage analogs
(2025) Koenig, Maurice; Ahlborn, Kai; Herrmann, Kurt; Loeffler, Myriam; Weiss, Jochen; Kolanowski, Wojciech
To advance the development of protein-rich plant-based foods, a novel binder system for vegan sausage alternatives without the requirement of heat application was investigated. This enables long-term ripening of plant-based analogs similar to traditional fermented meat or dairy products, allowing for refined flavor and texture development. This was achieved by using a poorly water-soluble calcium source (calcium carbonate) to introduce calcium ions into a low-ester pectin—gluten matrix susceptible to crosslinking via divalent ions. The gelling reaction of pectin–gluten dispersions with Ca 2+ ions was time-delayed due to the gradual production of lactic acid during fermentation. Firm, sliceable matrices were formed, in which particulate substances such as texturized proteins and solid vegetable fat could be integrated, hence forming an unheated raw-fermented plant-based salami-type sausage model matrix which remained safe for consumption over 21 days of ripening. Gluten as well as pectin had a significant influence on the functional properties of the matrices, especially water holding capacity (increasing with higher pectin or gluten content), hardness (increasing with higher pectin or gluten content), tensile strength (increasing with higher pectin or gluten content) and cohesiveness (decreasing with higher pectin or gluten content). A combination of three simultaneously occurring effects was observed, modulating the properties of the matrices, namely, (a) an increase in gel strength due to increased pectin concentration forming more brittle gels, (b) an increase in gel strength with increasing gluten content forming more elastic gels and (c) interactions of low-ester pectin with the gluten network, with pectin addition causing increased aggregation of gluten, leading to strengthened networks.
Genomic prediction in hybrid breeding: I. Optimizing the training set design
(2023) Melchinger, Albrecht E.; Fernando, Rohan; Stricker, Christian; Schön, Chris-Carolin; Auinger, Hans-Jürgen
Genomic prediction holds great promise for hybrid breeding but optimum composition of the training set (TS) as determined by the number of parents (nTS) and crosses per parent (c) has received little attention. Our objective was to examine prediction accuracy (ra) of GCA for lines used as parents of the TS (I1 lines) or not (I0 lines), and H0, H1 and H2 hybrids, comprising crosses of type I0 × I0, I1 × I0 and I1 × I1, respectively, as function of nTS and c. In the theory, we developed estimates for ra of GBLUPs for hybrids: (i)r^a based on the expected prediction accuracy, and (ii) r~a based on ra of GBLUPs of GCA and SCA effects. In the simulation part, hybrid populations were generated using molecular data from two experimental maize data sets. Additive and dominance effects of QTL borrowed from literature were used to simulate six scenarios of traits differing in the proportion (τSCA = 1%, 6%, 22%) of SCA variance in σG2 and heritability (h2 = 0.4, 0.8). Values of r~a and r^a closely agreed with ra for hybrids. For given size NTS = nTS × c of TS, ra of H0 hybrids and GCA of I0 lines was highest for c = 1. Conversely, for GCA of I1 lines and H1 and H2 hybrids, c = 1 yielded lowest ra with concordant results across all scenarios for both data sets. In view of these opposite trends, the optimum choice of c for maximizing selection response across all types of hybrids depends on the size and resources of the breeding program.
Visual tracking of a moving target in 360-degree virtual reality: analysis of the effects on attention and mood
(2025) Sellner, T.; Ehmann, P.; Spielmann, J.; Gogolla, F.; Rösgen, A.; Mayer, J.; Schoenfeld, M. A.; Flor, H.
The training of attentional capacities is an important part of many rehabilitative efforts, for example, in the treatment of stroke. The Helix-Arena is an innovative virtual reality (VR) training device, which enables multimodal training in a 360-degree virtual environment. A pursuit training was developed for the Helix-Arena. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of the pursuit training in the Helix-Arena compared to a control group [CG, training on a personal computer (PC)] in 34 healthy participants. The experimental group (EG, N = 19) participated in four training sessions in the Helix-Arena over a period of 2 weeks. The control group (N = 15) completed similar training sessions in a non-VR environment on a PC. During each training session, changes in attention (Test of Attentional Performance battery, TAP) and general mood (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, PANAS) were assessed pre- and post-training. A significantly higher pre-to-post improvement was observed in the EG for the TAP subtest attention shift in the subcategory invalid instructor ( p = 0.04) than that in the CG. In addition, we found a higher positive affect after the training in the EG but not in the CG (p < 0.01). These results suggest advantages of the VR environment for attentional and affective processes. The VR training can thus improve not only cognitive abilities but also training motivation. In a next step, the training can be used with patients in a rehabilitation context, but it is also suitable for educational and gaming contexts.
Microbiota and nutrient portraits of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) rumen contents in characteristic Southern German habitats
(2023) Dahl, Sarah-Alica; Seifert, Jana; Camarinha-Silva, Amélia; Cheng, Yu-Chieh; Hernández-Arriaga, Angélica; Hudler, Martina; Windisch, Wilhelm; König, Andreas
Roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ) are found in various habitats, from pure forest cultures to agricultural areas and mountains. In adapting to the geographically and seasonally differentiating food supply, they depend, above all, on an adapted microbiome. However, knowledge about the microbiome of wild ruminants still needs to be improved. There are only a few publications for individual species with a low number of samples. This study aims to identify a core microbiota for Bavarian roe deer and present nutrient and microbiota portraits of the individual habitat types. This study investigated the roe deer’s rumen (reticulorumen) content from seven different characteristic Bavarian habitat types. The focus was on the composition of nutrients, fermentation products, and the rumen bacterial community. A total of 311 roe deer samples were analysed, with the most even possible distribution per habitat, season, age class, and gender. Significant differences in nutrient concentrations and microbial composition were identified for the factors habitat, season, and age class. The highest crude protein content (plant protein and microbial) in the rumen was determined in the purely agricultural habitat (AG), the highest value of non-fibre carbohydrates in the alpine mountain forest, and the highest fibre content (neutral detergent fibre, NDF) in the pine forest habitat. Maximum values for fibre content go up to 70% NDF. The proportion of metabolites (ammonia, lactate, total volatile fatty acids) was highest in the Agriculture-Beech-Forest habitat (ABF). Correlations can be identified between adaptations in the microbiota and specific nutrient concentrations, as well as in strong fluctuations in ingested forage. In addition, a core bacterial community comprising five genera could be identified across all habitats, up to 44% of total relative abundance. As with all wild ruminants, many microbial genera remain largely unclassified at various taxonomic levels. This study provides a more in-depth insight into the diversity and complexity of the roe deer rumen microbiota. It highlights the key microorganisms responsible for converting naturally available nutrients of different botanical origins.