Environmental impact quantification and correlation between site location and contents and structure of Tansy

The aim of this work was to quantify the most significant impact from the polluted environment and to review the correlation between pollution indicators and the content and structures of Tanacetum vulgare L. (Tansy). Heavy metals as mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel are considered as pollution indicators. The micro and macro elements concentration of S, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Si, Al and Mn were tested too. The concentration of the essential oil was analyzed as indicator of Tansy environmental adaptability. Essential oils are practically agents which represents correlation between plant and environment. The type of Tansy was selected for laboratory research, because it belongs to most speeded urban flora and vegetation, in which the imperative to adapt is very strong. All those parameters was monitored on two different locations: industrial zone (anthropogenic) and park area (non anthropogenic) for comparison, as zero stage of the environment, before pollution. The diferences were also recorded in the morphological and anatomical structure and chlorophyll a and b content of the Tansy and they were caused by differences of cumulative environmental conditions, with dominant efects of the contamination degree of the location, soil type and microclimate.Key words: Anthropogenic factors, correlation, environmental impact, environmental zero stage, quantification

Environmental study of heavy metals influence on soil and Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.)

The aim of this work was to define the correlation between heavy metal (mercury, lead, cadmium, chrome and nickel) concentration changes (in soil, leaf, stem, root and essential oil in Tansy) and type and distance from source pollution. The concentration was monitored on different locations: 1) Chemical industry panevo (with accident situation); 2) Panevo industrial zone; 3) highway; 4) Ada Ciganlija recreation zone and 5) Topider park. Mercury (Hg) concentration was analyzed as a functionof time, starting from accident situation from 1999 to 2008. Hg had maximum concentration of 131 200 mg/kg at a soil depth of 0 - 15 cm. After three, six and nine years, linear accident Hg concentrations insoil decreased from 85 400 via 41 060 to 106.0 mg/kg. Mercury concentration which results in the location where accident occurred showed that 6 years was necessary for concentration to drop below the limits and for revitalization of standard industrial Tansy vegetation. Concentrations of Hg in the Tansy plants from contaminated site were 5, 10, 100 and 200 times greater than in industrial zone, highway, Ada Ciganlija and Topider, respectively. The highest amount of lead (Pb) was in leaves (14.1mg/kg) and in essential oil (0.7 mg/kg) of Tansy near the highway. However, Pb concentration in soil and plant was decreased with square of highway distance

Impact of genotype, age of tree and environmental temperature on androgenesis induction of Aesculus hippocastanum L.

Influence of ten different genotypes, age of trees and environmental temperature on induction of androgenesis and apperance albino horse chestnut embryos were studied. Efficiency of in vitro androgenesis via anther and microspore culture had been investigated. Microspores and anthers were used from the same closed flower bud. Androgenic response of different genotypes was measured and compared. Anther induction rates were from 5 to 37.6%, depending on genotype. The number ofembryos per isolated anther varied between 0.5 to 5.0 embryos in anther culture, while in microspore culture varied between 3.0 to 27 embryos, depending on genotype. A microspore culture was 5 - 6 times efficient than anther culture for same genotype. Age of the trees had no influence on androgenesis induction. Temperature of about 4 - 5°C was optimal for androgenic embryo induction. Albino horse chestnut embryos phenomenon depended on genotype. The number of albino appearing in anther washigher than in microspore culture. The same correlation of appearing albino was observed between short and long day. Flow cytogenetic analysis of androgenic embryos originating from anther and microspore culture was done after a first generation of regenerants. All androgenic embryos, the first generation from microspore culture were haploid, while 50% of the regenerants originating from anther culture were haploid, and the other half diploid

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of two Serbian potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Dragacevka and cv. Jelica)

An efficient protocol for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Serbian potato cultivars Dragaevka and Jelica, enabling the introduction of oryzacystatin genes OCI and OCII, was established. Starting with leaf explants, a two-stage transformation protocol combining procedures of Webb and Wenzler provided high shoot regeneration efficiency: 84 - 89% for Dragaevka cultivar and 60 - 68% for Jelica cultivar as compared to 76 - 86% for Desiree, the most frequently used cultivar in transformation experiments. PCR analysis of a small sample of putative transformants showed a nptII integration frequency of 90.9, 76.9 and 86.4% for Dragaevka, Jelica and Desiree, respectively. Regeneration and transformation efficiency was strongly genotype-dependent

Securing mobile devices: Evaluating the relationship between risk perception, organisational commitment and information security awareness

This study examined the relationship between perception of risk, organisational commitment, and Information Security Awareness (ISA). An online survey was completed by 269 working Australians. Perceptions of the Internet of Things (IoT) risk as it pertains to physically securing mobile devices was assessed. Organisational commitment and perception of personal risk significantly predicted ISA, as did two of the psychometric paradigm items. Demographic variables (age and gender) also significantly predicted variance in ISA, as did frequency of workplace information security training, albeit negatively. By identifying organisational commitment and perception of personal risk as significant predictors of ISA, this research has the potential to inform the development of information security training, aiming to enhance employee ISA.A. Reeves, K. Parsons, and D. Cali

Effect of activated charcoal, abscisic acid and polyethylene glycol on maturation, germination and conversion of Aesculus hippocastanum androgenic embryos

The influence of activated charcoal (AC), abscisic acid (ABA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the maturation and conversion of horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) androgenic embryos weretested. Androgenic embryos originating from microspores and anther culture were maturated over 90 days. Androgenic embryos on media containing PEG (50 g l-1), in combination with AC (1 g l-1) showed arapid development of embryos in the cotyledonary stage and lowered percentage of abnormal structures. The best results of androgenic microspore embryo germination were observed on media supplemented with AC alone (99%) and in combination with PEG (100%). Also, the greatest number of androgenic microspore plants (18%) and androgenic anther plants (12%) were formed on media enriched with 1 % AC. Lowest germination percentages of 37 and 39% in microspore culture and 33 and38% in anther culture were obtained on maturation media with ABA 20 mg l-1 alone and in combination with AC 1g l-1. Flow cytometric analysis showed that most of the androgenic embryos were haploid, corresponding to their microspore origin, while half of these became diploid after maturation for 90 days. All regenerants originating from microspore culture were haploid immediately after germination, but only 10% embryos re ained haploidity after 3 years subculturing, while 10.5% were diploid, 73.5% tetraploid and 6% octaploid on hormone-free medium. Unlike those from anther culture, after 3 years of subculturing on hormone-free medium, there were no haploid regenerant from anther culture, while8.5% were diploid, 81% tetraploid and 10.5% octaploid

A reliable measure of Information Security Awareness and the identification of bias in responses

The Human Aspects of Information Security Questionnaire (HAIS-Q) is designed to measure Information Security Awareness. More specifically, the tool measures an individual’s knowledge, attitude, and self-reported behaviour relating to information security in the workplace. This paper reports on the reliability of the HAIS-Q, including test-retest reliability and internal consistency. The paper also assesses the reliability of three preliminary over-claiming items, designed specifically to complement the HAIS-Q, and identify those individuals who provide socially desirable responses. A total of 197 working Australians completed two iterations of the HAIS-Q and the over-claiming items, approximately 4 weeks apart. Results of the analysis showed that the HAIS-Q was externally reliable and internally consistent. Therefore, the HAIS-Q can be used to reliably measure information security awareness. Reliability testing on the preliminary over-claiming items was not as robust and further development is required and recommended. The implications of these findings mean that organisations can confidently use the HAIS-Q to not only measure the current state of employee information security awareness within their organisation, but they can also measure the effectiveness and impacts of training interventions, information security awareness programs and campaigns. The influence of cultural changes and the effect of security incidents can also be assessed.Agata McCormac, Dragana Calic, Marcus Butavicius, Kathryn Parsons, Tara Zwaans, Malcolm Pattinso

Can cyberloafing and Internet addiction affect organizational information security?

Researchers have noted potential links between Internet addiction, the use of work computers for non-work purposes and an increased risk of threat to the organisation from breaches in cybersecurity. However, much of this research appears conjectural in nature and lacks clear empirical evidence to support such claims. In order to fill this knowledge gap, a questionnaire-based study explored the link between cyberloafing, Internet addiction, and information security awareness (ISA). A total of 338 participants completed an online questionnaire, which comprised of the Online Cognition Scale (OCS), Cyberloafing scale, and the Human Aspects of Information Security Questionnaire (HAIS-Q). Participants who reported higher Internet addiction and cyberloafing tendencies had lower ISA, and Internet addiction and cyberloafing predicted a significant 45% of the variance in ISA. Serious cyberloafing, such as the propensity to visit adult websites and online gambling, was shown to be the significant predictor for poorer ISA. Implications for organisations and recommendations to reduce or manage inappropriate Internet use are discussed

Effects of tansy essential oil on fitness and digestion process of gypsy moth larvae

Larvae of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) are major defoliators of deciduous forests and urban environment. The biological means of regulation of moth population density were incorporated along with conventional treatment in the integrative management concept. The effects of tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.) essential oil (EO) to gypsy moths were monitored through the effects of residual contact and digestive toxicity on the mortality and development in the second instar larvae, but also through the growth and feeding indices of the fourth instar larvae. Although EO presence didn’t cause residual contact toxicity or significantly affect larval mortality, tested oil notably elongated developmental time by delaying the molting moment and reduced percentage of molted larvae. On the other hand, EO digestion caused significant mortality in the second instar larvae (72% compared to control, at the end of experiment). Digestion of food enriched with tansy oil decreased the efficiency of the diet, and led to reduced mass gain, and therefore induced the delay of the molting moment, or completely stopped molting into the third instar larvae. Besides that, EO reduced the daily mass gain (0.06 mg mg-1 day-1 compared to 0.3 mg mg-1 day-1 in control) and the food consumption rate (0.61 mg mg-1 day-1 compared to 1.23 mg mg-1 day-1 in control) in the fourth instar larvae and caused decrease of the conversion rate of digested food to larvae body mass (10.62% compared to 26.05% in control). Despite that, food assimilation rate to larvae body mass was not significantly decreased, which moderated negative effects of EO digestion as well as reduced food intake