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

Supplementary data for article: Banjanac, T.; Dragićević, M.; Šiler, B.; Gašić, U.; Bohanec, B.; Nestorović Živković, J.; Trifunović, S.; Mišić, D. Chemodiversity of Two Closely Related Tetraploid Centaurium Species and Their Hexaploid Hybrid: Metabolomic Search for High-Resolution Taxonomic Classifiers. Phytochemistry 2017, 140, 27–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2017.04.005

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2017.04.005]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2477

Supplementary data for article: Banjanac, T.; Dragićević, M.; Šiler, B.; Gašić, U.; Bohanec, B.; Nestorović Živković, J.; Trifunović, S.; Mišić, D. Chemodiversity of Two Closely Related Tetraploid Centaurium Species and Their Hexaploid Hybrid: Metabolomic Search for High-Resolution Taxonomic Classifiers. Phytochemistry 2017, 140, 27–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2017.04.005

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2017.04.005]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2477

Environmental risk assessments for transgenic crops producing output trait enzymes

The environmental risks from cultivating crops producing output trait enzymes can be rigorously assessed by testing conservative risk hypotheses of no harm to endpoints such as the abundance of wildlife, crop yield and the rate of degradation of crop residues in soil. These hypotheses can be tested with data from many sources, including evaluations of the agronomic performance and nutritional quality of the crop made during product development, and information from the scientific literature on the mode-of-action, taxonomic distribution and environmental fate of the enzyme. Few, if any, specific ecotoxicology or environmental fate studies are needed. The effective use of existing data means that regulatory decision-making, to which an environmental risk assessment provides essential information, is not unnecessarily complicated by evaluation of large amounts of new data that provide negligible improvement in the characterization of risk, and that may delay environmental benefits offered by transgenic crops containing output trait enzymes

Acceptability to patients, carers and clinicians of an mHealth platform for the management of Parkinson's disease (PD_Manager): study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease is a degenerative neurological condition causing multiple motor and non-motor symptoms that have a serious adverse effect on quality of life. Management is problematic due to the variable and fluctuating nature of symptoms, often hourly and daily. The PD_Manager mHealth platform aims to provide a continuous feed of data on symptoms to improve clinical understanding of the status of any individual patient and inform care planning. The objectives of this trial are to (1) assess patient (and family carer) perspectives of PD_Manager regarding comfort, acceptability and ease of use; (2) assess clinician views about the utility of the data generated by PD_Manager for clinical decision making and the acceptability of the system in clinical practice. METHODS/DESIGN: This trial is an unblinded, parallel, two-group, randomised controlled pilot study. A total of 200 persons with Parkinson's disease (Hoehn and Yahr stage 3, experiencing motor fluctuations at least 2 h per day), with primary family carers, in three countries (110 Rome, 50 Venice, Italy; 20 each in Ioannina, Greece and Surrey, England) will be recruited. Following informed consent, baseline information will be gathered, including the following: age, gender, education, attitudes to technology (patient and carer); time since Parkinson's diagnosis, symptom status and comorbidities (patient only). Randomisation will assign participants (1:1 in each country), to PD_Manager vs control, stratifying by age (1 ≤ 70 : 1 > 70) and gender (60% M: 40% F). The PD_Manager system captures continuous data on motor symptoms, sleep, activity, speech quality and emotional state using wearable devices (wristband, insoles) and a smartphone (with apps) for storing and transmitting the information. Control group participants will be asked to keep a symptom diary covering the same elements as PD_Manager records. After a minimum of two weeks, each participant will attend a consultation with a specialist doctor for review of the data gathered (by either means), and changes to management will be initiated as indicated. Patients, carers and clinicians will be asked for feedback on the acceptability and utility of the data collection methods. The PD_Manager intervention, compared to a symptom diary, will be evaluated in a cost-consequences framework. DISCUSSION: Information gathered will inform further development of the PD_Manager system and a larger effectiveness trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN17396879 . Registered on 15 March 2017

Employing Graphical Risk Models to Facilitate Cyber-Risk Monitoring - the WISER Approach

We present a method for developing machine-readable cyber-risk assessment algorithms based on graphical risk models, along with a framework that can automatically collect the input, execute the algorithms, and present the assessment results to a decision maker. This facilitates continuous monitoring of cyber-risk. The intended users of the method are professionals and practitioners interested in developing new algorithms for a specific organization, system or attack type, such as consultants or dedicated cyber-risk experts in larger organizations. For the assessment results, the intended users are decision makers in charge of countermeasure selection from an overall business perspective.Employing Graphical Risk Models to Facilitate Cyber-Risk Monitoring - the WISER ApproachacceptedVersio