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Összefoglalás. A tanulmány a világmodellezés 50 évéről ad áttekintést a legismertebb és módszertanilag újítást hozó világmodellek rövid ismertetésén keresztül. A világmodellezés fogalmának meghatározása után sorra veszi a Római Klub és az ENSZ szervezeteiben folyó világmodellezést és a jelentős modelleket, majd pedig az online világmodellezés néhány műhelyében folyó munkákat. A bemutatott világmodellek összehasonlító elemzésével rámutat azokra az új modellezési módszertanokra és fordulópontokra, amelyek új utakat nyitottak a világmodellek készítésében és hasznosításában. A folyamatos megújulás jellemzőit a világmodellezők felfogásában és képzettségében, a világmodellezés eljárásaiban, valamint a világmodelleket ismerők és használók körében bekövetkezett változások vonatkozásában fogalmazza meg. Summary. The aim of paper is to introduce the last 50 years of world modelling through short presentation of world models that have got reputation of wide range in the world and have represented methodological innovation in the history of world modelling. For this purpose after giving definition of world modelling the paper takes one by one the world modelling activities carried out in the frame of the Club of Rome and of different organizations of UN and their most important products and the works running by some organizations of online and interactive world model building as well. Forrester-Meadows’s system dynamics model recognizing the natural resources and Ervin Laszlo’s verbal world model considering the inner human limits, and GEO models and IPCC reports that were initiated by the UN organizations and that define the sustainability and place it in the centre of world model building and the organizations of online world model building as Millennium project, JAVA Climate Model, Pardee Center for International Futures and Futures Platform are payed special attention. These world models have defined the characteristics of complex world problems rooting in both natural and human/social limits. They show how the world is running into the catastrophe in the future if the humanity does not reflect to these limits at both the individual and community levels and finally they have got to give definition of requirements concerning sustainability and tasks needed to materialize them, and to the necessity of shift in world views and social values. The study draws attention to the methodological issues of world modelling came to the front of research topics at the beginning of 21st century especially to the fact why and in what ways the idea concerning the paradigm shift in the world modelling have become the main methodological problem. In what ways the online and interactive world modelling can stimulate that every person and community to be able to explore and/or construct their own world model and recognize that everybody has to do something and to change its behaviour for survival of the human civilization. The paper emphasizes methodological solutions and turning points that has opened new ways in the process of world modelling and the application of their outcomes by the way of comparative analysis of world models and changing ideas focusing on paradigm shift. In the end the main characteristics of continuous renewal are shaped by the emphasis of the changes happened in the ideas of world views and qualification of world modellers, in the methodology of word model building and in the circle of users and participants and people who becomes acquainted with world models or world model building.

Harvested mature berry clusters of two white table grape cultivars were used to study the effects of postharvest UV irradiation. One cultivar, 'Queen of Vineyard' (QV), had higher light-acclimated PSII quantum yield, higher phenolic contents, and stronger total antioxidant capacities than the other, 'White Sultana' (WS). These differences were maintained throughout the experiment. Responses of the two cultivars to a 30-min UV irradiation were also different. Antioxidant capacities and flavonol, especially quercetin-3-O-glucuronide, contents were lower 2 h after the UV treatment in both cultivars and recovered in QV but not in WS berry skins later on. Our data demonstrate that mature grapevine berries have photosynthetically active tissues capable of dynamic changes even several hours after harvest and suggest that changes in photochemistry may contribute to postharvest metabolic responses of berry skins. Results also support the potential of postharvest manipulation of fruit qualities with UV irradiation.

A tanulmany celja, hogy betekintest nyujtson egy kozos jovőalkotasi folyamatba, illetve annak eredmenyeibe, ahol a visegradi orszagok kepviselői – jovőkutatok es gyakorlo vallalatvezetők – műkodtek egyutt. A kutatasi projekt kereteben a resztvevők alternativ gazdasagi forgatokonyveket dolgoztak ki az erintett orszagok vallalatai szamara, hangsulyozva azt, hogy a forgatokonyviras tanulhato es hasznosithato a vallalati strategiaalkotasaban, valamint elősegitheti a vallalati előretekintes szeles korű elterjedeset e tersegben. A kozos munka soran szuletett eredmenyek egy reszeről szamol be ez a tanulmany, amely betekintest nyujt egy jovőalkoto technika tanulasi folyamataba a gyakorlatban, illetve a nemzetkozi egyuttműkodes soran letrejott relevans es előremutato gazdasagi forgatokonyvek tartalmaba.

Controlled postharvest abiotic stresses have already been shown to affect the secondary metabolism of fresh produce. We applied broad band ultraviolet (either 312 nm centred UV-B or 355 nm centred UV-A) radiation on harvested berry clusters of the red table grape Emperor, and measured berry skin antioxidant capacities and phenolic profiles 2, 24 and 48 h after these treatments. There was no significant change in the amount of caftaric acid, the dominant phenolic acid component featuring higher UV-B than UV-A absorbing capacity. On the other hand, but both types of UV treatment decreased the amounts of the two major quercetin-glycosides 2 h after irradiation. This effect was temporal, and concentration recovered during berry storage at 20 °C under low intensity light. Berry skin UV-A and UV-B absorbing capacities showed the same, transitional decrease regardless of the wavelength of the irradiation. In the whole data set, antioxidant capacities and quercetin-glycoside content data showed strong and positive correlations. Berry skin peroxidase activity, as visualized with diaminobenzidine-staining showed a transitional increase after 2 h in response to both UV treatments. These data suggest that the observed UV-induced postharvest changes in phenolic metabolites are related to the oxidation of flavonols as peroxidase substrates rather than to direct UV photo-effects.

The capacity of ultraviolet (UV) radiation to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in spinach leaves was studied with fluorescent sensors. Leaf segments were exposed to short-term (15–30 min), narrow-band UV irradiation of various wavelengths between 290–390 nm corresponding to equal numbers of photons and, depending on the wavelength, 18–36 μmol m–2 s–1 quantum flux. This caused 5–30% loss of photosynthesis measured as loss of variable chlorophyll fluorescence. In accordance with previous results, photosynthesis was less affected by longer than by shorter wavelength UV. UV-irradiated leaves were probed for two major representatives of ROS, namely the superoxide radical anion, a product of electron transfer to oxygen, and singlet oxygen, which is usually formed in photosensitised reactions between oxygen and triplet dyes. Both ROS were detected, but the efficacy of UV in promoting their production was different. Formation of superoxide radicals was positively correlated with loss of photosynthesis; more radicals were observed in leaves exposed to shorter UV wavelengths than in leaves irradiated at 370–390 nm, suggesting a functionally damaged electron transport as a possible site of oxygen reduction. Singlet oxygen was, however, mainly inducible in leaves exposed to longer UV wavelengths and was barely induced by 290–300-nm irradiation. The mechanism of singlet oxygen generation by UV radiation in the leaf, reported for the first time, is not clear, but the process does not appear to be linked to the UV-induced damage of photosynthesis.

Tobacco plants were grown in plant chambers for four weeks, then exposed to one of the following treatments for 4 days: (1) daily supplementary UV-B radiation corresponding to 6.9 kJ m−2 d−1 biologically effective dose (UV-B), (2) daily irrigation with 0.1 mM hydrogen peroxide, or (3) a parallel application of the two treatments (UV-B + H2O2). Neither the H2O2 nor the UV-B treatments were found to be damaging to leaf photosynthesis. Both single factor treatments increased leaf H2O2 contents but had distinct effects on various H2O2 neutralising mechanisms. Non-enzymatic H2O2 antioxidant capacities were increased by direct H2O2 treatment only, but not by UV-B. In contrast, enzymatic H2O2 neutralisation was mostly increased by UV-B, the responses showing an interesting diversity. When class-III peroxidase (POD) activity was assayed using an artificial substrate (ABTS, 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)), both treatments appeared to have a positive effect. However, only UV-B-treated leaves showed higher POD activities when phenolic compounds naturally occurring in tobacco leaves (chlorogenic acid or quercetin) were used as substrates. These results demonstrate a substrate-dependent, functional heterogeneity in POD and further suggest that the selective activation of specific isoforms in UV-B acclimated leaves is not triggered by excess H2O2 in these leaves.

Over the past decades, nanotechnology has received great attention and brought revolutionary solutions for a number of challenges in scientific fields. Industrial, agricultural and medical applications of engineered nanomaterials have increased intensively. The ability of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), when excited by ultra-violet (UV) light, makes them useful for effectively inactivate various pathogens. It is known that ROS also have signalling role in living organisms, therefore, TiO2 NPs-induced ROS can influence both enzymatic and non-enzymatic defence systems, and could play a role in the resistance of plants to pathogens. Herein, we studied the photocatalytic stress responses of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) as model plant, when exposed to a well-known photocatalyst, Degussa P25 TiO2 NPs. The photocatalytically produced ROS such as superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen were confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Foliar exposure of five red cultivars (Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Merlot, Kekfrankos and Kadarka) was carried out in blooming phenophase under field condition where plants are exposed to natural sunlight with relatively high UV radiation (with a maximum of ~ 45 W m−2). After two weeks of exposure, the effects of photogenerated ROS on the total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, flavonol profile and the main macro-, microelements of the leaves were studied in detail. We found that foliar application of TiO2 NPs boosted the total phenolic content and biosynthesis of the leaf flavonols depending on the grapevine variety. Photocatalytically active TiO2 NPs also increased K, Mg, Ca, B and Mn levels in the leaves as shown by ICP-AES measurements.

One of the main goals of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 is to avoid further loss of biodiversity and to restore ecosystems. These efforts can be facilitated by compiling the main research topics related to conservation biology to provide new evidence for the most urgent knowledge gaps, and publicise it to researchers, research funders and policy makers. We used the possible future statements from the Hungarian Environmental Foresight Report for 2050 which identified region-specific problems. To highlight likely future environmental and conservation questions, in this study we asked researchers from the fields of ecology and conservation to define research questions addressing these future statements in line with international research trends and challenges. The study resulted in fourteen priority research topics, split into seven clusters relevant to biological conservation that should be targeted by stakeholders, primarily policy makers and funders to focus research capacity to these topics. The main overarching themes identified here include a wide range of approaches and solutions such as innovative technologies, involvement of local stakeholders and citizen scientists, legislation, and issues related to human health. These indicate that solutions to conservation challenges require a multidisciplinary approach in design and a multi-actor approach in implementation. Although the identified research priorities were listed for Hungary, they are in line with European and global biodiversity strategies, and can be tailored to suit other Central and Eastern European countries as well. We believe that our prioritisation can help science–policy discussion, and will eventually contribute to healthy and well-functioning ecosystems.

Efficient hydrogen peroxide detoxification is an essential aspect of plant defence against a large variety of stressors. Among others, class III peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) enzymes provide this function. Previous studies have shown that PODs are present in several isoforms and have in general low substrate specificities. The aim of our work was to study how various assays based on using various substrates reflect differences in peroxidase activities of tobacco leaves due to either developmental or environmental factors. The former factor was studied comparing fully developed leaves of the 3rd and 5th nodes; and the latter was achieved using plants acclimated to low doses of supplementary UV-B (280–315 nm) in growth chambers. To investigate the above, POD activities were measured using three different, commonly used chromophore substrates: ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)), guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol), OPD ( o -phenylenediamine) and a fourth substrate, the secondary metabolite quercetin. All substrates registered a UV-B induced increase in leaf peroxidases as compared to untreated controls, although to different extents. However, age-related differences between upper and lower leaves were only detectable when either ABTS or quercetin were used as substrates. Additionally, native PAGE separation of POD isoforms followed by visualisation using one of the substrates showed that leaf acclimation to supplementary UV-B is realized via a selective activation of POD isoforms.

Introduction Phenolic compounds are a chemically diverse group of plant secondary metabolites with important roles both in plant stress defence and human nutrition. Objective To explore structure-function relations potentiating phenolic compounds to promote leaf acclimation to light stress by excess photosynthetically active radiation (photoinhibition) and by solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Methodology We report singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide antioxidant capacities and UV-absorbing properties of 27 flavonoids and 11 phenolic acids. Correlations of these characteristics in the whole data set and related activity-structure relationships in flavonoid data were investigated using simple statistical methods. Results In comparison to flavonoids, phenolic acids are relatively ineffective reactive oxygen neutralising antioxidants; and - with the exception of gallic acid - have poor reactivity to hydrogen peroxide. Singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide detoxifying capacities of flavonoids are positively correlated, largely due to the strong positive effect of the hydroxylation of the C-ring in position-3. 3-O-Glycosylation halves reactive oxygen species (ROS) reactivities of quercetin and myricetin but eradicates the hydrogen peroxide reactivity of kaemferol. B-ring polyhydroxylation (cathecol structure) increases the hydrogen peroxide antioxidant function but decreases UV-B (280-315 nm) absorption. UV-A (315-400 nm) absorption is increased by the B-ring C2-C3 double bond either in itself or in combination with the C4 oxo-group. Conclusion Among the studied compounds, anthocyanins and flavonols were the strongest singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide scavengers, and are thus capable of supporting defence against both photoinhibition by visible light and UV stress in leaves, while flavanols may only be effective against the latter. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Photosynthetic activity was identified in the under-soil hypocotyl part of 14-day-old soil-grown bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Magnum) cultivated in pots under natural light-dark cycles. Electron microscopic, proteomic and fluorescence kinetic and imaging methods were used to study the photosynthetic apparatus and its activity. Under-soil shoots at 0-2cm soil depth featured chloroplasts with low grana and starch grains and with pigment-protein compositions similar to those of the above-soil green shoot parts. However, the relative amounts of photosystem II (PSII) supercomplexes were higher; in addition a PIP-type aquaporin protein was identified in the under-soil thylakoids. Chlorophyll-a fluorescence induction measurements showed that the above- and under-soil hypocotyl segments had similar photochemical yields at low (10-55μmolphotonsm(-2)s(-1)) light intensities. However, at higher photon flux densities the electron transport rate decreased in the under-soil shoot parts due to inactivation of the PSII reaction centers. These properties show the development of a low-light adapted photosynthetic apparatus driven by light piping of the above-soil shoot. The results of this paper demonstrate that the classic model assigning source and sink functions to above- and under-soil tissues is to be refined, and a low-light adapted photosynthetic apparatus in under-soil bean hypocotyls is capable of contributing to its own carbon supply.

As the steady decline in the Earth's stratospheric ozone layer and parallel increase in solar ultraviolet-B (UV-B: 280-315nm) has come to an end, the focus of plant UV research has been shifted from regarding UV-B as threatening plant life to recognizing it as a regulatory factor. While UV-B photoreceptor mediated signaling is increasingly understood, the role of UV-B inducible reactive oxygen species is still to be explored. Earlier experiments with high UV-B irradiation doses and isolated thylakoid membranes demonstrated the potential of UV-B to trigger oxidative stress. However, under realistic UV conditions pro-oxidants cannot be reliably traced in more complex biological samples possessing an array of antioxidant defenses. In the absence of direct experimental evidence we must rely on indications and propose hypotheses on how and whether pro-oxidants, such as reactive oxygen species contribute to acclimative responses. Here we briefly review how a balance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants is affected by UV-B in whole plant experiments performed in controlled environments. A working hypothesis is proposed in which the extents of UV-induced peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activations affect the success of acclimation to UV-B.

The interdisciplinary research group consists of professional futurists and ecologists carried out horizon scanning (HS) studies with the involvement of academic experts and practitioners under the umbrella of the Centre for Ecological Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA). Its purpose was (1) to map the possible changes in natural and social systems until 2050 in the country in a complex manner and (2) to show possible interactions between the changes to enable formulation of research tasks useful for practice. For this purpose, the Horizon Scanning process had to be specified and our research team has decided to improve the HS methodology in two relations: (1) beside futures practitioners and ecologists, young business developers were also invited in the evaluation process because of their ability to help the realization of new research lines and the application of research results in business environment; (2) applying the Osgood’s semantic differential scale (i.e. to assess for each future statement its strength and type, like trend or hype, etc.) in questioning focus groups of three stakeholder groups to categorise the future statements, thus make the evaluation more complex. This paper gives an overview on these two lines of methodological changes and their results.

β-Aminobutyric acid (BABA) pre-treatment has been shown to alter both biotic and abiotic stress responses. The present study extends this observation to acclimative UV-B-response, which has not been explored in this context so far. A single soil application of 300 ppm BABA modified the non-enzymatic antioxidant capacities and the leaf hydrogen peroxide levels in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) leaves in response to a 9-day treatment with 5.4 kJ m−2 d−1 biologically effective supplementary UV-B radiation in a model experiment that was performed in a growth chamber. BABA decreased leaf hydrogen peroxide levels both as a single factor and in combination with UV-B, but neither BABA nor UV-B affected leaf photochemistry significantly. The total antioxidant capacities were increased by either BABA or UV-B, and this response was additive in BABA pre-treated leaves. These results together with the observed changes in hydroxyl radical neutralising ability and non-enzymatic hydrogen peroxide antioxidant capacities show that BABA pre-treatment (i) has a long-term effect on leaf antioxidants even in the absence of other factors and (ii) modifies acclimative readjustment of prooxidant-antioxidant balance in response to UV-B. BABA-inducible antioxidants do not include phenolic compounds as a UV-B-induced increase in the adaxial leaf flavonoid index and total leaf extract UV absorption were unaffected by BABA.

Photosynthesis parameters, adaxial flavonoid index, phenolic profiles and antioxidant capacities of south-facing sun exposed grapevine leaves (Vitis vinifera, Pinot Noir cultivar) were measured hourly between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on a clear summer day. Changes in these parameters were statistically compared to changes in environmental conditions, including solar irradiance (photosynthetically active and UV radiations), leaf and air temperature, and relative air humidity. Epidermal UV absorbance, characterised by the flavonoid index, and total extractable phenolic contents were correlated to distinct environmental parameters. The former was positively correlated to irradiance and leaf temperature, while the latter was positively correlated to air temperature. HPLC phenolic profiling identified a positive correlation between air temperature and amounts of the dominant flavonol component, quercetin-3-O-glucuronide. The only phenolic component statistically connected to the flavonoid index was quercetin-3-O-glucoside. This correlation was positive and both parameters decreased during the day, although changes in the amount of this flavonol component showed no correlation to environmental factors. Total antioxidant capacities of leaf extracts were positively correlated to solar UV, and leaf and air temperature, but not to photosynthetically active radiation. Positive correlations of quercetin-3-O-glucoside contents with the flavonoid index, with photosynthesis and with sub-stomatal CO2 concentration suggest a special protective role of this flavonol. A short-term negative effect of solar UV-A and UV-B on photosynthetic CO2 uptake was also identified, which was unrelated to changes in stomatal conductance. A hypothesis is presented assuming UV- and photorespiration-derived hydrogen peroxide as the driver of daily changes in leaf antioxidant capacities.

Over the past decades, nanotechnology has received great attention and brought revolutionary solutions for a number of challenges in scientific fields. Industrial, agricultural and medical applications of engineered nanomaterials have increased intensively. The ability of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO

Az Okologia Kutatokozpont Tanulmanyai a kutatokozpontban folyo tudomanyos kutatasokba enged betekintest kutatoknak, gyakorlati szakembereknek, donteshozoknak es a szeles olvasokozonsegnek. E sorozat kereteben magyar nyelvű osszefoglalo tanulmanyokat jelentetunk meg a kutatokozpont szakemberei altal koordinalt tudomanyos kutatasokrol, amelyek az okologia valtozatos szakteruleteit erintik, beleertve az interdiszciplinarisan kapcsolodo tudomanyteruleteket is. A magyarorszagi termeszeti es kornyezeti allapotanak valtozasa szamos kihivast tartogat szamunkra a kovetkező evtizedekben. A jovő lehetseges valtozasainak felterkepezese segit abban, hogy hatekonyabban fel tudjunk keszulni az előttunk allo kihivasokra celzott kutatasok inditasaval. E cel erdekeben indult a „Kornyezeti jovőkutatas: Magyarorszag 2050” cimű program 2016-ban, melynek zaro tanulmanyat tartja kezeben az olvaso. Munkank fő celkitűzese, hogy a jovőbeli lehetősegek es veszelyek feltarasaval javaslatot tegyunk olyan kutatasi iranyokra, temakorokre, amelyek hatekonyan es celzottan segithetik a termeszetmegőrzest a kovetkező evtizedekben. A jovőkutatasi folyamatban multidiszciplinaris kutatocsoportunk a Horizon Scanning, azaz a jovőfurkesző eljarast alkalmazta. Az eljaras a jovőkutatas egyik formajanak, az előretekintesnek az első fazisa, amely a lehetseges jovők tartomanyanak felterkepezesere iranyul. A szakirodalmi feltaras utan szakertők bevonasaval egy otletborzet, majd egy kollektiv informaciorendszerező es -ertekelő workshopot tartottunk. A reszveteli folyamat eredmenyekent kapott jovőallitasokhoz kapcsolodoan fogalmazodtak meg azok az okologiai kerdeskoroket kozeppontba allito komplex problemak, amelyek a 2050-es jovő alakulasa/alakitasa szempontjabol potencialisan fontos kutatasi iranyokat hatarozhatnak meg Magyarorszag szamara.

Potentials of UV-B (280–315 nm) radiation to alleviate effects of water deficit were studied using Nicotiana benthamiana plants in growth chambers. 10-days of limited watering resulted in 40% loss of soil water content as compared to well-watered controls. This drought was applied in three different ways: (i) in itself, (ii) after 4-days exposure of 6.9 kJ m−2 d−1 biologically effective supplementary UV-B radiation as pre-treatment, or (iii) in parallel with 6.9 kJ m−2 d−1 biologically effective supplementary UV-B. Responses were examined in two leaf groups: fully developed mature leaves (ML) and young leaves emerging during the 10-day treatment (YL). ML responded to UV-B or drought as single factor treatments with 7–14% loss of photochemical yield, while YL photochemistry was not decreased under the same conditions. The parallel two-factor treatment had no aggravating effect but alleviated drought-induced loss of leaf photochemistry in ML. Several positive single factor effects of drought or UV-B on antioxidants remained significant in the two-factor treatment both in ML and YL. Effects of the two factors applied in parallel were additive (equal to the sum of the effects caused by single factors separately) on total antioxidant capacities and singlet oxygen neutralizing; and synergistic (larger than the sum of single factor effects) on the flavonoid index in ML. A sequential application of UV-B and drought had additive positive effects on antioxidant capacity and flavonoid index of ML suggesting lasting effects of UV-B pre-treatment.

Plants as well as other aerobic organisms constantly produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). At regulated low concentrations ROS may serve as signal molecules, while in excessive amounts these may cause oxidative damage to biomolecules. Actual cellular concentrations are controlled by a network of various antioxidants, and acclimation to stress conditions is achieved by a dynamic balance of ROS production and neutralization. Accordingly, plant stress physiology studies generally include an array of methods testing the occurrence of ROS as well as evaluating antioxidant capacities. The aim of the present work is to provide an overview of these methods, with special emphasis on avoiding errors that can possibly lead to either inaccurate data or misinterpretations of otherwise correct measurements.

The acclimation mechanisms of two berry color variant grapevine leaves, Furmint White (FW) and Furmint Red (FR), to natural sunlight conditions were investigated comparing leaves from two distinct locations: at canopy surface (sun-exposed leaves) and in the inner layers (shaded leaves). We found that in contrast to FR leaves, sun-exposed FW leaves were thicker than shaded leaves due to thicker palisade tissues. Confocal laser scanning microscopy of Naturstoff-treated leaf segments revealed that flavonoids were accumulated in nuclei, cell walls, cytoplasm, and chloroplasts of the adaxial epidermal and palisade layers of sun-exposed leaves in both cultivars. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that the main phenolic components in both cultivars were caftaric acid and various glycosylated flavonols. Among the latter, the dominant component was quercetin glucuronide in both cultivars, unaffected by light conditions. However, caftaric acid and quercetin glucoside were present in significantly higher amounts in sun-exposed than in shaded leaves of both cultivars, but the effect of light conditions on caftaric acid contents was more pronounced in FR than in FW. Accordingly, the total polyphenol content of leaf extracts characterized by Folin-reagent reactivity was more enhanced in sun-exposed leaves of FR, than in FW. Our data suggest two different sunlight acclimation strategies to protect photosynthetic mesophyll tissues from potential photo-oxidative damage. One is realized in FW leaves as stronger shading by thicker palisade layer accompanied by enhanced chemical defense. The other is achieved in FR leaves via a more pronounced increase in caftaric acid and total polyphenol content but without morphological adjustments.

A tanulmany celja az, hogy bemutassa a vallalati foresight helyzetet Magyarorszagon egyreszt az előzmenyei es a letrejotte fuggvenyeben, masreszt a szelesebb kornyezete es a felsőoktatasban elfoglalt helyzete kapcsolataban. Attekinti a hazai vallalati foresight feltarasara iranyulo kutatasokat es nehany jo vallalati gyakorlatot is megmutat, valamint azok eredmenyei alapjan foglalja ossze a hazai vallalati foresight jelenlegi jellemzőit.

A 2-year study explored metabolic and phenotypic plasticity of sun-acclimated Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot noir leaves collected from 12 locations across a 36.69-49.98°N latitudinal gradient. Leaf morphological and biochemical parameters were analysed in the context of meteorological parameters and the latitudinal gradient. We found that leaf fresh weight and area were negatively correlated with both global and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, cumulated global radiation being a stronger correlator. Cumulative UV radiation (sumUVR) was the strongest correlator with most leaf metabolites and pigments. Leaf UV-absorbing pigments, total antioxidant capacities, and phenolic compounds increased with increasing sumUVR, whereas total carotenoids and xanthophylls decreased. Despite of this reallocation of metabolic resources from carotenoids to phenolics, an increase in xanthophyll-cycle pigments (the sum of the amounts of three xanthophylls: violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, and zeaxanthin) with increasing sumUVR indicates active, dynamic protection for the photosynthetic apparatus. In addition, increased amounts of flavonoids (quercetin glycosides) and constitutive β-carotene and α-tocopherol pools provide antioxidant protection against reactive oxygen species. However, rather than a continuum of plant acclimation responses, principal component analysis indicates clusters of metabolic states across the explored 1,500-km-long latitudinal gradient. This study emphasizes the physiological component of plant responses to latitudinal gradients and reveals the physiological plasticity that may act to complement genetic adaptations.

Purpose – The aim of this study is to present a concept of interactive foresight process, its theoretical and methodological considerations and a foresight exercise concerning the development of knowledge economy in the Central Hungarian Region. Design/methodology/approach – A methodology of interactive foresight process for creating regional future concepts is developed, which is based on a specific meaning of integral futures and uses online solutions, too. Findings – Personal meetings with small and medium enterprise (SME) stakeholders and the works of interactive communications with feedbacks within and among stakeholder groups was organized around the research homepage. The networking created the interconnection and the feedbacks between the stakeholders and the futurist group in the process of shaping regional future ideas. The online networking is running. Research limitations/implications – The low number of stakeholders can limit the validity and acceptance of futures ideas created by this process. Practical implications – The developed interactive foresight process can also be applicable at different organizational levels and in different fields for shaping shared future ideas. Social implications – Application of interactive foresight process can contribute to the development of anticipatory democracy. Originality/value – A theoretically based interactive foresight process has been developed in which stakeholders can participate not only interactively in the foresight process but they can implement the achievements in their enterprising activity as well. The participants were interested in foresight and cooperative during the whole process because they learned the use of foresight tools through collective solution of practical tasks which were important for them.

Solar UV-B (280–315nm) radiation is a developmental signal in plants but may also cause oxidative stress when combined with other environmental factors. Using computer modeling and in solution experiments we show that UV-B is capable of photosensitizing hydroxyl radical production from hydrogen peroxide. We present evidence that the oxidative effect of UV-B in leaves is at least twofold: (i) it increases cellular hydrogen peroxide concentrations, to a larger extent in pyridoxine antioxidant mutant pdx1.3-1 Arabidopsis and; (ii) is capable of a partial photo-conversion of both ‘natural’ and ‘extra’ hydrogen peroxide to hydroxyl radicals. As stress conditions other than UV can increase cellular hydrogen peroxide levels, synergistic deleterious effects of various stresses may be expected already under ambient solar UV-B.

Both high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and ultraviolet radiation (UV) are capable of causing photooxidative stress, but leaves are equipped with an array of protective mechanisms making life under full sunlight possible. Comparing acclimation strategies of Tilia platyphyllos leaves we found that sun leaves were better protected against stress than shade leaves by having (i) more efficient regulated non-photochemical quenching, (ii) a higher capacity to neutralize singlet oxygen, a reactive oxygen species known to be capable of promoting oxidative damage by excess PAR and (iii) containing more UV absorbing pigments. HPLC–MSn analysis showed both quantitative and qualitative differences in higher flavonoid contents: sun leaves contained 4.2-times more flavonoids than shade leaves and the quercetin:kaempferol ratio was also higher in the former. In addition, sun leaves also contained significant amounts of myricetin, which was detectable only in traces in shade leaves. Flavonols were mainly present as rhamnosides and in vitro tests of these compounds showed that quercetin and myricetin glycosides were much better singlet oxygen antioxidants than kaempferol glycosides. Thus a shift from monohydroxylated flavonols (kaempferol derivatives) towards dihydroxylated quercetin or trihydroxylated myricetin improves the singlet oxygen targeted antioxidant potential of leaves and potentially improves protection against photoinhibition by high PAR. On the other hand, experiments with pure test compounds also showed that multihydroxylated flavonol rhamnosides do not have better UV-B absorption than monohydroxylated ones. Thus the observed difference in flavonoid composition is not expected to contribute to the observed better UV-B absorbing capacity of sun leaves. Our data suggest that responses to high intensity PAR and to solar UV-B are closely connected and that UV-inducible flavonols play a key role in the successful acclimation of sun leaves to high PAR as efficient singlet oxygen antioxidants.

Photosensitizers may convert molecular oxygen into reactive oxygen species (ROS) including, e.g., singlet oxygen (O-1(2)), superoxide anion (O-2(-center dot)), and hydroxyl radicals ((OH)-O-center dot), chemicals with extremely high cyto- and potential genotoxicity. Photodynamic ROS reactions are determinative in medical photodynamic therapy (cancer treatment with externally added photosensitizers) and in reactions damaging the photosynthetic apparatus of plants (via internal pigments). The primary events of photosynthesis take place in the chlorophyll containing reaction center protein complex (RC), where the energy of light is converted into chemical potential. O-1(2) is formed by both bacterial bacteriochlorophylls and plant RC triplet chlorophylls in high light and if the quenching of O-1(2) is impaired. In plant physiology, reducing the formation of the ROS and thus lessening photooxidative membrane damage (including the RC protein) and increasing the efficiency of the photochemical energy conversion is of special interest. Carbon nanotubes, in artificial systems, are also known to react with singlet oxygen. To investigate the possibility of O-1(2) quenching by carbon nanotubes in a biological system, we studied the effect of carbon nanotubes on O-1(2) photogenerated by photosynthetic RCs purified from purple bacteria. 1,3-Diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF), a dye responding to oxidation by O-1(2) with absorption decrease at 420nm was used to measure O-1(2) concentrations. O-1(2) was produced either from a photosensitizer (methylene blue) or from triplet photosynthetic RCs and the antioxidant capacity of carbon nanotubes was assessed. Less O-1(2) was detected by DPBF in the presence of carbon nanotubes, suggesting that these are potential quenchers of this ROS. (C) 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Tanulmanyunk celja, hogy bemutasson egy olyan interaktiv előretekintesi eljarast, amelyet egy kutatasi alprojekt kereteben kezdtunk el fejleszteni.Az interaktiv előretekintes elkepzeleset az elmeleti es a gyakorlati jovőkutatas kolcsonos kapcsolatat magaban foglalo integralt jovőkutatas, a nyitott előretekintes es a nyitott innovaciot megvalosito „elő laboratorium“ gondolatkoreből meritettuk. Felfogasunkban az interaktiv előretekintes a kulonboző tipusu resztvevők olyan elő halozata, amely osszekapcsolja a resztvevők kozotti szemelyes es az on-line jovőformalo tevekenysegeket. Ezt a koncepciot egy előretekintesi esettanulmanyban valositottuk meg, amely a Kozep-Magyarorszagi Regio KKV-inak lehetseges gazdasagi jovőjenek feltarasaval foglalkozik. Az első eredmenyek azt mutatjak, hogy a reszt vevő KKV-k jovőorientaltsaga kozepes mertekű, a vallalkozok nem gondoljak azt, hogy az innovacio csodafegyver a gazdasagi valsag legyőzeseben es az uzleti siker elereseben. Azt viszont hatarozottan megfogalmazzak, hogy ...

New double (fluorescent and spin) sensor molecules containing 4-amino substituted 1,8-naphthalimide as a fluorophore and a sterically hindered amine (pre-nitroxide) or pyrroline nitroxide as a quencher and radical capturing moiety were synthesized. All sensors were substituted with a diethylaminoethyl side-chain to increase the water solubility. Steady state fluorescence properties of these compounds and their responses to ROS in vitro are reported with perspectives of plant physiology use in vivo.

The study discusses the interpretation of integral futures in the context of paradigm. The dynamic matrix model of futures paradigm has been developed for carrying out meta-analysis of futures. As a result of meta-analysis integral futures and its new paradigms are defined by way of reconstructing futures paradigm history as responses to changing societal needs and through the outcomes of dynamic and comparative analysis of futures paradigms. The study sets the argument that integral futures: (a) is entering a new phase in development of futures that responds to societal demands for sustainability, democratic participation and continuous knowledge production and integration, (b) it is the phase of cooperation building between theoretical and practical futures, (c) it is the complementary development of co-evolutionary and participatory paradigms, and (d) it unfolds further research perspectives for futures.

Assays assessing non-enzymatic hydrogen peroxide antioxidant capacities are often hampered by the high UV absorption of the sample itself. This is a typical problem in studies using plant extracts with high polyphenol content. Our assay is based on comparing the 405 nm absorption of the product of potassium iodine and hydrogen peroxide in the presence and absence of a putative hydrogen peroxide reactive antioxidant. This method is free of interference with either hydrogen peroxide or antioxidant self-absorption and it is also suitable for high-throughput plate reader applications.

The paper aims to advance Futures Research by outlining the context and development perspectives of business Foresight in Visegrad region (that is in: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary). Authors apply their research to tackle present challenges associated with the limited awareness of Foresight and constrained access to Foresight training offer in the region, which leads to insufficient Futures Literacy competences among managers and thus stiffens the opportunity to take advantage of Foresight in business practice. The paper presents two perspectives of analyzing business futures. A macro perspective, which concerns possible development scenarios of Visegrad economies, and a micro perspective, which concerns possible development scenarios of individual companies from Visegrad region. The methodology for the macro analyses involves the discussion of the futures of business in Visegrad economies based on quantitative indicators related to trade balance, foreign direct investment and SMEs prevalence analysed over 2002 – 2014 period. Whereas, the results derived from the micro level analysis are based on the expert-based scenario building exercise executed by Visegrad entrepreneurs participating in a 2-day international Foresight workshop. The research portrays the results achieved so far in the FOR_V4 project: “Mobilising Corporate Foresight potential among V4 countries”, which aims to bring futures knowledge and techniques to managers, who are expected to become “Corporate foresight evangelists” in Visegrad region.

Grapevine is an important agricultural plant typically grown in sun exposed areas. In this study, we examined sun exposed Pinot noir grapevine leaves and their major phenolic compounds. HPLC measurements identified caftaric acid as major phenolic acid and glycosylated quercetins as main flavonoids in addition to smaller amounts of various glycosylated kaempferols. These secondary metabolites protect against oxidative stress such as ultraviolet radiation or excess visible light (photoinhibition), as UV-absorbers and/or antioxidants. These properties were assessed in leaves and phenolic compounds. Quercetin derivatives and caftaric acid showed higher total antioxidant capacities than kaempferols. Nevertheless, differences were significally influenced by the applied assays (Csepregi et al. 2016). Furthermore, we examined ROS specific antioxidant capacities against singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide which may be directed to avoiding photoinhibition or UV damage, respectively. We found that these properties were also influenced by polyphenol structure, similar to total capacities. Results of this study demonstrate the versatility of polyphenols in acclimation to sunlight. Supported by the Hungarian Scientific Research Found (OTKA K-112309). Csepregi, K., Neugart, S., Schreiner, M., Hideg, É., 2016, Comparative Evaluation of Total Antioxidant Capacities of Plant Polyphenols, Molecules, 21, 208, Journal of International Society of Antioxidants in Nutrition & Health, Vol 3, No 4 (2016)

Exposure to UV-B radiation can cause stress in plants Solar UV-B radiation (280 315 nm) has long been recognized as being potentially damaging to living organisms. Indeed, the literature on plant UV-B radiation effects has for decades been dominated by reports on UV-B mediated stress, including growth retardation, macroscopic injuries and oxidative damage (Caldwell et al., 1994; Searles et al., 2001). These negative effects comprise damaging effects on genetic material (formation pre-mutagenic cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers [CPD] and pyrimidine [6-4] pyrimidinone dimers), photosynthetic performance (in-tandem degradation of D1-D2 core proteins of photosystem II, inactivation RUBISCO, altered stomatal function) and a range of other cellular targets (see Jansen et al., 1998; Searles et al., 2001; Jordan 2002; Rozema et al., 2005; Jenkins, 2009). In this issue Lidon et al. (2012a) review our current understanding of the deleterious effects of UV-B on photosynthesis. UV-B damage is paralleled by the formation of lipid peroxidation products such as malondialdehyde (MDA) (Hideg et al., 2003; Lidon and Ramalho, 2011) and increased oxidation of antioxidants such as glutathione (Kalbin et al., 1997), both of which reflect the oxidative character of the UV-caused stress conditions. Consistently, UV-induced ROS have been measured using EPR spin trap reporters in both leaves (Hideg and Vass, 1996) and in isolated thylakoids (Lidon et al., 2012b) exposed to high doses of UV-B.

Greenhouse grown tobacco plants were exposed to supplemental ultraviolet irradiation (280-400 nm, UV-B centered) for 6 days and changes in their photosynthesis (gas exchange and electron transport) and general and specific antioxidant activities were measured. UV irradiation corresponded to 8.95 kJ m-2 d-1 biologically effective dose and was supplemented to below ambient (200 μmol m-2 s-1 photon flux density) photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD, 400-700 nm). Two groups of plants, which were different in their leaf antioxidant capacities due to one of them having been acclimated to high irradiance (1000 μmol m-2 s-1 PPFD) before the UV treatment, responded differently. High light pretreated leaves lost approximately 25% of photosynthetic activity during the UV exposure and showed no change either in the amounts of UV-absorbing pigments or antioxidant levels. On the other hand, leaves which were exposed to UV irradiation without the preceding high light acclimation had 60% lower photosynthesis by the end of the treatment, and increased antioxidant activities. Our results emphasize the importance of base antioxidant levels over inducible pools in leaf responses to low doses of UV irradiation and may also contribute to hypotheses on acclimation under field conditions.

Salicylic acid (SA) is a phenolic phytohormone with important roles in plant development, transpiration, endogenous signaling and defense against pathogens. One of the pathways of SA biosynthesis is located in the chloroplasts. The aim of the present work was to investigate the possible regulatory effects of SA on photosynthetic electron transport processes. Here we show that SA also affects leaf photosynthesis, via inducing stomatal closure and also by slowing down Photosystem II (PS II) electron transport. Photosynthetic CO₂ incorporation and stomatal conductivity (measured with an infrared gas analyzer) were much lower in SA-infiltrated tobacco leaves than in untreated or water-infiltrated controls. PS II electron transport (calculated from PAM chlorophyll fluorescence data) was more sensitive to SA than Photosystem I (PS I) (measured with far red absorption). Direct probing of PS II charge separation and stabilization (measured with thermoluminescence), however, showed that these events were less affected in isolated thylakoid membranes than in leaves, suggesting that the effect of SA on PS II is indirect and different from similar effects of phenolic herbicides.

The effect of superoxide anion radicals on the photosynthetic electron transport chain was studied in leaves and isolated thylakoids from tobacco. Superoxide was generated by methylviologen (MV) in the light at the acceptor side of photosystem I (PSI). In isolated thylakoids, the largest damage was observed at the level of the water-splitting activity in photosystem II (PSII), whereas PSI was hardly affected at the light intensities used. Addition of reactive oxygen scavengers protected PSII against damage. In leaves in the presence of MV, the quantum yield of PSII decreased during illumination whereas the size of the P(700) signal remained constant. There was no D1 protein loss in leaves illuminated in the presence of MV and lincomycin, but a modification to a slightly higher molecular mass was observed. These data show that PSII is more sensitive to superoxide or superoxide-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) than PSI. In our experiments, this susceptibility was not because of any action of the ROS on the translation of the D1 protein or on the repair cycle of photosystem.

Two traditional methods of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assessment, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were applied to water extracts from tobacco leaves at various stages of senescence. Physiological status of the leaves was characterized by the effective photochemical quantum yield of photosynthesis (Y(II)). TAC values were compared to amounts of total phenolics, carotenoid contents and also to reactive oxygen scavenging capacities of the leaf extracts. To this end a new, simple fluorimetric assay was introduced for testing hydroxyl radical neutralizing capacity in leaf extracts. We found that while both TAC values increased with declining photosynthesis and decreasing pigment content, they were not characteristic to specific superoxide or hydroxyl radical scavenging and had limited connection to leaf antioxidant content. Good linear correlations were only found between the following pairs of parameters: Y(II) – total carotenoid, TEAC – total carotenoid, FRAP – total phenolics. Our data show that TEAC and FRAP are not interchangeable in leaf studies and do not represent antioxidant action on ROS.