A stem cell niche dominance theorem

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Multilevelness is a defining characteristic of complex systems. For example, in the intestinal tissue the epithelial lining is organized into crypts that are maintained by a niche of stem cells. The behavior of the system 'as a whole' is considered to emerge from the functioning and interactions of its parts. What we are seeking here is a conceptual framework to demonstrate how the "fate" of intestinal crypts is an emergent property that inherently arises from the complex yet robust underlying biology of stem cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We establish a conceptual framework in which to formalize cross-level principles in the context of tissue organization. To this end we provide a definition for stemness, which is the propensity of a cell lineage to contribute to a tissue fate. We do not consider stemness a property of a cell but link it to the process in which a cell lineage contributes towards tissue (mal)function. We furthermore show that the only logically feasible relationship between the stemness of cell lineages and the emergent fate of their tissue, which satisfies the given criteria, is one of dominance from a particular lineage.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The dominance theorem, conceived and proven in this paper, provides support for the concepts of niche succession and monoclonal conversion in intestinal crypts as bottom-up relations, while crypt fission is postulated to be a top-down principle.</p

Supplementary material for the article: Mesarović, J.; Trifković, J.; Tosti, T.; Fotirić Akšić, M.; Milatović, D.; Ličina, V.; Milojković-Opsenica, D. Relationship between Ripening Time and Sugar Content of Apricot (Prunus Armeniaca L.) Kernels. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 2018, 40 (8). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-018-2731-7

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-018-2731-7]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2193

Non-centralized predictive control for drinking-water supply systems

The final publication is available at link.springer.comThis book presents a set of approaches for the real-time monitoring and control of drinking-water networks based on advanced information and communication technologies. It shows the reader how to achieve significant improvements in efficiency in terms of water use, energy consumption, water loss minimization, and water quality guarantees. The methods and approaches presented are illustrated and have been applied using real-life pilot demonstrations based on the drinking-water network in Barcelona, Spain. The proposed approaches and tools cover: - decision-making support for real-time optimal control of water transport networks, explaining how stochastic model predictive control algorithms that take explicit account of uncertainties associated with energy prices and real demand allow the main flow andpressure actuators—pumping stations and pressure regulation valves—and intermediate storage tanks to be operated to meet demand using the most sustainable types of source and with minimum electricity costs; - decision-making support for monitoring water balance and distribution network quality in real time, implementing fault detection anddiagnosis techniques and using information from hundreds of flow,pressure, and water-quality sensors together with hydraulic and quality-parameter-evolution models to detect and locate leaks in the network, possible breaches in water quality, and failures in sensors and/or actuators; - consumer-demand prediction, based on smart metering techniques, producing detailed analyses and forecasts of consumption patterns,providing a customer communications service, and suggesting economic measures intended to promote more efficient use of water at the household level. Researchers and engineers working with drinking-water networks will find this a vital support in overcoming the problems associated with increased population, environmental sensitivities and regulation, aging infrastructures, energy requirements, and limited water sources.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Pigmented maize - a potential source of β-carotene and α-tocopherol

Among cereals, maize has the highest content of bioavailable micronutrients in grain, particularly β-carotene and α-tocopherol, which makes this crop the most appropriate for biofortification. Great genetic variability is a valuable source of micronutrients, and genotypes with enhanced grain content could be used for improvement of commercial hybrids or synthetic populations creation. Three populations with dark orange, dark red and red grain, five elite lines, and their crosses were evaluated for β-carotene and α-tocopherol content. Based on obtained results, line (L5) could be further used in breeding for increased β-carotene content, and population with dark orange grain (P1) is recommended as a good source for multi-nutrient biofortification for both β-carotene and α-tocopherol. Three lines (L1, L2 and L5) had significantly higher value of α-tocopherol in crosses with dark red population (P2), compared to lines per se, and require several cycles of back-crossing for increase nutrient content. Keywords: biofortification, inbred line, maize, micronutrient, population

Determination of free phenolic acids from leaves within different colored maize

Along with other plant parts, maize leaves are widely used for making fermented food for cattle, known as silage. Since there have only been a few reports on studies concerning the extraction and determination of phenolic acids from maize leaves, the main goal of this investigation was to evaluate the content of free phenolic acids in the leaves of fifteen different maize inbred lines. Reverse-phase, high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), with a photodiode array detector (DAD), was performed. Under the optimized chromatographic conditions, referring to short time of sample preparation, small quantities of solvent and direct injection of the extract into HPLC, phenolic acids (i.e., gallic, protocatechuic, caffeic, p-coumaric and ferulic acid) were successfully separated in less than 25 min, indicating that the method could be applied for routine analysis. The efficiency and validation of the method was evaluated by measuring the rate parameters: linearity, limit of detection and quantification, accuracy and precision. The obtained results showed that the most abundant free phenolic acid was p-coumaric acid (23.57 mu g g(-1) dry weight), followed by ferulic and caffeic acids (21.27 and 20.78 mu g g(-1) dry weight, respectively). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed the existence of a link

Variability of maize lines in ability to use nitrogen

Nitrogen is important macro-nutrient that influences various physiological processes in plants. Nevertheless, nitrogen could be loosed from the soil by leaching and evaporation. Thus, low nitrogen inputs are required together with strategy to improve its utilization by crops. Maize genotypes exhibit various susceptibility to low soil nitrogen. From that reason, variability in reaction of 32 maize lines to growing in conditions with optimal (fertilization with urea), and with low nitrogen (without fertilization) was examined during 2017 and 2018. All other growing measures and fertilization with other elements was applied at the same manner on whole experimental plot. 2017 was drier season, with higher average temperatures, particularly during anthesis and grain filling period. High variability among genotypes and seasons was present. The values of maize grain yield and 1000 grain weight were slightly lower in the field without nitrogen fertilization. Some lines under the low nitrogen conditions reached even higher grain yields (efficacy of yielding was 139.7% and 156.7% respectively, for 2017 and 2018), than in conditions with optimal nitrogen in soil, declaring them as genotypes with high nitrogen using efficiency. However, these lines achieved moderate yields (in both fields and years) in regard to other lines. Among tested lines, two had relatively higher grain yields indicating them as prominent for further research, i.e. breeding of maize hybrids with better nitrogen usage from soil, even in the conditions with low nitrogen

Alterations in growth of maize seedlings influenced by mixed tetraoxanes

Application of natural or synthetic substances could increases maize vigor, particularly of seeds with poor viability. The aim of this experiment was to examine the influence of five mixed tetraoxanes (T1–T5) on germination and early growth (seven day old seedlings) of maize inbred line, from the lot with high germination ability (>90%-G1) and low germination ability (<50%-G2). After soaking in tetraoxanes solution (10-6 and 10-9 M) for 24h, at room temperature, the seeds were germinated under controlled laboratory conditions on filter paper (BP, 20⇔30°C, ISTA Rules). Results show diverse effects of applied treatments. The significant increase in germination of 21.3% (10-9 M) for G2, as well as in seedlings roots and shoot fresh biomass for both lots, were observed in T1 treatment. The highest increase of seedlings root and shoot dry matter (8.79% and 8.08% for G1, as well as 9.52% and 8.99% for G2, respectively) was obtained by T4 treatment. For G1, increased seedlings root to shoot ratio for fresh matter, was achieved with T4 (10-9 M), while for G2, T3 brought the highest values of the ratio for both fresh and dry matter. For G1, increased seedlings root to shot ratio for dry matter was achieved under T4 (10-9 M). All applied treatments increased hydrolysis and biosynthesis. The highest hydrolysis values for G1was achieved by T2 (0.1640 g) and for G2 by T1 treatment (0.1187 g). The highest values of biosynthesis were achieved under T4 for both G1 and G2 (0.0723 and 0.0426 g, respectively). For G2, interdependence between germination and seedlings root and shoot fresh matter, and between hydrolysis and biosynthesis, implied a significant and negative correlation between germination rate and root fresh matter. Moreover, significant increase in germination rate for G2 was followed by increase in seedlings root and shoot fresh matter, hydrolysis and biosynthesis

Variability of maize lines in nitrogen using efficiency

Nitrogen is important macro-nutrient that influences various physiological processes in plants. It is responsible for protein synthesis and their role in plant metabolism. However, nitrogen is ambiguous element that is highly metabolisable by soil microorganisms and could be loosed from the soil by leaching and evaporation. To prevent this devastation, low nitrogen inputs are required. Maize genotypes exhibit various susceptibility to low nitrogen level in soil. From that reason, variability in reaction of 30 maize lines to grow in conditions with optimal (fertilization with urea), and with low nitrogen (without fertilization) was examined. All other growing measures and fertilization with other elements was applied at the same manner on whole experimental plot. The values of maize grain yield and 1000 grain weight were slightly lower in the field without nitrogen fertilization. It is significant to highlight that high variability between maize lines in term of efficacy of yielding was present, with values varying up to 152.31%, indicating that some lines under the low nitrogen conditions reached even higher grain yields, than in conditions with optimal nitrogen in soil, declaring them as genotypes with high nitrogen using efficiency. However, these lines achieved moderate yields (in both fields) in comparison with all tested lines. Lines with better nitrogen using efficiency, as well as higher grain yields will be introduced into further research, i.e. breeding of maize hybrids with better nitrogen usage from soil, even in the conditions with low nitroge

Evaluacija morfoloških osobina i mikronutrienata zrna kod populacija kukuruza

Maize grains contain high level of carotenoids and tocopherols compared with other cereals. Among carotenoids the β-carotene has the highest activity and is considered important in breeding programs of biofortified crops. Changes in carotenoids content in the maize grain could be influence of genotype x environment interaction, or effect of existing relationship between the color of the endosperm and the presence of carotenoids. This research was performed to estimate differences in morphological traits, grain content of tocopherols (α-, β+γ-, δ-), β-carotene, lutein and zeaxantin in local and introduced populations from Maize Research Institute 'Zemun Polje' gene bank. Micronutrient content was detected by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Coefficient of variation for morphological traits was less than 10%, except for grain yield per plant which vary about 18,6%. α-tocopherol content was in the range from 1.04-8.42 μgg-1 DW, and β-carotene content varied from 0.26 to 7.95 μgg-1 DW. δ-tocopherol was in significant correlation with number of kernels per row (r=0.700***), and β+γ-tocopherol was in significant negative correlation with plant and ear height (r=-0.601***; r=-0.591**). Correlations between morphological traits and α-tocopherol were weak and without significance. Kernel color was significantly correlated with the content of zeaxantin (r=0,590***) and β-carotene (r=0,398*). For biofortification purposes a pool of 11 landraces with increased content of both, β-carotene and α-tocopherol, will be created based on obtained results.U odnosu na druge žitarice, zrno kukuruza sadrži visok nivo karotenoida i tokoferola. Od svih karotenoida β-karoten ima najveću aktivnost i smatra se najznačajnim u biofortifikacijskim programima oplemenjivanja žitarica. Ovo istraživanje je imalo za cilj da utvrdi razlike u morfološkim svojstvima, sadržaju tokoferola (α-, β+γ-, δ-), β-karotena, luteina i zeaksantina kod lokalnih i introdukovanih populacija kukuruza iz banke gena Instituta za kukuruz 'ZemunPolje'. Sadržaj mikronutrienata je utvrđen primenom HPLC metode. Koeficijent varijacije za morfološka svojstva je bio manji od 10%, osim za prinos zrna po biljci (Cv=18,6%). Sadržaj α-tokoferola je bio u rasponu od 1,04-8,42 μg g-1 suve mase, a β-karotena od 0,26 to 7,95 μg g-1suve mase. δ-tokoferol je bio u značajnoj korelaciji sa brojem zrna u redu (r=0,700***), dok je β+γ-tokoferol bio u značajnoj negativnoj korelaciji sa visinom biljke i klipa(r=-0,601***; r=- 0,591**). Korelacije između morfoloških svojstava i α-tokoferola bile su slabe i nesignifikantne. Boja zrna je bila u značajnoj korelaciji sa sadržajem zeaksantina (r=0,590***) i β-karotena (r=0,398*). Za potrebe biofortifikacije 'pool' od 11 populacija sa povećanim sadržajem i β-karotena i α-tokoferola biće formiran na osnovu dobijenih rezultata

Maize seedling performance as a potential index for drought tolerance

Twenty-six maize landraces were tested in order to evaluate maize seedling performance as an index for drought tolerance in adult plants. Samples were subjected to polyethylene glycol-induced osmotic stress at the early seedling stage. Grain yield was obtained in field experiments under well-watered (OC) and a combination of drought and high plant density (HD) conditions. Osmotic stress caused a reduction in seedling growth (length, fresh and dry weight), and increase in the shoot and in particular the root proline contents in the majority of landraces, and variations in root peroxidase (POD) activity. Genotypes displaying more pronounced root growth reduction and higher proline contents exhibited decreased POD activity under osmotic stress. Direct positive correlations between the proline content and growth inhibition, and between the proline and soluble protein content were established. Correlations between the changes in POD activity and growth parameters were significant and positive, and significant but negative with the changes in the proline content. In the field, water stress led to a reduction in grain yield in all of the tested landraces. Correlations between grain yield from both experimental sets (OC and HD) and osmotic-induced changes in seedling root growth were negative, which was opposite to the highly significant and positive correlations between the changes in the seedling root proline content and yield. Also, genotypes with the highest seedling root proline content increase under osmotic stress, exhibited the highest stress tolerance index (STI) based on grain yield achieved under both field conditions. Our results indicate that lower changes in POD activity and especially an increased proline content after exposure to osmotic stress during the early seedling stage could be considered as useful indices to facilitate selection efficiency for drought tolerance in adult plants