Integrating the Roles for Cytokinin and Auxin in De Novo Shoot Organogenesis: From Hormone Uptake to Signaling Outputs

De novo shoot organogenesis (DNSO) is a procedure commonly used for the in vitro regeneration of shoots from a variety of plant tissues. Shoot regeneration occurs on nutrient media supplemented with the plant hormones cytokinin (CK) and auxin, which play essential roles in this process, and genes involved in their signaling cascades act as master regulators of the different phases of shoot regeneration. In the last 20 years, the genetic regulation of DNSO has been characterized in detail. However, as of today, the CK and auxin signaling events associated with shoot regeneration are often interpreted as a consequence of these hormones simply being present in the regeneration media, whereas the roles for their prior uptake and transport into the cultivated plant tissues are generally overlooked. Additionally, sucrose, commonly added to the regeneration media as a carbon source, plays a signaling role and has been recently shown to interact with CK and auxin and to affect the efficiency of shoot regeneration. In this review, we provide an integrative interpretation of the roles for CK and auxin in the process of DNSO, adding emphasis on their uptake from the regeneration media and their interaction with sucrose present in the media to their complex signaling outputs that mediate shoot regeneration.     

Predictive value of serum myeloperoxidase activity for thrombosis of arteriovenous fistulas

Myeloperoxidase is a proinflammatory protein that appears as a result of increased oxidative stress. It plays an important role in the promotion and progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine the importance of MPO as a predictive parameter for thrombosis of arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The study involved monitoring patients with AVFs for hemodialysis over a period of 2 years. There were 41 patients, 19 (46%) men and 22 (54%) women, with mean age of 65 ± 12.7 years. Routine laboratory analyses were carried out in all respondents, including determination of MPO concentration. Gender, demographic and anthropometrical characteristics, smoking, alcohol consumption, as well as the presence of diabetic nephropathy, as an etiological factor of kidney disease, were recorded. The group of patients who developed initial thrombosis of the AVFs had significantly different values for leukocytes (8.5 ± 3.8 vs. 7.3 ± 2.1, P = 0.024), erythrocytes (2.8 ± 0.27 vs. 3.2 ± 0.65; P = 0.019), hemoglobin (88.5 ± 81 vs. 99.1 ± 6.02; P = 0.041), and myeloperoxidase (19.3 ± 4.67 vs. 11.1 ± 4.43; P = 0.007) when compared with the group without fistula thrombosis. Diabetic nephropathy (P = 0.02) characterized the group of patients with thrombosis of the fistula. Diabetic nephropathy (B = 2.53, P = 0.049) and MPO (B = 0.03, P = 0.029) were statistically significant predictors of fistula thrombosis. In our study, MPO and diabetic nephropathy were predictors of thrombosis of the AVF.     

Intent‐based service management for heterogeneous software‐defined infrastructure domains

One of the main challenges in delivering end‐to‐end service chains across multiple software‐defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) domains is to achieve unified management and orchestration functions. A very critical aspect is the definition of an open, vendor‐agnostic, and interoperable northbound interface (NBI) that should be as abstract as possible and decoupled from domain‐specific data and control plane technologies. In this paper, we propose a reference architecture and an intent‐based NBI for end‐to‐end service management across multiple technological domains. The general approach is tested in a heterogeneous OpenFlow/Internet‐of‐Things (IoT) SDN test bed, where the proposed solution is applied to a rather complex service provisioning scenario spanning three different technological domains: an IoT infrastructure deployment, a cloud‐based data collection, processing, and publishing platform, and a transport domain over a geographic network interconnecting the IoT domain and the data center hosting the cloud services.     

Determination of the protective properties of electrodeposited organic epoxy coatings on aluminium and modified aluminium surfaces

The electrochemical and transport properties and thermal stability of epoxy coatings electrodeposited on aluminium and modified aluminium surfaces (anodized, phosphatized and chromatized-phosphatized aluminium) have been investigated during exposure to 3% NaCl solution. From the results obtained from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), gravimetric liquid sorption experiment and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) it can be concluded that electrochemical and transport properties of epoxy coatings on anodized and chromatized-phosphatized aluminium are significantly improved with respect to the same epoxy coatings on aluminium and phosphatized aluminium: higher values of pore resistance and charge-transfer resistance and lower values of coating capacitance and double-layer capacitance, from EIS; smaller values of diffusion coefficient of water through epoxy coating, from sorption measurements and smaller amount of absorbed water inside the coating, from TGA. On the other hand, the somewhat lower thermal stability of these coatings was obtained.     

Using the decomposition principle to stabilize the nominal motion of a mechanical system with given accuracy

The Pyatnitskii decomposition principle is used to stabilize the nominal motion of a controllable scleronomic holonomic mechanical system under the influence of a bounded perturbing force. We find conditions on the controlling force and the set of initial states that guarantee that the motion of this mechanical system occurs close to the nominal motion in such a way that deviations from nominal values lie inside given boundaries. The decomposition principle serves here as an instrument to ensure practical stability in the sense of La Salle and Lefshetz.     

Software-Defined Fog Network Architecture for IoT

Rapid increase in number and diversity of Internet-connected devices raises many challenges for the traditional network architecture, which is not designed to support a high level of scalability, real-time data delivery and mobility. To address these issues, in this paper we present a new model of Internet of Things architecture which combines benefits of two emerging technologies: software-defined networking and Fog computing. Software-defined networking implies a logically centralized network control plane, which allows implementation of sophisticated mechanisms for traffic control and resource management. On the other hand, Fog computing enables some data to be analysed and managed at the network edge, thus providing support for applications that require very low and predictable latency. In the paper, we give detailed insight into the system structure and functionality of its main components. We also discuss the benefits of the proposed architecture and its potential services.     

Supercritical fluid extraction as a method for fat content determination and preparative technique for fatty acid analysis in mesh feed for pigs

Objective of this investigation was supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO₂, as analytical technique for total fat extraction from food and feed samples. Most significant advantages of this technique, compared with the others, are safety, cleanness, and shorter analysis time. Its main limitation includes difficulty of extracting polar lipids, due to the non-polar character of the CO_2, which is used as a solvent. Influence of added absorbent and co-solvent on the SFE of mash pig feed was investigated in this paper. Total fat content was determined for ten commercially available mesh pig feeds. Optimization of absorbent weight and volume of added co-solvent showed that the maximum yield of extracted fat has been achieved at adsorbent mass of 1.8 g and ethanol volume of 0.54 ml. Yields of fat extracted with both Soxhlet method (AOCS Method Ba 3-38) and SFE were plotted one against the other. There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences between results of these two methods, which were confirmed by low value for standard deviation (SD). SFE appears to be reliable, faster, and less hazardous alternative for traditional extraction method. Fatty acid compositions from lipid extracts obtained by both methods were determined by gas chromatography—flame ionization detection (GC–FID). Results obtained by SFE were far more representative than results obtained by analyzing Soxhlet extracts, and in consistence with literature results. SFE method gave significantly higher (p < 0.001) contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) than Sohxlet method, especially of linoleic acid, C18:2 n-6.     

Hydroxyapatite coatings prepared by a high power laminar plasma jet

For two hydroxyapatite (HA) powders, containing particles differing in mass by a factor of 20, a set of optimum deposition parameters was defined, leading to the coatings with high crystallinity (80-90%), high adhesion strength (60 and 40 MPa for the coating thicknesses of 120 μm and 350 μm, respectively) and excellent microstructure (coatings were without micro- or macro-cracks, without delaminating on substrate-coating surface contact, and possess low porosity, 1-2%). It was shown that higher plasma power (52 kW) did not necessarily lead to a higher HA decomposition.     

Functional properties of protein hydrolysates from pea (Pisum sativum,L) seeds

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of partial enzymatic hydrolysis on functional properties of two different pea protein isolates obtained from two pea genotypes, Maja and L1. Papain and commercial protease (Streptomyces griseus protease) were used for protein modification. Solubility, emulsifying and foaming properties were estimated at four different pH values (3.0, 5.0, 7.0 and 8.0). Papain increased solubility of L1 pea protein isolate at pH 3.0, 5.0 and 8.0, emulsifying properties and foaming capacity at all pH values. Otherwise, papain increased solubility of Maja pea protein isolate only at pH 8.0. This pea protein isolate modified with both enzymes formed emulsions with improved stability at lower pH (3.0, 5.0). The commercial protease‐prepared pea protein isolates showed generally low solubility and different emulsifying and foaming properties. Proper selection of enzyme, conditions of hydrolysis and genotypes could result in production of pea protein isolates with desirable functional properties.     

Influence of thermal treatment on phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties of oak acorns from Serbia

The aim of the present work was to investigate and compare phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of methanol extracts of Quercus robur and Quercus cerris acorn kernels obtained before and after thermal treatment. Content of total phenolics, tannins, non-tannin phenolics and flavonoids was determined spectrophotometrically and content of gallic acid with HPLC. Antioxidant activity of the samples was assayed through FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), DPPH scavenging test and inhibition of Fe²⁺/ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation. Extracts of native and thermally treated kernels showed high antioxidant activity, with extracts of thermally treated kernels being more active than extracts of native ones. Hydrolysable tannins and gallic acid were identified in all samples. Non-tannin phenolics, including gallic acid, were present in significantly higher quantities in thermally treated samples, whilst tannin content decreased. This indicates that during thermal treatment hydrolysable tannins were degraded. As the result of this degradation and consequent increase of non-tannin phenolics content, and amongst them especially gallic acid, thermally treated samples possess higher antioxidant activity than do the native ones. The obtained results have provided further grounds for establishing Q. robur and Q. cerris acorn kernels as a source for functional food preparation.