Upper semi-continuity of the Royden-Kobayashi pseudo-norm, a counterexample for H\"olderian almost complex structures

If $X$ is an almost complex manifold, with an almost complex structure $J$ of class \CC^\alpha, for some $\alpha >0$, for every point $p\in X$ and every tangent vector $V$ at $p$, there exists a germ of $J$-holomorphic disc through $p$ with this prescribed tangent vector. This existence result goes back to Nijenhuis-Woolf. All the $J$ holomorphic curves are of class \CC^{1,\alpha} in this case. Then, exactly as for complex manifolds one can define the Royden-Kobayashi pseudo-norm of tangent vectors. The question arises whether this pseudo-norm is an upper semi-continuous function on the tangent bundle. For complex manifolds it is the crucial point in Royden's proof of the equivalence of the two standard definitions of the Kobayashi pseudo-metric. The upper semi-continuity of the Royden-Kobayashi pseudo-norm has been established by Kruglikov for structures that are smooth enough. In [I-R], it is shown that \CC^{1,\alpha} regularity of $J$ is enough. Here we show the following: Theorem. There exists an almost complex structure $J$ of class \CC^{1\over 2} on the unit bidisc \D^2\subset \C^2, such that the Royden-Kobayashi seudo-norm is not an upper semi-continuous function on the tangent bundle.Comment: 5 page

Fractal Graphs and their Properties

The idea of representing urban structure and various communication systems (water and energy supply, telephone and cable TV networks) as fractal objects is not absolutely new. However, known works, devoted to this problem use models and approaches from fractal physics. For example, to simulate urban growth Diffusion Limited Aggregation (DLA) model and Dielectric Breakdown (DB) model are used. This study introduces a different approach. Net structure of communication system is described by a graph of special type called regular G(l,r,n)-graph. Authors provide description of such graph, develop iterative process for its generation and prove its self-similarity, i.e. that every regular graph is a pre-fractal. After the infinite number of steps this process generates a fractal. The devised algorithm for generation and grathical representation of regular G(l,r,n)-graphs with different values of l,r and n has been programmed to receive computer simulations. For optimal graphic presentation of pre-fractals the Optimal Space Ordering method was suggested. It is based on the minimization of the >graph energygraph energy< is directly related to the graph's fractal properties. For G(3,3,n) and G(4,4,n) graphs fractal dimensions calculated by different methods are the same (D=1,5 and D=2 respectively), while topological dimension of both graphs is 1

Створення інформаційно-бібліографічного ресурсу «Видатні педагоги України та світу» та його вплив на розвиток цифрової гуманітаристики

The article reveals the specifics of creation, content, functions and value of the electronic information and bibliographic resource "Outstanding Educators of Ukraine and the World" of V. O. Sukhomlynskyi State Scientific and Pedagogical Library of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine in a comparative dimension with similar Ukrainian and foreign electronic biographical resources. The goals of the development of the electronic biographical resource have been formulated; the specifics of formation of its content and structure have been characterized; the importance of electronic biographical resources in the domestic and foreign educational and scientific space as a component of digital humanities has been substantiated. The influence of the use of electronic biographical resources on public opinion and on a person in the educational dimension has been investigated. It has been proven that in the context of the digital transformation of the scientific sphere and the integration of the Ukrainian education into the European educational and scientific space, the development of electronic information and specialized bibliographic resources, dedicated to well-known personalities in the sphere of education, history and culture, got significant repercussions. We have substantiated why the electronic resource "Outstanding Educators of Ukraine and the World", containing information about Ukrainian and foreign educators and public figures, is a unique specialist resource without analogues. It is a significant contribution to the development of digital pedagogical biographics and it makes it possible, through the prism of scientific biographies, to trace systematically the development of the Ukrainian and foreign education, pedagogical thought in both macrohistorical and microhistorical dimensions and to contribute to the restoration of the national pedagogical memory. The representation via the electronic resource of the generalized knowledge about the humanistic ideas of the Ukrainian and foreign educators and public figures of the past is of great importance for education in general, in particular for pedagogical education in Ukraine, namely in the system of professional training; it is a source of formation of a pedagogical worldview in students who will be teachers in the future, increasing their spiritual culture in the face of global civilizational challenges. We have revealed that the information and bibliographic resource requires further updating, taking into account the new achievements of the Ukrainian and foreign historical, educational and biographical studies and the latest information technologies. The priority tasks for improving the electronic resource have been identified, in particular: the prospects for the content and the ways of updating information and making qualitative changes in the functionality of the electronic educational resource.У статті розкрито особливості створення, зміст, функції, значення електронного інформаційно-бібліографічного ресурсу «Видатні педагоги України та світу» Державної науково-педагогічної бібліотеки України імені В. О. Сухомлинського Національної академії педагогічних наук України у порівняльному вимірі з аналогічними світовими та українськими електронними біографічними ресурсами. Виявлено причини, сформульовано цілі розроблення електронних біографічних ресурсів; схарактеризовано особливості формування контенту ресурсів, їх структури; аргументовано значення електронних біографічних ресурсів у вітчизняному та зарубіжному освітньо-науковому просторі як складника цифрової гуманітаристики. Досліджено вплив використання електронних біографічних ресурсів на суспільну думку та людину в освітньому вимірі. Доведено, що в умовах цифрової трансформації наукової сфери та інтеграції української освіти до європейського освітньо-наукового простору набуло значного резонансу розроблення електронних інформаційно-бібліографічних ресурсів галузевого спрямування, присвячених відомим діячам освіти, історії, культури. Аргументовано, що електронний ресурс «Видатні педагоги України та світу», котрий містить інформацію про українських і зарубіжних педагогів і освітян, є унікальним галузевим ресурсом, аналогів якому не знайдено. Він є вагомим внеском у розвиток цифрової педагогічної біографіки й дозволяє крізь призму наукових біографій системно простежувати розвиток української і зарубіжної освіти, педагогічної думки як у макроісторичних, так і в мікроісторичних вимірах, сприяє відновленню національної педагогічної пам’яті. Репрезентація за допомогою електронного ресурсу узагальненого знання про гуманістичні ідеї українських і зарубіжних педагогів чи освітян минулого має велике значення для освіти загалом, зокрема педагогічної освіти України, а саме в системі професійної підготовки, та є джерелом формування в студентів – майбутніх педагогів – педагогічного світогляду, підвищення їх духовної культури в умовах глобальних цивілізаційних викликів. З’ясовано, що інформаційно-бібліографічний ресурс потребує подальшого оновлення з урахуванням нових здобутків українських і зарубіжних історико-освітніх, історичних та біографічних студій, новітніх інформаційних технологій тощо. Визначено пріоритетні завдання щодо вдосконалення електронного ресурсу, зокрема перспективи змістового наповнення, шляхи оновлення відомостей та внесення якісних змін до функціоналу цифрового науково-освітнього ресурсу

ОРАНЖЕВОПЛОДНЫЙ СОРТ РУФИНА И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ ЕГО ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ В СЕЛЕКЦИОННЫХ ПРОГРАММАХ СОЗДАНИЯ НОВЫХ ФОРМ ТОМАТА ДЛЯ ЗАЩИЩЕННОГО ГРУНТА

Priority directions in tomato breeding for protected ground remain stable productivity ness and quality of fruit, early ripeness, resistant to the most harmful diseases. Creating such varieties is a required component of ecological agriculture. Recently, the demand of appropriate species increases and hybrids of tomato with different colouring of the fruit, which is determined by the contents of xanthophylls and various carotenoids (lycopene, β-carotene, lutein, etc.) with antioxidant properties. According to the state program of research for 2000-2010, the staff of the laboratory of gamete and molecular methods of selection of Federal Scientific Vegetable Center created orange early crop variety Rufina for greenhouses. The article describes the brief history of its creation and characterization on major valuable features. Tomato cultivar Rufina is a source of economically useful traits: early ripeness, resistant to abiotic and biotic stresses, yield, palatability and nutritional value of fruits. Therefore, at present it is used when creating new forms of tomato, adapted to the conditions of various modern technologies protected ground - low-volume cultivation and multi-level narrow column hydroponics (MUG). A perspective starting material was received. These are five productive selection forms for the low-volume technology, haracterized by early ripeness (the beginning of harvesting on the 50-70 day of sowing), the weight of the fruit from 90 to 130 g, resistance to apical rot. For a MUG - two low forms with orange fruits weighing more than 30 grams, created as a result of hybridization with determinants of dwarfish redplant varieties Natasha.Приоритетными направлениями в селекции томата для защищенного грунта остаются стабильная продуктивность и качество плодов, раннеспелость, устойчивость к наиболее вредоносным болезням. Выведение таких сортов является обязательным компонентом экологического земледелия. В последнее время возрастает спрос на сорта и гибриды томата с различной окраской плода, которая определяется содержанием ксантофиллов и разных каротиноидов (ликопин, β-каротин, лютеин и др.), обладающих антиоксидантными свойствами. В рамках государственной программы НИР на 2000-2010 годы коллективом лаборатории гаметных и молекулярных методов селекции ФГБНУ ВНИИССОК (ныне ФГБНУ ФНЦО) был создан оранжевоплодный раннеспелый урожайный сорт Руфина для пленочных теплиц. В статье приведена краткая история его создания и характеристика по основным хозяйственно ценным признакам. Сорт томата Руфина является источником хозяйственно полезных признаков: раннеспелость, устойчивость к абиотическим и биотическим стрессам, урожайность, вкусовые качества и пищевая ценность плодов. Поэтому, в настоящее время он используется как при создании новых форм томата, адаптированных к условиям различных современных технологий защищенного грунта - малообъемное выращивание и многоярусная узкостеллажная гидропоника (МУГ). В рамках реализации селекционных программ на его основе получен перспективный исходный материал для создания адресных сортов. Это пять продуктивных селекционных форм для молообъемной технологии, которые характеризуются раннеспелостью (начало сбора плодов на 50-70 сутки от посева), массой плода от 90 до 130 г, устойчивостью к вершинной гнили. Для МУГ - две низкорослые штамбовые формы с оранжевыми плодами массой более 30 г, созданные в результате гибридизации с детерминантным карликовым красноплодным сортом Наташа

Photoactivatable prodrugs of antimelanoma agent Vemurafenib

In this study, we report on novel photoactivatable caged prodrugs of vemurafenib. This kinase inhibitor was the first approved drug for the personalized treatment of BRAF-mutated melanoma and showed impressive results in clinical studies. However, the occurrence of severe side effects and drug resistance illustrates the urgent need for innovative therapeutic approaches. To conquer these limitations, we implemented photoremovable protecting groups into vemurafenib. In general, this caging concept provides spatial and temporal control over the activation of molecules triggered by ultraviolet light. Thus, higher inhibitor concentrations in tumor tissues might be reached with less systemic effects. Our study describes the first development of caged vemurafenib prodrugs useful as pharmacological tools. We investigated their photochemical characteristics and photoactivation. <i>In vitro</i> evaluation proved the intended loss-of-function and the light-dependent recovery of efficacy in kinase and cellular assays. The reported vemurafenib photo prodrugs represent a powerful biological tool for novel pharmacological approaches in cancer research

Genome-Scale Modeling of Light-Driven Reductant Partitioning and Carbon Fluxes in Diazotrophic Unicellular Cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142

Genome-scale metabolic models have proven useful for answering fundamental questions about metabolic capabilities of a variety of microorganisms, as well as informing their metabolic engineering. However, only a few models are available for oxygenic photosynthetic microorganisms, particularly in cyanobacteria in which photosynthetic and respiratory electron transport chains (ETC) share components. We addressed the complexity of cyanobacterial ETC by developing a genome-scale model for the diazotrophic cyanobacterium, Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142. The resulting metabolic reconstruction, iCce806, consists of 806 genes associated with 667 metabolic reactions and includes a detailed representation of the ETC and a biomass equation based on experimental measurements. Both computational and experimental approaches were used to investigate light-driven metabolism in Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142, with a particular focus on reductant production and partitioning within the ETC. The simulation results suggest that growth and metabolic flux distributions are substantially impacted by the relative amounts of light going into the individual photosystems. When growth is limited by the flux through photosystem I, terminal respiratory oxidases are predicted to be an important mechanism for removing excess reductant. Similarly, under photosystem II flux limitation, excess electron carriers must be removed via cyclic electron transport. Furthermore, in silico calculations were in good quantitative agreement with the measured growth rates whereas predictions of reaction usage were qualitatively consistent with protein and mRNA expression data, which we used to further improve the resolution of intracellular flux values

Zebrafish Kidney Phagocytes Utilize Macropinocytosis and Ca2+-Dependent Endocytic Mechanisms

Background: The innate immune response constitutes the first line of defense against invading pathogens and consists of a variety of immune defense mechanisms including active endocytosis by macrophages and granulocytes. Endocytosis can be used as a reliable measure of selective and non-selective mechanisms of antigen uptake in the early phase of an immune response. Numerous assays have been developed to measure this response in a variety of mammalian and fish species. The small size of the zebrafish has prevented the large-scale collection of monocytes/macrophages and granulocytes for these endocytic assays. Methodology/Principal Findings: Pooled zebrafish kidney hematopoietic tissues were used as a source of phagocytic cells for flow-cytometry based endocytic assays. FITC-Dextran, Lucifer Yellow and FITC-Edwardsiella ictaluri were used to evaluate selective and non-selective mechanisms of uptake in zebrafish phagocytes. Conclusions/Significance: Zebrafish kidney phagocytes characterized as monocytes/macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes utilize macropinocytosis and Ca 2+-dependant endocytosis mechanisms of antigen uptake. These cells do not appear to utilize a mannose receptor. Heat-killed Edwardsiella ictaluri induces cytoskeletal interactions for internalization in zebrafish kidney monocytes/macrophages and granulocytes. The proposed method is easy to implement and should prove especially useful in immunological, toxicological and epidemiological research

Identification of Functional Differences in Metabolic Networks Using Comparative Genomics and Constraint-Based Models

Genome-scale network reconstructions are useful tools for understanding cellular metabolism, and comparisons of such reconstructions can provide insight into metabolic differences between organisms. Recent efforts toward comparing genome-scale models have focused primarily on aligning metabolic networks at the reaction level and then looking at differences and similarities in reaction and gene content. However, these reaction comparison approaches are time-consuming and do not identify the effect network differences have on the functional states of the network. We have developed a bilevel mixed-integer programming approach, CONGA, to identify functional differences between metabolic networks by comparing network reconstructions aligned at the gene level. We first identify orthologous genes across two reconstructions and then use CONGA to identify conditions under which differences in gene content give rise to differences in metabolic capabilities. By seeking genes whose deletion in one or both models disproportionately changes flux through a selected reaction (e.g., growth or by-product secretion) in one model over another, we are able to identify structural metabolic network differences enabling unique metabolic capabilities. Using CONGA, we explore functional differences between two metabolic reconstructions of Escherichia coli and identify a set of reactions responsible for chemical production differences between the two models. We also use this approach to aid in the development of a genome-scale model of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. Finally, we propose potential antimicrobial targets in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus based on differences in their metabolic capabilities. Through these examples, we demonstrate that a gene-centric approach to comparing metabolic networks allows for a rapid comparison of metabolic models at a functional level. Using CONGA, we can identify differences in reaction and gene content which give rise to different functional predictions. Because CONGA provides a general framework, it can be applied to find functional differences across models and biological systems beyond those presented here