Block Locally Optimal Preconditioned Eigenvalue Xolvers (BLOPEX) in hypre and PETSc

We describe our software package Block Locally Optimal Preconditioned Eigenvalue Xolvers (BLOPEX) publicly released recently. BLOPEX is available as a stand-alone serial library, as an external package to PETSc (``Portable, Extensible Toolkit for Scientific Computation'', a general purpose suite of tools for the scalable solution of partial differential equations and related problems developed by Argonne National Laboratory), and is also built into {\it hypre} (``High Performance Preconditioners'', scalable linear solvers package developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory). The present BLOPEX release includes only one solver--the Locally Optimal Block Preconditioned Conjugate Gradient (LOBPCG) method for symmetric eigenvalue problems. {\it hypre} provides users with advanced high-quality parallel preconditioners for linear systems, in particular, with domain decomposition and multigrid preconditioners. With BLOPEX, the same preconditioners can now be efficiently used for symmetric eigenvalue problems. PETSc facilitates the integration of independently developed application modules with strict attention to component interoperability, and makes BLOPEX extremely easy to compile and use with preconditioners that are available via PETSc. We present the LOBPCG algorithm in BLOPEX for {\it hypre} and PETSc. We demonstrate numerically the scalability of BLOPEX by testing it on a number of distributed and shared memory parallel systems, including a Beowulf system, SUN Fire 880, an AMD dual-core Opteron workstation, and IBM BlueGene/L supercomputer, using PETSc domain decomposition and {\it hypre} multigrid preconditioning. We test BLOPEX on a model problem, the standard 7-point finite-difference approximation of the 3-D Laplacian, with the problem size in the range $10^5-10^8$.Comment: Submitted to SIAM Journal on Scientific Computin

Evaluation of grain yield performance and its stability in various spring barley accessions under condition of different agroclimatic zones of Ukraine

Two extremely urgent problems of biological and agronomic research nowadays are ensuring an optimal balance between usage of natural resources to meet rapidly growing needs for food production and preservation of biodiversity. It is also important to extend the genetic diversity of the main crop varieties in agroecosystems. At the same time, modern varieties should be characterized by a combination of high yield and preserving yield stability under variable conditions. Solving the outlined tasks requires comprehensive research and involvement in breeding process of the genetical diversity concentrated in genebanks of the world. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the most important crops that satisfy the various needs of humanity. In respect to this, in 2020–2022, a multi-environment trial was conducted in three agroclimatic zones of Ukraine (Forest-Steppe, Polissia, and Northern Steppe). We studied 44 spring barley collection accessions of different ecological and geographical origin, different subspecies and groups of botanical varieties which were obtained from the National Center for Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine. Statistical indices (Hom, Sc) and graphical models (GGE biplot, AMMI) were used to interpret the yield performance and its stability. Both individual ecological sites in different years and combinations of different sites and years of trials were characterized for productivity, discriminating power and representativeness. The environments differed quite strongly among themselves in terms of these indicators. It was established that most of the genotypes were characterized by higher adaptability to individual environmental conditions (stability in different years), compared to adaptability for all agroclimatic zones (wide adaptation). A strong cross-over genotype by environment interaction was found for most studied accessions. Nevertheless, both genotypes with very high stability in only one agroclimatic zone (Amil (UKR), Gateway (CAN)) and genotypes with a combination of high adaptability to one or two ecological niches and relatively higher wide adaptability (Stymul (UKR), Ly-1064 (UKR), Rannij (KAZ), Shedevr (UKR), and Arthur (CZE)) were identified. There were also the accessions which did not show maximum performance in the individual sites, but had relatively higher wide adaptability (Ly-1059 (UKR), Ly-1120 (UKR), Diantus (UKR), and Danielle (CZE)). In general, the naked barley genotypes were inferior to the covered ones in terms of yield potential and wide adaptability, but at the same time, some of them (CDC ExPlus (CAN), CDC Gainer (CAN), and Roseland (CAN)), accordingly to the statistical indicators, had increased stability in certain ecological sites. Among naked barley accessions relatively better wide adaptability according to the graphical analysis was found in the accession CDC McGwire (CAN), and by the statistical parameters CDC ExPlus (CAN) was better than standard. The peculiarities of yield manifestation and its variability in different spring barley genotypes in the multi-environment trial revealed in this study will contribute to the complementation and deepening of existing data in terms of the genotype by environment interaction. Our results can be used in further studies for developing spring barley variety models both with specific and wide adaptation under conditions of different agroclimatic zones of Ukraine. The disitnguished accessions of different origin and botanical affiliation are recommended for creating a new breeding material with the aim of simultaneously increasing yield potential and stability, as well as widening the genetic basis of spring barley varieties

The transformation of the higher education system in Ukraine: proposals and perspectives

Монографія рекомендована до друку вченою радою СумДУ Протокол № 5 від 17.11.2022Економічні успіхи розвинених країн, як показує практика, досягаються завдяки розвитку освіти та наукових досліджень, які швидко освоюються. Освіту людей можна розглядати як ефективний фактор економічного зростання. Водночас це найважливіша складова людського капіталу, який акумулюється в суспільстві і стає основним економічним ресурсом. Проте її довгостроковий розвиток потребує державної підтримки. Досвід надання державної підтримки та розвитку освіти в передових країнах світу може бути корисним для України, яка потребує реформування системи освіти та побудови інноваційної економіки. Але тут потрібно чітко уявляти собі проблеми, які виникнуть, і шукати шляхи їх вирішення. Вирішення проблем освітнього простору наразі ускладнено повномасштабною війною та пандемічним станом, за якого COVID-19 отримав постійну «прописку» у сучасному світі. Актуальність дослідження визначається зростанням проблем в освіті, зумовлених зовнішніми та внутрішніми факторами, важливістю забезпечення якісної освіти на всіх рівнях та підтримки міжвузівської співпраці. Російська військова агресія, часткове знищення навчального фонду, велика кількість переселенців та багатогодинні відключення електроенергії унеможливлюють процес якісної ініціації, як наживо, так і онлайн. Ця монографія покликана акцентувати увагу на складних і, водночас, важливих викликах освітнього середовища, які, у свою чергу, можуть змінити майбутнє нашої країни.Экономический успех развитых стран, как показывает практика, достигается за счет развития образования и научных исследований, которые быстро осваиваются. Образование людей можно рассматривать как действенный фактор экономического роста. В то же время это важнейшая составляющая человеческого капитала, которая накапливается в обществе и становится основным экономическим ресурсом. Однако его долгосрочное развитие требует государственной поддержки. Опыт государственной поддержки и развития образования в передовых странах мира может быть полезен для Украины, которая нуждается в реформировании системы образования и построении инновационной экономики. Но здесь нужно четко представлять проблемы, которые возникнут, и находить пути их решения. Решение проблем образовательного пространства в настоящее время осложнено полномасштабной войной и состоянием пандемии, при котором COVID-19 получил постоянную «прописку» в современном мире. Актуальность исследования определяется ростом количества проблем в образовании, вызванных внешними и внутренними факторами, важностью обеспечения качественного образования на всех уровнях и поддержки межвузовского сотрудничества. Российская военная агрессия, частичное уничтожение образовательного фонда, большое количество мигрантов и многочасовые отключения электроэнергии делают невозможным процесс качественной инициации как вживую, так и онлайн. Данная монография призвана акцентировать внимание на сложных и в то же время важных задачах образовательной среды, которые, в свою очередь, могут изменить будущее нашей страны.The economic success of developed countries, as practice shows, is achieved due to the development of education and scientific research, which are quickly mastered. Education of people can be considered as an effective factor of economic growth. At the same time, it is the most important component of human capital, which accumulates in society and becomes the main economic resource. However, its long-term development requires state support. The experience of providing state support and development of education in advanced countries of the world can be useful for Ukraine, which needs to reform the education system and build an innovative economy. But here you need to clearly imagine the problems that will arise and find ways to solve them. Solutions to the problems of the educational space are currently complicated by a full-scale war and the pandemic state, under which COVID-19 has received a permanent "registration" in the modern world. The relevance of the study is determined by the growing number of problems in education caused by external and internal factors, the importance of ensuring quality education at all levels and supporting inter-university cooperation. Russian military aggression, the partial destruction of the educational fund, a large number of migrants and many hours of power outages make the process of qualitative initiation impossible, both live and online. This monograph is designed to focus attention on complex and, at the same time, important challenges of the educational environment, which, in turn, can change the future of our country