Minimal function on 3-manifolds with boundary

We construct the complete topological invariant of minimal functions on the three-dimensional manifolds and proved the theorem about the implementation of this invariant feature. Thus, it is received the minimal topological classification of functions. Efficiency of constructed invariants is demonstrated by examples. We describe all the functions, the complexity of which does not exceed three.

Proudhon, Pierre-Joseph (1809–65)

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon was a French social theorist, political activist and journalist. Claiming to be the first person to adopt the label ‘anarchist’, he developed a vision of a cooperative society conducting its affairs by just exchanges and without political authority. In his lifetime he exercised considerable influence over both militants and theorists of the European left, and he is remembered today as one of the greatest exponents of libertarian socialism. His last writings, though still strongly libertarian, advocated a federal state with minimal functions.

Language as semiosis – A short reflection on Paul Rastall’s article

Paul Rastall’s small models can be understood in a semiotic framework, as functions relating signifiers (‘forms’) to signifieds (‘meanings’): forms of semiosis. If different properties of language are modeled as semiosic components in this sense, it is possible to heuristically use the linguist Louis Hjelmslev’s principle of embedding of semioses to identify distinct minimal functions and study their embedding in a complex architecture, not only involving phonetics, grammar, and semantics, but also enunciation, pragmatics, and finally discourse. Both Rastall’s approach and this elaboration could support the view that (a) language is not one system but rather a constellation of subsystems.

Minimal Functions and Physiological Conditions Required for Growth of Salmonella enterica on Ethanolamine in the Absence of the Metabolosome

ABSTRACT During growth on ethanolamine, Salmonella enterica synthesizes a multimolecular structure that mimics the carboxysome used by some photosynthetic bacteria to fix CO2. In S. enterica, this carboxysome-like structure (hereafter referred to as the ethanolamine metabolosome) is thought to contain the enzymatic machinery needed to metabolize ethanolamine into acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA). Analysis of the growth behavior of mutant strains of S. enterica lacking specific functions encoded by the 17-gene ethanolamine utilization (eut) operon established the minimal biochemical functions needed by this bacterium to use ethanolamine as a source of carbon and energy. The data obtained support the conclusion that the ethanolamine ammnonia-lyase (EAL) enzyme (encoded by the eutBC genes) and coenzyme B12 are necessary and sufficient to grow on ethanolamine. We propose that the EutD phosphotransacetylase and EutG alcohol dehydrogenase are important to maintain metabolic balance. Glutathione (GSH) had a strong positive effect that compensated for the lack of the EAL reactivase EutA protein under aerobic growth on ethanolamine. Neither GSH nor EutA was needed during growth on ethanolamine under reduced-oxygen conditions. GSH also stimulated growth of a strain lacking the acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (EutE) enzyme. The role of GSH in ethanolamine catabolism is complex and requires further investigation. Our data show that the ethanolamine metabolosome is not involved in the biochemistry of ethanolamine catabolism. We propose the metabolosome is needed to concentrate low levels of ethanolamine catabolic enzymes, to keep the level of toxic acetaldehyde low, to generate enough acetyl-CoA to support cell growth, and to maintain a pool of free CoA.