Flexible and robust networks

We consider networks with two types of nodes. The v-nodes, called centers, are hyper- connected and interact one to another via many u-nodes, called satellites. This central- ized architecture, widespread in gene networks, possesses two fundamental properties. Namely, this organization creates feedback loops that are capable to generate practically any prescribed patterning dynamics, chaotic or periodic, or having a number of equilib- rium states. Moreover, this organization is robust with respect to random perturbations of the system.Comment: Journal of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, in pres

A Generalization of the Fujisawa–Kuh Global Inversion Theorem

We discuss the problem of global invertibility of nonlinear maps defined on the finitedimensional Euclidean space via differential tests. We provide a generalization of theFujisawa-Kuh global inversion theorem and introduce a generalized ratio conditionwhich detects when the pre-image of a certain class of linear manifolds is non-emptyand connected. In particular, we provide conditions that also detect global injectivity

Intracellular insulin in human tumors: examples and implications

Insulin is one of the major metabolic hormones regulating glucose homeostasis in the organism and a key growth factor for normal and neoplastic cells. Work conducted primarily over the past 3 decades has unravelled the presence of insulin in human breast cancer tissues and, more recently, in human non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). These findings have suggested that intracellular insulin is involved in the development of these highly prevalent human tumors. A potential mechanism for such involvement is insulin's binding and inactivation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (RB) which in turn is likely controlled by insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE). This model and its supporting data are collectively covered in this survey in order to provide further insight into insulin-driven oncogenesis and its reversal through future anticancer therapeutics