Optimal Unateness Testers for Real-Valued Functions: Adaptivity Helps

We study the problem of testing unateness of functions f:{0,1}^d -> R. We give an O(d/epsilon . log(d/epsilon))-query nonadaptive tester and an O(d/epsilon)-query adaptive tester and show that both testers are optimal for a fixed distance parameter epsilon. Previously known unateness testers worked only for Boolean functions, and their query complexity had worse dependence on the dimension both for the adaptive and the nonadaptive case. Moreover, no lower bounds for testing unateness were known. We generalize our results to obtain optimal unateness testers for functions f:[n]^d -> R. Our results establish that adaptivity helps with testing unateness of real-valued functions on domains of the form {0,1}^d and, more generally, [n]^d. This stands in contrast to the situation for monotonicity testing where there is no adaptivity gap for functions f:[n]^d -> R

Relating the Chondrocyte Gene Network to Growth Plate Morphology: From Genes to Phenotype

During endochondral ossification, chondrocyte growth and differentiation is controlled by many local signalling pathways. Due to crosstalks and feedback mechanisms, these interwoven pathways display a network like structure. In this study, a large-scale literature based logical model of the growth plate network was developed. The network is able to capture the different states (resting, proliferating and hypertrophic) that chondrocytes go through as they progress within the growth plate. In a first corroboration step, the effect of mutations in various signalling pathways of the growth plate network was investigated

Can intermittent fasting help in stem-cell rejuvenation?

Background: Human tissues are sustained by stem cells, the balance between stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, and cell death is the crucial element of haemostasis, which plays a vital role in tissue remodelling. Stem cell therapy is recognized as regenerative medicine. We can stimulate stem cell growth/regeneration through various events. Objectives: In this review, we illustrate whether fasting can stimulate stem cell regeneration. Methodology: A literature survey was undertaken to gather recent research and address the effects of fasting on stem cell renewal, which was the review's purpose. Results:  Enterocytes in drosophila were restored after exposure to the dietary restriction. As the result, fasting before etoposide exposure safeguarded mice against harm caused by etoposide when compared with the fed group. A study conducted on the effects of periodic fasting in yeast, mice, and humans shows the increase in lifespan and stress resistance of yeast fasting reduces the risks due to age factors and diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and promotes a healthy life span of mice and human. Conclusion: Dietary limitations will be used in conjunction with the existing therapeutic approach as adjuvant therapy. It will be a more effective treatment. Fasting has the potential to protect against the negative effects of chemotherapy while also boosting stem cell regeneration, according to preclinical findings. Even though regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy are still in their embryonic stage, greater interventions are needed to show the target pathway of fasting in stem cell renewal. Keywords: Fasting, stem cell regeneration, emerging therapy

Computational fluid dynamics simulations including oxygen mass transport in stented coronaries

In-stent restenosis (ISR) is a hyperplastic tissue response following percutaneous cardiac intervention for occlusive arterial disease such as atherosclerosis. Associations have been reported between maladaptive responses to healing in the form of neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) and regions of reduced and reversed flow. In vitro studies provide evidence that the extent of NIH may be related to partial endothelial denudation following stent expansion and decreased oxygen mass transfer which may result in regions of arterial wall hypoxia. Current studies investigate the potential to augment oxygen mass transport through innovative helical stent designs in vivo and in silico. The use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) allows quantitative study of the complex environment of the fluid and mass transport within idealised and patient-specific stented vessels. However, the computational design used so far were ideal helical stent geometries for comparison with in vivo results. The present study has been performed to investigate oxygen mass transport in a realistic configuration of the stented coronary vessel, which is characterized by asymmetries and non-uniform geometry. To this end, a porcine right coronary artery (RCA) has been analyzed, whose in vivo geometry was reconstructed by combining data from micro-CT (stent) and by finite element analysis (vascular wall). The availability of corresponding histological images allows a direct correlation with CFD and mass transport results