Query complexity of Boolean functions on the middle slice of the cube

We study the query complexity of slices of Boolean functions. Among other results we show that there exists a Boolean function for which we need to query all but 7 input bits to compute its value, even if we know beforehand that the number of 0's and 1's in the input are the same, i.e. when our input is from the middle slice. This answers a question of Byramji. Our proof is non-constructive, but we also propose a concrete candidate function that might have the above property. Our results are related to certain natural discrepancy type questions that -- somewhat surprisingly -- have not been studied before.Comment: 10 page

Polar OwnIndex is not a reliable indicator of aerobic training status

Polar watches with heart rate monitoring function have become popular among recreational and professional athletes. In addition to monitoring functions, they calculate a specific index called OwnIndex which is claimed to measure aerobic training status. The current research attempted to shed light on the factors determining the OwnIndex. In Study 1, OwnIndex calculated by the RS-400 Polar watch was estimated using anthropometric (gender, age, height, weight), cardiovascular (resting HR, RMSSD), and exercise-related (maximal oxygen uptake, self-reported physical activity) data of 45 young adults. In Study 2, the OwnIndex was measured in 21 young adults twice, first with self-reported physical activity set to the lowest, then to the highest value. In the regression analysis (Study 1), the only significant predictor of OwnIndex was self-reported physical activity (R2 = 0.883; β = 0.915, p < 0.001). A significant difference with a large effect size (t(20) = −16.657, p <0.001, d = 3.635) and no significant correlation (r = −0.32; p = 0.155) were found between the OwnIndices calculated with different levels of activity in Study 2. As anthropometric and cardiac variables play a practically negligible role in the calculation of the OwnIndex, it cannot be considered an appropriate measure of aerobic fitness

On graphs that contain exactly k copies of a subgraph, and a related problem in search theory

We study $\mathrm{exa}_k(n,F)$, the largest number of edges in an $n$-vertex graph $G$ that contains exactly $k$ copies of a given subgraph $F$. The case $k=0$ is the Tur\'an number $\mathrm{ex}(n,F)$ that is among the most studied parameters in extremal graph theory. We show that for any $F$ and $k$, $\mathrm{exa}_k(n,F)=(1+o(1))\mathrm{ex}(n,F))$ and determine the exact values of $\mathrm{exa}_k(n,K_3)$ and $\mathrm{exa}_1(n,K_r)$ for $n$ large enough. We also explore a connection to the following well-known problem in search theory. We are given a graph of order $n$ that consists of an unknown copy of $F$ and some isolated vertices. We can ask pairs of vertices as queries, and the answer tells us whether there is an edge between those vertices. Our goal is to describe the graph using as few queries as possible. Aigner and Triesch in 1990 showed that the number of queries needed is at least $\binom{n}{2}-\mathrm{exa}_1(n,F)$. Among other results we show that the number of queries that were answered NO is at least $\binom{n}{2}-\mathrm{exa}_1(n,F)$.Comment: 15 page

Characterization of the binding sites of the anticancer ruthenium(III) complexes KP1019 and KP1339 on human serum albumin via competition studies

Indazolium trans-[tetrachloridobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(III)] (KP1019) and its Na+ analogue (KP1339) are two of the most prominent non-platinum antitumor metal complexes currently undergoing clinical trials. After intravenous administration, they are known to bind to human serum albumin (HSA) in a noncovalent manner. To elucidate their HSA binding sites, displacement reactions with the established site markers warfarin and dansylglycine as well as bilirubin were monitored by spectrofluorimetry, ultrafiltration-UV-vis spectrophotometry, and/or capillary zone electrophoresis. Conditional stability constants for the binding of KP1019 and KP1339 to sites I and II of HSA were determined, indicating that both Ru(III) compounds bind to both sites with moderately strong affinity (log K (1)' = 5.3-5.8). No preference for either binding site was found, and similar results were obtained for both metal complexes, demonstrating low influence of the counter ion on the binding event

Pheromones and Other Semiochemicals for Monitoring Rare and Endangered Species

As global biodiversity declines, biodiversity and conservation have become ever more important research topics. Research in chemical ecology for conservation purposes has not adapted to address this need. During the last 10-15 years, only a few insect pheromones have been developed for biodiversity and conservation studies, including the identification and application of pheromones specifically for population monitoring. These investigations, supplemented with our knowledge from decades of studying pest insects, demonstrate that monitoring with pheromones and other semiochemicals can be applied widely for conservation of rare and threatened insects. Here, I summarize ongoing conservation research, and outline potential applications of chemical ecology and pheromone-based monitoring to studies of insect biodiversity and conservation research. Such applications include monitoring of insect population dynamics and distribution changes, including delineation of current ranges, the tracking of range expansions and contractions, and determination of their underlying causes. Sensitive and selective monitoring systems can further elucidate the importance of insect dispersal and landscape movements for conservation. Pheromone-based monitoring of indicator species will also be useful in identifying biodiversity hotspots, and in characterizing general changes in biodiversity in response to landscape, climatic, or other environmental changes

Interocepció. Narratív összefoglaló

Narratív összefoglalónkban megkíséreljük felvázolni az interocepcióval kapcsolatos kutatások jelenlegi helyzetét. A definíciós nehézségek, modalitások és dimenziók áttekintése után sorra vesszük a méréssel kapcsolatos elméleti és gyakorlati problémákat, majd részletesebben is bemutatjuk az interocepció idegrendszeri hátterét. Az alapok áttekintése után a szívdobogás-percepciós kutatást alapul véve három fő témakörre fókuszálunk: 1) az interocepció és az érzelmek kapcsolatára, 2) az interocepció szerepére a self felépülésében és fennmaradásában, valamint 3) az interocepció stabilitására/változtathatóságára. Végül megkíséreljük integrálni az interocepció káros és hasznos vonatkozásait hangsúlyozó elméleteket, majd megemlítünk néhány olyan átfogó modellt, amelyek valószínűleg meg fogják határozni az interocepció kutatásának következő éveit