Self consistent proteomic field theory of stochastic gene switches

We present a self-consistent field approximation to the problem of the genetic switch composed of two mutually repressing/activating genes. The protein and DNA state dynamics are treated stochastically and on equal footing. In this approach the mean influence of the proteomic cloud created by one gene on the action of another is self-consistently computed. Within this approximation a broad range of stochastic genetic switches may be solved exactly in terms of finding the probability distribution and its moments. A much larger class of problems, such as genetic networks and cascades also remain exactly solvable with this approximation. We discuss in depth certain specific types of basic switches, which are used by biological systems and compare their behavior to the expectation for a deterministic switch.Comment: 29 pages, 40 figure

Apolipoprotein E and Atherosclerosis: From Lipoprotein Metabolism to MicroRNA Control of Inflammation.

Apolipoprotein (apo) E stands out among plasma apolipoproteins through its unprecedented ability to protect against atherosclerosis. Although best recognized for its ability to mediate plasma lipoprotein clearance in the liver and protect against macrophage foam cell formation, our recent understanding of the influence that apoE can exert to control atherosclerosis has significantly widened. Among apoE's newfound athero-protective properties include an ability to control exaggerated hematopoiesis, blood monocyte activation and aortic stiffening in mice with hyperlipidemia. Mechanisms responsible for these exciting new properties extend beyond apoE's ability to prevent cellular lipid excess. Rather, new findings have revealed a role for apoE in regulating microRNA-controlled cellular signaling in cells of the immune system and vascular wall. Remarkably, infusions of apoE-responsive microRNA mimics were shown to substitute for apoE in protecting against systemic and vascular inflammation to suppress atherosclerosis in mice with hyperlipidemia. Finally, more recent evidence suggests that apoE may control the release of microvesicles that could modulate cellular signaling, inflammation and atherosclerosis at a distance. These exciting new findings position apoE within the emerging field of intercellular communication that could introduce new approaches to control atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease

Distributed classifier based on genetically engineered bacterial cell cultures

We describe a conceptual design of a distributed classifier formed by a population of genetically engineered microbial cells. The central idea is to create a complex classifier from a population of weak or simple classifiers. We create a master population of cells with randomized synthetic biosensor circuits that have a broad range of sensitivities towards chemical signals of interest that form the input vectors subject to classification. The randomized sensitivities are achieved by constructing a library of synthetic gene circuits with randomized control sequences (e.g. ribosome-binding sites) in the front element. The training procedure consists in re-shaping of the master population in such a way that it collectively responds to the "positive" patterns of input signals by producing above-threshold output (e.g. fluorescent signal), and below-threshold output in case of the "negative" patterns. The population re-shaping is achieved by presenting sequential examples and pruning the population using either graded selection/counterselection or by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). We demonstrate the feasibility of experimental implementation of such system computationally using a realistic model of the synthetic sensing gene circuits.Comment: 31 pages, 9 figure

Solid state microwave source development program Final report

Microstrip oscillator for solid state microwave sourc

Manajemen Pengawasan dalam Meningkatkan Kinerja Sekolah Menengah Atas Negeri 2 Kulisusu Kabupaten Buton Utara

Supervision management is an effort to manage supervisory activities in order to improve organizational performance. Thus efforts to improve school performance can be pursued by improving the quality of supervisory management. This study was conducted to analyze supervisory management in improving school performance at SMAN 2 Kulisusu, North Buton Regency using qualitative methods. Informants in this study amounted to 9 people consisting of 8 school elements, 1 supervisor element selected by using purposive sampling technique. The data collected was then analyzed descriptively to obtain an overview of Supervisory Management and School Performance through Teacher Performance and Principal Performance. The results showed that the supervisory management carried out by SMAN 2 Kulisusu supervisors in improving school performance at SMAN 2 Kulisusu had not run optimally due to limited facilities and infrastructure that were not in accordance with needs, as well as limited operational budget supervision which led to revision activities to improve program actualization results. control cannot be carried out. In addition, the supervision stage also does not run optimally, especially at the implementation stage of supervision due to the low understanding of teachers on textual supervisor instructions and the low intensity of supervisory meetings with school principals

Scintillation Response of Liquid Xenon to Low Energy Nuclear Recoils

Liquid Xenon (LXe) is expected to be an excellent target and detector medium to search for dark matter in the form of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). Knowledge of LXe ionization and scintillation response to low energy nuclear recoils expected from the scattering of WIMPs by Xe nuclei is important for determining the sensitivity of LXe direct detection experiments. Here we report on new measurements of the scintillation yield of Xe recoils with kinetic energy as low as 10 keV. The dependence of the scintillation yield on applied electric field was also measured in the range of 0 to 4 kV/cm. Results are in good agreement with recent theoretical predictions that take into account the effect of biexcitonic collisions in addition to the nuclear quenching effect.Comment: 16 pages, 13 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Preparation of Neutron-activated Xenon for Liquid Xenon Detector Calibration

We report the preparation of neutron-activated xenon for the calibration of liquid xenon (LXe) detectors. Gamma rays from the decay of xenon metastable states, produced by fast neutron activation, were detected and their activities measured in a LXe scintillation detector. Following a five-day activation of natural xenon gas with a Cf-252 (4 x 10^5 n/s) source, the activities of two gamma ray lines at 164 keV and 236 keV, from Xe-131m and Xe-129m metastable states, were measured at about 95 and 130 Bq/kg, respectively. We also observed three additional lines at 35 keV, 100 keV and 275 keV, which decay away within a few days. No long-lifetime activity was observed after the neutron activation.Comment: to be published in NIM A, corrected typos in Table 1 and Fig.6 of the previous versio