Critical Self-Organized Self-Sustained Oscillations in Large Regulatory Networks: Towards Understanding the Gene Expression Initiation

In this paper, a new model of self-organized criticality is introduced. This model, called the gene expression paradigm, is motivated by the problem of gene expression initiation in the newly-born daughter cells after mitosis. The model is fundamentally different in dynamics and properties from the well known sand-pile paradigm. Simulation experiments demonstrate that a critical total number of proteins exists below which transcription is impossible. Above this critical threshold, the system enters the regime of self-sustained oscillations with standard deviations and periods proportional to the genes’ complexities with probability one. The borderline between these two regimes is very sharp. Importantly, such a self-organization emerges without any deterministic feedback loops or external supervision, and is a result of completely random redistribution of proteins between inactive genes. Given the size of the genome, the domain of self-organized oscillatory motion is also limited by the genes’ maximal complexities. Below the critical complexity, all the regimes of self-organized oscillations are self-similar and largely independent of the genes’ complexities. Above the level of critical complexity, the whole-genome transcription is impossible. Again, the borderline between the domains of oscillations and quiescence is very sharp. The gene expression paradigm is an example of cellular automata with the domain of application potentially far beyond its biological context. The model seems to be simple enough for staging an experiment for verification of its remarkable properties

Minimum Detection Efficiencies for a Loophole-Free Bell-type Test

We discuss the problem of finding the most favorable conditions for closing the detection loophole in a test of local realism with a Bell inequality. For a generic non-maximally entangled two-qubit state and two alternative measurement bases we apply Hardy's proof of non-locality without inequality and derive an Eberhard-like inequality. For an infinity of non-maximally entangled states we find that it is possible to refute local realism by requiring perfect detection efficiency for only one of the two measurements: the test is free from the detection loophole for any value of the detection efficiency corresponding to the other measurement. The maximum tolerable noise in a loophole-free test is also evaluated.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Consider the Caregivers: Reimagining Labor and Immigration Law to Benefit Home Care Workers and Their Clients

A looming shortage of over half a million direct care workers within the next decade threatens to leave elderly and disabled individuals without much-needed care. Existing U.S. labor and immigration laws render long-term care work undesirable and providers prone to exploitation. Despite the extension of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s protections to many home care workers in 2015, flawed enforcement mechanisms prevent workers from effectuating their newfound rights. Additionally, restrictive visa programs and crackdowns on undocumented employment limit noncitizens’ ability to secure positions in the industry. As a result, the home care system facilitates the exploitation of home care workers, contributes to high turnover rates, and creates instability for elderly and disabled individuals who rely on caregivers to remain in their communities. This Note argues that Congress should support strategic labor law enforcement initiatives, grant amnesty to undocumented workers, and reform the employment-based visa program to give higher preference to all essential workers. This Note further demonstrates how these actions will benefit both caregivers and their clients

ABC to AB 5: The Supreme Court of California Modernizes Common Law Doctrine in \u3cem\u3eDynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court\u3c/em\u3e

In 2018, the Supreme Court of California held in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court that the ABC test for distinguishing between employees and independent contractors under state wage and hour laws should supplant its common law approach. As a result, California codified the decision as Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5). The adoption of the ABC test stands to benefit workers and have considerable effects on California’s economy. This Comment argues that courts should follow the Supreme Court of California’s example by shifting away from outdated common law doctrine to tackle emerging societal problems and propel legislative change

Pattern recognition. v- samp - a computer program for estimating surface area from contour maps

Fortran computer program for computing linear approximation of surface area for any given portion of digitized contour ma