We present a novel method for modeling metabolic states using whole cell measurements of

gene expression. Our method, which we call E-Flux (as a combination of flux and expression), extends the technique of Flux Balance Analysis SYN-117 cell line by modeling maximum flux constraints as a function of measured gene expression. In contrast to previous methods for metabolically interpreting gene expression data, E-Flux utilizes a model of the underlying metabolic network to directly predict changes in metabolic flux capacity. We applied E-Flux to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). Key components of mycobacterial cell walls are mycolic acids which are targets for several first-line TB drugs. We used E-Flux to predict the impact of 75 different drugs, drug combinations, and nutrient conditions on mycolic acid biosynthesis capacity in M. tuberculosis, using GS-9973 cell line a public compendium of over 400 expression arrays. We tested our method using a model of mycolic acid biosynthesis as well as on a genome-scale model of M. tuberculosis metabolism. Our method correctly predicts seven of the eight known fatty acid inhibitors in this compendium and makes accurate predictions regarding the

specificity of these compounds for fatty acid biosynthesis. Our method also predicts a number of additional potential modulators of TB mycolic acid biosynthesis. E-Flux thus provides a promising new approach for algorithmically predicting metabolic state from gene expression data.”
“The ratio of the electron and ion saturation currents in single probe I-V characteristics for microwave-sustained plasma jets at atmospheric pressure are found to be much smaller than the value expected from the standard high-pressure single probe theory providing an over estimation of electron temperatures. By assuming that the single probe characteristic behaves as an asymmetric double probe when the

electron to ion saturation current ratio is reduced, the whole characteristics may be fitted and significantly lower electron temperatures may be derived. In this study, asymmetric double probe theory for collisional plasmas is developed and employed to microwave-sustained helium plasma jets in order to estimate find more the plasma parameters (electron temperature and plasma density) at atmospheric pressure avoiding the overestimation of electron temperature. (C) 2010 Ainerican Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3391921]“
“In our previous study we found that addition of proper amount of halocarbons (HC) including chlorocyclohexane (CHC), chlorocyclopentane (CHP), butylchloride (BC), 1,4-dichlorobutane (DCB), and chloroform (C) to the MgCl2 (Ethoxide type)/TiCl4/AlEt3 catalytic system leads to a strong productivity improvement. In this study, the effect of these halocarbons on the properties of resulting polymers was investigated using H-2 as chain transfer agent at optimum HC/Ti molar ratio.