Stochastic thermodynamics of reactive systems: An extended local equilibrium approach.

The recently developed extended local equilibrium approach to stochastic thermodynamics is applied to reactive systems. The properties of the fluctuating entropy and entropy production are analyzed for general linear and for prototypical nonlinear kinetic processes. It is shown that nonlinear kinetics typically induces deviations of the mean entropy production from its value in the deterministic (mean-field) limit.

[Molecules of the family of aspartic proteinases in the placenta of ruminants: hormones or proteins?].

The ruminant placenta contains binucleate trophoblastic cells synthesizing proteins, migrating cross the barrier and fusing with endothelial cells of the endometrium. Recently described were two glycoproteins from the family of aspartic proteases, apparently lacking the enzymatic activity: the pregnancy associated glycoproteins I and II (PAGI and PAGII). The first (PAGI) is largely secreted in maternal blood, this characteristic copes with the lack of proteolytic activity.