Strong dipolar effects in a quantum ferrofluid

Symmetry-breaking interactions have a crucial role in many areas of physics, ranging from classical ferrofluids to superfluid (3)He and d-wave superconductivity. For superfluid quantum gases, a variety of new physical phenomena arising from the symmetry-breaking interaction between electric or magnetic dipoles are expected. Novel quantum phases in optical lattices, such as chequerboard or supersolid phases, are predicted for dipolar bosons. Dipolar interactions can also enrich considerably the physics of quantum gases with internal degrees of freedom. Arrays of dipolar particles could be used for efficient quantum information processing. Here we report the realization of a chromium Bose-Einstein condensate with strong dipolar interactions. By using a Feshbach resonance, we reduce the usual isotropic contact interaction, such that the anisotropic magnetic dipole-dipole interaction between 52Cr atoms becomes comparable in strength. This induces a change of the aspect ratio of the atom cloud; for strong dipolar interactions, the inversion of ellipticity during expansion (the usual 'smoking gun' evidence for a Bose-Einstein condensate) can be suppressed. These effects are accounted for by taking into account the dipolar interaction in the superfluid hydrodynamic equations governing the dynamics of the gas, in the same way as classical ferrofluids can be described by including dipolar terms in the classical hydrodynamic equations. Our results are a first step in the exploration of the unique properties of quantum ferrofluids.     

A Sultone Route to the Antileukemic 1 ,10-Seco-Eudesmanolides （ - ）-Eriolanin and （ - ）-Eriolangin

The highly oxygenated 1,10-seco-eudesmanolides （ - ）-eriolanin （ 1 ） and （ - ）-eriolangin （2） isolated from the plant Eriophyllum lanatum （Asteraceae） inhibit the growth of the human KB tumor cell line in vitro and additionally display a significant antileukemie activity in vivo in mice （Scheme 1 ）. Using novel methods for the synthetic elaboration of sultones, the first enantioseleetive total syntheses of 1 and 2 have been accomplished, which also established the hitherto unknown absolute configuration of these natural produets.     

Placental origin of the progesterone binding protein in the pregnant guinea pig; immunohistoligical study]

The origin of the high affinity progesterone binding protein (PBP) occurring during pregnancy in the guinea pig serum has been investigated. An indirect immunofluorescence technique has been developed using a specific antiserum raised in rabbits. An accumulation of PBP-like immunofluorescent material was detected in the trophoblastic syncytium of the placenta tissue, whereas all other examined pregnant guinea pig organs gave negative reactions. It is concluded that this placental accumulation of immunoreactive PBP-like material may express a placental biosynthesis of this glycoprotein.     

Inhibition of sea urchin egg cleavage by ribonuclease

Résumé La ribonucléase exerce une action inhibitrice sur le clivage des ufs d'oursins. La source commerciale de l'enzyme, la concentration utilisée et l'état des ufs déterminent les effets obtenus. Ceux-ci varient entre une inhibition totale immédiate et un ralentissement des divisions cellulaires, suivi d'un développement anormal éventuellement abortif.En outre, la ribonucléase a une action complexe sur la membrane de fertilisation, la couche hyaline et la membrane cellulaire. Cette dernière action pourrait être liée aux effets antimitotiques observés.

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Contribution No.126 from the Oceanographic Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee (Florida). Aided by a grant from the National Science Foundation.     

The substrate degradome of meprin metalloproteases reveals an unexpected proteolytic link between meprin β and ADAM10

The in vivo roles of meprin metalloproteases in pathophysiological conditions remain elusive. Substrates define protease roles. Therefore, to identify natural substrates for human meprin α and β we employed TAILS (terminal amine isotopic labeling of substrates), a proteomics approach that enriches for N-terminal peptides of proteins and cleavage fragments. Of the 151 new extracellular substrates we identified, it was notable that ADAM10 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain-containing protein 10)—the constitutive α-secretase—is activated by meprin β through cleavage of the propeptide. To validate this cleavage event, we expressed recombinant proADAM10 and after preincubation with meprin β, this resulted in significantly elevated ADAM10 activity. Cellular expression in murine primary fibroblasts confirmed activation. Other novel substrates including extracellular matrix proteins, growth factors and inhibitors were validated by western analyses and enzyme activity assays with Edman sequencing confirming the exact cleavage sites identified by TAILS. Cleavages in vivo were confirmed by comparing wild-type and meprin^?/? mice. Our finding of cystatin C, elafin and fetuin-A as substrates and natural inhibitors for meprins reveal new mechanisms in the regulation of protease activity important for understanding pathophysiological processes.     

Mast cells promote homeostasis by limiting endothelin-1-induced toxicity

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a 21-amino-acid peptide, derived from vascular endothelial cells, with potent vasoconstrictor activity. ET-1 has been implicated in diverse physiological or pathological processes, including the vascular changes associated with sepsis. However, the factors that regulate ET-1-associated toxicity during bacterial infections, or in other settings, are not fully understood. Both the pathology associated with certain allergic and autoimmune disorders, and optimal host defence against bacterial and parasitic infections are mediated by mast cells. In vitro, mast cells can produce ET-1 (ref. 11), undergo ET-1-dependent and endothelin-A receptor (ET(A))-dependent activation, and release proteases that degrade ET-1 (ref. 14). Although the potential relationships between mast cells and the ET-1 system thus may be complex, the importance of interactions between ET-1 and mast cells in vivo is obscure. Here we show that ET(A)-dependent mast-cell activation can diminish both ET-1 levels and ET-1-induced pathology in vivo, and also can contribute to optimal survival during acute bacterial peritonitis. These findings identify a new biological function for mast cells: promotion of homeostasis by limiting the toxicity associated with an endogenous mediator.     

Biodiversity (Communications arising): suspect evidence of transgenic contamination

Quist and Chapela claim that transgenic DNA constructs have been introgressed into a traditional maize variety in Mexico, and furthermore suggest that these constructs have been reassorted and introduced into different genomic backgrounds. However, we show here that their evidence for such introgression is based on the artefactual results of a flawed assay; in addition, the authors misinterpret a key reference to explain their results, concluding that reassortment of integrated transgenic DNA occurs during transformation or recombination.     

2,6-Dichlorobenzylidene amino guanidine acetate (Wy-8678). A new hypotensive agent

Zusammenfassung Bei unanästhesierten Ratten und Hunden wurden die antihypertensiven Eigenschaften von 2,6-Dichlorobenzyliden-Aminoguanidin-Azetat (WY 8678), welches zu einer neuen Reihe von aktiven Substanzen gehört, sowie noch einige andere klinisch wirksame Substanzen an zwei experimentellen Modellen für Hypertension geprüft und dabei eine wesentliche Blutdrucksenkung festgestellt.