Centromere nature of the chromosomes ofRanatra (Heteroptera)

Zusammenfassung Histologisch-cytologische Untersuchungen zeigen, dass die Chromosomen vonRanatra monozentrisch sind. Der Befund steht im Gegensatz zu Ergebnissen anderer Autoren an andern Heteroptera-Arten, die polyzentrische Chromosomen haben. Die Natur des Centromers ist also bei verschiedenen Arten der Heteropteren verschieden.     

On the existence of cytokines in invertebrates

Based on the assumption that invertebrates, like vertebrates, possess factors regulating responses to infection or wounding, studies dealing with the evolution of immunity have focussed on the isolation and characterisation of putative cytokine-related molecules from invertebrates. Until recently, most of our knowledge of cytokine- and cytokine receptor-like molecules in invertebrates relies on functional assays and similarities at the physicochemical level. As such, a phylogenetic relationship between invertebrate cytokine-like molecules and vertebrate counterparts could not be convincingly demonstrated. Recent genomic sequence analyses of interleukin-1-receptor-related molecules, that is Toll-like receptors, and members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily suggest that the innate immune system of invertebrates and vertebrates evolved independently. In addition, data from protochordates and annelids suggest that invertebrate cytokine-like molecules and vertebrate factors do not have the same evolutionary origin. We propose instead that the convergence of function of invertebrate cytokine-like molecules and vertebrate counterparts involved in innate immune defences may be based on similar lectin-like activities. Received 27 November 2000; received after revision 11 December 2000; accepted 13 December 2000     

Genetic polymorphism: from electrophoresis to DNA sequences

Summary Recent studies indicate that the amount of protein variation undetected by electrophoresis may be reasonably small. Nevertheless, at the protein level, a typical sexually-reproducing organism may be heterozygous at 20 or more percent of the gene loci. Although the evidence is limited, it appears that at the level of the DNA nucleotide sequence every individual is heterozygous at every locus — if introns as well as exons are taken into account. The evidence available does not support the hypothesis that, at least at the protein level, the variation is adaptively neutral.This work was supported by grant GM 22221 from the PHS (USA).     

The separation of fatty acids

Résumé Le problème de la séparation des acides gras est exposé en détail. Les méthodes physiques couramment appliquées à une macro- ou micro-échelle sont discutées et l'on donne des exemples tirés de la littérature ou de méthodes récemment utilisées dans les recherches. Celles-ci comprennent la cristallisation, la distillation fractionnée, la distribution par contre-courant, la chromatographie en phase gazeuse et la spectrographie de masse.

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Presented before the symposium on Chemistry and Physiology of Fats at the meeting of the Chemical Institute of Canada, Ottawa, October 9, 1957. Hormel Institute publication No. 168.     

Analysis of many short time sequences: Forecast improvements achieved by shrinkage

Credibility models in actuarial science deal with multiple short time series where each series represents claim amounts of different insurance groups. Commonly used credibility models imply shrinkage of group-specific estimates towards their average. In this paper we model the claim size yu in group i and at time t as the sum of three independent components: y_it = μ_r + δ_i + ?_it. The first component, μt = μ_t?1 + m_t, represents time-varying levels that are common to all groups. The second component, δ_i, represents random group offsets that are the same in all periods, and the third component represents independent measurement errors. In this paper we show how to obtain forecasts from this model and we discuss the nature of the forecasts, with particular emphasis on shrinkage. We also assess the forecast improvements that can be expected from such a model. Finally, we discuss an extension of the above model which also allows the group offsets to change over time. We assume that the offsets for different groups follow independent random walks.     

Paper electrophoretic separation of tuberculin constituents

Zusammenfassung Methoden zur papierelektrophoretischen Trennung von antigenen Komponenten von Tuberkulin werden beschrieben.