Gauß and Beyond: The Making of Easter Algorithms

It is amazing to see how many webpages are devoted to the art of finding the date of Easter Sunday. Just for illustration, the reader may search for terms such as Gregorian calendar, date of Easter, or Easter algorithm. Sophisticated essays as well as less enlightening contributions are presented, and many a doubt is expressed about the reliability of some results obtained with some Easter algorithms. In short, there is still a great interest in those problems. Gregorian Easter algorithms exist for two centuries (or more?), but most of their history is rather obscure. Some reasons may be that some important sources are written in Latin or in the German of Goethe’s time, or they are difficult to discover. Without being complete, the following paper is intended to shed light on how those techniques emerged and evolved.¹ Like a microcosm, the history of Easter algorithms resembles the history of any science: it is a story of trials, errors, and successes, and, last but not least, a story of offended pride.     

β-Brazan from isocoumaranone

Résumé L'autocondensation de l'isocoumaranone donne le composé (I), qui par l'acide hydrochlorique est isomerisé en l'acide (II). Celui-ci est transformé en-brazan par cinq réactions consécutives.     

Antagonism of chlorpromazine byβ-melanocyte stimulating hormone (β-MSH)

Résumé Une préparation hautement purifiée de l'hormone mélanophorétique-MSH inhibe les effets de la chlorpromazine au niveau de la moelle spinale.     

Circadian rhythm ofβ-glucuronidase

Summary The circadian rhythm of rat liver-glucuronidase has been studied in animals kept under highly standardized laboratory condition. A clear 24 h rhythm has been observed for this enzyme with a peak activity at 01.00 h and a trough at 13.00 h.The work was carried out in Institut für Anatomie I, Medical School, Hannover (Federal Republic of Germany). Supported by grants from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Sonderforschungsbereich 146 and VW Stiftung, Hannover A2 11.2000.     

α- andβ-Guttiferins

Zusammenfassung Die Isolierung, Charakterisierung und antibiotischen Eigenschaften von-Guttiferin (I), C₃₃H₃₈O₈ (Smp. 113–115°), aus den Samenhülsen und vom nahe verwandten-Guttiferin (II), C₂₉H₃₆O₆ oder C_33–34H_38–40O₈ (Smp. 86–91°) (möglicherweise identisch mit-Gambogasäure), aus Gummigutt, dem harzigen Sekret vonGarcinia morella, wurden beschrieben und ihre Verwandtschaft zu Morellin und Moreollin, den beiden bekannten Pigmenten der Samenhülsen, dargelegt. Für I wurde eine Partialstruktur vorgeschlagen. Die Bildung derselben komplexen bromhaltigen Säure vom Smp. 199 bis 200° unter der Einwirkung von Natriumhypobromit auf I und II spricht ferner für deren nahe strukturelle Verwandtschaft.     

Wirkung von 6β-Methoxy-9β,10α-pregna-4,6-dien-3,20-dion

Summary 6-Methoxy-9,10 -pregna-4,6-diene-3,20-dione inhibites the ⁴-3-oxosteroid-5-reduction in microsomes and the ⁴-3-oxosteroid-5-reduction in the soluble fraction of male rat liver. The 3- and 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase are not inhibited by this substance.

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Diese Arbeit wurde von der Firma Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, unterstützt.     

16-β-methylprednisone from hecogenin

Zusammenfassung Es wird über die Herstellung des 16-Methylprednisons berichtet, welche vom Hecogenin ausgehend über ca. 15 Stufen durchgeführt wird. Als wichtige Zwischenstufe treten 5-Pregn-16-en-3-ol-11, 20-dion-Acetat und 16-Methylen-5-pregnan-3, 17-diol-11, 20-dion auf: letzteres wird durch eine stereospezifische katalytische Reduktion in das entsprechende 16-Methyl-derivat umgewandelt.     

A new synthesis ofβ-fluoroaspartic acid

Summary -Fluoroaspartic acid, a new amino acid, was synthesized by a diazotization of diaminosuccinic acid in liquid hydrogen fluoride.Synthesis of Amino Acids and Related Compounds, part 21.—Part 20: Y. Ozaki, S. Maeda, M. Miyoshi and K. Matsumoto, Synthesis, 216 (1979).We would like to acknowledge Dr I. Chibata for his encouragement in this work.     

β—内酰胺抗生素工业中的酶工程

在激烈竞争的β－内酰胺抗生素中工业中,酶法生产因其商效,低成本,安全无污染和质量稳定等优点脱颖而出,本文根据β－内酶胺抗生素工业的生产近况,对酶的生产和稳定化,酶法水解以及酶法合成β－内酰胺抗生素这些酶法生产的关键步骤提出对策,酶工程将推动我国β－内酰胺抗生素工业的进程。     

17β-Estradiol-sensitivity of cultured myometrial cells

Summary The estrogen sensitivity of cells cultured from the rat myometrium was studied by growing the cells in the absence or presence of 1 nM 17-estradiol. Following a time lag of 10 days, exposure to estrogen resulted in increased incorporation of radiothymidine by the cells. Estrogen treatment also decreased isoproterenol-dependent and GTP-dependent adenylate cyclase activity, but had no effect on basal activity. These cultured cells have been shown previously to have some properties of uterine smooth muscle. The effects estrogen has in viyro, therefore, may reflect important properties in vivo that account for the mechanism by which the sex steroid decreases the sensitivity of the myometrium to isoproterenol.     

Action of sulfuric acid onβ-carotene

Zusammenfassung Die Einwirkung von Schwefelsäure auf eine benzolische-Carotinösung und die nachträgliche Behandlung der so gebildeten blauen Umwandlungsprodukte mit Wasser führte zu gelblichen Stoffen unbekannter Konstitution. Die chromatographische Analyse dieser Verbindungen zeigte die Abwesenheit von-Carotin. Einige Eigenschaften der neuen Stoffe werden beschrieben.     

Anti-bovineβ-lactoglobulin antibodies react with a human lactoferrin fragment and bovineβ-lactoglobulin present in human milk

Human milk samples react against anti-bovine-lactoglobulin rabbit antibodies, as measured by a competitive radioimmunoassay. Immunoreactivity was positive even in milk from mothers consuming a diet free of cow's milk. An increase with a diet rich in cow's milk proteins was detected by immunoelectrophoresis. The human milk fraction cross-reacting with anti-bovine-lactoglobulin antibodies corresponds to the 20 kDa fragment from the N-terminal end of human lactoferrin. Three regions of this fragment exhibit sequence homology with a sequence contained in cow's-lactoglobulin (between residues 124 and 141).     

Human and rodent type 1 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases are 7β-hydroxycholesterol dehydrogenases involved in oxysterol metabolism

Interconversion between cortisone and the glucocorticoid receptor ligand cortisol is carried out by 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11-HSD)isozymes and constitutes a medically important example of pre-receptor control of steroid hormones. The enzyme 11-HSD type 1 (11-HSD1) catalyzes the conversion of cortisone to its active receptor-binding derivative cortisol, whereas 11-HSD type 2 performs the reverse reaction. Specific inhibitors against the type 1 enzyme lower intracellular levels of glucocorticoid hormone, with an important clinical application in insulin resistance and other metabolic disorders. We report here on the in vitro oxysterol-metabolizing properties of human and rodent 11-HSD1. The enzyme, either as full-length, membrane-attached, or as a transmembrane domain-deleted, soluble form, mediates exclusively conversion between 7-ketocholesterol and 7-hydroxycholesterol with similar k_cat values as observed with glucocorticoid hormones. Thus, human, rat, and mouse 11-HSD1 have dual enzyme activities like the recently described 7-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from hamster liver, but differ fundamentally from the latter in that 7-OH rather than 7-OH dehydrogenase constitutes the second activity. These results demonstrate an enzymatic origin of species differences in 7-oxysterol metabolism, establish the origin of endogenous 7-OH cholesterol in humans, and point to a possible involvement of 11-HSD1 in atherosclerosis.Received 30 December 2003; received after revision 16 February 2004; accepted 16 February 2004     

Completion of the natural groups of ergot alkaloids: Syntheses and pharmacological profiles ofβ-ergosine andβ-ergoptine

Summary The syntheses and pharmacological potencies of -ergosine and -ergoptine, the missing links in the natural groups of ergot peptide alkaloids are described.86th communication on ergot alkaloids.     

1β-Hydroxylation ofd-norgestrel and norethisterone byBotryodiploadi malorum

Zusammenfassung Die mikrobiologische 1-Hydroxylierung vond-Norgestrel und Norethisteron durch den MikroorganismusBotryodiplodia malorum wird beschrieben. Ausserdem wurde 11-Hydroxynorethisteron isoliert und charakterisiert.

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Acknowledgement. The authors want to express their appreciation to Dr.H. Smith for advice and encouragement through the course of this work. We wish to thank Dr.T. Chang, Dr.C. Hetzel and Mr.C. Kuhlman for obtaining and interpreting the mass spectra and Mr.B. Hormann for NMR decoupling experiments and analytical services.     

Studies on enzymicβ-hydroxylation of phenylethyl amines

Zusammenfassung Phenylethylamin, 3-Methoxy-dopamin undp-Hydroxyamphetamin werden durch Dopamin--oxidase in die entsprechende-Hydroxy-Verbindung umgewandelt.

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This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health.     

β-Endorphin in normozoospermic and pathologic human semen

Summary -Endorphin was estimated in normozoospermic, oligozoospermic and azoospermic human semen. The mean amount in normozoospermic specimens was 278.6±43.6 (SE) pg/ml while in the others only 191.1±25 pg/ml. Both values are significantly higher than those present in the blood.     

Electrochemical behaviour ofβ-carotene with strong acids

Zusammenfassung Die Einwirkung von starken Säuren auf-Carotin in geeigneten Lösungsmitteln führte zur Bildung von blauen Farbstoffen. Bei Anwendung von mono- und polybasischen Säuren wanderten diese neuen Stoffe meistens kathodisch, wenn die Säurekonzentration schwach war. Manchmal, vor allem bei stärkerer Konzentration oder nach längerem Stehen der Lösungen, wanderten sie anodisch.     

Synthese von 5α- und 5β-Androstan-17β-ol-3-on-17-acetat aus Hyodesoxycholsäure

Summary 5- and 5-androstane-17-ol-3-one-17-acetate have been prepared from 5-androstane-6, 17-diol-3-one-17-acetate by a synthesis involving directedHuang-Minlon-reduction.Separation of 5-androstane-17-ol-3-one from its 5-isomer could readily be achieved by crystallisation of their 3-ethylenketals from acetone.