Isolation of Commisterone,a new phytoecdysone fromCyanotis vaga

Zusammenfassung Aus den zerkleinerten Blättern vonCyanotis vaga (Commelinaceae) wurde durch Benzolextraktion und Chromatographie mit Silikagel eine neue Substanz isoliert: C₂₇H₄₄O₇ (Sp. 146–151), die nach den spektrometrischen Daten (IR, NMR, UV, MS) mit dem Insektenhormon Ecdysteron stereoisomer ist.

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Dedicated to Prof. Dr. R. Tschesche, Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Universität Bonn (Germany) on the occasion of his 65th birthday, for the invaluable help and inspiration he has given us.     

Effect of urethan on the glycogen and RNA content of liver parenchymal cells. A cytophotometric study

Résumé Utilisant la méthode cytophotométrique on a observé l'accroissement du glycogène et la réduction de ARN dans le foie de souris soumises au traitement toxique par l'uréthane.     

Potentiation of histamine and inhibition of diamine oxidase by mescaline

Zusammenfassung Anhand zweier Versuchsanordnungen wird gezeigt, dass Meskalin Histaminwirkungen verstärken kann. Ausserdem vermag es die Histamin zerstörende Wirkung der Diaminooxydase zu hemmen (in 10^–5-molarer Konzentration).Es wird die Möglichkeit diskutiert, dass diese Eigenschaften mit der 4-Methoxyphenyl-äthylamin-Struktur des Meskalins in Zusammenhang stehen könnten.     

Yield curve forecast combinations based on bond portfolio performance

We propose an economically motivated forecast combination strategy in which model weights are related to portfolio returns obtained by a given forecast model. An empirical application based on an optimal mean–variance bond portfolio problem is used to highlight the advantages of the proposed approach with respect to combination methods based on statistical measures of forecast accuracy. We compute average net excess returns, standard deviation, and the Sharpe ratio of bond portfolios obtained with nine alternative yield curve specifications, as well as with 12 different forecast combination strategies. Return‐based forecast combination schemes clearly outperformed approaches based on statistical measures of forecast accuracy in terms of economic criteria. Moreover, return‐based approaches that dynamically select only the model with highest weight each period and discard all other models delivered even better results, evidencing not only the advantages of trimming forecast combinations but also the ability of the proposed approach to detect best‐performing models. To analyze the robustness of our results, different levels of risk aversion and a different dataset are considered.     

Chromosome aberrations in cattle raised on bracken fern pasture

Thirteen cows maintained on natural bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) were analyzed cytogenetically. The frequency of structural chromosome aberrations detected in peripheral blood cells was significantly higher when compared to that detected in animals raised on pasture containing no bracken fern. We discuss the clastogenic action of fern and its synergistic action with infection by type 2 and 4 papilloma virus in the same animals.     

Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome

The human genome holds an extraordinary trove of information about human development, physiology, medicine and evolution. Here we report the results of an international collaboration to produce and make freely available a draft sequence of the human genome. We also present an initial analysis of the data, describing some of the insights that can be gleaned from the sequence.