Assuming elliptically contoured distribution for portfolio asset returns, we derive the exact marginal and joint densities of the global minimum variance portfolio variance, and weights estimators. We also construct a test for the hypothesis that the global minimum variance is less then or equal to a certain value. A stochastic representation and moments of its estimator is provided. We illustr...

We examine the relation between trading volume and skewness in 11 international stock markets using daily and monthly data from January 1980 to August 2004. We construct single equation and VAR models of the relation between the first three moments of market returns and trading volumes. Our results show hitherto unrecognised channels of influence, and support the investor heterogeneity approach...

Objective To analyze bond strength to bleached enamel following application of 10% sodium ascorbate gel. Material and methods Forty third molars were allocated into five groups (n = 8): GP - unbleached specimens restored with composite resin; GN - specimens restored immediately after bleaching; and G15; G30 and G60 (test groups) - bleached specimens treated with 10% sodium ascorbate gel for 15,...

BACKGROUND Glycated albumin (GA) is an Amadori product used as a marker of hyperglycemia. In this study, we investigated the effect of GA on insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells. METHODS Islets were collected from male Wistar rats by collagenase digestion. Insulin secretion in the presence of non-glycated human albumin (HA) and GA was measured under three different glucose concentrations...

The G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 30 (GPR30) is a seven-transmembrane domain receptor that mediates rapid estrogen responses in a wide variety of cell types. This receptor is highly expressed in the cardiovascular system, and exerts vasodilatory effects. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of GPR30 on vascular responsiveness in diabetic ovariectomized (OVX) r...

Th e improvement of new genotypes with acceptable yield stability in diff erent environments is an important issue in breeding programs. In order to study genotype × environment (GE) interaction and to determine the most stable durum wheat genotypes, fi eld experiments were conducted with 20 genotypes for three years (20072009). Results showed highly signifi cant GE interaction indicating the p...

The purpose of this study was to determine whether aldosterone has a rapid action in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) that increases sodium intake, and to examine whether this effect of aldosterone, if present, is mediated by G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats with a stainless-steel cannula in the NTS were used. Aldosterone was injected into the NTS a...