Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Empirical Examination of Executive Signing Bonuses : An Incentive Mechanism *

S&P1500 firms awarded signing bonuses to a growing proportion of new top executives in recent years, with the payments averaging $2.5 million from 1992 through 2011. Examining hand-collected data on 2,301 signing bonuses during that period, we find empirical evidence corroborating the signaling and incentive roles of the payments. Our research is the first empirical study on executive signing bonuses and provides an integrated framework for understanding the pay setting practice at large US firms. We find that a firm is likely to grant a signing bonus to an executive who is a good match but uncertain about his future success at the firm. Signing bonuses are most often used by firms that are large but young, R&D intensive, and have volatile stock returns and dispersed analyst forecasts on earnings. Recipients of signing bonuses tend to be young, inexperienced, and relatively uninformed executives. An executive receives a larger signing bonus when the cost of relocation and the value of forfeited equity at the previous employer are higher. The executive receiving the signing bonus receives greater equity awards, total annual compensation, and severance pay although he has a lower equity portfolio delta. We show that the firm awarding the signing bonus subsequently outperforms peers and the executive who receives the signing bonus has longer tenure at the firm.
On the Oscillations of Jupiter as Observed by Voyager 2

Data recorded from Voyager 2 in 1979 during closest approach to Jupiter is prepared and analyzed for evidence of Jovian modal forcing. Comparisons are drawn between the data set in question and previously performed analysis by Mosser et al. [27], [29], [6] and also to the models presented by Gudkova and Zharkov in [19]. The theory of stationary processes and multitaper spectrum estimation are employed extensively in the analysis, along with intensive use of the harmonic frequency variance test as a tool for separating signal from noise. The splitting of low-order p-modes is briefly examined and found to be in-line with that discovered earlier by Mosser et al.
Secretory Transactivating Transcription-apoptin fusion protein induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.

AIM To determine whether SP-TAT-apoptin induces apoptosis and also maintains its tumor cell specificity. METHODS In this study, we designed a secretory protein by adding a secretory signal peptide (SP) to the N terminus of Transactivating Transcription (TAT)-apoptin (SP-TAT-apoptin), to test the hypothesis that it gains an additive bystander effect as an anti-cancer therapy. We used an artificial human secretory SP whose amino acid sequence and corresponding cDNA sequence were generated by the SP hidden Markov model. RESULTS In human liver carcinoma HepG2 cells, SP-TAT-apoptin expression showed a diffuse pattern in the early phase after transfection. After 48 h, however, it translocated into the nuclear compartment and caused massive apoptotic cell death, as determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and annexin-V binding assay. SP-TAT-apoptin did not, however, cause any cell death in non-malignant human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Most importantly, the conditioned medium from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with SP-TAT-apoptin also induced significant cell death in HepG2 cells, but not in HUVECs. CONCLUSION The data demonstrated that SP-TAT-apoptin induces apoptosis only in malignant cells, and its secretory property might greatly increase its potency once it is delivered in vivo for cancer therapy.
Soil–plant N processes in a High Arctic ecosystem, NW Greenland are altered by long‐term experimental warming and higher rainfall

Rapid temperature and precipitation changes in High Arctic tundra ecosystems are altering the biogeochemical cycles of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), but in ways that are difficult to predict. The challenge grows from the uncertainty of N cycle responses and the extent to which shifts in soil N are coupled with the C cycle and productivity of tundra systems. We used a long‐term (since 2003) experiment of summer warming and supplemental summer water additions to a High Arctic ecosystem in NW Greenland, and applied a combination of discrete sampling and in situ soil core incubations to measure C and N pools and seasonal microbial processes that might control plant‐available N. We hypothesized that elevated temperature and increased precipitation would stimulate microbial activity and net inorganic N mineralization, thereby increasing plant N‐availability through the growing season. While we did find increased N mineralization rates under both global change scenarios, water addition also significantly increased net nitrification rates, loss of NO3−‐N via leaching, and lowered rates of labile organic N production. We also expected the chronic warming and watering would lead to long‐term changes in soil N‐cycling that would be reflected in soil δ15N values. We found that soil δ15N decreased under the different climate change scenarios. Our results suggest that temperature accelerates biological processes and existing C and N transformations, but moisture increases soil hydraulic connectivity and so alters the pathways, and changes the fate of the products of C and N transformations. In addition, our findings indicate that warmer, wetter High Arctic tundra will be cycling N and C in ways that may transform these landscapes in part leading to greater C sequestration, but simultaneously, N losses from the upper soil profile that may be transported to depth dissolved in water and or transported off site in lateral flow.
South African Spider Diversity: African Perspectives on the Conservation of a Mega-Diverse Group

Any field of endeavour requires retrospection after a period of substantial activity. This process provides a measure of what has been achieved and identifies future directions. Studies of spider diversity in South Africa have gone through an intense growth phase over the past ten years and reached a stage in its development where reflections on patterns and processes observed could provide meaningful input into the identification of further work. This chapter establishes the background and framework for such a discussion on the path to a more holistic conservation planning that includes invertebrates. Invertebrate conservation and diversity pose a significant challenge to planners and managers (Engelbrecht, 2010), and in spite of the central role that insects and arachnids play in terrestrial biodiversity, they still remain peripheral to decision-making processes. The reality is that, for Africa in particular, there are very few conservation areas that have both the resources and expertise to include invertebrates as part of their monitoring and management initiatives (however, see South African River Health Programme1). The advent of adaptive management, with a strong emphasis on experimental implementation of alternative management options (Johnson, 1999), has informed much of recent thinking and has cast a dim light on classical inventory studies that generate species lists. However, records of the numbers of species and their distribution provides a fundamental starting point for the conservation of biodiversity (Pullin, 2002). This view also ignores the contribution that basic inventories and alpha taxonomy make to the initial development of a field. This chapter will show that South African spider systematics and ecology are in an exploratory phase, and that traditional approaches to mapping diversity has enabled spider ecology in the country to generate species lists that are often resolved up to species level. Very few other studies on mega-diverse invertebrate groups in Africa can match this taxonomic resolution (see e.g. Formicinae). This descriptive phase will provide the
Analysis of the accuracy of linear measurements obtained by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT-NewTom).

OBJECTIVES The conical beam computed tomography (CBCT) technique presents an innovation of tomographic imaging systems and subsequent volumetric image reconstruction for dentistry. When compared with other methods of tomographic imaging CBCT is characterized by rapid volumetric image acquisition from a single low radiation dose scan of the patient. The NewTom (NewTom 9000; Quantitative Radiology, Verona, Italy) is an example of such a CBCT machine dedicated to dental and maxillofacial imaging, particularly for surgical and/or prosthetics implant planning in the field of dentistry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the linear measurements obtained in CBCT images using a NewTom. METHODS Thirteen measurements were obtained in dry skulls (n = 8) between internal and external anatomical sites using a caliper. These were considered as real measurements. Then the dry skulls were submitted to CBCT imaging examinations. Radiographic distance measurements of the same dry skull anatomical sites were made using the NewTom QR-DVT 9000 software of the 2 mm-CTs axial section images and sagittal or coronal reconstructions. The data were compared by paired Student's t-test. RESULTS The results showed that the real measurements were always larger than those for the CBCT images, but these differences were only significant for measurements of the internal structures of the skull base. CONCLUSIONS The conclusion of this study is that, although the CBCT image underestimates the real distances between skull sites, differences are only significant for the skull base and therefore it is reliable for linear evaluation measurements of other structures more closely associated with dentomaxillofacial imaging.
Heart rate variability in subjects with different hypnotic susceptibility receiving nociceptive stimulation and suggestions of analgesia

The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible hypnotizability-related modulation of heart activity during nociceptive stimulation (pressor pain) and during nociceptive stimulation associated with the suggestion of analgesia in not hypnotized healthy individuals with a high (Highs) and a low (Lows) hypnotic susceptibility. ECG and respirogram were recorded. Standard time and frequency domain indexes were evaluated, together with the sd1 and sd2 values of the Poincare plot over the RR series. Results showed self reports of analgesia in Highs and a significant increase of the respiratory frequency during stimulation in both groups. Very few significant differences between groups and among conditions were detected for mean RR and heart rate variability (HRV) through spectral analysis, and through the Poincare indexes evaluation. On the contrary, a promising approach seems to be the study of the correlations among standard and Poincare variables. In particular, different changes in (or even lost of) correlations were enlightened in Highs and Lows, suggesting a different modulation of RR in the two groups, probably due to the very low frequency components of HRV. Different roles of sympathetic and para sympathetic activities during stimulation can be suggested
Cancellation of a planned movement in monkey motor cortex

Abruptly stopping a planned movement before it has even begun can be crucial to retarding a premature action. In the monkey motor cortex, we report herein that rapid cancellation of a prepared motor act involved the brief activation of neurons representing a movement in the opposite direction (anti-directional activity). When an expected GO signal failed to occur, this opposing anti-directional discharge appeared. It coincided in time with the cessation of the motor cortical activity preparing the requested arm reach. We suggest that functional interactions between subpopulations of neurons eliciting movements in opposite directions could rapidly alter population dynamics, and therefore be used to abruptly cancel a planned movement.
Phenethyl isothiocyanate, by virtue of its antioxidant activity, inhibits invasiveness and metastatic potential of breast cancer cells: HIF-1α as a putative target

Abstract Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) plays a crucial role in facilitating tumor progression and metastasis. Reducing the levels of HIF-1α might therefore be an important anticancer strategy. This could be achieved by understanding the key cellular events involved in HIF-1α activation. Present study explored the effect of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a natural isothiocyanate, found in cruciferous vegetables on the expression of HIF-1α and HSP90 in breast adenocarcinoma cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) under both normoxia and hypoxia. This study established the possible role of ROS in the up-regulation of these markers in breast cancer cells. PEITC-induced nuclear accumulation of Nrf2, increased the activities of several antioxidant enzymes, and thus reduced the ROS burden of the tumor cells by acting as an indirect antioxidant. This resulted in the down-regulation of HSP90 and thereby HIF-1α expression. HSP90 was also found to be involved in the regulation of HIF-1α. A probable link between down-regulation of HIF-1α with reduction of ROS by PEITC through induction of Nrf2 was determined. Finally, our study demonstrated that modulation of HIF-1α by PEITC retarded adhesion, aggregation, migration and invasion of the breast cancer cells, thereby showing anti-metastatic effect. Activities of MMPs (2 & 9) and expression of VEGF were also altered by PEITC.
Maintenance of meiotic arrest in bovine oocytes in vitro using butyrolactone I: Effects on oocyte ultrastructure and nucleolus function

In this study, we have shown that butyrolactone I (BL‐I), a potent inhibitor of cyclin‐dependent kinases, affects oocyte cytoplasmic morphology and nuclear function in terms of nucleolar ultrastructure and immunocytochemistry. Bovine oocytes were recovered from three classes of follicle size: 1.5–2, 2–3, and 3–6 mm. The oocytes were incubated for 40 hr with BL‐I, and subsequently processed for transmission electron microscopy or immunocytochemistry. A control group of oocytes were processed immediately upon recovery (0 hr). In general, incubation with BL‐I for 40 hr disrupted contact between cells of the cumulus oophorous and the oocyte, caused degeneration of the cortical granules and the peripheral migration of all cytoplasmic organelles. At the level of the nucleus, it induced convolution of the nuclear membrane and caused acceleration of nucleolar compaction in oocytes from follicles < 3 mm and fragmentation of nucleoli, particularly evidenced by immunocytochemistry, in oocytes from follicles > 3 mm. Furthermore, the effects appear to be more profound in fully‐grown oocytes. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 62: 375–386, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neuronal differentiation of P19 embryonal cells exhibits cell-specific regulation of neurotrophin receptors

During development, the regulation of expression of the Trk family of tyrosine kinase receptors plays an important role in defining the cellular responses to neurotrophin action. We report here that neurotrophin receptors are differentially expressed in distinct populations of retinoic acid-differentiated P19 cells. TrkB, the tyrosine kinase receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and LNGFR, the low-affinity receptor for all neutrophins, are preferentially expressed in P19-derived neurones. In contrast, retinoic acid induces the expression of TrkA, the high-affinity receptor for nerve growth factor, and of a non-catalytic form of TrkB, in non-neural subsets of differentiated cells. We propose P19 cells as a model system to study the mechanisms controlling the expression of neurotrophin receptors and the responsiveness of developing neurones to a specific neurotrophin.
Lipid Profile in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Patients in Albania and the Correlation with BMI , Hypertension , and Hepatosteatosis

Dyslipidemia is a preventable major risk factor for coronary heart and cerebrovascular disease. Early detection and treatment of hyperlipidemia in diabetic patients reduces the risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The rationale of this study was to get a lipid profile in the Albanian patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and to evaluate the correlation of lipid profile with BMI, hypertension, and hepatosteatosis. About 102 patients with diabetes mellitus hospitalized in “Mother Theresa” University Hospital Center during the period March 2014 until July 2014 were enrolled in the study and after an overnight fasting, blood samples were taken from the patients to analyze the lipid profile and HbA1c. The patients were also evaluated for the waist circumference, BMI, hypertension and hepatosteatosis through abdominal ultrasonography. Diabetic patients with hypertension had statistically significant higher level of triglycerides and a lower level of HDL cholesterol compared to the patients that had only diabetes. Diabetic patients with BMI ≥ 30 had higher level of LDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides, than the patients with BMI < 30. Although the levels of LDL, total cholesterol and TG were higher in the group of the patients with hepatosteatosis, we did not found any statistically significant relation between hepatic steatosis and lipid profile abnormalities. As a conclusion, we suggest that dyslipidemia is very common among type 2 diabetic patients in Albania; and diabetic patients having HTA, having a BMI ≥ 30 and being female are predisposed to have more pronounced lipid abnormalities. *Corresponding author Gentian Vyshka, Department of Biomedical and Experimental, University Hospital Center Mother Theresa, Tirana, Albania, Email:
Esophageal contractions and oropharyngeal and esophageal transits in patients with iron deficiency anemia

OBJECTIVE:Patients with iron deficiency may have reduced power of the pharyngeal muscle for bolus propulsion into the esophagus. We hypothesized that esophageal muscle is similarly impaired.METHODS:We studied the oropharyngeal and esophageal transits and esophageal motility of 12 patients (11 women) aged 31–50 yr (median 36 yr) with iron deficiency anemia (serum iron less than 40 μg/dl) and 17 normal volunteers (16 women) aged 26–52 yr (median 37 yr) with serum iron greater than 60 μg/dl. The esophageal motility was studied by the manometric method, with continuous perfusion and 10 swallows of a 2-ml bolus of water alternated with 10 swallows of a 7-ml bolus; and the oropharyngeal and esophageal transits were studied by scintigraphy, with swallows of a 10-ml bolus for the study of oropharyngeal transit and of a 10-ml bolus for the study of esophageal transit. Motility and transit were studied in the supine position.RESULTS:The amplitude, duration and area under the curve of contractions were lower in patients than in volunteers. There were no differences in peristaltic contraction velocity, lower esophageal sphincter pressure, and lower esophageal sphincter relaxation duration. There was no difference in oropharyngeal transit. In the esophagus the transit was slower in patients than in volunteers. The time needed by the scintigraphic activity to reach a peak in the proximal esophagus was longer in patients than in volunteers.CONCLUSIONS:Iron deficiency may decrease esophageal contractions and impair esophageal transit.
Perception of the Visual Horizontal during Lateral Body Tilt: Right-Left Asymmetries

Subjects, 55 males and 45 females, indicated by means of a luminescent rod the visual horizontal under conditions of lateral body tilt ranging from 10° to 90° to the right and to the left. There was a non-linear effect of the angle of tilt on the degree of deviation of apparent from objective horizontal. With small angles of tilt the apparent horizontal tended to deviate opposite to the direction of body tilt, with larger angles, in the direction of tilt. Uncertainty of judgment increased with increasing angles of tilt.
Transforming properties of the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus oncoproteins Le6 and SE6 and of the E8 protein

Cottontail rabbit papillomavirus induces on cottontail and domestic rabbits papillomas which progress at a high frequency to carcinoma. The virus encodes three transforming proteins; one is translated from open reading frame (ORF) E7 and binds the retinoblastoma protein, and two, LE6 and SE6, are translated from the first and second ATGs of ORF E6, respectively. Here we show that neither of the E6 proteins coprecipitated with p53 in vitro, nor did they bind to a recently identified E6-binding protein (J. J. Chen, C. E. Reid, V. Band, and E. Androphy, Science 269:529-531, 1995). This protein was shown to bind to the E6 proteins of the high-risk human papillomairus types 16 and 18 but not to the low-risk human papillomavirus types VI and II. In-frame deletions cloned into the pZipNeo vector were used to identify structural features of SE6 and LE6 important for transformation of NIH 3T3 cells. Three deletions covering the amino-terminal half of SE6 did not transform cells. In two of the three deletions, two Cys-X-X-Cys motifs were deleted, each deletion preventing the formation of one of the potential small Zn fingers of SE6. Among the LE6 deletions, only one had a reduced transformation efficiency, while seven transformed cells at least as efficiently as wild-type LE6. In each of three of these seven mutants, two Cys-X-X-Cys motifs were deleted. None of the three amino acid deletions which abolished transformation by SE6 reduced transformation by LE6. Furthermore, transformation did not correlate with the level of SE6 or LE6 proteins detectable. ORF E8 colinear with ORF E6, which could generate a 50-amino-acid protein with a hydrophobic segment, did not transform cells when cloned into the pZipNeo vector. However, mutation of the E8 ATG, which did not alter the amino acid sequence of LE6, increased transformation by LE6 without affecting the level of LE6 expression. The data suggest that transformation by the E6 proteins is not mediated by interfering with p53 function or through binding to the E6-binding protein. Furthermore, different structural features are important to maintain transformation functions and protein stability of LE6 and SE6. Finally, E8 seems not to be a transforming protein but rather appears to modulate transformation bv LE6.
Toward a Definition of the Schizoid State: Evidence from Studies of Twins and Their Families

Over the years investigators have described psychiatrically abnormal individuals in the families of schizophrenics. These unusual persons have been given a variety of names: schizoids, schizoid psychopaths, and the condition called schizoidia or schizophrenia-spectrum illness (Kahn, 1923; Planansky, 1966). With recent developments in family and adoptive studies of schizophrenia which have indicated a genetic factor playing a causative role, the schizoid state has assumed more importance, especially in estimating the type of inheritance (Heston, 1970). Furthermore, the schizoid state is of considerable interest from a clinical standpoint since it may represent a ‘forme fruste’ of schizophrenia, and as such a study of schizoids from the point of view of the factors which may have prevented a full-blown schizophrenic process would be of great interest.