Executive compensation and the performance of the firm

A sample of large industrial corporations is examined to determine whether there is a relationship between the levels of compensation received by the senior executives of those firms and the firms' economic performances. We find consistent evidence of such a relationship, with differences across firms in the total compensation of their three highest-paid officers being positively related to differences in both the common stock returns and operating profitability of the firms. The implication is that compensation packages are designed to reduce agency costs.

Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Biochemical Engineering Symposium

This report presents the proceedings of the Biochemical Engineering Symposium held at Kansas State University, April 28, 1979. Since a number of the contributions will be published in detail elsewhere, only brief reports of each contribution are included here. Requests for further information on work at Iowa State University should be directed to Dr. Peter J. Reilly; at Colorado State University to Drs. V. G. Murphy and A. R. Moreira, and at Kansas State University to Drs. L. T. Fan and L. E. Erickson. ContentProperties of a Homogeneous Xylobiohydrolase from Aspergillus niger, Mary M. Frederick, Iowa State University Kinetic Studies on the Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose–Absorption and Desorption of Cellulase onto Cellulose and the Behavior of Absorbed Cellulase, Yong-Hyun Lee and L. T. Fan, Kansas State University Properties of a Homogeneous Endo-Xylanase from Aspergillus niger, Ricardo Fournier A., Iowa State University Solid State Fermentation of Manure Fibers, D. C. Ulmer, Colorado State University Analysis and Consistency of Experimental Data for Microbial Growth on Renewable Resources, B. 0. Solomon, Kansas State University Biochemical Mechanisms of Enzyme Regulation, Frederick A. Blum, Colorado State University An Evaluation of Cellulose Pretreatments for Enzymatic Hydrolysis, David H. Beardmore, Kansas State University Use of Immobilized 8-Amylase/Glucoamylase Mixtures to Produce High Maltose Syrups, Carol G. Bohnenkamp, Iowa State University Effect of Viscosity on Bubble Behavior in an Airlift Fermentor, Vasanti Deshpande, Kansas State University

The lower quality of preventive care among forced migrants in a country with universal healthcare coverage

OBJECTIVE To assess the association between socio-demographic factors and the quality of preventive care and chronic care of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in a country with universal health care coverage. METHODS Our retrospective cohort assessed a random sample of 966 patients aged 50-80years followed over 2years (2005-2006) in 4 Swiss university primary care settings (Basel/Geneva/Lausanne/Zürich). We used RAND's Quality Assessment Tools indicators and examined recommended preventive care among different socio-demographic subgroups. RESULTS Overall patients received 69.6% of recommended preventive care. Preventive care indicators were more likely to be met among men (72.8% vs. 65.4%; p<0.001), younger patients (from 71.0% at 50-59years to 66.7% at 70-80years, p for trend=0.03) and Swiss patients (71.1% vs. 62.7% in forced migrants; p=0.001). This latter difference remained in multivariate analysis adjusted for gender, age, civil status and occupation (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.54-0.86). Forced migrants had lower scores for physical examination and breast and colon cancer screening (all p≤0.02). No major differences were seen for chronic care of CV risk factors. CONCLUSION Despite universal healthcare coverage, forced migrants receive less preventive care than Swiss patients in university primary care settings. Greater attention should be paid to forced migrants for preventive care.

Subklinische Hypothyreose: Risiken, aktuelle Empfehlungen und randomisierte Studie in der Schweiz

Quintessenz: • Die subklinische Hypothyreose ist definiert durch erhöhte TSH und normwertige ThyroxinSpiegel; sie kommt bei älteren Patienten häufig vor (10–15%). • Daten aus Beobachtungsstudien zeigen einen möglichen Zusammenhang zwischen der subklinischen Hypothyreose und verschiedenen Krankheitsbildern wie kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Muskelbeschwerden sowie depressiven oder kognitiven Störungen. • Die Indikation zur Thyroxin Substitution bei subklinischer Hypothyreose ist derzeit noch nicht klar, was sich in grossen Unterschieden bezüglich Therapie zwischen verschiedenen Ländern niederschlägt. Es zeigt sich jedoch eine Zunahme der ThyroxinVerschreibungen. • Die Teilnahme an der randomisierten TRUST Studie ist die derzeit beste «Behandlungsoption» für ältere Patienten mit subklinischer Hypothyreose.

Long-term Results of a 12-Week Comprehensive Ambulatory Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term outcome of a 12-week outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program. METHODS: In a prospective single-center interventional cohort study, 201 consecutive patients (133 patients after acute coronary syndrome, 32 patients after heart surgery, and 36 patients with heart failure) attending a 12-week comprehensive outpatient CR program were evaluated for exercise capacity, cardiovascular risk factors (CvRFs), and quality of life at entry, end, and 1.4 years after completion of the program (followup). RESULTS: Physical exercise capacity improved significantly from program entry to program end and remained at this level at followup (P ≤ .006). CvRFs at followup were significantly reduced with regard to smoking prevalence and blood lipids (P < .001). At program end and followup, MacNew heart disease–specific emotional, physical, and social quality of life were improved significantly compared with those at program entry (P < .001). Use of cardioprotective medication remained equally high over the entire study period. However, significantly fewer patients reached blood pressure (<140/90 mm Hg, P = .034) and body mass index (<30 kg/m2, P = .017) goals at followup than at program end. CONCLUSION: The 12-week comprehensive outpatient CR program was successful at reducing important CvRFs long-term.

OMA and OPA—Software-Supported Mass Spectra Analysis of Native and Modified Nucleic Acids

The platform-independent software package consisting of the oligonucleotide mass assembler (OMA) and the oligonucleotide peak analyzer (OPA) was created to support the analysis of oligonucleotide mass spectra. It calculates all theoretically possible fragments of a given input sequence and annotates it to an experimental spectrum, thus, saving a large amount of manual processing time. The software performs analysis of precursor and product ion spectra of oligonucleotides and their analogues comprising user-defined modifications of the backbone, the nucleobases, or the sugar moiety, as well as adducts with metal ions or drugs. The ability to expand the library of building blocks and to implement individual structural variations makes it extremely useful for supporting the analysis of therapeutically active compounds. The functionality of the software tool is demonstrated on the examples of a platinated doublestranded oligonucleotide and a modified RNA sequence. Experiments also reveal the unique dissociation behavior of platinated higher-order DNA structures.

Novel pseudo-staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec element (ψSCCmec57395) in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius CC45

Genetic characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) from Thailand and Israel revealed the presence of a predominant atypical clonal lineage which was not typeable by SmaI-PFGE and SCCmec typing. All the atypical isolates (n = 34) belonged to CC45 (30 ST45 and 2 ST179 isolates, 1 ST57 isolate, and 1 ST85 isolate). The isolates originated from healthy and diseased dogs and cats, as well as from the environment of one clinic. Cfr9I-pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (Cfr9I-PFGE) and dru typing permitted the further distinction of CC45 isolates from the two different countries. Microarray analysis identified genes that confer resistance to β-lactams (mecA; blaZ), aminoglycosides [aac(6')-Ie-aph(2')-Ia; aph(3')-III; ant(6)-Ia], macrolides and lincosamides [erm(B)], tetracyclines [tet(M)], trimethoprim [dfr(G)], streptothricin (sat4), and chloramphenicol (catpC221). Fluoroquinolone resistance was attributed to specific amino acid substitutions, i.e., Ser84Leu in GyrA and Ser80Ile and Asp84Asn in GrlA. A novel pseudo-staphylococcal cassette chromosome (ΨSCCmec57395) element was identified in MRSP strain 57395 (sequence type ST45) by whole-genome sequencing. The 12,282-bp ΨSCCmec57395 element contained a class C1 mec gene complex but no ccr genes. In addition to the methicillin resistance gene mecA, ΨSCCmec57395 also carried determinants of resistance to heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, and copper. Bsu36I restriction analysis of the ΨSCCmec57395 element amplified by long-range PCR revealed the presence of ΨSCCmec57395 in the 33 additional isolates of MRSP CC45. The ΨSCCmec57395 element represents a new class of SCCmec and has been identified in MRSP of CC45, which is a predominant clonal lineage in Israel and Thailand.

Micrometer-sized ice particles for planetary-science experiments – II. Bidirectional reflectance

We have measured the bidirectional reflectance of spherical micrometer-sized water-ice particles in the visible spectral range over a wide range of incidence and emission angles. The small ice spheres were produced by spraying fine water droplets directly into liquid nitrogen. The resulting mean particle radii are 1.47 + 0.96 - 0.58 μm. Such a material shares many properties with ice in comets and at the surface of icy satellites. Measurements show that the fresh sample material is highly backscattering, contrasting with natural terrestrial snow and frost. The formation of agglomerates of particles during the sample production results in a noticeable variability of the photometric properties of the samples in their initial state. We have also observed significant temporal evolutions of the scattering behavior of the samples, shifting towards more forward scattering within some tens of hours, resulting most likely from sintering processes. All reflectance data are fitted by the Hapke photometric model (1993 and 2002 formulation) with a one/two/three-parameter Henyey-Greenstein phase function and the resulting Hapke parameters are provided. These parameters can be used to compare laboratory results with the observed photometric behaviors of astronomical objects. We show, in particular, that the optical properties of the fresh micrometer-sized ice samples can be used to reproduce the predominant backscattering in the phase curves of Enceladus and Europa.

Septic mucormycosis in acute t-cell leucemia – pathogen detection in skin lesions

We report on a 43-year old patient with an acute T-Cell Leucemia, currently in Aplasia after Chemotherapy, showing five targetoid bluish skin lesions. Due to a three weeks history of septic symptoms he was under treatment with antibiotics and antifungals. Multiple septic foci were localized (N. caudatus, liver, kidneys, lung, spine and right psoas). Microbiology analyses of various blood cultures and of the aspirate of the psoas abscess showed initially negative results. Clinically the skin lesions were suspected to be of septic or thrombogenic origin. A 5 mm punch biopsy was performed and separated for microbiological diagnostic and conventional histology. Surprisingly large fungal agents in mostly intravascular distribution were seen histologically and identified as Lichtheimia corymbifera (syn. Absidia corymbifera) by PCR. Cultures remained negative. The patient died on the following day. Lichtheimia corymbifera is a fungus belonging to the family of mucormycosis. Aspergillosis and mucormycosis are the most common mold infections in patients with hematological malignancies, clinically often indistinguishable. However, the true incidence of mucormycosis is not known and probably underestimated because of difficulties in diagnosis. Mucormycosis typically causes acute, aggressive, and frequently angioinvasive infections presenting with solitary local skin necrosis. The fact that the pathogenic fungus was isolated from a very discrete skin lesion but was not detected in blood cultures, and only later in the PCR of the aspirate of the psoas abscess, makes this case exceptional.

Die frühe hebräische Geschichtsschreibung und die Historien Herodots - zwei Paar Stiefel?

In der Vergangenheit ist vielfach behauptet worden, dass die Hebräische Bibel und die Historien Herodots in ganz verschiedene literarische bzw. konzeptionelle Kategorien gehören. Ein Textvergleich soll klären, ob diese These haltbar ist. Der Tagungsbeitrag gibt Einblick in grundsätzliche Überlegungen im Zuge der Präzisierung des methodischen Zugriffs und der Fragestellung. Es werden zunächst kurz verschiedene Begründungen für die Verneinung von Historiographie im Tanach beleuchtet (Christian Meier, Erhard Blum, Philip Davies) und dann kurz die Schwierigkeiten bei der Definition von antiker Geschichtsschreibung dargestellt, die im Ergebnis für das Offenhalten von Kategorien- und Genregrenzen sprechen. Möglicherweise kann beim Umgang mit dieser etwas diffusen Situation die Kategorienbildung in der Prototypensemantik helfen. Ausgehend von einer Liste von Elementen, die nicht als ‚KO-Kriterien‘ für antike Geschichtsschreibung in Frage kommen wird kurz erläutert, warum Geschichtsschreibung und mythisches Erzählen in frühen historiographischen Texten miteinander kompatibel sind. Kurze Beispiele zeigen, dass Herodots Verhältnis zu mythischen und religiösen Vorstellungen keineswegs einheitlich ist, und dass diese Tradition einen der Bezugsrahmen seines Werks ausmacht. Diese Einsichten schlagen sich in den methodischen Überlegungen nieder. Ein wichtiger Ausgangspunkt ist hier die Annahme der Andersartigkeit der antiken Historiographie und ihrer Auffassung von der Arbeit und Aufgabe eines Historikers. In der Forschung sind zu meinem oder ähnlichen Themen verschiedene methodische Ansätze gewählt worden; so das Ausgehen von modernen oder antiken Geschichts- bzw. Literaturtheorien oder die Rekonstruktion des Umgangs der Autoren mit ihren Quellen. Demgegenüber bietet eine literaturwissenschaftlich-vergleichende Erzähltextanalyse gewisse Vorteile. Damit die Auswahl der Vergleichshinsichten nicht willkürlich erfolgt, brauchen komparatistische Textanalysen trotzdem ein theoretisches Konzept oder zumindest einen übergeordneten Leitgedanken. Hier scheint mir das Herausarbeiten der jeweils spezifischen ‚historischen Wahrheit‘ der Texte fruchtbar zu sein.