Glaucoma And Quality Of Life And The Role Of The Nurse Practitioner

The purpose of this study is to further explore literature regarding the role of the nurse practitioner in health promotion and childhood obesity

The Relationship Between Creativity And Self-Esteem In Elders Living In The Community

The purpose of this study is to further explore literature regarding the role of the nurse practitioner in health promotion and childhood obesity

Estimation of Employee Stock Option Exercise Rates

This paper is the first to perform a comprehensive estimation of employee stock option exercise behavior and option cost to firms. We develop a GMM-based methodology, robust to heteroskedasticity and correlation across exercises, for estimating the rate of voluntary option exercise as a function of the stock price path and of various firm and option holder characteristics. We use it to estimate an exercise function from a sample of 870,624 employee-option grants at 47 publicly-traded firms between 1980-2005, finding that volatility has a counterintuitive effect, and that men exercise faster than women. We also estimate the rate of employment termination, which determines forfeitures, cancellations, and forced exercises. We use the estimated exercise and termination functions in a simulation based valuation model to analyze the effect of different firm and option holder characteristics on option value, and show that the true value of these options can differ substantially from values calculated using the usual FASB approximation

Optimal Exercise of Executive Stock Options and Implications for Valuation

The cost of executive stock options to shareholders has become a focus of attention in finance and accounting. The difficulty is that the value of these options depends on the exercise policies of the executives. Because these options are nontransferable, the usual theory does not apply. We analyze the optimal exercise policy for a utility-maximizing executive and indicate when the policy is characterized by a critical stock price boundary. We provide a counterexample in which the executive exercises at low and high stock prices but not in between. We show how the policy varies with risk aversion, wealth, and volatility and explore implications for option value. For example, option value can decline as volatility rises

Estimation of Employee Stock Option Exercise Rates and Firm Cost: Methodology

Investors have become increasingly concerned about the cost of executive stock options to shareholders. Because executives face hedging constraints, standard option theory does not apply.The valuation problem reduces to accurately characterizing the option payoff. This paper develops a methodology for estimating option exercise and cancellation rates as a function of the stock price path, time to expiration, and firm and option holder characteristics. Our estimation accounts for correlation between exercises by the same executive. Valuation proceeds by using the estimated exercise rate function to describe the option’s expected payoff along each stock price path and then computing the present value of the payoff. The estimation of empirical exercise rates also allows us to test the predictions of theoretical models of option exercise behavior. The paper not only illustrates an ideal valuation method for a large dataset, but also shows how to evaluate the usefulness of some of the approximations proposed in the literature

PPAR_2 expression in growth plate chondrocytes is regulated by p38 and GSK-3

Although peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)_ remains a critical regulator of preadipocyte differentiation, new roles have been discovered in inflammation, bone morphogenesis, endothelial function, cancer, longevity and atherosclerosis. Despite the demonstration of PPAR expression in chondrocytes, its role and the pathways affecting its expression and activity in chondrocytes remain largely unknown. We investigated the effects of PPAR activation on chondrocyte differentiation and its participation in chondrocyte lipid metabolism. PPAR2 expression is highly regulated during chondrocyte differentiation in vivo and in vitro PPAR activation with troglitazone resulted in increased Indian hedgehog expression and reduced collagen X expression, confirming previously described roles in the inhibition of differentiation. However, the major effect of PPAR2 in chondrocytes appears to be on lipid metabolism. During differentiation chondrocytes increase expression of the lipid-associated metabolizing protein, Lpl, which is accompanied by increased gene expression of PPAR. PPAR expression is suppressed by p38 activity, but requires GSK-3 activity. Furthermore, Lpl expression is regulated by p38 and GSK-3 signalling. This is the first study demonstrating a relationship between PPAR2 expression and chondrocyte lipid metabolism and its regulation by p38 and GSK-3 signalling

The Effects of Freezing on Faecal Microbiota as Determined Using MiSeq Sequencing and Culture-Based Investigations

peer-reviewedBackground High-throughput sequencing has enabled detailed insights into complex microbial environments, including the human gut microbiota. The accuracy of the sequencing data however, is reliant upon appropriate storage of the samples prior to DNA extraction. The aim of this study was to conduct the first MiSeq sequencing investigation into the effects of faecal storage on the microbiota, compared to fresh samples. Culture-based analysis was also completed. Methods Seven faecal samples were collected from healthy adults. Samples were separated into fresh (DNA extracted immediately), snap frozen on dry ice and frozen for 7 days at -80°C prior to DNA extraction or samples frozen at -80°C for 7 days before DNA extraction. Sequencing was completed on the Illumina MiSeq platform. Culturing of total aerobes, anaerobes and bifidobacteria was also completed. Results No significant differences at phylum or family levels between the treatment groups occurred. At genus level only Faecalibacterium and Leuconostoc were significantly different in the fresh samples compared to the snap frozen group (p = 0.0298; p = 0.0330 respectively). Diversity analysis indicated that samples clustered based on the individual donor, rather than by storage group. No significant differences occurred in the culture-based analysis between the fresh, snap or -80°C frozen samples. Conclusions Using the MiSeq platform coupled with culture-based analysis, this study highlighted that limited significant changes in microbiota occur following rapid freezing of faecal samples prior to DNA extraction. Thus, rapid freezing of samples prior to DNA extraction and culturing, preserves the integrity of the microbiota.Jennifer Deane is in receipt of a Teagasc Walsh Fellowship. The authors and their work were supported by the Science Foundation Ireland and funded by the Centre for Science, Engineering and Technology (SFI-CSET) grant 02/CE/B124 and by FP7 funded CFMATTERS (Cystic Fibrosis Microbiome-determined Antibiotic Therapy Trial in Exacerbations: Results Stratified, Grant Agreement no. 603038). The Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre is a research centre funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). This publication has emanated from research supported in part by a research grant from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) under Grant Number SFI/12/RC/2273