‘What can we understand from the firms’ accounts about the risks they are exposed to and how they manage them? A comparison is made between firms in five different industries for the year 2008’

The purpose of this paper is to examine the risk disclosures of UK companies. An analysis of fifteen companies belonging to the FTSE 100 has been conducted for the financial year 2008, in order to provide insight into the relationship between the quantity and quality of risk disclosures and specific corporate characteristics such as size and gearing. Risks have been classified under four main headings, these being financial, operational, strategic, and information processing and technology risks. This paper serves another role which is to examine potential differences in risks disclosed by companies belonging to different industries. The industries that are compared are the tobacco, retail, food and beverages, oil and gas and airline industries. This study also deals with an examination of whether highly geared companies disclose some sort of monetary information under the Key Group Risk Factors section, in order to make information regarding the company’s financial situation clear and transparent to the users of Annual Reports. Results regarding the relationship between the quantity and quality of risk disclosures with company size indicate that larger companies seem to disclose more risks and also have better quality risk disclosures than other smaller companies in size, which may be consistent with signalling theory. However, results regarding the relationship between the quantity of risk disclosures with gearing are mixed. Results indicate that on average high geared firms do not disclose more risks than low geared companies, but do however use more pages in the Annual Reports to explain their key risks. It also seems that highly geared firms do not on average have better quality of risk disclosures, with the exception of British Airways whose quality of risk disclosures has been classified as being very good. Results further show that highly geared firms disclose some sort of monetary information to make information more transparent and it also seems that companies of different industries tend to disclose more of a particular risk than others in order to reflect the industry’s own particular risks. I conclude that since empirical evidence on risk disclosures is limited, I suggest that more empirical work is conducted in this area

Initial assessment of the COVID-19 vaccination's impact on case numbers, hospitalisations and deaths in people aged 80 years and older, 15 EU/EEA countries, December 2020 to May 2021

Prioritisation of elderly people in COVID-19 vaccination campaigns aimed at reducing severe outcomes in this group. Using EU/EEA surveillance and vaccination uptake, we estimated the risk ratio of case, hospitalisation and death notifications in people 80 years and older compared with 25-59-year-olds. Highest impact was observed for full vaccination uptake 80% or higher with reductions in notification rates of cases up to 65% (IRR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.13-0.99), hospitalisations up to 78% (IRR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.13-0.37) and deaths up to 84% (IRR: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.13-0.20).S

‘What can we understand from the firms’ accounts about the risks they are exposed to and how they manage them? A comparison is made between firms in five different industries for the year 2008’

The purpose of this paper is to examine the risk disclosures of UK companies. An analysis of fifteen companies belonging to the FTSE 100 has been conducted for the financial year 2008, in order to provide insight into the relationship between the quantity and quality of risk disclosures and specific corporate characteristics such as size and gearing. Risks have been classified under four main headings, these being financial, operational, strategic, and information processing and technology risks. This paper serves another role which is to examine potential differences in risks disclosed by companies belonging to different industries. The industries that are compared are the tobacco, retail, food and beverages, oil and gas and airline industries. This study also deals with an examination of whether highly geared companies disclose some sort of monetary information under the Key Group Risk Factors section, in order to make information regarding the company’s financial situation clear and transparent to the users of Annual Reports. Results regarding the relationship between the quantity and quality of risk disclosures with company size indicate that larger companies seem to disclose more risks and also have better quality risk disclosures than other smaller companies in size, which may be consistent with signalling theory. However, results regarding the relationship between the quantity of risk disclosures with gearing are mixed. Results indicate that on average high geared firms do not disclose more risks than low geared companies, but do however use more pages in the Annual Reports to explain their key risks. It also seems that highly geared firms do not on average have better quality of risk disclosures, with the exception of British Airways whose quality of risk disclosures has been classified as being very good. Results further show that highly geared firms disclose some sort of monetary information to make information more transparent and it also seems that companies of different industries tend to disclose more of a particular risk than others in order to reflect the industry’s own particular risks. I conclude that since empirical evidence on risk disclosures is limited, I suggest that more empirical work is conducted in this area

Organisational commitment, job satisfaction and intention to leave among physicians in the public health sector of Cyprus: a cross-sectional survey

Organisational commitment, job satisfaction and intention to leave constitute important characteristics of health professionals' employment status. Our study aimed at investigating the level of organisational commitment, job satisfaction in association with intention to leave among physicians

Leadership and Intention to Leave Among Public Health Sector Physicians in Cyprus: A National Cross-Sectional Study

Physician shortage is a major concern in many health care systems globally, while healthcare leadership constitutes one of the most vital factors within human resource management. Our study examined the relationship between managers' leadership styles and physicians' intent to leave their current position. In this cross-sectional national survey, questionnaires were distributed to all physicians working in the public health sector of Cyprus. Most demographic characteristics evaluated by chi-square or Mann-Whitney test, were statistically significantly different between those who intended to leave their job and those who did not. The results of our study demonstrated that transformational leadership has a positive influence on retention of physicians in public hospitals, while non leadership infers a negative influence. Developing leadership skills in physician supervisors is of a great importance for organizations to make a large impact on health professionals' retention and overall performance

The impact of nail disorders on quality of life

Background: Nail disorders have considerable psychological impact and may limit activity by impairing functionality of both fingers and toes Objective: To evaluate the impact of nails disorders on quality of life (QoL). Methods: 1063 patients with nail disorders completed an anonymous nail-specific QoL questionnaire consisting of 24 and 16 questions, respectively, for fingernails and toenails with five possible responses to each question. A score of 1-5 was given to each response and the final score was adjusted on a percentile scale. The subjects were classified in groups according to nail disorders. Statistical analysis was carried out using T-test to compare the means between two groups and ANOVA analysis of variance to compare the impact of quality of life on the different types of nail disorders. Results: Comparison between groups showed a statistically significant higher impact for trauma, onychomycosis, other infections, structure abnormalities, psoriasis, other inflammatory diseases and paronychia and a lower impact for chromonychias and tumours. QoL was statistically significantly more affected in patients having multiple nails involved, women, and in people aged 60-79 years. There was no statistically significant difference on the QoL impact between patients having only fingernails or only toenails involved. Conclusion: Even though published literature tends to focus on the impact of nail psoriasis and onychomycosis on QoL, other nail disorders cause similar frustration to patients. A possible explanation for this is that appearance of the nail has a more significant impact on QoL than the severity of the disorder

A 3-miRNA Signature Enables Risk Stratification in Glioblastoma Multiforme Patients with Different Clinical Outcomes

Malignant gliomas constitute a complex disease phenotype that demands optimum decision-making as they are highly heterogeneous. Such inter-individual variability also renders optimum patient stratification extremely difficult. microRNA (hsa-miR-20a, hsa-miR-21, hsa-miR-21) expression levels were determined by RT-qPCR, upon FFPE tissue sample collection of glioblastoma multiforme patients (n = 37). In silico validation was then performed through discriminant analysis. Immunohistochemistry images from biopsy material were utilized by a hybrid deep learning system to further cross validate the distinctive capability of patient risk groups. Our standard-of-care treated patient cohort demonstrates no age- or sex- dependence. The expression values of the 3-miRNA signature between the low- (OS > 12 months) and high-risk (OS < 12 months) groups yield a p-value of <0.0001, enabling risk stratification. Risk stratification is validated by a. our random forest model that efficiently classifies (AUC = 97%) patients into two risk groups (low- vs. high-risk) by learning their 3-miRNA expression values, and b. our deep learning scheme, which recognizes those patterns that differentiate the images in question. Molecular-clinical correlations were drawn to classify low- (OS > 12 months) vs. high-risk (OS < 12 months) glioblastoma multiforme patients. Our 3-microRNA signature (hsa-miR-20a, hsa-miR-21, hsa-miR-10a) may further empower glioblastoma multiforme prognostic evaluation in clinical practice and enrich drug repurposing pipelines

Recommendations for the definition, evaluation, and treatment of nail psoriasis in adult patients with no or mild skin psoriasis: A dermatologist and nail expert group consensus

Nail involvement in psoriasis is common, and the severity of it does not always parallel the intensity of cutaneous disease. We created a consensus group, of which the aim was to provide practical recommendations for the treatment of nail psoriasis in patients without skin psoriasis or with mild skin lesions with no indication for a systemic treatment. This collaborative process was conducted by an international panel of dermatologists with special expertise in nail disorders, using formal consensus methods. During this process, the panel strived to establish an agreement regarding the definition of nail psoriasis, the severity of nail psoriasis, and treatment response. Treatment recommendations are provided regarding nail psoriasis severity and matrix or bed involvement. Few-nail disease was considered as nail psoriasis affecting ≤3 nails. In the case of matrix involvement only, intralesional steroid injections were considered the treatment of choice. Topical steroids alone or in combination with topical vitamin D analogues were suggested for nail psoriasis limited to the nail bed. For the systemic treatment of nail psoriasis acitretin, methotrexate, cyclosporine, small molecules, and biologics may be employed.SCOPUS: re.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Unraveling the Dynamics of Omicron (BA.1, BA.2, and BA.5) Waves and Emergence of the Deltacton Variant: Genomic Epidemiology of the SARS-CoV-2 Epidemic in Cyprus (Oct 2021–Oct 2022)

Commencing in December 2019 with the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), three years of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have transpired. The virus has consistently demonstrated a tendency for evolutionary adaptation, resulting in mutations that impact both immune evasion and transmissibility. This ongoing process has led to successive waves of infections. This study offers a comprehensive assessment spanning genetic, phylogenetic, phylodynamic, and phylogeographic dimensions, focused on the trajectory of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Cyprus. Based on a dataset comprising 4700 viral genomic sequences obtained from affected individuals between October 2021 and October 2022, our analysis is presented. Over this timeframe, a total of 167 distinct lineages and sublineages emerged, including variants such as Delta and Omicron (1, 2, and 5). Notably, during the fifth wave of infections, Omicron subvariants 1 and 2 gained prominence, followed by the ascendancy of Omicron 5 in the subsequent sixth wave. Additionally, during the fifth wave (December 2021–January 2022), a unique set of Delta sequences with genetic mutations associated with Omicron variant 1, dubbed “Deltacron”, was identified. The emergence of this phenomenon initially evoked skepticism, characterized by concerns primarily centered around contamination or coinfection as plausible etiological contributors. These hypotheses were predominantly disseminated through unsubstantiated assertions within the realms of social and mass media, lacking concurrent scientific evidence to validate their claims. Nevertheless, the exhaustive molecular analyses presented in this study have demonstrated that such occurrences would likely lead to a frameshift mutation—a genetic aberration conspicuously absent in our provided sequences. This substantiates the accuracy of our initial assertion while refuting contamination or coinfection as potential etiologies. Comparable observations on a global scale dispelled doubt, eventually leading to the recognition of Delta-Omicron variants by the scientific community and their subsequent monitoring by the World Health Organization (WHO). As our investigation delved deeper into the intricate dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Cyprus, a discernible pattern emerged, highlighting the major role of international connections in shaping the virus’s local trajectory. Notably, the United States and the United Kingdom were the central conduits governing the entry and exit of the virus to and from Cyprus. Moreover, notable migratory routes included nations such as Greece, South Korea, France, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, and Italy. These empirical findings underscore that the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within Cyprus was markedly influenced by the influx of new, highly transmissible variants, triggering successive waves of infection. This investigation elucidates the emergence of new waves of infection subsequent to the advent of highly contagious and transmissible viral variants, notably characterized by an abundance of mutations localized within the spike protein. Notably, this discovery decisively contradicts the hitherto hypothesis of seasonal fluctuations in the virus’s epidemiological dynamics. This study emphasizes the importance of meticulously examining molecular genetics alongside virus migration patterns within a specific region. Past experiences also emphasize the substantial evolutionary potential of viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, underscoring the need for sustained vigilance. However, as the pandemic’s dynamics continue to evolve, a balanced approach between caution and resilience becomes paramount. This ethos encourages an approach founded on informed prudence and self-preservation, guided by public health authorities, rather than enduring apprehension. Such an approach empowers societies to adapt and progress, fostering a poised confidence rooted in well-founded adaptation

Genomic Epidemiology of the SARS-CoV-2 Epidemic in Cyprus from November 2020 to October 2021: The Passage of Waves of Alpha and Delta Variants of Concern

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in December 2019 resulted in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has had devastating repercussions for public health. Over the course of this pandemic, the virus has continuously been evolving, resulting in new, more infectious variants that have frequently led to surges of new SARS-CoV-2 infections. In the present study, we performed detailed genetic, phylogenetic, phylodynamic and phylogeographic analyses to examine the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Cyprus using 2352 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from infected individuals in Cyprus during November 2020 to October 2021. During this period, a total of 61 different lineages and sublineages were identified, with most falling into three groups: B.1.258 & sublineages, Alpha (B.1.1.7 & Q. sublineages), and Delta (B.1.617.2 & AY. sublineages), each encompassing a set of S gene mutations that primarily confer increased transmissibility as well as immune evasion. Specifically, these lineages were coupled with surges of new infections in Cyprus, resulting in the following: the second wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Cyprus, comprising B.1.258 & sublineages, during late autumn 2020/beginning of winter 2021; the third wave, comprising Alpha (B.1.1.7 & Q. sublineages), during spring 2021; and the fourth wave, comprising Delta (B.1.617.2 & AY. sublineages) during summer 2021. Additionally, it was identified that these lineages were primarily imported from and exported to the UK, Greece, and Sweden; many other migration links were also identified, including Switzerland, Denmark, Russia, and Germany. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Cyprus was characterized by successive introduction of new lineages from a plethora of countries, resulting in the generation of waves of infection. Overall, this study highlights the importance of investigating the spatiotemporal evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in the context of Cyprus, as well as the impact of protective measures placed to mitigate transmission of the virus, providing necessary information to safeguard public health