The Idiosyncratic Volatility in Euro Zone Firms: Evolution, Cross-Sectional Relation with Returns

This paper discusses the behaviour of the time series and the pricing of the idiosyncratic risk in 10 Eurozone economies from January 2000 to June 2018. We identify as well factors upon which depend the idiosyncratic risk premium. Our results show evidence of a common component within these countries’ aggregate idiosyncratic volatilities. Using Fama and MacBeth cross-sectional regressions, we observe a positive relationship between the idiosyncratic volatility and expected stock returns denying the idiosyncratic risk puzzle found by Ang et al. (2006). By performing Pooled OLS and radomn effects models, the results indicate that under-diversification proxies have a significant impact on the idiosyncratic risk premium

Molecular detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N8) virus isolated from domestic ducks and chickens in Egypt across 2018-2021

The present study was carried out to describe Egyptian H5N8 viruses isolated from vaccinated duck and chicken flocks in 2018-2021 from different provinces, Egypt. This study screened 10 vaccinated farms (five duck and five chicken) suffering from respiratory & nervous signs with high mortality rate (90%). Out of ten examined flocks, six flocks were positive for avian influenza virus (AIV) by virus isolation into embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs) for third blind passages. The initially positive samples were confirmed, identified molecularly using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) using primers targeting M gene of influenza A. RT-qPCR positive isolates were subjected to partial amplification of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes using RT-PCR followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis for six isolates representative for one duck flock and five chicken flocks. Our findings proven that four flocks only were found positive for AIV/HPAI H5N8 virus by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis for HA and NA genes. The similarity between nucleotide sequencing for the four HA and NA was 99.8% and 98.1%, respectively, with H5N8 viruses previously detected in Russia, Iran, Israel and Iraq. As well as, the phylogenic analyses, focusing on HA and NA genes indicated that Egyptian H5N8 viruses clustered in group B Russian like reassortant H5N8 viruses of clade 2.3.4.4. In conclusion, the detection of the HPAI H5N8 virus in domestic birds even in vaccinated birds is a serious threat; therefore, this is needed for periodic molecular monitoring with vaccine efficacy evaluation and annual surveillance

Molecular detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N8) virus isolated from domestic ducks and chickens in Egypt across 2018-2021

The present study was carried out to describe Egyptian H5N8 viruses isolated from vaccinated duck and chicken flocks in 2018-2021 from different provinces, Egypt. This study screened 10 vaccinated farms (five duck and five chicken) suffering from respiratory & nervous signs with high mortality rate (90%). Out of ten examined flocks, six flocks were positive for avian influenza virus (AIV) by virus isolation into embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs) for third blind passages. The initially positive samples were confirmed, identified molecularly using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) using primers targeting M gene of influenza A. RT-qPCR positive isolates were subjected to partial amplification of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes using RT-PCR followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis for six isolates representative for one duck flock and five chicken flocks. Our findings proven that four flocks only were found positive for AIV/HPAI H5N8 virus by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis for HA and NA genes. The similarity between nucleotide sequencing for the four HA and NA was 99.8% and 98.1%, respectively, with H5N8 viruses previously detected in Russia, Iran, Israel and Iraq. As well as, the phylogenic analyses, focusing on HA and NA genes indicated that Egyptian H5N8 viruses clustered in group B Russian like reassortant H5N8 viruses of clade 2.3.4.4. In conclusion, the detection of the HPAI H5N8 virus in domestic birds even in vaccinated birds is a serious threat; therefore, this is needed for periodic molecular monitoring with vaccine efficacy evaluation and annual surveillance

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium report, data summary of 50 countries for 2010-2015: Device-associated module

•We report INICC device-associated module data of 50 countries from 2010-2015.•We collected prospective data from 861,284 patients in 703 ICUs for 3,506,562 days.•DA-HAI rates and bacterial resistance were higher in the INICC ICUs than in CDC-NHSN's.•Device utilization ratio in the INICC ICUs was similar to CDC-NHSN's. Background: We report the results of International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2010-December 2015 in 703 intensive care units (ICUs) in Latin America, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific. Methods: During the 6-year study period, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infection (DA-HAI), we collected prospective data from 861,284 patients hospitalized in INICC hospital ICUs for an aggregate of 3,506,562 days. Results: Although device use in INICC ICUs was similar to that reported from CDC-NHSN ICUs, DA-HAI rates were higher in the INICC ICUs: in the INICC medical-surgical ICUs, the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection, 4.1 per 1,000 central line-days, was nearly 5-fold higher than the 0.8 per 1,000 central line-days reported from comparable US ICUs, the overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was also higher, 13.1 versus 0.9 per 1,000 ventilator-days, as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection, 5.07 versus 1.7 per 1,000 catheter-days. From blood cultures samples, frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas isolates to amikacin (29.87% vs 10%) and to imipenem (44.3% vs 26.1%), and of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (73.2% vs 28.8%) and to imipenem (43.27% vs 12.8%) were also higher in the INICC ICUs compared with CDC-NHSN ICUs. Conclusions: Although DA-HAIs in INICC ICU patients continue to be higher than the rates reported in CDC-NSHN ICUs representing the developed world, we have observed a significant trend toward the reduction of DA-HAI rates in INICC ICUs as shown in each international report. It is INICC's main goal to continue facilitating education, training, and basic and cost-effective tools and resources, such as standardized forms and an online platform, to tackle this problem effectively and systematically