COVID-19 AND DIVIDENDS: EVIDENCE FROM POLAND

This paper aims to examine the impact of an unexpected change in the level of dividend caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on share prices on the Polish stock exchange. Our article analyses the period from 1 February 2020 to 5 June 2020, which was when companies listed on the primary market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) published information about Boards of Directors' dividend recommendations for 2019. The original group of companies included 140 firms. 56 companies (40%) fulfilled all the study criteria, and these were subsequently divided into 2 groups. The groups were defined by the recommendations on profit distribution. The first group consisting of 38 companies (68% of the surveyed) consisted of firms which unexpectedly announced plans to retain all profits in the company or a dividend payment but with a lower value than in the previous year (cancellation or reduction of the dividend amount). The second group of 18 companies (32% of the surveyed) comprised those which unexpectedly announced willingness to pay a dividend per share at a higher level (increase in dividend amount). The research confirmed that the announcement of a change in the level of the dividend or the cancellation of the payment of profit is essential price-creating information on the Polish securities market and has a significant impact on the share prices. In a situation of uncertainty caused by external factors, such as the coronavirus pandemic, the sensitivity of individual companies to lockdown and uncertainty as to the return to normality have a significant negative impact on the market. They cause a fall in the share prices higher than expected, especially when they are accompanied by a shortage of information from the companies and a recommendation to suspend or reduce dividend payment.

Gingival Phenotype Changes and the Prevalence of Mucogingival Deformities during the Early Transitional Dentition Phase-A Two-Year Longitudinal Study.

Thin gingival phenotype (GPh) may contribute to periodontal tissue breakdown and recession development. Thus, the early identification of thin GPh in children can allow proper preventive care and the identification of children at risk during orthodontic treatment. The present long-term study aimed to monitor GPh changes, i.e., thickness (GT) and width of attached gingiva (AGW) during the early transitional dentition phase, as well as its potential associations with the mucogingival deformities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 83 systematically healthy children were examined twice with an interval of 2 years. Probing depth, GT and AGW at mandibular incisors, vestibular depth, type of lower lip frenum attachment and mucogingival defects were recorded. RESULTS: 95.2% of participants at baseline and 93.9% at 2-year examination expressed thin GPh. During the transition from the deciduous to permanent dentition, GT and AGW declined, but the GT of permanent incisors already erupted at the baseline examination increased in the observation period. CONCLUSIONS: Gingival phenotype undergoes changes in the early transitional dentition phase. In spite of the thin gingival phenotype, only single pseudo-recessions and primary shallow vestibule were noticed.

European student wellness, stress, coping, support and perceptions about remote dental training during COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare wellness, stress, ability to cope, social support and perceptions about remote training amongst European dental students during COVID-19. METHODS: 1795 undergraduate dental students from six countries and eight dental schools participated. The anonymous survey collected data about different aspects in each of the following domains: wellness, stress, ability to cope, social support and perceptions about remote training. Complex multi-item scales were used for all domains. RESULTS: There were differences amongst countries in all the domains. Overall, student stress scores were lower than either their coping or support scores. The highest wellness score (mean ±sd) was observed in Romania: 62.5% ± 11.2% whilst the highest mean stress scores were observed in Albania: 46.3% ± 11.7% and Lithuania: 42.2% ± 13.8%. Overall, student stress and coping ability scores were lower and their support scores higher. About 10% of students did not have any support. In the linear multivariable regression analysis, significant predictors of wellness were being female (ß = 0.073), not being in a graduating year (ß = 0.059), having less stress (ß = 0.222), ability to cope (ß = 0.223) and having support (ß = 0.179). The student positive perceptions about remote training were predicted by less stress (ß = 0.080), coping (ß = 0.182) and support (ß = 0.057). CONCLUSIONS: Students varied in wellness, stress, coping, social support and perceptions of remote training. Also, there were significant differences amongst students from different countries. Coping was the best predictor of both student wellness and their positive perceptions about remote training.