Collusion in the football labor market - the effects of misallocations

This research investigates the existence of structural misallocations of players in the football labor market, in the context of an intervention by the Portuguese Competition Authority against a no-hiring agreement between clubs. We undertook an econometric analysis of two player datasets, from the Portuguese league and from other European leagues. Our main finding is that big teams use more valuable players less, indicating that big teams hoard valuable players. Finally, we conclude that, due to insufficient regulation in each league, structural misallocations contribute to a lack of competitive balance

Agricultura de precisão em pastagens. Avaliação quantitativa e qualitativa da variabilidade espacial de uma pastagem melhorada de sequeiro no Alentejo

Mestrado em Engenharia Agronómica - Instituto Superior de AgronomiaThe main goals of this essay are the analysis of the spatial variability of a pasture and the correlation of its field variables with vegetation indices obtained by remote sensing. To achieve these goals, we conducted a flight over the field being studied to detect the reflectance emitted by each point of its surface. Based on the analysis of the images obtained, 47 sites were selected, for which we calculated different vegetation indices. These sites were also georreferenced and used for plant and soil sample collections - which constitute the database of the studied field variables. After a statistical treatment of these, it was possible to confirm the large spatial variability of a pasture in Alentejo - from 19 variables treated, 12 showed a CV > 30%. In the correlation between indices and variables, the results were not as relevant as expected. However, from 8 vegetation indices, a model to estimate the pasture yield was obtained (adjusted r2 = 0,48). It was again shown the importance that precision agriculture and its techniques development can have on the interpretation of the variability of a field and the contribution it can bring to its most efficient us

Das Gruppe I und Gruppe II Chaperoninsystem des Archaeons Methanosarcina mazei Gö 1

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden erstmals Vertreter der Chaperoninklassen I und II (MmGroEL/MmGroES und MmThs/MmPfd) eines Archaeon untersucht. Das Chaperonin MmGroEL und sein Kofaktor MmGroES aus Methanosarcina mazei sind oligomere Komplexe, die jeweils aus identischen Untereinheiten aufgebaut sind. MmGroEL ist ein Homotetradecamer mit einer heptameren Doppelringstruktur. MmGroEL zeigt die für Chaperone typische Eigenschaft indem es ungefaltetes Substratprotein bindet und eine Aggregatbildung verhindert. Eine effiziente ATP-abhängige Rückfaltung denaturierter Proteine im Zusammenspiel mit MmGroES durch MmGroEL wird nur unter bestimmten Bedingungen vermittelt. Die Ergebnisse belegen, dass Ammoniumsulfat im Falle für das Modellsubstrat Malat-Dehydrogenase unerlässlich für den funktionellen Ablauf der Reaktivierung ist. Zwar kommt es auch in Abwesenheit von diesem Salz zu einer Faltung, wie dies im Falle des monomeren Substrates Rhodanese nachgewiesen werden konnte. Jedoch bewirkt im Fall der Malat-Dehydrogenase nur eine Zugabe von Ammoniumsulfat die mechanistisch notwendige Einschließung des Substrates in die cis-Kavität des GroEL. Das Gruppe II Chaperonin MmThs ist ein aus drei Untereinheiten bestehender hochmolekularer Komplex. Durch Immunpräzipitationen konnte nachgewiesen werden, dass im endogenen MmThs die Ths-Untereinheiten in einem Verhältnis von 2:1:1 (α:β:γ) vorliegen. Der MmThs Kofaktor MmPfd ist ein hochmolekularer Chaperon-Komplex mit einer heteromeren Untereinheiten-Zusammensetzung von α2β4, ohne jedoch eine ATP Hydrolyseaktivität aufzuweisen. MmPfd hat die für Chaperone typische Eigenschaft der Aggregationsprävention denaturierter Proteine und stabilisiert sie in einen faltungskompetenten Zustand. MmPfd ist zudem in der Lage denaturierte Proteine an MmThs und MmGroEL weiterzugeben

Consulting project for TAP´s melhoria contínua area to increase operational efficiency at Lisbon HUB

The following report is destined to shortly describe the project developed under NOVA SBE’s Management Consulting Field Labs initiative. five NOVA SBE’s students for the airline company TAP on its melhoria contínua area. The objectives were to reduce TAP’s operational irregularities Minimum Connecting Time (MCT) in approximately 15 minutes at Lisbon Airport. In order to find the solution to the mentioned challenges the team adopted a practical work approach that proved to have a final positive impact in the company, namely the implementation of recommendations for operational irregularities would sav

Mucopolysaccharidoses in northern Brazil : targeted mutation screening and urinary glicosaminoglycan excretion in patients undergoing enzyme replacement therapy

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are rare lysosomal disorders caused by the deficiency of specific lysosomal enzymes responsible for glycosaminoglycan (GAG) degradation. Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) has been shown to reduce accumulation and urinary excretion of GAG, and to improve some of the patients' clinical signs. We studied biochemical and molecular characteristics of nine MPS patients (two MPS I, four MPS II and three MPS VI) undergoing ERT in northern Brazil. The responsiveness of ERT was evaluated through urinary GAG excretion measurements. Patients were screened for eight common MPS mutations, using PCR, restriction enzyme tests and direct sequencing. Two MPS I patients had the previously reported mutation p.P533R. In the MPS II patients, mutation analysis identified the mutation p.R468W, and in the MPS VI patients, polymorphisms p.V358M and p.V376M were also found. After 48 weeks of ERT, biochemical analysis showed a significantly decreased total urinary GAG excretion in patients with MPS I (p < 0.01) and MPS VI (p < 0.01). Our findings demonstrate the effect of ERT on urinary GAG excretion and suggest the adoption of a screening strategy for genotyping MPS patients living far from the main reference centers

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Protective intraoperative ventilation with higher versus lower levels of positive end-expiratory pressure in obese patients (PROBESE): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) increase the morbidity and mortality of surgery in obese patients. High levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) with lung recruitment maneuvers may improve intraoperative respiratory function, but they can also compromise hemodynamics, and the effects on PPCs are uncertain. We hypothesized that intraoperative mechanical ventilation using high PEEP with periodic recruitment maneuvers, as compared with low PEEP without recruitment maneuvers, prevents PPCs in obese patients. Methods/design The PRotective Ventilation with Higher versus Lower PEEP during General Anesthesia for Surgery in OBESE Patients (PROBESE) study is a multicenter, two-arm, international randomized controlled trial. In total, 2013 obese patients with body mass index ≥35 kg/m2 scheduled for at least 2 h of surgery under general anesthesia and at intermediate to high risk for PPCs will be included. Patients are ventilated intraoperatively with a low tidal volume of 7 ml/kg (predicted body weight) and randomly assigned to PEEP of 12 cmH2O with lung recruitment maneuvers (high PEEP) or PEEP of 4 cmH2O without recruitment maneuvers (low PEEP). The occurrence of PPCs will be recorded as collapsed composite of single adverse pulmonary events and represents the primary endpoint. Discussion To our knowledge, the PROBESE trial is the first multicenter, international randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of two different levels of intraoperative PEEP during protective low tidal volume ventilation on PPCs in obese patients. The results of the PROBESE trial will support anesthesiologists in their decision to choose a certain PEEP level during general anesthesia for surgery in obese patients in an attempt to prevent PPCs. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02148692. Registered on 23 May 2014; last updated 7 June 2016. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-1929-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users