Raize: how an innovative business model led to a successful IPO

For the past decade we have been watching a digital revolution taking place in our businesses. It seems everything is digital now, any activity that was previously costly or time consuming, is now efficient, on our pockets and usually for free. The Portuguese entrepreneurial tissue is catching up to the trend and many new start-ups are surging, being that there is a big emphasis on financial start-ups, commonly known as FinTech's. I line with this, Raize's growth is a phenomenon that you can’t help but observe. It is a one of a kind growth in the Portuguese economy that sparked the attention of every financial consumer. From a mere idea in 2012 to a growing start-up in 2013 culminating with the launch of an IPO and what is the element that will shake up the capital market in Portugal. In this case, we will dissect the company's business model and modus operandis to understand what is the differentiation that makes this company be chosen over a traditional and established traditional provider.Na última década temos assistido a uma revolução digital que tem tomado conta das nossas empresas. Tudo aparenta ser digital agora, qualquer atividade que anteriormente seria dispendiosa ou consumidora de tempo, é agora eficiente, ao alcance do nosso bolso e normalmente sem custos associados. O tecido empresarial português está a acompanhar estas tendências e muitas "start-ups" estão agora a surgir, havendo um grande ênfase em start-ups financeiras, conhecidas por Fintechs. Em linha com este panorama, o crescimento da Raize é um fenómeno que não podemos deixar de observar. Representa um crescimento sem precedentena economia portuguesa que atraiu a atenção de todos os consumidores financeiros. De uma mera ideia em 2012 a uma "start-up" em crescimento e 2013 culminando no lançamento da IPO que se apresenta como o elemento para despertar o mercado de capitais nacional. Neste "case study", iremos dissecar o modelo de negócios e o "modus operandis" da empresa para compreender qual a diferenciação que a leva a ser escolhida ao invés de um provedor de serviços tradicional e já estabelecido no mercado

SARS-CoV-2 introductions and early dynamics of the epidemic in Portugal

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal was rapidly implemented by the National Institute of Health in the early stages of the COVID-19 epidemic, in collaboration with more than 50 laboratories distributed nationwide. Methods By applying recent phylodynamic models that allow integration of individual-based travel history, we reconstructed and characterized the spatio-temporal dynamics of SARSCoV-2 introductions and early dissemination in Portugal. Results We detected at least 277 independent SARS-CoV-2 introductions, mostly from European countries (namely the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, and Switzerland), which were consistent with the countries with the highest connectivity with Portugal. Although most introductions were estimated to have occurred during early March 2020, it is likely that SARS-CoV-2 was silently circulating in Portugal throughout February, before the first cases were confirmed. Conclusions Here we conclude that the earlier implementation of measures could have minimized the number of introductions and subsequent virus expansion in Portugal. This study lays the foundation for genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal, and highlights the need for systematic and geographically-representative genomic surveillance.We gratefully acknowledge to Sara Hill and Nuno Faria (University of Oxford) and Joshua Quick and Nick Loman (University of Birmingham) for kindly providing us with the initial sets of Artic Network primers for NGS; Rafael Mamede (MRamirez team, IMM, Lisbon) for developing and sharing a bioinformatics script for sequence curation (https://github.com/rfm-targa/BioinfUtils); Philippe Lemey (KU Leuven) for providing guidance on the implementation of the phylodynamic models; Joshua L. Cherry (National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health) for providing guidance with the subsampling strategies; and all authors, originating and submitting laboratories who have contributed genome data on GISAID (https://www.gisaid.org/) on which part of this research is based. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the view of the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government. This study is co-funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and Agência de Investigação Clínica e Inovação Biomédica (234_596874175) on behalf of the Research 4 COVID-19 call. Some infrastructural resources used in this study come from the GenomePT project (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022184), supported by COMPETE 2020 - Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Lisboa Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Lisboa2020), Algarve Portugal Regional Operational Programme (CRESC Algarve2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pesquisa de Escherichia coli produtora de Shiga Toxinas (STEC) em amostras de alimentos prontos para consumo

A Escherichia coli produtora de Shiga toxina (STEC) é uma bactéria zoonótica, responsável por infecções intestinais nos humanos que ocorrem após ingestão de STEC a partir de alimentos contaminados. Tendo em conta a pouca informação existente em Portugal sobre a presença de STEC em alimentos, um estudo para pesquisa desta bactéria foi realizado em amostras de alimentos prontos para consumo, no grande Porto. O objectivo deste trabalho consistiu na detecção dos genes stx1 e stx2 (genes codificadores de Shiga toxina), por PCR, em diversas matrizes alimentares que apresentavam crescimento de E. coli, segundo a norma ISO 16649-2:2001. Entre Agosto de 2011 e Setembro de 2012 foram analisadas 36 amostras. Após enriquecimento de 25 gramas de amostra em meio BPW, por 18 horas, procedeu-se à extração do DNA utilizando o kit comercial QIAamp® DNA mini kit (Qiagen). Paralelamente isolou-se em meio TBX, a fim de obter biomassa viável para extração de DNA por fervura e posterior isolamento de colónias. Os DNA extraídos foram analisados para os genes stx1 e stx2, por PCR. As diversas amostras foram agrupadas de acordo com a classificação existente no laboratório dos valores guia para avaliação da qualidade microbiológica de alimentos prontos a comer preparados em estabelecimentos de restauração. As amostras pertenciam ao grupo I, II e III nas seguintes percentagens, 33,3%, 41,7% e 25,0% respectivamente. Não se detectou a presença de nenhum gene pesquisado. No estudo realizado verificou-se que os alimentos prontos para consumo não possuíam estirpes de E. coli produtora de Shiga toxina. No entanto, o regulamento (CE) N.º 2073/2005 refere que as STEC podem representar perigo para a saúde pública em algumas categorias de alimentos, nomeadamente em carne de bovino (crua ou mal cozinhada) e seus derivados; leite cru e derivados; sumos de fruta e produtos hortícolas não pasteurizados; e produtos frescos. Desta forma, sempre que sejam detectadas E. coli recomenda-se a vigilância

Blood collection from the external jugular vein of Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus sedated with midazolam: live sampling of a subspecies at risk

In the last decades, the European wild rabbit, particularly the Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus, a keystone species in the Iberian Peninsula ecosystems, declined severely, raising concerns from the wildlife authorities. The hunting calendar in Portugal limits sampling collection to a narrow window of few months annually. Nevertheless, governmental wildlife protection laws allow live rabbit sampling for population and sanitary evaluations. The aim of this study is to adjust blood collection protocols from the external jugular vein (EJV) described for domestic rabbits to the wild rabbit. Collection of peripheral blood is problematic in the wild rabbit given its small body size and the reduced calibre of vessels but mostly its nervous disposition and fragility. We describe in detail a procedure for EJV blood collection in 30 wild rabbits after sedation with midazolam. Emphasis is given to protocol adjustments for wild rabbit. Heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature were assessed before sedation, after sedation but before collection and after blood collection. Sedation onset took on mean (SD) 8 ± 2 min. The technique allowed the collection at least 1 ml of blood, a satisfactory volume for routine laboratory testing. The differences observed in heart and respiratory rates before and after blood collection were not statistically sig-nificant, indicating that no cardiorespiratory interference occurred due to venepuncture. Recovery from sedation took on mean (SD) 17 ± 2 min. All animals were set free during the first hour after blood collection. This work aims to demonstrate that blood collection under sedation is a safe and feasible procedure in wild rabbits when practiced by experienced veteri-narians. At no time, whatsoever, was the physiological homeostasis at risk and no injuries were inflicted on the animals. To our knowledge this report constitutes the first guided description of blood collection from the EJV in sedated O. c. algirusand the first collection of physiological parameters measured under different conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pesquisa de Escherichia coli produtora de Shiga toxina (STEC), em Portugal, durante o surto internacional de E. coli O104:H4

O recente surto de infecção por E. coli O104:H4 (stx2+), que ocorreu entre o início de Maio e o final de Julho de 2011, na Alemanha, e com um foco em França demonstrou-nos que grandes surtos ainda podem acontecer em países desenvolvidos. A Alemanha difundiu muito rapidamente informação sobre a estirpe. O conhecimento das suas características genéticas e fenotípicas levou a que fossem dadas recomendações para uma rápida detecção laboratorial. A estirpe do surto alemão parece partilhar características de virulência de STEC e EAEC. As estirpes STEC geralmente têm um reservatório animal, enquanto o reservatório das EAEC é o Homem. Quatro dias depois das autoridades federais alemãs terem emitido o alerta, foi divulgado um comunicado que implicava pepinos espanhóis como a origem do surto. Este facto causou uma grande falta de confiança da população portuguesa na segurança deste tipo de alimentos. Os produtores e distribuidores portugueses, preocupados com a segurança alimentar dos seus produtos e tendo necessidade de restabelecer a confiança dos consumidores, solicitaram a realização de ensaios laboratoriais em 53 amostras de géneros alimentícios. Os ensaios foram realizados no Departamento de Alimentação e Nutrição do INSA por PCR (método interno que consiste no pré-enriquecimento das amostras tendo por base a ISO 16654:2001 e as especificações técnicas da EFSA (EFSA Journal 2009; 7(11):1366), seguido da extracção do DNA, utilizando duas metodologias paralelas e sequenciais distintas). Não se detectou a presença dos genes stx1 e stx2 em nenhuma amostra. Este surto veio demonstrar ser essencial a cooperação entre a investigação epidemiológica dos casos humanos e a alimentar. Evidenciou a necessidade de estimar com maior precisão a prevalência de STEC em humanos, animais e alimentos. Realçou a necessidade de melhorar a celeridade e qualidade da notificação. Tornou ainda clara a importância de notificar não só os STEC eae positivos, mas também os eae negativos e de avaliar e prevenir a resistência aos agentes antimicrobianos

Unraveling the genetic background of individuals with a clinical familial hypercholesterolemia phenotype

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common genetic disorder of lipid metabolism caused by pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in LDLR, APOB, and PCSK9 genes. Variants in FH-phenocopy genes (LDLRAP1, APOE, LIPA, ABCG5, and ABCG8), polygenic hypercholesterolemia, and hyperlipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] can also mimic a clinical FH phenotype. We aim to present a new diagnostic tool to unravel the genetic background of clinical FH phenotype. Biochemical and genetic study was performed in 1,005 individuals with clinical diagnosis of FH, referred to the Portuguese FH Study. A next-generation sequencing panel, covering eight genes and eight SNPs to determine LDL-C polygenic risk score and LPA genetic score, was validated, and used in this study. FH was genetically confirmed in 417 index cases: 408 heterozygotes and 9 homozygotes. Cascade screening increased the identification to 1,000 FH individuals, including 11 homozygotes. FH-negative individuals (phenotype positive and genotype negative) have Lp(a) >50 mg/dl (30%), high polygenic risk score (16%), other monogenic lipid metabolism disorders (1%), and heterozygous pathogenic variants in FH-phenocopy genes (2%). Heterozygous variants of uncertain significance were identified in primary genes (12%) and phenocopy genes (7%). Overall, 42% of our cohort was genetically confirmed with FH. In the remaining individuals, other causes for high LDL-C were identified in 68%. Hyper-Lp(a) or polygenic hypercholesterolemia may be the cause of the clinical FH phenotype in almost half of FH-negative individuals. A small part has pathogenic variants in ABCG5/ABCG8 in heterozygosity that can cause hypercholesterolemia and should be further investigated. This extended next-generation sequencing panel identifies individuals with FH and FH-phenocopies, allowing to personalize each person’s treatment according to the affected pathway

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Tuberculosis: integrated studies for a complex disease 2050

Tuberculosis (TB) has been a disease for centuries with various challenges [1]. Like other places where challenges and opportunities come together, TB challenges were the inspiration for the scientific community to mobilize different groups for the purpose of interest. For example, with the emergence of drug resistance, there has been a huge volume of research on the discovery of new medicines and drug delivery methods and the repurposing of old drugs [2, 3]. Moreover, to enhance the capacity to detect TB cases, studies have sought diagnostics and biomarkers, with much hope recently expressed in the direction of point-of-care tests [4]. Despite all such efforts as being highlighted in 50 Chapters of this volume, we are still writing about TB and thinking about how to fight this old disease–implying that the problem of TB might be complex, so calling the need for an integrated science to deal with multiple dimensions in a simultaneous and effective manner. We are not the first one; there have been proposed integrated platform for TB research, integrated prevention services, integrated models for drug screening, integrated imaging protocol, integrated understanding of the disease pathogenesis, integrated control models, integrated mapping of the genome of the pathogen, etc. [5–12], to name some. These integrated jobs date back decades ago. So, a question arises: why is there a disease named TB yet? It might be due to the fact that this integration has happened to a scale that is not global, and so TB remains to be a problem, especially in resource-limited settings. Hope Tuberculosis: Integrated Studies for a Complex Disease helps to globalize the integrated science of TB.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy (EAGLE): pragmatic, batched stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial in 64 countries

Background Anastomotic leak affects 8 per cent of patients after right colectomy with a 10-fold increased risk of postoperative death. The EAGLE study aimed to develop and test whether an international, standardized quality improvement intervention could reduce anastomotic leaks. Methods The internationally intended protocol, iteratively co-developed by a multistage Delphi process, comprised an online educational module introducing risk stratification, an intraoperative checklist, and harmonized surgical techniques. Clusters (hospital teams) were randomized to one of three arms with varied sequences of intervention/data collection by a derived stepped-wedge batch design (at least 18 hospital teams per batch). Patients were blinded to the study allocation. Low- and middle-income country enrolment was encouraged. The primary outcome (assessed by intention to treat) was anastomotic leak rate, and subgroup analyses by module completion (at least 80 per cent of surgeons, high engagement; less than 50 per cent, low engagement) were preplanned. Results A total 355 hospital teams registered, with 332 from 64 countries (39.2 per cent low and middle income) included in the final analysis. The online modules were completed by half of the surgeons (2143 of 4411). The primary analysis included 3039 of the 3268 patients recruited (206 patients had no anastomosis and 23 were lost to follow-up), with anastomotic leaks arising before and after the intervention in 10.1 and 9.6 per cent respectively (adjusted OR 0.87, 95 per cent c.i. 0.59 to 1.30; P = 0.498). The proportion of surgeons completing the educational modules was an influence: the leak rate decreased from 12.2 per cent (61 of 500) before intervention to 5.1 per cent (24 of 473) after intervention in high-engagement centres (adjusted OR 0.36, 0.20 to 0.64; P < 0.001), but this was not observed in low-engagement hospitals (8.3 per cent (59 of 714) and 13.8 per cent (61 of 443) respectively; adjusted OR 2.09, 1.31 to 3.31). Conclusion Completion of globally available digital training by engaged teams can alter anastomotic leak rates. Registration number: NCT04270721 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)