Basel III: The impact of an increase in regulation in a recession framework

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Finance from the NOVA – School of Business and EconomicsThis work project aims to assess the impact of Basel III’s proposal in the Portuguese banking sector, a sector experiencing particularly difficult times in a distressed country. The industry is represented by its three largest quoted banking groups, two of them under government intervention. The impact is evaluated through the estimation of the banks’ capital ratios through Basel III’s expected implementation calendar, through the analysis of the banks’ capital needs based on their publicly available information and industry research. The impact will vary depending on the bank; on average, it will result in a decrease in banks’ excess capital. Banks will have difficulties to comply if state-owned CoCos are not considered part of regulatory capital. The new standards will penalize those banks with a recent history of poor performance, and decrease the difference between regulatory and equity capital

Contributo para a inventariação da biodiversidade marinha da ilha de Santa Maria

XIV Expedição Científica do Departamento de Biologia - Santa Maria 2009.Na XIV Expedição Cientifica à ilha de Santa Maria 2009, organizada pelo Departamento de Biologia da Universidade dos Açores, foram realizados vários trabalhos em diversos locais do litoral da ilha, tendo como objectivo o registo, recolha e identificação de espécies marinhas, tendo sido feita amostragem de fauna e flora intertidal e subtidal (em mergulho com escafandro autónomo). Em cada um dos locais de amostragem procedeu-se a identificação dos exemplares in loco e quando esta não era possível, os indivíduos foram colectados para posterior identificação em laboratório. Em paralelo, colectaram-se algas e crustáceos decápodes para análise genética (sequenciação de DNA; COI). Foram ainda efectuados dois arrastos para recolha de plâncton. Toda a informação obtida irá ser incluída na base de dados Atlantis. Os trabalhos efectuados inserem-se no âmbito de vários projectos em curso no Departamento de Biologia da UAç (e.g. LusoMarBol, Inspect). A inventariação de espécies resultou no acréscimo de 18 registos à lista de espécies costeiras e marinhas anteriormente referenciadas para Santa Maria, contribuindo deste modo para um melhor conhecimento da biodiversidade costeira e marinha da ilha de Santa Maria

The NEVERMIND e-health system in the treatment of depressive symptoms among patients with severe somatic conditions: A multicentre, pragmatic randomised controlled trial

Background This study assessed the effectiveness of the NEVERMIND e-health system, consisting of a smart shirt and a mobile application with lifestyle behavioural advice, mindfulness-based therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy, in reducing depressive symptoms among patients diagnosed with severe somatic conditions. Our hypothesis was that the system would significantly decrease the level of depressive symptoms in the intervention group compared to the control group. Methods This pragmatic, randomised controlled trial included 425 patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction, breast cancer, prostate cancer, kidney failure, or lower limb amputation. Participants were recruited from hospitals in Turin and Pisa (Italy), and Lisbon (Portugal), and were randomly assigned to either the NEVERMIND intervention or to the control group. Clinical interviews and structured questionnaires were administered at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. The primary outcome was depressive symptoms at 12 weeks measured by the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). Intention-to-treat analyses included 425 participants, while the per-protocol analyses included 333 participants. This trial is registered in the German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00013391. Findings Patients were recruited between Dec 4, 2017, and Dec 31, 2019, with 213 assigned to the intervention and 212 to the control group. The sample had a mean age of 59·41 years (SD=10·70), with 44·24% women. Those who used the NEVERMIND system had statistically significant lower depressive symptoms at the 12-week follow-up (mean difference=-3·03, p<0·001; 95% CI -4·45 to -1·62) compared with controls, with a clinically relevant effect size (Cohen's d=0·39). Interpretation The results of this study show that the NEVERMIND system is superior to standard care in reducing and preventing depressive symptoms among patients with the studied somatic conditions. Funding The NEVERMIND project received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No. 689691

Ecoeficiência e ecogestão no setor do azeite: uma avaliação do ciclo de vida

A União Europeia (UE) é a principal região produtora de azeite a níve11 mundial, com Portugal a ocupar a quarta posição, depois da Espanha, Itália e Grécia. O azeite tem, por isso, uma grande importância nos países da bacia Mediterrânica, não apenas devido à riqueza e herança cultural associada a este produto, mas também à sua enorme relevância na economia, na criação de emprego, no combate à desertificação e na manutenção das populações rurais. Apesar da importância económica e social deste produto alimentar de excecional valor nutricional, a sua produção envolve aspetos ambientais que não devem nem podem ser negligenciados. Ao longo das etapas da cadeia produtiva do azeite, desde o cu~tivo e da produção de azeitona até ao consumo final do produto, ocorrem consumos de recursos mássicos e energéticos, bem como a produção de resíduos gasososJ líquidos e sólidos com impactes e consequências negativas nos ecossistemas. Estes impactes variam ,em função das práticas e das técnicas utilizadas nas diferentes etapas, da região, do país, das características locais das explorações e ainda dos modelos de gestão. As condições sodoeconómicas, o clima ,e os aspetos culturais têm também influência nos impactes gerados.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The NEVERMIND e-health system in the treatment of depressive symptoms among patients with severe somatic conditions: A multicentre, pragmatic randomised controlled trial

Background This study assessed the effectiveness of the NEVERMIND e-health system, consisting of a smart shirt and a mobile application with lifestyle behavioural advice, mindfulness-based therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy, in reducing depressive symptoms among patients diagnosed with severe somatic conditions. Our hypothesis was that the system would significantly decrease the level of depressive symptoms in the intervention group compared to the control group.Methods This pragmatic, randomised controlled trial included 425 patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction, breast cancer, prostate cancer, kidney failure, or lower limb amputation. Participants were recruited from hospitals in Turin and Pisa (Italy), and Lisbon (Portugal), and were randomly assigned to either the NEVERMIND intervention or to the control group. Clinical interviews and structured questionnaires were administered at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. The primary outcome was depressive symptoms at 12 weeks measured by the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). Intention-to-treat analyses included 425 participants, while the per-protocol analyses included 333 participants. This trial is registered in the German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00013391.Findings Patients were recruited between Dec 4, 2017, and Dec 31, 2019, with 213 assigned to the intervention and 212 to the control group. The sample had a mean age of 59.41 years (SD=10.70), with 44.24% women. Those who used the NEVERMIND system had statistically significant lower depressive symptoms at the 12-week follow-up (mean difference=-3.03, p < 0.001; 95% CI-4.45 to-1.62) compared with controls, with a clinically relevant effect size (Cohen's d=0.39).Interpretation The results of this study show that the NEVERMIND system is superior to standard care in reducing and preventing depressive symptoms among patients with the studied somatic conditions. Copyright (C) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd