Combined genetic and epigenetic alterations of the TERT promoter affect clinical and biological behaviour of bladder cancer

In urothelial bladder cancer (UBC), risk stratification remains an important unmet need. Limitless self‐renewal, governed by TERT expression and telomerase activation, is crucial for cancer progression. Thus, telomerase activation through the interplay of mutations (TERTp^(Mut)) and epigenetic alterations in the TERT promoter may provide further insight into UBC behavior. Here, we investigated the combined effect of TERTp^(Mut) and the TERTHypermethylated Oncological Region (THOR) status on telomerase activation and patient outcome in a UBC international cohort (n=237). We verified that TERTp^(Mut) were frequent (76.8%) and present in all stages and grades of UBC. Hypermethylation of THOR was associated with higher TERT expression and higher‐risk disease in non‐muscle invasive bladder cancers (NMIBC). TERTp^(Mut) alone predicted disease recurrence (HR: 3.18, 95%CI 1.84 to 5.51, p<0.0001) but not progression in NMIBC. Combined THOR^(high)/TERTp^(Mut) increased the risk of disease recurrence (HR 5.12, p<0.0001) and progression (HR 3.92, p=0.025). Increased THOR hypermethylation doubled the risk of stage progression of both TERTp^(wt) and TERTp^(Mut) NMIBC. These results highlight that both mechanisms are common and coexist in bladder cancer and while TERTp^(Mut) is an early event in bladder carcinogenesis THOR hypermethylation is a dynamic process that contributes to disease progression. While the absence of alterations comprises an extremely indolent phenotype, the combined genetic and epigenetic alterations of TERT bring additional prognostic value in NMIBC and provide a novel insight into telomere biology in cancer

Financialisation and the financial and economic crises: the case of Portugal

Documento elaborado e integrado no Projecto FESSUD, University of Leeds, projecto fundado pela União EuropeiaThe notion of 'financialisation' broadly refers to the growing weight of finance in contemporary economies. Taking this into account, the present study focus on the long-run macroeconomic development and recent financial and economic crisis of the Portuguese economy. Contrary to Greece, Ireland, and Spain, the dismal performance of the Portuguese economy is not solely a post-subprime crisis phenomenon. The sharp discontinuity in GDP growth around the turn of the century is a distinctive feature of Portugal in the EU context and, although several factors account for this discontinuity, the process of financialisation of the Portuguese economy is an essential part of the explanation. This process in Portugal was essentially characterised by a large increase in bank credit to the private sector, resulting from a combination of demand- and supply-side factors that produced a wide availability of credit at historically low interest rates. Thus, we suggest that the Portuguese experience can be labelled a ‘debt-led domestic demand growth’ model. However, after 2000 the Portuguese economy experienced a succession of shocks, and an exhaustion of the domestic debt-led growth at a much earlier stage than other countries, resulting in a sharp economic slowdown, with negative consequences for public finances. The high levels of public and private indebtedness were a decisive factor behind the steep rise in the Portuguese sovereign bonds interest rates between 2010 and 2012. Finally, we assess the impact of financialisation in the current account, investment, consumption, and inequality; articulating these domains with the general growth model. Our conclusion is that the increase in the importance of finance ended having a clear negative impact on the three former domains, while the negative impact on income inequality was less pronounced.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Financialisation in the european periphery and the sovereign debt crisis: the portuguese case

Working papers com arbitragem científicaThe financial sector has acquired great prominence in most developed economies. However, some authors argue that the growth of finance is at the root of the current financial and economic difficulties. This paper aims to analyse this claim by looking at financialisation in the European periphery, focusing on the Portuguese case. The emergence of this phenomenon is contextualised from a historical, economic and international perspective. Based on the analysis of several indicators, the paper concludes that the Portuguese economy exhibits symptoms of financialisation, and that this has not only revealed the structural weaknesses of the Portuguese economy but also played an important role in the emergence of the recent Portuguese sovereign debt crisis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Report on the financial system in Portugal

Documento elaborado e integrado no Projecto FESSUD, University of Leeds, projecto fundado pela União EuropeiaThis Report assesses the extent, nature, and effects of financialisation in Portugal. It also discusses the contribution of financialisation for the crisis that presently affects the Portuguese economy. The liberalization of the banking sector, the easier access to international financial markets, and the growth of credit fostered the development of the Portuguese financial sector.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Financialisation in the european periphery and the sovereign debt crisis: the portuguese case

Working papers com arbitragem científicaThe financial sector has acquired great prominence in most developed economies. However, some authors argue that the growth of finance is at the root of the current financial and economic difficulties. This paper aims to analyse this claim by looking at financialisation in the European periphery, focusing on the Portuguese case. The emergence of this phenomenon is contextualised from a historical, economic and international perspective. Based on the analysis of several indicators, the paper concludes that the Portuguese economy exhibits symptoms of financialisation, and that this has not only revealed the structural weaknesses of the Portuguese economy but also played an important role in the emergence of the recent Portuguese sovereign debt crisis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Risk management, the subprime crisis and financialisation: the role of risk management in the generation and transmission of the subprime crisis

Documento elaborado e integrado no Projecto FESSUD, University of Leeds, projecto fundado pela União EuropeiaOver time the financial sector has gained greater relevance in the economy, a phenomenon that some call financialisation. Contrary to the mainstream view, financialisation literature emphasises that risk management by financial corporations will not be socially efficient in a context of deregulated markets and will ultimately lead to an increase of aggregate risk and crises. To assess the validity of such claim, in this paper we review the literature on risk management during the Subprime crisis. These failures fall into three categories: technique and methodology, corporate governance and strategy, and regulation and external factors. These failures can be interpreted in the light of the financialisation perspective, which is therefore a valuable approach when addressing regulatory changes in the financial system.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The non-for-profit banks in Portugal: specificities, social role and evolution

Colecção DINÂMIA'CET-RN - Artigo em revista científica nacional com arbitragem científicaEste artigo procura definir as principais diferenças entre a generalidade dos bancos e os dois bancos com atitude não lucrativa que operam no mercado bancário português (Caixa Agrícola e Caixa Económica-Montepio Geral). Encontramos diferenças em termos da forma de captar fundos; em termos dos critérios de governação; do regime fiscal; da aplicação dos lucros; e da atitude em relação ao lucro. A Caixa Agrícola opera de forma mais próxima dos bancos cooperativos do que a Caixa Económica-Montepio Geral. Ambos os bancos têm vindo a modernizar-se e construir grupos financeiros modernos que oferecem uma enorme variedade de produtos e serviços financeiros, semelhantes à generalidade dos bancos. Contudo, isto não foi suficiente para evitar alguma erosão das suas posições no mercado bancário (quer em termos de crédito concedido quer em termos de depósitos recebidos). O impacto da crise financeira de 2008 na rendibilidade da Caixa Agrícola foi semelhante à média do sector bancário. No caso da Caixa Económica-Montepio Geral, o impacto foi menos grave que na média do sector.This paper establishes the main differences between standard commercial banks and the two non-for-profit banks operating in Portugal (Caixa Agrícola – CA – and Caixa Económica Montepio Geral – CE-MG). In particular, we find differences in the way funds are raised, governance criteria, tax regime, application of profits and attitude towards profit. However, CA is more similar to a typical co-operative/mutual bank than CE-MG. Both banks have modernized and transformed into modern financial groups offering a wide variety of financial products similar to any commercial bank. However, this was not enough to avoid an erosion of their market position in terms of credit and deposits. The 2008 financial crisis’ impact on the profitability of CA was similar to the impact on the industry average, whereas on CE-MG the impact was milder.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Os dirigentes desportivos em Portugal: estudo de caso sobre a modalidade de hóquei em patins

A realização deste estudo tem como objetivo encontrar respostas sobre a formação académica dos dirigentes desportivos de Hóquei em Patins da primeira e segundas divisões, bem como outros dados interessantes que possamos recolher, afim de termos uma análise mais detalhada da classe. Esta questão é importante para que possamos perceber o estado atual da modalidade e com isso ser possível elaborar por parte das entidades competentes, um planeamento que permita melhoramentos a todos os níveis e resulte na evolução do Hóquei em Patins. De forma a responder às questões da investigação foi elaborado um questionário online semiestruturado através da plataforma Google Forms®, dividido em cinco partes: dados do inquirido, a formação e experiência do mesmo, as dificuldades no desempenho da função, os objetivos do clube e importância da formação académica. Os dados recolhidos permitiram-nos verificar que os dirigentes desportivos do Hóquei em Patins, carecem de formação académica que lhes permita adquirir competências, bases e conhecimentos para o correto desempenho da sua função. À falta de formação académica aliam-se dois fatores, o facto de a maioria não ter experienciado um cargo de gestão antes de assumir a sua atual função e a fraca percentagem de ex-praticantes da modalidade que se encontram presentemente a liderar as diversas organizações. Foram encontradas diversas dificuldades, nomeadamente de ordem financeira, o que limita em parte o trabalho dos dirigentes desportivos, que na grande maioria dos casos não são profissionais. Apesar de se verificarem estes dados, os dirigentes desportivos consideram a formação académica como algo importante para o desempenho da sua função, no entanto, não consideram importante o suficiente para que os force a procurar atualizarem-se em relação a determinadas matérias importantes para a gestão desportiva; THE SPORTS LEADERS IN PORTUGAL: CASE STUDY ABOUT RINK HOCKEY Abstract: The purpose of this study is to find answers about the academic formation of the first and second division hockey leaders, as well as other interesting data that we can collect, in order to have a more detailed analysis of the class. This issue is important so that we can understand the current state of the sport and with this, it's possible to elaborate by the competent authorities a planning that allows improvements at all levels and results in the evolution of hockey. In order to answer the research questions, a semi-structured online questionnaire was developed through the Google Forms® platform, divided into five parts: interviewer data, training and experience, difficulties in the performance of the function, the objectives of the club and importance of academic training. The collected data allowed us to verify that the sports leaders of hockey, don't have the academic educations that allows them to acquire skills, bases and knowledge for the correct performance of their function. The absence of academic education is coupled with two factors, the fact that the majority did not experience a management position before assuming their current position and the low percentage of ex-practitioners who are currently leading the various organizations. A number of difficulties have been found, mainly in financial terms, which in part limits the work of sports managers, who in the vast majority of cases are not professionals. Although these data are found, sports managers consider academic education as important for the performance of their job, but do not consider it important enough that it forces them to search for new skills