Contagion effects of the US Subprime Crisis on Developed Countries

This study assesses whether capital markets of developed countries reflect the effects of financial contagion from the US subprime crisis and, in such case, if the intensity of contagion differs across countries. Adopting a definition of contagion that relates the phenomenon to an increase of cross-market linkages following a shock, copula models are used to analyse how the connections between the US and each market in the sample, evolved from the pre-crisis to the crisis period. The results suggest that markets in Canada, Japan, Italy, France and the United Kingdom display significant levels of contagion, which are less relevant in Germany. Canada appears to be the country where the highest intensity of contagion is observed.G7, subprime crisis, contagion, copula, event study.

Characterization of microRNAs implicated in maritime pine resistance to pinewood nematode

Mestrado em Biologia dos Recursos Vegetais / Instituto Superior de Agronomia / Faculdade de Ciências. Universidade de LisboaPine wilt disease (PWD), caused by the pinewood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a serious threat to coniferous forests worldwide. Post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by microRNAs (miRNAs) plays important roles during plant-pathogen interactions. Recently, a few miRNAs have been identified as differentially expressed between PWD resistant and susceptible maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) plants. The aim of this work was to further characterize the expression patterns of four of these miRNAs during early stages of PWN infection and evaluate how they relate with maritime pine responses. P. pinaster 4-year-old plants from half-sib families previously characterized regarding their predicted survival mean to PWN, were inoculated and symptom development was recorded. Stem samples were collected before (0 hours) and at 24, 48 and 72 hours post inoculation. After RNA extraction, reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) data was obtained for quantification of miRNA expression in susceptible, resistant and control plant stem samples. First, reference miRNAs for normalization of expression data were identified using well-established algorithms. Then, a step toward functional characterization of the potentially defense-related P. pinaster miR166h, miR951f, miR3627m and Novel_110 was given by comparing their expression patterns along time between resistant and susceptible plants. The results show that miR11532_4 and miR396_48 are good reference miRNAs, being more appropriate than currently used reference genes. Expression analysis suggests the potential contribution of miR166h and miR951f upregulation to inefficient activation of susceptible plants’ immunity, as well as the possible involvement of Novel_110 in cell wall reinforcement of resistant genotypes. Furthermore, the potential regulation of oxidoreductase activity by miR3627m is discussed. Overall, valuable information on post-transcriptional regulation of maritime pine response to PWD was obtained, although further functional characterization of these miRNAs is needed. Ultimately, this knowledge might be helpful for breeding programs that aim at developing resistant P. pinaster plants.N/

Diagnosis of spiritual distress and nursing intervention

A espiritualidade é uma misteriosa e complexa dimensão da existência humana, que envolve aspetos na vida diária que são profundamente pessoais e sensíveis, como a religião ou a filiação religiosa e é tão mais complexa quanto mais envolve aspetos da vida na sua interligação com as crenças, os valores e a cultura, a que os enfermeiros não são alheios. A espiritualidade vem dar significado a algumas interrogações humanas ligadas aos valores, a estilos de vida, às crenças que se expressam em práticas religiosas, a crenças da relação do ser humano com Deus, com a natureza, com a beleza, com a arte. A atenção a esta dimensão está descrita nas primeiras teorias de enfermagem e é tacitamente aceite como integrante dos cuidados de enfermagem

O DIAGNÓSTICO DE ANGÚSTIA ESPIRITUAL E A INTERVENÇÃO DE ENFERMAGEM NA PRÁTICA QUOTIDIANA DOS ENFERMEIROS

A espiritualidade é uma misteriosa e complexa dimensão da existência humana, que envolve aspetos na vida diária que são profundamente pessoais e sensíveis, como a religião ou a filiação religiosa e é tão mais complexa quanto mais envolve aspetos da vida na sua interligação com as crenças, os valores e a cultura, a que os enfermeiros não são alheios. A espiritualidade vem dar significado a algumas interrogações humanas ligadas aos valores, a estilos de vida, às crenças que se expressam em práticas religiosas, a crenças da relação do ser humano com Deus, com a natureza, com a beleza, com a arte. A atenção a esta dimensão está descrita nas primeiras teorias de enfermagem e é tacitamente aceite como integrante dos cuidados de enfermagem

Mulheres em diáspora: margens culturais e busca de sentidos através da entrevista etnobiográfica

A presente comunicação pretende dar a conhecer parte duma investigação em curso, no âmbito do Mestrado em Ciências da Educação, especialidade em Educação e Diversidade Cultural, que procura desocultar os processos de (re)construção identitária de mulheres imigrantes em Portugal que procuram tanto afirmar a sua identidade como gerir a sua mobilidade social. Quem vive entre “dois mundos”, numa constante interacção com a alteridade, procura (re)construir o seu novo eu entre a cultura de origem e a cultura de chegada, descobrindo-se, muitas vezes, numa verdadeira encruzilhada reflexiva. A problemática deste estudo situa-se, assim, no campo das identidades compósitas, mestiças, idiossincráticas, interculturais, características de uma pós-modernidade. Nesta viragem de século, em que nos percebemos cidadãos do mundo (o que tanto nos constrange como nos liberta), a construção da identidade torna-se num permanente confronto entre nós e os outros. Neste sentido, e atendendo ao tema em estudo, a recolha de testemunhos biográficos através de entrevistas aprofundadas afigurou-se uma abordagem adequada e eficaz para recolher as narrativas das mulheres imigrantes. Somente fazendo falar o detalhe vivo do tecido das vidas destas mulheres, repletos de sentimentos e de emoções, podemos procurar compreender as razões que as levaram a emigrar, como decorreram os seus processos de integração/exclusão, que transformações ocorreram nas suas vidas e em si próprias. Interessa aqui, portanto, dar relevo ao mundo subjectivo, procurar compreender a compreensão dos outros como forma de desocultar os significados que estes atribuem ao seu comportamento, às suas escolhas, enquanto sujeitos autónomos, capazes de traçar o seu próprio projecto de vida e de reflectir sobre ele. Não partimos, pois, em busca de padrões de comportamento, ou do comportamento per se, mas na tentativa de buscar o processo (e não apenas o produto), aprofundando o nível de entendimento de um momento que está a ser (re)vivido e (re)construído pela pessoa. As entrevistas realizadas, das quais se irão salientar extractos das vozes para ilustrar a eficácia desta metodologia etnobiográfica, conseguem mostrar como as entrevistadas se (re)descobrem e racionalizam experiências passadas. O facto de contarem a sua vida a alguém que as questiona a partir das suas próprias lógicas e contextos provoca-lhes uma espécie de reciclagem pessoal, de descobertas em si, de auto-formação

Ic paper on elekta ab - apac´s influence in the future of radiotherapy market

The following Investment Committee paper focuses on a proposal for a leveraged buy out on Elekta AB, a key player in the global radiotherapy market. In fact, this paper develops as et of value creation strategies, with special focus on Buy-and-Build, reflecting those strategies in a detailed operating model. Subsequently, a capital structure is suggested by assessing past buy out transactions in the health care sector and by leveraging the bank case. Finally, the exit returns are estimated complying with industry threshold and a range of exit strategies are analyzed. Moreover ,exit options are compiled in order to fully maximize ELEKTA’s exit

Avaliação educacional: ressignificação e reconstrução da prática

Although assessment is a significant part of the teaching-learning process, there are still weaknesses in its practice. Historically, exams have been consolidated on the basis of classification practices that have permeated the school life of current teachers and are reproduced by them. We discuss the history of assessment, its functions, objectives, assumptions and criteria, based on studies by Luckesi (2011), Fernandes (2006) and others. We aim to contribute to understanding the meaning of assessment in the educational process. We also present data from a study carried out with 35 undergraduates from an HEI in Minas Gerais, collected using a questionnaire that sought to understand the evaluation process from the perspective of these students. The results show that learning assessment is a practice under construction, which is why teacher training is fundamental to building a new perspective on assessment.Apesar de a avaliação ser uma parte significativa do processo de ensino-aprendizagem, ainda são encontradas fragilidades em torno da sua prática. Historicamente, os exames se consolidaram, a partir de práticas classificatórias que permearam a vida escolar dos atuais professores e são reproduzidas por eles. Discutimos a história da avaliação, funções, objetivos, pressupostos e critérios, a partir dos estudos de Luckesi (2011), Fernandes (2006) e outros. Objetivamos contribuir para a compreensão do significado da avaliação no processo educacional. São apresentados também dados de um estudo realizado com 35 graduandos de uma IES mineira, coletados a partir de um questionário que buscou compreender o processo avaliativo na perspectiva destes estudantes. Os resultados mostram que a avaliação da aprendizagem é uma prática em construção, em razão disso a formação pedagógica docente é fundamental para a construção de uma nova perspectiva em torno da avaliação

Signal transduction pathways involving the hypertension-related WNK1 and WNK4 protein kinases

Dissertação apresentada para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Biologia, na especialidade de Genética Molecular, pela Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências e TecnologiaThe genes WNK1 and WNK4 belong to the subfamily of WNK protein kinases and their mutation causes pseudohypoaldosteronism type II, a rare familial form of hypertension with hyperkalemia and hypercalciuria. The molecular mechanisms underlying this condition involve the regulation of renal electrolyte homeostasis and the modulation of diverse ion channels and transporters via WNK kinases. Additionally, WNKs have also been reported to participate in signal transduction pathways related to cell survival and proliferation. The objective of the present thesis was to identify novel WNK1 and WNK4 interacting proteins and the underlying signal transduction pathways. First, it was found that WNK1 forms a protein complex with the Rab-GAP TBC1D4 and phosphorylates it in vitro. It was shown that the expression levels of WNK1 regulate surface expression of the constitutive glucose transporter GLUT1 in HEK293 cells. WNK1 is shown to increase the binding of TBC1D4 to regulatory 14-3-3 proteins while reducing its interaction with the exocytic small GTPase Rab8A. Moreover, these effects were kinase activity-dependent. Together, the data describe a pathway regulating constitutive glucose uptake via GLUT1, the expression level of which is related to several human diseases. Second, WNK4 was found to promote the cell surface expression of the CFTR chloride channel in mammalian cells. The mechanism by which WNK4 acts on CFTR involves interaction with the tyrosine kinase Syk, which we found to phosphorylate tyrosine 512 (Tyr512) in the first nucleotide-binding domain of CFTR. The presence of WNK4 prevents this in vitro phosphorylation in a kinase-independent manner. In BHK21 cells stably expressing CFTR, Syk reduces, while WNK4 promotes, the cell surface expression of CFTR. Mutation of Tyr512 revealed that its phosphorylation is a novel signal regulating the prevalence of CFTR at the cell surface and that WNK4 and Syk play an antagonistic role in this process. Finally, ten WNK4 variants were detected in a cohort of Portuguese patients and control individuals, which subsequently were tested for association to hypertension and/or osteoporosis. Despite none of the variants yield any significant association to hypertension, a rare missense alteration (rs56116165) in a highly conserved arginine residue showed a nominal association to osteoporosis. This finding advocates that this polymorphism is a rare allelic variant, in a candidate gene with a biological function in renal calcium homeostasis, that may contribute to a genetic predisposition to osteoporosis.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - 2006 a 2009 (SFRH/BD/23001/2005),Programa de Financiamento Plurianual do Centro de Investigação em Genética Molecular Humana e do projecto POCI/SAU-MMO/56439/200

Pinto Basto, trying to succeed in the angolan market : a case on internationalization in emerging markets

The logistic industry is an important sector for the well development of a country. Nowadays, due to the crescent globalization, it is getting a preponderant role. The companies operating in the sector are pressured by demanding clients and an increasing flow of goods. It is not only difficult to keep up with the whole scenario of a changing industry but it gets harder when a SME has to internationalize to a strategic and complex country. Pinto Basto (PB) is one example operating in that industry and struggling with all the difficulties that SME have. Moreover, the company decided at some point to expand to Angola, a Portuguese speaking country. This internationalization could seem easy and clean as the cultures are not that different, but along the way, the company dealt with serious difficulties in the market. After all, Angola is an under developed country and there is still a lack of stability for SME´s to prosper. Mr. Carvalho-Neto is called into the company with the objective of turnaround the increasing losses that the Angolan subsidiary was having. The complexities of the market lead the new executive director to make a strategic decision of the way that the company should heading. Integrated logistic services were the answer to some of the problems. He came up with two solutions to enter that new business that they needed to implement in order to integrate the services. The board would surely agree with the most traditional and risk averse, a local partnership. However, Mr. Carvalho- Neto was pushing to a more bolt and risky idea, the creation of a new company. Pinto Basto was depending on the decision and, due to the particularities of African markets, either one could lead to a fatal destiny for the company. This is a case about a SME operating in a very complex African market, were decisions would have a determinant impact in the survival of the company