Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon

About: Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon is a education organization based out in Lisbon, Portugal. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Monetary policy & New Keynesian economics. The organization has 261 authors who have published 368 publications receiving 3569 citations. The organization is also known as: Polytechnical Institute of Lisbon.

How Hydroxyurea Alters the Gut Microbiome: A Longitudinal Study Involving Angolan Children with Sickle Cell Anemia

Abstract: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an inherited hematological disorder and a serious global health problem, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although hydroxyurea (HU) is the leading treatment for patients with SCA, its effects on the gut microbiome have not yet been explored. In this context, the aim of this study was to investigate this association by characterizing the gut microbiome of an Angolan SCA pediatric population before and after 6 months of HU treatment. A total of 66 stool samples were obtained and sequenced for the 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4 regions). Significant associations were observed in alpha and beta-diversity, with higher values of species richness for the children naïve for HU. We also noticed that children after HU had higher proportions of several beneficial bacteria, mostly short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) producing species, such as Blautia luti, Roseburia inulinivorans, Eubacterium halli, Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, Lactobacillus rogosae, among others. In addition, before HU there was a higher abundance of Clostridium_g24, which includes C. bolteae and C. clostridioforme, both considered pathogenic. This study provides the first evidence of the HU effect on the gut microbiome and unravels several microorganisms that could be considered candidate biomarkers for disease severity and HU efficacy.

The Seveso Directives and Their Application to Enterprise Risk Management

Abstract: Enterprise Risk Management is a relatively new concept which has emerged as a new paradigm for managing the portfolio of risks that face organizations. In this paper we explain what enterprise risk management is, how it differs from traditional risk management, what new skills are involved in this process and what advantages and opportunities this approach offers compared to prior techniques. Additionally, a relation with the Seveso Directives as a tool to manage risk is also provided. We conclude that Seveso Directives are an effective mechanism to achieve ERM objectives. Yet, this will only be accomplished by using Seveso activity as an improvement process rather than a compliance focused activity. Indeed, if applied with an eye beyond pure compliance, Seveso reports can deliver significant business opportunity.

Nonlinear Dynamics in a Model of Financial Development with a Risk Premium

Abstract: The relation between the degree of financial development of an economy (measured by the extent in which constraints to credit exist) and fluctuations affecting the trend of economic growth, is a relevant theme of discussion in macroeconomics. Some of the literature on this field argues that the cyclical behaviour is generated endogenously, under the model’s assumptions, for specific levels of credit availability. Following this line of reasoning, the paper develops a theoretical framework that places a risk premium over the international interest rate as the centre piece of the explanation for the occurrence of endogenous business cycles, under particular levels of financial development. The risk premium penalizes the borrowing capacity of the less wealth endowed countries. The analysis explores both local and global dynamics.

Stability analysis in a monetary model with a varying intertemporal elasticity of substitution

Abstract: Models dealing with monetary policy are generally based on microfoundations that characterize the behaviour of representative agents (households and firms). To explain the representative consumer behaviour, it is generally assumed a utility function in which the intertemporal elasticity of substitution is constant. Recent literature casts some doubts about the relevance of considering such a constant elasticity value. In this note, we explore the new Keynesian monetary policy model under the assumption that the elasticity of substitution changes with expectations regarding real economic performance. As a result, one observes that some combinations of parameter values allow for a stable fixed point outcome, while other combinations of parameters are compatible with cycles of various periodicities and even a-periodic fluctuations.