69166 research outputs found
Sort by
Project Houston: evaluating the potential acquisition of a distressed festival
No full textThis paper evaluates the potential acquisition of “Project Houston”, a distressed company
operating in the live and non-live music market, with a particular focus on strategic
restructuring, financial modeling, and risk mitigation. It presents a transaction structure
leveraging an insolvency process to minimize equity investment and ensure compliance with
investment committee requirements. The study identifies substantial growth opportunities in
the live and non-live music market, particularly through cost optimization and business unit
expansion, while simultaneously addressing operational and market challenges. The findings
suggest that the acquisition offers a viable entry point into the industry with significant growth
potential
Towards a sustainable business model for biomethane: analysis of a real case and long-term perspectives
No full textBiomethane represents a strategic solution for energy transition and the promotion of the
circular economy, and Europe is encouraging its production and use through generous incentive
schemes, on which the sector currently bases its economic sustainability. This work project,
through an economic and financial analysis of a real Italian plant and interviews with local
agricultural stakeholders, aims to identify the critical issues and challenges of the sector in order
to design a resilient, circular and territory-oriented business model that guarantees long-term
economic sustainability
Women’s leadership trajectories in consulting firms in Germany – exploring the multifaceted factors shaping leadership pursuit across career stages
No full textWomen are underrepresented in leadership roles in Germany's consulting industry. This thesis
examines the factors influencing their pursuit of these roles across career stages through
qualitative interviews with 40 women from various consulting firms, using the GIOIA
methodology. Four dimensions emerged: societal factors, individual drivers, organizational
context, and relational influence. Early-career leadership access depends on elite education and
financial support, while mid-career aspirations decline due to firm-specific flexibility barriers.
Gendered networking norms and a scarcity of female role models hinder leadership
development and expectations. These findings reveal barriers to gender parity and provide a
foundation for driving change
Strategic initiatives for enhancing SA-FC’s football youth academy: fostering sustainable growth through success factors from European best practices and academic research - expert interviews analysis
No full textThis section explores European best practices in youth academy development, focusing on
successful models from Benfica, Sporting CP, FC Porto, and Bayer Leverkusen. Expert
interviews provide insights into key success factors, including structured leadership, talent
development strategies, and integration with first teams. A thematic analysis highlights the
importance of clear hierarchies, feedback loops, data-driven training, and sustainable revenue
models. These findings inform strategic recommendations for SA-FC’s youth academy,
ensuring both sporting excellence and financial sustainability
Strategic expansion of project sales across European markets for Volkswagen group services consulting Iberia: target market assessment and development
No full textThis thesis develops a strategic framework for expanding project sales of Volkswagen Group
Services Consulting Iberia (VWGSC Iberia) across European markets. A country ranking
model, combining internal and external data and a PESTEL-based trend analysis, identified five
priority countries. Complemented by an in-depth market assessment, Portugal, Spain, and the
UK were selected for focused growth. For these markets, tailored market development
strategies and a project-based financial forecast confirm the expansion’s viability. The thesis
concludes with strategic recommendations to strengthen internal visibility and enhance sales
structures, providing a scalable framework for future international growth within the VW
Group
Strategic expansion of project sales across European markets for Volkswagen group services consulting Iberia – assessment of organizational capabilities and external growth levers
No full textThis thesis develops a strategic framework for expanding project sales of Volkswagen Group
Services Consulting Iberia (VWGSC Iberia) across European markets. A country ranking
model, combining internal and external data and a PESTEL-based trend analysis, identified five
priority countries. Complemented by an in-depth market assessment, Portugal, Spain, and the
UK were selected for focused growth. For these markets, tailored market development
strategies and a project-based financial forecast confirm the expansion’s viability. The thesis
concludes with strategic recommendations to strengthen internal visibility and enhance sales
structures, providing a scalable framework for future international growth within the VW
Group
Microbiota derived metabolites from dietary phenolics and their potential to mitigate neuroinflammation
No full textResumo: As doenças neurodegenerativas são doenças crónicas com um aumento em incidência, que roubam qualidade de vida e implicam um grande peso aos pacientes, família e ao sistema nacional de saúde. Estas doenças permanecem sem cura, e terapias perdem eficácia com o tempo. Dentro das principais características das doenças neurodegenerativas, neuro inflamação toma uma posição preponderante e comum a várias doenças neurodegenerativas como a doença de Alzheimer, Parkinson, esclerose múltipla, Huntington, demência, e outras formas de doenças que afetem o cérebro. A falta de uma cura para estas doenças torna essencial a procura por terapias eficazes capazes de prevenir ou retardar a progressão da doença. Uma proposta interessante proveniente de estudos epidemiológicos e estudos de intervenção é o uso de dietas com um alto conteúdo de frutas e vegetais, especialmente ricos em (poli)fenóis e metabolitos fenólicos de baixo peso molecular (LMWPs). A capacidade de alguns LMWPs para modular vias inflamatórias e atenuar neuro inflamação em células de microglia levaram-nos a investigar o potencial e os mecanismos de ação destas moléculas, tornando mais perto o seu potencial uso para paciências com doenças neurodegenerativas A capacidade de alguns LMWPs para chegar ao cérebro foi descoberto, porem para a grande maioria dos LMWPs, esta é uma questão que não encontra resposta. Nesta tese, utilizamos modelos de previsão in silico para inferir a capacidade dos LMWPs para chegar ao cérebro por difusão passiva, sem ajuda de transportadores. Para testar esta capacidade dos LMWPs de atenuar a neuro inflamação foi implementado no laboratório um modelo de murganho de neuro inflamação induzido por lipopolisacáridos, avaliando assim vários aspetos cruciais como alterações de comportamento, libertação de citocinas no cérebro e alterações na microglia no cérebro. Mais de 60 LMWPs foram testados em microglia cells, avaliando e ordenando o seu potencial para modular a resposta da microglia e a inflamação. Foi selecionado o LMWPs de maior potencial para estudos mecanísticos, demonstrando as vias moduladas pelo composto e demonstrando a importância de uma via nos efeitos anti-inflamatórios. Depois 12 de cimentados os resultados nas alterações induzidas na microglia, o efeito deste LMWP foi validado num modelo de neuro inflamação em murganho, induzido por LPS. Finalmente, para avaliar a eficácia de uma dieta rica em LMWPs para atenuar a neuro inflamação e possivelmente servir como terapia para prevenir e modular a neuro inflamação no contexto das doenças neurodegenerativas, foi feito um estudo de intervenção em murganhos, utilizando uma dieta, durante 6 semanas, capaz de gerar LMWPs. Utilizando o modelo de neuro inflamação empregando LPS foi possível demonstrar a capacidade dos LMWPs para atenuar a neuro inflamação, demonstrando também a capacidade destes moléculas de chegar ao cérebro e atenuar as alterações de comportamento e na microglia no cérebro. Em conclusão, nós demonstramos com êxito que os LMWPs podem chegar ao cérebro e por difusão passiva. Nós demonstramos que os LMWPs são eficazes a modular a neuro inflamação e o mecanismo de ação anti-inflamatório do principal LMWP, validando estes resultados in vivo, utilizando este LMWP ou a uma dieta capaz de gerar estes LMWPs no cérebro. Em suma, este trabalho aumenta significativamente o nosso conhecimento da eficácia e do potencial dos LMWPs para travar a neuro inflamação, tornando claro que o próximo passo seja desenvolver estudos de intervenção futuros, em pacientes com doenças neurodegenerativas, numa luta e corrida constante contra o tempo para melhorar a qualidade de vida de quem mais precisa.Abstract: Neurodegenerative diseases are chronic diseases with increasing incidence, that steal quality of life and imply a big burden to the patients, family, and the health system. These diseases remain cureless, and therapies lose effect over time. Amongst the hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases, neuroinflammation is common across all neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and many other forms of brain-affected diseases and dementia. The lack of a cure for these diseases has led us to search for effective therapies to prevent or delay disease progression. An interesting prospect from epidemiological and intervention studies is the use of diets with a high content of fruits and vegetables, specifically rich in (poly)phenols and low molecular weight phenolic metabolites (LMWPs). The capability of some LMWPs to modulate inflammatory pathways and attenuate neuroinflammation in microglia cells has led us to investigate its potential and unknown mechanism of action, bringing us closer to its effective use for neurodegenerative disease patients. The capability of some LMWPs to reach the brain has been disclosed, yet for the large number of LMWPs, this question remains without answer. In this thesis, we employed in silico predictive tools to infer the LMWPs that could reach the brain by passive diffusion without the help of transporters. To test the capability of LMWPs to attenuate neuroinflammation we implemented a lipopolysaccharide-induced mice model of neuroinflammation in the host laboratory, evaluating the key aspects related to changes in mice behavior, cytokine release in the brain, and changes in microglia in the brain. More than 60 LMWPs were screened in microglia cells, evaluating and ranking their potential to modulate microglia response and inflammation. We selected one promising LMWP for mechanistic studies showing the pathways modulated and highlighting the role of one pathway in the anti-inflammatory potential of the selected LMWP. After cementing 10 the results on the changes induced in microglia, validation of this LMWP was performed on an LPS-induced mice model of neuroinflammation. Finally, to evaluate the effectiveness of a diet rich in the select LMWP to attenuate neuroinflammation and possibly be used as a therapy to prevent and modulate neuroinflammation in the context of neurodegenerative diseases we have performed an intervention study in mice, using a diet capable of generating LMWP for 6 weeks. Using this LPS-induced model of neuroinflammation we show the effectiveness of LMWPs, demonstrating their capability to reach the brain and attenuate behavior and microglia induced changes in the brain. In conclusion, we successfully demonstrated the LMWPs that may reach the brain by passive diffusion. We have shown that LMWPs are effective at modulating neuroinflammation and specifically the mechanism of anti-inflammatory action of the most promising LMWP, validating these results in vivo both using said LMWP or a diet capable of generating LMWP in the brain. Together, this work significantly increases our knowledge of the effectiveness and potential of LMWPs to tackle neuroinflammation, making clear the next crucial step should pass by developing future intervention studies in patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases in this race against time to improve the quality of life to who needs the most
Ubiquitin proteasome system in immune and Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) cancer cells
No full textABSTRACT: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a heterogeneous type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and its small tumor size complicates sampling and diagnosis. To evaluate the potential of peripheral immune cells’ proteome as diagnostic biomarkers, we used mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics to analyze immune cells isolated from DLBCL patients. The findings revealed significant suppression of the cytoskeleton and activation of the immune response in the immune cells of DLBCL patients. Additionally, the significant dysregulation of the proteins belonging to the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) suggests that DLBCL cells may affect UPS activity in immune cells. Our meta-analysis study further demonstrated the importance of the UPS in DLBCL. To investigate UPS and proteasome inhibitor (PI) effect on immune cells and DLBCL cancer cells, we treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and DLBCL cell line (DB cell) with Bortezomib (BTZ), a proteasome inhibitor. Results showed that healthy donors PBMCs are less sensitive to BTZ and exhibit lower levels of polyubiquitinated proteins compared to DLBCL cells. Proteomic and immunoblotting analysis demonstrated down regulation of proteasome-related proteins in treated PBMCs, while BTZ treated DB cells exhibited increased proteasome subunit levels. To investigate DLBCL cell adaptation to BTZ, we generated BTZ-adapted DB cells and analyzed their proteome. Results indicated decreased levels of polyubiquitinated proteins in BTZ-adapted DB cells, suggesting adaptation to BTZ. Immunoblotting showed elevated levels of proteasome subunits and autophagy-related proteins in BTZ-adapted cells compared to parental BTZ sensitive cells. Upon BTZ withdrawal from the culture medium of cells, polyubiquitinated protein levels increased in cells. We also examined extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from BTZ-adapted cells by MS-based proteomics to understand their role in transmitting resistance to sensitive cells. Results showed that EVs contain proteins associated with endoplasmic III reticulum and DNA repair, indicating that adapted cells might help sensitive cells to feel the presence of BTZ and repair drug-induced DNA damage. To assess the impact of DB-derived EVs on immune cell polyubiquitination, we cultured healthy donor PBMCs with conditioned medium, small EVs, and large EVs from DB cells. Our results showed that these DB-derived EVs increased polyubiquitination in immune cells. Proteomic analysis revealed that surface proteins in the EVs may induce polyubiquitination in immune cells. In conclusion, our study highlights the complex interactions between DLBCL cells and peripheral immune cells, particularly concerning the UPS regulation and resistance to BTZ. The dysregulation of UPS proteins in the immune cells of patients, along with increased polyubiquitination in PBMCs treated with DLBCL-derived secretome, suggests that DLBCL cells may alter the proteome and UPS regulation in immune cells through their secretome. Furthermore, the role of EVs in transmitting proteins involved in drug resistance offers valuable insights into the interactions between tumor cells, immune cells, and other tumor cells. This research paves the way for future studies investigating the UPS as a diagnostic biomarker in the immune cells of cancer patients and exploring EVs as therapeutic targets, ultimately contributing to more effective treatment strategies for DLBCL
Formas e fronteiras da narrativa cinematográfica: o cinema de Sandro Aguilar
No full textPor múltiplas razões, desde cedo que o cinema se moldou como uma nova
ferramenta de construção narrativa. Por ser uma arte da imagem, o cinema foi muitas
vezes relacionado com uma técnica meramente ilustrativa das histórias escritas, vendo as
suas qualidades formais serem negligenciadas. Desde então, a narrativa e as suas
propriedades, ou seja, a sua narratividade, têm sido trabalhadas de diferentes maneiras
por vários cineastas ao longo das décadas, alguns dos quais tentam contornar as normas
clássicas pré-estabelecidas, orientando o seu trabalho na direção de vertentes mais
experimentais.
Esta dissertação incide sobre o papel da narrativa e da construção ficcional no
cinema, tendo como objeto de estudo o trabalho do realizador português Sandro
Aguilar. De modo a compreender de que forma a ficção e a diegese são usadas pelo
cineasta do ponto de vista de uma exploração experimental e sensorial, em que a
consequência e conclusão narrativa são proteladas, analisa-se as formas narrativas na sua
obra e as suas implicações no âmbito de uma desconstrução do paradigma narrativo. Com
vista a uma análise dos métodos e ferramentas usadas por si, desde o processo de rodagem
à montagem, procurou-se estabelecer três eixos de investigação ao seu cinema: o uso da
narrativa e a subversão dos dispositivos clássicos; a estreita relação da ótica documental
com o espaço ficcional; a vertente experimental e estrutural.
Ao longo deste estudo, tentamos compreender ainda como certas lógicas prédeterminadas pelo espectador estão na base de uma relação conflituosa com certas obras
consideradas experimentais, por essas lógicas se verem confrontadas com novos códigos
que cada filme estabelece. Com isto, espera-se poder contribuir para a produção de um
pensamento e uma visão ampla sobre um cinema, por vezes, considerado hermético ou
inacessível.For multiple reasons, cinema has shaped itself early on as a new tool for narrative
construction. Being an art of image, cinema was often related to a merely illustrative
technique of written stories, with its formal qualities being neglected. Since then,
narrative and its properties, i.e., its narrativity, have been approached in different ways
by various filmmakers over the decades, some of whom try to circumvent pre-established
classical norms, directing their work towards more experimental approaches.
This dissertation focuses on the role of narrative and fictional construction in
cinema, with the work of Portuguese director Sandro Aguilar as the object of study. In
order to understand how fiction and diegesis are used by the filmmaker from the
perspective of experimental and sensory exploration, in which narrative consequence and
conclusion are deferred, the narrative forms in his work and their implications in the
context of a deconstruction of the narrative paradigm are analyzed. Aiming to analyze the
methods and tools he uses, from the shooting process to editing, three axes of
investigation into his cinema were established: the use of narrative and the subversion of
classical devices; the close relationship between documentary optics and fictional space;
and the experimental and structural aspect.
Throughout this study, we also try to understand how certain pre-determined
logics by the spectator are at the root of a conflicting relationship with certain works
considered experimental, as these logics are confronted with new codes that each film
establishes. With this, we hope to contribute to the development of a broad perspective
and thought on a type of cinema sometimes considered hermetic or inaccessible
Design and Implementation of BPM Lifecycle for Optimizing Wine Industry Processes: A Case Study of a Wine SME
No full textDissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Information Management, specialization in Business IntelligenceOrganization must be driven to continuously optimize their operational business process,
especially in the context of competitive and dynamic market where they need to ensure longterm sustainability. The study aims to identify inefficiencies and redesigning the ordering
process of a company in the wine industry using Business Process Management
methodologies. Following the BPM Lifecycle, the study starts by doing a comprehensive
process discovery to map the current AS-IS process, highlighting the bottlenecks of the process
such as excessive manual work, delays in approvals and lack of automation of repetitive tasks.
The guidance for the development of the TO-BE process model was the heuristics-based
redesign, to address the underlying issues of the process through task elimination, parallelism
enhancement, triage and automation. To achieve comparable results between the AS-IS and
TO-BE process model, simulation was conducted for both cases. The results of the comparison
showed that the TO-BE had efficiency improvement, higher completion rates and a reduction
of the resources strain across various departments such as Sales, Logistics and Finance.
Despite having successful achievements, some limitations were acknowledged during the
development due to constraints on the simulation tool. The study depicts the strategic value
on the application of Business Process Management in traditional and non-technological
industries and reinforces the importance of process-centric thinking in driving continuous
improvement and digital readiness