The corporate governance set-up in South Africa has undergone fundamental changes during the past decade, with the country today being responsive to most corporate governance issues. South Africa should be complimented for its King Code on Corporate Governance, the Companies Act and Johannesburg Securities Exchange Listing Requirements which have significantly strengthened the country’s corporate governance framework. These legal instruments have been influential in limiting directors’ powers and regulating the way directors are remunerated as a way of achieving good corporate governance. The research discusses the South African corporate governance framework with particular focus on the legal and regulatory framework that seeks to regulate directors’ powers and remuneration. An evaluation of the extent to which the legal and regulatory framework restrains directors’ powers and curbs excessive remuneration is undertaken. Recommendations are then provided on how the existing framework can be improved to adequately and effectively regulate directors’ powers and remuneration so as to achieve good corporate governance. / Mercantile Law / LL.M.

Résumé : PROBLÉMATIQUE: L’exposition résidentielle à l’humidité excessive ou aux moisissures est maintenant reconnue comme un facteur important influençant la santé respiratoire. Cette problématique a été peu étudiée chez les étudiants universitaires, bien que vulnérables par leur faible revenu et leur statut de locataire. OBJECTIFS: Cette maîtrise vise à décrire la prévalence (a) de l’exposition résidentielle à l’humidité excessive ou aux moisissures et (b) des maladies respiratoires chez les étudiants universitaires, ainsi qu’à (c) examiner l’association entre l’exposition résidentielle à l’humidité excessive ou aux moisissures et ces maladies. MÉTHODES: En 2014, une enquête électronique a été réalisée auprès de 2097 étudiants enregistrés à l’Université de Sherbrooke (Québec, Canada). Lorsque possible, des questions et des scores validés ont été utilisés pour estimer les prévalences des maladies respiratoires (rhinite allergique, asthme et infections respiratoires), de l’exposition résidentielle à l’humidité excessive ou aux moisissures et des covariables (ex. : revenu annuel familial, statut tabagique, atopie familiale, caractéristiques de l’étudiant). Les associations entre cette exposition et ces maladies ont d’abord été examinées par des tests de chi-carré en utilisant un seuil alpha de 0,05. Des régressions logistiques multivariées ont ensuite été utilisées pour déterminer les associations brutes et ajustée entre cette exposition et les maladies respiratoires. Les analyses descriptives ont été pondérées pour le sexe, l’âge et le campus d’étude. RÉSULTATS: L’exposition à l’humidité excessive ou aux moisissures était fréquente parmi les participants (36,0%; Intervalle de confiance (IC)95% : 33,9-38,1). Ceux-ci ont également été nombreux à rapporter une rhinite allergique (23,9%; IC95% :22,0-25,8), de l’asthme (32,6%; IC95% : 30,5-34,7) et des infections respiratoires (19,4%; IC95% :17,7-21,2) au cours de la dernière année. Après ajustement, les associations demeuraient significatives entre l’exposition à l’humidité excessive ou aux moisissures et la rhinite allergique (Rapport de cote (RC) : 1,30; IC95% : 1.05-1.60), l’asthme RC : 1,75; IC95% : 1,42-2,16), mais pas les infections respiratoires (RC : 1,07; IC95% : 0,85-1.35). CONCLUSIONS: La prévalence élevée de l’exposition résidentielle des étudiants universitaires à l’humidité excessive ou aux moisissures, de même que son association avec l’asthme et la rhinite allergique, mettent en lumière sa contribution potentielle à la forte prévalence des maladies respiratoires ayant une composante allergique dans cette population. Cette étude fournit un nouveau levier pour les organisations de santé publique et leurs partenaires afin d’adapter les stratégies préventives ciblant les logements insalubres, particulièrement chez les populations vulnérables. / Abstract : PROBLEMATIC: Indoor residential dampness and mold is now recognised as a major respiratory health determinant. University students are vulnerable to such exposure by their low income and high mobility, but few studies have assessed their exposure. OBJECTIVES: This project aims to describe prevalence of (a) residential dampness or mold exposure and (b) respiratory diseases in University students as well as to (c) examine the independent contribution of residential excessive dampness and mold to these diseases. METHODS: In 2014, an online survey was conducted among 2097 students registered at the University of Sherbrooke (Quebec, Canada). Validated questions, and scores when possible, were used to assess respiratory diseases (allergic rhinitis, asthma-like symptoms, respiratory infections), residential excessive dampness and mold, and covariates (e.g. family annual income, smoking status, parental atopy, student characteristics). Associations between exposure and diseases were first evaluated using bivariate analyses (khi-square tests) with an alpha value of 0.05. Using logistic regressions, the crude and adjusted relationships between residential excessive dampness or mold and respiratory diseases were examined. Results were weighted for sex, age and campus affiliation. RESULTS: Residential dampness or mold exposure was frequent (36.0%; 95%Confidence Interval (CI) : 33.9-38.1). Respondents also reported high prevalence of allergic rhinitis (32.6%; 95%CI : 30.5-34.7), asthma-like symptoms (23.9%; 95%CI : 22.0-25.8) and respiratory infections (19.4%; 95%CI : 17.7-21.2). After adjustment, associations with residential excessive dampness or mold were significant for allergic rhinitis (Odd Ratio(OR) : 1.30; 95%CI : 1.05-1.60) and asthma-like symptoms (OR : 1.75; 95%CI : 1.42-2.16), but not for respiratory infections (OR : 1.07; 95%CI : 0.85-1.35). CONCLUSIONS: High frequency of residential excessive dampness and mold, as well as its associations with asthma and allergic rhinitis highlight this exposure’s potential contribution to high atopy prevalence among university students. These results emphasize the importance for public health organizations to tackle poor housing, especially for vulnerable populations.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

This thesis focuses on the development of credit to the private sector in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. Although the speed of credit growth in these countries has recently slowed down as the consequence of the global financial crisis, the overall increase in credit to the private sector over the past decades has been immense. As a result, the thesis examines whether this substantial increase in credit is linked to the convergence of the CEE countries towards the equilibrium or whether it represents an excessive credit growth that could threaten the macroeconomic and financial stability in these countries. We estimate the equilibrium credit levels for 11 transition countries by applying a dynamic panel data model. Since in-sample approach may bias the estimation results we perform the estimates out-of-sample using a panel of selected developed EU countries as a benchmark. The difference between the actual and estimated credit-to-GDP ratios serves as a measure of private credit excessiveness. The results indicate a slightly excessive or close to the equilibrium credit-to-GDP ratios in Bulgaria, Estonia, and Latvia prior to the financial crisis. With regard to the significant decline in GDP during the crisis this measure of credit excessiveness in these countries have further increased.

Abuse of the Dominant Position by Prohibited Pricing Activities Abstract This thesis analyzes selected pricing practices of dominant undertakings namely predatory pricing, margin squeeze and excessive pricing. These practices may, under certain circumstances, constitute an abuse of the dominant position. The aim of the thesis is to focus on problematic aspects of each of these practices, on explanation of various legal and economic tests used to prove that certain pricing policy constitutes an abuse of dominant position and on the description of conditions that have to be met in order to consider such practice contrary to the competition law of the Czech Republic and the European Union. The thesis is composed of four chapters. In Chapter One a brief introduction to the competition law itself and to the analyzed matter is given. Chapter Two describes basic terminology used when dealing with cases of abuse of a dominant position such as basic legal concept of the abuse itself, definition of an undertaking and a competitor according to the EU law and the Czech law respectively, delimitation of a relevant market and finally definition of a dominant position. Chapter Three is oriented on the selected pricing practices of dominant undertakings. This Chapter is subdivided into three parts each of which is dealing...

TITLE: Awareness of students selected secondary schools on the issue orthorexia AUTHOR: Bc. Karolína Janečková DEPARTMENT: Pedagogy department SUPERVISOR: PaedDr. Eva Marádová, CSc. ABSTRACT: The topic of my dissertation is orthorexia nervosa, one of the modern eating disorders, and the impact of a Czech school on its development. The aim of this dissertation is to identify what knowledge about orthorexia issues the secondary medical school students have, what is their opinion on eating disorders, and to suggest a sample lesson focusing on this problem. To prove this fact, a quantitative research through a questionnaire has been used. This research was implemented in selected secondary medical schools and grammar schools. The results clearly indicate that students do not have sufficient knowledge about orthorexia and that the difference in the knowledge of medical students at secondary schools and grammar schools is negligible, although the composition of their diet is more concerned with secondary medical school students. In view of the fact of these and other findings, a draft of a sample lesson focusing on the issue of eating disorders and orthorexia has been developed. KEY WORDS: Orthorexia nervosa, eating disorders, Health education, excessive interests in healthy diet, diets, nourishment.

O músculo esquelético é um tecido que tem a capacidade de se regenerar após lesão, seja ela patológica ou induzida. Para tanto, células musculares progenitoras, presentes no músculo adulto, atuam fundindo-se entre si, ou com as fibras musculares danificadas, para formar novas fibras. A via da macroautofagia, implicada na degradação e reciclagem de proteínas e organelas danificadas via lisossomo, é essencial para a manutenção da massa muscular, mas já foi também implicada na diferenciação e funcionamento de células progenitoras do músculo. Além disso, essa via está desregulada em diversas doenças neuromusculares, o que destaca seu papel nesse tecido. Nesse estudo, a regulação da autofagia foi investigada em diferentes situações de formação e degradação do músculo. Para estudar o processo de diferenciação muscular in vitro utilizamos um modelo de células musculares imortalizadas normais, e de paciente com miopatia ligada ao X com autofagia excessiva (XMEA). A análise dos genes e proteínas p62, BNIP3, BECLIN1, VPS34, ATG12 e LC3, além de alvos de mTOR, mostrou um padrão similar de expressão em mioblastos indiferenciados e miotubos diferenciados a partir de células controle e nas derivadas de paciente XMEA. Estes resultados sugerem que a desregulação da via autofágica relacionada à doença provavelmente surge em estágios mais avançados, como se observa em doenças de acúmulo lisossomal. A investigação da diferenciação muscular nessas células mostrou um aumento na capacidade de fusão de mioblastos XMEA, que não foi relacionado a mudanças na expressão de genes envolvidos na miogênese. Isso indica que o defeito primário relacionado a XMEA, como a deficiência da ATPase vacuolar, pode interferir no processo de diferenciação muscular. Para estudar o músculo em condições patológicas, utilizamos modelos animais para distrofias musculares que possuem distintos graus de afecção do músculo, como o DMDmdx, modelo para distrofia muscular de Duchenne, o SJL/J, modelo para distrofia muscular de cinturas tipo 2B e o Largemyd, modelo para distrofia muscular congênita 1D. Observamos que não há alterações globais na expressão de genes e proteínas da autofagia. Adicionalmente, cada modelo murino teve alterações pontuais, destacando a ausência de correlação entre o grau de degeneração do músculo e as alterações observadas na via autofágica. Por outro lado, quando uma lesão muscular é induzida em músculo normal, houve uma diminuição da expressão de todos os genes estudados, Bnip3, Beclin1, Vps34, Atg12, Lc3 e Gabarapl1, com possível acúmulo das proteínas autofágicas p62 e Beclin1. Com a recuperação do músculo, após cinco dias da lesão, a maior parte dos genes estudados teve sua expressão normalizada. Tais resultados indicam que a lesão aguda se relaciona a uma resposta drástica e recuperação rápida na via da autofagia. Em conjunto, nossos resultados mostram que a via da autofagia é diferencialmente afetada a depender do estímulo dado ao músculo, seja ele de regeneração e formação de novas células musculares ou de degeneração. Dessa forma, este estudo pode ter implicações para o desenvolvimento de terapias que tenham como alvo a via autofágica, já que indica que o momento da intervenção terapêutica pode ser importante, assim como o estímulo que levou a alterações no tecido muscular / The skeletal muscle is a tissue that has the ability to regenerate upon lesion, whether it occurs pathologically or induced. Therefore, progenitor muscle cells, present in the adult muscle, act by fusing with each other or with damaged fibers in order to recover the tissue. The macroautophagy pathway, related to degradation and recycling of proteins and damaged organelles via lysosome, is essential for the maintenance of muscle mass, and it was also implicated in the differentiation and functioning of muscle progenitor cells. Besides that, this pathway is deregulated in several neuromuscular disorders, highlighting its important role in this tissue. In this study, the autophagic regulation was investigated in distinct contexts of muscle formation and degradation. To study the muscle differentiation process in vitro, we used a model of immortalized muscle cells from both a normal control and a patient with X-linked myopathy with excessive autophagy (XMEA). The genes and proteins p62, BNIP3, BECLIN1, VPS34, ATG12, LC3 and mTOR targets showed a similar pattern of expression in both undifferentiated myoblasts and differentiated myotubes, from both control cells and XMEA patient-derived cells. This fact suggests that autophagic deregulation might arise in later stages of the disease, in a pattern observed in disorders with protein accumulation. The investigation of muscle differentiation in the studied cells showed an enhancement of the myoblast fusion capacity in XMEA cells, which was not related to changes in the expression of myogenic genes. This observation indicates that the primary defect related to the XMEA pathology, as the deficiency of the vacuolar ATPase, might interfere in the process of muscle differentiation. In order to evaluate muscle in pathological conditions, we studied animal models for muscular dystrophies that have distinct patterns of muscle affection, such as the DMDmdx, model for the Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the SJL/J, model for the limb-girdle muscle dystrophy type 2B and the Largemyd, model for the congenital muscular dystrophy type 1D. We did not find any global alterations in the expression of autophagic genes and proteins. Additionally, each animal model had discrete changes, highlighting the absence of correlation between the pattern of muscle degeneration and alterations in the autophagy pathway. On the other hand, when a lesion is induced in normal muscle, there is a decrease in the expression of all studied genes, such as Bnip3, Beclin1, Vps34, Atg12, Lc3 and Gabarapl1, with a possible accumulation of the autophagic proteins p62 and Beclin1. With muscle recovery, five days after lesion, most of the studied genes had their expression returning to normal levels. These results indicate that the acute lesion is related to a drastic response and rapid recovery of the autophagic pathway. Together, our results show that autophagy is differentially affected depending on the stimulus given to the muscle, either of regeneration and formation of new muscle cells or degeneration. In that sense, this study may have implications for the development of therapies that target autophagy, since it indicates that the time point of therapeutic interventions may be important, as well as the stimulus that led to alterations in the skeletal muscle tissue

A presente dissertação tem como tema central a onerosidade excessiva na revisão e extinção dos contratos no direito civil brasileiro. Ela aborda as hipóteses de rompimento do princípio do equilíbrio econômico contratual na fase de execução dos contratos em virtude da superveniência de fatos extraordinários e imprevisíveis que interrompem sua originária relação de equivalência. O presente estudo divide-se em seis grandes partes. Em primeiro lugar, fazem-se necessárias uma introdução e uma descrição da problemática relacionada ao tema. Em seguida, apresenta-se a origem histórica da revisão e da extinção contratual a partir do exame da cláusula rebus sic stantibus. Feito isso, são relatadas as teorias que as fundamentam pela doutrina e pela jurisprudência antes do advento do texto legal expresso que trata da matéria. Concluída essa fase histórica, analisa-se o direito positivo brasileiro vigente, primeiramente, por questões cronológicas, a revisão por onerosidade excessiva no Código de Defesa do Consumidor. Posteriormente, as disposições legais inseridas no Código Civil que possibilitam a revisão e resolução dos contratos por onerosidade excessiva, com uma análise dogmática dos pressupostos positivos e negativos necessários à aplicação dos arts. 317 e 478 do Código Civil. Em seguida, o estudo procura analisar algumas questões pontuais relacionadas à aplicação dos dois artigos, tais como: (i) quem tem legitimidade e interesse para requerer a revisão e resolução dos contratos, de acordo com os arts. 317 e 478 do Código Civil, respectivamente; (ii) qual é o papel do juiz na revisão e resolução dos contratos, de acordo com os arts. 317 e 478 do Código Civil, respectivamente; e (iii) se há concorrência na aplicação desses artigos ou deve ser observado um procedimento sequencial em atenção ao princípio da preservação dos contratos. Finalmente, o trabalho apresenta breve síntese e conclusões. / This dissertation brings at its core the topic of excessive burden on the revision and termination of contracts pursuant to Brazilian Civil Law. Accordingly, this study discusses the hypothesis of breaking the principle of contractual economic balance in the execution phase of contracts, due to the supervenience of extraordinary and unpredictable facts, which interrupts its original equivalence relation. The current study is divided into six major parts. It is necessary at first to consider the introduction and delimitation of the core subject. Ensuingly, the historical origin regarding the revision and termination of contracts is presented, pursuant to the contemplation of the rebus sic stantibus clause. Subsequently, the theories used as grounds are laid down, through Brazilian doctrine and case law, prior to the upcoming of the express legal text dealing with the subject. Upon the conclusion of the historical phase, the Civil Code the current ruling positive law is analyzed, as to explain the concept of excessive burden present in the Consumer Code. Sequentially, the legal dispositions inserted in the Civil Code, which enable the revision and resolution of contracts through excessive burden, bearing a dogmatic analysis of the positive and negative assumptions necessary to the application of articles 317 and 478 of the Civil Code. Certain correlated topics are then also dealt with, complementing the understanding and analysis of the aforementioned articles of the Civil Code, such as: (i) who possesses the legitimacy and interest in requesting the revision and resolution of contracts, pursuant to articles 317 and 478 of the Civil Code, respectively; (ii) what exactly is the role of the judge in the revision and resolution of contracts, according to articles 317 and 478 of the Civil Code, respectively; and (iii) whether said articles in anyway clash in their application or if a sequential procedure directed at the preservation of contracts must be observed. Finally, the study presents a brief summary and conclusions.

INTRODUÇÃO: A diminuição de horas de sono em estudantes de Medicina é um fator determinante para sonolência excessiva, e está associado a fatores como: sobrecarga de atividades, carga horária curricular excessiva, período de estudo integral, e estresse. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar sonolência diurna e a qualidade do sono entre estudantes de Medicina e sua relação com a qualidade de vida e o ambiente de ensino. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal randomizado de nacional, que utilizou a Escala de Sonolência Diurna de Epworth (ESS), o Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index versão português-Brasil (PSQI-BR), autoavaliação da qualidade de vida, The World Health Organisation Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQOL-BREF), o Questionário para Avaliar a Qualidade de Vida do Estudante e Residente da Área da Saúde (VERAS-Q), e o Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM), em uma plataforma eletrônica online desenvolvida para o estudo. Consideramos sonolência diurna excessiva os escores de Epworth > 10. RESULTADOS: Dos 1.650 estudantes randomizados, 1.350 (81,8%) completaram todos os questionários. A média (DP) da ESS foi de 10,3 (3,9), e o sexo feminino teve piores escores, 10,9 (3,8) vs 9,5 (3,9), (p < 0,001). Não houve diferença entre os anos do curso. A frequência de escores patológicos da ESS foi de 46,5%, sendo mais prevalente no sexo feminino (53,2 vs 39,0%). A média (DP) dos escores do PSQI-BR foi de 6,7 (3,0) e não houve diferença entre os sexos e anos do curso. Entre os estudantes com os maiores escores de sonolência diurna (quartil superior) 11,8% afirmaram estar satisfeitos com o seu sono. A percepção de qualidade de vida no curso foi menor que a percepção de qualidade de vida em geral, com média (DP) de 6,5 (1,6) vs 7,9 (1,3), respectivamente (p < 0,001). Estudantes do sexo feminino tiveram escores menores nos domínios físico e psicológico do WHOQOL-BREF (p < 0,05), e uso do tempo, psicológico e físico do VERAS-Q (p < 0,05). Alunos do final do curso apresentaram escores mais altos no domínio físico do WHOQOL-BREF (p < 0,05) e mais baixos no domínio ambiente de ensino do VERAS-Q (p < 0,05). Sobre a percepção do ambiente de ensino, de acordo com o DREEM, observamos que os estudantes têm uma visão mais positiva que negativa, média (DP) de 119,4 (27,1). O sexo feminino e os estudantes do quinto e sexto anos tiveram menores escores totais do DREEM (p < 0,05). Estudantes com índices patológicos de sonolência diurna apresentaram pior percepção de qualidade de vida geral e no curso, e piores escores dos domínios do WHOQOL-BREF, VERAS-Q e DREEM. A análise da regressão logística mostrou associação negativa entre a ESS e escores de qualidade de vida e ambiente de ensino, principalmente para os estudantes do quartil superior de Epworth. CONCLUSÕES: Houve uma alta prevalência de sonolência diurna entre estudantes de Medicina, sendo maior no sexo feminino. Os dados do presente estudo sugerem que a sonolência diurna influencia negativamente a percepção de qualidade de vida e do ambiente de ensino, reforçando a importância de medidas preventivas e de orientação dos estudantes de Medicina / INTRODUCTION: Few hours of sleep in medical students is a decisive issue for excessive sleepiness that is associated with: overload of activities, excessive curricular workload, full study period, and stress. We aimed to assess daytime sleepiness and sleep quality among medical students and their relation with the quality of life and the educational environment. METHODS: Cross-sectional multi-centric study with random sample, using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), quality of life self-assessment, The World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQOL-BREF), the Health Professionals and Students\' Life Questionnaire (VERAS-Q), and the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) in an online electronic platform designed for the study. We considered excessive daytime sleepiness the Epworth scores > 10. RESULTS: From the total of 1,650 engaged students, 1,350 (81.8%) completed all questionnaires. The mean (SD) of the ESS was 10.3 (3.9), and female students had worse scores, 10.9 (3.8) vs 9.5 (3.9), (p < 0.001). There was no difference between the phases of medical training. The frequency of pathological ESS scores was 46.5%, being more prevalent in women (53.2 vs 39.0%) than in men. The mean (SD) of the PSQI scores was 6.7 (3.0) and there was no difference between gender and the phases of medical training. Among students with the highest daytime sleepiness scores (upper quartile) 11.8% reported being satisfied with their sleep. The perception of quality of life in the medical school was lower than the perception of quality of life in general, mean (SD) of 6.5 (1.6) vs 7.9 (1.3), respectively (p < 0.001). Female students had lower scores on the physical and psychological domains of the WHOQOL-BREF (p < 0.05), and use of time, psychological and physical domains of the VERAS-Q, (p < 0.05). Students at the end of graduation had higher scores in the physical domain of the WHOQOL-BREF (p < 0.05) and lower scores in the educational environment domain of the VERAS-Q (p < 0.05). Regarding the perception of the educational environment, according to the DREEM, we observed that students have more positive than negative view, mean (SD) of 119.4 (27.1). Females students at the end of graduation had lower global DREEM scores (p < 0.05) than male students. Students with pathological scores of daytime sleepiness had negative perception of overall quality of life and in the medical school, and lower scores of the WHOQOL-BREF, VERAS-Q and DREEM domains. Logistic regression analysis showed negative association between ESS scores and the quality of life questionnaires and teaching environment scores, especially for the upper quartile of Epworth. CONCLUSIONS: There was a higher prevalence of daytime sleepiness among medical students, mainly in females. Data from the present study suggest that daytime sleepiness negatively influences the perception of quality of life and the teaching environment, supporting de adoption of preventive measures and mentoring medical students

INTRODUÇÃO: A empatia representa um dos domínios centrais das habilidades sociais e de comunicação e é frequentemente associada a melhores resultados diagnósticos e terapêuticos. Por esse motivo, as habilidades empáticas dos profissionais da área da saúde têm sido amplamente investigadas no contexto da educação médica. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar a empatia do estudante de medicina e sua associação com qualidade de vida, esgotamento profissional e sonolência diurna. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal randomizado de abrangência nacional, com a utilização de questionários de autorrelato validados para a avaliação de empatia (Escala Multidimensional de Reatividade Interpessoal de Davis - EMRI), qualidade de vida (The Whoqol Quality of Life Assessment - WHOQOL-BREF e Questionário para avaliar a qualidade de vida do estudante e residente da área da saúde - Veras-q), esgotamento profissional (Maslach Burnout Inventory - MBI) e sonolência diurna excessiva (Escala de Sonolência Diurna de Epworth - ESS) em uma plataforma eletrônica desenvolvida para o estudo - a plataforma VERAS. RESULTADOS: Dos 1.650 estudantes randomizados, 1.350 (81,8%) completaram todos os questionários da plataforma VERAS. Observamos importantes diferenças de gênero nos domínios consideração empática e angústia pessoal da EMRI, com maiores escores para o grupo do sexo feminino (p<0,05; d>0,5). Estudantes dos diversos ciclos do curso de medicina apresentaram diferenças pouco expressivas das disposições empáticas (p<0,05; f<0,25). A percepção de qualidade de vida no curso foi muito menor do que a percepção de qualidade de vida em geral entre os estudantes de medicina (p<0,001; d>0,8). Estudantes do sexo feminino apresentaram menores escores de qualidade de vida nos domínios físico, psicológico e uso do tempo (p<0,05; d<0,5). A percepção de qualidade de vida relacionada ao ambiente de ensino também foi discretamente menor entre estudantes dos últimos anos do curso (p<0,001; f<0,25). Em relação aos escores de esgotamento profissional, estudantes do sexo feminino apresentaram maior exaustão emocional e menor despersonalização do que estudantes do sexo masculino (p<0,001; d<0,5). Estudantes dos últimos anos do curso apresentaram escores discretamente maiores de exaustão emocional, despersonalização e realização pessoal (p<0,05; f<0,25). Os escores de sonolência diurna foram discretamente maiores entre estudantes do sexo feminino (p<0,001; d<0,5) e não diferiram entre os ciclos do curso. Aproximadamente 56% dos estudantes apresentaram sonolência diurna excessiva. Os escores de sonolência diurna apresentaram correlações fracas com os domínios da EMRI. Entre os estudantes do sexo masculino, realização pessoal (beta= -0,22; p<0,001) e qualidade de vida no domínio psicológico (beta= -0,19; p<0,001) contribuíram para menor angústia pessoal. Entre o grupo do sexo feminino, realização pessoal contribuiu significativamente para maior consideração empática (beta= 0,23; p<0,001) e tomada de perspectiva (beta= 0,30; p<0,001). Escores de despersonalização contribuíram para menor disposição empática nesses domínios (beta= -0,29; p<0,001 para consideração empática e beta= -0,17; p<0,001 para tomada de perspectiva). CONCLUSÕES: Estudantes do sexo feminino apresentaram maior disposição para consideração empática e para angústia pessoal do que estudantes do sexo masculino. As diferenças das disposições empáticas dos estudantes de diferentes ciclos do curso de medicina foram inexpressivas. Dentre as variáveis estudadas, realização pessoal apresentou a maior contribuição para menor angústia pessoal entre estudantes do sexo masculino. Maior realização pessoal e menor despersonalização também contribuíram para maior disposição empática entre estudantes do sexo feminino / INTRODUCTION: Empathy is one of the main domains of social and communication skills. It is often associated to better diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes. For this reason, it has been extensively investigated among health professionals. We aimed to assess medical students\' empathic disposition and its association with quality of life, burnout and daytime sleepiness. METHODS: Cross-sectional multi-centric randomized study with the use of validated self-report questionnaires of empathy (the Interpersonal Reactivity Index - IRI), quality of life (The Whoqol Quality of Life Assessment - WHOQOL-BREF and the Health Professionals and Students\' Life Questionnaire - Veras-q), burnout (the Maslach Burnout Inventory - MBI) and daytime sleepiness (the Epworth Excessive Sleepiness Scale - ESS). Questionnaires were available to students on an electronic platform designed for the study - the VERAS platform. RESULTS: From the total of 1,650 randomized students, 1,350 (81.8%) completed all questionnaires. We observed important gender differences on students\' dispositional empathic concern and personal distress. Female students had higher scores on these domains than their male counterparts (p<0.05; d>0.5). Students from different phases of medical training had minor differences on empathic dispositions (p<0.05; f<0.25). Students\' perception of quality of life related to medical school was quite lower than their perception of quality of life in general (p<0.001; d>0.8). Female students had slightly lower scores on physical, psychological and time management domains of quality of life compared to male students (p<0.05; d<0.5). Perceptions of quality of life on the learning environment were also slightly lower among students in the final years of medical school (p<0.001; f<0.25). Female students had higher scores on emotional exhaustion and lower scores on depersonalization than their male counterparts (p<0.001; d<0.5). Students at the final years of medical school had slightly higher scores on emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment (p<0.05; f<0.25). Daytime sleepiness scores were slightly higher among female students (p<0.001; d<0.5). Sleepiness scores did not differ according to phases of medical school. Approximately 56% of students had suggestive scores of excessive daytime sleepiness. Daytime sleepiness scores yielded weak correlations with empathy domains. Among male students, personal accomplishment (beta= -0.22; p<0.001) and psychological quality of life (beta= -0.19; p<0.001) contributed to lower personal distress. Among female students, personal accomplishment had a significant contribution to higher empathic concern (beta= 0.23: p<0.001) and perspective taking (beta= 0.30; p<0.001). Depersonalization scores contributed to lower empathic disposition on these domains (beta= -0.29: p<0.001 for empathic concern domain and beta= -0.17; p<0.001 for perspective taking domain). CONCLUSIONS: Female students had higher disposition on empathic concern and personal distress than their male counterparts. Differences on students\' empathic dispositions across phases of medical school were quite small. Among all study variables, personal accomplishment had higher contributions to lower personal distress among male students. Higher personal accomplishment and lower depersonalization also contributed to higher empathic disposition among female students