Sapientia
Repositório Científico da UAlg
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The exploitation of siliceous raw materials during the Upper Paleolithic in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula
Publication . Belmiro, Joana; Cascalheira, João; Terradas, Xavier
The Late Pleistocene was characterised by cyclical, abrupt climatic events that had significant regional environmental impacts. These environmental shifts are often associated with processes of cultural and demographic reorganisation across time and space. This project aims to investigate the economic and social adaptations of human groups during the Upper Palaeolithic (UP) in southwestern Iberia and their relationship to millennial-scale climatic events. To this end, we analysed chert raw materials from the UP archaeological sequence at Vale Boi (Portugal). Vale Boi presents ideal conditions for a comprehensive study of raw material procurement, use, and management: it has been extensively excavated over nearly two decades using state-of-the-art methods, yet only preliminary studies of its raw materials exist. Lithic raw material exploitation, processing, and use are essential to understanding such adaptations, as raw materials are central to the technological and cultural organisation of hunter-gatherers. For this analysis, we employed a multi-method approach that combined macroscopic, petrographic, geochemical and technological analyses. Our results indicate the consistent use of both local and non-local chert resources throughout the UP sequence. Some non-local cherts were sourced from as far as central Portugal and southern Spain, over 250 km from the site. The proportion of non-local materials was highest during the Gravettian period and decreased in subsequent occupations, which relied more heavily on local resources. We interpret this shift as reflecting changes in mobility and settlement patterns—from short-term to longer-term occupations—likely in response to the harsh climatic conditions of Heinrich Event 2 and the Last Glacial Maximum. Despite these changes, the continued presence of non-local materials suggests that long-distance social networks were maintained throughout the UP sequence at Vale Boi, revealing resilient social connections among Iberian hunter-gatherers over more than 10,000 years.
Epigenetic regulation of ZNF687 in bone cells: elucidation of its role in the progression of Paget’s disease of bone
Publication . Domingos Varela, Débora Cristina; Cancela, Leonor; Conceição, Natércia
Paget’s disease of bone (PDB) is characterized by focal areas of intense bone resorption by hyperactive osteoclasts followed by excessive bone formation by osteoblasts. Mutations and increased expression of ZNF687 have been associated with PDB. However, the role of ZNF687 in bone metabolism is poorly understood, and the molecular mechanisms that regulate its expression remain unknow. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate the regulation of ZNF687 in bone cells, focusing on epigenetic mechanisms, in order to elucidate its involvement in the pathophysiology of PDB. In addition, we performed a genetic analysis of ZNF687, along with other candidate genes, in a cohort from southern Portugal.
First, we characterized the human ZNF687 promoter, evaluated the functionality of predicted binding sites for bone-related transcription factors, and assessed the impact of CpG methylation on its regulatory activity. Our results indicate that NFκB, PU.1, DLX5, and SOX9 act as transcriptional regulators of ZNF687, and that DNA methylation inhibits their regulatory activity. Next, we analyzed mice Zfp687 expression and epigenetic regulation in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast differentiation and in hindlimb bones throughout mice life stages. Our results suggest that miR-142a-3p targets Zfp687 3′UTR, contributing to its downregulation during osteoblastogenesis, while DNA methylation does not appear to regulate Zfp687. In the PDB genetic study of Portuguese population, we identified the ZNF687 c.2810C>A variant that was predicted in silico to be pathogenic and shown in vitro to enhance nuclear import. In addition, OPTN rs2234968 variant was significantly associated with PDB. Finally, we examined ZNF687 expression and CpG methylation during in vitro osteoclast differentiation. ZNF687 was upregulated during murine osteoclastogenesis and overexpressed in osteoclasts from PDB patients in comparison to those of healthy controls. Moreover, methylation levels in -506/-396 promoter region were significantly higher in osteoclasts from PDB patients compared to their undifferentiated precursors and healthy osteoclasts. In summary, this work evidences the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in bone cells’ differentiation, particularly in the regulation of the ZNF687 gene during osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation. Furthermore, it suggests that DNA methylation may contribute to the upregulation of ZNF687 in PDB.
The new era of tourism: security and well-being in tourism destinations
Publication . Fernandes Martins, Patrícia Raquel; Jesus, Saúl Neves de; Pocinho, Maria Ferreira Diogo Dias; Pinto, Patrícia Susana Lopes Guerrilha dos Santos
Wellness tourism is at the intersection of tourism and wellness, two large and growing industries. Holistic health and prevention are increasingly central to the decision-making of wellness tourists. Wellness tourism is travel associated with the pursuit of maintaining or improving one’s well-being and includes all experiences and expenditures made by tourists on wellness-related trips. As a growing segment of the global tourism industry, wellness tourism offers significant potential for both personal and economic benefits. Despite its increasing popularity, the sector remains underexplored, particularly regarding its distinction from other sub-categories of health tourism, such as medical tourism. Therefore, the research is structured into three distinct studies. Study 1 and Study 2 present a comprehensive theoretical foundation through a bibliometric analysis and a systematic literature review. These studies chart the evolution of wellness tourism, analyse key trends, identify theoretical and methodological frameworks, and highlight emerging areas for future exploration. Study 3 focuses on empirical analysis, examining the factors that shape destination loyalty in the wellness tourism context in Portugal, a segment that remains underexplored in the country. It utilises Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyse the relationships between destination loyalty and factors such as tourist perceived safety at the destinations, tourist worry, tourist perception of restorative environments, well-being, and life satisfaction. The findings highlight the importance of a peaceful, secure environment in promoting wellness tourism experiences. The study also reveals the unexpected role of tourist worry in fostering destination loyalty, challenging previous assumptions. Moreover, the research underscores the growing significance of restorative environments in promoting well-being and life satisfaction through tourism practices and the potential of Portugal to position itself as a leading wellness destination. By contributing to the theoretical and practical understanding of wellness tourism, this thesis paves the way for future studies. It offers valuable insights for researchers, tourism practitioners and policymakers aiming to foster the growth of this sector.
Mapping global shipless areas and conflict zones between shipping and large marine vertebrates
Publication . Mestre, Frederico; D'Amico, M.; Bastazini, V. A. G.; Assis, Jorge; Jacinto, D.; Marçalo, Ana; Ascensão, F.
The growth of global maritime traffic poses increasing threats to marine biodiversity, including vessel collisions, behavioural disturbances, and pollution. Protecting areas with minimal shipping activity and identifying highrisk conflict zones between biodiversity and vessel traffic is crucial for conservation and mitigation efforts. However, a comprehensive assessment of these threats has yet to be conducted. We present a global analysis of shipless areas and examine the overlap between shipping density and the distribution of marine taxa known to be impacted by vessel activity—namely, cetaceans, sea turtles, pinnipeds, and seabirds. We identify regions where high biodiversity coincides with either low or intense vessel activity, designating them as Priority Preservation Areas and Priority Mitigation Areas, corresponding to low- and high-conflict zones. We also assess the extent to which Marine Protected Areas, Exclusive Economic Zones, and High Seas encompass these zones. Our results show that MPAs currently cover 12.1 % of shipless areas, 15.2 % of PPAs, and 16.2 % of PMAs, while no-take MPAs cover 6.8 % of shipless areas, 9.5 % of PPAs, and 5.6 % of PMAs. Our findings reveal that shipless areas are mainly restricted to polar and remote oceanic regions. PPAs are mostly located at high southern latitudes, while PMAs are concentrated along coasts, particularly in the mid-Pacific, southern Indian Ocean, and South Atlantic. We underscore the need to preserve low-conflict zones and implement targeted mitigation strategies—such as traffic rerouting and speed reductions—in high-conflict areas. Our framework supports global marine conservation goals, including the 30 × 30 biodiversity target.
Las ocupaciones tardiglaciares de la Cova de Les Borres (La Febró, Tarragona)
Publication . Ramón Rabuñal, José; Soto, María; Ignacio Morales, Juan; Lombao, Diego; Soares Remiseiro, Miguel; Fernández-Marchena, Juan Luis; Vallverdú, Josep
En este artículo se presentan los trabajos arqueológicos desarrollados entre 2012 y 2015 en la Cova de Les Borres (La Febró, Tarragona). Los nuevos datos cronoestratigráficos y los materiales arqueológicos analizados derivan de los tres niveles principales identificados hasta el momento, que datan de mediados del GI-1 (Nivel 2), finales del GI-1/inicios del GS-1 (Nivel 1.2) y presumiblemente del GS-1 (Nivel 1.1). La secuencia documentada resulta de gran relevancia para el estudio de las dinámicas de evolución tecnológica y cultural durante el final del Pleistoceno en el NE peninsular, al ser uno de los escasos yacimientos conocidos con ocupaciones sucesivas durante el GI-1 y el GS-1, asociadas al Magdaleniense Superior Final y al Sauveterroide.