Sapientia
UAlg Scientific Repository
About Sapientia
SAPIENTIA brings together all scientific publications produced by teachers, researchers, and students (theses and dissertations) from the University of Algarve and cooperating entities (ULSALG-Unidade Local de Saúde do Algarve and Ciência Viva network centers in the Algarve) and aims to maximize their visibility, ensure easy access to this collection, improve the public impact of the scientific activity of the University and other entities, as well as ensure the preservation of their memories.
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Recent Submissions
Exploring the potential of haematococcus pluvialis as a source of bioactives for food applications: a review
Publication . Bassani, Joseane C.; Cunha, Sthéfani da; Leite, Deborah Catharine de Assis; Endres, Creciana M.; Pelisser, Crivian; Meneghetti, Karine L.; Bombo, Gabriel; Morais, Alcina M. M. B.; Morais, Rui M. S. C.; Backes, Geciane T.; Steffens, Juliana
The search for sustainable and health-promoting food ingredients has positioned microalgae as promising candidates for the development of functional products. Haematococcus pluvialis, a unicellular green microalga, is the richest natural source of astaxanthin, a carotenoid with outstanding antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. In addition to astaxanthin, H. pluvialis provides high-value proteins, essential fatty acids, polysaccharides, and vitamins, which expand its potential applications in the food sector. This review compiles current knowledge on the biology and physiology of H. pluvialis, with emphasis on cultivation strategies, environmental stress factors, and biotechnological tools designed to enhance bioactive compound production. Advances in extraction and purification methods are also discussed, contrasting conventional solvent-based approaches with emerging green technologies. The integration of these strategies with biomass valorization highlights opportunities for improving economic feasibility and sustainability. Applications of H. pluvialis in the food industry include its use as a functional ingredient, natural colorant, antioxidant, and stabilizer in bakery products, beverages, meat analogs, and emulsified systems. Evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies reinforces its safety and effectiveness. Looking ahead, industrial perspectives point to the adoption of omics-based tools, metabolic engineering, and circular economy approaches as drivers to overcome current barriers of cost, stability, and regulation, opening new avenues for large-scale applications in food systems.
Adapting to electoral changes: insights from a systematic review on electoral abstention dynamics
Publication . Almeida, Nuno; Giger, Jean-Christophe
Electoral abstention has emerged as a critical challenge to democratic legitimacy, with rising rates observed globally. For example, in Portugal, the turnout declined from 91.5% in 1975 to 51.4% in 2022. This systematic review synthesizes multidisciplinary literature to identify key determinants of voter nonparticipation and their interactions, aiming to inform adaptive strategies to enhance civic engagement amid social, organizational, and technological changes. Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched five databases (Academic Search Complete, MEDLINE, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) from 2000 to August 2025 using terms such as “electoral abstention” and “non-voting.” Inclusion criteria prioritized quantitative empirical studies in peer-reviewed journals in English, Portuguese, Spanish, or French, yielding 23 high-quality studies (assessed via MMAT, with scores ≥ 60%) from 13 countries, predominantly the USA and France. Results reveal abstention as a multidimensional phenomenon driven by three interconnected categories: individual factors (e.g., health issues like smoking and mental health trajectories, institutional distrust); institutional factors (e.g., electoral reforms such as biometric registration reducing abstention by up to 50% in local contexts, but with mixed outcomes in voluntary voting systems); and contextual factors (e.g., economic inequalities and urbanization correlating with lower turnout, exacerbated by events like COVID-19). This review underscores the need for integrated public policies addressing these factors to boost participation, particularly among youth and marginalized groups. By framing abstention as an adaptive response to contemporary challenges, this work contributes to the political psychology and democratic reform literature, advocating interdisciplinary approaches to resilient electoral systems.
EEG-based neurofeedback in athletes and non-athletes: a scoping review of outcomes and methodologies
Publication . Guerreiro Zacarias, Rui Manuel; Bulathwatta, Darshika Thejani; Bidzan-Bluma, Ilona; Neves de Jesus, Saúl; Correia, Joao
Background: Electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive technique that records millisecond-scale cortical electrical activity using scalp electrodes. In EEG-based neurofeedback (NFB), these signals are processed to provide real-time feedback that supports self-regulation of targeted brain rhythms; evidence suggests improvements in cognitive and neurophysiological performance in athletes and non-athletes. However, methodological inconsistencies—such as limited blinding, poor sham control, and outdated approaches to EEG spectral analysis—restrict reproducibility and hinder cumulative progress in the field. Methods: This scoping review aimed to identify and analyze the methodological characteristics, outcome measures, and reproducibility gaps in EEG-based NFB studies involving athletes and non-athletes. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we systematically searched academic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library), as well as gray literature sources (ProQuest Dissertations, LILACS, Tripdatabase, and Google Scholar). Of 48 included studies, 44 were published in international peer-reviewed journals and 4 in regional journals. Data were extracted on study design, participant population, NFB protocols, targeted EEG rhythms, cognitive and neurophysiological outcomes, and methodological rigor. Results: The review revealed substantial heterogeneity in targeted rhythms, protocols, and reporting standards. None of the studies employed modern spectral parameterization methods (e.g., FOOOF), while only 29% used active sham protocols and 6% employed inert sham conditions. Reporting blinding procedures and follow-up assessments was limited or absent in most studies. Discussion: This review highlights critical methodological shortcomings that may bias interpretations of NFB effects in sport and cognitive domains. To strengthen future research, studies should rigorously implement sham and blinding procedures, ensure transparent reporting of EEG metrics, and adopt open-science practices, including modern approaches to spectral parameterization.
An artificial selection procedure enriches for known and suspected chitin degraders from the prokaryotic rare biosphere of multiple marine biotopes
Publication . Meunier, Laurence; Keller-Costa, Tina; Cannella, David; Gonçalves, Jorge Manuel Santos; Dechamps, Etienne; Marques, Matilde; Costa, Rodrigo; George, Isabelle F.
Biological of chitin-degrading microbial communities change across marine biotopes, but efforts to isolate chitin degraders within these communities in the laboratory have seldom been attempted. We characterized the prokaryotic communities associated with the marine sponge Sarcotragus spinosulus, the octocoral Eunicella labiata, and their surrounding sediment and seawater and applied an artificial selection procedure to enrich bacterial consortia capable of degrading chitin from the abovementioned biotopes. Throughout the procedure, chitin degradation was monitored, and the taxonomic composition was studied along four successive enrichment cultures from each biotope. Results The naturally occurring prokaryotic communities of the two host species (Sarcotragus spinosulus and Eunicella labiata) were distinct from each other and from those of seawater and sediments, even though they were co-inhabiting the same geographic area. We found that low-abundance bacteria from the rare biosphere were recruited in the enrichment cultures from all biotopes, while dominant bacterial symbionts likely to play a role in chitin degradation within marine sponges and octocorals remained “unculturable” under our experimental conditions. Well-known chitin degraders such as Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas and Aquimarina, as well as other taxa not known or poorly known for their role(s) in chitin degradation such as Aureivirga, Halodesulfovibrio, Motilimonas, Muricauda, Psychromonas, Poseidonibacter, Reichenbachiella, and Thalassotalea, among others, were enriched using our artificial selection approach. Distinct chitin-degrading consortia were enriched from each marine biotope, highlighting the feasibility of this approach in fostering the discovery of novel microorganisms and enzymes involved in chitin degradation pathways of relevance in applied biotechnology. Conclusion This study unveils distinct bacterial consortia possessing moderate to high efficiency at degrading chitin. They were composed of a mix of known chitin degraders, known chitin utilizers and many taxa poorly or not yet known for their role(s) in chitin degradation such as Aureivirga, Psychromonas, Motilimonas, Reichenbachiella, or Halodesulfovibrio. The latter taxa are potential key players in marine chitin degradation whose study could lead to the discovery of novel enzyme variants able to degrade chitin and its derivatives.
Serving a new market through postgraduate education
Publication . Pereira, Renato N.
Comunicação apresentada em conferência internacional sobre educação superior, resultado de investigação realizada no âmbito de mestrado em Marketing frequentado.