Sapientia
Repositório Científico da UAlg
Entradas recentes
ESG variations across banking loan types: evidence from european listed banks
Publication . Francisco, Paulo Morais; Couto, Eduardo
Building on social‐capital theory and transaction‐cost theory, we examine whether European banks' rated ESG performance varies systematically with the composition of their loan portfolios. Merging Refinitiv ESG scores with Orbis Bank Focus loan‐ book data for 51 EU‐listed banks over 2005–2022, we estimate pooled OLS, random‐effects, fixed‐effects, lagged‐variable, and dynamic System‐GMM specifications. The evidence points to one robust regularity and two more qualified patterns. First, banks with higher mortgage‐loan shares tend to have lower ESG ratings: a one‐standard‐deviation increase in mortgage intensity is associated with an approximately three‐point lower composite ESG score and up to five points lower environmental pillar score, and the negative mortgage association remains visible in the dynamic System‐GMM models. Second, consumer‐loan intensity is positively associated with ESG ratings in random‐effects, fixed‐effects, and lagged fixed‐effects specifications, particularly for the environmental and social pillars, but this association is not statistically significant in the dynamic System‐GMM models. Third, corporate‐loan exposure shows no stable relationship with overall ESG ratings. We interpret these patterns as consistent with a trust‐intensity mechanism: ESG commitments and lending technologies appear to align differently across collateral‐rich, standardised lending and softer‐information retail activities.
Reproductive dynamics of the razor clam solen marginatus pulteney, 1799 (Bivalvia: Solenidae) in Ria Formosa Lagoon
Publication . Moura, Paula; Carvalho, André N.; Pereira, Fábio; Gaspar, Miguel
The present study describes the reproductive cycle of the razor clam (Solen marginatus) from the Ria Formosa lagoon in the Algarve region (southern Portugal), using histological preparations of gonads from samples collected monthly over an 18-month period, from January 2023 to June 2024. Simultaneously, the mean gonadal index (GI) was estimated and its relationship with fluctuations in seawater temperature and chlorophyll a concentration was examined. The reproductive cycle of S. marginatus showed a seasonal pattern, with a resting period between August and October, followed by the onset of gametogenesis in November, which lasted until March. Ripe individuals were observed between February–March and May, with the spawning period occurring primarily between May and July. The mean GI reflected the temporal variation in the gonadal cycle. Reproduction in this species was strongly influenced by fluctuations in seawater temperature, but was not significantly correlated with chlorophyll a concentration. The information gathered in this study is of utmost importance, as it enables the proposal of evidence-based management measures aimed at promoting the sustainable exploitation of this resource. According to these new findings, a closed season (June or July) prohibiting razor clam harvesting in the Ria Formosa lagoon between May and July is proposed.
Animal husbandry and hunting in the Roman vicus maritimus of Cerro da Vila (Southern Portugal): insights into the coastal economy of Lusitania
Publication . Pratas, Ana; Valente, Maria João
This study presents a zooarchaeological analysis of the vertebrate faunal assemblage from the Roman vicus maritimus of Cerro da Vila, southern Lusitania (modern Algarve, Portugal), with occupation spanning the 1st to 5th centuries CE. The site functioned as a diversified coastal hub integrating intensive fish-processing, agricultural production, and maritime trade, yet the role of animal exploitation in sustaining this economy has hitherto remained poorly understood. Given the limited stratigraphic resolution of the excavation records, the assemblage was treated as a whole, and the patterns discussed reflect long-term, diachronic trends rather than discrete subperiod practices. The analysis reveals an assemblage dominated by domestic mammals, particularly swine and caprines (sheep and goats), whose age-at-death profiles and skeletal element distributions may be consistent with structured husbandry strategies oriented towards both primary meat production and the procurement of secondary products, notably wool and milk. The presence of chicken, red deer, and rabbit points to dietary diversity and to the complementary role of hunting within local subsistence practices, while biometric data fall within ranges documented for Roman-period assemblages elsewhere in southern Lusitania. The recovery of remains of Egyptian mongoose suggests the introduction of a non-native species, pointing to interprovincial exchange of biological material under Roman rule. Taken together, the faunal evidence indicates that Cerro da Vila combined livestock husbandry and marine resource exploitation while also participating in broader Mediterranean trade networks, thus shedding light on the economic organisation and interprovincial connectivity that characterised Roman coastal settlements in Lusitania.
Beyond cadaster: landowners and land fragmentation—insights from a case study
Publication . Ferreira da Silva da Costa Freitas, Maria de Belém; Teixeira, Miguel; Rolo Antunes, Carla Maria; César Ribeiro, Henrique; Partidário, Maria do Rosário
Land management is a relevant problem in rural areas all over the world, conditioning the planning decisions and the applicability of planning instruments. This study evaluates the limitations of cadastral data in representing land fragmentation and management patterns in wild-fire-prone landscapes, using Alferce (Portugal) as a case study with broader international relevance. Similar challenges—fragmented ownership, incomplete land registries, and increasing wildfire risk—affect many regions worldwide, particularly across the Mediterranean basin and other fire-prone rural landscapes. A mixed-methods approach combines cadastral data with field data from 23 landowners producing two datasets: cadaster-only and ownership-enhanced. Fragmentation is assessed using Simmons and Januszewki indices, supported by spatial analysis (Kernel Density and Moran’s I). Results show that cadastral data alone significantly overestimates fragmentation. While parcel-based analysis suggests a highly fragmented landscape, incorporating ownership information reveals more aggregated management structures. The 23 landowners manage 1247 ha (≈13% of the area), forming a “keystone” group with strong potential for coordinated land management and fire prevention. Higher fragmentation is associated with population centers. These findings demonstrate that cadastral units do not reflect functional management units and considerations about property fragmentation are biased by the lack of information about the owners, a key theoretical contribution with implications beyond Portugal. For policymakers, integrating ownership data and targeting key land managers can improve land use planning and wildfire mitigation and, overall, the sustainability of the territory. Despite limitations (small sample), the approach is transferable to other regions facing similar structural constraints.
Predictors of child-to-parent violence in adolescence: a systematic review
Publication . Mendes, Lara; dos Santos, Rita Alexandra Mendes; Martins, Cátia; Carmo, Cláudia; Brás, Marta; Nunes, Cristina
Background/Objectives: Child-to-parent violence (CPV) refers to persistent physical, psychological, or financial violence perpetrated by children or adolescents against their parents. Although CPV has attracted increasing academic and professional attention in recent years, evidence regarding its predictors remains fragmented. This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize empirical evidence on the predictors of adolescent CPV, with a particular focus on developmental victimization, personality traits, and psychopathology. Violence refers to the intentional use of physical, psychological, or symbolic force to cause harm, control, or suffering, while aggression corresponds to intentional behavior aimed at harming another individual, which may or may not involve physical violence and is often broader and more situational. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024596076). Searches were carried out in January 2025 across six electronic databases (PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL). Empirical studies published between 2000 and 2025 examining predictors of CPV in adolescence, namely developmental victimization, personality traits, and psychopathology, were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Results: The search identified 862 records, of which 46 studies met the inclusion criteria and were retained for full-text analysis. Most studies were quantitative in design and published within the last 15 years, with Spain accounting for most of the empirical evidence. The findings consistently demonstrated associations between CPV and exposure to direct or vicarious family victimization, maladaptive personality traits—particularly psychopathic features—and a range of psychopathological symptoms, including substance use, mood and anxiety disorders, and neurodevelopmental conditions. Conclusions: The results support a multifactorial and developmental understanding of CPV, highlighting early victimization as a central risk context interacting with personality and mental health vulnerabilities. Limitations of the existing literature are discussed, and directions for future research are proposed, emphasizing the need for longitudinal and qualitative studies to inform prevention and intervention strategies.