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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The necropolis of the Verdelha dos Ruivos Cave and the genesis of the Bell Beaker complex in Portuguese Estremadura
Publication . Cardoso, João Luis; Nicolis, Franco; Kulcsár, Gabriella; Heyd, Volker
The Verdelha dos Ruivos Cave, located some 20 km NNE of Lisbon, is the only necropolis of the Bell Beaker Complex identified so far in Portugal in which it was possible to isolate individual burials and reconstruct the original position of the corpses. The cave was discovered in 1973, during the inspection of a Cretaceous limestone quarry. The exploitation of the quarry face sectioned the cavity, leaving only its distal part. The archaeological excavation was carried out by a team from the former Geological Services of Portugal, led by O. da Veiga Ferreira. The team included a medical doctor, which constituted an obvious added value for characterising the composition of the population and defining inhumation practices. All that remained of the original natural cavity was a small crypt, whose brown infill contrasted with the colour of the limestone; this was a hardened carbonate breccia, with abundant limestone blocks and containing archaeological remains. The hardness of this consolidated infill made it difficult to carry out the excavation, which began in October 1973 and ended only in May 1974.
Four main levels were identified, consisting of successive individual tombs in lateral decubitus, on the left or right side, with the body coiled up in a foetal position. It was possible to identify the position of 11 graves, sometimes covered by small limestone slabs; the most fragile anatomical segments were missing.
The archaeological remains included several artefacts, which were not very abundant, but showed a clear diversity, including all the objects deemed characteristic of the Bell Beaker Complex: sperm-whale tooth buttons, gold spirals, a Palmela point, idols and ceramics. All the decorated ceramics correspond to Beaker types, which leads to the conclusion that the funerary use of this cave should be exclusively attributed to a community belonging to the Bell Beaker Complex. Radiocarbon datings obtained support the beginning of this necropolis at ca. 2700 BC, extending into the second half of the 3rd millennium BC.
These results are consistent with the remarkable antiquity of the emergence of the Bell Beaker Complex in the Tagus estuary region, as demonstrated by the results obtained at the prehistoric settlement of Leceia, located approximately 40 km to the SW, a fact that will also be enhanced and discussed in this paper.
Mito de Perséfone no espaço familiar de Armando Correia
Publication . Nogueira, Adriana; Furtado, Rodrigo; Rodrigues, Nuno Simões; Lóio, Ana; Valério, João Paulo
O artigo analisa a receção do mito de Perséfone na obra de Armando Correia, integrada no espaço doméstico do artista. A análise cruza fontes clássicas com a leitura visual e espacial da obra. Defende-se que a mitologia desempenha um papel estruturante no discurso estético do artista, contribuindo para os estudos de receção clássica fora do contexto museológico.
Yeast species associated with industrial cultures of the marine microalgae tisochrysis lutea: temperature profiles and auxin production
Publication . Matos, Madalena; Fernandes, Mónica A.; Coelho, Natacha; Santos, Tamara; Varela, João; Rodrigues, Alexandre M. C.; Sá-Correia, Isabel
This study provides the first systematic characterization of culturable yeast diversity associated with large-scale cultivation of Tisochrysis lutea. This marine haptophyte is widely used in aquaculture for its high content of essential fatty acids, pigments, and other bioactive compounds. Culture sampling was conducted at Necton S.A. facilities (Olhão, Portugal) over full production cycles from 5 L flasks until tubular photobioreactors during the months of May and June. The study aimed to identify and isolate the present yeast species and evaluate their physiological traits relevant to potential co-cultivation strategies. All retained isolates belonged to the phylum Basidiomycota, with six species identified: Rhodotorula sphaerocarpa (45%), R. mucilaginosa (20%), R. diobovata (13%), Vishniacozyma carnescens (16%), Naganishia diffluens (3%), and Moesziomyces aphidis (3%). Temperature growth profiles (10–40 ◦C), tolerance to artificial sea water, and auxin production were characterized, revealing that, except for V. carnescens, the yeast isolates grow optimally at 25–30 ◦C, within the ideal range for T. lutea cultivation. Results suggest that some of these marine yeasts, particularly R. sphaerocarpa and R. mucilaginosa isolates, could serve as biological enhancers of algal productivity, in situ. This foundational work supports future efforts to develop targeted yeast management or co-cultivation strategies, with the goal of improving biomass yield and metabolite production in industrial T. lutea photobioreactors.
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.