Sapientia
Repositório Científico da UAlg
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Healthy work environment ecosystems for teleworking and hybrid working
Publication . Gaspar, Tânia; Neves de Jesus, Saúl; Farias, Ana Rita; Matos, Margarida Gaspar
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought global physical, psychological, social and occupational health challenges. Telework and hybrid work have been a necessary response that has sustained and transformed companies and work at a global level. The main objective of this paper is to understand and characterize how ecosystems of healthy work environments in the context of telework and hybrid work. The Healthy Workplace Model proposed by the World Health Organization (Burton, 2010) was adopted. Thus, we analyzed the relationship between core principles related to physical work environment, psychosocial work teleworking and hybrid working contexts. The study involved a total of 1829 participants, 1246 (68.1%) female and 571 (31.2%) male. The age of the professionals varies between 18 and 72 years, with a mean of 43 years and standard deviation of 10.45. The Healthy Workplaces Ecosystems Tool (EATS) was used (Gaspar et al., 2022). 57% of participants were in telework, 16% in hybrid work and 27% in face-to-face work. The comparative results showed statistically significant differences in relation to all dimensions of healthy work environments between the three types of work. The professionals in hybrid work situations have a more positive perception of the organisational culture, psychosocial work environment, physical work environment, resources for health and social responsibility, and better mental health indicators. The professionals in hybrid situations are followed by the professionals in telecommuting and, finally, the professionals in face-to-face situations.
Mergers and acquisitions in the insurance sector: a systematic and bibliometric analysis of research trends, determinants, and future directions
Publication . Ceita, Lucileyd; Amado, Carla; Silva, Jacinto Vidigal da
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are increasingly popular transactions in financial markets, often seen as a faster and safer way to achieve growth and create value. However, research focusing exclusively on the insurance industry remains limited. This research article aims to synthesize the characteristics of existing studies, describe the methods and variables used, present the results regarding the impact on the value and performance of the companies involved, identify the main determinants of this impact, and finally, highlight the main gaps and directions for future research. Studies published up to 2025 were collected from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, resulting in a final sample of 28 articles. The analysis shows that the Journal of Banking & Finance, Journal of Risk and Insurance, and Journal of Risk Finance are the leading publication outlets, with J. David Cummins emerging as the most influential author. Publication peaks occurred in 2008 and 2011, although no sustained upward trend was observed. Most studies focus on non-life insurers and use U.S. data. Methodologically, event studies and DEA models dominate the literature, focusing respectively on shareholder value creation and firm efficiency. Findings remain mixed, since M&A transactions are theoretically expected to create value, yet empirical evidence shows considerable variation across contexts. Identified determinants of M&A performance include company size, prior M&A experience, geographic or sectoral diversification, payment method, ownership and business type, governance, and human resources.
Prevalence of microplastics in agricultural soils in southern Portugal
Publication . Bellouk, H.; Beltrán, I. Marín; Raouan, S. Er; Sousa, V. Serrão; Zaitan, H.; Reis, Mário; A. Ismail; Nunes, Luís
Microplastic contamination in soils is increasingly being recognised worldwide, yet Mediterranean agricultural systems remain poorly investigated. This work provides the first dataset of microplastic pollution in agricultural soils from Portugal, focusing on associations between polymer types and land-use history across four areas from a local farm with different agricultural practices. We collected 20 soil samples (five per zone). Each sample was processed in duplicate, yielding 40 analytical units. These were collected across four zones of a Cucurbitaceae farm in the Algarve region and analysed following conventional protocols to minimise cross-contamination. Concentrations ranged from 0 to 320 particles/kg, with a median of 80 particles/kg. Eight polymer types were identified, mainly polypropylene (PP, 31%), polyester (PES, 19%), and polyethylene (PE, 15%). Fibres were the most dominant (54%), followed by films and fragments, with the majority of particles ranging from 100 to 500 μm. White and transparent particles accounted for half of the observations. The polymer composition and particle morphologies differed across the four areas, consistent with their documented land-use histories and distinct levels of plastic use. These contrasts indicate that each zone exhibits a specific microplastic signature that reflects the intensity and type of agricultural practices applied over time. The study is limited by its farm-scale scope and the focus on surface soils (0–5 cm), yet it provides a robust baseline for future large-scale investigations in Mediterranean agricultural systems. While causal links cannot be firmly established, the results provide valuable insights into potential agricultural drivers of soil contamination in Mediterranean systems and highlight the need for improved plastic management in agriculture.
Quasi–resonant DC–DC combination converter CSC–Zeta full–wave for bipolar outputs
Publication . Díaz Martín, Cristian; Durán Aranda, Eladio; Pérez Litrán, Salvador; Semião, Jorge
This work presents a new Quasi–Resonant Converter (QRC) configuration, allowing Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) and a full-wave operation, providing dual, symmetric, or bipolar output. It is a configuration derived from the combined Zeta and CSC (Canonical Switching Cell) topologies; it provides a Single–Input Dual–Output (SIDO) structure with a single switch. The proposed configuration minimizes switching losses, facilitating higher operating frequencies and increased power density. Theoretical analysis and simulations validate its operation, including stable bipolar output voltages under load and line variations, highlighting its practical viability.
How artificial intelligence can enable personalized mesenchymal stem cell–based therapeutic strategies in systemic lupus erythematosus
Publication . Kumar, Sushmitha Rajeev; He, Khor Kai; Lokanathan, Yogeswaran; Gaurav, Anand; Yusoff, Khatijah; Macedo, M. Fatima; Bhassu, Subha
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) are increasingly recognized as promising candidates for treating Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) due to their immunomodulatory and regenerative properties. However, their therapeutic efficacy remains inconsistent, largely due to the heterogeneity of MSC origins, culture conditions, cell quality, host immune interactions, and the influence of immunosuppressive treatments. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers powerful tools to address these challenges by optimising MSC modification and application. This review explores how AI can identify optimal genetic and epigenetic targets, predict MSC behaviour under different environmental and priming conditions, and design personalise therapies tailored to individual patients. Moreover, AI enables the analysis of extensive datasets to refine dosing strategies and improve the integration of MSC therapy with immunosuppressants. By enhancing the precision, consistency, and personalisation of MSC-based interventions, AI has the potential to significantly improve therapeutic outcomes in SLE, advancing the field toward more effective and patient-centred autoimmune disease management.