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
Customising sustainable bio-based polyelectrolytes: introduction of charged and hydrophobic groups in cellulose
Publication . Magalhães, Solange; Aliaño González, María José; Cruz, Pedro F.; Rosenberg, Rose; Haffke, Dirk; Norgren, Magnus; Alves, Luís; Medronho, Bruno; Rasteiro, Maria da Graça
Abstract: Cellulose has been widely explored as a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymers in industrial applications, thanks to its advantageous properties. The introduction of chemical modifications on cellulose structure, focusing on cationic and hydrophobic modifications, can enhance its functionality and expand the range of applications. In the present work, cationization was carried out through a two-step process involving sodium periodate oxidation followed by a reaction with the Girard T reagent, yielding a degree of substitution for cationic groups (DScationic) between 0.3 and 1.8. Hydrophobic modification was achieved via esterification with fatty acids derived from commercial plant oils, using an enzyme-assisted, environmentally friendly method. Lipase-catalysed hydrolysis, optimised at 0.25% enzyme concentration and with a 1 h reaction time, produced an 84% yield of fatty acids, confirmed by FTIR and NMR analyses. The degree of substitution for hydrophobic groups (DShydrophobic) ranged from 0.09 to 0.66. The molecular weight (MW) of the modified cellulose derivatives varied from 1.8 to 141 kDa. This dual modification strategy enables the creation of cellulose-based polymers with controlled electrostatic and hydrophobic characteristics, customisable for specific industrial applications. Our approach presents a sustainable and flexible solution for developing cellulose derivatives tailored to diverse industrial needs.
Green HRM’s effect on employees’ eco-friendly behavior and green performance: a study in the portuguese tourism sector
Publication . Gomes, Daniel R.; Ribeiro, Neuza; Gomes, Gabriela; Ortega, Eduardo; Dias Semedo, Ana Suzete
Abstract: This study examines how Green Human Resource Management practices improve employees’ eco-friendly behavior and green performance, and the mediator effect of affective commitment in these relationships. Our sample included 449 employees, from different Portuguese tourism organizations. The results demonstrate that the implementation of Green Human Resource Management practices produces a positive effect on eco-friendly behavior, green performance, and affective commitment, with commitment mediating the mentioned relationship. Therefore, when organizations apply greener Human Resources Management, they might influence positively the attitudes and behaviors of their employees, improving their affective commitment and, consequently, their ecofriendly behaviors and green performance. This research is innovative as it integrates Green Human Resource Management, eco-friendly behavior, green performance, and affective commitment in a single research model, expanding the knowledge over these topics, and suggesting that organizations should establish Green Human Resource Management policies, especially those that strengthen employees’ affective attachment and improve their eco-friendly behavior as well as the organization’s green performance.
Documentos das provas de agregação de Hugo Emanuel dos Reis Sales da Cruz Pinto. Titulo da Lição: Resiliência da inovação: uma abordagem multinível
Publication . Pinto, Hugo
Relatório submetido para obtenção do título de Agregado em Ciências Económicas e Empresariais - especialidade em Economia pela Faculdade de Economia da Universidade do Algarve, em conformidade com os Decreto-Lei n.º 64/2023, de 31 de julho, Decreto-Lei n.º 239/2007, de 19 de junho, e nos termos da alínea c), iii), do art.º 4.º do Regulamento n.º 502/2024 da Universidade do Algarve. Esta lição consolida mais de uma década de investigação sobre a dinâmica da inovação em sistemas adaptativos complexos, introduzindo o conceito de "resiliência da inovação". Este conceito analisa como os sistemas de inovação se adaptam a impactos socioeconómicos, mudanças institucionais e colapsos industriais. A abordagem proposta conecta níveis macro (variedades de capitalismo), meso (redes regionais) e micro (atores de inovação), integrando métodos quantitativos (econometria e análise de redes) e qualitativos (entrevistas). A lição reflete sobre a importância da inovação no desenvolvimento regional, a concentração de atividades económicas, a capacidade de adaptação dos territórios a choques externos e falhas sistémicas.
Temperature effects on growth performance, fecundity and survival of hippocampus guttulatus
Publication . Palma, Jorge; Correia, Miguel; Leitão, Francisco; Andrade, José Pedro Andrade
Abstract: This experiment aimed to determine the temperature limits beyond which seahorse growth and reproduction become suboptimal due to climate change. Four temperatures (16, 20, 24, and 28 ◦C) were tested to evaluate their effect on juvenile (1–56 days post-parturition (DPP)) and adult (one year old) long-snout seahorses, Hippocampus guttulatus. Additionally, the reproductive performance of adults was observed. Another experiment measured oxygen consumption (MO2 ) in the same age groups and temperatures. Adults showed significantly higher growth rates at 20 and 24 ◦C compared to 16 and 28 ◦C. Adult mortality rates were 0%, 0%, 6.2%, and 62.5% at the respective temperatures. Juvenile growth performance was higher at 20 ◦C and 24 ◦C but significantly lower at 16 ◦C and null at 28 ◦C, with survival rates of 8%, 62%, 10%, and 0%, respectively. Oxygen consumption increased with temperature, ranging from 106.3 ± 3.1 to 203.3 ± 3.1 µmol O2/g BW/h at 16 ◦C, and from 127.6 ± 3.5 to 273.3 ± 3.1 µmol O2/g BW/h at 28 ◦C for adults and 1 DPP juveniles, respectively. The study highlights that juvenile and adult H. guttulatus have narrow thermal boundaries, beyond which reproduction, growth, and survival are seriously affected. Under climate change, the species appears unable to cope, potentially leading to their rapid disappearance.
Drug-related glomerular phenotypes: a global pharmacovigilance perspective
Publication . Baptista, Alexandre; Macedo, Ana; Marreiros, Ana; Coelho, André; Perazella, Mark A.
Abstract: Introduction: Adverse drug reactions are a significant problem in modern society, stemming from the increase in prescribed medications, over-the-counter drugs, and overall polypharmacy. Glomerular disorders are one of the frequently reported renal conditions associated with medication use. VigiBase is a significant tool for evaluating events associated with drug use, and, to the authors’ knowledge, no study has yet assessed this database to identify the primary medications associated with glomerular disorders. Materials and Methods: We collected data from VigiBase for 54 years and evaluated data based on global frequencies, disproportionality (IC025 values), nephrotoxic potential, and physiopathological mechanisms. Results: Over the evaluation period, 33.932.051 spontaneous notifications of adverse drug reactions reported in VigiBase were assessed, from which 106.775 notifications of drug-associated glomerular disorders were extracted. The isolated medications were classified as ‘potential nephrotoxins’ (47.0%), with 40% of the medications lacking scientific references to report any association with the development of glomerular disorders. Among the evaluated medications, Inotersen (IC025 of 8.3), Penicillamine (IC025 6.8), Bevacizumab (IC025 5.9) and Lenvatinib (IC025 5.4) were identified as having the strongest association with these glomerular disorders. For medications classified as ‘non-nephrotoxic’, a high disproportionality index was observed, suggesting drugs that might be considered as new potential nephrotoxins. Conclusions: Drug-induced glomerular disorders were significantly associated with medications that had no established nephrotoxic role but demonstrated a high disproportionality index in VigiBase. These newly alleged nephrotoxic drugs warrant further evaluation in dedicated studies to assess their true nephrotoxic potential.