Repository logo

Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2025-10-22"

Filter results by year or month
Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Water demand of urban portuguese households by population trajectory and region
    Publication . Barreira, Ana Paula; Andraz, Jorge
    Portugal is one of the European countries most vulnerable to water shortages driven by climate change. This study explores the factors influencing household water demand across Portuguese municipalities with urban centres, emphasizing two oftenoverlooked elements: population trends (growth or decline) and regional location. Another innovation of the study is the inclusion of tourists in the estimation of household water demand. Using panel data for 2011 and 2021, models were developed for four population trajectories and three geographic regions. Results reveal that water consumption drivers vary depending on demographic and regional context. The lowest tariff block (5 m³) has little effect on consumption, while the highest block (15 m³) tends to reduce usage in most models. Municipalities with growing populations in the North tend to consume less water, while growing municipalities in the South – in a touristic region – exhibit higher levels of water consumption. These findings underscore the importance of tailoring water management policies to local demographic and regional characteristics, offering valuable insights for other areas facing similar pressures from climate and population change. Effective policies should combine pricing strategies with initiatives promoting efficient appliances and public education.
    2025-10-22Journal article Restricted access Show more
  • Relatório de estudo de marketing: movimento pró-animal de Faro
    Publication . Rodrigues, Gonçalo; Vong, Jessica; Valadas, Leonel; Araújo, Silvia; Kuksova, Verónica; Bender, Ana Carolina; Agapito, Dora Lúcia Miguel
    O bem-estar animal é uma das condições que, concretizadas, colocam a humanidade mais perto de um estilo de vida mais sustentável e do usufruto de um planeta mais saudável. A sua importância é inclusive reconhecida por organizações como a ONU, estando patente em 2 dos 17 Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável da Agenda 2030 (objetivos 14 e 15). No entanto até que ponto a importância da causa animal é reconhecida pela sociedade em geral, ou seja, que perceções o cidadão comum tem acerca deste assunto? Este estudo, desenvolvido por estudantes na licenciatura em Gestão de Empresas da Faculdade de Economia da UALG com equipa docente e com o apoio do Movimento Pró Animal de Faro, visou estudar e analisar o comportamento e a perceção do cidadão comum em relação à causa animal. Através de uma amostragem não probabilística, assente no método de recolha “bola de neve”, procedeu-se a uma recolha de dados. Posteriormente, os dados foram sujeitos a análise estatística e interpretação. Os principais dados secundários utilizados neste estudo derivam da informação partilhada pela representante do MAF durante uma sessão em que apresentou o caso aos estudantes. Ainda, recorreu-se também a dados disponíveis em plataformas de notícias e outros documentos oficiais online. Foram recolhidos 279 questionários respondidos, tendo sido validados 269. Da amostra recolhida, 73% dos inquiridos residem nos concelhos de Faro, Loulé e Olhão (concelhos próximos do MAF). A maioria dos inquiridos é do sexo feminino (69%) e tem entre 18 a 29 anos (58%). Cerca de 66% dos inquiridos revelaram total desconhecimento acerca do MAF e a maioria dos inquiridos considera que as redes sociais têm um papel relevante na obtenção de informação e na sensibilização acerca da causa animal. Face ao exposto, é recomendado que o MAF aposte na divulgação das suas atividades, nomeadamente nas redes sociais e no seu site, procure criar parcerias com empresas e outras organizações, continue a sensibilizar a população para práticas responsáveis e aposte na criação de campanhas temáticas.
    2025-10-22Report Open access Show more
  • Optimizing germination and cultivation of edible halophytes using effluents from an IMTA system
    Publication . Castañeda-Loaiza, Viana; Rodrigues, Maria João; Neng, Nuno; Quintas, Célia; Ratao, Isabel; Custódio, Luísa
    BACKGROUND: Halophytes offer nature-based solutions to food insecurity and soil degradation, while their integration into integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems promotes circular economy practices. This study aimed to optimize the germination and cultivation of edible halophytic species, namely Limbarda crithmoides, Suaeda vera and Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum, using effluents from an IMTA system. Germination was conducted under different substrates (perlite, vermiculite, coco peat, sand and combinations), irrigation (fresh or brackish water) and seed pre-treatments (scarification, gibberellic acid and thermal shock). Cultivation assays assessed plant responses to salinity (25.5–53.4 dS m−1 ) and density (75–600 plants m−2 ) using IMTA-derived aquaculture effluents for irrigation. RESULTS: Salinity significantly reduced seed germination. Limbarda crithmoides had the highest germination rate (61.1%) in vermiculite under freshwater irrigation, whereas S. vera achieved optimal performance in a substrate of sand, organic peat and perlite. Thermal shock slightly improved M. nodiflorum germination. Moderate salinities (35.1–40.7 dS m−1 ) resulted in higher survival and productivity, particularly for S. vera, which showed >86% survival and higher chlorophyll content. At high densities, L. crithmoides and S. vera maintained >75% survival, while M. nodiflorum at 75 plants m−2 effectively reduced nitrate and ammonia concentrations in effluents. All species produced biomass with adequate nutritional and microbiological profiles suitable for human consumption, rich in protein, dietary fiber and bioactive compounds. Suaeda vera at 300 plants m−2 exhibited the highest total content of phenolic compounds. CONCLUSION: This study outlines a sustainable approach to cultivating edible halophytes in IMTA systems, with applications in saline farming, functional foods and aquaculture wastewater treatment.
    2025-10-22Journal article Open access Show more
  • Classifying polish in use-wear analysis with convolutional neural networks
    Publication . Eleftheriadou, Anastasia; Djellal, Youssef; McPherron, Shannon; Marreiros, Joao
    Lithic use-wear analysis examines micro- and macroscopic traces on tool surfaces resulting from human use and post-depositional processes. Polish, formed through surface abrasion with different materials, is a key diagnostic feature that is increasingly analyzed using machine learning to enhance automation and standardization. However, further research is needed to explore whether deep learning approaches, in particular, can be effectively applied to use-wear analysis and to determine the optimal surface area size (e.g., patch size and microscope objectives) and model architecture (custom vs. pre-trained) for achieving the best results. This study employs convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to classify experimental polish based on contact material (wood, hide, bone) and use intensity, while also assessing optimal imaging and analytical parameters. The results of this exploratory study suggest that CNNs may effectively identify polish from bone and hide but perform less effectively with wood. The models also successfully distinguish between polish formed by short- and long-term use. Custom models outperformed pre-trained ones, particularly when using images that captured smaller areas of the tool’s surface, suggesting that bigger surface areas may lack the necessary information for optimal results. These findings underscore the need to expand use-wear datasets in terms of size and variability and optimize CNN architectures and workflows.
    2025-10-22Journal article Open access Show more
  • Successive harvesting interval and salinity level modulate biomass production and nutritional value in sarcocornia fruticosa and arthrocaulon macrostachyum
    Publication . Sisay, Tesfaye Asmare; Patel, Jaykumar; Khatri, Kusum; Choudhary, Babita; Standing, Dominic; Nja, Zai Du; Shpigel, Muki; Gelfand, Ilya; Custódio, Luísa; Sagi, Moshe
    Halophyte bio-saline agriculture can supplement conventional farm methods in salinized soils and salty water. The current study compares the yield and nutritional value of new Sarcocornia fruticosa ecotypes (Shikmona, Megadim, Naaman, and Ruhama) to those of the current ecotype (VM). Additionally, Arthrocaulon macrostachyum, phenotypically similar to Sarcocornia, was compared to Sarcocornia ecotypes, and the effects of the harvesting regime and irrigation water salinity on yield and nutritional value were studied. At both salinity levels (50 and 150 mM NaCl), 30-day harvesting intervals over a 210-day growth period increased plant yield compared to a 21-day regime. It also tended to improve electrical conductivity (EC) and total soluble sugars (TSS), lower malondialdehyde levels (a marker of toxic stress), and enhance radical inhibition activity in most ecotypes. Compared to VM, the Sarcocornia ecotypes Ruh and Naa exhibited much higher biomass with similar radical inhibition activity but lower total protein content. Higher salinity improved fresh biomass, shoot diameter, relative water content, chlorophyll level, TSS, and EC and tended to increase anthocyanin and carotenoid levels. In contrast, lower salinity tended to increase total flavonoids, polyphenols, and radical inhibition activity. In the 30-day harvest regime, A. macrostachyum exhibited the highest and second-highest yields at high and low salinity, respectively; the highest shoot diameter, total flavonoids, and radical inhibition activity; and one of the lowest malondialdehyde levels. The current study highlights the importance of optimizing harvest frequency and the advantages of employing A. macrostachyum and the Sarcocornia ecotypes Ruhama, Naaman, and Megadim with a 30-day harvesting regime under higher-salinity conditions.
    2025-10-22Journal article Open access Show more