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- CytroCell: a computational study in aqueous solution and infrared spectroscopic structural characterizationPublication . Tixier, Anne-Sylvie Fabiano; Michel, Nicolas; Ciriminna, Rosaria; Petri, Giovanna Li; Angellotti, Giuseppe; Pagliaro, Mario; Garcia, AnaA COSMO-RS conductor-like screening model for realistic solvation and molecular dynamics simulations conducted in GROMACS were used to gain insight into the structure and behaviour of CytroCell citrus nanocellulose in aqueous and more complex solutions, including the green solvent dihydrolevoglucosenone. DRIFT spectroscopy was used to investigate the structure of CytroCell nanocellulose solid samples obtained via acoustic cavitation of lemon, orange, and red orange industrial processing waste. The computational and experimental results obtained are relevant to all forthcoming applications of this new family of nanocelluloses sustainably sourced from the citrus industry’s main waste product via the CytroCav circular economy process.
- Unraveling the potential of gasotransmitters as neurogenic and neuroprotective molecules: focus on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.Publication . Simao, Sonia; Filipa Santos, Daniela; Teixeira, Mariana; Agostinho, Rafaela R.; Rodrigues, Joana; Vitorino, Marta; Araújo, Inês M.Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are the two most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders worldwide, both characterized by progressive neuronal loss. Despite distinct pathophysiological features, they share cellular dysfunctions such as abnormal protein aggregation, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation, research into which might be beneficial for developing novel therapeutic strategies that could tackle both conditions. This review highlights the emerging role of the gasotransmitters nitric oxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide as modulators of adult neurogenesis and neuroprotection in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. We have gathered recent evidence demonstrating that these endogenous gases exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects, and, critically, promote neurogenesis - suggesting a dual neuroprotective and neuroregenerative therapeutic potential. The unique physicochemical features of these gasotransmitters, including their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and diffuse rapidly throughout the neural tissue, further support their suitability as candidates for innovative neuroregenerative treatments. While clinical translation remains challenging, harnessing the neurogenic and neuroprotective actions of these gasotransmitters may offer transformative avenues for addressing the increasing burden of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
- Tailored bacterial co-cultures improve Tisochrysis lutea growth and nutrient profiles under xenic conditions: a new pathway to improve microalgal productionPublication . Santos, Tamara; da Fonseca Simões, Beatriz; Rossetto, Veronica; Pereira, Hugo; Maia, Inês Beatriz; Oliveira, Marta; Esteves Lopes Navalho, João Carlos; Engelen, Aschwin; Varela, JoãoThe marine haptophyte Tisochrysis lutea is a valuable source of high-value compounds, including polyunsaturated fatty acids like docosahexaenoic acid, and pigments (e.g., fucoxanthin). However, high production costs and variability remain major challenges for its large-scale application in aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology industries. Therefore, strategies to enhance biomass production and quality are actively explored. In natural environments, T. lutea establishes mutualistic interactions with bacteria to obtain essential nutrients such as vitamin B12, yet the role of bacteria in industrial cultures remains poorly understood. In this study, 145 bacterial strains were isolated and taxonomically identified from industrial T. lutea cultures, with members of the class Gammaproteobacteria and Actinomycetia being the most prevalent. Forty isolates were screened individually in co-culture with T. lutea revealing strain-specific effects on growth and biochemical composition. Seven beneficial strains were used to design 21 tailored bacterial blends. Several consortia enhanced biomass production (up to 74 %) and increased key bioactive compounds, particularly methylcobalamin (up to 300 %). These findings demonstrate the potential of tailored bacterial consortia to enhance T. lutea productivity and nutritional quality under production-relevant xenic conditions, enabling strategic microbiome modulation for specific industrial goals.
- Aulas de toxicologia alimentarPublication . Braz, Nídia Maria Dias Azinheira RebeloA Toxicologia estuda os efeitos adversos das substâncias nos seres vivos ou em sistemas alternativos in vitro, como culturas de células ou de tecidos. Toxicologia alimentar é o ramo da Toxicologia que se ocupa dos agentes tóxicos veiculados pelos alimentos, quer sejam parte da sua constituição ou resultem de contaminação.
- Resilience of innovationPublication . Viana, Luiz; Pinto, HugoThe resilience of innovation approach extends the notion of resilience—commonly used to refer to socio-economic systems—to the innovation process. This text reviews conceptual perspectives on resilience (engineering, ecological, adaptive and transformative) and highlights innovation as a dynamic process, not just an outcome. Innovation resilience differs from related concepts such as innovation persistence and technological resilience, which focus on stability rather than the transformative nature of the process. In addition, we highlight that innovation resilience is a multi-level phenomenon and allows for the exploration of opportunities for social and environmental change in times of uncertainty.
- Resilient wireless sensor actor networks through multi-objective self-adaptationPublication . Gomes, Ruben; Correia, NoéliaWireless Sensor Actor Networks (WSAN) are a key enabler of Internet of Things applications that demand timely and reliable data exchange under dynamic conditions. Among the various domains that benefit from these networks, precision agriculture stands out, demanding adaptive strategies for effective monitoring and control. This study proposes a reinforcement learning approach that leverages the Operationalization construct of the Self-Orchestrated Web of Things (SOrWoT) framework to enhance the adaptability of Things’ internal operations. A problem is formulated as a Markov Decision Process, and a Deep Q-Learning agent is trained in a custom simulation environment to identify the most suitable Operationalizations for optimizing data accuracy and latency, under changing conditions and communication failures. The results show that during normal operation the agent favored parallel sensor data averaging to minimize read error, but after an actor failure and the consequent increase in sensor-to-actor distances, it adapted by prioritizing latency through faster Operationalization choices. Sensitivity analyses further confirmed the agent’s ability to adjust policies in response to partial failures, and to shifts in the relative importance of latency versus accuracy. These findings demonstrate that reinforcement learning can autonomously optimize WSAN performance, contributing to resilient and self-adaptive systems.
- The southern african stone age site index (SASSI): a spatial, chronological and contextual resource for archaeological researchPublication . Hallinan, EmilySouthern Africa possesses a deep archaeological record, spanning more than a million years, which has attracted over a century of research. As a result, it offers one of the densest and most detailed pictures of Stone Age occupation history in Africa. However, certain time periods and regions have featured more prominently in research, particularly the later Middle Stone Age of the coastal and mountain zones. Moreover, the modern emphasis on absolute dating and well-resolved chronologies often excludes open-air and surface sites from reviews and syntheses, meaning that environments lacking deep, stratified rock shelters remain underrepresented. To address this, the Southern African Stone Age Site Index (SASSI) provides a centralised, openly accessible resource for archaeological research, featuring 492 reported Earlier, Middle and Later Stone Age sites from South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini and Namibia. It includes both dated and undated sites, and encompasses diverse contexts. The database integrates spatial, chronological, cultural and contextual information, following FAIR data principles. While previous synthetic datasets have emphasised chronology and systematics, SASSI instead prioritises spatial coverage, offering a foundation for new perspectives on demography, settlement patterns, and landscape use in southern Africa’s past.
- Stunning and slaughter methods in gilthead seabream: animal welfare and muscle qualityPublication . Cabrera-Álvarez, María José; Soares, Sónia Marina António; Nuñez Velazquez, Samira; Anibal, Jaime; Esteves, Eduardo; Costa, Rita; Guerreiro, Pedro Miguel; Pousão-Ferreira, Pedro; Arechavala-López, Pablo; Saraiva, JoãoEuropean Union directives and international guidelines emphasise the need for humane slaughter practices, with particular attention to the proper stunning of fish prior to slaughter. This study investigates the impact of various combinations of stunning and slaughter methods on the welfare of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), a widely farmed species in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. Specifically, the study explores electrical stunning, anaesthesia, and no stunning, followed by slaughter using either ice-slurry or the ikejime (hand-held spike tool) technique. Fish were monitored for visual signs of consciousness, heart rate, internal temperature, plasma stress and osmotic parameters, and muscle quality parameters. The findings revealed that electrical stunning, although inducing brief unconsciousness, did not sustain it long enough to be effectively combined with ice-slurry, resulting in stress responses and muscle quality parameters comparable to those observed in unstunned fish. In contrast, anaesthesia effectively reduced stress and improved meat quality. The ikejime technique, despite its labour-intensive nature, demonstrated significant advantages, including reduced physiological stress and superior muscle quality outcomes. These results suggest that the viability of electrical stunning as a humane option for industry implementation has important limitations, while ikejime, with further refinement and automation, could offer a humane and effective solution to optimise both animal welfare and meat quality in industrial settings.
- Waves of innovation: the role of sustainability in driving impact in the blue economy – a PLS-SEM approachPublication . Elston, Jennifer Nicole; Pinto, Hugo; Nogueira, CarlaThe Blue Economy, with its emphasis on ocean-based industries, is critical for achieving sustainable development. This study investigates the intricate relationship between sustainability, innovation, and their economic, environmental, and social impacts within Portugal’s Blue Economy. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the hypothesized relationships between sustainability, innovation, and triple bottom line (TBL) outcomes based on survey data from firms operating in the sector. The findings confirm that innovation acts as both a direct outcome of sustainability efforts and a mechanism for mediating its impacts on economic and environmental performance. However, no significant direct or mediating effects were observed for social outcomes, highlighting a persistent gap in this dimension that requires further research. The study contributes to both theory and practice by highlighting the strategic integration of sustainability into organizational innovation processes and its role in enhancing multidimensional performance. By identifying critical pathways and barriers, this study offers valuable guidance for policymakers and industry leaders striving to enhance the long-term sustainability of the Blue Economy.
- Building resilience in tourism firms: evidence from COVID-19Publication . Jesus, Carina; Serra Coelho, Luís Miguel; Ramos, CeliaMultiple factors determine tourism companies' capacity to resist and overcome disruptive events, such as pandemics or wars. This paper investigates this issue using a sensitivity index and finds that reductions in human capital, bigger size, and higher past profitability diminish resilience, while higher leverage and capital intensity strengthen it. Our findings further suggest that these effects differ across countries and underscore the negative consequences of Eurozone membership. This paper broadens our understanding of how companies can improve their resilience, providing valuable insights for future preparedness strategies for tourism firms and policymakers.