FCT2-Artigos (em revistas ou actas indexadas)
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- Methodologies for detoxifying bivalves from marine paralytic shellfish toxinsPublication . Aderogba, Adewale; Leal, Joana F.; Cristiano, Maria de LurdesThe marine environment emerges as a key provider of food and sustainable products. However, these benefits are accompanied by numerous challenges owing to harmful algal blooms (HAB) and their associated biotoxins, which accumulate in organisms, like bivalves, threatening seafood quality. Among the various biotoxins, paralytic shellfish toxins (PST), the causative agents of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), are among the most potent, lethal, and frequently reported instances of human intoxication. Removing PST from marine system is particularly challenging because of their hydrophilicity, susceptibility to biotransformation and the potential influence of other substances naturally present in the environment. Although there are several methods applied to mitigate HAB, to the best of our knowledge there are no proven effective methods for removing PST in marine environments. Consequently, there is a need to develop efficient removal technologies, especially envisaging fast, environmentally safe, inexpensive, and readily available solutions. Having examined several proposed methods for removing PST (e.g., thermal and industrial procedures, adsorption using different materials, photodegradation, AOPs) and comparing their efficacy, this study aims to streamline the current knowledge on PST removal, identify knowledge gaps, and provide valuable insights for researchers, environmental managers, and policymakers engaged in mitigating the risks associated with PST.
- Fate of microbial contamination in a South European Coastal Lagoon (Ria Formosa) under the influence of treated effluents dispersalPublication . Caetano, Sandra; Correia, Cátia; Torres, Ana Flor; Matos, André Filipe; Ferreira, Cristina; Cravo, AlexandraAim: Assessment of the fate of microbial contamination driven from treated wastewater disposal at a highly productive zone on a South European coastal lagoon (Ria Formosa). Methods and results: Microbial indicators of contamination (Total coliforms, Escherichia coli and Enterococci) were evaluated monthly during September 2018-September 2020, at three study areas (Faro, Olhão, Tavira) under different wastewater discharge flows and hydrodynamic conditions. Additional data on E. coli monitoring in bivalves, available from the national institution responsible for their surveillance was also considered. The maximum microbial contamination was found at Faro, the highest-load and less-flushed study area, contrasting the lowest contamination at Olhão, a lower-load and strongly flushed area. The wastewater impact decreased along the spatial dispersal gradients and during high water, particularly at Faro and Tavira study areas, due to a considerable dilution effect. Microbial contamination at Olhão increased during the summer while at the other study areas seasonal evidence was not clear. Data also indicate that E. coli in bivalves from BPZ next to the three study areas reflected the differentiated impact of the wastewater treatment plants effluents on the water quality of those areas. Conclusions: Effluent loads together with local hydrodynamics, water temperature, solar radiation, precipitation and land runoff as well as seabirds populations and environmentally adapted faecal or renaturelized bacterial communities, contributed to microbial contamination of the study areas.
- STE(A)M learning ecologies and creativity: a typology of open schooling projects based on stakeholder and learner engagementPublication . Hovardas, Tasos; Vakkou, Kyriaki; Arampatzi, Konstantina; Zacharia, Zacharias; Tasiopoulou, Evita; Mavromanolakis, Georgios; Liakopoulos, Vasilis; Koulouris, Pavlos; Sotiriou, Sofoklis; Cherouvis, Stephanos; Stekić, Katarina; Barella, Patricia; Deely, Mary; Mentini, Laura; Chatzidaki, Eleni; Giannakos, Michail; Tiemann, Ruediger; Horchemer, Melissa; Muscat, Mario; Veiga-Pires, CristinaDespite the considerable funding of open schooling projects from the EU, relevant publications have been scarce. We present an analysis of open schooling initiatives launched within the frame of the STE(A)M Learning Ecologies – SLEs Project. SLEs offer opportunities to promote creativity of both learners and stakeholders engaged through innovative pedagogical design and the delivery of original learning artefacts (learning products). We gathered and analyzed several forms of data reflecting learner and stakeholder engagement associated with these initiatives. They included two templates completed with stakeholder input (participatory pedagogical design template; participatory scenario development template), learning products delivered by students in each SLE, interviews with stakeholders and responses to open-ended questionnaire items. Our data analysis revealed four types of SLEs: (1) Learner-experience oriented, (2) Master-product oriented, (3) End-user oriented, and (4) Citizen-science oriented. We present similarities and differences of the various types of SLE with regard to stakeholder synthesis (diversity), learning objectives, female participation, career opportunities, their potential for transformative change, challenges encountered, and sustainability aspects. Based on the typology of SLEs and their characteristics, we identified a series of recommendations for future research and policy to optimize investment in and impact of open schooling projects. These include a focus on small wins to scale up SLEs, distributed leadership to empower teachers and increase availability of learning resources and learner support, and using learning products to decentralize formative assessment in SLEs and promote constructive stakeholder dialogue.
- Effect of biochar binding on dielectric properties of color catcher sheetsPublication . Kovalchuk, O. V.; Prochazkova, J.; Kovalchuk, T. M.; Volokh, L. V.; Oleinikova, I. V.; Mariano, José; Safarik, I.; Kopansk, P.The dielectric properties in the frequency range of 102 to 106 Hz and at the temperatures of 30 to 60 °C of 0.4 mm thick color catcher sheets (nonwoven textile with ion exchange properties) both in the native state and with bound biochar were investigated using the oscilloscope method. The sample dimensions were 1×1 cm. To assess the influence of the sample thickness, samples with several (maximum 4) layers were used together with one-layer textile. It was shown that, unlike the data obtained by us earlier, the dielectric properties of the nonwoven textile without additives are caused by near-electrode processes. It was demonstrated as well that in this case, the dispersion of the frequency dependences of inverse resistance (analog of the imaginary component of complex dielectric permittivity) with respect to capacitance (analog of the real component of complex dielectric permittivity) corresponds to the Debye dispersion. Using the obtained results, the dielectric relaxation time (2.4·10–5 s) and the thickness of the near-electrode layer (1.5 μm) were estimated. Measurements at different temperatures and with several layers of the native textile demonstrated that the parameters of this relaxation process do not depend on both the sample thickness and the temperature. It was found that the sample resistance decreased by 3 orders of magnitude on average in the presence of biochar bound to the textile. In this case, the temperature dependence of the inverse resistance (analog of conductivity for uniform and continuous bodies) obeyed the Arrhenius law. The activation energy of the temperature dependence of the inverse resistance was 0.37 eV, which is greater than the similar value obtained in our work of 2024.
- Impact of seasons on industrial cultivation of Limnospira platensis (Spirulina): a year-round case study on biomass, phycocyanin, and protein productivity in PortugalPublication . Guerra, Inês; Torres, Cátia; Cardoso, Helena; Pereira, Hugo; Trovão, Mafalda; Rodrigues, Alexandre M. C.; Varela, JoãoSpirulina is the most commercially produced biomass, among microalgae and cyanobacteria, with extensive applications across food, feed, nutraceutical and biotechnological sectors. While Spirulina cultivation is wellcharacterized at laboratorial and small-scale production, critical knowledge gaps remain regarding industrialscale production in temperate climates. Specifically, there is a lack of robust empirical data on how seasonal environmental fluctuations affect year-round productivity and the maintenance of consistent biomass quality (protein, phycocyanin content) under large-scale operational constraints. This study evaluates the year-round industrial production of Limnospira platensis in large-scale (1000 m2 and 4000 m2 ) raceway reactors at Allmicroalgae - Natural Products S.A., Portugal. Biomass productivity as well as protein and phycocyanin contents across different seasons and throughout the day were assessed. The influence of environmental factors such as temperature and solar radiation on productivity and biomass composition was also analyzed. Industrially grown Spirulina reached an average annual productivity of 5.1–5.6 g.m− 2 .d− 1 . Seasonal variation revealed a winter productivity decline higher than 60 %, compared to peak yields of 7.5–7.6 g.m− 2 .d− 1 from April to September. Protein content remained consistent year-round between 58.4 and 64.7 %, whereas phycocyanin content presented strong solar radiation dependence, peaking at 15.2 % in summer and decreasing to 10.4 % in winter. Furthermore, an analysis throughout the day identified an optimal harvesting window between midday and sunset to maximize phycocyanin levels. These findings validate the industrial feasibility of year-round Spirulina cultivation in temperate climates and provide seasonal productivity forecasting and harvest timing optimization, towards protein consistency and phycocyanin yield optimization.
- AI-driven conservation of the endangered twisted yew (Taxus contorta Griff.) in the western himalayaPublication . Din, Salahud; Ali, Haidar; Panagopoulos, Thomas; Alam, Jan; Malik, Saira; Sher, HassanConserving the threatened West Himalayan endemic T. contorta (Taxaceae) is critical due to extinction risks from skewed male- or female-only populations. This study employs ChatGPT-driven artificial intelligence (AI) analysis for textual synthesis and preliminary hypothesis generation to identify favorable propagation sites for T. contorta within the Swat district of Pakistan. Over three years (2019–2021), eleven male- or female-only populations of T. contorta were surveyed. Environmental data from NASA POWER were analyzed using ChatGPT 3.5 to predict suitable propagation sites, which were then mapped in Google Earth Pro. PCA and hierarchical clustering were applied to identify key environmental variables. Out of 63 generated points, 58 were accurately located in Swat with 92% geographic accuracy, while species-specific general knowledge accuracy was 100%. All points fell within the pre-established T. contorta spatial range in Pakistan, with 21 unique sites meeting optimal conditions. Field surveys confirmed 16 new populations. These findings underscore the promising role of AI-driven analysis in conservation planning by identifying and supporting habitat restoration efforts. A bidirectional integration of AI and SDM, combined with remote sensing technologies, represents a novel approach for the effective conservation of endangered plant species.
- Special issue “medical value of metal complexes and plant-derived compounds: biological evaluation, health effects, challenges, and future opportunities”Publication . Ścibior, Agnieszka; Aureliano, Manuel; Llopis, JuanThis Special Issue (SI), titled “Medical Value of Metal Complexes and Plant-Derived Compounds: Biological Evaluation, Health Effects, Challenges, and Future Opportunities”, aims to include reports updating our knowledge about the effects of exposure to prevalent heavy metals in the environment, which adversely affect animal and human health. It also focuses on certain natural plant bioactive compounds with multidirectional biological properties, which can effectively alleviate the toxicity of highly hazardous heavy metals and minimize the negative effects of veterinary drugs widely used in the treatment of food-producing animals, on consumer health. It should be emphasized that substances of plant origin are a very interesting research material both in terms of the diversity of the chemical structures of isolated compounds and their possible therapeutic properties [1,2]. For a long time, there has been considerable interest in biologically active compounds of plant origin due to their potential in preventing the toxic effects of xenobiotics [3]. This is a very important and currently relevant trend associated with the search for effective strategies based on natural origin substances aimed at preventing the harmful effects of xenobiotics or mitigating their toxic effects.
- The balanced scorecard ontology: a semantic approach to enhance strategy managementPublication . Antunes, António Lorvão; Cardoso, Elsa; Barateiro, JoséThe Balanced Scorecard, developed in 1992 by Kaplan and Norton, has evolved into a communication and strategy execution system widely adopted by organizations across various industries. This article explores the use of an ontology to bridge the gap between strategy management and data within the Balanced Scorecard framework. The Balanced Scorecard Ontology is introduced to store, validate, and analyze knowledge, containing information about the strategy map and quantification frameworks, essential for evaluating the strategy execution. The proposed ontology is designed, developed, and evaluated using competency questions (CQs), and further validated by an online tool. Specifically, the proposed formalization of the Balanced Scorecard framework provides a semantic layer aimed at facilitating an effective Balanced Scorecard implementation, enabling accurate, traceable, and continuous monitoring and improvement of the strategy execution, based on a data-driven approach. The formalization of this knowledge through an ontology encompasses several advantages, such as improved interoperability and validation of the framework’s elements, inference of new knowledge, and enhanced communication between different stakeholders. In addition, managerial implications include ensuring alignment between the Balanced Scorecard and organizational goals, supporting compliance and governance efforts, improving communication and knowledge transfer, enhancing the strategic decision-making process, and facilitating the integration of data into the Balanced Scorecard.
- Withstanding the heat: resilience of free-living coralline algae to marine heatwavesPublication . Nannini, Matteo; Cerpelloni, Martina; Gaspar, Tainá L.; Peña, Viviana; Tuya, Fernando; Peñas, Julio; Rio, Jesús del; Vieira Mourato, Carolina; Silva, João; Santos, Rui; Ragazzola, Federica; Olivé, Irene; Schubert, NadineMarine heatwaves (MHWs) can severely impact benthic ecosystems, driving major ecological shifts. As they become longer, more frequent, and intense, MHWs are emerging as a dominant threat to marine biodiversity. Yet, their potential effects on coralline algal beds (CABs, including rhodolith beds), habitats of critical ecological importance, remain largely unknown. This study investigated the physiological responses of three rhodolith species (Lithothamnion cf. valens, Lithothamnion sp., Lithophyllum incrustans), which dominate the community of a Mediterranean CAB, to an experimentally simulated ecologically relevant scenario of two consecutive summer MHWs. Species responses in key physiological processes, photosynthesis, respiration, and calcification, were assessed before, during, and after the heatwave events. Overall, temperature increases had minor effects on photosynthesis and respiration, while calcification responses to MHWs were more pronounced and speciesspecific. Significant declines were observed in light calcification of L. incrustans during the first MHW, and in dark calcification of all three species, with L. incrustans and L. cf. valens responding during the first and second MHWs, respectively. Lithothamnion sp. exhibited some minor effects on light calcification and a significant shift toward carbonate dissolution in darkness during the first MHW, which reversed over time. Despite these effects, all species fully recovered by the end of the experiment, and the stronger impact of the first MHW suggests a potential priming effect that may enhance tolerance to subsequent heat events. These findings demonstrate rhodoliths’ overall capacity to withstand MHWs, while highlighting the role of species-specific responses in shaping the net carbonate balance of CABs under future climate scenarios.
- Optimizing chlorella vulgaris production and exploring its impact on germination through microalga-N2-fixing bacteria consortiaPublication . Sanchez-Zurano, Ana; Vilaró-Cos, Silvia; Rodrigues Figueiredo, Daniel; Melkonyan, Lusine; Ferreira, Alice; Acién, Francisco Gabriel; Lafarga, Tomas; Gouveia, LuisaMicroalgal biomass is increasingly valued in industrial and agricultural sectors due to its bioactive compounds. However, large-scale production remains costly, mainly due to nitrogen fertilizer expenses. A promising sustainable alternative is co-cultivation with N2-fixing bacteria, capable of supplying biologically available nitrogen. In this study, Chlorella vulgaris was grown in synthetic medium with and without nitrogen, as well as in co-culture with three different N2-fixing bacteria in nitrogen-free medium. Microalgal growth was assessed by dry weight, Fv/Fm ratio, and flow cytometry, which also allowed evaluation of population dynamics and cell viability. Biomass composition (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, chlorophyll, and carotenoids) was analyzed under all conditions. Co-cultures in nitrogen-free medium showed comparable biomass productivity to nitrogensupplemented controls, although Fv/Fm values indicated physiological stress in some cases. Moreover, the agricultural potential of the resulting biomass and supernatants was evaluated through germination bioassays using lettuce seeds. All cultures tested at 0.2 g⋅L− 1 significantly improved the germination index. Also, applying the culture supernatant (biomass removed) also yielded positive effects, with GI increases exceeding 40 %. These results suggest that co-cultivation with N2-fixing bacteria can support efficient microalgal production while generating biomass and supernatants with biostimulant potential, contributing to sustainable agriculture and circular bioeconomy strategies.