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Leadership Development in Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Scoping Review
No full textArticle number - 160Background: Leadership is present at all levels of nursing and is essential to ensure the continuous improvement of nursing practice environments and the quality of the care provided to patients. This reality, coupled with the growing complexity of today’s health contexts, emphasises the importance of promoting the development of leadership skills in undergraduate nursing students, thus training nurses who are capable of acting as leaders and agents of change. To this end, a scoping review was carried out to map the available scientific evidence on the development of leadership in undergraduate nursing students. Methods: The scoping review was conducted according to two systematic review guidelines. The searches were conducted across a total of five databases for published studies and two databases for the unpublished/grey literature. The data extraction and analysis were performed by two reviewers, who independently screened and extracted data from the selected studies. Results: This review included 25 articles, and four thematic categories were identified—students’ perceptions of leadership; strategies to train leaders in nursing; the evaluation of leadership development; and conceptual models and curricula. The main conclusions highlight the need to reformulate existing curricula, the importance of integrating student-centred pedagogical approaches to promote leadership development, the impact that evaluating leadership development has on the whole process, contributing to the construction of an identity as a leader, and the need for it to be done in a structured and progressive way. Conclusions: The teaching of leadership should be promoted from the beginning of training, in a transversal, continuous, consistent, sustained, and articulated way, incorporating different disciplines, because only in this way will it be possible to train competent nurse leaders who are capable of acting in today’s complex and dynamic health contexts.This paper was funded by the Nursing Research, Innovation, and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR) 045, Lisbon, Portugal
Criational: Generation of Song Lyrics with Emotional Context Using Deep Learning Models
No full textLanguage and music are fundamental human tools for expression, communication, and emotional connection. Music plays a central role in shaping identity, conveying feelings, and promoting social bonds, making it an intriguing domain for technological exploration. Replicating human creativity in music, especially in songwriting, presents a complex challenge, as natural language processing (NLP) and deep learning (DL) must capture both linguistic structure and emotional nuance.
This study investigates the generation of emotionally contextualised song lyrics using DL models, including LSTM, GPT-2, and T5, guided by Russell’s Circumplex Model of Emotions. The models were evaluated on readability, coherence, perplexity, structural consistency, thematic alignment, and emotional accuracy. Results show that GPT-2, particularly when fine-tuned, achieves the best balance of coherence and emotional alignment, although it still lacks some musical features such as rhyme and rhythm. LSTM exhibits patterned sequences but high variability, while T5 struggles with structural consistency and repetitive output, highlighting the challenges of small, non-specialised datasets.
Overall, the work confirms the feasibility of using DL models as creative support in lyric composition, capable of offering emotionally expressive material to inspire musicians, while also pointing to the need for larger datasets and models tailored to musical structure to achieve fully convincing results.A linguagem e a música são ferramentas humanas fundamentais para expressão, comunicação e ligação emocional. A música desempenha um papel fundamental na formação da identidade, na transmissão de sentimentos e na promoção de laços sociais, tornando-se um domínio particularmente interessante para exploração tecnológica. Replicar a criatividade humana na música, especialmente na composição de letras, constitui um desafio complexo, uma vez que o processamento de linguagem natural e o deep learning devem capturar tanto a estrutura linguística como a nuance emocional.
Este estudo investiga a geração de letras de música contextualizadas emocionalmente através de modelos DL, incluindo LSTM, GPT-2 e T5, orientados pelo Modelo Circumplexo de Emoções de Russell. Os modelos foram avaliados quanto à legibilidade, coerência, perplexidade, consistência estrutural, alinhamento temático e precisão emocional. Os resultados mostram que o GPT-2, particularmente quando ajustado (fine-tuned), atinge o melhor equilíbrio entre coerência e alinhamento emocional, embora ainda careça de algumas características musicais, como rima e ritmo. O LSTM apresenta sequências padronizadas, mas com elevada variabilidade, enquanto o T5 tem dificuldades com a consistência estrutural e tende a produzir conteúdos repetitivos, destacando os desafios de trabalhar com conjuntos de dados pequenos e não especializados.
De forma geral, o trabalho confirma a viabilidade de utilizar modelos DL como apoio criativo na composição de letras, capazes de fornecer material emocionalmente expressivo para inspirar músicos, enquanto aponta para a necessidade de conjuntos de dados maiores e modelos ajustados à estrutura musical para alcançar resultados totalmente convincentes
PREPAREDNESS FOR CAREGIVING ROLE AND TELEHEALTH USE TO PROVIDE INFORMAL PALLIATIVE HOME CARE
No full textOs cuidados paliativos (CP) são cuidados ativos e integrados, prestados por equipas
interdisciplinares, que se baseiam em princípios ético-morais e de planeamento
antecipado de cuidados, pelo que não antecipam, nem prolongam o processo de morte.
O presente relatório final resulta da experiência desenvolvida no âmbito do Mestrado
em Cuidados Paliativos da Escola Superior de Saúde do Instituto Politécnico de Leiria,
e pretende evidenciar o desenvolvimento de competências enquanto mestre em CP, ao
longo de três ensinos clínicos, designadamente: unidade de internamento em CP;
equipa comunitária e equipa intra-hospitalar de suporte em CP.
Na primeira parte do relatório é efetuada a caracterização dos contextos de
aprendizagem. Na segunda parte, é efetuada a análise crítico-reflexiva das
competências desenvolvidas, tendo sido a sua organização orientada pelos referenciais
da European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) e pelo ciclo de Gibbs. Por fim, é
apresentado um estudo qualitativo com o objetivo de descrever como os cuidadores
informais se sentem preparados para prestar CP no domicílio, caracterizar as suas
experiências, bem como analisar o potencial da telesaúde na gestão do cuidado diário.
Os achados obtidos apontam para a importância de uma abordagem sistematizada que
integre a formação, o apoio emocional e a articulação eficaz dos recursos da
comunidade. Com efeito, a abordagem em CP, requer para além da competência
técnica, uma consciência ético-relacional, e práticas compassivas, ajustadas à
singularidade de cada pessoa.
Em suma, as aprendizagens adquiridas permitiram desenvolver competências pessoais,
clínicas, psicossociais e ético-deontológicas inerentes aos CP especializados.
Promoveram ainda uma maior sensibilidade para a valorização da morte e do processo
de morrer como partes integrantes do desenvolvimento humano.Palliative care (PC) is an active and integrated care provided by interdisciplinary teams
and is based on ethical-moral principles and advance care planning, so it does not
anticipate or prolong the dying process. This final report is the result of the experience
developed within the scope of the master’s degree in Palliative Care at the Escola
Superior de Saúde do Instituto Politécnico de Leiria and aims to highlight the
development of skills as a master in PC, throughout three clinical courses, namely:
inpatient PC unit, community team and intra-hospital support team in PC.
The first part of the report characterizes the learning contexts. The second part carries
out a critical-reflective analysis of the skills developed, having been guided by the
references of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) and the Gibbs cycle.
Finally, a qualitative study is presented with the aim of describing how informal caregivers
feel prepared to provide PC at home, characterizing their experiences, and analyzing the
potential of telehealth in managing daily care. The findings point to the importance of a
systematic approach that integrates training, emotional support, and effective
coordination with community resources. In fact, the PC approach requires more than
technical competence, ethical-relational awareness, and compassionate practices,
adjusted to the uniqueness of each person.
In sum, the learning acquired allowed the development of personal, clinical,
psychosocial, and ethical-deontological skills specific to specialized PC care. It also
promoted greater sensitivity to the appreciation of death and the dying process as
integral parts of human development
Religion: the cultural and artistic heritage in the Reguengo do Fetal identity affirmation - Portugal
No full textSección
La innovación desde el concepto social de valores culturalesIntrodução: Os resultados apresentados neste texto são fruto de uma investigação sobre a aldeia portuguesa Reguengo do Fetal, o seu património cultural e a construção da sua identidade local. Esta aldeia, localizada no concelho da Batalha, é conhecida em Portugal pela Romaria em honra de Nossa Senhora do Fetal e pelas Procissões de Caracóis. Metodologia: A investigação baseou-se num trabalho de campo com observação participante, em sentido lato, para estudar o património cultural local e as estratégias de apropriação do mesmo. O foco foi a forma como este património contribui para a construção de sentimentos de pertença num contexto globalizado. Resultados: Identificou-se que, tal como noutras comunidades católicas, como Fátima, a vida religiosa em Reguengo do Fetal, centrada na aparição da Virgem Maria, é uma componente fundamental das vivências culturais locais. O milagre atribuído à Virgem é a base do importante património cultural, material e imaterial, da comunidade. Discussão: Este património marca os lugares de memória mais importantes para os habitantes do Reguengo do Fetal e analisou-se como as estratégias de apropriação cultural contribuem para a afirmação de um sentimento de pertença no mundo globalizado. Conclusões: O estudo deste património cultural local permite perceber como as comunidades mantêm a sua identidade e ligação ao passado num contexto de globalização.Introduction: The results presented in this text are part of a research project on the Portuguese village of Reguengo do Fetal, its cultural heritage, and the construction of its local identity. This locality, located in the municipality of Batalha, is nationally known for the Romaria in Honor of “Nossa Senhora do Fetal”, highlighted by the “Caracol Processions”. Methodology: The research was based on fieldwork with broad participant observation, aimed at studying the local cultural heritage and strategies for its appropriation. The focus was on how this heritage contributes to the construction of feelings of belonging in the globalized context of the 21st century. Results: It was found that, as in other Catholic communities like Fátima, the religious life in Reguengo do Fetal, centered on the appearance of the Virgin Mary, is a key component of local cultural experiences. The miracle attributed to the Virgin is the origin of the community and its most significant cultural heritage, both material and immaterial. Discussion: This heritage marks the most important memory sites for the locals, and the study analyzed how appropriation strategies help affirm the sense of belonging in the globalized world. Conclusions: The study of this local cultural heritage provides insight into how communities maintain their identity and connection to the past in the context of globalization
A Non-Linear relation between Working Capital Management and Stock Liquidity
No full textPurpose – Working capital management (WCM) is related to how the firm manages its credits and inventories to achieve a trade-off between its benefits and costs. It shows the manager and the firm’s efficiency, which impacts its profitability and risk. The higher the firm’s efficiency, the better investors’ perception about the firm which can impact stock liquidity. This study aims to analyze if there is an optimal point between WCM and stock liquidity.
Design/Methodology/Approach – For this purpose, a panel of 1,145 firms listed on five Euronext exchanges (Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, and Paris), between 2011 and 2019, is analyzed. Stock liquidity is captured using two alternative measures – Amihud (2002) and Fong et al. (2017). Working capital management is measured through the cash conversion cycle (CCC), and its components (days sales outstanding, DSO; days sales inventory, DSI; and days payable outstanding, DPO). Non-linear relations are estimated using fixed effects models.
Findings – Results reveal an inverse U-shaped relation between cash conversion cycle, and its specific component days sales inventory, and stock liquidity, suggesting that there is an optimal value of CCC and DSI that maximize stock’s liquidity.
Originality/Value – Most studies focus on the impact of WCM on operational profitability or stock’s return. The impact on stock’s illiquidity is less explored, so this study contributes to the debate whether being efficient in managing working capital can influence the transaction of stocks. Two alternative measures of liquidity are used since there is no consensus about which is better. This allows us to have different perspectives of liquidity, and to capture not only the breadth and depth of stocks, but also stock rigidity. Finally, instead of analyzing a single market, this work focuses on five European stock exchanges. The study insights are important for managers, investors, and shareholders, emphasizing the potential improvement in stock liquidity through effective WCM.Funding: This research was supported by National Funds of the FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology within the project [UIDB/04928/2025]
Implementação de uma solução Business Intelligence aplicada à Contratação Pública
No full textEste relatório apresenta o desenvolvimento e implementação de um sistema de Business
Intelligence (BI) para otimizar a gestão da contratação pública no município de Pombal. Os
dados são extraídos do Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) do município. O projeto tem
como objetivo a conceção de uma solução suportada por um conjunto de painéis
interativos, que auxiliam na tomada de decisão estratégica para melhorar processos
administrativos. A metodologia adotada foi Cross Industry Standard Process for Data Mining (CRISP- DM), abrangendo desde a compreensão do negócio até ao deployment do sistema. Para a
estruturação dos dados, foi desenvolvido um modelo dimensional, permitindo a
organização eficiente da informação e a melhoria do desempenho de consultas analíticas. O processo de Extract, Transform & Load (ETL) foi realizado através do Power BI, garantindo a integração e atualização periódica dos dados relativos aos contratos públicos
do município. No contexto da análise dos dados são identificados Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
específicos, permitindo, a monitorização da execução dos contratos, a identificação de
desvios orçamentais e a avaliação da conformidade regulamentar. Após a implementação
do sistema os dashboards interativos foram publicados na cloud garantindo que cada
utilizador só visualiza os dados de acordo com o seu perfil. A solução foi apresenta aos stakeholders, e os resultados obtidos demonstram que a
solução contribui para a melhoria da eficácia e eficiência na contratação pública do
município, possibilitando uma gestão mais ágil e fundamentada. Com esta ferramenta, o
município de Pombal passou a dispor de um suporte estratégico robusto, capaz de otimizar
processos, melhorar o planeamento e facilitar o acompanhamento dos contratos públicosThis report presents the development and implementation of a Business Intelligence (BI)
system to optimize the management of public procurement in the municipality of Pombal. The data is extracted from the municipality Enterprise Resource Plannig (ERP). The
project aims to design a solution supported by a set of interactive panels, which assist in
strategic decision-making to improve administrative processes. The methodology adopted was the Cross Industry Standard Process for data Mining
(CRISP-DM), covering everything from the undersanding of the business to tyhe system
deployment. For data structuring, a dimensional model was developed, allowing eficiente
organization of information and improving the performance of analytical queries. The
Extracy, Transform & Local (ETL) process was carried out through Power BI, ensuring the
integration and periodic updating of data relating to the municipality’s public contracts. In the context of data analysis, specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are identified, enabling the monitoring of contract execution, the identification of budget deviations and
the assessment of regulatory compliance. After the implementation of the system, the
interactive dashboards were published in the cloud, ensuring that each user only
visualizzes the data according to their profile. The solution was presented to the stakeholders, and the results obtained demonstrate tha
the solution contribues to the improvement of the effectiveness and efficiency of the
municipality’s public procurement, enabling a more agile and founded management. With
this tool, the municipality of Pombal now has a robust strategic support, capable of
optimizing processes, improving planning and facilitation the monitoring of public
contracts
Acolhimento das Famílias nos Cuidados de Enfermagem: Um Olhar Sobre as Atitudes dos Enfermeiros de Cuidados de Saúde Primários
No full textEnquadramento: A participação da família no processo de cuidados constitui um fator potenciador de ganhos em saúde, sendo a atitude dos enfermeiros, face a esse envolvimento, influenciada por uma diversidade de fatores contextuais, profissionais e individuais (Ferreira & Kraus, 2023). Para que os cuidados de enfermagem se centrem na família, enquanto objeto de intervenção, é fundamental o reconhecimento da sua multidimensionalidade e das suas competências como unidade auto-organizada, face aos processos de transição (Oliveira et al. 2011). Compreender a perspetiva dos enfermeiros relativamente à inclusão das famílias nos cuidados de enfermagem permitirá identificar os principais desafios e progressos requeridos no âmbito da ciência de enfermagem. Nesse sentido, pretende-se assegurar que a participação ativa das famílias se constitua como uma prática efetiva e transversal, em todas as áreas de intervenção do enfermeiro, independentemente da sua área de especialidade (Frade et al. 2021).
Objetivo: Compreender as atitudes dos enfermeiros de cuidados de saúde primários, no acolhimento familiar nos cuidados de enfermagem e entender a relação entre as variáveis sociodemográficas e profissionais dos enfermeiros e as essas atitudes.
Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo inserido no projeto CuidarFam, de natureza quantitativa, com abordagem observacional, descritiva, analítica e transversal, implementado de forma pública, a 30 enfermeiros, através das redes digitais, direcionado aos enfermeiros de cuidados de saúde primários, das unidades locais de saúde da região centro (exceto a ULS Região de Leiria) e sul. Foi utilizado um instrumento de colheita de dados composto por um questionário de caraterização sociodemográfica e profissional e pela escala da Importância da Família nos Cuidados de Enfermagem – Atitudes dos Enfermeiros (Oliveira et al. 2011).
Resultados: A maioria dos enfermeiros participantes é do género feminino, com média de idade de 43,17 anos, casados ou em união de facto, licenciados ou com grau de mestre e, em grande parte, com especialização em enfermagem. Têm, em média, 19,77 anos de exercício profissional, trabalham predominantemente em Unidades de Cuidados de Saúde Personalizados e possuem formação em Enfermagem de Família.
Conclusões: Os enfermeiros apresentam atitudes de acolhimento à família nos cuidados de enfermagem, avaliado através da escala da Importância da Família nos Cuidados de Enfermagem – Atitudes dos Enfermeiros. Verificou-se que a idade e o tempo de exercício profissional dos enfermeiros têm impacto na atitude de acolhimento da família nos cuidados de enfermagem.Background: The involvement of the family in the care process constitutes a factor that enhances health outcomes, with nurses' attitudes toward this involvement being influenced by a variety of contextual, professional, and individual factors (Ferreira & Kraus, 2023). In order for nursing care to be family-centered, recognizing the family's multidimensionality and its competencies as a self-organized unit in the face of transitional processes is essential (Oliveira et al., 2011). Understanding nurses’ perspectives regarding the inclusion of families in nursing care will make it possible to identify the main challenges and advances needed in the field of nursing science. In this sense, it is intended that the active participation of families becomes an effective and cross-cutting practice in all areas of nursing intervention, regardless of the nurse’s area of specialization (Frade et al., 2021)
Objective: To understand the attitudes of primary health care nurses regarding family inclusion in nursing care and to explore the relationship between nurses’ sociodemographic and professional variables and these attitudes.
Methodology: A study was conducted within the scope of the CuidarFam project, with a quantitative design and an observational, descriptive, analytical, and cross-sectional approach. It was publicly implemented with 30 nurses, through digital platforms, targeting primary health care nurses from local health units in the central (excluding the Leiria Region ULS) and southern regions. Data were collected using an instrument composed of a sociodemographic and professional characterization questionnaire and the Importance of Family in Nursing Care – Nurses’ Attitudes Scale (Oliveira et al., 2011).
Results: The majority of participating nurses are female, with an average age of 43,17 years, married or in a domestic partnership, holding a bachelor's or master's degree, and mostly specialized in nursing. On average, they have 19,77 years of professional experience, work predominantly in Personalized Health Care Units, and have training in Family Nursing.
Conclusions: The nurses demonstrate welcoming attitudes toward the family in nursing care, as assessed by the Importance of Family in Nursing Care – Nurses’ Attitudes Scale. It was found that nurses’ age and years of professional experience have an impact on their attitudes toward family inclusion in nursing care
Application of curcuminoids in inflammatory, neurodegenerative and aging conditions - Pharmacological potential and bioengineering approaches to improve efficiency
No full textArticle number - 108568Curcumin, a natural compound found in turmeric, has shown promise in treating brain-related diseases and conditions associated with aging. Curcumin has shown multiple anti-inflammatory and brain-protective effects, but its clinical use is limited by challenges like poor absorption, specificity and delivery to the right tissues.
A range of contemporary approaches at the intersection with bioengineering and systems biology are being explored to address these challenges. Data from preclinical and human studies highlight various neuroprotective actions of curcumin, including the inhibition of neuroinflammation, modulation of critical cellular signaling pathways, promotion of neurogenesis, and regulation of dopamine levels. However, curcumin’s multifaceted
effects - such as its impact on microRNAs and senescence markers - suggest novel therapeutic targets in neurodegeneration. Tetrahydrocurcumin, a primary metabolite of curcumin, also shows potential due to its presence in circulation and its anti-inflammatory properties, although further research is needed to elucidate its neuroprotective mechanisms.
Recent advancements in delivery systems, particularly brain-targeting nanocarriers like polymersomes, micelles,
and liposomes, have shown promise in enhancing curcumin’s bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy in animal models. Furthermore, the exploration of drug-laden scaffolds and dermal delivery may extend the pharmacological applications of curcumin. Studies reviewed here indicate that engineered dermal formulations and devices could serve as viable alternatives for neuroprotective treatments and to manage skin or musculoskeletal inflammation. This work highlights the need for carefully designed, long-term studies to better understand how curcumin and its bioactive metabolites work, their safety, and their effectiveness.R.L. and D.M.S. acknowledge funding from their research units supported by national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT—Portugal)/MCTES (PIDDAC): LSRE-LCM, UIDB/50020/2020 and UIDP/50020/2020; ALiCE, LA/P/0045/2020; UCIBIO, UIDB/04378/2020 and UIDP/04378/2020; i4HB, LA/P/0140/2020. F.R. knowledges support from FCT/MCTES (CIBB strategic project UIDP/ 04539/2020) and European Union‘s Horizon Europe program (lence Hubs – HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-ACCESS-04-01), under the grant agreement #101087071
Cultural Intelligence and Performance: the mediating role of relationship with the customer
No full textNum mundo cada vez mais interligado e globalizado, as empresas recorrem frequentemente
à exportação como uma estratégia de entrada de baixo risco para aceder a novos mercados.
Apesar das suas vantagens, a exportação expõe as organizações a desafios resultantes de
maiores níveis de incerteza e de diferenças culturais. A literatura tem vindo a demonstrar
que certas capacidades, como a inteligência cultural, podem ajudar a ultrapassar essas
barreiras; contudo, os mecanismos que explicam a relação entre a inteligência cultural e o
desempenho exportador permanecem pouco esclarecidos.
Assente na visão baseada em recursos, na perspetiva das capacidades dinâmicas e no
enquadramento do marketing relacional, esta dissertação analisa o papel das capacidades
organizacionais (capacidade de aquisição de conhecimento internacional e a capacidade de
adaptação), e da qualidade do relacionamento, enquanto mecanismos que medeiam a ligação
entre a inteligência cultural e o desempenho.
A investigação recorreu a uma abordagem quantitativa, através da aplicação de inquéritos a
gestores/diretores de exportação portugueses de diferentes setores de atividade. A análise
estatística foi realizada com o apoio dos softwares IBM SPSS Statistics e SmartPLS. Os
resultados indicam que a inteligência cultural influencia positivamente tanto a capacidade
de aquisição de conhecimento internacional como a capacidade de adaptação, sendo a
capacidade de adaptação a única que revelou impacto significativo no desempenho de
exportação. Em contrapartida, não se confirmou uma relação significativa entre a capacidade
de aquisição de conhecimento internacional e o desempenho de exportação. Além disso, os
resultados evidenciam que a inteligência cultural reforça a qualidade do relacionamento, que,
por sua vez, potencia o desempenho relacional.
Este estudo contribui para a literatura de negócios internacionais ao esclarecer os
mecanismos através dos quais a inteligência cultural molda os resultados do desempenho
das exportações e ao integrar este construto nas abordagens das capacidades dinâmicas e das
perspetivas relacionais.In today’s interconnected and globalized world, firms increasingly rely on exporting as a
low-risk entry mode to access new markets. Despite its advantages, exporting exposes firms
to challenges stemming from heightened uncertainty and cultural differences. Literature
suggested that capabilities, such as cultural intelligence (CQ), may help firms overcome
these barriers; however, the mechanisms linking CQ to export performance remain
underexplored.
Grounded in the resource-based view, dynamic capabilities, and relationship marketing
perspectives, this dissertation investigates the role of organizational capabilities
(international knowledge acquisition capability; IKAC and adaptive capability), and
relationship quality as mechanisms in the CQ-performance link.
A quantitative research design was employed, drawing on survey data from Portuguese
export managers/directors across diverse industries. Data analysis was conducted using IBM
SPSS Statistics and SmartPLS software. Results show that CQ positively influences IKAC
and adaptive capability, and that the latter significantly improves export performance, while
link between IKAC and export performance was not confirmed. Importantly, findings
evidence that CQ strengthens relationship quality, which in turn drives relationship
performance.
This study contributes to international business research by clarifying the pathways through
which CQ shapes export outcomes and by integrating CQ with dynamic capabilities and
relational perspectives
Sustainable Scaling in Forest-Based Circular Models
No full textArticle number - 5967The transition to a circular economy is essential for enhancing sustainability and resource efficiency, particularly in forestry-dependent regions. This study examines circular economy business models (CEBMs) in Kouvola, Finland, focusing on the utilization of forestry by-products. It compares two case studies: Keltakangas Waste Station, which processes wood waste into biogas, and Koumet, a forestry company producing biochar. Using a comparative case study approach, this research integrates financial analysis (2020–2023), interviews with managers, and policy reviews to assess economic performance, scalability, and environmental impact. Additionally, this study introduces a generalizable framework—Scalability Path Dependency (SPD)—which theorizes how early strategic decisions shape the long-term growth trajectories of circular business models. The findings reveal that Keltakangas follows a capital-intensive model with declining profit margins, while Koumet operates a resource-efficient model with stable but low profitability. Their scaling strategies diverge: Keltakangas relies on external financing for expansion, whereas Koumet emphasizes cost efficiency and market diversification. Despite ongoing challenges related to infrastructure, regulation, and financial viability, both models contribute meaningfully to circularity. This study offers actionable insights for policymakers and businesses aiming to support sustainable forestry practices.This paper is financed by National Funds of the FCT—Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology within the project «UIDB/04928/2020»The author gratefully acknowledges the support provided by the EU CAP Network to attend the workshop “Circular Bio economy—Valorization of Forest By-products.” Without this support, this investigation would not have been possible