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Sustainable energy management in the cheese industry: A simulation model integrated with renewable energy sources
No full textCheesemaking is an energy-intensive process that relies heavily on heating and cooling operations traditionally powered by fossil fuels and electricity from the national grid. Reducing this dependence and integrating renewable energy sources are essential to align the sector with European decarbonization targets. This study presents the development of a simulation tool for optimizing the energy management of a cheese production facility by integrating solar, wind, and biomass systems. The model evaluates techno-economic and environmental performance under different climatic conditions and operational scenarios.
Experimental validation was carried out using a prototype installed at the Polytechnic Institute of Beja (Portugal), achieving a deviation of only 2.3% in renewable energy contribution between simulated and measured data. Results demonstrate that renewable integration can reduce non-renewable energy consumption, achieving weekly profits up to 0.019 €/kg of cheese and carbon emissions as low as 0.0109 kg CO2e/kg. The proposed approach provides a reliable decision-support tool for small- and medium-scale cheese producers, promoting both environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness in rural regions.EC13-5D83-788A | João DiasN/
Manual de boas práticas para a promoção de saúde mental no Ensino Superior
No full textFinanciamento da Direção Geral do Ensino Superior- Programa para a Promoção da Saúde Mental no Ensino SuperiorA saúde mental representa um estado de bem estar que permite que a pessoa consiga lidar com o stress normal da vida utilize as suas capacidades aprenda bem e trabalhe bem e contribua para a sua comunidade (World Health Organization, 2022 Sendo uma componente essencial da saúde e do bem estar encontra se na base das nossas capacidades individuais e coletivas para tomarmos
decisões estabelecermos relações interpessoais e moldarmos o mundo em que vivemos No entanto ao longo da nossa vida são diversos os determinantes individuais sociais e estruturais que de uma forma combinada se podem revelar como protetores ou influenciar de forma menos positiva a nossa saúde mental, tornando nos mais vulneráveis a eventuais problemas nesta dimensão
A expansão do Ensino Superior ( pode ser entendida não apenas pelo número mais alargado de estudantes ( 2021 Hussey Smith, 2010 mas também pela sua diversidade em termos de heterogeneidade de diferentes percursos sociais e culturais bem como diferentes experiências educativas e expetativas Hultberg et al 2008 Hussey Smith, 2010 o que se traduz numa série de exigências em termos do processo de transição Hultberg et al 2008 Esta transição é caracterizada por uma série de mudanças que ocorre ao nível das novas exigências decorrentes do papel assumido enquanto estudante ou do ambiente de aprendizagem Coertjens et al 2017.
É expectável que os estudantes do ES trabalhem de forma independente mas muitos apresentam uma dificuldade de ajustamento aos métodos de ensino ao cumprimento dos prazos ou relativamente à compreensão acerca da melhor abordagem à aprendizagem Brooman Darwen, 2014 bem como pobres competências de autorregulação para estudar de uma forma considerada eficaz Perander et al 2020 Pintrich Zusho 2002
Agricultural practices to improve irrigation sustainability
Get PDFAgriculture accounts for approximately 70% of global water usage [1,2]. Although the use of water in agriculture yields considerable gains in productivity, thereby contributing significantly to food production and security, the agricultural sector is increasingly required to justify its use of water and is under growing scrutiny [3,4,5]. To address water governance and ensure fair access to water across sectors and scales, efficient water management, and environmental protection, it is critical to safeguard the sustainability of irrigation agriculture [6,7].
In the last few decades, considerable efforts have been made to improve water-use efficiency (WUE) across different sectors. According to a recent publication by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) [8], there was an increase of 23% in WUE (expressed in USD m−3) between 2015 and 2022, indicating a positive outcome under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 6.4.1—Change in WUE over time. Gains in agricultural water productivity have been achieved thanks to agronomic technological advancements, like higher efficiency irrigation methods, remote-sensing integration, or smart irrigation systems [9,10,11].
As stated by the FAO (2025) [1] “Future gains must come from smarter—not just increased—food production, by closing yield gaps, diversifying the selection of suitable and resilient crops, and applying locally adapted, resource-efficient practices suited to land, soil and water conditions. There is no single pathway—no one-size-fits-all solution.”
Currently, the issue of sustainable irrigation involves making optimal decisions amid uncertainty. Climate change, resource degradation and availability, the water–energy–food–environment (WEFE) nexus, and institutional and political issues often constrain the advancement of agricultural systems [12,13,14].
The second edition of the Special Issue (SI) “Agricultural practices to improve irrigation sustainability”, published in Water in 2025, builds upon the first edition published in 2024 [3] and expands the scope in irrigation research from classic studies at the field or agricultural plot scale to research on the most effective tools to support decision-making under uncertainty. To achieve these advances, decision-making must be supported by reliable data and tools that are simple enough for stakeholders to interpret and can effectively inform their decisions.
The contributions for this SI highlight this shift in research, comprising articles that address best practices at the plot level, with a focus on increasing efficiency; refocus agricultural decision-making on data and model analysis; and expose and reflect on trade-offs and governance related to the WEFE nexus
The history of chocolate consumption in Portugal: A blend of tradition and innovation
No full textThe making of food products using chocolate as ingredient is integrated in the cultural and gastronomic background of Portugal, however references to historical documents are scarce which limits the evaluation of its importance on cookery and daily habits. During the earlier times after the arrival into Portugal, cocoa was considered more as a medicine, with religious restrains about its consumption. However, around the 17th century, the availability of cocoa increased due to imports from Brazil, thus increasing the consumption, being no more limited to a social elite. The aim of this study is to contribute to a better understanding of the importance of chocolate in Portuguese cookery, based on historical documents, but also as a driver for development coupling innovation and tradition. The results indicate that the use of cocoa and chocolate is part of the Portuguese gastronomic heritage, referred in a considerable number of preparations since 17th century, including the first cookbook printed in Portugal. Actually, a new generation of entrepreneurs is changing the paradigm of craft chocolate in Portugal, merging traditional products such as olive oil, wine or sheep cheese, contributing to the extension of the gastronomic tourism.EC13-5D83-788A | João DiasN/
Valorization of treated olive mill wastewater and olive pits in hydroponic systems for lettuce production
Get PDFSignificant volumes of wastewater and solid by-products are produced by olive oil industries worldwide, posing serious environmental challenges. This study presents an innovative circular economy and environmental sustainability approach that simultaneously valorizes liquid (olive mill wastewater, OMW) and solid by-products (crushed olive pits) rom olive oil production through hydroponic lettuce cultivation. The OMW was pretreated and supplemented with nutrients (OMW-N) to create a hydroponic solution for lettuce (Lactuca sativa) cultivation using crushed olive pits as growing substrate. A hydroponic system fed with a nutritive solution was used as a control. Lettuces grown in the OMW-N system achieved a 100% survival rate with no signs of phytotoxicity, although they exhibited a significant reduction in fresh mass (approx. 66%) and size, compared to the control. The sensory analysis revealed no significant differences in consumer acceptance, except for slightly lower color intensity, with 40% of participants explicitly indicating a purchase preference for the OMW-N lettuce, validating its commercial feasibility. Results demonstrated that OMW-N system functioned as a tertiary treatment, achieving additional removal of nutrients. Overall, integrating treated OMW and olive pits into hydroponics is a feasible strategy to convert agro-industrial waste into value-added food products, reducing the environmental footprint of the olive sector
Energy footprint of cheese: A critical review of the environmental impact and opportunities for sustainability
Get PDFCheese production is an ancient practice that is associated with the food and cultural identity of different peoples. There are over 500 cheese types globally, including 207 with protected denomination of origin (PDO) and 70 with protected geographical indication (PGI) status in the European Union (EU). Each cheese has various biochemical compositions, production methods, and maturation environments. This study has provided a critical review of the environmental impacts of cheese production, focusing on energy consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the integration of renewable energy sources as sustainable strategies for this sector. Based on case studies and life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, the analysis revealed significant variability in energy use (3.0 to 70.2 MJ/kg) and GHG emissions (up to 22.13 kg CO2 eq/kg), influenced by factors such as the cheese type, production complexity, system boundaries, and the technological or geographical context. Particular attention was given to heat treatment, refrigeration, and maturation processes, which contribute substantially to the overall energy footprint. The paper also discusses the methodological challenges in LCA studies, including the role of co-product allocation and database limitations. Finally, strategic renewable energy options, such as biogas recovery and solar thermal integration, are discussed as sustainable alternatives to reduce the environmental footprint of the dairy sector and support its sustainability.EC13-5D83-788A | João DiasN/
Comparative study of chocolate cooling supported by computational fluid dynamics
No full textThe sensorial perception of dark chocolate has been studied and is commonly related to cocoa varieties’ post-harvest or manufacturing process. Although physical and chemical changes during the transformation of cocoa into chocolate are known, there is still a gap concerning the impact of heat transfer on sensory evaluation. This work aimed to apply experimental measurements and numerical simulations in a comparative study of the thermal behaviour of dark chocolate during refrigeration and evaluate its impact over physical properties and sensory evaluation. Temperature presented an initial phase with high cooling rate, shorter at 10 °C due to the higher temperature difference. After, a steady phase was observed at 10 °C, followed by a temperature decrease until 8000 s. The behaviour at 25 °C did not present such plateau, increasing from 27.1 °C to 27.5 °C, a consequence of the dissipation of latent heat during phase transition and the short temperature gradient. Numerical simulations were more correlated to experimental data at 25 °C, presenting a temperature difference < 2 °C. The instrumental evaluation of appearance presented a higher luminance of chocolate surface at 25 °C cooling temperature, which may indicate a higher propensity for occurring fat bloom during storage. Sensory evaluation revealed no significant differences on appearance, texture, and flavour/aroma between cooling at 10 °C and 25 °C.EC13-5D83-788A | João DiasN/
Programa de enfermagem de reabilitação dirigido à pessoa com intolerância à atividade
Get PDFA intolerância à atividade é um processo dinâmico que evolui a par das necessidades afetadas da pessoa e da sua trajetória de doença, exercendo um impacto significativo na qualidade de vida, uma vez que a diminuição da capacidade física e a adoção de comportamentos sedentários, como meio compensatório à dispneia e fadiga, tendem ao comprometimento sistémico, contribuindo para a dependência funcional e para a perda de autonomia. Esta problemática revela-se de extrema importância, considerando-se indispensável a intervenção do Enfermeiro Especialista em Enfermagem de Reabilitação.
Este relatório engloba todo o processo de implementação de um Projeto de Intervenção Profissional, que integra um programa de reeducação funcional respiratória e motora, dirigido à pessoa com intolerância à atividade. Os resultados obtidos corroboram a efetividade e a segurança destas intervenções, que aumentam a tolerância à atividade e, consequentemente, a independência funcional e a autonomia.
Neste relatório também se exploram detalhadamente as estratégias e atividades desenvolvidas que contribuíram para a aquisição das Competências Comuns do Enfermeiro Especialista, das Competências Específicas do Enfermeiro Especialista em Enfermagem de Reabilitação e das Competências de Mestre
A pessoa com insuficiência renal crónica e cuidados paliativos: Um olhar sobre a referenciação e continuidade de cuidados
No full textO presente relatório, elaborado no âmbito do Mestrado em Enfermagem Médico-Cirúrgica, na área de Enfermagem à Pessoa em Situação Paliativa, descreve o percurso de aprendizagem e desenvolvimento de competências de Mestre em Enfermagem e de Enfermeiro Especialista, adquiridas em contexto de estágio, tendo como objetivo a análise critico-reflexiva dessas experiências.
Este percurso, constituiu um processo de transformação pessoal e profissional, marcado pela aquisição e consolidação de competências científicas, técnicas, relacionais e éticas, sustentadas numa prática baseada na evidência, centrada na pessoa, na sua dignidade e qualidade de vida. Evidenciou-se, o desenvolvimento do pensamento critico, da autonomia, da capacidade de liderança e da comunicação terapêutica, essenciais ao exercício de uma prática especializada.
O projeto “A Pessoa com Insuficiência Renal Crónica e Cuidados Paliativos: Um Olhar Sobre a Referenciação e Continuidade de Cuidados” visou promover a reflexão sobre as necessidades paliativas da pessoa com Insuficiência Renal Crónica, evidenciando a importância da integração precoce dos cuidados paliativos e da continuidade de cuidados, para a melhoria da qualidade de vida e para a humanização do cuidar