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A nostálgica autobiografia das coisas em Vidas Vencidas de Maria Ondina Braga
No full textA evocação faz nascer a voz autobiográfica que mergulha nas raízes da família, da casa da Braga natal e, também, nas suas ramificações em terras brasileiras, com várias gerações de parentes e conhecidos ali emigrados. Mais até do que eventos, relatam-se reminiscências, crenças, sonhos e leituras — matéria do imaginado e do “não-acontecido” que alimenta a enunciação ondiniana, como o sublinha Pedro Mexia (2022). Assim vai a narradora reconstituindo o lar familiar perdido e as histórias dos seus habitantes, enquanto faz projecções sobre os caminhos que lentamente lhe alargaram o horizonte pelas sete partidas do mundo e que, pela necessidade de contar histórias, a transformaram numa escritora.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Bioremediation of drainwater from soilless cultivation by Tetradesmus obliquus and Raphidonema monicae: growth performance and biochemical composition from lab to industrial scale
No full textTo meet the demands of the growing population, agricultural practices have been increasing and putting a strain on land and freshwater usage. Soilless agriculture has emerged as a more sustainable practice to mitigate this issue but still generates nutrient-rich drainwater that can harm the environment if not properly managed. In this context, this study explores a circular economy approach to reuse the drainwater of soilless farming as a culture medium for microalgae production. For this, the growth performance of four strains, Chlorella sp., Nannochloropsis limnetica, Raphidonema monicae and Tetradesmus obliquus, was assessed using drainwater under summer and winter conditions at lab-scale. Based on productivity, protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) contents, T. obliquus and R. monicae were selected for comparison in pilot-scale flat-panel photobioreactors (FP-PBR) and raceway ponds (RW). T. obliquus presented significantly higher growth in FP-PBR (0.11 g L-1 d(-1)) compared to RW (0.09 g L-1 d(-1)), with complete nitrate removal in both systems. R. monicae showed similar growth across systems, removing 19 % of nitrate in FP-PBR and 56 % in RW. Principal component analysis indicated species-specific traits drive biochemical profiles, with limited influence from the cultivation system. Both species were cultivated in 19-m(3) tubular photobioreactors, with improved productivities (T. obliquus with 0.23 g L-1 d(-1) and R. monicae with 0.13 g L-1 d(-1)) until stationary phase or legal nitrate limits, yielding about 20 kg of dry weight each. The biomass produced in drainwater was biochemically characterized, showing it was rich in proteins (>30 %), PUFA (>55 %) and phenolics, highlighting their potential application in various sectors, including aquaculture and agriculture. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of these strains for drainwater treatment, promoting a circular economy by converting waste into valuable biomass.Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT)
99/2023.02764
EEA Grant
ALGACYCLE-PT-INNOVATION-0023
C644915664-0000002
STE(A)M learning ecologies and creativity: a typology of open schooling projects based on stakeholder and learner engagement
No full textDespite 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.Grant Agreement No 10109464
Assessing the impact of different feedback mechanisms on suture skills acquisition: a mixed methods study using phenomenological and quantitative analysis
No full textBACKGROUND: Even though suture skills are recognized as important for medical graduates, they are often underdeveloped due to reduced surgical exposure, limited feedback opportunities, and constraints on teaching resources. While various feedback strategies exist to support skill acquisition, comparative evidence on their effectiveness from the learner’s perspective is limited. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of 3 feedback modalities: video review alone, video review with structured self-assessment, and video review with expert feedback, on the acquisition of basic suture skills among medical students, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. METHODS: Sixty-eight students were randomly assigned to 3 feedback groups (A: video only, B: video + structured self-assessment, and C: video + expert feedback). Each performed a basic suture task (Part A), received group-specific feedback, and repeated the task (Part B). Performances were video-recorded and rated by blinded assessors using a 15-item checklist and a global score. Additionally, thirteen participants from group C completed semi-structured interviews on their feedback experience. RESULTS: The mean global score rose from 3.24 to 3.52 in Group A, 3.46 to 3.63 in Group B, and 3.51 to 3.76 in Group C. ANOVA showed no significant differences between groups (F(2,65) = 0.669, p = 0.516, hp2 = 0.020). Qualitative findings indicated that expert feedback, particularly when combined with video review, significantly enhanced motivation, confidence, and clarity. Group C participants described shifting from “fear of performing sutures” to “confidence,” attributing this to the personalized, emotionally supportive feedback. CONCLUSION: Although performance outcomes were similar across feedback types, expert feedback offered unique emotional and cognitive benefits. These findings support the integration of structured, learner-centered feedback in surgical training, combining scalability with pedagogical value
AI-enhanced adaptive testing with cognitive diagnostic feedback and its association with performance in undergraduate surgical education: a pilot study
No full textBackground: Effective feedback in the cognitive domain is essential for surgical education but often limited by resource constraints and traditional assessment formats. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a catalyst for innovation, enabling automated feedback, real-time cognitive diagnostics, and scalable item generation, thereby transforming how future surgeons learn and are assessed. Methods: An item bank of 150 multiple-choice questions was developed using AI-assisted item generation and difficulty estimation. A formative Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT), balanced across three cognitive domains (memory, analysis, and decision) and surgical topics, was delivered via QuizOne® 3–5 days before the summative Progress Test. A total of 147 students participated, of whom 116 completed the formative CAT. Performance correlations, group comparisons, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and regression analyses were conducted. Results: Students who voluntarily completed CAT showed higher Progress Test scores, though causality cannot be established due to self-selection bias (p = 0.021), with the effect persisting after adjusting for prior academic performance (ANCOVA p = 0.041). Memory skills were the strongest predictors of summative outcomes (R2 = 0.180, β = 0.425), followed by analysis (R2 = 0.080, β = 0.283); decision was not significant (R2 = 0.029, β = 0.170). Conclusion: AI-enhanced CAT–Cognitive Diagnostic Modeling (CDM) represents a promising formative approach in undergraduate surgical education, being associated with higher summative performance and providing individualized diagnostic feedback. Refining feedback presentation and enhancing decisionmaking assessment could further optimize its educational impact
A comparison of tool-use flexibility between captive chimpanzees and bonobos
No full textDespite chimpanzees and bonobos sharing close phylogenetic ties to humans, chimpanzees are the more common model species in multiple fields of comparative research. One reason for this bias is the variation in tool repertoire size observed between the two species. Previous studies have examined the factors driving this difference, but few have targeted flexibility in how tools are used. We studied bonobos and chimpanzees under similar conditions in captivity, thus excluding any ecological variation present in these species’ natural habitats. We examined whether the species differed in their ability to switch between tools, a trait that may facilitate tool innovation in primates. To do so, we provided the apes with a task that required switching tool type from a rigid stick to a bendable rope to forage successfully. Our data suggest that there are no significant differences in tool-use performance between chimpanzees and bonobos in captivity. However, we found significant differences in the species’ exploration tendencies. While chimpanzees fixed their attention on stick tools, bonobos switched their attention more easily towards the rope, potentially due to less functional fixedness. We also found significant within-species differences between institutions. These findings suggest that future research should disentangle intrinsic flexibility in exploration and account for institution and group level effects
Tropical ecosystem shifts at the Eocene–Oligocene transition in the southwestern Caribbean region
No full textThe Eocene-Oligocene transition (EOT; similar to 34 Ma) marks a pivotal climatic shift from a warm, ice-free world to a cooler, glaciated climate driven by a significant decline in atmospheric pCO2 levels. This global cooling event, characterized by the first major Antarctic glaciation and a similar to 50 m sea-level fall, triggered selective extinctions in marine ecosystems and restructured sedimentary processes, making it one of the most significant climatic events of the Cenozoic. While the global impacts of the EOT are well documented, its effects on the marine environment of NW South America remain poorly understood. This region's unique position as a connection between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans before the closure of the Central American Seaway provides a valuable window into tropical ecosystem responses during this period. This study integrates micropaleontological and geochemical data from the ANH-SJ-1 drill core in the Colombian Caribbean to evaluate the impacts of global climatic shifts on tropical marine ecosystems. Palynological indicators, including the terrestrial/marine (T/M) index, along with XRF-derived elemental ratios (Zr/Rb, Ti/Al, K/Al, and K/Rb), reflect enhanced continental input during the EOT. These patterns suggest intensified erosion and detrital transport to bathyal depths, likely driven by rapid sea-level fall and hypopycnal flows. Calcareous nannofossil trophic indices reveal elevated surface productivity, likely fueled by increased continental nutrient influx, supported by higher Ba/Ti ratios that indicate enhanced organic matter export to the seafloor. The resulting oxygen depletion favored infaunal over epifaunal benthic foraminifera, marking a shift in community structure. Improved carbonate preservation across the transition, evidenced by a shift from agglutinated to calcareous benthic foraminifera and higher Ca/Ti ratios, reflects a deepening of the carbonate compensation depth (CCD), likely due to enhanced alkalinity from continental weathering. A positive delta 13Corg excursion (similar to 0.84 parts per thousand) aligns with global records and supports contributions from organic carbon oxidation, volcanic inputs, and weathering. Although limited by the number of available samples and low fossil abundances in some intervals, our multiproxy approach enables a coherent reconstruction of environmental dynamics. The ANH-SJ-1 record highlights the sensitivity of tropical systems to global climatic shifts and reinforces the importance of tropical data for understanding Cenozoic climate evolution and anticipating future ecosystem responses.730/327-201
Unveiling patterns in cetacean strandings along southern atlantic iberia: temporal and spatial trends, seasonality, and causes of death
No full textWe compiled 46 years of cetacean strandings in the Algarve, Portugal, describing temporal–spatial patterns, size–sex structure,and causes of death (COD). We analyzed national records and years with a dedicated regional stranding network (SN) to assessannual/seasonal trends, spatial hotspots, and compare biometrics and COD. In total, 1231 strandings were recorded; 73.2% wereidentified to 19 species. Five species comprised almost 68% of events: common dolphins 39.0%, striped dolphins 8.9%, minkewhales 8.0%, bottlenose dolphins 8.0%, and harbor porpoises 4.3%. GAMs confirmed that recorded strandings rose over timeand were higher during SN years (mean 63 yr.−1). Stranding hotspots occurred near Cape Santa Maria (Faro–Olhão), Lagos–Portimão, and Sagres; minke whales and harbor porpoises concentrated east of Cape Santa Maria. Seasonality was significantonly for minke whales (spring peak). Size–sex patterns were largely similar, with exceptions for larger stranded striped dolphinfemales and minke strandings dominated by juveniles. COD assignment improved with monitoring and was assessed for 75.6%of the observed carcasses. Bycatch was the leading COD for common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and minke whales. Thisstudy highlights the importance of a regional stranding network and a need for more ecological studies of cetaceans in the region.UID/04326/2025; UID/PRR/04326/2025; UIBP/04326/202
Editorial: Innovative teaching and learning in health education and promotion
No full textHealth education and health promotion are undergoing profound transformation. Demographic transitions, aging populations, increasing multimorbidity, persistent inequities, and rapid technological change are reshaping how learners understand and navigate health. In this evolving context, traditional knowledge-transmission models are no longer sufficient to prepare future professionals for complex, multicultural and digitally mediated environments. Innovation in teaching and learning has therefore become essential, not only to improve learning outcomes, but to strengthen ethical reasoning, equity, and learner autonomy. This global shift echoes recent OECD (1) analyses highlighting how digitalisation, demographic aging and widening social disparities are redefining the competencies required of tomorrow’s health workforce and calling for educational approaches attuned to complexity and uncertainty. It is also consistent with the World Health Organization’s call for transformative health workforce education, which stresses that conventional training models can no longer meet the demands posed by demographic change, chronic disease burdens, technological acceleration and growing inequities
Inter-annual morphometric assessment of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) based on drone photogrammetry
No full textMorphometrics such as length, body proportions, and volume are reliable data to determine the foraging success, energy reserve accumulation, and individual fitness, furthermore, it informs upon the population status of the examined species. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) provides a new, low-cost, non-invasive platform to execute photogrammetric studies on free-ranging Cetaceans, enabling quantitative assessment of temporal and permanent changes of the animal's body. The aims of this study were to accumulate accurate morphometric measurements of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the Catalan coast, to compute growth trends of several body proportions, assess the evolution of body area index and body volume over time, and to compare these parameters within three consecutive foraging seasons. In total, 1099 still images were measured during this project, depicting 82 individual fin whales from three years between 2021 and 2023. The obtained results indicate that there were strong correlations among the growth trend of certain body parameters. The most significant correlation was between the total length of the body and the eye-to-eye distance. It was determined that in some cases the growth ratios can be further influenced by the gender and the size of the whale. Moreover, measures of three resighted individuals showed moderate increase of the body length and four animals showed gradual positive progression of the body area index and body volume within and over the three seasons, demonstrating foraging success and energy reserve accumulation. In a more general scale, smaller animals displayed the highest body area index, while the largest ones exhibit the lowest measures. The present study illustrates the utility of drone-based photogrammetry to detect and assess temporal and permanent changes in the body parameters of fin whales in the Garraf coast.Todos os anos, as baleias-comuns (Balaenoptera physalus) reúnem-se ao longo da costa Catalã no Mar das Baleares, entre fevereiro e junho, para se alimentarem. Este evento constitui uma oportunidade para recolher dados e estudar estes misticetes pelágicos de vida livre, mais perto da costa. As baleias-comuns são uma parte substancial da teia alimentar, pois não são apenas consumidores de biomassa, mas também promotores da produção primária, reciclando grandes quantidades de nutrientes e aumentando assim a capacidade de carga dos ecossistemas. Além disso, a energia obtida durante as épocas de procura de alimento é armazenada em lípidos e utilizada durante o período de migração e reprodução. Por conseguinte, a monitorização da taxa/tendência de crescimento e das alterações no perfil da forma e nas proporções corporais fornece uma visão da aptidão física, da resiliência, do sucesso da procura de alimento e, com isso, do estado nutricional. Além disso, numa escala maior, oferece uma visão do estado da população e da dinâmica populacional. Além disso, as alterações temporais na sua morfometria fornecem informações sobre as condições, a produtividade e a capacidade de carga do ecossistema de suporte.Para a realização do projeto foi utilizada a fotogrametria aérea, que é um novo método seguro, não invasivo e económico na investigação de cetáceos. A técnica permite a observação de uma perspetiva vertical com um veículo aéreo não tripulado (VANT) para obter um conjunto de dados e executar medidas morfométricas corporais precisas no programa chamado MorphoMetriX para avaliação quantitativa. As análises de várias métricas fornecem informações sobre o desenvolvimento do corpo e facilitam a evidência da resposta fisiológica às mudanças ambientais. O conhecimento/banco de dados compilado pelo método pode ser útil em termos de gestão populacional e em ações de conservação.Os objetivos deste projeto foram acumular medidas morfométricas precisas, como comprimento, largura e proporção de baleias-comuns na costa Catalã para calcular as tendências de crescimento de vários parâmetros e proporções corporais, avaliar a evolução do índice de área corporal e do volume corporal ao longo do tempo para visualizar mudanças no armazenamento de energia e comparar esses parâmetros em três temporadas consecutivas de alimentação na costa Catalã. Deste modo, melhorando o conhecimento da única especie de baleia de barbas que está presente durante todo o ano, no Mar Mediterrâneo.
Para este estudo, foi analisado um total de 366 filmagens aéreas (2021: 193, 2022: 109, 2023: 67), das quais 1099 imagens fixas foram medidas no MorphoMetriX para obter medidas fotogramétricas precisas e fiáveis, retratando 82 baleias-comuns individuais ao longo dos três anos. A maioria dos animais encontrados tinha entre 14 e 19 metros de comprimento. Foram obtidos nove atributos morfométricos com base nas medidas padrão dos parâmetros corporais das baleias descritas por Ratnaswamy & Winn em 1993, a partir das quais foram calculadas quinze comparações proporcionais. Foi criada uma matriz de correlação para prever a relação entre os parâmetros corporais medidos. Foram desenvolvidos vários modelos lineares para investigar a interdependência do crescimento entre partes do corpo fortemente correlacionadas. Para além disso, a largura do corpo foi medida em incrementos de 20% ao longo do comprimento do corpo inteiro. A partir desses valores, o índice de área corporal e o volume corporal foram calculados para avaliar as alterações na reserva de energia dos indivíduos durante as épocas de alimentação e para comparar o sucesso de alimentação dos três anos. O resultado indica que existem fortes correlações entre a tendência de crescimento de certos parâmetros corporais. A interdependência mais significativa verificou-se entre o comprimento total do corpo e a distância olho-a-olho. Além disso, o crescimento das extremidades, nomeadamente a barbatana dorsal e a barbatana caudal, também apresentou uma forte ligação. Com base em modelos lineares, determinou-se que, em alguns casos, os rácios de crescimento podem ser ainda mais influenciados pelo sexo e pelo tamanho da baleia. Além disso, as medidas de três indivíduos reavistados mostraram um aumento moderado do comprimento do corpo e quatro animais mostraram uma ligeira progressão do índice de área corporal e do volume do corpo durante as três estações, o que demonstra o sucesso da procura de alimentos e a acumulação de reservas energéticas. Numa escala mais geral, os animais mais pequenos apresentaram o índice de área corporal mais elevado, enquanto os maiores exibiram as medidas mais baixas. Com base nestas duas medidas (BAI, BV), foi possível descobrir variações na produtividade da área entre os três anos. Em comparação com as duas primeiras épocas examinadas, 2023 foi significativamente superior, enquanto 2021 e 2022 a média da medida do volume corporal foi estatisticamente igual. No entanto, existe incerteza nas medidas fotogramétricas devido à medição da altitude dos drones com base no GPS, que neste caso obteve um "erro fotogramétrico médio" de 2,5% no caso do Mavic Pro 2 e de 9,8% no caso do Mavic 3.
A fotogrametria baseada em drones provou ser um método preciso para monitorizar as tendências de crescimento e as alterações da condição corporal das baleias-comuns na costa de Garraf, para reduzir as incertezas do estado nutricional e do desenvolvimento corporal. Foi uma caraterística importante do estudo associar baleias individuais a medições obtidas por fotogrametria, o que permitiu monitorizar alterações nos parâmetros corporais ao longo do tempo. No entanto, tal só foi possível no caso de seis animais, devido a dificuldades de recolha de imagens adequadas e ao limite de tempo, independentemente do método. No entanto, todas estas baleias registaram um aumento geral do comprimento, cujos resultados se distribuíram uniformemente ao longo dos três anos analisados. Para além disso, a avaliação da condição corporal (BV, BAI) dos indivíduos também resultou num aumento moderado durante a época. Além disso, a comparação inter-anual das medidas de BAI forneceu uma visão da produtividade e da capacidade de carga da área, mostrando o desvio na disponibilidade de presas.
Estes resultados ajudam a preencher as lacunas de conhecimento sobre as populações de baleias-comuns que surgem na costa de Garraf, esta técnica tem potencial para realizar uma monitorização a longo prazo para acumular dados que permitam obter resultados mais fiáveis sobre a relação entre parâmetros corporais, tendências de crescimento, alterações nas condições corporais e dinâmica populacional. Este conhecimento pode ser útil para estabelecer acções de conservação e gestão populacional adequadas para proteger a zona de alimentação dentro da área, a fim de manter um abastecimento alimentar adequado para as baleias-comuns migratórias. Por conseguinte, a continuação de tais estudos é altamente recomendada e necessária para obter resultados mais representativos