Publications Repository of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança
Not a member yet
30168 research outputs found
Sort by
Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Probiotic Strains
No full textThis review highlights the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of probiotics and their complex health-related impacts. The main health areas targeted are gastrointestinal inflammation, neuroinflammation, systemic metabolic disorders, and liver conditions. Probiotics work mechanistically to regulate key inflammatory pathways by suppressing nuclear factor (NF-κb) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways and activating antioxidant defenses through nuclear erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2). They stimulate anti-inflammatory cytokines (including interleukin 10 (IL-10) and inhibit pro-inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), partly through the regulation of T cells. Probiotics also produce antioxidant metabolites (e.g., exopolysaccharides and short-chain fatty acids), which enhance the host’s resistance to oxidative stress. Supplementation with probiotics improves intestinal inflammation and oxidative injury in gut disorders. Clinical trials suggest that probiotic supplements may reduce neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, while improving cognitive or behavioral outcomes in neurodegenerative disorders. Overall, this review underscores that probiotics have potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects within the gut–brain axis and across various organ systems, supporting their use as valuable adjunctive therapies for inflammatory and oxidative stress-related conditions. It further emphasizes that additional mechanistic research and controlled clinical trials are essential to translate these findings into the most effective therapeutic strategies.This work was supported by a grant of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCS UEFISCDI, project number PN-IV-P2-2.1-TE-2023-0858, within PNCDI IV and by national funds from FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the project/support UID/6157/2025
Machine learning models for crude protein prediction in Tamani grass pastures
No full textUnderstanding forage quality is essential for meeting animal demands and optimizing production. This study aimed to: (i) test the applicability of machine learning models with tabular data such as climate variables, light interception (LI), nitrogen dose (N dose), interval between grazing (GI), and pre- (HPRE) and post-grazing height (HPOST) to predict leaf crude protein (CP) content of tamani grass pastures; (ii) identify which variables contribute most to CP prediction. A set of 90 instances was used with 80% for training and validation and 20% for testing. The hyperparameters were adjusted with grid-search on the training set. We tested Linear Regression (LR), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Decision Trees(DT), Random Forest (RF), and XGBoost. The MLP (r=0.75, R2 =44.18%, MAE=1.55), RF (r=0.78, R2 =49.07%, MAE=1.59) and XGBoost (r=0.78, R2 =56.65% MAE=1.45) models presented the best prediction results (p<0.001). The variables most important in predicting CP content were GI, followed by N dose, HPRE and HPOST. XGBoost outperformed other tested models (p<0.001). Tabular data, including N dose, GI, HPRE, HPOST, LI, and climatic variables, is a viable alternative for predicting CP. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that management practices may have a greater influence on the chemical composition of Tamani grass than environmental conditions, although further research with larger and more diverse datasets is needed to confirm these findings.The authors thank the Embrapa Beef Cattle, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul Foundation, through the Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, the National Council for Scientific and Techno-
logical Development (CNPq), the Higher Education Personnel Improvement Coordination (CAPES, Finance Code 001) and the Foundation for the Support of the Development of Education, Science and Technology of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul (FUNDECT
Repurposing orange peel waste for limonene extraction using deep eutectic solvents for cosmetic applications
No full textOrange peel waste, a byproduct of the citrus industry, can be valorized to obtain valuable compounds such as limonene, a terpene widely used in the food and cosmetics industry for its characteristic citrus aroma. Conventional extraction methods rely on organic solvents, which pose significant environmental concerns. To address this, deep eutectic solvents (DES) have emerged as a sustainable alternative. In this work, we screened various DES combinations using the COnductor-like Screening MOdel for Realistic Solvents (COSMO-RS), and the most promising systems containing compounds that are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) or accepted by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) were subsequently investigated experimentally. Polyethylene glycol 200 and 600 in combination with amino acids, sugars, carboxylic acids and urea were used for DES formulation. Among them, PEG200-urea showed a significantly higher extraction yield of limoneneper g of orange peel (2.7 mg g-1) which is approximately 1.4x higher than that obtained with the reference organic solvent, heptane (1.9 mg g-1). The limonene extracted with DES remained stable for at least five weeks when stored at room temperature and in the dark. In addition, hesperidin, a high-value flavonoid for cosmetic applications, was successfully quantified in the extracts, while bergapten (a phototoxic furanocoumarin) and several limonene oxidation products were not detected. Our results show that DES can achieve limonene yields comparable to, or higher than those of conventional extraction systems while presenting more sustainable metrics. This study emphasizes the potential of DES for the sustainable limonene extraction from dried orange peels and contributes to circular economy initiatives.The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Slovenian Research Agency (research core funding P2-0152 and research projects BI-US/24-26-017, NC-0024 and NC-24002). The authors are also grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020), SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2020), and CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, (UIDB/50011/2020, UIDP/50011/2020, and LA/P/0006/2020). F. H. B. S. acknowledges FCT for the researcher contract CEECIND/07209/2022 under the Scientific Employment Stimulus – Individual Call 2022
Empowering olive cultivation with artificial intelligence: a systematic literature review on advancements and prospects
No full textThis study provides a Systematic Literature Review on the application of Artificial Intelligence algorithms in the primary sector of olive cultivation. It compiles and analyses a collection of studies that leverage AI to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of olive production, maintenance, and harvesting processes. In this study, 43 papers were reviewed from the databases IEEE, Scopus, and Web of Science through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses method. This research aims to identify AI applications in the primary olive growing sector. The findings highlight a significant trend toward adopting advanced AI techniques, particularly Deep Learning algorithms such as Convolutional Neural Networks, for many tasks ranging from cultivar identification and foliar disease classification to crop yield forecasting with high accuracies.This work was supported by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P. by projects: CeDRI, UID/05757/2025 (DOI: 10.54499/UID/05757/2025) and UID/PRR/05757/2025 (DOI: 10.54499/UID/PRR/05757/2025); SusTEC, LA/P/0007/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/LA/ P/0007/2020) and Algoritmi UIDB/00319/2020
Comparative analysis of machine learning models for customer segmentation in E-commerce: a data-driven approach
No full textSpringer Nature Link. Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 1695))E-commerce growth has led to vast amounts of customer data, making effective customer segmentation crucial for personalized marketing and customer relationship management. This paper presents a comparative study of unsupervised clustering algorithms for segmenting e-commerce customers based on RFM (Recency, Frequency, Monetary) attributes and additional behavioural factors such as customer satisfaction and tenure. We evaluate multiple clustering techniques – including K-Means, hierarchical clustering, and DBSCAN – to identify which algorithm yields the most coherent and well-separated customer groups. Cluster validity is assessed using internal metrics, notably the silhouette coefficient and the Davies-Bouldin index, to determine the optimal number of clusters and the quality of results for each method. Experimental results on real e-commerce data show that the choice of clustering algorithm significantly impacts segment formation. K-Means clustering achieved the highest silhouette score and lowest Davies-Bouldin index, indicating the best overall performance in capturing distinct customer segments. A detailed profile analysis of the resulting clusters reveals interpretable segments (e.g., high-value loyal customers, at-risk customers, new customers) with apparent differences in purchasing behaviour, satisfaction levels,
and customer tenure. These findings provide insights into the strengths of different clustering approaches for customer segmentation and offer practical guidance for e-commerce firms to enhance customer targeting and retention strategies
Communicating bad news in emergency and intensive care medicine: difficulties and strategies
No full textA comunicação de más notícias é um componente essencial da prática clínica que pode causar um impacto significativo no bem-estar emocional dos doentes e suas famílias, e em ambientes de serviços de urgência e cuidados intensivos, onde as decisões devem ser tomadas rapidamente.
Objetivo: Conhecer a perceção dos enfermeiros e médicos sobre o processo de comunicação de más notícias à pessoa em situação crítica e à sua família, em contexto de Urgência/Medicina Intensiva.
Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo descritivo e transversal de cariz quantitativo, aplicando-se um questionário a médicos e enfermeiros (n=67) que exerciam funções nesses contextos, de uma Unidade Local de Saúde da região Norte de Portugal, recorrendo-se à técnica de amostragem não probabilística por conveniência.
Resultados: No processo de transmissão de más notícias, o lidar com as emoções do doente e ser honesto sem o privar da esperança, foram evidenciados como as duas principais dificuldades enfrentadas. Quanto às principais estratégias facilitadoras a adotar, salientam-se: a procura pela utilização de uma linguagem percebível, evitando-se termos técnicos, de modo que a pessoa compreenda o que está a ser transmitido; respondendo/esclarecendo todas as questões/dúvidas, concedendo-se tempo ao doente/familiar para assimilar tudo o que foi transmitido; procurando criar um ambiente privativo, seguro e confortável aquando dessa comunicação.
Conclusão: As competências da transmissão de más notícias são uma componente fundamental na prestação do cuidado aos doentes em situações críticas
Oxidative denitrogenation using sustainable carbon nanotubes: Effect of reaction conditions on hydrogen peroxide efficiency
No full textNitrogenated compounds in fuels contribute significantly to NOₓ emissions, prompting the need for efficient and sustainable removal technologies. Oxidative denitrogenation (ODN) has emerged as an alternative or complement to hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) to remove undesired nitrogenated compounds. While ODN requires significantly milder conditions compared to HDN, it relies on the use of hydrogen peroxide as oxidant source. Most works report the removal of nitrogenated compounds but neglect the rate of consumption and efficiency of use of hydrogen peroxide. In this work, the operational conditions during ODN (hydrogen peroxide concentration, catalyst concentration, temperature, and pH) were optimized to maximize the removal of nitrogenated compound, using quinoline as model compound, from a simulated fuel. Two sustainability-oriented parameters were introduced: (i) the abatement of total organic carbon and (ii) the efficiency of hydrogen peroxide consumption. Under optimum conditions ([H2O2]0 = 12 g L−1, 70 °C, [cat] = 2.5 g L−1, pH0 = 3.0), the process achieved 89 % quinoline removal, 35 % TOC abatement, and more than 77 % H2O2 consumption efficiency. These results demonstrate the potential of ODN to operate under mild conditions while maintaining high oxidant efficiency for model nitrogen-containing fuel compound, contributing to cleaner and more sustainable fuel purification strategies.This work was supported by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC): CIMO UID/00690/2025 (10.54499/UID/00690/2025) and UID/PRR/00690/2025 (10.54499/UID/PRR/00690/2025); SusTEC, LA/P/0007/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/LA/P/0007/2020). This research was also supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P./MCTES through national funds: LSRE-LCM, UID/50020/2025; and ALiCE, LA/P/0045/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/LA/P/0045/2020). Fernanda F. Roman acknowledges the national funding by FCT and the European Social Fund, FSE, through the individual research grant SFRH/BD/143224/2019. Adriano S. Silva thanks the financial support from FCT under MIT Portugal Program with Ph.D. grant SFRH/BD/151346/2021. J. L. Diaz de Tuesta acknowledges the research grant (2022-T1/AMB23946) by the program of Atracción al Talento of Comunidad de Madrid (Spain). The authors are grateful to Sociedade Ponto Verde for the financial support through the project “Estudo técnico-económico para a valorização de resíduos de embalagens plásticas em nanotubos de carbono.
Conhecimentos em intervenções de enfermagem forense - estudo numa unidade local de saúde do norte de Portugal
No full textA Enfermagem Forense constitui uma área emergente que articula a prática clínica com a preservação de evidências, desempenhando um papel central na avaliação, tratamento e acompanhamento de vítimas de violência e, em alguns contextos, de agressores de crimes. Os enfermeiros, pela sua posição privilegiada no contacto direto com a pessoa em situação crítica, assumem funções estratégicas na identificação, recolha, preservação e documentação de vestígios forenses, sendo fundamental o domínio de conhecimentos específicos nesta área para garantir um cuidado integral e baseado em evidência.
Objetivos: Analisar o efeito moderador de uma formação específica, relativamente às diferenças no nível de conhecimento em Enfermagem Forense, antes e após a respetiva frequência, segundo a perceção da amostra.
Métodos: Estudo exploratório, de análise quantitativa relacional aos dados obtidos a partir da aplicação do instrumento de recolha de dados: Questionário de Conhecimentos sobre Práticas de Enfermagem Forense (Libório & Cunha, 2012), à amostra de 49 enfermeiros, num Serviço de Urgência de uma Unidade Local de Saúde do Norte de Portugal. A seleção da amostra emergiu de critérios de inclusão e exclusão previamente definidos, maioritariamente do género feminino (91,8%), estado civil casado (30,6%), e especialista (28,6% %) em Enfermagem Médico-Cirúrgica, e 4,1% com Mestrado.
Resultados: Antes da formação, o nível médio global de conhecimentos situou-se em 59,7%, aumentando para 82,3% após a ação formativa. A aplicação prática das intervenções de Enfermagem Forense passou de 41,8% para 73,4%, com maior evolução nas subescalas de Preservação de Vestígios (de 42,1% para 75,9%) e Comunicação e Documentação (de 38,7% para 70,2%). A correlação entre conhecimentos e aplicação foi positiva e significativa (r=0,62; p<0,01). Os principais constrangimentos identificados foram a escassez de formação (82,5%), a ausência de protocolos institucionais (77,1%) e a sobrecarga de trabalho em serviço de urgência (69,8%).
Conclusão: O estudo evidencia fragilidades iniciais nos conhecimentos e na aplicação da Enfermagem Forense, mas demonstra que a formação estruturada constitui um instrumento eficaz para a sua melhoria significativa. Torna-se, assim, pertinente investir em estratégias educativas contínuas, no desenvolvimento de protocolos claros e no reforço do suporte institucional, assegurando que os enfermeiros possam exercer plenamente o seu papel na interface entre saúde e justiça.Forensic Nursing is an emerging field that articulates clinical practice with the preservation of evidence, playing a central role in the assessment, treatment, and follow-up of victims of violence and, in some contexts, perpetrators of crimes.
Nurses, due to their privileged position in direct contact with individuals in critical situations, assume strategic functions in the identification, collection, preservation, and documentation of forensic traces. Mastery of specific knowledge in this field is therefore essential to ensure comprehensive, evidence-based care.
Objectives: To analyze the moderating effect of specific training regarding diferences in the level of knowledge in Forensic Nursing, before and after attendance, according to the participants’ perception.
Methods: E Exploratory study, with relational quantitative analysis of data obtained from the application of the data collection instrument: Knowledge Questionnaire on Forensic Nursing Practices (Libório & Cunha, 2012), to a sample of 49 nurses, in the Emergency Department of a Local Health Unit in Northern Portugal. The sample selection was based on previously defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, mostly female (91.8%), married (30.6%), and specialists (28.6%) in Medical-Surgical Nursing, with 4.1% holding a Master’s degree.
Results: Before training, the overall mean knowledge level was 59.7%, increasing to 82.3% after the educational intervention. The practical application of Forensic Nursing interventions increased from 41.8% to 73.4%, with the greatest improvements in the subscales of Evidence Preservation (from 42.1% to 75.9%) and Communication and Documentation (from 38.7% to 70.2%). The correlation between knowledge and application was positive and significant (r=0.62; p<0.01). The main constraints identified were lack of training (82.5%), absence of institutional protocols (77.1%), and work overload in emergency services (69.8%).
Conclusion: The study highlights initial weaknesses in knowledge and application of Forensic Nursing, but demonstrates that structured training is an effective tool for significant improvement. It is therefore relevant to invest in continuous educational strategies, the development of clear protocols, and the strengthening of institutional support, ensuring that nurses can fully exercise their role at the interface between health and justice
Reframing communication and marketing in tourism and hospitality: sustainability, technology, and strategic transformation
No full textSustainability has gone from being merely a normative aspiration to becoming a strategic and communicational imperative, influencing the image of destinations, brand legitimacy, and tourist behavior. At the same time, the need for resilient and regenerative tourism systems, aligned with international guidelines such as those promoted by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is highlighted. In parallel, the advancement of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and user experience-centric interfaces, redefines management, marketing, experience, and governance processes, while also raising ethical and social challenges.
In an integrated way, the articles studied and compared demonstrate that value creation in contemporary tourism cannot be understood solely in economic terms, but must incorporate environmental responsibility, ethical governance, technological innovation, and meaningful stakeholder engagement. The set of contributions reinforces the central role of communication and marketing as strategic mechanisms to address complexity, promote sustainability, and shape the future of tourism systems.The editors would like to express their sincere gratitude to all authors for the quality and relevance of their contributions, to the reviewers for their rigorous and constructive evaluations, and to the ICTHM2025 scientific and organising committees for fostering an intellectually rich and interdisciplinary conference environment. Appreciation is also extended to the editorial board of the International Journal of Marketing, Communication and New Media for their continued support and commitment to academic excellence.A final thanks to Web of Science (WoS), Journal Citation ReportsTM (JCRTM), Journal Impact FactorTM, Qualis-CAPES, ERIH Plus, REDIB, RCAPP, MIAR, OAJI, LATINDEX, DRJI, Livre, INDEX COPERNICUS, FREE for the support given to the positioning of IJMCNM in the scientific community
The loading impact of training and match-play on non-contact muscle injuries in elite male soccer players. A seasonal analysis
No full textThis study investigated the relationship between acute and chronic training load metrics and non-contact muscle injuries in elite soccer players employing a novel statistical approach. A retrospective analysis was conducted during the 2020/21 season on 30 senior outfield players from an English Premier League club. Global Positioning System (GPS) technology monitored total distance, high-speed running (HSR) distance (5.5-7 m/s), sprint distance (> 7 m/s), and peak speed during training sessions and matches. A total of 42 injuries were documented, with an incidence of 8.94 injuries per 1000 hours, although only 12 non-contact muscle injuries were included in the analysis that occurred at 2.5 per 1000 hours of exposure. Acute (7-day) and chronic (28-day) training loads were examined, and data preprocessing addressed missing values and multicollinearity. To address class imbalance, the dataset was balanced using the Synthetic Minority Over-Sampling Technique (SMOTE) prior to logistic regression. Four significant predictors were retained: acute HSR (beta =-0.175, p < 0.001), acute sprint distance (beta =-0.613, p < 0.001), acute peak speed (beta = 1.101, p < 0.001), and chronic total distance (beta = 2.234, p < 0.001). The model demonstrated excellent discriminative ability with an AUC-ROC of 0.80. The results showed that higher acute volumes of HSR and sprint distance serve as protective factors against non-contact muscle injuries, whereas an increase in acute peak speed and chronic total distance significantly elevates injury risk. These findings underscore the importance of regular exposure to HSR to enhance injury resilience, while excessive load and peak speed may contribute to neuromuscular fatigue and overload.Rafael Oliveira is a research member of the Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health and Human Development which was funded by National Funds by FCT \u2013 Foundation for Science and Technology under the following project UI/04045. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.
Funding: Rafael Oliveira is a research member of the Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health and Human Development which was funded by National Funds by FCT \u2013 Foundation for Science and Technology under the following project UI/04045. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results