ESTiG - Artigos em Revistas Indexados à WoS/Scopus
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- Accessible power for medical equipment in remote healthcare: a solution for single-phase power generation using three-phase induction machinesPublication . Romeiro, Bruno; Oliveira, Carlos; Hildenberg, Cicero; Ferreira, Ângela P.; Filho, FranciscoThis work was motivated by the urgent need for reliable electricity in remote areas where conventional power distribution, and consequently access to healthcare, remains impractical. The proposed system is a practical alternative to conventional synchronous generators commonly used in off-grid applications, which have high implementation and maintenance costs and potential risks in healthcare applications due to the spark generated by the brushes. We propose the use of a self-excited single-phase generator, derived from a three-phase induction machine, as a robust, low-cost, highly reliable and safe solution for supplying electrical power to medical applications in remote locations. The work presents a mathematical model based on the theory of symmetrical components, which incorporates frequency variation and unbalanced system operation, along with an analytical methodology to determine the capacitance values required for this application and all system elements, including the definition of the sizing factors KE and KM. The proposed approach allows for rigorous design without relying on empirical procedures as commonly presented in the literature, and is experimentally validated using real medical loads. Our experimental setup incorporates current medical devices, including three infusion pumps, a cardioverter-defibrillator, and a patient monitoring device. Despite modest voltage imbalances observed during steady-state operation, all medical devices maintained adequate functionality during testing. The transient response during load switching showed damped oscillations before returning to steady-state operation, demonstrating stable voltage and frequency behavior without the use of active electronic control. The generator demonstrated satisfactory voltage regulation and short-circuit self-protection capabilities without the need for complex systems, making it economically viable for deployment in resource-constrained environments. These results suggest that the proposed configuration offers a practical solution for the electrification of medical facilities in regions where grid extension remains challenging or prohibitively expensive.
- The artificial intelligence act: insights regarding its application and implicationsPublication . Cabrera, Beatriz M.; Luiz, Luiz E.; Teixeira, João PauloThis paper deals with Europe's Artificial Intelligence Act, the first regulation on the subject and is considered an international milestone. Therefore, the introduction provides a historical overview of legislative developments on Artificial Intelligence in Europe until the current milestone, namely the approval of the AI Act text, which is currently being amended and translated into its official publication. Afterwards, the regulation is dealt with in detail; its nuances are presented, along with the conceptualisation of artificial intelligence in the regulation and the classification of artificial intelligence systems, which is based on risks to users, together with the mechanisms created to make the regulation more efficient, specifically the Artificial Intelligence Office. Ultimately, considering the great innovation on the subject, this work presents different opinions regarding the application of the regulation, its risk-based analysis and classification, expectations and views on the possible impacts of the act on the market, thereby seeking to expose society's receptiveness to the regulation created. Therefore, based on the discussion points, it can be concluded that the regulation, which will soon be in effect, brings different feelings to citizens and members of the European market, who are still insecure about the risk-based approach used, harbouring feelings of fear about the limitation of innovation. However, at the same time, there is hope, given that regulation is necessary to guarantee safe innovation in line with the fundamental rights set out by the European Union. It can also be concluded that the approval and forthcoming publication of the act is a small step towards the challenges that will arise. It is certain that, regardless of the different opinions that exist, it is necessary to start implementing the act to analyse its effects on the market, society, politics, the economy and, above all, on innovations in artificial intelligence systems.
- Eco-friendly cement mortar with wastewater treatment plant sludge upcyclingPublication . Grabowski, Thais; Pietrobelli, Juliana; Martins, RamiroThis study aimed to investigate the technical feasibility of replacing cement in mortar production with sludge generated in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), prepared using different treatments. The sludge used in the experiments was processed using four different methods to investigate the effect of processing on the mechanical strength of the specimens. The sludge was then mixed with mortar in different proportions, and samples were produced for flexural and compressive strength tests. The results showed that specimens with 7% sludge from the burned treatment exhibited the highest resistance, surpassing the standard. Specimens with sludge from the drying treatments showed similar results. This study found that using sludge in mortar production could lead to energy savings compared to traditional cement production methods. Moreover, the incorporation of sludge resulted in mortars that met the specifications of the EN 998-1:2018 standard, thereby indicating their technical feasibility. Therefore, this study demonstrated the potential of using sludge from WWTPs as a substitute for cement in mortar production, which could contribute to the reduction in the environmental impacts caused by civil construction and the development of sustainable alternatives for the disposal of sludge generated in WWTPs.
- Exposure to occupational risks in a portuguese care-home for elderly people: a case studyPublication . Oliveira, Rui; Fidalgo, Sandra; Cardim, SofiaResidential Structures for the Elderly People (care homes) play an essential role in the social response to support aging populations, reflecting the growing rate of aging in Portugal. These services are carried out by people in different, specific professional categories exposed to labour risks that affect the workers' physical, mental, and social health. Analysing and assessing the risks inherent in the various jobs is key to controlling them and preventing accidents and occupational illnesses. This study involves analysing the risks to which workers in a care home are exposed and, consequently, the preventive measures best suited to eliminating and controlling risks. The methodology involves the application of a questionnaire drawn up based on bibliographical research duly adjusted for the different professional categories. Subsequently, through non-participant observation, the existing risks were surveyed and evaluated, with the other sources of information being duly considered. The results show the need for specific training for the organization's employees and the implementation of lesser used preventive measures, which require more significant investment and support for their application in similar care-home institutions.
- A machine learning approach for enhanced glucose prediction in biosensorsPublication . Abreu, António; Oliveira, Daniela dos Santos; Vinagre, Inês; Cavouras, Dionisios; Alves, Joaquim A.; Pereira, Ana I.; Moreira, Felismina T. C.The detection of glucose is crucial for diagnosing diseases such as diabetes and enables timely medical intervention. In this study, a disposable enzymatic screen-printed electrode electrochemical biosensor enhanced with machine learning (ML) for quantifying glucose in serum is presented. The platinum working surface was modified by chemical adsorption with biographene (BGr) and glucose oxidase, and the enzyme was encapsulated in polydopamine (PDP) by electropolymerisation. Electrochemical characterisation and morphological analysis (scanning and transmission electron microscopy) confirmed the modifications. Calibration curves in Cormay serum (CS) and selectivity tests with chronoamperometry were used to evaluate the biosensor’s performance. Non-linear ML regression algorithms for modelling glucose concentration and calibration parameters were tested to find the best-fit model for accurate predictions. The biosensor with BGr and enzyme encapsulation showed excellent performance with a linear range of 0.75–40 mM, a correlation of 0.988, and a detection limit of 0.078 mM. Of the algorithms tested, the decision tree accurately predicted calibration parameters and achieved a coefficient of determination above 0.9 for most metrics. Multilayer perceptron models effectively predicted glucose concentration with a coefficient of determination of 0.828, demonstrating the synergy of biosensor technology and ML for reliable glucose detection.
- Presidential elections and secretary appointment: an event study for us biotechnology and drugsPublication . Martins, António Miguel; Albuquerque, Bruno; Sardinha, Luís; Moutinho, NunoThe aim of this study is to analyse the effect of the 2024 US presidential election and the appointment of the US health secretary to the largest US listed biotechnology and drug firms. Using an event study methodology, we find that President Donald Trump's election had no significant impact on the industry. On the contrary, the results show statistically significant negative stock price reactions around the US health secretary appointment. The negative industry reaction to the US health secretary appointment is largely explained by his scepticism about vaccination and criticism about the high prices of drug prescriptions and margins in the industry. These results highlight the importance of top government position appointments, especially when such appointments eliminate much of the uncertainty regarding future government action in the industry and political uncertainty hypothesis. Finally, cross-section analysis reveals that the firms most penalized by the 2024 US presidential election and the appointment of the US health secretary are those with the highest investments in R&D and capital expenditures. This could mean lower future investments in new vaccines or drugs, seriously harming society.
- The role of sleep on physical and cognitive performance of ultra-endurance athletes: a systematic reviewPublication . Guilherme, Larissa; Rodrigues, Bruno; Rosa, Carla; Leite, Luciano; Scheer, Volker; Forte, Pedro; Hermsdorff, Helen; Kravchychyn, Ana; Souza, Helton de SáSleep is an important factor for recovery and performance in endurance sports, yet its role in ultra-endurance events remains unclear due to extreme physical and cognitive demands and disrupted sleep patterns. This systematic review aimed to analyze the role of sleep in physical and cognitive performance in ultra-endurance athletes. This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted in May 2025 across PubMed/Medline, Embase, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science. Two researchers independently screened, selected, extracted, and assessed data quality using the JBI tools (PROSPERO ID: CRD420251042220). Of 424 articles, 16 met inclusion criteria, totaling data from 1389 athletes. Regarding physical performance, better outcomes were associated with no or less sleep during competition (TST), extended sleep the night before, and increased time in light sleep. In contrast, longer wake time, lower sleep quality, greater sleepiness during competition, and higher sleep efficiency were linked to poorer performance. Cognitive performance was positively associated with pre-race sleep quality and mid-race naps. Conversely, greater accumulated sleep before testing was linked to worse cognitive outcomes. Sleep, particularly total sleep time (TST), plays an important role in ultra-endurance performance, although this relationship may be non-linear and influenced by race context and individual strategies. Pre-race and intra-race sleep strategies such as napping and extended sleep may benefit performance. Further rigorous and longitudinal studies are needed to clarify sleep’s impact on performance and recovery in ultra-endurance contexts.
- Solar-driven thermos-photocatalytic methanation over a structured RuO₂:TiO₂/SBA-15 nanocomposite at low temperaturePublication . Paulista, Larissa; Ferreira, A.; Castanheira, B.; Martins, Ramiro; Dolic, M.; Boaventura, Rui; Vilar, Vitor; Silva, TâniaA new hybrid catalyst composed of mesostructured silica SBA-15 functionalized with TiO2 and further loaded with RuO2 was developed to efficiently promote thermo-photocatalytic CO2 hydrogenation into methane at low temperatures. The catalytic activity was assessed with respect to TiO2:RuO2 loading, catalyst dosage, illumination source (polychromatic sunlight and monochromatic LEDs) and power, [H2]:[CO2] molar ratio, temperature, and catalyst reusability. The best methanation yields were attained for the RuO2(6.4%):TiO2(16.9%)/SBA-15 nanocomposite at 150 ºC, under simulated sunlight (0.21 W) and stoichiometric [H2]:[CO2] molar ratio, reaching: a specific CH4 production rate of 13.6 mmol gcat-1 h-1; 99.8 % selectivity; 96.8 % CO2 conversion (110-min; 40 mL); and apparent photonic efficiency/quantum yield of 39.5 %/42.1 %. Considering only the active RuO2:TiO2 photocatalyst mass (23.3 %), the CH4 production rate increased to 58.6 mmol gactive_cat-1 h-1. Besides, this highly-active photocatalyst featured excellent UV-Vis-IR light absorbance, high surface area, and stability for reuse when moist gas was removed between cycles.
- Tracking urban impacto n the Fervença river via water quality indexPublication . Martins, Ramiro; Pietrobelli, JulianaWater quality is crucial for the survival of living organisms and their environment. The Water Quality Index (WQI) is commonly used to monitor and minimize pollution. This study utilized The WQI was used to evaluate the water quality of the Fervença River in Bragança, Portugal, from January to June 2022. Water samples were collected monthly at five locations along the river. The WQI, which is based on physical, chemical, and biological parameters, provides a comprehensive numerical assessment, ranging from 0 to 100. In general, points 1-4 exhibited a good WQI and showed similar results. However, at point 5, reduced WQI values were consistently observed in all sampling campaigns, indicating a likely connection with discharge from the nearby wastewater treatment plant. The winter season, which is typically characterized by higher rainfall in the region, experienced severe drought during the study period. Consequently, the influence of rainfall on the WQI parameters could not be evaluated as expected, particularly from January to March. Comparing the obtained results, it is evident that as the Fervença River flows through the city of Bragança, the water quality indices decrease in most campaigns, particularly after Point 5. This finding highlights the negative influence of cities on the river water quality. This study highlights the importance of assessing water quality. Points 1 to 4 demonstrated good water quality, whereas point 5 showed reduced quality, linked to the wastewater treatment plant. Drought and city influence affect river water quality, which is crucial for the survival of living organisms and their environments.
- Trust in others’ mirrors: how UGC shapes confidence in aesthetic medicinePublication . Correia, Ricardo; Marques, Teresa; Meneses, Raquel; Venciute, DominykaThis study examines how user-generated content (UGC) shapes trust and purchase intention in aesthetic medicine. Drawing on the Stereotype Content Model and trust theory, it investigates the roles of perceived warmth and competence conveyed through online reviews. A quasi-experimental study using fictitious physician reviews was conducted with 221 Brazilian and Portuguese respondents. Structural equation modeling shows that both warmth and competence significantly enhance trust, with competence exerting a stronger effect. Trust strongly predicts purchase intention, while sensitivity to UGC does not moderate these relationships. A halo effect emerges, revealing interdependence between warmth and competence perceptions in high-risk medical services.