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- Quatro anos de guerra na Ucrânia : o novo tabuleiro geopolítico da EuropaPublication . Biscop, Sven; Lutsevych, Orysia; Coutinho, Francisco Pereira; Instituto da Defesa Nacional
- Padronização e otimização dos processos de formulação de grânulos dispersíveis em águaPublication . Miguel, Jackson José Panzo; Neto, VitórioO estágio de dissertação para conclusão do curso de Engenharia Biológica e Química, e a obtenção do grau de mestre foi concretizada no complexo industrial Ascenza Agro Portugal, S.A., detalhadamente na Torre nº 5 – Fábrica de Inseticidas/ Fungicidas, entre 5 de março de 2025 e 26 de setembro de 2025. O tema proposto, Padronização dos processos de formulação dos WG’s (Water Dispersible Granules) de forma a otimizar o output, tem como objetivo o estudo, acompanhamento e otimização do processo de produção dos grânulos dispersíveis em água. A empresa possui dois processos distintos para a obtenção de WG’s: extrusão e secagem. O foco do estudo recaiu sobre o processo de secagem, que ocorre em duas etapas principais: spray dryer e leito fluidizado. O trabalho buscou identificar variáveis críticas, padronizar procedimentos e melhorar a eficiência e reprodutibilidade do processo, visando aumentar o rendimento final e a qualidade do produto. O presente estudo foca a padronização e otimização do processo de produção de Water Dispersible Granules (WG) por via do método de secagem, abrangendo desde a formulação do slurry até a obtenção do produto final desejado. A formulação do slurry constitui a etapa inicial, onde a correta dispersão dos ingredientes ativos e adjuvantes garante a estabilidade da suspensão e a qualidade do granulado. A densidade, viscosidade e a homogeneidade do slurry são alguns dos parâmetros críticos que impactam diretamente a performance da moagem e da secagem. Na entrada do spray dryer, o caudal de alimentação do slurry, a pressão de atomização, e a temperatura de entrada do ar quente são ajustados para promover uma atomização eficiente e uma secagem inicial controlada e para também garantir a segurança. A temperatura de saída da torre é monitorada rigorosamente, uma vez que influencia diretamente a umidade residual e a formação de partículas. Posteriormente, o produto parcialmente seco é transferido para o leito fluidizado, onde ocorre a etapa final de secagem. Neste estágio, parâmetros como temperatura de entrada e saída do ar, distribuição de ar no leito, a frequência dos vibradores do leito e o controle de pressão/depressão são otimizados para garantir a uniformidade do granulado. A recirculação dos finos, captados por ciclones ou filtros, é reintegrada ao processo para maximizar o rendimento e evitar perdas de material. O controle dos ventiladores de exaustão e de insuflação, da pressão estática nos equipamentos, e da eficiência de separação dos finos, além da sinergia entre os sistemas de secagem e transporte pneumático, são essenciais para a estabilidade operacional. A padronização desses parâmetros permite não apenas a melhoria do output em termos de rendimento, mas também maior reprodutibilidade e redução de desvios de processo, promovendo um ambiente de produção mais robusto e eficiente.
- Tracking Oil Price Shocks and Airline Stock Reactions Using Entropy-Based ApproachesPublication . Aslam, Faheem; Ferreira, Paulo; Oliveira, Márcia; Almeida, Dora; Corresponding author: Ferreira, Paulo.The relationship between oil prices and the airline industry is economically important yet empirically complex, presenting significant challenges, with prior research yielding conflicting evidence on the nature, strength, and direction of their interaction. This study contributes to the literature moving beyond traditional linear assumptions, applying Shannon and R´enyi transfer entropy to evaluate the nonlinear and state-dependent information flow between oil, oil volatility, and six international airline indices. The empirical findings reveal a significant but heterogeneous information flow between West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and airline indices, suggesting a relationship of mutual influence, where the directional information flow from WTI to airline indices consistently surpasses the reverse flow. In the case of the Crude Oil Volatility Index (OVX), results show a dominant flow of information from each airline index to the OVX index, indicating that sector-specific shocks can shape market expectations of oil volatility. The R´enyi entropy analysis further uncovers tail-driven dynamics: at low orders of R´enyi entropy, the entropy values remained predominantly negative between WTI and airline indices, while they remained predominantly positive, particularly from OVX to airline indices. However, at very high orders of entropy, there is a more traditional flow of information from WTI to airline indices. These findings enable policymakers to develop more effective, targeted, and economically sound energy policies for the transportation sector and the wider economy.
- A Roadmap for the Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis: From Theratyping to Personalised MedicinePublication . Amaral, Margarida D.; Academia das Ciências de LisboaA Fibrose Quística (FQ) é uma doença monogénica recessiva paradigmática, resultante de mutações no gene CFTR, que codifica um canal de aniões essencial para a homeostase epitelial. Desde a sua descoberta em 1989, a investigação científica transformou radicalmente o prognóstico da doença, evoluindo de tratamentos puramente sintomáticos para terapias moduladoras que visam o defeito proteico subjacente. Esta comunicação descreve o “roteiro” desta evolução, analisando a transição da teratipagem baseada em linhas celulares para o teranóstico baseado em modelos derivados de pacientes, como organoides intestinais. Discutem-se as quatro gerações de moduladores, as limitações da medicina de “solução única” para todos os pacientes, bem como futuras abordagens, incluindo a edição genética e as terapias de mRNA. Apesar do sucesso das terapias triplas que potencialmente beneficiam 80% dos pacientes, persistem desafios críticos de acessibilidade global e a necessidade urgente de soluções para os 20% de pacientes com mutações que não respondem aos moduladores. A FQ serve hoje como modelo para a medicina de translação e de precisão.
- Development and validation of a simple and fast method for routine analysis of new synthetic opioids and hallucinogens in whole blood using protein precipitation and UHPLC-MS/MSPublication . Pereira, Joana R.P.; Antunes, Mónica; Neng, N.R.; Mustra, Carla; Franco, João; Fonseca, SuzanaIn forensic toxicology, the rapid and reliable detection of emerging synthetic opioids and hallucinogens is crucial for case investigations and public health monitoring. This work describes the development, optimization and validation of a simple, fast and sensitive methodology for the simultaneous analysis of 6 new synthetic opioids (carfentanil, fentanyl, isotonitazene, metonitazene, norfentanyl, and sufentanil) and 2 hallucinogens (lysergide [LSD] and mescaline), together with the main LSD metabolite 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-lysergide [LSD-OH], in whole blood samples by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Under optimized experimental conditions, linearity was verified between 0.1 and 20 ng/mL for all analytes except mescaline (2.5-500 ng/mL), with r2 > 0.99 for 1/x weighting, and no significant carryover or matrix effects were observed. Good precision (% RSD < 13 %) and trueness (% Bias within ± 20 %) values were achieved. The estimated limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.1 ng/mL for all compounds except mescaline (2.5 ng/mL). Authentic forensic samples were also analyzed, and positive samples for fentanyl, norfentanyl, and sufentanil were identified. The proposed methodology allows the simultaneous analysis of compounds from different families of psychoactive substances, in both postmortem and in vivo samples, using only 50 µL of whole blood. The demonstrated speed, simplicity, and effectiveness make it particularly advantageous for routine implementation in forensic toxicology laboratories.
- Detection and quantification of selected cannabinoids in hair samples by liquid-liquid extraction and LC-MS/MSPublication . Antunes, Mónica; Simões, Susana; Fonseca, Suzana; Franco, João; Barroso, Mário; Gallardo, EugeniaCannabis remains the most used illicit drug worldwide, with rising use linked to medical and recreational decriminalization. This has driven the development of analytical techniques to detect cannabinoids in biological matrices. Hair offers key advantages due to its non-invasive collection, extended detection window, stability, and easy storage. This study presents the development and validation of a robust method for extracting natural cannabinoids from hair, following ANSI/ASB 2019, FDA, and Society of Hair Testing guidelines. Hair samples were washed with methanol and cut into small pieces. Approximately 20 mg of hair was incubated with 1 M NaOH and methanol (30 min, 50 °C). The mixture was acidified with acetic acid and underwent liquid-liquid extraction using hexane/ethyl acetate (90/10, v/v). The organic phase was evaporated and reconstituted in 1-pentanol/methanol (50/50, v/v). Analysis was conducted by LC-MS/MS using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and triple-stage mass spectrometry (MS³). The method was selective, specific, precise, and linear, with working ranges of 5-2000 pg/mg for THC, CBN, and CBD; 50-2000 pg/mg for THC-OH; and 0.2-20 pg/mg for THC-COOH. Ion suppression was observed but did not affect sensitivity, with LLOQs and LODs from 0.2 to 50 pg/mg. Over 25 hair samples from university students tested positive for cannabis. THC ranged from 5.9 to 2430.7 pg/mg; one sample had THC-OH above LLOQ (61.4 pg/mg); THC-COOH ranged from 0.3 and 36.4 pg/mg; CBN from 5.7 to 461.0 pg/mg; and CBD from 5.7 to 850.2 pg/mg. Results aligned with self-reported use, confirming the method's forensic suitability.
- Building up a plot-scale hydrogeological model using results from near-surface geophysical techniquesPublication . Paz, Maria Catarina; Martínez-Pagán, Pedro; Pérez-Cuevas, Jaruselsky; Alcalá, Francisco Javier
- An exploratory study of behavioral, cognitive, physiological, and microbiota profiles in senior dogsPublication . Saral, Begum; Atilgan, Durmus; Adiay, Deniz; Filazi, Nazlican; Ozturk, Hakan; Kismali, Gorkem; Pereira, Gonçalo Da Graça; Ozkul, Aykut; Demirbas, Yasemin SalgirliIntroduction: Aging in dogs is a multifactorial process involving behavioral, cognitive, immunological, and microbiota-related changes, yet distinguishing healthy from pathological aging remains challenging. This exploratory study aimed to evaluate physiological indicators of health by integrating pain evaluation and cognitive testing in senior companion dogs. Methods: Eighteen companion dogs aged ≥8 years underwent standardized behavioral and cognitive evaluations (Mini C-BARQ, DISHAA, object choice test), chronic pain assessment (Helsinki Chronic Pain Index), and quality-of-life (QoL) scoring. Hematological parameters, serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and Th1/Th2 ratios were measured as physiological indicators, while fecal samples were analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing for microbiota profiling. Results: All dogs scored above the chronic pain threshold (mean HCPI: 28.72), although caregiver-reported QoL ratings suggested good overall wellbeing. Cognitive testing yielded low average scores on the DISHAA (mean: 9.05), with only one dog showing mild cognitive decline; however, mean performance on the object choice test was low (1.94/5). Mean serum BDNF concentration was 0.154 ng/dL (SD: 0.082) and correlated positively with red blood cell (RBC) count and negatively with MCV, MCH, and MCHC (p ≤ 0.05). Immune profiling patterns suggested Th2 polarization. The gut microbiota was dominated by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified two primary dimensions of biological variation: a pain–immune–microbiota axis, defined by higher chronic pain scores, Th2 polarization, increased Prevotella abundance, and higher DISHAA scores, and a second component reflecting microbiota compositional variation. Discussion: These preliminary findings highlight potential interactions between pain, microbiota composition, and immune dysregulation, suggesting their possible utility as candidate indicators for differentiating healthy from pathological aging in dogs.
- A heatmap-based risk–benefit assessment of traditional and processed meat productsPublication . Bagherzadehsurbagh, Erfan; Laranjo, Marta; Assunção, RicardoMeat and meat products are integral components of various diets and provide many macro- and micronutrients. However, concerns over their potential adverse health effects remain pressing. This study employed a semi-quantitative Risk–Benefit Assessment (RBA) methodology to compare both beneficial and adverse health impacts of various meat products, i.e., fermented (Salame and Chouriço), dry-cured (Presunto), and heat-treated (Fiambre), with unprocessed grilled pork meat as a reference. Nutritional composition and microbiological and toxicological hazards were assessed using data acquired from national and international databases and the literature. In the end, a heatmap approach was used to summarize and compare product profiles. While grilled pork offered the most favorable profile, processed products showed high levels of sodium, nitrites, and contaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and ochratoxin A. Notably, Salame exhibited the most concerning risk profile, including high levels of histamine and ochratoxin A, whereas Fiambre, despite the high nitrite content, showed the lowest microbial and toxicological risks. These findings highlight significant variability in health-related impacts among meat products, caused mainly by processing technologies. The results can improve dietary guidance and regulations and encourage innovations, especially by indicating the potential of using engineered fermentation techniques and novel additives for improved meat products.
- Does the setting matter? Characterizing and classifying rural and urban arsonistsPublication . Ribeiro, Rita; Neves, Cristina; Rijo, Daniel; Soeiro, CristinaBackground: Thousands of fires are deliberately ignited around the world each year. The setting where it happens—rural versus urban areas—can lead to different crime opportunities. Rural arsonists set fires in vegetated areas, whereas urban arsonists target residences and other properties. Although urban and rural arsonists share similar features, some studies suggest that they differ in psychosocial and behavioural characteristics (e.g., age and motivation to set fires). Aims: This study analyses the psychosocial, behavioural and criminal characteristics of arsonists and distinguishes rural from urban arsonists through the development of a typology. Materials & Methods: The criminal records of 330 rural and urban arsonists (221 rural, 103 urban and six mixed rural/urban arsonists) were analysed and Latent Class Analysis was used to identify different subclasses within this sample. Results: Although rural and urban arsonists share some similar characteristics (e.g., no accomplices), differences in other variables were found, with higher effect sizes regarding motivation, relationship to victim, ignition devices and professional status. Furthermore, three different classes emerged to characterize this population: Rural Arsonists—Consumption Problems and Boredom (43%), Rural Arsonists—Mental Health Problems (36%) and Urban Arsonists—Consumption Problems and Revenge (21%). Discussion: In rural areas, criminal behaviour patterns were influenced by psychological and social integration problems, while in urban settings, family relationships/intimate partner problems had a greater impact. Conclusions: How parole and probation officers interact with their clients impacts attitudes towards the law and, ultimately, clients' likelihood of recidivism.