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- Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and carotid intima-media thickness in university students: A cross-sectional studyPublication . Mateus, Sónia; Amaral. Ana Miguel; Coleho, Patrícia; Rodrigues, FranciscoIntroduction: Subclinical atherosclerosis is increasingly recognized in younger populations, often progressing silently until the onset of overt cardiovascular events. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a validated, non-invasive biomarker of early vascular alterations. Although the Mediterranean diet (MD) is well established as cardioprotective, its relationship with CIMT in young adults remains insufficiently studied. Objective: To assess sex-specific adherence to the Mediterranean diet and its association with carotid intima-media thickness in a cohort of university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed involving 60 university students (50% male, aged 17–25 years), selected through stratified probabilistic sampling. Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics, vascular risk factors, MD adherence via the PREDIMED questionnaire, and CIMT measured using a high-resolution carotid Doppler ultrasound. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests and descriptive statistics, with significance set at ρ ≤ 0.05. Results: A notable 95% of participants showed low adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Significant sex differences in dietary patterns were identified: males consumed more red meat (ρ = 0.023), while females reported higher fish intake (ρ = 0.037). Despite behavioral risk factors, all CIMT values remained within normal ranges (≤0.9 mm). No significant association was found between MD adherence and CIMT (ρ = 0.554). Conclusion: This exploratory study reveals a high prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, including poor dietary adherence, among young adults, despite the absence of detectable vascular structural changes. Although no significant association was found, the findings reflect the dietary and behavioral profiles of a young, low-risk population.
- AI-powered prompt engineering for education 4.0: Transforming digital resources into engaging learning experiencesPublication . Serra, Paulo; Oliveira, ÂngelaThe integration of Artificial Intelligence into educational environments is reshaping the way digital resources support teaching and learning, which reinforces the need to understand how prompting strategies can enhance engagement, autonomy, and personalisation. This study examines the pedagogical role of prompt engineering in the transformation of static digital materials into adaptive and interactive learning experiences aligned with the principles of Education 4.0. A systematic literature review was conducted between 2023 and 2025 following the PRISMA protocol, comprising a sample of 166 studies retrieved from the ACM Digital Library and Scopus databases. The search strategy employed the keywords “artificial intelligence” OR “intelligent tutoring systems” AND “e-learning” OR “digital education” AND “personalised learning” OR “academic performance” OR “student engagement” OR “motivation” OR “ethical issues” OR “student autonomy” OR “limitations of AI”. The analysis identified consistent improvements in academic performance, motivation, and student engagement, although persistent limitations remain related to technical integration, ethical risks, and limited pedagogical alignment. Building on these findings, the article proposes a structured prompt engineering methodology that integrates interdependent components including role definition, audience specification, feedback style, contextual framing, guided reasoning, operational rules, and output format. A practical illustration shows that embedding prompts into digital learning resources, exemplified through PDF-based exercises, enables AI agents to support personalised and adaptive study sessions. The study concludes that systematic prompt design can reposition educational resources as intelligent, transparent, and pedagogically rigorous systems for knowledge construction.
- Análisis del tipo de técnicas, puntuaciones y sanciones en el Campeonato de Europa de Judo SeniorPublication . Silva Batista, Marco Alexandre; Escobar-Molina, Raquel; Fernandes, Jorge; Louro, HugoIntroducción: El judo es un deporte de combate olímpico dividido en categorías de peso y sexo. Los combates tienen una duración de cuatro minutos en ambos sexos, y cuando las puntuaciones o amonestaciones para ambos competidores son las mismas, se produce empate entre los judocas y el combate se decide mediante la Técnica de Oro. Es por ello que, la duración de los combates y de la competición, puede tener repercusiones en los judocas, tanto desde el punto de vista técnico, táctico, físico, fisiológico y psicológico, entre otros. Objetivo: El estudio tuvo como propósito determinar el predominio de las acciones técnicas, puntuaciones y penalizaciones en función de la duración del combate y la fase de la competición en el Campeonato de Europa de Judo Senior 2021. Metodología: Se observaron 398 combates en todas las categorías de peso y en ambos sexos (230 hombres y 168 mujeres). Para el registro de las técnicas se utilizó la clasificación Kodokan de judo. Se anotaron las puntuaciones y penalizaciones, a lo largo del combate y durante la Técnica de Oro, en las distintas fases de la competición. Resultados: La mayoría de los combates terminaron en el tiempo reglamentario (79,15%) y un menor porcentaje se resolvieron en la Técnica de Oro (20,85%). A medida que se avanza en la fase de competición hay una tendencia a que los combates se decidan mediante la Técnica de Oro. Conclusiones: El tiempo de combate y la fase de competición influyen tant o en el tipo de técnicas empleadas, las puntuaciones obtenidas y las penalizaciones recibidas.
- Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity characteristics of seven biopreparations used in organic farmingPublication . Simões, Joana; Peleja, Ana; Neves, Cláudia M.B.; Costa, Daniela V.T.A.; Correia, Helena Esteves; Pinto, António; Wessel, Dulcineia; Delgado, F.M.G.; Carneiro, João; Horta, Carmo; Bahcevandziev, Kiril; Vidal, Maria M.B.; Filipe, Olga M.S.; Costa, Cristina Amaro daAgroecological transition is a major societal challenge and it is urgent to support technical solutions to answer farmers demand towards the necessary changes. The project RESTORE - biopReparados Em SisTemas prOdução agRoEcológicos aimed to study and validate the production, conservation, and use of seven biopreparations by characterizing and testing them in lettuce nurseries. The biopreparations used include prickly pear vinegar, purslane vinegar, fermented orange juice, garlic extract, nettle infusion, horsetail decoction and a biopreparation of garlic and chilli. The in vitro microbiological characterization and chemical analysis of the biopreparations, which included phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity, allowed us to understand their properties and to propose the most appropriate conservation strategy. The tests were conducted in four different moments: during the biopreparations’ manufacturing, after six months of frozen storage, and after three and six months of fresh storage. One-Way ANOVA in SPSS 29.0 and PCA comparison tests were used to analyze the results. Fermented orange juice and vinegars were the biopreparations that showed the greatest outcomes in terms of antioxidant capacity and phenolic composition. Purslane vinegar had the highest average inhibition against germs. The concentration of phenolic compounds, the antioxidant capacity, and the antibacterial activity of the biopreparations varied with time and type of conservation. It is crucial to conduct more trials, using different species and recipes, to support farmers’ decision making and adoption of agroecological solutions.
- Associations between body mass index, physical activity, perceived school competence, and academic performance in Portuguese elementary studentsPublication . Rebelo, Miguel; Serrano, João; HONÓRIO, SAMUEL; Santos, Jorge; Marques, Catarina; Silva Batista, Marco AlexandreBackground/Objectives: Childhood is a critical stage for consolidating health-related habits that shape physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development. Regular physical activity has been linked to fitness and academic outcomes, while high body mass index (BMI) may hinder school performance. This study examined associations between BMI, perceived school competence, academic performance, and weekly physical activity volume in Portuguese elementary students, addressing a gap in national evidence compared with international studies. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was adopted with 531 children (M = 9.13 years) from 10 public schools. BMI was calculated from anthropometric measures, weekly physical activity was self-reported, perceived competence was assessed with Harter’s Self-Concept Scale (Cronbach’s α = 0.797), and academic performance was obtained from school records. Analyses included Pearson correlations, ANOVA with Scheffé post hoc, and multiple regression, with exact significance values reported. Results: Higher BMI was negatively associated with perceived competence and academic achievement, while regular physical activity, particularly 4–6 h per week, was linked to better results in Portuguese and mathematics. Associations were modest (r = 0.18–0.32; R2 = 0.12). Regression showed physical activity (β = 0.093, p = 0.033) and perceived competence (β = 0.126, p = 0.004) predicted academic performance, whereas BMI was not (β = −0.028, p = 0.524). The near-zero correlation with environmental studies suggests subject-specific influences. Conclusions: Adequate BMI and regular physical activity are associated with better academic performance. The role of perceived competence is theoretically inferred as a potential mediator, but not formally tested. Findings highlight the interplay of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial factors. Structured school-based activity programs of 4–6 h weekly may promote both health and learning.
- Avaliação do nível de contaminação nos sedimentos de cursos de água do Sistema Mineiro de Caveira (Grândola)Publication . Silva, R. da; Fonseca1, R.; Araújo, J. F.; Silva, N.; Albuquerque, M.T.D.O presente trabalho, inserido no Projeto GeoMatRe, visa o levantamento das condições mais atualizadas no que toca aos parâmetros físico-químicos numa mina de drenagem ácida. Uma situação crítica que ocorre na área mineira de Caveira, em Grândola, Portugal, abandonada desde a década de 60 do século passado. O objetivo passa por analisar as condições de contaminação de Elementos Potencialmente Tóxicos (EPT) nos sedimentos que ocorrem quer em fases móveis e dissolvidas na água intersticial dos sedimentos, quer em fases mais imóveis. Neste trabalho é realizada uma caracterização geral da área do sistema mineiro, verificando-se um nível de contaminação da área, através da análise do Índice de Geoacumulação (IGEO) e do Fator de Enriquecimento (FE), onde os elementos Cu, Pb, Zn, As e Hg demonstram ser os principais EPT’s na região, apresentando valores, em alguns dos casos, milhares de vezes acima dos estipulados pelas normas nacionais.
- Behavior change wheel as a tool to promote physical activity in online intervention: a case studyPublication . Couto, Nuno; Morgado, Vitor; Pereira, Tomás; Vitorino, Anabela; Bento, Teresa; Alves, Susana; Cid, Luís; Duarte-Mendes, PedroIntroduction: Physical activity (PA) has significant health benefits. However, one in four adults does not meet the globally recommended levels of PA. Considering that PA behavior is influenced by various factors operating at multiple levels, including personal, social, and environmental factors, a singlesubject behavioral change intervention was developed to promote PA behavior through online sessions. Method: Based on a one-to-one intervention, the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) methodology was used to design an intervention that was developed for 24 weeks, including eight weeks of online sessions and 16 weeks of follow-up. Results: We observed an increase of metabolic equivalent (MET-min/week; baseline = 2,970; eight weeks = 6,440; 24 weeks = 6,744) and daily steps (baseline = 8,372; eight weeks = 10,234; 24 weeks = 12,142), which provides some evidence for the efficacy of online methodologies, especially in the relation one-to-one. Conclusion: The intervention, designed through BCW, had a positive effect in promoting more PA in a subject of our case study and provided evidence that can be used in further interventions that aim to increase PA levels in the population; however, future studies must be conducted to expand the evidence in other domains.
- Big Data-based recommendation systemsPublication . Barata, Luís; Mata, Diogo; Nunes, Jorge; Rodrigues, LucasIntroduction: With the exponential growth of data, digital platforms increasingly rely on Big Data technologies to personalize user experiences and improve the accuracy of item recommendations. Recommendation systems play a critical role in e-commerce, entertainment, and social media by analyzing user interactions, behaviors, and preferences. However, the complexity of large-scale data processing and the diversity of filtering techniques pose significant challenges to achieving high performance and scalability. Objectives: This study aims to analyze how Big Data technologies are applied in modern recommendation systems, emphasizing their role in enhancing personalization and system performance. The work seeks to identify the main data collection strategies, algorithms, and tools adopted in recent research, as well as to assess how these systems address challenges related to scalability and real-time processing. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using the IEEE Xplore database, focusing on articles published between 2015 and 2025. The search targeted studies combining Big Data and recommendation systems within e-commerce contexts. Out of 49 retrieved publications, 10 met the inclusion criteria, and 5 were ultimately selected after applying exclusion filters. Each selected paper was analyzed regarding its objectives, employed algorithms, data sources, and achieved outcomes. Results: The reviewed studies demonstrate a wide variety of approaches and technologies, including Hadoop and Spark frameworks for large-scale data processing, deep learning models such as DeepLearning4j for real-time prediction, and classical data mining algorithms like K-Means, Apriori, and FP-Growth. Hybrid methods combining collaborative and content-based filtering were shown to overcome limitations such as the cold start and data sparsity problems. Scalability was addressed through distributed processing and optimization techniques like network pruning and parallel computation. These systems achieved higher recommendation precision and responsiveness across different e-commerce and media applications. Conclusions: The analysis confirms that Big Data–driven recommendation systems are essential for enhancing user engagement and conversion in digital platforms. By integrating data mining, machine learning, and distributed processing technologies, these systems deliver efficient, adaptive, and context-aware recommendations. Future developments should continue exploring hybrid and deep learning–based approaches to further improve scalability, personalization, and computational performance in increasingly complex digital ecosystems.
- Body composition, strength and muscle power indices at the different competitive levels of FutsalPublication . Rebelo, Miguel; Marques, Catarina; Crisóstomo, Rute; Silva Batista, Marco Alexandre; Paulo, Rui; Duarte-Mendes, Pedro; HONÓRIO, SAMUEL; Serrano, JoãoObjective: The aim was to verify the differences in physical condition (body composition, power and muscle strength) in futsal players from three competitive levels. Methodology: Sixty-eight (24.26 ± 4.63 years old) Portuguese futsal players participated in the study, divided into: elite, sub-elite and amateur. We used the bioimpedance, the countermovement jump and the isokinetic dynamometer to assess physical condition, and the Kruskal-Wallis test to compare variables between groups. Results: There were no differences in body composition between groups. Elite players had higher countermovement jump heights than amateur players (p < 0.001). There were significant differences in the isokinetic muscle strength of the knee flexors, with the elite players showing more strength than the amateur players (p = 0.047). Discussion: The results of the research should be contrasted with those of other research found in the literature. Conclusions: The elite players had higher physical condition parameters (more lower limb power and more flexor muscle strength) compared to the amateur players. We would point out that all groups had a high probability of lower limb muscle injury (H/Q ratio < 60%) at this stage of the sports season, alerting training professionals to the importance of individualised physical condition analysis.
- Bridging the gap between training and competition in elite rink hockey : a pilot studyPublication . Ferraz, António; Pérez-Chao, Enrique Alonso; Ribeiro, João; Spyrou, Konstantinos; Freitas, Tomás T; Santos, João Valentes dos; Alcaraz, Pedro E; Travassos, Bruno; Duarte-Mendes, PedroBackground: Monitoring training load and competition load is crucial for evaluating and improving athlete performance. This study proposes an applied approach to characterize and classify the training task specificity in relation to competition in a top-level rink hockey team, considering external and internal load from training tasks and competition. Hypothesis: Training tasks and game demands have significant dose-response differences, and exercises can be classified successfully based on their physiological and biomechanical demands. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Level of Evidence: Level 5. Methods: Ten elite-level male rink hockey players participated in this study. Players were monitored on 6 different task categories during 8 training sessions and 2 official games. A linear mixed model with random intercepts was used to compare training tasks and competition load, accounting for individual repeated measures. A 2-step cluster analysis was performed to classify the training tasks and games based on physiological and biomechanical load, employing log-likelihood as the distance measure and Schwartz’s Bayesian criterion. Results: Average heartrate , maximum heartrate, and high-speed skating (18.1-30 km/h) were the best physiological load predictors, while the most effective biomechanical load predictors were impacts [8-10] g(n), decelerations [-10 to -3]m/s²(n), and accelerations [3-10]m/s²(n). Different physiological and biomechanical responses were verified between training tasks and match demands. A 4-quadrant efforts assessment for each task category revealed that training tasks used by the team in the analysis presented lower biomechanical and physiological load demands than competition. Conclusion: Training tasks failed to adequately replicate the specific demands of competition, especially regarding high mechanical stress, such as the absence of high-intensity impacts and decelerations. Clinical Relevance: This method of classification of training tasks may allow coaches to understand further the specificity and contribution of each task to competition demands, consequently improving the capacity of load management and the preparedness and readiness of players for competition.