Repositório Científico da Universidade Politécnica de Castelo Branco
RC UPCB - Repositório Científico
Entradas recentes
Smart enough to matter: Rebranding the rural with innovation-driven growth
Publication . Filipe, Sara Brito; Duarte, Paulo; Farinha, Luís; Raposo, Daniel; Ferreira, João J.; Gaspar, Marcelo Calvete; Alves, Maria Leopoldina; Serrano, Luís
ABSTRACT: The concept of smart cities is evolving beyond its initial technological focus to encompass comprehensive development models that improve the ąuality of life, drive economic growth, and strengthen govemmentresponsiveness. This chapter examines how innovation, as part of the economic dimension of smart city frame- works, contributes to place branding strategies in three Portuguese inland munic- ipalities. This study analyzes how smali and medium-sized municipalities, often marginalized in mainstream smart city discussions, use innovation as a tool for place branding within the broader framework of smart territorial development. The importance of this topie is its potential to change how innovation is understood and applied at the regional level. It provides a novel perspective on how municipalities can leverage creativity, technology, and sustainability not only to enhance service delivery but also to create uniąue, credible, and forward-looking territorial identities. The findings show how the economic aspect, through entrepreneurship, technolog¬ical progress, and ecosystem development, enhances both the symbolic and tangible attractiveness of places. The study innovates by linking smart city concepts with place branding in smaller territories. It demonstrates that peripheral municipalities can use innovation as both a development tool and a narrative of differentiation, enhancing their economic image and overall competitiveness.
Recent land use land cover change tendencies in Continental Portugal: Are they sustainable?
Publication . Quinta-Nova, L. C.; G. Guerriero, G.; Rey-Gozalo, A. M.; El-Kenawy, R.; Hadji, H.; Chenchouni, A.; Sousa, P.; Di Carlo, J.; Lopes Velho, I.; Hassan, Ikrema; Perilli, Nicola
The Land Use Land Cover (LULC) pattern is fundamental to the structural framework of landscapes, playing a key role in effective landscape management. Additionally, the growing impact of human activities on the ecological environment has become a significant concern. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between human disturbance intensity and the configuration and quality of landscape patterns. The objectives were to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics of landscape changes and human disturbance associated with land-use changes in Continental Portugal from 1990 to 2018 and to examine how landscape change trajectories relate to human disturbance and naturalness metrics, assessing their potential as sustainability indicators. Landscape configuration was evaluated by using various land-use metrics, including Mean Patch Size, Mean Shape Index, Total Edge, and Mean Patch Fractal Dimension. These metrics were derived from LULC data obtained from the Corine Land Cover databases (1990, 2006, and 2018). Patch and landscape-level metrics were calculated for 163 quadrats of 25 km2 each, covering the country, using the Patch Analyst plugin in ArcGIS 10.8. The Hemeroby Index (HI) was used to quantify the degree of human-induced disturbance in the landscape. Correlation analysis was performed to identify statistical relationships between changes in landscape metrics and HI. The results revealed a negative correlation between the Total Edge metric changes and human disturbance, suggesting that greater landscape complexity corresponds to lower disturbance levels. These findings support using landscape metrics as indicators of human disturbance, aligning with previous research. Integrating structural and quality indicators can provide valuable insights for planners and decision-makers, aiding in analyzing regional land-use trends and supporting sustainable landscape management.
Comissionamento de um equipamento automático de seleção de fruta
Publication . Reis, Gonçalo José Antunes dos; Andrade, Luis Pedro Mota Pinto de; Pontes, Bernardo Paulo
A crescente exigência da indústria alimentar ao nível da qualidade, segurança alimentar e eficiência operacional tem impulsionado a implementação de tecnologias automáticas nos processos de transformação de fruta. Os sistemas automáticos de seleção ótica permitem melhorar o controlo de qualidade, reduzir a variabilidade da matéria-prima e aumentar a eficiência dos processos produtivos. O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido numa unidade industrial da Frulact e teve como principal objetivo reavaliar e otimizar o comissionamento de um equipamento automático de seleção de fruta. O estudo incidiu na reorganização dos programas de seleção, formação técnica das equipas, realização de testes com novas matérias-primas e implementação de melhorias operacionais associadas à metodologia SMED. Numa fase inicial, a taxa média de utilização da escolha automática correspondia a 58%, evidenciando margem para otimização da tecnologia instalada. Após a implementação das melhorias, verificou-se um aumento progressivo da utilização do equipamento, atingindo 79% no final do estudo. Paralelamente, a aplicação de princípios SMED permitiu reduzir o tempo médio de setup em aproximadamente 56%, contribuindo para melhorar a eficiência operacional e reduzir tempos improdutivos. Os testes realizados demonstraram potencial para integrar novas matérias primas na seleção automática, embora algumas referências tenham apresentado limitações relacionadas com as características físicas da fruta e dificuldade de deteção de determinados corpos estranhos. A formação técnica permitiu aumentar a autonomia das equipas e reduzir a dependência de suporte técnico externo. De forma global, os resultados demonstraram que a otimização contínua do comissionamento contribuiu para melhorar a utilização do equipamento, aumentar a eficiência do processo e reforçar o controlo de qualidade das matérias-primas na indústria alimentar.
Sustainable innovations in mechanical engineering
Publication . Gaspar, Marcelo; Alves, Maria Leopoldina; Serrano, Luís; Raposo, Daniel; Farinha, Luís
This book covers contemporary mechanical engineering applied research that reshape design, production and mobility systems to innovate through and within sustainability guidelines. Beyond presenting incremental advances through sustainability-oriented innovation, the chapters emphasize maintenance and repairability case-studies, life-extension of assets, resource and energy efficiency in processes, interoperability across cyber-physical production systems, and data-informed decision-making at component, process, and system levels.
Mapping evidence on kinesiophobia after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a scoping review
Publication . Alpalhão, Vanessa; Cordeiro, Nuno; Vaz, João; Correia, Pedro de Pezarat
Objective:
This review identified, synthesized, and mapped the scientific evidence on kinesiophobia, as assessed by the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), in individuals following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), to provide clinicians with a comprehensive evidence map.
Introduction:
Kinesiophobia can negatively impact rehabilitation and return-to-sport outcomes after ACLR. Despite its clinical relevance, the available evidence is fragmented, making it challenging for clinicians to find clear answers to their clinical questions and apply findings consistently in practice.
Eligibility criteria:
We considered studies that assessed kinesiophobia using the TSK in individuals of any age or sex following ACLR, regardless of sport participation or geographical setting. Included sources comprised peer-reviewed primary and secondary research.
Methods:
A comprehensive search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCOhost), SPORTDiscus (EBSCOhost), CINAHL Plus (EBSCOhost), and MEDLINE (EBSCOhost) databases up to September 2025. Research alerts were then maintained throughout the review process to identify newly published studies. A framework synthesis approach was adopted, whereby studies were systematically charted across 10 thematic domains, reflecting how kinesiophobia has been investigated in ACLR.
Results:
A total of 145 studies were included in this review. Most were cross-sectional and conducted in high-income countries, while longitudinal studies were limited. Adolescents and females were underrepresented, and the sample sizes and participant characteristics varied widely. Kinesiophobia was examined in relation to personal, clinical, functional, and neurophysiological variables. Intervention studies were scarce but explored cognitive-behavioral, educational, physical, and multimodal strategies for managing kinesiophobia. Only 2 studies adapted the TSK specifically for ACLR.
Conclusions:
Clinicians now have access to a structured map of the evidence on kinesiophobia post-ACLR, which may inform clinical reflection. Future research should address methodological limitations and expand investigations in underrepresented populations and contexts.