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- Beyond quantitative indicators: comprehensive characterization of indoor fungal contamination in Portuguese elementary schoolsPublication . Cervantes, Renata; Pena, Pedro; Carolino, Elisabete; Twarużek, Magdalena; Kosicki, Robert; Viegas, Susana; Viegas, CarlaChildren are particularly vulnerable to environmental pollutants, making indoor air quality in schools a key health determinant. This study addresses regulatory gaps and the lack of standardized methods for assessing fungal contamination in Portuguese elementary schools, particularly regarding pathogenicity, toxigenicity, and antifungal resistance. Fungal contamination was assessed in 11 Portuguese elementary schools using surveys on building context and operation, active and passive air sampling, molecular detection of Aspergillus sections by qPCR, mycotoxin and azole resistance screening, and PM measurements. Results: Schools showed heterogeneous ventilation, with some relying on natural ventilation and others using mechanical systems. Airborne fungal contamination was dominated by respirable fractions, reaching 3.3×102 CFU m-3. Culture-based analyses revealed distinct fungal profiles, with Cladosporium sp. and Penicillium sp. frequently prevailing, while Aspergillus detection increased at higher incubation temperatures. Seasonal variability was observed, with contamination patterns differing between seasons. Rural and urban schools showed contrasting fungal distributions, with higher concentrations in rural schools, particularly in EDCs on DG18 at 27 °C (1.67 × 103 CFU/m2). Azole resistance screening detected resistant Aspergillus sections across environments. In gymnasiums, the Fumigati section represented 100% of sections detected on ITZ in filters and EDCs. In classrooms, Circumdati and Fumigati accounted for 100% of sections detected on ITZ in EDCs, while the Candidi section represented 100% in filters. The Fumigati section also grew on VOZ and POZ in EDCs. Mycotoxins, including ochratoxin A, mycophenolic acid, and sterigmatocystin, were detected in 1.93% of dust samples. Particle concentrations occasionally exceeded reference thresholds in warm (47.1% PM2.5; 58.8% PM10) and cold seasons (47.4% PM2.5; 23.1% PM10). Regulatory thresholds did not prevent the detection of relevant fungal hazards, including Aspergillus species and azole-tolerant growth. These findings show that quantitative indicators alone may not capture exposure complexity, highlighting the need for complementary data and the limitations in the current legal framework.
- Perceptions and concerns regarding medical exposure to ionizing radiation in women of reproductive age: a systematic reviewPublication . Vieira, Lina Oliveira; Geysmans, R.; Turcanu, C.; Almeida-Silva, MarinaIntroduction: Ionizing radiation plays a fundamental role in clinical practice for diagnosis and therapy. However, patients with reproductive potential, including women of reproductive age who may be pregnant or become pregnant in the future, often report limited knowledge and increased anxiety regarding these procedures. Although medical exposures involve inherent risks, when examinations are appropriately justified and optimized, clinical benefits generally outweigh potential radiation-related risks. Nevertheless, misconceptions and risk overestimation may lead to refusal or delay of necessary imaging. This study aims to evaluate perceptions and concerns of women of reproductive age regarding medical exposure to ionizing radiation. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in April 2026, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using the keywords perception, concern, ionizing radiation, and women. Results: Seven studies published between 2017 and 2025 were included. The review identified variability in knowledge and persistent gaps in radiation awareness among women, often associated with increased levels of concern. Lower levels of radiation literacy were generally reported among participants without health-related training, whereas higher awareness was observed among those with a medical background. During pregnancy, risk perception was frequently overestimated and primarily focused on fetal harm. Conclusion: Perceptions and concerns about medical radiation are heterogeneous and influenced by sociodemographic, cultural, and psychological factors. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational strategies and further research to enhance the understanding of how these patients perceive the risks associated with ionizing radiation. Implications for practice: Healthcare professionals should individualize communication about radiation risks according to each patient's sociodemographic and cultural background, providing accurate and comprehensible information aligned with the patient's level of health literacy and informational needs.
- Comparison of gonadal dose estimation using treatment planning systems and Monte Carlo methods in pelvic radiotherapyPublication . Ribeiro, D. R.; Campos, G.; Carolino, Elisabete; Martins, L. S.; Borrego, M.; Sá, Ana CravoIntroduction: Unintended irradiation of organs outside the target volume remains a concern in pelvic radiotherapy, particularly for radiosensitive structures such as the gonads. Analytical dose calculation algorithms used in treatment planning systems (TPS) may underestimate out-of-field doses. Monte Carlo (MC) methods provide improved dosimetric accuracy. This study compared gonadal dose estimates from a clinical TPS with those obtained using MC simulations. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 30 patients treated for rectal or gynaecological malignancies using 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Plans were generated in Eclipse using the Anisotropic Analytical Algorithm (AAA). Gonads were retrospectively contoured, and maximum (Dmax) and mean (Dmean) doses were extracted from dose-volume histograms. MC simulations were performed using PRIMO, previously validated against measurements. Differences were assessed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: MC simulations agreed with measurements (<1%). MC-derived Dmax values were higher than TPS estimates, with median values of 47.89 Gy vs 46.58 Gy (right gonad) and 48.37 Gy vs 46.81 Gy (left gonad). Maximum differences reached 5.54 Gy and 5.64 Gy. Discrepancies were greater in low-dose regions, highlighting TPS limitations in out-of-field estimation. No significant differences were observed for Dmean or between techniques. Conclusion: TPS may underestimate maximum gonadal dose, particularly outside the treatment field. MC simulations provide more accurate estimates, supporting improved fertility risk assessment. Implications for practice: MC-based evaluation may improve the accuracy of gonadal dose assessment, particularly in out-of-field regions. This approach can support more robust plan evaluation, encourage consideration of gonads as organs at risk, and facilitate more individualised patient counselling regarding fertility risks. Increased awareness of unintended gonadal exposure may also promote optimisation strategies to minimise dose.
- Emergent pan-azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus in poultry farms: implications for One HealthPublication . Gomes, Bianca; Ramos, Miguel J. N.; Nunes, Mónica; Viegas, Carla; Dias, RicardoAspergillus fumigatus is the leading etiological agent of aspergillosis in humans and animals. Azole resistance is an emerging public health concern. Poultry bedding material may act as an environmental reservoir for azole-resistant A. fumigatus. Understanding environmental reservoirs is essential to mitigate potential risks across the human–animal–environment interface. Aim of the study: To assess the occurrence of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus in Portuguese poultry farms.
- Generational changes in lung function in adults from several world regions: results from the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease studyPublication . Ma, Jixuan; Burney, Peter G.; Mannino, David M.; Janson, Christer; Gíslason, Thorarinn; Obaseki, Daniel O.; Jõgi, Rain; Santofimio, Valentina Quintero; Potts, James; Rashid, Abdul; Erhabor, Gregory E.; Nielsen, Rune; Kocabas, Ali; Nafees, Asaad; Ahmed, Rana; Denguezli, Meriam; Barbara, Cristina; Cardoso, Joao; Dias, Maria Hermínia Monteiro Brites; Rodrigues, Fátima; Agarwal, Dhiraj; Juvekar, Sanjay; Franssen, Frits M.; Seemungal, Terence; Mortimer, Kevin; El Biaze, Mohammed; Mahesh, Padukudru Anand; Koul, Parvaiz; Studnicka, Michael; Amaral, Andre F.This study estimated birth cohort effects on lung function using BOLD (Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease) data from 28,569 adults born between 1902 and 1976 across 41 sites in 34 countries. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and the FEV1/FVC increased across successive birth cohorts in both high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with mean values rising steadily with later birth year. In fully adjusted models, FVC increased by 21.4 mL, FEV1 by 24.6 mL and FEV1/FVC by 0.25% per birth year. These positive associations were consistent across sex, smoking status, and country-income subgroups (HICs and LMICs).
- Inteligencia Artificial Generativa en la educación superior: percepciones, creencias y desafios éticos de los estudiantes de psicología y ciencias de la educaciónPublication . Lopes, Carlos; Antunes, Maria Luz; Sanches, TatianaEste estudio analiza las percepciones de 272 estudiantes universitarios de primer año en Portugal, principalmente de las áreas de Psicología y Ciencias de la Educación, respecto al uso de la Inteligencia Artificial Generativa (IA-Gen) en el aprendizaje, evaluando su facilidad de uso, confianza, inteligencia percibida e intención de adopción mediante un diseño mixto de cuestionario y preguntas abiertas. Los resultados revelan una adopción significativa de la tecnología, con un 58,9 % de los alumnos utilizándola al menos semanalmente y una clara dominancia de ChatGPT (88 %), empleado principalmente para la comprensión de temas complejos (80,7 %) y la síntesis de contenidos (70,7 %). Los participantes manifiestan una postura de optimismo crítico: aunque valoran la IA-Gen como intuitiva y beneficiosa, y reconocen que su eficacia radica en la formulación de buenas preguntas (M = 4,31), muestran reservas importantes sobre su fiabilidad. Existe un consenso casi unánime en la necesidad de validar la información con fuentes expertas (M = 4,15), así como preocupación por el plagio, la seguridad de los datos, el impacto social negativo y la erosión del pensamiento crítico (M = 2,31). Asimismo, la inteligencia de la IA se percibe como inferior a la de los docentes (M = 2,42), reafirmando el valor insustituible de la mediación humana. En conclusión, el estudio subraya la necesidad urgente de que las instituciones de educación superior implementen directrices claras, promuevan el desarrollo profesional docente y desarrollen programas de alfabetización en IA para los estudiantes, asegurando así una integración tecnológica que salvaguarde la integridad académica y mitigue riesgos como la dependencia excesiva.
- Association between high myopia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adolescentsPublication . Guo, Ting-Han; Dong, Xing-Xuan; Li, Dan-Lin; Grzybowski, Andrzej; Lança, Carla; Qin, Yu; Zheng, Ya-Jie; Liang, Gang; Pan, Chen-WeiPurpose: To investigate the association between high myopia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adolescents and to explore potential metabolic mechanisms. Methods: A total of 550 freshmen from Dali University were included. Data on refractive status, questionnaires, and serum metabolomics were collected. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the independent association between high myopia and NAFLD. Mediation analysis was performed to explore potential mediating metabolites, and enrichment analysis was utilized to explore key metabolic pathways. Results: The prevalence of NAFLD in the study population was 11.3%. High myopia was associated with higher odds of NAFLD (OR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.34-5.86). Mediation analysis suggested 15 metabolites as potential mediators, with L-phenylalanine (mediating effect: 23.0%) and L-leucine (mediating effect: 16.7%) showing the largest effects. Enrichment analysis revealed that these key metabolites were primarily enriched in pathways such as aromatic and branched-chain amino acid metabolism, lysine degradation, and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis. Conclusion: High myopia was associated with increased odds of NAFLD in adolescents, and this relationship may be partially mediated by abnormalities in amino acid and energy metabolism, suggesting potential metabolic links between ocular and hepatic conditions.
- Conceito de “bailarino ideal”: uma reflexão a partir do estágio na Compagnie Illicte aquando da criação de Le Lac des CygnesPublication . Costa, Viviana; De Lima, CecíliaQualquer bailarino recém-formado que inicia o exigente processo de audições e candidaturas em busca de um contrato profissional confronta-se inevitavelmente com questões relativas às suas competências, ao seu valor artístico e às expectativas dos diretores artísticos e coreógrafos perante os quais se apresenta. É a partir desta inquietação que surge o presente relatório, desenvolvido no âmbito do Mestrado em Criação Coreográfica e Práticas Profissionais da Escola Superior de Dança, na área de especialização em Interpretação. A investigação procura refletir sobre a seguinte questão: o que caracteriza um “bailarino ideal” no contexto de companhias de repertório clássico e neoclássico? A investigação tem como objeto de estudo a Compagnie Illicite e o seu diretor artístico, Fábio Lopez, entidade que acolheu o estágio que sustenta este trabalho. Ao longo do relatório são abordados temas como o papel criativo e autoral do bailarino-intérprete, a noção de técnica enquanto finalidade e função expressiva na abordagem de Lopez, a influência das metodologias coreográficas na autonomia do intérprete e os conceitos de “moving identity” (Jennifer Roche), “hired body” (Susan Leigh Foster), presença e incorporação do movimento. São igualmente discutidas perspetivas críticas sobre o corpo na dança clássica, a partir de Sally Banes e Geraldine Morris. Complementarmente, analisa-se a relevância das práticas somáticas na formação e performance do bailarino, com destaque para a Alexander Technique e o Método Feldenkrais, enquanto abordagens que promovem presença, organicidade do movimento, consciência sensorial e integração entre visualização e ação física. Mais do que propor uma definição conclusiva de “bailarino ideal”, este processo de investigação desloca a questão de um modelo generalista e replicável para uma perspetiva singular, relacional e contextual. Neste sentido, o relatório desenvolve uma reflexão crítica sobre os processos de construção identitária do bailarino-intérprete perante uma visão artística da dança clássica e neoclássica na contemporaneidade
- Labirintos do eu e do outro: entre Borges, pré-socráticos e redes digitaisPublication . Sousa, VandaResumo Analisamos as redes sociais online como labirintos digitais, situando o sujeito numa relação entre história, discurso e experiência. A navegação em ambientes digitais é vista como processo histórico-discursivo, em que posições de sujeito se materializam pela historicidade, configurando trajetórias não lineares mediadas tecnologicamente. A análise usa a metáfora do labirinto em Borges (2007), articulando-a com conceitos pré-socráticos, e instrumentos teóricos de Husserl (2006), Merleau-Ponty (2003), Heidegger (2012), Zahavi (2014), Levinas (1998), Arendt (2005), Derrida (1997), Bauman (2000), Han (2012, 2014, 2018) e Foucault (2007) para examinar dimensões de poder, liberdade, visibilidade e mediação algorítmica. Conclui-se que as redes sociais online são arenas de tensão entre dispersão e unidade de sentido, entre autonomia e controlo, propondo caminhos sobre ética e construção de subjetividades híbridas, evidenciando a necessidade de uma consciência crítica histórica e discursiva.