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- Artificial intelligence (AI) for polymerase chain reaction (PCR): a state-of-the-art reviewPublication . Andaluz, Stephanie; Lv, Aman; Yu, Pengyu; Hui, Wenhao; Shen, Ren; Liu, Tzu-Ming; Brito, Miguel; Mak, Pui-In; Martins, Rui P.; Jia, YanweiPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its advanced derivatives—quantitative PCR (qPCR), digital PCR (dPCR), high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis, and isothermal amplification—remain central to molecular diagnostics. Their growing data complexity demands computational solutions beyond traditional analysis. Meanwhile, the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms has driven progress from conventional shallow machine learning (ML) to more complex deep learning approaches. Currently, AI is able to provide powerful frameworks for interpreting amplification dynamics, optimizing assay design, and visualizing molecular reactions in real time. With the assistance of AI, PCR can be transformed from a common laboratory technique into an intelligent diagnostic system. Herein, we review recent progress at the intersection of AI and PCR across biomedical and clinical domains. These studies demonstrate that AI-enhanced PCR platforms have significantly improved diagnostic accuracy, reproducibility, and analytical throughput, while simultaneously reducing operator dependency and cost. AI-enabled PCR is poised to become a cornerstone for next-generation, intelligent molecular diagnostics in medicine.
- Game-based balance training in older adults: systematic review and meta-analysisPublication . Tomé, Ana; Castro, Silvia; Rosa, Marlene; Tomás, Maria Teresa; Fontes, Ana Paula; Pais, SandraFunctional decline in older adults is a major contributor to both falls and increased fall risk. Nevertheless, such decline may be mitigated through multidimensional interventions. Game-based and gamified interventions have emerged as promising alternative strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of these approaches in improving balance and reducing fall risk among community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and over. The research question was: Do serious games and gamification improve balance and reduce fall risk in community-dwelling older adults, compared with exercise programmes, non-gamified interventions, or control conditions? A systematic search of randomised controlled trials was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, resulting in the inclusion of nine studies from 634 records screened. Meta-analysis demonstrated significant improvements in the Functional Reach Test and the Berg Balance Scale. However, no significant overall effects were observed for the Timed Up and Go Test or the Single-Leg Stance Test. Although game-based interventions may improve specific dimensions of balance in community-dwelling older adults, the findings should be interpreted with caution. The limited number of studies, small sample sizes, heterogeneity of interventions, and reliance on balance-related surrogate outcomes rather than direct measures of fall incidence highlight the need for further high-quality research.
- From exposure assessment to policy needs: unrecognized Aspergillus spp. hazards in poultry farmingPublication . Gomes, Bianca; Simões, Celeste; Viegas, CarlaPoultry farms are conducive environments for Aspergillus fumigatus. Aspergillus fumigatus is a major pathogen and the main causative agent of respiratory diseases. A. section Fumigati species can grow at human body temperature, a key indicator of pathogenic potential. The occurrence of thermotolerant Aspergillus section Fumigati in poultry farms remains poorly explored. Workers’ awareness of fungal hazards is poorly characterized. This study aims to assess both thermotolerant Aspergillus section Fumigati prevalence and worker awareness of microbial risks in poultry farming.
- Breast cancer patients’ questions about radiotherapy-induced skin toxicity: a comparative analysis of ChatGPT-4.0 and Gemini 2.5 flashPublication . Caetano, Marco; Vicente, D.; Caetano, Leonor; Carolino, Elisabete; Grilo, AnaIntroduction: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being deployed in health communication, a trend particularly visible in specialised domains, such as breast cancer radiotherapy. The subsequent clinical and educational value is fundamentally determined by the reliability and clarity of the responses generated. However, the comparative performance of different AI models in addressing patient concerns about radiotherapy side effects remains unclear, creating uncertainty regarding the optimal tool selection for patient education and support. This study aimed to compare the performance of ChatGPT 4.0 and Gemini 2.5 FLASH using a mixed-methods analytical-descriptive approach. Methods: Twenty-three unique questions, derived from a literature review and rephrased to simulate patient enquiries about the skin effects of radiotherapy, were submitted to both models. Sixteen expert Radiation Therapists (RTTs) independently assessed the responses using a seven-point Likert scale. The analyses included semantic cosine similarity and linguistic readability (Flesch Reading Ease/Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level), with statistical comparisons performed using Mann-Whitney tests. Results: Gemini 2.5 FLASH achieved higher median scores (6/7) than ChatGPT 4.0 (5/7), demonstrating particular strengths in clinical detail and empathy. Conversely, ChatGPT 4.0 produced more direct and structured answers, although it occasionally simplified complex concepts. Models showed low semantic similarity (median 0.78). Readability analysis revealed that ChatGPT aligned with an 8th-grade level, whereas Gemini operated at an 11th-grade level. Expert agreement was robust, with Gemini achieving greater consistency (α = 0.78; κ = 0.70) than ChatGPT (α = 0.72; κ = 0.65). Conclusion: Gemini was more effective for complex psychosocial issues, whereas ChatGPT provided more accessible guidance, necessitating ongoing professional validation for reliable integration into patient education workflows. Implications for practice: The use of AI in counselling patients undergoing breast radiotherapy enhances accessibility but requires ongoing professional validation to ensure clinical reliability.
- Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats as a nonclinical model of ischemic stroke: a systematic reviewPublication . Mendes, Priscila; Pinto, Joana; Mateus, Carole; Guerra, Inês; Mateus, VanessaBackground: Ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Despite extensive preclinical research, most neuroprotective strategies have failed to translate into clinical benefit, partly due to methodological variability. The transient intraluminal filament middle cerebral artery occlusion (tifMCAO) model is widely used, yet its implementation lacks consistency. This review aimed to characterize tifMCAO methodologies in adult rats and examine how experimental variability relates to reported outcomes. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Studies using tifMCAO in adult rats were included. MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, and Scopus were searched up to March 2025. Risk of bias was assessed using the SYRCLE tool and reporting quality using the ARRIVE checklist. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251140869). Results were synthesized narratively. Results: A total of 125 studies were included. A commonly used framework involved male Sprague-Dawley rats (6-12 weeks), silicone-coated monofilaments, occlusion durations of 60-120 min (most frequently 90 min), and isoflurane anesthesia, although this reflects methodological convergence rather than true standardization. Substantial variability was observed across methodological parameters. Variations in ischemia duration, filament properties, and anesthesia were associated with differences in infarct size, blood-brain barrier disruption, and functional outcomes. Conclusions: The tifMCAO model shows partial methodological convergence alongside significant variability influencing outcomes. Improved standardization and reporting are essential to enhance reproducibility and translational relevance.
- Strengthening incident learning in radiotherapy practice: insights from the MARLIN studyPublication . Prieto, C.; Kelly, C.; Brusadin, G.; Kearney, M.; Pourel, N.; Rogers, A.; Geao, Ana; Akata, D.; Andersson, J.; Paulo, Graciano; Nekolla, S. G.; Mille, E.; Pellerin, O.; Israel, O.; Hallinan, B.; Peld, N.; Hierath, M.Background and purpose: Incident Learning Systems (ILSs) are central to patient safety in radiotherapy, enabling learning from adverse events and near misses. Despite EU regulatory requirements, substantial variability persists across Europe in the implementation and effectiveness of ILSs in radiotherapy. This paper presents radiotherapy-specific recommendations derived from the MARLIN study to support harmonised, risk-informed implementation of ILSs. Methods: The 24-month MARLIN study, conducted under the SAMIRA Action Plan, employed a structured literature review, an online European survey of clinical facilities, competent authorities and professional societies, expert interviews, and a multi-stakeholder consensus workshop. Survey data from 172 respondents in 28 countries were analysed to identify current practices, barriers and enabling factors for ILS implementation in radiotherapy. Results: Although all responding countries reported transposition of the Directive, substantial variability was observed in criteria for reporting significant radiotherapy events, feedback mechanisms and use of international databases. Fear of punitive actions, limited resources, lack of training in incident analysis, and insufficient dissemination of lessons learned were identified as key barriers. External-beam radiotherapy showed more mature ILS implementation than brachytherapy. Findings from the MARLIN study informed recommendations on category-based event classification, radiotherapy-specific taxonomies, multidisciplinary incident-learning committees, and collaboration between clinical facilities, competent authorities, and professional societies. Conclusion: The MARLIN recommendations provide a practical framework to strengthen ILS implementation in radiotherapy, promote a just culture, enhance learning from incidents and support regulatory compliance, ultimately improving patient safety and quality of care across Europe, while the broader RP-208 report extends these principles to all medical fields using ionising radiation, supporting cross-disciplinary harmonisation.
- Students’ perceptions of Information Literacy skills: new perspectives through a Portuguese experience with PILSPublication . Lopes, Carlos; Antunes, Maria Luz; Sanches, Tatiana; Kurbanoğlu, S.; Boustany, J.; Špiranec, S.; Ünal, Y.; Şencan, I.; Kos, D.The modern information ecosystem poses significant challenges due to the vast and rapid production of information across diverse media. Distinguishing accurate information from misinformation and disinformation is increasingly critical, necessitating proactive measures such as education campaigns and public awareness initiatives. The literature underscores the importance of enhancing critical thinking skills and the ability to evaluate information sources to empower citizenship, individual autonomy, and creativity. Policymakers are urged to prioritize these goals, advocating for the training of proactive critical thinkers through validated strategies for information literacy (IL). Academic libraries have shown commitment to combating disinformation, though deeper research is needed. This study investigates academic students’ perceptions of their IL, utilizing the PILS scale, adapted into European Portuguese. Findings emphasize the relevance of IL skills to address disinformation, offering valuable recommendations for teaching and academic library practices, particularly within the Portuguese higher education context.
- Revisitar o ensino da Literacia da Informação em tempos de Inteligência Artificial: o exemplo do Projeto Be Careful!Publication . Lopes, Carlos; Antunes, Maria Luz; Sanches, TatianaO papel pedagógico dos bibliotecários no ensino superior tem vindo a transformar-se profundamente nas últimas décadas. A transição dos standards internacionais para o Referencial da ACRL marcou uma viragem conceptual na abordagem à literacia da informação, centrando-se em disposições e práticas críticas em vez de competências técnicas isoladas. Com o advento da Inteligência Artificial (IA), novos desafios emergem, exigindo uma reconfiguração das estratégias pedagógicas dos profissionais da informação. Esta comunicação propõe uma reflexão sobre essa evolução, destacando o Projeto Be Careful! como exemplo de resposta prática e inovadora. O Projeto desenvolve e aplica metodologias e instrumentos pedagógicos que visam capacitar estudantes do ensino superior e profissionais da informação para enfrentar os riscos da desinformação e da manipulação algorítmica, promovendo uma literacia da informação crítica, ética e adaptada à era da IA.
- Competências e formação do bibliotecário da área da saúde: protocolo de uma scoping reviewPublication . Antunes, Maria Luz; Lopes, Carlos; Borges, Maria ManuelO bibliotecário da saúde exerce num ambiente – clínico, académico e de investigação – que requer uma atualização permanente de saberes e competências no acompanhamento a investigadores e profissionais de saúde que dele esperam expertise e contributos específicos. A formação é essencial para o desenvolvimento destas competências e saberes, mas sem um planeamento estruturado da formação especializada, o bibliotecário da saúde corre o risco de perder credibilidade e estatuto. Apresenta-se o protocolo de uma scoping review já em desenvolvimento, cujo objetivo é mapear e analisar as competências e a formação profissional recomendadas para o bibliotecário que atua na área da saúde, preconizadas por associações profissionais e sociedades científicas de âmbito nacional e internacional.
- IA Generativa no ensino superior: perceções, crenças e desafios éticos dos estudantes de Psicologia e da EducaçãoPublication . Lopes, Carlos; Antunes, Maria Luz; Sanches, TatianaIntrodução: O impacto da Inteligência Artificial Generativa (IA-Gen) está a remodelar o ensino da psicologia e da educação. Este estudo explora as perceções de estudantes destas áreas do conhecimento sobre o uso de ferramentas de IA-Gen no apoio à aprendizagem, focando-se em três dimensões fundamentais: a) facilidade de uso e utilidade percebidas; b) personalização, interatividade e confiança; e c) inteligência percebida e intenção de adoção. Método: Foi adotado um delineamento quantitativo descritivo e uma análise qualitativa a duas questões abertas sobre a IA, envolvendo uma amostra de 272 estudantes (84,93% do género feminino; M = 19,78 anos, Med = 18 anos) a frequentar o primeiro ano de estudos universitários em três instituições de ensino superior portuguesas (Ispa-Instituto Universitário, Instituto de Educação da Universidade de Lisboa e FCSH da Universidade Nova de Lisboa). A amostra é predominantemente composta por estudantes das licenciaturas em Psicologia (73,2%) e Ciências da Educação (12,13%). Os participantes responderam a um questionário de 49 itens, elaborado especificamente pelos autores com base em instrumentos recentes de avaliação da adoção de IA-Gen (e.g., TAME-ChatGPT e a sua versão portuguesa da adoção do TAME-ChatGPT pela Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro [UTAD]). Resultados: Os resultados revelam que a IA-Gen é considerada uma tecnologia intuitiva e benéfica, com 68,9% dos estudantes a utilizá-la pelo menos semanalmente, sendo o ChatGPT (89%) a ferramenta dominante. As funções principais centram-se na compreensão de tópicos complexos (74,4%) e síntese de conteúdos (65,1%). Contudo, embora os estudantes se classifiquem maioritariamente como utilizadores de nível intermédio (65,4%), reconhecem que a eficácia depende da capacidade de formular boas perguntas (M=4,31). Persistem reservas significativas quanto à fiabilidade da ferramenta: a necessidade de validar a informação com fontes especialistas é quase unânime (M=4,64). Adicionalmente expressam-se preocupações com a erosão do pensamento crítico (M=3,94), o risco de plágio e a falta de segurança de dados (M=2,71). No plano macrossocial destaca-se uma consciência elevada sobre o impacto ambiental negativo da tecnologia (M=3,75). Discussão e Conclusões: Os estudantes manifestam uma postura de otimismo crítico, estando inclinados para a adoção tecnológica, mas conscientes das suas limitações éticas e cognitivas. A inteligência da IA é valorizada para funções explicativas, mas considerada inferior à dos docentes (M=2,44), sublinhando a importância da mediação humana. Estes resultados, contextualizados aos estudantes das áreas de Psicologia e Educação, ressaltam a urgência de estratégias de integração bem fundamentadas que alinhem o uso da IA-Gen com os princípios da Ciência Aberta, garantindo a transparência, a fiabilidade e o acesso livre a dados verificáveis. Diretrizes institucionais claras, o desenvolvimento profissional do corpo docente e iniciativas de formação em literacia em IA para estudantes são fundamentais para maximizar o potencial da IA-Gen e mitigar riscos como a dependência excessiva e a falta de originalidade académica.