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Publications

2026

Point-of-Care Veterinary Diagnostics Using Vis-NIR Spectroscopy: Current Opportunities and Future Directions

Authors
Rosa, S; Silvestre-Ferreira, AC; Martins, R; Queiroga, FL;

Publication
ANIMALS

Abstract
Visible-Near-Infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy, spanning approximately 400 to 2500 nm, is an innovative technology with growing relevance for diagnostics performed at the point of care (POC). This review explores the potential of Vis-NIR in veterinary medicine, highlighting its advantages over complex techniques like Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) by being rapid, non-invasive, reagent-free, and compatible with miniaturized, portable devices. The methodology involves directing a broadband light source, often using LEDs, toward the sample (e.g., blood, urine, faeces), collecting spectral information related to molecular vibrations, which is then analyzed using chemometric methods. Successful veterinary applications include hemogram analysis in dogs, cats, and Atlantic salmon, and quantifying blood in ovine faeces for parasite detection. Key limitations include spectral interference from strong absorbers like water and hemoglobin, and the limited penetration depth of light. However, combining Vis-NIR with Self-Learning Artificial Intelligence (SLAI) is shown to isolate and mitigate these multi-scale interferences. Vis-NIR spectroscopy serves as an important complement to centralized laboratory testing, holding significant potential to accelerate clinical decisions, minimize stress on animals during assessment, and improve diagnostic capabilities for both human and animal health, aligning with the One Health concept.

2026

Deciphering the Silent Signals: Unveiling Frequency Importance for Wi-Fi-Based Human Pose Estimation with Explainability

Authors
Capozzi, L; Ferreira, L; Gonçalves, T; Rebelo, A; Cardoso, JS; Sequeira, AF;

Publication
PATTERN RECOGNITION AND IMAGE ANALYSIS, IBPRIA 2025, PT II

Abstract
The rapid advancement of wireless technologies, particularly Wi-Fi, has spurred significant research into indoor human activity detection across various domains (e.g., healthcare, security, and industry). This work explores the non-invasive and cost-effective Wi-Fi paradigm and the application of deep learning for human activity recognition using Wi-Fi signals. Focusing on the challenges in machine interpretability, motivated by the increase in data availability and computational power, this paper uses explainable artificial intelligence to understand the inner workings of transformer-based deep neural networks designed to estimate human pose (i.e., human skeleton key points) from Wi-Fi channel state information. Using different strategies to assess the most relevant sub-carriers (i.e., rollout attention and masking attention) for the model predictions, we evaluate the performance of the model when it uses a given number of sub-carriers as input, selected randomly or by ascending (high-attention) or descending (low-attention) order. We concluded that the models trained with fewer (but relevant) sub-carriers are competitive with the baseline (trained with all sub-carriers) but better in terms of computational efficiency (i.e., processing more data per second).

2026

UAbALL: Automata Learning Lab

Authors
de Oliveira R.G.; Sousa A.M.; Pinto M.; Almendra e Viana N.; Morais A.J.;

Publication
Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems

Abstract
E-learning has been important in higher education, enabling people to continue their education with more flexibility. Virtual laboratories play a crucial role in Computer Science distance learning degrees, by enabling students to study at their rhythm and getting practical answers to practical problems immediately. Theoretical models such as finite automata, pushdown automata, context-free grammars, Turing machines, etc., are essential for understanding the grounds of languages and computability and are also the basis for the implementation of compilers. In this paper, a new virtual laboratory is presented, UAbALL—Automata Learning Lab, developed at Universidade Aberta (UAb), the Portuguese Open University. This virtual laboratory has already been tested in the curricular unit of Languages and Computation, with good feedback from the students. A comparison to other tools was performed showing that UAbALL is more complete in terms of tools provided.

2026

Assessing Green Hydrogen Support Mechanisms in Coupled Electricity and Hydrogen Markets

Authors
Herrero Rozas, LA; Campos, FA; Villar, J;

Publication

Abstract
Green hydrogen is expected to play an important role for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors but faces regulatory, economic, and operational barriers. In the EU, strict renewable energy usages requirements and temporal and geographical criteria constrain green hydrogen production and complicate integration with electricity markets. Support mechanisms (SMs), such as premiums and quotas, aim to boost hydrogen production, yet their impacts on coupled electricity-hydrogen systems remain underexplored. This paper extends a previous joint electricity-hydrogen Cournot equilibrium model to represent and analyze the impact of different green hydrogen production SMs. Different SMs lead to different equilibrium models that were solved using equivalent quadratic optimization problems and applied to real-size Iberian case studies. Results reveal how different SMs influence hydrogen and electricity prices, production and emissions, highlighting trade-offs among stakeholders. The findings provide guidance for designing balanced policies that stimulate green hydrogen while minimizing unintended consequences and offer flexible tools to assess regulatory and economic interactions in emerging hydrogen markets

2026

AI-Enabled Flexible Design of Resilient Forest-to-Bioenergy Supply Chains Under Wildfire Disruption Risk

Authors
Gomes, R; Ribeiro, JP; Silva, RG; Soares, R;

Publication
SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract
The forest-to-bioenergy supply chain is significantly vulnerable to natural disruptions, including wildfires, heavy snowfall, and windstorms. The increased occurrence of these disruptive events has caused severe challenges in forest biomass harvesting and transportation processes, which are difficult to manage. With the need to support decision-makers in designing resilient supply chains (SCs), we propose a Decision Support System (DSS) combining a two-stage stochastic programming framework with various flexibility mechanisms, such as dynamic network reconfiguration and operations postponement. The DSS incorporates an AI-based methodology to identify the most appropriate datasets and resilience metrics, capturing different supply chain dimensions (supply, demand, and operations). This integrated framework supports the selection of effective resilience-enhancing strategies to mitigate large-scale disruptions, with a particular focus on wildfires. The proposed approach is applied in a real case study in Portugal, where the most significant risk factor is wildfires. We perform computational studies and sensitivity analysis to evaluate the applicability and performance of the model and to drive managerial insights. The results show that adopting the model solutions can significantly reduce supply chain logistics and operational costs under more severe disruptive scenarios. Moreover, the results indicate up to a 60% increase in the tons of forest residues that can be removed and processed.

2026

Integration challenges faced by immigrant entrepreneurs: Multiple case study in Portugal

Authors
Almeida, F; Morais, J;

Publication
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTERCULTURAL RELATIONS

Abstract
This study aims to explore the integration challenges faced by immigrant entrepreneurs in Portugal. It employed a multiple case study approach, drawing on semi-structured interviews with nine immigrant entrepreneurs from three distinct communities in Portugal. The findings of this study highlight the role of social networks in enabling and shaping the entrepreneurial journeys of immigrants in Portugal. These networks act as a bridge to help immigrants overcome barriers such as unfamiliarity with local markets, restricted access to resources, and cultural differences. In this context, community knowledge and referrals play a particularly significant role. Furthermore, the findings also identify five types of challenges faced by these communities including the financial, regulatory, social, institutional, and psychological dimensions. This study is relevant due to the role of immigrants in fostering economic growth and social cohesion. Understanding and addressing the integration challenges is key to enabling their success, which in turn strengthens local economies and promotes inclusive growth. Additionally, exploring these issues helps policymakers and organizations develop targeted strategies to support immigrant entrepreneurs, ensuring they can fully realize their potential and contribute positively to the host society.

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