Abstract

Abstract
This article describes the steps involved in creating a prototype with a gamified approach aimed at highlighting the challenges encountered by immigrants in foreign countries. This serious game sought to provide an interactive experience that mirrored the real-life obstacles faced by immigrants, fostering empathy among non-immigrant players in these scenarios, with the goal of improving attitudes toward immigrants. During the development phase of the game, a user-centered design approach was employed. The project was divided into several phases: understanding the context, comprehending user needs, iterative prototyping, and usability testing. Both immigrants and non-immigrants participated in the study, directly contributing to defining requirements and evaluating the game. The serious game Typical Day, designed to simulate everyday situations faced by immigrants through interactive scenarios and critical decisions, demonstrated positive acceptance in terms of usability and engagement. The results indicated that Typical Day provided an engaging and educational gaming experience, successfully balancing entertainment and information. Positive feedback from 45 non-immigrant participants highlighted its potential as an educational tool to raise awareness about the experiences of immigrants. However, further studies are needed to evaluate its long-term impact on attitudes and behaviors. In conclusion, this study contributes to the literature by addressing a gap in gamified approaches to immigrant challenges, laying the foundation for future developments in serious games aimed at promoting attitude change.

Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, which could alter metabolic, vascular and hematological parameters. A low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet (LCHF) diet benefits glycemic and blood pressure control. In turn, exercise in hypoxia (EH) is known to improve insulin sensitivity, erythropoiesis and angiogenesis. LCHF combined with EH seem to be a potential therapeutic strategy for T2DM and hypertension (HTN), but evidence is still scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of eight weeks of EH combined with a LCHF on hematological and lipid profiles, inflammation and blood pressure in older patients with T2DM and coexistent HTN. Diabetic patients with HTN (n=42) were randomly assigned to a (1) control group: control diet (high-carbohydrate and low-fat diet) + exercise in normoxia; (2) EH group: control diet + EH; (3) intervention group: LCHF + EH. Baseline and eight-week measurements included systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure (SBP, DBP, MAP, respectively), and hematological and lipid profiles and inflammation biomarkers. Blood pressure decreased after interventions (p<0.001), with no differences among groups (SBP: p=0.151; DBP: p=0.124 and MAP: p=0.18). There were no differences in lipid profile and C-reactive protein (p>0.05). Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) increased in the EH group (p=0.027), while MCH concentration decreased in the EH+LCHF group (p=0.046). In conclusion, there is no additional benefit in adding hypoxia to exercise or restricting carbohydrates, on blood pressure in patients with T2DM and coexisting HTN. Further elucidation of the mechanisms underlying hematological adaptations is imperative. Trial registration number: NCT05094505.

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Abstract
The sustainable utilization of forest biomass for bioenergy production is increasingly challenged by the variability and unpredictability of raw material availability. These challenges are particularly critical in regions like Central Portugal, where seasonality, dispersed resources, and wildfire prevention policies disrupt procurement planning. This study investigates two flexibility strategies—dynamic network reconfiguration and operations postponement—as policy relevant tools to enhance resilience in forest-to-bioenergy supply chains. A novel mathematical model, the mobile Facility Location Problem with dynamic Operations Assignment (mFLP-dOA), is proposed and solved using a scalable matheuristic approach. Applying the model to a real case study, we demonstrate that incorporating temporary intermediate nodes and adaptable processing schedules can reduce costs by up to 17% while improving operational responsiveness and reducing non-productive machine time. The findings offer strategic insights for policymakers, biomass operators, and regional planners aiming to design more adaptive and cost-effective biomass supply systems, particularly under environmental risk scenarios such as summer operation bans. This work supports evidence-based planning and investment in flexible logistics infrastructure for cleaner and more resilient bioenergy supply chains.

Abstract
Conflict-free Replicated Data Types (CRDTs) allow optimistic replication in a principled way. Different replicas can proceed independently, being available even under network partitions and always converging deterministically: Replicas that have received the same updates will have equivalent state, even if received in different orders. After a historical tour of the evolution from sequential data types to CRDTs, we present in detail the two main approaches to CRDTs, operation-based and state-based, including two important variations, the pure operation-based and the delta-state based. Intended for prospective CRDT researchers and designers, this article provides solid coverage of the essential concepts, clarifying some misconceptions that frequently occur, but also presents some novel insights gained from considerable experience in designing both specific CRDTs and approaches to CRDTs.