Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2025-09"
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Molecular and hydraulic responses of grapevine to water status and phenology under long-term differential irrigation treatmentsPublication . Damásio, M.; Pinto, C.; Salguero, J.; Alarcón, M. V.; Deus, J.; David, T. S.; Silvestre, J.; Carvalho, L. C.; Zarrouk, OlfaUnderstanding seasonal interactions among hydraulic, chemical and molecular signalling under water deficit is crucial for improving vineyard irrigation strategies under climate change and increasing water scarcity. We aimed to test how irrigation strategies and phenology affect the hydraulic adjustment mechanisms of eight fieldgrown grapevine varieties under different long-term irrigation regimes: Full-irrigated (100 % ETc), deficitirrigation (50 % Full-irrigated), and non-irrigated. Leaf pre-dawn water potential, leaf hydraulic conductivity (Kleaf), stomatal conductance, aquaporin gene expression and hormone content, were assessed at four key phenological stages, from pea-size to post-harvest. Stomatal closure was the earliest water-stress response across genotypes, while hormonal balance differentiated responsive from non-responsive genotypes regarding chemical signalling. Kleaf was primarily driven by phenology, peaking at early stages and declining thereafter. Aquaporin gene expression was both genotype- and phenology-dependent, with high activity during early stages followed by progressive down-regulation, aligned with changes in stomatal conductance and Kleaf and reflecting each variety iso-/anisohydric behaviour. This pattern confirms the role of aquaporins in grapevine hydraulic adjustments and stomatal regulation under decreasing water potentials. Aquaporins and Kleaf showed positive responses to water availability at post-harvest, indicating differential watering benefits among genotypes. Our results emphasize the need for field-phenotyping studies to fine-tune water management strategies in viticulture.
- Managing Sustainable Energy Decisions:A Prospect – Theory Perspective Theory PerspectivePublication . Guedes, Pedro; Santos, Paulo; São João, RicardoThe survival of humanity increasingly depends on its own actions. Sustainability is a pressing issue that must be systematically integrated into all decision-making processes. In management, multiple factors often influence the selection of decisions at the expense of more sustainable alternatives. Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methods are used to objectify, support, and enhance the transparency of complex decisions involving multiple criteria. Research shows that applying MCDA in group decision-making increases satisfaction levels and the perception of fairness. These methods foster group commitment and facilitate negotiation toward a collectively supported solution. This communication aims to contribute to future research by replicating the studies of Leoneti & Gomes (2021). In the field of group multicriteria decision, specifically, it proposes replacing Case 3 — "Selection of the New President of a Company" — with two new case studies whose criteria and alternatives are explicitly related to sustainability (energy production sources). This cases will engage specialists and vocational education students in constructing a value tree, including the selection of criteria, alternatives, and performance descriptors. In both case studies Two case studies concerning energy production sources will be developed, and MCDA models will be applied to select the preferred option.
- Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among primary school children in the Tagus Lezíria region, Portugal: a study on eating habitsPublication . Andrade, Vanda; Ferrão, I.; Figueiredo, M.; Dias, Igor; Pinto, Paula; Ruivo, PaulaPoor dietary habits remain a significant public health concern, highlighting the need to promote healthy and sustainable eating patterns, especially in childhood and adolescence. This study assessed the eating habits of primary school children in the Tagus Lezíria region, focusing on adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD), recognized for its health and environmental benefits. Methods: The KIDMED index (Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents) was applied to 435 children, the vast majority (97.7%) aged 6–10 years. Results: The data showed that 64.6% of participants exhibited high adherence to the MD, 32.0% medium, and 3.5% low adherence. Despite these encouraging levels, several gaps were identified: 80% of the children did not meet the recommendation for regular nut consumption (≥2–3 times/week), 44% consumed legumes less than once a week, and 43% failed to eat vegetables more than once a day. Regarding demographic factors, no significant differences were observed in overall adherence categories; however, differences emerged in specific eating behaviours. For example, girls consumed more vegetables and cereals than boys, and children in rural areas consumed less dairy than those living in urban settings. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of reinforcing targeted school-based educational interventions to promote healthier dietary behaviours, particularly increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish, pulses, and nuts. Strengthening children’s adherence to the MD from an early age may contribute to improving their health and fostering sustainable eating practices.