Repositório da Universidade dos Açores
Repositório Institucional da Universidade dos Açores
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New national and regional bryophyte records, 84
Publication . Wilbraham, Joanna; Abdirasulov, Farrukh; Alvarez, Denise Jacqueline; Andrade, Rui; Pires Bento da Silva Elias, Rui Miguel; Gabriel, Rosalina; Zander, Richard
Unpacking Dimensionality and Response Bias in the Environmental Identity Scale: A Methodological Investigation in the Portuguese Context
Publication . Arroz, Ana; Picanço, Ana; Pereira, Enésima; Gabriel, Rosalina; Clayton, Susan
Understanding individuals’ connection to nature is crucial for promoting sustainable attitudes and behaviors. The environmental identity (EID) scale, widely used to assess this connection, plays a key role in environmental research; however, its cross-cultural application requires rigorous psychometric validation. Although the revised 14-item EID scale has demonstrated good reliability, questions remain regarding its dimensionality and the potential influence of acquiescence due to exclusively positive worded items. This study examined both issues in Portuguese samples. In Study 1, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test the factorial structure. Results supported a two-factor model with correlated dimensions: Restorative Connection to Nature (RCN) and Ecological Identity (EI), rather than a strictly unidimensional solution. In Study 2 acquiescence was assessed by comparing the original version with a balanced version that included partially reverse-worded items. Item distributions, factor loadings, and reliability were analyzed. The balanced version did not improve control of acquiescence; instead, reversed-worded items showed weaker loadings, lower explanation variance, and method effects, suggesting increased measurement bias. Overall, the findings support the robustness of the revised 14-item EID scale in Portugal while indicating that environmental identity is better conceptualized as a bidimensional construct portraying both reflective connection and identity-based engagement with nature. The results also highlight the limitations of reverse-worded items as a strategy for reducing response bias in value-laden constructs.
Ionic Liquids and Deep Eutectic Solvents for Polyphenol Extraction: Opportunities and Limitations
Publication . Rosa, Gonçalo; Barreto, Maria do Carmo; Seca, Ana; Pinto, Diana; Vlase, Ana-Maria
Polyphenols are structurally diverse plant secondary metabolites with broad biological activities and growing applications across the food, health, and materials sectors. Conventional extraction based on organic solvents (e.g., methanol, ethanol) is often energy-intensive, inefficient, and environmentally burdensome. Ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have therefore emerged as greener alternatives for polyphenol extraction. This review evaluates recent advances in solvent design, extraction performance, and process sustainability. Imidazolium-based ILs frequently achieve high yields and selectivity, particularly when coupled with ultrasound or microwave-assisted extraction, but high cost, synthetic complexity, viscosity-related constraints, and potential toxicity hinder scaleup. By contrast, DESs—especially those derived from choline chloride or lactic acid—are easier to prepare, less costly, and more compatible with industrial implementation, with efficiency enhanced by tailoring hydrogen bond networks, water content, and process intensification. Critical downstream challenges persist for both solvent classes, notably in extract purification and solvent recovery due to low volatility; approaches such as resin adsorption, antisolvent precipitation, and direct formulation have been explored. Overall, ILs and DESs represent compelling alternatives to conventional solvents, and future progress will depend on integrated extraction–recovery strategies, systematic solvent selection, and validation under scalable, sustainable processing conditions.
Por entre números, curvas e estrelas: a vida de Carl Friedrich Gauss
Publication . Teixeira, Ricardo Cunha
Neste texto, convida-se o leitor a descobrir a vida e obra de Carl Friedrich Gauss, um dos maiores matemáticos de todos os tempos, cuja influência ultrapassou largamente os limites da Matemática. Em particular, aponta-se para a importância de valorizarmos a Matemática enquanto ciência dos padrões.
UAciência - Das Ciências Exatas às Sociais, 2020 – 2024
Rodrigues, Armindo; Gomes, Luís Mendes
Este volume reúne 116 artigos científicos de 144 investigadores da Universidade dos Açores, refletindo a diversidade e a relevância da produção científica desenvolvida na instituição. Os trabalhos distribuem-se pelas áreas do Ambiente, Biologia, Biotecnologia e Saúde, Ciências Sociais, Geociências e Matemática, Física e Química, evidenciando o contributo multidisciplinar da investigação académica para o avanço do conhecimento científico.
A obra resulta de uma iniciativa pioneira de divulgação científica nos Açores, desenvolvida em colaboração com o jornal Açoriano Oriental, com o objetivo de aproximar a ciência da sociedade através da adaptação de trabalhos científicos a uma linguagem acessível ao público em geral. Muitos dos textos apresentados tiveram origem em estudos previamente publicados em revistas e conferências científicas nacionais e internacionais.
O livro conta ainda com testemunhos institucionais de relevo, nomeadamente da Reitora da Universidade dos Açores, Doutora Susana Mira Leal, do Presidente do Conselho Geral da Universidade dos Açores, Dr. Marco Lopes, da Diretora Regional da Ciência, Inovação e Desenvolvimento do Governo Regional dos Açores, Doutora Rute Gregório, e da jornalista do Açoriano Oriental, Dra. Ana Melo, que sublinham a importância da comunicação científica e da promoção da cultura científica na sociedade contemporânea.
A componente visual da publicação foi desenvolvida por Camila Cota, responsável pela recriação fotográfica da fachada do Complexo Científico da Universidade dos Açores e pelas ilustrações que representam as diferentes secções da obra, reforçando a identidade estética e editorial do volume.