Recent Submissions
The application of BIM and digital twins in sustainable supply chain management: a systematic literature review
( 2023 ) Zahedi, Foad; Mateus, Ricardo
The construction industry faces persistent challenges in achieving sustainable and circular supply chain management due to fragmented material flows, limited information continuity, and weak coordination among stakeholders. Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Digital Twins offer complementary capabilities for addressing these challenges, yet their roles in sustainable and circular supply chains remain insufficiently integrated. This study critically reviews the literature on BIM and Digital Twins in Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) and the Circular Economy (CE) in construction. A structured literature review was conducted to identify major research trends, knowledge structures, thematic developments, implementation mechanisms, and research gaps. The analysis synthesizes the literature around key thematic areas, including material passports, reverse logistics (RL), off-site construction (OSC), artificial intelligence (AI), technology integration, construction and demolition waste (CDW), and decision-making. The findings indicate that BIM primarily supports structured lifecycle information, material traceability, and information continuity, while Digital Twins extend these capabilities through dynamic data integration, monitoring, and decision support. However, fragmented technological applications, interoperability limitations, insufficient data, organisational barriers, and limited integration across supply chain processes continue to constrain implementation. Based on these findings, a Digital–Circular Supply Chain Framework is proposed to conceptualize how BIM and Digital Twins can connect information, material flows, and decision-making to support SSCM and CE throughout the construction life cycle.
Therapeutic effects of hemerocallis citrina Baroni extract on animal models of neurodegenerative diseases through serotonin and HLH-30/TFEB-dependent mechanisms
( 2025 ) Fernandes, Jorge H.; Costa, Marta Daniela Araújo; Campos, Daniela Vilas Boas da Silva; Ferreira-Lomba, Bruna; Pereira-Sousa, Joana; Wang, Qiong; Castro, Andreia Cristiana Teixeira; Liu, Xinmin; Wang, Fengzhong; Dias, Alberto Carlos Pires; Maciel, P.
Hemerocallis citrina is an herbaceous perennial plant used in Asian cuisine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Here, we tested the therapeutic potential of extracts (HCE30%, HCE50%, and HCN) in vivo, using models of two human genetic neurodegenerative diseases—Machado–Joseph Disease/Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 3 (MJD/SCA3) and Frontotemporal Dementia with Parkinsonism associated to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17). Chronic treatment with HCE30% extract ameliorated the motor deficits typically observed in these models. Interestingly, we found that the effect on the motor phenotype of the MJD/SCA3 model was dependent on serotonergic signaling and on the action of the HLH-30/TFEB transcription factor, known to regulate the cellular response to amino acid starvation, the autophagy and mitophagy pathways, lysosome localization and biogenesis, exocytosis, and mitochondrial biogenesis. Altogether, our findings reinforce the idea that phytochemicals act through the modulation of serotonergic neurotransmission and introduce a novel layer to the HLH-30/TFEB regulatory network. Thus, it also strengthens the use of these pathways as therapeutic targets for protein-related neurodegenerative disorders and confirms the utility of medicinal plants as a source of innovation in the quest for new therapeutic agents.
A sobredotação na Região Autónoma da Madeira: Desenvolvimento de políticas e práticas educativas
( 2020 ) Antunes, Ana Pereira; Almeida, Leandro S.; Miranda, Lúcia Cerqueira; Xavier, Joana Oliveira; Ramos, Conceição; Raffan, Johanna Magreta
A atenção à sobredotação e a alunos com altas capacidades, na Região Autónoma da Madeira (RAM), tem sido referenciada pelo seu pioneirismo no contexto português. Neste artigo descreve-se a evolução desde os anos 90 dos mecanismos de atendimento das crianças e adolescentes com elevadas capacidades, e respetivo enquadramento legal. Os dados foram recolhidos a partir de entrevistas a alguns dos intervenientes neste processo e através da consulta de documentos disponíveis. Assim, foi possível organizar o percurso histórico da sobredotação na Madeira, apresentando um breve enquadramento da emergência do apoio à sobredotação e descrevendo três fases sequenciais do mesmo: (a) Implementação de serviços de atendimento; (b) Consolidação da prestação de serviços; e (c) Serviços prestados na atualidade. De uma forma geral, apesar da evolução e modificação dos serviços, o investimento tem-se centrado no processo de identificação e de intervenção, na formação e na prática baseada em evidência, procurando fazer convergir as atuações com as orientações internacionais na área. Apontam-se algumas reflexões sobre as políticas públicas na área da sobredotação, tendo como premissa a escola inclusiva e uma melhoria de serviços que promovam a igualdade de oportunidades e a diferenciação das práticas educativas, em função das características e necessidades de cada aluno.