Instituto Politécnico de Viseu

Scientific Repository

Welcome to the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu Institutional Repository

The aim of this Repository is to give greater visibility to the scientific production of the academic community of the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, by increasing the impact and use through Open Access, ensuring the storage and preservation of all research produced in its organic units and research centres.

Tel +351 232 419 035

Email repositorio@sc.ipv.pt

Recent Submissions

Knowledge about consumption of fruits and vegetables: comparison between Portuguese and French consumers

Publication . Florença, Sofia de Guiné e; Gonçalves, João Carlos; Teixeira-Lemos, Edite; Cunha Silva Reis Lima, Maria Joao; Costa, Cristina Amaro da; de Pinho Ferreira Guiné, Raquel

2025Periodical

Open access

Development of a Mediterranean Diet Recipe Index (MedRI)

Publication . Florença, Sofia de Guiné e; Filipa P. Costa; de Pinho Ferreira Guiné, Raquel; Cunha Silva Reis Lima, Maria Joao; Teixeira-Lemos, Edite; Costa, Cristina Amaro da

Background/Objectives: The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is globally recognized for its nutritional, environmental, and cultural value. Although several indices assess adherence to the MD and its food environments, none evaluate the alignment of individual recipes with MD principles. This study aimed to develop and validate the Mediterranean Diet Recipe Index (MedRI), a novel scoring tool designed to quantify the concordance of recipes with MD guidelines. Methods: The MedRI was conceptualized through a comprehensive literature review and expert panel assessment, integrating two main dimensions: consumption context and recipe composition. The index evaluates ingredient selection, preparation methods, and food group inclusion, with criteria adapted to specific recipe categories. Validation was conducted using a structured questionnaire administered to 244 adults living in Portugal. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), Cohen’s kappa, Chi-square tests, Cramer’s V, and principal component analysis (PCA). Results: Validation results demonstrated strong internal consistency and construct validity, confirming the reliability and applicability of the MedRI in assessing recipe alignment with MD principles. Conclusions: The MedRI thus represents a reliable and innovative tool to assess and promote culinary practices consistent with the MD. It holds potential applications in nutrition education, public health policymaking, and gastronomic research, supporting the advancement of sustainable and health-promoting dietary models.

2025-12-11Journal article

Open access

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF PIG PRODUCTION: A CASE STUDY

Publication . Ferreira, José; Leite dos Santos, Lenise Maria; Domingos Ferreira, Miguel; OLIVEIRA VERONICA; RODRIGUES CARLA; FERREIRA ANTONIO; Domingos, idalina; IRAJ

Pig farming plays a crucial socioeconomic role in the European Union (EU), with Germany, France, and Spain leading pork production. In Portugal, pig farming is vital for regional development and national economy. To ensure future sustainability, it is essential to identify the pig production activities that have the most significant environmental impacts. This study carried out a Life Cycle Assessment (cradle-to-gate) of pig production using a conventional system in central Portugal to identify the phases with the greatest environmental impact. LCA followed the ISO 14040/14044 standards, covering the production cycle, using 1 kg of live pig weight as a functional unit. The analyzed scenario encompasses everything from the production and growth of piglets to the pig fattening phase, including the formulation of specific feed for each stage of development, transport of inputs, use of diesel to generate electricity in the facilities, and management of pig manure. The results highlight feed production and piglet management as the most important steps. The study highlights the importance of sustainable practices in order to mitigate environmental issues such as human carcinogenic toxicity and the ecotoxicity of freshwater and marine water, emphasizing the need for improved strategies in pig farming.

2025Text

Open access

Kinetics and Isotherm Study of Ceftriaxone Removal Using Functionalized Biochar Combined with Photocatalysis

Publication . Cruz-Lopes, Luísa ; Araújo, Rodrigo ; Lopes, Ana Rita ; Moles, Samuel ; Romero-Sarria, Francisca ; Esteves, Bruno

The increasing presence of antibiotics such as cephalosporins in wastewater represents a significant environmental risk. These compounds are excreted in large quantities, and conventional wastewater treatment plants are often ineffective at their removal. Consequently, the development of more sustainable and efficient treatment technologies is essential. In this study, the removal of cephalosporins from aqueous solutions was evaluated through adsorption using pine bark biochar, photocatalysis with TiO2, and a combination of both processes. Kinetic experiments were conducted with cephalosporin solutions (15 mg/L), employing 150 mg/L of biochar, 100 mg/L TiO2, or their combination, under continuous stirring and/or UV-vis irradiation. Samples were collected at 0 and 120 min and analyzed via UV-vis spectrophotometry. Adsorption isotherms were established for initial cephalosporin concentrations ranging from 5 to 50 mg/L. The biochar alone achieved a removal efficiency of 94.2% after 120 min. Photocatalysis with TiO2 alone resulted in 75% removal, while the combined approach reached 95.9%, indicating a synergistic effect between adsorption and photodegradation mechanisms. Kinetic data fitted the pseudosecond-order model, and the Langmuir isotherm provided the best correlation, suggesting monolayer adsorption. These findings demonstrate that pine bark biochar, whether used independently or in combination with TiO2, constitutes an eco-friendly, effective, and low-cost alternative for the removal of antibiotics from wastewater, while simultaneously contributing to the valorization of forestry residues

2025-11-05Research article

Open access

Nutritional Approaches in Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Mini Scoping Review with Emphasis on SPG11-Related Conditions

Publication . Saraiva Ribeiro, Paulo Renato; Ferreira,Carmen ; Antunes, Carlos ; Dias, Gonçalo ; Cunha Silva Reis Lima, Maria Joao; Guiné, Raquel; Teixeira-Lemos, Edite

Background: Neurodegenerative diseases, including spastic paraplegia type 11 (SPG11), are complex disorders characterized by progressive neurological decline and significant metabolic disturbances. Spatacsin, the protein encoded by the SPG11 gene, plays a critical role in autophagy and lysosomal homeostasis, which are essential for neuronal health. Its impairment leads to defective cellular clearance and neurodegeneration. Recently, personalized and precision nutrition have emerged as promising approaches to enhance clinical outcomes by tailoring dietary interventions to individual genetic, metabolic, and phenotypic profiles. Objectives: This mini scoping review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the application of personalized and precision nutrition in SPG11 and to explore how insights from related neurodegenerative diseases could inform the development of future dietary and metabolic interventions for this rare disorder. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a scoping review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases (2020–2024). Eligible studies included investigations addressing nutritional, genomic, or metabolic interventions in neurodegenerative diseases. Of 30 screened papers, nine met the inclusion criteria, primarily focusing on nutritional and metabolic interventions related to neurodegenerative and neuromuscular conditions. Results: To date, no dietary intervention trials have been conducted specifically for SPG11. However, evidence from studies on related neurodegenerative diseases suggests that antioxidant, mitochondrial-supportive, and microbiota-targeted dietary approaches may beneficially influence key pathological processes such as oxidative stress, lipid dysregulation, and autophagy—core mechanisms that are also central to SPG11 pathophysiology. Conclusions: Although current evidence remains preliminary, personalized nutrition is a promising supplementary strategy for managing neurodegenerative diseases, including SPG11. Future research should incorporate systems-based approaches that combine dietary, metabolic, and neuroimaging assessments, with sex and comorbidity-stratified analyses, multi-omics profiling, and predictive modeling. These frameworks could help design safe, effective, and personalized nutritional interventions aimed at enhancing metabolic resilience and slowing disease progression in SPG11.

2025-10-24Research article

Open access