Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2026"
Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Selective imprisonment in Brasil: a story beyond the wallsPublication . Valentim, Janaína Luana Rodrigues da Silva; Azevedo, Bruna; Fernandes, Emily; Coutinho, Karoliny Dantas; Silva, Ronaldo; Henriques, Susana; Romão, Manoel Honório; Batista, Natalia Araújo do Nascimento; Coutinho, Karilany Dantas; Valentim, Ricardo Alexsandro de Medeiros; Oliveira, Carlos Alberto Pereira de; Dias, Aline de PinhoThis article discusses the Brazilian prison system and the challenges posed by social inequality that affect the prison population, presenting a concise historical context. The work is situated within the paradoxical context of a country with a Criminal Enforcement Law (LEP) considered modern, but which maintains a selective, segregating, and punitive model of incarceration. The central objective of this study is to analyze the contrast between the humanized ideal of the Criminal Enforcement Law (LEP) and the selective and exclusionary reality of the national prison system. It seeks to substantiate the social injustices perpetrated in prisons, often through the very mechanisms of justice. Furthermore, the article aims to discuss the need for transformation of the prison system, in alignment with the principles of human rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The methodology of this study is qualitative and reflective in nature, delineated from a transdisciplinary approach. The narrative construction permeates a theoretical review of the legal, social, and ideological aspects of the prison system, with a dialogue between Law, Social Sciences, Public Health, and Education. The analysis included an examination of the Criminal Enforcement Law and a historical review from the Penal Code of 1830, in addition to a critical interpretation of official data and empirical studies. The results indicate institutional ineffectiveness in Brazilian prisons, operating as the last step in a systematic process of denial of rights that precedes imprisonment. It is demonstrated that overcrowding, low levels of education, and racial selectivity characterize the discrepancy between the norm and reality. However, the study highlights the potential of the Criminal Enforcement Law as an instrument for inducing humanitarian public policies. The analysis in light of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reveals that the effectiveness of the law requires integrated actions in health, education, and work, transforming the prison into a space for citizen reconstruction.
- AI-powered sustainable tourism: aligning innovations with the sustainable development goalsPublication . Alves, Jéssica; Arantes, Luzia; Moreira, AntonioThis study investigates the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to foster sustainable tourism practices that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It employs the SPAR-4-SLR protocol to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) of 76 Q1 peer-reviewed articles identified in Web of Science and Scopus to determine the contribution of AI to environmental, social and economic sustainability. Four thematic areas emerged: (1) cocreation of value and sustainability in supply chains; (2) AI, service innovation and sustainable transitions; (3) AI, experience and governance in sustainable tourism; and (4) technology, nature and emerging frontiers. Results indicate that AI improves the sustainability process by making operations more efficient and sustainable and promotes ethical governance, inclusivity and innovation. A framework presents the interaction of AI-driven transformation, governance and ethical practices to foster a sustainable environment, contribute to SDGs 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13, and help improve SDGs 5, 7, 10, 14, 15 and 17. The study’s research agenda includes evaluating the long-term purposes of AI adoption, adoption barriers, implementation in less developed destinations and the enhancement of AI-oriented forecasting models. It provides original insights into the intersection of AI and sustainable development within tourism, providing actionable knowledge for academics, policymakers and practitioners seeking to harness AI for advancing sustainable tourism.
- À margem do cânone: trânsitos apócrifos n'O evangelho segundo Jesus CristoPublication . Grünhagen, SaraEste artigo examina trânsitos literários relacionados com tradições bíblico-apócrifas presentes no romance "O evangelho segundo Jesus Cristo" (1991), um dos mais intertextuais de José Saramago, com um arcabouço referencial sofisticado, que excede em muito a narrativa bíblica canónica. Trata-se de analisar como Saramago recolhe personagens, episódios e detalhes narrativos sobretudo dos evangelhos da natividade e da infância, um diálogo ainda pouco estudado pela crítica saramaguiana. A análise mostra que o romance opera um duplo movimento de aproximação e distanciamento desses textos, revelando tanto a sua força cultural como alguns dos processos de receção que os tornaram parte do imaginário ocidental. Mostra-se ainda que Saramago atua como um autor apócrifo tardio, combinando fontes textuais, tradição iconográfica e objetos de veneração para criar a sua própria iconografia literária, marcada pela insistência no humano e por uma reescrita que desestabiliza leituras dogmáticas.
- Bringing the waters to CasablancaPublication . Fernandes, Carla Sofia Ferreira; Alves, FátimaDemographic pressures, economic development, and climate change affect water availability in Morocco, which is rapidly approaching critical water scarcity. Casablanca, the largest urban center, relies almost exclusively on water sources from other regions. The two primary sources are the surface water stations of Bouregreg, fed by the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah dam near Rabat, and the water from the Al Massira dam south of Casablanca. However, due to the decreasing precipitation levels caused by climate change, these water stations will soon fail to provide the level of water required. Therefore, various public and private actors are implementing measures to ensure the continuity of water supply in alignment with Morocco’s National Water Plan. Among the proposed water production solutions are the development of seawater desalination plants and the construction of a canal to transfer water from another river to the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah Dam. Unfortunately, these supply-side solutions can only be sustainable if they are complemented by the active enforcement of downstream measures, including improved water reuse efficiency and intelligent water consumption management.
- Innovating for tomorrow: industry 4.0’s role in sustainable healthcarePublication . Ferreira, Ana Rita O.; Fernandes, TiagoPurpose: It is essential for professionals to stay informed about the revolution we are witnessing and understand the related technical concepts in today’s rapidly evolving society. In addition to exploring how Industry 4.0 technologies—such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and blockchain—are transforming the healthcare sector, this literature review aims to address a crucial question: How can new technologies improve operational and environmental sustainability in healthcare while maintaining accessibility, safety, and equity? Methods: A comprehensive literature study was conducted to analyze current research and discussions around the integration of Industry 4.0 technology in healthcare. This paper covers the various aspects of automation, data processing, system interconnection, ethical, financial, and infrastructure issues. Among the main topics discussed is data integration, which helps to enhance resource management, predictive analytics, and decision-making. Results: Through international case studies (Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Manifal Hospital, University College London Hospitals, Charité Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra) this review shows how these technologies improve patient outcomes, healthcare efficiency, and the environment. Significant problems should be warned about, including ethical issues about patient data security and privacy, unequal access to technological developments, the necessity of guaranteeing health information system interoperability, and economic viability concerns, particularly in countries or regions with limited resources. Conclusions: Healthcare 4.0 has enormous potential for global justice and sustainability, but its ethical integrity, data security, and broad accessibility must be monitored. Although the healthcare sector will benefit much from the 4th industrial revolution, this analysis cautions about the related social and economic issues and inequalities. Encouraging ethical innovation will rely much on public policies to support this technological transition being implemented in a sustainable manner in the healthcare sector.
- Rethinking the geopolitical shifts and security in the New MillenniumPublication . Matos, André; Garrido, RuiThis editorial introduces the Special Issue "Geopolitics and International Security in the 21st Century" and frames it against the erosion of the post–Cold War assumptions that once sustained optimism about global governance. It argues that two pillars of the 1990s (the expectation that democratisation would reduce conflict and the belief that deepening economic interdependence would pacify international relations) have been increasingly undermined by renewed geopolitical rivalry, an accelerating wave of autocratisation, and the strategic instrumentalisation of rules and institutions. The editorial further highlights how selective moral and political prioritisation of human life and dignity across contemporary crises has intensified pressures on international normative systems, weakened legitimacy, and contributed to patterns of diplomatic non-alignment, consequently amplifying global fragmentation. Against this background, the Special Issue’s contributions collectively address an overarching question: how can law and institutions remain credible and effective in a security environment shaped by resource competition, technological militarisation, disinformation, populist foreign policy, contested borders, and renewed debates on accountability for aggression and wartime harms? The editorial closes by stressing the need to restore principled coherence, human security, and trust in multilateral cooperation as prerequisites for confronting the systemic risks that threaten global stability and planetary survival.
- Workshop on fourth generation ecosystem overviews (WKEO4; outputs from 2025 meeting)Publication . Abril, Catarina; Bailey, Jennifer; Belgrano, Andrea; Bellomo, Ilaria; Bentley, Jacob; Campuzano, Francisco; Chan, Andrea; Clay, Patricia M.; Danby, Rufus; Faithfull, Carolyn; Gomes, Inês; Hackett, Michelle; Hamon, Katell; Hemraj, Ashley; Hogg, Oliver; Holsman, Kirstin; Rico, Maria José; Kenny, Andy; Le Bras, Marie; Lehuta, Sigrid; Libungan, Lísa Anne; Llope, Marcos; Lynam, Chris; Martinez, Inigo; Martínez, Roi; Motova-Surmava, Arina; Muench, Angela; Nogueira, Fabiana; Ojaveer, Henn; Piet, Gerjan; Planque, Benjamin; Puntila-Dodd, Riikka; Rachlitz, Kurt; Roux, Marie-Julie; Sailley, Sevrine; Schönen, Lea; Seixas, Sónia; Silva, Ana Paula; Singh, Warsha; Steadman, Daniel; Steins, Nathalie; Stepanowska, Kasia; Sturaro, Nicolas; Szalaj, Dorota; Talevska, Tamara; Tam, Jamie; Thompson, Murray; Thorpe, Robert; Torres Leal, Maria; Townhill, Bryony; Travers-Trolet, Morgane; Tubío, Xosé; Valanko, Sebastian; Weisberg, Sarah; West, Elizabeth; Ojaveer, Henn; Bentley, Jacob; Steins, NathalieEcosystem Overviews (EOs) are central products in the ICES approach to support Ecosystem Based Management, through providing the ecoregion context, identifying main pressures, associated human activities and impacts on ecosystem state. The Workshop on fourth generation ecosystem overviews (WKEO4) reviewed and updated priority topic lists for the EOs, discussed and advanced climate change impacts, and social and economic context sections in the EOs, and developed recommendations on how to improve the utility of EOs to meet advisory and decision-making needs. The workshop proposed the following five priority topics to be included/advanced in EOs: effects of climate change, foresight (with a focus on spatial analyses), cumulative effects, biodiversity and functional diversity, and trade-offs between ecological, social and economic sustainability. These priorities reflect a consensus to update EOs from static, descriptive summaries into dynamic, integrated, and operational tools that explicitly link ecosystem information and advice to options for management responses. Workshop discussions also highlighted the need for stronger connections between ecological and social information, improved visual and spatial presentation of results, and greater alignment with international and regional policy frameworks such as the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, OSPAR, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Participants also discussed the need to more systematically adopt available workflow resources (e.g. Transparent Assessment Framework), interactive delivery platforms (e.g. ICES Xplorer suite), and novel methodologies applied within ICES (e.g. Spatial Cumulative Assessment of Impact Risk for Management). Doing so would help transition EOs towards a more modular structure, where sections can be updated more readily with self-contained methods, code, and analyses. With this, we aim to streamline EO updates and enable EOs to transition into an online application. Further work should include workshops on: i) societal/management objectives to support EOs, ii) developing guidance on social and economic data collection, use and documentation, iii) revised risk assessment methodology and a follow-up benchmark (Workshop on methods and guidelines to link human activities, pressures and state of the ecosystem in Ecosystem Overviews 2 (WKTRANSPARENT2)), and iv) Fifth Generation EOs (WKEO5).
- Municipal food waste collection strategies in Portugal: a datasetPublication . Alcalde, Diego del Oro; Bugarim, Diogo; Coelho, Telmo; Almeida, Emília; Silva, Catarina; Cavique, Luís; Ferreira, CéliaThe dataset reports an up-to-date overview of the selective biowaste collection with a focus on food waste and organic kitchen waste across 308 municipalities in Portugal, to assess the compliance with the EU Waste Framework Directive that made biowaste collection mandatory from 1st January 2024. Data were collected through a structured survey sent to the totality of the municipalities, complemented by systematic research in secondary official sources such as municipal websites, reports and statistical data. The questionnaire covered aspects such as coverage, collection models (nearby bring points, door-to-door, co-collection), sector-specific deployment (household collection, non-domestic collection), operational characteristics, and performance indicators (capture rates, cost per tonne). The dataset was structured and validated through cross-checking the multiple sources assessed, prioritising direct municipal questionnaire responses. It includes disaggregated data at a municipality level, including detailed information on the characteristics and efficiency of the initiatives, when available. The database allows the cross-comparison across Portuguese regions and potentially with other international systems, in terms of biowaste collection strategies with focus on food waste and organic kitchen waste. Municipalities in Portugal have been carrying out pilot experiences within their territories, but there is no systematic assessment of what has been carried out nor the results obtained. Given the limited available data, this dataset provides a valuable resource for policy design and further research on biowaste management initiatives to further assess their efficiency and adaptability to different municipal realities at a national and even European level.
- How music–video metaphors build destination brand resonance: dyadic affect, meaning access, and cultural cuesPublication . Gary, Joston; Gu, Yang; Wang, Hannah; Zhou, Xixing; Feng, Yan; Moreira, AntonioShort-form destination videos often rely on music to carry cultural meaning. This paper links Cognitive Metaphor Theory with the circumplex dyad of pleasure and arousal to explain how music–image pairings build destination brand resonance (DBR). Three experiments show that pleasure is the stable route to DBR, arousal helps only under favorable tone, and their effects are additive. A Meaning-Access Prime (MAP) raises both emotions under identical clips and, in Bayesian structural models, also exerts a direct path to DBR, strongest when pleasant tone is low. DBR then predicts destination brand identification and destination consumption intention. We also show a useful state view: Resonant versus Emergent DBR. The framework provides design rules for co-tuning tone, activation, and cultural cues in creator-made clips that improve resonance, identification, and intention.