ABSTRACT: Renewable energy sources (RESs) power plants, particularly solar photovoltaic (PV) infrastructure, are being deployed at an unprecedented scale to allow the transition to carbon neutrality. Rapid expansion of PV facilities cannot proceed without careful consideration of spatial planning and environmental impacts. Although social acceptance of RES is generally high, there is little consensus on where such plants should be located, as stakeholders perceive their impacts in diverse and often conflicting ways. This study aimed to (i) assess the spatial distribution of planned utility-scale solar power plants (SPP) in Portugal in relation to environmentally and culturally sensitive areas; (ii) analyse stakeholder perceptions of SPP impacts across different land uses and territorial settings; and (iii) develop an impact index that incorporates stakeholder information to classify PV projects by degree of impact. An online survey was conducted to examine perceived impacts associated with SPP development, and a classification methodology was designed using an additive aggregation method to produce a geographic information system-based index to classify projects. The questionnaire answers reveal substantial heterogeneity in individual preferences but also indicate intragroup convergence and intergroup divergence among stakeholder groups. The impact index provides a framework for classifying land-use conflicts related to large-scale solar projects and enables preliminary assessment of planned developments in relation to stakeholder alignment. These findings contribute to spatial energy planning by demonstrating how stakeholder perceptions of land-related impacts can be operationalised to inform siting decisions for RES plants.

Design-driven and artistic research in architecture has gained visibility, yet its processes often remain difficult to articulate and evaluate within conventional methodological frameworks. This paper proposes trajectory as an operative concept for understanding and communicating practice-based architectural research. Rather than treating research as a linear sequence of predefined stages, trajectories are conceptualised as emergent curves drawn through design actions, spatial interventions and critical reflection. The study adopts a conceptual methodology based on an interpretive synthesis of four strands of literature: hermeneutics and assemblage thinking; research-through-design and design-driven approaches; debates on artistic research and practice as research; and methodological work on mess, drift and networks. The resulting framework characterises trajectories as lines-in-action, non-predictable yet traceable processes, spatio-temporal dynamics of territorialisation and deterritorialisation, and reflexive narratives supported by specific documentation devices. Three composite vignettes from architectural design research—a housing studio, a territorial landscape project and a practice-based doctoral investigation on adaptive reuse— illustrate how trajectories can be traced and analysed in different contexts. The paper argues that a trajectory-based perspective allows architectural research to remain experimentally open while meeting demands for methodological rigour and transparency, and outlines implications for the formulation, documentation and evaluation of design-driven and artistic research.

The rapid growth of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy has introduced significant challenges related to the management of End-of-Life (EoL) panel waste. Projections estimate that by 2050, global PV waste could exceed 60 million tons. The absence of specific regulatory frameworks and the limited development of recycling infrastructure further aggravate the situation, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable waste management practices and the integration of circular economy principles within the solar industry. This paper discusses existing regulatory policies across various countries, along with recent technological advances in recycling processes. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of implementing a circular economy-based waste management model to enable the recovery of valuable materials, reduce reliance on virgin raw materials, and mitigate the environmental impact of the PV sector.

Fall detection systems have traditionally relied on sequential pattern recognition methods, using, for example, time series data obtained from inertial sensors, such as accelerometers. This paper proposes a methodology for fall detection based on converting time series from accelerometer sensors into visual representations using the Markov Transition Field (MTF) method. The UP-Fall dataset was used to test the performance of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model trained on the MTF images generated. A systematic analysis of the image generation parameters was carried out, including the window size, the percentage of overlap, and the number of bins used in the discretizations. The experiments showed that the configuration with 55 bins, a window of 200 samples, and 40% overlap resulted in the best accuracy (97.13%), demonstrating that the conversion of sensory signals into MTF images is a promising alternative for fall detection, allowing computer vision models to capture relevant temporal patterns with high efficiency.

This work outlines the development process of a rehabilitation system from smartphones to provide remote monitoring and real-time feedback assistance in muscle rehabilitation exercises. The system leverages advanced machine learning techniques, such as pose estimation techniques and anomaly detection models, in tracking users’ movements and assessing the performance of exercises. The system is designed to identify deviations from correct movement patterns and provide corrective feedback, allowing patients to engage in home-based rehabilitation without specialized hardware. This paper details the system design, data acquisition methods, and the machine learning models used to detect incorrect movements. The outlined pipeline is intended to facilitate the creation of an affordable, cost-effective, and scalable rehabilitation platform for strengthening patient adherence to exercises and optimizing recovery outcomes

This paper presents the conception, design and real miniature instrument implementation of a dual-purpose sensor for small satellites that can act as a star tracker and space debris detector. In the previous research work, the authors conceived, designed and implemented a breadboard consisting of a computer laptop, a camera interface and camera controller, an image sensor, an optics system, a temperature sensor and a temperature controller. It showed that the instrument was feasible. In this paper, a new real star tracker miniature instrument is designed, physically realized and tested. The implementation follows a New Space approach; it is made with Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) components with space heritage. The instrument’s development, implementation and testing are presented.

The proceedings of Tell.Me 2026 – 3rd International Symposium on Biographical Narratives in Arts, Media, and Society present a curated collection of the scientific and artistic contributions to be presented during the upcoming symposium, scheduled to take place online on 28 and 29 May 2026. This edition is the result of a significant tripartite collaboration involving institutions in Macau (University of Saint Joseph), Portugal (ISMAT and CICANT), and Brazil (University of São Paulo), uniting a global community of scholars, artists, and practitioners. The volume explores the shifting landscape of the "biographical" in an age defined by algorithmic mediation and rapid digital circulation. Centred on the theme The Power of Biographical Narratives, the contributors move beyond traditional autobiography to examine how documentary, sonic, and hybrid storytelling practices reshape our understanding of identity and memory. These studies do more than describe contemporary culture; they problematize the ethical tensions of authorship, authenticity, and representational agency inherent in modern, participatory media. A recurring theme throughout the volume is the notion that, within our current digital ecosystem, narrative, media, and society do not merely transmit meaning, but actively co-create it. As biographical stories unfold across increasingly networked and interactive formats, they challenge traditional notions of authority and enable the democratisation of narration. By embracing these evolving forms, the collected works position storytelling not merely as a way to preserve the past but as a living, participatory process that actively negotiates and redefines both individual and collective identities.

Anthelmintic resistance (AR) to benzimidazoles (BZs) in gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) of sheep was assessed across 35 farms in northern (Trás-os-Montes, TM), north-central (Beira Interior, BI), central (Estremadura, ES), and southern (Alentejo, AL) Portugal. Pooled fecal samples were tested for AR by egg hatch tests (EHTs) with albendazole (ABZ) and thiabendazole (TBZ). Effective concentrations inhibiting 50% egg hatch (EC50) were calculated, with EC50 > 0.13 µg/mL (ABZ) and > 0.10 µg/mL (TBZ) indicating AR. ABZ resistance was detected on 69% of farms, while TBZ, never administered, showed resistance on 59% of farms, suggesting wide BZ cross-resistance. EC50 values ranged from 0.05 to 0.68 µg/mL (ABZ) and 0.03–0.70 µg/mL (TBZ). Nemabiome metabarcoding identified 10 GIN species, predominantly Haemonchus contortus (41%), Teladorsagia circumcincta (33%), and Trichostrongylus colubriformis (19%). Less common species included Bunostomum trigonocephalum and Oesophagostomum venulosum. Species richness (3–6 per farm) was highest in TM, with unique occurrences of B. trigonocephalum and Cooperia sp. H. contortus dominated in TM and BI, while T. circumcincta prevailed in AL, where AR was most severe. Higher EC50 values correlated with increased T. circumcincta and T. colubriformis prevalence. The BZ-resistance F200Y SNP in the isotype-1 β-tubulin gene of H. contortus was detected on 85% of farms, with resistant allele frequencies inferring predominantly homozygous resistant populations (A/A; > 90% resistant allele) on some farms, strongly correlating with higher EC50 values, particularly in AL. Widespread BZ resistance underscores the need for enhanced AR surveillance, prudent anthelmintic use, and integrated management to sustain sheep health in Portugal, especially in Alentejo.

In an era marked by the increasing fragmentation of human relationships – where mechanisms of social and emotional connection often struggle to adapt to the acceleration of communicational technologies and digital ecosystems – Digital Media Art assumes a role of critical and sensitive mediation. The experimental and research-driven exploration of ways to reconfigure modes of being-with-others through technology fosters intersections between creative practices and other means, such as digital narrative and augmented reality, particularly given their immersive and interactive potential oriented toward ethical, social, and cultural concerns. These practices propose frameworks for listening, sharing and symbolic co-presence, where empathy is not conceived as a passive emotion, but as a relational process. This article offers a theoretical reflection on such frameworks, focusing on narrative portals activated through augmented reality, and analyses four contemporary international art projects (2021-2025) - Como Semillas en el Viento, Monumental Perspectives, Las Awichas and Augmented Landscapes of Empathy – which integrate technology and storytelling to cultivate affective and community-based connections. Through comparative analysis, this article aims to understand how these creative projects are situated within the field of Digital Media Art and how they configure spaces of relation and collective memory.

Considerando as necessidades de professores e aprendentes de Português Língua Estrangeira (PLE) na China e baseando-se em conhecimentos sobre o ensino da pronúncia, este artigo propõe um recurso para o ensino da altura vocálica a tais aprendentes. Este recurso: (1) consiste numa apresentação em Powerpoint que combina as estratégias de Color Vowel® Chart e Vowel Elevator e, portanto, explora diferentes níveis de instrução de pronúncia; (2) pode ser integrado numa abordagem mais ampla e comunicativa do ensino de pronúncia; (3) visa ajudar a formar categorias cognitivas para as (novas) vogais do português; (4) inclui uma comparação dos sistemas fonológicos vocálicos em português e chinês mandarim. A apresentação deste material didático e da respetiva fundamentação científico-pedagógica contribui também para a formação dos professores de línguas estrangeiras no ensino da pronúncia.