uBibliorum
Digital Repository of the University of Beira Interior
A Universidade da Beira Interior, no cumprimento da sua missão, mantém em funcionamento, desde junho de 2009, o Repositório Digital – uBibliorum - integrado na rede de Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP).
A sua função é alojar, disponibilizar, preservar, divulgar e facilitar a citação de toda a investigação científica produzida pelos docentes e investigadores da UBI, mediante autodepósito a ser realizado por cada um deles, e perpetuar a memória científica institucional.
Recent Submissions
Sweet Cherries as Health Promoters: Valuable Red Fruits with Nutritive and Functional Properties
Publication . Gonçalves, Ana Carolina Almeida ; Silva, Luís Manuel Lopes Rodrigues da; Alves, Gilberto Lourenço; Ferreira, Amílcar Celta Falcão Ramos
Currently, it is widely recognized that consuming fruits and vegetables effectively reduces the risk of morbidity and mortality caused by cardiovascular and cancerous diseases, among others, being widely recommended a daily intake of 400 g of fruits and vegetables. In fact, the potential of fruits and vegetables to treat various ailments and alleviate symptoms, such as migraines, metabolic syndrome, intestinal problems, physical pain, certain cancer types, rheumatoid arthritis, dizziness, colds, fever, psychological fatigue, and symptoms derived from rheumatoid arthritis, among others, has been known since ancient times. Nowadays, the trend is increasing, being accompanied by an emphasis on different communities. This interest is essentially since it is believed that, unlike synthetic pharmaceutics that cause undesirable side effects, natural products have few, or no side effects, and are easy to obtain and economical. Natural products have been the subject of many studies and an important topic of discussion among the medical and scientific communities. Indeed, the biological potential of a wide range of products has already been recognized, being already incorporated in many pharmaceutical drugs. These beneficial activities are directly related to their nutritional constituents, namely due to the presence of vitamins, minerals, carotenoids and fiber, as well as phenolic compounds. The combination of all these compounds is beneficial and capable of promoting the good functioning of human organisms, and hence, promoting the normalization of several parameters to basal levels and contributing to general well-being. Among the various compounds, special emphasis has been given to phenolic compounds. As far as we know, phenolic compounds derive from the secondary metabolism of plants and their main function is to protect them against abiotic (water, sunlight, and temperature) and biotic (attacks by microorganisms) factors. These are commonly divided into 2 large subclasses: (i) non-coloured phenolic compounds (e.g., hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, among others) and (ii) coloured compounds (anthocyanins, which are largely responsible by the colors exhibited by various natural products). Recent research has demonstrated that their chemical structure gives them a remarkable ability to reduce levels of oxidative stress and interact with proinflammatory cascades, thus restoring basal levels and consequently reducing the risk of occurrence of many diseases, or alleviating your symptoms, and consequently, contributing to a better quality of life. The human body naturally possesses intracellular antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase) that are considered essential for the survival and health of the population, once, under physiological conditions, they are capable of balancing the levels of free radicals. However, given genetic factors, unexpected decompensation, severe discomfort, and lifestyle choices, such as sedentary habits, consumption of alcohol and tobacco, and/or intake of foods very rich in fats and calories, the aforementioned enzymes become insufficient to guarantee basal levels, leading to proteins, organs and cells injury. This damage is caused by high levels of free radicals and the appearance of exacerbated inflammatory responses in the human body. Consequently, this decompensation “triggers” for the appearance and progression of many diseases whose prevalence is increasing worldwide. These data are corroborated by many studies, which describe that free radicals and pro-inflammatory species are largely related to oxidative stress, and the appearance of various types of cancer, autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and syndromes, including the metabolic one. Given the mentioned facts, it is not surprising that many studies involving cherries consumption are being carried out, since it is urgent to find accessible and effective therapies for the entire population, and preferably natural based, in order to improve their quality of life. Cherry (Prunus avium Linnaeus) is a fruit highly appreciated by consumers, not only due to its organoleptic characteristics, but also due to its nutritional value and health benefits. In fact, it has been shown that this fruit is an excellent source of macro and micronutrients, and phytochemicals. In fact, this last class of compounds has been the subject of many studies, being a topic of discussion among various communities given their various positive effects on health. Among the different nutritional classes found, cherries have high contents of phenolic compounds, highlighting the presence, until now, of anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols and hydroxycinnamic acids. Particularly, the main compounds identified are cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside and -glucoside, quercetin, rutin, kaempferol, catechin, and ρcoumaroylquinic and chlorogenic acids. Therefore, the richness of cherries in bioactive compounds has been one of the reasons for the growing interest of the scientific community in exploring the beneficial healthpromoting effects associated with their intake. Furthermore, consumers are increasingly well-informed and, once, they are looking for healthy products, such as cherries, there is verified an increase in their demand. Faced with this, the market responds by increasing their global production, especially of the cultivars that most attract consumers. To date, several scientific studies carried out on animals and humans suggest that consuming cherries reduces the risk of several inflammatory and chronic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. Clinical evidence has already demonstrated that consuming cherries can reduce the scale of pain caused by arthritis, gout and inflammation, possibly due to their ability to increase superoxide dismutase levels, and reduce inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, MDA and PGE-2) and serum levels of C-reactive protein levels, as well as inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, which is one of the main proteins responsible for enhancing the pro-inflammatory response. Furthermore, cherries have also shown to be effective in reducing muscle pain, accelerating recovery and improving the performance of recreational exercisers and high-competition athletes, diminishing risk factors associated with the onset of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and associated with stress and anxiety, thus improving sleep and mood, memory and cognitive functions. More recently, it has been reported that the consumption of cherries can also alleviate hepatic steatosis and inhibit the activity of the α-glucosidase enzyme, thus delaying the conversion of starch and disaccharides into glucose. Furthermore, cherries also show potential to protect human erythrocytes against free radicals and to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. These health-promoting activities are closely related to cherry phenolic content, which is the main responsible for offering this berry, notable antioxidant and antiinflammatory capabilities. This fact is supported by several studies and correlations already performed. In recent years, the production of this fruit has increased considerably worldwide, including in Portugal. Our country produces around 20,000 tonnes per year. A large part of this production occurs in the Fundão region, and hence, it is not surprising that sweet cherries present a distinguished economic impact in this region. The availability of detailed information about their health-promoting properties could lead to an increase in consumer demand, raising their consumption and use of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products, contributing to the valorisation of the region and the fixation of people and industrial companies. Therefore, with this doctoral project, the aim was to extensively characterize, for the first time, the quality parameters and phytochemical and mineral composition of the best-known cultivars in the region, with the intention of helping in the selection of the most promising cultivars. In total, 23 cultivars were characterized. The results obtained revealed that, among the cultivars studied, there are significant differences in the physicochemical characteristics and in the phenolic, mineral and volatile profiles, showing the verified variability between the various cherry cultivars is mainly influenced by the genotype of the cultivar. In general, Black star and Starkrimson cultivars had the highest soluble solids content, while the highest acidity value was found in Sweetheart cultivar. On the other hand, Cristalina, Kordia and Santina cultivars were those that exhibited the most intense/dark color, while the lightest ones were Sunburst and Sweetheart. Relatively to phenolic compounds, 46 phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn, including 9 hydroxycinnamic acids, 2 hydroxybenzoic acids, 13 flavonols, 5 flavan-3-ols, 2 flavanones, 1 flavanonol and 4 anthocyanins. Among the compounds, chlorogenic acids were the majority noncoloured phenolic compounds, while cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside was the most predominant coloured phenolic compound. Regarding their levels, Sunburst cultivar had the highest amounts of unstained compounds, while the Tavora, Garnet and 4-84 cultivars had the highest concentration of anthocyanins. With regard to mineral content, 27 were identified by ICP-MS and flame atomic absorption spectrometry, namely 12 essential and 15 non-essential. The element potassium (K) was the most abundant element detected in all cultivars, while Thallium (Tl) was the least abundant. On the other hand, the analysis of volatile organic compounds by SPME/GC-MS showed that cherries have a wide variety of these, having been detected a total of 66 volatiles from 8 different families, including 16 aldehydes, 23 alcohols, 6 ketones, 6 esters, 8 monoterpenes, 3 norisoprenoids, 2 hydrocarbons and 2 acids. Among the compounds, benzaldehyde, hexanal, nonanal, benzyl alcohol, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, 1- hexanol, (Z)-2-hexen -1-ol, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, linalool, α-terpineol and α-ionone were the main found. Based on the obtained results, from a commercial point of view, Cristalina, Saco, Tavora, 4-84, Bigalise, Celeste and Satin cultivars might be considered some of the most interesting cultivars, since they offer a better flavor and a higher percentage of edible fruit, and consequently, major intake of phytochemicals, mainly due to their size, weight, and phenolic, mineral and volatile contents. The microbial ecology of the Saco cultivar was also explored for the first time. In total, 22 different bacteria and 33 fungi were isolated. The genera of Pseudomonas spp. (27.273%) and Ralstonia spp. (18.182%) were the most dominant bacteria, followed by Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Erwinia spp., Tatumella spp. and Dermacoccus spp. (each with 9.091%). Regarding fungi, Metschnikowia spp. (39.394%) was the most abundant genus, followed by Aureobasidium spp. (27.273%) and Hanseniaspora spp. (18.182%). In the initial stages of fruit development, Erwinia Tasmaniensis, Peudomonas viridiflava and Pseudomonas syringae bacteria are the first to emerge, while Ralstonia pickettii, Bacillus altitudinis, Enterococcus Rotai, Tatumellla terrea, Pseudomonas qingdaonensis, Pseudomonas gramininis, Dermacoccus nishinomiyaensis and Buttiauxella ferragutiae appear in the final stages of fruit ripening. Regarding fungi, Metschnikowia spp. (39.39%) was the most abundant genus, followed by Aureobasidium spp. (27.27%) and Hanseniaspora spp. (18.18%). The majority of fungi were detected in the final stages of fruit ripening, particularly the fungi Hanseniaspora uvarum, Metschnikowia pulcherrima, Hanseniaspora pseudoguilliermondii, Penicillium crustosum, Hanseniaspora meyeri, Aureobasidium proteae and Aureobasidium pullulans. The study of the microbial ecology of fruits and vegetables is vital because they can be a potential vector of foodborne pathogenic diseases and/or an important reservoir of microorganisms capable of improving the quality, characteristics and nutritional value of foods, and exert positive effects on human health. The isolation of certain microorganisms can also be an added value at an industrial level. Additionally, the in vitro biological properties of Saco cultivar were also evaluated, namely its potential to reduce free radicals and pro-inflammatory levels, as well as its potential to protect human blood samples against hemolysis and hemoglobin oxidation, interfere with the growth of cancer cells and with the activity of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), one of the main proteins related to resistance seen against several drugs, as well of αglucosidase enzyme. It was also observed that both fractions and the total extract can also inhibit the activity of α-glucosidase enzyme. Saco cultivar was chosen to carry out these assays, since it already showed to possess considerable biological properties and also for being one of the most produced cultivars in Portugal, possessing inclusive, protected geographical indication. Therefore, with the intention of increasing knowledge of the biological potential of the various phenolic compounds, and for the first time, 2 fractions rich in phenolic compounds were extracted using a solid phase C18 column, a fraction I, rich in noncoloured phenolic compounds, and fraction II, rich in anthocyanins. For comparison purposes, a total extract (III) rich in both phenolic subclasses was also tested and the results were further compared between them and with positive controls. In general, the three extracts showed a remarkable ability to capture free radicals and ferric species, as well as to interfere with the activity of proteins related to inflammation (iNOS and COX-2), and with the transmembrane transport protein, P-gp, as well as with the activity of α-glucosidase enzyme, in dose-dependent manner. It was also possible to verify that the three extracts demonstrated effectiveness in inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells, namely colon, stomach and liver cancer cells, causing necrosis at the highest concentration (800 µg/mL for colon and stomach cells) and 100 µg/mL for liver cells). Both fractions and the total extract also showed the ability to reduce induced-oxidative stress in cancer cells, as well as in neuroblastoma model cells. From the obtained data, it is important to highlight the biological potential of the fraction rich in anthocyanins, which is in accordance with the literature. In fact, anthocyanins have been a target of many studies, due to their chemical structure. Indeed, anthocyanins are composed of several hydroxyl groups, which gives them a remarkable biological potential, namely, to reduce levels of free radicals and inflammation. Furthermore, it was also verified that the interaction between different phenolic compounds, which was observed in the total extract, was an added value in the majority of the assays done. In order to deepen the results obtained, the antioxidant activity of the main individual phenolic compounds present in cherries was evaluated against DPPH, nitric oxide and superoxide radicals. The obtained values for the DPPH radical revealed that anthocyanins, (-)-epicatechin and kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside were the most active phenolic compounds against this radical, while isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside was the least. On the other hand, anthocyanins, (-)-epicatechin, quercetin 3-O-glucoside and caffeic acid proved to be the most effective in scavenging nitric oxide radicals, while ρhydroxybenzoic acid was the least efficient. In relation to the superoxide radical, quercetin and its derivatives showed the highest capacity, while cyanidin aglycone did not show the potential to intercept this radical at the concentrations tested. Additionally, molecular docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) studies were carried out, and it was observed that compounds with lower molecular masses, such as kaempferol, can easily interact with proteins related to oxidative stress, interfering in their activity, and thus, contributing to lower the concentration of free radicals to basal levels. The results obtained are highly promising and encourage translation into clinical trials, as well as the incorporation of cherries and/or their extracts into new medicines, cosmetic products, food supplements and nutraceuticals.
Gestão do Capital Intelectual no setor da Construção Civil
Publication . Sucena
, André Filipe Calvário ; Nunes, António João Santos; Matos, Florinda Maria Carreira Neto
In a global economy that is constantly changing, academia and organizations face challenges that can be overcome independently. However, cooperation between universities and organizations can enhance their ability to overcome these challenges by increasing competitiveness, implementing new technology, and promoting innovation. The capacity to overcome these barriers can provide value in organisational, academic, and social contexts. With the aim of analyzing the impact of intellectual capital on the organisational performance (growth of the organization) of SMEs in the construction sector, this thesis will consist of five articles. These articles will highlight the importance of studying this issue in the construction sector and how knowledge management and strategic partnerships can influence the relationship between intellectual capital and organisational performance. The objective of the initial article was to examine the impact of intellectual capital on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the construction industry. After reviewing the literature, it was determined that the most appropriate approach was to consider intellectual capital as a whole, which is divided into three categories: human capital, relational capital, and structural capital. Three interviews were conducted following the Matos (2013) model. The results indicate that intellectual capital significantly impacts the performance of SMEs in the construction sector. The evidence highlights the importance of knowledge management and strategic partnerships in this relationship. The objective of the second article was to confirm and expand upon the theoretical basis of the findings presented in the first article. After identifying a lack of literature on the subject within the construction sector, we broadened our search parameters and utilized the keywords 'intellectual capital', 'SME', 'company', and 'organisational performance', which yielded 105 articles. Two types of article analysis were conducted. First, we utilized VOSviewer to exclude articles that did not fit the theme. Then, we conducted a manual analysis, resulting in a total of 61 articles. After a thorough analysis, we identified four main clusters. Two of these clusters focused on intellectual capital and innovation, while the other two addressed knowledge management and strategic partnerships, as identified in the first article. This article presents a framework that will serve as the basis for the next two articles. The third article aims to analyze the relationship between organisational performance, intellectual capital, and strategic partnerships, similar to the previous article. The questionnaire answered by 88 companies analyzed the dimensions of partnership management, strategic relationship management, and identification of new partnerships. The article concludes that there is a strong relationship between three constructs: intellectual capital, strategic partnerships, and organisational performance. These constructs influence each other and have a joint influence on organisational performance. The language used is clear, objective, and value-neutral, and the text is free from grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and punctuation errors. The content of the improved text is as close as possible to the source text, and no new aspects have been added. The fourth article employed a questionnaire to assess the applicability of the previously proposed framework in the context of SMEs in the construction sector. The questionnaire was administered to 88 entities, and the results indicated a significant correlation between knowledge management, intellectual capital, and organisational performance, with each factor influencing the others. The study found that the first two concepts individually influence the organisational performance of SMEs in the construction sector. However, when considered together, they have a greater impact on the latter concept. The article examines knowledge management in terms of knowledge storage, creation, and sharing. The framework is based on the first analysis of the field of study, the analysis of the theoretical basis, and two studies that confirmed the previously identified theoretical basis through a questionnaire. The fifth and final article presents a framework for companies, particularly in the construction sector, to analyze their environment and enhance their organisational performance. This research contributes to future research related to the topic under study and to the theoretical base.
ARIA-Italy managing allergic rhinitis and asthma in a changing world: The role of the Pharmacist
Publication . Paoletti, Giovanni; Giua, Corrado; Marti, Alessandro; Baio, Matteo Alberto; Valli, Nicolò; Ridolo, Erminia; Ventura, Maria Teresa; Passalacqua, Giovanni; Puggioni, Francesca; Lourenço, Olga ; Bousquet, Jean; Canonica, Giogio Walter; Heffler, Enrico; Lombardi, Carlo
Allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma are common respiratory disorders that often occur together, affecting quality of life and increasing healthcare expenses of patients. These chronic illnesses are often managed without medical supervision, creating distinct challenges. A lack of resources can limit regular follow-up, which in turn promotes disease mismanagement and an increased reliance on self-medication, including the inappropriate use of corticosteroids and nasal decongestants. Community pharmacies could serve as critical primary healthcare providers, facilitating AR and asthma management by promoting therapy adherence, minimizing drug misuse, and improving symptom monitoring using digital tools. The evolving role of pharmacists as vital healthcare team members is highlighted by their involvement in screening, prevention, and patient education, particularly in underserved communities. Strengthening the partnerships between pharmacists, physicians, and patients may lead to more tailored and effective management strategies. This collaborative approach has demonstrated promise in enhancing disease outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
Carbon leakage and energy transition: essays on foreign direct investment, sustainable development, and international trade
Publication . Caetano, Rafaela Vital ; Marques, António Manuel Cardoso; Afonso, Tiago Jorge Lopes
The ever-pressing quest for climate action and the consequent enlargement of environmental restrictions is reshaping current Global Value Chains (GVCs) and international trade patterns. As economic integration continues to evolve, there is evidence of international movements (investment and goods) towards the development of trade blocs with a concentration of pollution-intensive industries in developing countries, alongside significant deindustrialisation processes in many developed countries. As integration into GVCs has progressed, developing countries have found themselves further upstream, hosting polluting industries from developed countries (mainly through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)), with the latter leading the way in climate action. But at what cost? In fact, the cost advantages emerging in developing countries are apparently coming at the expense of environmental quality. In addition, these movements have increased the external dependence of developed countries. Unprecedented global health and geopolitical crises have revealed the drawbacks of being highly integrated into GVCs. These drawbacks include the perceived concerns about countries’ sovereignty, undermined international competitiveness, and threatened fulfilment of consumer needs owing to potential supply shortages. These issues motivated the development of this thesis, which aims to gain a deeper understanding of what underpins the external dependence of developed countries and how it can be eased. To this end, seven empirical essays were developed. Environmental regulation is a widely recognised driver in the relocation of polluting industries. Why, then, does some literature support the unlikely transfer of polluting industries to developed countries? In fact, such transfers have been sustained solely based on the polluting effect of FDI in recipient countries. This thesis provides empirical evidence indicating that the pollutant impact of FDI in recipient countries is generally accompanied by an increase in the overall energy demand, predominantly supplied by non-renewable sources. Hence, to accurately evaluate the environmental impacts of FDI, an analysis of the recipient countries’ energy mix diversification should be undertaken before endorsing the transfer of industries. This thesis also sheds light on the vital role of the energy transition in recipient countries in softening the polluting impact of FDI. It should be pointed out, however, that the results reveal a potential lack of energy infrastructure in developing countries, which makes it more challenging for these countries to benefit from the energy transition.In this regard, the main findings of this thesis indicate that private participation in energy infrastructure investment encourages the energy transition in developing countries and mitigates the pollution associated with FDI. The downstream production of “environmentally friendly goods” in developed countries appears to rely on the upstream production of intermediate goods in developing countries. Additionally, the imports of intermediate goods from developing countries seem strongly encouraged by outward FDI from developed countries. These facts underline the relevance of assessing the overall environmental impact of goods from their early production (including pollution embodied in imports of intermediate goods) until their consumption. In fact, by resorting to carbon leakage, developed countries can maintain their position as leaders in climate action by polluting considerably less through production while polluting through consumption. Hence, environmental performance should cease to be exclusively measured through production-based environmental indicators. This thesis, therefore, provides empirical evidence that the external dependence of developed countries is rooted in the carbon leakage phenomenon by assessing the overall environmental impacts that might underlie the carbon leakage phenomenon, namely from the moment the investment flows out of developed countries until the moment the manufactured goods return to those economies. The energy transition has proved to have a fundamental role not only in mitigating the polluting impact of FDI in recipient countries (first, second, third, and fourth essays), but also in determining international investment and trade flows (fifth, sixth, and seventh essays). Although it may be driving carbon leakage, environmental regulation has proven to effectively reduce the external dependence of developed countries. Even though it can be considered a non-tariff barrier, enforcing environmental restrictions poses considerably low risks of trade retaliation compared to import tariffs, which are more likely to inhibit the benefits of competition. Notwithstanding, this strategy should not be exclusive; the energy transition must be pursued in parallel. The energy transition should no longer be seen merely as the substitution of fossil-fuel energy sources for renewable ones. In fact, the energy transition can trigger and entail considerable structural changes, reversing the deindustrialisation trajectory of developed countries, thus contributing to the development of robust GVCs.
Sono em Adultos Idosos
Publication . Augusto, Tânia Soraia Andrade ; Afonso, Rosa Marina Lopes Brás Martins; Nascimento, Carla Sofia Lucas do; Pires, Luís Silva
O sono desempenha um papel essencial para a saúde e o bem-estar geral, assumindo algumas especificidades com o envelhecimento. Alterações no sono podem indicar o início de problemas neurológicos, já que a qualidade do sono influencia processos fundamentais para o funcionamento cerebral, incluindo a memória e o humor. Essas alterações podem afetar a capacidade de o adulto mais velho se recuperar física e mentalmente, levando a um maior risco de défice cognitivo e a um declínio global na qualidade de vida. A má qualidade do sono pode agravar problemas de atenção e memória, contribuindo para a progressão de condições como demência. Além disso, o sono insuficiente ou fragmentado pode aumentar a vulnerabilidade do adulto mais velho a perturbações como ansiedade e depressão. Em situações de dependência ou limitações funcionais, o ingresso em Estruturas Residenciais para Pessoas Idosas (ERPI) pode ser uma solução de apoio, porém, essa mudança representa uma adaptação que pode impactar ainda mais a rotina e a qualidade do sono dos adultos mais velhos, dado o ambiente institucional e a perda de controlo sobre o próprio espaço e horários. Perante o exposto, torna-se pertinente compreender a relevância do sono nos adultos mais velhos, sejam eles residentes em ERPI ou na comunidade. Esta investigação pretende estudar o sono em adultos mais velhos residentes em ERPI e em adultos mais velhos a viver na comunidade. Esta investigação é constituída por três estudos: o primeiro estudo, de natureza qualitativa com grupos focais, pretendeu comparar a visão dos adultos mais velhos residentes, nos dois contextos, sobre o sono, hábitos e rotinas de sono e estratégias para lidarem com os problemas de sono. Participaram neste estudo sete adultos mais velhos residentes em ERPI e seis residentes na comunidade. Os resultados revelam diferenças quanto ao número de horas necessárias para dormir e relativamente aos horários de deitar e levantar, mas também se apuraram semelhanças quanto a rotinas para adormecer. O segundo estudo, também qualitativo com grupos focais, realizou uma análise comparativa de profissionais de Estruturas Residenciais Gerontológicas, da Suíça e Portugal, sobre o sono dos adultos mais velhos. O grupo focal consistiu em seis profissionais de Portugal e oito da Suíça. Utilizando uma análise de conteúdo, o estudo identificou tanto práticas comuns quanto diferenças específicas na abordagem e nas intervenções adotadas por cada país. Os profissionais portugueses tendem a utilizar uma abordagem mais estruturada e protocolar, focando-se em rotinas pré-estabelecidas e na administração de medicamentos, quando necessário. As intervenções incluem o uso de infusões, horários de deitar e acordar rigorosos, e atividades físicas para promover o bem-estar geral dos residentes. Na Suíça, observou-se uma abordagem mais individualizada e flexível, com ênfase em terapias não-farmacológicas, como aromaterapia e técnicas de relaxamento antes de dormir. Além disso, os profissionais suíços destacaram a importância de um ambiente noturno adaptado, incluindo a redução de ruídos e luzes controladas, para minimizar interrupções do sono. A análise comparativa revelou que essas diferenças podem estar associadas às formações culturais e às políticas de saúde específicas de cada país, refletindo uma tendência suíça para a prestação de cuidados mais personalizados em relação aos adultos mais velhos. O terceiro é um estudo exploratório quantitativo, realizado na Beira Interior, e permitiu analisar e comparar a qualidade do sono dos adultos mais velhos residentes em ERPI (n=55) e residentes na comunidade (n=55). Os resultados revelaram que os adultos mais velhos residentes na comunidade têm maior tendência para reportar queixas de insónia e baixa qualidade de sono, comparativamente aos adultos mais velhos residentes em ERPI, onde a maioria dos participantes não apresenta insónia severa. Os resultados desta investigação sugerem que a qualidade do sono em adultos mais velhos difere em função de fatores como a duração do sono, género, condições de saúde, fatores psicossociais e utilização de abordagens não-farmacológicas, que se revelam promotoras da qualidade do sono. Diferenças culturais, como a maior individualização dos cuidados observada na Suíça, também parecem ser diferenciadoras da qualidade do sono em estruturas residenciais gerontológicas. Os resultados desta investigação sugerem a necessidade de estudos mais aprofundados sobre a qualidade do sono, e mais robustos do ponto de vista metodológico, nomeadamente com uma amostra representativa da população e instrumentos e estratégias de avaliação do sono e da sua qualidade aplicáveis a mais participantes e métodos objetivos. Esta investigação destaca a importância do estudo e da valorização do sono para a promoção da saúde e bem-estar na velhice.