DigitUMa
Repositório Institucional da Universidade da Madeira
Entradas recentes
Empowering the creative design process through LLM-based support tools
Publication . Rodrigues, Ana; Cabral, Diogo; Campos, Pedro; Rodrigues, Ana; Campos, Pedro Filipe Pereira ; Campos, Pedro
Creative professionals (such as designers) have begun applying gen
erative artificial intelligence (GenAI) models to their workflows, from
text to image production. This practical adoption has been explored in
human-computer interaction (HCI), which guides the incorporation of
these models into creative design processes. While HCI research
explores GenAI, an underlying wave of research is emerging, incorpor
ating these models into Creativity Support Tools (CSTs). Our work aims
to articulate the role of GenAI in supporting design creativity, an area
that still requires research. This knowledge is essential for guiding the
development of new CSTs. We contribute to this knowledge by devel
oping an LLM-based CST with two interactive visualization interfaces
(idea generation and evaluation). Through an empirical study with 18
participants (professionals and advanced design students) with design
backgrounds, we demonstrated SAIESE’s potential to facilitate diver
gent and convergent thinking. We also identify opportunities and
challenges of incorporating AI into the creative design process. Our
results highlight the role and use of AI at each stage.
The oldest plant fossils from Tenerife Island? The case of the Pliocene lava tree moulds from San Roque, La Laguna, Spain
Publication . Góis-Marques, C. A.; Velasco-Flores, M. C.; Martín-Luis, M. C.; Castillo-Ruiz, C.; Góis-Marques, Carlos A.
provide interesting palaeoecological and volcanological data. In the volcanic Macaronesian Islands,
these fossils are known since the 19
th
century but rarely mentioned in the literature, despite their
potential to reveal the past presence of trees and forested ecosystems. One mention to plant
moulds associated to the Anaga basalts was known, but further details were never published. Here,
we describe and illustrate for the first time lava tree moulds preserved within the Pliocene Anaga
shield volcano (4.89 to 3.95 Ma) a’a lava flow. The size and stem habit indicate that these belonged
to phanerophytes, implying the presence of a forest ecosystem during the Pliocene of Tenerife.
When compared to the palaeobotanical record of Tenerife Island, these fossils are, so far, the oldest
known published plant fossils from this island. Unfortunately, due to total combustion of the wood,
taxa identification is not possible. Despite this, the locality should be further assessed as a potential
geosite or other form of conservation for the Canary Islands’ palaeontological heritage. Further
prospection in Mio-Pleistocene Anaga shield volcano will certainly yield new palaeobotanical data
for Tenerife and the Canary Islands.
Artificial intelligence advancements and US nuclear energy deregulation are drivers of the short-term market returns of nuclear firms?
Publication . Martins, António Miguel; Albuquerque, Bruno; Sardinha, Luís; Moutinho, Nuno; Martins, António Miguel; Albuquerque, Bruno; Sardinha, Luís
This study examines the short-term market effect of the US nuclear market deregulation an
nouncements in an environment of increasing investments in AI, which demand clean energy. By
employing an event study methodology, our results suggest that worldwide nuclear energy firms
experienced a positive and statistically significant impact on stock prices for the announcements
of investments in AI and nuclear market deregulation, particularly among larger firms and those
located in the US. These findings support the cash flow hypothesis for AI and the deregulation
hypothesis for the nuclear market. Practical implications of our findings are provided.
The impact of wildfires on US insurance firms: evidence for the costliest wildfire in California
Publication . Martins, António Miguel; Albuquerque, Bruno; Sardinha, Luís; Moutinho, Nuno; Martins, António Miguel; Albuquerque, Bruno; Sardinha, Luís
This research study the short-term effect of the costliest wildfire in California (January 2025) on the US insurance
industry. Employing an event study, we find a negative impact for Property & Casualty Insurance firms. This
result agrees with damage hypothesis or claim effect, which argues that damage caused by catastrophic events
results in a reduction of insurer market value due to insufficient ex ante premium to absorb the damage claims.
Our study also shows that the level of loss, premiums, underwriting exposure, profitability, and leverage are
significant determinants in the magnitude of the insurer’s stock market reaction.
Nutrient deprivation stimulates soluble extracellular polymeric substances: physiological and biochemical responses in the cyanobacterium Cyanocohniella rudolphia
Publication . Rodrigues, Filipa; Mendonça, Ivana; Faria, Marisa; Mougin, Karine; Gómez Pinchetti, Juan Luis; Ferreira, Artur; Cordeiro, Nereida; Gonçalves Rodrigues, Ana Filipa; Silva Mendonça, Ivana Rita da; Faria, Marisa Camacho Gonçalves; cordeiro, nereida
The effect of macro- and micronutrient deprivation on the cyanobacterium Cyanocohniella rudolphia (BEA 0786B)
over 180 days (without medium renewal) was evaluated to intensify the production of soluble extracellular
polymeric substances (S-EPS). Growth, pH, cell-free medium viscosity, S-EPS content (phenol‑sulfuric acid
assay), Alcian Blue staining, and biochemical/structural markers were monitored to assess EPS release and
extracellular matrix dynamics. Progressive nutrient depletion induced a shift from biomass growth toward
extracellular-matrix investment. Microcolony formation observed around day 45 preceded a sustained high-
production phase, with pronounced matrix densification evident by approximately day 75. Apparent viscosity
increased in parallel with S-EPS accumulation and showed a strong correlation with extracellular carbohydrate
concentration (R
2
= 0.86), supporting its use as an operational, non-destructive proxy for S-EPS. Alcian Blue
staining qualitatively confirmed the presence of acidic polysaccharides. Quantitatively, S-EPS concentrations
increased from 0.1 to 0.8 g L
1
, accompanied by an increase in apparent viscosity from 24.7 to 34.7 mPa⋅s.
Morphological and spectroscopic analyses indicated a predominantly carbohydrate-rich extracellular matrix with
an increasing protein contribution over time.
As an exploratory proof of concept, unprocessed S-EPS present in the spent culture medium enabled LAP-
initiated photochemical formation of Au and Ag nanoparticles at 365 nm, with S-EPS acting as a stabilising
and co-reducing matrix and conferring pH-responsive optical behaviour. This indicates a practical route toward
integration into EPS-rich matrices to engineer stimuli-responsive coatings and biomaterials. Overall, this study
demonstrates that prolonged nutrient deprivation without medium renewal is an effective strategy to intensify S-
EPS accumulation in C. rudolphia and that apparent viscosity provides a practical in-process parameter for
monitoring production and supporting direct valorisation of spent culture medium in saline bioprocesses.