http://hdl.handle.net/10174/14477 Mon, 15 Jun 2026 22:48:23 GMT 2026-06-15T22:48:23Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42169 Title: Vapour, Air and Water Proprieties of Mycelium as Emergent Sustainable Material in Construction Authors: Valadas, Neuza; Sitzia, Fabio Abstract: The construction industry plays a significant role in achieving climate stability and regenerative methods in this field can highly contribute to the resilience and long-lasting sustainability of cities as well as citizens' wellbeing. Building methods using regenerative techniques and carbon-negative materials will be essential to the development of climate-sustainable cities. Developing carbon negative materials can highly impact and reduce the overall carbon footprint of the construction industry, mitigating climate change to a level that will be compatible with the 1.5-degree warming target by removing more carbon from the atmosphere during their production and use phase than they emit. Mycelium is a sustainable, biodegradable material made from the root-like structures of fungi. It is grown by cultivating mycelium on organic substrates like sawdust and wood chips. The material is lightweight, strong, and fire-resistant, making it suitable for insulation, panels, bricks and even furniture. Mycelium's eco-friendly production process and ability to decompose naturally make it an innovative alternative to traditional materials.  Given the importance of moisture management in material longevity and maintenance, this research gives great focus to moisture in Mycelium-based samples through absorption and desorption tests. The tests were conducted at the University of Iceland and at HERCULES research center, University of Évora in Portugal. The study's findings show Mycelium's performance under varying moisture conditions, contributing valuable insights into its application as a sustainable construction material. This research supports the broader goal of integrating regenerative practices into urban development for a sustainable and resilient future. Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42169 2025-02-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42165 Title: Assessment of microbial communities present in white-painted historic buildings in southern and coastal Portugal Authors: Arantes, Silvia; Sitzia, Fabio; Lisci, Carla; Caldeira, Teresa Abstract: Portugal’s architecture reflects a rich history influenced by Roman, Moorish, Neoclassical and Romantic styles, with the 20th century marked by Art Deco and colonial influences. Regional styles vary, with white-painted buildings commonly experiencing color changes due to biofilm forma- tion. Visually striking are the red-colored biological patinascommon in the coastal areas. A survey of 120 historical buildings affected by bio-colonization helps to understand the reasons for the patinas’ growing, which beyond natural factors, is often linked to construction defects. A characterization of four samples utilizes Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to identify the microorganisms composing the red biofilm, while the SEM-EDS, FTIR-ATR and XRD techniques provide further insights into the biofilm and substrate features. The comprehensive data of biochemical characterization indicate a wide variety of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, some of which exhibit potential as producers of a UV-tolerant red/yellow pigment (carotenoid) responsible for the macroscopic coloration of bio-colonization. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42165 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42163 Title: The Romanesque-style rural church of Portugal: An initial stride towards the complete digitalization by Heritage-BIM. The case study of S. João de Calvos (Guimarães, 13th Cent. AD) Authors: Sitzia, Fabio; Ribeiro, Jorge; Pires, Vera; Mirao, Josè; Figueiredo, Bruno; Bernardes, Paulo; Sequeira, Joao; Blanco-Rotea, Rebeca; Fernandes, Carla; Brandao, Filipe Abstract: This project presents a pilot case study focused on H-BIM digitalization of the rural Romanesque-style church of S. João de Calvos (Guimarães, XIII Cent. AD, Fig. 1) The intention is to produce a detailed 3D digital model capable of integrating geometric and non-geometric dataset of information including: 1) historical, archaeological and archaeometric data for educational, awareness-raising tourism fruition purposes, 2) current state of the building in terms of pathologies, materials decay, data about previous restoration and ordinary/extraordinary maintenance. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42163 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/40512 Title: Affordable small molecules as promising fluorescent labels for biomolecules: application in RNA-FISH probes Authors: Eustáquio, Raquel; Caldeira, Ana Teresa Caldeira; Candeias, António; Pereira, António Abstract: Fluorescent labels play a vital role in a wide range of contemporary scientific techniques, including direct and indirect immunochemistry, fluorescence microscopy, histochemistry, flow cytometry, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Small fluorescent labels provide substantial practical advantages by allowing multiple fluorophores to be conjugated to a single biomolecule, thereby enhancing fluorescence signal optimization. Widely used fluorescent labels are often too costly for routine applications and typically exhibit small Stokes shifts, limiting their practical utility. In this study, we report three novel small molecules as promising fluorescent labels for biomolecules, synthesized via an efficient, straightforward, and cost-effective approach. Additionally, we assess the fluorescence properties of the three new small molecules as potential fluorescent labels for biomolecules. Six novel fluorescent oligonucleotide probes were synthesized, including three targeting the rRNA region of eukaryotic cells (EUK516) and three targeting the rRNA region of prokaryotic cells (EUB338). The synthesized fluorescent probes were evaluated using microorganisms from the culture collection of the Laboratory of Biodegradation and Biotechnology at the HERCULES Laboratory, University of Évora. The probes demonstrated effective performance in RNA-FISH applications, highlighting the potential of these new small molecules for biomolecule labeling and bioimaging. Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10174/40512 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z