Lisbon School of Design

Nurses' mental health has become an increasingly pressing concern worldwide because of its impact on health systems, patient health outcomes, job satisfaction, and workforce attrition. This study updates and compares findings from a national survey initially conducted in 2017 to assess the mental health of Portuguese nurses and examine associations with socio-professional variables. This cross-sectional observational study was expanded to include 1894 nurses working in hospitals, primary care, and other settings. The General Health Questionnaire-24 was used to assess mental health perception. Results indicate a substantial decline in mental health perceptions across all indicators compared with 2017. Participants reported more negative assessments of overall mental health, with notable increases in somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia (the most affected domain), social dysfunction, and severe depression. Moreover, participants reported increased use of psychotropic drugs. Protective factors identified include specialised training, increased time off (particularly weekends), and engagement in sports or hobbies. Being the largest group in Portugal's healthcare workforce, and reflected globally, nurses play a pivotal role in the health system. Their mental well-being directly impacts patient care quality and safety. These findings support the implementation of targeted strategies to safeguard nurses' mental health and enhance healthcare delivery.

Background: The master’s thesis defense requires students to demonstrate research maturity, a high-stakes phase often causing significant stress. Understanding student challenges and the process of emotional regulation is crucial to improving pedagogical support, promoting academic well-being, and reducing the associated anxiety. Aim: To explore master’s nursing students’ experiences of the interplay between mental well-being and emotion regulation, during their thesis defense preparation. Methods: A qualitative study, conducted in accordance with COREQ guidelines, explored the perceptions of 29 master’s nursing students (average age of 35.62 years) in Portugal. Data was collected through four face-to-face focus groups, each comprising six to eight students, between October and November 2024, and was analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s systematic thematic analysis. Results: We found three main themes: (i) the pervasive nature of performance anxiety, characterized by significant fear of judgment and cognitive blocks; (ii) preparedness as a central strategy for fostering mental well-being, which included emotional regulation strategies such as researching the jury and practice sessions to manage uncertainty; and (iii) institutional support as a key mediator of well-being, which highlighted a demand for clearer information and formal training in oral communication skills to mitigate anxiety. Conclusions: The findings suggest that relying solely on students’ informal emotional regulation strategies creates vulnerability. To reduce defense-related anxiety and enhance mental well-being, structured institutional support, including clear guidelines, simulated rehearsals, and communication training focused on emotional regulation, is essential to transform the defense process into an opportunity for professional growth and academic well-being.

As one of the most representative cultural heritages, traditional Chinese opera is characterized by highly refined symbolic contexts and stylized narrative structures. Nevertheless, the contemporary generation often struggles with its abstract expression and language, leading to declining attendance. In addition, urbanization and digital entertainment have squeezed out its living spaces, increasing demand for more diverse experiences. To address these issues, this study conducts a systematic and thematically categorized review of the literature, exploring how extended reality (XR) reshapes the spatial and experiential representation of opera culture. Drawing upon the reality–virtuality continuum and spatial computing as theoretical foundations, the research investigates the features, workflows, and cultural adaptability of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR), identifying how each modality of XR supports distinct modes of space generation and audience engagement. Through comparative analysis, we propose three XR-based approaches for reinterpreting Chinese opera: AR for theatrical spaces visualization, VR for performative narratives embodiment, and MR for opera cultural elements superposition. Overall, the research clarifies that XR can be used as a comprehensive medium to enhance replicability and user perception, contributing to the preservation and communication of humanity’s traditional culture.

Climate change is significantly affecting biodiversity, and organisms that depend on external temperature – such as ectotherms – are particularly vulnerable to these effects. Microhabitats provide refuge for species, thereby reducing exposure to thermal and hydric stress under climate change. Using a mechanistic modelling approach, we assessed how microhabitat variability and physiological traits influence activity behaviour, time spent in preferred temperature, shade selection, and water loss under different climate change scenarios on two green lizard species. We classified study area microhabitats using high‐resolution geospatial data and applied biophysical models to simulate organismal responses under current and future climate change scenarios (+2°C and +4°C). We first calibrated microhabitat‐specific microclimate models using field data and adjusting key parameters that determine surface energy balance and soil heat transfer, including surface roughness height, substrate longwave emissivity, and soil density. We then performed steady‐state ectotherm models and extracted physiological responses such as foraging and basking times, times spent in preferred temperature, selected shade, and water loss under current and projected climate scenarios. Our results revealed differences between species in terms of thermoregulatory and water‐loss dynamics: Timon lepidus showed higher foraging and basking activity, particularly in open rocky microhabitats. In contrast, Lacerta schreiberi relied more on shaded vegetated microhabitats and exhibited higher size‐corrected evaporative water loss. Foraging activity in T. lepidus increased in low‐slope areas, whereas L. schreiberi foraged more in steeper microhabitats, where both species also selected greater shade. Activity increased on south/west slopes, while shade selection was greater on north/west slopes. Activity periods may increase under warming conditions, but this may come at the cost of higher selected shade and water loss. These results go beyond recognizing the buffering role of microhabitats in climate change, by linking fine‐scale thermal and hydric variation to physiological strategies of lizard species. By integrating microclimate and ectotherm models, our work illustrates how species‐specific traits interact with microhabitat heterogeneity to shape differential vulnerability under warming conditions.

Background: The integration of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare is transforming care delivery. While Artificial Intelligence offers efficiency and precision, it also raises ethical concerns about the potential for dehumanization. Maintaining person-centred care, with its emphasis on human dignity, empathy, and relationships, becomes essential in this evolving context. This study aims to identify practical strategies that can help ensure the humanization of care is not compromised amid the ongoing technological transformation. Methods: A qualitative study will be conducted with healthcare professionals, managers, and Artificial Intelligence experts. Participants will be recruited through purposive sampling and invited via digital platforms and academic networks. Semi-structured interviews will be held online, guided by five dimensions of a Person-Centred Practice Framework. Interviews will be audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke’s method, supported by QDA Miner Lite. Conclusion: By examining diverse perspectives, this study aims to identify strategies for upholding person-centred care in Artificial Intelligence -driven contexts. The findings can support the implementation of ethically responsible Artificial Intelligence that reinforces, rather than diminishes the human aspects of care.

Hierarchical Twisted Supramolecular Structures Cellulose derivatives reveal their hidden chiral complexity: free-standing cholesteric films exhibit coexisting left- and right-handed twisted structures that respond in opposite ways to mechanical strain. This hierarchical chiral organization not only couples optical and mechanical responses but also enables spontaneous shape recovery and reversible tuning of circular dichroism—unveiling a new level of mechanoresponsive control in solvent-free thermotropic cellulose systems. More details can be found in the Research Article by Maria Helena Godinho and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/adom.202502728).