Abstract
Driving safety under low-visibility or distracted conditions remains a critical challenge for intelligent transportation systems. This paper presents Edge-VisionGuard, a lightweight framework that integrates signal processing and edge artificial intelligence to enhance real-time driver monitoring and hazard detection. The system fuses multi-modal sensor data-including visual, inertial, and illumination cues-to jointly estimate driver attention and environmental visibility. A hybrid temporal-spatial feature extractor (TS-FE) is introduced, combining convolutional and B-spline reconstruction filters to improve robustness against illumination changes and sensor noise. To enable deployment on resource-constrained automotive hardware, a structured pruning and quantization pipeline is proposed. Experiments on synthetic VR-based driving scenes demonstrate that the full-precision model achieves 89.6% driver-state accuracy (F1 = 0.893) and 100% visibility accuracy, with an average inference latency of 16.5 ms. After 60% parameter reduction and short fine-tuning, the pruned model preserves 87.1% accuracy (F1 = 0.866) and <3 ms latency overhead. These results confirm that Edge-VisionGuard maintains near-baseline performance under strict computational constraints, advancing the integration of computer vision and Edge AI for next-generation safe and reliable driving assistance systems.

Abstract
essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in regions aiming to balance energy efficiency, waste management, and urban development. This study explores the application of multicriteria decision-making and statistical techniques to evaluate municipal sustainability, with a focus on renewable energy, using the Alto Minho region of Portugal as a case study. The analysis incorporates 12 SDG indicators across ten municipalities, addressing energy consumption, urban renewal, and waste management. Cluster analysis revealed distinct groups of municipalities, highlighting disparities in sustainability performance. Municipalities such as Melgaco and Moncao excelled in energy-related metrics, while others showed strengths in waste management and urban renewal. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) emphasized the importance of renewable energy indicators, revealing notable changes in rankings when energy-related criteria were prioritized. Ponte de Lima and Melgaco ranked highest under energy-focused weighting schemes, showcasing their leadership in energy efficiency and renewable adoption. The findings underscore the need for targeted policies to enhance sustainability across municipalities, particularly in regions lagging in energy performance.

Abstract
The study aimed to explore how communication can influence young individuals to become blood donors. It sought to answer a key question: how do communication strategies impact the recruitment of donors within this age group? The research was structured around four primary objectives. First, it evaluated young people’s knowledge about blood donation through a content analysis of 14 campaigns. Second, it examined the communication strategies implemented by the Portuguese Institute of Blood and Transplantation (IPST) via an exploratory interview with an expert from the organization. Third, it investigated the motivations and barriers affecting young people’s willingness to donate, using a survey conducted with 390 participants, which revealed that more than half of respondents were not blood donors. Finally, it identified the most effective communication strategies and actions to promote blood donation. The findings suggest that future campaigns should prioritize precise segmentation based on behavioral criteria and adopt integrated marketing communication more broadly. This approach is expected to enhance the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at increasing donor recruitment among young people.

Abstract
This paper aims to examine how Portugal and Brazil leveraged digital marketing to redefine their country brands during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. By focusing on the application of innovative digital strategies in tourism and culture, the research highlights the transformative potential of digital tools in overcoming pandemic-related challenges. Specifically, the study identifies key approaches such as the use of social media, data analytics, virtual reality, and influencer marketing that were strategically employed to maintain global engagement, foster international visibility, and support economic recovery. The results demonstrate that integrating digital marketing into country branding strategies not only sustained international recognition but also accelerated the adoption of sustainable tourism practices. By analyzing the cases of Portugal and Brazil, this paper provides actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to align tourism growth with global sustainability goals. These findings underscore the critical importance of digital transformation in enhancing the resilience and competitiveness of the tourism sector in a post-pandemic world.

Abstract
This integrative literature review synthesizes insights from multiple disciplines to address the challenges and opportunities in designing digital communication interfaces for persons with Locked-In Syndrome (LIS). The paper highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach that includes ethical co-design, visual design principles, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). It emphasizes how important it is to have user-friendly, visually appealing, and accessible interfaces to help persons with LIS to communicate more effectively. Important technologies are evaluated for their potential to improve communication, including Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR & VR), Eye Tracking, and Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI). To guarantee that the emerging technologies are both efficient and considerate of user demands, the review emphasizes the significance of ethical considerations and patient-centered design. This study intends to direct future design-based action research in constructing functional digital communication systems, using head-mounted Extended Reality (XR) technologies, by combining the various research findings from the review.

Abstract
As competitive and cooperative dynamics gain prominence in games, they present unique opportunities to study player behavior. This paper explores the orientations of different player types, as categorized by Bartles Taxonomy, through the lens of a Game With A Purpose (GWAP) called BartleZ. Bartle's Taxonomy identifies four distinct player types Achievers, Explorers, Socializers, and Killers. This study delves into how these different types approach competitive and cooperative gameplay, through structured dilemmas in BartleZ. Results with 45 participants, reveal that player orientations significantly influence engagement and decision-making. Achievers balanced both strategies; Explorers favored cooperation; Socializers consistently chose cooperation; and Killers preferred competition but adapted in some contexts. Overall, players leaned toward cooperation early on, with a shift toward competition as complexity increased. Our findings pinpoint the importance of tailoring GWAP mechanics with diverse player motivations, enhancing both engagement and problem-solving effectiveness.