Consumer Energy Management System with Integration of Smart Meters

This paper develops an energy management system with integration of smart meters for electricity consumers in a smart grid context. The integration of two types of smart meters (SM) are developed: i) consumer owned SM and ii) distributor owned SM. The consumer owned SM runs over a wireless platform - ZigBee protocol and the distributor owned SM uses the wired environment - ModBus protocol. The SM are connected to a SCADA system (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) that supervises a network of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC). The SCADA system/ PLC network integrates different types of information coming from the several technologies present in modern buildings. The developed control strategy implements an hierarchical cascade controller where inner loops are performed by local PLCs, and the outer loop is managed by a centralized SCADA system, which interacts with the entire local PLC network. In order to implement advanced controllers, a communication channel was developed to allow the communication between the SCADA system and the MATLAB software

Integration of Evora-InovGrid Smartmeters in a Consumer’s SCADA System

This paper develops an energy management system with smart meters integration for electricity consumers in a smart grid context. The integration of a distributor owned smart meter from the main Portuguese electricity distributor – EDP - is developed. The smart meter is connected to a common PC, that runs the Matlab Software and communicates to the SCADA system (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) using the OPC Protocol. The SCADA system supervises an industrial network of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC). The developed control strategy implements a hierarchical cascade controller where inner loops are performed by local PLCs and the outer loop is managed by a centralized SCADA system, which interacts with the entire local PLC network

Architecture of a maturity model for information systems in higher education institutions: multiple case study for dimensions identification

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are complex and dynamic organizations in terms of information management, forcing their information systems to respond to enormous challenges and threats. In order to evaluate the HEIs’ information systems, we propose the development of a maturity model capable of supporting the role of HEI’s managers, as well as accreditation agencies, in the assessment of the maturity of these systems, thus, promoting continuous improvement. In this paper, we present and discuss our proposal for an architecture of the maturity model being developed. This one is based on a two-dimensional architecture composed of vertical and horizontal dimensions. We selected a multi-case study approach, based on five Portuguese HEIs, and reviewed the literature to identify the dimensions. This case study was supported by interviews with experts from the selected HEI. The results of this research work were both encouraging and promising amongst the interviewed experts, revealing a high level of acceptance of the general model architecture, as well as positive expectations about its usefulness in the future. The development of our maturity model is carried out by following a formal methodology specially designed to support the construction of this type of model.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Tutorial usefulness in videogame Wii consoles : fast learning of guidelines and game movements

One of the key challenges of video game design is teaching new players how to play. Although game developers frequently use tutorials to teach game mechanics, little is known about how tutorials affect game learnability and player engagement. Seeking this problem, this paper intends to analyse the efficiency and usability of the Wii Sports tutorials and also the user s learning curve. The study was based upon heuristics, direct observation of the users and questionnaires, in order to evaluate all possible variables.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fuzzy Fingerprinting Transformer Language-Models for Emotion Recognition in Conversations

Fuzzy Fingerprints have been successfully used as an interpretable text classification technique, but, like most other techniques, have been largely surpassed in performance by Large Pre-trained Language Models, such as BERT or RoBERTa. These models deliver state-of-the-art results in several Natural Language Processing tasks, namely Emotion Recognition in Conversations (ERC), but suffer from the lack of interpretability and explainability. In this paper, we propose to combine the two approaches to perform ERC, as a means to obtain simpler and more interpretable Large Language Models-based classifiers. We propose to feed the utterances and their previous conversational turns to a pre-trained RoBERTa, obtaining contextual embedding utterance representations, that are then supplied to an adapted Fuzzy Fingerprint classification module. We validate our approach on the widely used DailyDialog ERC benchmark dataset, in which we obtain state-of-the-art level results using a much lighter model.Comment: FUZZ-IEEE 202

Stylet (vestigial shell) size in Octopus vulgaris (Cephalopoda) hatchlings used to determine stylet nucleus in adults

7 páginas, 1 tablas, 3 figurasThe estimation of age and growth of cephalopod stocks is a key issue for their sustainable management. Recently, several studies have successfully validated the daily deposition of growth rings in the vestigial shell or stylets of several octopus species. Octopus vulgaris eggs were incubated at two different temperatures, 18 and 22°C, until hatching to determine stylet size at hatching and assess the effect of temperature in the stylet dimensions. The 3-day-old hatchlings were sectioned transversally and 6 μm sections were stained to enhance the stylet position and visibility. The sections were observed under transmitted light microscopy at a magnification of 1000×, and the stylets identified as blue/green structures inside the mantle–funnel retractor muscle. The transversal sections of the whole paralarvae allowed the diameter of the embryonic stylet of an octopus species to be measured for the first time. The mean stylet diameter in 3-day-old paralarvae is 3.99 μm independently of the thermal conditions. Moreover, significant differences in stylet size between captive and wild paralarvae were observed; the latter showed significantly larger stylets, an indication that they are over 3 days old. Our results also indicate that the stylet nucleus is much smaller than previously thought based on measurements in stylets of juveniles and adultsThis study was supported by the projects CAIBEX (CTM2007-66108-C02-01) and LARECO (CTM2011-25929). The MultiNet® sampler used to collect wild paralarvae was funded by FEDER funds. The Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) supported this study through a PhD grant to Sílvia Lourenço (grant number SFRH/BD/44182/2008) and the project grant PTDC/BIA-BEC/103266/2008 to Rui Rosa.Peer reviewe

A Deep Learning approach to prevent problematic movements of industrial workers based on inertial sensors

Nowadays, manufacturing industries still face difficulties applying traditional Work-related MusculoSkeletal Disorders (WMSDs) risk assessment methods due to the high effort required by a continuous data collection when using observational methods. An interesting solution is to adopt Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) to automate the data collection, thus supporting occupational health professionals. In this paper, we propose a deep learning approach to predict human motion based on IMU data with the goal of preventing industrial worker problematic movements that can arise during repetitive actions. The proposed system includes an initial Madgwick filter to merge the raw inertial tri-axis sensor data into a single angle orientation time series. Then, a Machine Learning (ML) algorithm is trained with the obtained time series, allowing to build a forecasting model. The effectiveness of the developed system was validated by using an open-source dataset composed of different motions for the upper body collected in a laboratory environment, aiming to monitor the abduction/adduction angle of the arm. Firstly, distinct ML algorithms were compared for a single angle orientation time series prediction, including: three Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) methods - a one layer, a stacked layer and a Sequence to Sequence (Seq2Seq) model; and three non deep learning methods - a Multiple Linear Regression, a Random Forest and a Support Vector Machine. The best results were provided by the Seq2Seq LSTM model, which was further evaluated for WMSD prevention by considering 11 human subject datasets and two evaluation procedures (single person and multiple person training and testing). Overall, interesting results were achieved, particularly for multiple person evaluation, where the proposed Seq2Seq LSTM has shown an excellent capability to anticipate problematic movements.This article is a result of the project STVgoDigital - Digitalization of the T&C sector (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-046086), supported by COMPETE 2020, under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional De velopment Fund (ERDF)

Hipercolesterolémia Familiar: Em Cada Amostra Sanguínea Uma Oportunidade Diagnóstica

Introdução: A Hipercolesterolémia Familiar (HF) e uma doença hereditária autossómica dominante com uma incidência estimada de 1:500 na sua forma heterozigótica. Caracteriza-se pela existência de níveis de colesterol muito elevados, habitualmente superiores a 300 mg/dl, e que são evidentes desde os primeiros dias de vida. A ausência de um programa de rastreio universal faz do diagnóstico precoce um desafio sobretudo durante a idade pediátrica. O presente trabalho integra-se no Estudo Português de Hipercolesterolémia Familiar e tem como objectivo caracterizar do ponto de vista clinico, laboratorial e genético uma família com HF. Caso clinico: Jovem do sexo masculino de 19 anos seguido em consulta de endocrinologia pediátrica desde os 13 anos por apresentar, em avaliação laboratorial de rotina, colesterol total de 319 mg/ dL. Historia familiar de hipercolesterolemia (colesterol acima de 290 mg/dL) em cinco familiares em primeiro grau, com manifestações clinicas como arco corneano, xantelasmas e ainda morte prematura por enfarte agudo do miocárdio aos 51 anos (avo materna). O estudo genético identificou uma mutação heterozigótica C371X do gene que codifica o receptor LDL (RLDL) no caso index e familiares directos. Trata-se de uma mutação “nonsense” descrita pela primeira vez na população portuguesa e que condiciona uma redução de 50% no número de receptores de LDL (Haploinsuficiência). Conclusão: Nas idades pediátricas, face a ausência de sinais clínicos, a história familiar e o doseamento oportunístico do colesterol sérico, isto e em amostras colhidas por outras razoes, assumem-se como as duas abordagens fundamentais no diagnóstico de HF. As medidas dietéticas e a promoção de estilos de vida saudáveis são as intervenções de primeira linha que devem ser reforçadas perante a confirmação de HF em idade pediátrica. As terapêuticas farmacológicas são ainda tema de discussão na comunidade cientifica, com resultados dispares relativamente a segurança (risco-beneficio) da sua utilização em crianças pre-puberes

DESAFIO DA FACETA CERÂMICA UNITÁRIA

As cerâmicas são o matérial de eleição para as facetas, pois apresentarem propriedades que permitem uma estética similar ao do esmalte dental.Na confecção da faceta cerâmica unitária existe o desafio de restabelecer a estética, forma, textura e cor similar aos dentes adjacentes. O objetivo desse trabalho é apresentar um caso clínico e seus procedimentos para confeccionar uma faceta em incisivo lateral devolvendo a estética satisfatoriamente. O resultado mostrou que apesar da dificuldade técnica em se conseguir a mimetização do dente homólogo, pela confecção da faceta cerâmica unitária, é possível se obter um resultado favorável

Adhesive assisted fabrication of chirped POF Bragg grating

[EN] FBG in polymer optical fibers (POFs) is a promising technology for a wide range of sensing applications due to a lower Young¿s modulus and a large range of applying strain. Furthermore, POFs have several properties which make them attractive for biosensing applications such as nonbrittle nature, flexibility in bending and biocompatibility. Chirped Fiber Bragg gratings (CFBGs), which are characterized by a nonuniform modulation of the refractive index show a broad reflection spectrum, enabling shortlength distributed sensing. The combining benefits of POF and CFBGs is attractive for biomedical applications. Here, we present a novel method to obtain CFBG in POF with a postprocess uniform POF FBG by using resin.The Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades RTI2018­101658­B­I00 FOCAL Project; National Natural Science Foundation of China (61435006, 61525502); The Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province (2017B010123005, 2018B010114002); Local Innovation and Research Teams Project of Guangdong Pearl River Talents Program (2017BT01X121). This work was developed within the scope of the project i3N, UIDB/50025/2020 & UIDP/50025/2020, financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC. Luís Pereira and Tiago Paixão acknowledge FCT for the grants SFRH/BD/146295/2019 and PD/BD/128265/2016, respectively. This work is also funded by national funds (OE), through FCT¿I.P., in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5 and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree­Law 57/2016, of August 29, changed by Law 57/2017, of July 19.Min, R.; Pereira, L.; Paixao, T.; Woyessa, G.; André, P.; Bang, O.; Frizera, A.... (2020). Adhesive assisted fabrication of chirped POF Bragg grating. SPIE. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2555432S1