Abstract
Technology has allowed new insights and creativity into the learning and teaching process and also enables to try out in a much more flexible, dynamic way other learning experiences. This constitutes in itself a more engaging role for teachers as well as students helping them to explore and create new areas, opening up, at the same time, new perspectives into the process and maximizing the availability and use of the current tools which the same technology provides. The facilitation in the investigation work development of projects renders the learning and teaching activities really appealing, allowing at the same time levels of effectiveness in this extremely modern and global era. This study integrates technology in the learning process and evaluation of its various outcomes. This case study describes the experience of two teachers with their class along a semester using computer aided technology for instruction and assessment. The task involved the lighting design of monuments with the purpose of attracting the on lookers' attention, enhancing the beauty and attributes of the façade of monuments or buildings considered relevant or of public interest. An approach of reinforcement learning applied to the historical monuments light configurations will be described.

Abstract
Wind generators maintenance can be performed in a systematic way because they are built with equipments with known reliability and maintenance parameters known that can be used in the planned maintenance. However, it is possible to increase the reliability of the system so as to rationalize the costs, by developing new management models and new algorithms based on on-line monitoring of several parameters, namely vibrations, electrical variables, among others. It is because of this kind of challenge that the authors are developing new methodologies in the area of wind generators that, as we will demonstrate, can contribute to a better environment. The methodology proposed aims to optimize the cycles of production and, consequently, reduce other kinds of energy production. The new methodologies will be, later, incorporated through new predictive maintenance modules in an integrated maintenance management system called SMIT (Terology Integrated Modular System). The base of SMIT is accessed through a client-server system and a browser system that includes the main modules of a traditional system, as well as a fault diagnosis module, a non-periodic maintenance planning module and a generic on-condition maintenance module, among other innovations. The new features will include, in the case of wind generators, on-line measures and the corresponding on-time treatment, using algorithms based on time-series forecasting.

Abstract
Maintenance management is a subject that, instead of reducing importance with the increase of equipment reliability, it increases its role in the companies and obliges the increase of the level of demand of professionals involved because of the new technical and environmental demands. Sometimes, scientific developments anticipate the company's needs while other times it is the company that challenges science. The maintenance area is an example that offers challenges to both science and companies in order to optimize the performance of equipment and facilities. However, if during the industrial era the maintenance had to respond to industry, nowadays, and in parallel with the increase of equipment performance, the maintenance has the obligation to aid in order to convert technology in becoming more environmentally friendly. It is because of this kind of challenge that the authors are developing new methodologies, almost antagonistic, because of the areas in development, namely diesel engines and wind generators, and as we will demonstrate, areas which are compatible and can contribute to a better environment. In the case of wind generators, the methodology aims to optimize the cycles of production and consequently, reduce the other kinds of energy production. On the other hand, the methodologies for maintenance of diesel engines are based on environmental indicators that can predict the "health state" taking into account restrictions including health human factors among others. The new methodologies will later be incorporated through new predictive maintenance modules in an integrated maintenance management system called SMIT (Terology Integrated Modular System). The SMIT system includes the main modules of a traditional system, as well as a fault diagnosis. a non-periodic maintenance planning and a generic on-condition maintenance module, among other innovations. The new features will include, in the case of wind generators, on-line measures and the corresponding on-time treatment, using algorithms based on time-series forecasting and wireless technology to transmit the signals. In the case of diesel engines, the algorithms are based on Markov chains and hidden Markov chains, with an approach that is offering good results, which proves the validity of the methodology and the innovation itself. It is based on these developments and the new researches mentioned so far that this paper is built upon, and we believe will be a contribution to the maintenance management area.

Abstract
In the restructured electricity industry, meaningful loss allocation methods are required in order to send correct signals to the market taking into account the location and characteristics of loads and generations, including the local sources forming the distributed generation (DG). This paper addresses the issues related to loss allocation in radial distribution systems with DG, with a three-fold focus. First, the key differences in the formulation of the loss allocation problem for radial distribution systems with respect to transmission systems are discussed, specifying the modeling and computational issues concerning the treatment of the slack node in radial distribution systems. Then, the characteristics of derivative-based and circuit-based loss allocation techniques are presented and compared, illustrating the arrangements used for adapting the various techniques to be applied to radial distribution systems with DG. Finally, the effects of introducing voltage-controllable local generation on the calculation of the loss allocation coefficients are discussed, proposing the adoption of a "reduced" representation of the system capable of taking into proper account the characteristics of the nodes containing voltage-controllable DG units. Numerical results are provided to show the time evolution of the loss allocation coefficients for distribution systems with variable load and local generation patterns.

Abstract
In this paper, the concepts related to loss partitioning among the phase currents in three-phase distribution systems are revisited in the light of new findings identified by the authors. In particular, the presence of a paradox in the classical loss partitioning approach, based on the use of the phase-by-phase difference between the input and output complex power, is highlighted. The conditions for performing effective loss partitioning without the occurrence of the paradox are thus established. The corresponding results are then used to extend the branch current decomposition loss allocation method for enabling its application to three-phase unbalanced distribution systems with distributed generation. Several numerical examples on a three-phase line with grounded neutral and on the modified IEEE 13-node test system are provided to assist the illustration and discussion of the novel conceptual framework. © 2008 IEEE.

Abstract
Nowadays the education on electrical engineering, in European countries, is facing on one side a high demand for engineers coming from industry and on the other hand a reduced interest from younger generation, whose interest is highly polarised by information and communication technologies. A permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) controller for an electric wheelchair demo track has been set up, in order to reinforce the demonstrative aspects of modern technology as a contribution to the motivation of students for the industrial electronics world. The motors are controlled at different operating conditions by means of a current control law using a low cost microcontroller board. The prototype has been designed specifically to meet the requirement of low cost and it contains all of the active functions required to implement the control of the electric wheelchair. The resulting prototype has a very low cost compared to commercial "black-box" modules. This prototype allows a first approach between a real technical system and power electronics, increasing the student's motivation for the power electronics area and to significantly enhance their skills to measure and interpret measurements and comparing those to theoretical predictions.