Abstract
The European Union (EU) energy strategy towards decarbonization led EU countries to elaborate their corresponding National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP) for the period 2021 to 2030. This paper analyzes the Portuguese and Spanish NECPs concerning their power systems. CEVESA, a model for the long-term planning and operation of the Iberian electricity system, is used. The analysis is based on simulating the reference NECP scenario, as well as other alternative scenarios with different solar and wind generation shares, CO2 prices and fuel costs. Results provide insights on the MIBEL electricity market evolution under the current decarbonization national strategies. © 2020 IEEE.

Abstract
Recent developments in the field of smart grid have led to renewed interest in load monitoring strategies for achieving effective energy management schemes. There are vast amount of published studies describing the role of non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) system based on various learning algorithms. It is widely known that the accuracy of load identification depends strongly on utilized methods and its features. Thus, the main aim of this study is to investigate the comparative accuracy of machine learning algorithms which have the same training data with different feature subsets. Afterwards, a low-cost data acquisition system for NILM using bagged tree ensemble algorithm is developed and demonstrated in detail. The proposed structure is tested on the ThingSpeak IoT platform to reveal the effectiveness of the evaluated concept.

Abstract
Deep learning, due to its unprecedented success in tasks such as image classification, has emerged as a new tool in image reconstruction with potential to change the field. In this paper, we demonstrate a crucial phenomenon: Deep learning typically yields unstable methods for image reconstruction. The instabilities usually occur in several forms: 1) Certain tiny, almost undetectable perturbations, both in the image and sampling domain, may result in severe artefacts in the reconstruction; 2) a small structural change, for example, a tumor, may not be captured in the reconstructed image; and 3) (a counterintuitive type of instability) more samples may yield poorer performance. Our stability test with algorithms and easy-to-use software detects the instability phenomena. The test is aimed at researchers, to test their networks for instabilities, and for government agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to secure safe use of deep learning methods.

Abstract
In this research, the authors present a framework for developing Intercultural Competence (IC) and use Tridimensional Digital Virtual Worlds (3DVW) as environments for developing Intercultural Competence. They developed an artifact, via Design Research, constituted by an educational method using the 3DVW Second Life® as the place for a virtual exchange program between 92 Brazilian and Portuguese master students. The results of the authors' study indicate that the 3DVW can be used for the development of IC because it allows rich experiential and relational/conversational learning opportunities, especially due to the affordances of immersion/sense of presence, social interaction, content production and knowledge sharing.

Abstract
In this paper, we propose an innovative approach to integrate the wastewater treatment (WWT) that is carried out in a set of plants and the anaerobic digestion (AD) that is carried out in a different set of plants, all from the same system. The aim is to contribute to sustainability improvements (e.g., cost reduction and environmental and social benefits) within the system. The main drivers that support this approach are the existence of unutilized capacity in some digesters and the possibility of reducing the process sludge age to maintain its biogas potential during the aerobic treatment in the plants without AD facilities. Furthermore, the effect of co-digestion as a means of enhancing the amount of biogas that can be produced through the sludge is also considered. This innovative approach leads to a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model to optimize the sludge flows that connect the plants without AD facilities to the ones with anaerobic digesters. The developed approach was applied to a Portuguese water utility and the results provide new insights for an optimized sludge management process of WWTPs, also indicating that the economic benefit obtained from the proposed strategy for sludge management can lead to a reduction of up to 23.5% in terms of current energy costs.

Abstract
The media sector is constantly evolving and, in the last few years, such evolution has been driven by a number of convergence paradigms, notably, that between broadband and broadcast technologies with the introduction of IT and IP technology. The present trend is to switch totally from a closed niche that uses highly specialized equipment to off-the-shelf IT-centric solutions, offering easy configuration and remote operation. The aim is to enable common computers to be turned into highly capable media devices and act as connected objects adopting an IoT-like paradigm. This vision, though, is not implemented easily, given that most media industry professionals do not yet feel comfortable operating in the IT technology space and also due to the stringent requirements that exist in this industry. The Joint Task Force on Networked Media is defining specifications that aim at overcoming such existing barriers. In this article we present a novel solution that follows the guidelines delivered by this group to set up a remotely operated media production facility, totally based on IP and IT technology, constituting a step forward the realization of the IoT concept in professional media environments. The focus is on two complementary components, namely, the GUI Agent and the MW Agent, which are not covered by the defined specifications but that are crucial to speed up the deployment of concrete solutions that can be easily operated by non-IT and non-IP experts in a transparent and ubiquitous way. © 2020 TRON Forum.