Abstract
This paper discusses a rectifier inverter composed of two three-leg converters with equal and unequal dc-links voltages connected in series. The operation with equal dc-links voltages divides equally the voltages in each converter. On the other hand, the operation with unequal dc-links voltages increases the number of voltage levels and contributes to reduce harmonic distortion and power losses. Space-vector and level-shifted techniques are discussed. The balance of separated dc sources using redundant voltage vectors is addressed in this paper. A closed-loop controller is used to control the average value of the dc voltages. Simulation results compare power losses and harmonic distortion of three-leg and six-leg topologies. Experimental results are provided to validate the feasibility of the system.

Abstract
This paper presents a teaching/learning experiment running in the laboratorial curricular unit Project I of the 4'h year of the Integrated Master in Industrial Electronics and Computers Engineering at the University of Minho. Project specifications were defined by the three teachers involved in the experience and students were encouraged to look on different solutions for a real-word problem. In a concurrent way, students designed, developed and implemented didactic rigs to control a gantry crane system. The control was performed in open-loop, based on the Posicast feedforward technique, and in closed-loop, using a two-degrees of freedom configuration. The experiment procedure and the project outcomes of two solutions proposed by the students are presented. © 2017 IEEE.

Abstract
In this paper an innovative, hierarchical, four-level optimization framework is proposed to model the optimal participation of Electric Vehicle Aggregators (EVAs) in day-ahead and real-time energy and regulation markets in conjunction with the optimal real-time charging management of the EV fleet. The scope of the framework is to incorporate in an integrated approach all the conjugated optimization tasks that an EVA should follow for cost-efficient and reliable market participation as well as for successful electric vehicles smart charging in real-time that will satisfy the EV owners. The PJM market design is modeled and a case study with 1000 PHEVs, represented by an EVA, is presented for one operating day. In the base case the EVA participates in the regulation market by following the dynamic regulation control signal. The base case is compared with one where the EVA follows the traditional regulation control signal and one where the EV fleet behaves in real-time differently than initially expected. The presentation of the main functionalities of the framework highlight its ability to model and evaluate the performance of the EV charging process in second-by-second time resolution in a market environment.

Abstract

Abstract
The ability to recognize emotions in spoken words is central in human communication and social relationships. When studying one's ability to perceive emotions, the standard paradigm is to have listeners choose which one of several emotion words best characterizes linguistically neutral utterances made by actors attempting to portray various emotional states. Usually, generic experiment control software are used, which may present several limitations. In this paper we present a novel approach to the problem, based on a mobile application that can be easily configured by the researcher to set up the desired protocol. This approach not only facilitates and improves study design and data collection, but also provides a plethora of new variables about the participants that, to the best of our knowledge, have never been considered before in this domain, including behavioural research.

Abstract
Aging is a natural process that progressively introduces limitations in a person's life, which can have dramatic effects on the person's lifestyle and wellbeing and in most cases is related to the strength of the person's social bonds with the family and friends group. Therefore, it is important to maintain these bonds in the various stages of life, especially in the later life, when the individual has health limitations and may be living in a care centre. In this work, we developed an exploratory approach to the usage of ICT systems in order to autonomy assist the elderly in maintaining their social connections and relationships with family and friends. It doesn't substitutes the human care, but it should assist and encourage the elderly to preserve and develop their social activities and the relationships with their family and friends social group. We propose the design of a software system, capable of running in autonomous devices, such as, robots and other consumer appliances, enabling them to recognize and interact with the users, according to their state of mind and the specific current moment context. The interactions should be simple and focused on keeping the users engaged and informed about the current life events of their family and friends, and create the opportunities for the users to interact with the participants of those events by creating interaction proposals. On a technical level, the system should have knowledge about the user and be able to acquire and update context information from social media, video cameras, email, etc, regarding the user and the persons from his family and friends groups, in order to develop meaningful interactions with the user. An adaptive user interface would present and manage the interactions, acting as a mediator between the user and his family and friends group.