Abstract

Abstract
The implementation of automatic systems to execute tasks on the automotive industry brings many advantages when compared to humans. The quality, reliability and safety emerge as important advantages in the use of automatic systems. Vehicles such as buses, ambulances and garbage trucks, among others, are produced by smaller companies that are specialised in a certain genre of vehicles. The small quantities of the production series and the high rate of customization per client make it impossible to use fully automated production lines. This study aimed to determine the advantages of using a robotic welding cell to produce bus body structures and to follow its implementation in the production process. In order to make a reliable data comparison, it was chosen a part from the bus's luggage to execute all necessary tests which will be welded using an out of service robot already owned by the company. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Abstract
Background: Neuroimmune axis is central in the physiopathology of hip osteoarthritis (OA), but its specific pathways are still unclear. This systematic review aims to assess the nervous and immune system profile of patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA) when compared to healthy controls. Methods: A systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines was conducted. A two-step selection process was completed, and from 609 references 17 were included. The inclusion criteria were: original articles on adult patients with hip OA, with assessment of neuroimmune expression. Articles with other interventions prior to analysis and those without a control group were excluded. Results: Thirty-nine relevant neuroimmune markers were identified, with assessments in bone, cartilage, synovial membrane, synovial fluid, whole blood, serum and/or immune cells. GM-CSF, IFN-gamma, IL-1 alpha, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1 and TNF-alpha presented variable expression among tissues studied when compared between hip OA and controls. VEGFs and TGF-beta isoforms showed similar tendencies among tissues and studies. On nervous expression, CGRP, Tuj-1 and SP were increased in synovial membrane. Overall, patients with hip OA presented a higher number of overexpressed markers. Conclusions: For the first time a systematic review on neuroimmune expression in patients with hip OA found an upregulation of neuroimmune markers, with deregulated balance between pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines. However, no clear systematic pattern was found, and few information is available on nervous expression. This highlights the importance of future research with clear methodologies to guide the management of these patients.

Abstract
Aging is a process inherent to the human condition and part of the human being’s life cycle, which can be degraded by the reduction in the individual’s physical and social activity. This problem can be augmented by the context in which the person is aging, e.g., family, health and social bonds. The elderly individuals’ well-being is related to the strength of their social bonds with their family and friends group, which can be difficult to maintain in some stages of the aging process. A, recently- proposed solution is the adoption of autonomous systems capable of autonomous interactions with the elderly. Such systems are designed to be able to interpret the individual’s state of mind and the current context in order to conduct an effective interaction with the elderly person. This study focuses on the interaction design between the autonomous system and the human person, by considering the elderly individual’s context and pursuing the type of interaction that will positively influence the reinforcement or maintenance of the person’s social bonds with the family and friends groups. The study was carried out by interviewing a group of elderly people, currently living in nursing homes and with limited access to their family and friends. © Springer International Publishing AG 2017.

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Freezing represents a common conservation practice regarding vegetal foodstuffs. Since compositional features need to be monitored during storage, the development of rapid monitoring tools suitable for assessing nutritional characteristics arises as a pertinent issue. In this study, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) pods, both fresh and after 6 and 9 months of freezing at -18 degrees C, were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography for their content of protein as well as of essential and nonessential amino acids, while their Fourier transform infrared spectra in the mid infrared (MIR) and near infrared (NIR) ranges were concomitantly registered to assess the feasibility of this approach for the traceability of these frozen matrices. RESULTS: For the NIR interval, the application of the 1st derivative to the spectral data retrieved the best results, while for lower concentrations the application of the Savitzky-Golay algorithm was indispensable to achieve quantification models for the amino acids. MIR is also suitable for this purpose, though being unable to quantify amino acids with concentrations below 0.07 mmol g(-1) dry weight, irrespective of the data treatment used. CONCLUSIONS: The spectroscopic approach constitutes a methodology suitable for monitoring the impact of freezing on the nutritional properties of cowpea pods, allowing accurate quantification of the protein and amino acid contents, while NIR displayed better performance. (C) 2017 Society of Chemical Industry

Abstract
Power systems have been through deep changes, with their operation in the scope of competitive electricity markets (EM) and the increasingly intensive use of renewable energy sources and distributed generation. This requires new business models able to cope with the new opportunities. Virtual Power Players (VPPs) are a new player type which allows aggregating a diversity of players (distribution Generation, storage units, electrical vehicles, and consumers) to participate in the markets and to provide a set of new services promoting generation and consumption efficiency and to improving players’ benefits. A major task of VPPs is the remuneration of generation and of the services (e.g. market operation costs, and energy reserves) as well as charging energy consumption. This PhD research will contribute by developing fair and strategic remuneration and tariff methodologies, able to allow efficient VPP operation and VPP goals accomplishment in EM. © Springer International Publishing AG 2018.