Abstract
The ability to detect and quantify small amounts of DNA in biological complex samples is a hot research area. Up until recently most of the work performed in this area used label-dependent protocols that increases its complexity and overall costs. The aim the work was to develop a label-free technology suitable for DNA detection and quantification using real complex DNA samples. The applicability of this system was tested using synthetic ssDNA targets that guaranteed the systems specificity, in the sense that only complementary sequences hybridized with the probe. When using real samples extracted from Vitis vinifera L. the system was able to successfully detect and quantify the DNA present without any of the time consuming and costly amplification steps. The detection and quantification limits of the proposed system were 60 +/- 20 nM and 201 +/- 20 nM, respectively for Target 1 concentrations between 31 and 350 nM. This method can easily be applied to other species and purposes, allowing the direct detection of DNA in a label-free environment with high accuracy and specificity.

Abstract
The sense of presence and cybersickness are keyfactors to have into account when referring to Virtual Environments (VE). To achieve high levels of presence and minimize cybersickness, it is important to ensure that the user's stimulation is coherent with the contents that are being delivered. In this paper, it is presented a pilot study addressing the usage of both objective and subjective metrics to measure the sense of presence and cybersickness in VE in order to study possible correlations between these two evaluation approaches. On top of that, the pilot study includes two body positions to allow evaluating if the stimulation of the vestibular study has impact on the sense of presence and cybersickness. To evaluate presence and cybersickness, it was developed a VE that consists in a hill where participants ride a bicycle. To broaden the scope of the study, there were studied two body positions: standing and sitting on the bicycle. The equipment EMOTIV epoc+ was used to register the objective metrics. The subjective metrics were registered using the Igroup Presence Questionnaire (IPQ) and the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). To complement the collected data, the levels of fatigue and stress before and after the experience were also registered through self-evaluation. Results show that objective metrics Interest and Stress and the subjective metrics Realism, Fatigue and Stress have a positive interaction regarding the sense of presence. Results further suggest that there is a positive interaction between the objective metric Focus and the subjective metric Involvement.

Abstract
Within the supply chain, the customer does not simply buy parts or services from suppliers, but also buys supplier capabilities, which results in quality products and services. Having a tool that handles the Inspection as well as the Nonconformance, Complaint, Corrective Action and Concession processes is key to successfully track the supplier performance. Taking as a case study a Supplier Quality Management (SQM) currently in operation in an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for automotive industry, this paper presents a platform to support a Supplier Quality Management System (SQMS), that fits the technical specification ISO/TS 16949 requirements. This prototype is composed by a web platform and a mobile App, having flexibility and mobility as key main characteristics. Copyright © 2016 International Business Information Management Association

Abstract
This paper describes the results of our collaboration with the leading Portuguese food retailer to address the shelf-space planning problem of allocating products to shop-floor shelves. Our challenge was to introduce analytical methods into the shelf-space planning process to improve the return on space and automate a process heavily dependent on the experience of the retailer's space managers. This led to the creation of GAP, a decision support system that the company's space-management team uses daily. We developed a modular operations research approach that systematically applies mathematical programming models and heuristics to determine the best layout of products on the shelves. GAP combines its analytical strength with an ability to incorporate different types of merchandising rules to balance the tradeoff between optimization and customization.

Abstract

Abstract
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and Remotely Operated Vehicles are useful in industries such as offshore Oil and Gas, deep sea mining, and aquaculture, where inspection missions are frequent. While underwater communications are mainly done using acoustic links, retrieving data from these devices to shore is still an open issue, especially when we consider the high cost of satellite communications. In this paper, using ns-3 simulations, we evaluate the ability of the communications solution being developed in the BLUECOM+ project to enable real-time marine data transfer at remote ocean areas. Through the usage of tethered balloons, TV white spaces frequencies, and multi-hop communications, the BLUECOM+ solution enables cost-effective, broadband connectivity to the Internet at remote ocean areas, using standard access technologies such as GPRS/UMTS/LTE and Wi-Fi. Simulation results show an expected range exceeding 100 km from shore using only two nodes at sea, with bitrates over 1 Mbit/s.