Abstract
The goal of this study was to analyse perceptually and acoustically the voices of patients with Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis (UVFP) and compare them to the voices of normal subjects. These voices were analysed perceptually with the GRBAS scale and acoustically using the following parameters: mean fundamental frequency (F0), standard-deviation of F0, jitter (ppq5), shimmer (apq11), mean harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR), mean first (F1) and second (F2) formants frequency, and standard-deviation of F1 and F2 frequencies. Statistically significant differences were found in all of the perceptual parameters. Also the jitter, shimmer, HNR, standard-deviation of F0, and standard-deviation of the frequency of F2 were statistically different between groups, for both genders. In the male data differences were also found in F1 and F2 frequencies values and in the standard-deviation of the frequency of F1. This study allowed the documentation of the alterations resulting from UVFP and addressed the exploration of parameters with limited information for this pathology.

Abstract
As in other segments of the food industry, the ice-cream industry has its own features that influence the production management of its processes. Amongst these we identify: changeover tasks, products shelf-life, raw-materials (RM) perishability and, multiple deliveries during the planning horizon. These aspects have been often left out when studying the production planning and scheduling within the batch food industries. Thus, the aim of this work is to define an optimal planning and scheduling model based on the Resource Task Network, where the profit maximization is performed taking into account the cost trade-off between the approach based on the perishable RM inventory for the planning horizon versus the just-in-time RM delivery policy. The study is motivated by a Portuguese artisanal ice-cream industry.

Abstract
A sensing system in the near infrared region has been developed for ammonia sensing based on the wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) principle. The WMS is a rather sensitive technique for detecting atomic/molecular species, presenting the advantage that it can be used in the near-infrared region by using the optical telecommunications technology. In this technique, the laser wavelength and intensity were modulated by applying a sine wave signal through the injection current, which allowed the shift of the detection bandwidth to higher frequencies where laser intensity noise was typically lower. Two multi-pass cells based on free space light propagation with 160 cm and 16 cm of optical path length were used, allowing the redundancy operation and technology validation. This system used a diode laser with an emission wavelength at 1512.21 nm, where NH3 has a strong absorption line. The control of the NH3 gas sensing system, as well as acquisition, processing and data presentation was performed.

Abstract
Prior knowledge of possible routes is undoubtedly an added value for autonomous navigation in irregular agricultural terrains. This information is particularly important when it involves the navigation of a monitoring robot, which necessarily carries a wide range of expensive sensors and when the vineyard presents a non-uniform configuration and extends over a very highly uneven terrain. In such case, a small navigation positional error can result in a large vertical deviation and consequently, a serious fall, which may damage or even destroy the robot. This article presents an automated way of deriving possible routes in this kind of terrain using three curve-skeleton algorithms for the 3D surfaces of the vineyard where the robot may navigate. The skeleton curves and real trajectory were represented in a graphical user OpenGL application developed for this purpose. A thinning, a geometric and a distance field algorithm were used for this study. The skeleton curves were compared with a real navigation path made by an expert when driving a tractor while spraying of the vineyard. In order to meet expert recommendations, the thinning algorithm was validated as the most suitable to achieve the aim of the study as it minimizes the quadratic average distance function applied to the skeleton points and the real trajectory. The limits of the most suitable curve-skeleton will be used as decision making points to establish navigation criteria for next step path planning.

Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate macrovascular endothelial dysfunction and microvascular damage as clinical markers of peripheral microangiopathy in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). Patients and methods: Seventy-seven secondary RP with systemic sclerosis, 32 primary RP and 34 healthy controls were included in our study. Secondary RP patients were divided into two subgroups: 39 with digital ulcers (DU) and 38 without digital ulcers (non-DU). Results: Patients with DU had significantly lower flow-mediated dilatation values (5.34 +/- 7.49%) compared to non-DU patients (16.21 +/- 11.31%), primary RP (17.96 +/- 12.78%) and controls (20.17 +/- 8.86%), p<0.001, favouring macrovascular endothelium dysfunction. Regarding microvascular damage, the DU group had a predominately capillaroscopic late pattern (71.1%) whereas non-DU patients had an active pattern (56.4%). The microangiopathy evolution score was significantly higher in the DU group compared to the non-DU group (4.79 +/- 1.82 vs. 1.79 +/- 1.56, p<0.001). Flow-mediated dilation was significantly lower in late pattern (6.13 +/- 7.09%) compared to active (12.58 +/- 10.66%) and early patterns (17.72 +/- 14.90%), p = 0.016 and p = 0.044 respectively. Conclusions: Low flow-mediated dilatation and microvascular damage in capillaroscopy are early clinical markers of DU risk in RP patients.

Abstract
Currently, we are facing increasingly environmental issues affecting our cities and consequently the health of living beings. A practical example it's the pollution, the excess of different odors and gases. Thus, our project is to create a sensor integrated in a smart grid that can measure gas pollution. This new sensor has the ability of detecting and classification of different odors that reflect the air quality in a given space.