Abstract

Abstract
Biomedical wireless sensor networks are a key technology to support the development of new applications and services targeting patient monitoring, in particular, regarding data collection for medical diagnosis and continuous health assessment. However, due to the critical nature of medical applications, such networks have to satisfy demanding quality of service requirements, while guaranteeing high levels of confidence and reliability. Such goals are influenced by several factors, where the network topology, the limited throughput, and the characteristics and dynamics of the surrounding environment are of major importance. Harsh environments, as hospital facilities, can compromise the radio frequency communications and, consequently, the network's ability to provide the quality of service required by medical applications. Furthermore, the impact of such environments on the network's performance is hard to manage due to its random and unpredictable nature. Consequently, network planning and management, in general or step-down hospital units, is a very hard task. In such context, this work presents a quality of service based management tool to help healthcare professionals supervising the network's performance and to assist them managing the admission of new sensor nodes (i.e., patients to be monitored) to the biomedical wireless sensor network. The proposed solution proves to be a valuable tool both, to detect and classify potential harmful variations in the quality of service provided by the network, avoiding its degradation to levels where the biomedical signs would be useless; and to manage the admission of new patients to the network.

Abstract
The use of distribution networks in the current scenario of high penetration of Distributed Generation (DG) is a problem of great importance. In the competitive environment of electricity markets and smart grids, Demand Response (DR) is also gaining notable impact with several benefits for the whole system. The work presented in this paper comprises a methodology able to define the cost allocation in distribution networks considering large integration of DG and DR resources. The proposed methodology is divided into three phases and it is based on an AC Optimal Power Flow (OPF) including the determination of topological distribution factors, and consequent application of the MW-mile method. The application of the proposed tariffs definition methodology is illustrated in a distribution network with 33 buses, 66 DG units, and 32 consumers with DR capacity.

Abstract
The purpose of this project was the development of tools that facilitate the musical expression of a well-defined group of physically and mentally challenged people. Knowing those people and becoming familiar with their capabilities, tastes and ambitions was the departing point for the design of solutions. Once developed, they remained in their institutions, to become a part of their lives, contributing to the range of occupational activities they can be involved with. The composition of a piece of music that uses those resources and its performance by these people in the main concert hall of Casa da Música in April 2010 was more than a proof of concept, it was a truly engaging, motivating experience and, indeed, a proper artistic challenge. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Abstract
Background: Given the limited available time of in-service professionals, the balance between the perceived importance of the course content and training needs is essential for the acceptance and attractiveness of training courses aimed at them. Objectives: The goal of the paper is to contribute to the development of entrepreneurship and business training programs for European SME managers. Methods/Approach: In six European countries a survey focusing on SME managers’ views on the importance of individual items from a list of potential course content items, and their training needs was carried out, and followed by an analysis using exploratory and multivariate techniques. It was aimed at identifying homogeneous groups of managers with common training needs and perceptions of content importance. Results: Homogeneous groups of managers who assign the same importance to certain competences and who have common training needs are identified. Conclusions: Results of our research could help training institutions to develop courses aimed at SME managers. The balancing approach proved to be an interesting method of combining conflicting requirements for the training course curriculum development.

Abstract
This paper presents a new stochastic programming model for PAR/PST definition and location in a network with a high penetration of wind power, with probabilistic representation, to maximize wind power penetration. It also presents a new optimization meta-heuristic, denoted DEEPSO, which is a variant of EPSO, the Evolutionary Particle Swarm Optimization method, borrowing the concept of rough gradient from Differential Evolution algorithms. A test case is solved in an IEEE test system. The performance of DEEPSO is shown to be superior to EPSO in this complex problem. © 2014 IEEE.