Abstract
Animal behavior assessment plays an important role in basic and clinical neuroscience. Although assessing the higher functional level of the nervous system is already possible, behavioral tests are extremely complex to design and analyze. Animal's responses are often evaluated manually, making it subjective, extremely time consuming, poorly reproducible and potentially fallible. The main goal of the present work is to evaluate the use of consumer depth cameras, such as the Microsoft's Kinect, for detection of behavioral patterns of mice. The hypothesis is that the depth information, should enable a more feasible and robust method for automatic behavior recognition. Thus, we introduce our depth-map based approach comprising mouse segmentation, body-like per-frame feature extraction and per-frame classification given temporal context, to prove the usability of this methodology.

Abstract
The IEEE 802.15.4 standard proposes a flexible communication solution for Low-Rate Wireless Personal Area Networks, including Wireless Sensor Networks. In these networks, the transmission of messages or the Guaranteed Time Slot allocation are coordinated by the traditional CSMA/CA scheme, which does not provide any additional traffic differentiation mechanism. In a previous work, we proposed an approach that assigns priorities to the messages based on the (m, k)-firm task model. This paper proposes, in a complementary way, an experimental assessment in order to define the best parameters for messages prioritization. The experimental assessment considers a realistic scenario in which a set of sensor nodes, implementing the proposed scheme works in the same coverage area of another set of nodes that does not belong to the same Wireless Sensor Networks infrastructure.

Abstract
This work aims at describing the added value of the skills acquired during a Master's degree in Building Services Engineering taught at the Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra in the departments of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. It is based on the training final report of the dissertation, and it is concerned with the integration in the world of work, describing the framework of the various activities carried out during the internship. The curricular internship led to the acquisition of professional experience in the area of project within the framework of special technical installations, including lighting design in its various aspects. Several lighting design studies were developed both of interiors and exteriors and were extended to designs of bunkering stations, hospitals, post offices, hotels and homes in general. It also led to the acquisition of professional experience in the fields of electrical installations, telecommunications, fire safety in buildings and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning). The trainee had to assume responsibilities, applying theoretical knowledge to practical contexts developing decision-making skills and overcoming the proposed challenges. The opportunity the trainee had to follow the work of the technical teams was also an asset, as he observed on site the deployment of projects as they were being carried out He was also able to check if the work was evolving according to plans, contacted the architects, the building owners as well as the staff of companies in charge of other specialties. He experienced the difference between analysing and studying a two dimensional blueprint or even photos, and observing the actual design details on site, sometimes not so noticeable on paper or on the computer. This allowed him to assimilate important information, and be actively involved as part of the team, one of the reasons why the trainee opted for an internship of this kind that contributed to a better understanding of certain concepts in these areas of engineering.

Abstract

Abstract
Nano-communications have tremendous potential for applications in the biomedical, environmental, industrial and military fields. Molecular communication is a new communication paradigm which allows nanomachines to exchange information using molecules as carrier. This is the most promising communication method within nanonetworks, since using electromagnetic waves is not very likely due to the size of the nanomachines. In molecular communication, information is encoded onto molecules at senders and the molecules propagate to receivers in a controlled manner. This control is one of the most important challenges, and this paper will describe some solutions for molecular communication. Since molecular communication offers means to transport information-encoded molecules to receivers and allows biological and artificially-created components to communicate with each other, future applications for health care are discussed in this paper. Results are obtained from computerized simulation scenarios selecting appropriate parameters for optimal performance.

Abstract
This work addresses the joint scheduling of continuous caster and hot strip mill processes in the steel industry. Traditionally, slab yards are used to decouple these two stages. However, the rising importance of energy costs and reduced logistic effort gives motivation for a combined scheduling. For each of the processes, a mixed-integer linear optimisation model based on the block planning principle is presented. This approach develops production schedules that take technological sequences of steel grades and milling programmes into account. We consider the integrated steel plant of an international steel company as a case study. Numerical results demonstrate the practicability of this approach under experimental conditions, which reflect typical settings from an industrial application in the steel industry.