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Publications

2012

COGNITIVE RADIO FOR MEDICAL BODY AREA NETWORKS USING ULTRA WIDEBAND

Authors
Chavez Santiago, R; Nolan, KE; Holland, O; De Nardis, L; Ferro, JM; Barroca, N; Borges, LM; Velez, FJ; Goncalves, V; Balasingham, I;

Publication
IEEE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

Abstract
Wearable wireless medical sensors beneficially impact the healthcare sector, and this market is experiencing rapid growth. In the United States alone, the telecommunications services market for the healthcare sector is forecast to increase from $7.5 billion in 2008 to $11.3 billion in 2013. Medical body area networks improve the mobility of patients and medical personnel during surgery, accelerate the patients' recovery, and facilitate the remote monitoring of patients suffering from chronic diseases. Currently, MBANs are being introduced in unlicensed frequency bands, where the risk of mutual interference with other electronic devices can be high. Techniques developed during the evolution of cognitive radio can potentially alleviate these problems in medical communication environments. In addition, these techniques can help increase the efficiency of spectrum usage to accommodate the rapidly growing demand for wireless MBAN solutions and enhance coexistence with other collocated wireless systems. This article proposes a viable architecture of an MBAN with practical CR features based on ultra wideband radio technology. UWB signals offer many advantages to MBANs, and some features of this technology can be exploited for effective implementation of CR. We discuss the physical and MAC layer aspects of the proposal in addition to the implementation challenges.

2012

Differentiated credence goods and price competition

Authors
Gabszewicz, JJ; Resende, J;

Publication
INFORMATION ECONOMICS AND POLICY

Abstract
This paper analyses price competition between two firms producing horizontally and vertically differentiated goods. These are assumed to be credence goods, as consumers can hardly ascertain the quality of the commodities. To illustrate the model, we adapt it to represent a newspaper industry with two outlets, when the population of readers have preferences both on the political stance of the newspapers and on the accuracy of the news they dispatch.

2012

GREENBOX: a management system for used cooking oils collection

Authors
Sousa, A; Faria, J; Fernandes, H; Goncalves, R; Paredes, H; Martins, P; Barroso, J;

Publication
2012 WORLD AUTOMATION CONGRESS (WAC)

Abstract
The rapid proliferation of human population and the growth of consumption leaded to an increase of hazardous waste. This becomes a worldwide ecological and environmental challenge. According to last available statistics the estimated global municipal solid waste reached 2.02 billion tons. Unfortunately there is not only solid waste: vegetable oil, one kind of liquid waste, used in food manufacturing, is responsible for serious contamination of water resources. Its collection is profitable by recycling into biodiesel and is already regulated in some countries. However it faces several logistic issues. Major issues are related to collection delays, which lead to oil giveaway, and reduced collection [1,2]. This paper proposes a solution to some of these logistic problems introducing a system to manage cooking oil collection in order to increase collection profits. The developed system follows a defined oil collection plan in order to optimize collection routes, introducing a sensor network that triggers collection events to a central system overcoming the current collection delays and wastes. The system is being tested in a real scenario with a Portuguese cooking oil collection company.

2012

An optimized conflict-free replicated set

Authors
Bieniusa, Annette; Zawirski, Marek; Preguiça, NunoM.; Shapiro, Marc; Baquero, Carlos; Balegas, Valter; Duarte, Sergio;

Publication
CoRR

Abstract

2012

Fibre Sensing System Based on Long-Period Gratings for Monitoring Aqueous Environments

Authors
Silva, C; P. Coelho, JM; Caldas, P; Jorge, P;

Publication
Fiber Optic Sensors

Abstract

2011

Adding value to the network: Mobile operators' experiments with Software-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service models

Authors
Gonalves, V; Ballon, P;

Publication
Telematics and Informatics

Abstract
The environments of software development and software provision are shifting to web-based platforms supported by Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) models. This paper will make the case that there is equally an opportunity for mobile operators to identify additional sources of revenue by exposing network functionalities through web-based service platforms. By elaborating on the concepts, benefits and risks of SaaS and PaaS, mobile operators' experiments are compared and similarities with these models are identified. Based on the analysis of various case studies, this paper argues that mobile operators mobile web services are decisively shifting from SaaS to PaaS models. However, these platforms incorporate fragmentation at several levels and are likely to face future challenges in order to thrive.

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