Abstract
Mechanisation is a key input in modern agriculture, while it accounts for a large part of crop production costs, it can bring considerable farm benefits if well managed. Models for simulated machinery costs, may not replace actual cost measurements but the information obtained through them can replace a farm's existing records, becoming more valuable to decision makers. MACHoice, a decision support system (DSS) presented in this paper, is a farm machinery cost estimator and break-even analyzer of alternatives for agricultural operations, developed using user-driven expectations and in close collaboration with agronomists and computer engineers. It integrates an innovative algorithm developed for projections of machinery costs under different rates of annual machine use and work capacity processing, which is crucial to decisions on break-even machinery alternatives. A case study based on the comparison of multiple alternatives for grape harvesting operations is presented to demonstrate the typical results that can be expected from MACHoice, and to identify its capabilities and limitations. This DSS offers an integrated and flexible analysis environment with a user-friendly graphical interface as well as a high level of automation of processing chains. The DSS-output consists of charts and tables, evidencing the differences related to costs and carbon emissions between the options inserted by the user for the different intensity of yearly work proceeded. MACHoice is an interactive web-based tool that can be accessed freely for non-commercial use by every known browser.

Abstract
Performance of series connected batteries is limited by the "weakest link" effect, i.e., the cell or group of cells with the poorest performance in terms of temperature, power, or energy characteristics. To mitigate the "weakest link" effect, this study deals with the design, modeling, and experimental demonstration of a smart and hybrid balancing system (SHBS). A cell-to-cell shared energy transfer configuration is proposed, including a supercapacitor bank in the balancing bus, thus enabling hybridization. Energy is transferred from each battery module connected in series to the balancing bus, and vice-versa, by means of low-cost bi-directional dc-dc converters. The current setpoints of the converters are obtained by means of a smart balancing control strategy, implemented using convex optimization. The strategy is called "smart" because it pursues goals beyond the conventional state-of-charge equalization, including temperature and power capability equalization, and minimization of energy losses. Simulations show that the proposed SHBS is able to achieve all these goals effectively in an e-mobility application and are also used to assess the impact of different hybridization ratios and cooling conditions. Finally, an experimental setup is developed to demonstrate the feasibility of the SHBS.

Abstract
The health centers group (ACES) "Douro Sul II" is creating a Community Support Team for Palliative Care (ECSCP) to provide palliative care services for the ACE's population of 73, 713 registered users. To support these services, a study was carried out and it was planned the development of an Information System (IS) with the main objective of monitoring patients from their homes, providing information to support the operations of the team. The system is based on a platform that controls the flow of information between coordinators, team and the patients, from the use of mobile and web applications. Therefore, the team will be able to respond more quickly to patients requiring support.

Abstract
Software startups have a major role in the market challenging existing models and enabling the emergence of new technologies with high economic and social impact. This study aimed to explore this phenomenon by characterizing the processes and challenges that are placed in the software startups related to the workgroup in the entrepreneurial teams and in the context of their business activities. The study uses a qualitative approach through the realization of three case studies with Portuguese startups software. The study uses a qualitative approach through the realization of three case studies with startups software. The main results have demonstrated the high importance of human capital in these organizations that is leveraged through teamwork in teams formally established for this purpose, but above all, it is important to highlight the role that informal communication assumes in the growth process of these startups.

Abstract
Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) in transmission systems is one of the most promising sources of data to increase situational awareness of network monitoring. However, the inclusion of PMU measurements along with the ones from traditional Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems to perform state estimation brings additional challenges, such as the vast difference in sampling rates and precision between these two types of measurements. This paper formally introduces a Bayesian inference approach in the form of a new State Estimator for transmission systems able to deal with the different sampling rates of those measurements. The proposed approach provides accurate state estimates even for buses that are not observable by PMU measurements, and when load variation occurs during the time interval between two SCADA data scans. Several simulation results (with IEEE transmission test systems) are used to illustrate the features of the proposed approach.

Abstract
Spinal cord injuries are one of the most traumatic situations with a major impact on a person's quality of life. This type of injury have a extremely impact in the performance of daily life activities not only due to motor alterations but also due to the appearance of neuropathic pain Throughout the rehabilitation process the evaluation and intervention methodologies are not very systematic and are not personalized. Thus, to bridge this gap, the VR4NeuroPain was developed a technology that associates virtual reality with a glove "GNeuroPathy". The glove "GNeuroPathy" allows the collection of physiological parameters, namely to identify the electrodermic activity (EDA) while the patient carries out activities in an immersive environment. The main objective of this article is to present the validation process of the "GNeuroPathy" in clinical context. "GNeuroPathy" was applied to a group of 17 individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury. The results showed that "GNeuroPathy" is easy to apply and is suitable for comfort and texture. Data were also collected from EDA and it was found that there is a significant difference in signal amplitude in patients with low and high functionality. © 2019 by SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications, Lda.