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.

Abstract
Mental models are students' representations of the real world based on their knowledge and understanding. In a meaningful learning it is essential to analyse students' mental models and promote a reconstruction of scientific knowledge, by allowing them to become consistent with the scientific models. Having this in mind, we aimed to analyse undergraduate students' mental models concerning the seismic effects on soils and buildings, before they learn these contents at the university. To collect the data we applied a questionnaire with several items. The questionnaire was answered by a convenient sample of 31 freshmen from an undergraduate degree in Geology, in a northern Portuguese university. The results show that, in the majority of the items, students recognized the seismic effects on soils and buildings. However, some of their mental models were inconsistent with the scientific model, highlighting the importance of diagnosing students' mental models and their restructuring to promote a meaningful learning and scientific literacy.

Abstract
The study assessed the effect of velocity of arm movement on anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) generation in the contralateral and ipsilateral muscles of individuals with stroke in seating. Ten healthy and eight post-stroke subjects were studied in sitting. The task consisted in reaching an object placed at scapular plane and mid-sternum height at self-selected and fast velocities. Electromyography was recorded from anterior deltoid (AD), upper (UT) and lower trapezius (LT) and latissimus dorsi (LD). While kinematic analysis was used to assess peak velocity and trunk displacement. Differences were found between the timing of APAs on ipsi and contralateral LD and LT in both movement speeds and in ipsilateral UT during movement of the non-affected arm at a self-selected velocity. A delay on the contralateral LD to reach movement with the non-affected arm at fast velocity was also observed. The trunk displacement was greater in post-stroke subjects. Individuals with stroke demonstrated a delay of APAs in the muscles on both sides of the body compared to healthy subjects. The delay was observed during performance of the reaching task with the fast and self-selected velocity.

Abstract
E-government has become a priority for many governments around the world and one of the main change drivers in the provision of new services in the public administration context. As public services are part of a complex network in which citizens are the main players, public authorities are increasingly trying to identify and deploy programmes that promote the modernisation and simplification of public services based on knowledge management. This chapter aims to understand the impact of e-government initiatives on consumer behaviour, as well as the importance of knowledge management for value creation in the public administration context. The Simplex programme, the main initiative in Portugal to develop administrative simplification and e-government, is analysed within two contexts: the central administration and the local municipality of Oporto. This chapter highlights that e-government has been an important factor contributing to both the administrative simplification and the improvement in the quality of public services.