Abstract
We live in an era where robotics and IoT represent a significant transition towards a unified and automated world. Nonetheless, this convergence faces challenges, including system compatibility and device interoperability. The lack of flexibility of conventional robotic architectures amplifies these obstacles, highlighting the urgency for solutions. Furthermore, the complexity of adopting new technologies can be overwhelming. To address these challenges, this article features a Robot Operating System (ROS2)-centered middleware, referred to as Gateway since it applies the concept of a gateway, designed to ease the robot integration. Focusing on the payload module and fostering several types of external communication, it enhances modularity and interoperability. Developers can select payloads and communication modes through a console, which the middleware subsequently configures, guaranteeing flexibility. The goal is to highlight this middleware's potential to overcome robotics limitations, allowing a flexible integration of robots. This work contributes to the Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT) matter, underscoring the importance of modular payload engineering and interoperable communication in robotics and IoT.

Abstract
Renewable energy communities are increasingly becoming a field of great interest. This is mainly due to the advancement of technology but also the global concern to reduce carbon emissions and also create economic and social benefits. Business models play a crucial role in these communities, as a well-structured business model can facilitate the integration of innovative technologies, optimize the use of renewable energy sources, and promote economic and environmental sustainability. Therefore, it is a topic whose research is of great importance. This article presents an investigation and discussion on different aspects relating to renewable energy communities with special attention to Europe, concentrating in certain parts the focus on Portugal. This study was carried out with the aim of understanding which business models already exist and later understanding whether they can be improved or even considering the creation of new models.

Abstract
This paper aims to provide an overview of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on control engineering education worldwide. The authors, who are educators in the control education field from various countries across all continents, first summarize their experiences to present a global perspective on the different solutions adopted in control education during the pandemic. Afterwards, collected information from the international community through a questionnaire enabled insightful comparisons between pre-pandemic and during-pandemic educational resources and methods, which are shared in this paper. The feedback from the authors’ experiences, along with the questionnaire responses, serves as a valuable resource for learning and improving teaching activities. The questionnaire was distributed among the international control engineering community in collaboration with the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) to explore the diverse alternatives employed globally for conducting online educational activities during the pandemic. These activities include methodologies, tools, theoretical exercises, laboratory experiments, exam types, simulators, and software for online lecturing.

Abstract
Total arthroplasty is one of the most common knee surgeries and, due to the ageing of the population, the number of procedures performed each year is expected to increase. With almost a quarter of patients dissatisfied, systems for computer assistance in orthopaedic surgery have been on the rise, appearing to have better outcomes than conventional techniques by reproducing a planned alignment with a similar learning curve. The search for inexpensive solutions to improve these prototypes is extremely relevant since most systems in the market involve expensive robots. The development of a simulation for an extended reality system, specifically spatial augmented reality, with a projector and a depth camera to project the desired total knee arthroplasty bone cuts onto a simulated knee joint has been proposed. It was created with Gazebo and communicates with the Robotic Operating System (ROS) framework so that it can easily be transposed to the real world. An evaluation of the simulator was performed regarding the projection's accuracy. The performance of the simulator was fitting for surgery, with the highest mean position error between the desired bone cut and the simulated bone cut of 1.11 +/- 0.86 mm (minimum = 0.00 mm, maximum = 2.60 mm) for the tibia cut. These values could be further improved with the implementation of a feature-matching algorithm and a dynamic projection.

Abstract
Societies throughout today’s global village are increasingly aware of the social injustices that minorities face, and immigrants are no exception. Combined with the lack of adaptation resources and the prejudice of non-migrant residents, immigrants may feel powerless in foreign places as they try to find comfort and security in new and unfamiliar environments. It is increasingly urgent to address immigrant issues, considering the crucial role of enhancing diversity, combating prejudice, and raising awareness of minority experiences. This systematic literature review investigates the innovative use of gamification in exploring and addressing the experiences and issues immigrants face. The review follows the PRISMA statement guidelines and checklist. Scopus, CINAHL, and Medline databases were searched, resulting in 17 relevant articles that were carefully analyzed. This research highlights the diverse applications of gamification in studying immigrant experiences via role-playing, interactive storytelling, and empathy-building simulations. This work explores the potential of gamified interventions in addressing pressing issues immigrants face and assesses their effectiveness in fostering empathy and intercultural communication. It also identifies gaps in the existing information sciences literature and proposes directions for future research. In conclusion, this review sheds light on the emerging field of gamification in immigration studies and games studies in the information sciences, providing valuable insights for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners working with immigrant communities worldwide. © 2024 Master of Library Science Program, East Carolina University. All rights reserved.

Abstract
Shopping on the Internet is now an everyday activity for consumers. An understanding of which constructs are relevant in this activity is of crucial importance for online stores to adapt their strategies. The existence of a holistic model with these relevant constructs, however, is lacking in the literature. This research is exploratory in nature. The study aimed to identify the constructs that are closely and consistently related to the customer experience in online stores. In the literature review, 15 constructs were identified. They are web content, customer service, service quality, terms and conditions, digital channels, security and privacy, brand, perceived price, perceived risk, word of mouth, perceived value, trust, satisfaction, and loyalty. The review of the literature also revealed the imperative of building or revising the measurement scales of those constructs that were identified to allow for their operationalization. For this reason, a questionnaire with scales that have been adapted from several authors has also been proposed. This questionnaire has a feasible number of questions to be answered.