Abstract
Batteries have been the predominant energy storage system used in electric vehicles. Battery packs have a large number of cells that develop charge, thermal, and capacity imbalances over time, limiting the power, range, and lifetime. Electronic battery management and state of charge (SoC) equalization methods are necessary to mitigate such imbalances. Today, it is possible to find a wide range of battery equalization methods in the literature, but how to decide which of these methods should be applied in practice? This paper compares 24 SoC equalization circuits that are typically found in automotive applications. We employ an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach to rank these equalization circuits according to multiple decision criteria (energy efficiency, equalization speed, implementation and control simplicity, hardware size, and total price). We also prepared a survey to collect design preferences from multiple battery balancing experts from around the world in order to better understand the relative importance of different criteria. The obtained results confirm that automotive engineers continue to favor passive balancing methods because of their low price, small PCB size, and implementation simplicity-despite the energy efficiency benefits of active balancing.

Abstract
As the use of composite materials increases, the search for suitable automated processes gains relevance for guaranteeing production quality by ensuring the uniformity of the process, minimizing the amount of scrap generated, and reducing the time and energy consumption. Limitations on production by traditional means such as hand lay-up, vacuum bagging, and in-autoclave methods tend not to be as efficient when the size and shape complexity of the part being produced increases, motivating the search for alternative processes such as automated tape laying (ATL). This work aims to describe the process of modelling and simulating a composite ATL with in situ consolidation by characterizing the machine elements and using the finite differences method in conjunction with energy balances in order to create a digital twin of the process for further control design. The modelling approach implemented is able to follow the process dynamics when changes are made to the heating element and to predict the composite material temperature response, making it suitable for use as a digital twin of a production process using an ATL machine.

Abstract
An optical strain gauge based on a balloon-like interferometer structure formed by a bent standard single-mode fiber combined with a 3D printer piece has been presented and demonstrated, which can be used to measure displacement. The interferometer has a simple and compact size, easy fabrication, low cost, and is repeatable. The sensor is based on the interference between the core and cladding modes. This is caused by the fiber's curvature because when light propagates through the curved balloon-shaped interferometer region, a portion of it will be released from the core limitation and coupled to the cladding. The balloon has an axial displacement as a result of how the artwork was constructed. The sensor head is sandwiched between two cantilevers such that when there is a displacement, the dimension associated with the micro bend is altered. The sensor response as a function of displacement can be determined using wavelength shift or intensity change interrogation techniques. Therefore, this optical strain gauge is a good option for applications where structure displacement needs to be examined. The sensor presents a sensitivity of 55.014 nm for displacement measurements ranging from 0 to 10 mm and a strain sensitivity of 500.13 pm/mu epsilon.

Abstract
The Accessibility Requirements Tool for Information and Communication Technologies (FRlATIC) was developed within the work of a doctoral project, at the University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro, and may be used at various stages of public procurement processes as well as projects and developments that include ICT products and services. This tool helps to consult, determine and assess the accessibility requirements for ICT products and services in European Standard EN 301 549 supporting the legislation in the field of public procurement for the countries of the European Union - Directive 2014/24/EU. This study focuses on the validation of the FRATIC prototype with 25 experts in the areas of accessibility, assistive technologies and public procurement, by conducting semi-structured interviews on this research subject and the FRATIC tool in particular, which were conducted after performing usability tests with the tool. A thematic analysis method was used to assess the qualitative data from the interviews.

Abstract
A novel micro-organism designated AS10(T) was isolated from dry salt collected from Aveiro saltern in the north of Portugal. Cells were Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-endospore-forming, rod-shaped and aerobic. Strain AS10(T) was characterized by long filaments of rod-shaped cells, presenting also coccoid cellular forms at the end of the filaments, unveiling some pleomorphism. Rod-shaped cells varied from 0.3 to 0.6 mu m wide and from 0.6 to 2 mu m long. Growth of AS10(T) occurred at 15-40 degrees C (optimum, 20-30 degrees C), 0-10% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2%) and pH 4.5-11.0 (optimum, pH 8.0-11.0). The peptidoglycan type was A1 Upsilon-type with 3-hydroxy-diaminopimelic acid. The major fatty acids were C-16(:0), iso-C-1(4:)0, C-17(:0) and C-1(4:)0. The major respiratory quinone was MK-9(H-4). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain AS10(T) was similar to actinobacterial members of the class Nitriliruptoria. with Nitriliruptor alkaliphilus ANL-isor being the closest relative the species with a sequence pairwise similarity of 91.21%. Average nucleotide identity, average amino acid identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain AS10(T) and N. alkaliphilus ANL-iso2(T) were 71.34, 53.57 and 18.90%, respectively. The genome DNA G+C content of AS10(T) was 71.8 mol%. Based on genomic, phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic studies, we describe a new species of a novel genus represented by strain AS10(T) (=LMG 31937(T)=CECT 30148(T)) for which we propose the name Salsipaludibacter albus gen. nov., sp. nov. We also propose that this organism represents a new family named Salsipaludibacteraceae fam. nov. of a novel order named Salsipaludibacterales ord. nov.

Abstract
This paper investigates duopoly competition when horizontally differentiated firms are able to make personalized product-price offers to returning customers, within a behavior-based discrimination model. In the second period, firms can profile old customers according to their preferences, selling them targeted products at personalized prices. Product-price personalization (PP) allows firms to retain all old customers, eliminating second-period customer poaching. The overall profit effects of PP are shown to be ambiguous. In the second period, PP improves the matching between customers??? preferences and firms??? offers, but firms do not make any revenues in the rival???s turf. In the Bertrand outcome, second-period profits only increase for both firms if the size of their old turfs are not too different or initial products are not too differentiated. However, the additional secondperiod profits may be offset by lower first-period profits. PP is likely to increase firms??? overall discounted profits when consumers??? (firms???) discount factor is low (high) and firms??? initial products are exogenous and sufficiently different. When the location of initial products is endogenous, profits are hurt because of an additional location (strategic) effect aggravating head-to-head competition in the first period. Likewise, when a fraction of active consumers conceals their identity, PP increases second-period profits at the cost of aggressive first-period price competition. Finally, we show that the room for profitable PP enlarges considerably if firms rely on PP as an effective device to sustain tacit collusive outcomes, with firms credibly threatening to respond to first-period price deviations with