Abstract
The sharp decrease of the remnant ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-PbTiO3 (PMNT) thin films close to the Morphotropic Phase Boundary (MPB) respect to their corresponding bulk ceramics is a major drawback for their integration in microdevices. In order to take full advantage of the excellent piezoelectric properties of polycrystalline PMNT in thin film form, a multilayer configuration with PbTiO3 (PT) layers is proposed. The PT layers generate an internal electric bias within the PMNT layer, which anchor an induced polarization in it. This results in a significant improvement of the piezoelectric behavior, obtaining remnant piezoelectric coefficients, d(33) (r), as high as 67 pm V-1. The role of the thickness of the PT layers used is discussed, in order to find the optimum configuration for these multilayers.

Abstract
This work presents a screening and evaluation platform for depression and suicidality that has been tested in the scope of primary healthcare. The main objective is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of screening processes. A web-based, decision support platform was provided for qualified healthcare professionals. The platform provides several assessment tools for patient evaluation and monitoring of their treatment, along with follow up appointment management. A preliminary evaluation process was carried out to understand the health professional's satisfaction. This revealed there was general satisfaction with its integrated functions and all the provided methods of assessment. In conclusion, the project sustains the goal of improving the treatment outcomes for clinical depression by refining the screening methods and consequently increase the screening effectiveness and efficiency.

Abstract
Software Product Lines (SPLs) enable the development of families of software systems by taking advantage of the commonalities and variabilities of the members of the family. Despite its many advantages, it is an unexplored area in the electronic government domain, an area with evident families of services, and with high demands to develop faster and better services to citizens and businesses while reducing costs. This paper discusses the need of formal methods to model SPLs for such domain. It presents a case study of a family of public licensing services modeled in UPPAAL and based on Featured Timed Automata, an extension of Timed Automata to model real-time SPLs. It analyzes the suitability of FTA to model distributed families of services, while provides hints on a possible enrichment of FTA to better support modularization and compositionality of services.

Abstract
This work proposes a new approach to detect the market power in power systems consisting of renewable energy sources. A model powered by game theory and agent-based systems is proposed to analyze the behaviors of each market player from the regulatory body's viewpoint. The proposed method considers both the tacit collusive behavior of Generation Companies, and the possibility of explicit collusion. In addition, three new market power indexes are introduced to quantify the market power level as well as to precise its causes. In order to evaluate the efficiency of the methodology, various numerical studies are carried out, and the effect of several market regulations is investigated on the market behaviors.

Abstract

Abstract
Increasing demand for containerization compels container terminals to improve their performance. Uncoordinated scheduling of operations is one of the main factors accounting for poor performance at automated container terminals (ACTs). To increase land utilization efficiency and lower operational times, a new storage system called the split-platform automated storage/retrieval system (SP-AS/RS) has been introduced for temporary storage of containers. This paper describes a multi-objective mixed-integer programming (MIP) model that is based on a combination of multiple interacting sub-tasks. It is aimed at optimizing the integrated scheduling of handling and storage operations in ACTs. The MIP model objective function is to minimize delays in the loading/unloading tasks of the cranes and the travel time of vehicles and platforms in the SP-AS/RS. At the same time, a simulated annealing algorithm (SAA) that provides near-optimal solutions for the problem in a reasonable computation time is appraised. The results of this study show that the objective function of the MIP model is, on average, 58 % lower than that of the non-integrated scheduling method. On the other hand, the best objective function values obtained by the SAA indicate only a 3.7 % disadvantage in comparison with optimal values determined by the MIP model, demonstrating that the SAA is able to provide near-optimal solutions for the integrated scheduling of handling and storage operations. © 2015, World Maritime University.