Abstract

Abstract
The pellet market in Portugal is a developing market where the main producers of wood pellets try to convince the small-scale buyer that wood pellets are a good alternative as a fuel because energy from them is cost-effective in long-term use. For this work, data about production, production capacity and consumption in Portugal were collected. Consumption levels are low since the majority of sales are exports. The different points of pellet production in Portugal have been located, and a price analysis has been made. To obtain data on the production capacity of the plants and get referrals from the market, the database Bioraise has been used in order to complement the information raised through prospecting and inquiries. Although it is noted that the pellet industry in Portugal is a sector in the initial stage of its development, the potential for growth is high, since internal consumption is low compared to the level of exports to other countries in which the pellet industry is booming. We conclude that the pellet industry is an important alternative in the Portuguese energy market due to the competitive price of this fuel compared to traditional fuels.

Abstract
Ever since energy sustainability is an emergent concern, Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs) significantly affect the approaching smart grids. Indeed, Demand Response (DR) brings a positive effect on the uncertainties of renewable energy sources, improving market efficiency and enhancing system reliability. This paper proposes a multi-stage stochastic model of a PEV aggregation agent to participate in day-ahead and intraday electricity markets. The stochastic model reflects several uncertainties such as the behaviour of PEV owners, electricity market prices, and activated quantity of reserve by the system operator. For this purpose, appropriate scenarios are utilized to realize the uncertain feature of the problem. Furthermore, in the proposed model, the PEV aggregation agents can update their bids/offers by taking part in the intraday market. To this end, these aggregation agents take part in Demand Response exchange (DRX), markets designed in the intraday session by employing DR resources. The numerical results show that DR provides a perfect opportunity for PEV aggregation agents to increase the profit. In addition, the results reveal that the PEV aggregation agent not only can increase its profit by participating in the DRX market, but also can become an important player in the mentioned market.

Abstract
Nowadays, breast cancer has become the most common cancer amongst females. As long as breast is assumed to be a feminine symbol, any imposed deformation of surgical procedures can affect the patients' quality of life. However, using a planning tool which is based on parametric modeling, not only improves surgeons' skills in order to perform surgeries with better cosmetic outcomes, but also increases the interaction between surgeons and patients during the decision for necessary procedures. In the current research, a methodology of parametric modeling, called Free-Form Deformation (FFD) is studied. Finally, confirmed by a quantitative analysis, we proposed two simplified versions of FFD methodology to increase model similarity to input data and decrease required fitting time.

Abstract
Meta-heuristics have been applied for a long time to the Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP) but information is still lacking in the determination of the parameters with the best performance. This paper examines the impact of the Simulated Annealing (SA) and Discrete Artificial Bee Colony (DABC) parameters in the TSP. One special consideration of this paper is how the Neighborhood Structure (NS) interact with the other parameters and impacts the performance of the meta-heuristics. NS performance has been the topic of much research, with NS proposed for the best-known problems, which seem to imply that the NS influences the performance of meta-heuristics, more that other parameters. Moreover, a comparative analysis of distinct meta-heuristics is carried out to demonstrate a non-proportional increase in the performance of the NS.

Abstract
Assessing eco-efficiency performance of a production system is of great importance, since such assessment enables one to make an informed decision concerning economic and environmental performance of elementary systems within industrial productions systems. The framework presented in this paper is based on the eco-efficiency principles and four cornerstones i) Data inventory, ii) Environmental performance evaluation, iii) Environmental impact assessment and iv) Cost models/Value data. The Eco-Efficiency Integrated Methodology for Production Systems (ecoPROSYS) approach relies on the use of a systematized and organized set of indicators easy to understand/analyse promoting continuous improvement and a more efficient use of resources and energy. The goal is to assess eco-efficiency performance in order to support decision and enable the maximization of product/processes value creation and minimization of environmental burdens. The methodology was applied to a Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) finishing line. The results of the study intend to validate the applicability of ecoPROSYS. The case study showed that the cutting and the feeding table have superior eco-efficiency performance while packing and sanding have lower eco-efficiency performance. The presented framework is a powerful tool that can be used to identify and quantify key variables, assess alternative scenarios, evaluate environmental aspects, environmental influence and assess unit processes and overall eco-efficiency performance. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier