Abstract
Located in the northern part of continental Portugal, the city of Porto is characterized by low-to-moderate levels of seismicity, thus one of reasons for the lack of studies regarding the influence of site effects in this area. In this study, the HVSR technique (horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio) was used in order to obtain information about the fundamental frequencies of the ground in several parts of the city which was later compared to the geotechnical information presented in the Geotechnical Map of Porto, with the aim of establishing a possible correlation between frequency values and sub-soil geotechnical characteristics. This type of research plays an important role in understanding how local geological characteristics may influence the amplification of seismic waves. For this purpose, two types of studies were conducted in the city of Porto – two linear test campaigns along two major streets in the city, Boavista Avenue and Constituição Street; and one dispersed test campaign within the hydrographic basin of Frio River, an underground river flowing in the areas of Carregal Garden, Santo António Hospital, Cordoaria Garden and Virtudes Garden. The three campaigns represented a total of 53 recordings of ambient ground noise using a broad band seismometer and the resulted data was used to produce HVSR graphics. From these graphics it was possible to determine the fundamental frequencies (f0) of several points within the city. Resorting to the geotechnical map of the city and having identified the geotechnical units existing in each test place as well as the parameters used to their classification, it was possible to establish a connection between frequency values and substrate competence. The results suggest a strong relation between these parameters, low frequencies relate to softer grounds and as an opposite high frequencies to harder bedrock.

Abstract
This article addresses the developments ongoing in SENSIBLE, an H2020 funded project focused on energy storage and energy management, which demonstration occurs in Évora-Portugal, Nottingham, UK and Nuremberg, Germany. Currently, the presented study focuses on the concepts and developments necessary in order to make possible that residential clients can participate in a market environment with their electrical flexibility, also considering distribution system operator (DSO) needs when gird is under stress caused by any technical constraint. Moreover, than the concept behind it is necessary to consider several developments: (i) a low layer where residential assets will live in customer’s houses; (ii) a high-level layers where market tools and DSO management tools will live; (iii) an intermediate layer, which bridge the gap between the low layer and high layer. These developments are a result of the ongoing works under one of SENSIBLE use cases which demonstrations occurs in a small village in Évora district in Portugal. © 2017 Institution of Engineering and Technology. All rights reserved.

Abstract
Nowadays, it is common for higher education institutions to use computer-based exams, partly or integrally, in their evaluation processes. These exams, much like their paper-based counterparts, are one of the most significant sources of stress in the life of students. However, the fact that exams are undertaken in a computer allows for new features to be acquired that may provide more reliable insights into the behaviour and state of the student during the exam. In this article we analyse these novel behavioural features and explore, to which extent, they can point out previously unknown phenomena. Specifically, we show that the time a student takes to complete an exam is correlated with mouse dynamics features. In practical terms, we are able to predict the duration of each individual exam with a satisfying error based on the interaction patterns of the student.

Abstract

Abstract
Image processing has been proved to be an effective tool for analysis in various human activity areas, namely, agricultural applications. Interpreting a digital color image of fruit orchard captured in field environment is extremely challenging due to adverse weather conditions, luminance variability and the presence of dust, insects and other unavoidable image noises. The purpose of this survey is to categorize and briefly review the literature on computer analysis of fruit images in agricultural operations, which comprises more than 60 papers published in the last 10 years. With the aim to perform applied research in agricultural imaging, this paper intends to focus on advanced image processing and analysis techniques used in applications for detection and classifications of fruits, developed in the last decade. For the reviewed techniques, some performance evaluation metrics achieved in various experiments are emphasized to help the researchers when making choices and develop new computer vision applications in fruit images.

Abstract
Objectives: Fluid overload (FO) is frequently present in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and is associated with markers of malnutrition, inflammation, and atherosclerosis/calcification (MIAC) syndrome. We examined the relationships in stable PD patients between phase angle (PhA) and the spectrum of uremic vasculopathy including vascular calcification and arterial stiffness and between PhA and changes in serum fetuin-A levels. Methods: Sixty-one stable adult PD patients were evaluated in a cross-sectional study (ST1). Phase angle was measured by multifrequency bioimpedance analysis (InbodyS10, Biospace, Korea) at 50 kHz. Augmentation index (AI), a surrogate marker of arterial stiffness, was assessed by digital pulse amplitude tonometry (Endo PAT, Itamar Medical, Caesarea, Israel). Vascular calcification was assessed by simplified calcification score (SCS). Serum fetuin-A levels were measured by ELISA (Thermo scientific; Waltham, MA, USA). Serum albumin was used as a nutritional marker, and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was used as an inflammatory marker. The same assessments were carried out longitudinally (ST2) in the first 33 patients who completed 1 year of evaluation in ST1. Results: In ST1, patients with PhA < 6(omicron) had higher CRP levels, AI, and SCS and lower serum albumin and fetuin-A levels, in comparison with patients with PhA >= 6(omicron). In addition, PhA was a predictor of both AI (beta = -0.351, p = 0.023) and SCS >= 3 (EXP (B) = 0.243, p = 0.005). In ST2, the increase of PhA over time was associated with decreases in both AI (r = -0.378, p = 0.042) and CRP levels (r= -0.426, p = 0.021), as well as with the increase in serum fetuin-A levels (r = 0.411, p = 0.030). Conclusions: Phase angle predicts both arterial stiffness and vascular calcification in stable PD patients.