Abstract
We propose two methods to characterize the Non-Common Path Aberrations (NCPA) on the TMT/NFIRAOS system; these techniques are known as Phase Diversity and Focal Plane Sharpening. We demonstrate the feasibility of these techniques on an experimental bench. We also explore the operational effects of Phase Diversity and how it might be best applied to a NFIRAOS-like system. In particular we explore the technique of single image Phase Diversity along with the effects of i) estimating either Zernike modes or Disk Harmonics, ii) using multiple diverse images, and III) using diversities other than focus. These operational considerations are explored in a simulation of the NFIRAOS system and we aim to find the best estimation of the NFIRAOS NCPA in the presence of different levels of noise. We find a realistic estimation of NFIRAOS NCPA would be with multi-image Phase Diversity-with focus-diverse images sampled at asymmetric positions on either side of the focal plane (with no estimation of the object).

Abstract
Software transactional memory (STM) is a synchronisation paradigm which improves the parallelism and composability of modern applications executing on a multi-core architecture. However, to abort and retry a transaction multiple times may have a negative impact on the temporal characteristics of a real-time task set. This paper addresses this issue: It provides a framework in which an upper-bound on the worst-case response time of each task is derived, assuming that tasks are scheduled by following either the Non-Preemptive During Attempt (NPDA), Non-Preemptive Until Commit (NPUC) or Stack Resource Policy for Transactional Memory (SRPTM) policy.

Abstract
Although wind power generation has extended a maturity in technology, there are still many concerns regarding the optimal support of regulatory bodies for renewable resources. In this context, the regulatory body should form a market structure or consider market rules and regulations to not only attract investors to renewable power plants, but also provide an efficient market that reflects a safe and clear competition environment. In this paper, an agent-based game-theoretic model is developed to investigate the electricity market behavior under oligopoly circumstances. The proposed model reveals the potential of collusive and strategic behavior of market participants. By employing the proposed model, impacts of different supportive schemes on the behavior of the wind power producer and conventional thermal units are investigated. According to the results obtained, if the regulatory bodies do not consider strategic collusion of market participants, adverse consequences for wind power producers might happen in the long-term horizon.

Abstract
This paper presents a framework and methods to estimate electric vehicles' possible states, regarding their demand, location and grid connection periods. The proposed methods use the Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the probability of occurrence for each state and a fuzzy logic probabilistic approach to characterize the uncertainty of electric vehicles' demand. Day-ahead and hour-ahead methodologies are proposed to support the smart grids' operational decisions. A numerical example is presented using an electric vehicles fleet in a smart city environment to obtain each electric vehicle possible states regarding their grid location.

Abstract
In nowadays competing market, companies are constantly challenged to reduce the lead time for new products design process by diminishing the time response that goes from the arise of the market opportunity to the satisfaction of the customer need. Simultaneously, companies and networked organizations face a growing number of product configurations, lower product volumes, a continuously growing appetence for personalized products, pressing the decision makers into adopting more efficient product development processes. The present paper addresses the main collaborative product development issues by proposing a responsive and efficient use of knowledge on networked environments through a lean-based framework for collaborative networks. In particular, this work describes the main lean concepts and tools that are enhancers of an efficient and distributed customizable product development process in networked environment.

Abstract
Organisations have been striving to account for the resources they've been allocating to Social Media integration and management, essentially because this integration has been occurring without a previously designed content strategy, which will foster the desired fan engagement. In order to establish a comparison of social media strategies between HEIs, we developed a seven category model, encompassing the fundamental communication areas of focus for higher education service providers. Then, we performed a classification of these HEI posts in Facebook, according to our model. For this step, we used six of the most promising, and prominent, classifiers to obtain a predicted category for each post. Combining all posts from each HEI according to the model we get the HEI's editorial strategy. By clustering the overall social media strategies and corresponding response rate we discover the sector's monitoring HEI and, through a benchmarking process, we retrieve useful inputs for the design of social media strategies for HEI.