Integration of TCP/IP and PROFIBUS protocols

Recent technological developments are pulling fieldbus networks to support a new wide class of applications, such as industrial multimedia applications. These applications are usually supported by the widely used TCP/IP stack. It is thus essential to provide support to TCP/IP based applications, in fieldbus networks. This paper presents an effort that is being carried out to integrate the TCP/IP and PROFIBUS stacks, in order to support industrial multimedia applications, whilst guarantying the timing requirements of control-related traffic.

Impact of a price-maker pumped storage hydro unit on the integration of wind energy in power systems

The increasing integration of larger amounts of wind energy into power systems raises important operational issues, such as the balance between power generation and demand. The pumped storage hydro (PSH) units are one possible solution to mitigate this problem, once they can store the excess of energy in the periods of higher generation and lower demand. However, the behaviour of a PSH unit may differ considerably from the expected in terms of wind power integration when it operates in a liberalized electricity market under a price-maker context. In this regard, this paper models and computes the optimal PSH weekly scheduling in a price-taker and price-maker scenarios, either when the PSH unit operates in standalone and integrated in a portfolio of other generation assets. Results show that the price-maker standalone PSH will integrate less wind power in comparison with the price-taker situation. Moreover, when the PSH unit is integrated in a portfolio with a base load power plant, the role of the price elasticity of demand may completely change the operational profile of the PSH unit. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Insights into the mechanims underlyng the antiproliferative potential of a Co(II) coordination compound bearing 1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-Dione: DNA and protein interaction studies

The very high antiproliferative activity of [Co(Cl)(H2O)(phendione)(2)][BF4] (phendione is 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione) against three human tumor cell lines (half-maximal inhibitory concentration below 1 mu M) and its slight selectivity for the colorectal tumor cell line compared with healthy human fibroblasts led us to explore the mechanisms of action underlying this promising antitumor potential. As previously shown by our group, this complex induces cell cycle arrest in S phase and subsequent cell death by apoptosis and it also reduces the expression of proteins typically upregulated in tumors. In the present work, we demonstrate that [Co(Cl)(phendione)(2)(H2O)][BF4] (1) does not reduce the viability of nontumorigenic breast epithelial cells by more than 85 % at 1 mu M, (2) promotes the upregulation of proapoptotic Bax and cell-cycle-related p21, and (3) induces release of lactate dehydrogenase, which is partially reversed by ursodeoxycholic acid. DNA interaction studies were performed to uncover the genotoxicity of the complex and demonstrate that even though it displays K (b) (+/- A standard error of the mean) of (3.48 +/- A 0.03) x 10(5) M-1 and is able to produce double-strand breaks in a concentration-dependent manner, it does not exert any clastogenic effect ex vivo, ruling out DNA as a major cellular target for the complex. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy studies are indicative of a strong and specific interaction of the complex with human serum albumin, involving one binding site, at a distance of approximately 1.5 nm for the Trp214 indole side chain with log K (b) similar to 4.7, thus suggesting that this complex can be efficiently transported by albumin in the blood plasma.

Synthesis and characterization of COPPER(II) 4´-phenyl-terpyridine compounds and catalytic application for aerobic oxidation of benzylic alcohols

The reactions between 4'-phenyl-terpyridine (L) and nitrate, acetate or chloride Cu(II) salts led to the formation of [Cu(NO3)(2)L] (1), [Cu(OCOCH3)(2)L]center dot CH2Cl2 (2 center dot CH2Cl2)and [CuCl2L]center dot[Cu(Cl)(mu-Cl)L](2) (3), respectively. Upon dissolving 1 in mixtures of DMSO-MeOH or EtOH-DMF the compounds [Cu(H2O){OS(CH3)(2)}L]-(NO3)(2) (4) and [Cu(HO)(CH3CH2OH)L](NO3) (5) were obtained, in this order. Reaction of 3 with AgSO3CF3 led to [CuCl(OSO2CF3)L] (6). The compounds were characterized by ESI-MS, IR, elemental analysis, electrochemical techniques and, for 2-6, also by single crystal X-ray diffraction. They undergo, by cyclic voltammetry, two single-electron irreversible reductions assigned to Cu(II) -> Cu(I)and Cu(I) -> Cu(0) and, for those of the same structural type, the reduction potential appears to correlate with the summation of the values of the Lever electrochemical EL ligand parameter, which is reported for the first time for copper complexes. Complexes 1-6 in combination with TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxyl radical) can exhibit a high catalytic activity, under mild conditions and in alkaline aqueous solution, for the aerobic oxidation of benzylic alcohols. Molar yields up to 94% (based on the alcohol) with TON values up to 320 were achieved after 22 h.

Tetranuclear COPPER(II) complexes with macrocyclic and open-chain disiloxane ligands as catalyst precursors for hydrocarboxylation and oxidation of alkanes and 1-phenylethanol

Two new tetranuclear complexes [Cu-4(mu-O)(L-1)-Cl-4] and [Cu-4(mu(4)-O)(L-2)(2)Cl-4] (2), where H2L1 is a macrocyclic ligand resulting from [2+2] condensation of 2,6-diformy1-4-methylphanol (DFF) and 1,3-bis(aminopropy1)tetramethyldisiloxane, and HL2 is a 1:2 condensation product: of DFF with trimethylsilyl p-aminobenzoate, have been prepared. The structures of the products were established by Xray diffraction. The complexes have been characterised by FTIR, UV/Vis spectroscopy, ES1 mass-spectrometry and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The latter revealed that the letrftriuclear complexes can be descr bed as two ferromagnetically coupled dinuclear units, in which the two copper(II) ions interact antiferromacinetically. The ccimpi.iunds act as homogeneous catalyst precursors for a number of single-pot reactions, including (I) hydrocarbaxylation, with CO, H2O and K2S2O8, of a variety of linear and cyclic (n = 5-8) alkanes into the corresponding Cn+1 carboxylic acids, (ii) peroxidative oxidation of cyclohexane, and (iii) solvent-free microwave-assisted oxidation of 1-phenyletha.nol.

Assessment and optimization of wind energy integration into the power systems: application to the portuguese system

The increasing integration of wind energy in power systems can be responsible for the occurrence of over-generation, especially during the off-peak periods. This paper presents a dedicated methodology to identify and quantify the occurrence of this over-generation and to evaluate some of the solutions that can be adopted to mitigate this problem. The methodology is applied to the Portuguese power system, in which the wind energy is expected to represent more than 25% of the installed capacity in a near future. The results show that the pumped-hydro units will not provide enough energy storage capacity and, therefore, wind curtailments are expected to occur in the Portuguese system. Additional energy storage devices can be implemented to offset the wind energy curtailments. However, the investment analysis performed show that they are not economically viable, due to the present high capital costs involved.

Integration of e-portfolios in learning management systems

The LMS plays a decisive role in most eLearning environments. Although they integrate many useful tools for managing eLearning activities, they must also be effectively integrated with other specialized systems typically found in an educational environment such as Repositories of Learning Objects or ePortfolio Systems. Both types of systems evolved separately but in recent years the trend is to combine them, allowing the LMS to benefit from using the ePortfolio assessment features. This paper details the most common strategies for integrating an ePortfolio system into an LMS: the data, the API and the tool integration strategies. It presents a comparative study of strategies based on the technical skills, degree of coupling, security features, batch integration, development effort, status and standardization. This study is validated through the integration of two of the most representative systems on each category - respectively Mahara and Moodle.

Contributions to the Eocene palaeontology and stratigraphy of Beira Alta, Portugal II - New Late Eocene mammalian remnants from Coja (Portugal) and the presence of Palaeotherium magnum Cuvier

The presence of Palaeotherium magnum in the fauna from Coja is recorded. It is well in agreement with the earlier reporting to the Montmartre level from the Ludian stage. Field data as well as compatibility with the remaining taxa and the identical fossilization of all the specimens indicate that all the vertebrate fossils come from the same horizon in the lithostratigraphic unit "Arcoses de Côja".

Consumer energy management system with integration of smart meters

This paper develops an energy management system with integration of smart meters for electricity consumers in a smart grid context. The integration of two types of smart meters (SM) are developed: (i) consumer owned SM and (ii) distributor owned SM. The consumer owned SM runs over a wireless platform - ZigBee protocol and the distributor owned SM uses the wired environment - ModBus protocol. The SM are connected to a SCADA system (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) that supervises a network of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC). The SCADA system/PLC network integrates different types of information coming from several technologies present in modern buildings. The developed control strategy implements a hierarchical cascade controller where inner loops are performed by local PLCs, and the outer loop is managed by a centralized SCADA system, which interacts with the entire local PLC network. In order to implement advanced controllers, a communication channel was developed to allow the communication between the SCADA system and the MATLAB software. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Personal learning environments: integration of Web 2.0 applications and content management systems

This paper presents an ongoing project that implements a platform for creating personal learning environments controlled by students, integrating Web 2.0 applications and content management systems, enabling the safe use of content created in Web 2.0 applications, allowing its publication in the infrastructure controlled by the HEI. Using this platform, students can develop their personal learning environment (PLE) integrated with the Learning Management System (LMS) of the HEI, enabling the management of their learning and, simultaneously, creating their e-portfolio with digital content developed for Course Units (CU). All this can be maintained after the student completes his academic studies, since the platform will remain accessible to students even after they leave the HEI and lose access to its infrastructure. The platform will enable the safe use of content created in Web 2.0 applications, allowing its protected publication in the infrastructure controlled by HEI, thus contributing to the adaptation of the L&T paradigm to the Bologna process.

A Communication and Resources Management Scheme to Support the Smart Grid Integration of Multiplayers Access to Resources Information

The increasing and intensive integration of distributed energy resources into distribution systems requires adequate methodologies to ensure a secure operation according to the smart grid paradigm. In this context, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems are an essential infrastructure. This paper presents a conceptual design of a communication and resources management scheme based on an intelligent SCADA with a decentralized, flexible, and intelligent approach, adaptive to the context (context awareness). The methodology is used to support the energy resource management considering all the involved costs, power flows, and electricity prices leading to the network reconfiguration. The methodology also addresses the definition of the information access permissions of each player to each resource. The paper includes a 33-bus network used in a case study that considers an intensive use of distributed energy resources in five distinct implemented operation contexts.

Functional and structural characterization of the RNase II-family of enzymes

Dissertation presented to obtain a Doctoral Degree in Biology by Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Estimation Models for the adoption and use of information technology: internet-related technologies at firm level in the Portuguese and European context

Dissertação apresentada como requisito parcial para obtenção do grau de Doutor em Gestão de Informação

Integration of crowdsourced information with traditional crises and disaster management information using linked data

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies.