Featured Application This review highlights interoperability, automation, and decision-making as critical requirements for context-aware systems in the manufacturing domain that integrate the principles of Industry 4.0. It discusses relevant patterns and technologies, identifies context gaps, emphasises ontologies' importance, and proposes directions for future research.Abstract Technological evolution has driven the integration of computing devices in various domains, giving rise to heterogeneous and dynamic intelligent environments; together with market pressure, these pose challenges in formulating an architecture that takes advantage of contextual knowledge. In terms of architectural design, we are witnessing a transition from a centralised, monolithic view of systems to a decentralised view that incorporates the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the production environment. Therefore, this review aimed to (i) identify the requirements, (ii) find out about the representation models and context inference techniques, and (iii) identify architectural technologies, norms, models, and standards. The results observed in 25 articles made it possible to identify interoperability, automation, and decision-making as convergence points and observe the adoption of ontologies as a research area for context representation. In contrast, the discussion of context inference techniques remains open. Finally, this study presents recommendations for the design of a context-aware systems architecture that incorporates the principles of Industry 4.0 and facilitates the development of applications.

Impurities are unwanted chemicals present in small amounts in pharmaceutical products, that are not active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) or excipients, and can change the toxicological profile of pharmaceutical products and hence quality, safety and efficacy (QSE) (1)(2). “Guideline for Elemental Impurities” (ICH Q3D) suggests the application of the risk management methodology presented in ICH Q9, “Quality Risk Management”, aligned with the goals of Quality by Design (QbD), to understand and control the sources of elemental impurities in products. A great variety of systems, techniques and tools (STT), which can be used in quality risk management (QRM) are available. However, each one has its strengths and weaknesses and should be applied in different situations. A great number of factors need to be considered once selecting a STT, the decision about which one is the most appropriate can be very complex and difficult. In overcoming this problem, a comprehensive analyse of the available STT was done. The factors to consider in the selection were organized in a developed methodology that intends to facilitate the choice in a rational way. Despite the fact that the industry continues to place a high reliance on Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) as a primary system for QRM, the application of the developed methodology, through a case-study of Oxybuprocaine Hydrochloride 4mg/ ml, manufactured by Laboratório Edol, demonstrates that FMEA has significant number of limitations and is not the most appropriate system for the risk assessment of elemental impurities. It was also analysed that the most appropriate systems for risk management of elemental impurities is Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). Nevertheless, each specific case needs to be considered. FMEA and HACCP combined with a flowchart and an ishikawa diagram were applied to Oxybuprocaine Hydrochloride 4mg/ ml and the results were compared. The difficulties in the application of FMEA showed that HACCP is easier adapted to this case.

This paper provides a two-stage stochastic programming approach for the development of optimal offering strategies for wind power producers. Uncertainty is related to electricity market prices and wind power production. A hybrid intelligent approach, combining wavelet transform, particle swarm optimization and adaptive-network-based fuzzy inference system, is used in this paper to generate plausible scenarios. Also, risk aversion is explicitly modeled using the conditional value-at-risk methodology. Results from a realistic case study, based on a wind farm in Portugal, are provided and analyzed. Finally, conclusions are duly drawn.

Portugal tem atualmente em curso um conjunto de iniciativas que procuram utilizar as tecnologias associadas aos sistemas de informação para melhorar o rigor e eficiência dos sistemas fiscais. Tais iniciativas levaram às autoridades fiscais a tornarem-se mais eficazes no combate à evasão fiscal designadamente através da obtenção e manutenção de dados sobre as entidades declarantes de impostos. É o caso da utilização da fatura eletrónica, do projeto e-fatura e da comunicação de transações através do ficheiro SAF-T PT (Standard Audit File for Tax Purposes – Portuguese version). Este trabalho procura explorar os aspetos legais e técnicos subjacentes a estas iniciativas bem como perceber o seu efetivo grau de utilização e impacto no sistema fiscal nacional. Embora o tema seja vasto quer na sua abrangência quer no conjunto de detalhes que o compõem, será dada uma razoável cobertura dos aspetos legais e técnicos procurando apresentar dados reais sobre a sua utilização e nível de eficácia. É igualmente objetivo deste trabalho procurar identificar possíveis tendências futuras neste domínio designadamente sobre o formato ZUGFeRD que a Alemanha procura estabelecer e o novo modelo semântico europeu, ainda em discussão, que constitui a norma EN16931. Por fim será analisado o possível impacto destas mudanças em termos processuais de faturação na auditoria e como esta poderá vir a beneficiar das novas tecnologias para reforçar o controlo interno sobre este tema.

The aim of the present work is to provide insight into the mechanism of laccase reactions using syringyl-type mediators. We studied the pH dependence and the kinetics of oxidation of syringyl-type phenolics using the low CotA and the high redox potential TvL laccases. Additionally, the efficiency of these compounds as redox mediators for the oxidation of non-phenolic lignin units was tested at different pH values and increasing mediator/non-phenolic ratios. Finally, the intermediates and products of reactions were identified by LC-MS and H-1 NMR. These approaches allow concluding on the (1) mechanism involved in the oxidation of phenolics by bacterial laccases, (2) importance of the chemical nature and properties of phenolic mediators, (3) apparent independence of the enzyme's properties on the yields of non-phenolics conversion, (4) competitive routes involved in the catalytic cycle of the laccase-mediator system with several new C-O coupling type structures being proposed.

As wind power generation undergoes rapid growth, lightning damages involving wind turbines have come to be regarded with more attention. Electric and magnetic fields generated by lightning represent a serious hazard to wind turbines. A new case study is presented with two interconnected wind turbines, considering that lightning strikes directly the blade of one wind turbine. Computer simulations obtained by using EMTP-RV are presented and conclusions are duly drawn.

Refractive indices, n(D), and densities, rho, at 298.15 K were measured for the ternary mixture methanol (MeOH)/propan-1-ol (1-PrOH)/acetonitrile (MeCN) for a total of 22 mole fractions, along with 18 mole fractions of each of the corresponding binary mixtures, methanol/propan-1-ol, propan-1-ol/acetonitrile and methanol/acetonitrile. The variation of excess refractive indices and excess molar volumes with composition was modeled by the Redlich-Kister polynomial function in the case of binary mixtures and by the Cibulka equation for the ternary mixture. A thermodynamic approach to excess refractive indices, recently proposed by other authors, was applied for the first time to ternary liquid mixtures. Structural effects were identified and interpreted both in the binary and ternary systems. A complex relationship between excess refractive indices and excess molar volumes was identified, revealing all four possible sign combinations between these two properties. Structuring of the mixtures was also discussed on the basis of partial molar volumes of the binary and ternary mixtures.

We study a model consisting of particles with dissimilar bonding sites ("patches"), which exhibits self-assembly into chains connected by Y-junctions, and investigate its phase behaviour by both simulations and theory. We show that, as the energy cost epsilon(j) of forming Y-junctions increases, the extent of the liquid-vapour coexistence region at lower temperatures and densities is reduced. The phase diagram thus acquires a characteristic "pinched" shape in which the liquid branch density decreases as the temperature is lowered. To our knowledge, this is the first model in which the predicted topological phase transition between a fluid composed of short chains and a fluid rich in Y-junctions is actually observed. Above a certain threshold for epsilon(j), condensation ceases to exist because the entropy gain of forming Y-junctions can no longer offset their energy cost. We also show that the properties of these phase diagrams can be understood in terms of a temperature-dependent effective valence of the patchy particles. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3605703]

This paper proposes artificial neural networks in combination with wavelet transform for short-term wind power forecasting in Portugal. The increased integration of wind power into the electric grid, as nowadays occurs in Portugal, poses new challenges due to its intermittency and volatility. Hence, good forecasting tools play a key role in tackling these challenges. Results from a real-world case study are presented. A comparison is carried out, taking into account the results obtained with other approaches. Finally, conclusions are duly drawn. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

We introduce a microscopic model for particles with dissimilar patches which displays an unconventional "pinched'' phase diagram, similar to the one predicted by Tlusty and Safran in the context of dipolar fluids [Science 290, 1328 (2000)]. The model-based on two types of patch interactions, which account, respectively, for chaining and branching of the self-assembled networks-is studied both numerically via Monte Carlo simulations and theoretically via first-order perturbation theory. The dense phase is rich in junctions, while the less-dense phase is rich in chain ends. The model provides a reference system for a deep understanding of the competition between condensation and self-assembly into equilibrium-polymer chains.

Este artigo tem como principal objectivo constituir-se como um manual que permita ao cliente final conhecer as potencialidades de um sistema domótico, para assim escolher o sistema que melhor se adeqúe aos requisitos que pretende ver satisfeitos. Para isto, foram descritos as funcionalidades dos sistemas domóticos bem como os principais sistemas existentes no mercado. This article is to achieve constitute itself as a manual that allows the user to know the potential of a domotic system, so choose the system that best suits the requirements that it wants to see satisfied. For this, are described the features of the domotic systems and the main systems existing in the market.

A medida que as tecnologias relacionadas com os sistemas autónomos progridem, a quantidade de informação obtida dos mesmos também progride. Os sensores que constituem estes sistemas estão a tornar-se progressivamente mais eficientes e a cooperação entre grupos de sensores torna-se cada vez mais complexa. Tudo isto justifica a necessidade da existência de um sistema de uso simples, o qual obtém dados de um número elevado de sensores ou grupo de sensores e os interpreta e visualiza de forma imediata. Uma solução a esta necessidade deve procurar adquirir informação providenciada por sensores associados a sistemas autónomos, seja esta informação obtida através de ficheiros de log ou através de comunicação direta através de sockets, seguida da escrita para bases de dados da informação interpretada. A ferramenta de manipulação de bases de dados, desenvolvida em Python, utiliza “MySQL” queries de forma a criar, alterar ou apagar tabelas dentro de uma base de dados, tabelas as quais serão preenchidas com os dados interpretados a partir de logs ou comunicação com sensores em tempo real, via sockets. Por outro lado, a ferramenta de visualização online, desenvolvida em HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor) e JavaScript, utiliza PHP de forma a obter dados através de “MySQL” queries e utiliza gráficos e outras ferramentas visuais, disponibilizadas através de JavaScript, de forma a demonstrar os dados obtidos de forma simplificada.

The objective of the Arrowhead Framework is to efficiently support the development, deployment and operation of interconnected, cooperative systems. It is based on the Service Oriented Architecture philosophy. The building elements of the framework are systems that provide and consume services, and cooperate as systems of systems. Some commonly used systems, such as orchestration, authorization or service registry are considered as core. These can be used by any system of systems that follow the guidelines of the Arrowhead Framework. Within the framework, systems – using different information exchange technologies during collaboration – are helped through various approaches. These include the so-called Interoperability Layer, as well as systems and services for translation. Furthermore, one of the main problems of developing such highly interoperable systems is the lack of understanding between various development groups. Adequate development and service documentation methodologies can help to overcome this issue. The design, development and verification methodology for each service, system and system of systems within the Arrowhead Framework supports that these can be implemented, verified, deployed, and run in an interoperable way. This paper presents an overview of the framework together with its core elements – and provides guidelines for the design and deployment of interoperable, Arrowhead-compliant cooperative systems.

In this paper, a mixed-integer quadratic programming approach is proposed for the short-term hydro scheduling problem, considering head-dependency, discontinuous operating regions and discharge ramping constraints. As new contributions to earlier studies, market uncertainty is introduced in the model via price scenarios, and risk aversion is also incorporated by limiting the volatility of the expected profit through the conditional value-at-risk. Our approach has been applied successfully to solve a case Study based on one of the main Portuguese cascaded hydro systems, requiring a negligible computational time.

The authors extend their earlier work on the stability of a reacting binary polymer blend with respect to demixing [D. J. Read, Macromolecules 31, 899 (1998); P. I. C. Teixeira , Macromolecules 33, 387 (2000)] to the case where one of the polymers is rod-like and may order nematically. As before, the authors combine the random phase approximation for the free energy with a Markov chain model for the chemistry to obtain the spinodal as a function of the relevant degrees of reaction. These are then calculated by assuming a simple second-order chemical kinetics. Results are presented, for linear systems, which illustrate the effects of varying the proportion of coils and rods, their relative sizes, and the strength of the nematic interaction between the rods. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.

A new effective isotropic potential is proposed for the dipolar hard-sphere fluid, on the basis of recent results by others for its angle-averaged radial distribution function. The new effective potential is shown to exhibit oscillations even for moderately high densities and moderately strong dipole moments, which are absent from earlier effective isotropic potentials. The validity and significance of this result are briefly discussed.

We consider a simple model consisting of particles with four bonding sites ("patches"), two of type A and two of type B, on the square lattice, and investigate its global phase behavior by simulations and theory. We set the interaction between B patches to zero and calculate the phase diagram as the ratio between the AB and the AA interactions, epsilon(AB)*, varies. In line with previous work, on three-dimensional off-lattice models, we show that the liquid-vapor phase diagram exhibits a re-entrant or "pinched" shape for the same range of epsilon(AB)*, suggesting that the ratio of the energy scales - and the corresponding empty fluid regime - is independent of the dimensionality of the system and of the lattice structure. In addition, the model exhibits an order-disorder transition that is ferromagnetic in the re-entrant regime. The use of low-dimensional lattice models allows the simulation of sufficiently large systems to establish the nature of the liquid-vapor critical points and to describe the structure of the liquid phase in the empty fluid regime, where the size of the "voids" increases as the temperature decreases. We have found that the liquid-vapor critical point is in the 2D Ising universality class, with a scaling region that decreases rapidly as the temperature decreases. The results of simulations and theoretical analysis suggest that the line of order-disorder transitions intersects the condensation line at a multi-critical point at zero temperature and density, for patchy particle models with a re-entrant, empty fluid, regime. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3657406]

Dynamical systems modeling tumor growth have been investigated to determine the dynamics between tumor and healthy cells. Recent theoretical investigations indicate that these interactions may lead to different dynamical outcomes, in particular to homoclinic chaos. In the present study, we analyze both topological and dynamical properties of a recently characterized chaotic attractor governing the dynamics of tumor cells interacting with healthy tissue cells and effector cells of the immune system. By using the theory of symbolic dynamics, we first characterize the topological entropy and the parameter space ordering of kneading sequences from one-dimensional iterated maps identified in the dynamics, focusing on the effects of inactivation interactions between both effector and tumor cells. The previous analyses are complemented with the computation of the spectrum of Lyapunov exponents, the fractal dimension and the predictability of the chaotic attractors. Our results show that the inactivation rate of effector cells by the tumor cells has an important effect on the dynamics of the system. The increase of effector cells inactivation involves an inverse Feigenbaum (i.e. period-halving bifurcation) scenario, which results in the stabilization of the dynamics and in an increase of dynamics predictability. Our analyses also reveal that, at low inactivation rates of effector cells, tumor cells undergo strong, chaotic fluctuations, with the dynamics being highly unpredictable. Our findings are discussed in the context of tumor cells potential viability.

This paper is concerned with direct or indirect lightning strokes on wind turbines, studying overvoltages and electromagnetic transients. As wind power generation undergoes rapid growth, lightning damages involving wind turbines have come to be regarded with more attention. With the aim of providing further insights into the lightning protection of wind turbines, describing the transient behavior in an accurate way, the restructured version (RV) of the electromagnetic transients program (EMTP) is used in this paper. A new case study is presented with two interconnected wind turbines, considering a direct lightning stroke to the blade or considering that lightning strikes the soil near a tower. Comprehensive computer simulations with EMTP-RV are presented and conclusions are duly drawn.