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Highlights • Pre workshop international survey on MPV • Best practice guidline on the provision of MPV in NMD's by reviewing and recommend the most appropriate monitoring, mode, settings and equipment required for MPV. • Best practice algorithm on MPV for daytime ventilatory support (see Figure 1 ).Figure 1Figure 1 shows the best practice algorithm for the initiation of mouthpiece ventilation (MPV) in the long-term setting. For each stage of the algorithm there is a description to assist in the provision of this service.Figure 1 • Future studies in MPV.

This paper proposes an optimal bidding strategy for autonomous residential energy management systems. This strategy enables the system to manage its domestic energy production and consumption autonomously, and trade energy with the local market through a novel hybrid interval-stochastic optimization method. This work poses a residential energy management problem which consists of two stages: day-ahead and real-time. The uncertainty in electricity price and PV power generation is modeled by interval-based and stochastic scenarios in the day-ahead and real-time transactions between the smart home and local electricity market. Moreover, the implementation of a battery included to provide energy flexibility in the residential system. In this paper, the smart home acts as a price-taker agent in the local market, and it submits its optimal offering and bidding curves to the local market based on the uncertainties of the system. Finally, the performance of the proposed residential energy management system is evaluated according to the impacts of interval optimistic and flexibility coefficients, optimal bidding strategy, and uncertainty modeling. The evaluation has shown that the proposed optimal offering model is effective in making the home system robust and achieves optimal energy transaction. Thus, the results prove that the proposed optimal offering model for the domestic energy management system is more robust than its non-optimal offering model. Moreover, battery flexibility has a positive effect on the system’s total expected profit. With regarding to the bidding strategy, it is not able to impact the smart home’s behavior (as a consumer or producer) in the day-ahead local electricity market., This work is supported by the European Commission H2020 MSCA-RISE-2014: Marie Sklodowska-Curie project DREAM-GO Enabling Demand Response for short and real-time Efficient And Market Based Smart Grid Operation—An intelligent and real-time simulation approach Ref. 641794, and Grant Agreement No. 703689 (Project ADAPT). Moreover, Amin Shokri Gazafroudi acknowledge the support by the Ministry of Education of the Junta de Castilla y León and the European Social Fund through a grant from predoctoral recruitment of research personnel associated with the research project "Arquitectura multiagente para la gestión eficaz de redes de energía a través del uso de técnicas de intelligencia artificial" of the University of Salamanca. Moreover, authors would like to thank Dr. Juan Miguel Morales González from University of Malaga for his thoughtful suggestions.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentration and distribution of heavy metals in the sediments of Paulo Gorski Lake, as well as the metals’ bioavailability and potential ecological risk, and to define the anthropogenic and natural heavy metal contributions to the lake. The chemical elements calcium (Ca), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry with two extraction methods to quantify the bioavailable and non-bioavailable fractions. The data were evaluated using multivariate statistics and sediment quality indices. All sediment collection points (S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5) are different in terms of the concentration of heavy metals, except for S4 and S5, which were statistically equal. The bioavailable fraction of the elements in the sediment follows the sequence Pb>Cu>Mn>Zn>Ni>Cr>phosphorus (P) for all points. The elements Co, Cr, Pb, and Zn showed moderate to considerable contamination at all points. Only points S3 and S5 had moderate ecological risk. Urbanization has been affecting Paulo Gorski Lake via the input of chemical elements, especially Co and Pb. The points most affected by heavy metal contamination are S3 and S5 when the sedimentological sensitivity factor is considered. The lake has high hydrodynamics, causing some of the contaminants that enter the system to leave it, leading to potential negative impacts downstream.

In this work, hydrogen (H-2) was produced through the fermentation of Spirogyra sp. biomass by Clostridium butyricum DSM 10702. Macronutrient stress was applied to increase the carbohydrate content in Spirogyra, and a 36% (w/w) accumulation of carbohydrates was reached by nitrogen depletion. The use of wet microalga as fermentable substrate was compared with physically and chemically treated biomass for increased carbohydrate solubilisation. The combination of drying, bead beating and mild acid hydrolysis produced a saccharification yield of 90.3% (w/w). The H-2 production from Spirogyra hydrolysate was 3.9 L H-2 L-1 , equivalent to 1463 mL H-2 g(-1) microalga dry weight. The presence of protein (23.2 +/- 0.3% w/w) and valuable pigments, such as astaxanthin (38.8% of the total pigment content), makes this microalga suitable to be used simultaneously in both food and feed applications. In a Spirogyra based biorefinery, the potential energy production and food-grade protein and pigments revenue per cubic meter of microalga culture per year was estimated on 7.4 MJ, US $412 and US S15, respectively, thereby contributing to the cost efficiency and sustainability of the whole bioconversion process. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Fire is a critical component of terrestrial ecosystems and essential to understand the composition and diversity of communities in fire-prone regions. Nevertheless, fire does not act alone, and other factors such as land-use type and vegetation structure can also operate at different scales, prompting the response to fire of ectotherm communities such as reptiles. We have evaluated the influence of environmental factors on the abundance, diversity, and richness of reptile communities in Serra da Estrela Natural Park (northern Portugal), at both the landscape and micro-habitat scales. In spring 2014 and 2015, 20 transects were surveyed eight times, the vegetation structure and composition were measured, and the extent of land-use types around each transect calculated in this Mediterranean community. At the landscape scale, reptile abundance was higher in natural woodlands and more complex habitats (higher vegetation heterogeneity and plant richness), and reptile evenness was affected by vegetation heterogeneity and time since fire. By contrast, species richness was not related to any environmental factor measured in this study. Only two lizard species were common in the park, Psammodromus algirus and Podarcis guadarramae. Their relative abundances increased with contrasting habitat variables as the former is a ground-dwelling lizard specialist that prefers heterogeneous (unburnt) habitats and the second is a rock lizard that selects open (burnt) stands. At the micro-habitat scale, the probability of reptile presence, reptile abundance, and reptile richness increased with plant richness and decreased with tree cover. This study highlights the importance of several environmental factors, that operate from micro-habitat to landscape scales to understand the response of reptiles to fire., This study was partially funded by a British Herpetological Society Student Grant Scheme awarded to TP. BM was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [grant number SFRH/BPD/90277/2012].

Over the past decades, biotechnological processes have significantly improved and enabled societies to move closer to a bio-based economy, no longer dependent on liquid fossil fuels. Among sustainable biofuels, biobutanol is considered the best alternative due to its high energetic content and capability of acting as a drop-in fuel for gasoline. Together with new advances in resource recovery technology, biobutanol production is now poised to become even more sustainable. This paper summarizes the research done over the past decade on biobutanol production from low-value and waste residues. Different feedstock alternatives are discussed, and the predominant biological pathways for butanol production in ABE fermentation and syngas fermentation are revisited. Particular attention is given to single and mixed culture fermentation, and how far both technologies have come to reach butanol titers close to and above the microbial toxicity level of butanol. By comparing current titers, productivities and yields of single and mixed microbial cultures, this review shows to which extent the mixed microbial culture approach can compete with pure cultures, delving further on the advantages and obstacles of each of the technologies. Based on low-value and waste residue feedstocks, clear incentives exist to use mixed microbial fermentation as the predominant production platform for butanol and to focus future research on this promising technology.

In this work, we present a new technique for the sensitive and facile detection of Saccharomyces strains with a detection limit of 30 cells/mL in both buffer solution and food samples such as beer and yoghurt. This is achieved by combining ultrathin surface-imprinted polymer (SIP) layers as receptors with impedance spectroscopy as the readout principle. Binding of cells to the imprinted polymer surface results in a concentration-dependent increase of the impedance signal. According to the equivalent-circuit modelling of the impedance spectra, this is due to an increase of the resistive component of the solid-liquid interface while capacitive effects are negligible. Regarding selectivity, we prepared imprints with three different template strains and compared the sensor response for using the same three strains as targets. The response is strongest for combinations in which templates and targets belong to the same strain. For other situations, the sensor signal is reduced by a factor of three, indicating a certain level of selectivity, which can be interpreted in terms of size and cell wall differences. In summary, the combination of SIP-type receptors with impedance spectroscopy offers a fast and sensitive technique for on-site analysis of complex food matrices outside a laboratory environment. The results for yeast should be transferable to other microorganisms, including pathogenic ones.

Aposematic organisms can show phenotypic variability across their distributional ranges. The ecological advantages of this variability have been scarcely studied in vipers. We explored this issue in Vipera seoanei, a species that exhibits five geographically structured dorsal colour phenotypes across Northern Iberia: two zigzag patterned (Classic and Cantabrica), one dorsal-strip patterned (Bilineata), one even grey (Uniform), and one melanistic (Melanistic). We compared predation rates (raptors and mammals) on plasticine models resembling each colour phenotype in three localities. Visual modelling techniques were used to infer detectability (i.e. conspicuousness) of each model type for visually guided predators (i.e. diurnal raptors). We hypothesize that predation rates will be lower for the two zigzag models (aposematism hypothesis) and that models with higher detectability would show higher predation rates (detectability hypothesis). Classic and Bilineata models were the most conspicuous, while Cantabrica and Uniform were the less. Melanistic presented an intermediate conspicuousness. Predation rate was low (3.24% of models) although there was variation in attack frequency among models. Zigzag models were scarcely predated supporting the aposematic role of the zigzag pattern in European vipers to reduce predation (aposematism hypothesis). From the non-zigzag models, high predation occurred on Bilineata and Melanistic models, and low on Uniform models, partially supporting our detectability hypothesis. These results suggest particular evolutionary advantages for non-zigzag phenotypes such as better performance of Melanistic phenotypes in cold environments or better crypsis of Uniform phenotypes. Polymorphism in V. seoanei may respond to a complex number of forces acting differentially across an environmental gradient.

Worldwide microgrid capacity is expected to reach 7 GW and a market value of $35 billion dollars in the next few years. The decentralization of the generation dispatch role and different ownership models concerning microgrids, will contribute to increase the complexity of the future power systems. Analyzing new policies and strategies as well as evaluating those impacts is only possible with the use of sophisticated simulation tools. This paper presents a scalable computational simulation to address microgrid dispatch and the impact in the electricity market. Computational intelligence techniques are integrated to improve the effectiveness of the simulation tool. These techniques include CPLEX; differential search algorithm and quantum particle swarm optimization. Each microgrid player is able to solve a day-ahead scheduling problem and submit bids to the electricity market agent (spot market), which calculates the market clearing price. The developed case study with a large number of players totaling about 150,000 consumers suggest the relevance of the developed computational framework.

Energy systems worldwide are complex and challenging environments. Multi-agent based simulation platforms are increasing at a high rate, as they show to be a good option to study many issues related to these systems, as well as the involved players at act in this domain. In this scope the authors' research group has developed a multi-agent system: Multi-Agent System for Competitive Electricity Markets (MASCEM), which simulates the electricity markets environment. MASCEM is integrated with Adaptive Learning Strategic Bidding System (ALBidS) that works as a decision support system for market players. The ALBidS system allows MASCEM market negotiating players to take the best possible advantages from the market context. This paper presents the application of a Support Vector Machines (SVM) based approach to provide decision support to electricity market players. This strategy is tested and validated by being included in ALBidS and then compared with the application of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN), originating promising results: an effective electricity market price forecast in a fast execution time. The proposed approach is tested and validated using real electricity markets data from MIBEL - Iberian market operator.

Academics, politicians, the public in general and researchers have great interest in the non-observed economy. However, there is divergence in its definition, accounting methodology and economic effects. In this paper we conduct a meta-analysis on the empirical literature that estimates the impact of the parallel economy on economic growth. We conclude that there is no publication bias and that the average effect of the parallel economy on economic growth is insignificant. However, the reported effects differ considerably with the type and number of countries included in the sample of primary studies, the structure of the data, the methodology used to measure the parallel economy, the number of citations of primary studies, and the year they were published.

This article describes an experimental investigation on ash deposit formation during the co-firing of coal with agricultural residues (wheat straw, olive stones and peach stones), whose main objective was to relate the deposition rate, morphology and composition of the deposits with the type of biomass used in the co-combustion process. The study was conducted in a large-scale laboratory furnace for relatively high co-firing ratios (0.4, energy basis). For comparison purposes, tests have also been performed for pure coal firing and co-firing of coal with pine branches. During the tests, the deposits were collected with the aid of an air-cooled stainless steel deposition probe, whose surface temperature was maintained at around 500 °C, and of an uncooled ceramic probe with a surface temperature of about 850 °C. Both probes were placed in a region inside the furnace in which the mean gas temperature was about 1000 °C, being the deposits collected after 2 h of exposure. A number of deposit samples were subsequently analyzed on a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray detector. The results reveal that, in contrast with the co-firing of coal with pine branches, co-firing of coal with wheat straw and olive stones increase the ash deposition rate, as compared to pure coal firing. In addition, deposits resulting from the use of wheat straw and olive stones as secondary fuels present higher degree of adherence to surfaces. This is due to the high concentration of alkali metals present in the deposits composition, leading to compounds of low melting points. In particular, these two biomass fuels originated deposits with relatively high levels of K and S, which facilitate their sintering degree. The use of peach stones in the co-firing process led to a deposition rate similar to that of pure coal firing. However, the deposits present a relatively higher degree of adherence to the surfaces, which is probably due to the presence of higher levels of Na in its composition.

Recently there has been growing interest in an alternative to conventional oxygen therapy: the heated, humidified high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC). A number of physiological effects have been described with HFNC: pharyngeal dead space washout, reduction of nasopharyngeal resistance, a positive expiratory pressure effect, an alveolar recruitment, greater humidification, more comfort and better tolerance by the patient, better control of FiO2 and mucociliary clearance. There is limited experience of HFNC in adults. There are no established guidelines or decision-making pathways to guide use of the HFNC therapy for adults. In this article we review the existing evidence of HFNC oxygen therapy in adult patients, its advantages, limitations and the current literature on clinical applications. Further research is required to determine the long-term effect of this therapy and identify the adult patient population to whom it is most beneficial. Resumo: Recentemente, uma alternativa à oxigenoterapia convencional tem recebido atenção crescente: trata-se da oxigenoterapia humidificada de alto débito com cânulas nasais (HFNC). Um número de efeitos fisiológicos têm sido descritos: «lavagem» do espaço morto faríngeo, redução da resistência da nasofarige, efeito tipo «CPAP», recrutamento alveolar, maior humidificação, maior conforto e melhor tolerância do doente, melhor controle do FiO2 e do «clearance» mucociliar. A experiência com HFNC em adultos ainda é limitada e de momento não há «guidelines» para o seu uso. Neste artigo revemos a evidência existente do uso da HFNC em adultos, as suas vantagens, limitações e a literatura mais recente sobre as suas aplicações clínicas. Mais investigação será necessária para determinar os efeitos a longo prazo desta terapêutica e identificar quais as populações em que é mais benéfica. Keywords: High flow nasal cannula, Non-invasive ventilation, Gas exchange, Respiratory failure, Palavras-chave: Oxigenoterapia humidificada de alto débito com cânulas nasais, Ventilação não-invasiva, Trocas gasosas, Insuficiência respiratória

Submitted by Joana Neves (jamne@isep.ipp.pt) on 2013-04-12T16:56:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 RI-34_tmp_2011_energy.pdf: 1624043 bytes, checksum: 0a17810d7e52328e4ddaf9ea32d74f98 (MD5) Rejected by Zita Vale (zav@isep.ipp.pt), reason: on 2013-04-12T17:10:15Z (GMT) Submitted by Joana Neves (jamne@isep.ipp.pt) on 2013-04-16T16:05:08Z No. of bitstreams: 2 RI-34_tmp_2011_energy.pdf: 1624043 bytes, checksum: 0a17810d7e52328e4ddaf9ea32d74f98 (MD5) 8357883552627649.zip: 1250526 bytes, checksum: 4157c41ce9547481f23dc91cd0a86827 (MD5) Approved for entry into archive by Zita Vale (zav@isep.ipp.pt) on 2013-04-16T16:07:08Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 RI-34_tmp_2011_energy.pdf: 1624043 bytes, checksum: 0a17810d7e52328e4ddaf9ea32d74f98 (MD5) 8357883552627649.zip: 1250526 bytes, checksum: 4157c41ce9547481f23dc91cd0a86827 (MD5) Approved for entry into archive by Ana Rebelo (amsr@isep.ipp.pt) on 2013-04-22T15:05:58Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 RI-34_tmp_2011_energy.pdf: 1624043 bytes, checksum: 0a17810d7e52328e4ddaf9ea32d74f98 (MD5) 8357883552627649.zip: 1250526 bytes, checksum: 4157c41ce9547481f23dc91cd0a86827 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2013-04-22T15:05:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 RI-34_tmp_2011_energy.pdf: 1624043 bytes, checksum: 0a17810d7e52328e4ddaf9ea32d74f98 (MD5) 8357883552627649.zip: 1250526 bytes, checksum: 4157c41ce9547481f23dc91cd0a86827 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011

Introduccion Con frecuencia, los pacientes con enfermedades neuromusculares (ENM) presentan un deterioro del mecanismo de la tos. Se ha demostrado la eficacia de la insuflacion-exuflacion mecanica (IEM) en la mejora del aclaramiento de las vias respiratorias aunque no se dispone de datos relacionados con su utilizacion domiciliaria a largo plazo. El objetivo del presente estudio fue describir las indicaciones, tolerabilidad y cumplimiento con la IEM domiciliaria en pacientes con ENM. Metodos Analisis observacional de 4 anos de duracion de 21 pacientes ENM tratados con IEM domiciliaria. El diagnostico incluyo esclerosis lateral amiotrofica (ELA) bulbar y no bulbar y otras ENM. La edad mediana fue de 58 anos. Solo se incluyeron pacientes cooperadores con valores de flujo pico de tos basal (FTM) no asistido