Abstract

Abstract
This paper presents CloudAnchor, a brokerage platform conceived to help Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) embrace Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) cloud computing both as providers and consumers. The platform, which transacts automatically single and federated IaaS cloud resources, is a multi-layered Multi-Agent System (MAS) where providers, consumers and virtual providers, representing provider coalitions, are modelled by dedicated agents. Federated resources are detained and negotiated by virtual providers on behalf of the corresponding coalition of providers. CloudAnchor negotiates and establishes Service Level Agreements (SLA) on behalf of SME businesses regarding the provision of brokerage services as well as the provision of single and federated IaaS resources. The discovery, invitation, acceptance and negotiation processes rely on a distributed trust model designed to select the best business partners for consumers and providers and improve runtime.

Abstract
Nearest neighbour collaborative filtering (NNCF) algorithms are commonly used in multimedia recommender systems to suggest media items based on the ratings of users with similar preferences. However, the prediction accuracy of NNCF algorithms is affected by the reduced number of items - the subset of items co-rated by both users typically used to determine the similarity between pairs of users. In this paper, we propose a different approach, which substantially enhances the accuracy of the neighbour selection process - a user-based CF (UbCF) with semantic neighbour discovery (SND). Our neighbour discovery methodology, which assesses pairs of users by taking into account all the items rated at least by one of the users instead of just the set of co-rated items, semantically enriches this enlarged set of items using linked data and, finally, applies the Collinearity and Proximity Similarity metric (CPS), which combines the cosine similarity with Chebyschev distance dissimilarity metric. We tested the proposed SND against the Pearson Correlation neighbour discovery algorithm off-line, using the HetRec data set, and the results show a clear improvement in terms of accuracy and execution time for the predicted recommendations.

Abstract
This paper reports the collaborative design and development of Helios, a wearable UltraViolet (UV) meter. Helios is intended to help preventing the negative effects of over-exposure to UV radiation, e.g., sun burning, photo ageing, eye damage and skin cancer, as well as of under-exposure to solar radiation, e.g., the risk of developing vitamin D shortage. This project-based learning experience involved five Erasmus students who participated in EPS@ISEP - the European Project Semester (EPS) at Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP) - in the spring of 2017. The Team, motivated by the desire to find a solution to this problem, conducted multiple studies, including scientific, technical, sustainability, marketing, ethics and deontology analyses, and discussions to derive the requirements, design structure, functional system and list of materials and components. The result is Helios, a prototype Wearable UV Meter that can be worn as both a bracelet and a clip-on. The tangible result was the Helios prototype, but more importantly was the learning experience of the Team, as concluded from their closing statements.

Abstract
The goal of this project, one of the proposals of the EPS@ISEP Spring 2014, was to develop an Aquaponics System. Over recent years Aquaponics systems have received increased attention since they contribute to reduce the strain on resources within 1st and 3rd world countries. Aquaponics is the combination of Hydroponics and Aquaculture, mimicking a natural environment in order to successfully apply and enhance the understanding of natural cycles within an indoor process. Using this knowledge of natural cycles, it was possible to create a system with capabilities similar to that of a natural environment with the support of electronics, enhancing the overall efficiency of the system. The multinational team involved in the development of this system was composed of five students from five countries and fields of study. This paper describes their solution, including the overall design, the technology involved and the benefits it can bring to the current market. The team was able to design and render the Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings of the prototype, assemble all components, successfully test the electronics and comply with the budget. Furthermore, the designed solution was supported by a product sustainability study and included a specific marketing plan. Last but not least, the students enrolled in this project obtained new multidisciplinary knowledge and increased their team work and cross-cultural communication skills.

Abstract
The European Project Semester at ISEP (EPS@ISEP) is a one semester project-based learning programme addressed to engineering students from diverse scientific backgrounds and nationalities. The students, organized in multicultural teams, are challenged to solve real world multidisciplinary problems, accounting for 30 ECTU. The EPS package, although focused on project development (20 ECTU), includes a series of complementary seminars aimed at fostering soft, project-related and engineering transversal skills (10 ECTU). This paper presents the study plan, resources, operation and results of the EPS@ISEP that was created in 2011 to apply the best engineering education practices and promote the internationalization of ISEP. The results show that the EPS@ISEP students acquire during one semester the scientific, technical and soft competences necessary to propose, design and implement a solution for a multidisciplinary problem.