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The lack of predictability in the output of solar, wind, and small hydroelectric power plants aggravates the problem of consistently matching supply with demand on electric grids. In this paper, a database of renewable power injection, at 15-minute intervals during 2010–2014, into the Portuguese electric transmission system is analysed to characterize the variability and other patterns of renewable energy injection into the system. The system, operated by REN (Redes Energéticas Nacionais), received 20–28% of its electricity from the three renewable energy sources (RES) mentioned, with wind contributing about 90% of that amount. A strong complementarity (smoothing effect) between wind and PV was found, with correlation factors of − 0.92 and − 0.83 for typical summer and winter days, respectively. The correlation factors for different time scales decrease from annual totals (− 0.88) to hourly totals (− 0.24), as expected. The results suggest that lower wind power years correspond to sunnier ones. Moreover, the reserve regulation costs appear to decrease when the installed capacity of the three considered RES increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Current difficulties of electricity markets in Europe have been highlighted in the literature. The market clearing price does not guarantee the economic sustainability of several technologies, which, nevertheless, are needed for the secure operation of the power system. The solutions to cope with this situation do theoretically work well for optimal systems, its application for real‐life nonoptimal systems being doubtful. The growing deployment rate of technologies with "near zero" marginal cost and payments outside the market are leading to an intermittent generation excess capacity and the reduction of the market clearing price. Other difficulties should be taken into account in today's markets. The issue is if the remuneration of the power plants should be based solely on the spot market. Through the concepts of optimal power system and nonoptimal power system, it is shown that the missing money problem for some technologies may coincide with the over profit problem for other technologies. As a contribution to discuss further this issue, a solution is proposed based on a short‐term energy market complemented with an outside market long‐term capacity payment mechanism, grounded on a Power Purchase Agreement set between a central planning agency and the power plant owner. The proposed solution complies with security of supply, environmental sustainability, and producers' economic viability at minimum cost for the consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: HIV late presentation (LP) remains excessive in Europe. We aimed to analyze the factors associated with late presentation in the MSM population newly diagnosed with HIV in Portugal between 2014 and 2019., Methods: We included 391 newly HIV-1 diagnosed Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), from the BESTHOPE project, in 17 countrywide Portuguese hospitals. The data included clinical and socio-behavioral questionnaires and the viral genomic sequence obtained in the drug resistance test before starting antiretrovirals (ARVs). HIV-1 subtypes and epidemiological surveillance mutations were determined using different bioinformatics tools. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between predictor variables and late presentation (LP)., Results: The median age was 31 years, 51% had a current income between 501-1,000 euros, 28% were migrants. 21% had never been tested for HIV before diagnosis, with 42.3% of MSM presenting LP. 60% were infected with subtype B strains. In the multivariate regression, increased age at diagnosis, higher income, lower frequency of screening, STI ever diagnosed and higher viral load were associated with LP., Conclusion: Our study suggests that specific subgroups of the MSM population, such older MSM, with higher income and lower HIV testing frequency, are not being targeted by community and clinical screening services. Overall, targeted public health measures should be strengthened toward these subgroups, through strengthened primary care testing, expanded access to PrEP, information and promotion of HIV self-testing and more inclusive and accessible health services., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Abrantes, Pimentel, Miranda, Silva, Diniz, Ascenção, Piñeiro, Koch, Rodrigues, Caldas, Morais, Faria, Gomes da Silva, Teófilo, Monteiro, Roxo, Maltez, Rodrigues, Gaião, Ramos, Costa, Germano, Simões, Oliveira, Ferreira, Poças, Saraiva da Cunha, Soares, Fernandes, Mansinho, Pedro, Aleixo, Gonçalves, Manata, Mouro, Serrado, Caixeiro, Marques, Costa, Pacheco, Proença, Rodrigues, Pinho, Tavares, Correia de Abreu, Côrte-Real, Serrão, Sarmento e Castro, Nunes, Faria, Baptista, Simões, Mendão, Martins, Gomes, Pingarilho, Abecasis and the BESTHOPE Study Group.)

This paper describes the development, deployment and trial results from 9 volunteers using the eCAALYX system. The eCAALYX system is an ambient assisted living telemonitoring system aimed at older adults suffering with co-morbidity. Described is a raw account of the challenges that exist and results in bringing a Telemedicine system from laboratory to real-world implementation and results for usability, functionality and reliability.