Abstract
In the past, several approaches have been devised to semi- automate the multidimensional design (MDD) of Data Warehouse (DW) projects. Such approaches highly contribute to more expertise- independent and deterministic MDD results. Among them, only the Dimensional Templates Approach (DTA) focuses on solving the critical resource containment problems of DW prototypes. Originally, the DTA allows solely the generation of basic MDDs. In this paper, we depict an extension to address complex MDD issues. These include (i) date/time hierarchies, (ii) many-to-many relationships, (iii) hierarchically structured data and (iv) coverage facts. The proposed enhancements, including a rebuilt generation algorithm, allow more accurate and broadening results than the original DTA. Throughout the paper, references are made to a real case study to which the improved DTA has been applied using two developed prototype tools. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.

Abstract
Prototypes are valuable tools in Data Warehouse (DW) projects. DW prototypes can help end-users to get an accurate preview of a future DW system, along with its advantages and constraints. However, DW prototypes have considerably smaller development time windows when compared to complete DW projects. This puts additional pressure on the achievement of the expected prototypes' high quality standards, especially at the highly time consuming multidimensional design: in it, a thin margin for harmful unreflected decisions exists. Some devised methods for automating DW multidimensional design can be used to accelerate this stage, yet they are more suitable to DW full projects rather than to prototypes, due to the effort, cost and expertise they require. This paper proposes the semi-automation of DW multidimensional designs using templates. We believe this approach better fits the development speed and cost constraints of DW prototyping since templates are pre-built highly adaptable and highly reusable solutions.

Abstract
Technical advances in communication networks and terminal equipment make possible the provision of a wide range of new and appealing telecommunication services. However, the increasing user demand and the strong market competition require that the creation of those services is efficient and fast, and that they have attractive interfaces. The complexity of networks and distributed systems, which support those services, renders the usage of formal specification languages, such as SDL, almost mandatory in their development. According to some authors, fifty percent of the total time necessary to develop applications is spent in building and testing graphical interfaces for different platforms. In this paper, an efficient methodology to create graphical interfaces for telecommunication services specified in SDL is presented.

Abstract
Economic activities are part of everyday life since always. The banking sector has a large dimension that exists for a long time, doing a major contribution to economic growth in Portugal. In this new millennium the advent of Internet has had a significant impact on the banking service that is traditionally offered by banks to customers. With help of the Internet, customers can access its banking services anytime, anywhere, since Internet access is available. This service is called Electronic Banking (EB), being in explosive growth in many countries, transforming the traditional banking practices. With this paper, we intend review, evaluate and characterize the technological solutions of EB in Portugal.

Abstract

Abstract
Mass adoption of virtual world platforms for education and training implies efficient management of computational resources. In Second Life Grid and OpenSimulator, commonly used for this purpose, a key resource is the number of servers required to support educational spaces. Educational activities can take place at different altitudes over the same virtual land, for different classes. This way a single virtual world server can sustain several different educational spaces/classes, reducing the number of servers needed to make available different classrooms or other educational spaces. One issue whose importance is emphasized in such conditions is that of class privacy, bearing in mind that most privacy-management features of these platforms are land-based, not space-based. In this paper, we provide an overview of the issues to consider when planning privacy in these platforms and the methodologies that can be developed and implemented to ensure it at an adequate level, including the extra privacy possible in OpenSimulator regarding Second Life Grid. © 2010 IEEE.