Abstract
CRM systems mark a new paradigm with regard to the customization and qualification of services delivery and to the relationships between local government and citizens. CRM are strategic tools that enable to optimize the relationship between municipalities and residents, as well as the optimization of most organizational processes. Despite the acknowledged importance of such tools, it appears in practice that most Portuguese municipalities has not yet to implemented CRM systems. Trying to identify the main reasons for this fact, the authors undertook a study based on a questionnaire, and the main findings are presented and discussed in this paper.

Abstract
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is one of the automatic identification technologies more in vogue nowadays. There is a wide research and development in this area trying to take maximum advantage of this technology, and in coming years many new applications and research areas will continue to appear. This sudden interest in RFID also brings about some concerns, mainly the security and privacy of those who work with or use tags in their everyday life. RFID has, for some time, been used to access control in many different areas, from asset tracking to limiting access to restricted areas. In this paper we propose an architecture and a prototype of a system that uses distributed RFID over Ethernet and we demonstrate how to automate an entire students' attendance registration system by using RFID in an educational institution environment. Although the use of RFID systems in educational institutions is not new, it is intended to show how the use of it came to solve daily problems in our university. © 2008 IEEE.

Abstract
Currently, due to questions of financial order, the Internet Service Providers do not invest in rural areas, because the investment does not pay. This fact originates, more and more, the appearance of the so called WBN (Wireless Broadband Networks), that are going to supply Internet access to the populations, discriminated by this circumstance. The aspects related to the management of these networks are normally forgotten and today there is a lack of economically and technical viable solutions, that can efficiently help with this function, without use an enterprise solution. After an intensive research of commercial and opensource solutions of wireless networks management, it was checked an absence of an economically viable solution as well as an absence of a model of management for the WBN. This article contributes to the definition of a management model of these networks, using opensource tools. The proposal model is based on a centralized solution that congregates several modules of opensource tools, which can be able to respond to a wide range of features identified in the model. The simulation shows how the model presented, can be practicable and able to cover several functions in WBN management. © 2008 IEEE.

Abstract
Currently, methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) is the standard treatment following acute spinal cord injury (SCI) as a consequence of the results obtained from the National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Studies. However, many have questioned the efficacy of MPSS because of its marginal effects. Additionally there has been criticism of both study design and statistical interpretation. The functional consequences of experimental SCI have been assessed in many ways. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of MPSS vs. saline solution (SS) following moderate T10 contusion injury in rat. Functional recovery was evaluated using the 21-point Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor recovery scale, the inclined plane, the beam walk, footprint analysis and the horizontal ladder. To optimize the precision and accuracy of functional results we examined the locomotion on a treadmill using three-dimensional (3D) analysis. Stereology was used to estimate the amount of damaged tissue. The results of the traditional functional methods showed that administration of the NASCIS dosage of MPSS following acute spinal cord contusion did not lead to any significant differences in the functional recovery of MPSS- vs. SS-treated animals. More importantly, the results of the 3D kinematic showed that the MPSS administration did not affect the flexion/extension of the hip, knee and ankle joints during the step cycle. Finally, stereological results revealed no statistically significant differences between the two experimental groups. Altogether, our results support data previously reported by several authors, suggesting that MPSS does not lead to improved functional outcome following experimental acute SCI.

Abstract
The spread of the Internet throughout society has sparked a revolution in the way many areas of knowledge are promoted. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are, potentially, such an area. By distributing geospatial information and ways to manipulate it across the Web, a universal broadcast service is achieved, allowing users to access data anywhere. Geographic Information (GI) is usually the realm of specialized companies, and the client's role is often limited to consuming such information. This project aims to conceive a prototype of an architecture that allows the visualization of the Geographic Information System of University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro. This prototype will also be used to feed other systems, also being developed, like navigation systems based on GPS to help people with disabilities, namely, blind users.

Abstract
A digital image correlation (DIC) algorithm for displacement measurements combining cross-correlation and a differential technique was validated through a set of experimental tests. These tests consisted of in-plane rigid-body translation and rotation tests, a tensile mechanical test, and a mode I fracture test. The fracture mechanical test, in particular, was intended to assess the accuracy of the method when dealing with discontinuous displacement fields, for which subset-based image correlation methods usually give unreliable results. The proposed algorithm was systematically compared with the Aramis (R) DIC-2D commercial code by processing the same set of images. When processing images from rigid-body and tensile tests (associated with continuous displacement fields), the two methods provided equivalent results. When processing images from the fracture mechanical test, however, the proposed method obtained a better qualitative description of the discontinuous displacements. Moreover, the proposed method gave a more reliable estimation of both crack length and crack opening displacement of the fractured specimen.(C) (C) 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [DOI: 10.1117/1.OE.51.4.043602]