Abstract
In the present article we model the treatment of mechanically ventilated patients with nosocomial pneumonia using a generalized net. The model can be used by clinicians for diagnosis and clinical and microbiological follow-up of nosocomial pneumonia, to the decision to change the ventilator regime, to begin weaning from mechanical ventilation, or to stop the weaning trials.

Abstract
A new paradigm far the description of image patter ns is presented. it is proposed that images are described by fuzzy IF... THEN rules instead of pixel values. This new approach may benefit from recognised fuzzy systems superior incorporation of measurement uncertainties, greater resources for managing complexity and better ability to deal with natural language [1]. The concept of relevance has been proposed as a measure of the relative importance of sets of rules [2] [3]. Based on this concept a new methodology was developed: SLIM (Separation of Linguistic Information Methodology) [2] [3]. An algorithm implementing SLIM is presented in this paper, derived from the fuzzy Gmeans clustering algorithm, here applied to organise the fuzzy IF... THEN rules that describe the image. The Lena and the Abington Grass images have been successfully used to illustrate the identification process. The proposed SLIM algorithm has been successfully applied to illustrate a segmentation operation in the "fuzzy rules domain", using the Abington Cross image.

Abstract

Abstract
Vehicle number plate recognition systems are expected to have numerous applications in traffic surveying and monitoring, e.g. finding stolen cars, controlling access to car parks and gathering traffic flow statistics. The Computer Vision Group at the University of Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro, in collaboration with the Universities of Aveiro and Bristol, has been developing a number plate reading system [3][4][5]. The system builds on the experience gained by the Computer Vision Group at the University of Bristol while developing previous transputer based prototypes [5][6][8][12]. The main tasks of a number plate recognition system are the location of the number plate area in the image, the segmentation of the characters and their identification. These tasks are strongly inter-related, mainly because the way to check if the number plate has been correctly located is based on the result of the character identification process (it should correspond to a predefined syntax). Algorithmic improvements to previous versions of the system, based on the results of intensive testing, are described in the paper. For the location of the number plate area in the image, a new line-based method has been developed. The method, instead of looking for character like shapes in the image, takes advantage of the "signature" of the number plate area in a horizontal cross-section of the image. The method used for the segmentation of the characters is derived from a technique first proposed by Lu [8]. The identification of the characters uses the OCR engine developed by Barroso et al [3][4], based on the critical points method [10][11].

Abstract
Assistive technology enables people to achieve independence in the accomplishment of their daily tasks and enhance their quality of life. Visual information is the basis for most navigational tasks, so visually impaired individuals are at disadvantage due to the lack of information or given unsufficient information about their surrounding environment. With the recent advances in inclusive technology it is possible to extend the support given to people with visual disabilities during their mobility. In this context we propose and describe the SmartVision project, whose global objective is to assist visually impaired people in their navigation through unknown indoor and outdoor environments. This paper is focused mainly on the Computer Vision module of the SmartVision prototype, were we propose a new algorithm to recognise fiducials marks suitably placed on sidewalks, revealing to be a promising solution.

Abstract
Outsourcing has become a major component of information technology strategy in many companies around the world. From the early 1990s to the present, the reality of sourcing has varied significantly, an example being the services that companies typically choose to transfer to external providers, which are now different from those of one or two decades ago. This paper discusses the results of a survey conducted to determine the current outsourcing status of information systems services in large Portuguese organisations, by identifying the services that companies keep inside their boundaries and services that companies outsource to vendors. It also presents a comparison of the results from this study with results from studies developed in other countries. These findings should be useful both for researchers, who can use it to study the outsourcing and information systems function evolution, and for practitioners, mainly vendors, who may use it to build up its offer in agreement with the buyers' needs and wishes. Copyright © 2009, Inderscience Publishers.