Abstract
Estuaries are transitional zones between marine and freshwater environments and are ideal systems to study the influence of environmental gradients on microbial biodiversity and activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of a salinity gradient on the structure of prokaryotic communities from intertidal sediments of the Douro estuary, and on the nitrification process. Four locations were chosen with distinct salinities and characterized for a range of environmental parameters including measurements of potential nitrification rates. The structure of prokaryotic communities and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea were described and identified using the 16S rRNA gene. Potential nitrification rates ranged from 1.3 to 7.4 mu mol cm(-2) h(-1), with the highest rate at mesohaline sites; however, the relative abundance of nitrifying taxa was higher at locations with higher salinity. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria could not be detected in oligohaline sites, in contrast to ammonia-oxidizing archaea, which showed a ubiquitous distribution. Nitrite-oxidizing bacteria were more abundant than ammonia-oxidizing groups across meso-oligohaline sites, showing increased relative abundance at less saline sites. One operational taxonomic unit closely related to Nitrospira moscoviensis showed a positive correlation with potential nitrification rates, suggesting a possible association of N. moscoviensis with ammonia-oxidizing organisms in a natural ecosystem. Such results point out the need to re-assess the relative roles of different nitrifying groups in the nitrification process.

Abstract
In this paper, the gas dynamics within the pipelines is written as a wave repetitive process, and modified in a way that the dynamics is driven by the boundary conditions. We study controllability of the system through boundary control and every agent, as well as observability of the system being steered by initial and boundary data. Next, we obtain sufficient criteria for the existence and uniqueness of boundary equilibrium controls. From the point of view of some applications, e.g. in high pressure gas pipeline management, it seems to make sense to consider boundary data controls. The same problem is then extended to its infinite counterpart since it may run infinitely and, in this case, we become interested in studying its stabilisation.

Abstract
With the objective of developing a diagnostic tool, we have used the immersion optical clearing method and studied normal and pathological tissues (cancer, diabetes) under treatment by optical clearing agents (OCAs). In order to quantify pathology status OCA diffusion properties in different tissues were measured. We have demonstrated that free water content in cancerous tissues is higher than in normal.

Abstract
The design of web and mobile applications is one of the most challenging fields of the current information technology landscape. Increasingly, companies intend to have a strong presence in the information society, which allows them to advertise their products, services, make online business, interact with customers, among others. However, the development and design of web and mobile solutions have numerous challenges and best practices that should be known and applied. In this chapter, the authors adopt a qualitative methodology based on multiple case studies that allow them to identify a total of six challenges and best practices that are later confronted and compared with the recent findings on the coverage of the topic. © 2018, IGI Global.

Abstract
The Industry 4.0 advent, advocating the digitalization and transformation of current production systems towards the factories of future, is introducing significant social and technological challenges. Cyber-physical systems (CPS) can be used to realize these Industry 4.0 compliant systems, integrating several emergent technologies, such as Internet of Things, big data, cloud computing and multi-agent systems. The paper analyses the advantages of using biological inspiration to empower CPS, and particularly those developed using distributed and intelligent paradigms such as multi-agent systems technology. For this purpose, the self-organization capability, as one of the main drivers in this industrial revolution is analysed, and the way to translate it to solve complex industrial engineering problems is discussed. Its applicability is illustrated by building a self-organized cyber-physical conveyor system composed by different individual modular and intelligent transfer modules.

Abstract
This paper evaluates a robust Model Predictive Controller (MPC) based on Sliding Modes (SMPC) for the downstream level control in irrigation canal pools. Its features are compared with the conventional Generalized Predictive Controller (GPC), regarding set point tracking (water level) and output disturbances (offtake discharges). Simulation results suggest feasibility of applying SMPC for gate manipulation, with suitable command signals and robustness.