Abstract
A new FPGA based platform is presented for controlling a Multi-Motor Electric Vehicle (EV). By exploring the FPGA parallel processing capabilities, two induction motor controllers, based on Field Orientation Control and Space Vector Modulation techniques, were merged in a single and compact chip. Implementation issues related with the limited number of dedicated multipliers were overcome using an efficient computational block, based on resource sharing strategy. The developed IP Cores were carefully optimized to fit in a low cost XC3S1000. Experimental results, obtained with a multi-motor EV prototype, demonstrate the proper operation of the proposed propulsion system.

Abstract
Entrepreneurial activities are seen as key drivers of innovation, job creation, and economic growth. Recent efforts are being pursued by several entities, including governments to promote entrepreneurial skills amongst the youngest. However, to design effective programs, policy makers have to uncover the determinants of entrepreneurship. To avoid that such efforts would be fruitless we argue that a multidisciplinary account of entrepreneurial intents among students is mandatory, circumventing past biased analysis towards business and engineering areas. Thus, in this paper we present the results of a survey to all final year university students of the largest Portuguese university. It encompasses a sample of 2430 students enrolled in 60 different courses of 14 schools/faculties. Results evidence that the average entrepreneurial intents reaches a reasonable (by international standards) figure of 27%, with students enrolled in non-traditionally entrepreneurial focused areas Humanities, Sports, Health and Sciences - and courses - Pharmacy, Veterinary, Law, Languages, History, History of the Arts and Archaeology, Sports, Biology and Chemistry, Dentistry - revealing higher entrepreneurial intents. Based on logit estimations, we further found that psychological factors, such as risk propensity, leadership profile, and creativeness, are the most important (positive) determinants of students' entrepreneurial intents. Contextual factors (e.g., family background and professional experience) failed to emerge as critical factors in explaining students' entrepreneurial intents - only business context emerged as important. Despite such results might at a first glance convey the idea that education policy for promoting entrepreneurship has limited application, we argue that it is not the case. What is required is different policy measures targeting students' attitudes and behaviors in both business and non business areas, avoiding the long-established mistake of confining entrepreneurial education related programs in business schools.

Abstract
Back in 1999, the Power Systems Unit of INESC Porto concluded a consultancy study to estimate the remuneration that could be obtained by the Portuguese transmission provider using Short Term Marginal Prices. By that time the Regulatory Agency decided not to include a marginal based term on the Transmission Network Tariffs. However, that study was updated using information about the operation of the network in 2001 and recently it was concluded a new version of this study using information from 2004. This paper describes the models used in these studies, the assumptions that were adopted and the evolution of the marginal based remuneration that the Portuguese transmission provider could obtain if a marginal based tariff term existed. This evolution is important in order to get insight on the congestion level of the transmission network and on how neutral the transmission network is behaving in being able to physically implement the dispatches prepared by the Market Operator or related with bilateral contracts.

Abstract
This paper presents a survey of programming patterns for Logtalk parametric objects. A parametric object is an object whose identifier is a compound term containing logical variables. These variables play the role of object parameters. Object predicates can be coded to depend on the parameter values. Parametric objects are a common feature of some other object-oriented logic programming languages and Prolog object-oriented extensions. Logtalk extends the usefulness of parametric objects by introducing the concept of object proxies. An object proxy is a compound term that can be interpreted as a possible instantiation of the identifier of a parametric object. Object proxies, when represented as predicate facts, allow application memory footprint to be minimized while still taking full advantage of Logtalk object-oriented features for representing and reasoning with taxonomic knowledge. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Abstract
First generation of overlay P2P networks had scalability problems although offering useful keyword-base searching functionality. The new generation of structured networks, based on Distributed Hash Tables (DHT), solved the scalability problem but at the same time eliminated the possibility of performing searches by proximity. This can be considered as an effective limitation as users of P2P networks will most often not have the complete information about the data they are looking for. Accordingly they tend to submit general queries to the network, hoping to receive back a list of results that match their needs. In this paper we describe a solution that is able to profit from the best of the two approaches. It relies on a two-layer architecture, offering on the top layer a set of Web Services to upload, search and retrieve content and on the bottom layer a fully structured P2P network (DHT-based) for distribution and downloading efficiency. Central to our solution, is the use of distributed databases, implemented at the top layer, holding descriptive metadata of the uploaded digital objects. The developed system also makes use of the JXTA project at the top layer and the Bit Torrent suite of protocols at the bottom layer. © 2009 IADIS.

Abstract
As with most disciplines, the best way to learn and understand the relevant theoretical aspects related to industrial automation is by applying them to solve concrete problems. In order to increase the motivation of students a physical model of a manufacturing cell was acquired, which is, however, easily susceptible to being damaged through incorrect control sequences. To allow students safe access to this physical model, an interlocking application was designed and implemented. Additionally, a configurable software based simulator was also devised, which allows the students to work away from the laboratory in their own time. These tools have resulted in a higher flexibility in organizing courses and class work, due to their configurability and the way the physical model was integrated into the laboratory.