Abstract
It is predicted that by the year 2010, 90% of the overall program code developed will be for embedded computing systems. This fact requires urgent changes in the organization of the current computer science curriculums, as advocated by a number of academics. The changes will help students deal with the idiosyncrasies of embedded systems, which requires knowledge about the computation engine, its energy consumption model, performance, interfaced artifacts, reconfigurable hardware programming, etc. This paper discusses some important issues to be included in modern computer science programs, in order to prepare students to be able to program future embedded computers. In particular, we present an approach we are attempting to implement at our institution. We also illustrate infrastructures that permit students to implement complex examples and gain deep knowledge about the topics being taught. Finally, with this paper we hope to foment a fruitful discussion on those issues. Copyright 2005 ACM.

Abstract
It is generally considered that a key component of electronic government in the future will be electronic voting, as a means of facilitating the participation of citizens in elections and public debates. However, a long path has to be pursued before electronic voting, particularly if based on Internet, is accepted as a reliable system alternative to conventional methods. In this paper, we propose a new and simple platform, based on open software, which can be used primarily in small to medium sized communities, as a means to build confidence and experience for future larger elections. We try to provide adequate answers to multiple requirements, such as accuracy, democracy, privacy, verifiability and mobility. This can be done by establishing a distributed system which supports the different roles of a voting system and by using cryptography techniques in the interactions between these components.

Abstract
Expansion planning of electric power or natural gas networks has become a consuming time engineering task due to the multiple factors that must be taken into account: technical, economic, environmental or social factors. This paper presents an advanced model of natural gas distribution networks based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) methodologies, to evaluate the cost associated to the expansion of these networks in order to meet a demand imposed by the user in any location of a region. The experimental results show that this approach produces visual and useful information for planning the expansion of natural gas distribution networks.

Abstract

Abstract
In this article we focus on interoperable geographic information (GI) services from the crisis management perspective. Based on Open Geospatial Consortium [10] standards and initiatives, we present the building blocks of the interoperable solution for supporting crisis management that is proposed as a result of the EU sponsored project, MEDSI [1]. In particular, we focus on the application and operationalization of several OGC standards, some adopted and some still under discussion, such as WMS, WFS, WMC, SLD and SMS, as well as their integration and cooperation within a single software framework.

Abstract
A scheme for the simultaneous determination of temperature and analyte concentration for application in luminescence-based chemical sensors is proposed. This scheme is applied to an optical oxygen sensor, which is based on the quenching of the fluorescence of a ruthenium complex. Temperature measurement is performed using the excitation radiation and an absorption long-pass filter. Preliminary results are presented that show the viability of an oxygen measurement that is independent of temperature and optical power level. The possibility of self-referenced temperature measurements with semiconductor nanoparticles is also investigated. In order to optimize the sensor design, several different optical fiber probe geometries for oxygen sensing are tested and compared, including different methods of coupling radiation into the optical fiber system. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyacrylamide membranes are tested as supports for sensor immobilization in fiber-optical pH sensing devices in aqueous solution. Some results are presented that show the feasibility of using fiber-optical pH indicators for remote monitoring.