Abstract
Vehicles rely on the efficiency of dampers to dissipate energy from the motion of vehicle body and wheels, maintaining the vehicle more stable, and improving the contact between tires and the road surface. To achieve an effective monitoring of dampers (or shock absorbers), two different methodologies, capable of assessing, under vehicle normal operation, the condition of the automotive dampers are presented. The proposed methodologies are based in acceleration, temperature and pressure sensing to determine the shock absorber condition, and are therefore suitable for future implementation in low cost fabrication technologies. The results shown that it is possible to have an effective monitoring device, installed in the damper body, capable of continuously determining shock absorber status, and therefore enabling real time diagnosis. Such a diagnosis system can reduce the number of vehicles riding with defective suspension systems and increase the overall vehicle safety.

Abstract
A fabricated micro-mechanical sensor to assess the condition of automotive shock absorbers is presented. The monolithic sensor, measures the oil temperature, acceleration and internal pressure of the shock absorber. A dual mass accelerometer with optimized beam geometry is used for acceleration readout. In addition, a 23.1 mu m thickness square membrane and two buried resistors are used for pressure and temperature sensing respectively. The proposed miniaturized sensor can be effectively integrated with standard single- and dual-tube shock absorbers. The data acquired during normal vehicle operation can be continuously used to monitor the condition of the shock absorbers, allowing shock absorbers to be replaced before their degradation significantly reduce the comfort, performance and safety of the vehicle.

Abstract
During the 2004, 2005 and 2006 growing seasons, physiological and anatomical leaf characteristics and productivity were studied in field-grown grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) cv. 'Touriga Franca' under ambient (C, 365 +/- 10 ppm) or elevated carbon dioxide vertical bar CO2 vertical bar, (E, 500 +/- 16 ppm) under Open-top chambers (OTC-C and OTC-E, respectively). The elevated vertical bar CO2 vertical bar concentration increased net photosynthetic rate (A), intrinsic water use efficiency (A/g(s)), leaf thickness, Mg concentration, C/N, K/N and Mg/N ratios and decreased stomatal density and N concentration. Nevertheless, stomatal conductance (g(s)), transpiration rate (E), photochemical efficiency (F-v/F-m), leaf water potential, SPAD-values and Red/Far-red ratio transmitted by leaves were not significantly affected by vertical bar CO2 vertical bar. Meanwhile, there is no evidence for downward acclimation of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance. Yield, cluster weight and vigour showed an increase in elevated vertical bar CO2 vertical bar treatment but yield to pruning mass ratio was unaffected. Despite elevated vertical bar CO2 vertical bar stimulates grapevine photosynthesis and yield, more long-term studies, particularly at sub-optimal nutrient and water availability, are needed in order to reveal the grapevine responses to climate change in the Mediterranean area.

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.

Abstract
This paper describes a business and technological model proposal, known as Inov@Douro, intended to support and to promote competitive and sustained precision agriculture practices in the Portuguese Douro Region. Our approach is based on a distributed cooperative network, tailored 10 meet the specific needs of viticulture enterprises which also explore tourism as a valuable national and international business source. Instead of focusing on operational issues, such as remote sensing and data transmission, among others, we present the Inov@Douro model from the knowledge generation point-of-view, intended to support the multidisciplinary concept of a cooperation approach among regional partners. As a result, this collaborative approach might be the most suited technological tool to promote precision agriculture sustainability practices based on a symbiotic cooperation with the tourism sector. The Inov@Douro model aims to represent a new working style for this unique region, where the concept of public and private information is a key feature to achieve the desired success as a knowledge network. As a guideline to attain the implementation of such a model. information technology and infrastructures tools are discussed in order to promote precision agriculture practices while giving valuable and dynamic tourist information to the general public.

Abstract
In this manuscript we explore the feasibility of using LWUV-VIS-SWNIR (340 - 1100 nm) spectroscopy to classify Saccharomyces cerevisiae colony structures in YP agar and YPD agar, under different growth conditions, such as: i) no alcohol; ii) 1% (nu/nu) Ethanol; iii) 1% (nu/nu) 1-Propanol; iv) 1% (nu/nu) 1-butanol; v) 1 % (nu/nu) Isopropanol; vi) 1% (nu/nu) (+/-)-1-Phenylethanol; vii) 1% (nu/nu) Isoamyl alcohol; viii) 1% (nu/nu) tert-Amyl alcohol (2-Methyl-2-butanol); and ix) 1% (nu/nu) Amyl alcohol. Results show that LWUV-VISSWNIR spectroscopy has the potential for yeasts metabolic state identification once the spectral signatures of colonies differs from each others, being possible to acheive 100% of classification in UV-VIS and VIS-SWNIR. The UV-VIS region present high discriminant information (350-450 nm), and different responses to UV excitation were obtained. Therefore, high precision is obtained because UV-VIS and VIS-NIR exhibit different kinds of information. In the future, high precision analytical chemistry techniques such as mass spectroscopy and molecular biology transcriptomic studies should be performed in order to understand the detailed cell metabolism and genomic phenomena that characterize the yeast colony state.