Abstract

Abstract
A triangular nanowire is fabricated by tapering a suspended-core fiber and reducing the core size below one micrometer. The triangular nanowire has a high birefringence with an order of magnitude of 10-3 and when introduced in a fiber loop mirror presents a sinusoidal interference pattern generated by the fast and slow modes of the nanowire. The suspended nanowires were characterized in temperature and strain and enhanced sensitivities were found for both parameters when compared with untapered structures.

Abstract
[Abstract]

Abstract
This chapter on business community (BC) management presents the BUILD module of the Net-Challenge methodology whose objective is to provide the conceptual background and methodological guidance for organizations that want to create and manage BCs (BC building) that are supported by advanced information and communication technology (ICT) tools. The extensive use of social networking applications is promoted, including the applications developed by the Net-Challenge project and existing standard tools, such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. These BCs are business environments that comprise a significant number of organizations (mostly small-and medium-enterprises (SMEs)), where trust is developed between its members and communication mechanisms are established. For each phase of the BC lifecycle, the conceptual background, methods, guidelines, best practices and business processes are proposed to support organizations implementing the activities and initiatives necessary to ensure the desired performance. © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Abstract
This paper presents the first BFT selection model and algorithm that can be used to choose the most convenient protocol according to the BFT user (i.e., an enterprise) preferences. The selection algorithm applies some mathematical formulas to make the selection process easy and automatic. The algorithm operates in three modes: Static, Dynamic, and Heuristic. The Static mode addresses the cases where a single protocol is needed; the Dynamic mode assumes that the system conditions are quite fluctuating and thus requires runtime decisions, and the Heuristic mode uses additional heuristics to improve user choices. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that addresses selection in BFT. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.

Abstract
Presently the interest in non-invasive devices for monitoring the cardiovascular system has increased in importance, especially in the diagnosis of some pathologies. The proposed optical device reveals an attractive instrumental solution for local pulse wave velocity (PWV) assessment and other hemodynamic parameters analysis, such as Augmentation Index (AIx), Subendocardial Viability Ratio (SEVR), Maximum Rate of Pressure Change (dP/dtmax) and Ejection Time Index (ETI). These parameters allow a better knowledge on the cardiovascular condition and management of many disease states. Two studies were performed in order to validate this technology. Firstly, a comparative test between the optical system and a gold-standard in PWV assessment was carried out. Afterwards, a large study was performed in 131 young subjects to establish carotid PWV reference values as well as other hemodynamic parameters and to find correlations between these and the population characteristics. The results allowed the use of this new technique as a reliable method to determine these parameters. For the total of subjects values for carotid PWV vary between 3-7.69 m s^-1 a clear correlation with age and smoking status was found out. The Aix varies between -6.15% and 11.46% and exhibit a negative correlation with heart, and dP/dtmax parameter shows a significant decrease with age.