Abstract
This paper addresses multimedia end user system design for content distribution over heterogeneous networks and terminals, with particular focus on End-to-End quality of service (QoS) control. A multimedia terminal comprising content-related metadata processor, usage environment characteristics provider, end user QoS monitor and H.264's extension Scalable Video Coding (SVC) audio-visual player in coordination under a terminal middleware, has been conceived and implemented. This end user terminal enables End-to-End QoS control for content adaptation solution both in semantic and physical approaches to maximize end user's perceptual experience and minimize resources. Such design approach illustrates a possible architecture for next generation multimedia end user terminal supporting MPEG-21 and H.264's extension SVC codec standards.

Abstract
Orc and Reo are two complementary approaches to the problem of coordinating components or services. On one hand, Orc is highly asynchronous, naturally dynamic, and based on ephemeral connections to services. On the other hand, Reo is based on the interplay between synchronization and mutual exclusion, is more static, and establishes more continuous connections between components (services). The question of how Orc and Reo relate to each other naturally arises. In this paper, we present a detailed comparison between the two models. We demonstrate that embedding non-recursive Orc expressions into Reo connectors is straightforward, whereas recursive Orc expressions require an extension to the Reo model. For the other direction, we argue that embedding Reo into Orc would require significantly more effort. We conclude with some general observations and comparisons between the two approaches.

Abstract
Time-scale transformations of audio signals have traditionally relied exclusively upon manipulations of tempo. We present a novel technique for automatic mixing and synchronization between two musical signals. In this transformation, the original signal assumes the tempo, meter, and rhythmic structure of the model signal, while the extracted downbeats and salient intra-measure infrastructure of the original are maintained.

Abstract
Health Information Systems (HIS) are often deployed with inadequate security mechanisms and with users being generally pointed out as the weakest link. The launch of the Portuguese digital national identification smart card, the Citizen Card (CC), with strong authentication and digital signing capabilities, represents a new and viable economic opportunity for securing a HIS and at the same time foster the creation of a much more secure national health information infrastructure. Smart cards are being deployed in healthcare in several places around the world with highly encouraging results. Major programs have already been deployed with great success, although there are some well identified issues that need to be addressed. The CC is a versatile and secure card, with the latest in encryption and tamper resistance technologies, with standard support for a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). We present the advantages and enumerate some of the problems of using a smart card in a HIS, as well as the CC possible contributions in this area, namely as an easy, inexpensive, widely deployed way of using current technology to protect HIS security, and ultimately patient information, while at the same time fostering the expansion and deployment of inter operable HIS. Issues are identified that will need to be resolved and a detailed plan for further work to assess the level of impact the CC can have on the national HIS is indicated.

Abstract
The use of collaborative filtering (CF) recommenders on the Web is typically done in environments where data is constantly flowing. In this paper we propose an incremental version of item-based CF for implicit binary ratings, and compare it with a non-incremental one, as well as with an incremental user-based approach. We also study the usage of sparse matrices in these algorithms. We observe that recall and precision tend to improve when we continuously add information to the recommender model, and that the time spent for recommendation does not degrade. Time for updating the similarity matrix is relatively low and motivates the use of the item-based incremental approach. © 2008 IEEE.

Abstract
Virtual Worlds are designed for sociability, environments where people have interaction with other people. Enterprises have already started exploring this new world as a way to provide a compelling new value proposition to their products and services. This paper makes a proposal for addressing the issue of interoperability between virtual and real-world business environments as a way to foster value creation opportunities as the virtual and real world interact with each other. To this end, the authors propose the Integration of 2nd Life object behaviour modelling within the actual Enterprise Engineering Life-Cycle in order to achieve a seamless enactment of both interoperable models in the virtual and real world. We believe therefore that our approach can bring value to most interaction types, especially in integration of the consumer in the value network and in strengthening the relationship between the consumer and the actual physical product. It is our believe that this will foster new opportunities for value creation, both in the interaction between the enterprises (including different segments of the network value chain) and in the interaction between these and actual the product or service consumer. © 2008 Nottingham University.