Abstract
A new approach is proposed for the automatic detection of the near-end and far-end intima and adventitia inner boundaries in ultrasound images of the common carotid artery. This method uses the instantaneous coefficient of variation edge detector, fuzzy classification of edges, several discriminating features of the carotid wall boundaries and dynamic programming. The carotid wall boundaries are detected both in healthy and in atherosclerotic arteries, with a wide range of plaque types and sizes. Manual and automatic results are significantly better for the far-end wall, where the automatic detection shows an accuracy similar to manual detections. The application of this approach in clinical practice is encouraged by the results for the far-end wall and the short computation time.

Abstract
A novel fiber optic curvature sensor based on a core-offset single-mode fiber (SMF) and on a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is presented. The FBG cladding modes are efficiently excited by the large core misalignment. The curvature of the beam can be obtained by the reflected power of the core mode and the recoupled cladding mode.

Abstract
This paper is concerned with the protection of wind turbines against the indirect effects of lightning. Lightning damages involving wind turbines have come to be regarded with increasing concern. The wind power generation is rapidly growing in Portugal, but still there are few studies regarding the lightning protection of wind turbines using models of the Electro-Magnetic Transients Program (EMTP). Hence, a case study is presented in this paper, based on a wind turbine with an interconnecting transformer, considering that lightning strikes the soil near the tower. Computer simulations are provided by using the recently restructured version of EMTP, EMTP-RV, highlighting the need for adequate protection measures. © 2011 IEEE.

Abstract

Abstract
In this work, a polymeric sensitive layer based on the acid-base equilibrium of phenol and of its derivative p-nitro-phenol is presented for carbon dioxide measurements. Thin films casted on glass slides were tested, using a LED source (lambda c at 410 nm) and an Ocean Optics USB4000 spectrometer, in the 0% to 15.25% CO2 concentrations range, showing a 40% maximum transmittance variation with a 51s response time and a 0.15% resolution. Preliminary results indicate that CO2 also induces refractive index changes in the sensitive layer. Using a fiber based interferometric setup, a CO2 dependent refractive index change of similar to 0.045 RIU was observed, in the 0%-90% CO2 concentration range.

Abstract
The rapid growth of wind power generation and the need for a smarter electrical grid with a decentralized energy generation, especially in the urban areas, has increased the interest in vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT). The Darrieus type VAWT performance prediction is a very complex task, since its blades move around the rotor axis in a three dimensional aerodynamic environment that leads to several flow phenomena, such as, dynamic stall, flow separation, flow wake deformations and their natural inability to self-start. In the lift-type turbines the self-start incapability can be overcome with the use of several more or less complex solutions, being one of them the development of a blade profile capable of making the wind turbines self-start. Hence, this paper focuses on presenting a new methodology for fast development of new blade profiles, for self-start capable Darrieus type VAWT. © 2011 IEEE.