Abstract
Deegan and Packel (1979) and Holler (1982) proposed two power indices for simple games: the Deegan-Packel index and the Public Good Index. In the definition of these indices, only minimal winning coalitions are taken into account. Using similar arguments, we define two new power indices. These new indices are defined taking into account only those winning coalitions that do not contain null players. The results obtained with the different power indices are compared by means of two real-world examples taken from the political field.

Abstract
In this work, a simple real-static nanostrain sensor based on a Bragg grating structure is presented. The setup is constituted by a narrow linewidth laser as light source, an optical circulator and a photodetector. The sensing head is formed by a chirped Bragg grating inscribed in a standard single mode fiber (SMF-28) by the phase technique. The fiber face end is cleaved and coated with a silver mirror, obtaining a Fabry-Perot interferometer. It is observable that the fringes period increases along the grating, due to the chirp spectrum (0.4 nm/cm) characteristics. The laser is fixed in one slope region of the fringe pattern. When strain is applied, the optical power changes linearly. A sensitivity of 5.72 mu W/mu epsilon in a range of 2 mu epsilon. The sensing head resolution is 70 n epsilon for a measurement step of 875 n epsilon.

Abstract
Finding an effective control interface to manipulate complex geometric objects has traditionally relied on experienced users to place the animation controls. This process, whether for key framed or for motion captured animation, takes a lot of time and effort. We introduce a novel sketching interface control system inspired in the way artists draw, in which a stroke defines the shape of an object and reflects the user's intention. We also introduce the canvas, a 2D drawing region where the users can make their strokes, which determines the domain of interaction with the object. We show that the combination of strokes and canvases provides a new way to manipulate the shape of an implicit volume in space. And most importantly, it is independent from the 3D model rig. The strokes can be easily stored and reused in other characters, allowing retargeting of poses. Our interactive approach is illustrated using facial models of different styles. As a result, we allow rapid manipulation of 3D faces on the fly in a very intuitive and interactive way. Our informal study showed that first time users typically master the system within seconds, creating appealing 3D poses and animations in just a few minutes. © 2011 ACM.

Abstract
As wind power generation undergoes rapid growth, new technical challenges emerge: dynamic stability and power quality. The influence of wind speed disturbances and a pitch control malfunction on the quality of the energy injected into the electric grid is studied for variable-speed wind turbines with different power-electronic converter topologies. Additionally, a new control strategy is proposed for the variable-speed operation of wind turbines with permanent magnet synchronous generators. The performance of disturbance attenuation and system robustness is ascertained. Simulation results are presented and conclusions are duly drawn.

Abstract
The problem of using a piezoelectric (PZ) probe to non-invasively measuring the pressure wave propagation through a fluid contained in an elastic tube is considered in this paper. In particular, we describe a probe system designed to non-invasively reproduce the morphology of the pulsatile arterial pressure waveform (APW). The study is focused in three main issues: the mechanical interface that transmits the forces associated to the distension of the wall of the tube to the sensor, the electronic conditioning circuit and the methods to assess the global accuracy of the system. The circuit, incorporates a, new to our knowledge, baseline restorer (BLR) that contributes to maintaining a stable (non-floating) baseline of the cardiac pressure pulses, making real-time observations more effective. Identification and correction of the systematic errors, responsible for deviations of the correct output morphology, are also discussed and tested for different waveforms. To assess the performance of the probe a special purpose test bench was developed that can originate an arbitrarily shaped pressure wave and launch it through a silicone-rubber tube. Finally, preliminary results, taken at the carotid site of a set of human volunteers, are shown. The probe can be incorporated in a collar, and its pulse waveforms exhibit high intra-patient repeatability. It has the potential of being used as an alternative to costly techniques such as ultrasound or applanation tonometry. The root mean square error (RMSE) of the probe when reproducing cardiac-like pressure waveforms yielded a value of 1.8 +/- 0.22%.

Abstract
We consider the alpha re-scaled Standard & Poor's 100 (SP100) daily index positive returns r(t)(alpha) and negative returns (-r(t))(alpha) that we call, after normalization, the alpha positive fluctuations and alpha negative fluctuations, respectively. We use the Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistical test as a method to find the values of alpha that optimize the data collapse of the histogram of the alpha fluctuations with the truncated Bramwell-Holdsworth-Pinton (BHP) probability density function (pdf) and the truncated generalized log-normal pdf f(LN) that best approximates the truncated BHP pdf. The optimal parameters we found are alpha(+)(BHP) = 0.52, alpha(-)(BHP) = 0.48, alpha(+)(LN) = 0.52 and alpha(-)(LN) = 0.50. Using the optimal alpha's, we compute analytical approximations of the probability distributions of the normalized positive and negative SP100 index daily returns r(t). Since the BHP pdf appears in several other dissimilar phenomena, our result reveals a universal feature of the stock exchange markets.