Influence of seismic activity on the atmospheric electric field in Lisbon (Portugal) from 1955 to 1991

In the present study, we considered the influence of seismic activity on the atmospheric electric field recorded at Portela meteorological station (Lisbon, Portugal) for the period from 1955 to 1991. To this end, an exploratory method was developed, which involved the selection of events for which the distance from the atmospheric electrical field sensor to the earthquake epicenter is smaller than the preparation radius of the event. This enabled the correlation of the atmospheric electric field variations with a quantity S, defined basically as the ratio of the earthquake preparation radius to the distance between the sensor and the event epicenter. The first results show promising perspectives, but clearly a more profound study is required, in which a careful analysis of the weather conditions and other variables, like atmospheric radon levels, must be considered

SEISMO-ELECTROMAGNETIC PHENOMENA IN TECTONICALLY ACTIVE REGIONS

This work presents a research plan that aims to monitor seismo-electromagnetic signals in seismic active regions. Two effects will be considered: electromagnetic field emissions and radio broadcastings. Our study will be focused in the analysis of low magnitude earthquakes almost completely disregarded in literature. We aim to collect novel seismo-electromagnetic emission data emerging from seismic activity. We expect to address the time variation of electromagnetic properties of the crust in relation with the strain field and complement it with the development of proper models. Experimental studies based on the electrical properties of rocks will also be done aiming the understanding of pressure stimulated currents and voltages that produce detectable electromagnetic radiation and can be a cause for seismo-electromagnetic signals

Pathogenesis of hypertension in a mouse model for human CLCN2 related hyperaldosteronism

Human primary aldosteronism (PA) can be caused by mutations in several ion channel genes but mouse models replicating this condition are lacking. We now show that almost all known PA-associated CLCN2 mutations markedly increase ClC-2 chloride currents and generate knock-in mice expressing a constitutively open ClC-2 Cl(−) channel as mouse model for PA. The Clcn2(op) allele strongly increases the chloride conductance of zona glomerulosa cells, provoking a strong depolarization and increasing cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration. Clcn2(op) mice display typical features of human PA, including high serum aldosterone in the presence of low renin activity, marked hypertension and hypokalemia. These symptoms are more pronounced in homozygous Clcn2(op/op) than in heterozygous Clcn2+/op mice. This difference is attributed to the unexpected finding that only ~50 % of Clcn2(+/op) zona glomerulosa cells are depolarized. By reproducing essential features of human PA, Clcn2(op) mice are a valuable model to study the pathological mechanisms underlying this disease

The boomerang effect of radicalism in Discursive Psychology: A critical overview of the controversy with the Social Representations Theory.

This article provides a critical overview of the controversy between the Radical approach to Discursive Psychology (RDP) and the Social Representations Theory (SRT) and aims: a)?to show what is potentially complementary and contradictory in Discursive Psychology (DP) and the Social Representations Theory, when and why they are incompatible, and whether and how it is possible and/or desirable to integrate these two approaches. b)?to describe how the radicalism of the socio-constructionist thesis upheld by Discourse Analysis can give rise to several hard-to-solve problems, which may then be translated into a boomerang effect. In the final section, it highlights interest in dialog and “cross-fertilization” between researchers inspired by the less radical approach to discursive psychology and those inspired by the Social Representations Theory, pointing out the effect of methodological implications that would ensue

Planck 2015 results. XXVII. The Second Planck Catalogue of Sunyaev-Zeldovich Sources

We present the all-sky Planck catalogue of Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) sources detected from the 29 month full-mission data. The catalogue (PSZ2) is the largest SZ-selected sample of galaxy clusters yet produced and the deepest all-sky catalogue of galaxy clusters. It contains 1653 detections, of which 1203 are confirmed clusters with identified counterparts in external data-sets, and is the first SZ-selected cluster survey containing > $10^3$ confirmed clusters. We present a detailed analysis of the survey selection function in terms of its completeness and statistical reliability, placing a lower limit of 83% on the purity. Using simulations, we find that the Y5R500 estimates are robust to pressure-profile variation and beam systematics, but accurate conversion to Y500 requires. the use of prior information on the cluster extent. We describe the multi-wavelength search for counterparts in ancillary data, which makes use of radio, microwave, infra-red, optical and X-ray data-sets, and which places emphasis on the robustness of the counterpart match. We discuss the physical properties of the new sample and identify a population of low-redshift X-ray under- luminous clusters revealed by SZ selection. These objects appear in optical and SZ surveys with consistent properties for their mass, but are almost absent from ROSAT X-ray selected samples

Medication reconciliation as a strategy for preventing medication errors

ABSTRACT One of the current barriers proposed to avoid possible medication errors, and consequently harm to patients, is the medication reconciliation, a process in which drugs used by patients prior to hospitalization can be compared with those prescribed in the hospital. This study describes the results of a pharmacist based reconciliation conducted during six months in clinical units of a university hospital. Fourteen patients (23.33%) had some kind of problem related to medicine. The majority (80%) of medication errors were due to medication omission. Pharmaceutical interventions acceptance level was 90%. The results suggest that pharmacists based reconciliation can have a relevant role in preventing medication errors and adverse events. Moreover, the detailed interview, conducted by the pharmacist, is able to rescue important information regarding the use of drugs, allowing to avoid medications errors and patient injury

Physics of Seismo-electromagnetic Phenomena

The seismo-electromagnetic phenomena (SEMG) are integrated in a relatively recent research field that studies diverse phenomena such as: unusual seismo-electrical signals [1], abnormal ultra-low-frequency (ULF) seismo-electromagnetic emissions [2], very-low-frequency (VLF) and low-frequency (LF) radiobroadcast anomalies associated with ionosphere perturbations [3], variation of total electron content of the ionosphere [4], and atypical infrared emissions [5], all related with the preparatory stage of impending earthquakes. In the past, like many other branches of science like Quantum Mechanics, SEMG have been responsible for intense debates about its credibility, in this case concerning its applicability to short-term earthquake prediction [6]. In fact, the development of a truly pre-quake forecasting system is still an elusive plan, but SEM emissions are now a very well established effect extensively reported in literature. Nevertheless, much of the Physics implicated is still not fully understood. Thus, our main effort is directed towards a systematic field observation of SEMG effects and the development of both constructive theoretical models and laboratorial experiments to promote a better understanding of the Physics engaged in these phenomena. In this presentation we will present a sum up of our recent achievements [7,8,9], focusing future work and improvements. [1] A. Konstantaras, et al., On the electric field transient anomaly observed at the time of the Kythira M=6.9 earthquake on January 2006, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. 7, 677 (2007). [2] T. Bleier, et al., Investigation of ULF magnetic pulsations, air conductivity changes, and infra red signatures associated with the 30 October Alum Rock M5.4 earthquake, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. 9, 585 (2009). [3] P. Biagi, et al., An overview on preseismic anomalies in LF radio signals revealed in Italy by wavelet analysis, Annals of Geophysics 51, 237 (2008). [4] V. Chauhan, et al., Ultra-low-frequency (ULF) and total electron content (TEC) anomalies observed at Agra and their association with regional earthquakes, Journal of Geodynamics 48, 68 (2009). [5] D. Ouzounov, et al., Outgoing long wave radiation variability from IR satellite data prior to major earthquakes, Tectonophysics 431, 211 (2007). [6] S. Uyeda, et al., Short-term earthquake prediction: Current status of seismo-electromagnetics, Tectonophysics 470, 205 (2009). [7] H.G. Silva, et al., Atmospheric electrical field anomalies associated with seismic activity, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. 11, 987 (2011). [8] H. G. Silva, et al., Electric transport in different granitic rocks, EGU General Assembly 2011 (EGU 2011), 3-8 April 2011, Vienna (Austria). [9] H.G. Silva, et al., Piezoelectric effect during solid fracture causing electromagnetic emissions, International Conference on Computational Modelling of Fracture and Failure (CFRAC 2011), 6-8 June 2011, Barcelona (Spain)