Gravitoelectromagnetism and Dark Energy in Superconductors

A gravitomagnetic analogue of the London moment in superconductors can explain the anomalous Cooper pair mass excess reported by Janet Tate. Ultimately the gravitomagnetic London moment is attributed to the breaking of the principle of general covariance in superconductors. This naturally implies non-conservation of classical energy-momentum. Possible relation with the manifestation of dark energy in superconductors is questioned.Comment: 10 pages. Poster presented at "From Quantum to Cosmos - Fundamental Physics Research in Space" 22-24 May 2006, To Appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys.

Predicting Pollicipes pollicipes (Crustacea: Cirripedia) abundance on intertidal rocky shores of SW Portugal: a multi-scale approach based on a simple fetch-based wave exposure index

Understanding and predicting patterns of distribution and abundance of marine resources is important for con- servation and management purposes in small-scale artisanal fisheries and industrial fisheries worldwide. The goose barnacle (Pollicipes pollicipes) is an important shellfish resource and its distribution is closely related to wave exposure at different spatial scales. We modelled the abundance (percent coverage) of P. pollicipes as a function of a simple wave exposure index based on fetch estimates from digitized coastlines at different spatial scales. The model accounted for 47.5% of the explained deviance and indicated that barnacle abundance increases non-linearly with wave exposure at both the smallest (metres) and largest (kilometres) spatial scales considered in this study. Distribution maps were predicted for the study region in SW Portugal. Our study suggests that the relationship between fetch-based exposure indices and P. pollicipes percent cover may be used as a simple tool for providing stakeholders with information on barnacle distribution patterns. This information may improve assessment of harvesting grounds and the dimension of exploitable areas, aiding management plans and support- ing decision making on conservation, harvesting pressure and surveillance strategies for this highly appreciated and socio- economically important marine resource

Occupants Conservation Attitudes on Energy Consumption: The Case in Isabela State University in Cabagan, Isabela

Heating and cooling electrical fixtures accounted to two thirds of a building’s total energy consumption. Energy consumption is the number one contributor to global warming. The Isabela State University in Cabagan, Isabela has an internal policy on energy conservation, hence this study focused mainly on the practices and attitudesof occupants on energy conservation implementation in the campus. It has been observed that there is an increasing trend in the annual energy consumption of the buildings from 2012 to 2015. The occupants of the buildings were surveyed on their responses on how they implement, observe and practice the policy on energyconsumption and conservation of the university. The study revealed that the number of occupants, building design and area and the number of electrical fixtures are the major factors that influenced the energy consumption of the buildings. This study further evaluated the influence of the number of occupants on the energy consumption of the buildings in relation to their conservation attitudes on energy consumption. Occupants of the buildings are aware of the campus policy on energy conservation. This study revealed that their attitudes and practices on energy conservation is influence by their perception on the indoor environment quality of the building specifically on indoor temperature. Keywords: occupants’ conservation practices and attitudes on energy consumptio

Carbon Footprint Inventory of Buildings in Isabela State University: Benchmark for Future Design Alternatives

Energy consumption of buildings was accounted for forty percent (40%) in the burning of fossil fuels that contributed to global warming. Climate change will continuously increase the global temperature in the coming years and this has resulted to the increased demand for energy consumption for cooling and ventilation for the indoor temperature in buildings. The study aimed to determine the carbon footprints of the buildings using the carbon footprint calculator to serve as a benchmark for future design of buildings at Isabela State University in Garita, Cabagan, Isabela. As revealed in the study, the rise in temperature, number of electrical fixtures used for cooling and ventilation, number of floor levels and number of occupants are the factors which influences the increase in the energy consumption of the buildings. Generally, the electrical fixtures used for cooling and ventilation were proven to be with the highest carbon footprint contribution. Hence the researchers recommend to adapt green building technology for future designs of buildings in the campus. Keywords: carbon footprint, energy consumptio

Implementação da agenda 21 para o Concelho de Castelo Branco : do diagnóstico à acção

Trabalho apresentado no 13.º Congresso da APDR, realizado de 5 a 7 de Julho de 2007, na Universidade dos Açores, em Angra do Heroísmo-Ilha Terceira.Apesar do conceito “Agenda 21” ter sido apresentado, pela primeira vez, em 1992, no decurso da Cimeira da Terra, no Rio de Janeiro, só agora está a ser posto em prática, em Portugal, constituindo um novo instrumento de base territorial, de apoio ao Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Partindo deste conceito e explorando os seus pressupostos teóricos, a comunicação centrase no caso estudo da elaboração da Agenda 21 para o concelho de Castelo Branco. Este concelho caracterizase por uma acentuada dicotomia urbano/rural, em que em paralelo à freguesia urbana, sobrevive todo um vasto território de baixa densidade com algum património natural importante, como é o caso do Parque Natural do Tejo Internacional. A elaboração do diagnóstico conduziu a uma análise SWOT cujos resultados foram discutidos em sessões de proximidade com a presença dos actores locais. Foram igualmente elaboradas matrizes de impactes que permitiram identificar os efeitos das actividades humanas sobre os indicadores de sustentabilidade. Paralelamente foi lançado um inquérito à população com o objectivo de auscultar a visão dos albicastrenses sobre a sua cidade. Com base nos elementos recolhidos construiuse uma visão estratégica que se consubstanciou num conjunto de acções que visam promover a sustentabilidade do concelho e que se articulam em torno de três eixos – Território, Conhecimento e Competitividade

Agenda 21 : um instrumento de base territorial de apoio ao desenvolvimento sustentável. Caso de estudo do concelho de Castelo Branco

Comunicação apresentada no VI Coloquio Ibérico de Estudios Rurales que decorreu de 23 a 24 de Fevereiro, em Huelva (Espanha).O funcionamento das sociedades humanas deve ter em conta a necessidade de preservação dos elementos naturais. Esta condicionante poderá parecer algo de mais recente, mas sempre existiu. O que constitui novidade é o seu reconhecimento com maior acuidade pelas sociedades humanas, fruto da dimensão dos efeitos das intervenções humanas e da facilidade de aquisição e troca de informação

Bayesian assessment of an existing bridge - a case study

This article presents a case study involving the assessment of an existing bridge, starting with simple methods and ending with a probabilistic analysis, the latter emphasising Bayesian methods. When assessing an existing bridge, it is common practice to collect information from the bridge in the form of samples. These samples are in general of small size, raising the question of how the corresponding statistical uncertainty can be taken into account on reliability estimates. The case study illustrates how Bayesian methods are especially suitable to deal with that source of uncertainty. Another strong point of the Bayesian methods is their ability to combine the information contained in the samples collected from the bridge with prior information, if any. This aspect will also be illustrated through the case study

Stalked barnacle (Pollicipes pollicipes) harvesting in the Berlengas Nature Reserve, Portugal: temporal variation and validation of logbook data

Stalked barnacle (Pollicipes pollicipes) exploitation at the Berlengas Nature Reserve, Portugal, by professional harvesters has been subject to specific regulation since 2000. The only available information on barnacle exploitation there comes from catch reports (log- books) provided by the harvesters. We evaluated the quality of the logbook information, described the temporal patterns of P. pollicipes fishing effort from 2000 to 2006 based on the logbook data, and modelled the daily fishing effort in relation to variability in oceanographic conditions. Results suggest different levels of reliability for the information contained in the logbooks: (i) information on the date of harvest seems to be reliable because 83% of the observed harvest dates were also declared; (ii) information on the quantity harvested shows a large discrepancy (mean 1⁄4 31.8%) between declared and observed amounts, but we believe it can be used to analyse temporal patterns of exploitation, because there was no systematic bias (under- and overreporting was to the same extent). The total quantity of barnacles harvested between 2000 and 2006 ($16 t year21) was closely related to the effort applied. Daily harvesting effort was considered a function of two predictive variables (significant wave height and tidal range) and of their interaction. Neither the harvesting activity nor the resource itself seems to be at risk of collapse if such levels of pressure are maintained, but efforts should be made to increase surveillance and monitoring within the marine protected area

LaF3 core/shell nanoparticles for subcutaneous heating and thermal sensing in the second biological-window

We report on Ytterbium and Neodymium codoped LaF3 core/shell nanoparticles capable of simultaneous heating and thermal sensing under single beam infrared laser excitation. Efficient light-to-heat conversion is produced at the Neodymium highly doped shell due to non-radiative de-excitations. Thermal sensing is provided by the temperature dependent Nd3+ → Yb3+ energy transfer processes taking place at the core/shell interface. The potential application of these core/shell multifunctional nanoparticles for controlled photothermal subcutaneous treatments is also demonstratedThis work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economıa y Competitividad (MAT2013-47395-C4-1-R), by Brazilian Agencies: FINEP (Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos) through the Grant Nos. INFRAPESQ-11 and INFRAPESQ-12; CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientıfico e Tecnologico) Grants INCT NANO(BIO)SIMES and Project Universal No. 483238/2013-9; CAPES (Coordenadoria de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Ensino Superior) by means of the Project PVE No. A077/2013. Erving C. Ximendes is supported by a Ph.D. scholarship from CNPq and currently by the PVE A077/2013 Project by means of a Ph.D. sandwich program developed at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain. Prof. Dr. Daniel Jaque is the PVE (Pesquisador Visitante Especial) of the Project No. A077/2013. Dr. K. U. Kumar is a post-doctoral fellow of this Project. Dr. Ueslen Rocha is supported by a Post Doctoral Fellowship grant PDE/CAPES at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid-Spain through the Project No. 2108-14-

Social-Cognitive Theories to Explain Physical Activity

Despite the widely recognized health benefits of physical activity, participation in regular physical activity falls far short of the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030. More than half of the population does not reach current recommendations, and around one-fourth is not sufficiently active at all. Understanding social-cognitive theories may aid in the creation of interventions to improve long-term physical activity maintenance. The current work covers theory and research on physical activity patterns. It specifically provides an overview of contemporary conceptualizations of motivational and cognitive theories, as well as reviews recent perspectives on how physical activity can be adopted and maintained. Key questions, such as whether physical activity can be executed purely based on cognitive functions, are also addressed. Furthermore, this review identifies possible and effective intervention strategies to promote physical activity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio