288 research outputs found
The Black Hole Mass of NGC 4151: Comparison of Reverberation Mapping and Stellar Dynamical Measurements
We present a stellar dynamical estimate of the black hole (BH) mass in the
Seyfert 1 galaxy, NGC 4151. We analyze ground-based spectroscopy as well as
imaging data from the ground and space, and we construct 3-integral
axisymmetric models in order to constrain the BH mass and mass-to-light ratio.
The dynamical models depend on the assumed inclination of the kinematic
symmetry axis of the stellar bulge. In the case where the bulge is assumed to
be viewed edge-on, the kinematical data give only an upper limit to the mass of
the BH of ~4e7 M_sun (1 sigma). If the bulge kinematic axis is assumed to have
the same inclination as the symmetry axis of the large-scale galaxy disk (i.e.,
23 degrees relative to the line of sight), a best-fit dynamical mass between
4-5e7 M_sun is obtained. However, because of the poor quality of the fit when
the bulge is assumed to be inclined (as determined by the noisiness of the
chi^2 surface and its minimum value), and because we lack spectroscopic data
that clearly resolves the BH sphere of influence, we consider our measurements
to be tentative estimates of the dynamical BH mass. With this preliminary
result, NGC 4151 is now among the small sample of galaxies in which the BH mass
has been constrained from two independent techniques, and the mass values we
find for both bulge inclinations are in reasonable agreement with the recent
estimate from reverberation mapping (4.57[+0.57/-0.47]e7 M_sun) published by
Bentz et al.Comment: 20 pages, including 11 low-res figures. Accepted for publication in
ApJ. High resolution version available upon reques
Synthesis and characterisation of pyrene-labelled polydimethylsiloxane networks: towards the in situ detection of strain in silicone elastomers
Pyrene-substituted polyhydromethylsiloxanes (PHMS-Py-x) were synthesised by the hydrosilylation reaction of prop-3-enyloxymethylpyrene with polyhydromethylsiloxane (M-n = 3700). The ratio of pyrene substituent to Si-H unit was varied to afford a range of pyrene-functionalised polysiloxanes. These copolymers were subsequently incorporated into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomers by curing via either Pt(0) catalysed hydrosilylation with divinyl-terminated PDMS (M-n = 186) and tetrakis(dimethylsiloxy) silane, or Sn(II) catalysed condensation with alpha,omega-dihydroxyPDMS (M-n = 26 000) and tetraethoxysilane. An alternative method involving the synthesis and integration of [3-(pyren-1-ylmethoxy)propyl]triethoxysilane (Py-TEOS) into PDMS elastomers was also investigated: a mixture of alpha,omega-dihydroxyPDMS (M-n = 26 000), tetraethoxysilane, and Py-TEOS was cured using an Sn( II) catalyst. Certain of the resulting fluorescent pyrene-labelled elastomers were studied by differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis. No significant changes were observed in the thermal or mechanical properties of the elastomers containing pyrene when compared to otherwise identical samples not containing pyrene. All of the pyrene-containing elastomers were demonstrated to be fluorescent under suitable excitation in a photoluminescent spectrometer. Two of the elastomers were placed in a photoluminescence spectrometer and subjected to cycles of extension and relaxation (strain = 0-16.7%) while changes in the emission spectra were monitored. The resulting spectra of the elastomer containing the PHMS-Py-50 copolymers were variable and inconsistent. However, the emission peaks of elastomers containing Py-TEOS displayed clear and reproducible changes in fluorescence intensity upon stretching and relaxation. The intensity of the monomer and excimer emission peaks was observed to increase with elongation of the sample and decrease upon relaxation. Furthermore, the ratio of the intensities of the excimer : monomer peak decreased with elongation and increased with relaxation. In neither case was there appreciable hysteresis, suggesting that fluorescent labelling of elastomers is a valid approach for the non-invasive in situ monitoring of stress and strain in such materials
AGN Feedback in Galaxy Groups: the Delicate Touch of Self-Regulated Outflows
AGN heating, through massive subrelativistic outflows, might be the key to
solve the long-lasting `cooling flow problem' in cosmological systems. In a
previous paper, we showed that cold accretion feedback and, to a lesser degree,
Bondi self-regulated models are in fact able to quench cooling rates for
several Gyr, at the same time preserving the mainc ool core features, like
observed density and temperature profiles. Is it true also for lighter systems,
such as galaxy groups? The answer is globally yes, although with remarkable
differences. Adopting a modified version of the AMR code FLASH 3.2, we found
that successful 3D simulations with cold and Bondi models are almost convergent
in the galaxy group environment, with mechanical efficiencies in the range
5.e-4 - 1.e-3 and 5.e-2 - 1.e-1, respectively. The evolutionary storyline of
galaxy groups is dominated by a quasi-continuous gentle injection with
sub-Eddington outflows (with mechanical power and velocity around 1.e44 erg/s
and 1.e4 km/s). The cold and hybrid accretion models present, in addition, very
short quiescence periods, followed by moderate outbursts (10 times the previous
phase), which generate a series of 10-20 kpc size cavities with high density
contrast, temperatures similar to the ambient medium and cold rims. After shock
heating, a phase of turbulence promotes gas mixing and diffusion of metals,
which peak along jet-axis (up to 40 kpc) during active phases. At this stage
the tunnel, produced by the enduring outflow (hard to detect in the mock SBx
maps), is easily fragmented, producing tiny buoyant bubbles, typically a few
kpc in size. In contrast to galaxy clusters, the AGN self-regulated feedback
has to be persistent, with a `delicate touch', rather than rare and explosive
strokes. This evolutionary difference dictates in the end that galaxy groups
are not scaled-down versions of clusters.Comment: Accepted by MNRAS; 22 pages, 7 figure
Aortic insufficiency following transcatheter aortic valve replacement is underestimated by echocardiography compared with cardiac MRI
Poverty in the Social World of the Wise
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68560/2/10.1177_030908928701203704.pd
Critical Race Theory and Education: racism and anti-racism in educational theory and praxis
What is Critical Race Theory (CRT) and what does it offer educational researchers and practitioners outside the US? This paper addresses these questions by examining the recent history of antiracist research and policy in the UK. In particular, the paper argues that conventional forms of antiracism have proven unable to keep pace with the development of increasingly racist and exclusionary education polices that operate beneath a veneer of professed tolerance and diversity. In particular, contemporary antiracism lacks clear statements of principle and theory that risk reinventing the wheel with each new study; it is increasingly reduced to a meaningless slogan; and it risks appropriation within a reformist “can do” perspective dominated by the de-politicized and managerialist language of school effectiveness and improvement. In contrast, CRT offers a genuinely radical and coherent set of approaches that could revitalize critical research in education across a range of inquiries, not only in self-consciously "multicultural" studies. The paper reviews the developing terrain of CRT in education, identifying its key defining elements and the conceptual tools that characterise the work. CRT in education is a fast changing and incomplete project but it can no longer be ignored by the academy beyond North America
Ubiquitous outflows in DEEP2 spectra of star-forming galaxies at z=1.4
Galactic winds are a prime suspect for the metal enrichment of the
intergalactic medium and may have a strong influence on the chemical evolution
of galaxies and the nature of QSO absorption line systems. We use a sample of
1406 galaxy spectra at z~1.4 from the DEEP2 redshift survey to show that
blueshifted Mg II 2796, 2803 A absorption is ubiquitous in starforming galaxies
at this epoch. This is the first detection of frequent outflowing galactic
winds at z~1. The presence and depth of absorption are independent of AGN
spectral signatures or galaxy morphology; major mergers are not a prerequisite
for driving a galactic wind from massive galaxies. Outflows are found in
coadded spectra of galaxies spanning a range of 30x in stellar mass and 10x in
star formation rate (SFR), calibrated from K-band and from MIPS IR fluxes. The
outflows have column densities of order N_H ~ 10^20 cm^-2 and characteristic
velocities of ~ 300-500 km/sec, with absorption seen out to 1000 km/sec in the
most massive, highest SFR galaxies. The velocities suggest that the outflowing
gas can escape into the IGM and that massive galaxies can produce
cosmologically and chemically significant outflows. Both the Mg II equivalent
width and the outflow velocity are larger for galaxies of higher stellar mass
and SFR, with V_wind ~ SFR^0.3, similar to the scaling in low redshift
IR-luminous galaxies. The high frequency of outflows in the star-forming galaxy
population at z~1 indicates that galactic winds occur in the progenitors of
massive spirals as well as those of ellipticals. The increase of outflow
velocity with mass and SFR constrains theoretical models of galaxy evolution
that include feedback from galactic winds, and may favor momentum-driven models
for the wind physics.Comment: Accepted by ApJ. 25 pages, 17 figures. Revised to add discussions of
intervening absorbers and AGN-driven outflows; conclusions unchange
Characterization of the Poly-T Variant in the TOMM40 Gene in Diverse Populations
We previously discovered that a polymorphic, deoxythymidine-homopolymer (poly-T, rs10524523) in intron 6 of the TOMM40 gene is associated with age-of-onset of Alzheimer's disease and with cognitive performance in elderly. Three allele groups were defined for rs10524523, hereafter ‘523’, based on the number of ‘T’-residues: ‘Short’ (S, T≤19), ‘Long’ (L, 20≤T≤29) and ‘Very Long’ (VL, T≥30). Homopolymers, particularly long homopolymers like ‘523’, are difficult to genotype because ‘slippage’ occurs during PCR-amplification. We initially genotyped this locus by PCR-amplification followed by Sanger-sequencing. However, we recognized the need to develop a higher-throughput genotyping method that is also accurate and reliable. Here we describe a new ‘523’ genotyping assay that is simple and inexpensive to perform in a standard molecular genetics laboratory. The assay is based on the detection of differences in PCR-fragment length using capillary electrophoresis. We discuss technical problems, solutions, and the steps taken for validation. We employed the novel assay to investigate the ‘523’ allele frequencies in different ethnicities. Whites and Hispanics have similar frequencies of S/L/VL alleles (0.45/0.11/0.44 and 0.43/0.09/0.48, respectively). In African-Americans, the frequency of the L-allele (0.10) is similar to Whites and Hispanics; however, the S-allele is more prevalent (0.65) and the VL-allele is concomitantly less frequent (0.25). The allele frequencies determined using the new methodology are compared to previous reports for Ghanaian, Japanese, Korean and Han Chinese cohorts. Finally, we studied the linkage pattern between TOMM40-‘523’ and APOE alleles. In Whites and Hispanics, consistent with previous reports, the L is primarily linked to ε4, while the majority of the VL and S are linked to ε3. Interestingly, in African-Americans, Ghanaians and Japanese, there is an increased frequency of the ‘523’S-APOEε4 haplotype. These data may be used as references for ‘523’ allele and ‘523’-APOE haplotype frequencies in diverse populations for the design of research studies and clinical trials
Education policy as an act of white supremacy: whiteness, critical race theory and education reform
The paper presents an empirical analysis of education policy in England that is informed by recent developments in US critical theory. In particular, I draw on ‘whiteness studies’ and the application of Critical Race Theory (CRT). These perspectives offer a new and radical way of conceptualising the role of racism in education. Although the US literature has paid little or no regard to issues outside North America, I argue that a similar understanding of racism (as a multifaceted, deeply embedded, often taken-for-granted aspect of power relations) lies at the heart of recent attempts to understand institutional racism in the UK. Having set out the conceptual terrain in the first half of the paper, I then apply this approach to recent changes in the English education system to reveal the central role accorded the defence (and extension) of race inequity. Finally, the paper touches on the question of racism and intentionality: although race inequity may not be a planned and deliberate goal of education policy neither is it accidental. The patterning of racial advantage and inequity is structured in domination and its continuation represents a form of tacit intentionality on the part of white powerholders and policy makers. It is in this sense that education policy is an act of white supremacy. Following others in the CRT tradition, therefore, the paper’s analysis concludes that the most dangerous form of ‘white supremacy’ is not the obvious and extreme fascistic posturing of small neonazi groups, but rather the taken-for-granted routine privileging of white interests that goes unremarked in the political mainstream
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