The strong environmental dependence of black hole scaling relations

We investigate how the scaling relations between central black hole mass (Mbh) and host galaxy properties (velocity dispersion, bulge stellar mass and bulge luminosity) depend on the large scale environment. For each of a sample of 69 galaxies with dynamical black hole measurements we compile four environmental measures (nearest neighbor distance, fixed aperture number density, total halo mass, and central/satellite). We find that central and satellite galaxies follow distinctly separate scalings in each of the three relations we have examined. The Mbh - sigma relation of central galaxies is significantly steeper (6.38 +/- 0.49) than that of satellite galaxies (4.91 +/- 0.49), but has a similar intercept. This behavior remains even after restricting to a sample of only early type galaxies or after removing the 8 brightest cluster galaxies. The Mbh - sigma relation shows more modest differences when splitting the sample based on the other environmental indicators, suggesting that they are driven by the underlying satellite/central fractions. Separate relations for centrals and satellites are also seen in the power law scaling between black hole mass and bulge stellar mass or bulge luminosity. We suggest that gas rich, low mass galaxies undergo a period of rapid black hole growth in the process of becoming satellites. If central galaxies on the current Mbh - sigma relation are representative progenitors of the satellite population, the observations imply that a sigma = 120 km/s galaxy must nearly triple its central black hole mass. The elevated black hole masses of massive central galaxies are then a natural consequence of the accretion of satellites.Comment: 16 pages, MNRAS, in pres

Exercise and MEF2–HDAC interactions.

Exercise increases the metabolic capacity of skeletal muscle, which improves whole-body energy homeostasis and contributes to the positive health benefits of exercise. This is, in part, mediated by increases in the expression of a number of metabolic enzymes, regulated largely at the level of transcription. At a molecular level, many of these genes are regulated by the class II histone deacetylase (HDAC) family of transcriptional repressors, in particular HDAC5, through their interaction with myocyte enhancer factor 2 transcription factors. HDAC5 kinases, including 5&prime;-AMP-activated protein kinase and protein kinase D, appear to regulate skeletal muscle metabolic gene transcription by inactivating HDAC5 and inducing HDAC5 nuclear export. These mechanisms appear to participate in exercise-induced gene expression and could be important for skeletal muscle adaptations to exercise.<br /

En route position and time control of aircraft using Kalman filtering of radio aid data

Fixed-time-of-arrival (FTA) guidance and navigation is investigated as a possible technique capable of operation within much more stringent en route separation standards and offering significant advantages in safety, higher traffic densities, and improved scheduling reliability, both en route and in the terminal areas. This study investigated the application of FTA guidance previously used in spacecraft guidance. These FTA guidance techniques have been modified and are employed to compute the velocity corrections necessary to return an aircraft to a specified great-circle reference path in order to exercise en route time and position control throughout the entire flight. The necessary position and velocity estimates to accomplish this task are provided by Kalman filtering of data from Loran-C, VORTAC/TACAN, Doppler radar, radio or barometric altitude,and altitude rate. The guidance and navigation system was evaluated using a digital simulation of the cruise phase of supersonic and subsonic flights between San Francisco and New York City, and between New York City and London

Synthesis, screening, and sequencing of cysteine-rich one-bead one-compound peptide libraries.

Cysteine-rich peptides are valued as tags for biarsenical fluorophores and as environmentally important reagents for binding toxic heavy metals. Due to the inherent difficulties created by cysteine, the power of one-bead one-compound (OBOC) libraries has never been applied to the discovery of short cysteine-rich peptides. We have developed the first method for the synthesis, screening, and sequencing of cysteine-rich OBOC peptide libraries. First, we synthesized a heavily biased cysteine-rich OBOC library, incorporating 50% cysteine at each position (Ac-X8-KM-TentaGel). Then, we developed conditions for cysteine alkylation, cyanogen bromide cleavage, and direct MS/MS sequencing of that library at the single bead level. The sequencing efficiency of this library was comparable to a traditional cysteine-free library. To validate screening of cysteine-rich OBOC libraries, we reacted a library with the biarsenical FlAsH and identified beads bearing the known biarsenical-binding motif (CCXXCC). These results enable OBOC libraries to be used in high-throughput discovery of cysteine-rich peptides for protein tagging, environmental remediation of metal contaminants, or cysteine-rich pharmaceuticals

From Baking a Cake to Solving the Schrodinger Equation

The primary emphasis of this study has been to explain how modifying a cake recipe by changing either the dimensions of the cake or the amount of cake batter alters the baking time. Restricting our consideration to the genoise, one of the basic cakes of classic French cuisine, we have obtained a semi-empirical formula for its baking time as a function of oven temperature, initial temperature of the cake batter, and dimensions of the unbaked cake. The formula, which is based on the Diffusion equation, has three adjustable parameters whose values are estimated from data obtained by baking genoises in cylindrical pans of various diameters. The resulting formula for the baking time exhibits the scaling behavior typical of diffusion processes, i.e. the baking time is proportional to the (characteristic length scale)^2 of the cake. It also takes account of evaporation of moisture at the top surface of the cake, which appears to be a dominant factor affecting the baking time of a cake. In solving this problem we have obtained solutions of the Diffusion equation which are interpreted naturally and straightforwardly in the context of heat transfer; however, when interpreted in the context of the Schrodinger equation, they are somewhat peculiar. The solutions describe a system whose mass assumes different values in two different regions of space. Furthermore, the solutions exhibit characteristics similar to the evanescent modes associated with light waves propagating in a wave guide. When we consider the Schrodinger equation as a non-relativistic limit of the Klein-Gordon equation so that it includes a mass term, these are no longer solutions.Comment: 23 pages, 10 Postscript figure

An Operational Approach to Conceptual Understanding Using Semiotic Theory

Duval suggests that understanding of a mathematical concept is accessed through the commonality in its associated registers of representation. In this chapter, we present two studies where students in treatment (with a broader experience using registers of representations and comparison (with more limited experience using registers of representation) populations were interviewed to assess their ability to perform both familiar and unfamiliar treatments and conversions. As most mathematical concepts include a range of associated registers of representations, we assess the importance of using a broader range of treatments and conversions among these registers and suggest an operational approach to using these treatments and conversions to gain insight into the understanding of the concept

SmokeFree Sports Project Report

Children and young people are amongst the most vulnerable groups in society and are highly susceptible to smoking experimentation and addiction. In Liverpool, smoking prevalence is significantly higher than the UK average. Therefore early intervention strategies are required for smoking prevention and cessation. Research has found a negative association between smoking and physical activity. SmokeFree Sports aims to explore whether physical activity and sport can be used to promote the smoke free message to children and young people. SmokeFree Sports is an innovative multi-dimensional campaign that incorporates social-marketing strategies alongside the provision of sports and physical activities to: a) de-normalise smoking among youth b) empower youth to stay smoke free, and c) increase awareness of the dangers of smoking using positive messaging through the medium of sport and physical activity. This project is delivered across Liverpool and aims to reduce the prevalence of smoking and prevent the uptake of smoking in children and young people. The initiative, which is managed by Liverpool John Moores University in partnership with Liverpool PCT, employs a variety of strategies to promote and deliver the smoke free message to children and young people including a) training sports coaches and teachers to deliver the smoke free message, b) delivering SFS messages in schools and youth clubs through sport and physical activity, c) asking children to sign a pledge to be smoke free, d) support voluntary sports clubs to adopt a smoke free policy on their playing fields, e) encouraging organizations and individuals interested in health and sport to sign up to the SmokeFree Sports Charter and f) signposting children to smoking cessation services

The Wal-Martization of African American Religion: T.D. Jakes and Woman Thou Art Loosed

This dissertation is an ideological critique of the New Black Church model of ministry, with T.D. Jakes and Woman Thou Art Loosed (WTAL) as a case study. T.D. Jakes is an African American televangelist who pastors The Potter’s House, a supermegachurch in Dallas, Texas. He is the quintessential example of a New Black Church pastor—a religious entrepreneur with several successful faith brands. WTAL is by far his most successful brand. Unashamed of his capitalist success, with an empire estimated to be worth $100 million dollars, Jakes says that it is occupational discrimination for him not to reap the benefits of the American dream. This dissertation identifies what has happened to the brand and Jakes’s ministry as “the Wal-Martization of African American Religion.” As a theoretical concept, Wal-Martization speaks to both the ideology and process that explains the generational differences between the New Black Church and the Black Church. It also is indicative of the branding and storytelling at every level of representation of the New Black Church. Jakes and New Black Church pastors are successful because they blur the lines between sacred and secular when they combine their vocations of pastor and entrepreneur. In this dissertation, I propose a cultural studies approach and a two-fold theological method for scholars to study these popular preachers. The method combines James McClendon’s Biography as Theology and Paul Tillich’s definitions of theology and theological norm from Systematic Theology. The method is a collaborative effort between the academic theologian and preacher. The scholar uses Biography as Theology to study the preacher (Jakes), and the second part of the method, Brand as Theology and Theological Norm, is where the scholar uses qualitative research methods to study the brand (WTAL). I define theologies of prosperity as contextual theologies of empire on a continuum that affirm it is God’s will and a believer’s right to obtain health and wealth by using Scripture and rituals like seed-faith giving and positive confession. Because these popular preachers offer adherents existential explanations for suffering (health and wealth), and prescriptions for liberation, I describe theologies of prosperity as theodicy and contemporary liberation theology. However, unlike traditional liberation theologies, these theologies do not have a preferential option for the poor. Instead, Jakes and other New Black Church pastors only offer adherents a pseudo-liberation. In essence, the stories of liberation that Bishop Jakes tells in his brands do not actually empower women, ideologically these stories only encourage women to stay loyal to his brand, become covenant ministry partners, and to buy more products. Jakes and New Black Church pastors are from the Second Gilded Age, they encourage women to pursue individual success within an oppressive system. Similar to Russell Conwell and other celebrity clerics from the First Gilded Age, Jakes and these pastors inadvertently blame the victims for their poverty and for not reaping the benefits of the American Dream, which according to prosperity preachers is available to all

Francis Asbury

A biographical essay on the life and work of the leading bishop in the early American Methodist Church, Francis Asbury, who traveled all over the eastern United States to preside over conferences