Breaking the law: the M_{bh}-M_{spheroid} mass relations for core-Sersic and Sersic galaxies

The popular log-linear relation between supermassive black hole mass, M_bh, and the dynamical mass of the host spheroid, M_sph, is shown to require a significant correction. Core galaxies, typically with M_bh > 2x10^8 M_Sun and thought to be formed in dry merger events, are shown to be well described by a linear relation for which the median black hole mass is 0.36% - roughly double the old value of constancy. Of greater significance is that M_bh ~ (M_sph)^2 among the (non-pseudobulge) lower-mass systems: specifically, log[M_bh/M_Sun] = (1.92+/-0.38)log[M_sph/7x10^{10}M_Sun] + (8.38+/-0.17). `Classical' spheroids hosting a 10^6 M_Sun black hole will have M_bh/M_sph ~ 0.025%. These new relations (i) bring consistency to the relation M_bh ~ sigma^5 and the fact that L ~ sigma^x with exponent x equal to 5 and 2 for bright (M_B < -20.5 mag) and faint spheroids, respectively, (ii) mimic the non-(log-linear) behavior in the M_bh-(Sersic n) diagram, (iii) necessitate the existence of a previously over-looked M_bh ~ L^{2.5} relation for Sersic (i.e.\ not core-Sersic) galaxies, and (iv) resolve past conflicts (in mass prediction) with the M_bh-sigma relation at the low-mass end. Furthermore, the bent nature of the M_bh-M_sph relation for `classical' spheroids will have a host of important implications that relate to (i) galaxy/black hole formation theories, (ii) searches for the fundamental black hole scaling relation, (iii) black hole mass predictions in other galaxies, (iv) alleged pseudobulge detections, (v) estimates of the black hole mass function and mass density based on luminosity functions, (vi) predictions for space-based gravitational wave detections, (vii) connections with nuclear star cluster scaling relations, (viii) evolutionary studies over different cosmic epochs, (ix) comparisons and calibrations matching inactive black hole masses with low-mass AGN data, and more.Comment: 4.5 pages plus reference

Obesity, mortality, and life years lost associated with breast cancer in nonsmoking US women, national health interview survey, 1997-2000

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between obesity and breast cancer has been extensively investigated. However, how obesity and breast cancer interplay to affect mortality and life expectancy of women in the United States has not been well studied. METHODS: We used data from the National Health Interview Survey, 1997–2000. Our sample included nonsmoking, nonpregnant women who reported a body mass index of at least 18.5 kg/m(2) and no cancer other than breast cancer at the time of the survey. A survival model with Gamma frailty and Gompertz baseline was used to estimate relative risks of total mortality and project life years lost associated with breast cancer by obesity status and age. RESULTS: Breast cancer increased risk of mortality depending on degree of obesity and decreased life years by 1 to 12 years depending on race, age, and obesity status. Relative risks for death increased with degree of obesity. Obese women under age 50 across all racial groups were predicted to lose the most life years; racial groups other than whites and blacks lost the most life years (11.9 y), followed by whites (9.8 y) and blacks (9.2 y). CONCLUSION: The number of life years lost associated with breast cancer was more marked for more obese than for less obese women and for women under age 50 and women aged 70 or older than for women aged 50 through 69. Public health initiatives should put more emphasis on the prevention and control of obesity for these target populations

A Resolved Millimeter Emission Belt in the AU Mic Debris Disk

We present imaging observations at 1.3 millimeters of the debris disk surrounding the nearby M-type flare star AU Mic with beam size 3 arcsec (30 AU) from the Submillimeter Array. These data reveal a belt of thermal dust emission surrounding the star with the same edge-on geometry as the more extended scattered light disk detected at optical wavelengths. Simple modeling indicates a central radius of ~35 AU for the emission belt. This location is consistent with the reservoir of planetesimals previously invoked to explain the shape of the scattered light surface brightness profile through size-dependent dust dynamics. The identification of this belt further strengthens the kinship between the debris disks around AU Mic and its more massive sister star beta Pic, members of the same ~10 Myr-old moving group.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Learning together through international collaboration in teacher education in Malaysia. Report of a project to develop a Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Primary Mathematics

Copyright University of Hertfordshire, School of Education 2011Learning together through international collaboration in teacher education in Malaysia is the report of an enterprising partnership between the University of Hertfordshire, UK, the Ministry of Education Malaysia and two Institutes of Teacher Education in Malaysia. Working collaboratively with colleagues in Malaysia, the University of Hertfordshire School of Education designed, validated, supported and quality assured a Bachelor of Education (Honours) degree programme for initial teacher training for a single cohort of 120 students over four years. All the students graduated in 2010. Learning together through international collaboration in teacher education in Malaysia provides a record of the project itself. It also documents in-depth insights from contributors to the project in two main areas: the collaborative approach to working together and issues relating to learning and teaching, including the Action – Reflection – Modelling (ARM) pedagogical approach, which underpinned the degree programme. Senior managers, teacher educators and lecturers share some of their learning from working together to develop and implement the new degree programme. Student teachers voice some experiences from their school placements. They describe how they used ARM; highlight some of the benefits of the approach and identify some of the challenges associated with introducing a different pedagogy in schools as they were 'learning to teach'. There are glimpses of 'lively and attractive' classes in which 'pupils enjoy and feel comfortable to learn' and 'are eager to answer my questions'. School mentors provide additional insights into the student teachers' learning and teaching practice. The richness of the contributions is reflected in the many quotations included in the report. The successful completion of this project was due to the dedication and expertise of many contributors. The findings documented in this report are relevant for all those engaged in international collaboration and teacher education.Final Published versio

A systematic review of body fat distribution and mortality in older people

We conducted a systematic review investigating body fat distribution in older adults and its association with morbidity and mortality. Our search yielded 2,702 citations. Following three levels of screening, 25 studies were selected to evaluate the association between body fat distribution and comorbidity, and 17 studies were used in the mortality analysis. Most of the selected studies in our analyses used anthropometric measures, e.g., body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio; relatively few studies used direct measures, such as body fat/lean mass, and percentage body fat. Studies reported inconsistent findings regarding the strongest predictor(s) of morbidity and mortality. However, the majority of studies suggested that BMI per se was not the most appropriate predictor of morbidity and mortality in the elderly because of its inability to discern or detect age-related body fat redistribution. In addition, studies using BMI found that the optimal BMI range for the lowest mortality in the elderly was overweight (25 kg/m(2) ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m(2)) or mildly obese (30 kg/m(2) ≤ BMI < 35 kg/m(2)). Our findings suggest that the current clinical guidelines, recommending that overweight and obesity are major risk factors for increased morbidity and mortality are not applicable to this population. Therefore, the central message of this review is to admonish the government to establish new guidelines specifically for this population, using a combination of body fat distribution measurements, and to certify that these guidelines will not be applied to inappropriate populations