Cosmic clocks: A Tight Radius - Velocity Relationship for HI-Selected Galaxies

HI-Selected galaxies obey a linear relationship between their maximum detected radius Rmax and rotational velocity. This result covers measurements in the optical, ultraviolet, and HI emission in galaxies spanning a factor of 30 in size and velocity, from small dwarf irregulars to the largest spirals. Hence, galaxies behave as clocks, rotating once a Gyr at the very outskirts of their discs. Observations of a large optically-selected sample are consistent, implying this relationship is generic to disc galaxies in the low redshift Universe. A linear RV relationship is expected from simple models of galaxy formation and evolution. The total mass within Rmax has collapsed by a factor of 37 compared to the present mean density of the Universe. Adopting standard assumptions we find a mean halo spin parameter lambda in the range 0.020 to 0.035. The dispersion in lambda, 0.16 dex, is smaller than expected from simulations. This may be due to the biases in our selection of disc galaxies rather than all halos. The estimated mass densities of stars and atomic gas at Rmax are similar (~0.5 Msun/pc^2) indicating outer discs are highly evolved. The gas consumption and stellar population build time-scales are hundreds of Gyr, hence star formation is not driving the current evolution of outer discs. The estimated ratio between Rmax and disc scale length is consistent with long-standing predictions from monolithic collapse models. Hence, it remains unclear whether disc extent results from continual accretion, a rapid initial collapse, secular evolution or a combination thereof.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, 3 in colour. Published in MNRAS. This v2 corrects wrong journal in the references section (all instances of "Astrophysics and Space Sciences" should have been ApJ). The Posti+2017 has also been updated. An erratum has been submitted to MNRA

Evolution of the Chinese shophouse facade in Malaysia: Manifestations of a diasporic people

The Chinese shophouse, in particular the traditional style of the pre-war period, is a unique residential-business built form common in major towns and cities in Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia.This ubiquitous edifice was originally a built technology and concept of the Chinese immigrants that flocked to the Southern Seas in search for better prospects during the 19th century.The lives of the diasporic Chinese greatly intertwined with the shophouse – from daily living to commercial activities such as trading and business were all conducted within the premise of the shophouse.The shophouse gained importance and started to evolve its façade when the thriving Chinese emerged as wealthy middle-class that ultimately contributed to the economic urbanization and development of major towns in Malaya.Under presiding trends,the plain unadorned shophouse façade transformed into ornate stylistic ornamentations that reflected an eclectic mix of Chinese, European and Malay cultural symbols and motifs.This essay examines the evolution of shophouse typology and façade during the late 19th- and early 20th -century Malaya. The shophouse’s evolving fa ade was a manifestation of the diasporic Chinese immigrant community that not only asserted their culture but celebrated eclecticism and hybridity in a pluralistic Malayan milieu.Employing qualitative research methods mainly utilizing visual materials (photographs) and in-depth interviews, this visual study discusses the cultural significations and symbolisms underneath the shophouse façade ornamentations, particularly the eclectic façade at its peak of evolution. Visual arts concepts such as ornamentation, visual semiotics, iconography and style, as well as cultural concepts like diaspora, eclecticism and hybridity are referred.At present, with modernization and skyscrapers changing the Malaysian urban landscape, many of these shophouses have ceased importance and are now abandoned, defaced or destroyed.This study highlights the present critical scenario of a possible vanishing cultural heritage and recommends for necessary shophouse conservation actions to be taken

MECHANISMS CONTROLLING THE EXPANSION OF CDIIB+ DCS IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Master'sMASTER OF SCIENC

Seri Rama and Maharaja Wana in Wayang Kulit Kelantan: Visual Analysis of Their Puppets

Wayang Kulit Kelantan, currently one of the two remaining shadow play forms in Malaysia, remains active in the northern part of peninsular Malaysia in particular the state of Kelantan, up till southern part of Thailand. It performs mainly a localized Malay folk version Hikayat Maharaja Wana derived from the famous Indian epic Ramayana, in contrast to the other literary version Hikayat Seri Rama. The origin of Wayang Kulit Kelantan, although much has been debated, could have possibly derived from the pre-Islamic or archetypal prototype of Wayang Kulit Purwa of Java, following the Majapahit Empire’s collapse and the spread of Islam on that island in the 16th century (Ghulam-Sarwar, 2004, pp. 61-62). The introduction of the legendary nine saints (wali Songo) in Java (Ghulam-Sarwar, 1994, pp. 274-275) led to the migration of this proto shadow play from Java to Bali and other Indonesian islands as well as the Malay Peninsula. Strong influences of animism, Hinduism, traditional Javanese beliefs and Islam are evident in Wayang Kulit Kelantan performances (Ghulam-Sarwar, 1993, pp. 4-5), as well as in the conception of the epic’s characters and their visualization on leather puppets.

The role of gap junctions in inflammatory and neoplastic disorders (Review).

Gap junctions are intercellular channels made of connexin proteins, mediating both electrical and biochemical signals between cells. The ability of gap junction proteins to regulate immune responses, cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis and carcinogenesis makes them attractive therapeutic targets for treating inflammatory and neoplastic disorders in different organ systems. Alterations in gap junction profile and expression levels are observed in hyperproliferative skin disorders, lymphatic vessel diseases, inflammatory lung diseases, liver injury and neoplastic disorders. It is now recognized that the therapeutic effects mediated by traditional pharmacological agents are dependent upon gap junction communication and may even act by influencing gap junction expression or function. Novel strategies for modulating the function or expression of connexins, such as the use of synthetic mimetic peptides and siRNA technology are considered.Dr Gary Tse received a BBSRC Doctoral Training Award at the University of Cambridge and is grateful to the Croucher Foundation for its support of his non‑clinical and clinical assistant professorships. Dr Yin Wah Fiona Chan was supported by the ESRC for her research at the University of Cambridge

Systematic Review of Interventions to Prevent the Spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections, Including HIV, Among Young People in Europe

Aim To examine the effectiveness of interventions seeking to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, among young people in the European Union. Methods For this systematic review, we examined interventions that aimed at STI risk reduction and health promotion conducted in schools, clinics, and in the community for reported effectiveness (in changing sexual behavior and/or knowledge) between 1995 and 2005. We also reviewed study design and intervention methodology to discover how these factors affected the results, and we compiled a list of characteristics associated with successful and unsuccessful programs. Studies were eligible if they employed a randomized control design or intervention-only design that examined change over time and measured behavioral, biologic, or certain psychosocial outcomes. Results Of the 19 studies that satisfied our review criteria, 11 reported improvements in the sexual health knowledge and/or attitudes of young people. Ten of the 19 studies aimed to change sexual risk behavior and 3 studies reported a significant reduction in a specific aspect of sexual risk behavior. Two of the interventions that led to behavioral change were peer-led and the other was teacher-led. Only 1 of the 8 randomized controlled trials reported any statistically significant change in sexual behavior, and then only for young females. Conclusion The young people studied were more accepting of peer-led than teacher-led interventions. Peerled interventions were also more successful in improving sexual knowledge, though there was no clear difference in their effectiveness in changing behavior. The improvement in sexual health knowledge does not necessarily lead to behavioral change. While knowledge may help improve health-seeking behavior, additional interventions are needed to reduce STIs among young peopl

Will oil price crash destabilize petro-states? : a study of oil price crashes in 1985-1986 and 2014-2015 and the impacts on the political stability of petro-states : Venezuela, Algeria, the Soviet Union/Russia, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia

published_or_final_versionInternational and Public AffairsMasterMaster of International and Public Affair