The surface brightness and colour-magnitude relations for Fornax cluster galaxies

We present BVI photometry of 190 galaxies in the central 4 x 3 deg(2) region of the Fornax cluster observed with the Michigan Curtis Schmidt Telescope. Results from the Fornax Cluster Spectroscopic Survey (FCSS) and the Flair-II Fornax Surveys have been used to confirm the membership status of galaxies in the Fornax Cluster Catalogue (FCC). In our catalogue of 213 member galaxies, 92 (43 per cent) have confirmed radial velocities. In this paper, we investigate the surface brightness-magnitude relation for Fornax cluster galaxies. Particular attention is given to the sample of cluster dwarfs and the newly discovered ultracompact dwarf galaxies (UCDs) from the FCSS. We examine the reliability of the surface brightness-magnitude relation as a method for determining cluster membership and find that at surface brightnesses fainter than 22 mag arcsec(-2), it fails in its ability to distinguish between cluster members and barely resolved background galaxies. Cluster members exhibit a strong surface brightness-magnitude relation. Both elliptical (E) galaxies and dwarf elliptical (dE) galaxies increase in surface brightness as luminosity decreases. The UCDs lie off the locus of the relation. B-V and V-I colours are determined for a sample of 113 cluster galaxies and the colour-magnitude relation is explored for each morphological type. The UCDs lie off the locus of the colour-magnitude relation. Their mean V - I colours (similar to1.09) are similar to those of globular clusters associated with NGC 1399. The location of the UCDs on both surface brightness and colour-magnitude plots supports the 'galaxy threshing' model for infalling nucleated dwarf elliptical (dE, N) galaxies.

The 1000 brightest hipass galaxies: The H I mass function and Omega(H I)

We present a new, accurate measurement of the H I mass function of galaxies from the HIPASS Bright Galaxy Catalog, a sample of 1000 galaxies with the highest H I peak flux densities in the southern (delta

The large scale distribution of galaxies in the Shapley Supercluster

We present new results of our wide-field redshift survey of galaxies in a 182 square degree region of the Shapley Supercluster (SSC) based on observations with the FLAIR-II spectrograph on the UK Schmidt Telescope (UKST). In this paper we present new measurements to give a total sample of redshifts for 710 bright (R less than or equal to 16.6) galaxies, of which 464 are members of the SSC (8000 < υ < 18 000 km s(-1)). Our data reveal that the main plane of the SSC (upsilon approximate to 14 500 km s(-1)) extends further than previously realised, filling the whole extent of our survey region of 10 degrees by 20 degrees on the sky (35 Mpc by 70 Mpc, for H-0 = 75 km s(-1) Mpc(-1)). There is also a significant structure associated with the slightly nearer Abell 3571 cluster complex (upsilon approximate to 12 000 km s(-1)) with a caustic structure evident out to a radius of 6 Mpc. These galaxies seem to link two previously identified sheets of galaxies and establish a connection with a third one at (V) over bar = 15 000 km s(-1) near RA = 13(h). They also tend to fill the gap of galaxies between the foreground Hydra-Centaurus region and the more distant SSC. We calculate galaxy overdensities of 5.0+/-0.1 over the 182 square degree region surveyed and 3.3+.-0.1 in a 159 square degree region excluding rich clusters. Over the large region of our survey the inter-cluster galaxies make up 46 per cent of all galaxies in the SSC region and may contribute a similar amount of mass to the cluster galaxies.

The 1000 brightest HIPASS galaxies H I properties

We present the HIPASS Bright Galaxy Catalog (BGC), which contains the 1000 H I brightest galaxies in the southern sky as obtained from the H i Parkes All-Sky Survey ( HIPASS). The selection of the brightest sources is based on their H I peak flux density (S-peak greater than or similar to116 mJy) as measured from the spatially integrated HIPASS spectrum. The derived H I masses range from similar to10(7) to 4 x 10(10) M-.. While the BGC ( z< 0.03) is complete in S-peak, only a subset of &SIM;500 sources can be considered complete in integrated H I flux density (F-H I &GSIM;25 Jy km s(-1)). The HIPASS BGC contains a total of 158 new redshifts. These belong to 91 new sources for which no optical or infrared counterparts have previously been cataloged, an additional 51 galaxies for which no redshifts were previously known, and 16 galaxies for which the cataloged optical velocities disagree. Of the 91 newly cataloged BGC sources, only four are definite H I clouds: while three are likely Magellanic debris with velocities around 400 km s(-1), one is a tidal cloud associated with the NGC 2442 galaxy group. The remaining 87 new BGC sources, the majority of which lie in the zone of avoidance, appear to be galaxies. We identified optical counterparts to all but one of the 30 new galaxies at Galactic latitudes > 10degrees. Therefore, the BGC yields no evidence for a population of free-floating'' intergalactic H I clouds without associated optical counterparts. HIPASS provides a clear view of the local large-scale structure. The dominant features in the sky distribution of the BGC are the Supergalactic Plane and the Local Void. In addition, one can clearly see the Centaurus Wall, which connects via the Hydra and Antlia Clusters to the Puppis Filament. Some previously hardly noticable galaxy groups stand out quite distinctly in the H I sky distribution. Several new structures, including some not behind the Milky Way, are seen for the first time.

Calibrating photometric redshifts of luminous red galaxies

We discuss the construction of a photometric redshift catalogue of luminous red galaxies (LRGs) from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), emphasizing the principal steps necessary for constructing such a catalogue: (i) photometrically selecting the sample, (ii) measuring photometric redshifts and their error distributions, and (iii) estimating the true redshift distribution. We compare two photometric redshift algorithms for these data and find that they give comparable results. Calibrating against the SDSS and SDSS-2dF (Two Degree Field) spectroscopic surveys, we find that the photometric redshift accuracy is sigma similar to 0.03 for redshifts less than 0.55 and worsens at higher redshift (similar to 0.06 for z < 0.7). These errors are caused by photometric scatter, as well as systematic errors in the templates, filter curves and photometric zero-points. We also parametrize the photometric redshift error distribution with a sum of Gaussians and use this model to deconvolve the errors from the measured photometric redshift distribution to estimate the true redshift distribution. We pay special attention to the stability of this deconvolution, regularizing the method with a prior on the smoothness of the true redshift distribution. The methods that we develop are applicable to general photometric redshift surveys.

Respiratory gene clusters of Metallosphaera sedula - differential expression and transcriptional organization

Metallosphaera sedula is a thermoacidophilic Crenarchaeon which is capable of leaching metals from sulfidic ores. The authors have investigated the presence and expression of genes encoding respiratory complexes in this organism when grown heterotrophically or chemolithotrophically on either sulfur or pyrite. The presence of three gene clusters, encoding two terminal oxidase complexes, the quinol oxidase SoxABCD and the SoxM oxidase supercomplex, and a gene cluster encoding a high-potential cytochrome b and components of a bc(1) complex analogue (cbsBA-soxL2N gene cluster) was established. Expression studies showed that the soxM gene was expressed to high levels during heterotrophic growth of M. sedula on yeast extract, while the soxABCD mRNA was most abundant in cells grown on sulfur. Reduced-minus-oxidized difference spectra of cell membranes showed cytochrome-related peaks that correspond to published spectra of Sulfolobus-type terminal oxidase complexes. In pyrite-grown cells, expression levels of the two monitored oxidase gene clusters were reduced by a factor of 10-12 relative to maximal expression levels, although spectra of membranes clearly contained oxidase-associated haems, suggesting the presence of additional gene clusters encoding terminal oxidases in M. sedula. Pyrite- and sulfur-grown cells contained high levels of the cbsA transcript, which encodes a membrane-bound cytochrome b with a possible role in iron oxidation or chemolithotrophy. The cbsA gene is not co-transcribed with the soxL2N genes, and therefore does not appear to be an integral part of this bc(1) complex analogue. The data show for the first time the differential expression of the Sulfolobus-type terminal oxidase gene clusters in a Crenarchaeon in response to changing growth modes.

Diffuse optical light in galaxy clusters. I. Abell 3888

We are undertaking a program to measure the characteristics of the intracluster light ( ICL; total flux, profile, color, and substructure) in a sample of 10 galaxy clusters with a range of cluster mass, morphology, and redshift. We present here the methods and results for the first cluster in that sample, A3888. We have identified an ICL component in A3888 in V and r that contains 13% +/- 5% of the total cluster light and extends to 700 h(70)(-1) kpc (similar to 0.3r(200)) from the center of the cluster. The ICL color in our smallest radial bin is V - r 0.3 +/- 0.1, similar to the central cluster elliptical galaxies. The ICL is redder than the galaxies at 400 h(70)(-1) kpc < r < 700 h(70)(-1) kpc, although the uncertainty in any one radial bin is high. Based on a comparison of V - r color with simple stellar models, the ICL contains a component that formed more than 7 Gyr ago ( at z less than 1) with a high-metallicity ( 1.0 Z(circle dot) < Z(ICL) less than or similar to 2.5 Z(circle dot)) and a more centralized component that contains stars formed within the past 5 Gyr ( at z similar to 1). The profile of the ICL can be roughly fitted by a shallow exponential in the outer regions and a steeper exponential in the central region. We also find a concentration of diffuse light around a small group of galaxies 1.4 h(70)(-1) Mpc from the center of the cluster. In addition, we find three low surface brightness features near the cluster center that are blue ( V - r 0.0) and contain a total flux of 0.1M*. Based on these observations and X-ray and galaxy morphology, we suggest that this cluster is entering a phase of significant merging of galaxy groups in the core, whereupon we expect the ICL fraction to grow significantly with the formation of a cD galaxy, as well as the infall of groups.

The survey for ionization in neutral gas galaxies. I. Description and initial results

We introduce the Survey for Ionization in Neutral Gas Galaxies (SINGG), a census of star formation in H I selected galaxies. The survey consists of H alpha and R-band imaging of a sample of 468 galaxies selected from the H I Parkes All Sky Survey (HIPASS). The sample spans three decades in H I mass and is free of many of the biases that affect other star-forming galaxy samples. We present the criteria for sample selection, list the entire sample, discuss our observational techniques, and describe the data reduction and calibration methods. This paper focuses on 93 SINGG targets whose observations have been fully reduced and analyzed to date. The majority of these show a single emission line galaxy (ELG). We see multiple ELGs in 13 fields, with up to four ELGs in a single field. All of the targets in this sample are detected in H alpha, indicating that dormant (non-star-forming) galaxies with M-H I greater than or similar to 3x10(7) M-circle dot are very rare. A database of the measured global properties of the ELGs is presented. The ELG sample spans 4 orders of magnitude in luminosity (H alpha and R band), and H alpha surface brightness, nearly 3 orders of magnitude in R surface brightness and nearly 2 orders of magnitude in H alpha equivalent width (EW). The surface brightness distribution of our sample is broader than that of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectroscopic sample, the EW distribution is broader than prism-selected samples, and the morphologies found include all common types of star-forming galaxies (e.g., irregular, spiral, blue compact dwarf, starbursts, merging and colliding systems, and even residual star formation in S0 and Sa spirals). Thus, SINGG presents a superior census of star formation in the local universe suitable for further studies ranging from the analysis of H II regions to determination of the local cosmic star formation rate density.

Solution properties of star and linear poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

The LCST transitions of novel N-isopropylacrylamide ( NIPAM) star polymers, prepared using the four-armed RAFT agent pentaerythritoltetrakis(3-(S-benzyltrithiocarbonyl) propionate) (PTBTP) and their hydrolyzed linear arms were studied using H-1 NMR, PFG-NMR, and DLS. The aim was to determine the effect of polymer architecture and the presence of end groups derived from RAFT agents on the LCST. The LCST transitions of star PNIPAM were significantly depressed by the presence of the hydrophobic star core and possibly the benzyl end groups. The effect was molecular weight dependent and diminished once the number of repeating units per arm >= 70. The linear PNIPAM exhibited an LCST of 35 degrees C, regardless of molecular weight; the presence of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic end groups after hydrolysis from the star core was suggested to cancel effects on the LCST. A significant decrease in R-H was observed below the LCST for star and linear PNIPAM and was attributed to the formation of n-clusters. Application of a scaling law to the linear PNIPAM data indicated the cluster size n = 6. Tethering to the hydrophobic star core appeared to inhibit n-cluster formation in the lowest molecular weight stars; this may be due to enhanced stretching of the polymer chains, or the presence of larger numbers of n-clusters at temperatures below those measured.

A FORMAÇÃO DE CLUSTERS PARA PEQUENAS E MÉDIAS EMPRESAS E AS VANTAGENS LOGÍSTICAS NA REGIÃO DO GRANDE ABC PAULISTA

A busca por maior competitividade frente ao mercado cada vez mais concorrido, a perseguição pela maximização dos lucros nas organizações, e as maneiras para tornar as organizações mais eficientes são assuntos largamente debatidos em discussões nos ambientes empresariais e acadêmicos, áreas em que a administração é requerida para analisar o universo de possibilidades em busca dos objetivos acima. Principalmente sobre as pequenas e médias empresas (PME), os impactos dos custos decorrentes de falta de infraestruturas adequadas em transportes, movimentação de materiais e em logística em geral, tornam estas organizações menos competitivas. Uma das alternativas que deve ser apresentada é um agrupamento destas organizações em um mesmo espaço físico, os denominados clusters, a fim de compartilharem alguns destes custos, além de experiências para atingirem alguns ganhos também em escala. Na logística, existe a possibilidade de compartilhamento de diversos serviços, onde deverá ser identificada boa parte do potencial de ganho com este modelo, que é aplicado para diversos segmentos inclusive ao redor do mundo. Em especial no Brasil onde a carga tributária é elevada e muito complexa, quando se opta pelo modelo de cluster, haverá ganhos em escala inclusive na tributação fiscal das movimentações de mercadorias. Através do levantamento bibliográfico e a comparação de dados de diversos artigos e de instituições públicas e privadas, objetiva-se apresentar as vantagens das operações no modelo cluster, a possibilidade dos ganhos pelo cooperativismo existente nestes empreendimentos entre outras formas de benefícios possíveis na logística compartilhada pelas empresas do cluster, além de possíveis desvantagens e limitações. .  

Semi-supervised construction of general visualization hierarchies

We have recently developed a principled approach to interactive non-linear hierarchical visualization [8] based on the Generative Topographic Mapping (GTM). Hierarchical plots are needed when a single visualization plot is not sufficient (e.g. when dealing with large quantities of data). In this paper we extend our system by giving the user a choice of initializing the child plots of the current plot in either interactive, or automatic mode. In the interactive mode the user interactively selects ``regions of interest'' as in [8], whereas in the automatic mode an unsupervised minimum message length (MML)-driven construction of a mixture of GTMs is used. The latter is particularly useful when the plots are covered with dense clusters of highly overlapping data projections, making it difficult to use the interactive mode. Such a situation often arises when visualizing large data sets. We illustrate our approach on a data set of 2300 18-dimensional points and mention extension of our system to accommodate discrete data types.

Competition, competitive advantage, and clusters:the ideas of Michael Porter

Comprehensive coverage of all aspects of Michael Porter's works Contributions from leading authorities across the disciplines Contains response from Porter Harvard professor, Michael Porter has been one of the most influential figures in strategic management research over the last three decades. He infused a rigorous theoretical framework of industrial organization economics with the then still embryonic field of strategic management and elevated it to its current status as an academic discipline. Porter's outstanding career is also characterized by its cross-disciplinary nature. Following his most important work on strategic management, he then made a leap to the policy side and dealt with a completely different set of analytical units. More recently he has made a foray into inner city development, environmental regulations, and health care services. Throughout these explorations Porter has maintained his integrative approach, seeking a road that links management case studies and the general model building of mainstream economics. With expert contributors from a range of disciplines including strategic management, economic development, economic geography, and planning, this book assesses the contribution Michael Porter has made to these respective disciplines. It clarifies the sources of tension and controversy relating to all the major strands of Porter's work, and provides academics, students, and practitioners with a critical guide for the application of Porter's models. The book highlights that while many of the criticisms of Porter's ideas are valid, they are almost an inevitable outcome for a scholar who has sought to build bridges across wide disciplinary valleys. His work has provided others with a set of frameworks to explore in more depth the nature of competition, competitive advantage, and clusters from a range of vantage points.

eBEST platform a KKV-klaszterek operatív és együttműködési folyamatainak támogatására (eBEST platform for supporting operational and cooperative processes of SME's clusters)

Az Európai Bizottság jelentése szerint a magyar kis- és középvállalkozások helyzete 2005 óta stagnál. Bár ezek a vállalkozások adják a magyar vállalkozások 99%-át, mégis a közbeszerzési, valamint a növekvő piacokhoz való hozzáférés terén számos akadállyal kerülnek szembe. Az eBEST projekten (Empowering Business Ecosystems of Small Service Enterprises to Face the Economic Crisis) belül kialakított platform olyan funkcionalitással bír, ami mindamellett, hogy lehetővé teszi a vállalkozások szervezett csoportokba, azaz ökoszisztémákba rendeződését, hozzá tud járulni a fogyasztói igények kielégítése érdekében létrejövő ellátási lánc, illetve egyedi folyamatok mentén fellépő információszerzési, kommunikációs vagy együttműködési akadályok lebontásához. ____ It is widely recognised that the most important factor for increasing the productivity of small companies is a deep adoption of computer-based applications and services. The FP7 SME eBEST project proposed a new operational environment specifically conceived for net worked small companies, supported by an advanced suite of ICT services, the eBEST platform. The paper aims at presenting the projects achievements that are validated by a number of company clusters of different EU countries and industry sectors. The general objectives of the eBEST project are attracting customers to work with the clustered companies, facilitating companies to collaborate with each other, and enabling associations to foster the devised innovation.

General and special education teachers' knowledge of and attitudes toward students with HIV/AIDS

AIDS education is mandated in schools throughout the United States to educate students about the disease. Teachers are expected to assume the major role of disseminating this information; therefore it is reasonable to question how knowledgeable teachers are about HIV/AIDS and where their information is coming from. This study explored the knowledge and attitudes of general and special education teachers toward students with HIV/AIDS and investigated whether a relationship between knowledge and attitudes existed. Information was collected using the AIDS Knowledge and Attitude Survey (AKAS). The sample was limited to certified teachers resulting in 318 participants.^ Research questions were analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequencies, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Scheffe post hoc analysis, and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation. Results indicated that general and special education teachers did not have complete knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Participants were knowledgeable regarding modes of transmission which may be the area of greatest concern for teachers, however, deficiencies were present within teachers' knowledge of general statements and facts and pathology. Among the ten demographic variables analyzed, six (gender, race/ethnicity, level of education, certification, instructional level taught, and classroom AIDS instruction) contained statistical significance.^ Analysis of attitudes indicated that general and special education teachers' overall attitudes toward students with HIV/AIDS were generally positive within clusters of Instruction and Fear, but not within Sensitivity and Communication. Among the ten demographic variables used for analysis only three (age, graduate enrollment status, and classroom AIDS instruction) produced statistical significance. Results found statistically significant relationships between Total Knowledge, all knowledge subtests, Fear, and Overall Attitudes. Statistical significance was also located on Total Knowledge, Pathology and Transmission knowledge subtests, and Sensitivity, as well as between Pathology and Instruction, and General Statements and Facts and Communication.^ The only variable determined to have statistical significance on both knowledge and attitudes was classroom AIDS instruction. Participants with previous AIDS instruction showed greater knowledge and possessed more positive attitudes. A review of previous research indicated training to be effective in increasing knowledge and fostering more favorable behavior toward persons with AIDS. Therefore, this study finds AIDS training to be beneficial for all teachers and is recommended during preservice education or through inservices for teachers already in the field. ^

The H I chronicles of LITTLE THINGS blue compact dwarf galaxies

Star formation occurs when the gas (mostly atomic hydrogen; H I) in a galaxy becomes disturbed, forming regions of high density gas, which then collapses to form stars. In dwarf galaxies it is still uncertain which processes contribute to star formation and how much they contribute to star formation. Blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxies are low mass, low shear, gas rich galaxies that have high star formation rates when compared to other dwarf galaxies. What triggers the dense burst of star formation in BCDs but not other dwarfs is not well understood. It is often suggested that BCDs may have their starburst triggered by gravitational interactions with other galaxies, dwarf-dwarf galaxy mergers, or consumption of intergalactic gas. However, there are BCDs that appear isolated with respect to other galaxies, making an external disturbance unlikely.^ Here, I study six apparently isolated BCDs from the LITTLE THINGS sample in an attempt to understand what has triggered their burst of star formation. LITTLE THINGS is an H I survey of 41 dwarf galaxies. Each galaxy has high angular and velocity resolution H I data from the Very Large Array (VLA) telescope and ancillary stellar data. I use these data to study the detailed morphology and kinematics of each galaxy, looking for signatures of starburst triggers. In addition to the VLA data, I have collected Green Bank Telescope data for the six BCDs. These high sensitivity, low resolution data are used to search the surrounding area of each galaxy for extended emission and possible nearby companion galaxies.^ The VLA data show evidence that each BCD has likely experienced some form of external disturbance despite their apparent isolation. These external disturbances potentially seen in the sample include: ongoing/advanced dwarf-dwarf mergers, an interaction with an unknown external object, and external gas consumption. The GBT data result in no nearby, separate H I companions at the sensitivity of the data. These data therefore suggest that even though these BCDs appear isolated, they have not been evolving in isolation. It is possible that these external disturbances may have triggered the starbursts that defines them as BCDs.^