Characterizing Dust Attenuation in Local Star-Forming Galaxies: Near-Infrared Reddening and Normalization

We characterize the near-infrared (NIR) dust attenuation for a sample of ~5500 local (z<0.1) star-forming galaxies and obtain an estimate of their average total-to-selective attenuation $k(\lambda)$. We utilize data from the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) and the Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS), which is combined with previously measured UV-optical data for these galaxies. The average attenuation curve is slightly lower in the far-UV than local starburst galaxies, by roughly 15%, but appears similar at longer wavelengths with a total-to-selective normalization at V-band of $R_V=3.67\substack{+0.44 \\ -0.35}$. Under the assumption of energy balance, the total attenuated energy inferred from this curve is found to be broadly consistent with the observed infrared dust emission ($L_{\rm{TIR}}$) in a small sample of local galaxies for which far-IR measurements are available. However, the significant scatter in this quantity among the sample may reflect large variations in the attenuation properties of individual galaxies. We also derive the attenuation curve for sub-populations of the main sample, separated according to mean stellar population age (via $D_n4000$), specific star formation rate, stellar mass, and metallicity, and find that they show only tentative trends with low significance, at least over the range which is probed by our sample. These results indicate that a single curve is reasonable for applications seeking to broadly characterize large samples of galaxies in the local Universe, while applications to individual galaxies would yield large uncertainties and is not recommended.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in Ap

Characterizing Dust Attenuation in Local Star-forming Galaxies: Inclination Effects and the 2175 Å Feature

We characterize the influence that inclination has on the shape and normalization in average dust attenuation curves derived from a sample of ~10,000 local star-forming galaxies. To do this, we utilize aperture-matched multiwavelength data from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope, and the Two Micron All-sky Survey. We separate our sample into groups according to axial ratio (b/a) and obtain an estimate of their average total-to-selective attenuation k(λ). The attenuation curves are found to be shallower at UV wavelengths with increasing inclination, whereas the shape at longer wavelengths remains unchanged. The highest inclination subpopulation b/a < 0.42 exhibits an NUV excess in its average selective attenuation, which, if interpreted as a 2175 Å feature, is best fit with a bump strength of 17%–26% of the MW value. No excess is apparent in the average attenuation curve of lower inclination galaxies. The differential reddening between the stellar continuum and ionized gas is found to decrease with increasing inclination. We find that higher inclination galaxies have slightly higher values of R_V , although this is poorly constrained given the uncertainties. We outline possible explanations for these trends within a two component dust model (dense cloud+diffuse dust) and find that they can be naturally explained if carriers of the 2175 Å feature are preferentially destroyed in star-forming regions (UV-bright regions)

Characterizing Dust Attenuation in Local Star-forming Galaxies: UV and Optical Reddening

The dust attenuation for a sample of ~10,000 local (z ≾ 0.1) star-forming galaxies is constrained as a function of their physical properties. We utilize aperture-matched multiwavelength data available from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to ensure that regions of comparable size in each galaxy are being analyzed. We follow the method of Calzetti et al. and characterize the dust attenuation through the UV power-law index, β, and the dust optical depth, which is quantified using the difference in Balmer emission line optical depth, τ^1_ β = τ_(Hβ) – τ_(Hα). The observed linear relationship between β and τ^1_ β is similar to the local starburst relation, but the large scatter (σ_(int) = 0.44) suggests that there is significant variation in the local universe. We derive a selective attenuation curve over the range 1250 Å < λ < 8320 Å and find that a single attenuation curve is effective for characterizing the majority of galaxies in our sample. This curve has a slightly lower selective attenuation in the UV compared to previously determined curves. We do not see evidence to suggest that a 2175 Å feature is significant in the average attenuation curve. Significant positive correlations are seen between the amount of UV and optical reddening and galaxy metallicity, mass, star formation rate (SFR), and SFR surface density. This provides a potential tool for gauging attenuation where the stellar population is unresolved, such as at high z

Wear of dual-mobility cups: a review article

Dual-mobility (DM) cups have been clinically used in hip surgery in Europe for more than 35 years and continue to gain popularity worldwide due to promising results at reducing instability. Concerns related to polyethylene wear apply as in conventional standard bearings but are accentuated by the larger-diameter articulations with multiple surfaces. We critically reviewed the reported literature regarding the in vivo and in vitro wear occurring on all surfaces involved. We looked for patterns to create a rational classification of sites of wear and to identify areas for future research. Wear was a significant problem for first-generation designs and appeared to be design related. Improved polyethylene, thinner and smoother trunnions, chamfered rims and eccentric configuration of insert and shell seem to enhance outcome performance; however, long-term clinical evidence and retrieval studies are needed to better understand the balance of benefit and risk when opting for DM bearings

Jeans modelling of the Milky Way's nuclear stellar disc

The nuclear stellar disc (NSD) is a flattened stellar structure that dominates the gravitational potential of the Milky Way at Galactocentric radii 30≲R≲300pc⁠. In this paper, we construct axisymmetric Jeans dynamical models of the NSD based on previous photometric studies and we fit them to line-of-sight kinematic data of the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) and silicon monoxide (SiO) maser stars. We find that (i) the NSD mass is lower but consistent with the mass independently determined from photometry by Launhardt et al. Our fiducial model has a mass contained within spherical radius r=100pc of M(r 1. Observations and theoretical models of the star-forming molecular gas in the central molecular zone suggest that large vertical oscillations may be already imprinted at stellar birth. However, the finding σz/σR > 1 depends on a drop in the velocity dispersion in the innermost few tens of parsecs, on our assumption that the NSD is axisymmetric, and that the available (extinction corrected) stellar samples broadly trace the underlying light and mass distributions, all of which need to be established by future observations and/or modelling. (iii) We provide the most accurate rotation curve to date for the innermost 500pc of our Galaxy